Venice - Day 5

To be honest, I just really didn't want to turn around. I assumed I was going in some sort of circle, but I kept thinking that even if I wasn't, I'd hit a hard right at some point and end up back at my hotel. Safe to say that didn't happen. (Confession: my favorite thing in the world to do is get LOST in new places.) I ended up passing family owned vineyards, riding along canals, abandoned farms, and eventually came to a construction site that I just knew would force me to turn around. Luckily a group of bikers I had been playing tag with decided to sneak through the site, and I quickly followed. I hit a highway and chose a direction, only to whip out my phone that was equipped with a slight map of the town and I noticed I was going in the wrong direction. *gasps for air* THEN I turned around and went straight until I realized I was entering my town from the opposite direction. I would have never known that had I not rode to what I now know was the very edge of town just days before. 

Head to TheMoniqueMichelle.com for more photos and the full story!

Canada - Day 2

After Niagara Falls we immediately drove to Toronto. I remember that as soon as we got to the city, we parked and found food. Actually, most of the time, if we were driving around, we were looking for food...and I'm okay with that.

Naturally, when we woke up in Toronto, the first place we went was to the.....lake. Ha, no food yet. We headed to Lakeshore Drive for one of the best views of Lake Ontario.

Check out TheMoniqueMichelle.com for more!

Leather Pleated Skirt

Get the deets on what I wore for my 3rd day in Paris only at TheMoniqueMichelle.com !!

Orange Pants! 'nuff said

Head over to TheMoniqueMichelle.com for the details on this comfy Saturday fit.

Paris, Day 2 - Tradeshow Fever Pt. 1

       

   Hmmmm, where to start, where to start? Well, how about here...

I knew well before I actually made it to Paris that playtime would involve a little "werk". It was Paris Fashion Week for christ's sake. Even though all fashion/tradeshows during that time were for menswear, I couldn't resist schmoozing with designers and attending previews of Autumn Wear 2014 all in the name of TheMoniqueMichelle.com. Uh, hello, you're welcome? Enjoy the following slideshow of pretty much everything *smize* You are about to enter...TRANOI HOMME

JUST KIDDING: Head over to my site to check it out! TheMoniqueMichelle.com :)

Dressy Casual (1st Day in Paris)

EXCERPT!...

          I think that for my first day in Paris, I just wanted to be extra. It was one of the first couple days of Paris Fashion Week, and I wanted to be slightly over the top. Does that make sense? Slightly, over the top? Anyways, I decided to pack one of my favorite, dressiest, dresses that was still simple in a way. 

Be sure to go to TheMoniqueMichelle.com for THE FULL BLOG POST as well as outfit details and more pics! Enjoy ;)

Paris, Day 1

EXCERPT...

          Has it been forever? Nope, just almost a week. So...SURPRISE! I went to Paris *wide grin* and although I could have found time to blog, I chose not to. It didn't cost much to simply pay for an international phone plan to be able to stay connected, but I chose not to. It would have been nothing to take 3000 photos of every single thing, but, yep, you guessed it, I CHOSE NOT TO. Although I got several hundred (lol) it turned out to be way more than I wanted and even more than I needed. What I chose to do was enjoy the moment...each and every one. Yeah you'll still see everything through a camera lens, but I wanted to see it head on. I wanted to be in awe of something. I wanted my mental photos more than digital ones. I got them ;) So let's hop right into it...

Go the "Le Damn Blog" over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com to check out this full detailed post including photo captions, tons more photos, a gallery, where I stayed, and most importantly, what I did.

All I want for my birthday...

          Well, it was months ago, but I've yet to update you on my adventures. I told you that I vowed to never be in the US for my birthday, so 2013 was no different. Cancun was the destination of choice. Now, it wasn't the first choice, but I am so glad that I went. It was gorgeous, everyone was super nice, and the food wasn't half bad.

          Because my big sisters birthday is 2 days after mine, she was my travel partner. We states at the Westin. Because there are actually 2 Westin's on the main hotel strip, ours was called the Westin Regina. We were at the very end of the hotel strip (a lot like my Las Vegas trip, but hey, trial and error, right?) but there were buses that cost about $2 that went to the very end of the hotel zone well into downtown (Walmart etc.). First things first, I was told by a friend that there was no need to convert my money. DO EXCHANGE YOUR CURRENCY. It is well worth it. So many places exchange currency but end up exchanging it for different amounts. Luckily I scoped out a place that offered the most (as far as I knew) and stuck with them. My friend had the luxury of staying at an All Inclusive resort, so she probably didn't realize the value of a peso.

          The hotel was gorgeous with one of the most beautiful private beaches, and my favorite, beachside service. Nothing like having food and drinks brought to you while you are lounging in a beach chair...

          Check out more DO'S and DON'TS over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com under "le damn blog" and ALL my Cancun photos in my "Travel" section. Click the link and enjoy :)

The Year of Traveling.

          As I am sure most of us have vowed, 2014 will be the year...MY YEAR...of travel. This is not just something I want to put out into the universe, but something I will make sure comes true. It is not up to the universe to put me on a plane, boat, train, or even bus every chance I get (or can afford it), it's up to me. So, during a recent shopping trip I picked up a few things to help me begin to document my journey, aside from my blogs and Facebook/Instagram albums.

          I am not one for pictures everywhere. In fact, when I was purchasing my decorations for my new apartment I purposely did not buy frames and things of that nature. I prefer art plastered all over my walls than a million and one photos. However, I could not resist this gorgeous, filagree textured photo album. I plan to document each trip I take by just using 1-2 pages per journey. I hope to fill it up sooner rather than later. This album is solely for my adventures so that if and when I have children, my kids are inspired to live out their dreams and explore the world if that's what they want to do. It would also be cool to have one location to look back on where I've been and see the blank pages and imagine where else I could go.

          The second item is a journal that will begin with my 2014 travels. Each day I am gone from home I want to take time and reflect. I want to go somewhere quiet, with nothing but a pen and this journal and just write. I can write my feelings, what I see, what I've don't that day, it doesn't matter, as long as I write something. The journal also happens to have "Paris" along with a picture of the eiffel tower on the front. This means so many things for me, some of which you will later see, but I will share something... I remember being on twitter once, and following one of my favorite queens (Mr. RuPaul Andre Charles herself) and she was interacting with fans and answering questions. One fan asked him where he thought we went when we die...RuPaul's response was quite simple....all he said was "Paris". That was everything to me. As if I wasn't already obsessed enough with the city I have never been to but always longed to visit, you're telling me that it's heaven? That's all I needed... 

Check out more updates and everything style, fashion, and fun over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com

Polar Vortex Wear

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22....no, I just wanted to say that. Actually, I don't know about you, but I am ALWAYS excited to receive a package of goodies, especially when said package is from my absolute favorite store. Thanks Lord & Taylor for being spiffy with the delivery. 

Because I'm not yet ready to wear my new shoes, I don't want to spoil the fun just yet. Just know, posts are coming back to back very soon. I just wanted to check in.

P.S. Who knew what a polar vortex was before these last few days? I never want to walk out my front door again and be greeted with 7 degree weather. Quick outfit post though....

I paired a navy blue GAP men's sweater with grey J. Crew pants, then threw on a pair of navy/purple sequined UGGS and my gorgeous mustard yellow North Face jacket. Smart choice. I was warm all day :)  

TheMoniqueMichelle.com

The Big Easy.

          As I lay in bed this morning I found myself with an "itchy foot." You see, I suffer from Wanderlust, in the worst way possible. As I have been chronicling my travels, I have been beyond eager to share my trip to New Orleans with you. Nola, The Big Easy, etc. Well, here it is.

As you can see, my travel attire was the most comfy imaginable. I'm all for leggings, a tank, and sneakers, but I prefer Uggs. 

          This trip was actually for a friends birthday, but I flew down first and was able to enjoy the city solo. I must say, that is the best way to travel. I am the type of person that wants to explore every inch of the globe. I want to see everything, do everything, taste every food, smell every scent... That is hard when you have to make plans with someone else and/or plan around their schedule. I have been dying to start exploring the world alone, but have been quite hesitant. During my first day in New Orleans, and every night thereafter, I got to see what solo travel would be like.

          I first explored the French Quarter and got to take in the historic sites. There is nothing I love more than visual history. I could only imagine the feet that walked those very same streets and the eyes that saw the very sights I was witnessing, decades ago. It was amazing. To this day, New Orleans is one of my favorite cities I will ever have had the pleasure of visiting. I am actually planning a trip back in a few months. It's crazy. All the places left to see, and I am dying to revisit one small area. 

PREVIEW: Read the rest and see more photos over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com under "le damn BLOG" section.

Cool Shopping

Tried to keep it cool while going shopping. Excuse the dazed and confused look, it was crazy crowded.

Get the details for this look at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!! 

MBFW//NYFW

Before 2013 is officially in the past, I wanted to share my journey to NY during fashion week with everyone. Like just about every city/country I visit, New York City is one of my favorite cities in the world, after LA of course.

My best friend and I are what I guess some would call "fashion fiends" and I think [Be invited to every fashion week show] is pretty high on our Bucket Lists, if not #1. For me this isn't a one time thing. I need to be invited to EVERY fashion show, EVERY year, or else I can't scratch it off the list. 

Anywho, we decided a day or two beforehand to just drive to NYC to breathe in the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week air. I must say, it smelled a little more heavenly than regular air, but I may have been delusional for the day. Arriving at Lincoln center was crazy. Driving past the back entrance we could quickly tell only the who's who were pushed quickly through the doors. Nicki Minaj and her entourage has just arrived and we could've sworn we saw Katie Holmes on her way inside.  

This is just a preview! Check out the full post over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!!

Guess what?

Well, I guess....just GUESS. Ever since high school I have been a GAP jeans fiend. They are perfect in every way, and always will be to me. However, I recently stumbled upon a pair of GUESS jeans on clearance at Lord & Taylor (my absolute favorite store) and figured I would give them a try. They're simply amaze balls. Check em out...

They're just perfect, see? I think they even gave me a little pep in my step, lol. Now I see why people say certain clothing items can make them FEEL sexy. Yes, a random pair of stretch skinny jeans did that for me. Anyways, I paired them with a gorgeous pair of crushed velvet lavender heels, the perfect crisp white button down, and my favorite fur collared coat. Get the deets over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com. Enjoy! ;)

*sashays away*

Winter Nails!

To kick off the winter season, my least favorite, I decided to do something I've been waiting for for months. I was able to get my season apropos navy blue nail polish! Check it out below!

I'm pretty sure I saw one of my many favorite bloggers with this color and fell in love, but I would only do this color in the fall/winter and/or when it's cooler outside, and now was the time. I was a woman with a plan and waited forever for my now new favorite nail tech to hook me up.

I thought it interesting that my nail tech started a conversation after asking me if I wanted a gel manicure or tips. When I said neither he pointed out the downward spiraling trend of people no longer getting the "extras" when visiting the nail salon. I'm not one for all of that. I have always enjoyed my nails cut very low, even the above picture is too long for me, and all one solid color. As you can see, my accent nail is just another solid color, no designs or anything. I have always viewed this look as fresh, clean, chic, and cute. I have a different accent nail on the other hand, but I'll keep that my little secret. This is the new "trend" and you can check out things like this, fashion, and more over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!!

Peek-a-boo Leg

I'm not sure if it happened anywhere else, but yesterday was the most perfect day of Winter in Washington, DC. The last time I checked it was 74 degrees....IN WINTER, so obviously I took full advantage of every degree, especially the 74th.

I've been waiting to break out this outfit I've been saving for the abnormally warm day I constantly pray for. Details for this crop top, maxi skirt with the peek-a-boo leg, and jean jacket can all be found at TheMoniqueMichelle.com ! Check it out and feel free to tell me what you think.

Leather Leather Leather! (faux of course)

So I have this pair of faux leather pants that I got from H&M that have basically become my life. If I could wear them every day, I totally would. The last time I put them on I had an epiphany. I'm going to wear them every which way I can and compile the different versions into one final post, but until then, I just have to pop in and show them off. 

These photos are just a sneak peak! Check out the full outfit and details over at THEMONIQUEMICHELLE.COM

Holiday Style....

...because "matching" and "style" don't have to go together in any sentence but this one.

See how I paired a deep colored paisley blazer with leopard heels? Get full details over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!!!

...because color blocking is still cool.

I remember when Solange Knowles truly resurfaced and many thought of her as a fashion icon. Some would say she is THEE pioneer, or at least a pioneer of color blocking. Nowadays, crazy prints and such are the new black. That's all fine and dandy, but I'm still on the color blocking fad. When done right, it's incomparable to any other style. It's sleek, cool, and chic. Above I've used one of my favorite fashion/travel bloggers as an example. Nicole Warne is absolutely stunning, but when she uploaded this photo to her Instagram months back, she didn't even bother to include her face. The outfit would have stole the show. Three solid colors and a tri-colored clutch to complete the ensemble. *insert Italian gesture where I kiss the tip of fingers and make the "muah" sound* A-plus Ms. Warne. Let's hope color blocking never goes away. Check out TheMoniqueMichelle.com for more!!

Where the heart is... (PART II OF II)

They say that home is where the heart is, so I guess home is the city of Angels. In January I talked to you about my very first visit to Vegas, well, the second half of that trip was an epic road trip to Los Angeles.

We were total tourists except when we were blending in at popular celeb hangout spots like Mixology/Planet Dailies in the Grove and the shops on Rodeo Drive. It was something like a dream. It was my first and only visit to Los Angeles, but I knew before then, and I know now, it will soon be my HOME. Check out all the pics over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com