Fringe Pullover

I dress super basic so I appreciate the little details that help elevate the outfit. Love this fringe sweater by Rebecca Taylor but there is no way I would be able to afford it. I picked up this affordable alternative and am happy with it. I washed and dried it a couple of times already and the fringes came out just fine. Outfit details: Gamiss pullover | Tom Ford sunglasses | ASOS jeans | Guess booties

My first impressions of Orange Theory Fitness

 

We booked our summer vacation 2 weeks ago so I need to get busy and tone myself up lol As a full-time working mother of two, it's really hard for me to stick to a workout plan. I love cardio but cardio alone does not build muscle. I know I need strength training but have always been intimidated in the weight room at the gym. When I first heard about Orange Theory Fitness, I thought to myself, it's exactly what I am looking for. Orange Theory Fitness might be old news to some of you but it's relatively new where I live. It's basically a 60-minute class led by an instructor who calls out cures throughout the class. The class splits up into interval cardio on the treadmill, indoor rowing and weigh room floor exercises. The hubs and I had a few hours to ourselves so we decided to take a trial class together. Outfit details: Zaful set - size M *love the top, it's fully lined. However, the bottom is unlined. Wouldn't be an issue with nude undergarment* | Tom Ford sunglasses | Nike Pegasus 32 sneakers | Fitbit Charge

Splurge vs. Steal :: Shoe Edition

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you might know that I don't spend a lot of money on shoes. However, you don't have to sacrifice style for price. There are many good dupes out there. I am a huge fan of Target shoes. I own 5,6 pairs and they've lasted me for years. Target's shoe game is killing it right now. I've rounded up 5 best designer shoe dupes for you. And the best part? Get 25% off clothes, shoes and accessories during this President's Day Sale.

1. Backless loafers :: $17.25 vs. $595 - My most favorite dupe! I've seen these popular Princetown loafers everywhere. I love the look but there is no way I am paying $600 for a pair of loafers. This affordable pair does the trick. I saw them in person and they are amazing!

2. Studded sandals :: $24.75 vs. $945 - Get the studded look for less than $25

3. Cut out booties :: $28.50 vs. $180 - This pair is almost identical to the popular Jeffrey Campbell one but for a fraction of the cost

4. Denim sandals :: $22.50 vs. $90 - So perfect for the upcoming Spring

5. Pom pom sandals :: $22.50 vs. $225 - Love pom pom sandals but do not want to pay over $200 for a trendy pair? This affordable pair is just as cute

What I got for Valentine's Day

I just want to start off by saying the hubs and I do not buy Valentine's Day gifts for each other. We usually just stick to a dinner the weekend prior. If you follow me on IG, you may have seen I purchased a new vehicle a few weeks ago (another reason not to spend more $$ on V-day). I am super excited about my new ride. Changing the topic up a bit - you probably don't know but my husband has mild OCD =) He does all the cleaning at home, takes care of the yard, cleans both vehicles and keeps the house organized. He really does a good job of taking care of things.

Since we got a brand new car, the key fob does not have a single scratch and is super shiny. My previous vehicle was a used one so I didn't care too much about keeping the key fob scratch-free. It was at the bottom of my purse 90% of the time. After we got home from the dealership, the hubs told me I should look into getting something to protect the new key fob. I agree. I do take care of my stuff to some extent. I mentioned last year that at some point, I'd like to purchase the Louis Vuitton 6-key holder for my bags but it wasn't high on my list.

Now I have a good reason to get one. We went to the only Louis Vuitton store in Ohio to check it out. Unfortunately, the hubs wasn't the fan of the 6-key holder. He said there is nothing keeping the keys from scratching up across each other. See what I mean? =) We looked at a few other Louis Vuitton small leather goods and finally decided on this zippy coin purse for "Valentine's Day" =)  - Pre-owned options here. I wasn't planning on spending that much $$ on a canvas wallet but I couldn't find anything else that has the same layout. Between 3 Louis Vuitton's classic prints (the Monogram, the Damier Ebene and the Damier Azur), the last one is definitely my favorite print. I will do a separate post to show you how I use it. Stay tuned =)

Sale Alert :: BlankNYC suede moto

My beloved BlankNYC suede moto jacket is back in stock and on sale (wearing a size small here). This is a Bloomingdale's exclusive color so you won't find it elsewhere. On the same note, another version of the same jacket (with detachable faux fur collar) is currently 40% off here.

Right | Left 

Little Black Jumpsuit

I don't know why but I always gravitate towards jumpsuits. I purchased this jumpsuit last month in anticipation of wearing it on Valentine's Day. However, the hubs took an unexpected business trip and wasn't home for the occasion. It's been years since I purchase anything from Lulu's. They have so many cute pieces for Spring right now. While browsing, I stumped upon this jumpsuit and decided to pull the trigger after reading all of the glowing reviews. True to their words, the jumpsuit is very flattering and has a sleek look. The upper part is fully lined but the bottom part is unlined. Since I am rather short (5'2"), the pants ended up being several inches too long. I took it to my seamstress to shorten the hem. I was lazy and didn't spend enough time to figure out the correct length. I think the length is just a smidgen too short but that was my fault :( I am looking forward to wear it with my flat sandals in the summer. Outfit details: Lulu's jumpsuit *size XS* | Banana Republic *sold out* - similar | Tom Ford sunglasses | Chanel bag | Michele watch

Polka-dot sweater :: Shades of blue

 

Sharing one of my favorite outfits I've worn a few weeks ago. Navy is an extremely versatile color and works well with almost any shade. In this outfit, I paired several different shades of blue with a brown sweater to create a warm palette. I rarely raved about anything from Shein but this sweater deserves some attention. What attracts me to this sweater is the cute polka pot print. As always, I don't expect a high quality item from Shein but am pleasantly surprised at how well made this sweater is. The material is so warm and thick but soft to the touch at the same time. When I first opened the package, it had a little bit of a dye odor. However, the smell is gone after one wash (it came out perfect). For under $20, this sweater is definitely a gem. Outfit details: Shein sweater c/o | J.Crew chambray shirt | Sumissura coat | Michele Deco watch | Express jeans | Guess booties | Tom Ford sunglasses | Chanel bag

6 ways to wear a Chanel wallet on chain

I talked about my love for the Chanel wallet on chain (WOC) several times on here. This little beauty is so versatile and can take you from day to night with ease. Today, I am showing you 6 ways to wear it. The best part? You can adjust the strap length according to your height. My favorite ways to wear it is # 1 (as a cross body for days) and # 2 (as a clutch for nights). Click here to see what fits inside. Have a wonderful weekend, ladies!

Random Thoughts :: How To Be Happy & Content In Life

 

With the goal of not following any formal structure or guidelines in mind, today's topic is a little different. Inspired by the fact that I spent $0.00 for the entire month of January on clothes/beauty products/shoes, I wanted to share my thoughts on how to be happy and content with life. I wasn't forcing myself not to shop. I just didn't feel like I need anything. Please note that I am not trying to be a preacher. This blog is just simply a platform for me to share my thoughts with you whether it's a new purchase, a handbag review or just something on my mind in general. I am at the point in my life that I can honestly say I am happy and content. Trust me, it's not easy and I've come a long way. We live in a material world and social media plays a major role in creating a consumerist society. If you feel compelled to keep up with the Joneses, you're not alone. During my early days of blogging, I definitely felt the need to do so and let me tell you, it was exhausting. I learned a few things over the years and I am here to share them with you. Once in a while, we all need a little reminder =) Outfit details: Express jeans | Shein duster coat | GAP tee | Hermes belt | Tom Ford sunglass | Public Desire OTK boots

Pre-Owned vs. Brand-New

I've been thinking about today's topic for quite some time but never found the time to finish my thoughts. I often get asked if it's worth buying a pre-owned handbag? I am here today to share my thoughts. First of all, I want to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with buying pre-loved handbags. My handbag collection is a mix of both (my Hermes Kelly is pre-owned and my Chanel boy bag is brand-new). Collecting luxury handbags is a very expensive hobby so I am all for saving when possible. However, not all handbags are worth buying used. Before deciding on a bag, I always ask myself 5 questions below if I want to purchase the bag brand new or go the pre-loved route.

{Hermes Kelly 32 vs. Chanel Large Boy}

Question # 1: The brand - Does the brand ever go on sale? Generally speaking, brands like Prada, Givenchy, Chloe, Valentino or even Fendi will occasionally go on sale. I caught a few sales here and here (the discounts were pretty decent). They may not have exactly what you're looking for but they do go on sale. If the brand participates in a sale, I'd rather wait and buy the bag brand new. Chances are, you probably will pay less for a brand new discounted bag (i.e. Chloe Nano Drew bag :: brand new :: on sale for $446 vs. pre-owed for $925)