Wine Dive Bar Opens in Philly

Photo Cred: Society Hill Films
You ever stepped into a place for the first time and instantly know it’s going to be your new favorite spot? That’s the feeling I had when I walked into the media night at Wine Dive ( 1506 South Street). The atmosphere was jumping with music playing your faves, the decor was unexpected ( make sure you check out the bathroom), the staff was great and the wine/drinks were flowing.

The Wine Dive is a wine bottle shop in a full-service bar, offering everything from amazing wine selections to beer and one-of-a-kind cocktails. They even have some tasty snack options on the menu. Brought to you by Heather Anne-Chiarico and Chris Fetfatzes, the same culinary couple to bring you Quick Sip, Hawthorne‘s Beer Café, Tio Florez, and the new Cambridge (located next door), Wine Dive is the first ever dive with wine as a key player.

During their media night event, I tried two of their cocktails: The Red Queen (Red Wine, Averna, Old Granddad, Lemon and Herbs) and the Pony Up (Miller High Life Pony and a Lofi Gentian Amaro Shot). The Red Queen was definitely a crowd favorite. It’s perfect for anyone who is not a red wine drinker and likes a little bit of whiskey. The Pony Up was like a reverse shot with a chaser. The Lofi Gentian Amaro Shot was sweet, but the Miller High Life creates a palate cleansing balance.

Let’s talk about the snacks! The Raclette Grilled Cheese was so satisfying, made with sourdough and bread and butter pickles, something I never thought about adding to my grilled cheese before, but it is amazing! 

When was the last time you went to a dive bar and had caviar? I can’t think of one. But Wine Dive has homemade potato chips topped with sour cream and salmon caviar! Again such an unexpected combo to find at a bar! It reminded me of something you would eat in secret at home because caviar and potato chips seems not right, but taste so good.

The Crab Rangoon‘s were probably my top snack of the night with cream cheese, lump crab and sweet chili sauce, I just couldn’t get enough. Every ingredient just right to satisfy your taste buds.

Throughout the night, I kept hearing people say that it felt like we were in New York, but to me this place couldn’t be more Philly. I feel like it is definitely going to be a Philly favorite for years to come giving visitors a unique look of how Philadelphia does a wine bar.
Special thanks to Aversa PR for inviting me to the event!

Experiencing the New Hydrafacial

A visit to the spa is always a good idea so when The Rittenhouse Spa and Club reached out with an invitation to visit and learn more about the New Hydrafacial, I couldn’t say no. During the event hosted by Alex and Mike of alexand mike.life  guest were able to enjoy light bites, wine, and receive a complementary 15 minute mini Hydrofacial. If you never heard of a Hydrafacial, it’s a non-invasive, non-surgical, resurfacing treatment that combines LED light therapy, to immediately reduce the look of lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, acne, hyperpigmentation, and congested pores. 

The Hydrafacial is amazing and I had previously experienced one before, so this time I was more interested in their Booster Bar. The booster bar displayed additional treatments you can add to your Hydrafacial to focus on a certain area you may want to enhance or bring attention to. Guest could either choose from a lip or an eye perk. 

I decided to go with the eye replenishment replenishing serum to brighten, tone, and firm the outer eye area and let me just say the results are instant! You can really feel the area around the eye tighten, smooth and de-puff. Best thing about choosing one of their booster serums is that you can take the rest home with you to continue your treatment! 
To check out some video footage of me actually getting the treatment done, click here to check it out on my IGTV channel. 
Since then I’ve been faithfully using it day and night in combination with my usual beauty routine. No matter how tired my eyes may feel applying the serum around my outer eyes really refreshes the skin helping me look my best.

To book your Hydrafacial appointment at The Rittenhouse Spa and 

Club visit TheRittenhouseSpaClub.com or call (215) 546-9000 to get your skin refreshed for fall.

5 Things To Know About Candytopia Before You Go!

If you haven’t heard Candytopia.com is here in Philadelphia for a limited time! Located in Philadelphia’s brand new shopping destination The Fashion District, many people are intrigued to know what it’s all about and what’s inside. To help you out, here are five things you sure know about Candytopia before you go.

#1 - The entrance is outside of the mall. At first we weren’t sure where to enter the exhibit, not realizing we walked right by it. Before entering the main entrance of The Fashion District, the door to Candytopia will be on your left side at 9th and Market Street. If you’re driving there, there’s a few parking lots to choose from in the area. I used the one directly across the street from Century 21 at 8th and Market Street. 

#2 - It’s like a museum , but with candy (and you can touch the art). At first, I thought I was going to be entering this real life Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory kind of experience, but after checking pictures of the previous locations on Instagram and their website I saw that it was not the case. (This made me slightly disappointed, but kind of relieved because that would be sort of gross.) On the contrary, Candytopia is like visiting an art museum with displays made entirely out of candy. Since the tour is in Philadelphia be on the lookout for iconic sites and people from the area.

#3 - Come camera ready. Even though Candytopia is a great place to see and experience something new in the area, you’re going to want to be a part of the fun. With that in mind, be prepared to take some unique pics because you won’t want to miss out on the action. Some of my favorite photo areas were the rainbow tunnels (perfect for boomerangs), the confetti room, and the marshmallow pit.

#4 - Download the app. To piggyback off of number three, it’s a good idea to download the Candytopia app. The app allows you to capture moments as if you had your own personal photographer. (It also takes away the awkwardness of having to ask someone to take your picture.) You can also buy tickets and get more information directly on the app.

#5 - You will get candy! After falling short of my Willy Wonka expectations, I was very excited to find out that, you do get candy. Every room has candy hidden inside for you to collect throughout your journey. If you miss any along the way, don’t worry there’s a gift shop at the end to grab whatever you’re into.

If you haven’t visited Candytopia yet, don’t panic it’ll be here until January 5, 2020, giving you plenty of time to check it out during the chillier months. It’s a great place for the whole family, visiting relatives, or just a girls night out. To purchase tickets and get more information, check out their website at Candytopia.com.

{NYFW} EDGII F/W 2019 Collection

Photo c/o Rep Agency
I was super excited to be able to attend another season of NYFW. Even if it was only for a few shows, I love going up to New York and being a part of the action. The first show I was able to attend was by the Australian brand, EDGII  Their collection entitled Girl Power, was inspired by the personas of “The Powerpuff Girls“, who you’ll find sprinkled throughout pieces in the collection, Representing individuality and promoting uniqueness.

Some of my favorite looks in the show were definitely the outerwear. From the floorlength faux fur coats to their edgy fur lined parkas, which seem to be a staple for the brand. I also loved the subtle touches of femininity featured in he hair styling, outfitted with kitten heels, and lace paired with streetwear and edginess. EDGII has definitely caught my attention and I can’t wait to see more from them. To see more looks from their previous collections and to find out more about the brand, go to EDGII.com.au. 

Photo c/o Rep Agency

Photo c/o Rep Agency

{The Fall Edit #1} The Vegan Leather Jacket

You can’t have fall without a biker jacket and since mine was starting to fall apart and peel, I decided to pick up another one from H&M. It also didn’t hurt to use a 15% off coupon I held on to from recycling my clothes I was getting rid of previously. (FYI: if you didn’t know, H&M has an awesome Garment Collecting Program where customers get rewarded with 15% vouchers when they donate their items to use on a later purchase.) 

However if the ones at H&M don’t peak your interest, some other shops to find some good ones are: Zara, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters and more shown above. On the other hand, if you don’t mind wearing real leather, try Wilson’s Leather online or in an outlet mall near you to score a good deal, but if you wanna talk about the leather jacket of my dreams, definitely check out Boda Skins. They carry super stylish leather jackets with customization options that are surely top notch. 

{Philly Food} Bryn + Dane’s

Let’s be real for a second, when it comes to eating on the go, there’s not a ton of healthy options to choose from. You might be able to find a salad here or there, but what happens when you want more variety? This is where Bryn + Dane's break the borders. Born in Horsham, PA,  Bryn + Dane’s mission has been to provide healthy fast food to everyone while doing good in the process. 

I was invited to taste test some of their top items on the menu and let me tell you, everything was a hit. I would definitely recommend trying the “Bryn Mac”, a plant based wrap (also available in gluten free) that gives you the flavor of Big Mac but in a much healthier version.  If you’re into smoothie bowls, get excited, because there are tons of delicious options to choose from. Not only arethey Instagram-worthy, but you can create your own and pack it with one of four unique bases, proteins, fresh fruits and a drizzle! My favorite happens to be the Superman made with blue spirulina.

I was able to attend to the VIP opening of Bryn + Dane’s newest location in Center City, Philadelphia (Now Open) and the design aesthetic remains the same. Clean, fresh, and innovative. When you arrive, you’ll be able to browse the menu and customize your options on their touch screens. Then take a number and prepare your taste buds. 

If you look around you’ll see bright vibrant murals, fresh greenery, and a little bit of the future. You might notice a shipping container at the pickup window at their Center City location that offers you a glimpse of B+D’s Giving Containers set to open in Uganda, Africa later this year with more to come in the future. So not only will Bryn + Dane be providing healthy food locally but also worldwide. Inspired by the Tom’s method, for every meal purchased, a meal will be provided for free! 

So if you’re looking to change up your fast food eating habits or just want to try something new, stop by Bryn + Dane’s Healthy Fast Food and dosome good, not just for yourself but also for others. For a list of their locations and to learn more about the brand, visit brynanddanes.com.

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.