90s style is all the rage. I recently got a blast from the past by watching 10 Things I Hate About You with Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larisa Oleynik. It was marvelous. In the film, Bianca's pretty in pink prom dress -- or prom crop top with a hot pink tulle skirt, as it should be called -- is way too chic to ignore. The separate pieces give it a relaxed feel but the satin & tulle show some glamour. I simply couldn't resist recreating the iconic look. We all love Kat but this post is about Bianca. Get the look with Bianca's prom dress from 10 Things I Hate About You!

There are two vital items to start off your iconic look. The first thing you need is a shiny, bright pink crop top or metallic cropped tank top. It doesn't have to be too cropped just enough to show a sliver of skin. The next thing is a somewhat long pink tulle skirt! You can even go for a floor-length pink tulle skirt. You will look like a lovely pink ballerina. These two make a whimsical, vintage-inspired pair. Once you find these key items the rest is up to you. You can even wear a slip dress under if you can't find the right shirt. There are many dresses that you can go with!

The last thing you'll need to complete Bianca's iconic prom dress look is a pair of cute strappy heels. You'll only need a darling pair to last long enough to capture for the photos. By the time you start dancing you'll probably take them off after a couple of songs. That's how it normally goes at dances. I can vouch for that because dancing in high heels is no easy feat. This 10 Things I Hate About You prom dress could even be used as a Halloween costume or worn to your next event.

She exhaled listlessly

& her spirit escaped.

Her body called it quits

& thus, her soul reshaped.

She began a new life

in the pale, grey moonlight.

This was a special time,

it was Halloween night.

She opened her blue eyes

Do you know what she saw?

She looked at her still self;

it was her last hurrah.

Her name was Athena,

like the goddess of war.

She dusted herself off

& arose from the floor.

Her body just lay there,

but her soul was alive.

That's when she decided

it was her time to thrive.

So she floated away

& explored somewhere new.

That's not really something

she would normally do.

Quiet & heartbroken,

cheerless, sad, & somber,

Timid & powerless,

too frightened to wander.

Fearful of everything,

she was not at all brave.

However, that all changed

when she sprung from the grave.

You're probably asking:

"Why on earth should I care?"

The reason is plain but

it may give you a scare.

She would like you to know

that life is not easy.

There are troubles to have;

it won't all be breezy.

Life is quite difficult

until the day you die.

Then you take your last breath

& mutter a goodbye.

Your body soon decays

& you become a ghost.

You'll meet with the others

& you'll all raise a toast:

Cheers to life & to death,

to the haunting we'll do,

to spooking the children,

& always yelling "BOO!" 

To tricking & treating,

to pumpkins & to pranks, 

to stealing some candy

with no need to say thanks.

To goblins & spiders,

& to the webs they weave.

Because of all of this

our souls shall never leave.

That's why it's so spooky.

No one will hear you scream.

After all, don't you know?

Tonight is Halloween.

Tonight is Halloween

A poem by Carmen Varner

++++++

Wishing you a happy Halloween. Have fun & stay safe!

Did you enjoy this poem? Feel free to share it! What are your plans today? :]

Oh, Paris. You are a beautiful city filled with fashion, art, culture, & gastronomy. Paris is a sight for sore eyes. It always a rush to visit the remarkable city. If you happen to find yourself in the lovely capital of France, you must take a look at the Notre Dame.

The Notre Dame under construction - September 2019

Tourist Information:

The Notre Dame Cathedral also referred to as Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris or Notre-Dame de Paris, is open every day of the year. Did you know that it translates into "Our Lady of Paris?" Its hours are from 8 am to 6:45 pm; on Saturdays & Sundays it's open until 7:15 pm. Access to the cathedral is free of charge during the open hours. However, you may have to wait in line. The line goes by pretty quickly but it also ranges by the day or even hour.

History:

The Notre Dame is a historic Catholic cathedral with French Gothic architecture. It's about 800 years old! In 1163, construction began for the Notre Dame Cathedral; the original cathedral that stood there was demolished. Construction took quite a long time & was eventually completed over 100 years later in 1272. Since it was built, the Notre Dame has remained one of Paris's & France's most recognized symbols.

I love viewing the grandeur that is the Notre Dame. It's a wonderful place to visit regardless of how many times you've seen it. I am obsessed with churches & religious art. I always have been; I remember it started in my ninth grade world history class. Last time I featured the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

Once you get inside it's up to you what you want to see. There's no right or wrong way to do things. Walk around. People watch. Look at the stained glass. You can buy a candle, light it, & say a little prayer. Take a moment to soak in the glory of the Notre Dame. If you're in Paris, France this is a must-see experience. It's just one of those things you have to do!



The Notre Dame is a world wonder. It has so much character after being developed over hundreds of years. When you visit Paris make sure to set some time aside to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral. After all they made a whole Disney movie about it, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. That has to mean something, right?

Have you ever visited Paris or the Notre Dame?  :]

Traveling abroad is one of the most amazing things you can do in life. You get to witness how other people live their lives, what they eat, how they speak. There's really nothing like it. One of my favorite things about traveling is trying local foods, new foods, & getting out of my usual routine. The thing to consider is that you're already paying a huge chunk of change for your plane ticket. The question therein is: how do you eat cheap & on a budget while traveling abroad? Don't worry I've got your back with plenty of tips to lead you on the right track. Here's to eating well & eating cheap!

Do your research

If you have some sort of Internet access look online to see what food is out there. You can check out Yelp, browse reviews, & search for affordable options in your area. There's no way that you could possibly know all the restaurants & cafes yourself, so to do a little bit of research & narrow it down. Be sure to consider the pricing, portion size, & distance from your current location.

Understand tipping

Tipping practices vary per country. Some don't require or expect tips at all. Some include tips into your check. Make sure you learn & understand how it works. Over time, you'll save a pretty penny if you know the tipping culture.

Go to a grocery store

Heading to local grocery stores is one of my favorite things about traveling. I will never forget Albert Heijn, a Dutch supermarket. You have no idea how many times I went into that store to buy delicious juice, cheese croissants, & lentil avocado salad. Their prices were cheap & made for the perfect picnic. Grocery stores & markets are the way to go because you get to grab something to-go or make, cook, & assemble your own meals. You can also buy coffee or tea bags to save you from picking up one every morning.

Pack your lunch

You're out & about all day exploring the city & its many wonders. Save some cash by bringing lunch with you. It's just like the old days in elementary school; packing your lunch will keep your cost down. The fun challenge is finding a lovely place to eat your lunch. Picnics are everything when traveling abroad! I'll never forget the quaint garden lunch at a picnic table in Copenhagen or the lovely lakeside picnic in Amsterdam. Those packed picnic lunches were some of my favorite memories from traveling abroad.

Eat before you're super hungry

I admit I made this mistake many times. Learn from my mistakes. In order to save money while you're traveling the world, eat before you're super hungry. If you're about to faint from hunger you'll likely visit the first place you see regardless of its price. That doesn't really help if you're on a budget. Be sure to get some food before you're starving.

Have a snack on hand

This kind of goes hand in hand with the above tip. Always always always have a snack with you. Keep it in your purse, your backpack, your fanny pack or pocket if you have to. If you have a snack with you you won't immediately be tempted to lunge at the first sight of food. A banana, cup of cereal, or mixed nuts ought to do the trick.

Ask a local 

Engage with the locals & inquire about their favorite restaurant, cafe, or underrated eatery. Ask about budget-friendly options in the neighborhood. Locals know a hell of a lot more about the city than you do. Take their advice & run with it. You have no idea how many times asking a local about something totally enhanced my overall experience.

Eat at the hotel

If you're at a hotel, motel, hostel, Airbnb that includes a meal, take advantage of it. In Paris, my mom, sister, & I ate breakfast every day at the hostel. That saved us about €10 per person per day. You can buy souvenirs, macarons, museum tickets, or what have you with that money. The more cash you save by eating on a budget when you travel abroad leaves more room for other options.

Use a kitchen

Does your hotel or Airbnb have a kitchen? Take advantage of it. Cook your meals at home. We all know this is one of the best ways to eat on a budget in general. As a broke college student, I took pride in being able to scrummage up food with whatever I had in the house. You can obviously supplement that by going to the grocery store.

Refill your water bottle

In some countries, you have to pay for water at the restaurant or they may not give you any at all. I remember sitting down for lunch in Denmark & specifically asking for tap water only to find out that they charged for it. Lesson learned. Buy a water bottle & refill it. You'll save a lot of money on water alone.

Drink outside

Europe is pretty chill about drinking outside or in public. Stop by the store & pick up a bottle of wine, some beer, even juices rather than buying them at a restaurant at a markup. I spent €6 on a beer at a restaurant. Then I got wise & bought an even larger beer at the market for about €2. Do a little research on the laws about drinking in public in your country.

Go to the Market

I always like to visit the farmer's market wherever I may roam. Whether I unintentionally happen upon one in Milan, Italy or perhaps a very purposeful promenade through Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain. Markets & farmer's markets tend to have almost a wholesale price for produce, veggies, & other goodies. Plus, they're as fresh as can be.