baby bump + the big day!

Today is a BIG day!  A day that I haven’t shared with anyone except family and close friends so far.  Today we will meet our baby girl because I have a scheduled

c-section.  Let me first share that this was not at all my plan.  But isn’t that life?... you plan and plan and try to make educated decisions about what’s best for you and then wham bam, God says HE knows what’s best, not you.

I am currently a few days short of 40 weeks.  At 37 weeks I learned that my baby girl was in a breech position, after already spending a few weeks head-down.  I have no idea why she decided to turn around again, but she did and she is apparently staying put (stubborn little bugger!)  Because of a small issue I have with the umbilical cord, it’s not safe for the doctor to try to turn her or manipulate her in anyway.  So I was told to prepare for a scheduled c-section… you know, the type of birth I didn’t want and wasn’t my plan at all!

10 simple ways to welcome fall

The time has come to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall.  I’ll be honest, I’m more ready than ever for this transition!  I’m now 35 weeks pregnant and so over the hot weather and summer season.  I mean, summer isn’t quite the same around here if you can’t lounge in a bikini with beers in hand!  Fall has always been my favorite for multiple reasons… the weather cooling down, football seasons starting up and the holidays like my birthday, Halloween and Thanksgiving.  And this year our little baby girl will be arriving, so that makes fall even more special!!

32 week bumpdate

  

Remember my adorable shirt that said “I run on coffee and lipstick”?  Well, now that I’m in my 32^nd week of pregnancy, we should just change that to coffee and pajamas.  Because seriously that’s all I want to do… stay in my pjs all day every day.  I.  Am.  Exhausted.  I am definitely missing my second trimester… the phase of pregnancy where you don’t even feel pregnant, you just feel great!  Yeah, that’s over.  And while I am still aware of how lucky I am in this pregnancy and how mild my symptoms are compared to a lot of women, I still feel gross and mega-pregnant.

baby clothing clearance + texas tax-free weekend

Well I'm 30 weeks now and I've definitely hit the point of not being able to avoid the baby section in any store I enter.  The other day Chris and I went into Walmart because he needed a belt and some railroad gear, and we were also picking up a box of pasta for my mom.  I was sucked into the baby girl clothes because they are having a huge clearance event, and let's be honest, I can't avoid a clearance section for myself, let alone for my baby girl!!

kendra scott fall 2016

Last Thursday I enjoyed another great Circle Seven Five event.  One of my favorite parts of this group is that I can combine networking and girl time with things I'm interested in talking about on my blog!  The Kendra Scott store at Preston Center in Dallas was kind enough to host the #CSFpartygirls and give us a look at the new Fall 2016 collection!  You may have seen a lot on my snapchat that night (username: TX.Sass) but today I'm sharing a few photographs of all of the amazing pieces.

The CSF girls sipped on wine (I enjoyed my water!) and had light bites while browsing the store and mingling.  We even got to shop at a discount... There are many perks to being a member of Circle Seven Five!  Ask me more if you're interested (or leave your email below to request an invite... they are still offering a first month free!)  The new pieces are absolutely beautiful!  

my hydrafacial experience

You would think someone like me (someone with a lot of skin problems throughout her life) would have spent a lot of time and money on skin treatments, but that’s just not the case.  Of course I’ve talked to doctors in the past about my breakouts but inevitably I’m told that my acne is mostly hormonal and unless I want to take a pill every day of my life (which I don’t), there’s not a lot I can do.  Being on birth control for awhile helped my skin although it didn’t erase my acne completely.  Trying different skincare targeted to acne has helped, but again never cleared it up.

One thing I haven’t tried is skincare treatments.  I, like a lot of people, have never had a ton of extra income to spend on pricey facials and treatments.  The older I get though, the more I realize that perhaps that has to do more with the way I prioritize my money rather than a problem of simply “not having enough”.  (That’s another subject for another day… something I’ll get into later when I tackle the subject of finances… which my husband and I have been working on for awhile now.  If you’re curious now, you can go read SmartCouples Finish Rich… great read.)

nesting

 Apparently I am in full-on nesting mode.  I'm 26 weeks pregnant and all I can think about is getting our house ready.  Even without the pregnancy, I think I'd still be freaking out a little bit... there's a lot on my plate right now.  We currently own two homes.  We've been cleaning out our downtown condo and getting it ready for sale, but it's not getting done very quickly because there are numerous interruptions.  First of all, Chris works a night shift and sleeps during the day.  I can pack small things and organize stuff, but when it comes to moving boxes, I'm pretty much helpless right now.  I hate that I can't do more and it leaves me feeling pretty down some days.  That and it's just an overwhelming task.  I had grand goals of sorting through everything and not taking anything to the house that we don't need, but that was quickly thrown out the window because there simply isn't time.

csf love

(logo from CircleSevenFive.com)

In the last couple of years I’ve learned a lot about making healthy decisions when it comes to relationships, friends and the people I surround myself with.  This all started when I joined Mary Kay and it was such an eye-opening experience.  I had never really been around such positive women before.  I had never really seen women supporting each other instead of being catty and jealous and clique-y.  It was totally new to me (sadly) and it changed my world. 

(P.S. You can read about being a Beauty Consultant HERE... best decision of my life!)

That was about 7 years ago, I think… I’m losing track!  Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to make a lot of changes in my life.  This includes deleting some people from social media and in all honesty, deleting some people from my life.  I went through years of really examining the people around me… do they serve me well?  I don’t mean do I get things from them… I mean, do they make me happy?  Do they make me better?  Do they support me?  Do they support my choices and my relationship with Chris?  Do they care about my family?  Do they pray for me?   Along the way I discovered that a lot of people didn’t.  And the people I knew that did… well, I wasn’t really focusing on growing those friendships the way I should.

cactus maxi

Last week I went to coffee with a friend and then we went to TJMaxx.  I had no intention of buying anything but dang it, the clothes sucked me in!  I've been keeping en eye out for comfortable clothing I can wear this summer that will accommodate my baby belly.  I saw this jersey material cactus maxi dress for only $17 and I had to have it!

beauty must-haves lately

I've always had problematic skin... oily to the max plus hormonal breakouts my entire life.  Nothing has changed since my pregnancy.  In fact, for awhile I was worse than normal!  This is sooo frustrating.  There's a few things I've been doing lately, and a couple of different products that I've been using, that have helped out my skin so I'm sharing those today.

pintuck blouse

Hope everyone had a great weekend celebrating Father's Day!  Chris and I had a nice relaxing day at my parents' house, grilling out steaks in the backyard.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to swim like I've been dying to! (omg it's so hot already!!)  My parents replastered the pool and I've been forced to wait until next weekend.  I'm floating around in that pool allllll next weekend, seriously!!

I've been out of town a lot and haven't been to church in over a month.  I have a lot of dresses that are fitting well on me, but this week I wanted to wear pants and a top, so I was so glad that I just got this top from Kohls!  It's really comfortable and lightweight but looks a tad on the dressier side than a few of the other maternity tops I have.  I decided to tie the waist tie around the front to accentuate my baby bump :)  I LOVE the color too!  It's perfect for summer.  

gender reveal

Today I'm sharing our photos from our gender reveal shoot!!  We've known the sex of our baby for awhile, but we really wanted to do something fun to reveal to our friends and family!  Enjoy :)

coffee + lipstick

I'm finally back in Fort Worth!  I've spent the last two and a half weeks in Austin, working on some updates to a house that is about to hit the market.  The design work has been a lot of fun but the go-go-go every day has been exhausting.  Long hours, physical labor and being on my feet all day hasn't been the easiest at 23 weeks pregnant... plus... only one cup of coffee per day! (Yes, I'm still bitching about that)  I'm actually surprised that I was able to go without naps!!  

lately... June 5, 2016

Hey y'all!!  Happy weekend!  I've had a super busy few weeks (what else is new?!) and I haven't had a chance to shoot any new outfits.  BUT I will be shooting a few new things really soon, so stay tuned!  I thought I'd do a "lately" post today and just give a few updates on everything that's going on...

Pregnancy:

Well, I've officially hit the point of needing true maternity clothes.  Even my go-to leggings are too tight around my belly now, so this past week was my first experience with pregnancy pants.

baby shower goodies

I am lucky enough to be pregnant at the same time as some of my best friends!  They're all a little bit ahead of me, which is nice, so I can hear about their experiences before hitting that time myself.  I just co-hosted a baby shower for my bestie which turned out really cute.  I really love planning events but this happened to fall during my first trimester and frankly, I didn't have a ton of energy to be going all out.  So I took more of a back seat and a couple other girls did an amazing job planning a really nice shower!  

We decided to do goodie bags for the guests to take home.  At first I thought this was a little unnecessary and an added expense, but we all did our best to keep the cost down and they turned out super cute!  Today I thought I'd share what we did, in case anyone else was thinking of doing the same thing!  This would also be a cute idea for any kind of shower or a bachelorette party!

CSF all-white party

I'm a member of Circle Seven Five, which I shared the other day.  This is a really fun social/ networking group based in Dallas that throws the most fun parties and events!!  Last week I attended an all-white party at Archer London in the Dallas Design District.  There was yummy food, bubbly (which I got to watch everyone else enjoy while I sipped my Figi water) and lots of shopping.  This fun loft space is an adorable shop with tons of beautiful clothing!  CSF even provided cute boho headpieces for all of us, and there was a braid bar and tarot card reader!  They seriously throw the best events!!

If you're a 20-30something girl in DFW and you're interested in joining, comment below with your email address and I'll send you an invite!  Hope you enjoy checking out a few photos from the event!  Also, you may have seen my fun pants on Instagram... I'm in love with them!  I've linked them below and they're only $12!!!

white

Lately I've been having a love affair with all white.  I am usually a very colorful girl... bold, bright and lots of contrast.  I have always loved black and white with pops of very bold color, whether they are rich jewel tones or vivid fluorescents.  For some reason lately I've been drawn to a lot of white in everything... clothing, home decor, etc.  We recently moved into a new house and our kitchen cabinets are white.  It's a nice change from the darker wood I've had for the past 9 years in our condo.  Our new master bathroom as has a white cabinet and carrara marble counter, and a giant white clawfoot tub and I'm just obsessed with it!  Not to mention all of the crisp white trim and casings around our windows and doors. 

The new house has really put me in a neutrals mood with our gray walls, white everywhere and black and white granite.  I've found myself spreading my wings and adding more white in other aspects of my life... nail polish, flowers, clothing...

Today I'm just sharing a few snapshots of my favorite white things lately!  Sidenote: white towels in the bathroom is nothing new for me... for some reason I don't like colored towels.  I've always loved crisp, clean white towels because it's the only way I feel truly clean.  I guess that's probably my OCD talking ;)  Another note, I just attended an all-white party in Dallas last week and it was really fun!  If you don't already know about Circle Seven Five, you should check it out!  I've been a member since last year and they have the best events and perks if you're a 20-30something woman in the DFW area!  I loved seeing everyone's white outfits!  I'll be sharing my photos from the event in another post.  If you'd like an invite to join the group, comment below with your email and I'll send you one!!

but first, coffee

I have a slight obsession with coffee and coffee mugs.  I'm not going to lie, the whole one cup of coffee thing during pregnancy has not been easy.  I am normally a person that will savor 3-4 cups over a period of hours while watching my morning shows (usually Home and Family on Hallmark or I Love Lucy and the Golden Girls).  So lately my whole morning routine has been thrown off.  But since we're living at the house now and we still don't have the cable hooked up, my routine has changed to porch-sitting and sipping my one cup of joe... which is really nice actually... we're obsessed with our porch!

I knew I had a coffee mug hoarding problem but I don't think I realized until we started packing our dishes for the move just how many mugs I've accumulated!  We had a whole cabinet dedicated to them in the condo, and luckily we'll have more space for the collection in the new kitchen.  Which of course has me thinking about purchasing more cute mugs! Ahhh! ;)

I just received this Betsey Johnson as a prize at a baby shower and it's super cute!!  Unfortunately I can't find the exact one online and I'm not sure where it was purchased... obviously an older item... but I have my eye on some more cuties down below!  I've linked them all.

you're my boy, blue!

This outfit is casual, comfortable and all about my favorite color, blue!!

I was lucky and blessed to be celebrated on Mother's Day this year!  My husband surprised me with a very thoughtful gift because, as he said, I haven't bought anything for myself in awhile.  I was WOWed when I open a giant bag with a brand new Michael Kors bag :)  It's something I pointed out to him awhile ago and he was sweet enough to remember and go out shopping for me on his own!

I also received my very first maternity clothes from my in-laws.  My MIL has a knack for picking out cute clothing for me and she did so again.  My bump isn't that big yet, but let's just say I'm wearing yoga pants 24/7.  So she surprised me with some cute jeans, some leggings and a few tops.  I wore one of the tops the other day and it was so super comfortable and flattering!  

My parents were sweet enough to get me a really nice charm bracelet with a "mom" charm and another charm.  I'll be sharing those later after I reveal the gender of our baby ;)  As always, I'm linking my clothing and the bag below.  Be sure to check out the bag because I found it on major sale and it's definitely affordable!

I'm pregnant! The good, the bad and the ugly

Ok well there's been a huge break in my writing and it's because of a couple things actually.  I mentioned last time that there's been A LOT happening, and well, yeah, there has!  Chris and I have been busy moving.  We closed on our house at the end of March and we've been slowly moving out of our condo since.  It's nice being able to take our time, but also a little stressful at times since we know we don't have a particular deadline and we end up taking breaks.  But we're mostly moved into the house now (except large furniture because we're staging our condo for sale... 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom in downtown Fort Worth anyone??)  Unfortunately, since we're paying bills on both places, we haven't sprung for the cable and internet hookup yet at the house, so I'm left without internet.

On top of the move, if you follow me on Instagram, you've already heard that I am pregnant!!  This has been a huge adjustment and another reason I haven't written much lately.  When we found out I was pregnant, we had to move quickly on finding a house because our condo would not work at all to raise a child.  So it really put us in a time crunch and I had to drop everything else.  My blogging, my event-going and all my Mary Kay work have taken a major backseat these past few months.  It's been a very exciting time, but also a time period where I felt like my schedule was completely lost.  Not to mention, this is all on top of my husband working a night shift and sleeping during the day.  

Love and spring are in the air

Hey y'all!  There's been A LOT going on lately (more on that later)... 

But now that spring is here, our wardrobes are changing from layers upon layers to easy breezy.  And what's easier than a comfy tee and your favorite pair of jeans?!  Nothing, of course!  So I am super excited to introduce you to an awesome tshirt company that I connected with on Instagram!  And this Texas girl gets really excited when it's a Texas-based company! 

Be Free Tees is my newest go-to for literally the softest, most comfortable, cute t-shirts!  Their first design of tees is focusing on LOVE.  They are based in Austin, TX (my second home for years!) and they're working to spread love across the country while also giving back to some great organizations.  I'm LOVING their message and the fact that it's a small company started by two moms.  You can read all about their mission HERE.

I've basically been living in this tshirt since I received it!  It is the most comfortable thing I own right now.  Last week was my two year wedding anniversary, so in honor of our love, I wore it again during our day trip to the Butterfly Exhibit at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.   I love that the message is so clean and simple and it's the perfect tshirt to wear with your favorite jeans, or maybe even dress it up a little.  Everyone looks good in LOVE!  I've linked the exact tee below!  Check them out and get your own and start spreading the love! 

Coffee table decor

I talk about fashion so much now that some of you may have forgotten (or not even know) that my background is originally in interior design!  Today I'm partnering with Chairish to show you my coffee table essentials!

Now, I'd be lying if I said I am a person who has a perfectly arranged coffee table 100% of the time... I'm more the person that has a giant box of tissues (damn allergies) and a thousand to-do lists (#truth) but in a perfect world, my coffee table would consist of a few special items that I love to look at all the time.

I personally love very simple coffee tables and I especially love Danish Modern furniture so I've selected this table from the variety of vintage pieces that Chairish offers.  I love the clean lines and I love that it doesn't have extra shelves.  I know some people love having an extra shelf, or drawers in a coffee table... I personally don't because it's just more space that can be easily cluttered (if there's a place to put extra stuff, trust me, I'll find something to put there!)  I've listed my favorite coffee table items below, and as always you can click the thumbnails to shop!

• Coffee table books- Choose books that inspire you.  This could be fashion, travel, beautiful homes, nature... it really doesn't matter, but they should be pretty and something that you can look at for inspiration, and/or something that guests in your home would love to look at.  Yes, these are mostly for decor and will probably just be stacked, but make sure the subject matter is something important to you.  
• A fun decorative object- I love this spiky sphere (or whatever you want to call it). Stack your coffee table books and place a single object on top.  I love gold accents and think this sphere is just fun!
• Do you collect any objects?  Consider putting a piece of your collection on the table.  It can make a great conversation starter and guests will probably notice it and ask where you got it.  It's really great if it's an object you've picked up in travels because it will always remind you of your trip when you see it.  I personally collect elephants and each one has some sort of story behind it.  I like this glass elephant because it won't take up as much space visually since you can see through it.
• Glass vase with flowers- I LOVE having fresh flowers in my house.  Living plants give your home life!  Again, I love having a clear vase so it doesn't visually take up as much space, and it can work with any type of flowers and be used year-round.  I love this Kate Spade vase because it adds touches of gold.  Sometimes I suffer through my allergies just to look at pretty flowers, but if you're allergic like me and don't want to deal with the extra sneezing, consider an arrangement of succulents!  They are so easy to take care of, last much longer than flowers and won't irritate you.
• Candles- I go through candles like whoa!  I love having a candle burning anytime I'm home.  I usually go with affordable soy candles but if you only light a candle once in awhile (like when you have company), consider investing in a really pretty, fancy candle.  
• A decorative tray- Grouping items on a tray can make your whole table look much more put together.  It can also make it easier and faster if you need to remove the items... like if you need to use the entire table for food or cocktails because you're entertaining.  Group items in odd numbers because it is more appealing to the eye.  I love mirrored trays.

I love investing in quality furniture pieces and then mixing and matching the decor.  

It's fun to pick up home accessories as I travel and grouping those sentimental items with trendier accessories.  Be sure to check out Chairish for a huge selection of vintage pieces!!  They have everything from furniture to lighting to accessories and the best part is, you're getting unique items that not everyone has!

SHOP ALL COFFEE TABLES FROM CHAIRISH

Shop these items:

Happy Friday y'all!

spring 2016 trends

Shop the items: