Business Trip Hacks & Tips

I started working with a new company back in March, and it has really been a whirlwind! In the mist of blogging, dating, and trips back and forth to Houston, I had to also squeeze in a business trip to Michigan. I am not new to business trips at all, I traveled at least once a year for business in my last position, however being I am new to the company and I had to learn their system.

If you know you will be traveling for business in the near future, Check out these tips below to make the experience as seamless as possible!

1) Company Card or Bank of Mariyah? Depending on your status and need for an expense account, your company may provide you a company credit card to take care of your traveling expenses and any other expense that comes up.  This is helpful in that you will not have to front the money for the trip. For those of us who are not provided a Credit Card, do expect to pay for the trip out of your pocket and be reimbursed at a later date. Side note: Travel procedures is a great conversation to have once you are hired in your position. This way you can prepare for the expenses.

My first trip in my career I was asked to come out of pocket for airfare, car rental, hotel stay, and all food and non alcoholic beverages tha I consumed on the trip. I had a Crazy Dumb Credit Card limit back then so it was not an issue, however had I only had my bank accounts and savings to depend on that would have been quite the expense. Of course I was reimbursed for everything... that I could provide a receipt for.

If you do not have the money, do not worry, must companies have an accounting department that could cover some of the expected costs by pre-cutting checks for hotel stays to make the burden a little better on you.

2) We Need Screenshots Honey! And when I say Screenshots I really mean cold hard receipts!  Business Travel is not the way you want to mess up your money. Keep each and every receipt you ever receive while on a business trip! This goes for wheather you have a company card or not.  I learned the consequences of loosing receipts the hardway. On a trip to Chicago one year I missplaced my receipts for all of the food and entertainment that I consumed while there. It was upwards of $200.00 and it was good as gone. I was still new to business travel and was honestly quite embarrassed to tell my accounting department that I lost those receipts so I did not even ask to be reimbursed.(The answer would have probably been no anyway lol)

To keep track of your receipts I would suggest:
Option A) Getting a Ziploc bag to hold any receipt you receive. I use a pouch that's cute and  small enough to carry everywhere.
Option B) Download a Receipt Collecting App. I use Reciptpal. It is really more of a precautionary measure of tracking my receipts. For instance If anything strange happens, like me running into Beyoncé, and she says "I like your receipt pouch, can I have it for Blue?" I can  respond with; "Yes Queen Bey", and proceed to giving her the whole pouch with my receipts in it. The exchange would be fine because I will have my back ups on the app.  Be sure that your company isn't stupid and will allow you to print off the receipts later. Some companies are strict on original copies of the receipts!

3) Everything in Moderation. This is not the time to live out your best life on the company's dime. If you are not a frequent 1st class flyer I would not suggest purchasing that first class flight. Sometimes there is room in the budget for entertainment, however this is not the time to watch Hamilton on Broadway(Which is a $1000.00 ticket may I add). I have never been given specific instructions and budgets on either, but I have been told to be modest in spending.                          


4) Have Fun! You are traveling on the company's dime and if planned right you can get a nice little getaway out of it. Sometimes companies will let you extend your trip a few nights before or after for sight-seeing and soaking up that city's culture. This is the perfect time time to fly out your travel partner and explore the city together. You can even talk with the hotel and ask them to honor your company rate a few more days which is usually already very discounted. This part of the trip will come out of your pocket but it is still very much a discounted trip being your plane ticket is paid for and your hotel is discounted!

Share some of your Business Travel Secrets in the comments!

Sincerely,
Mariyah the Business Class Beauty

#CollegeGirlDiaries: The Lost art of Mentoring

"A mentor is someone who allows you to see hope in yourself"

-Oprah Winfrey

I attended a University that was huge on community service. Over the 4 years that I attended school I was apart of 8 different organizations and all of them had a community service component. One of my favorite community service opportunities was the Mentoring Group I participated in called Royalty. Royalty was founded by some good girlfriends of mine who invited me onto their E-board their founding year. 

The City of Huntsville is a very small town with nothing there except Correctional Facilitates (Yes, Jails). Like many places here in America, the city was made up of beautiful upper middle class neighborhoods, and of course a level of poverty right around the corner. Our Mentoring Hub was in the latter, at the Boys and Girls Club. Although there were many volunteers that frequently attended that Club, there were not many programs offered. My freshman year

Skincare Routine: Bliss Jelly Glow Ball and Fabulips Review

I was blessed to be taught about Skincare at a young age. I have always had some type of skincare regimen for as long as I can remember. My face literally does whatever the hell it wants as the seasons change which is why I frequently change skincare routines to keep up with the changes.

I am a huge fan of Bliss Products. I started off in college with their FatGirlSlim line which was different cosmetics creams and gels for skin firming. It was also my very first purchase from Neimans, so you know I felt all the way legit! They are now in all types of stores like Ulta and Target so its becoming more of a household name. I purchased mine from Target, Get yours HERE  !

I am a sucker for cute packaging and unique items so I had to have this Pink Jelly Ball when I found it in Target. The ball is soft, moist and cold to touch. The company did a great job providing packaging to preserve the product. I still use the packaging to hold the ball and it has not dried up at all. Here is footage of me using the ball (Youtube link)

I loved the Jelly Glow Ball. Being it is a ball, rubbing it on your face was like a slight facial massage. It also did a great job cleansing my face. After I rinsed off the product, my face was so soft and squeaky clean. I first used it on a full face of makeup and as promised it melted away all of my makeup. I will be giving this item 5 Stars!

On the complete other hand The Fabulips Review will not be as positive. Bliss is a well known brand for luxury and high quality products. 

Spring Fever Baby!

It's spring, so its only right that I drop a few pics to have these boys sprung (LOL). But seriously I'm just excited to wear floral prints again. Now,  I'm not going to front like I wasn't wearing floral prints in the Fall and Winter but I made sure to wear darker patterns so its all good. This look is from the website Pretty Little Things. The Shoes are Trina Turk.

#SocialiteFridays: Black Panther Edition

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So finally, the wait is over and we were all able to "Get our Lives" to the movie of the decade: "Black Panther". When I tell you this was a wonderful gift for Black History Month, I mean it! The amount of positive energy I received going to the movies with my family should have been bottled up and sold. [ I also required all of them to dress in Dashiki's and Black Panther Merch. but I'll get to that!] This is a little bit of a spoiler, so if you have not seen the movie, please continue to read because you ought to be ashamed of yourself, and don’t deserve to be surprised (jk…not really).

The story is based in Wakanda, a fictional city in Africa that houses some of the most beautiful, strong, intelligent, caring, and loyal people ever known to man. (Side note: You're not trippin, this place does sound a lot like Houston, Texas #shamelessplug). Wakanda's claim to fame is a blue precious metal called Vibranium. They use if for their weapons, healing, technology, and so much more. The benefits of the metal are endless and require around the clock surveillance to make sure it stays in Wakanda and is used for what they see fit.

Of course, there is opposition. Some members of the city as well as “Long Lost Cousins” of the city, wanted to capitalize on its resources and use the metal for their own agendas. Micheal B. Jordan aka Erik Killmonger was a part of the opposition and I seriously wanted to slap him and make-out with him half the movie. (Semi-villain or not the man is FINE). T’Challa aka The Black Panther aka Chadwick Boseman was not having any of that, and he and the members of Wakanda fought for the integrity of Wakanda.

What I found most magical, was

1.     The people of Wakanda. They really loved their city and culture. People left the city to explore the world and help others, but their loyalty was to Wakanda and making sure it was thriving and held true to their culture.

2.     The costumes. Their costumes were so beautiful, and futuristic. I mean if they do not win Best Costume Design at the Oscars, we will have a real issue.

3.     Relationship roles were #goals as well and truly how our generation is starting to pan out. T’Challa was madly in love with Nakia. He loved her so much so, that he would sometimes freeze up at just a glance of her, even during combat. She knew he wanted her too, but she had her own dreams and goals for herself and refused to sell herself short. T’challa eventually won her over but came to her like a man and made it worth her while.

Overall this movie was amazing, the action scenes were amazing, the comedy was amazing, and I literally have yet to hear a bad review. For the debut weekend, it brought in $201.8 million, which is the 5^th biggest opening of all time. This was a huge success for Marvel, and the culture as well!

#WakandaForever

 -Socialite of Wakanda