gaucho pants + sparkle

Gaucho pants are back, and if you're looking to be a little more daring with your silhouette, now's the time.  As we've seen lately (especially in my Frog Chic Fashion Show post), the 70s are back.  And that doesn't just mean bell bottoms... It also means interesting wide leg pants in all sorts of shapes.  You may have worn a pair (or two, or three) of stretchy gauchos a few years back... probably with some sort of platform flip flop (guilty!).  You may have even been wearing some this past spring/summer.  This laid back, easy breezy pant was perfect for the hotter months.  But as we transition into fall, what I'm loving right now, and seeing a lot more of, is a more structured look.  The fabrics are sophisticated and it's more about the silhouette than the flow.

TCU frog chic: fall trends 2015

Last night I attended one of my favorite events of the year: the TCU Alumni Frog Chic Trend Event.  Hosted by Neiman Marcus Fort Worth, this event is always fabulous!  TCU alumni enjoy sips, bites and a fall fashion show highlighting the trends of the season.  I have to say, I'm obsessed with everything we're seeing for fall. UHHHbsessed (just for emphasis!)  From 70s vibes, to winter whites and multiple layers, I loved every single look.  And of course, being a TCU event, they always throw in an abundance of purples to get you in the mood for football season (go Frogs!)

Here's a handful of my photographs from the event, including every runway look.  And as if this wasn't enough pictures, I'll be putting every single photo on my facebook page later today, so you can see shots of each outfit from every angle.  As you scroll below, I'll point out a bunch of fall trends.

a glimpse at our life: date night + Saturday morning

Happy Saturday!  How is your day going so far?  I have to say that I love my Saturday mornings with my husband!!  It's only been a few months since his work schedule changed him to working Saturday afternoon/evenings instead of mornings.  And it was definitely a switch and something to get used to, but it seems to be working well for us.  I love that we're able to take advantage of so many downtown happenings on Saturday mornings.  Or even if there's nothing specific going on... a stroll downtown for coffee or to just enjoy Sundance Square is SO nice.

Today I'm just sharing a quick glimpse into our date night last night and our morning together today.  Our plans drastically changed last night, on a whim, and we ended up going out to dinner.  Chris wanted sushi and we both wanted to try some place new.  Enter Kona Grill.  Yes, I've heard people rave about it and there's been one in West 7th for some time now, but we still hadn't made it there!  It also helped that I had a small gift card from my goodie bag at the Flirt Turns Five party!  So, decision made... last minute... here we go!

I went for semi-festive with my outfit last night... greens and red but "normal" casual clothing, if you will.  I love this green plaid shirt because it's fitted at the top but wider at the bottom.  It's also long enough to completely cover my butt haha, which is something I like.  A lot of clothes look out of proportion on me if they're not long because I am extremely short waisted and long-legged.  It's actually hard for me to find a lot of shirts that look right on me, so a great shirt dress is one of my fave items ever!  I honestly don't know where this one is from because it was a gift (I think a catalog item) but I've linked a bunch of really great options for you!

 Plaid Flannel shirt dress: SIMILAR, SIMILAR, SIMILAR, SIMILAR, SIMILAR, SIMILAR // 

Lipstick // Eye Makeup // Eyeliner // Mascara //

Earrings are from Flirt Boutique // Handbag is Coach

It's actually pretty shocking that I've enjoyed sushi a few times now with Chris.  I am NOT, I repeat NOT EVEN CLOSE to a seafood person.  I hate shrimp, I hate pretty much every fish, I cringe at trying something new... I am an "order the exact same thing at the exact same restaurants" kind of gal.  Chris is slowly changing that.  As he keeps telling me, if it's good, it won't be fishy.  And he's totally right.  I'm actually growing to love it and dare I even say CRAVE it!  Hooray!

fall in texas

In Texas you have to check the weather every day before going out... ok scratch that... you should probably check it every few hours!!  It's kind of ridiculous how the temperature fluctuates.  Sometimes I contemplate packing up my summer clothes and storing them away during the fall and winter months and then I'm like, oh wait, it could be 80 degrees tomorrow.  I'd love some extra space in my closet but truthfully I feel like I need my entire wardrobe accessible year-round.

It can be annoying but it can also be really nice.  I'm not so much a cold weather person.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE layers... I love sweaters and sweatshirts, I love comfy jeans, I love scarves and jackets and leggings... but I really do hate the extreme cold.  So, it's always nice, to me, when temperatures vary.  I can deal with cold when it's interrupted by warmer days.

Yesterday was one of those days.  According to my car when I was running errands, it was about 80 degrees yesterday in Fort Worth!!  Do you ever feel like you have a hard time dressing for the season because your weather doesn't match the season?  Yeah, I feel like that a lot.  So yesterday's outfit was a combination of the "fall feel" with the comfort of shorts and a t-shirt.

 

I love mixing patterns.  And right now that is so on trend.  I decided to keep the outfit basic and mostly grays and black and then I let my accessories show my flare.  The socks and hat are both from Target from a few seasons ago.  I guarantee you can find many plaid options right now that are similar.

Flirt turns five

I am NOT an early Christmas shopper.  I'd love to be one of those women that has every gift for every person figured out before Thanksgiving and Christmas cards ready to mail and meals planned... but I am not.  Not even close.  I'm the person that says every year that they're going to Christmas shop early and do it online to avoid crowds and not shop for myself on Black Friday... and then does just that.  And then finishes the last of the shopping on Christmas Eve.  No joke.  UGH.

So I guess you could say I'm actually ridiculously proud of myself for having a very few small gifts already purchased this year... how sad is that?!  But seriously, I am proud... baby steps.

My timing and procrastinating may still be in a sad state BUT I've managed to improve a little with the planning portion i.e. making sure I'm shopping big sales and using coupons and getting freebies for myself along the way so I'm not actually spending the money on myself.  

This is a great time of year for sales in all stores, not just big box retailers.  I highly recommend checking into local boutiques and making sure that you always follow your favorite shops on any social media platform they offer.  Why?  Because they announce events and sales, that's why.  And many boutiques even have style ambassadors now that can offer discount codes and/or reward customer loyalty.  Also, many boutiques are offering buying/shipping via Paypal on instagram so you don't have to be local to them!  So you really can end up shopping some amazing deals and get gifts that are far more personalized and unique at great prices.

I follow a fabulous boutique here in Fort Worth called Flirt Boutique (you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram) and I took full advantage of their Flirt Turns Five celebration event last week!  Check out some of my pics from the event!~

P.S. Flirt~ we have the same curtains!! ;-)

Fall Favorites from the Style club

{all photos from thestyleclub.com}

I'm absolutely loving the fall pieces the are available right now from The Style Club!! The stripes and plaid and sequins and crop tops and sweaters!!!! AHHH! These are just a few of my picks!

I've updated my Style Club Closet with my faves for fall... which is pretty much everything!!! Hope you'll check it out!  The Style Club is a unique online shopping experience! You can watch your favorite tastemakers, shop the latest fashion trends, and share with your friends!

Let's be honest ladies!  This cold weather is a perfect excuse to stay cozy at home and do some fun interactive shopping online!  What are your favorite pieces?

affordable fall trends

On Friday night I was lucky enough to attend the first Fashion X Dallas runway show.  The show ran Thursday through Saturday but unfortunately my schedule only allowed me one night.  However, one night was more than enough to see multiple talented designers and enjoy Dallas fashion and nightlife.  

I choose to wear simple black and white... I mean really, it's my go-to.  I'm obsessed with high contrast and will just always love the combo.  It actually wasn't until after putting this outfit together than I realized how many fall trends it touched on, so I'd love to share my though process behind this look and a few really affordable ways to factor in some of these trends this season! 

 While on a hunt for faux leather leggings (another huge trend this fall... faux leather accents on clothing, great faux leather jackets and pants, even shorts and skirts), I found faux suede leggings from a Moto collection by Rock & Republic at Kohls.  Yeah I know, shocker!! I was shopping at Kohls! ;-)

They weren't exactly what I was looking for... they were better!  I love how soft they are and I love the seaming and interesting mix of fabrics.  The front is faux suede and the sides have mixed in accents of scuba-like material.  So these leggings are definitely stretchy and easy to pull on.  The seaming, especially across the knees, gives a great motorcycle pants feel without going over the top butch.

You may have noticed an abundance of faux leather (or real leather) "Moto" or motorcycle jackets this season.  And yes, this is a HUGE trend!  Especially when you take an edgy piece like that and mix it with a flirty skirt or lace or a feminine top.  But if you're not willing to invest in a jacket, which often times can be a pricier item, you should consider other ways to rock the Moto trend.  Enter, these leggings!  They are on sale right now at Kohls ($25 y'all!!!), and you know they always have extra coupons, so hurry and shop these FAUX SUEDE LEGGINGS HERE!

Obviously this outfit covers the black and white trend.  But what else?  Menswear for women.  It's really big this fall and honestly, it's really easy to achieve.  Who doesn't have a pair of black pants in their wardrobe?  Whether it's leggings like mine, or simply black dress pants, every women has (or should have) a black pant go-to.  Beyond that, all it takes is a simple white shirt and a tuxedo-inspired jacket.  I love this white blouse because, well first of all, it was on clearance.  Second, it's super simple and flowy and comfortable to wear.  I also love the zipper accent in the front as well as the pocket, giving it an edgier look.  (Have you noticed exposed zippers are everywhere?)

My tuxedo jacket is actually from a few season's ago.  It is LC Lauren Conrad from Kohls.  Since I can't link the exact jacket, I've rounded up a few similar looks below! Keep reading!  If you're not wanting to purchase a new tuxedo jacket, here's a few affordable ideas!...  check out upscale resale/ consignment shops and even thrift stores, shop garage sales and estate sales, pull a black blazer from a suit you already own, raid your boyfriend's/ husband's/ dad's/ brother's/ neighbor's/ friend's closet and borrow from them! ... it doesn't matter if it's oversized or a little boxy, that's another trend right now (I bet your mom or maybe even you have a shoulder-pad blazer in the back of their/ your closet.  Just make sure you pair it with more fitted and feminine items!  And don't forget, keeping the makeup and hair really fresh and girly will help balance any hard edges of the outfit.  I opted for a few soft curls accenting my straight hair and made sure to accessorize with lots of sparkle and big jewels.

 Here's my camera shy hubby... totally didn't want to pose with me until I made him... that's why I'm alone in the first pic ;-)  Such a good sport... you don't often see Marine Scout Snipers at fashion events!

The clutch and booties are other must-have items for fall!  Short black booties can be paired with so many items!  I love them with these leggings and since my booties (old, Issac Mizrahi) happen to also be faux suede, my leg-line was continued the entire length of my leg, which is a great trick to look a little taller/ more slender.  I'm also obsessed with pairing short booties with dresses, skirts and shorts this season, as you can clearly see on my Instagram feed!  I've tagged some super cute booties below!

 Working on my dreams!!

I loved the leggings so much, I decided to remix them again over the weekend.  Sunday saw my purple sweater, the leggings and my peep toes.  It's been a nice fall days of actual fall weather here in DFW!  Oh, there's that clutch again!

{Click the thumbnails below to shop these items!}

couture sportswear

It's so nice to see brands I love popping up more and more in stores I frequent!  Another example... Juicy Couture at Kohls.  Pair that with the fact that sportswear is a huge trend this fall and you've got a winning combination for staying on trend at an affordable price.

If you don't already shop at Kohls, well I'm just going to say it, you're missing out.  I don't care who you are or what designer digs you're sporting, everyone loves a great deal!  And that's exactly what Kohls offers... quality items at great prices.  There are sales galore and rewards programs and Kohls Cash and coupon codes... it's pretty common to save just as much, if not more, than you're spending.

{CLICK HERE TO SHOP}
photo from Kohls.com

I love this "Couture" Cropped Sweatshirt so much!!  It's soft, lightweight and luxurious!  It also comes in a few other styles/colors and it's ON SALE right now!  Click below the thumbnail and you'll be linked directly!  Happy shopping!

*Use coupon code 'CANDY' for an extra 20% off purchases of $100 or more;

  Use coupon code 'CORN' for an extra 15% off purchases under $100  (expires Sunday October 26)

I'm wearing my sweatshirt today to the hubby's homecoming game for his flag football team with comfy leopard leggings and my trusty Adidas sandals. What are your weekend plans?  Are they dressy or casual?  Are you loving the chic sportswear trends this fall?  Have a great weekend y'all!

[Oh and p.s. I'm wearing a size Medium below!  I could have gone with the small, but I always like my sweatshirts a little big.  The standard fit on this sweatshirt is more fitted and cropped.  I wanted it just a tad larger so I went up a size.  I'd say it runs a little small since most other things I go between an XS and Small]

mad for plaid + a comfy crock pot recipe

I am MAD FOR PLAID this fall season!!  I've been wearing a ton of plaid flannel shirts lately... big comfy shirts to lounge around as well as more fitted items and dressing them up!  Plaid is everywhere!

I love mixing and matching multiple plaids.  But my favorite trend right now has to be mixing plaid with animal prints!  I love any plaid with a great leopard print clutch or shoes... pumps or flats.

Whether you're a classic flannel shirt kind of girl, or you'd like to incorporate plaid in an accessory or interesting way, there's something for every girl here!

{Shop these items by clicking thumbnails}

What's your favorite?? I really really love the cape and the backpacks!

So now that you've got some comfy outfits planned out, I also wanted to share a quick and easy, super yummy recipe!  This is great because it can be cooked relatively fast on the stove, or you can let it simmer all day in the crock pot!  I'm all about the crock pot in autumn!!  There's something so great about chopping fresh ingredients early in the day and smelling everything simmer slowly throughout the day!  Similarly, if you work outside the home during the day, especially in a cold climate, there's nothing like coming home to a meal that's already cooking and ready, that greets your nose at the door.

I really like making soups.  I've never been a big soup person, but then I got a crock pot and realized how much I loved just throwing a bunch of veggies in the pot and making an easy soup with whatever I have laying around!  It's the perfect item to pair with a salad or a grilled cheese or a baked potato, depending on how hungry you are.  And there's nothing easier to have leftover than soup because it's super easy to store, transport, and reheat.

One of my favorite soups to eat, but something I've never made, is Chicken Tortilla Soup.  My usual routine, when it comes to cooking, is looking up multiple recipes for the same thing, checking my home to see what ingredients I have, and then mixing and matching elements of the recipes into my own creation!

I am not a very experienced cook, but I do have to say that I've done a good job of catching on to seasoning by taste instead of measuring.  Usually people like baking OR cooking, but not always both.  This is mostly because they are two drastically different approaches... measuring everything precisely, or throwing things together sporadically.  I actually like both.  I love baking, always have... and now I'm loving cooking.  And cooking is a different kind of fun; it's an experimenting fun.

So, I basically found a recipe online with great reviews and pretty much followed it, but did just a couple of things differently.  I want to be clear that this is not my recipe, so please refer to the ORIGINAL RECIPE HERE from food.com and see below for my adaptation!

please note: The recipe I followed says 8 servings... I copied many of the measurements for ingredients, and used less chicken broth than the recipe called for.  I chopped and added all ingredients into my crock pot and then topped it off with broth, so I honestly didn't measure.  I have a very small crock pot (2 person) and this ended up making about 3-4 servings total

Like I said above, this adaptation was for me and my husband, in a small crock pot.  You may want to experiment with measurements and continually taste as you are going.  We ended up with a very flavorful, thicker soup and it was delicious!  Also, the original recipe calls for cooking this soup quickly in a pot on the stove.  I prefer cooking in the crock pot so that the vegetables really have a chance to soften and all the flavors are incorporated thoroughly.  My steps below are for my crock pot version, please follow the original recipe above for the quicker stovetop version.  

1. Sautee onions, garlic and celery in olive oil, season with salt & pepper.  Cook until everything is tender and add all ingredients into the crock pot.  I left out the carrots from the original recipe because I honestly don't remember ever having a chicken tortilla soup with carrots in it... am I wrong?  I don't know... but it just goes to show that you can use whatever you have and feel free to leave out anything you don't like.  I also used olive oil instead of corn oil because, well, I don't have corn oil and I really like to cook all of my vegetables in olive oil. You could really use whatever you have.

2. Add 1 can diced tomatoes and 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles to the crock pot

3. Cook chicken thoroughly however you like.  I recommend cooking the chicken in the same pan you just cooked your veggies in.  This way you are picking up all of those flavors left on the bottom of the pan.  (I opted to use my leftover chicken breast from a restaurant because I wanted to use it up.  Another great option is using a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from your favorite deli), chop into strips or cubes, and add to the crock pot

4. Note: I had planned to chop and add some jalapeno but I forgot to buy one at the store.  This was divine intervention because after tasting this recipe, it definitely didn't need it.  The green chiles really add enough kick.  If you are making a larger batch of soup, you could consider adding some diced jalapeno if you like your soup extra spicy

5. Add taco seasoning and top off with chicken broth.  I honestly couldn't tell you the exact measurement of broth; I filled the crock pot to about 1/2 inch from the top)

6. Stir all ingredients together and put lid on crock pot.  Cook in low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

7. Immediately before serving, cut tortilla into small strips and add into the soup.  I had flour tortillas on hand so that's what I used.  I would, however, recommend using corn tortillas since they are a little thicker and harder.  The flour tortillas immediately soak up the liquid, so use them sparingly.  They do get mushy which usually I don't like, but actually I really liked some soggy tortilla in this soup!  If you want crunchier pieces, definitely use corn tortillas, or simply use tortilla chips.

8. Top each serving with shredded cheese (and a slice of avocado if you like) and serve!

*Another note: I intended to add the sour cream from the original recipe and I forgot it when I was cooking!  So I expect that the soup would have tasted even better with it and probably would have been a little on the creamier side!  I am going to make sure to not forget it next time!

I was surprised at how good this soup turned out!  Chris and I both really enjoyed it.  We ate some leftover tortilla chips on the side (also takeout from a restaurant... seriously y'all, take everything you can in your to-go boxes!! It's food you PAY for so don't leave it behind!) and some store-bought salsa.  It was such an easy meal and I enjoyed the leftovers for lunch the next day.  

This is a perfect meal for fall, so I hope you'll try to out and let me know what you think!!  Hooray for comfy clothes and comfort food!!! Do you love Fall as much as me?