sunday brunch

sunday i went to brunch at one of my favorite spots, cafe degas, to celebrate one of my greatest friends birthdays. it was a lovely time and delicious as always.  i wasn't planning on doing an outfit post because this weekend was rather busy (more on that in tomorrows post). but jeremy and i decided to quickly take a couple pictures before i had to meet the group for brunch. this scalloped dress is my favorite. it was my go to all summer for parties and weddings. i love that i can still make it work in the fall by layering a button down underneath. i am already thinking it will look great with a black blazer, tights, and black booties.  by the way, i totally would not mind to live on this street :)

outfit details: {dress: j.crew (on sale in blue), chambray: j.crew, necklace: j.crew, shoes: tory burch, bag: louis vuitton, sunglasses: ray ban.} 

happy monday, friends! 

friday five

hi! here are some things i am loving this week...

{1. my wedding invitation envelopes are addressed! my friend did the most beautiful calligraphy on them. i have been telling everyone they will not want to throw the envelope away because they are that pretty. and her packaging was super cute too.}

{2. mini pumpkins. i can not get enough. jeremy and i went to whole foods last night to grab some sushi and i just had to grab some mini pumpkins, as well. i could not pass them up. i bought five (two for home and three for my classroom). i will be going back for larger ones for my porch asap!} 

{3. these books are helping me plan, stay organized, and optimistic about my dreams.} 

{4. this maxi i got from hattie sparks. i am loving the colors and the fun print. i will be wearing this little number to camilyn beth's show on sunday! i also figure this is a great fall transition piece as the color scheme is darker than the rest of my maxi collection. also, once it gets cooler i can throw a leather jacket or cardigan on top and call it a night. i just love maxi dresses...too comfortable} 

{5. nola fashion week "shop your city day". while i won't be able to shop at every boutique participating tomorrow, i will be heading to hattie sparks for the camilyn beth trunk show (read all about it here). she will be debuting her fall/winter 2013 line and i couldn't be more excited to see her pretty designs. i am hoping to find something for my bachelorette!} 

happy friday, y'all! 

wednesday words

this has been a season where jeremy has been away for work more than we would both like. i have truly learned to enjoy my own company. sure i have the wedding to occupy my time (and some exciting planning for the future, too), but i have truly enjoyed spending quality time with myself. i have learned a lot during my quiet times through devotion and prayer...being with myself has given me some extra time for that kinda good stuff. i hope all of you make some time to enjoy your own company from time to time (whether it's forced or intentional). it's good for the soul! 

happy wednesday, y'all! 

my bridal shower

happy monday! i hope today has treated y'all well! my day was quite busy, between an in-school field trip and organizing monday papers....i am exhausted!

i wanted to share my bridal shower with y'all today that just took place this past saturday. it was such a special, sweet day thrown by my wonderful bridesmaids (and sweet mama). one of my bridesmaids hosted the shower in her gorgeous home and everything came together beautifully. i know my girls did a lot of planning and i am beyond thankful. it could not have been a more exciting and fun experience for me! i am so ready for the big day now...exactly 2 months from today! its go time now, y'all!!

  

mimosa bar with fresh berries and juices. and champs of course ;)

the most perfectly pretty cake.

this was the table in the foyer greeting guests when they arrived. my very talented friend custom made the "hitched" sign, the garland is from here, and i of course used my kate spade "things we love" coffee table book as my guest book. it was the perfect book for my shower...bright, colorful, and happy! 

i wore my favorite dress...the fabulous camilyn beth go go dress, that i love so much. i can't wait to wear this one to my rehearsal dinner in november. speaking of camilyn, anyone attending her show during new orleans fashion week this sunday? i am and i couldn't be more excited! it's camilyn's first runway show and i can't wait to go support her and finally meet her! 

my sister/maid of honor/bestie and my mama

my beautiful bridesmaids...seriously love them so much. 

and here are a few photos of some of the gifts being opened...so thankful and blessed! 

i left my shower with a full and happy heart. it is such an amazing feeling knowing that all these ladies came to celebrate little old me and shower me with gifts. being engaged is such a great, indescribable, overwhelming, happy feeling. annnnnd today marks two months until jeremy and i say "i do". i can't wait to celebrate with everyone at the wedding and marry my honey! 

happy monday!  

friday five

hi! happy friday! sorry i am so late, but here are the five things i have been loving this week...

{camilyn beth go go dress}

tomorrow is my bridal shower (eeek!). a day i have been waiting for!!! the time passed so quickly since i got engaged last november, and i am glad it did. i am so excited for my shower and i am so excited to wear this dress again. i last wore it in my engagements. i love, love, love it. 

{loren hope alex cuff}

i just got this loren hope cuff from my favorite boutique down here, hattie sparks. it has been on my wish list for weeks now since i last saw it in the store. i think it is just perfect. really, everything by loren hope is perfect. (hattie is running a 40% flash sale until midnight TONIGHT! so hop to it, y'all.)

{fall decor}

i am starting to decorate our (future) little cottage for fall, which makes me so very excited for the upcoming holiday season (and the wedding)! if only the weather would cooperate. 65 degrees would be ideal, please and thank you! 

{future husb} 

jeremy has been working out of town for a month now and i have not seen him since labor day!! y'all, it has not been easy. last night he surprised me and came home early before he left for out of town drill today (it never ends, ha)!! so needless to say seeing that face above (in person and not just on facetime) is a favorite of mine this week! 

{l'oreal revitalift miracle blur)

ok. so i have been reading about this and decided to give it a try. i bought it last weekend at ulta and have been using it ever since. i wear it over my moisturizer and under my clinique bb cream or foundation (depending on the day). it keeps my skin looking matte and shine free ALL day. i love that! i am waiting to see what it does for my pores after a few more weeks of use. so far i really like this product!  

happy friday! i am so glad it is the weekend! 

steals and deals

hey y'all! today i wanted to share some of the items i picked up at old navy last saturday. i was very impressed with what i came home with and i can not wait to style each piece!

{please excuse the background that is my closet. once jeremy and i are married and living in our home i will have an entire closet room! to myself!!! i can not wait to get in there and start filling it and decorating it! but i digress...}

printed chiffon shirt 

i really love this top. first of all, it looks way more expensive than it is. second of all, it is the perfect length to wear with a skinny jean or a pixie pant. it even looks nice with a flare. love the stripes too. you can't really tell in my picture or in the one on old navy's site, but the stripes are a taupe and light mint. very pretty. 

printed chiffon shirt

same style as the top above, but in a snake print. i really like this print. when it comes to wearing animal prints i am a leopard print girl all the way. so i thought it would be fun to switch it up a little with this neutral snake print. 

striped ponte dress

black and white is huge for fall. i have always been a fan of the combo (maybe because they were my high school colors...), so i am happy! i am a sucker for ponte. i love the stretch it provides. i am also a sucker for fit and flare dresses. i think they are so flattering. needless to say i really love this dress! it will be great with a light cardi thrown on top, with a blazer, or on its own (as it is still 90 degrees down here). i am also planning on styling it with my favorite chambray underneath. 

fox crew neck

after seeing this sweater on countless blogs i fell in love. my mom actually found one left in my size hidden behind some random t shirts. it was fate! the material is really thin which is fine for down south. a chambray or printed button up would look great under this too. 

embellished sweatshirt

this sweatshirt is really fun! i was attracted to the sequin polka dots. this will be cute with skinnies and flats for a casual saturday. i found it to run a little short waisted though. 

faux leather moto jacket

i am really loving this little jacket. i have been wanting a leather jacket for a while now but was not willing to spend the money. the faux leather does not look cheap and it fits nicely (unzipped...not zipped). this will toughen up dresses and sweet, girly tops. i am so excited to wear this once the weather gets a little cooler. 

happy thursday, y'all! 

make good use of each day

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good morning! just looking at this puts me in a good mood! i love the colors and the pretty type. i also love the meaning. it is so important to fully enjoy and make good use of the current day we are given. i am in a season of life where i am realizing that i may not have it all figured out. i am beginning to understand how important it is to follow my dreams. as much as it scares me i am ready to take a leap of faith and see where i land. i may not know what i am doing or what the outcome will be, but i know i will be ok. 

i hope y'all enjoy wednesday to it's fullest! 

mirrored gold

i have been on the hunt for a bar cart for a few months now. i am dreaming of how i would style mine and have been pinning away (follow me on pinterest). i have found quite a few carts that i love, but none that quite fit my budget. today i stumbled upon this beauty on the world market site. while it is not a bar cart it would fulfill my needs AND the price is right (under $100). also...it is gold and it is mirrored. can't get much better than that in my book. pretty sure this is being added to my birthday wish list.

gold mirrored butler tray

i also think this table top tray is super chic and perfect for displaying cocktail glasses and pretty liquor bottles. this would for sure add some glam to any countertop or table . also y'all...it is only $30. that is a steal! 

gold mirrored table top tray

what do y'all think of bar carts or butler trays? how do you or would you style yours?

happy tuesday!

laid back

outfit details: {top: loft (old), distressed skinnies: loft, sunglasses: forever 21 (old), flats: tory burch, bracelets: j.crew, loft, forever 21 (old), bag: louis vuitton}

i wore this on saturday to go shopping with my mom. it was laid back and perfect for a day in and out of shops. and, y'all these jeans! let me tell you they are so, so, so comfortable! i wear them quite a lot.  i know peplum is a little over done, but i love the loose, flowy feel of this peplum here. it is not an "in your face peplum", if that makes sense? i feel girly and (a little bit) french when i wear it!

my mom and i hit up tj maxx (found some super cute halloween decor) , ulta, DSW, and old navy. y'all, old navy has so many great finds right now. i was very impressed. i left with quite a haul that i will share later this week! get yo' selves to an old navy, pronto.

oh! and i must give props to my sweet daddy who took these photographs. i think he did a fantastic job for my very first outfit post. we had fun...while i tried not to look too awkward!!


happy monday, y'all!

friday five

I love the "friday five" posts of my favorite bloggers, so I thought I would follow in their footsteps today with my very first "friday five"! So, here are five things I am love, love, loving at the moment...

{i am loving this pestamel from loomed nola. it looks so pretty on my bed and it is the most perfect light summer throw. i know i will get a lot of use out of this since I will not be using my heavier blankets for at least a few more months. loomed nola also makes the most gorgeous scarves. a scarf will be my next purchase. but, for now, this pestamel is perfect. turquoise and stripes make such a great combo.}

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{i just picked this (new to me) bottle of moscato up on my way home from work. the packaging is adorable and i am loving its my wedding color!}

{i love my bridal shower invitation. it was custom made by a friend and i think it is just too pretty.}

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{i am loving brittany fuson anything. i am really dying over her custom wedding illustrations. i have already contacted her, and hopefully i will have one to call my own after november 23 ;). her 2014 planners are available now and i am pretty sure i will be purchasing one asap!}

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{is anyone else anxiously awaiting this sunday when philip lim arrives at target? i.can.not.even.wait.} 

well, i know i have been anxiously awaiting this weekend. i do not have any major plans, just shopping with my mom and watching the saints game, but i am very ready to relax! i hope y'all enjoy the weekend, too!  

wednesday words

{source}

Hi y'all and happy Wednesday! For my very first post I found these words above to be quite fitting and encouraging. I am beginning to refocus a few aspects of my life; I am pressing the refresh button if you will. I am basically going to do more of what makes me happy. This blog is my starting point and I couldn't be more excited! I hope y'all will follow along with me as I share bits and pieces of my life.

Happy Wednesday!