Life

One Year Blogiversary

WOW, I can’t believe it has been an entire year! I know that’s what most people say when they’ve hit a milestone but this just doesn’t even come close. I look back to my first post, somewhat embarrassing now, but all I see is how far I have come. 125 blog posts and 12 thousand followers later and I think you can tell that this little blog that started out as a creative outlet and a way to escape adulthood actually morphed into something. But honestly, I am still shocked that people other than my mom actually want to read about what I have to say!

While I have learned LOTS along the way (there will be a blog post coming soon!), I wanted to spend today sharing some of my favorite memories from the past year that showcase what It’s All Chic To Me is all about.

Starting the blog

(find the post here)

NYFW Street Style: Pink fringe dress + sneakers

Somehow it took me almost an entire year to finally share where It’s All Chic To Me came from but nonetheless it’s an important part of this blog. Part of me wonders what life was like before I started the blog. My main hopes for starting the blog were for two reasons. 1) I needed a creative outlet and 2) I was in desperate need of friends. After college I felt like I was almost starting over in the friend department and my social life was lacking to say the least. Little did I know that all you had to do was become a blogger and your social life would never ever be dull again! I have had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people and attending the most fabulous events over the past year! I even got to host 2 of my own events. This was a highlight for sure! You can find a recap of my Topshop event here and my Beehive event here.

Meeting my girl tribe

(find the post here)

Blogger Tribe

NYFW street style, girl gang, Sex and the City, Community over competition

I could go on and on about all of the wonderful friends I have made through blogging. Like I said earlier, I was desperately craving to fill the void of being surrounded by so many college friends. Entering the next chapter of my life in Houston and into adulthood, I needed a support system. Many of the ladies I have met through blogging are now some of my closest friends and I talk to almost every single day. From Chick-fil-a lunch dates, countless photo shoots, phone calls about anything and everything, attending NYFW, wine nights, millions of events, and so much more, these ladies have proved to be more than my support system, they are some of my best friends! I won’t name all of my blogger besties, but you know who you are and I am SO thankful for you!

Attending New York Fashion Week

(find all of my posts here)

NYFW 2016, New York street style, New York Fashion Week style

New York Fashion Week recap, Leather pants + lace collared top

New York Fashion week street style: black off the shoulder top + white skirt + fringe heels

This is by far my favorite memory from my first year! All of my Carrie Bradshaw dreams came true in a matter of 4 days. I have never seen so much passion for fashion anywhere else and it was truly exhilarating getting to experience all of the fashion events and street style first hand. I was able to attend fashion shows, meet some of my fashion icons, and connect with brands and companies that I work with from afar. The icing on the cake was getting to go with 3 of my blogger besties, Margret, Britt and Dede. You can find all of my daily recaps here.

Favorite Blog Posts

Fall Wedding Guest Jumpsuit (get post here)

Wedding Guest Style: The Formal Jumpsuit

The Frustration with Blogging (find post here)

Fall transitional look: bodycon dress + duster + booties

Girlboss Closet on a Budget (find post here)

Girlboss Closet on a Budget | Girlboss Tips | Budget Tips | It's All Chic To Me

A Letter to Me (find post here)

Fringe crop top + coral maxi skirt | Summer Fashion | A letter to myself | It's All Chic To Me

Blazer 3 Ways (find post here)

How to wear a blazer 3 ways

I wouldn’t dare end this post without a HUGE thank you to all of you who make this little space of the internet feel like a home. Thank you for supporting my crazy ideas (and outfits), putting up with my grammatical errors, and following along as I share my life one blog post at a time! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

4 Comments

Witches Brew Halloween Party Punch

Easy 3 Ingredient Witches brew Halloween Party punch

Easy 3 Ingredient Witches brew Halloween Party punch

Easy 3 Ingredient Witches brew Halloween Party punch

Sign: Similar | Martini Glasses: Target ($14) | Cauldron: Walmart

Happy Halloween friends! I decided to forgo the normal fashion post and bring you a fun, holiday themed post instead. My roommates and I celebrated Halloween a little early this past weekend and decided to throw a last minute costume party. Obviously no halloween party would be complete without a little bit of party punch, but halloween themed for the occasion of course!

Since this party idea was super last minute, we wanted something fast and easy to be able to serve for drinks. Disclaimer: you will have to look past the horrible lighting of these pictures. I can assure you that the quality of the drinks are much more enticing and my excuse is that these pictures happened after a few drinks and I decided I had to share this creation with all of you. Que me throwing a couple of halloween decorations together and pouring our concoction from a red solo cup to a martini glass (because that just looks way more classy), and you have an easy 3 ingredient witches brew halloween party punch!

3 Ingredients:

  1. 2 quarts of lime sherbet
  2. 2  (2) liter bottles of ginger ale or sprite (diet version if you would like it to be less sweet)
  3. 1 cup of Vodka (optional)

Pour your 2 bottles of ginger ale or sprite into a large bowl. We opted to use a festive cauldron that we picked up from Walmart for less than $5. Slowly stir in your sherbet. Break up the sherbet chunks as much as possible. Depending on how strong you would like your punch, start adding in your vodka. I suggest 1 cup and then it is up to your discretion after that!

And there you have it folks, it could not be any easier! On a side note I would love to hear what you are doing for Halloween. Since I celebrated this weekend, you will most likely find me curled up on the couch watching Hocus Pocus. If you are needing any last minute costume ideas, you can find my last minute DIY “Where’s Waldo” costume that I made on my Instagram. I will also link everything you need to recreate the outfit below. Also, one of my good friends, Dawn from Dawn. P Darnell blog, rounded up the best DIY costumes here. If you waited until the last minute like me, you will definitely want to give those a look. Be safe tonight and happy Halloween friends!

Where’s Waldo Costume:

Easy 3 Ingredient Witches brew Halloween Party punch
1 Comment

Houston Coffee Shops

The best coffee shops in Houston

You’ve probably heard me talk about wine more times than you can handle, so today I want to turn all of the attention to wine’s second runner up, coffee! It’s hard choosing a favorite between the two when the real truth is that coffee keeps me going until I can make it to the wine 😉

Take it from someone who has pretty much been drinking coffee since the bottle feeding days, I know a good cup of coffee when I see one. Granted my coffee used to be more milk and sugar than actual coffee, I’d say I’ve learned to appreciate a really good cup of coffee over the years. Whether you are in need of a little pick-me-up, wanting to meet up with a friend, or need a new study spot, Houston has the best coffee shops that you should check out!

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee places in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

The 10 best coffee shops in Houston

Top: Gap | Jeans: Nordstrom | Shoes: Nordstrom | Hat: Similar | Purse: Charming Charlie | Planner: Lily Pulitzer

Photos by: Banavenue Photography

TOUT SUITE

All of the pictures from above are taken from one of my favorite places to grab a flavored latte with a side of avocado toast and macaroons. Tout Suite definitely gives off that cool vibe and you will probably end up staying for hours. Their space is large and offers free wifi.

COMMON BOND

The only place I’ve found that has a lavender latte and a picture perfect scenery to match. This coffee shop seems like it has been plucked straight out of Cali and the food is something out of this world. Save room for a tasty sweet from a full selection of macaroons, pastries, tarts, cakes and other assortments. The space here is pretty small so it is best for a quick meeting or pit stop.

REVIVAL MARKET

Known mostly for their meat and cheese market, Revival Market is much more than that. Not only is the coffee phenomenal, the friendly staff will make you feel right at home if the coffee hasn’t already done the trick. Stay for brunch as the food is just as great as everything I have described. This is one of my go-to places for a weekend meal or study spot but keep in mind they do close early.

DOWN THE STREET

I like to think of this one as a hidden gem as it is tucked back in a neighborhood but don’t let that fool you. This cute and casual spot is about to become your new favorite hang out. From a hot brew to a cold brew, they have it all and you can’t go wrong with any pick. My personal favorite is the Egg On An Island with a side of cheese grits, paired with a hazelnut latte. Hang out on the patio, play a little ping pong, or even stop by for their monthly Bingo nights.

MORNING STAR

Looking for something a little smaller and perhaps a tad hipster-esque? Morningstar serves your hot brew up with a homemade donut or acai bowl. Lunch dishes include a little asian flare or honey butter chicken biscuits. Again, their space is little so it is best for those looking for a quick bite to eat.

BOOMTOWN COFFEE

Definitely a step up from your local Starbucks, Boomtown started out by selling their perfectly roasted artisan beans to other shops around the city and state. They now have opened up their own storefront to sell a wide variety of brews from expressos to lattes to toddys. Make sure to try the milk and honey latte and if you love what you try you can take a bag of beans home with you 🙂

INVERSION COFFEE HOUSE

Nestled into the heart of Montrose, Inversion is the place to be. The creative coffee menu is something you wont find anywhere else and if you are looking for something new, then look no further! Being that I am a latte girl, my top recommendations are the salted caramel, chai cream and honey badger lattes. Added pluses include food trucks parked outside, local art inside, free wifi, and late hours.

ANTIDOTE COFFEE

This is my kind of place since they serve both wine and coffee- can you say genius?! This quaint, homey atmosphere features couches inside and a patio outside. Popular drink items include the 24-hour cold brew, Cajeta latte (made with goat’s milk), craft beer and wine. There is also a nice array of local sweets and good eats.

PAPER CO

Coffee with a cause? Now that’s something I can get behind if being down right tired wasn’t reason enough! 100% of Paper Co’s proceeds go to helping the homeless. Sip on your favorite coffee while enjoying the vaulted ceilings of the church next door and chowing down on Kaya french toast (french toast with coconut custard and glazed almonds), Nashville style chicken, or a hearty burger.

BLACKSMITH

Another Montrose favorite, Blacksmith continually dishes out some of the best coffee around. That is entirely due to the fact that you are sipping on David Buehrer’s famous Greenway Coffee. You can order his roasts in everything from lattes to cappuccinos to cortados while going to town on the best home-cooked style breakfast you’ve had in awhile. Blacksmith is known for their sausage, egg and cheese breakfast biscuit. Trust me on this one!!


With so many great coffee options around town, how can you blame a girl for wanting (more like needing) several cups a day?! The coffee addiction is real and it has taken a serious toll on the color of my teeth. Thanks to Smile Brilliant I have been able to slowly get my white smile back. I say slowly because it takes an army to battle the amount of coffee and wine I drink! But nonetheless, Smile Brilliant has done wonders for me and in a short amount of time! I am almost embarrassed to share what my teeth used to look like but here is the before and after!

image I have to brag on Smile Brilliant for a minute because I’ve known my teeth were starting to get a little yellow now for awhile but I was just too lazy to do something about it. Smile Brilliant did absolutely all of the work for me! I didn’t have to go out and find a teeth whitening system at the store or dentist, all you have to do is sign up online and everything else is done for you. They send you the teeth impression kit to do yourself and a mailing label to return the molds. They even graciously sent me extra molds when I screwed up the first time. It took about a week to get my custom made trays back and then I was set to go. All that was left was to wear my trays for a couple of nights a week.

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System + Houston's 10 best places to grab coffee

With my busy schedule I stuck to every 3 nights or so and left the trays in for 1-3 hours depending on my schedule that night. The whitening gel is 22%, which compared to other systems that I had used is pretty high. The higher the percentage, the stronger the whitening effect. I was worried about this at first sense I have sensitive teeth but Smile Brilliant had already thought about that! They send you desensitizing gel to rejuvenate and rehydrate your teeth after you whiten them. I found this to greatly help my sensitivity, which is saying a lot because every other whitening system that I had tried left me with high sensitivity the next couple of days.

For more information on Smile Brilliant and how it can help you get your brighter smile back, check here for reviews and here for a video further explaining the system.

*Thank you Smile Brilliant for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

1 Comment

Labor Day Sales under $50

Labor Day Sales | Sale Round Up | Items under $50

In true Labor Day fashion I hope you are lounging around the house today and not having to labor one bit! My family is having a BBQ and pool day and of course then you have me who keeps sneaking off to check out all of the Labor Day sales. I’ve rounded up my favorite sales, as well as items under $50 for each store! Simply click the store name below to head straight to their website or any of the below sale items in order to shop away!

Ann Taylor: extra 60% off all sale styles

Anthropologie: extra 40% off of sale items

Asos: 15% off site wide with code LASTHURRAH

Banana Republic: 40% off (almost) everything + free shipping with code FALL40

Bauble Bar: Save up to 75% off + 20% off of sale items

Chic Wish: up to 30% off site wide

Express: 40% off site wide

Forever 21: up to 70% off site wide

Nordstrom: up to 40% off

Old Navy: 50% off all jeans, dresses & tees

Steve Madden: 20% off of $100, 25$ off of $125 + free shipping with code BYESUMMER

2 Comments

Summer Bucket List

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Summer Fashion + My Summer Bucket List | It's All Chic To Me

Top: Similar | Jeans: Nordstrom | Shoes: Target | Purse: Charming Charlie | Earrings: Charming Charlie | Watch: Charming Charlie

I have been saying all Summer long that I wanted to make a Summer bucket list like the good ol’ days and actually check everything off of it. All through high school, I would write down everything I wanted to do that Summer and then I carried that list around everywhere with me so that I could check off every last item. To this day I have kept every Summer bucket list that I have ever made. Boy are those list gold now looking back at all of the crazy shenanigans I used to write down.

While my list may no longer include sneaking out (sorry Mom!) and spin the bottle, I still love putting fun and adventurous items on my list to force myself out of my usual, day-to-day schedule! I might be a little late to the game this Summer, but I still plan on marking everything off of the list. And yes, I admit I might have put a couple on there that I already completed to help give myself a head start 😉

  1. Day trip to Galveston for a beach day
  2. Try the new Steel City Pops for a refreshing Summer sweet treat!
  3. Finish decorating my bedroom and do an unveiling on the blog… FINALLY
  4. Have a pool party with all of the best Summer pool floats
  5. Splurge on a pair of everyday sunglasses. I’m thinking about these.
  6. Buy a new, bright lipstick. I have my eyes set on this or this.
  7. Spend a Saturday morning searching for buried treasure at garage sales
  8. Buy a new swim suit. P.S.- if you didn’t already know, Victoria Secret’s clothing line (including swim suits) is going out of business and everything is 40% off!
  9. Clean out the closet- y’all stay tuned on Instagram because I plan on selling all of my gently used clothes/shoes/bags there!
  10. Deep clean the house- we’ve been living here for close to a year and it is WAY overdue.
  11. Visit a local farmer’s market
  12. Explore new Houston brunch spots and add some new places to the blog’s Houston Guide
  13. Karaoke with the girls… because I have yet to EVER do this. Who wants to join me for ladies night?!
  14. Go to a Houston Astros game
  15. Try one of the 1,000 Pinterest recipes that I pin and never actually try!
  16. Have a picnic at the park
  17. Roller blade the new bike trail through The Heights
  18. Float the Guadalupe River
  19. Stargaze on a roof
  20. Go to a drive-in movie

Now on to the part where you could win a $1320 gift card to Nordstrom! Yes, you read that right! All you have to do is enter below. The more times you enter, the better your chances! Good luck 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photography by: Allison Ermon


0 comment

1 9 10 11 12 13 14