Memories in Chi-Town!

So, I was cleaning out my computer and I found a bunch of old pictures that I took from when I was in high school. As I scrolled down, I started reminiscing about all of the awesome people that I have met along the way and all the places that I have visited especially throughout my college years and throughout my move to Omaha from Los Angeles. As I looked through each photo, a memory popped into my mind. All I could do was just smile or laugh because it felt so real and because some of the pictures were pretty funny. 

I don't know how long I have been taking pictures but I do know that it's been a while. I remember when I was younger my mom would take me after school to our neighborhood Save-On Drugstore, (now called CVS) to buy a disposable camera. Once my film was done, I loved seeing what my final images were going to look like when they got printed. Nowadays, I use a D-SLR camera to capture photos. I love taking snapshots of the different places that I travel to and also doing fun photo-shoots on friends!

Talking about traveling to new places, two weekends ago my boyfriend and I took a weekend trip to Chicago. It was our first time going and I was super excited because I had heard so many great things about it from friends and co-workers. I had researched on Yelp, asked friends for suggestions, and even read some local newspapers/magazines about sights to check out in the Windy City. 

Below are some of the highlights from our trip!

This was a mural that I saw as we drove through one of the neighborhoods when we first arrived to Chicago.

During our trip we stayed at the Hampton Inn Chicago- North Loyola Station Hotel. I really enjoyed staying at this hotel because it was located right outside Loyola University Chicago campus. There were restaurants and other little shops that were walking distance, which made it super convenient. We also figured out that the train station was also walking distance. We purchased a CTA Ventra card which cost about $10-$28 depending if you want a 1 day pass, 3 day pass, or a 7 day pass. We decided to get a 3 day pass since that was about how long we were gonna stay. 

Before we hopped on the train, we stopped by Giordano's Pizzeria to try out their stuffed, deep-dish pizza. My boyfriend and I ordered our own individual 6" pizza. My first thought when I first saw them was that they looked super cute because they were small but after the first bite I was pretty mind blown. The ingredients were super fresh and the taste was just so delicious! It was cheesy and rich in flavor. One individual pizza is definitely enough to fill you up and keep you going. 

One of the first stops that we made on the train was to Wrigley Field. As many of you know, the Chicago Cubs won the MLB World Series this year, so it was pretty cool to actually be there and see banners with the words, "Fly the W" hung from people's windows and vendors outside the stadium selling all sorts of Cubs gear. 

Had to take a selfie with my boo outside of the stadium! Making those memories last!

Our next stop was the famous, Arts Institute of Chicago. One of the things I didn't know about this museum is that it's mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret works of art from across the globe and that their collection comprises of approximately 300,000 works of art. Upon researching this place, I also learned that the Arts Institute of Chicago is ranked 6th in the "Best art museums in America", Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City ranked as number 1 on the list. 

As we walked around the museum we passed through an exhibition that focused on Japanese print making and had sculptures of traditional, Japanese deities. From one room to the next there were giant displays of art work that focused on different cultures from around the world. I enjoyed learning more about the African culture as well as Native American culture. As we continued walking around the first floor, we passed by an area that exhibited different interpretations of Buddha that came from the Himalayas and South East Asia. 

Although we didn't get to finish checking out the other two floors due to time, we both really enjoyed visiting the Arts Institute. This will definitely be on our "to-do" list the next time we go back.

Our last stop was Millennium Park. I had heard so much about Millennium Park previously from friends that it felt so surreal actually being there and taking pictures with the giant bean. At first I didn't know where it was but when I found it I screamed with excitement. ha-ha 

I can now see why this is a "must do" whenever you visit Chicago. I mean it's pretty breathtaking even at night. 

Cheesing it up in front of Cloud Gate (aka the bean)!

Once sun down hit, all the lights from the sky rise buildings started to illuminate the city. It was as if you were watching a light show and then suddenly everything just lit up all at once.

As we walked around town finding our way back to the train station, I couldn't help but stop and look up at the buildings. I had told my boyfriend to look up and see what I saw seeing. We stood side by side hugging as we enjoyed that precious moment. 

Can't wait till we plan our next trip back to Chicago! 

Have you been to Chicago? What was your favorite part of being there? Share with me on the comments below.

Until next time,

Fati <3

Denim Jacket Days

There's something special about my denim jacket. I don't know if its because I found it in a thrift store and it was a perfect find or maybe because I have always wanted something that I could personalize. All I know is that its an item that I enjoy wearing. 

One of the things I love about it is the wide pockets it has. There are some denim jackets that I've tried on that have pockets but are cut too short that I could barely fit my hands in them. I also love the fact that it's not too big nor too small that I can layer it with a cardigan or a hooded sweater for whenever it gets cold outside. 

I also started adding lapel pins that bought from local artists and had one of my artist friends add one of his screen print designs on the back, to give it a more personalized touch. Whenever I wear this jacket I look back at the times when I would be walking around LA and I would see the punk guys and girls with their studded denim vests or leather jackets filled with different kinds of patches from their favorite bands or group. I was amazed at how bad-ass it looked and how much I wanted one. I don't know if I consider myself a punk but I like the fact that I can customize my own item and express myself with it wherever I go. 

Get The Look:

T-Shirt- Mis Nopales

Jeans- Old Navy

Shoes- Kmart

Purse- Angela Roi

"Freedom Kahlo" Lapel Pin

California Dreamin' Lapel Pin

Shannon and the Clams Button

Is there an item that you enjoy wearing or that you have customized? Share about it with me below!

Until next time,

Fati <3

Yellow Knits and Polka Dots

I've been really drawn to the vibrant colors that fall brings. Ever since I started taking a Principles of Fashion class this semester at the local community college, I have been learning a lot about how fashion has evolved throughout the different eras as well as the importance of color(s) on an outfit. I usually use Instagram as my source of inspiration since I am more of a visual learner. I've been checking out some of the outfits that style bloggers and other people have come up with and I've been seeing that mustard yellow is a really popular color in the fall as well as beige, gray, and black and white stripes. Not to mention long-sleeve flannels and knitted sweaters which are also really popular. 

Below are some photos of my outfit of the day!

If you were to ask me Fati, how do you usually decide what you're going to wear? I would probably tell you... I decide what I am going to wear based on the weather because sometimes you just never know what it's going to be like.

Like today for example, it was a bit warmer than usual so I decided to go with my polka dot skirt that I found at the Goodwill. To go along with the skirt, I threw on my mustard yellow, knitted sweater that I had bought at Target. It definitely made my outfit pop more cause of the color. If it's a cold day, I would wear a pair of colored or regular black tights, a blouse underneath my knitted sweater, and possibly a scarf to keep me warm. 

For shoes, well that was a bit of trial and error. I don't know if this happens to you but I usually wear a different shoe on each foot to decide which one would go well with my outfit. It's pretty funny walking around the house with un-matching shoes especially when you're about leave the house with two different shoes on. I went with my black oxford shoes from Franco Sarto.

Last but not least, I brought out my red Angela Roi purse. You've probably seen me feature this purse in a couple of my previous style posts. It's one of my favorite purses that I have because its small and you can either hold it as a clutch or as a side purse. 

I think no matter what you wear the process of dressing up is always fun. Do you have a favorite fall-inspired outfit or item of clothing that you usually wear during the fall? Share it with me below!


*Photos courtesy of Daniel Narez


Until next time,
Fati <3

Stylish Sundays

There's something special about fall. I don't know if its because of all the brown, mahogany, and light orange colors that I see or the smell of pumpkin spiced lattes now in season but it definitely brings out the beauty in nature and in style. 

This weekend I decided to personalize my style with some fall inspiration! Below are some photos of my outfit of the day.

The blouse that I am wearing has been one of my favorite items to wear and I got it at Target. I know Target isn't a designer brand but they have been coming out with some cute clothes for an affordable price. One of my favorite things about this blouse is the mandala inspired designs and bright colors it has. I don't really have any blouses that are coral so this was a great addition to my clothes collection. I also like the way that I could wear this blouse to work or even wear it on a nice date night with my boyfriend. As some of you know I love wearing denim jackets and cardigans and this blouse goes great with both! 

Since I decided to go for more a more darker look, I went with a pair of black, Refuge high top jeans that I bought from Charlotte Russe and broke into my new pair of Franco Sarto shoes that I bought at DSW. Lastly, I couldn't leave the house without a pair of dangle earrings and bit of black cherry lipstick.

Shop the Look:
Blouse- Women's Ruffle-Trim Flounce Tank

Shoes-Franco Sarto Pecos Oxfords

Jeans- Refuge Jeans

Lip Color- Milani Black Cherry



*Photo credit: Daniel Narez



Until next time,
Fati <3

Go Blog Social- Des Moines 2016

Two weekends ago I took a mini adventure and drove two hours north of Omaha to a city called Des Moines, Iowa for my second Go Blog Social conference. In case you've never heard of Go Blog Social, it's a digital community and conference that provides bloggers, entrepreneurs, and people who are interested in learning more about the social and creative industry ways on how to grow their brand/business and also a way to connect with other like-minded individuals and gain the tools needed to grow. 

Seeing how I had an amazing time attending Go Blog Social's blogger conference in Kansas City last year, I thought it would be great to see what this year's conference was going to be about. The conference was a two-day event; Friday and Saturday and was held at a local hotel called, Hotel Renovo.

Since there was going to be a networking event on Friday, I thought it would be cool to check it out so, I packed up my luggage and headed towards Des Moines. I was nervous but excited to go.

Arriving at Hotel Renovo I felt lost because there were so many people hanging around the lobby and bar area that I didn't know where to go. From left to right I saw people getting their hair braided, making flower crowns, getting henna done, taking pictures in the GBS photo booth, and even getting a bra fitting with a company called Peach. Since I went by myself and I didn't really know or recognize anyone from Omaha, I decided to roam around and check out some of the different stations they had. 

Essential Oils by Alex

It felt kinda weird going up to people and introducing myself but I guess that's the purpose of a networking event, to be able to meet someone or a group of people and share what your passions are. I met a few girls who were locals from Des Moines and they recommended me some cool places to visit while I was in town. We also got to exchange business cards and we each shared a little bit about ourselves. I'm happy I was able to get out of my comfort zone and not let my shyness get in the way of meeting new people, I feel like that's always the hardest part when going to a social event. 

At the end of the night, I ended up getting a henna creation by the fabulous Rayna from Rad Henna and even got to make my own flower crown with the help of CamBam Custom Floral! 

Henna creation by RAD Henna

Selfies with Holly from Style From the Sticks!

I couldn't leave the event without taking a picture in the photo-booth. Don't we look cute!?

Sienna from Style By Si and I at the GBS photo-booth!

Saturday was part two of the Go Blog Social event which was conference day. As I walked in the hotel one of the interns that were helping out handed me a gift bag, which I was excited to open later! The conference took place in a big meeting room where they had rows and rows of chairs that everyone could choose where to sit at. As I found my spot I was really looking forward to seeing who the speakers were. I had my notebook and pen handy to take some good notes!  

The morning kicked off with a warm welcome from the Go Blog Social team who are, Kathryn and Sarah; the co-founders, Katelyn who is the sponsorship director, and Sara who is the events coordinator. 

They gave us a quick run through of the days itinerary and introduced the first speaker who was Katie Patterson, CEO and Founder of Happy Medium.  Happy Medium is an advertising agency located in Des Moine, IA that focuses on providing creative services for brands and businesses. Katie spoke about The Journey of Entrepreneurship and shared about her life experiences in being a CEO. She talked about getting comfortable with uncertainty and how to get through those moments where you feel like you can't do it anymore and how to better prepare yourself and plan for those moments.

She also covered some helpful tips that I thought were pretty beneficial when using social media:

• Don't make your personal page your business page, it's not a great user experience.
• Use more visual posts such as videos, photos, designed graphics = better performance
• Depending on which social media platforms you use, don't over use images. Spread your postings out a couple of days or so for your audience.

She covered a lot of other great information, but those were some take-aways that stood out to me. 

The second speaker was Cassandra Monroe who is a freelancer/stylist and covered the topic of Pitching and Freelance Opportunities. She started her career in the military working in public affairs and then transitioned to freelancing in photography and blogging. She also mentioned that while she was deployed, she was a food stylist for a company called Mittera and is/was also a writer for an online magazine called, The Everygirl. 

Cassandra shared insight on how to brand yourself and what goes into creating a good pitch. Some take-aways I got from her were:

• Jump on opportunities or create them. Partner with someone and create something.
• Build a network. Make friends with people who are in the industry, network with other freelancers.
• Make your pitch standout to brands/business marketers.
• BE GENUINE, be honest with yourself and with your client.

As the morning continued, it was time for a mini break. I decided to meet up with some of the girls I had met on Friday and catch up. Next to the room we were in, some of the vendors that were at the hotel on Friday were there again on Saturday doing bra fittings and selling wall decorations. We decided to check it out. 

Peach hosting bra fittings and making you feel fabulous!

Cute pillows and wall decorations from Walls Need Love

Girl gang!

As our mini break was over, we returned to our seats and got to listen to Lauren and Austin Day cover Photo Styling and Photography Tips. 

During this presentation I felt as if I was back in my old photography class because they covered some basic photography lingo like aperture and shutter speed. They also gave helpful tips on what to look out for when styling an object or how to find the right lighting and mood when doing a photo-shoot. They even showed us a presentation of various shots that they took around their studio.

After the presentation was done, it was time to break out for lunch. Yay!! Food!! Lunch was provided by a new upcoming restaurant in Des Moines called Goldfinch.They had mini sandwiches, salad, and freshly made cookies which were pretty delicious!

After lunch, it was time for the last three speakers of the day. Bevin Mugford from Peach Company presented on Pursuing Your Passion In a Creative Industry. She and two other women on her team started off by introducing themselves and sharing a little bit about what made them want to be part of Peach. Peach is a startup bra business located in Boston that was created to inspire women to feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. They have personal stylists to help you find a perfect bra that fits your needs and lifestyle. Bevin spoke about the ABC's of confidence and how to use action, bounce, and connect to access it.

Here are some take-aways that I took from her presentation:

• Confidence is actually in the body. It's not something you are given but a practice, it's a process.
• ACT- a mixture of ambition and doubt which is something we face in our minds. Biggest tip is to build knowledge to get to your action step/goal.
• BOUNCE- although you will get more closed doors than opened ones, look for the crack instead of the wide door. Don't let "NO" get to you.
• CONNECT- Share vulnerability with someone to help restore you. 

Once Bevin's presentation was done it was time to present the last two presenters. One of them was Karla Walsh from Meredith Corporations who presented on Digital Strategy & Social Media and the other was a local Omaha blogger, Sara Sabaliauskas from Sabby Style who presented on, From 9-to-5 to Full- Time. I wasn't able to get as much notes as I wanted to but I definitely learned a lot about how stay connected with my audience and share my story. 

After a long day of networking and learning, the day had finally come to an end. The GBS team stood in front of the room and thanked everyone for coming to their event. I had said my see you laters to the group of girls that I had met and was back on the road to Omaha.

Looking back at this event, I gotta say I had an amazing time. I really enjoyed connecting with people from different parts of the Midwest and also gained so much helpful information.

 If you are new to the blogging world or are an active blogger, I highly recommend attending this blogger conference or any other blogger conference out there. It's fun and definitely worth going. Thanks again Go Blog Social for hosting this great event! Hope to see you next year!

Until next time,

Fati <3