A Perfect Gray Dress

My apologies for the mirror photos, but it has been absolutely crazy at work and I've been going in a little earlier and leaving a little later than usual because of a big local and national story I've been working on all week. I love being this busy, but I'm ready for a little downtime this weekend.

For $27.99, this dress is kind of a must-have. I paired it with a charcoal gray blazer and flats, since I had worn heels the previous day and was on my feet a lot.

dress- target  |  necklace- dolce ave, ?  |  flats- kate spade  |  blazer- artizia 

I know the listing for this dress says "not sold in stores" but I got mine in store and several of my readers said they saw it too. So you can buy online, but you can try your local store too.

Enjoy your night!

The Uniform

Growing up, I went to Catholic school and in high school we wore uniforms. I sometimes hated them, but I'll be the first to admit they made mornings much easier.

Two looks have become a uniform for me in the working world--- a simple top tucked into a pencil skirt and a crisp white shirt and skinny dress pants. These combos always makes me feel great and ready to take on the day.

top, skirt and sweater- j.crew here, love this striped skirt and here  |  

shoes- nine west  |  necklace- groopdealz, ? 

shirt- artizia (similar)  |  pants- banana republic (best pants ever)  |  

shoes- kate spade  |  necklace- ? dolceave

Just for fun, here's a photo with today's outfit out at lunch with Meg!

Do you have a uniform you resort to often? Also�how BIG does this little girl look? Holy moly!

PS---adding this because I had a lot of requests on IG. Harper's new kicks are avaialble here!

The Simplest Dress

It's hot outside y'all. I'm talking start-sweating-as-soon-as-you-exit-a-building hot. I wore pants the other day and immediately regretted it. So all I've been wearing for the past week are simple dresses. 

This Madewell dress is a favorite in my closet. It's going to be going to the tailor along with several other dresses to have the hem taken out (so I get an extra inch or two in length), but for now, I'm just not caring and pairing it with flats.

 dress- madewell (old) similar  |  shoes- kate spade  | necklace- dolceave, ? 

madewell dresses I'm loving 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

I love that this dress has pockets! The fabric is a little heavier which isn't the most ideal for summer, but it's not too overwhelming and it does feel higher quality.

Have a happy Friday!

Summer Dress + Flats

Summertime is all about lightweight dresses and flats for me. It's become a uniform of sorts, especially on those days where you leave an air conditioned space only to feel like you got slapped in the face as you feel the hot, hot humidity against your skin. 

I purchased this Gap dress a couple of months ago for 40% off and I love it. It's a comfortable, looser fit and the light blue color is nicely offset by the darker blue sides on the dress. You could also cinch it with a belt if you wanted to.

dress- gap (limited sizes left but I also love this one, this one, and this one all on sale!)  |  shoes- kate spade  (also here in another color option) |  necklace- regina pierallini  |  cardigan (not shown)-  j.crew

Gap is currently having a sale for up to 60% off of many styles--- you can check it out here!

Kate Spade Mint Green Gabe Flats

This dress is a repeat---but I wanted to share a quick photo of my new Kate Spade flats! They came in weeks ago but I hadn't worn them until this week. They're a perfect mint green and add a fresh pop of color to any outfit. My right heels does have a blister from the first time I wore them, but this happens to me with plenty of flats. Other than the one place they rub they're very comfy--- and they're majorly on sale right now---so purchase asap if you love them as much as I do! (note: they also come in pink!)

I use Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk heel liners to help with rubbing from flats. They're adhesive gel liners and they're fantastic. Sometimes a shoe is comfortable overall but rubs in one spot---that's exactly what these are for. 

dress- banana republic  |  flats- kate spade (on major sale!) also at Saks|  necklace- groopdealz, ?

I have to say I really love this dress but I think I'm going to have the hem let out another inch. I also have another dress from Gap I need to have the waist taken in on, so I plan to take them both in at once. Alterations are definitely worth the investment if you really love something. Do you get a lot of your clothes altered? Let me know in the comments!

Working on a Weekend & Making A Mark

Today I attended/worked at the opening celebration for Making a Mark , presented by The Periwinkle Foundation at the children's hospital where I work. Making A Mark enables children with cancer or hematological disorders and their siblings to celebrate self-expression and empowerment through creativity as a vital part of their healing process.

It's such an incredible program because it helps take children's minds off of their treatment and empowers them to share their feelings through the art they create. I feel fortunate to work for an organization that really focuses on caring for the whole child---physically and emotionally.

Each year patients create pieces of art that are displayed at the hospital and then travel around the world. Then, the art is auctioned off and pieces are also available for purchase at the event (the previous year's pieces are sold).  They make wonderful gifts and are fun to display in a child's room or playroom. We had two local TV stations come and cover the event which is awesome!

I wanted to be comfortable so I wore this BR dress that my mom got for me when she was visiting and a trusty pair of bow flats. The dress is super comfy...glad I also got it in a royal blue color! (and they were on sale, for about $50 originally $130)

Dress- Banana Republic (similar, similar, love this too) | Sweater- J.Crew | Shoes- J.Crew Factory | Bag- Kate Spade Gold Coast Ginnie (similar KS, another KS style) | Sunglasses- c/o Lulus | Necklace- VeryJane.com

Here are some of my favorite pieces of art from the event:

These are real hand castings of some of our patients!

I also purchased a piece of art from last year's exhibit. It was made by a 5 year old cancer patient named Ella. She created this piece of art by using tissue paper with water over it to transfer onto the paper and then traced the shapes with a marker. I think I may use it in Harper's nursery somewhere.  It's so special and the donation goes right back to the cancer center at the hospital.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Dots on Dots

Polka dots continue this week as I showcase my final ensemble for the CultureMap feature last week.  This one incorporates one of my most beloved pieces---a classic trench that I scored at Banana Republic last year on mega sale!

This outfit was fun to put together because it involved mixing the same print together---but in a different size and color family. Polka dots on polka dots get an A+ in my book!

Dress- J.Crew (similar, love this one too!)

Trench- Banana Republic (similar)

Shoes- Zara (similar)

Bag- Kate Spade (buy it here)

Scarf- J.Crew (similar, love this one!, similar)

Wishing you an amazing week!

Polka Dots, Take Two

In part two of my fall must-haves series, I'm showcasing yet another way to wear polka dots.  This sweater has larger polka dots that are more spaced out and I just love it.  Simple skinny pants were all that was needed to pull the look together.

Sweater- J.Crew (similar, similar)

Pants- Banana Republic (buy here)

Shoes- Zara (similar w/studs, similar, similar, similar)

Bag- Kate Spade (buy it here)

Bracelets- J.Crew, Tiffany & Co.

Happy soon-to-be-weeekend!

Fall Must-Haves: Featured on CultureMap

I kind of took a break from blogging last week.  I don't know why, but every once in awhile I get a little burned out and need to take a week off to refresh and re-motivate myself.  Thanks for your patience and for all of the sweet ladies who sent notes wondering if I was okay. I assure you, all is well, I was just tired.

I'm excited to post a series of photos this week from a shoot I did for CultureMap.com.  I was part of a series they did on Houston style blogger's fall must-haves.  My fall must-have was anything polka dot!

I styled three outfits and they picked this one to feature (I'll post the other outfits this week!):

Top- J.Crew (similar)

Skirt- Forever 21 (similar, another cute option, love this too)

Shoes- Zara (similar w/studs, similar, similar, similar)

Necklace- Banana Republic (similar)

Bag- Kate Spade (buy it here)

Read more about my pattern mixing here, on CultureMap! You'll also check out what other Houston style bloggers are craving for fall!


PS- HOUSTON GALS! Elaine Turner is opening her signature pink doors to host not one, but two soirees to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On October 16, the ladies of Pink Door will fill the CITYCENTRE boutique, then Pink Ribbons Project will party at the Rice Village boutique on October 24. YOU'RE INVITED! Check out the invitations below for more information.

Sunday Brunching

This Sunday, a group of us blogger gals got together for some brunch at Cuchara Restaurant. I can't say I loved the food and tiny menu, but the amazing company more than made up for it. 

From left- Bethany, Jamie, Magen, Mishelle, Meg (with baby Kennedy) and moi.

Also, I got to look at this adorable face all afternoon:



Kennedy is seriously the best baby.  She was so good the entire time and eats like a champion.  Yay for awesome babies!

It was a little cooler in Houston today (thank God) so I opted for dark jeans, a dress shirt and cardigan for warmth.  Of course I had to add a bubble necklace for good measure.

 It was SO windy when we shot these. Hello crazy hair!

Cardigan- J.Crew (buy it here)

Shirt- GAP (buy it here)

Jeans- 7FAMK Dojo (buy them here)

Shoes- Ivanka Trump (similar flats)

Bag- Kate Spade (buy it here)

Necklace- c/o Groopdealz

Hope everyone had a great Sunday!

Watercolor for Polo

***Before I begin this post, I want to send my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the tragedies of 9/11.  Today is a day of remembrance.***

I attended a Polo match/fundraiser on Sunday and had no idea what to wear. A hat was a given, but what kind of dress?

Since it was so hot out, I opted for my watercolor print dress from Ann Taylor. I have worn this dress plenty of times since I got it so I would say it's been a pretty versatile piece for me.

 Dress- Ann Taylor (similar, similar, LOVE this)

Shoes- Ivanka Trump (buy them here)

Hat- Zingara (similar, similar for $25!) 

Necklace- Regina Pierallini (email her to custom order!)

Bag- Kate Spade (buy it here)

Have you ever attended a Polo match? It's definitely a really fun time!  I also got to meet one of my readers at the match---she spotted my pink bag and knew it was me :) I love meeting my readers! Here's a shot of Bella and I (she is on the right). She is the owner of Bella Body Fit here in Houston!

What I Wore: Dinner at Smith & Wollenskys

Friday night,  I met up with my blogging beauties, Bethany, Magen, Mishelle, Monica and Nina. We dined at Smith & Wollensky's (my first time ever) and since it was Houston Restaurant Week, I got an appetizer, entree and dessert for $35 (plus tip, of course). It was delish! 

I FINALLY started using Instagram and now I know why everyone is addicted.  It is the most addicting app ever. I'm sure I am going to annoy you all by posting random photos, food photos, etc. I love seeing that stuff though so I guess it'll be 50/50.

Because I didn't really know the "vibe" of S&W, I went with a classic black dress because really, you can absolutely never go wrong with a class black dress.  I also broke out my gorgeous-but-painful Zara heels because I knew walking would be minimal (basically to my car and back).

Dress- Ann Taylor (similar,  similar)

Necklace- Regina Pierallini (email her for this necklace)

Bag- Kate Spade

Shoes- Zara (similar, with STUDS!)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!