My Experience With Gucci

First Impression

As a fashion lover I have always dreamed of one day owning a designer bag. I decided to make that dream a reality a few months ago. After saving up for a year or so I decided to enlist the help of my husband (for moral support) and we headed off to South Coast Plaza. I had watched a few very disheartening Youtube videos of people who were treated very poorly by the staff at these designer boutiques. I felt very nervous stepping foot in any of the boutiques but thankfully my husband was there to reassure me everything would be fine. At first we started at Neiman Marcus which was a little intimidating but a great way to get my feet wet!

As we wondered around NM we stumbled upon the Gucci section and I was immediately greeted by one of the sales associates. I loved how she let me know if I needed any help she would be happy to help but she didn't hover over me which was perfect! I love to shop in peace and take my time examining all of my possible conquests! I initially had my eye on the ever so popular Dionysus bag which was constructed impeccably and made very practical for everyday use. I kept my options open and wondered around until my eyes met with the classically beautiful Padlock GG Supreme Top Handle bag. I knew she was the one!!!! 

The Purchase

Once I knew what I wanted I was ready to make the purchase. The sales associate asked me to examine the bag to make sure I was ok with her current state, as the floor model was the only one left for purchase. I found a few scratches on the black leather which broke my heart because I wanted my first  bag to be in pristine condition. She saw my disappointment and informed me there was an actual Gucci store in the mall which may have a brand new one in the back. Luckily they did and that was the day I bought my very first designer bag.  

Shop The Post

A Few Months In ...

Now that I have been the proud owner of my Gucci GG Padlock Top Handle bag for a little over 3 months I can give you the scoop! Initially I felt unworthy of such an expensive piece and it was hard for me to even take the bag out of its box. Soon those feelings subsided into admiration for myself for becoming the proud new owner of a luxury piece I've wanted ever since I could remember. It truly is empowering when your able to accomplish something you've been wanting to do for so long on your own. 

I have used my bag over a handful of times and it's held up quite nicely. The black leather has a few minor scratches from my own mishandling of the bag but nothing major. Just be cautious with the opening flap of this bag because the leather is very soft, silky and smooth which equates to more visible imperfections if not treated with proper care. The hardware is in impeccable condition and feels very hearty and durable. The inside of the bag is lined with a suede material which has held up beautifully. I have no regrets with my purchase and actually have my eye on another Gucci bag because they are just so yummy!!

I hope my experience will help some of you out there who are on the fence or feel intimidated by purchasing designer pieces. Don't ever let anyone or anything deter you from your goal, if you want to buy designer and have the funds to do so than do it!

SaveSaveSaveSave
SaveSave

Desert Vibes

Welcome to Palm Springs

When I think of Palm Springs I think of a resort like town filled with pools, palm trees and lots of picture perfect bougainvillea. I tend to forget Palm Springs is a desert town filled with an abundant amount of sand, desert plants and surrounded by picturesque mountains. When we drove up I told my husband I had to capture the desert side of Palm Springs but it wasn't as easy as we thought it would be. I kept my eyes peeled for an abandoned road that would take us to the middle of nowhere but I never found it. As soon as we passed by the Palm Springs Welcome Center I knew that it would be the perfect location to capture the true beauty of this desert town!   

Dress: SheIn

Sunglasses: Quay Australia x Desi Perkins

Earrings: H&M

Bag: French Baskets 

Shoes: Zara

Unexpected Stylist

As usual, I totally overpacked for Palm Springs and had too many outfit's to choose from. I couldn't figure out what outfit would look perfect in front of this beautiful desert backdrop until my husband decided to chime in and choose this simple white off the shoulder dress from SheIn. It was the perfect choice!! 

   

The Outfit

The white dress I'm wearing was a hit and the perfect length for a tall girl like me! I'm not going to lie but the dress was slightly see threw. My solution to this issue was to wear my black biker shorts underneath which worked perfectly! I added a jean jacket to this look to define my waist and cover my bum in case the winds decided to pick up, which they did! You already know I'm obsessed with my round wicker basket/bag. It's not by a big designer or a main stream brand it's just a unique find from Etsy! 

I have no idea why but I'm really digging SheIn at the moment!! I never really trusted any of the discounted Chinese websites because I am not a stick thin short girl who wears a size zero. A few years ago I had ordered a few items from a different Chinese website and all the dresses looked like shirts on me and all the shirts were so small and cheaply made I just couldn't make them work. I swore off ever buying anything overseas again. Then, I kept seeing regular sized girls rocking SheIn clothing so I decided to give them another try and I am so happy I did!! Of course there will always be hits and misses but for the most part they are all hits in my book. 

Shop The Outfit

Palms Springs, you stole my heart once again! I will be back very very soon! XO your biggest admirer Shirley!

SaveSave

Before Summer Ends

Seasons Changing

It's a bitter sweet feeling when the end of summer is vastly approaching. I welcome the cooler months with open arms but I will miss summer and all her glory. I'm soaking everything up these last few weeks have to offer, including off the shoulder floral dresses like the one I'm wearing today. I will most likely find a way to wear darker colored off the shoulder dresses/tops this fall because I just can't get enough!!

Dress: SheIn c/o 

Heels: Zara also available at Mango

Bag: Foreign Exchange (Super old)

The Star Of The Show

As soon as I saw this dress on the SheIn website I knew I had to have it!! The color was so vibrantly blue with touches of green and white. The dress needed very minimal accessories because it truly was the star of the show! I love dresses with beautiful patterns like this, because you can just throw them on and look so put together with very minimal effort. 

Outfit Details

Dress Review

The dress itself looked so beautiful in person but it was a little see threw which is why I wore some black biker shorts underneath. The material is very light and perfect for summer! I was pleasantly shocked that the dress was long enough in the front and even longer in the back for those times you need to bend over and pick something up. The belt is the exact same material as the dress but my only complaint is that the pattern should be on both sides because having the pattern on one side and not on the other makes this dress look a little cheap. Overall I love this dress and for $23 dollars you can't beat the design and cut!! I hope they make this dress in many different colors for next Spring/Summer.

SaveSave

Weekend Getaway - Palm Springs

Why Palm Springs?

As I get older, I become more and more a creature of comfort, with that said all I need for a weekend escape is some serenity and coziness. When I think of a relaxing weekend getaway, Palm Springs is constantly my number 1 pick! Earlier this year my husband and I celebrated our one year anniversary in Palm Springs at a hotel which was amazing. This time around we wanted to experience Palm Springs in a whole new way by renting a home from ACME House Co with a couple of friends. It was the best thing we could have done! 

Link to the exact home we rented: Warm Sands Comfort

Explore all the beautiful properties for rent: ACME House Co.

Our Home For The Weekend

The first thing we saw as we began exploring our home for the weekend was the backyard and it was even more breathtaking than I could have imagined. The pool was like a beautiful mirage in the sweltering Palm Springs heat and it made me want to jump right in!! I was ecstatic to see 4 lounge chairs as I knew all 4 of us would be religiously working on our tans all weekend long. From the lounge chairs, you had a view of the mountainside which looked just like a postcard (too beautiful to be real). The backyard was so luscious and green with a beautifully manicured lawn and an abundance of fruit trees for your picking pleasure.  I was instantly in love with the house and I hadn't even stepped one foot inside! In Palm Springs all that matters is the backyard and this backyard delivered everything we had hoped for and more!

Under The Stars

When I saw the fire pit my stomach and mind jumped for joy. I knew this would be our nightly hangout spot. Even the possibility of making s'mores made my 9 year old self giddy with excitement.  We ended up enjoying a glass of wine and sharing some laughs under the stars. It was the best way to wind down each night!

Pool Time

I couldn't wait to jump in the pool and that's exactly what my friends and I did! It felt so cool and refreshing especial with a yummy drink in hand. The shallow end of the pool had a place to mount an umbrella and we took full advantage to create an escape from the smoldering sun. It quickly became our favorite spot to lounge around in!! Those are one of the many amenities you will come to appreciate of this house as we did!!