I have to tell you this time of year is always so exciting but equally tough with a constant rotation of events! Showers are no exception. Whether you are attending a baby or bridal shower there’s no lack of things to do that require a lovely dress. A new to me brand that I’ve been loving these past few months is Shoshanna. Each piece is made with the most beautiful fabric and fits like a glove! I love this adorable daisy printed dress worn in today’s post. I paired it with my sky-high Jay 100 Pump Sarah Flint heels and a statement necklace to bring out the turquoise in the dress. You can save $50 when you use my link. One of the good things about having a few dresses on hand is being able to grab and go quickly without a lot of thinking. Swap out shoes and accessories depending on the season and occasion. I could easily wear this same dress with a pair of sandals and a straw bag instead. You can shop a bunch of my favorites Spring items below.
Read MoreI am so glad it’s finally Spring! The past few months have been incredible, but nothing is better than fresh blooming flowers and a beautiful breezy cool night. I love this time of year so much! During the daytime in Texas the temperatures rise enough most days so you can get away with a dress and sandals. Come nightfall, you’ll need a lightweight jacket or white blazer to stay warm. I have been eyeing this one from The Drop that’s under $80! I already own it in tan and think the white will be perfect for this time of year! You can wear it over dresses or layer over a button-up with jeans or shorts. It’s one of the most versatile options!
Read MoreIt’s that time of year! Finally, Texas bluebonnet season. If you’ve never been to Texas during this time of year then it’s time for you to plan your next trip! In late March and early Spring, the entire state becomes alive with wildflowers. Specifically, the Texas Bluebonnet which is our state flower. For years, my family flocked to find the best fields for photographs. It’s perfect for bridal pictures, senior college or high school pictures, family portraits, and of course, blog photos! I decided to round up a list of some of the top locations to find these bluebonnet fields!
Read MoreWow. I am in a little disbelief that I am typing these words, but today (which is March 22, 2022) marks three full years since my last drink. Over the course of the past three years, I’ve meta morphed into the best version of myself so far. As I journaled early this morning I realized just how far I’ve come and what it took to get here. I thought I’d share a few life lessons in today’s post. If you are considering removing alcohol from your life then this is the post for you. This is what changed over three years. Some of it I didn’t think was possible. Some of these things required day-by-day focus. Some of it just fell into place. All of it is my testimony to making the best choice for myself. These days I feel alive and I feel like most days I thrive. The complete opposite of where I was a few years back.
Read MoreSince we all finally made it to Spring, I am pulling out all the best florals! I love the landscape this time of year in Texas with all of the wildflowers and infamous Bluebonnets are in bloom. I usually transfer that inspiration over into my wardrobe. From statement earrings in the shape of flowers to embellished handbags, you can add a touch of florals without being overkill. The dress I featured below is Hunter Bell NYC. It’s made of the thinnest (without being see-through) material that is perfect for layering this time of year. I actually wore this to a women’s luncheon and received a ton of compliments on it. I grabbed this old clutch I love and my favorite classic Sarah Flint pumps (save $50 here)! The look was effortless and glam at the same time! I put together a list below of some of my favorite floral pieces you can shop for! The price points start at under $50 and also include luxury options!
Read MoreDid you know that the most popular post I’ve done in 10 years was how to wear converse sneakers if you’re petite! Month after month that single post gets more views than any other piece of content. I figured it was long overdue to share a follow-up to that post with how to wear converse sneakers with a dress. Because… spring is coming! Today I’m going to give tips for anybody's height or shape! These are pretty universal and perfect for getting organized for Spring Break this year. Here are a few ways tips for how to wear converse sneakers with a dress.
Read MoreA few years ago whenever I looked in the mirror I saw someone who was a failure. I talked to her that way, too. I’d say things like, “You are not getting things right today.” Or “This isn’t your day.”
I began avoiding mirrors. I saw every single flaw in myself every single day. Then, one day a mentor of mine told me to say one positive thing for every negative thing I said.
Looking back, what I was going through was depression. I was so tired every day. I was angry at how life turned out and I felt like everything was my fault. Depression is a lot of work to manage. It’s a level of fatigue that makes taking a shower feel like an Olympic sport. But I kept going. Each time I said something crappy to myself, I stop and say something positive.
Read MoreThe past few months I’ve traveled back and forth to Dallas often. It’s an area I haven’t spent a ton of time in the past and I’ve really enjoyed getting to see the different parts of the city. Recently I decided to make it a point to stop by the Dallas Arboretum. The day I chose to go it actually snowed on me a while I was walking around. This garden is known for being one of the most photographic spots in the city. Each year the grounds are covered in flowers and blooms all Spring long. You will need to purchase a ticket online in advance and make sure you also purchase parking. You’ll pick an arrival time and you are encouraged to bring a picnic and spend a few hours there. I cannot wait to make a second trip over the Spring and share more about it with you guys!
Read MoreAfter years of searching for a classic black shirt dress leave it to Amazon the Drop for creating what I consider the perfect one! I recently ordered this beautiful piece and put it on as soon as it came in. I recommend sizing down one size if you want it to be more fitted like I am sharing in these photographs. The dress is under $60 and comes in three colors. It took everything in me not to order a second one as soon as this one arrived. The fabric is made of lightweight but good quality cotton that’s breathable. It has a pretty cutout in the back and can be worn without a belt. The cutout has an elastic waist so it conforms to your body. I have more of an hourglass shape so a lot of shirt dresses gape at the chest and are baggy around the waist. Not this one! It fits just right in all the necessary areas.
Read MoreThis week has already started with a crazy change in my life. Sometimes change is expected and sometimes it hits you like a freight train. This week, it was the freight train for me. The one thing I’ve come to realize as I grow older is that change is inevitable. Nothing in life is static and the key to inner peace and happiness is being able to go within yourself instead of depending on your exterior circumstances. Relationships dissolve sometimes, companies make directional changes, and new opportunities will present themselves. The best thing you can possibly do for yourself is to take care of yourself. Here are a few ways I’ve found navigating change to be more digestible in life.
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 MoreGosh, I love the ocean. I have to say out of all of the places I lived and visited in my lifetime, I feel most at home when I’m near the ocean. There’s something so soothing and powerful about the water. The waves hold so much force as they push and pull against the grains of sand on the shore. Soft powdery sand that feels like you walking on powdered sugar makes for the best walks. The sunsets are unbelievable and when a storm rolls in…well, as frightening as they are - they also carry so much strength. Today I’m going to share a whole bunch of date ideas, but if you are single… I want you to know it’s okay to do any (or all of these) activities by yourself and show yourself some love. I say that because some of my best memories of my happy place were spent in times of solitude. Valentine’s Day whether you’re in a relationship or not is a day to celebrate love. A day to bring forth self-love and care if you are single. Here’s a word for all the single ladies on valentine’s day if you are looking for some ideas on how to spend your time! Highly recommend some of the tips here! If you are in a couple, I challenge you to take time over the next week to figure out a way to show your partner that you adore them. Brainstorm a few ideas and make the event special. The effort will be worth it!
Read MoreI have been dying to share with you guys my living room for some time now! I moved into this house over the summer and life has been a blur ever since. I did an insane amount of travel the past six months and am finally spending some time at home. I actually decorated the living room right when I moved in, but I didn’t love the layout. After the Christmas decor was finally put away mid-month I configured a better layout for the space. Sometimes you need to spend time in a space to really see the best way for it to be used. I’ve been making it a point to paint more often and finally added a newly finished painting above the TV and entertainment wall. It’s been so therapeutic to play around with color when I’m home. I’ll share a few tips about creating a colorful living room of your own. Not a single new item (outside of the canvas for the painting) was purchased for this space. I actually used things from my last apartment which was very modern and chic - you can see them here for yourself. I added pops of color throughout the space to give this huge open floorplan character. One last thing before we get started, I made no structural or textile changes to any of the surfaces. All tips below are perfect whether you are renting a home or you are a homeowner!
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.
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Last year I chose the word “Abundance” for my word of the year. It was evident in my life I needed to find more joy every day. I wasn’t necessarily miserable or depressed at that time (I fought those battles a few years prior) but I was struggling with feeling happy. I remember that a mentor shared with me the area I needed the most growth in was just doing the things that make me happy. Not the things that made me the most productive. So here I go, trying to shift from doing what I’ve done year over year and now I am supposed to just find joy. About this time last year, I embarked on a 600-mile one-direction road trip. I guess when all was said and done.
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.
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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 MoreLet’s talk about creating the life of your dreams. A few years ago I started pinning things on Pinterest for the life I wanted to create. I was at a low point and unhappy with the current state of my everyday affairs. If you’ve ever been through depression, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It was really hard during that time to feel excited about anything. Everything lost its luster and I felt like I couldn’t afford to do anything. I was pinching pennies on the daily and worrying about whether or not basic bills would be paid. During that period of time, I worked really hard to just make it through the day one hour at a time. I began during this period of my life to collect and save ideas of things I wanted in my life. One of those items was a pink Christmas tree.
Read MoreGetting dolled up for the holidays is probably one of my favorite activities during this season! There’s something about the swipe of a bold lip and adding a little sparkle to my accessories that put a serious pep in my step. Since the world decided to open back up finally, I plan on dressing to the nines from now until NYE! I’m wearing the most flattering retro dress with a navy and red floral print in these pictures. It comes in several other prints and I love how easy it is to steam out wrinkles. I just ordered a pack of the prettiest velvet headbands to make getting ready easy along with barrettes and bow-embellished jewelry. I also plan on sporting this tartan dress and pair of heels as much as possible over the next few weeks. Whether you are headed to an office party, cozy by the fire date or a family dinner I’ve rounded up a TON of items below for you to look as jolly and elegant as possible!
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A few weeks ago my daughter and I took a trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas where we stayed at the beautiful historic Arlington Resort and Spa. The hotel sits on federal land and flanks one of the ends of Bathhouse Row. Packed with history and architecture we spent the weekend exploring sights of the past. I wore the most beautiful shade of rust with pretty pleat details paired with suede grey boots. Being from the South, we have warmer fall and winter months so I usually resort to picking seasonal colors and textures instead of tons of layers. This dress is gorgeous and comes in a variety of shades from magenta to black.
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