Texas Tee launch: special savings!

Ok seriously, I'm obsessed with these T-shirts!! So I was so excited when Royal Bowtique asked me to host an online pop up shop in honor of their Texas Tee launch this weekend!!

Today until next Tuesday, you can shop their online store and receive 10% OFF & a FREE GIFT!  Just use the coupon code: TXSASS10

I promise you're going to have a blast shopping and a hard time making choices because there are so many cute items!  My favorite is of course the Texas Vintage Black & White Oversized Tee... sassy!!

There's also other cute T-shirts as well as accessories, jewelry, hair pieces and art!  And for all you mothers out there, there are mini me t-shirts, adorable bows and headbands and baby blankets!

Ok, remember, my pop up shop ends Tuesday so you have from now until then to use the coupon code TXSASS10 to get your 10% off and a free gift!  Happy shopping! {The Royal Bowtique Shop}

P.S. Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook!

pool day essentials

Are you enjoying your summer as much as I am?!  Despite the heat... I LOVE TEXAS SUMMERS!  Pool time, cooking out, going out on the lake, floating the river, concerts, food trucks... I love it all and can never get enough!  

Today I'm sharing my short-list of necessities for a pool day with your best girlfriend!  Thankfully, my bff has an amazing pool that she shares with me!

1. Cute tote bag- Every girl needs a cute tote!  I especially love straw totes during the summer.  I love that they are a little more sturdy and can stand on their own and it takes more than a quick splash of water to get the tote wet!  This tote is about the same size as a tote purse, which prevents me from packing too many items but leaves me room for more than just a towel.  Here's some super cute totes from Target!

2. A hat- Pick something you don't mind sweating in or if it gets wet or faded.  My favorite hat is a pink Guinness trucker hat that I picked up in college.  I prefer regular caps as opposed to a giant sun hat mostly because they are smaller & easier to pack and you really don't need to worry about smashing them like a straw hat.  Also, I love being able to put my ponytail through the whole in the back of the cap! 

3. Sunscreen- I can not stress this enough!  I think we've all finally come around and gotten over our late 90s / early 2000s obsession with tanning!  ....I know I have!  I've hit the point in my life when yes, I care about aging and possible skin cancer.  So I make sure to have my sunscreen with me at all times. My favorite sunscreen EVER is from Mary Kay.  It's broad spectrum protection that blocks me from getting burned, but still allows me to get some color (I see tan lines!)  I also love that it is non-comedogenic (won't clog your pores) and water-resistant and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes!  Mary Kay Sunscreen comes in SPF 30 or 50 and works better than anything else I've ever used! SHOP IT HERE.  *whatever sunscreen you use, please make sure it is BROAD SPECTRUM protection (blocks both UVA and UVB rays), water-resistant (nothing is completely waterproof; all sunscreens need to be reapplied through the day), suitable for sensitive-skin (so anyone can borrow and use it) and backed by a money-back guarantee (don't worry, Mary Kay is!)  I also recommend sunscreens that you must RUB IN as opposed to spray-on... many spray-on sunscreens contain unnecessary chemicals and alcohol.  Take the time to protect yourself!

4. Lip Protection and After-sun Gel- Again, my favorite products are from Mary Kay.  Don't forget that the pool and sun exposure can also really dry out your lips!  I love the Lip Protector from MK because it provides moisture as well as sun protection!  The Mary Kay After-Sun Replenishing Gel is the best item I've ever found to soothe your skin after a long day of sun!  It feels amazing and will help prevent any pain or peeling from too much sun!  **I recently converted a guy-friend to a believer... he was complaining about a bad burn from a few days prior and as soon as I gave him this gel, he was amazed at the relief he felt!  Again, money-back guarantee!  SHOP the after-sun gel HERE!

5. An old towel and a cheap bandana- hey, we live in Texas, people!! If you think you're not going to sweat A LOT when by the pool or on the lake, you're sadly mistaken.  I like to pack a crappy, old towel that I really don't care what happens to.  That way, I can wipe off my sweat on something besides my cute pool towel (that's for laying out and looking sexy!)  The bandana is another great item to keep handy.  It's big enough to cover your face if you need a little extra shade, you can use it to tie up your hair, or you can get it wet and wrap it around your head or neck to help keep you cool.  I love shopping at Walmart for bandanas because they have a huge variety of cute patterns for about $1 each! 

6. Magazines- this is sort of self-explanatory... ladies like reading material and in the summer, I love catching up on magazines.  I never feel like I have that much time during the rest of the year to sit and read magazines, but in the summer I play catch up.  I love having a Cosmo... truthfully now that I'm married I don't feel weird reading the sex tips! HA! But seriously, I've always loved Cosmopolitan and I make sure to pick it up for a pool day.  I've also been loving Country Living magazine for it's cute DIY ideas, recipes and home decor.  What magazines are you favorites? 

7. A gift for the hostess- my hostess may be my best friend, but I still feel that it is appropriate to bring a little something as a thank you for inviting me over to use her pool!  I'm loving fresh flowers and think that it's the perfect something to give!  You really don't need to spend a lot of money... I've found that wild flowers and things like Gerber Daisies can provide an amazingly pretty pop of color for an affordable price!  Loving these orange beauties that I picked up the other day!  And how cute is it to show up with your summer tote, pull those blooms out and say, "These are for you!"?!  The grocery store will always have a small selection, but checking out more specialty stores like Central Market or Trader Joes will most likely give you the biggest, most affordable selection.  Trader Joes has become my new favorite store since they opened a Fort Worth location! 

A little strategic planning and packing can really make or break your day in the sun!  Do I really need to remind everyone how HOT it is out there??  Pack the sunscreen, pack the after-sun gel, pack the extra clothing and extra towels... it is worth it!  There is nothing more miserable than being in the heat and not having what you need... not to mention how dangerous it is!  

Consider packing your tote bag with these items and just leaving it packed... that way you're ready at a moment's notice and you won't forget anything!  You know, kind of like a pregnant woman has the suitcase all ready! ;-)  Pool and lake opportunities can pop up at any minute here in Texas!  Enjoy the sun!!

Everyone's catching on...

Did you hear??!  Our beautiful, one-and-only FUNKYTOWN was just named the #1 downtown of 2014 according to livability.com!!  I'm finally feeling like everyone is catching on to what I've known for years!  This city is amazing and I'm so happy to see it getting the recognition it deserves.  

From the Stockyards to Sundance Square to West7th and beyond, this rapidly-changing area is quickly winning the hearts of anyone who visits!  Fort Worth boasts parks, museums, restaurants, shops, bars, and a ton of activities, both indoor and out, for visitors of any age.  Young 20 & 30-somethings are flocking to the area with the abundance of recreation and unique bars & entertainment.

Check out the full top 10 list HERE and check out my beloved city of Fort Worth HERE

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.

Fort Worth... the next Austin?

You may not know this if you live elsewhere in the DFW metroplex, but if you actually live IN Fort Worth, especially downtown, you've been noticing lots of changes in the last year or two! From the added activities along the Trinity River, to the bike lanes recently added to downtown streets, and the major development of numerous retail restaurants & bars just outside downtown, the changes are happening everywhere! Even Sundance Square is now getting a complete makeover in an effort to keep the center of downtown more pedestrian, moving most of the parking to the outskirts of the city in existing parking garages.

Texas is HUGE, in case you haven't noticed! So I think many Texans will tell you that while we're all proud Texans, we realize differences between the major cities and the people that choose to live there... Houston is different than Dallas which is different than Fort Worth and well, Austin is just the little weirdo that we all can't help but love! But I'm loving that the distinctive lines dividing these cities are becoming blurred!  I don't feel that HUGE difference anymore when I go between Fort Worth and Austin! What I love about Austin, they seem to be bringing to Fort Worth! Tons of outdoor activities and festivals, improved parks & recreation areas, water activities on the river, smaller "local" food joints instead of just giant chain restaurants, and boutique shops! The culture and history of Fort Worth remains, but the activity for MY generation seems to be booming!

Another huge boom lately? Food trucks! Again, an Austin favorite and something they've been doing for years! Today marks the opening of a SECOND food truck park in Fort Worth, the Cowtown Chow Down! Can't wait to hit this up!

So if you love the feel of Austin and you haven't been to Fort Worth in awhile, you need to come visit our little Funkytown :-) I've been saying for a few years now that every move this city makes seems to be geared towards an end-result like Austin, and now it's what everybody is saying! Fort Worth is NOT second to Dallas just because it's smaller, nor any other city in this state! In fact, us locals have just kept it to ourselves mostly... but I think now our great city is realizing we deserve to be recognized! This is an amazing place to live, a great place to raise a family and even better, for me, a great place to be in your 20s and enjoying day AND night life!

So the next time someone asks you, "Where should we go? What should we do today?" just say... "Won't you take me to, FUNKYTOWN?!" ❤

downtown Fort Worth

Roadtrippin'

Happy weekend! Welcome to Austin! I'm down for the week visiting Chris and the OTHER Chris, aka my brother... can you believe my boyfriend AND my brother are named Chris? You're probably thinking that could be confusing... yeah... it is! But how wonderful is it that I can drive 3 hours and be in one of the coolest cities in Texas and visit both of them?!

I like to travel, even if it is from Fort Worth to Austin and back. And I love being in the car for my travels. We live in a world based on speed; how fast can you get there, how quickly can you get it done, when are you moving on to the next thing? Most people would probably rather fly, especially when you take frequent trips to a place nearby. Not me! Give me my car! Because really, what's so wrong with taking some time to get somewhere? Why should everything I do be based on how fast I can do it? Why should I hop a plane and sit silently next to someone I don't know and more than likely, someone that doesn't want to know me because they're grumpy about the flight they're on? Something tells me there's many more friendly, interesting people to encounter along the road, especially in Texas!

There is no place I love to be more than my car! There is nothing better than a mix CD, windows down, sunroof open and an iced tea next to me as I fly down the Texas highways! Yes it's gas money and time and car maintenance, but it's also freedom! I suggest we all step back from life and take a minute to realize how fast we try to move through it... everything can slow down a little bit if you make an effort. Why not enjoy some quiet time to yourself instead of stressing yourself with making a flight on time, limiting the size of your luggage, throwing out all your liquids or putting them in individual bags, getting dressed just so you can strip in public and be searched for things you wouldn't even dream of bringing with you... why not put some effort into getting yourself where you need to go, maybe basing a decision on what you may get out of it, and not just how you can save some money and/or time?

Don't get me wrong, I know in a down economy every one must cut corners, everyone needs to think about time and money... but don't we all do that a little TOO much? Haven't we all forgotten that one amazing roadtrip memory we have? You know... like when you were in college and Jill's car started to overheat and smoke on the highway on a trip to Houston and you have to putt along until you make it to Wal-Mart for some anti-freeze! "Swing swing swing from the tangles of my heart"... yes that's actually one of my true college stories! Or the first roadtrip you took with your significant other, or the first roadtrip you took with your kids... I'm willing to bet every single person has at least one great memory of being in the car.  Now how many great memories do you have of being on a plane? Just sayin'...

I say we all step back a little from our crazy technological shortcut world, our apps to book flights and restaurant reservations, our text messages and tweets, and maybe we remember a time that was not that long ago... a time when adventure was not "checking-in" to the spot where everyone already is, but rather a time when we just jumped in our cars and went! That's my favorite thing about my roadtrips... I may not have a new destination every time, but you can bet the scenery along the way changes each time. I can choose a different route, I can choose a different rest stop, I'm in control and can change my path at any point and it's that freedom that never allows me to get sick of the I-35 drive. I could focus on the destination and getting there quickly, but I choose to enjoy the drive :-)