Go-To Transitional Jacket

February 2017

A new season is upon on, which means finding those perfect transition pieces to take you from winter and right on into spring! When it comes to this gorgeous jacket, you can wear it EVERY season – trust me, it’s seriously perfect! I am such a fan of light layering and investing in key basics that dress up an everyday tank top and jeans, so this jacket was a must-have on my list. Side note: when we went to California last week, one of the gals was wearing this same one and it was SO CUTE! She is boho queen (seriously, I have major closet envy every time we hang out, ha!), so it was really fun to see the many ways this one piece can be styled. (Also very cute over a maxi dress…I got some serious inspo hanging with her, ha!).

jacket – c.o. URBAN OUTFITTERS (wearing size small) / satin cami – similar URBAN OUTFITTERS / jeans – LEVIS (they fit TTS) / shoes – SAM EDELMAN / handbag – c.o. FURLA

SHOP TRANSITIONAL JACKETS

Weekly Chat: 5 Friends Dish On Self-Love

February 2017

Hello gals, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! First off, I am sorry for my delay in getting my Weekly Chat post up and running this past week – traveling to San Fran and then Dallas last week threw off my usual blog routine…thus, I’m a week and a day late, but here we are!

My last Weekly Chat post was centered around practicing self-love, and mainly when it came to being kind to myself as I got my blog off the ground. I think it’s really important to treat ourselves with kindness during our “awkward phases” (…no one needs to see my first blog posts ha!), and it’s also vital that we keep these practices in motion as time goes on and those periods of growth come and go.

Which brings to me this weeks continuation post on self-love: how we put it into practice. As I write this, I am sipping a homemade latte (one of my happy places) and rocking a crazy topknot that is soaked in a yummy hair mask. I figured what better time to give myself a little lovin’ than while I write this piece?

When thinking of how I practice self-love/self-care, a few things came to mind:

Pep In My Step

February 2017

Happy weekend, friends! The weather this week could not be more beautiful, thus, we’re excited to spend some quality time outside! Looking forward to a coffee (and breakfast taco) run, tending to a few errands around town and a hangout sesh with our families. Excited to take this weekend to relax and spend time with those we love. 🙂 Always a wonderful way to recenter and refresh before another week ahead!

Soo…what does one wear to do such things? The most comfortable and caaa-uuute outfit, of course! I never waiver when it comes to prioritizing comfort above all else, and lemme tell ya – these checkered slip-on kicks are not only REALLY comfy (no seriously, they’re awesome), but can we just talk about how fun they are?! I say with total confidence that they will bring joy to your day!
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jacket – c.o. SANCTUARY (wearing size small) / jeans – LEVIS / v-neck – LUSH / tote bag – c.o. MADEWELL / shoes – c.o. URBAN OUTFITTERS / sunglasses – RAY BAN

SHOP MORE SNEAKERS

Casual Spring Layers

February 2017

Hooray! Spring weather is finally upon us! I don’t know about y’all, but I am definitely a warm weather kinda gal…I guess that’s why Austin is where I’m meant to me! Texas heat is no joke, so I’m soaking up these gorgeous 70 degree days for as long as they’ll last. I feel like my legs haven’t seen the light of day in months (ah! I have a jeans obsession, well aware!), so it was fun to throw on the cutest babydoll dress with my go-to cardigan and some ankle booties for a coffee run on South Congress last week. (Psst…this is the Toms Coffeehouse – it’s one of my favorites in Austin, so yummy and great shopping!).

dress – c.o. URBAN OUTFITTERS / shoes – c.o. SEYCHELLES / cardigan – FREE PEOPLE / handbag – CHLOE (dupe version HERE) / sunglasses – similar version HERE

SHOP MORE SPRING DRESSES

40% Off Nordstrom Winter Clearance Sale!

February 2017

Hey gals! Keeping it extra short and sweet today because Blake and I are catching a flight to Napa for the weekend, YAY! About to quickly pack then head to the airport – but wanted to make sure y’all knew that Nordstrom is having their HUGE Winter Clearance Sale right now, with pieces up to 40% off! …Like my sweater and shoes above…better hurry, items are selling fast!

sweater – FREE PEOPLE / jeans – similar ARTICLES OF SOCIETY (mine are Topshop but are sold out everywhere!) / tote bag – MADEWELL / shoes – TREASURE & BOND / sunglasses – similar LE SPECS / choker necklace – similar BP

SHOP MORE SALE SWEATERS

A big thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.

Basics Worth The Investment

February 2017

Earlier this week, I did a little closet clean out and quickly realized I am a major sucker for jeans (two shelves-worth in my closet = I have a problem). As I was doing the whole “keep or toss” thing, this glorious pair of Vince denim reappeared and I was reminded just how incredible these pretties are. I have always admired this brand for their chic, minimalist aesthetic – but lemme tell ya, these are jeans absolutely magical and well worth the price tag…(it’s hefty, but in all seriousness, I don’t think I’ve felt this good in denim in a while). As I hone in on the pieces in my wardrobe that really bring joy to my life (in other words, the pieces that make me feel confident and self-assured), these jeans 100% make the cut. I’m a believer in quality over quantity, and if I were to add up the cost of all the jeans I just got rid of, let’s just say it would have been much smarter to invest in a few more of these, rather then spend hundreds searching for that perfect, effortless fit!

jeans – VINCE / tee – VINCE / handbag – CHLOE / shoes – TREASURE & BOND / sunglasses – similar LE SPECS

SHOP VINCE DENIM, TEES & SHOES

A big thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.

Madewell Must-Haves For Spring

February 2017

As y’all know, I’m a big Madewell fan and shopper! Minimalist, chic, approachable…this is definitely a brand I admire and adore. After scrolling through the New Arrivals section on their site today, I felt compelled to share a handful of my favorites with y’all. They carry SO many perfect basics to mix and match for spring! I absolutely adore their aesthetic and really feel like each of these pieces could hold a special place in my closet. I have a few of the pieces I shared above (my denim & fleet jackets) and I’m excited to continue to build my wardrobe with classic, key pieces I can wear for years to come. Hope y’all enjoy, XOXO!

**Scroll over images above & click to shop!

Weekly Chat: Practicing Self-Love

February 2017

The other day, my sister and I were talking on the phone and she sent me a photo of my niece (Evy – pronounced “eh-vee,” she’s 4) with a hair mask on and little towel twisted on top of her head. (…AKA, the cutest thing you’ve ever seen!). Kimberlee (my sister) then continued to tell me that Evy immediately asked to see the photo and when she looked at it, asked her mom if she thought her face looked funny. Kimberlee said her heart sank when Evy showed that glimmer of self-consciousness, and truth be told, mine sank when she told me that, too. I then asked Kimberlee if she speaks in a loving way about her own appearance when she’s with Evy. The conversation definitely had us both thinking about how we can make improvements when it comes to practicing self-love (especially about our appearance – especially when someone else is listening). I think it’s one component of love we don’t emphasize enough.

Valentine’s Day Beauty Prep

February 2017

Happy weekend, loves! I’m super excited to share a little hair care secret weapon with y’all today and give you the inside scoop on how to keep those brassy tones away! As my 4-year-old niece, Evy, tells me when she looks at my hair…”Auntie O, you look like Belle on top and Elsa on bottom!” Ohh little sweetheart, that’s probably the most perfect way I’ve ever heard someone describe what balayage hair color looks like haha! When it comes to keeping my hair fresh between salon visits, I’m a major advocate for purple shampoos and conditioners because my natural tone tends to gravitate towards the brassy/yellow-orange color. My colorist always recommends that I use a purple shampoo to keep my blonde color on the cooler spectrum. Today I’m SO excited to partner with dpHUE and share a fun & casual Valentine’s Day look and talk about my haircare beauty routine – because let’s be honest, when your hair is on point, you really do feel so much better and more confident! (…Or at least I certainly do…a good hair day should never go unnoticed, ha!).

SHOP dpHUE: COOL SHAMPOO / COOL CONDITIONER / APPLE CIDER VINEGAR HAIR RINSE / APPLE CIDER VINEGAR LEAVE-IN HAIR THERAPY

SHOP MY LOOK: top – NORDSTROM (just $35!) / jeans – VINCE / shoes – NINE WEST / handbag – GUCCI / sunglasses – CELINE (similar lower priced option HERE)

A big thank you to dpHUE & Sephora for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.

Crushing On Blush

February 2017

Happy [almost] Valentine’s Day! Not going to lie, I often feel kinda cheesy when I talk about this holiday in a romantic sense. Don’t get me wrong, any excuse to shower your partner with love is wonderful (…says the hopeless romantic over here.. 😉 ), buuut just the whole “wear red or pink to a fancy dinner” notion has never really been my thing. I prefer a casual date night in, followed up by a few yummy local beers at a chill bar in town (…or on our patio if I’m feelin’ “granny status” that night haha)…nothing over the top for me…just something low-key with my darling! On that same note – when it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts, I generally gravitate towards more practical items you can wear from season to season, not just on that one special day. As we all know, blush pink has been the “it” color for a while and lemme tell ya, it still has me swooning! (Insert a gazillion heart eye emojis here). Thus, I’m excited to share my top blush picks to take you right on into spring!