Holiday Sparkle

I always love a little sparkle in my life... especially for holiday parties!! After having the flu for a week, I was excited to go out on the town to our Mary Kay holiday party last night! And true to form in Texas, I didn't so much have to worry about the weather. So here's my fun outfit... totally on a budget!! All that glitters is GLAM! <3
Black sweater: Chaps (Kohls)
Sequin tank top: Apt 9 (Kohls)
Blue skinny jeans: Mossimo (Target)
Peep toe pumps: Moda (DSW)

Outfit obsession

Spotted this morning on a tv special with HGTV's Sabrina Soto & Food Network's Giada de Laurentiis. I'm loving this adorable outfit on Sabrina Soto... the girly hot pink skirt contrasted with the more rugged & laid back denim shirt, and of course some beautiful bling around her neck. Even the hair is amazeballs! Simple & stunning! <3

Friday's Fashion

Today was casual... just needed something simple & comfy to run around town in! I mixed & matched flannel plaid with glitter leggings & my "cowboy" wedges! Now that's Texas SASS <3 Happy Friday! xoxo

Thankful

I LOVE Thanksgiving but it comes and goes so quickly! Just reflecting on our meal, our beautiful table set by my mom, the formal dining room we sat in that is truly "extra" square footage, the friends that joined us for dinner, and the many blessings that so many people in this world don't have. I am truly a lucky lady! God has blessed me greatly <3

Business trip down memory lane

I'm blessed to have a job where I can pick up & go schedule appointments in other cities. So, I do! I love being in my car, windows down & music up... for some reason it's the only place in life where I feel like I can escape & I'm just in control. Right now, there are lots of things out of my control in life, and the older you get, sometimes, the more you long for the simple time when you were young.
I know there are reasons my life changed the way it did when I moved, but there will always be a part of me that misses Kingwood so much. I've been praying for an opportunity to go there & just reminisce, just drive around without an agenda, without anyone else, just me & where I grew up. My prayers were answered when I was able to schedule a big Mary Kay party in Houston, with an old friend from Kingwood... it was totally unexpected but such a blessing!
After my party, I drove to Kingwood. I started crying as soon as I crossed the railroad tracks. And then I cried more as I drove past landmarks from my life like my church, my elementary & middle schools, the house I grew up in, the greenbelts I played on & the "pink house" of my dreams that I would someday live in... which isn't pink anymore btw, huge disappointment!
I miss it. I miss the trees & the greenbelts & the houses. I miss my home. I miss my relationships with people in Kingwood. I miss feeling at home there. I'm beyond thankful for my life to this point & the blessings that have come from my move 13 years ago, but there will always one true "home" to me, and that's it. And sometimes you just have to go see it & remember.
I wish I could have spent more time there. I had plans to visit River Grove & eat at J. Christoper's, but I plan on saving some things until Chris is able to come with me. It's probably good that he was busy working & I took the trip by myself; I feel like it's what I've needed lately. People can say they don't know me & I've changed or whatever, but I haven't. I know where I came from. And I think perhaps the reason I've missed physically being in Kingwood is because I finally mentally left Kingwood. That probably doesn't make sense to anyone but me... but idk, maybe it does. Things will never be the same & maybe I'm finally accepting that. Yeah, finally, after 13 years; some things affect people in ways you can't imagine because it's simply not the way it affects you (idk a lot of people that cry over a move the y had to make when they were 15, but I do, still). I don't think anyone will ever understand my story except me, and that's ok. But just because people move on, it doesn't mean you don't know them, it doesn't mean they've changed, it just means maybe they've finally found their path in life.
Mine started in Kingwood & has taken me elsewhere. But I always come home & back to where I started. My struggle in life now is looking at those memories fondly instead of longing for my life to be THAT any longer. I spent a lot of time being resentful instead of opening my eyes to a life that God was willing to offer me. Maybe I'm finally realizing there's a bigger & better plan. Maybe I lost my faith for a long time, and maybe it's coming back stronger than ever. Maybe at the age of 29, I'm finally starting to realize that the biggest blessings in life come from the biggest tragedies, or what seem to be tragedies at the time.
I have lived my life safe up to this point, but no longer. I can visit my past but not dwell on the things that could have been, but my God, Cassie, don't you see how much better it is now? Don't you trust that God knows far better than you?! I can visit, I can reminisce, but now I can choose to no longer be sad. And when I need to go to Kingwood & think back to my simple, spoiled life, I can. But I don't need to cling to it.
I don't care if I don't make sense or I'm not predictable anymore. I'm me. I have opinions, I have feelings, I have struggles as well as triumphs. I have FAITH. I have a God that loves me and a blessed life no matter what comes my way. I don't understand my life right now, just like I didn't understand the move back then. But I'm pretty sure 10-15 years down the road, I'll look back at where I'm living now and the life that's been happening,  and I'll know it was all leading to my even better life in the future. Just keep going, Cassie, don't look back. And pray. And trust.

Happy Veterans Day!

My favorite veteran, my best friend, my soul mate, the love of my life... my hero <3 Thank you to all of our veterans! God bless you & our great country!

Unique style

Laying here in bed, about to fall asleep and all of a sudden it hits me... I have a lava lamp and a chandelier in the same room. My bedroom truly is eclectic... Texas Sass style ;-)
<3

Trust yourself; Trust GOD

God put a dream in your heart for you and you alone! Listen to yourself! Listen to that gut feeling; pay attention to those daydreams! HE would never give you a dream that HE didn't give you the ability to achieve <3

You know... "that" sweater

In Texas, the first fall weather is usually far behind the first calendar day of Fall. And once the cool weather hits, it's also usually a nice drastic drop from say 90 something to 50 something. Enter sweaters. My go-to, first sweater of the year is always this staple from H&M. Black & white... always huge for me... super long sleeves... like I mean long, like I can pull them over my hands to keep them warm... and long-waisted... covers my booty without riding up & allowing any draft winds and proportionally balances out my longer legs.
You know... "that" sweater... the one that means fall has arrived. Couldn't have asked for better timing <3

I'm having an architectural moment here

I don't know what it is exactly about this old abandoned shop in Near Southside Fort Worth, but I'm utterly obsessed with it. Sometimes I just drive by and stare. Often I will purposely take a longer route to my destination, just to see it. What is it about this place?
I think it must be the red, white & blue. I find it almost poetic in a way... symbolic. A specialized trade, an ornate and unique skill... our red white & blue abandoned for modern mediocrity... a shop empty but not gone... a "be back" sign and a "no trespassing" sign in coexistence. Which is it? Be back soon or gone for good & don't walk this property.
I, for one, pray for the revival of the once great red, white & blue.

TCU fashion

TCU girls love their fashion! Especially when it's something you can wear to football games! Check out these jeans! I've been wanting some purple jeans for awhile now... Horned Frog jeans would be even better! Go Frogs! How do you show support for your team with fashion?

TCU Premium denim is available through www.ocjapparel.com. use coupon code 'TCU%FB12' to receive 12% off! Happy shopping!

National Coffee Day!

There's only a few things in life that I love so much I can't go without... coffee is one of those things! My journey with coffee began in college when, like many college students I needed to stay awake late & pull all-nighters to study & finish projects... so thankfully Frog Bites at TCU (does this still exist? TCU has changed so much since my old ass was there! But I digress.. ) had a Starbucks station where I indulged in Caramel Macchiatos. From macchiatos... to cappuccinos in Italy when I studied abroad... to coffee with cream & sugar... to coffee with one cream... to straight up gimme black because I can't handle any of your flavor or foofy nonsense... my taste has changed but one thing has remained the same... I LOVE COFFEE!!
Saturday September 29 is National Coffee Day! I'm sure there are tons of free coffee deals out there... here's one for you if you don't feel like searching on your own! Everyone should enjoy a great cup of coffee & a donut on a Saturday morning! :-)

Today! Eat for a good cause!

Today, September 24, Chili's restaurant is donating all profits to St. Jude's! So, when you're trying to decide what takeout you want for lunch today, or where you'll stop on the way home, maybe stop by and eat for a good cause! Enjoy! Thanks, Chili's!

Fall/Winter Beauty Trends!

Mary Kay® eCatalog!

I'm a little obsessed with the beauty trends this fall/winter! Hollywood glamour at its best! Check out the handy dandy trend catalog from Mary Kay that gives you this season's hottest trends, complete with step-by-step instructions to achieve the perfect makeup looks! I love the red & bold pink lips... but my fave trend has to be the teal accents! I'm sporting my Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner in Tempting Teal! What's your favorite trend? :-)

Kitty moments

Kitty moments from the past 2 days <3 Love you little Raider!

Our newest addition to the fam!

Some might think the next step for me and Chris would have been getting engaged... well, we took a different step first, on our OWN path... maybe it's not what people were expecting, but that's what Chris and I are like ;-) We don't ever do anything the easy, expected way, and it's one of the things I love most about our relationship. And one of the best things about Chris is that he always reminds me to follow my heart <3
We took a stroll through the Austin Pets Alive animal shelter 2 days ago, just for fun. We spent most of the time looking at the dogs, actually... but I had to make a stop in the cat house before they closed for the day. So in we went... and stayed for quite awhile. I could love every one of those kitties! I will never understand people that don't like cats... frankly I find it kind of gross how mean people are about cats. I love dogs and I want one in the future... but for me and my condo living, I won't do that to a dog. So for now, my soft spot for kitties is all that I am entertaining. And I really believe if more people spent time looking at sweet rescue cats, they'd realize they make amazing pets because they DO seek your affection. Cats are awesome... so smart and so loving, despite what some people think. And if you think cats are mean or temperamental, I'd love you to meet this new little guy! He is the most chill kitty in the world, with a purr that rumbles his whole little body.
Welcome to the family, Raider! Daddy and I love you! Remember to stand your ground when you meet the Kuj! She's tough, but not quite as bad as every one else makes her out to be :-) Hopefully you will be great kitty friends!

The return of tailgating!

Ah, it's finally that time of year again! Bust out the koozies and coolers, the burgers and brats, and of course the beer! ...it's football season and that means tailgating!! I know this is my favorite time of year, how about you? Texans are big on their football, and this year is super exciting for me and all fellow Horned Frogs as we enter the Big 12! Go Frogs!

No matter who your team is, we all love the tailgating and we spend countless hours in the sun, roasting in hot parking lots or fields. While that may not phase guys so much, the ladies love to keep up appearances while keeping up with the drinking. So here's my favorite Mary Kay products to help you look great and protect yourself from the elements... dresses, cowboy boots and hats sold separately ;-)

Products shown:
1. Mary Kay broad spectrum sunscreen spf 30 (also available spf 50)
2. Mary Kay after-sun replenishing gel
3. Mary Kay hand and decollete cream spf 15
4. Mary Kay foundation primer spf 15
5. Mary Kay tinted moisturizer spf 20
6. Mary Kay Oil-Free eye makeup remover (tip: fab for getting off those temporary team tattoos in addition to your eye makeup!)
7. Mary Kay compact mini (perfect size to fit your pocket or any purse even wristlets! customizable to your team colors or even fits powder or foundation for touch-ups)
8. Mary Kay mint-bliss foot & leg lotion + Mary Kay fragrance-free hand cream (perfect to pamper your dry, tired feet and hands, or how about the perfect unique hostess gift to the tailgate host/hostess!)
9. Mary Kay lash love mascara waterproof

So, happy return of football and tailgating! Stay safe from the sun; don't forget the sunscreen! Tailgate responsibily ;-) And GO FROGS!!

Spotted at HomeGoods

lounge chair

hand towel

mirror

side tables

media console

RIP Abner

We lost a great dog this morning... RIP little Abner. You were such a sweetheart.
Abner was a rescue... not from a shelter but only by the grace of Chris' heart. Chris knew of this dog in the neighborhood and knew it was being abused. He and his parents brought this pup back to life and helped him go from a scared, shaky, starving puppy to a healthy dog (or as healthy as possible) with an amazing personality. As soon as he realized he was part of the fam, the personality came out!
I will always miss seeing your little head pop up from behind the bed, or the sofa, like a gopher. I will miss seeing you start shit with 3 dogs twice your size and having the time of your life teasing them. I will miss seeing you snuggled in your doggie pjs because you didn't have enough weight to keep yourself warm. I'm not going to lie... i won't miss you accidentally stomping all over my feet, because it hurt! But I will miss that excitement and joy that caused you to romp around the room and spin in circles!
You brought a lot of joy to the family in the time you were with us, Abner, and I just hope the only doggie memories you have in doggie heaven are of your amazing family that loved you and wanted you so badly to have a good life. You never deserved any of the bad stuff in the beginning from those other people; No person, no dog, no cat, no one deserves the way you were treated. But I hope the last couple of years with the fam did something to make your life better. You were such a good dog and I hate that I didn't get to say goodbye. RIP little gopher.

Fall is here!

Fall is here! Well, fashion-wise, maybe not so much weather-wise... feelin' me fellow Texans?! In honor of the fall trends we're all looking towards in NYFW, here's a quick list of some of the trends according to Neiman Marcus <3
What's your favorite?! I'm loving the emerald greens and navy, the old glam jewelry and of course the red lips! Old Hollywood, here we come! Winter weather would be nice so maybe I could do some leather! I love fall fashion!

Bc my day was already going so well...

Ouch :-/

Austin <3

Museum Shops

What's the best part of a museum when you're a little kid? The gift shop! Well guess what... that shop isn't just for grabby little hands to plead with parents "please buy me this thing I don't need"! Museum shops are actually places I love going to and love recommending... why? Because they are great places for gifts. Yes there are many shops with small overpriced items that no one really needs, like magnets and shot glasses and playing cards, etc. But among these trivial items, many times you can find great, unique gifts that you don't see anywhere else, like interesting jewelry, or local foods and spices, or handmade crafts. Keep an eye out in the kids' book section too, because many times you can find great educational books that you would never see at WalMart or the toy store.
Every time I'm in a shop with my mom I notice that she will make purchases for nieces and nephews... like children's books or puzzles... I've even seen the modern version of paper dolls aka magnetic dolls with different backgrounds and clothes you stick to them! I, myself, have purchased adult gifts like specialized art and photography books.
Chris and I went to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum on Sunday in downtown Austin. We had never been and we were both surprised at how big it was inside and how much there was to see! After wandering for hours through the 3-level building, we hit up the gift shop. Chris bought me an amazeballs smelling candle, made in Fredericksburg, TX! It's a soy candle that smells exactly like the beach! After smelling literally every scent, this is the one I chose... summer's ending and I figured there's no better way to "stay" at the beach throughout the winter. So until the next time I'm relaxing on the sand of South Padre, I have my candle :-)
So don't forget... next time you want a unique gift, or just something local and interesting, don't forget those museum shops! Many times you can enter the store without having to pay for or see the exhibits, and I guarantee, you'll have people asking you where you bought that interesting something!
Thanks ,Chris, for my candle ;-) Love you! Happy shopping y'all! :-)

My design style

My friend Kristina and I had lunch at the Tea Room in the Lewisville Antique Store the other day! If you're not familiar with the Tea Rooms, there's a couple of Antique stores in the DFW area that have them! This was my first time to the Lewisville location, but I was just as impressed with my food! It's a great place for a quick, quality lunch, and a quiet relaxed atmosphere. The food is delicious... I had the chicken salad sandwich and a side of fruit... and of course, iced tea (I mean, it is a tea room!). Most adorable thing we saw... a young girl and her grandmother having a tea party, complete with old fashioned tea pot and fancy hat. Kristina and I could not stop talking about how sweet that was, and how much we still enjoy seeing children being CHILDREN and having fun, but at the same time, behaving remarkably and respectfully.
Just being in the Antique store made me think of my mom, and for perhaps the first time, I really REALLY appreciated the love of antiques that my mom has passed on. What used to be me tagging along behind her and looking at the boring "old" stuff, has now turned into me going to antique stores with my friends, browsing and admiring the gorgeous furniture. My appreciation has been growing over the years for more ornate and traditional design, and now it is stronger than ever! When I started college and began my degree, my taste was much more contemporary. I think part of me was rebelling against my mom's taste, just because I lived in her house with her style and once I was "on my own" I wanted style of my own.
But now I've come to understand the value in these antique stores. They are not just stores for older generations to shop and reminisce... it's important for my generation, and generations after me to see the value in these items... they come from an era when people cared about the work they did and the product they put forward. It was about making quality items that stand the test of time, not something that breaks every few years and you have to replace with a new one. Why is my generation so concerned with pumping out technology so fast, that nothing else matters? Why are people's eyes caught by glitz and glam instead of quality? Why are we all about a fast, to-go lunch instead of sitting with a friend or family member and really spending time together? Do you know how many people I know don't even get a lunch break at their job?! Too many.
This may not exactly be the most original post... not like no one has ever brought up this idea before... but really, does my generation care or not? Are you proud of the advances we have made or have we torn apart society where people don't even want to interact with each other and don't want to have furniture and clothing, etc that lasts? Am I truly "old-fashioned" for my ideas and likes, or is everyone else just too afraid to admit they miss when people cared? I miss people caring... I miss people having manners and being polite... I miss quality craftsmanship... I miss modesty and tradition... it wasn't THAT long ago...
It was really nice eating lunch with Kristina and browsing the store afterwards. We had our eyes on many gorgeous pieces of furniture, and I caught myself thinking how long that person spent on that piece and the love and sweat that went into it... and how unless people like me talk about this and pass on the respect we have for older generations and the beautiful labors of love they gave us, pretty soon everything will be crap that breaks. If my mom had never taught me anything about antiques and didn't proudly display them in her own home, where would my design style be today? Maybe I wouldn't have even studied interior design! My style has grown from a love of contemporary to an appreciation for eclectic design, mixing antiques and newer items. I can thank my mom for that. And I can't wait until the day when I have more space and I will begin my collection of antique furniture, just like my mom. I'd love to start with this piece, spotted at the Lewisville Antique shop on Friday... gorgeous Art Deco piece! I look forward to investing in my designs and not just filling my rooms with the design trends and redecorating every few years. Quality always wins!

How I end my day

...goodnight :-)

Bracelets!

I have to say my favorite accessory lately has definitely been bracelets! I love the trend of layering a ton of different bracelets together. This pic shows some of the silver i wear, but i still love adding in other textures like my handmade leather strap bracelet from the beach and my hand-woven colorful tribal bracelets that my dad got for me in Nigeria years ago! Mixing these with my normal, fancier silver and gold jewelry is really fun!
Try mixing patterned and detailed jewelry with more simple outfits that follow the color block trend! Make sure not to go too crazy and keep a few neutrals here and there ;-)

Teacher discount!

Since i have a lot of teacher friends, thought i would pass this along! If you're stocking up for your classroom, make sure to take advantage of this great deal tomorrow! Big lots is great... i can spend hours in there! Happy shopping :-)

Mother/Daughter

Remember when you were younger & you insisted that you were & would never be anything like your mother? And then remember that first moment in your early 20s when all of a sudden it hit you... "Oh crap, I'm just like her!" LOL! The older you get, the more of those moments you have. But, the best thing about it is, the older you get, the more you realize how much of a good thing that can be!
I love my mom more than words & we definitely do have a lot in common, but not everythng! I had a moment over the weekend when I felt a rare "we're exactly alike" thought... and guess what triggered it... boy bands!
Saturday evening was a fun night I shared with mom & her bff Carolyn. We had steak & red wine at Ruth's Chris Steak House (best steak in Fort Worth! Seriously) and then it was off to Bass Hall to see 1964, a Beatles tribute band that has been touring for 28 years!! My mom was Beatles crazy in her teens, much the same way I was and still am obsessed with New Kids on the Block. And although the show wasn't the real Beatles, I saw my mom, in teenage excitement, sharing her concert story with the lady sitting to my right, and she in turn shared her story. They had both pleaded with their parents to see the concert and they both screamed through the whole thing, because that's what everyone else did! And as I listened I thought to myself how cool it was to hear their stories, and to think of the boy bands I've been "in love" with and how I know every song and how someday, hopefully, I'll be sitting with my daughter and she'll be listening to how I screamed and cried all through my one NKOTB concert I attended!
Saturday was a lot of fun! I think I sang along word for word with every song 1964 played, except maybe 3... I've been listening to the Beatles since I was a little girl... I love them because my mom loved them and passed on her passion <3

Don't hesitate, just do it!

Anyone else an over-thinker? I am one of those people that has a very hard time getting out of my own head. I over-think, I worry, I debate way too much... and sometimes I have to remind myself that I could spend my whole life contemplating things and never actually accomplish anything. So today is a reminder to myself, and hopefully an inspiration to others, to just stop hesitating and go DO! :-)
Happy Thursday y'all!

Today was a good day

Happy Friday! Hope everyone's wknd is starting out great! I'm big chillin in Austin for a few days & as always, I'm loving being here & seeing my brother & boyfriend. Today I got up early and enjoyed a walk with Cozmo first thing. It was early enough to be tolerable outside haha (man it's been hot lately!). After breakfast and cooling off, I brewed some coffee & enjoyed my morning computer time and got some work done. How nice is it to be able to receive online orders & ship out product, all from the comforts of my bedroom & workout attire... yeah, ridiculously nice is the answer! After a shower & some girly primping, I picked up a hot lunch for Chris & drove to the range. He's so busy with his new job, he doesn't have time to leave for food. But being busy means he's happy... he loves instructing and I'll just go ahead & say you won't find a better shooting instructor around! And it's pretty hot seeing your man in his element ;-) For the rest of the afternoon, I was able to hang out with my bro, the other Chris :-) Cozmo and I even took a nice nap! You can see our fun pics cuddling in bed ;-) Haha love this dog!!

All in all, great Friday! And now I'm just waiting for Chris to get off work so I can spend a little time with my boo <3 Hope everyone has a great Friday night! I feel so blessed to have time with people & puppies I love! :-)

Road trip!

My view, inside & outside the car yesterday as I drove to Austin :-)
Mo Monkey, Mo Monkey, Mo!

Another "job"

Well, I haven't done a great job of keeping up with my blog lately... fail... but I do have various reasons for it :-) One of which I'm actually pretty excited to start talking about & finding more blogs about... extreme couponing!
Yes I am someone that has watched the TLC show Extreme Couponing since it first aired. I remember seeing the first episode and I was immediately hooked on the idea & the show itself. Perhaps I don't want to be that extreme, but I decided this is something I need to start doing. Let's be honest... isn't every 20-something living on some sort of budget? If you're not, that's great & good for you haha but even with money to spend, doesn't it bother you to know you're paying more than you have to be?
Well, it bothers me :-) And as much time as it requires to teach yourself to coupon, I totally see it as worth it!
So the last few weeks I've been clipping & sorting & researching & reviewing stores' ads... I've made a couple of short shopping trips... I'm really just dipping my toes into the water at this point... but I have found some great deals! Check out some of the items I've ended up with :-) I will be happy to give a product & price breakdown a little later, but at this point my laptop is broken & I'm blogging from my cell phone... another hurdle to me blogging every day! But what I can say now is that, on average, I have been saving between 50-60% on these shopping trips, which is great, but still far less savings than I know can be achieved. This is a learning process. Some items I have managed to get completely free!
Are you a couponer? Do you have suggestions or blogs you follow? Do you think I'm nuts for starting this process? Haha I'm curious what you all think! I don't plan on stocking up on items I don't need or will never use... I don't really plan on my stockpile taking over an entire room in my home... but hey, we'll see, right? ;-)

Fun food for the 4th!

Are you hosting a 4th of July party? Or attending one? The 4th just seems to be the ultimate backyard barbecue day of summer, doesn't it? Make it fun with lots of red, white & blue! Don't spend a ton of money on decorations... you can show your patriotic pride with the food you serve. Guests of all ages will enjoy these snacks!

Doughnut Hole "Kabobs", great for brunch!

Rice Krispy Treat "Firecrackers"

Red White & Blue Bundt cake

Various desserts

Firecracker Cupcakes

Fruit Tray

Rice Krispy Treats

Various food ideas

These ideas are so cute! And they're all relatively easy to make! See details about these ideas, including links to the original bloggers, and much more on my pinterest boards! And don't forget to search pinterest for more ideas for tomorrow and other holidays!

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Independence Day. God bless America! And never forget freedom isn't free!