–The best places to find the Hottest Birthday outfits on a Budget!–

Look One: I couldn’t wait to share with you all my BIRTHDAY looks from last week. Because who doesn’t want to look great on their birthday? Y’all, how fun is this fringe beaded skirt!? I got so many compliments and shook my booty all night! Get this…it was UNDER $30!! I feel like if you were to buy this at a boutique, it would most likely cost you $75-$100. This is from Meshki and was my first purchase from them. I can tell you, it won’t be my last. The quality is so good!

Unfortunately they were out of the top to match it, so I ordered the bodysuit from FashionNova because clearly I am a #NovaBabe. And as usual I got a tremendous deal on it, it was $10!! It did run a little small. It’s satin and you can tie the neck part in the front or the back. I paired it with my black feather heels from Fashion Nova to add some more frill and girliness.

My Birthday night! So my make-up on my Birthday was on POINT! I ran into a friend of mine, Lindsey Armstrong at the mall, who so graciously offered to do my make-up with all the new Tom Ford Products! Say what? I’m in! Y’all, go see her. Follow her on Instagram- Lindsey Armstrong. She did such an amazing job and she’s available for weddings, BIRTHDAYS etc. Thank you so much for making me feel my best on my Birthday. Also, have y’all tried the face roller thing? It feels like a heavenly massage for your face!

Outfit #2. A mocha (or nude) colored, off the shoulder, ruched dress. HOT! I looved this. This is also another first purchase and this is from Shein! Jess is impressed. Haha. The quality was great and of course another awesome deal- Under $30! Also, I did buy another dress from them that turned out to be too small, so I sent it back (free return shipping, yay!) and they refunded it back quickly. So far, highly recommend shopping at Shein. If you are in between sizes, buy both and send the one back that doesn’t fit for a refund! 🙂

Let me know if you have any other questions for me below! <3

Xoxo,

Jess

The Best Workouts in Dallas.

Let’s talk about fitness! Where are your favorite places to workout? Well if you’re like me, I like anywhere that has a fun challenging workout. One of my favorite type of workouts is a good HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout. These keep me in the best shape working both my muscles and endurance.

My Fitness Background

A little background about me. I was a gymnast since I was 7 years old til I graduated High School. I was in the gym 6 hours a day 6 days a week. After High School I went to UNC Charlotte and they had no gymnastics team, so I dove into some dance classes at school. I took Ballet, jazz and hip hop. I had always wanted to dance, so what better way to do it!? After College, I danced in the NBA for 2 years for the Charlotte (Bobcats) Hornets, then I moved to Texas and danced for a Hockey team for 2 years (Allen Americans). I then went down to Miami to audition for the Miami Dolphins and ended up tearing my ACL and MCL. So that ended that, but God can always bring good out of bad, he has another plan for me. 🙂

So fitness/sports has always been a HUGE part of my life. My Major in College was Kinesiology. Right now, I hit the gym probably 5-6 days a week and I get asked a lot about my fitness, so I wanted to share with y’all my favorite ways that I like to stay in shape. You may already know this…but my favorite thing right now is #ClassPass!! I started a trial on ClassPass about a year and a half ago. It is a program that you can take ANY classes you want on. I think I have A.D.D so this works well for me. I can switch up the gym, the classes and intensity I want to workout each day. If I want to repair my muscles after a hard HIIT workout, I can do Cryo or a yoga class. They also have Pilates, Cycling, Versa Climber gyms, boxing, Crossfit, DANCING, regular gyms etc. Each class is based off a number of credits that you get each month. I myself have the highest number of 72. Each class may be worth 6-8 credits and you can go to that same gym up to 3 times a month. Or if you’d like to use a higher number of credits you can go more often to your favorites. I have been their biggest advocate since I joined…I really should be sponsored by them with how many people I’ve referred! #NotanAD but #WishItWas haha.

Let’s Workout!

So come join me and be my workout partner! Another cool feature is that you can add friends to your list and invite them to the same classes you go to. I’ve made friends this way. 🙂 I’m including my link here to get $30 off your first month! –> CLASSPASS

Party in the city where the heat is on
All night, on the beach till the break of dawn, Welcome to Miami, Bienvenidos a Miami….

Will Smith

So I flew to Miami to see JLO! Yup, she is my absolute favorite performer EVER. So of course I had to go to the last show of her U.S. Tour in her hometown. Naturally I had to have the best outfit possible for her show!! I’ll be sharing with you where I got all 3 outfits (FIVE pieces) for only around $100!!

Welcome to my #JLo inspired outfit. I got 4 of these pieces for BOGO (Buy One Get One FREE) Holy crap what a deal. They are all from #FashionNova, which I have been shopping at for years now. Their stuff is good quality and shipping is pretty fast. Let’s start with my top. Here is my link to get 30% off your first order.

This is a mesh see through top, intertwined with pearls all over it. They are not glued, they are actually attached, which is awesome and helps them from falling off. Now with the front see through, I had to figure out a way my boobies weren’t exposed to the world. I had some skin colored fabric from another outfit I ordered online that I cut out of it (because I wasn’t ever going to wear it). So after I cut that out and made it the shape of each side, I glued it to each side using fabric glue. E6000 is what I use. I used it for my dance outfits when gluing on rhinestones. It worked perfect! I also wore sticky boobs that I got at #Target that try to give you more cleavage because they have a wire on the side. I love them! Both of these made sure I wasn’t exposed to the world and helped make it classy but still sassy. The shorts I got were a medium and stretchy material, high wasted. They are super cute and weren’t too short that my butt cheeks hung out. This is probably one of my favorite outfits of all time. Thanks #FashionNova!

The second dress is another one I wore out and about in Miami. Apparently I’m really into white this year. I LOVED this dress. The fabric is so thick and strong. It’s really a sexy dress especially with the front being open. I paired it with some Yellow feather shoes I have that were $10 and of course some Hoop earrings.

The next is my swimsuit. I wanted this for a year now and it finally came back in stock. It’s a lot brighter when it’s dry unfortunately I was already wet when these photos were taken. But it is great quality, thick, stretchy material and just SO CUTE! I ordered a medium because my behind is bigger than most. The waist ended up being a little loose on me but the bottom part fit. Story of my life. The top is super cute and stays up, only thing is I wish it had padding in it. I added that myself. The black mesh sarong I absolutely love and got it off of Amazon for $13!! So worth it because it looks so classy and expensive. They have tons of colors too! Including the Link here!

If you have any other questions for me, comment below. Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO,

Jess2Impress

As the Bible reveals, animals are complete and man is not. Animals require no instructions from our Creator. Angels are messengers sent to teach and direct us so that we may achieve completion and learn to love. Indeed, animals are angels.

_Bernie Siegal author of Prescriptions for Living.

When I walked into the shelter that day about 13 years ago, (already crying knowing I couldn’t save them all) I asked “Which one has been here the longest?” They brought me Cassidy and Nairobi. These two babies had been there since they were puppies and were not adopted. They were now One years old still living in the shelter. While I originally came in to adopt one dog, I was then convinced that two dogs are better than one! So I adopted Cassidy and Nairobi. 🙂 Shortly after that, I applied for a position there at Humane Society of Charlotte, and was hired! And so my journey of Animal Rescue began. Life with my two new dogs, and my 2 cats in my new house near Downtown Charlotte. What’s the use of a big fenced in yard without some puppies running around, right?

I lived in my house for 5 years. Working at my local no-kill animal shelter really changed my life and I was on a mission to save as many as I could. I had found my calling! So a foster home was born. I’ve fostered more pups and kitties than I can actually remember to count. I think Cassidy loved this, her and Nairobi did so well with all of our temporary house guests!

I decided to move to Dallas, Texas in 2012. A 17.5 hour drive across country with my babies in tow. They were so good! I thought my drive may be lonely but not with them with me. It was actually so very exciting and I loved having my babies with me the whole way.

It’s crazy to think how much impact our precious fur babies have on our lives. She was there through my horrible break ups, a trek across country, when I was feeling so sad or stressed out, to take me on walks when I was bored. 🙂 I couldn’t imagine coming home and not having her there to greet me at the door. Her HUGS (basically me hugging her) equaled HEALING. You don’t realize how fast time flies and how in an instant they are getting a little grayer. She was my little water baby, LOVED the water! Nairobi is the complete opposite hah. At my last apartments we had a walk in doggie pool and she got in it EVERY SINGLE time, even if it was 20* out. She loved to cuddle, just be near me. She would put her paw on me while I’m on the floor working out or sitting on the couch because I was not giving her enough attention. She used to get jealous if I pet Nairobi more than her, and move him out of the way haha. She also LOVED cuddling with me in bed (which only happened on occasion) The night after I found out her condition I tried to get her on my bed to sleep with me, but I just couldn’t get her up there, so I slept right beside her on the floor that night.

She may not have always been the Goodest girl, but she was so my girl!

Losing her was one of the hardest things I’ve had to go through. I will tell you though, one of the best things to have around is an at home vet. That day, I frantically looked up and called ReadiVet which is right in the Oak Lawn neighborhood, all while crying and trying to explain what was going on. And I’m telling you, if I didn’t….there would be no way I could drive myself home. They had never met Cassidy or talked to me before, but they squeezed me in that day as their last appointment. They were so sweet and also called the first Vet I took her to CityVet (who were awesome btw) so they could get more of an idea of her X-rays and condition. She had a huge tumor over her heart that was causing her bad breathing. She was filling up with fluid, and as I heard the gurgling of her stomach that day I figured it was time. ReadiVet came in and also assessed the situation and confirmed it was the best time to do it. I gave her a peanut butter jar, laid down right beside her kissing her head, telling her it was OK and that she’s a good girl, while bawling my eyes out. Being beside her and talking to her while it was happening was the worst thing in the world (I was crying so hard I was shaking y’all) but also I think the best thing for her. I am so thankful ReadiVet allowed me to do that with her in our own home and I will be using them in the future for my vet visits! I will be getting a paw print of her precious paw and they also sent me a personalized card. Their prices were also extremely reasonable for coming to your home! I am including their link so you all can use them for at home Pet visits also! https://readivet.com/

As Heartbroken as I am, I would never change having her in my life and rescuing her was obviously one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. They really do teach you so much. Unconditional love, discipline, patience (even though I lost it sometimes) and a big responsibility, just to name a few. Saving as many more of these babies as I can will help Honor Cassidy and the life she gave me. So I’m asking for donations in Cassidy’s honor so others can experience the same love I did. One for Humane Society of Charlotte and the other a local great rescue here in Dallas called Dallas Pets Alive! It would really (maybe a little selfishly) mean so much to me and help make me feel a little better to know that we can save more of these Angels on Earth. I really am missing my Cassidy AWFULLY. She will always have a piece of my heart!

Dallas Pets Alive! Go Fund me link- https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/cassidys-honor1

Humane Society of Charlotte Go Fund Me link- https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/cassidys-honor2

Colors!! Yess!! I love colorful things, dresses, photos, LIFE. This dress is one of my favorites! And it is so dang comfortable. Not to mention the most important part…PRICE. One thing about me, I’m a total bargain shopper and so thankful for online shopping! I mostly do all of my shopping online. Maybe that’s Instagram’s fault.

Wore this dress in Seattle for an AMAZING day out on the boat for my girlfriend Kristina’s Wedding Party. This trip was one I’ll remember forever y’all!! Well most of it I’ll remember…haha. Perfect for occasions, brunch or the beach!

So this is from one of my favorite sites…Fashion Nova! This was only $60…but guess what? I got it for UNDER that and you can too! Just use my code: https://share.fashionnova.com/x/0GJytA for 30% OFF!!

Leave a comment with your favorite online shop! Or let me know your thoughts. Follow me on Instagram for lots more dress updates! @jess2impressblog. Thank y’all so much for stopping by!

XOXO,

Jess

Am I though? I get asked this next question A LOT.

“What’s your ethnicity?” or sometimes….“What are you?” “Where are you from?” Uhh, North Carolina. Haha.

I’ve had many guesses…mostly people talk to me in Spanish. Lol…no Espanol Padre. I get Italian, Brazilian…and lots of other guesses, but rarely do I get what I actually am! In everyone’s defense, I don’t meet many like me. Hardly ever actually.

So my ethnicity is Native American or as called in Canada, Indigenous or First Nations people. I am half. I actually do have Irish🍀 in me also, so ya can still kiss me on St. Patty’s 😘 The other half of me consists of German, Irish and French from my Dad’s side.

My mom was Native American (Indigenous), she was adopted from Canada with her twin brother when they were 7, by my grandparents. Yay adoption! The name of my tribe is called Cree and is pretty prevalent in Canada.

So anyway, just wanted to share that bit of information about myself, but back to the DRESS! My dress is ViciDolls, who I am obsessed with by the way. Following them on Instagram is really costing me haha. Their quality is amazing and prices are mid-range, in my opinion. This is a bandage dress and is just sooo CUTE and fun! I personally wore it to a rehearsal dinner and plan to wear it somewhere again soon! If I get a date sometime soon maybe? John Smith…Pocahontas here…WYA?! Haha.

XOXO,

Pocahontas…aka Jess 😁