Stylish Sundays (A Monday Re-cap)

Hello friends! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I finally had the chance to watch the new Star Wars: The Force awakens. It was a really great movie! I liked the fact that they brought out some of the old Star Wars characters like Chewbacca and Han Solo and they introduced Rey, who is played by Daisy Ridley as the new female Jedi (in the making). She was pretty badass!

Some of the style trends that stood out to me throughout the movie were: knee high boots, brown satchel or messenger bags, infinity scarves and bomber jackets which were mainly worn by the rebel alliance. Seeing how I was inspired by all this, I put together my own rebel outfit!

I had bought this pink moto jacket with faux leather sleeves from H&M not too long ago and thought it went well with the look I was going for which was, rebel chic! I don't own a lot of pink items but this is one of my favorites. The material is pretty sturdy and fits really well. I added a pair of black jeans to give it that consistency in color and completed the outfit with a pair of knee high boots from Ann Taylor, that was given to me for Christmas. It's a simple look that you can wear anywhere!

Check out the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens, in theaters near you! :)

May The Force Be With You!

*(Star Wars image courtesy of Google)


From LA, With Luv
Fati <3

Happy Travels!!

The New Year means setting new goals, trying new things, and discovering new ways to experience life to the fullest. The other day one of my co-workers had asked me what my New Year's resolution was. I didn't know how to answer that question since there is always something that I want to accomplish. But then I told her that one of my resolutions for this year is to travel more and get to know more about the Midwest. I've been living in Omaha, Nebraska for about 3 years now and there are places that I have not had the chance to visit. But luckily, road trips are always a fun option for a weekend get-away! 

One of the things I love about road trips is being able to see the changes in scenery. Like when you're leaving Omaha for example, you go from city-scape to rural real quick. There are a bunch of farms, ongoing corn fields, random cows roaming around, and at times you get those random billboards promoting adult stores that makes you wonder why the heck they have them in the middle of know where. Beats me. 

Road trips are also an opportunity for me to take pictures and capture moments because who knows when I'll be back. With that said, here are a few highlights from a trip my boyfriend and I took before the New Year:

One of the places my boyfriend and I visited during our road trip was to St. Louis, Missouri. My boyfriend seemed pretty excited to show me around since he travels there for work sometimes. Although we didn't get to walk around St. Louis as much due to time, we did get to pass by Gateway Arch which is located in the Downtown area. Gateway Arch is about 630-feet tall and is known as the tallest man-made national monument in the United States. From what I've read online, you're able to take a trip to the top of the arch and experience an unforgettable view of the city and of the Mississippi River. I wasn't able to get a closer look of the arch due to all of the construction going on but it was still an amazing sight to see! 

As much as we wanted to stay in St. Louis, we filled up the tank and we were back on the road to our next stop...

4.5 hours later we had finally arrived in Nashville, Tennessee. All that driving made us both really hungry so we searched on Yelp to find what was close to us. My boyfriend's cousin had recommended us to try The Loveless Cafe. 

We were a bit confused as to where the cafe was located since there were three buildings on the same area. As we walked to the middle of the parking lot, we found the cafe! It was inside a white-colored country home that had a neon sign brightly lit with the words "OPEN". As we entered I was amazed by all of the photographs that hung on the wall of famous country singers and Hollywood actor/actresses. They also had a cute fireplace that had stockings hung from atop. There were so many things to look at that by the time the waitress came by, I hadn't taken pictures!

As the waitress walked us to our seats, I felt the biggest smile on my face because the cafe was so cool. The walls had colorful art pieces hung, the place mats had a crossword puzzle and a snippet about the Loveless Cafe, and even the bathrooms had a touch of retro style to them. As our waitress came by to take our order we each decided to try the sweet tea and their fried chicken salad. As she was about to enter our order she asked if we wanted to try their famous home made biscuits. My boyfriend and I looked at each other and said "Yes!". 

Once the waitress came back with our food all I could say was, Oh My Gosh!!! The food here is amazing! The sweet tea was not too sweet or bitter, the fried chicken salad was a mouthful of heaven, and the biscuits...the biscuits were phenomenal. (No exaggeration here). My boyfriend and I were both surprised at how good it was! As soon as our to-go boxes came and we paid the bill, we thanked the waitress for her recommendation and continued our adventure, with full stomachs. If you're traveling to Nashville I highly suggest checking out The Loveless Cafe! You won't regret it!

As soon as we left the cafe, my boyfriend asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to walk around Broadway Street because that was where all the country bars were. I'm not  big into country music but it would be fun to see what it was all about!  

As we reached Broadway Street, we were stunned to see how lively this place was. Every bar had a band or two performing. We didn't think there were many people in the bar because from the outside it looked empty but once you passed by them you can see people jamming out. There were also street performers singing and dancing as we walked passed them. It was pretty groovy!

We even found the Johnny Cash Museum which I was super excited about!!

Our time in Nashville was a great success! Even though we only saw a small portion of the city, we really enjoyed what we saw. I love how everything is influenced by history and music. Good times in Music City! 

As soon as we arrived to the car, my boyfriend entered the address to our final destination and we were back on the road. 3.5 hours later we arrived in Atlanta, Georgia! Yay!

As we entered Atlanta, we began to see tall skyscrapers and buildings emerging. A sudden feeling of nostalgia hit, as they passed. It reminded me of when I was back home in Los Angeles and how my mom used to drive my younger brother, sister, and I through the city to get to my grandma's house. I would just stare up from my window; looking and trying to figure out how high the buildings are. It was a feeling of happiness and awe. 

Our first stop was to the magical World of Coca Cola, located in Permberton Place, in Downtown Atlanta. There were so many people standing and walking around taking pictures! Since the line to enter was huge we decided to walk through the Cola-Cola gift shop instead. 

As we walked to the entrance, we spotted this giant Santa Claus ornament. It reminded me of the holiday Coca-Cola commercials where they have the Santa Claus or the polar bear take a sip of a refreshing bottle of coke. It was definitely a Kodak moment!

As soon as we walked in, we saw people left and right searching and buying unique Coca-Cola logo items. There were these giant plastic bottles that you can use as a piggy bank, they had oven mitts, retro inspired bags, baseball caps, and so much more. 

There were so any things that I wanted get, it was too hard to choose. I ended up buying some retro Coca Cola postcards, a pair of earrings, and a Coca Cola athletic jersey for my brother. (Shhh it's a secret! :)) One of the funny things that I saw was that whenever someone added a mystery bag to their order, the employees rang a bell and cheered for them. We had a really great time!

At the end of that adventure, we decided to explore more of Permberton Place and see what else we could find. Right across the street from where we were was Centennial Olympic Park: Home to the 1996 summer Olympic games, in Atlanta. This 21 acre-park is known for it's legacy for hosting this historic event, and for revitalizing residential and commercial development in Atlanta. I was just amazed at how beautiful this park is and how much history it has just by looking at the engraved bricks on the walkway. 

After a long day of walking around and exploring, it was time to have dinner. My boyfriend contacted his cousin who lives in Georgia and he suggested that we try a popular burger joint in town called, The Vortex. The name sounded pretty intense but we gave it a go! 

The Vortex is located in a neighborhood called the Little Five Points, which is about 10-15 minutes from Downtown. We definitely had no trouble finding the place, as you can see! The Vortex is known to have the "Best Burgers" and is ranked as "One of the Top 50 Restaurants Atlanta." My boyfriend's cousin suggested that we read the history and rules which were located behind the menu. The "Idiot-Free Zone" made me laugh. They sure got jokes! There were so many things that were unique about the place like the decorations which (a mix of antiques and other things), the giant motorcycle that was hung above the bar area, the mini medicine shot cups, and of course the delicious food! Since there's a bar, you have to 21 years old or older, to enter. 

As we slowly finished our final bites of yummy goodness we decided to go for a walk and see the last bits before the long voyage back. What I loved about Little Five Points was that it brought out the artistic culture. It had a variety of local vintage shops, boutiques, coffee and record shops, and a mini hang out spot for street performers. It was great way to end an adventure-filled day.

As we started to head back, I pulled out my camera and skimmed through all the pictures I took. It reminded me of how awesome it was to be able to plan a road trip with my boyfriend and be able to visit places that we've never been. This trip was filled with lots of sight-seeing, picture taking and delicious food, and was a weekend filled with happiness and travel adventures! 

Until next time!

From LA, With Luv
Fati <3

Stylish Sundays

It's Stylish Sundays and I wanted to share with you all this awesome, Von Dutch pinstripe Twill jacket that I had bought at a vintage shop a few months ago! It was definitely a great find because I don't think they make 'Von Dutch' items anymore. If you've never heard of Von Dutch, here's a quick history lesson for ya!

During the mid-fifties, Kenny Howard, a motorcycle mechanic found a way to use pinstriping, a form of freehand painting of fine lines in a symmetrical motif; as a way to customize hot rods and motorcycles. He used this type of art style as a form of expression and as a way to popularize and create a certain type of look and lifestyle called Kustom Kulture. 

"These 'pinstripes' were a distinctive feature of 1950's bodywork in the USA, and over time have become a traditional ingredient of Kustom Kulture."

Kustom Kulture is a movement that spread throughout the US and brought together the whole culture of hot rodding, rockabilly music, customized automobiles and pin ups. It reflected a certain type of style that Kenny Howard reflected through his artistry. Overtime, he had become a successful pinstriper, customizing and painting all kinds of vehicles that he gave himself the name "Von Dutch", which means "stubborn as a Dutchman." Pretty cool huh?

I remember when I was in middle school, people in school started wearing Von Dutch items like the trucker hats with his signature flying eye ball logo as well as t-shirts and leather wallets. There was also a Von Dutch store at the mall which was pretty neat...

Anyways, back to the jacket! I love the unique way the pinstripe look throughout the jacket and the way it is finely embroidered front and back. The twill material is sturdy and easy to wear.Also, the combination of red, white, and blue go really well together. It's these little details that make it look even more authentic. Although this is originally a men's jacket, it was a perfect fit. I thought it would be pretty fun to style it up and see how I could wear it!

For my outfit: I went with a simple, black, band shirt, a pair of blue Dickie jeans and of course my favorite pair of shoes, Chuck Taylors. I think the jacket made a statement for itself so I didn't wanna over-do it with the outfit. Plus, I felt kinda like a greaser girl with my hair up in a pompadour and my jeans cuffed at the bottom. Grease Lightening!!!

Who knew wearing a vintage Von Dutch jacket would be so much fun and bring back many memories! What's your favorite vintage piece you've found!?

*Facts courtesy of http://www.vondutch.fr/en/

Until next time!

From LA, With Luv

Fati <3

Frida is my Homegirl! Halloween Inspiration

Happy belated Halloween everyone! I hope everyone had a spooktacular time, I know I did! For some reason, this Halloween was a tough one for me. I couldn't decide what I wanted to be. People would ask me, "So Fatima, what are you planning on being this Halloween?" and I simply didn't know. I remember I had told my boyfriend one day that I wanted to be Batgirl and then the following day I told him that I had decided to be Selena... oh, the struggle (nah just kidding!). 

But seeing how I'm learning to live on a budget and didn't wanna spend a ton of money on a costume that I probably wouldn't wear until next Halloween, I decided to search through my closet and on Google to see what I could put together. And without a doubt, Frida Kahlo was my inspiration! :)

You're probably asking yourself, Who is Frida Kahlo and why is she important to know? 

Here are a few fun facts about her:

• Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits, pain and passion, and bold, vibrant colors. She is celebrated in Mexico for her attention to Mexican and indigenous culture(s) and by feminists for her depiction of the female experience and form.  

• At the age of 6, Frida contracted polio which affected the use of her right leg. It made it weaker and smaller than her left so she wore long skirts to cover it. She was also involved in a tragic accident while on the bus where she suffered serious injuries and had to be in a full body cast for three months. 

• While her recovery, Frida began to paint as a way to cope with the pain and immobility. This is where she began to paint her first series of self-portraits.

• In total, Frida Kahlo has made about 143 paintings, 55 which are self-portraits.

• Frida is the wife of Mexican painter and muralist, Diego Rivera. 

I didn't choose to dress up as Frida Kahlo because it was an easy costume to put together, I chose Frida because of the beauty she portrayed through her paintings and drawings. A few of the things that caught my attention as I skimmed through Frida's self-portraits were the different types of clothing and outfits she wore in order to hide her surgical scars. She wore a variety of finely embroidered Tehuana blouses and dresses to show her appreciation and influences in la cultura indigena (Indigenous Mexican culture). She also wore long skirts, corset-style tops, boots, bold-colored jewelry, and of course her signature flowers in her hair. 

Below are some of the items I was able to find and put together!

Outfit: For the outfit I had wore a Tehuana dress that I found at Goodwill a few months ago. I paired it with a pair of army green jeans and black booties from H&M. 

Accessories: I wore my black and gold tassel earrings that I bought at a local store in Lincoln, Nebraska called The Black Market Clothing and combined it with a black and gold necklace. Since I didn't have time to make a flower crown I made a quick trip to Walgreens and bought one for $2.00. But if you want to make a flower crown, there are a lot of neat tutorials on Youtube or Pinterest to check out. And as for the scarf and the red flowered necklace, those I had for a while. One of my friend's let me borrow the book and paint brush.

I wore this costume to work on Thursday and everyone loved it! One of my co-workers had nominated me to be part of the company costume contest and guess what!? I won!! 

I had a great time putting this costume together and learning more about Frida Kahlo! 

Who is your costume inspiration!?

*Frida Kahlo facts courtesy of Fridakahlo.org

From LA, With Luv

Fati <3

Fall Fun At Vala's Pumpkin Patch

If you were to ask me what my favorite season is and why? I would tell you it is fall because I love seeing the different colors on the leaves and the way they change from being bright green to different types of reds, browns, and oranges. I also love the smell of apple and pumpkin pies being baked and the delicious aroma of pumpkin spiced lattes being brewed from nearby coffee shops. It's an amazing time to be around and experience it all in the good ol' Midwest.

One of the cool things about living in the Midwest is being able to check out the different pumpkin patches and corn mazes there are. In the spirit of Halloween and in celebration of fall, my boyfriend and I decided to take a spontaneous adventure to check out Vala's Pumpkin Patch which is located 24 minutes out of Omaha in a town called Gretna.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch kinda reminds me of Knott's Berry Farm (a theme park located in Buena Park, California) in a way because of all the old fashioned decorations such as old stagecoaches, barns, and people dressed up as outlaws and cowboys. There is also a wide range of activities to do with the family such as corn mazes, pony rides, a petting corral, apple slingshot and pumpkin air cannon, Pigtucky Derby pig races, and much more. There are also little shops located throughout the farm where you can buy locally made jams, jellies, candy, and kettle popcorn which is simply delicious!

As we walked throughout the farm, we spotted this giant Teepee made out of cornhusks, it was pretty awesome to see. I wonder how long it took to make!

We even visited the petting corral and got to feed a camel. Guess what day it is!? I don't think he got the joke. :)

I thought this pumpkin would be pretty light to carry but nope! It was pretty heavy. 

Waiting for the witch to come back to cast a spell!

You know, just us having fun!

Our time at Vala's was pretty amazing! There were so many things to see and do that we didn't realize what time it was. My favorite part of the day was spending time with my boyfriend and trying out some refreshing apple cider after a long day of walking and doing activities!

If you haven't had a chance to stop by Vala's, not to worry they will be open from now till the end of October!

For tickets and information:
http://www.valaspumpkinpatch.com/

Until next time!


From LA, With Luv
Fati <3