This season I decided to create 3 simple gift guides; one for her, for him and stocking stuffers! Each guide encompasses the fashionista, traveler, savvy saver, and foodie – enjoy!
To shop, all you have to do is hover over the image you are interested in and click!
So this post is a bit on the late side, but I just had to share my favorite looks from the Elaine Turner Edit Box, and give you a little run-down of what it is!
So Elaine Turner launched a new shopping experience via her boutique website where you can have a stylist curate ensembles for you to try, enjoy, and wear to events; then send back what you don’t wish to keep and purchase the items you fall in love with! Once you send your box back, it’s time to start again! It’s a great way to keep your wardrobe fresh, have new on-trend pieces for events, and have someone take all of the guesswork and stress of styling from you, so all you have to do is look fabulous! With a short profile style survey the stylist is all set to curate your looks with even the option to cater to trips and upcoming events you might have!
Click here for more details on the Edit Box!
And now to my looks! What I really love was the looks were curated head-to-toe from dress to accessories! I selected a casual Friday workwear look and pool party chic ensemble! So no matter what you have going on, the E.T. Edit Box has you covered!
While at fashion week I had the pleasure of attending a variety of shows from streetwear to cocktail attire, there were so many trends to take in! Here I will be sharing a snapsnot of the shows I attende as well as some of my favorite pieces and favorite trends to keep on the lookout for this upcoming spring and summer, enjoy!
Metallics, silks, textured sheers, embroidery, and shades of yellow and emerald were popping up everywhere! I also saw lots of statement sleeves so don’t believe that trend will be going out anytime soon!
Below you will see some of my faves from the following shows presented during NYFW.
Aranyani – Presented by Nolcha Shows
KavenLiu – Presented by Nolcha Shows
So you guys know I only travel with a carry on, so for fashion week this can really test my limits and skills as a light packer. If you are interested in a breakdown of how I travel with only a carry on check out the post I did for Rome! My techniques are the same, the only difference is that I now take my Andiamo Classico, which is seriously the BEST investment for any traveler.
So on to the looks!
I am a huge fan of extended weekend trips. Jhonathan and I take them pretty often and love to fit as much as we can into the short time we are in the city. So for me, and extended weekend would consist of Friday (or late Thursday night) to Sunday or Saturday to Monday. And I’d like to add, these trips are always within the U.S. and consist of flights under 4 hours. I find it such a fun challenge to see just how much we can take in from a city in just a few days!
So our most recent trip was to Chicago. This was not my first time visiting the city so we did not hit the most popular tourist attractions as we have already done that. If you haven’t been before you MUST visit the Bean along with these awesome stops I will be sharing with you.
Accommodations
So on this trip I did something a little different and booked our rooms through Hotwire. This ended up being an amazing deal with us spending under $350 for all 3 nights! We stayed at Sofitel and the Freehand. Both hotels are located in great locations, but for me the Freehand was in the better location wise as it was close to everything we had on our list. We had some rain during our trip but so much was close by so it wasn’t an issue.
Shopping
While in Chicago we shopped at Topshop, Louis Vuitton, and Bloomingdale’s. If you are looking for some epic shopping on your trip then all you have to do is head for the Magnificent Mile, it’s Chicago’s version of New York’s 5th Avenue!
Bloomingdale’s was actually right across the street from our hotel and was a huge lifesaver once the rain began. They sell the most perfect travel bag! It is a tote constructed of plastic with a zip top. I was able to safely store my camera, crossbody and around town essentials easily so they could stay totally dry!
When we travel to new cities, Jhonathan and I started to tradition of purchasing a Louis Vuitton travel guide for that particular city. This tradition started after our first time here so we decided to pick the guide up on this trip.
And of course, if you haven’t visited a Top Shop it’s the perfect stop for some sunnies and to get a glimpse at the latest fashion trends. I love the Chicago Mag Mile location!
Entertainment
We decided to head south to check out a White Socks game! The stadium is really beautiful and has such a fun feel to it! One of the coolest touches I noticed was that the vendors carried the snacks and drinks in old wooden soda crates! So cool! We purchased tickets of the club level which is honestly the very best deal! There was even an opportunity for us to visit a suite to play video games and watch the game from a closed in air conditioned space!  – Yes, this is not like the stadiums here in Houston that feature retractable roofs, this space is always open rain or shine.
Jhonathan and I both watch Shameless which is set on the southside of Chicago, so while visiting the southside we had to try Frank’s fav beer, Old Style and ride the L.
Eats
Pizza, cheese curds, and Hotdogs all the way! Oh, and I ate a salad once.
Portillo’s – All I can say is yum, and it’s open late! Jhonathan got a Chicago dog here while I opted for a heaping plate of fettuccine Alfrado with garlic bread. We also both ordered sundaes to enjoy on our walk back to the hotel.
Sugar Factory –Â I would like to point out, we didn’t actually eat here. The wait for a table was 2+ hours but the bar was open seating, and since we were just getting a drink that was perfect! So note that if you are going just to get one of their amazing candy filled drinks you don’t have to wait, just head to the bar! We tried a mango themed drink with little penguin gummies and sugar coated orange slices. SO much fun to watch them make the drink and so much fun to enjoy! Also I’d like to mention the interior of this place is beautiful! It have an elegant feel to it, mixed with fun candy and alcohol!
Sights
So on this trip we kept the sights pretty minimal with just a trip to the top 360Chicago. This is a skyscraper that takes you up over 90 stories to panoramic views of the city. There is even a bar atop so you can have a nice drink, or even an ice cream while you take in the breathtaking views of Chicago. I highly recommend this stop as there was virtually no line! I feel like not as many people know of this in comparison to the Willis Tower Skyview so if you are short on time, stop here instead!
Chicago is such a great city, with so much to do and so much to see! I’m sure I will be adding many more travel guides for the city as we will definitely be back!
Hi all! Hope you have been enjoying the first days of early access to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale as much as I have! Below I have added my faves, which will be updated as things sell out so stay tuned and if you see something you love, act fast before it’s gone!
Today I want to chat with you all about Stay Alfred! If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Stay Alfred is a hotel alternative for travel! They offer furnished apartments in the center of some of the hottest cities, giving you easy access to local attractions with all of the comforts of home on your vacations.
We stayed at The Star, a historic building in downtown Houston that was renovated and converted into apartments. The room was a one bedroom with a full size kitchen, living room, bathroom, laundry room, and bedroom. The furnishings were neutral and beautiful making us feel immediately welcome and at home upon entry.
What You Need To Know
So I want to share with you the info that I would want to know before doing something like this! I always have lots of questions when trying something new, so I want to share with you the “check-in and out” process just so you will have a heads up and feel super comfortable! So before your stay, Stay Alfred sends you a detailed itemized email with your check-in and check-out time, amenities, parking, key access and drop-off, room number, and travel dates. They even provide you with picture references to make things easier! So for check-in, the keys are located in a digital valet on the wall of the lobby which has a touchscreen. You just follow the instructions provided to you via the email and steps prompted on the touchscreen and a small drawer opens with your keyfob inside. You then return it to the same location at the time of check-out. Super simple!
Location, Location
During our stay we walked a few blocks over to Minute Maid Park and enjoyed an Astros game! It was $1 hotdog night at the stadium so that was such a bonus, lol. Stay Alfred makes sure its locations are in prime areas so that you feel close and connected to whichever city you are traveling to. After the game we walked back over to the apartment and enjoyed a night in and even had a few girlies pop over for some wine and chit chat!
Their locations also offer you access to the apartments amenities. (Be sure to check their site to view what all is available at each specific location.) At ours there was a beautiful pool and relaxing patio area, which we made sure to enjoy.
So what really sets Stay Alfred apart in my eyes is that you can vacation like a local. You are staying in a building that where locals live, therefore you can get a real taste of the city. Also, since it is a real apartment, you lose the “living out of your suitcase” feel that often occurs on extended hotel stays. Here you can wash your clothes, hang them in the closet, and even fix a meal in a full size kitchen, just as you would at home! They also are perfect for groups! With 1, 2, and 3 bedroom options Stay Alfred is perfect for families and groups so that everyone can stay together with beautiful common areas but have separate sleeping quarters within the same place!
I definitely recommend checking out Stay Alfred for your next vacation or staycation! They have wonderful locations, and great prices for all sizes of traveling groups!
When summer vacation time rolls around destination poolside is in effect! With that said, finding the perfect poolside gear is pretty important to us girlies! We want to feel confident, fashionable and basically like a sunkissed goddess in whatever we will be wearing, so here I’ll be sharing the look I wore to the Hotel Alessandra for a total vacation luxe poolside ensemble.
I wanted one bold color for this look and went with this fiery orange shade and paired it with black and white. My swimmie, coverup, and dress are all from Boohoo, a UK based company I absolutely love! The collection itself consists of 7 pieces and takes you from dinner to swimming to lounging poolside in ultimate summer style!
To make things easy I have linked all of the pieces you need to create these poolside looks and everything is super affordable! – Which is one of my favorite things about Boohoo! They almost always have a sale and their items are of great quality!
Hi friends! I just wanted to share a few favorite statement sleeve pieces I have been wearing on repeat lately, enjoy! P.S. if I couldn’t find my exact pieces I have linked similar. 🙂
This is the cutest little dress for the warm weather! With stripes and a statement sleeve and hem this piece is super girly and adorable! I styled it with rose gold mirrored sunnies, wedges and a bright embroidered clutch.
This outfit is all about the accessories and the sleeves on this top! I tied in the fire coral/orange to the beaded elements on the sleeve and it really pops with the navy and white stripes.
And lastly I wanted to share this cool blue poncho! This look is perfect for summer, yet I know the thought of a poncho or layering piece in the summer seems strange but in a light color and cotton construction, its perfect! I also paired it with white jeans to keep this look light and fresh!
With summer officially here and swimsuit season in full swing, I thought it would be the perfect time to share a swim look with you all! Now in saying that, I would like to add that I have not shared a swimsuit picture before. That is not to say that I am ashamed, but that I understand I am not a size zero, nor am I super toned as most of the fashion bloggers are in their swim shots, so I did have some hesitation in sharing swim looks but with a brand like Femme De La Mer, I had no worries! This swimsuit brand creates ultra flattering, well constructed suits that leave you feeling your ultimate best at the beach, poolside or in my case, a photoshoot.
Their suits are double lined and have seams in all of the right places. The material holds firm and does not dig. I also love the leg hole design as it is created to prevent ride-up! Once I slipped on this suit all of my hesitations, nerves, and insecurities went away! I love how flattering Femme De La Mer suits are on and couldn’t recommend them more! Seriously, not only is the quality amazing but the design and utter confidence you feel when wearing the suit totally make it worth it – which is why I had to share this brand with you guys!
The style suit I am wearing is the Monroe in the print Bora Bora