Visit Philadelphia Federal Credit Union

Special thanks to Philadelphia Federal Credit Union for sponsoring this post.

As we welcome in March, I hope you have at least started to accomplish or work towards your goals. One of my goals this year, was to better manage and save money.

Often many of us have the same goal in the beginning of a new year, but tend to slack off. Sometimes due to lack of planning, knowledge, or motivation. However this year, I already feel like I'm taking the right steps towards my financial goals. Not only did I earn a promotion at my full-time position, but I also met with Erin Ellis, financial educator at Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, to discuss the benefits and differences of banking with a credit union versus a traditional banking institution.

At some time in our lives we either knew someone who belonged to one or heard of a credit union. To most of us it seems like a secret society only elite people get to join, where you had to know somebody, who knows somebody to get accepted. We may also have heard that they offer lower interest rates of home and auto loans. And the popular one is that they get paid a day early.

Some of these and other questions are things I brought up to Erin to clear the air and see why becoming a member of the PFCU is a great way to save money. So let's dive into some of these myths.

Who can join?

PFCU is for anyone who lives, works, worships, studies or does business in the Philadelphia area. Even though I personally live in New Jersey, most of my business I do with Fashion of Philly is in Philadelphia so that made me eligible.

If you bank at PFCU, you are not considered a customer, but a member. They are a not-for-profit financial institution owned by their members cutting all the corporate bigwigs to save you money in the form of better rates and fewer fees. Interested in continuing your education they have a tuition rewards program for you.

Looking for a home loan, personal loan or vehicle loan?

PFCU can help you pick the right plan for you. Even when it comes to making everyday transactions PFCU provides amazing services for any financial situation.

If you’re looking to save for something big, PFCU has multiple savings account options for everything from holiday and vacation savings to health saving account and retirement plans.

Something that caught my ear while talking to Erin was the free Kasasa Tunes checking account where you can easily enjoy $10 in rewards for your iTunes, Amazon, and Google play purchases every month, which are purchases that I make regularly anyway. You can also get refunds on ATM fees, which means more money in your pocket.

Have younger ones?

Why not get them interested in saving money with their youth accounts broken into two types of accounts: the Moola Moola Savings Club (birth-12) and the CU Succeed Teen Program (13 to 17).

Setting up an account is quick and easy and can be done with as little as $5 at one of their 10 locations around Philadelphia or you can sign up online.

However, I highly suggest stopping in to one of their locations to meet with someone from their team to answer any of the questions you may still have. I couldn't be more satisfied with becoming a member of the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union. You can find all this information and more on their website here.

New Amazon Pickup Location Opens in Philadelphia

Amazon opened a new pickup location. At 2300 South Street in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood. This is the second Philadelphia location pickup where customers can quickly and easily pickup and return their Amazon packages all in one place with no line, no hassle, and no box. 

Here are four reasons why you’ll want to consider using this pick up for you next Amazon order:

1. Amazon pickup locations are safe and secure locations staffed with helpful associates and also a self-serve kiosks.
2. Orders placed online can stay at the pickup location for up to 15 days, making this a great solution for customer ordering something while away on vacation.
3. Customers returning items can swing by a pickup location and Amazon will provide return packaging and send it on its way.
4. Prime members can enjoy FREE Same-Day delivery, with no order minimum,to this new pickup location on over a million items including Eagles jerseys, popular electronics, health and beauty essentials,home repair tools and much more. You can check out some of my personal favorites available on Amazon here.

Looking for more information on Amazon pickup locations, visit www.amazon.com/ulp 

New Year, New Vibes

Long time, no blog. I’ve had a lot going on in my life recently, both personally and secularly, but I definitely missed blogging. I’ve been thinking of ways to get myself back into the groove of things and honestly the best way to do it, is to just jump right in. I feel like 2019 is going to be a game changer for me. I want to travel more, see more, do more. I want to be healthier, more active, and kill every opportunity. So already, this month I’ve got some fun things planned that I can’t wait to share with you. I brought a new planner from HomeSense yesterday because I feel like no matter how much we live in a world of technology, for me, writing things down makes them more attainable. Another thing I started was a vision board. I never actually created one, but I have tons of magazines sitting around my room to pick from and get inspired by. If you more of the digital type, try creating one on Pic Monkey using photos from Pinterest or you can just make one using Pinterest. Start by writing down a few categories on what you want to accomplish this year. Then search for photos that are as specific to your goals as possible. This way you can almost picture yourself there. Check every once in a while to get inspired again or to see what you were able to get done. 

I hope you reach as many of your goals as possible this year! Let’s make 2019 awesome

Our First Trip to Legoland

Special thanks to LegoLand Orlando for sponsoring us tickets to enjoy the park. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

As many times I have been to visit Orlando, Florida, we had never made time to visit Legoland Florida. My son has always had a love for Lego and had collected many of their very detailed sets over the years, so when we surprised him with a trip to the land full of tiny bricks, of course he was very excited!

We usually go on our Florida vacation during the first week in November because for some New Jersey residents it is during the NJ teacher's convention, voting season, and Veteran's Day so the school district started to give the students the whole week off. Meanwhile in Florida and in other states most of the kids in are school so the wait times and crowds aren't as crazy as in the summer or other peak times. This gave us the opportunity to walk around and take our time in the different sections of the park. 

One thing that surprised me about Legoland Orlando was the amount and variety of rides they had for every age group and trill seeker. My son isn't into rollercoasters so we kept things more on the mellow side. Some of his favorite rides were the Boating School and the Ford Driving School both found in the Lego City section of the park where kids run the world. They can even become a part of the rescue squad, put out fires and get their driver's license. 

Another area Darius enjoyed was the Land of Adventure, made with the explorer in mind. The Lost Kingdom Adventure is a fun, interactive game the whole family could enjoy and compete for a high score in a battle for treasure. As parents, we were able to catch a break in a shady, cool spot while Darius ran around in Pharaoh's Revenge a maze with foam balls whizzing and flying through the air. We also had fun searching for animals on the Safari Trek! Watch our 360 video here! 

Another must see at Legoland Orlando is Miniland, USA! Over 32 million Lego bricks make up this amazing area depicting well known tourist attractions and big cities from around the USA and even a galaxy, far, far away with their Star Wars installation. We took turns guessing which cities were which and seeing what every Lego minifigure was up to. Some much detail went into creating every scene you could literally spend hours in there. 

If you're wondering where you could grab a bite to eat while in the park. Try Pepper & Roni's Pizza Stop because who doesn't like pizza. (Plus they have a veggie option as well.) You won't be able to miss the singing Pizza Man MiniFigure standing outside. 

We really enjoyed our visit to Legoland, Orlando. It was like a breath of fresh air and something new and exciting to experience. To see more on our visit to Legoland Orlando, check out my InstaStory Highlight here! 

Cyber Monday Sale Round-Up!

If you're not shopped out from this weekend, here are some last minute deals you can score today for Cyber Monday! Save while you can and stock up before it's over! 

Abercrombie– All jeans 50% off. Valid 11/15-1/2.

And Other Stories – 20% off site wide. Valid through 11/26.

Ann Taylor–  50% off everything with code CYBER2018. Valid 11/25- 11/28.

Banana Republic– 50% off everything. Valid 11/25-11/26.

Baublebar– Cyber Monday! 35% off everything. Plus, new $10+ door busters! Valid 11/26.

Bloomingdales –
– Take 25% off site wide + 10% off cosmetics during the Cyber Sale. Valid 11/25-11/27.
– Buy more, save more event. Take $25 off $150+, $75 off $350+ or $150 off $500+. Valid 11/28-11/29.

Blue & Cream– New styles up to 90% off with code CYBER. Valid 11/26-11/28.

Boden – 30% offsite wide. Valid through 11/26.

Coach– 30% off select styles with code THANKS18. Valid 11/15-11/27.

COS– 20% selected products. Valid through 11/26.

Crate and Barrel–  20% Off Full-Price Items. Valid through 11/26.

Credo Beauty – 10% Off When You Spend $500 – $749 On Sale Styles; 15% Off When You Spend $750 – $999 On Sale Styles; 20% Off When You Spend $1000+ On Sale Styles. Valid 11/26.

DVF – 15% off $300+, 20% off $500+, 25% off $700+ with code DOUBLETAP. Valid 11/25-11/26.

Equipment – Take 30% off styles with code THANKS. Valid through 11/26.

Express – 50% off everything. Valid 11/25-11/26.

Fame and Partners– 25% off site wide. Valid through 11/26.

Far Fetch – Take 20% off sale items with code x20BF. Valid 11/22-11/26.

Frame Denim– Take 25% off site wide with code CYBER25. Valid 11/26.
– Take an extra 25% off sale styles with code EXTRA25. Valid 11/27.

FRWRD – Designer Sale! Valid 11/26-11/27.

HBX– Take 30% off regular priced items with code BF18. Valid 11/20-11/26.

Intermix – Take 30% off everything. Valid 11/26-11/27.

JCPenney – Take an extra 30% off when you spend $100+, or an extra 25% off when you spend under $100. Valid 11/25-11/28.

Kohl’s – Take an extra 20% off site wide with code TAKE20. Valid 11/24-11/28.
– Take $10 off $50 site wide with code JACKPOT. Valid 11/26.

Neiman Marcus Last Call 
– Cyber Monday! Receive an extra 10% on top of 40-80% off .  Offer valid 11/25-11/26.
– Designer Sale! 40% off fall apparel, sport shop and dress collections. Valid 11/19-12/2.

L.L. Bean– 20% Off Apparel and Outerwear . Valid 11/21 – 11/27
– 25% off Bean Boots. Valid 11/23 Only
– 25% off slippers. Valid 11/26 – 11/27

Luisaviaroma– Extra 20% off sale items with code BF20. Valid 11/20-11/27.

Macy’s  – 20% Off Cyber Monday with code CYBER. Valid 11/25-11/26.

Madewell– 25% or 30% Off Purchase with code SHOPALLDAY. Valid 11/26.

Marmot– 60% off all sale items + 30% off site wide + $24.99 Select Fleeces 11/26.– 25% off site wide + 50% off sale items 11/27 – 12/3

M’oda Operandi – Receive up to 50% off. Valid beginning 11/19. End date TBA.

My Theresa– SALE STARTS TODAY! Up to 50% off sale at MyTheresa.com! Valid starting 11/26.

Mr. Porter – Take 30% off select styles. Valid 11/21-11/26.

Net-a-Porter –  Additional 15% off our favorite sale items with code CYBER15. Valid 11/26 only.

Nordstrom – Receive up to 60% off. Valid 11/22-11/26.

Nordstrom Rack– Black Friday Clearance! Receive an extra 30% off. Valid 11/21-11/26.

Opening Ceremony – Receive an additional 20% off sale with code OCBLACK20. Valid through 11/26.

PacsunTake 30% off site wide. Valid 11/27.

Saks– Get $50 OFF* for every $200 you spend. Up to $500 in Savings. Use Code MONDAY18. Online Only. Valid 11/26.
– 10% OFF* Sitewide. Use code CYBERTUE. Valid 11/27. Online Only.

Rag & Bone– Save 25% off site wide with code TAKE25. Valid through 11/26.

Revolve – Take an extra 20% off sale items. Valid 11/25-11/27.

Sole Society–  Cyber Monday: 30% off site wide. Valid 11/26-11/27.

SSENSE – Select styles up to 50% off. Valid beginning 11/19. End date TBA.

Stuart Weitzman – 40-50% off select styles. Valid beginning 11/22. End date TBA.

Urban Outfitters – Cyber Monday receive tiered offers. In final hours take 25% off site wide. Valid 11/26.

Yoox – Extra 25% off site wide. Valid 11/25-11/26.

Long Time, No Time

Hello Loves! It's hard to believe November is almost over! It seemed to go by in a whirl. If you follow me on social media, especially Instagram, you know that at the beginning of November we went on a family vacation to Orlando, FL! In the Sunshine State, we got to experience some new spots like LegoLand and visit some favorite places in Walt Disney World. I'll be sharing more on that within the following week. Once we got back from vacation, work life has been crazy. If you don't know, I also work retail full-time as an Assistant Manager and once I came back from a relaxing vacation is was time to prep for the Black Friday Madness! Not to mention the fact that I was moved to another store to help out during the busiest week in retail. I'm also working on my online boutique ShopFashionofPhilly.com adding new products and hosting a Black Out Sale for the Black Friday Cyber Monday Weekend with select style up to 25% off. Needless to say I'm pushing through and I'm ready to get you caught up on what's been going on. 2019 will be here very soon, 35 days to be exact, so let's make everyday count!

Black Bride Magazine & TresseNoire Beauty - Natural Tresses & Dresses Bridal Soiree in NYC

Dress Long Maxi

Join Black Bride Magazine and TresseNoire for The Natural Tresses and Dresses Bridal Soiree in SOHO NYC October 27, 2018 from 2 to 5 pm!  Over 200 guests will gather to discover natural hair & beauty styles that are unique to special occasions and weddings. These looks often require more extensive preparation or technique, along with the right styling products and tools to look picture perfect all day, in any weather or environment. This soiree is to show brides how to get the most out of these looks and introduce them to the people that can make it happen! 

One of those people, just happen to be Celebrity Hairstylist Felicia Leatherwood! Leatherwood's styles have been featured on Issa Rae of HBO's hit comedy Insecure, Oscar Award nominee Ava Duvernay ("Wrinkle in Time" director), actresses Nicole Ari Parker, Teyonah Parris, Kimberly Elise, and countless entertainment executives, rising stars & beauty entrepreneurs. This event celebrates all of the priceless moments of the wedding experience - from Bridal Shower, to Bachelorette Party, to Wedding, to Honeymoon.

To help celebrate the upcoming event, I'll be hosting a ticket giveaway! Here's how to enter:

1. Follow @fashionofphilly, @blackbride1998, and @tressnoire.
2. Like this picture.
3. Tag your friends. (Each comment counts as an extra entry. )
4. Bonus: Share the post to your stories. 💍💍💍💍💍 *Giveaway not sponsored or in partnership with Instagram. Giveaway ends 10/21! Winner will be notified via Direct Message. Congrats and Best Wishes!