I really enjoy a great black and white ensemble, so any chance I can get my hands on a unique piece, I do!
I would like to add that the focal pieces of these looks were purchased from White House Black Market. If you didn’t already know this, everything in the store is black and white, (aside from their season color focus.) Since black and white items are the majority of what they sell, I tend to find myself shopping their locations first when searching for my next black and, or, white piece.
For the first look, I paired this lightweight lace popover top with black skinny jeans, pom pom sneakers, tassel earrings, and cat eye sunglasses. This comfortable, and chic look has so many interesting details and textures, yet nothing is overpowered. That’s what I love about black and white, you can add a subtle pop of color, and mix different textures while still staying chic.
My next look is ideal for the beachside! This beautiful striped maxi dress is stretchy, features a slit on the side, and is perfect for a day out in the sun. I paired it with comfortable sandals, and my favorite oversized floppy hat. For this look, I kept my accessories solid black. This assists in streamlining the look, as the dresses’ striped print is very bold, and the spotlighted feature.
I purchased these pieces from the White House Black Market outlet for under 20$ each! If you have never made it out to one of their outlets, I highly recommend you stop in! They offer very flattering, high quality products ranging from classic tailored work wear, to trendy weekend t-shirts! You never know just what you might find on sale!
If you are looking for a great one-piece ensemble to wear to a polo match, wedding, the movies, or even brunch with the girls, this is the piece to purchase!
This lightweight romper from The Mint Julep Boutique is as elegant as it is comfortable! The flowing material flatters any figure, as the culotte crops add style and on-trend vibes. The bodice features cold shoulders and a split back detailing, all on a cool shade of blue accented with soft white stripes.
I decided to dress it up with a blazer and sling back heels, for a more formal touch. I can easily see this romper paired with a large floppy hand and sandals as well! It is such a versatile staple piece for your spring and summer wardrobe!
My impressions
I was contacted by The Mint Julep Boutique, for a brand review, and selected this piece to try out. Their customer service is impeccable and all of their products are cute and well made. I especially love how easy it is to determine your size based off of their sizing guides and model specs. Their site is extremely user friendly and they have a dress for almost any occasion! All of their assortment is very affordable, and in my opinion, adorable!
My order arrived in a timely manner, and was packaged very neatly in identifiable mint packaging.
This piece is available on Shop the Mint.com for $46.00 which is an excellent value for the quality of the garment. I ordered the romper in a size Medium, and am happy with the fit. I believe the Small would have fit as well but as I am 5’8”, I choose to go up a size when it comes to one piece garments for length purposes.
I hope you love this jumpsuit as much as I do! And don’t forget to sign up for Mint Julep Boutique emails, when you do you will receive $10.00 off your first order!
Everyday I want to do something different with my hair. From cut to color, my desires for change are never ending. And with the trends constantly changing, who’s to blame me? I love to have my hair bleached and colored different shades based on the seasons, or even when I get inspired for a change. Because of this, my hair is not as healthy as it used to be, therefore the length has been somewhat compromised. The lucky part of this is there is a solution! Clip-in extensions!
Some days I feel like having long hair and others, short. With extensions this is possible! I was recently contacted by Best Hair Store to review a set of their extensions. I selected an ombre style that would blend well with my current hair color. After ordering, the product arrived within a week. I was very impressed with the quality of the hair as well as the color. There was no shedding as I brushed out the hair, or even when I applied heat tools.
The installation was quick and easy. All I needed to do was part my hair in desired locations, tease the hair at the root, and then clip in the tracks.
The clips have a secure hold and do not pull, or pinch my hair or scalp. Each extension is lightweight, so there is not heavy pulling on any areas of the scalp. I love the ease of installation and removal of this product, not to mention the excellent quality!
This hair is most definitely worth the value and can be used to create so many exciting looks for me without further damaging or changing my natural hair!
If you are looking for some fun- current trend extensions, check out The Best Hair Store’s offerings! They have a beautiful assortment of extensions!
Summertime means shorts…well it definitely does if you live in Texas! My favorite shorts to wear are these white rolled cuff denim ones from Old Navy. I just love the fit, length and stretch they offer! But the trick here is…how do you dress them up?
Shorts are super fun to wear, and the keep you cool, but lets face it, they are a casual piece of clothing. But as summer approaches, and the temperatures rise, dressing up gets very difficult and sometimes downright impossible! Which is why I wanted to brainstorm ways to create cute, wearable ensembles incorporating shorts that are chic enough you could brunch, shop, and even socialize in.
That is how I landed on this combination! This lightweight Calvin Klein top is designed in a stretch material, that features a split neck design and roll-tab sleeves. The weight of the material allows the top to hang just right, as the print sets a cooling chic tone. To top off the look, I paired it with stacked bracelets, 50’s inspired sunnies and espadrille wedges. What takes this look from casual, to chic, is the wedges and the design of the top. Adding a modern print, 3/4 length sleeves, and a slightly dressy shoe, completely morphs the ensemble.
So don’t be afraid to rock your favorite shorts at your next get-together! With the right pair of shoes and printed top, you can turn this said-to-be casual wardrobe piece into a chic complementary item.
I absolutely love to get my hands on a great dress. There is something about it that gives you that “conquer-all” vibe. I am partial to purchasing “safe” neutral shades that transition, and can easily be re-styled, but ever so often, I find a piece that is bold, bright and I’ve just have to have it! That was this dress!
I selected this dress from Shein. Not only was the dress adorable, but the price was unbeatable! I just love how the mix of pastel shades blend together with the yellow back panel to create such a cute color block garment.
The details
With a back ¾ zip closure swing silhouette, and front pockets, this dress has it all. I especially love the length of the sleeves, and the neckline. It is perfect for adding a sparkling statement bib necklace, and dainty bracelet as accessories. I would recommend a short slip be worn with this dress as it is not lined, and the back panel is slightly see through.
My thoughts
I ordered this dress for $20.00 in a size medium, and would say it is a steal at that price! I believe the size small would also fit, but I decided to size up for the length as I am 5’8″. The construction and fabric quality is well produced, and the colors and shape of the garment online are true to what I received.
It only took about two weeks for me to get my order in from Shein and the garments were very well packaged. Each piece was placed in a separate zip bag and folded neatly.
If you are looking for a great spring dress to go to your next daytime wedding, birthday party, baby shower, or even to work, this must-have dress will fit the scene and get you noticed!
Last month I had the opportunity to walk in an Anthropologie fashion show at the City Centre location. This was my first time to ever participate in something like this, so I did not know what to expect! Luckily, I was selected with a group of Houston bloggers that I know and love so at least I wasn’t doing this alone for the first time!
My look was selected for me by Victoria, a super sweet stylist at this location. She curated all of our looks based on our personal style and measurements. The ensemble selected for me to model included the following pieces:
Earrings: Albury by Bianca Mavrick
Top: Floral Texture Blouse in Mango
Purse: Londra Crossbody
Jeans: Pilcro High-Rise High-Low Skinny Jeans
When the evening of the show finally arrived I got their early for my hair and makeup application. This was really a treat for me, and was super fun! Getting hair and makeup done professionally for an event really adds to the excitement, and gives that extra touch of glamour.
Once I was all dressed with hair and makeup complete, it was time to take a few pictures with my girls! We were all very excited for the opportunity to walk! The store was set up beautifully with light bites and champagne for the guests. Once it was time for us to line up to walk, I really started to get nervous, but also really excited, and then before I knew it, it was my turn! Once I got out there are started walking, it wasn’t scary at all! It was so much fun!
I truly enjoyed this opportunity, and would love to get the chance to do this again…it was such a rush! 🙂 This was one of those opportunities in life where you just have to say, YES! I often let me nerves get the better of me, and don’t take that step- even if I know it will be amazing, but I have made a point to challenge myself this year to try new things and say yes. Because you never know what you are going to miss out on!
A huge thank you goes out to Anthropologie City Centre for putting the beautiful event together and for inviting me out to participate in your show!
Living in Houston all of my life means that the Rodeo is a yearly go-to event for me. With over 20 live entertainers, massive carnival, and a rodeo performance every night, there is a show for everyone. This year I attended two nights seeing Fifth Harmony, and Chris Young. I will tell you, although the rodeo is the same time of year, every year, the weather sure is not! Some years it is blazing hot, others it has been windy and cold, so planning ahead on your rodeo attire isn’t always optimal. But the one thing I will say you can prepare for yearly is a lot of walking, so comfort is key when it comes to your footwear! This year I decided on dresses and flat boots for both shows, and was comfortable as well as temperature appropriate both nights.
For Fifth Harmony, I decided on a long-sleeve dress from Armoire.Amore. It was very windy that day, and was going to get cooler by nightfall, so I chose my faux suede fringe boots to complete the look. Also I would like to add that if you are attending the rodeo, that means you are going to be eating some amazingly good–bad for you food! I chose the bbq route this year, but there is always the chance that I might sample a deep fried oreo, twinkie, or some other form of sugary goodness! Because of this, I like to wear looser fitting clothing to the rodeo- haha! I’ve got to stay comfortable no matter how much I decide to eat.
For Chris Young it was a much warmer day so I chose a patchwork print chiffon dress and cowboy boots. This also was my first time rocking the top knot, which was a lot of fun! I decided on this ensemble to keep cool, while still fitting the rodeo spirit. Everyone loves to dress up at the rodeo, I have just learned over the years to find a happy medium between rodeo fashion and wearability. Heels and jeans will have you miserable before the night is over, and with it being rodeo season, I want to enjoy every minute of it- not waste it whining!
I hope my styling tips inspire you to think outside of the box in creating your western wear ensembles. There is a look for you, no matter how country or country at heart you are!
New York is beyond my favorite city. I will take a trip there any chance I can, which is why Jhonathan and I headed up there a few weekends ago.
This trip was just for fun. To get away, and spend some time in the city. On this trip, we visited a few of our regular stops, but added in some new places that really made this particular trip unique.
Food:
While in New York street food is a MUST! I always get myself a hot dog and a chicken kabob first thing! There is just nothing in the world quite like a Manhattan hot dog. We also stopped in at John’s Pizza. This is by far my favorite pizza spot in the city! Located in a converted church, this brick oven pizzeria is not only delicious, but also extremely beautiful!
After dinner we walked over to Junior’s to get some cheesecake – yes this is another “must” stop for me! I have a massive sweet tooth and their cheesecake is simply the best.
Our other food stops included the Chobani cafe in SOHO which was excellent! I have never visited a Chobani restaurant before, and was extremely impressed with the ingredients atmosphere and variety. Our next stop was The Wren we ordered brunch there and had a few drinks. This bar is so lively and offers a delicious assortment of curated options.
Shopping:
I will say I kept the shopping to a minimum on this trip to really enjoy the sights and the city, but I did make the time to stop in Birchbox SoHo to create my own box and check out their store! This was such a fun experience, I truly felt like a kid in a candy shop! There is makeup, skincare and hair products galore! I wanted to spend all day in this shop, and was so glad we decided to stop in. I also made a trip over to the flagship Henri Bendel location to walk through and check out their new offerings, and amazing wall art! Henri Bendel is one of my favorite handbag and accessory locations, so it is inevitable, every time I step in one I have to get myself something!
Aside from these stops, we also strolled through Central Park, Grand Central Station, and over by the Brooklyn bridge. I have to say this was one of my most loved trips to New York. Not because we had a million places to go, but because we didn’t. This was a relaxing trip to really explore the city and enjoy enjoy all it was to offer.
Jhonathan and I recently took an impromptu road trip to central Texas to check out the bluebonnets and on the way, get some delicious Blue Bell icecream at the creamery in Branham. I put together some fun looks, appropriate for the outdoors, and photos with the gorgeous seasonal florals.
White jeans
So I love the look of a crisp pair of white denim, but they seem to always be a dirt magnet for me! But when I tried on these Jessica Simpson skinnies, I knew I had to get them! These are by far the favorite pair I have ever purchased, and think I will be sporting them a lot this season. (If I can manage to keep them clean!) For this look I have paired them with a navy cold-shoulder top by Democracy and cognac sandals by Olivia Miller. This look is perfect for the spring, and will transition effortlessly into summer. Navy and white are one of my favorite color combinations, as I am partial to the marine/nautical inspired wardrobe. So if you are like me this is an excellent option!
Striped Dresses
Stripes are a beautiful contrast to florals, are have always been one of my favorite prints. This lightweight chambray dress is the perfect addition to add to your spring wardrobe, and is ideal for photo ops! It is fully lined and has a tie back detailing that really takes this dress to the next level. I paired it with braided white Olivia Miller sandals, which perfectly complement the dress without taking away from it. I envision this look at brunch, the beach, or even here in the fields.
Denim on Denim
This is currently a look I am really enjoying on casual days. Blue is such a calming shade, and when paired with nature, highlights your surroundings superbly. Here I chose a lightweight chambray button down, with dark wash skinny jeans and mint monochromatic lace up Vans.
And last, but not least, accessories! I selected a single stack of bracelets to pair with these looks. All of which are from Luca Love bracelets. These tie in nature, as well as, the beautiful blues and reds. Luca Love bracelets are lightweight, adjustable, and most of all give back! Check their site out here, to learn more!
No matter your style, there is a central Texas photo op ensemble for you! Whether its jeans, dresses, or even shorts, you can easily create an ensemble to shine in, as well as the great outdoors.
A few weekends ago I had the opportunity to attend the Art Car Parade in downtown Houston. I have lived here all of my life and have to admit, this was the first time I have made it out to see the parade. And what a year it was to have been my first! This event is truly something to see, and has a little something for everyone.
First of all, the food and drink vendors were out of this world! I am a foodie at heart and love the opportunity to snack any chance I can, so to have Raising Canes, Antone’s Famous Po’boys, Lee’s Creamery ice cream sandwiches, Tacodeli tacos, and Natachee’s Supper’n Punch! pulled pork sandwiches, Deep Eddy vodka, and Topo Chico all at my fingertips was a dream come true!
Living in Houston, you see a few of these unique car creations on the road on a regular bases, but do not get to hear about the creators, or backstory of the design. So to see them shine, center stage in a parade, really made an impression with me. Getting to see just how much detail and time went into creating each piece, along with the creators themselves, was really special.
Mayor Sylvester Turner even rode in on a car, starting the parade. It is so amazing to see Houstonians come together in support of the arts, individuality and creativity.
Here are a few of my favorite cars from the parade! The imagination that goes into creating these works of art is so impressive!
This Wizard of Oz masterpiece is actually made entirely out of peeps candy! How amazing is that?! – and just in time for Easter 😉
This car, which is a shark and waves, was actually crochet together by students! How unbelievable, and creative!
Another one of my favorites was this Where the Wild Things Are themed station wagon. The artist really brought the characters to life and reminded me of one of my favorite childhood books.
The weather could not have been better, either! It was a perfect Saturday afternoon for some outdoor fun in the city. If you have never had the chance to make it out to the Art Car Parade, I highly recommend it! You won’t be disappointed.
A special thank you to the Greater Houston Partnership for the invite! I had a lovely time! 🙂