This past week, I celebrated my 23rd birthday, and my grandmother hosted one of her famous birthday lunches. I decided to bring out my pearls for the occasion, as well as this adorable white lace skirt I found on sale at J.Crew. I paired it with a classic black Equipment blouse (one of the most useful things in my closet) and my black and white Prada pumps. The white lace skirt fits true to size (wearing 00) and is fitted at the waist, but flares so that it is easy to move in. Shop this white lace skirt and my favorite pearls below! xoxo
Jacket, Shell, Pants: Calvin Klein // Shoes: Ann Klein // Jewelry: Vintage
This past month I have enjoyed having Monna, my grandmother, join me on the blog every Monday to share her wisdom. This Monday she is sharing her thoughts on hosting people in her home, as well as her tips for setting a table. There is hardly a week that goes by when Monna is not hosting a dinner or party in her home. Just yesterday she hosted an early birthday lunch for me. Her lunch made the day so special and more personal than eating out at a restaurant. She started realizing that people were hardly invited into homes any more, and that an occasion could be twice as meaningful to someone by simply inviting them inside.
“It is always more pleasant to visit with friends and family in a quiet atmosphere rather than a restaurant. I don’t care how expensive a restaurant is, they are always noisy and you feel forced to leave after the meal without a chance to visit. Birthdays and holidays are more special when they are hosted in the home.”
Monna always has her table set with fresh flowers as a center piece, and for dinner she likes to add candles on either side of her floral arrangement. She still uses the Gorham Strasbourg sterling silver and white china with a platinum band that she received as a wedding gift in 1958. Nice sterling silver and white china are timeless staples according to Monna, and can be updated with seasonal chargers and table linens. She completes her table setting with crystal napkin rings, coasters and glasses (usually ice tea glasses since we are in Dallas).
When hosting dinner or a party, Monna likes to dress for the occasion but still feel comfortable in whatever she is wearing. One of her favorite outfits is this Calvin Klein set because the pants are easy to move in and the jacket is light weight enough to stand the heat of the kitchen. She also likes these Ann Klein low wedges because they give her extra height but still the support she needs to effortlessly move around the house. Shop some of Monna’s favorites for setting a table below! xoxo
The constant 100 degree temperatures in Dallas have made it almost impossible to wear jeans or even most pants. This makes dressing for work a little more difficult than usual, so I went on the hunt for pants that were cool enough for the heat. I found these olive pants at J.Crew on sale and they are super light weight and the cropped length is great for the heat. I am wearing a size zero and it fits perfectly in the waist and is loose through the legs. My favorite Urban Outfitters tee goes great theses pants and Kendra Scott cuffs from their fall collection. Shop my look below! xoxo
It is hard to believe my grandmother, Monna, is 81 (almost 82) years old! Her exercise routine includes walking a few miles in NorthPark Center every morning before starting her day. Monna started walking to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, relieve stress, and improve her overall physical health. She likes to walk in NorthPark Center because it is safe, climate controlled, and the flat surface reduces her chance of falling. If you walk once around the square layout (including the short hallways), it is just over a mile. She also enjoys the ability to check her blood pressure in the mall every Tuesday at 7 am, thanks to Medical City Hospital.
“It is a safe place and climate controlled. It is pleasant because it is well kept, floral arrangements are beautiful, and I enjoy the art work. I am able to window shop all the latest trends without going bankrupt.”
When Monna started walking every morning, she knew that she needed the proper shoes to relieve pressure to her knees and hips. In order to make sure her shoes fit her needs, she went to RunOn where they recommended Asics Kayano 22 athletic shoes. Since Monna is always matching perfectly, naturally, she needed some jogging suits to go with her new shoes. She likes to buy pants with pockets so she can carry her cell phone and car keys without the hassle of a purse. Some of her favorite brands for walking clothes are Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, Tory Burch, Chicos, and Michael Kors. Shop some “Monna approved” jogging suits below! xoxo
If you are a Nordstrom card holder, you can receive early access to the sale now! If you are not a card holder, the sale opens to the public on July 22nd. Hurry everything goes back to regular price on August 8th! xoxo
This past week Dallas has been shown in a negative light around the world. The atrocity that occurred in downtown Dallas last Thursday was very unsettling for all in the city, especially those of us who have lived here our entire lives. Not only was there a sadness for the multiple lives taken, but the Dallas community felt an extra weight knowing that our city would be known for yet another shooting.
It is rare that I feel unsafe in Dallas, in fact, I have always felt that Dallas was in some sort of bubble. I have witnessed extra care from citizens as well as the Dallas Police Department to make sure the city is as safe as possible for everyone, no matter their age, race, or gender. When I came across this “I Believe in Dallas” mural, in the design district, it instantly became one of my favorite spots in the city. If you asked someone who lives in Dallas, I am certain that the vast majority would say they believe in what the community of Dallas represents, myself included.
I want everyone who visits, or lives in Dallas to enjoy the city as much as I do on a daily basis. In addition to my new favorite mural, here are my favorite places to eat, shop, spend the day, and stay (or staycation).
My favorite places to eat:
Bistro 31, Hattie’s, Henry’s Majestic, HG Sply Co., Hillstone, Javier’s, LA Gourmet Pizza, Lark on the Park, Meddlesome Moth, Meso Maya, Mi Cocina, Neighborhood Services, Ocean Prime, Rise No.1, S&D Oyster Co., Savor, Snuffers, The Zodiac Room, True Food Kitchen, Velvet Taco (I could probably list a million more places, but will stop here)
My favorite places to shop:
Highland Park Village, Inwood Village, Mockingbird Station, Neiman Marcus Flagship, NorthPark Center, Preston Center, Snider Plaza, Stanley Korshak, The Shops at Park Lane
My favorite places to spend the day:
Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Farmers Market, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas World Aquarium, Dealey Plaza, George W. Bush Library, Katy Trail, Klyde Warren Park, Nasher Sculpture Center, Perot Museum, Sixth Floor Museum, Thanks-Giving Square, White Rock Lake
My favorite places to stay (or staycation):
Hotel ZaZa, The Joule, Omni Dallas, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Magnolia Hotel, Hyatt Regency Dallas, The W Hotel
I am wearing this simple black dress from Gap that is so comfortable and well priced. It is great to throw on when it is over 90 degrees out, and also great to layer in cooler weather. I paired it with these amazing Marc Fisher flatforms that I found at Nordstrom. These shoes are super comfortable/easy to walk in and go with almost all of my summer outfits. I am wearing a size small in the dress, but it still fits loose, and the flatform shoes fit true to size (wearing size 8). Shop my outfit below, and follow me on snapchat (taylorthompson7) to see more of my favorite places in Dallas! xoxo