Overall my trip to Atlanta was amazing! It was my first real trip without family, besides school organized field trips of course. It was just my friend and I, trying to navigate through this traveling experience in Atlanta. We got to do exactly what we wanted to do, and I can't stop thinking about just how much there was to do! It truly is something that I will never forget and a moment I will always cherish.

One of my favorite places was Centennial Park. It is an amazing park located in downtown Atlanta. It has cute water systems throughout the park that create water falls, fountains, or blasts of water which make it so serene and relaxing. The park is pretty big with tons of  places to just sit and relax. After a long day of checking out sites this is the perfect place to go because it's located right next to everything. The aquarium, Coca-Cola Factory, CNN and their stadium are all right there! So, we often found ourselves in this great park unwinding from our activity of the day.

Speaking of activities..... There is so much to do in Atlanta! I think I've said this multiple times, during this Atlanta blog segment. No matter what you are interested in, it's definitely there.If you look on EventBrite there are never ending pages of Atlanta events. I swear there is a party everyday and the clubs are open all the time. The number of day parties was crazy, who knew drinking before 5 would be so heavily encouraged. Not only are there great events, but you may even see a few celebrities (I got to meet two!!!) Atlanta is a major city that alot of celebrities have made their home. Be prepared to bump into a couple especially at the night clubs. Even if partying isn't your thing, there are so many different gatherings going on everyday of the week. There's festivals, house tours, poetry, shopping centers, food tastings, and so much more! You will truly never be bored in Atlanta!

The best part about Atlanta has to be the food! Everything was just so tasty! I didn't have one bad dish while I was down there. Everything was just full of so much flavor, great portion sizes, and just overall DELICIOUS! I highly recommend Hot Chixx. They have really good chicken for low prices, and if you check out their Instagram they always have specials. Chicken Wings, Fries, and a drink for just $5.00??? You can't beat that! To satisfy your sweet tooth, I definitely recommend taking a trip to an ice cream shop called Subzero!  They make the ice cream from scratch right in front of your eyes! You tell them your desired ice cream flavor, no matter how extreme, and they can make it happen. I never had ice cream so creamy and perfectly flavored. Even if you don't have a sweet tooth, this ice cream is a must! Some other honorable mentions are Hattie B's and Old Lady Gang. If you're planning a trip to Atlanta make sure you definitely stop by some of these places for some tasty food!

Now my here are my two downsides. One thing I want to mention is to try not to go in June like we did. Apparently, that is their spring so it rained so much. Definitely go a month or two either before or after, for much more ideal weather. Number two...THE ATLANTA AIRPORT. That airport is intense. It's massive, it's crowed, it signs pointing 20 different ways, and it's just a lot to handle. Be prepared to get lost, and be prepared to bob and weave between everybody.

Nonetheless, Atlanta is a pretty great place! All of our Lyft drivers were friendly and helpful. The people are gorgeous and fashionable. The food is the best food you will probably ever have. The atmosphere is super laidback. Most importantly you will never be bored. There's always something to do in Atlanta, and alot of it is free too! Overall my trip to Atlanta was pretty great!

-FASHMIRA

Now when you think of Atlanta something that pops into your mind is the famous Georgia Aquarium.  All the pretty sea creatures, exhibits, and shows that they offer are a must see! It is currently the largest Aquarium in the United States, and they are always growing and enhancing. When I was planning my trip to Atlanta it was #1 on my "Must Do" list, and for good reason. I truly enjoyed the aquarium, there were just so many different things to take in and see!

If you're planning a visit, be prepared to make it an all-day thing. At first glance it is a little pricey, but if you visit every section and immerse yourself in the experience, it is definitely beyond worth it. There are exhibits where you get to watch the animals in their habitats. However, there are also exhibits where you can actually touch and interact with the sea creatures. This section totally reminded me of Finding Dory, so I personally left the animals alone. Lastly, there are high energy shows throughout the day that are extremely captivating. There are just so many different things to do and see that you are entertained for hours.

Now, when I left the aquarium I had a pretty bad headache. I think all of the warped glass, crowds of people, and blue lighting got to me. So, this brings me to the bad parts about the aquarium. For one, it is pricey.  The food is SUPER expensive and definitely low quality. I couldn't bring myself to pay $15 for cold lack luster food. Especially, being in Atlanta you’re surrounded by so much good food so I was highly disappointed. That's one area of the aquarium they definitely need to step up, because if the food was actually appealing I would have had no problem buying it. We actually ended our visit earlier because I needed to eat something. I definitely recommend bringing snacks or something with you because the food there is overpriced and low quality.

Lastly, it will be packed! We went on a Monday in May and it was super full. Adults, kids, babies, strollers, service dogs, there was just an abundance of people and things circling throughout the aquarium. The aquarium is quite large so at times you don't even realize how many people truly are there, because you're all spread out. That is, until a show is taking place.

You begin to see a swarm of people all walking in the same direction. When you finally get to the destination you walk into a huge theater with over 1,000 seats, and that's not an exaggeration, the dolphin show has 1800 seats! Looking back at the swarm of people, the crowd still doesn't seem large enough to fill the area. You pick out a good seat, and see that more and more people are still coming in. Finally, 10 minutes in to when the show was supposed to start, the theater is full; everyone has been successfully packed in. Leaving you wondering, where the heck have all these people been hiding all day? Another fun fact, there is another show going on, almost simultaneously, on the other side of the aquarium. After you watch the show and smile at the entertaining animals, it's time to exit. Imagine how fun it is to get 1,800 people out of a two door theater.

I say these things not to deter you from visiting, but to give you a heads up. When you have the opportunity to look at 1000s of our beautiful aquatic animals, it surpasses any frustrations you may have had throughout the day. There's nothing like watching 5 gorgeous whales glide in front of you. Or, hearing how 3 sea lions were saved and nursed back to health. I highly recommend adding this aquarium to your bucket list. The experience that I had at the Georgia Aquarium was something that I will keep with me forever.

-FASHMIRA

Go clovers! Go clovers! Go! Go! Go Clovers!
Our game is fierce, and we are hip
So get on back, you can't touch this!
Our game is bad, we're with our peers
So get that weakness outta here!

Growing up Bring It On was one of my favorite movies. When I found this cute little two piece I instantly felt like a East Compton Clover from Bring It On, so I knew I had to get it. Plus, I think I found a new favorite color combination! There was something about this dark green and goldenrod color that made me feel like a confident queen. No wonder the East Compton Clovers were just some bad behind females!  If this is what this color combo does, I'm wearing it all the time!

I scored this cute set on Romwe for just $9 !! That's right I got an outfit for less than $10! I obviously just couldn't pass that up! Romwe has tons of sets like mine, in different colors and patterns. I definitely see myself ordering more because of how cute, cheap, and versatile they are.

Two-piece sets are simple instant outfits that you don't really have to put much thought into. One of the great thing about sets is that you have the option to wear them together or separately. So I feel like I got a 3 in 1 deal. I can wear the outfit together, I could wear the shorts with another top, or I can wear the top as a shirt  to create various outfit combinations.

TRAVEL TIP: If you're ever traveling for a long time and have limited space for clothes, two piece sets can be the perfect solution for you! You can easily take one outfit and turn it into 3 or more. Purchase a plain solid color set, break it up,  and pair the top and bottom with alternate pieces that compliment it. The outfit combinations can be endless, and you'll save a bunch of space!

This was my favorite outfit that I wore while I was in Atlanta. I just love the look and vibe that it created. It was cute, flirty, fun, and also made me feel like a melanin queen. It really made my skin pop and complemented it.  This was also one of the only days it was hot down there. I really love summer clothes. So, any opportunity to wear shorts and a crop tops, is always a great day to me! Apparently, the month of May, in Atlanta is "spring." Therefore, the rest of my Atlanta trip involved rainy days, 70 degree weather, and jackets. Definitely not that Hotlanta feeling I was looking forward too. So, when the sun and heat finally shined through on this day, I took full advantage with this look!

I went to Lenox Square day, which is a major shopping center/mall in Atlanta. I also walked around Buckhead and took in all the pretty sights. In Atlanta it seemed like everyone dressed so nice at all times. All the ladies had on great outfits, perfectly done full faces of make up,  and every strand of hair was perfectly in place. Luckily this set made me look and feel fashionable, so I fit right in with all the Atlanta ladies.

-FASHMIRA

Weather
The first thing you should do when you're preparing for a trip, is to check the weather! You have absolutely no idea what the weather just might be. You definitely don't want to pack a bikini for a rainy 50 degree weather situation. Taking this first step allows you to make clothing decisions much easier. Open toe or closed? Hooded Jacket or light sweater? Shorts or pants? Are you going to be sweating from the humidity or enjoying a cool breeze? No matter where you are going, or how familiar you are with their "typical" weather, make sure you take a look at the expected weather forecast. Once you've done this you will be able to make much more informative decisions.

When I was preparing to go to Atlanta I was checking the weather constantly. For the longest it showed sunny clear skies and 90 degree weather. Then a week before my trip it changed! It now showed RAIN!! Which then led to a drop in daily temperature of about 75 degrees. So all of those "perfect" outfits I had been planning for months, now had to be changed.

Itinerary
Next, you want count out the number of days you will be there. Respectively you will need at least that many outfits. Now you also want to take in consideration the events you will be participating in during your trip. Are you going out? Hitting the Beach? Typically activities like these will lead to outfit changes during the day. So make sure you have somewhat outlined the itinerary. You don't want to wind up sitting in wet clothes after leaving the beach, because you forgot to bring an extra change of clothes. And you don't want to be prancing around in an evening gown all day because you forgot an extra set of day clothes. Lay out some simple plans for your trip and keep track of all the needed outfits so you are able to plan accordingly.

Once you do that you can then dive into more specifics. If you're going to a fancy restaurant you know you'll need a nice dress. Planning to hike on your trip? Don't forget your shorts and tank. You don't need to have the exact items picked out in the beginning stages. However, laying out the general pieces you need will help spark outfit ideas, guide you as you shop for pieces, and make packing easier when the time comes.

When you begin to plan your itinerary it truly helps you discover what pieces you need (or don't need) and will make packing so much smoother

Maximize your space!
This was a must for me! For the first time, I was traveling with just a small carry on. Let me reiterate this again. I was spending a week in Atlanta and only had one small piece of luggage. I love clothes and I love to be prepared for any possible occasion. So, packing light just isn't an option for me. But, I'm definitely great at maximizing my space! When you're packing I highly recommend folding your clothes into small squares.This will save so much space, and help you section off your bag. I was able to fit so many articles of clothing in my suitcase by doing this.

Shoes were the toughest part for me. A good trick, is to wear your bulkiest pair of shoes on the plane/while traveling to save space in your suitcase. If that's not an option, put those bulky shoes in your suitcase first, creating a square. This way you can pack your clothes around it utilizing the sections that the shoes created. Then put all your tiny pieces into the empty spaces around your shoes. Socks, undies, tiny pouches, and whatever else can fit. You don't want to leave any open spaces or gaps! For your tiny shoes add those last! I mainly had sandals, so after packing everything else, I slid those in on the side. Since they are so flat it makes an easy squeeze! Most airlines allow a carry on and a "Personal Item" I suggest bringing a big shoulder bag or book-bag. So whatever I couldn't get int my suitcase, things I needed easy access to, and the things I didn't want to squish, wound up in that bag. This included two purses, my snacks, my books, some jewelry, typical purse items, and an umbrella. Your "Personal Item" can truly be your lifesaver.

Those are my top three packing tips! Hopefully these help! By incorporating those three things into your packing regimen it can truly make packing so much easier and alleviate some of that  pre-trip stress! Check the weather, plan out your itinerary, and maximize every drop of space! When you do this it will make packing such a breeze!

-FASHMIRA