Well if you haven’t already heard the exciting news by now, I guess I should tell you that today is finally the day that I head to New York Fashion Week (NYFW)! I’m anxious for my first Fashion Week experience and the hustle and bustle that comes along with it, but mostly I am excited to be doing what I love! I will be in the city for 4 days attending fashion shows, meeting with PR firms, and connecting with brands that I work with.
Everyone that I have told about Fashion Week has had remarks along the lines of “O, did you get invited?”. Let me be the first to tell you that ANYBODY can go to Fashion Week. I didn’t know this either at first but it is definitely true! I thought since it was my first year and I still consider myself a “little fish in a big pond” that I probably wouldn’t get many invites to shows and that my schedule would be wide open. *Insert crying-laughing emoji here*. That could not be further from the truth! My schedule is jam-packed. Those that think that Fashion Week is all fun and games have obviously never planned for Fashion Week. I will have a post up after Fashion Week going over everything that goes into prepping for NYFW and how to get invites to shows because like Rihanna said, it is WORK, WORK, WORK.
I will be traveling with my blogger besties- Britt, Margret and Dede. To see what we are up to while we are there, follow along on Snapchat or Instagram to see behind the scenes! You will see everything from our hotel, to fashion shows, and hopefully some delicious meals because you know that’s the real reason I’m excited for New York 🙂
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!
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!
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.
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.*
On top of adding a nifty new feature to the blog (my Shop page), I wanted to do an Instagram round up for all of you that do not utilize Liketoknow.it yet or are not on Instagram. If you are not following along with me on Instagram, you are seriously missing out on some great OOTD’s (outfit of the day) and sale alerts. I always try to let my Instagram followers know about the best sales, when certain products go on clearance, and plenty of other tips for all of my budget fashionistas.
I post a lot of outfits on my Instagram that I won’t necessarily do a full blog post on, so these Instagram round ups give you a chance to shop outfits that you otherwise wouldn’t get to see! Also, many of these items are now on sale! To shop anything that I am wearing below, simply click on the products below each image. Also, don’t forget to scroll all the way down to the bottom to enter in a HUGE giveaway! Happy shopping friends 🙂
Now…it’s time for a fabulous giveaway!
I’ve teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers
to give YOU a chance to win:
$600 in PayPal Cash!
Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter.
You’ll receive one entry per completion.
This giveaway is open internationally and runs until 9/15.
Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
You know you are getting old when everyone you have known since you were in diapers all the way to the college besties are signing up to get married. Like most (normal) people, I love weddings! No matter how extravagant the wedding is or not, it’s always a very special night celebrating the happy couple. While wedding season can be stressful trying to pick out the perfect outfit to stuff your face with wedding cake yet still have enough room to bust some moves on the dance floor, I have got you covered so that you can spend less time worrying about what to wear and more time practicing those dance moves.
Jumpsuits are back in style in a BIG way and this particular one is bringing sexy back. When I saw this maroon jumpsuit in all of it’s glory, there was just no telling me no. The price tag was more than I would normally spend on a jumpsuit (after all they are basically nice pajamas). I justified it like any rational person would do. I thought about all of the places I could wear this jumpsuit. First off, I will certainly be bringing it to New York Fashion Week with me! Secondly, it would be a showstopper for a cocktail party, girls night, or date night. And lastly, it will be perfect for those Fall weddings right around the corner.
Why is a jumpsuit hands down the most genius outfit choice to wear to a wedding? Seriously for SO many reasons. Number one being that while every other girl is trying to hike up her dress and awkwardly dance, you are 10 steps ahead of them ready to take on the limbo, cha cha slide, cotton-eyed joe and every other cliche wedding song like a total champ! Secondly, they are so fashion forward (without even trying) that every girl in the room is going to wish she was in a jumpsuit too! I would even bet that if the bride didn’t already have it in the bag, you would have won best dressed, just saying. Lastly and I think most importantly, is that they are such an easy and comfortable outfit to put together. Since it is just one piece, it makes a statement all on it’s own and requires very little accessorizing. O and there is plenty of room in those things for lots of cake too, I can’t leave that added plus out 🙂
If I haven’t already convinced you that jumpsuits are the way to go for your next wedding, here are a few more tips to keep in mind to help you put the perfect wedding guest outfit together.
Stick with a neutral color if you want to play it safe (just remember no white!). Neutral colors like camel, navy, grey or black will always look elegant. For all of my ladies that want to make a statement, great Fall colors would be maroon, olive, indigo, or red. Prints are ok but stay away from anything too crazy. Honestly, solid colors are probably going to be your best. Simple, yet chic.
Mind your fabrics and fit. For a black tie wedding, you will probably want to find a jumpsuit with a sturdier material than jersey or cotton. The thicker the fabric, the more polished you will look. For less dressier weddings, jersey and cotton materials are fine as long as they do not look like pajamas. As for fit, try to stick with something more fitted and that has a defined waist line rather than something that is flowy.
Have fun with the details. There are so many jumpsuit options out there with wide pant legs, cut outs, open backs, plunging neck lines, you name it and they have it. Use your best judgement and don’t show too much skin, but feel free to have a little fun.
Simplify your accessories by letting the jumpsuit do the talking. Wear very simple jewelry, a solid colored clutch, and classic heels. Less is best!
Cheers to a wedding season full of love and excitement, nights spent shredding the dance floor, and an outfit that get’s you lots and lots of compliments 🙂
Happy Monday friends! There is no denying that my favorite trend of the summer has been everything that shows off my shoulders. I am wearing this trend out one OTS (off the shoulder) dress at a time. It’s actually pretty bad how many pieces of clothing I own of this trend but that just goes to show how much I am loving it!
Gingham print is the perfect transitional print into Fall so I have been finding myself gravitating towards that print as the cooler weather starts to roll in. That is if you can consider “cooler weather” below 90 degrees. So when I saw this dress in gingham + OTS I knew I had to snatch it up. The $15 price tag was a no brainer! Be warned that sizing does run a little big (I’m wearing an XS) but I love the elastic top and arm details to make it feel smaller.
Another one of my recent purchases that I am overly happy about are my suede sandal heels that will easily transition me into Fall since it will still be on the warmer side down here in the way south! The heel is the perfect height and the lace around the ankle is plenty of support to feel comfortable in.
On another note, these pictures were taken at the new SAKs restaurant, 51 Fifteen, and if you have not had a chance to stop by for happy hour, you need to! The chic set up is enough to want to peek inside and you will definitely want to be sure to stay for a 5115 cocktail. After checking out the menu, I will surely be back for a brunch pit stop.
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.
