TROPICAL VACATION

TROPICAL VACATION by chicpantry featuring brimmed hats

SUNNY SIDE UP

As all of you know, I spent two amazing weeks in the beautiful island of Trinidad for Carnival. If you've never heard of it in follow me now!!! LOL just kidding...Carnival is a festival celebrated thought the Caribbean Islands where there's a lot of people dancing to the rhythmic soca music in the streets. Best time everrrr I swear! I'll try to compile some pics to give you a little taste of it soon. 

Isn't this beach GORGEOUS? Las Cuevas Beach, Trinidad West Indies 

Wore this "sunny" chevron print maxi by Bebe on this beautiful beach day. 

HA! I'm such a goofball! Short & Sweet!! Spring is here ladies so retire those sweatpants and wear a comfy maxi dress. #chictip (works for every body type) 

xoxo, 

Osa 

ORANGE YOU GLAD...

When the weather is as warm as it is here in Trinidad, the more airy the clothing the better. 

Spent the day at the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Trinidad, taking in all of the beautiful landscape such as the bamboo trees, poui trees, as well as the well manicured gardens. 

It was a lot of walking so I just through on my blinged out Michael Kors jellie sandals.

...and yes! For every "good" pic I take there are always several of my goofy moments...definitely the real me LOL 

Dress: Thrifted for $1 :-) 

Sandals: Michael Kors 

Headband: Random fabric scrap 

My rule: Don't take fashion so serious...especially on vacation :-) 

xoxo, 

Osa 

Subscribe to Chic Pantry via email pr join this site using Google Connect. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, & don't forget to like my Facebook Fan Page @chicpantryblog for more pics and updates. 

BURBERRY BABE

Hey There CHICsters, 

Can you tell how much I'm loving my vacay? The sun, the beaches, the food, the people, the EVERYTHING is so much more enjoyable here in Trinidad. So much to do and see!!! If you've never been, it's a must so book a reservation today (LOL I sound like a travel agent).

ChicPantry in Trinidad :-) 

Isn't it beautiful? 

Gotta get the hair right! LOL

Photography by Prudence Thomas 

Location: Las Cuevas Beach, Trinidad

Swimwear: Burberry

Bangles: Kate Spade NY

Necklace: Chic Pantry Boutique 

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Hola CHICsters, 

As many of you know from my Instagram & Twitter I've been in the lovely islands of Trinidad and Tobago for the past two weeks. I initially came here for the Greatest Show On Earth...Trinidad Carnival, but decided to stay a little longer to spend time with family and friends. Love the perks of being self employed, no boss to negotiate days off with LOL. 

Can't you tell how much I love the scent of these lovely bougainvillea flowers? 

My fancy photography location 

I'm not sure why but my blog platform is not letting me update links within this post right now, soooo I'll have to update those later. 

                     CHIC DETAILS 

Dress: Saks 5th Avenue

Bangles: French Connection 

Tote: Dooney & Bourke 

Fedora: Borrowed from my Uncle (LOL)

xoxo, 

Osa 

MIAMI MASH-UP

Hey CHICsters,

This week has been a little hectic but nonetheless here are the last of the Miami-Broward Carnival pics.The actual parade was held at Dolphin Stadium so that was kinda cool in itself. If you've never been to a Caribbean Carnival here's a little taste of what you will see.  

The elaborate costumes are worn by both men and women, but the women take it to quite another level with bold and beautifully coordinated makeup.

Look at that body paint design. WOW

Fun, Soca music, family and friends is what the essence of carnival is all about. This was the last Carnival experience for the year here in Miami until it kicks off all over again in the beautiful Trinidad & Tobago March 2014. If you love high energy fun people partying non-stop...book your flight now. It gets pretty pricey for travel but it's sooo worth the experiece!

That's all for now folks :-) Catch up on this past weeks posts while your relaxing and browsing the net.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, Like my Facebook fanpage @ChicPantryBlog as well as find me on Instagram @ChicPantry....I'm EVERYWHERE lol.

Peachy Keen

 Ahhhh, this vacation was so well deserved after a busy year. The weather in Miami permits for all of those bare as you dare outfits, which you get to see alot of while walking along the strip in South Beach.  Ummm let's just say that some of those bodies are phenomenal, while others *side eye* not so much. 

I've passed the age where i make all of my fashion blunders like wearing the wrong underwear, or just something thats not flattering at all. For women especially, I think it's important to know your body and highlight whatever area is the best on you.

Wore this for a lunch date and it suit the occasion and atmosphere perfectly. This acid wash crop is something I bought at a local boutique here in Atlanta earlier this year and I've worn before. I love the wash and cut of the crop, but let me just say that the zippered back can pose a problem to get in and out of without some help LOL. 

Paired the crop with what some thought was a skirt, but actually they were shorts. The peach color is soooo Miami, and the lightweight fabric and flowing style was perfect to combat that humid weather.

 These sandals were a pair I picked up this summer at JC Penney . The belt is Michael Kors and the built in pouch came in handy because who really wants to carry around a clutch or handbag while on vacation? 

Simple outfit, easy day time attire. Don't mind the shadow of my photographer in this pic LOL, that sun was relentless that afternoon.

Don't you just love this shot? I'm so ready for my next trip *sigh*

Have a Lovely Day CHICsters,

Keep up with the blog this week for more vacation looks and Miami-Broward Carnival culture

xoxo,

Osa

MIAMI CARNIVAL 2013

Hola CHICsters,

I'm so excited for this weeks posts. As many of you know I was missing in action on the blog a couple of weeks ago because I was on vacation in sunny Miami for some relaxation and to enjoy Miami Carnival. No I'm not talking about the carnival with Ferris wheels and roller coasters *side eye* LL..I'm talking about the well known cultural festival where people of Caribbean descent and all other cultures, come together for days of parties, music, and other festivities #GOODTIMES .  

So this week I'm going to give you a crash course on a HUGE part of my culture, while posting various outfit pics, events, as well as costumes that was worn for the Carnival.

Miami-Broward Carnival always takes place during Columbus weekend, and is a week long list of partying, partying, and more partying LOL. 

Typically I get to Miami on a Thursday and enjoy all of the festivities up until the day of the actual Carnival, which is Sunday then fly back home either Monday or Tuesday morning for the latest. But this year...my significant other talked me into going earlier and staying later after the festivities were done to enjoy some other great aspects of vacationing in Miami that you really don't get to do with all those parties. Such a great idea!!

I actually got time to try new things like ride a scooter down the strip, and jet ski (which I will probably never do again )...I ain't about that jet ski life LOL.

The above pics are a few of the masqueraders (as they are called) that participated in the Miami-Broward Carnival.  Quick Carnival history lesson...Carnival started in the Caribbean Islands marking a time when slaves were emancipated from slavery (wayyyy before slaves were free in America) *side eye*. People took to the streets beating drums, dancing and singing songs in costumes. Today Carnival has become a multi-million dollar business on various islands such as Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados just to name a few, where Bands,(groups of masqueraders) compete to win titles after displaying quality, beautiful MAS (costumes). 

In modern times, Carnival is basically a HUGE parade of REVELERS (Band participants) that prance down the city streets following large trucks carrying state of the art equipment pumping SOCA MUSIC (very fast paced) headed by top DJays, like Tony Cross of Natural Freaks Unlimited pictured here. Doesn't this sound like fun?

In Miami, the Carnival is on Sunday, but the week leading towards the GRANDE FINALE (Carnival Day) is nothing but endless Fetes (parties).

LOL, Are you guys keeping up with the crash course vocabulary lesson?

Carnival is also a time when participants pull out there best outfits showing off their own personal style as the above pic where the latest Adidas Originals Mutombo Tank was worn.

Out with my friend at Red Eye Fete enjoying the atmosphere.

Here's another party goer AND my wonderful client in a Tribal Print Midi Skirt & coordinating Turquoise crop...Great color for her skin tone don't you think?

 Keep up with the blog this week as I show more pics, outfits, freestyle, and Mas from the Carnival. #CHICPANTRYINMIAMI

Couldn't end the post with out a STAPLE while you're in Miami whether you're in town for the Carnival or not, you must have a Call A Cab from Wet Willies...and when you do just make sure you do just that to get back to your hotel LOL..stronggggg stuff!

Have a CHICtastic Week...and follow me on IG/Twitter/and Facebook for more updates and pics

xoxo,

Osa