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The Frugalista Life

Living my best frugal life.

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About Me

The Frugalista Life is where I share all my thoughts related to fashion, hair, food, and my adventures in Tampa and beyond. Currently, I freelance for Creative Loafing Tampa as the Food and Drink Editorial Writer. Being a Tampa blogger is everything I could ever imagine.

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The Frugalista Life

The Frugalista Life

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alleyomalleycat

Blogger at The Frugalista Life. Filmmaker. Freelance Food Writer at @cltampabay. Email for collab or story ideas.

Breaking my hiatus for a second to tell y’all ab

Breaking my hiatus for a second to tell y’all about @avaslowcountrycuisine:
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Y’all go ahead and support Ava’s Lowcountry Cuisine! She’s located in Lutz and she always comes with that 🔥🔥🔥. Last week, I got to take home some new dishes she’s working on and when I tell you everything was bomb, everything was bomb. Trust me when I say you definitely won’t be disappointed. ⠀⠀
Ava is available for catering, personal chef, and meal preps too btw. ⠀⠀
Pictured: Lemon Creamy Pasta w/Blackened Salmon Patties and Roasted Broccoli, Arugula Fennel Salad, Carolina Bread Pudding w/ Vanilla Pudding, Chicken Wontons w/ Apricot Glaze, and Seafood Dirty Rice

Hey y’all so ya girl is TIRED AND LOWKEY SKRESSE

Hey y’all so ya girl is TIRED AND LOWKEY SKRESSED. I’m taking a social media hiatus starting today until August when I’m all settled into 2612(me and @bobbybronz house). Hit me up for lunch dates, dinner dates...anything really (send DM for my # for those who don’t have it). I’ll holla folks 👋🏽✌🏽

You were a wee tot when I scooped you up from the

You were a wee tot when I scooped you up from the playground and now you’re 27. Happy Birthday Shawt ❤️ @bobbybronz

(Swipe for a blooper) ⠀⠀ We all know summer BE

(Swipe for a blooper)
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We all know summer BEEN here in Florida since at least March. I couldn’t wait to throw on some cute fits for stunting on folks at brunch, lunch, or even just a trip to the mall. There were some essentials I needed to ensure I can be at my cutest whenever I can go OUTSIDE outside again. ⠀⠀
What clothes couldn’t you wait to wear this summer? Link in bio to see mine. ⠀⠀
#SummerEssentialsOOTD:
Camisole: Thrifted @sheinofficial @shein_is from @goodwillintl ⠀⠀
Skirt: @hm (customized by me)
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Shoes: @asos
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Jewelry: @hm, thrifted, @invictawatch and @forever21

The funny thing about Bantu Knots is when I was in

The funny thing about Bantu Knots is when I was in middle school, I remember my mom suggesting I try them because she thought I’d look cute. Like any other silly middle schooler, I replied saying I’d look like an alien. Clearly, I changed my mind over the years ☺️ ⠀⠀
What hairstyle were you hesitant to try at first but ended up loving?

Would you believe me if I told you the sandwich wa

Would you believe me if I told you the sandwich was all vegan with not an ounce of meat? The folks over at @dixie_dharma make their Heirloom TLT sandwich with Smoked Maple Tempeh Bacon and you’ll forget you ever knew what regular bacon tastes like.

#blackouttuesday

#blackouttuesday

Rona came through Tampa Bay and wrecked ish all th

Rona came through Tampa Bay and wrecked ish all the way up. We went from planning our outfits for weekend brunch and doing hoodrat stuff with our friend to staying in the house in no time. When the area's restaurant industry was flipped on its head, Black-owned restaurants like @copa.dtsp, @7thandgrove, @heavysfoodtruck, and @eatatmrbs adjusted and created ways to keep us all fed and satisfied. Head over to TFL to learn how they're adjusting during this time. ⠀
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Which Black-owned restaurants are you supporting during this time? (Pictured: my Meatloaf Dinner meal from Heavy's Food Truck)

Confession: I've struggled a bit with seeing my se

Confession: I've struggled a bit with seeing my self-worth and value to others but I'm starting to fully learn how to figure it out. Little did I know I don't have to be out front to show how valuable I really am. Over the last 6 months, I've had to acknowledge that I am worthy and valuable. Y'all, it's such a challenge to relearn what "value" looks like and what it means. Head over to TFL to read about how I'm figuring it out.⠀
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How do you show others how valuable you are to them?

Sooooooo this quarantine is even better than I exp

Sooooooo this quarantine is even better than I expected. Y’all, @bobbybonz messed around and made some cute, mini cheesecakes earlier this week just because. They came out 🔥🔥🔥 plus @partakefoods cookies make a great crust.

@farmacyvegankitchen is one of Tampa’s OG vegan

@farmacyvegankitchen is one of Tampa’s OG vegan spots. As many times as I’ve driven downtown, I didn’t know I was passing right by it until recently. Their wraps are 🔥🔥🔥 and hella filling. Who would’ve thought plant-based meat substitutes tasted just as good as their counterparts? ⠀⠀
Pictured: Avocado BLT(first) and Buffalo Chik’n (last)

Day 5 hair really is elite out here in these stree

Day 5 hair really is elite out here in these streets. By that time it’s been picked and stretched out to desired voluminous #HairGoals. Personally, I enjoy looking at the weekly evolution of my curly mane of messiness and frizz...even when I can’t exactly run my fingers through them by then 🤦🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

Back at it again with more #QuarantineCooking. Who

Back at it again with more #QuarantineCooking. Who knew making Creme Brûlée was simple? @bobbybronz , that's who per usual. I tried to pretend he was making a YouTube video when I FaceTimed him to watch but I started giggling too much like a little kid.

2020 is full of surprises but this one is the bigg

2020 is full of surprises but this one is the biggest one for me thus far: I'm featured in my first @thrillist article! Shoutout to @krisfulthinking for reaching out and letting me contribute to her article "How to Support the Best Soul Food Restaurants in the US". It's so awesome being in the company of other poppin Black foodies across the country (Hey y'all!). I'm nationwide now baby! Search "How to Support the Best Soul Food Restaurants in the US" on Thrillist's site to read the full story. ⠀
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What are some soul food spots you're supporting during the pandemic? Comment down below.

@buzzfeedtasty comes through with all the good rec

@buzzfeedtasty comes through with all the good recipes to get us through the Rona and quarantine. @bobbybronz saw a video on their page last week for their 3-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse and so it was made. Some fanciness for a Wednesday night topped with whipped cream and blackberries makes everything better, amirite??⠀
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Comment below a dessert you've made to take your mind off quarantine and Miss Rona.

You know what's crazy? How quickly a decade flies

You know what's crazy? How quickly a decade flies by. 2010-2019 is a whirlwind and it's interesting to me when I think of all the things I did during those times. A bit of introspection does wonders when I think of the things I accomplished in a "short" amount of time. Read about what happened by clicking the link in my bio.⠀
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Comment below one thing you accomplished in the last decade that makes you super proud.

Back when I was running around Tampa Bay filming "

Back when I was running around Tampa Bay filming "A Soulful Taste", I couldn't leave @grantsseafood without getting a piece of seafood. Y'all...their platters come PACKED packed with corn, potatoes, EVERYTHING girl. If you're in Largo, don't forget to stop by and tell them I sent you :) PS-Don't even think about leaving without getting their Stuttah Buttah either.

Y’all might not remember but earlier this year @

Y’all might not remember but earlier this year @bobbybronz and I went vegan for the entire month of February. Honestly, I enjoyed it. Vegan food used to have a horrible stigma but folks got hip. ⠀⠀
If you’re vegan-ish like me, building your own salad/bowl at @cressfl is a good way to dip a freshly-pedicured big toe into that world.

Took a wee little break from posting stuff (my IG

Took a wee little break from posting stuff (my IG stories be poppin' though) but I can't forget about all the mamas out there! Mother's Day is Sunday and, although we can't necessarily go outside, you can still pickup a good brunch and/or dinner for the special lady. A few places created some awesome meals that take the stress out of eating the usual not-so-interesting foods you've been eating during quarantine. Link in bio to learn what’s on the menus. ⠀
What are your plans for Mother's Day this year? The usual or something different?
PHOTO C/O Eddie V’s

@eatnakedfarmer switched it's entire model up in j

@eatnakedfarmer switched it's entire model up in just 72 hours when Miss Rona hit. Owner Jordan Johnson does have plans to open his brick-and-mortar as planned so be on the lookout for that. Until then, head over to the Naked Farmer website where you can select from a variety of boxes with fresh harvests changing weekly. Delivery and pickup is available too. Link in bio to read about how Naked Farmer transformed in a short period of time and its future plans. ⠀
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Are your eating habits different during the quarantine? Comment below and let me know what y'all are snacking on.

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