The Fashion Cutie

Fashion | Travel | SD Lifestyle

Fall Shoe Wardrobe

We all need a new fall shoe wardrobe, but me more than anyone probably needs to spruce up my shoe game for fall. I’ve mentioned it before in my spring shoe wardrobe post here, but I’m extremely rough on my shoes and I have no idea why or how to stop. Send help!

On that note I’m rounding up my favorite fall shoes that I will be living in during the colder months. Most of which are under $60. Which I think this is a perfect price point for good quality boots & sneakers.

Let’s start with my #1 go to bootie this season. I had a sad pair of camel booties I donated to Goodwill and immediately replaced them with these beauts! They are not only comfy but extremely versatile. The color is so dreamy and can be paired with almost anything. I’ve styled them in this leo print dress and a black button down corduroy skirt and adorable one piece bodysuit but you could easily style them with jeans and a chunky knit sweater for an everyday look.

Moving onto to my stunner pair of booties. These are a standout piece on their own. As we know animal print is on trend right now and I couldn’t help snagging these for the season. Call me crazy but these can be also be used as a neutral in your OOTD. Or you can make them your statement piece as I did here. Paired with an all black outfit and tossed on my still go to jean jacket.

Now on to my favorite pair of the bunch. These white booties are so dreamy. I was really contemplating on whether I’d get enough use out of them or if they were too trendy. The verdict is in, and on budget, they will be on repeat all fall! They are such good quality, comfy and so soft. I made the right decision in purchasing these to use in my fall shoe rotation.

Last but not least, the wedge sneaker. I didn’t realize how much I needed this staple in my shoe wardrobe. It really is the perfect everyday shoe. I’ve worn them nearly every day since I bought them. I’ve styled them with, shorts, dresses, jeans & skirts. It’s a neutral color so they’ll match almost anything you already have in your closet.

Links to product details below:

My exact nude booties here, similar and on budget options here, here and here!
Snake print booties here and a similar pair here.
White booties here and a similar pair here.

You can always shop my looks for product details on the LikeToKnowIt.App download on your smart phone and follow me ‘The Fashion Cutie’!

Happy Shopping!

XOXO,
Marissa

Complete Travel Guide to Peru | Days 5 – 11

Welcome back! I know I’ve been slacking on this blog post so please forgive me but life, you understand. Let me pick up right where I left off.

Day 5 – Another day of exploring Cusco and learning about the Inca culture. Like most days we had an early start, we were picked up from our hotel about 6am and set out for our first stop of the day Maras Morray. These concentric terraces were just as memorizing in person as they were in photos I’d seen before my visit. We learned that these were created from a meteor crash that caused the initial hole in the ground where the Incas then created circular terraces. Each terrace had it’s own micro-climate. They were used to acclimate and adapt different crops so different plants could grow successfully on each level of the terrace. 

Next on the agenda was a visit to Salineras de Maras or the Marras Salt Mines in English. There is only one source that creates the salt mines, a natural spring which is a local subterranean stream within the Qoripuky mountain. The water from the natural spring fills the ponds (usually about 3 days). A blockade is lowered so no water is allowed in, leaving time for the sun to evaporate the water. This process takes about 20 days, once the pond is fully evaporated you’re left with salt crystals. The families who maintain the mines then scrap the salt crystals from the pond and reopen the blockade to begin the process again. The process used today is the same process used by the Incas. The day we visited we saw ponds in different stages, some were completely crystallized and some were only a few days into the process and full with water. Locals had created a small market leading into the salt mines, here they sold, you guessed it salt, along with other handmade souvenirs.

Making our way back to Cusco, we made one last stop. I think this may have been my favorite and the most interesting. We stopped at a local village, Chinchero where local women welcomed us with coca tea to sip on while they gave us a demonstration on how they make clothing & other items from alpaca wool. They explained how they clean the wool, how they dye it which I think was the most interesting part. They squish bugs to get the color for the dye, seriously the most interesting thing ever! They then twist the wool into string and use a wood instrument to weave the wool to make cloth which then make all the sweaters, scarves and beanies. The process to create a scarf can take up to 65 days, the entire process is handmade. Oh I forgot to mention, these women carry their kids on their back while they work! These women amaze me with their strength and love for their culture. Our group then had the opportunity to purchase souvenirs they had handmade. Although, there is a lot of tradition in this town, I love that they cater to tourists. they did have a credit card machine for us to make our purchases. These ladies are making money moves in Chinchero, I love it!

Thankfully we had a short day, we were dropped off in the city center about 4pm. We had time to grab an early dinner. And today was the day we finally got to try a local cuisine we’d been hearing so much about. We were not disappointed, lomo saltado was delicious! It’s made up of marinated beef with sauteed onions & tomatoes sitting on top of a bed of french fries served with a side of white rice. It was honestly one of the the best dishes I had eaten on the trip! It was the perfect way to end our day and left our tummy’s full and our hearts happy. We headed off to our hotel to get some much needed shut eye for our extra early start time the following day.

Day 6 – Up and at’em! Half asleep but awake and ready for pickup at 3:30am this morning. I was so excited for the day to come and looking back it was probably the best day of our entire trip. I had no expectations for the day and maybe this played a part into the magic that happened, or maybe it was just fate on our side to have the best experience ever! Either way, I’ll take it. Our trip to Rainbow Mountain will always be full or memories I cherish dearly. 

The first stop was breakfast at 6:30am. Mind you we are in a small van with 5 other people, it was dark and cold on the ride and everyone was sleeping. We had only mumbled good morning to each stranger as they boarded the van to join us early that morning. When we stopped for breakfast we had an intimate family breakfast, with large windows that had beautiful mountains with the sun rising as our view. We were able to introduce ourselves and immediately we all connected, we were instantaneously friends. The conversation & laughs were flowing and it really set the tone for the remainder of the day. 

We continued our drive to Rainbow Mountain. It was approximately another 2.5 hours to basecamp. Let me tell you, this road was unreal! It was a windy rocky dirt road alongside a mountain. There was only enough room for 1.5 cars, leaving almost no room for oncoming traffic or passing, it did not have a guardrail which meant a plummeting death with one wrong move. Man we had a lot of trust in our driver, ha! FINALLY, we arrived. We were well rested and eager to get this hike started. Our tour guide for the day was Paqo, he was so nice, knowledgeable and so good with his words (more on that later). He really made our group feel like we were a family. Paqo gathered our group in a circle, said a few words blessing us on this journey and really hyped us up for what was to come. We all had hiking sticks, we placed them in the center and on the count of 3 yelled our group name ‘SUPER HIKERS’! 

Before the trek we decided as a group we’d all take horses 80% of the way up. The reason being is we would be in such high elevation and we wanted to be kind to our bodies. But even hiking just the last 20% I was out of breath and had to take breaks every 10 minutes or so. Elevation sickness is no joke, thankfully I only had mild effects like shortness in breath and a headache. 

We made it to the top! Honestly, my first thought was ‘This is it”? When you’re close to the mountain you don’t really see the colors along the side and it’s a bit unimpressive at first glance. But when you make you’re way up a bit further you can really see its beauty. I was ‘that girl’ who posed with a alpaca wearing tassels around their neck, but honestly they are so darn cute you have to! Our group hiked up a bit further where the real beauty was. Behind rainbow mountain you could see more mountain ranges a clear blue sky with clouds breaking up the sun. Breathtaking! Our group took some more photos and even a few group shots before beginning our trek down. 

What most don’t know is there is another hiking trail at the same basecamp as Rainbow Mountain. As a group we decided we’d take on Valle Rojo and I’m so glad we did! This trail was less trafficked, beautiful and peaceful. I felt extra spiritual this day. Being in nature, exploring new places with new friends is really something that makes you realize how great life is. How blessed I am to have these new experiences and really cherish the moment. After getting our Passports stamped and taking some photos we decided to trek down the back of Valle Rojo. It was secluded and again gave me and our group time to reflect on the wonders of the world and our ability to be here. Paqo as I said earlier was a man of wisdom, culture and great with words. Along our trek Paqo asked each of us to pick out a rock. We stopped and gathered in a circle to begin a Peruvian ritual. We each placed our rocks into a carin over a pile of coca leaves. Paqo explained the ritual and importance of it to his culture. He said more beautiful words blessing us, this trip, our hike and our new found friendship. He then asked each of us to close our eyes and to make a wish. You guys, I know it sounds silly but being with this special group of people out in nature and I was feeling extra spiritual and at peace with life. I made a wish and honestly got goosebumps. I almost felt as if I was in another world. I truly felt a blessing from God in that moment. 

After one of the longest days yet, we made it back to our van and worked our way back down the windy road. We stopped for dinner at the same place we had stopped for breakfast. This time we truly had family dinner and it was amazing! The laughs and conversation continued on for the last couple of hours on the drive home. We attempted to learn more about the Inca culture from Paqo and attempted to learn a few words in Ketchwa, the native tongue in Peru.

We finally made it back to Cusco. We were the first to be dropped off, we hugged everyone goodbye (mind you this was the first time we felt so connected with our group to even say goodbye let alone hug them) and made our way back to our hotel.

Day 7 – Another day another early morning; this time pickup was at 4:00am. We had another long drive head of us as we made our way to Humantay Lake. We stopped about 1/2 way to have breakfast in a small village. It was really beautiful, there were a few casitas which opened up to a common area with outdoor seating, from it there was a walkway to a garden overlooking a ridge. Absolutely stunning! During breakfast we were able to mingle with the others in our group while eating at a family style table.

Another hour drive before arriving to basecamp of Humantay Lake. Once we arrived we were given directions up the trek, our tour guide advised he’d meet us up top. After 2 hard days of hiking I was ready for the views but not the trek. It took us just over an hour to get to the top but depending on experience can take anywhere from 1 – 2 hours. I was exhausted and this day elevation sickness hit me hard. I was short of breath the entire way up. I stopped about every 20 mins to take a break, catch my breath and hydrate. I kept telling my friend Sadaly, this was the hardest hike so far. But she disagreed!

Finally, we took one last stop on a flat area with large rocks perfect for sitting. It was warming up, and the sun was scolding hot the higher we hiked. Sadaly convinced me to keep going and I’m so glad she did. We were only about 100 feet to the most beautiful views. The Lake is tucked away in a sea of rocks, but my God, it was stunning. I had never seen anything like it in my life.

We had enough time to take in the scenery and have a snack before meeting up with our group. We made out way down which was so much easier than the way up! But before and after you hit the trail you pass a secluded residential area. Here we saw pods and hostile type places that people could rent via Airbnb most popular for hikers beginning the Inca Trail. They had a clear view of the stars at night and easy access to Humantay Lake.

Finally, we arrived at the van ready to hit the road. We were hot, hangry and exhausted. I’m pretty sure I fell asleep on the ride home. I woke up when we arrived at the same village we had stopped at for breakfast. Here we had a late lunch before the last hour of the drive to Cusco. These stops were a nice way to have a bathroom break, stretch your legs and take in new views. Finally, we returned to Cusco. Everyone was dropped at the city center, Sadaly and I had decided on the drive home we were going to look for a place to get a massage. After 3 intense days of hiking we decided we had earned a bit of relaxation. This turned out to be the best decision we made, we had the best stone and fully body massage EVER! And you cannot beat the price it was $35 including tip. After that amazing massage I decided to treat myself once more with McDonalds. I really love trying McDonalds in each country I visit. I have no rhyme or reason to, well maybe comfort food might be the reason. But in all honestly, most of them taste the same and only a few items are different than the menu back in the states.

After a late dinner, we finally made our way back to our hotel. We showered and packed our bags so we’d be ready for a travel day ahead.

Day 8 – The day had come, our last day in Cusco. We had a scheduled van pickup from our hotel to the airport. This would be another travel day making our way from Cusco to Lima. This was a special day for us, it was the 4th of July back in the states. Me and my dear friend Sadaly thought we’d celebrate by wearing American flag scarfs to honor our country. We had many Americans who loved that we remembered the holiday and wished us a Happy 4th of July while we made our way through the airports. We arrived in Lima mid-day checked into our Airbnb and set out to explore the city. We walked around our neighborhood Miraflores which is known to be the most hip and lively neighborhood in Lima. This city was very fast paced, lot’s of traffic day and night and tons of honking cars! Drivers there honk no matter the time of day. This is definitely different than drivers in the US. The streets filled with people walking to and from restaurants, park centers, local grocery stores and coffee shops. Life seemed to never stop in Lima. After exploring Kennedy Park nearby, we did some shopping, I even had time to get a manicure, by the way it was one of the best I’ve had and was under $6 with tip! We ended our night with dinner nearby then back to our room.

Day 9 – We didn’t have any set plans while in Lima being a large city with lots to do we thought we’d wing it. We finally had a day to sleep in and we took full advantage of that this day. After a lazy morning we finally got dressed and set out for breakfast about noon. We walked around the corner to a local favorite restaurant called Manolo’s. They are known for the churros BUT had a pretty amazing breakfast. We couldn’t stop in without trying a churro or two, so we treated ourselves to this sweet treat. Delicious!!!

Because we didn’t have an agenda we decided to walk around town and explore some more. We needed souvenirs so set out for some local markets. Before visiting I heard of this local group that offered free city tours. I registered us and about 4pm we met at the visitors center which was just a few blocks from where we were staying. On this tour we met other travelers and made our way through some of the historic places in Barranco. We stopped at Kennedy Park which is actually named after US President John F Kennedy. Another stop on the tour was Love Park overlooking the ocean where large sculptures celebrating you guessed it love. This park is highly trafficked and a local spot to come with your significant other to canoodle (thank you Mean Girls, ha!). We also visited a local chocolate museum, here we tasted handmade chocolate and other goodies. This tour was very laid back, slow paced and informal. Along the tour our guide would mention the best restaurants, bars and shops to visit while visiting.  We ended the tour at the Larcomar, which is an upscale mall in Peru. The selling feature is it overlooks the ocean. We had a recommendation to visit Pardo’s Chicken from a girlfriend who used to lived in Lima, so after the tour we were able to taste what all the fuss was about. Pardo’s had amazing chicken, it did not disappoint. We walked around the mall a bit more before making our way back to our Airbnb.

Day 10 – Our last full day in Lima. We grabbed coffee and breakfast at a nearby local favorite before headed out fo the day. Before visiting Lima I had been researching things I wanted to do while we were in town. The only thing I was determined to find were these heart shaped arches made up of flowers I had seen on Instagram. I didn’t do much research, but assumed they were located in the Circuito Magico del Agua which translates to The Magic Ciruit. I forgot to mention on our way to Lima our Airbnb host mentioned water would be shut off for most of the city during our entire stay. Given The Circuito Magico del Agua is a large park that hosts a water show (similar to the water show at the Bellagio in Vegas) we didn’t put two and two together that the water shut off may affect the park hours or it may not even be open for the day. We arrived and of course the park hadn’t opened for the day. We decided to kill some time and, we walked about 40 minutes making our way down to the historic part of the city. We really got a different feel of the city compared to Miraflores. This part of the city definitely had many more historic buildings like Plaza de Armas, city centers and lots of people out in the streets enjoying the perfect weather and local events. 

After exploring for a few hours we decided to make our way back to The Circuito Magioc del Agua. When we returned to the park; the gate attendant advised because of the city wide water shut off the park would not host the water show but was still open for business. Interesting enough this actually made this the perfect day for our visit. The park was nearly empty leaving me so happy when we finally found the heart shaped arches. My girlfriend Sadaly was probably annoyed with me at this point. I had changed outfits (in the middle of the park, true story) and I drug her along this entire day just to make it here. But we finally we made it and I was in IG heaven!!!  After about 200 pictures and 25 boomerangs my heart was happy.

This was the last stop on our agenda for the day. We took an Uber back to our room and before headed up we grabbed some dinner and made some last minute souvenir stops nearby before calling it a night.

Day 11 – After over a week of traveling, sight seeing, shopping, good food, and great company our trip was finally coming to an end. We made our way back to the airport to catch our last flight from Lima back to Tijuana. We arrived about 6pm and slowly reality started to kick in. After long trips I look forward to getting home and sleeping in my own bed, there is no better feeling.

I really hope you all enjoyed my adventure to Peru. I cannot wait to plan my next trip. Do you have any destination suggestions for me?

Complete Travel Guide to Peru | Days 1-4

After twenty two hours of travel time consisting of three flights, one cab ride, and two bus rides I had finally reached my destination. I was at one of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. I was in the presence of something phenomenal and the experience of culture and history truly did not disappoint. 

Let me back up a bit. I had been itching for an international trip, something a little less city girl and a little more spiritual and adventurous. Another requirement, was it had to be someplace I had never been. A few other things I considered before booking this trip was price, weather and time of year (AKA vacation days). Peru seemed to fit the bill. We (a girlfriend & I) were extremely lucky with all three. Prices for flights were unreal, under $550 round trip. Note this is flying out of Tijuana Mexico. The weather was nearly perfect, as they are in their dry season this time of year. We had a lot of sunny days and manageable lower temperatures. Lastly, in the US we had a little holiday, Fourth of July, which gave me a free day off work which meant less days of PTO needed. Score! 

The next thing I feel is important to share with you is we booked all activities and tours via a travel company, this was a separate cost from our flights. Which in hindsight was probably the best decision we made. The travel company did all the legwork and made our trip stress free. It was both cost and time efficient. I was skeptical on what company to use and the quality of hospitality that would come along with a third world country. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how punctual, and organized the tour was. We had 7 days jam packed with adventure, food, hiking, sightseeing, city tours and museums. I’d highly recommend booking via Trip Me for your next vacation. 

Now let me break my trip down for you by day.  

Day 1 – Travel day. Depart from Tijuana Airport, layover in Mexico City, with a second layover in Lima. We had to travel to Cusco, Peru on day 1 as our tour started here on day 2. Turns out Cusco was the central location for most of our trip. After 18 hours of travel time we finally arrived in Cusco with just enough time and energy to check into our Airbnb for the night. 

Day 2 – We had plenty of time to sleep in as we didn’t begin our walking tour until mid-day. We took our time, got an Uber to our hotel Yawar Inka, checked in, left our luggage and immediately set out for food! We found the cutest bakery La Valeriana where we had ALL the empanadas. Well not all of them but four between the two of us. Delicious! We later met up with our tour group and went on a city tour of Cusco. We visited the first Christian Cathedral in South America, the city square where I got to hold a baby llama, and the Sagrado Garden which had the most stunning city views! Next stop, Sacsayhuaman which is an important archaeological site that seriously blew my mind. This was a fortress, with stone walls creating barracks. The size of the stones were huge and weighed tons. How did they get them here? How? Seriously? Ha. The Incas were very spiritual people and used this area to worship the God Sun or Inti.  Last stop for the day was Tambomachay, each place we visited intrigued me more and more. This location was known for its canals and waterfalls. It was one of 14 locations that lies next to a river (along the Inca Trail) which showcases their hydraulic engineering and pays homage to water. 

Day 3 – We started our day early and set out to visit some stops along the Sacred Valley of The Incas making our way to Aguas Calientes. I’ve always been interested in Agriculture, coming from a small farming town, so our visit to Pisac was one of my favorite stops. The easiest way to describe it is an agricultural terrace which essentially made a natural greenhouse (ok, seriously someone explain to me how the heck they thought of this back in 1200 AD?).  

From Pisac making our way to Aguas Calientes via van, we stopped in a small village Urubama to have lunch outside with mountain views all around. It was another hour drive from Urubama to Ollantaytambo. Here we witnessed locals flood the streets standing outside local businesses playing the World Cup, Peru v. Chilie. Most of the TVs were 25″ or smaller and had static running through them, but the locals didn’t care. They were chanting and filled with joy watching their country win; it was pretty epic to experience. After all the commotion we had enough time to grab some dinner and connect to Wi-Fi while waiting to board our 1.5 hour train to Aguas Calientes. This was a long travel day, but the stops made perfect sense and it didn’t feel overwhelming. We arrived at about 9pm to our hotel and rested for the night.  

Day 4 – I jumped out of bed. I was the most excited for our visit to Machu Picchu. It was the something I had been looking forward to since we booked our trip. We got dressed, rushed down to breakfast and then made our trek to the bus line. Hundreds of people standing in line at 7am waiting to board a bus to travel 25 mins up to the entrance. It was like clockwork. By 8am we arrived and found our tour guide for the day. We meet our group mixed with other travelers in the same age group traveling from all over the world. I enjoy the tour guides, they give you a brief history along with some fun facts about the place you’re visiting. They are sure to give you time to take pictures and point out optimal IG locations. Today was no different.

We left our tour group early so we could hike Machu Picchu Mountain. You have to get a separate ticket to hike up and only about 4-5% of daily visitors make the trek. We climbed 2,139 ft and ended at 10,111 ft elevation. Honestly, this was a hard hike. It took just over an hour and a half up (this included our many stops along the way). We made so many friends along our trek who shared sunscreen, jokes and worldly knowledge along our hike.  I loved the camaraderie from everyone passing us on their way down, they cheered us on and promised it was worth the pain and suffering we were feeling. My goodness, they weren’t lying. Once we made it to the top, after 2,670 steps, I was in awe of the views. Absolutely breathtaking.  We had just enough time to catch our breath, snap a few pictures, snack and make our way down. 

We were exhausted! It was a hot day and I don’t think either of us were prepared for that hike. Oh, I forgot to mention we both had a 25 lb. pack on. We carried all of our overnight necessities with us. We only had a hotel for one night in Aguas Calientes, and we had totally overlooked the fact that we could rent a locker at the entrance of Machu Picchu. Lesson learned for anyone out there who plans to make this trip. You’re welcome!

After that intense hike we waited in line to catch the bus back to town. Here we grabbed some dinner and some well deserved ice cream. We had time to walk through the market which so happens to be next to the train station. We boarded our train making our way back to Ollantaytambo. Here we had a driver waiting for us to drive us back to our original hotel, Yawar Inka in Cusco. After a long day, we finally arrive about 8pm.

Linking all of my travel outfit details below:

Leggings here
Basic Tees here
Sneakers here
Luggage here
Jumpsuit here
Sunnies here
Jeggings here
Puffer Jacket here
Crop Jacket here
Hiking Shoes here

Happy Traveling & Shopping!

XOXO,
Marissa

Wedding Season

Wedding season is upon us. That means you’ll need to get your wedding guest wardrobe ready. The good news is I’m here to help! I’ll be sharing my recent wedding guest outfit, shoes & accessories along with many other options regardless of the wedding venue. The best part is all options I’m sharing with you are under $100 and many under $50. I’m all about looking fabulous on a budget. 

First things first, let’s go over wedding dress code. Let me simplify it into three categories for women.

Casual This category is great for casual summer dress options, perfect for smaller weddings at a country club, beach, garden or a destination wedding.

Cocktail This category is probably the most common. You’ll want to wear a cocktail dress or jumpsuit and it should be semi-formal or dressy casual. 

Black Tie/Formal I’ve personally never been to a wedding with this dress code but, I’d like you babes to be prepared in case you have the honor. Here you’ll want a floor length dress or evening suit.

Now that we’ve got the dress code out of the way. Let’s Shop!

Casual Options
Here, here, here, here, here, here and here!

Cocktail Options
My dress here, and other options here, here, here, here, here and here!

Black Tie Options
Here, here, here, here, here, here and here!

Shoes
My shoes here, and other options here, here, here, here, here and here!

Accessories
Here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here!

I hope you babes found this post helpful on what to wear and where to shop for wedding guest attire. I’d love for you to share your wedding season OOTDs with me. If you’r on Instagram or Facebook feel free to use #thefashioncutieweddingstyle. Or you can always email me.

Happy Shopping!

XOXO,
Marissa

Poshmark 101 – Everything You Need to Know

Hey babes! I wanted to let you in on a little secret, Poshmark. I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about selling items on Poshmark including tips and tricks to make more sales!

Poshmark is an app I use regularly to resell clothes, shoes, and accessories. Some of my listings still have the tags on them and others are in good condition I just no longer wear or fit into them. It’s super easy to use and helps me earn some extra cash to use on buying more clothes, duh!

If you’re interested in making some extra cash selling your items you no longer use you can use my referral code FASHION_CUTIE6 to save $10 on your first order when you sign up. You can also follow me and check out my Poshmark Closet here!

If you shop my closet and are interested in an item(s) comment on the item(s) with PM 101 and I’ll drop the price by 20% as a THANK YOU!!!

Now let’s get in why you are here, how to make extra cash on stuff you don’t need or use anymore.

Poshmark 101 - Everything you need to know about selling items on Poshmark
Why resell on Poshmark

It’s so EASY! I’ve made almost $900 from reselling my clothes, shoes and accessories. That’s a whole lot of cash for minimal effort.

Poshmark is a well reputable platform that connects sellers and shoppers from all over the US. By selling on Poshmark you reach 50 million shoppers vs reselling locally to only thousands.

The items you list will not only declutter your space, but earn you extra cash and go to a good home. It’s a win win for everyone!

What’s great about Poshmark is they provide you with a 2-day prepaid shipping label, all you have to do is print and slap that baby on the box. Another perk, the post office provides FREE boxes for priority shipping (your 2-day shipping from Poshmark qualifies) so no need to buy boxes. Or if you’re like me and buy tons of stuff online you can reuse your boxes for items you sell.

What to list on Poshmark

Honestly, this community is so large you can list just about anything. I personally use it to sell clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories (hats, sunglasses, scarfs), and home décor. However, you could list makeup, sporting equipment like rollerblades and there are even items listed for men and children.

When to list on Poshmark

Anytime! But I usually list each season as I swap my fall/winter clothes with my spring/summer wardrobe. This way I make room in my closet to showcase items I will actually be wearing that season while decluttering and making some extra cash!

TIP: If you do a seasonal clothing swap like me I highly recommend making piles to resell, donate, toss, and hang/fold. The you can list everything in your resell pile at once! Easy peasy, right!

I also list items sporadically throughout the year. Often times I buy a hat, bag or a special occasion dress that I wear only wear once. I’m such a Type A that clutter really drives me crazy so you can usually find see new listings monthly.

How does Poshmark Work

Poshmark offers the platform and makes a small percentage of each item you sell. Anytime you list an item it will tell you exactly how much you’ll earn vs Poshmark’s cut.

Once you sell, box, and ship your item(s) you can check back to see when it’s been delivered to the customer. They have the opportunity to rate your listing, then Poshmark will release your earnings for that sale. If the shopper never rates your listing, after 3 days your earning for that sale will automatically be released to you.

You can set up a direct deposit to cash out from all the sales you’ve made! Or you can also have a check sent to you by mail.

Follow these easy steps to get started on Poshmark today!
  1. Download the Poshmark app.
  2. Use my code FAHIONCUTIE6 when you create an account – similar to an Instagram/Facebook account
  3. Take pictures of items you’d like to sell. Tip: take your pictures in ‘square’ mode on your phone (referencing iPhones only) you’ll thank me later.
  4. Post items for sale, include price, size and brief description of the item like color or why you are selling, etc.
  5. Once you make a sale, Poshmark will send an email with a prepaid shipping label. Print it, box your item and drop it in the mailbox or schedule a FREE pickup with USPS.
  6. Let the dough roll in!

It’s that’s simple!

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get some traction and make your first sale.

  • Share other people’s listing, they’ll in return share your listings to their followers, which means more people will see your items. Yay!
  • Offer a bundle discount. For instance I offer 10% off when someone purchases 2 items or more. This will entice people to purchase more than one item and help you sell more of your unused clothes, shoes & accessories.
  • Poshmark often has parties, join them! Then share your items to the party feed, this will get you items and profile more exposure. Parties also help you target specific audiences. For instance, last week they had an all swimsuit party. I joined the party and shared all my swim listings to the party feed. Poshmark Parties happen regularly and offer many differnce niches from Bag, Shoes to Men or Children, so there is something for everyone join.
  • Interact with your followers and share their items. This is the best way to virtually meet people and to get your followers to share your listings. It also brings a sense of community and builds trust with your followers.

That’s a wrap ladies & gents. I hope you find this helpful and use it as a guide to get Poshmarking! Let me know if have any questions I’m always happy to help.

Good luck reselling!

My First Calligraphy Wedding Sign

Hey babes! As promised I wanted to share with you my calligraphy journey. I’ve only taken up this hobby over the last seven to eight months and let me tell you it’s a lot of work and requires even more patience. 

I took a beginner’s calligraphy class at a local distillery which was more of a social hour rather than a skills class. However, it sparked my interest and has lead me down a beautiful journey. The class provided some helpful tools and resources like my first Tombow pen, some practice sheets and a notebook that we wrote our names on.

First time writing my name in calligraphy.

After the class, I was determined to practice what I had learned. I started with basic strokes, then moved onto short words and eventually to writing short sentences. The key to learning calligraphy is practice, practice, practice. Your hand will hurt a lot and everything will blur together but eventually, you’ll start to see progress.

I moved on from writing with pen and paper to writing on small chalkboard signs for family parties. I gradually moved to writing larger pieces like my front door which has been a lot of fun to change with the seasons.

  • Bubbly bar sign for baby shower
  • My font door for Christmas

I finally worked up enough courage to do something as important as a wedding sign. I’m only a beginner but with more practice and dedication I plan to improve my skills and hopefully have more projects to share with you babes in the future.

Linking my beginner calligraphy tools below.

My first pen here!
My first set of professional pens here!
What I used for my front door and wedding sign here and here!

Happy Shopping & Calligraphy-ing!

XOXO,
Marissa

Rompers & Ruffles

Everyone needs some R&R in their life. And by R&R I mean rompers & ruffles!!! I’m obsessing over this gorgeous green and white banana leaf halter romper. I especially love the ruffle detail at the bottom hem of the shorts. It really gives this piece a feminine touch that you’ll continue to see in my spring and summer wardrobe. 

My favorite detail on this piece is the back! I love the tie around my neck and the low cut back. I think my back is the sexiest part of my body and I rarely show it off. For those of you who may not know, I have relatively large breasts, a 34DD to be exact. So I find it very hard to find bras, swimsuits and even sports bras to support the girls. And I find it even harder to stay away from backless shirts, dresses, and rompers because let’s be honest anything backless or that has a cute back cutout is so sexy and hard to pass up.

However, I was lucky enough to get away without wearing a bra with this outfit, which seriously is so rare for me. The material was thick enough you couldn’t tell I went bra-less. Yay! Not only is the quality superb but it’s such a steal. You honestly can’t go wrong with a full outfit for under $20.

I think this OOTD would be perfect for a spring wedding or even a date night. You could even dress this look down with sandals and throw on a straw hat for a girls brunch.  The possibilities are endless!

Linking my outfit details below:

The romper is no longer available but I’m linking a jumpsuit with the same print here!
Shoes here!
Bag here!

Happy Shopping!

XOXO,
Marissa

Chicken Pozole Verde Recipe

Chicken Pozole Verde Details

I wanted to put this post up just in the nick of time since we’re still experiencing some cooler weather here in San Diego. If you’re staying in and enjoying your evening, why not whip up a bowl of pozole! It’s my new favorite dish and I’ve had many requests to share the recipe, so here it is. It’s so easy to make and only requires 15 minutes of prep time. See below for the list of ingredients and steps. 

Bon Appétit, babes!

Ingredients
(makes about 8-10 servings)

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
8 cups water
3 tbsp chicken bouillon
1 lb tomatillos
2-4 jalapenos seeded
2 poblano or pasilla peppers seeded
1 bunch cilantro
2 25 oz cans hominy drained
1 tsp oregano
salt & pepper to taste
1-2 tsp cooking oil (vegetable, olive, etc.)

Toppings (optional)
Avocado sliced
Lime Wedges
Tortilla Chips
Queso Fresco
Cilantro
Radishes
Cabbage
Red Pepper Flakes

Steps

  1. Pour water into a large soup pot. Stir in chicken bouillon and bring to boil. Turn to medium heat. Add in chicken breasts, cook for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Remove and shred. Return chicken to broth after shredding.
  2. While the chicken is cooking combine tomatillos, peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, oregano, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. You may add water or chicken broth if it’s too thick to blend.
  3. Heat a saucepan with cooking oil. Add the green salsa from blender. Simmer on medium heat until it becomes deep green, appropriately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add green salsa to the chicken broth and stir.
  5. Drain hominy and add to soup. Cook on low heat for 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally. 
  6. Serve in bowl. Add optional toppings. I’d suggest avocado slices, red pepper flakes, cilantro and lime.
  7. Enjoy!

The Ultimate Spring Outfit

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again mustard is here to stay this season! I love how the color brightens my outfit and my day. Who can have a bad day when you’re looking this cute?! 

This romper is super affordable (under $40), comfortable and easy to wear. It cinches my waist which helps show off my hourglass figure. Honestly, this would look great on any body type, especially the cinched waist because it will help give the illusion of a tiny waist. My favorite detail are the bell sleeves! They are so dreamy and it makes this piece look more expensive than it really is. The floral print gives this romper a nice feminine touch without being to overwhelming. I’ve paired this outfit with my white peep toe mules which will be on repeat during the warmer months along with my straw clutch which has been my go to bag this season. It’s so roomy, I can’t put it down and it goes with everything!

Another trend I don’t see going anywhere this season are updated 90s snap hair clips. I’ve found the most adorable faux pearl clip which helped jazz up my outfit.

Stay tuned for more mustard & spring fits coming to le blog soon!

Linking my outfit deets below:

Romper is sold out so linking a similar options in the same price range here, here and here!
White peep toe mules here!
Straw clutch here!
Pearl hair clip here!

Happy Shopping!

XOXO,
Marissa

Spring Shoe Wardrobe

Hey, ya’ll! I’m so excited about this post, it’s not only much needed but I got the cutest stuff I couldn’t wait to share with all of you!!

First, let me just say I didn’t realize how rough I am with my shoes until recently. The heel cap on two of my booties fell off. I have multiple pairs of sandals whose soles are coming apart. Other sandals and heels have tons of tears and knicks all over the bottom, straps that are falling apart. Honestly I have no clue why I haven’t done a massive haul for new shoes sooner. But given I now have le blog and all of you to share my fashion finds with, I thought, this is as good a reason as any to purge my old shoes and make room for new ones.

I have a feeling I’ll add more to this shoe makeover in the coming months, but for now, this was a great base to get me started. Y’all know I love a good find, the quality and price for these babies is unreal. Not only are they budget friendly BUT they are so stinking cute!!! 

I spoiled myself with a total of 6 pairs of shoes from one of my favorite online stores Lulus. And if you can believe it they total under $150 which includes shipping. Huuuum, heck yes!!!

Let’s do a quick roundup – moving clockwise from the top center.

White Peeptoe Mules – I mean, these are so comfy and true to size (TTS). They have about a 1.5″ heel and let’s be honest white shoes are white hot right now.

Leopard & Tan Slides– Ok, I’m always here for leopard print but I love love love these because the print is subtle. The print would act as a great neutral to pair with jeans, rompers or dresses all spring & summer long. They have a tiny heel about 1/2″ which is perfect to trot around town in.

Nude Platforms – These nude espadrilles are seriously so dreamy. I’ve been waiting for my love of 90s fashion to return and boy did they! I’m loving all of the 90s trends including these updated but adorable platform sandals.

Snake Print Slides – These seriously might be my favorite pair of the bunch. Snakeskin is hot hot hot! Can you imagine this with an all black OOTD or even with a cute pair of jeans and white tee?! Loving the combos to come in the near future with these. I cannot wait to style these for you.

White Flat Sandals – Again white shoes are here to stay this season so I suggest you hop on this train. These are a great addition to my shoe wardrobe and will likely be my go to pair of sandals. Basic but much needed for this season.

Mustard Bow Tie Sandals – Ok, these are my second favorite pair of shoes purchased. They are so comfy and mustard is a trending color for spring. Stay tuned for all the mustard coming soon!

I hoped you loved this spring shoe wardrobe as much as I loved sharing my finds with you!

Linking all shoes below:

White Peeptoe Mules here!
Leopard & Tan Slides here!
Nude Platforms are sold out so linking them in black here!
Snake Print Slides here!
White Flat Sandals here!
Mustard Bow Tie Sandals here!

Happy Shopping Babes!

XOXO,
Marissa