Visiting Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Now that we are fully into the summer season, there are so many things to see and places to go! Last weekend, I visited Brooklyn's Botanical Garden and it was truly a beautiful place to visit. On Saturdays and Sundays, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens' admission is free before noon, after noon it is the regular admission fee of $12. 

If you are a person who loves spending time taking in nature, an artist who loves to draw, or a person who prefers to have lunch outdoors, this is a great place to do that. 

Here, you could find many different types of small plants and trees. You can also see Mother Nature's animals at their best. There I saw chipmunks and different species of birds, and insects. Oh how I hate the insects! I actually got stung by a bee on this visit! This experience only supported my dislike for insects even more. But hey! It's life! I think the bees were attracted to my perfume and bright colored skirt. Despite that incident,  I sat on one of the benches that were available and took that time to reflect on my life and life goals. 

With the hustle and bustle of New York City, its important to take the time out to self reflect, find your inner peace, and notice the true beauty of the wild life around us.  

I had fun that morning at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. There is so much there to see. I didn't include any pictures of the various gardens because I would like you to experience it yourself.  

Thanks for reading!

Xoxo,

Monique 

Shirt: Gap | Skirt: HM | Shoes: Ann Taylor | Necklace: HM  (similar) | Handbag: Dooney and Burke (similar)

White Outfit

Happy Friday! I just want to share my outfit from Memorial day with you.

White...White... Gray for memorial day! I hope you all had a great Memorial Day! For me it was pretty relaxing. I really didn't do anything special but hang out with family. So on the last day of the four day weekend, I decided to let the day take me wherever it wanted. 

That day I decided to wear white on white on gray. To be honest with you, I wanted to wear ALLLLLLL WHITE but I decided against it. Wearing the color white is NOT something out of the ordinary.  However, that much white is truuuuuuuuuly DARING! It's a color that is not forgiving when it comes to dirt! It exposes the adventures that you had for that day! As for me, it would exposes what I ate for the day!!! Some way..... some how.... I ALLLLWAYS drop food on my clothes. This is my childhood tendencies following me into adulthood! But it's okay! Every woman should try a white look! It would look amazing on you! Also pair it with amazing shoes that says "HELLO BABY! I'VE JUST ENTERED THE ROOM! What are you waiting for? TRY IT MY DARLINGS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

Coat: Ann Taylor | Shirt: Ann Taylor | Pants: Gap | Shoes: Katespade |Handbag: Katespade (Unavailable) 

California Get A Way! I'm Not Ready to Make You My Permanent Reside....Yet!

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about California in my household. I don't know what has gotten into my boyfriend, but he has CALIFORNIA FEVERRRRR!!! The topic of California comes up at least once a week. Don't get me wrong. I can't knock him for being a photographer who is in love with the nice weather and beautiful scenery that it possesses. However, I have no interest in leaving NEW YORK CITY to move to CALIFORNIA (Maybe it's because I have never visit California. Yes! You heard me right! I have yet to go there.) New York has never did anything to me for me to leave all my favorite spots that makes my life as a New Yorker interesting.

So California..... the only thing that I will enjoy is the relaxing and effortless style of Californians. I love the cultural style and with this outfit...I think I achieved the Californian look.   

Thanks for reading! 

Xoxo,

Monique

Pants: Uniqlo (SImilar) | Coat: Ann Taylor (not available | Sneakers: Converse (Sold in store Exclusively for Journeys) |Glasses: Aldo | Shirt: H&M | Jewelry: H&M  

3.1 Phillip Lim Mania

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!  PHILLIP LIM SAMPLE SALE IS HERE! This sale started on Monday, May 19th and will end Friday, May 22, 2015. This is a sale that I had no plans on missing. Last year, I completely missed it. How you may ask? I rather not say. The fact was I missed it and it was not going to happen to me again this year!

That morning I woke up early like I usually do (around 6:30 and laid in bed for about a half an hour longer.) I was truly perky that morning. It wasn't because I was excited about going to work. It was because I knew that I would be adding more wonderful bags to my ever growing collection of handbags.

Once dressed, I immediately drove from Brooklyn to lower Manhattan. There was traffic going into the city but because I am so familiar traveling back and forth between Brooklyn and Manhattan; I took local streets and got into the city in about a half an hour.

When I got to 151 Wooster Street (the Soho location of 260 Sample Sale who was hosting the 3.1 Phillip Lim sample sale) there was hardly a line. I got there at 9:30am and there was only 8 people on line. Yes! I said to myself. I am number 9.  The sample sale was scheduled to open to the public at 12pm. However, the sample sale was open early to family and friends of Phillip Lim employees. Their expedited entry gave them a big advantage on the goodies that awaited many hopefuls waiting in line.  I spent my two and a half hour wait communicating with my sister (who planned on meeting me) and scrolling through instagram.  

Why not take a morning selfie? I only had a two and a half hour wait! 

About ten minutes before the official public opening, we were all told that we were to take only our wallets and check all personal items including our phones. Once my sister and I made it through the check in, we immediately bolted and got on the line for the handbag section. This section was tiny in space and roped off. About ten people at a time were allowed to shop. There were wall length shelves with medium and larger ryder satchels, 31 hour zip around backpacks, 31 hour bags and other Phillip Lim bags. There was also two portable tables of bags put together in a L formation. One table had clear containers with pashli mini messenger, ryder satchels, soleil mini chain shoulder bags, wendesday flat shoulder bags and many more in it. I had to dig through the bins in order to find the handbag of my heart's desire. I really wanted the pashli totes but they didnt have any when I was there. Those bins contained small bags priced at $200 and medium bags priced at $300. The second table had many large 31 hour bags price at $450, clutches priced at $150 and small and large wallets ranging from $75 to $100.  

While there I was not finding any of the handbags that I really wanted until I spotted a shopper with a pashli mini messenger bag. I immediately asked a worker if they had any more of that bag. Unfortunately they informed me that there wasn't anymore of those bags and that many of the better bags were sold during the family and friends shopping hours. I lingered around the small and medium bins searching for anything that would catch my eye. When the same sample sale worker I had spoken to before about the pashli mini messenger bag, handed me it in metallic blue . It was in a replenishment bin that had been brought to them, I was truly grateful for her kindess and many people looked at me with envy.  

Here are some of the bags that we purchased that day.  

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If you havent gone to this sample sale yet, you should. It day three today and I bet there are plenty of clothes and shoes left. However, bags maybe not so much. Thank for reading.

Have a wonderful day! 

Xoxo,

Monique