Joy

If you wanna look festive AF but still cute, then this is your outfit: jeans, booties, a red "Something" (I got a parka and a winter hat) and of course carry "Joy" with you!
Perfect for a Christmas picture card or just a festive picture profile, this look is one of my favorites.

 I did a similar one last year (Check the last picture) 

So this year I can't go thru Christmas without a picture holding my "JOY" Wreath!
Hope you are ready and happy for Christmas night!

Xo: Natalia.

Get the Look

Target Striped Top: ON SALE $9.80 Get it here

High waisted skinny jeans: Get it here

Red Hat: Similar here or here

Red Parka: Get it here and here

Booties: Vince Camuto $84.99 here or $20.00 similar here

GG Belt: Similar here and here

Crossbody purse: Similar here or here

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December 2017

Crepes, Downtown and No Cups for our Ice Cream

Hey loves! Happy Monday, although here in Annapolis we are having 2 days of rain, I had this pictures from a few weeks ago when I took my girls and me to a yummy brunch at Annapolis Downtown,  it was our first time eating at Sofi's Crepes, I can’t believe I've lived here for almost 15 years and I didn’t know about this place, a friend of mine told me and I wanted a day out at the downtown with my chicas, so we went hoping to have brunch and ice cream later.

We arrived and saw this cute little sign hanging from the wall and some cute red tables and chairs outside, it was a windy day, we got inside the little restaurant, we got greeted by very happy and polite workers, I ordered their Nutella crepes with bananas and strawberries inside,  I had this idea of "sweet crepes" only but then, while I was waiting for our sweet crepe;s another customer walked in and ordered a “savory crepe” and my eyes opened wide! I heard the words: Bacon, avocado, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream ... Omg, they were naming all my favorite ingredients there, all wrapped in a fresh and warm soft “and” crunchy crepe! It was too much for me, I had to try it! 

The crepes were to die for, my savory one, particularly, was freaking delicious and so filling, I barely finished it with the help of my girls, who literally licked the plate of their Nutella crepes and then helped me finish my “Bats Crepe”, even now, as I am writing about them I’m already planning when I am coming back! 

So if you are local you need to stop by. 

When we finished my girls still wanted to have ice cream, so we walked to the "Storm Bros. Ice Cream Factory", I’ve been there before, always crowded and the fact that they won't take credit cards is not my favorite but still, I thought going there since they were the closest to us at that moment, so we walked in and for my surprise there was no line.

Before ordering I talked to the girl who was working there and asked her if it was possible to order a 3 balls ice cream on their biggest waffle cone but to get 3 plastic cups and spoons too So I could share the ice cream with my girls?, she said: Yes, but I noted she was spaced out, like not paying me really attention, I didn’t think too much about it and went ahead and started ordering... by the time I had to pay I went to the ATM machine to get cash and then paid them and ask for my extra cups, she looked surprised and went to ask to a guy who was working behind her... he stepped in and told me that they are not allowed to give me more than 1 cup. 

-Perfect! Only that I asked the young lady FIRST and she said yes! 

-“Sorry,” they said “We can’t”

 -“But what if I pay you for the extra cups?” I REQUESTED, 

-“No, we can’t” they answered.

 I walked out so disappointed and frustrated. I’m fine following your stupid rules if you tell them to me, but I’m not fine with a terrible customer service from kids that obviously don’t want to do their jobs and are there to give a hard time to customers by not even paying attention to them.

If I knew about the “No extra cups rule” I would have ordered 3 separated balls for each girl in their cups, period, but I was told that I could get the plastic cups separated and I wanted a waffle cone and I didn’t want to eat the whole ice cream by myself but I guess that was too much to ask. 

Anyway, we ate the ice cream all while melting on our hands and sharing from the cone, so that was annoying, you never know who is gonna "help you" and what their mood or level of kindness is going to be, is unfortunate that kids that don’t have any interest in helping you have the ability to ruin what should be a good moment for you and your family. 

Definitely not coming back to Storm Bros. 

It was a horribly bad experience and good ice cream is easy to find in other places.

Please have people that at least pay attention to your customers when they get asked a question.

Luckily, not everything was ruined, we walked by the harbor and took pictures of us on a pretty mural by the customer service area, my babies and I loved Sofi's Crepes and later I learned that they have another location at Severna Park very close to my home, so yes, we went there too; last week, I ordered the same sweet Nutella Crepes for my girls and wanted the same Bats crepe for me, but unfortunately they didn’t have avocado at that time, so I just went for a classic ham and cheese, it was good, but I’m still mouth-watering thinking about the first one and yes, we are coming back for it probably next week! (This time no ice cream, thank you.)

Here are some pictures of our mommy and daughters date! 

Hope you like my little story (no plastic cups drama included)

My outfit and my girl's outfits will be linked down below.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Xo Natalia.

Get my Look:

My "Frutti Little Dress": ONLY $13.00 Get it here 

Similar dresses $53.56 here and $12.60 here

Shoes: Similar $117.99 here and $15.99 here

My Pineapple Earrings: ONLY $3.90 Get them here, similar $3.90 here and $14.40 here

Yellow Crossbody Handbag: Similar here, here and here

My girls outfits:

Sophia: 

Dress: Get it Here  ♥ Shoes: Similar here

Stella: 

Dress: Similar here or here  ♥ Shoes: Get them here

Victoria: 

Dress: Similar here or here  ♥ Shoes: Get them here

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Crochet Monokini & My 5 Tips when buying from Inexpensive Online Stores

If you followed me for some time now or had seen some of my posts on my Facebook or my Instagram you may have noted that I own a lot of bathing suits and many bathing suits thru the years mean a lot of money, but you may also now that I'm far away from being rich.
So? What is my answer? What is my secret? Good bargains and Inexpensive Online Stores.
Stores like Shein, Romwe, Zaful, E-bay or Amazon are my best friends when it comes to trendy clothes for less!
Yes, from time to time I will "indulge" and invest my money on a good famous brand fashion piece, but your girl has to make sure that this is a good timeless-classic piece that it's gonna last forever and even my grandchildren can use them one day, lol. So, it has to be a smart investment for it to make sense to pay full price. Things like my favorite Michael Kors Watch, my Rayban sunglasses or my adorable Badgley Mischka Stilettos  (that I will use pretty much with everything) are the type of fashion elements that I will spend money on once in a while and won't feel bad about it because trust me; they are worth it and they have been use a lot, Really a lot!
For the rest of my fashion purchases I will try to find a good bargain but still something cute and decent; I know, sometimes cheap is cheap, so yes, I had my bad experiences buying cheap stuff too, but for the most part I keep it real, simple and I learned to appreciate an inexpensive piece for what is good at: A seasonal trendy purchase.

That is the case with this awesome Monokini! ($11.00)
Yes, you heard me, only $11.00 and if you buy from Shein more than $50 the shipping will be free (and for $50.00 you can get A LOT of good things on their website), you just need to have patience and a good eye.
So, what you can get from an $11.00 bathing suit?
The bathing suits (And pretty much everything there) runs small, but that is not a surprise, still is very important to read the comments and the size charts, I am usually XS but for this bathing suit, I am wearing a Large. (all comments said it was really little, especially on the torso area), luckily I have a short torso, so it worked for me. Knowing your own body will take you far.
The color dyed bleed, just at the moment I wear it for the first time, the burgundy color from the spandex ran out to the crochet area when I got in the sea, Bummer! (I told myself: "It just costed $11.00) But luckily when I got home I put it in the washer machine with some vinegar added to the water and the problem was solved.
The crochet can get messed up, yes mine got tangled with something and a little piece got stuck, but again I saved it with scissors and a needle!
The cleavage, plunging-V neck was too deep, to me was too much, so I fixed the issue with a safety pin!
Other than that this little cute piece had survived its first appearance in public!
I got compliments with the pictures and in person nobody noted either the safety pin or the dye bleed, I was able to swim in the water and nothing else bad had happened.
If you asked me; my $11.00 are saved!
I got cute pictures, a fun day at the beach with my girls and I didn't have to spend a fortune on a crochet bikini (Similar expensive versions here and here)
I'd say is going to be keeper (like many other ones)
Just make sure when you buy from Cheap online stores to follow these 5 helpful Tips:
1- Have an open and understanding mind- You are only spending few bucks, you can't expect too much from them.
2- It will be a trend- So use it wisely when the trend is in and take many pictures for future memories.
3- Have handy some useful tools (and learn how to use them)- Things like safety pins, scissors and needles are any girls best friends.
4- Read the comments, reviews and look at the size chart carefully- But still even doing so try to have lower expectations.
And 5- Good luck! It's all about experimenting if you have some extra bucks willing to try for a trend, yes, you can fall, but also you could Fly!
xoxo Natalia.