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! 🙂
One of the great things about blogging in a large city, is the opportunity to meet other bloggers in your community! Last month I met up with a group of fellow Houstonian bloggers for brunch at B&B Butchers. We shared laughs, discussed opportunities and dined on some truly delicious food! Here is a photo recap of the afternoon!
Perfect weather, amazing company, tasty dishes and spring drinks…what more could a girl as for?
What I wore
For this brunch I decided to wear a dress. This lightweight chambray striped dress has an elastic neckline that provides the option to wear it off-the-shoulder or scoop neck. The material is lightweight and has an intricate lace trim. I paired it with a white laser cut clutch and espadrille wedges. This look screams spring and is perfect for brunch and, of course good ol’ Texas weather.
Meet ups like this provide bloggers the opportunity to share insight, build relationships, recharge, and motivate one another! As a blogger, this part of my life can seem singular, like I’m alone in it…but in reality, that is not true! I left brunch feeling refreshed, and unstoppable. Knowing you have a community of supporters, and friends by your side is such an uplifting thing! Stay tuned for more meet ups and get togethers! I’m sure we will be having more in the near future! 🙂
One of my favorite color palettes is black and white. The colors are timeless, but the fun part is black and white can be styled so many different ways. There is simply no limit or specific genre the colors fit in, so you can try literally any trend in this palette.
With this ensemble I was inspired by the cold shoulder design on this G by Guess sweater. I wanted to create a black and white look with it that is spring ready but with a touch of edge/grunge so I added G by Guess combat boots! The mix tied together with classic white denim shorts and retro sunglasses perfectly.
The Breakdown!
So this sweater is an excellent piece to add to your spring wardrobe because it is so transitional! I love the think knit, designed for a loose fit so that it is perfect for breezier days. Since the weather has been changing daily here this sweater is also great paired with jeans on cooler days.
The shorts I am wearing are from Old Navy, and my favorite staple spring and summertime shorts. I love the length and rolled cuff accent, not to mention the great stretch fit denim!
For accessories I went all out with a satin choker from Sam Moon, a beautiful Kendra Scott bangle, dainty bar bracelet from French Cuff Boutique, and my favorite macrame bracelets from Luca Love. My clutch is such a cute and versatile piece I picked up at Stage Stores. It is Ivanka Trump brand and comes with a portable phone charger! And lastly, my sunglasses. I picked up these Jessica Simpson Retro inspired shades from Stage Stores and absolutely love them! They pair so well with everything and really add the finishing touch to this look.
If you are looking for a way to try out a new look or style, try it out in black and white! It’s easy to match and for me, feels like less of a risk, yet you get all the rewards of style!
I really love layering pieces for the spring time. Since the temperature fluctuates throughout the day, having stylish pieces you can easily add or take away from your ensemble is really important.
Kimonos are the perfect piece to really tie an outfit together, and add that extra layer. Offered in different prints, with variations of fringe, lace and crochet accents there is a kimono for everyone! Right now I am loving this floral and lace trimmed kimono I received from Armoire.Amore, a Texas based online boutique! I am wearing a size M which provides an oversized, flowy look, exactly what I was looking for!
As for the rest of my ensemble, I am wearing a Signature Studio 3/4 length sleeve dress which is a perfect foundation piece for the season! Since it is a warm, solid color with a relaxed silhouette it is easy to pair with statement jewelry, scarves, or in this case a colorful kimono on a cooler afternoon!
For accessories I decided on a neutral palette. This slouchy tote I found at Stage.com can hold all of my day to day necessities and more! I love that it goes with absolutely everything and the studded base adds a touch of glam. And to complete the look, the shoes I am wearing my favorite wedges but Indigo. Rd.
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mexico. On this trip, we would be stopping in Mazatlan, Mexico City and Durango. This was my first time to go into the country (aside from border cities) and I was very excited to explore, try local foods, and take in the culture!
Here I will share a brief photo diary of what all I experienced in a nutshell. I honestly had a wonderful time, and cannot wait to go back! There is so much Mexico has to offer! From mountains to beaches, remote locations to major cities–not to mention gorgeous architecture! For me, the flight was only about 2 hours, so this getaway is totally doable for a weekend trip or 3 day holiday.
Mazatlan
Although our trip was in October, it was quite toasty in Mazatlan! Shorts and dresses kept me cool throughout the few days we spent there. We stayed to the Park Royal Hoteles Resort, which had an amazingly breathtaking view of the ocean from their infinity pool. For dinner, we opted for poolside service not to miss a minute of the gorgeous sunset. Exploring Mazatlan was a bit of a task in the heat, but we drove out to the strand and watched cliff divers jump into the clear blue-green water and marveled and their skill of perfectly diving between the rocks.
Durango
Mountains, markets, and museums…Durango has it all! This beautiful city is centrally located, and offers many scenic locations. I enjoyed the variety of museums and local goods the city had to offer. (especially mango chamoy popsicles)
Mexico City
I have always been a sucker for black and white. So naturally, I am drawn to White House Black Market. Since spring is ideal for skinny jeans and tees it is time for me to freshen up my basics! I recently purchased this striped top from my local WHBM outlet and absolutely love it! This asymmetrical folded hem makes it so unique and be beaded v-neckline gives it a chic touch.
I styled it with Jessica Simpson skinny jeans and Cole Haan wedges for a fun day out in the sun shopping! I must say, I absolutely love the fit on this tee. It is really forgiving and comfortable with a lightweight and breathable construction.
Have fun with your basics this season! Just because they are called basics doesn’t mean you have to look plain! Style it up, and look fabulous in your simple cotton top!
Shop my look:
Shoes: Cole Haan black is out of stock (other colors available)
Jeans: Jessica Simpson
Hat: Forever 21 (similar)
Since things are already starting to heat up here in Houston, I decided a beautiful spring floral dress needed to make an appearance.
This spaghetti strap accordion pleat dress has a gorgeous blue background with a tonal orange floral print. I decided to make it a bit more casual and fun by pairing it with a denim vest, straw fedora, and espadrille wedges.
Seriously you cannot help but feel great in this fun dress! The design is perfect for a sunny day, and the chic midi length makes it ideal for almost any occasion. I purchased this dress in size M to get a more relaxed fit. The waist is elastic so it does have a beautiful silhouette I just prefer the top to not be tight. Going up a size provides a more carefree look, which is what I was aiming for.
If you are looking for a fun, feel good, carefree dress this is the one! It looks great on without any fuss, and can be styled so many different ways!
Shop my look:
Dress: Heart Soul from Stage
I don’t know about you, but I feel most confident with a pearly white smile. There is something about white teeth that gives off a healthy, vibrant, conquer-all vibe, and who doesn’t want that?!
Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to enter the giveaway!!
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Now Let’s Dig In!
The first step is to create the impressions. I was nervous to make mine, but the instructions make it very simple! After completing the impressions, you just stick them in in the pre-paid envelope and pop them in the mailbox. It took about two weeks for me to get my impressions back in the mail, and I must say, the trays are comfortable and fit perfectly!
As for the whitening, I first began with 30 minutes as my leave-in time, and gradually increased. Since everyone’s sensitivity is different, it is best to start off slow. I have sensitive gums and was unable to use my trays daily, but every other day worked out perfectly. By doing, so I still achieved my desired level of whitening, but without any discomfort or damage.
I have found it very easy to implement this whitening treatment into my routine. It is so convenient to pop the trays in while watching a movie, or spending time with my pups! On the weekend I enjoy whitening in the mornings while scrolling my Instagram feed, or reading a magazine on my Kindle.
There are so many benefits in using custom trays for whitening, for more details on why, click here!
As for my results, they are still in the works! The complete kit comes with 3 syringes of whitening gel and to date, have completed 2 and have achieved the following results.
My smile is definitely whiter, but most of all, my teeth and gums are healthy and feel great! I am in love with the results, and natural white shade of white my teeth have achieved. For the price, I couldn’t ask for a better product, but if my results weren’t enough to convince you, please check out one of the links below to see some truly amazing product reviews, and results! 🙂
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Embroidery is definitely in this season, so any chance I can incorporate it into my wardrobe, I do! This lightweight gauze top from Stage offers just the right amount of detailing and is ideal for warm, breezy days. I love the sleeveless design, trimmed in a light ruffle, with a sweet peplum hem. The neutral shade makes it easy to pair with your favorite denim, and for me, a fun pair of wedges!
I really wanted to add a touch of elegance to this look so I decided to top it off with a pair of earrings from Niceties and Nuptials. These clip pack earrings are comfortable and so glamorous. I can see myself pairing them with many ensembles this season from evening wear, to casual everyday ensembles! Check the bottom of this post for a coupon code for their site!
Dark wash denim pairs best with this shade of top, so I have paired it with my favorite Jessica Simpson denim and to keep the elongated look, I chose natural espadrille wedges.
I really have my eye on wedges this season! They provide height, add a new flare to the look, and most of all, keep you comfortable while looking your best!
Shop my look:
Jeans: Jessica Simpson from Stage Stores
Shoes: Lucky Brand available from Amazon
Purse: Coach Dinky
Earrings: Niceties & Nuptials
*Save 10% on your Niceties and Nuptials purchase with the coupon code: BLOGGER_HF61011
Last month I was blessed with opportunity to vacation to Rome. This trip was my first to leave the continent…so it was a very big step for me. While on my trip I visited Rome, Tavullia, Naples, and Pompeii. From what I had the chance to see, Italy is a beautiful country. There is just so much to see! The history, the wine, food, people, views, I tried to absorb as much as I could on our 4 days there. Here are a few of my favorite images from the trip. Enjoy!
