I am enjoying this spring weather way too much! I always forget how much I really love the sun and warm (or even hot) weather. I found this tie-neck tank at J. Crew a few months ago, and I have been waiting for it to warm up enough to wear it without a sweater. I love how versatile this tank is. It can easily be tucked in, layered, or worn as is for all different looks. Not only does this tank come in light pink, orange, olive, jade, as well as black, but it is on sale for only $30! This tie-neck tank fits true to size (wearing a small) and can easily be tied in the front or the back. I paired it with my favorite jeans, Marc Fisher heels (on repeat), and this adorable bamboo handbag from Cult Gaia. I ordered this bag during the ShopBop sale for my honeymoon in Punta Cana, but I loved it even more in person and could not wait to add it in my wardrobe. I do still need to find a small cloth bag to keep in it to keep everything from falling through the slots though. Shop this look and similar pieces below! xoxo
Spring is finally here and thank goodness because I was starting to really miss the sunshine. My coworkers and I actually sat on the patio yesterday for lunch, and I left with a slight tan and much happier spirits after a full dose of vitamin D! With our wedding coming up (just 3 months away!), and warmer temperatures around the corner, I have started adding more white into my wardrobe. My first white purchase this spring was a pair of my favorite Marc Fisher pumps. Since I already own these pumps in tan, gold, and black, it was natural to just continue my collection for everyday wear. These white pumps paired perfectly with the white piping on this navy dress from J.Crew. When I saw this navy and white dress online, my first thought was how similar it was to this navy dress I already own from J.Crew. I added it to my cart and thought I would try it on anyways to see how it fit. Y’all, this dress is hands down my new favorite for spring, and I have already decided that I will be wearing this exact outfit for Easter! The material is a knit wool-cotton blend, so it is incredibly comfortable, and the weight of the material allows the dress to hang just right without clinging. I love that the sleeves come to about my elbows because I get cold so easily. This dress fits a little loose (I am wearing a small), but a size smaller probably would have fit a little better. I completed my Easter look with these gold hoop earrings (similar) and a classic straw clutch (similar). J.Crew is currently running a promotion on new items online or in-store, so you can get this dress 10-40% off with the code NEWNEW. I have linked this look and some other navy and white dresses that are perfect for Easter below! xoxo
Our wedding is less than 100 days away, so naturally I am freaking out over here! We have made major progress on planning the past few weeks, and we just have smaller things to cross off our list now (like buying a house ha). The wedding shoes I designed with Shoes of Prey came in yesterday, and they are perfect (check out my “Wedding” highlight on Instagram stories to see the final product)! We have selected all of the music with our DJ, passed off the envelopes to the calligrapher, booked my bridal luncheon, and will have my first bridal shower this weekend! With so many things going on, I have hardly thought about what I am going to wear to all the upcoming events. Bridal showers, bachelorette party (less than a month away!), bridal luncheon and rehearsal dinner will all need white outfits. Since the vast majority of my closet is black, finding white outfits has been a little difficult for me. Most white dresses, tops, and skirts are a little see through, and most white accessories are slightly off white. A few white pieces I have found and love include this adorable white lace dress from Anthropologie. It fits perfectly, and the tea length is great for luncheons and showers (full post coming soon). I also found this fun Rag and Bone dress at Neiman Marcus Last Call and love the small cutout in the back. I will have it slightly altered to fit just right through the waist though. Of course I had to order my favorite Marc Fisher pumps in white, but I am also majorly crushing on these white Marc Fisher wedges for a more casual look. I have linked all of my favorite white pieces for future brides or to add to your spring wardrobe below! xoxo
The weather is finally warming up here in Dallas! I am starting to put away those wool sweaters and transition pieces of my closet from winter to spring. I found this black lace top at Anthropolgie a few months ago, and had tucked it away for warmer weather. It was perfect recently for lunch on the patio and a day of running errands around town. This black lace top is currently on sale at Anthropologie for less than $70 (selling out fast). It comes in both black and white (tempted to order it in white too) and fits true to size (wearing a small). I love the detail along the neckline and the structure of the lace sleeves. The fit is great for layering under a jacket or tucking into high waisted jeans or skirt. I chose to tuck the black lace top into my favorite high wasted jeans from J.Crew and completed the look with the best Marc Fisher heels. I added a pair of gold hoops (similar) and this black and gold bangle that Alex gave me for Valentine’s Day (the sweetest). Shop this look and similar lace tops for spring below! xoxo
Deciding on a wedding dress was hard enough, but now I have to find shoes to go with it! I have received all kinds of advice and opinions about what color my shoes should be and what they should look like. It was all very overwhelming. After searching at just about every department store and boutique with no luck, I decided that I wanted to design my own wedding shoes. A few years ago my grandmother was on the hunt for a pair of forest green shoes, but we could not find what she was looking for anywhere. I stumbled across Shoes of Prey and was able to design a pair of green shoes that would match her new skirt perfectly. I was very pleased with the quality of my custom green shoes, and my grandmother has enjoyed wearing them since. It was comforting to know that they import most of their materials from Italy, and are backed by a 365 full refund or re-make if you are not satisfied. When I thought about designing my own wedding shoes, Shoes of Prey came to mind first. Since I wanted to be sure that my shoes did not clash with my dress, I was able to order up to five fabric samples from them to compare to my dress. After deciding on a fabric, I went online and designed every detail of my shoes to make them my own. I cannot wait for them to arrive and share the final product with you. They are going to go perfectly with my dress! Shoes of Prey is very reasonably priced, and I probably spent less than I would have in a department store. They are great for so many different needs. Whether you need a specific color shoe to match a skirt or you want to design your own wedding shoes, Shoes of Prey is my favorite custom shoe source! xoxo
Since getting engaged and registering for all these kitchen gadgets, I’ve felt compelled to improve my cooking skills just a little. Alex and I both enjoy cooking, but despite all our efforts some things just don’t taste as good when we cook at home. My friend Mel told me about a new cooking school and restaurant in Dallas called Garnish Kitchen. Next thing Alex knew, I had us signed up for their Date Night class to see what it was all about. We have taken cooking classes before and always enjoyed them, but this class was completely different. Instead of learning how to make a specific recipe, we learned the why behind every step in a dish, and left feeling like we had a bit of a chemistry lesson.
After learning to properly cook tenderloin, fingerling potatoes, and asparagus in the Date Night class, my friend Mel and I were quick to sign up for the Tapas and Sangria night. We felt like pros creating dishes of lamb, shrimp, mussels, and empanadas which were all absolutely delicious. The classes at Garnish Kitchen are different because you don’t just follow a recipe, but rather receive a lesson and demonstration from Chef Aaron Hubbard. The classes start with Chef Aaron demonstrating each step of the dish as he explains why we use certain ingredients and follow a specific order. Then you take your tray of ingredients and create the dish on your own sans a recipe to follow (so pay attention!). Chef Aaron and another chef from the restaurant walk around the room and help anyone who needs it, teaching valuable lessons along the way. When your dish is complete and plated (another great lesson we learned), everyone in the class sits down to enjoy their creations together. Since taking the two classes at Garnish Kitchen, I already feel more comfortable in the kitchen and I do not rely so heavily on a recipe as much as the technique. Knowing little things like when to use different types of oil, knife skills, and tricks to cooking a perfect tenderloin are, in my option, valuable life skills. I have already signed up to take the Red Meat class with my dad this weekend and cannot wait to learn about meat from such an experienced chef. If you are ever near Oak Cliff in Dallas, be sure to stop by Garnish Kitchen and say hello to Chef Arron and his wife Tiffany. They are open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch and dinner, and everything on the menu is delicious! Visit garnishkitchen.com to view all of their classes and sign up! xoxo
“The cook knows how, but the chef knows why.” – Chef Aaron
