Prelude to Summer Outfit Inspo

Posted in My Style by

We’re almost there. Just one month and…que summer! Summer calls for sunshine, tan lines, and bright colors. Oh, and white. Like Selena Gomez sings, “Tan skin looks damn good in white.” She’s not lying. 😉


Before summer officially hits, now is the perfect time to prep your wardrobe for scorching days and sassy nights. Pre-summer wardrobes can consist of monochrome ensembles and pops of color. It’s like giving just a little tease before you go all out in hot pants and lace up sandals.

For a fun girl’s night out, me and my girl Tina went with subtle hints of summer just so ya know it’s coming! It’s also the perfect time to splurge on pieces that will carry you throughout summer. You may also be able to catch a few pre-season sales.

Find ways to hint at the upcoming season before the weather officially changes. Cold shoulder tops and off the shoulder tops are the perfect prelude to summer. Pair the right shoes and accessories, and you have a great pre-summer look.

**Thanks for reading; you’re F.A.Bulous

30 Life Lessons

Posted in Fab Tips by

Holy moly, guys. This girl is the big 3-0!!!

Today I celebrate 30 years of life, lessons, and love. To all of my friends, family, and blog supporters, THANK YOU! 

With that being said, I’d like the share 30 things I’ve learned over the past 30 years that have helped me become the person I am today. I look forward to what this year will bring, and I’m eager to start learning even more life lessons in this new chapter of life!

  1. God has His own plan for you
  2. Don’t drink and drive
  3. Your pet is your true best friend, also, get a pet
  4. You can’t trust everyone
  5. It’s OK to skip class or play hooky from work a few times
  6. It’s inevitable, you’re going to screw up at some point
  7. Constantly update your resume
  8. Network
  9. Be nice to people
  10. You can’t fix everything, but for damn sure try
  11. Save money – hide cash from yourself. It could come in handy in emergencies.
  12. Workout and eat right. The older you get, the harder it gets to drop pounds.
  13. Travel and travel often
  14. Don’t settle
  15. It’s OK to walk away from relationships and negative situations
  16. Boys suck, and girls do too
  17. Find a hobby
  18. Limit yourself to 1 credit card
  19. Live on your own. Roommates are cool, but there comes a time when you need to experience everything on your own.
  20. Learn the difference between claiming 1 and 0 on your tax forms. That’s the kind of stuff they don’t teach you in school!
  21. Keep your legs closed and don’t chase guys
  22. Spend time with your grandparents
  23. Pray
  24. Lunchables, snack packs, and cereal for dinner is totally cool
  25. Try new things – food included
  26. Set goals
  27. Keep a journal
  28. Make sure you’re giving yourself some alone time
  29. Take your vitamins
  30. Unicorns are real

Cheers to 30!

Outfit details:

Crop top – Nordstrom

Disco pants – H&M South Africa (sale rack!)

Lip – Beso by Stila

**Thanks for reading; you’re F.A.Bulous

 

 

How Do You Define Your Style?

Posted in My Style, Where to Shop by

Do you have a specific style that defines you, or do you switch it up a little based on season or event? I find in my group of friends, while we all dress a little different, our individual styles are pretty defined. We’ll be out shopping, find an article of clothing and go “Hey, this is so you!”

A few weeks ago, me and a few of my lady friends decided to take a mini tour of Detroit after a fun Birthday brunch (mimosas anyone?!) to show off our defined weekend/event styles. Check out some outfit inspiration from me and my fab friends!

Krystina – Defined Style: Southern Chic
Tina is super into cold shoulder tops, booties, and simple accessories to channel the dainty, easy feel of the south. Her favorite store? Francesca’s and a Henri Bendel bag will usually complete her daily style. Shop her style.

Reese – Defined Style: Urban Goddess
As the birthday girl, Reese went for a fabulous goddess vibe in all white showing off her bod in the most classy way. On the daily, you may find Reese in super cute, form-fitting dresses and tops to hug her fit curves just right. Shop her style.

Taryn – Defined Style: Urban Mod
Taryn loves to be flirty with a little edge. Combat boots paired with a 60s-inspired dress perfectly captures her mod look with a twist. If she’s not showing off a mod look, you can find Taryn rocking a bohemian style, and a flower crown if it’s really special occasion! Shop her style.

Jessica – Defined Style: Cali Chic
Lately I’ve channeled my inner Kardashian with chokers and high ponys. I love a good west coast inspired look with some good denim, graphics, and a classic black piece. I’m so excited for warmer weather to come around so I can wear my legs bare. Dresses and rompers are my jam. Shop my style.

What’s your go-to style?

Thanks to my ladies for such a fun, fashionable, and fabulous day! ❤️👠

**Thanks for reading; you’re F.A.Bulous. 

Mix & Match Like a Pro

Posted in Fab Tips by

Are you constantly opening your wardrobe and staring inside in desperation that you can never find anything stylish, flattering or interesting to wear? It can be a daily battle to put together inspiring outfits that are always suitable and comfortable, yet feminine and sexy for every environment.
Today we are looking at discovering your staple wardrobe items and how to mix and match them to create endless outfits.

Find your Foundation Pieces
This is the best place to start. Find your timeless classics and staple pieces that are adaptable and versatile. These are the pieces in your wardrobe that are not fleeting or fashion forward, they are the items that stand the test of time. Think smart blazer, your best pair of jeans, and your favorite summer dress that makes you feel amazing. These pieces are called the foundation pieces as they are the clothes that you will be be building on.

 

Find your Flair

This next section is all about adding variety and flair on top of your foundation pieces. Think tops, cardigans, basically layers that add color and style to your basic wardrobe pieces.

As your foundation pieces may be more classic they will probably be more neutral and or dark in color. So this area of your wardrobe can afford to be more colorful and expressive. Select a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and think about how you can bring them together to bring your foundation pieces to life.

Find your Fabulous

This final section is all about setting your outfits and bringing all your pieces together. We are talking about accessories which tend to be the most difficult and therefore most neglected part of putting together an outfit. Go through your jewelry, scarves, belts, shoes, and bags and organize them so they are easy to visualize when you’ve chosen your outfit. When choosing these final touches you want to match them more with your foundation pieces than with your layered pieces.

The Fun Part

Visualizing your outfits and playing with the endless possibilities of your wardrobe is where the process gets really creative. Spend time organizing your wardrobe into these three areas, then maybe organizing each section again either by color or level of formality.

Then spend time playing and matching. Using the same dress, put it with different scarves, jackets, shoes, bags and jewelry and watch it be transformed with each combination. Take your favorite pair of jeans and play with different t-shirts, blouses, belts, heels, flats, hats, sunglasses and scarves and again watch how all of a sudden your wardrobe explodes into endless possibilities.

There will always be times when a new purchase is necessary, but you don’t need to break the bank to find your perfect pair of jeans, summer dress or beach wedges. There are also more and more express coupons, promo codes & printable coupons in circulation than ever before, so there’s never been a better time to bag yourself a bargain.

Keep an eye out for little bargains and items that you think would fit your wardrobe well, thinking of the three different layered approach. By seeing your wardrobe in this different way you’ll be astounded by the endless outfit possibilities that it opens up.

**Thanks for reading; you’re F.A.Bulous. 

**This post has been contributed**

 

 

 

Life Hacks: 8 Ways to De-stress

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How often do you stress about there not being enough hours in the day? Or does your to-do list never seem to end? We’re all very busy people and that’s life. In the midst of the craziness, it’s always important thing is to remember to take time to breathe! Read on for some of my personal life hacks to help make things a little bit easier.

  • Buy yourself some flowers….or something shiny! Flowers bring about peace. And shiny new things are always a fun distraction.
  • Turn your phone on Do Not Disturb. Those text messages and Instagram notifications will be waiting for you when you’re good and ready.
  • Write. Get a notebook and write down your thoughts, goals, a letter to someone who has been on your mind; anything you want!
  • Crack open a good book; even if it’s to learn something new. Right now I’m reading a PHR exam book and it’s refreshing to incorporate some knew knowledge into my life.
  • Listen to classical music. It’s soothing and there are no lyrics – nothing to clog or rot your thoughts.
  • Eat healthy and exercise. Even if it’s a brisk walk a few times a week, moving and eating right can have a positive effect in multiple ways.
  • Start saying NO! This one may be easier said than done, but once you start weeding out the unnecessary things, you’ll immediately start feeling better and finding more time for the things YOU want to do.
  • Pray! Talk to God. He’s always listening. Ask Him to guide you, give you strength, knowledge, and the power to keep up with those lengthy to-do lists.

** Thanks for reading. You’re F.A.Bulous.

Dress For Less, and Still Impress

Posted in My Style by

Every woman loves to look and feel her best. Fashion plays a hugely important role to maximizing those positive feelings. And this is just one of the many reasons that clothes shopping is one of our greatest hobbies. But if there’s only one thing that puts a smile on our face more than finding the perfect style, it’s finding the perfect style without breaking the bank.

 If you’re not careful, that passion for fashion can end up burning a very big hole in your pocket. Thankfully, these five tips for the modern woman will help you overcome those issues to promote greater success than ever before. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started.

 Don’t feel pressured into buying. This is especially true when looking at outfits for special occasions. Prom dresses are a perfect example of an item that you’ll only wear once, and there are plenty of others to consider too. You’ll probably end up selling the purchased outfit after a year or two of collecting dust anyway. Renting is cheaper and efficient in many scenarios. While it might not always be the best solution, appreciating this option is key.

 Embrace cheaper garments too. It’s always nice to buy the designer brand, particularly when you get it on a cheap deal. However, there is more to life than clothes. Rocking simple options like crop tops can allow you to master daily styles on a minimal budget. That’ll leave you more money for the standout styles while offering added comfort in day-to-day life. Moreover, it’ll feel far less annoying if you ruin an outfit.

 Always search for the best deals. Searching for the best options on the market is important in many fields, but this is especially true when it comes to fashion. The internet has changed everything, and you can learn how to save money at Old Navy for premium items at modest costs. If it allows you the opportunity to gain the joys of owning quality clothes without the guilt of spending big, you’d be a fool to miss out. On a similar note, if you are placing an order with a retailer, placing a bulk order with a friend may generate an added discount.

Opt for versatile options. Of course, one of the best ways to fill your wardrobe for less is to choose items that work with various outfits. Accessories should be top of your agenda, and these bags can be used to complement various outfits for multiple occasions. Couple this with a keen eye for practical footwear choices. You should find that you can look your best time and time again without the need for investing in dozens of options.

 Create your own style. Upcycling has become increasingly popular in recent times, especially with regards to fashion. This can be a great way to breathe new life into your wardrobe at a fraction of the costs. Moreover, it’s the ideal option for anyone looking to embrace their creativity and maintain their unique vibe. Use these simple guides for inspiration, and you will not go far wrong. It has to be better than throwing those items in the trash.

**This post has been contributed**

**Thanks for reading; you’re F.A.Bulous. 

A Fabulous South African Experience

Posted in Fab Travel by

Growing up watching Disney Channel Original Movies like “The Color of Friendship”, an emotional children’s film following the friendship of two girls, one white from South Africa, and one black from America; I never thought I would get the opportunity to visit the very place some of the movie chronicled.

Thanks to one of my very best friends, Jennifer, I had the chance to visit her while she completes a work project in South Africa, and live just a little like the friends in the movie.

Now when you think Africa, most people say The Lion King, safaris, and African tribes come to mind. That’s not at all the case for South Africa – Johannesburg at least. So what is South Africa really like? Amazing! But no, it’s probably not like what you think.

From 1948 to 1994, South Africa went through a period of segregation called Apartheid where whites, blacks, Indians, and Asians were all separated by hate. After years of sufferage, leaders like Nelson Mandela were able to break down barriers and create peace. The city of Johannesburg today is full of new developement, tall buildings, beeping cars, palm trees, and contrary to popular belief, sometimes snow!

I fully encourage travel, and traveling often, so if you’re considering a visit to South Africa, read on for some tips to make the most of your vacation.

Flight
If you’re in America, Africa is across some water and on another continent. Prepare for a LONG flight. Total, my flights were 19 hours including short layovers. Be sure to rest up, wear comfy clothes, and book a window or isle seat. The middle seat on long flights are the worst!

Money
In South Africa, you’ll pay with Rand, and you will be surprised by the exchange rates. Our dollar is worth more, so when shopping and buying food, you’ll feel rich! But be careful because it can be easy to just spend money since things are a little bit cheaper. To put it into perspective, a steak dinner, appetizers, drinks, and sides for 3 will likely be a little less than 50 US dollars. Be sure to bring cash and exchange your money at your hotel to avoid credit/debit card fees.

Safety
Because of the Apartheid, things aren’t all rainbows and sunshine. Like anywhere, there’s a fine line between safety and freedom. Ladies. Wear a purse that is not easily accessible for pick pocketors to get into. Small to mid-size sadle bags work well, so you can carry them close to your person. For men, a wallet that zips and fits in your front pockets may work best. You’ll also find that establishments close somewhat early compared to the US, so make plans accordingly and DO NOT take a taxi to reach your destination. Ubers and the train are the safest forms of transportation next to getting around by way of any locals you may know.

Activities
There’s so much to see and do! Here’s just a brief list:

  • Apartheid Museum (bring tissue, it’s quite sad, but a must-see to understand the culture)
  • Lion Park (you can actually interact with the animals – so cool!)
  • Lillies Farm (Nelson Mandela took refuge here)
  • Soweto (A colorful city in the midst of South Africa)
  • Shopping (there are several great malls including Sandton City and Rosebank)
  • Monte Carlo Casino
  • Fine Dining (try the ostrich and a restaurant called Moyo for live music and a welcoming African atmosphere)
  • Sunday Market (interact with the locals to purchase hand-made, authentic goods)

**Thanks for reading; you’re F.A.Bulous.