What R U Doing This Weekend? (Houston edition)

Houston has really been bustin' some balls getting the fashion scene up and going, and I'm all too proud of my city. With Fashion Houston just wrapping up, it looks like it's only going to get bigger and better. This week, there are three events that I am really looking forward to. On Friday, Settlement Goods and Parlor Showroom will be hosting a panel discussion with NY designers, Morgan Carper, Samantha Pleet, and Ann Yee, discussing "What Manufacturing in USA Means to Fashion." The event is from 6:30-8:30pm at La Colombe D'or. Tickets are $10 and space is limited. Register for the event below!

After the panel discussion, you can mosey on down to Houston designer, Danny Nguyen's, 5 Years Anniversary Party at War' hous Gallery for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and performances.  

Get your rest the next day because on Saturday evening, Houston Blogger Symposium is throwing a holiday party at Do or Dye from 7:30-10pm.  If you're a blogger in the Houston area, this is the event for you!

There are only 10 tickets left, so get yours soon if you haven't done so already. I can't wait to meet the Houston blogging community!

See you guys this weekend! ^_^

My Favorite Time of Year

// Étoile Isabel Marant coat / Majestic Paris camouflage top / Fragile skinny pants / Woman by Common Projects boots / Dimoni bag / Target scarf / UO watch / old rings / Essie Aruba Blue polish //

 Is that a cool breeze I feel? Yes, alas, it is! We are finally getting those on-again, off-again cold fronts that give me reason to pull out my winter gear. The next place I live will have real seasons, I swear. BTW, how did everyone fare in the sales? I made sure to avoid any retail storefront this weekend and made my only purchase today (online, of course) which I will show later in a post. I've decided that these sales are a total scam, and I need to run away as far as possible from them, which includes deleting any tempting emails telling me how awesome your sale is. Take 50% off, and then we'll talk.

I've been working on a couple of personal projects, so budgeting has been key, and I've realized that I need to scale down my wardrobe anyway. I get in these phases where I get disappointed at how overly consumeristic my habits have been.  Sometimes I just need to take a step back from my materialistic life and look at the whole picture.  Having a blog and being an avid reader of blogs seem to make that endeavor just that much more difficult.  It can easily suck you into that fast and furious world of fashion and consumption where "keeping up with the Joneses" is norm.  So on that note, I'm off to read an eBook that Bryan recommended, Clark Howard's Living Large in Lean Times. You can purchase the hard copy version here or better yet, check it out or download it from your local library like I have.

Turkey Day

// Joa + Closet sweater / F21 chambray button-up top / Target ponte pants / Converse Chucks / Skagen watch //

Before

Nom nom nom... After

Stretchy pants.  Big sweater.  Yes, that was my uniform for this grandiose holiday.  It was only appropriate to be prepared for any button-popping disaster and really, it's all about comfort when you're about to stuff your face like nobody's watching.  I supplied the crafts for the evening, and Mama P. showed us once again, that she was queen of the kitchen.  Even Baxter tagged along for his first trip ever and quickly found his special place at the windowsill.  There is so much to be thankful for, and I hope everyone shared a joyous Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Before Sunset

// BB Dakota coat / Staring at Stars sweater / Citizens of Humanity jeans / Aldo high-tops / Desmo bag / Urban Outfitters circle scarf //

Before Sunset is one of my favorite movies and also my favorite part of the day where that beautiful orange glow falls on everything.  The weather cooled down a little bit hence the swallow-me-up scarf and my favorite military style coat.  I'll be heading over to the in-laws' for Thanksgiving, which means plenty of food, relaxation, and Chickenfoot.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Myth + Symbol's Workshop Series Kickoff

Myth + Symbol had its first workshop yesterday, and I had such a great time! We painted planters and made rope harnesses for them over pizza, candy, and wine. I cannot think of anything else I would have wanted to do more on my Thursday night. I know, I'm such a craft nerd. If you're ever in Houston, don't forget to stop by Myth + Symbol. Their shop is such a treat! You can find a photo of my finished planter on my Instagram and other finished planters at the Myth + Symbol Facebook page.

Sharks & Stripes

// Zara striped top / Joa + Closet ponte pants / Isabel Marant "Bobby" sneakers / Fashionology big shark tooth necklace via Fab.com / vintage bag / Skagen rose gold watch //

Before Givenchy came out with their shark tooth necklaces, I had admired a bartender's oversized shark tooth necklace in choker form.  It was one of those shapes that I couldn't get out of my head and thus started my search for a decent substitute to her beautiful sterling silver version.  The ones I found fell short- they were either too small, not weighty enough or didn't capture the right shape.  Then one day, while browsing through Fab.com (a great site for all you design lovers), I came across this beautiful necklace that met all my expectations.  Its size and form were perfect, at least for me.  Not everyone can pull off Jayne's Givenchy number.

DIY: A Frame for Your Frames

I've been holding onto this DIY for awhile, so I've had time to put the frame to use and test it before sharing it with you guys. And the verdict is... it works like a charm! To help our absentmindedness, we have a cabinet in the middle of our home that serves as a table for our keys, phones, and sunglasses. As you can imagine, it can get pretty cluttered especially with all the glasses strewn about. So I finally got fed up and decided to do something about it. 

What you'll need:
I purchased my frame from Aaron Brothers because of their selection, and I had a 40% coupon. Thrift stores are also great places to look for frames in different shapes and sizes. You will probably want to find a larger frame to accommodate more glasses and one that is at least as thick as your glasses when they are laying flat.

1) If your frame has glass and/or cardboard, remove the glass and everything else so you're left with the frame only.


2) Place your sunglasses down and configure them the way you would want them to hang to measure spacing.

3) Hammer in nails to the sides and use pliers to wind the metal wire around the head of the nail. Remember to keep the wire as taut as possible.

It should look like this from the front:

4) Hang your glasses!
You can add as many "levels" as your frame can fit and change it up with colored wire or a decorated frame. You can even clip drawings or magazine clippings to the wire for a different take on the mood board.

Sporty Colorblocking

// Isabel Marant top and sneakers / Free People jeans / vintage purse / braided cuff from London / Casio watch //

Not that I don't normally rank comfort as a priority when choosing outfits, but this is my ideal combo for a casual Sunday- a linen baseball tee and sneakers.  Pulled out this ray of sunshine of a bag out of my box o' purses (does anybody else have one?) and thought I might as well stick with the theme of color.  Hope everyone else had a nice, relaxing weekend!  I guess it's back to slacks, skirts, and heels...

What I Did Yesterday

// What I wore: Odille dress, Minnetonka boots, vintage cuff, Zara bag // 

Yeah, that's right. I'm a Ren Fest dork.  Don't judge. I've been going 3 years in a row to the Texas Renaissance Festival (2011 and 2010), and gosh darn, I always have such a great time looking at the costumes, watching the shows, seeing everyone stay in character, and most of all, eat the delicious fair food that I treat myself to once a year. It's such a great experience for people who have never been and this year, since we went the weekend after Halloween, it felt like an extended holiday!