how to: travel with just a carry on

Of all travel the recommendations, this is by far my number one. Traveling light doesn’t necessarily mean you have to compromise on what you pack, it just means you have to pack “smarter”. I have been traveling to other countries since 2016 with just a carry-on for all of my belongings, and keep in mind – that was as a fashion blogger! If I can make it work, I swear anyone can. If you are looking to travel with less baggage, insure your belongings make it to your destination, spend less time waiting at the airport, and want to save on luggage fees keep reading.

save that space

First thing you are going to want to do is pop over to Amazon and order space saver bags. Get the ones that you can push the air out of and don’t require a vacuum. These bags are clear so you can easily see what is inside and come in various sizes. I like to separate based on what days I will be wearing what so that I don’t need to dig through, or open everything at once.

On the Go With Avia Avi-Coast 2.0!

On weekends when I’m not traveling, you can find me at the park, shopping, and running general errands – which means lots of time in the car, and lots of time on my feet. Because of this, athleisure is the go-to and Avia does it best.

All about style

For today’s look, I styled one of their yoga sets. Available in monochromatic neutral tones this soft, comfortable set leaves me looking put together – no matter where the day takes me. For shoes, lightweight is always a weekend must, so I popped on my Avi-Coast 2.0 in grape leaf. This comfortable pair of sneakers hugs my foot in all of the right places without adding bulk or weight. My feet are not left feeling tired at the end of the day thanks to the amazing pressure point relieving memory foam insoles, providing a customized fit! I also love that they do not have a lot of deep bottom traction grips, so they are great for muddier days as they are easy to wipe clean.

Comfort is key

If you have sensitive ankles I also recommend the Avi-Coast 2.0 as I have issues with other brands rubbing my ankle bone and irritating it, or my heels. The Avi-Coast 2.0 features an anatomical cradle that helps with motion control and shock absorption, and the material and height of the shoe are both comfortable and supportive in all of the right places. I love to feel empowered in my shoes and not limited to where I can go without losing comfort and security. Empowered is the best word to describe how I feel in the Avi-Coast 2.0. The versatile grape leaf green shade and lightweight design add so much appeal to this walking sneaker, I find myself reaching for them often.

If you are looking for a fashionable lightweight, memory foam, lower tread, comfortable walking sneaker for park outings and around town errands this is for sure the pair to get!

What To Do In St Lucia: Girls Trip

So I recently traveled to St. Lucia to attend one of my best friend’s bachelorette parties, and as a solo group of 4 girls traveling the country without a guide, I want to give you my thoughts on our experience and share what to expect if you are thinking of planning a trip to St. Lucia.

I am going to give an itinerary of what we did, as well as, what I think is worth it and what’s not. I will also share at the end all takeaways and what I would recommend. 🙂

What You Need To Get There

Getting to St. Lucia isn’t exactly a cakewalk. There are 3 forms you must complete before entering the country, one of which must be completed 48 hours before travel to receive approval. I will add the link to the website for this paperwork, and the most current requirements.

As of our trip in February of 2022, you must:

  • Be fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination on hand
  • Have a valid passport
  • Have a negative PCR test result not older than 5 days
  • Complete the Travel Registration form, and receive approval
  • Ministry of Health & Wellness Screening Health Questionnare
  • Immigration form (provided to you on the airplane)
  • Any potential documentation your airline requires

Chicwish Brand Review

For the past few years, Chicwish has been my go-to online source for events and everyday looks so I decided why not dedicate a post to sharing my thoughts on the brand with you all! DisCLAIMER: Chicwish does send me items to style but this is in no way sponsored, and all opinions are my own.

Why Chicwish?

I have loved the brand since the first time I spotted one of my favorite Houston Influencers in one of their tulle skirts. I quickly fell in love with Chicwishs‘ style, aesthetic, and product line. These chic styles and timeless silhouettes have since been so easy to identify and have become an all-time favorite of mine. With quality-made pieces in fun fabrics and prints designed with the most flattering cuts with you in mind, here I break down a bit of the Chicwish shopping experience.

Pricepoint

Chicwish falls in between H&M and Zara. It’s better quality than H&M and a bit less in price than Zara but quite similar quality. I get the impression some might think Chicwish is another Shein, and then are shocked at the prices, but Chicwish should not be confused for Shein. The quality in stitching and material are substantially better, the fit is more precise and the clothing selection is more of a curated collection rather than fast fashion. For what you get, I feel the pricing is fair, plus they usually have a coupon running so there is the chance for a discount as well, which is always nice!

Selection

Chicwish offers a curated collection of pieces. I feel they have a certain aesthetic to their assortment, which I love. This is what draws in their customer and keeps them coming back. Their products are very identifiable for their tulle, vintage-style skirts, beautiful flowing dresses, and quality chunky sweaters. The colors offered are rich jewel tones to pastels and neutrals, everything gives off an expensive air but is affordable, which is my favorite type of style! Now with saying all of this, the brand doesn’t just offer frills, there are a few rompers, shorts, fitted dresses, and workout pieces for those who aren’t into tulle and bows.

What I Wore To Miami Swim Week 2021

day 1

Look 1:

Since this was my very first Miami Swim Week to attend I was beyond excited to start the week of asap! Event one was at the SLS, a pool party and pop-up shopping experience. I met with the Oh Polly! brand, as checked out their line and sipped drinks by the pool in the comfiest pair of relaxed fit dress shorts with a high waist and belt along with a multi-pastel striped button-down I DIY styled with a tied twist, along with braided blue heels and matching scrunched bag.

Look 2:

In the evening I had two shows to attend, so I went girly and floral with a lace inset orange floral print beauty from Chicwish with braided white heeled sandals, and a matching white chain mini bag.

day 2

Trend Spotting: Miami Swim Week 2021

For my first Miami Swim Week, there was so much to take in from the pace of the shows, to the models, messages, and fashion trends on the runway. Here’s a brief breakdown of my takeaways from the week.

color trends & prints


The color palettes ranged from one side of the spectrum to the other. With lots of metallics, greens, reds, blues, to neutral tones, and lots of white. The most notable prints were tribal, geometric, and palm. I loved to see the breadth of color on the runway with lots of bright hues and matching everything was also a trend.

most popular silhouettes

With barely-there bottoms as well as modest high rise, adorable strappy crisscross styles for bikinis, and so many impressive and beautiful things done with one-piece suits including cutouts, deep plunges, belts, lace-ups, and even statement sleeves.

Small Living Spaces: Chic Dining Update Under $450

Since we have been at home so much and eating all of our meals here, I decided it would be really nice if we had an actual area designated to, well… eat! Our apartment has an open layout so the kitchen is open to the living room and everything is just one big space. We have a high table with bar stools but never use it to eat and it has ended up just a catch-all table over the years. I wanted to make a change and refresh the space because every meal was getting consumed in front of our tv on the couch – which normally wasn’t a big deal because we would only eat at home a few days out of the week but now… it’s not flying with me! So I hopped on Amazon and got to shopping for the perfect small space dining arrangement to tie our apartment together and create an enjoyable eating space.

Retro Table

This was the hardest for me to find in an affordable form. I really wanted a white top table with a golden metal base, but all of the golden ones were ridiculously expensive. That’s when I felt the crafty DIY itch and decided to order an all-white option, which is much more affordable I might add – and paint the base myself. This was super easy to do as the table arrived in a box deconstructed so I was able to paint the base and stand before putting the table together. Honestly, I was very impressed with the finished result. It looks so updated and much more high-end than the plain white version and was only 6$ to paint and update!

What Disney Is Like in 2021

Hi friends! I wanted to put this post together to share what protocols I noticed Walt Disney World parks have put into place to keep everyone safe while enjoying the happiest place on Earth. Now I know, most people are probably still pretty apprehensive to visit theme parks or largely populated places so hopefully, this post can put some of your worries at ease!

Back in my college days, I worked at Walk Disney World, so I know what time of year is the “best” in the sense of least foot traffic. Personally, January February is best as you can ride pretty much anything your heart desires without too long of lines. That’s why my husband and I thought if we wanted to get a trip to Disney in this year, this would be the time to give it a go. Below I will list out all of the steps Disney has put into place to keep all of their guests and cast members happy, safe, and able to enjoy the magic.

First things first – the parks not only require tickets but also specific park reservations

This way Disney can control, and limit the number of guests visiting each day. If you purchase a park hopper pass then you have to reserve your first park and cannot “hop” to the second until after 2 pm. – Which is also dependant on park capacity for that day and availability.

Bridgerton On A Budget. A Modern Bridgerton Style Guide for 2021

Like most, I got swept up in the romantic Netflix series known as Bridgerton. But as a girl who loves fashion, I felt it was necessary to translate the elegant and intricate designs of the day to wearable looks in 2021. I am actually debating on making this a series based on price point with an affordable, quality, and high-end range but am starting now with my initial search-and-score sites, ASOS and BOOHOO. I found so many great Bridgerton inspo pieces from these two websites that it was well worth getting their own dedicated post. So without further ado let’s waltz into the looks.

Tip: Square necklines, tulle, organza, bead embellishments, statement sleeves, empire waists, and babydoll dresses are all things to be on the lookout for when shopping all things Bridgerton.

Choose your colors lightly

Most dresses worn on the show were pastels; such as greys, blues, greens, pinks, etc. so I incorporated those shades and steered away from darker and brighter fabrics even though many similar silhouettes are offered in these shades.

Let It Flow

Lots of lace and beautiful tulle are key to completing any modern-day Bridgerton look. Oh, and you must not forget beadwork and embroidery, your dress needs to look like it was made by Madame Delacroix after all!

High Necklines & Bows

Daphne’s sister Eloise wears many high neck tops with bows under her dresses which inspired these styles.

Empire Waists & Square Necklines

The silhouette of the day was the empire, and although there aren’t many dresses in this style out and about today for everyday wear – let’s face it, there aren’t galas every evening for us to attend, but you can easily find a babydoll version to rock any day of the week. When paired with a square neckline you have an excellent Bridgerton vibing combination.

How To Bargain Shop Like a Boss

So for years, I have always been complimented on my style, and the first thing I tell people as soon as they mention a garment’s cuteness is how much I got it on sale for. It’s something I would love to shout from the rooftops if I could but, let’s be real, it’s not that big of a deal…or is it?

Outlets are a Frugal Girl’s Best Friend

This is the main reason for my blog post. I love the outlets! You can score so many amazing deals in one day, but there are some things you need to know before you go!

Give yourself ample time

Outlet shopping needs to not be rushed or forced into a strict timeframe. With the vast array of stores all spread out, and the time you need to piece through racks, you don’t want to rush past a great deal due to poor time management. So be sure to set aside enough time to pace yourself.

Google your local outlets and see what stores they have before going

This is so helpful to know before your trip to make sure it is worth it to you to visit that particular outlet. My rule of thumb is I will go if there are at least 5 stores I am interested in. This way you can make a list of stores, decide on an outlet, and plan out your trip.

Become a member or insider

Tanger outlets are some of my all-time favorites to shop, and they have a shopping program that gets you points and exclusive coupons, along with discounts at select stores in their centers. They also have a coupon book for purchase with amazing incentives! So be sure to research these additional savings options before your trip. It’s a shame to miss out on savings just because you didn’t know it was available to you!

Have a game plan

Plan out your trip a bit by viewing the map and locating which stores are on what side so you do not have to backtrack. There are usually great snacks like pretzels and Cinnabon in the middle sections which makes it the perfect time for a quick snack break and energy boost, pretty sure that’s strategic on their part. 😉 Map out the stores with heavier items for the end of your day so you aren’t lugging that stuff around ( like Bath and Body Works 3 wick candles) and park your car on that side of the lot so you don’t have to walk as far to the car.

Head towards the extra off sign

When I step into a store on my list I go straight to the clearance section to see if they have an additional off promotion running. This is the best time to pick up items at extremely low prices. Keep in mind, this is a way to pick up staples or statement pieces at a major value but not necessarily a way to shop particular items you are looking for in particular, it’s more of a treasure search.

If you don’t have outlets near you, there are always online off-price retailers!

Off-price retailers like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Saks Off 5th, and Nordstrom Rack offer goods at discounted prices, most of which are designer or high-end brands! Though most do have brick and mortar locations, they also have an online presence with just as amazing deals. Note: there usually is a shipping threshold of $100 to $150 to get free shipping so keep that in mind if you want to save on that! I have linked my faves below, so give them a peek!

Now aside from these outlets and off-price experiences, I practice these same techniques when shopping online and in-store at all of my favorite retailers. I look for additional off banners, and I shop when sites and stores offer entire site discounts when looking for something specific and “new”.

Shop Around

When you have a particular item in mind that you would like to purchase, shop around for the best deal on it before just jumping the gun and buying it. Online shopping has truly opened so many doors when it comes to cross-checking prices to find the best deal. You can do your due diligence in minutes versus getting in the car and shuffling around to multiple stores. This can save you quite a bit depending on what you are in the market for whether it be an appliance or handbag, you would be surprised what promotions stores are running, possibly by offering a 20% coupon for signing up for their email list, weekly discount, and know that many will price match.

I hope this was helpful and interesting for you all, and maybe will help you save a bit of money on your wardrobe this year. I personally find it super enjoyable to see the savings and love the pieces even more, so give it a try! I can almost promise it will be your new way to shop! Until next time, Hales <3