OOTD: Express Zip Front A-Line Skirt

Okay, I have been obsessing over this skirt non-stop since I saw it in the January catalog. I had a $60 reward that I earned from my credit card points plus a $15 off of $30 coupon and I waited until it was available at my Express. When it finally became available, I snatched this sucker and the matching sweater top (not shown) for only $15! Not only was I happy to have saved almost $75, I was happy to finally own the skirt that was haunting my dreams for weeks. This skirt is adorable with strappy sandals and a plain top. I paired it with a cardigan that I bought at Walmart (yes, Walmart) for $12, a plain black cami, and a $5 dollar necklace from Forever 21. Not only is this the perfect skirt for a day out on the town, it can also be turned into a sexy date night outfit. 

Throw on a leather jacket (Forever 21 has some for under $35- great investment), strappy heels and bold lipstick to stand out in a sea of flats and flip flops. I paired my skirt with a $25 leather jacket from Hollister and these fabulous strappy heels from Charlotte Russe. The heels cost me $38 but they were having a sale for buy one get one $12 so I was able to buy a second pair of heels for only $12. In the end, both heels ended up costing me about $25 each which is amazing for statement shoes like these! You definitely can't go wrong with purchasing a skirt like this. Its versatility is worth every penny!

Rewards Credit Cards- Are they worth it?

A lot of retail stores offer rewards credit cards. Rewards credit cards are worth it if you are a frequent shopper at that particular store. The reason why they are worth getting is because of the various discounts, coupons, and rewards you earn for using them. I personally have three of them: New York and Company, Victoria's Secret, and Express. The way they work is that you earn points for every dollar you spend. After a certain amount of points, you get a monetary reward that resembles a gift card. For example, for every 200 points earned at New York and Company, you get a $10 reward in your next statement. This reward is different from a coupon because it can be combined with any sale and any other coupon! Just recently, I purchased a brand-new skirt and matching top from Express' spring collection worth $90 for only $15! How did I do that, you ask? I had earned $60 in rewards and I had a coupon for $15 off of $30. Yes, I had to spend quite a bit to earn this reward but the points were accumulated from small purchases here and there. Every dollar adds up. 

Other benefits to these credit cards are the various coupons you receive in the mail. These coupons are always a special treat, especially the Victoria's Secret ones. I receive a coupon for a free panty almost every month and it saves me so much money! Who wouldn't love a fresh pair of undies every month anyway?

Of course, like any credit card, keep a clean record. Always pay off your card right away. Most of the credit card accounts can be managed online, making it easier to keep an eye on it. Bring cash with you when you shop and make a payment right after swiping your card so you can earn the points while paying off the balance at the same time! If you do this, you will not only be building your credit, but you will also be earning points towards more savings in the future! Happy shopping! 

Valentine's Day Outfits Made Easy

Valentine's Day is the holiday to celebrate love. What many people fail to realize is that you can celebrate anyone you love, including friends and family. Here I provide 4 different outfits that can be worn for a night out with the girls or a hot date with your guy!

Enjoy!

This simple look was inspired for one of my roommates. She is not a huge girly girl but she wants to start so I came up with this! It includes a soft pink cardigan, light washed jeans, beige booties, a scarf and a cute purple purse. I thought this look would be perfect for her because its both sweet and simple. If its a little warmer where you live, you can always ditch the scarf. This look is perfect for the sweet and simple girl that is going out with her friends or on her first Valentine's Day date with her lucky guy. Just throw on some pink lipstick and you'd be all set to go!

This is one of my favorite looks because it is so edgy and super easy to recreate. This is another one of those looks that can be used for a night out with the girls or for a date with your prince. A little black dress, heeled, booties, a leather jacket, bold red lips and accessories are all you need to get this look. Happy celebrating!

Take his breath away with this sleek and sexy look. It is both classy and relaxed with nude ankle-strap heels and a bold, red clutch. You can make this look more elegant by putting your hair up in a high sock bun and adding a pair of dangly gold earrings. His eyes will be glued to you for the rest of the night!

This is another showstopping look that will make his heart skip a beat. Red is the most famous color people think of for this holiday. Personally, I feel like you should go a different route like soft pinks and purples but I wanted to provide an option for those of you who find red to be the most flattering. Pair your red dress with some awesome black or nude pumps, add some glossy red lips and you'll be ready to take on the night! 

Have a safe and fantastic Valentine's Day with the people you love the most!

5 tips to a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience

Shopping is a time to pamper yourself with things you have been wanting or needing. It should be enjoyable and relaxing. As a person who works in retail, I have seen customers get upset over things that could have been avoided had they just done their homework. 

1. Read your coupons and receipts
   Customers come in all the time with the intention to save more money on items that are already reduced and become upset when the item they want is an exclusion to their coupon. The back of the coupon will always state any and every exclusion that applies. The majority of the time, coupons cannot be combined with other coupons.If you are shopping at the mall, do not expect flea market haggles. In regards to the receipts, always read them before returning your items. Some stores, like New York and Company, will give you the lowest selling price for an item if you don't have a receipt. That means, if you paid $30 for a top and the lowest price it will sell for is $9.99 and you don't have a receipt, you will get $9.99 either in a merchandise credit or back to your account. Other companies, like Forever 21, will not give you your money back at all! Even if you return it the very next day with a receipt, their policy only allows for a person to receive store credit if they want to return something. On that note, read your coupons and receipts carefully to avoid embarrassment at the register. 
2. Listen to what the associate has to say
   Associates are trained on the product they sell and are also informed of any and every promotion available. They are not trying to rip you off, I promise. It is their job to let the customer know about every promotion that is available. Yes, the signs will help, but sometimes there are things in fine print (conveniently)  that are easily overlooked. Take the 20 seconds to listen to the associate when you walk in and avoid being the person that realizes they could have saved an extra $5 had they been paying attention.
3. Stay in the store
   This is going to cause the moms of the world to get upset but hear me out. Most, if not every, store has a conversion goal that they have to maintain. Conversion is the ratio of people to sales. For example, if two people walk into the store and one person makes a purchase, then the store has a 50% conversion rate. If conversion is low, the managers get yelled at by their superiors and then they yell at the associates which makes the pressure to keep conversion steady even higher. If you are a parent and your little ones tend to run in an out of stores, bring an extra person with you to keep them occupied at a play area while you shop (it can be a win-win if the person you bring hates shopping anyway; just buy them lunch!). Avoid the evil glares by the associates...
4. Let the associate help you
   Too many times customers have walked through the store and left without finding what they needed because they did not want any help. After they tell me what they want, I pull at least 3-4 pieces that would work for them. Sometimes they take my advice and try the items on and other times they are too flustered from their failed attempt and they leave. If you walk into a store that has potential to carry an item you need (e.g., dress for a wedding, slacks for an interview, bright red, rock-studded pumps for your bday, etc), tell the associates working there and they will save you time by getting the items for you or sending you to a store where you can find them. 
5. Be nice to your cashier
   It is so important to be nice to the person ringing you up. They have to keep a smile on their face and maintain a bubbly personality for sometimes 8 hours at a time. Some of them are parents that rarely see their kids, others are students that go to school full-time and are trying to keep up with the pace, and others have only had one day off the entire week. The last thing they need is someone being rude to them. Your cashiers are also the coupon distributors and have the power to decide how to bag your items. If you choose to be rude, don't be surprised or offended when your clothes are stuffed into a tiny bag or when you walk out without next week's coupon. Just saying.