St. Patrick’s Day is one week away! You might not know this about me, but I am mostly Irish and was almost born on St. Patrick’s Day so to say I love the holiday is a bit of an understatement.
I have Irish blood from both sides of my family and my mom’s parents were pretty well known for their annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Obviously celebrations this year won’t be too over the top, but as we begin to emerge from COVID-19 quarantine, it is nice to have a happy holiday to look forward to. When I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, I usually like to wear a cute green top with white jeans and add some silly accessories to complete my look. Whether you celebrate next Wednesday or over the upcoming weekend, I’m sharing my favorite styles that will make you look like you are Irish too.
Spring is finally here! Lately it seems like I am loving all things green and I don’t think I’m alone in that. According to the Zoe Report, the color green–which is known to elicit feelings of optimism and rebirth–is a trending color this season.
Susanna Merrick, founder of Aura Wear, spoke with the Zoe Report about the subconscious meaning of wearing green.
“When someone is attracted to the color green, they’re calling in growth, expansion, determination, focus, ambition, goals,” Merrick said in the Zoe Report article. “I always lovingly refer to green as the ‘Type-A energy’.”
If my color choice this season is any indication–I’m ready to get things done and look cute doing it. From my new bike to the dresses I’ll be wearing, it’s all green. Living in Austin, pretty much everyone has a bike and I am so excited because my parents got me this beautiful Reid bike for my birthday this year! It should be getting delivered in the next few weeks and I just can’t wait to bike around town and enjoy this beautiful weather.
My mother-in-law showed me this gorgeous peacock dress in the new issue of Garden and Gun magazine and I think it is an essential for your spring wardrobe. It can be easily dressed up or down, personally, I’d love pairing it with my white Veja’s for a fun lunch with my girlfriends.
Another highlight from my spring crushes is this lovely hand-knitted sweater from Fanm Mon. I discovered this brand from Arielle Charnas, the creator of Something Navy, and am just in love with their clothing. I think this sweater will help you seamlessly transition from winter to spring. I’m also dreaming of the wicker Prada bag for spring…it will be the perfect addition to almost any outfit!
While this LoveShackFancy dress might not be green, it is a staple for this spring and summer. From afternoon tea to a walk on the beach, this dress will be perfect for you.
Happy Monday, friends! I am so excited because it is officially just one week until my birthday! I know I’m probably too old to feel this way, but I love my birthday and get so excited for it every year. When I was little, I would actually start planning my next birthday immediately after my birthday party that year…it was a little over the top, but that’s who I am!
To kick off my birthday celebrations this year, I’ve created a birthday dreams wish list and decided to giveaway one of my favorite items on the list to one of my lucky followers…a Hill House bath robe! I love this robe because it is super luxurious and has a really fun neon trim around the edges. I have been wearing mine non-stop and can’t wait to give one away!
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will share their first interview post-royal life tonight with the legendary Oprah Winfrey. While their story will no doubt be enthralling, what has always drawn me to the royal family is the style of the women of Windsor. From Queen Victoria to Princess Diana and the two Duchesses, I cannot get enough royal fashions.
Personally, I think Kate is a greater style icon, but I can relate more to Meghan’s style. Meghan chooses beautiful pieces to wear, but for whatever reason, the fit is usually off or it may not be the best style for the occasion, whereas Kate nails fit and occasion every time.
What I love about both duchesses is that they blend high street fashions with couture pieces. One day we might see Kate in a Jenny Packham gown and the next morning we might see her playing with her children in a Zara dress. With both women, one thing we know for sure is that whenever they wear affordable fashions, the pieces are sure to be sold out in seconds.
I am loving Meghan’s style post-royal life. I think we are now seeing the real Meghan and she is a lot more comfortable with herself. Constant scrutiny and the need to wear over-the-top fashions every day must have been exhausting so I totally understand her desire to be back in California. And what better place to relocate than Montecito? Santa Barbara and Montecito have a very special place in my heart as I was married there and have spent a lot of time in the area. I think Meghan is nailing Montecito chic and I am so happy for her.
I see Kate as the style icon because she is someone I aspire to be and has a life I could really only dream of, as such her clothes are not things I would normally wear. Meghan’s style is much more accessible and her life now is much more relatable. Once in a while I will have the same dress as Kate (usually from Zara) but it is a regular occurrence that Meghan is photographed in an outfit that I also have and that is pretty cool.
What did you think of the interview tonight and who is your royal style icon? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Spring is just around the corner! I cannot wait to shelve my boots for the season and whip out my slides. Today I’m sharing my favorite spring slides at all prices, colors and styles.
Amazon has become such a staple in my life over the past year. From coffee to clothes, I buy so much more than I ever thought I would from the online superstore because it is just SO easy, cheap and cute. Every few months I do a refresh and lately, I’m loving all things green, blue and white.
I used to think it was really important to buy designer sunglasses, but now I think that is crazy. These Celine dupe sunglasses look amazing and it’s ok if you misplace them or something happens to them because you can get two for $20! Such a steal and a great staple for spring. Another must have accessory is this layered initial necklace. I bought mine last month and have been wearing it non-stop and have gotten a ton of compliments on it.
If you’re looking to update your spring shoe collection, you don’t want to miss out on these tan bow flip flops or these Amina Muadi look-alikes. I got a pair of the bow flip flops last fall and have been wearing them every chance I get. They are perfect for the beach, running around and could even be shower shoes for the gym or dorm room as they are entirely waterproof.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know that I gave up coffee a few years ago to help ease my acid reflux. But over the last year, I have been treating myself to an occasional Blue Bottle iced coffee. I usually buy these little cans at Central Market, but you can also get them at Whole Foods or on Amazon. They are just the best. I serve mine with whole milk and over ice in this BPA-free tumbler and then usually head out for a long walk with Charlie.
To get organized this year, I ordered this Van Gogh Starry Night inspired Planner. It’s a little kooky, but I actually really love it! I love the binder size and the layout is perfect for me. I’ve also been slightly perturbed by the prices of planners lately like Erin Condren and Bando. It should not cost $50 or $100 to get organized. This planner is just $7!! Another life-hack tool I’m loving right now is the Üllo wine purifier. I am allergic to sulfates so wine can be dangerous for me because it is traditionally packed with sulfates for preservation. The Üllo wine purifier is said to filter out all of the sulfates so I’m really hoping it does!
I cannot say enough good things about this planner!! Under $7 and has the best built-in organization tools.
What are your favorite things on Amazon?! Leave me a comment and let me know!!
Wow! After the coldest two weeks I’ve ever experienced in Texas, we escaped the frozen state for the sunshine of Arizona to see my parents. After weeks of wearing layers of leggings and sweats, I could not wait to bust out a few of my favorite dresses and soak up the heat. All of my styles for the trip were under $100 and perfect for Spring!
I have been living in this oversized sweatshirt dress during this trip. I’ve mostly paired it with my favorite Veja’s, but as the weather warms up a bit, it will be so cute with sandals too. The sage green color is so flattering and the silhouette is very forgiving. Whether you’re lounging at home, running to the store or out to lunch, this is a great piece to have and under $30.
What pairs better with a green dress than a green tea?
Another favorite for the trip was definitely this green midi dress from the Australian online retailer, Petal and Pup. I cannot tell you how many compliments I got on this dress and it was a steal at $70. During the trip I wore it with tennis shoes and sandals and it looks great both ways. I got this dress in an Australian size 6 and wish I would have gotten an 8 (I wear a US size 2 normally) so I would recommend sizing up with this brand. Scoop this one up before it’s sold out!
Are you wearing your spring clothes yet? I hope you all love these styles and that you’re getting some sunshine wherever you are!
Mardi Gras celebrations around the country have been cancelled or scaled back this year because of coronavirus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate safely at home. Since I’m married to a New Orleans boy, we will keep the good times rolling by bringing Mardi Gras and quintessential New Orleans treats to our home. From King Cake to beads and balconies, we will have it all here.
In lieu of Mardi Gras floats this year in New Orleans, many people are decorating their homes instead. My in-laws have been sending us the coolest pictures from the homes in Uptown and it has been great to see the spirit of the city living on even though one of their main events has been cancelled.
For our celebration at home, I’m focusing mostly on the food. I’ll be making red beans and rice and I ordered a King Cake for dessert. One of my husband’s favorite meals is red beans and rice and since he was born and raised in New Orleans, I had to do a ton of research to get the recipe right. The consistency was tricky to achieve, but after a few tries, I finally got it and I am so proud. To add a fun little twist, I served our red beans and rice in miniature bread bowls.
Red Beans and Rice served in mini bread bowls.
Brit’s Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients:
2 ham hocks
10 cups water
2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. Crystal Hot Sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire
1 lb. red beans (soaked overnight and drained)
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onions
2 cloves minced garlic
3 tbsp. olive oil
¼ lb. hot sausage, sliced
¼ smoked sausage, sliced
3 bay leaves
1 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. pepper
To Make:
Place ham hocks, water, garlic, salt, Crystal hot sauce, Worcestershire and beans in a large Dutch oven and cook uncovered on low heat.
In a separate pan, sauté celery, onion and garlic in olive oil.
In another pan, cook sausage.
Add sautéed vegetables and cooked sausage to the red bean mixture.
Add bay leaves, salt and pepper to the mixture. Cook over a medium-low flame for four hours.
I don’t think it’s possible to have a Mardi Gras party without a King Cake. Our absolute favorite is from Haydel’s Bakery, but if you’re not in New Orleans and ran out of time to get a cake shipped, Whole Foods actually makes a pretty good King Cake.
While I didn’t bring the house float trend to Austin, I did build a balloon arch inside! This arch was so easy to assemble and I think it turned out really well. Call me crazy, but I’m still throwing beads off of my stairs and pretending I’m on Bourbon.
How will you be celebrating Mardi Gras this year? However you do, I hope you are all safe, happy and healthy and as they say in New Orleans, Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Tom Brady, the Chiefs and The Weeknd…could I ask for a better Super Bowl lineup? I have had a crush on Tom Brady since middle school and the Chiefs are my favorite team in the NFL so I will be cheering for both teams this Sunday and eagerly anticipating The Weeknd’s performance. Since we’ll be celebrating from home, I’m making my favorite chili, guacamole and buffalo chicken wings for me and my husband to snack on for the big game.
Since I went to two years of high school in Kansas and my parents lived there for more than a decade, I consider myself a Chief’s fan and I love game day at Arrowhead!
To start off our Super Bowl celebrations, I will be whipping up a big bowl of my favorite guacamole. I stumbled upon this creation one day when I was out of red onion and tomato so instead I used white onion and no tomato and it ended up being the best guacamole I’ve ever made.
Because of the cooler weather, I think Chili is perfect to cook for Super Bowl Sunday. For whatever reason, I prefer to use pinto beans for my chili so it’s a little bit different, but I love it. You can warm up some tortillas or biscuits for dipping and top the chili with sour cream, cheese and green onions. We also love buffalo chicken wings in our household. I get the pre-marinated buffalo chicken wings from Central Market and cook them at 450 degrees and 20 minutes on each side. I know this sounds a little aggressive, but they get so crispy and delicious.
And of course chicken wings! I buy mine pre-marinated and cook them on a wire rack and baking sheet at 450 degrees for 20 minutes on each side.
I love how all of these foods are great for snacking on throughout the day and they are exactly unhealthy. What are you cooking this weekend for the Super Bowl and who are you cheering for?
Happy February, loves!! I absolutely love the month of February because its filled with all things pink and just has such a romantic feeling. To help get you all in the spirit for Valentine’s Day, I’m sharing my favorite looks that will keep you looking gorgeous whether you’re going out for a picnic with your SO or for a nice dinner.
Valentine’s Day is a special day to celebrate the ones you love in your life. Whether that is a significant other, your parents, your children, a pet or even yourself, remember to add a little extra love to your day. Here are a few of my favorite things as Valentine’s Day approaches.
Keep an eye out for a *very* special giveaway I’ll be doing for Valentine’s Day with one of my favorite gal pals! What are your plans for this Valentine’s Day? Leave me a comment and let me know!
