GAL-entine's Day Guide

I happen to be someone that loves Valentine's Day... always have.  Even when I was single, I didn't quite understand the hate for this day.  I mean really, isn't everyone always saying to love one another?  And then turning around and hating on a day dedicated to love..?   Ok yeah, I get it... it's a "hallmark holiday"... unnecessary upcharge, lavish displays of love that seem to only serve the purpose of out-doing each other... that stuff I don't get.  To me, it's just everyone taking a very simple idea and making it ridiculously complicated (what else is new nowadays)  But when you take away all the stupid crap, it's just about showing each other, significant others, family, friends, whoever it may be, that we love them.

Showing our girlfriends love during this time can be very rewarding and pretty simple to do!  How about planning a GAL-entine's Night for you and your friends?  What's that, you ask?  Oh well here's my friend Leslie Knope to explain...
LOL Love that woman!  So if you'd love to host a GALentine's Day this year, I've linked some super cute items for you below!!! They'll help you entertain, get comfy and look cute!  And don't feel like you have to plan a whole night... it can be as simple as a few girlfriends in their PJs, painting nails, baking cookies (*cough* or eating the cookie dough *cough cough*) and watching chick flicks!

{product links below}

And remember, it doesn't have to be about bashing what you DON'T HAVE... rather, just celebrate what you DO HAVE... great girlfriends to share a fab cocktail with!  Speaking of, here's a couple of simple cocktail recipes!

{Rasmopolitan}

picture and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) citrus-flavored vodka
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) raspberry-flavored vodka
• 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Chambord
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Simple Syrup Simple Syrup
• 2 tablespoons cranberry juice
• Raspberries for garnish
• Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add vodkas, Chambord, lime juice, simple syrup,  & cranberry juice. Shake or stir until well chilled. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with raspberries; serve. (Originally from MarthaStewart.com)
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• {Raspberry Chocolate Kiss Martini}

picture from MarthaStewart.com

• 1/4 cup Mint-Infused Simple Syrup, plus more for rim
• 3 chocolate cookies, finely crushed, such as Nabisco Famous Wafers
• 10 raspberries
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 2 tablespoons cranberry juice
• Ice cubes
• Directions: Fill a shallow dish with enough simple syrup to just cover the bottom. Place crushed cookies into another shallow dish. Invert a martini glass into simple syrup and then immediately into crushed cookies to coat the rim of the glass.  Place raspberries in a cocktail shaker; crush with a muddler. Add simple syrup and muddle again. Add vodka and cranberry juice; fill shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled. Strain into prepared martini glass. Serve immediately. (Originally from MarthaStewart.com)

Do you have a favorite girly cocktail or item to share?  I'd love to hear about it!  Are you planning a girls' night this year?  How do you spoil your girlfriends and show them love?  Comment below!  Let's spread the LOVE!

using summer clearance to your advantage

Hey there!  Hope your weekend is fabulous so far!  What's everyone up to?!

Today I wanted to share a favorite date night outfit of mine, since it is Saturday and many of you may be headed out with your significant others!  Or even if you're headed out with your girls, this outfit is so cute and affordable!

I know we're transitioning into fall fashion, but here in Texas, it's still super humid and hot!  We are cooling down a little bit, but less coverage is still a necessity.  And what's great about that is Texas girls (and all warmer weather areas) can take advantage of sales and clearances at the end of summer!  You don't have to wait until next year when you may or may not love what you just bought!  Snag a deal and wear it now... the weather has not and will not be changing for awhile y'all :-)  

I have to say, shopping at the end of summer/ back to school time is one of the greatest tips I can give any fashionista!  Stores everywhere, online and in person, are still clearing out inventory in huge clearance form.  I did a little shopping about a month ago and that's when I snagged two fantastic deals!

This striped black & white shirt from H&M was $11!  As always, I was drawn to the black and white items on the clearance rack and this top caught my eye as extremely versatile.  It's lightweight so it can be easily layered and the three-quarter length sleeves help it to transition into fall.  I love how it looks with this girly skirt, but I have also paired it with denim shorts and boyfriend jeans and love that look as well!  I'm not finding this exact shirt on their website, but I've linked multiple very similar looks below!

This floral mini skirt was an amazing find from Windsor!  I popped into their store in the Grapevine Mills Mall for a quick look at their sale racks and was so happy when I found this!!  I love the floral print and honestly, I don't think I actually own a single other mini skirt so I thought I'd add this one to my closet! Best thing about it was the price!! Less than $7! 

I've been using this clutch a lot lately!  It's from a few years ago when I took one of my trips to NYC to visit my girlfriend Kelly.  We shopped some of the sidewalk sales and wandered through Chinatown at one point... and somewhere along the way I picked up this clutch.  It was actually buried in my closet until I recently rediscovered it.  I love the texture (it's not just printed on there, it's actual texture) and I love the size.  Sometimes I'm really not great with clutches because I'm a big bag girl and can't fit all of my things in some of those tiny bags out there!  But this one easily fits a wallet, my phone, business cards and my makeup essentials! 

I'm sort of having an obsession with pairing brown and black accessories together lately!  My shoes also have a similar texture as the bag.  I love being able to continue the peep toe for awhile here in Texas.  Have you noticed lately that Ox Blood Red is like THE nail color of the season??  I'm seeing it everywhere on the fashion bloggers I follow.  My pedi is a couple weeks old now but who knew I'd be right on trend with my pick?  When I saw the name of this polish color, I knew I absolutely had to use it!  It's perfect for any southern girl!  Keep scrolling... all links are at the bottom! 

I love the sparkle of these earrings!  With shades of light blue and gold, I thought they were a beautiful addition to this girly outfit.  They were a gift to me last Christmas and they're from TJ Maxx

B&W Striped Top similar HERE HERE HERE HERE & HERE // 

Floral Mini Skirt // Nail Polish // Pink Lipstick

Hope y'all have a beautiful and blessed weekend!

May flowers for fashion & home

Today, I'm all about the florals!  I have to admit, it's taken me a little while to jump at the floral trend this spring... reason?  Well, get ready for a flashback...

When I was in elementary school, I went through a black phase... as in black clothing, head to toe.  No, I was never goth or anything like that lol (can you picture that?? me either) BUT I went through a time period when I couldn't stand floral prints and I felt like everyone was trying to force them.  I significantly remember receiving a gift from family friends that was a long sleeve cotton shirt with a small floral print ALL OVER IT.  I hated it!

Even though that was just a phase, I think of it A LOT.  I remember not being happy with lots of outfits... things that I thought were too girly and just not "me".  I was kind of a tomboy... always playing outside, playing competitive soccer and keeping up with the guys.

BUT as we all know, time passes and our tastes change... things come back in style and it's a whole new ballgame when you're in your 30s.  Now I embrace the girly, the pretty, the floral, the all-over prints!  If I love flowers so much, why can't I love floral prints??

Chris and I went to the botanical gardens the other day, for the first time this year.  We strolled around for hours, admiring the spring blossoms and sunshine.  At first, we were just walking and talking.  And then of course, I had to bust out my camera... because there were just too many beautiful colors to pass up!

The flowers were gorgeous and so bold... so I started thinking about ways to incorporate floral into fashion AND home decor!  Check out these really fun spring florals!  What's your favorite item?  Shop these looks below!

May Flowers by texassass