I now interrupt your regularly scheduled New York Fashion Week post to bring you this very important Summer outfit attire. Ok I am kidding, but I figured that both you and I could use a little break from all of the NYFW madness. Also, tomorrow officially marks the first day of Fall so I felt obligated to hurry up and get this long overdue post up!
Summer is officially coming to an end. Literally, tomorrow and now the weather report is saying we could have 60 degree weather next week so I think that means it’s about time to officially say goodbye to Summer. While I think this is the first year I am actually excited for some cool weather, I still hate pushing all of my favorite Summer wear to the back of my closet. I always feel guilty not getting as much use as I can out of those late Summer purchases, anybody else?
Now, being that it is the end of a season, is the time to stock up on items that you can use for next year. Stores are needing to clear out last season’s clothes in order to make room for all of the new Fall attire. That means “last season’s” clothes are priced for a steal because they just need to get those clothes outta there! A lot of the time you will find that there are even current season items that are marked way down so now is the time to pounce!
I know it can be hard to think about the future. Believe me, unless you are talking about my next 3 meals, that’s about as far into the future as I like to think about. But I have slowly learned that stocking up at the end of the season is a HUGE money saver and is the perfect time to add a few pieces to your wardrobe that you know you will wear without a doubt next year. So what am I stocking up on? Some items include basic tees and tanks, denim, sandals, wedges, comfy rompers and dresses, and swimsuits. I rounded up some of my recent purchases and other items I have my eye on below. O and I think you will be happy to know that all of my picks are under $25!!
You would think it would be easier to wake up when you are in New York, surrounded by your gal pals, and having the best time of your life.. well that was not the case for this girl. After getting 2 hours of sleep the night before, surviving a full day of walking around the city and then going to bed late the first night.. my body already hated me and it was only day 2. Thank God for strong coffee because I needed an IV of it.
Day 2 was probably my favorite day for many reasons. Number one being that it was the first day I had a real meal and if you know me at all, I don’t skip a meal (like ever), except apparently when it’s fashion week because you are running around like a mad person to make it everywhere on time and you still seem to make it everywhere late. No wonder all of the New Yorkers are so tiny and cranky- now that I think of it they must all be hangry!
Anywho day 2 went a little something like this…
10 am: Dan Liu fashion show– Being that this was my first show of the trip, I had no idea what to expect but this surpassed any expectations! I was originally seated on the third row but close to show time a lady came around and told me I could move up to the front row. I was freaking out inside but told myself to play it cool. I called Margret who was not originally seated front row and told her there was a spot by me, so we ended up sitting next to each other for our first show ever. Love that we got to experience it together 🙂 After seeing the rest of the shows through out the trip this one was not my favorite but it still was a great show and I loved all of the Parisian themed dresses.
On the way to the next event we ran into Christine from the Hello Fashion blog. This was our second “celebrity” blogger spotting if you will and she was a doll! My phone was plenty charged this go around and so I snapped a selfie for picture evidence!
11 am: Shopstyle Social House event– Y’all. Shopstyle knows how to throw down. They had everything from a hair and make-up bar to designer gifting stations to drop dead gorgeous waiters waiting on you hand and foot. I’m not leaving any of the little details out, can you tell? 🙂 Those boys were smokin and they were feeding me rose, so to say I was a happy camper would be an understatement. They had 2 floors of fun which meant double the rose, double the gifts, and double the views. Those views were something out of the movies. The floor to ceiling glass windows that overlooked the Hudson River made for an incredible view of the city and even better pictures! I brought home so many great goodies including the Gigi NY bag that you will see in many of my photos, a pair of Sam Edelman heels, several cute Hallmark cards and tons of photobooth selfies!
3 pm: Namilia fashion show. Needing a good laugh today? Go google the Namilia fashion show. If you are taking my advice, maybe view it on a personal device and not a public computer. It’s bad- like rated R bad. We were so excited to actually be invited to multiple fashion shows that we didn’t even bother googling the designer who we were going to see. Big mistake and lesson learned.
We had planned a blogger meet up and then were supposed to attend the Armani party for the rest of the evening but that whole not having had a real meal thing (because $1 pizza and street hot dogs do not count) just wasn’t working for me. Margret and Britt suggested that we head to Central Park and a nice dinner. You don’t have to tempt me with anything more than good food and I’m in so off we went.
It was the only time of the entire trip that we were able to actually enjoy New York and see something other than a runway. Don’t get me wrong that was what we were there for and I enjoyed every second of it, but my sanity needed a little break from the hustle and bustle. We went to Fig and Olive for dinner and then Serendipity 3 for dessert. Britt and I shared the frozen mochaccino. It was $15 and the size of a small human. We sucked that bad boy dry-it was THAT good!
Before we knew it, 6 hours had passed and the sleep deprivation and blistered feet won us over. We called an Uber back to the hotel and called it a night. I love quality time spent with my blogger babes, especially when it’s in a new city doing what we absolutely love!
If you missed it, my day one recap is here and you can find day three and four recaps up in the next couple of days! Thank you for following along with me!
Well that’s a wrap on my first NYFW! I can’t believe how fast 4 days seemed to fly by but I guess the saying is true that time flies when you are having fun! And let me just tell you, I had the time of my life! I felt like Carrie Bradshaw all week, playing dress up, attending fashion shows I only dreamed of, meeting some of my fashion icons, and being inspired by the best street fashion I have ever seen!
For those of you that are wondering what this whole Fashion Week business is all about, I’m about to break down my first day in the big apple. Throughout the next week I will have a recap of each day, tips for conquering NYFW, and how you could go next year!
10:30 am: Arrive in the big apple! It was an early morning for sure. Britt, Margret and I caught the 6 am flight out of Houston so we were able to hit the ground running in New York bright and early. As soon as we arrived, we got an Uber to our hotel, The Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites, to drop off our bags. This ended up being the perfect hotel choice as it was right across the street from one of the main fashion show hubs, The Skylight at Moynihan Station. This proved to be the perfect spot to see tons of celebrities, street fashion and more photographers than you have ever seen!
12:30 pm:Meeting with Battalion PR. I had reached out to Battalion a couple of weeks before Fashion Week. They ended up contacting me about a collaboration with one of their clients, Johnston and Murphy. To my surprise, I thought Johnston and Murphy only made men’s shoes, but their women’s shoes are incredible! I ended up picking up two pairs of shoes to wear during fashion week. I got a pair of sneakers and booties that you will see show up in some of my other NYFW recaps.
2 pm: Shoshanna and Gigi NY. We had a quick change of plans when Shoshanna had to unfortunately cancel our showroom appointment last minute. Instead Britt and I jumped in another Uber together and headed to the Gigi NY pop-up shop. We were able to view their Fall collection that just came out and previewed the second wave of Fall release items. The suede collection that will be coming out is AMAZING and comes in so many rich colors. We each brought home the cutest notebook that I can’t wait to use! Also, my bag in the pictures above is by Gigi and has my initials on it which I love!
3 pm:Now + Zen PRappointment. Another Uber ride, and it was onto another PR meeting with Now + Zen to view their showroom. They work with many great clients such as Kohl’s, Express, and Nautica, They let each of us borrow a few items to wear during Fashion Week and also gifted a few items such as these cute sneakers. My sneaker game was strong while I was in New York and for good reason because walking miles in heels is no joke!!
After leaving this appointment, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up. On the way we ran into Amber Fillerup from the Barefoot Blonde and her husband. This was our first “celebrity” run in if you will as she is definitely a celebrity in the blogging world! Little did we know that we would also get to meet several other big bloggers and fashion icons while we were there. I am still glad that Amber was our first though because she was so sweet and offered to take multiple pictures with us! Of course my phone died as soon as I went to snap a selfie with her! #fail
6 pm: Lulu’s Style Studio Event. This was hands down one of my favorite events of the trip! Lulu’s knows how to throw a good party! I was a little skeptical at first since we had to wait outside for quite a bit to get in, but once we were in it was amazing! They had everything from cotton candy and champagne to a braid bar and gifting stations. I got to load up on free clothes, make up, and even a Numu curling wand! SCORE!! I also got to meet a few bloggers that I had been dying to meet such as the ladies from Mimosas and Manhattan and Olivia Rink. They were just as sweet and cool in person as they are online! Love when that happens 🙂
We were supposed to go to the Katie Gallagher show after Lulu’s but we were more into partying than going to the show, what can I say that champagne tasted good! We ended the night by grabbing $1 slice pizza and calling it a night. After only getting 2 hours of sleep the night before to catch a 6 am flight, I was pooped and ready to curl up in my LAKE Pajamas.
Stay tuned for more recaps of each day of my trip and tips I picked up along the way!
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.*
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.