United States Archives - A World of Dresses

How to Spend Two Days in Butler County Ohio

03/24/2019 17 Comments

I believe that no matter where you are, you can always learn something new. Our own backyards are the places that we often explore the least. When I went home to the United States over the Christmas holidays, I had the pleasure of spending two days in Butler County Ohio. Where is that? Well it’s the county just above Hamilton County, which is home to my hometown of Cincinnati.

Butler County is made up of several towns including Fairfield, Middletown and Hamilton, amongst others. I had driven through tons of times throughout my life. I had also come up to Jungle Jims before because what good Cincinnatian doesn’t do that? However other than that, I hadn’t really explored Butler County. Little did I know that I was in for a treat.

collaboration, travel, United States

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, a Quirky Spot

02/22/2019 7 Comments

How come it always seems like you need to play tourist in your hometown? I know that while I’ve traveled to more than 15 countries, there are still places near my hometown of Cincinnati that I need to explore. One of those places used to be Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park. That is until a little over a month ago.

If you’re new here to the blog, let me explain. I’m a Cincinnati native, born and bred. However a little over two years ago, I made the big move to Spain where I’ve been working as an English teacher and blogger. When I was home over the holidays, I decided to take the opportunity to blog a bit about the United States. I turned my friend visits in Atlanta and Charleston into blog posts. And I also decided to explore places near Cincinnati that I had never really explored. Hence my visit to Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park.

collaboration, Fashion, travel, United States

A shoot at Miller St. Boutique

02/08/2019 12 Comments

I absolutely love finding hidden gems. That is exactly what I felt like I had discovered when I went to Miller St. Boutique several weeks ago. My friend Amber and I were exploring Butler County, Ohio, and a visit to this adorable boutique was a part of the itinerary.

The reason I say that Miller St. Boutique is a hidden gem is because it sits in a simple strip mall. I don’t know about you, but I typically think of chain restaurants and insurance agencies when the word strip mall comes to mind. I’m typically never expecting to find locally-owned boutiques full of adorable dresses, accessories and home decor. However that is exactly what we found in Miller St. Boutique.

travel, United States

The Rose, a Perfect Chicago Layover Hotel

01/20/2019 10 Comments

When you think of a hotel by the airport, what do you think of? Probably a halfway decent chain like Motel 8 or the Ramada. Something that will do for a night, but it’s not exactly comfort or style. When looking for accommodation for my stopover in Chicago in December, I was surprised to find the most adorable boutique hotel near the Chicago O’Hare Airport. Since I knew that I would have jet lag to the max coming from Europe, I decided to treat myself to a night at the perfect Chicago layover hotel.

travel, United States

A few days in Charleston, SC

01/13/2019 6 Comments

This post is sponsored. All opinions are my own.

I was blessed with the opportunity to spend several weeks in the US visiting family and friends this past Christmas. Part of my trip home included a few days in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston is one of the most picturesque cities in the United States, and it just so happens that my best friend lives there. Thanks to some cheap airfare that I found, I spent several days exploring the city, and visiting with her and her husband.

Visiting friends during the work week means that you end up with a lot of time to yourself. So what better way to spend time alone than exploring the city? Here are some of the things that I did and saw over a few days in Charleston.

travel, United States

4 things to do in Atlanta

12/28/2018 2 Comments

I have been back in the United States for about a week now. Initially, the plan was to just come to Cincinnati, and visit friends and family. However this year, my best friend was unable to come up to Ohio for the holidays. So thanks to a cheap flight I found, we met up in Atlanta for the day! Our day was full of all sorts of fun things to do in Atlanta.

The last time I had really visited Atlanta was over fall break of my sophomore year of college. My friend Elizabeth (who I also got to see) is from Atlanta and we spent several days exploring the city. Being 31 now, that was 12 years ago! It’s crazy how the time flies! This time around, we only had one day in the city. We made the most of it by visiting some key spots in the city!

travel, United States

10 things I would change about the United States

02/07/2018 57 Comments

I recently wrote a post entitled the 14 things they don’t tell you about Spain. As many of you know, I have been living in Spain for a year and a half. The list was real. I always talk about how you really experience more of the culture actually living abroad versus traveling. Well I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t write a similar list about the United States. My country is far from perfect, after all.

I will just say as a disclaimer that some of these won’t apply to cities like New York or Chicago. In general, the largest cities of a country will always be more ahead of the curve than the rest of the country.

travel, United States, Women around the world

Women around the world: Paroma in California

11/22/2017 18 Comments

This week, we feature another travel blogger. Meet Paroma. Like me, she also lives as an expat. However she’s an expat living in my country. So here is a little Q&A about life, traveling and blogging. Enjoy!

Name, age, where you’re from and where you live now

Name: Paroma Chakravarty

Age: 38 years

I am from Kolkata, India and I currently live in San Francisco, California, USA.

How long have you been blogging?

It has been four years

Why did you call your blog “Year of the Monkey”?

I love to “monkey” around and see new places. So I decided to pick this name as I thought the year 2013 (when I started this travel blog) would be my year of getting fame and fortune, none of which happened hahaha.

Paroma in California

Why did you decide to start a blog?

I wanted a creative outlet and share my travel photos with friends and family.

How do you spend your days? Do you have another job outside of blogging?

I have a full time job as a scientist in a biotech company in the Bay Area.

What sets your blog apart from other travel blogs?

I write extensively about my city San Francisco, a lot about dining and food guides as well as traveling with dogs.

What do you hope that people gain from your blog posts?

I hope people get to eat some wonderful food when in San Francisco or other parts of the world, take more trips with their dogs and finally discover a different side to san Francisco, which tourists miss out on.

Paroma in California

Where do you hope to take your blog?

I hope to grow my blog into a profitable venture monetarily, at some point.

What advice do you have for other bloggers and people wanting to blog?

Be dedicated and consistent. Write good content and definitely invest in good photography.

What’s been your favorite place that you’ve traveled to? Why?

There are several. Istanbul, Turkey would be on top of that list because it was my first time traveling internationally and also because the city has such a unique feel.

What was your least favorite?

Las Vegas

What has been your biggest travel fail?

I had a day off during my work trip to Switzerland and I was so scared of traveling alone that I just stayed in my hotel room. I still regret not venturing out and exploring when I had the chance.

Where to next?

Central coast, California

What do you wish more people knew about where you’re from?

I am originally from Kolkata, India. I wish more people visited this city in the east rather than simply flocking to Delhi, Mumbai or places in Rajasthan.

What’s one random or odd talent you have?

Super random: I can make my eyebrows “dance” independently of each other.

Paroma in California

What’s your favorite color?

Mustard

What’s your favorite food?

Anything Persian

Follow Paroma!

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travel, United States, Women around the world

Women around the World: Danielle from Atlanta

10/04/2017 No Comments

This week, we are featuring Danielle from Sparkling Southerner. She is a fashion blogger living in Atlanta. She is someone who I have been following on Instagram for a few years now, so naturally I reached out to her for this Q&A series. She always seems to find the most colorful walls to take photos in front of. In fact when I think of her blog, I think of lots of colors.

Her style is southern with a twist. Enjoy the Q&A!

Dress Picks, Fashion, travel, United States

The Ultimate Guide To Buying A Michigan Bridal Wedding Dress

09/15/2017 16 Comments

Searching for the perfect wedding dress in Michigan is not a simple task. It is common to see brides stressing out a few weeks before their big day because they do not seem to find their perfect dress. A dress searching quest could be very stressful, and you need to press on until you find your perfect pick. Weddings are a once in a lifetime affair for most people, and there is a lot of pressure to get the right dress. Here is a guide that will help you get the perfect wedding dress for your big day.

Prerequisites

There are several things you need to establish before you even start looking for a wedding dress. First of all, think about your day. Are you having a beach wedding, informal wedding, formal ballroom wedding, outdoor ceremony or a traditional marriage? For more information on official wedding venues visit Townsend Wedding Venues. Your wedding theme and style significantly affects the kind of dress you can buy. Consider your body shape and preferences as well. It is important to do some research before you hit the streets. Pinterest and online magazines are great options for this as they have several dresses that will help you get a picture of what you want. You should also be realistic with your choices as a dress that looks good on another person’s body won’t necessarily look good on you.

Start Early

Never be deceived by the notion that wedding dresses are available and you will just go and pick one in a boutique near you. Start looking for a dress early enough so that you have ample time to deal with the possible frustrations associated with this quest. Normally, it is good to start shopping for a gown nine to twelve months before the wedding day. This gives you enough time to deal with alterations and delivery issues that might jeopardize the marriage if you do not have enough time.

Where Are You Shopping From?

Before you begin booking appointments at bridal salons, ensure you are dealing with reputable entities. Do some homework and check their ratings, reviews and customer testimonials. It’s nice to find out the number of years they have been operating and the qualifications of the consultants working there. A diligent advisor should know all the designers making wedding dresses and the fabrics, design details and silhouettes associated with each brand. Such professionals will help you get your desired pick as they are experienced and know the most suitable dress for the different customer needs.

Price

Before you set out to find a suitable wedding dress in Michigan, have a budget. A budget will reduce your options and give you a simpler time selecting a particular dress. When you visit a boutique, start by telling the consultant working there your projected budget. This will save you time and allow you to focus on the ones you can afford. However, be sure to find out the average price of a wedding dress in Michigan before fixing a budget. You could see this information by asking your peers who are married about the money they paid for their wedding dress. This is vital in ensuring you do not set a minimal budget that will limit the number of suitable dresses you can buy.

Still, under the price, find out the things included in the price before buying any gown. Some clothes may require alterations, and you need to budget for them as well. Some boutiques include possible changes in the overall price while others charge a specific amount depending on the work done on the dress. These are things that affect the price of the dress, and you should look into them.

Payment policy and Delivery Time

Always ask about the payment terms and delivery time before buying a dress. Most boutiques in Michigan will ask you to pay half the price of the dress as deposit and complete the payment once the dress arrives from the designer. Stores have different cancellation policies, and you should be aware of those terms as you never know what might happen between the day you pay the deposit and the wedding day.

Finding a wedding dress is a challenging task that requires patience and shrewdness. Never carry an entourage when visiting a boutique as all their opinions will just confuse you more. Go with a few friends you trust and once you find a dress, stop looking. Continuing to will start giving you second thoughts, and you will start regretting why you picked a particular dress and not another one.

Today we are linking up here.

This was a guest post. This was also sponsored.