A Lunch With My New Lady Friends

I cannot tell you how incredibly excited I was to FINALLY meet my other Houston blogger friends IN PERSON!! YAY!! We all finally found the time to meet at a quaint little restaurant called Flora & Muse in the heart of City Centre.  I have spent a lot of time with Monica from Classy & Fabulous but I still hadn't had the chance to meet Veronika (she runs Veronika's Blushing) and Magen (she recently started Map Your Style).

First and foremost, you have to visit these ladies' blogs!! 

I could barely contain myself! A whole afternoon with ladies who love fashion as much if not more than me! What more could a woman ask for?

We had great food (including Nutella crepes), refreshing drinks (A mimosa please), and two hours full of fashion, beauty, blogging, and just life!  

Here are the photos to document our fabulous ladies' outing.

(Warning: Picture Heavy Post)

This is what I decided to wear! Lots of mixing prints and texture!!

Banana Republic skirt and blouse, J.Crew cardi and tights, H&M belt, Steve Madden boots, Kendra Scott necklace

This is me and Magen!! The redheads of the group!

And me and Monica laughing while trying to pose!!! Isn't she gorgeous?? I am going to start calling her Chanel because she is the classiest lady I know!

The chandeliers in the restaurant were absolutely beautiful. I could not resist taking a photo op!

A close-up on the necklace I bought at Elaine Turner during fashion week.

Magen and Veronika posing for the camera!! Their hair is stunning! They both just got it done!

Magen and I decided on Nutella and banana crepes. If you haven't had Nutella before, you best get your little booty to the store and get some!!

And of course the talented Monica painted this amazing Chanel perfume bottle for Megan.  Check her out, she has her own Etsy shop, HERE!

Magen and Monica. These ladies are too gorgeous for their own good!

Have you ever gotten to do a blogger meet up!??? 

Happy Saturday lovelies!!

XX

Off to Austin with a New 'Do

I am still working on downloading and editing our video from the Austin trip this last weekend.  But instead of making you guys wait that long to see my new haircut, I decided to post these pictures first! I was packing and waiting around for Hubs to get home so we could leave.  In the meantime, I took a few outfit photos and tried to get some good shots of my new haircut.
So basically my hair was mostly cut in the back.  We left the sides almost completely untouched so that it would be an extremely angled bob.  I still have TONS of layers in my hair too which helps to keep the curl.  I have curled my hair everyday for the past week because I love how it looks! Let me know what you all think!!

F21 tee, UO jumper, WHBM tights, J.Crew Cardi, Steve Madden boots

Five Ways to Style a Tutu

I would have to say the most commented on piece of clothing that I own is my tutu skirt from American Apparel!! And I understand why because it is quite fabulous I must say!  That is exactly why I decided that I would do my Five for Friday post this week on different ways to style this marvelous skirt. So here we are.

1. A no nonsense way to style this fluffy skirt is with a simple tee.  I picked this one up from Forever 21 and I wear it at least once a week! I am a huge tee fan so this look was easy for me.
(F21 tee and headband, AA tutu, Nine West shoes)

2. I am a huge black and white stripe fan.  I feel like you can pair it with prints and almost any color under the sun.  I liked how it looked with the skirt and a classic black cardi.  I topped it off with a black floppy hat for that girly appeal.
(H&M shirt, J.Crew cardi, AA tutu, Nine West shoes, F21 floppy hat)

3. Mixing rocker pieces with feminine pieces is not a new trend, but it definitely works!  I like the edge of my moto jacket and combat boots mixed with the femininity of the tutu.
(VS jacket, AA tutu, Steve Madden boots)

4. The ever classic white button down! I learned of pairing this with a tutu in the book That Extra Half and Inch by Victoria Beckham.  This is the way I wore my tutu when I took it out for its first outing!
(Express blouse, AA tutu, vintage heels, F21 headband)

5. Another Free People top! Must I explain why this is fabulous?? A lace top and a tutu. Enough said!
(Free People top, Express tank, AA tutu, Aldo shoes)

Would you ever wear a tutu? If so, how would you style it!!???

XX

My Wedding Dress...4 years after

It has been a little over three years since the last time I have even seen my wedding dress. It has been shoved away in one of our extra bedroom closets. Recently, I wrote a Fall runway review on J. Crew (if you want to read it, click HERE!) for the magazine I am currently writing for, San Jose Fashion Week.  When I was reviewing the Fall collection online, I came across the most fascinating photo that revealed a beautiful wedding dress from their bridal collection. The creative thing was they had assembled military items with the dress to create an incredible look! I was so inspired I immediately sent the picture to my cousin (also my photographer) and told her we had to do this with my wedding dress!  She was completely on board, and so this past weekend when we went to hang out in Austin, she decided we were going to rent a canoe and take my wedding dress out onto Barton Springs!  I could not have been more elated!  So, these are the photos we created and I cannot tell you how excited I was to wear my wedding dress again! (and fit in it)

Brickhouse Bridal wedding dress, Steve Madden boots, H&M arm warmers and belt, Old Navy Jacket

Made a List, Checked it Twice, Bought it All

I am incredibly lucky because every year my birthday happens to settle right at the beginning of my favorite season, Fall. (and let's not forget Fashion Week) This year I turned hmm...let's just say I got a little older. Somehow I had compiled a massive shopping list full of Fall items from boots and socks to blue eyeshadow and leather jackets.  In fact, the list was so monstrous that I knew I had to ask for cash (everyone's favorite right?) and gift cards or I would never get all of these items crossed off my list.  My family happily obliged and sent some much needed birthday money my way, and I have made quite a haul!  I feel fully stocked and ready for this crisp Autumn season and I just know I will have some killer outfits to wear to the Houston Fashion Week next month too! (Oh so excited) Houston has finally decided to host a fashion week and I could not be more ecstatic. So you see, I had many reasons to invest in these wardrobe pieces, but do I really need a reason?

My first find was this black leather moto jacket I found on Victoria's Secret website.  I have been after one for about a year now, and I scooped this one up as soon as I saw it.  It is an amazing deal at $198 and it is real leather, no faux here!

Victoria's Secret Moto Jacket

I found this dress blissfully hanging in the Urban Outfitters sale section. I love anything floral as you know, but I couldn't get over the gauzy sheer collar on this dress.  I was thinking about some grey thigh-high socks and black boots, but feel free to suggest more ideas!

This gorgeous Free People necklace was a birthday present from my bestie cousin Shanna who knows me better than anyone in the world. (She actually picks out my presents and doesn't divert to the old gift card) She is so brave and she never fails, I swear!

Free People necklace

I cannot tell you how long I have been looking for the perfect pair of black leather shooties.  I have looked high and low and everywhere in between.  I finally stumbled upon these Jones New York shooties in the DSW sale section. Yep, the section that looks really scary and it takes at least an hour to look through to make sure you didn't miss anything. These were the very last pair of size 8, so I know it was meant to be. I heart you black shooties.

DSW Black Leather Shooties

Ahhh the faux fur vest. Now, I am not big on faux leather, but I will definitely go faux fur! I mean, why not? Look at this luxurious fur vest I nabbed from Victoria's Secret. (A thank you to my lovely mother-in-law Cheryl)  I looked at so many different fur vests at Ann Taylor, Macy's, Dillard's, Zara, etc. You name it, I looked there. I finally made the decision to buy this one from VS because I loved the caramel and coffee colors they used in this piece. I cannot wait to do an outfit post with this baby!

Victoria's Secret Faux Fur Vest

Yeah you know you want to rub your cheek on it!

I have really been into putting bright colors on the underneath part of my eye just to give it that last little pop!  When I went to Houston Fashion Night Out last week, the MAC makeup artist used this intense blue called Atlantic Blue, but they were sold out! (tear) So I went to the MAC counter at Macy's and they had it.  I will definitely be doing a makeup post with this color.

MAC Atlantic Blue eyeshadow

I have been on the search for a grey half-zip hoodie for quite some time.  I have found a few, but they would either be too plain or too expensive for just a hoodie! Well, alas I found one right in the middle. It has a little character and the price was right.

American Eagle hoodie

I heart vintage shopping especially online! I found this little gem from one of my fellow blogger friend's etsy shop, Ande Monster Vintage.  She really does have some lovely items and her blog rocks too!

As all of us fashionistas know, utilitarian trends are heavy this season.  I love them, but I don't like spending massive amounts of money on trends.  That's what Old Navy is for! I love this military-style jacket that I can layer over pretty much anything all Fall and Winter.  Another tidbit, Old Navy has some really chic real leather moto jackets and a delicious faux fur vest!

Old Navy Jacket

Now you didn't think I would really only get one floral dress did you? Of course not! I picked up this alluring floral frock from Forever 21.  I plan on layering underneath it and over it

Forever 21 dress

I love all the bright colors but it still somehow works for Fall!

Of course I needed some thigh-high socks! I only purchased grey and black so far to be safe, but I am on the look-out for a pair that are a deep wine color. Holler at me if you know where I can find them!

Steve Madden socks at DSW

I am blissfully in love with my new black leather combat boots from Steve Madden.  It will add just enough bad girl edge to all of those floral dresses I just bought! (thank you to my husband)
Of course I had to take a picture of them with all of my Fall reading materials.

Steve Madden Troopa Boots

Have I mentioned that I love Urban Outfitters? I found this cute army green tank in the sale section of course! And I picked up the striped bandeau top on my way to the check-out counter. I have become obsessed with putting bandeaus under everything! I wore these two pieces together with my black leather skirt last night to a friend's party. (I will post that later, don't worry!)

Urban Outfitters bandeau and tank

I have seriously debated back and forth about buying a denim shirt for about the last six months.  I finally decided to take the plunge! I purchased this particular top from J.Crew because I love how it looks worn and washed a few trillion times already.  I will be doing some serious outfit posts with this button down.

J.Crew denim shirt

I am telling you, I raided the Urban Outfitters sale section at The Woodlands mall!  I bought this blousy top and I have so many ideas for it, I hope it is ready to be worn!

Urban Outfitters blouse

Well this is pretty much everything I needed to make it through this season! (yeah right)  I will definitely be doing some outfit posts soon. I am also going to start doing a post on Fridays called 5 Looks, 1 ______.  Next Friday it will be 5 Looks, 1 Black Blazer, so stay tuned!

XX

PS--I actually did all the photography in this post!!

Weeds and Buildings...

As all my lovelies know, I am obsessed with my Free People tutu skirt and this outfit involves my fav piece of clothing of course! In fact, I am going to do a post later this week about all the ways to utilize this incredible skirt! Anyways, back to this outfit.  The shoes were an exciting find for me while out shopping with my bestie.  I asked her what she thought and she definitely gave me a confused and I'm not so sure about those look, but I went with them anyway! In fact, if I get a confused look from my friends when I ask them for an opinion on things, I usually take that as a green light to buy it!  When we took these shots, I was seriously having a hard time standing around these weeds.  I respect nature very much, but I don't like to play in it too often if I can help it.

(Photography Captured by Shan Renee)

Free People Tutu skirt, Free People blue skirt, Express tank, Steve Madden sandals, Lipstick Couture necklace and earrings