HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT FIT WHEN SHOPPING FOR JEANS ONLINE

Nod your heads in approval because I am sure that most of you will agree with me when I say, one of the most difficult piece of clothing to shop for online are jeans. Heck! we can barely find ones that fits just right when shopping in stores much less. The perfect waist size..loose around the bum.... the perfect fit up top....way too short or too long. Then there are the ones that get stuck at thighs length and not to mention the ones that go up perfectly but you just can't get that dam button to shut.......ughh the eternal the struggles.

After Trail and Error and Trial and error again HaHa..I am here to score you tips on how to find your best fit when shopping for jeans online. All too familiar is that utter excitement when you hit that add to cart button on those bomb jeans you've been stalking then make a mad dash with your virtual cart to checkout. By the time you get that confirmation email, anticipation for those booty huggers  to arrive are high only to be met with sheer disappointment when you try them on and realize and your booty hugging dreams have been crushed. Wait!!! This has  literally been me before I learned these tips that has made jeans shopping online a breeze.

MEASUREMENTS
Knowing your measurements is the first thing you will want to get right; be sure to keep a tape measure at home so that you can easily take your waist and hip size. Also knowing your correct height and standard pants size is a plus for Eg. Small, Medium or Large; these will provide the basic guidelines in choosing the perfect fit. 

SIZING

A lot of online stores has sizing labelled in US, UK ,EU and even AU depending on the website. Most of them allow you to select the one that suits you based on the region you live in which usually determines the type of measurement used. For Eg, a US Size 4 would be a UK size 8, also many UK and EU site use waste measurements, so instead of listing as Size 4 it would list as a size 26.  So a key note is to check the  size guide and international conversion which is usually listed below the item you plan on purchasing. Another thing to take into consideration is the brand. For online stores such as ASOS that carry a lot of different brands, the size may vary a size 4 in one brand may not fit the same as a size 4 in another brand.

MATERIAL

Always be sure to check the type of material from which the jeans are  made, this can be a key factor in determining if a jeans is the right fit for you. Most of the time jeans are a blend of different materials such as cotton, elastane, polyester or viscose. Any of these combinations with elastane are a safe bet because that will tell you right away that the jeans have a certain amount of stretch. 100% cotton mean that there is no stretch to the jeans, this is something to bear in mind depending on the fit you are going for. Full cotton is perfect when shopping for boyfriend jeans but on the other hand (in some cases) not so much if you are looking for a tight fitted skinny jeans. ( PS these white denims are definitely booty huggers Ha!)

BRAND
To further elaborate on brands which I touched briefly on under sizing, you will quickly realize that your size for example in a Levi's jeans is different from your size in a Misguided Jeans. This goes back to making sure you pay keen attention to the size guide chart on whichever website you opt to shop from. You can shop some of my favorite brands of denim here:
Zara
Levi's
Missguided
Asos
Forever21
GoJane

THE MODEL
Another thing that I find to be very helpful are the sites that feature a preview video of models showcasing the item. Call it a mini runway show if you will, but this really helps in displaying how the clothes fits the model which gives an idea of how a particular jeans would actually lay on the body. Here is a list of stores that carries this feature:
Asos
Missguided
Nakd

I hope that these tips will be helpful the next time you shop for jeans online. Happy Denim shopping. 😉

HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS + BUDGET TIPS

Almost every shade of blue that you can image is what awaits you on the beaches of the Bahamas, being an Island girl blue sea, white sand and clear sky NEVER gets old. What was even more interesting is how similar yet different Bahamas is from Jamaica; but my guess is all the Caribbean Island share this Paradox. This is my first visit to a Caribbean Island besides my own and it has kick started my urge to venture them all. 

Let me just say that the Bahamas is expensive but there are way in which you can save a significant amount of cash and lucky for you I am here to share tips on how you can make your trip more budget friendly.

One of the first things to start out with beside checking on airfare to this dreamy destination is where to stay on the Island. A key thing to note is that the Bahamas is made up of several Island, so you will need to decide on which of the main Island you plan to stay. I highly recommend Island hopping to get a more fulfilling  experience. We stayed in the Capital Nassau and also on Paradise Island, which meant that we stayed at two different hotels. This is something that I will be doing on all my trips, for one it is cheaper and secondly, its so much more adventurous its like taking a vacation on a vacation.

Where to Stay?

Now this has a lot to do with your taste and the type of experience you want to acquire from your vacation.  Do you like popular touristy hotels or do you prefer the more laid back and private ones? You can choose an All-inclusive or a Bed and Breakfast which both have there advantages and disadvantages. All-inclusive is more expensive, but this mean that you will be covered for food and luxury amenities throughout your stay; but having easy access to hotel food and amenities discourages you from exploring the local environs and  cuisines. Whispers* there are people who go on vacation and stay at the resort the entire time* The Horror!!!! No offense to those who do.
If you are more on the adventurous side like myself, I recommend bed and breakfast or just a regular hotel which  saves you money and Pro Bono gives you a change to indulge in local dishes and the surroundings. But, if your budget affords it, heck why not  do both. Booking.com and Hotels.com are great options for finding hotel deals.

Where to Eat?

The options are wide when it comes to eating out and I recommend eating like the locals, some restaurant can be pretty expensive. We were lucky to meet this super cool Bahamian lady that gave us some great tips on where to eat at affordable price. A popular local  eatery in Nassau is the Fish Fry, they have meals at reasonable prices; another great spot on Paradise Island is Anthony's Grill. 

Transportation

There are hundreds of Tiny Islands and Keys that make up the Bahamas and you either need to take a boat or a plane to get to these Islands. As a matter of fact, you will have to travel by air or sea to get to any other Island beside the one you will be staying on. Ferries and boats are the cheaper options to get to the different Islands especially the ones that are close to each other. To get around on the Island I recommend taking the bus which cost about 2 USD/2 BSD or ride a bike for places that are close by. Some hotels provide you with bikes or you can rent them and the good thing about riding around is you get to explore your surroundings, plus its good exercise and so much fun, I felt like a kid again. These options are way cheaper than a Taxi which can run from 20USD upwards. 

What to do?

There are tones of fun activities to do in the Bahamas, but these definitely add up and before you know it, you could be racking up hundreds of dollar to indulge in all the Island has to offer. One of the main events and a must do is one of the Island Excursions which comes at difference price range to suit all types of budget. From swimming with pigs to feeding Iguana and swimming with Sharks if that's your thing or just basking in the sun and sipping on Pina Colada, I chose the latter by the way. We did the  Blue Lagoon Island Excursions, we really wanted to do Rose Island but we were late with our booking. Both of these were on the affordable side of the excursions offered ( under 150 per person); there are several of companies that you can book with and I advise to book before you arrive in the Bahamas. You can checkout Trip Advisor for all excursions which includes Beaches, Museum, Food and Tours. There are plenty of free beaches as well, so do take advantage of these which includes Cabbage Beach and Junkanoo Beach.
The Bahamas is famous for the Atlantis Resort which is located on Paradise Island and is a must visit once you're on the Island.  You can buy a day pass for various activities including the water park and aquarium, but here is a cool tip, you can visit the Atlantis for free when you  go after 6 pm.  Make it a date night and venture the Casino or the many Restaurants and Bars on the property.  Hope this was helpful in planning your dream vacation to the Bahamas. Happy travelling :)) !!

THE MUST HAVE HANDBAG TREND FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

Welcome Spring a lot of us have been waiting patiently for you. Whats more exciting than the warmer temperatures is  all the fashion trends that come along with it. Peep this cute handbag trend that has been going at it for awhile now; it has become increasingly popular and is a must have accessory in your closet. I for one am definitely loving it, I am talking about....The Basket Bag. You will see them as raffia, wicker, straw and even bamboo bags. They are the perfect accessories for every occasion because of the myriad of style they come in. If you are a traveler like me, then these serve as the perfect accessory whether you are exploring a city or kicking it at a beach. This one in particular, I got at  a Kraft market  in Jamaica for only $3500 JMD / around $25 USD. The cool part is you can find so many one of a kind unique designs at most local Kraft Markets, but if you aren't able to visit one I have listed a few links below on where to shop various types online.

Here are the links to a few options. Happy Shopping. :))

Zara

Amazon

Etsy

VISIT JAMAICA - HOW TO SPEND A SUNDAY IN OCHI RIOS, JAMAICA

Hello lovies, Happy 2018 I know it's been forever and a day but I am finally checking in with a new Island  Trek post on how to spend a Sunday in Ochi Rios, Jamaica. Now, Kingstonians will tell you that Ochi Rios is easily one of the first choice when looking for a quick get out of town spot for the weekend. With the new highway its a easy 45 minutes from Kingston until you are hit with that Euphoria  and Serenity  that comes  with  getting out of the city. With Ochi Rios being one of the Island's Tourist Hubs there are a myriad of things to do and places to explore for both locals and visitors alike. 

The plan was to visit White River Valley but it literally rained on my parade and we only got the chance to do a walk through. P.S, definitely planning to go back in more favorable whether conditions. But all was not lost as we detoured to one of my favorite beach spot in Ochi called the Bamboo Beach formerly know as Reggae Beach. This private beach spanning with clean white sand and sky blue water is bound to make you forget the stresses of everyday life. Kick back on one of the white padded wooden beach beds and listen to the sound of the waves crash a shore as the beach DJ spins some vibrant Reggae & Dancehall music. There is a bar and restaurant offering up scrumptious local cuisine that you should definitely indulge in. The true definition of a one stop shop; Beach, Music and Food the perfect way to spend a Sunday Funday. 

Below are the direct links to my outfit details: 

Dress from Saboskirt
Vans Sneaker from Asos
Stripe Bikini from missguided