The past 6 months I have traveled every few weeks somewhere for the weekend. Work, events, and campaigns have taken me all over the place. When you are in a constant travel mode you get accustomed to having some sort of system to pack or you won’t know your right from your left hand. I’ve curated a list of must-haves for most of my trips regardless of the climate. I recommend always bringing something for warm weather (places heat up) and something for cold weather (cold fronts happen). I’ve written a bunch of posts over the years on packing here but today I’m going to focus on classic items you can bring for your next weekend getaway.
Read MoreHere we are smack dab in the middle of February and it’s always a challenge to decide what to wear. For some, it’s still ridiculously cold. Not quite Spring, but definitely time to get out of the holiday glitz of the past few months. I find that having a few classic pieces to mix in and transition my wardrobe from Winter to Spring makes getting dressed so much easier. A lightweight turtleneck in soft gray, punchy yellow pieces, a black shirtdress, and straw bags are all perfect pieces for this time of year. I recently picked up a cotton black shirt dress from Amazon the Drop. It will be perfect with tights and a trench coat now then with wedges during the Spring. I put together a list of some of my favorite things to stock up on right now.
Read MoreIt’s approaching that time of year in Texas when the thunderstorms will be rolling in regularly. Late Winter and Early Spring include weather that fluctuates on an hourly basis sometimes. Having a raincoat and boots handy for those drizzly mornings or evenings makes leaving the house that much more enjoyable. I find that rain gear is something I don’t think about needing until the moment I really need it. And then it’s like I needed it yesterday. This is your sign to do a quick inventory in your household and make sure you have working umbrellas, rain jackets, and boots ready for those March, April, and May showers. Open each umbrella to make sure it’s operable and then discard or donate items that no longer fit or have been damaged. Trust me on this, you’re much more likely to be productive if you don’t have to fight the weather while doing so. A few other things I like to have on hand for rainy days include extra hair ties or a headband, mousse to keep frizzies at bay, and a setting spray for my makeup. It’s the little things in life that can help increase the quality of every day.
Read MoreMy daughter and I headed out last night for a girl’s night complete with a trip to Hey Sugar and then crepes from our favorite place in town called Sweet Paris. We love coming to this little area in town. The candy store carries almost everyone treats you could possibly imagine and they even have gelato! I thought it would make the perfect background to share this colorful striped shirtdress. A classic shirt dress is one of the best pieces you can invest in for Spring. This dress would be perfect for a baby or bridal shower, a daytime wedding, brunch with the girls, and even a picnic. It has just the perfect amount of volume and is cropped to show off whatever shoes you fancy. I decided to pull out my new Sarah Flint perfect 85 pumps in a classic nude. These pumps are made to walk in all day with tons of cushion and a reinforced heel.
Read MoreMental health. I’m so glad this topic has been on the rise especially since the pandemic hit. Now more than ever more and more people need resources. My anxiety journey began about 10 years ago. Through a series of trials, errors, and lots of therapy I am now able to manage panic attacks and anxiety without medication. This post is in no way meant to replace medical advice. If you are struggling I absolutely recommend seeking professional help. Today I’d like to share a resource I use in my own mental health toolkit called a “Coping Checklist.” I’m going to share with you guys a few benefits of having one and the science behind it, how to create one, and when to use it. The biggest key in your coping checklist is to use it as soon as you feel anxiety come on. The more you go through the sequence the easier the panic becomes to manage.
Read MoreIf you are new around here you probably should note that I still go on hikes often because I love the outdoors so dang much! After spending a few days in West Texas hiking and driving through both Caprock Canyons and Palo Duro Canyon I decided to head more north to celebrate New Year’s in Colorado Springs, CO. I’ve made several trips to Colorado over the years with friends but this was the first time alone. I decided that if I only did one epic activity it was to get to Pikes Peak Summit. I quickly researched the ways to get to the top - you can hike about 14 miles… um… no thank you. That’s pretty aggressive to get to one of the tallest peaks in the US. You can drive it but winds a lot and steep grades. It is Winter… and again… no thank you. Then, I stumbled across the train! You can take a three-hour round trip up 9 miles on a train to reach Pikes Peak Summit. That I could manage!
Read MoreA few weeks ago I made a short trip to Dallas where I visited the Sarah Flint store. My daughter and I were having a girl’s weekend and decided while we were there to see the beautiful decor at the Sarah Flint pop-up shop! I was so impressed when I arrived. It felt like I was stepping into Sarah’s living room. In fact, the decor was inspired by her own home! We were quickly greeted by the sweetest associate who offered us fresh chocolate chip cookies and tea. The recipe was from Sarah’s grandmother! I love to shop but this was a completely different experience in all the good ways! We took a stroll around the store and admired the beautiful floral wallpaper, soft seating to try on your shoes, and the classic gold shelving that displayed all of the Sarah Flint accessories like scarves and barrettes. No stone was left unturned in the store!
Read MoreA few items I wear year-round include a trenchcoat, swing dress, good pair of flats, and sunglasses. My coat is actually from Everlane (also available for purchase on Amazon - here’s an under $100 version), and my flats were under $100 as well. Most days you’ll find me in a pair of aviators or Ray-Ban sunglasses but I keep a few inexpensive pairs within reach in my car as backup. A simple swing dress is great this time of year. You can swap the trench coat out for a warmer one on a cold day and a pair of boots with the dress above. Another option is to layer tights and loafers on chilly mornings with this look. When you get home, it can double as loungewear since it’s so comfortable and easy to move around in. I’ve fallen asleep many evenings in this same dress!
Read MoreOver New Year’s Eve, I took a quick weekend trip to Colorado Springs, CO. It was beautiful and right before a huge snowstorm. I’ll be sharing more about that experience in an upcoming post! Although the city itself was not snow-covered until the end of my trip, I did go up into the mountains and needed the right gear to withstand the slopes. Whether you are a ski fanatic looking for a few updates to your winter wardrobe, a snow bunny who just loves the scenery and a good hot tub, or maybe you are looking to just keep warm - here’s a guide to dressing warm and layering snow and ski style!
Read MoreValentine’s Day whether I’ve been single or in a relationship is actually one of my favorite days of the year. Although I believe that love should be celebrated every day, I also find the holiday fun since it involves candy, colorful outfits, and a fantastic dinner with atmosphere. Whether you are going to be a party of one or you are looking for a hotspot around your city… a new outfit for the occasion always makes for a better day.
Read MoreWow! What a weekend! I had an incredible time on South Padre Island and will be sharing tons of fun content over the next few weeks for Spring Break ideas (both snow and sea) but this morning I wanted to talk more about the overarching theme I’ve chosen for 2022. For the past five years, I’ve chosen a word every single year as a focus for my life throughout the year. First, it was the word “health” after getting pneumonia at the end of 2017. Then, it was “simplify” in 2019 where I share my struggles with feeling a lack of purpose in my life. In 2020 I chose the word “explode” where my entire life took a huge leap forward. I ended a relationship, moved cities and my business doubled that year in followers, website traffic, and income. This past year I chose the word “abundance” and let me tell you, I had no idea what was in store. My life took another large leap forward and I experienced success in professional and personal areas of growth. Moving into a home after living in apartments and cottages for years was huge. I started traveling a lot on my own and experienced an increase in peace in my life. Here we are at the beginning of 2022 and I’m choosing the word - “soar” to rise above anything I’ve ever done before in my life. I’ve set some pretty remarkable goals this year and will be working on hitting them one by one.
Read MoreI arrived in Amarillo, Texas less than two weeks ago to spend a few days working. I’ve never been to the Texas panhandle, so I decided to make it a key location in my Winter Road trip this year. If you missed my first post on the road trip I stopped in Abilene. You can check out that post here. After I left Abilene I made it to Caprock Canyons (which I wrote about here) and then headed into Amarillo to stay at the Big Texan Motel (which you can read about in this post). It was pretty liberating to drive to this part of the state. There are so many beautiful sites to see involving nature. I’ll be posting more about the trip as I headed to Palo Duro Canyon! But for now, let’s chat about food in Amarillo.
Read MoreI’ll be honest. I’ve been in mostly knits for the past 10 days. Ever since I made it back from my trip to Colorado, I’ve been a complete hermit. Yep, snuggled up on the couch with my dog and journal morning and night. It’s been incredible and much-needed. I’ve been working all year so far out of my house. Each evening doing little projects around the house and during the daytime working with clients. My uniform looks the equivalent of what I wore when I was in Amarillo which includes this incredible sweater that is the softest material ever and these snuggly pants. If there is one outfit you need in your life right now it’s this one. I’ve been wearing several pairs of sweater pants like these joggers, this pair of wide-legged and I’ve featured these several times on the blog over the years. They are a great alternative to sweat pants and you can lounge, walk or run errands in them.
Read MoreI love drawing inspiration from nature, and this includes the shades of snow that fall this time of year. Although Texas only gets snow on occasion, I still find myself drawn to the beautiful shades of cream and winter white. It’s been on rotation in the closet these past few weeks. For this look, I paired a cream-colored cardigan (that has the sweetest collar) and a fluffy white jacket (similar one here) to create a neutral but not boring look. I paired it with my favorite pair of jeans (that I have in multiple washes) and knee-high tan boots that are under $50!! You could top this look with a camel-colored coat and scarf if you live in a colder environment! I rounded up a ton of my favorite winter white options below!
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The week between Christmas and NYE is one of the weirdest weeks of the year. Days seem to blur together and there’s an overarching tone of “let’s put it off till next year” happening in business. I took this as an opportunity to travel to some of the places I’ve had on my bucket list for a while. I drove from College Station to Abilene on Sunday stopping to catch the sunset before grabbing dinner and retiring for the evening. You can check out that post and I’m wearing one show-stopping dress in this post. After leaving Abilene I made my way up through Caprock Canyons and then onto Amarillo, Texas for a few days. This whole area of the Texas Panhandle is like nothing I’ve seen before. I don’t recall ever making it through Amarillo in the past but it’s definitely a world of its own. Surrounded by so much nature! Great place for spending time on Lake Meredith, or hiking one of the toughest trails in Texas on Palo Duro Canyon. Either way, if you are an outdoors person this place is for you!
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For the past few days I’ve really kicked my outfits up a notch. It’s the last week of the year and around the 20th I decided to wear my best. I found this dress the other day when I was finishing some Christmas shopping and thought it was the perfect holiday staple for my closet. I can see it being equally cute if I swapped out pumps for the boots. I love the soft champagne color and the whole thing was on sale for under $20. What a steal.
Read MoreHow many times have you thought to yourself… I really should have taken that trip? I’m in a phase of life where I am holding nothing back. I have no reason to anymore. In the past, I came up with reasons I couldn’t do something or go somewhere. Maybe it was the cost. Maybe it was asking for time off from my job and I didn’t think they couldn’t manage without me being there. Maybe it was because my ex-husband didn’t show interest or even complained about it. Maybe it was the fact that you have three kids and now you have no idea how to even begin to make that happen. When was the last time you did something that made you feel the most you?
Read MoreThis is now my third Christmas in a row of being sober. I can tell you that although my twenty-something self would have looked at me like I had two heads if I had told her she would be completely sober through a pandemic and into the year following a global shutdown. Yes, this person right here used to love her wine and champagne. Especially on a holiday. A few years ago I made the decision to stop drinking in hopes that my life would find purpose and I would stop having panic attacks. Both happened and here we are ordering mocktails instead of martinis. So little is really talked about in the drinking world outside of being either a drinker or someone who doesn’t. I love going to a good party. I also love fancy drinks. What I don’t love is alcohol. It just doesn’t agree with my anxiety and I feel like a happier human being without it. If you are also in the same boat and alcohol just doesn’t do it for you right now I’m here to tell you a few ways I still have fun without having a hangover.
Read MoreThis past year I’ve made it a goal to visit as many National and State Parks as possible. They house some of the most beautiful scenery! This season alone I visited Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Padre Island National Sea Shore, Hot Springs National Forest, and Davy Crockett National Forest. It’s so refreshing to get away from most people and wander the trails of nature. I’ve been able to experience things you just don’t get in the city around people. From driving 50 miles off-road to getting lost in the Fall foliage National Parks are the way to go!
Read MoreOver Thanksgiving break, I took a quick trip to Dallas for a few days. While I was there I made sure to stop by the Royal 38 Christmas pop up restaurant which is decked out in everything Christmas-related. I thought it would make a fun evening to merrily kick off the holiday season. When you walk in you are immediately greeted with a leg lamp like the one found in Christmas Story. The exterior is has a beautiful canopy of lights over the patio and each table is individually wrapped like a present. Even the cocktails carried the theme by being served in Santa mugs. If you are in the area and are looking for a fun spot, check them out. I recommend making reservations before going since it’s a pretty small venue. Also, the menu is done by scanning a QR code and ordering yourself so when you sit down you can immediately get things moving for your table. It was such a fun place to be for the evening and the food was incredible.
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