Tank: Chloe & Katie // Jeans: Gap // Shoes: Marc Fisher // Sunnies: Karen Walker 

This past weekend I made a quick (24 hour) trip to visit my cousin in Austin. Any Texan knows that no road trip would be complete without a stop at Buc-ee’s, so I had to pick up some beef jerky to hold me over until dinner. I met some friends downtown for dinner at La Condesa, and y’all, I have tired a million mexican restaurants, but this is one of the best! We started off with the guacamole sampler, which had a traditional guacamole, chipotle purée & toasted almond guacamole, strawberry guacamole, and jumbo lump crab guacamole (my favorite of the four). They also served four seasonal salsas, all of which were full of flavor and were very spicy. For my main course I ordered the Vida de Cameròn ceviche, which had poached shrimp, salsa vida, avocado, cherry tomato, cilantro, and smoked pasilla. The ceviche was so fresh and a great lighter option after eating my weight in guacamole. Make sure you have chips left on the table because you will want some to go with your ceviche. I split a side of Elotes (Mexican street corn) with a friend and it was absolutely worth the extra $6. We honestly should have ordered our own sides.

I went to bed happily full on tortilla chips, and looking forward to my next meal, brunch. My cousin took me to Moonshine Grill for their Sunday brunch buffet, which was basically any brunch food you can imagine! I enjoyed everything from jalapeño sausage and deviled eggs, to cinnamon rolls and apple turnovers. I might have gone through the line for seconds or thirds (don’t judge), so plan on having a full meal if you go for brunch. Before I left town, I had to stop at Jo’s Coffee on South Congress for my all time favorite Belgium Bomber (aka the best iced coffee you will ever have).

I am wearing this tank by Chloe & Katie that is currently only $22 during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale (through August 8th). I am wearing a size small, and it fits great under the arms and across the chest. The length is a little shorter than most shirts, but since my torso is not very long the length does not bother me. I am also wearing my favorite pair of ripped skinny jeans from Gap (run large, so order a size smaller) and my Marc Fisher flatforms (fit true to size). Shop the complete look below! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Top: Equipment // Skirt: J.Crew // Shoes: Prada // Pearls: Tiffany & Co.

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

Images via Travis Thompson.

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

Shirt: Urban Outfitters // Pants: J.Crew // Shoes: Kate Spade // Jewelry: Kendra Scott

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

Images via Alex Phillips.

Top: Chicos // Pants: Tory Burch // Shoes: Asics Kayano 22

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

1. Dry Bar // 2. Steve Madden // 3. Kate Spade // 4. Ted Baker // 5. Rebecca Minkoff // 6. Deborah Lippmann // 7. Tory Burch  // 8. Clarisonic // 9. Diptyque // 10. Ralph Lauren // 11. Hudson // 12. ASTR // 13. Chole & Kaite // 14. BLANKNYC // 15. Socialite // 16. Dreamers by Debut

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