Have No Fear: Secrets to Save Your Favorite Pair of Shoes, is HERE!

Okay, cheesy title, I know.

But to get this rolling, you must admit, you have that one pair of shoes that, no matter how much they cost you or where they came from... you cannot seem to give them up.

I have a pair, and I pretty much try to wear them everyday until my outfit decides otherwise.

Here's the catch: these shoes were on sale... at Target... for $11.99.

Yet, I cannot for the life of me get rid of them, or find myself to go out and buy a pair exactly like them.

They're simple, nude flats. You can get those just about anywhere, but for some reason, my $11.99 Wassio flats are my all-time favorite pair of shoes.

Yes, out of all my outrageous styles, my basic nudes are my favorite.

They go with literally everything. Any outfit, any occasion. When I don't feel like making a crucial outfit decision, I just turn to these babies... and they solve all of my problems!

I've only had these cuties for about 6 months, but they are a rather cheap-made shoe... so they're starting to catch a little case of "wear and tear."

Plus, sometimes I tend to walk like I'm walking on a road of peanut butter (ask my mom, she makes fun of me for it all the time).  Which when this occurs, I end up scratching and scraping the coating on my beloved flats.

This. Is. NOT. Happening.

I know that the day will come where I will have to trade in my bargain score for something a little more on the "quality" side, but for now, I've came up with a little trick.

Okay... maybe it isn't necessarily new, but it's definitely something worth sharing.

Drum-roll please...

Make-up for your face? Well, it can do a number on your shoes are well.

See below for the results:

BEFORE: Black marks, toe-dragging damage, etc... -__-





It's far from perfect, but this will give you the necessary temporary fix.

Now.. for the weapons..

 



Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation.  While this is my favorite foundation for obvious reasons (it's been voted the best foundation numerous times by multiple magazines), it is also perfect for nude shoes.

Granted, you kind of have to be semi-pale for this to work on your nude shoes... but hey, you can probably buy a cheaper Wal-Mart store foundation and that should do the trick!

It's shoe material, it will absorb it anyway no matter what the quality of the make-up.

But... say you aren't dealing with a nude shoe...

I've been through this a dozen times, I just switch weapons.

Black shoes? Eye-liner or a black Sharpie.
Any color of the rainbow? Colored markers or Sharpies.

Ghetto fixes I know, but hey, it's worth saving a pair of shoes if they really mean a lot to your wardrobe!

That's all my loves, have a fabulous day.



NYC: Hyatt Hits Harlem (Plus Other Miscellaneous Stops)

Hey ladies and gents! Took a slight week-long break from the bloggisphere, but I'm back. :)

 

Today, I ventured into a whole different borough, and one that does not exactly have a glowing reputation.

 

While I admit that there were parts I was not too fond of, overall it was a pretty awesome experience! Totally different than where I live, and to be honest, I wouldn't exactly want to live here. But it was definitely worth visiting for the day!

 

From church gatherings to finding the Apollo Theater, I found a lot while exploring today!

 

And I found, uhm, a lot of interesting people. One of whom was not pleased to be the star of one of my photos (yeah, I said that like my photos are uber popular or something, not what I meant).



 

 

When I first got off of the subway, I snapped this.

See, it doesn't look too bad... right?

This is super random, but I have been dying
to find a Taco Bell since I have arrived here.
No matter how many new places there are to
eat at around here, I'll always love T-Bell!

#Inspiration

The Apollo Theater! Apparently a lot of stars were discovered
here! I'll have to come back here to check out
a show, there was some event/
graduation-like thing going on!

I thought this was pretty neat! Jesus is everywhere
you go. :)

This wasn't really all that exciting. I heard music and
followed, but it wasn't anything interesting.

#DoTheHarlemShake

I might have to come back and try this place!
#SoulFood

ABC Studios, Upper West Side!

Trump International Hotel and Tower!

Dream engagement ring hot-spot!
#IWannaBeBlairWaldorf

Well, I found a $17,000 jacket I liked.
Maybe I'll put it on hold for like say, 30 years?

Hahaha.. I finally got caught creeping.
Don't worry, I didn't lose any limbs.

A big church gathering Harlem!
 

There's my day in Harlem! Next weekend, I'm thinking the Bronx :)

Much love! Thanks for reading.

To Splurge, or Not to Splurge: The Ulimate Girl Question

"But that dress is so perfect! It's so me, and I think it will be just the right thing to wear tonight."

*keyword: TONIGHT*

Ever bought an outfit, wore it once (for an event in which this outfit would only be appropriate for), and never thought twice about it again?

We've all been there. Saw something that we thought we just "had to have," and then put it in the pile of "only look at when desperate" clothes.

Well, I have a few questions to ask yourself to prevent this little disaster from happening in your life.

1) Ask yourself, "Would I wear this out with the girls?"

      - Chances are, if you won't wear it with the people who know you the best, you won't wear it anywhere. So skip over it, and maybe you'll find something that's really worth swiping your MasterCard.


2) Is it something that is versatile to all occasions?

     - Can you accessorize to make it appropriate for work, class, and a night out on the town? If so, then it's probably worth whatever it costs. Walk to the stores accessories section and see if you can transform the garment in more ways than one.


3) Do you really like it, or are just interested in it because it's "original?"

     - We all go through that phase where we don't want to be like anyone else. Good news for you: you aren't like anyone else. God designed you to be completely 100% unique.  So while I get wanting to have original style, don't buy a neon feather-covered jacket in the boutique window... just because no one else would dare to walk out in public in it.


4) Are you buying it because it's on sale?

     - I LOVE a good sale. Keyword: GOOD. Just because it's a sale, does not mean that everything on it is going to fit your wardrobe.  Some of those items are on sale for a reason.  They might be winter clothes (when it's just turned into summer), things that weren't popular with customers, or have a stain or a rip.  Granted, buying winter clothes during the summer is a way to get good deals, and stains/rips can be fixed... but do you really want to purchase cold weather clothing when you're in your Daisy Duke's and crop-top, and do you REALLY want to take about an hour or so out of your day dedicated to something that will probably cost more to fix than what it cost in the first place? (Case in point, I've been a victim a time or two of the word "sale.")

In the words of Lauren Conrad: "A bunch of small numbers combined lead to big numbers, so just because everything is on sale, does not mean you can avoid the $300 investment you might make on your 30 'sale' items."

Well, it was worded something like that, but you get the point.


5) Is it QUALITY, or are you buying for quantity?

      - The older you get, the more you will realize how much "quality" matters more than "quantity." It tends to be used when talking about friendships or even food, but it also applies to fashion.  It's okay to have those cheaper priced pieces to go along with your outfits, but just make sure that you have at least a good bundle of quality items to turn to when you're in a hurry. So, use your judgment on this one: do I have enough "quantity" to avoid this purchase?


6) "Oh, it's a current trend, I have to have it."

      - Ladies, trends come and go. And if you don't even like the trend? That's an even bigger problem. You'll just be stuck with something in your closet that you'll probably donate to Goodwill in a few months.  Make sure that it's a trend you are actually willing to follow, and aren't just going along with what is "mainstream" or "popular."


7) "My boyfriend likes me in this color."

     - Alright, this one is a little tricky, because it is important for you to wear what your boy-toy likes you in (sometimes).  Just make sure that it's not a case where he compliments a shirt you like, so you're only buying clothes in that color (it happens ladies, trust me).  Buy a few things that you think he might like you in, but the bottom-line is: if he doesn't think you're beautiful wearing a potato sack, he's not the guy for you.


8) "It's name brand! I can't just walk away."

     - Yes, yes you can. Just because something is name brand, does not mean that it's right for you. Size and versatility are important when considering to buy an expensive, name-brand item. Don't drop $100 just to buy a name, because chances are, about 30 minutes later you'll find an even better deal on something you actually wanted, that wasn't "name brand." I'm just saving you from the embarrassment and hassle of buying and taking back an item all in the same day (been there, done that, and it's a tad bit awkward).


9) "All my friends are wearing it!"

     - Take it from the girl who only owns one "Sinful" shirt, and avoided the purchase of cowgirl boots all through out high school living in a small-town. Granted, I did shop at the Buckle for awhile, but I eventually figured out that it wasn't really my style. I was into cheaper stores, with less "loud" options, such as Forever 21, Express, and Charlotte Russe.  Don't get me wrong, I think everyone that wears clothes from the Buckle looks pretty dang sharp, but it just isn't for me. So case in point, get your own sense of style, and avoid copying styles just to look "cool." You'll lose your own sense of originality.

10) "Hey, maybe I'll get invited to a *insert name of a random party/event that likely doesn't exist*
       and wear it then?"

    - Whether it's a "Happy Peacock Day!" or whatever random holidays the good 'ol US of A has to offer, chances are that their won't be a party for every single one unless you host it.  So, if the outfit is so out of the box that you won't be able to wear it to anything, think twice before purchasing it. (But hey, it never hurts to just have something cool to look at.)

There's my two-sense for the day. Hope it's beneficial to you all. :)

Much love, dream big.

NYC: Dumbo, Shake Shack, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier Walking, and More!

Hey there ladies and gents, hope you're having an exceptional evening! I just made it back to my apartment, after an extremely long day of exploring, taking pictures, and checking out some concerts! There were 1,500 concerts all across NYC today, via Make Music New York! So cool to see so many people attend these events, and the best part is... they are FREE. Not a lot of them were my taste, but it was still a pretty cool atmosphere (I.E.: I went to the Bargemusic... which is a boat on the Hudson River that holds concerts. A sign said "FREE CONCERTS, ALL DAY 3:00-9:00.. and the story is to follow.). I originally intended on going to Governor's Island to cover some concerts going on over there, but I got really lost, and figured "Hey, there's concerts going on here to, why not just check these out!?"

 

I walked into Bargemusic, and it was pure silence... except for the two violinists going to town on stage. Like I said, not my taste, but it was pretty cool to see people of all ages so engaged in the music.  I left shortly after, realizing that it was not the place for me, but hey, better to explore it than to never know! There were a few small concerts here and there along the pier, one at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and at some of the piers... from songs/poetry reading to just guys playing their guitars.  I checked out a little concert (little would probably be an overstatement) on Pier 3, on the Greenway Terrace.  It was definitely interesting, coffeehouse style music, so it was actually a real treat! I stayed, took a few photos of the people in the audience who looked all concert-ready (And by audience, I mean like 20 people, tops), and left shortly after. Bravo, band who's name I do not remember.

 

#SorryBoutIt

 

But anyway, I also kind of sort of made a little detour (eh, incorrect detour). I was trying to get to the pier on the Manhattan/Wall Street side of the Brooklyn Bridge to get on one of the ferries to Governor's Island.  I've been to the Brooklyn Bridge previously, so I figured, "Hey, I've got this. Put away the GPS." I started walking, and then I began to notice that I was the only person walking on this path.  There were wired fences here and there, but I didn't really put much thought into it.  I continued to walk, until this guy in a toll-like booth stopped me.  He then proceeded to tell me that I was on the grounds of a federal prison.

 

Check that one off the bucket list.

 

Jayy Fabulous: Criminal At Large... Crime? Walking on forbidden federal territory.

 

Luckily, the guy just laughed and pointed me in the correct direction to get to the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

But, unfortunately, he pointed me in the literal direction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and I was suddenly on another unknown path. But luckily... it was the actual Brooklyn Bridge, so I got to walk across it!

 

Now, I really checked that off of my bucket list.

 

Con to this little adventure: I lost track of the ferry that I was supposed to get on, and ended up missing the one that I originally intended to ride.

 

But, it's NYC: There's something exciting going on anywhere you turn.

 

Here's a few photos from my adventures today in the Big Apple!

 



 

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge! While it was rather
crowded, it is something EVERYONE needs to do at
least once. Incredible view, absolutely breathtaking!

Came across Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass)!
There were A TON of weddings going on, this was snapshot of one
of them. I. AM. A. WEDDING. FREAK.

The other side of bridge where I live.
And oh, a gorgeous carousel in the park!

I'll definitely have to come back over and go
kayaking! Looked like a total blast.

This is where I thanked God for bringing me to NYC (one of a
million thank you's these past few weeks).
Geez, can ya blame me?

You get the point. Lol. That city though >>>

Here is where I checked out a small concert!
(Don't ask me how long it took me to find the "granite
terrace"... I walked by it about 50 times.)

You know, just being a little narcissistic.
Selfie with my home at heart.

NOMMMM. NOMMMM. NOMMMM.
One of the many recommendations I've been given at work!
Definitely a must-go-to place in NYC.

That menu though >>>

Chicken Dog (this is not your average "hot dog," or else
I would not have touched it), some fresh hand-cut fries,
and a "Fifty-Fifty" (their own lemonade mixed with organic
tea... so refreshing).

A little replica of the Love Lock Bridge (in Paris).
Definitely something to add to the bucket list, so adorable.

Yeah, I know, I like weddings too much.
#CreeperStatus

Needless to say, it was a rather fulfilling day!

Butttttt.... still so much to see, and so much to do!

Keep dreamin', my loves.

You rock, all of you.

Wardrobe Wednesday :] (And Some Other "Goodies!")

Happy #WardrobeWednesday!

Hahaha, I love hashtagging even if it connects to absolutely nothing.

Work is fabulous, as always. Love my job and all that I'm learning!

But, I also just adore the extra perks that come along every now and then :)

See below for details:

Drew Barrymore just came out with this make-up line.
It's called "Flower," and it's pretty awesome!
Their strategy for making designer quality make-up for half the price?!
Skipping out on advertising, and focusing on the product... how cool is that?
The products are available at www.walmart.com, but....
Here's the actual site! :)
http://flowerbeauty.com/

 Now I guess I'll get onto the main theme of this post: #WardrobeWednesday :)

I didn't post a photo of my outfit today, as it was pretty Plain Jane, and I was looking slightly rough! Hey, we all have one of those days every now and then... right ladies? ;)

Check out a couple of my looks from this week! (See below) ;]

Monday!
Top: Forever 21
Leggings: Boy Meets Girl
Shoes: TJMaxx
Earrings: Buckle
Watch: Michael Kors
"J" Bracelet: Gift from my lovely Grandma :)
 



Tuesday!
Shirt/Dress: Forever 21
Skinnies: Charlotte Russe
Shoes: Target
Earrings: Target

 

I will admit, there are expensive pieces in my wardrobe, but there are so many good deals in there as well! I buy a lot of Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, and even venture out to Plato's Closet (when I'm in Missouri) every now and then.

 

Plus Target. If you don't have a love affair going on with Target, it's time to start.

 

 

It's probably the only place where you can get a whole outfit made of the latest trends, and then go get your groceries.

 

But, moving on, I haven't been feeling the best lately! Health-wise. I've been pretty exhausted and worn down, but tonight, I totally solved that problem....

 

Special delivery tonight from Mee Noodles :) (via Seamless)
THE BEST egg drop soup I have ever had, hands down.
Plus, NYC has a thing for egg rolls... they make them
better than anywhere else! SO GOOD. And in addition, I
also ordered an Iced Thai (Yes, NOT chai) Tea!

 

I'm so in love with this city.  Everything I could ever want and need is within a walking distance, or just a subway ride... how could you NOT want to live here?

 

For example, tonight I suddenly had this HUGE craving for ice cream (dairy-free, of course)...

 

If I were back in Missouri... this would be a struggle.

 

1) I would have to get back in my car and drive to the store.

2) The closest store that keeps dairy-free ice cream would probably take a little bit of time to get to.

 

Tonight, all I had to do was walk out of the door of my apartment building, take a right, an WAH-LA, there resides my favorite health food store.

 

Yeah yeah, I already know that ice cream is NOT a health food, but you get it.

 

See my point? This place has it all, and I'm not talking about just the food.

 

So come visit me, and maybe make yourself a nice little life out here. ;)

 

Dream big, my loves.

 

 



My Ultimate Playlist!

Tonight, as I was working on some projects at home, I discovered that I have a solid 20-30 songs that I have on rotation when I'm "in the zone," riding the subway, walking to work, or like I am right now... blogging.

I think we all have that "ultimate playlist." That list of songs that can match your every mood, emotion, or feeling you've ever felt.

I can't sing to save life, play an instrument for the life of me, but I LOVE music.

Alternative. Country. Rap. Hip-hop. Popular. Coffeehouse.

Minus blue-grass (which I actually do like... but ONLY when I'm at Silver Dollar City [Missouri, holla!])

But, just to keep this short and simple for tonight... I'm going to share with you my "ultimate playlist" of the moment! The songs tend to rotate every few months, depending on my interest, but generally it stays the same.

I'm a soundtrack kind of girl, so a lot of my favorite songs come from my favorite shows (Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, etc....).

Check some of them out! I like songs with meaning, so a lot of them are probably pretty heavy, but there's a few chillaxed ones mixed in.

Well, here it is, ladies and gents... my "ultimate playlist!" :)

1) "Feels Like Home" by Chantal Kreviazuk

2) "London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do)" by Heather Nova

3) "I Won't Give Up" by Jana Kramer

4) "Fire" by SoMo

5) "Love Money Party" by Miley Cyrus

6) "Halo" by Bethany Joy Lenz/Haley James Scott (My all-time FAVORITE song!)

7) "Kill" by Jimmy Eat World

8) "Hang With Me" by Robyn

9) "Ghost in the Machine" by B.o.B.

10) "On My Own" by Miley Cyrus

11) "Glamorous" by Fergie (feat. Ludacris)

12) "With Me" by Sum 41

13) "Whine Up" by Kat DeLuna (feat. Elephant Man)

14) "I Gotcha" by Lupe Fiasco

15) "Bad" by Wale (feat. Rihanna)

16) "Show Stopper" by Danity Kane

17) "Apologies" by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

18) "Love, Save the Empty" by Erin McCarley

19) "This is How We Roll" by Florida Georgia Line

20) "Cop Car" by Keith Urban

21) "The Queen and I" by Gym Class Heroes

22) "Good Day" by Nappy Roots

23) "I Feel it All" by Feist

24) "1901" by Phoenix

25) "Whatever You Like" cover by Anya Marina

26) "Kings and Queens" by SoMo

27) "My Prerogative" by Britney Spears

28) "Stay You" by Wood

29) "Stay Away From Me" by The Honorary Title

30) "Glad" by Tyler Hilton

Well, there's THE ultimate playlist. Okay, okay... maybe not THE ultimate playlist, but it is mine! I guess I can say that I'm more of an alternative fan than anything, but those are just the songs with the most... eh... substance?

That's all for tonight, have a great night loves.

Dream big, always.

"She turned her can't(s) into cans, and her dreams into plans."

NYC: All About Brooklyn Baby!

Well hey there readers, hope you have had a splendid Saturday! :)

I know I did! I'm extremely exhausted and famished, (I got so wrapped up in exploring that I forgot to eat, whoops) but it was an AMAZING day!

I took the subway all the way down to the Brooklyn Bridge City Hall, and pretty much just walked from there. I made my way from there to Wall Street, then to Chinatown, Little Italy, and then into Brooklyn Heights.

Then the most earth shattering thing happened... ready for this?

My. Phone. DIED.

Haha, okay, maybe not that's not worth the status of "earth shattering," but you get the point.

So naturally when this awful thing happens, I just find a Starbucks and plug my charger in and enjoy a nice soy chai...

Yeah, ha... this would have been great if ANY OF THE STARBUCKS STORES ACTUALLY HAD AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF PLUG INS AND SEATING.

I walked around aimlessly for a two solid hours trying to solve my dead phone problem, before I finally found one by Borough Hall.

So, don't worry ladies and gents, this girl saved her phone from dying. The Earth can now properly start rotating on its axis again.

But... I had a really awesome day to say the least! Here's a few photos from my day in the borough of Brooklyn. :)

A U.S. Court House next to Brooklyn City Hall.

Nah, I didn't tour this campus. They don't have anything I'm
super interested in for grad school, but it was a cool campus!

Urban Outfitters... 3 floors... pinch me!

Just a selfie with the Brooklyn Bridge. NBD. ;)

"You go, girl!"

The Brooklyn Bridge without my face. I know, the
other one is so much better. (kidding, people)

The Manhattan Bridge!

I <3 NY. I <3 Manhattan.

The heart of Chinatown. Such a neat experience!

Little Italy (right across from Chinatown), so adorable!

This is when I put on my big girl panties and ventured into
unknown territory.

Brooklyn Heights! Bill Cosby, where are ya?

1) Name spelt correctly and 2) A cute little smiley...
Starbucks baristas here are pretty much the bomb.com :)

Well, that's a wrap for today guys! It was a pretty sweet day. Next weekend I plan on touring some graduate schools for fashion merchandising/retail management, so stay tuned for my reviews on the ones I check out! :)

Much love, dream big.

"She turned her can't(s) into cans, and her dreams into plans."