Q: What should I pack for my adult Spring Break? A: All of the things

There's nothing like a freezing weekend in NYC followed by a rainy Monday in Houston to make a gal dream of a beach vacay (preferably somewhere where wifi doesn't exist). To the lucky ones who may be taking an adult version of Spring Break in the near future, I'm more than happy to live vicariously through you - and to assist in putting together your packing list.

That's just what I did here for an amiga who recently jetted off to St Lucia. Word to the wise - its easy to fall into the trap of lusting over the sand-beneath-your-bronzed-toes-frozen-cocktail-in-hand-at-11am photos your spring breaking friends post; avoid such fomo-inducing behavior by (yes, I'm about to go there) finding your beach. And if such a quest means cranking up the heat in the apartment and treating yourself to a spiked 7-11 slushie (next stop, St. Slush-a), so be it.

Glitter Sunglasses - Gucci// Off the Shoulder Dress - Lemlem// Wood Clutch - Cult Gaia// Pink Bikini - Marysia// Pom Pom Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Red Skirt - Maje// Stripe Bikini - Solid & Striped// Hat - Valdez// Yellow Dress - Tibi// Blue and White Bag - CJ Laing// White Bikini - Beach Riot// Blue Sunglasses - Krewe// Stripe Tank - Skin// Culottes - GAP (sold out, similar here)// Blue Woven Hoop Earrings - Lucy Folk// Yellow Bikini - Beach Riot// Black Spotted Sunglasses - Krewe// Black Dress - MISA Los Angeles// Black Bikini - Beach Riot// Pom Pom Straw Bag - CJ Laing

Like a rhinestone cowgirl: Houston Rodeo

Fellow Houstonians - do you feel the change in the air this morning? Of course you do - the winds blowing in on this crisp 60 degrees Friday morning can only signify one thing - Rodeo is upon us. And what better way to celebrate the reason for the season than with this curated concoction of country-esque cuts (yee-haw). 

A little background for those that are unaware of the going-ons in my transplant state: the Friday before the parade that marks the start of the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is known as Go Texan Day (hoy muchachas), and the entire city is encouraged to don their finest Western wear.  And that they do - the leathers, the furs, the boots and the hair are nothing short of Texas-big. I'm personally looking forward to pregaming with some funnel cake before watching Mutton Bustin' (5 year-olds riding sheep - no I ain't kidding) and Willie Nelson, but until then I'll be dreaming up ways to dress my inner Dolly Parton. Let's Rodeo, Houston!   

Concho Earrings - King Ranch Saddle Shop// Gingham Top - Parker// Suede Pants - Parker// Cactus Denim Crossbody - Stella McCartney// Brown Boots - Lucchese// Texas Flag Clutch - Edie Parker// Cactus Earrings - Etsy// White Off the Shoulder Top - Alexis// Studded Jeans - Ralph Lauren// Black Studded Boots - Lucchese// Horsehair & Agate Earrings - Elizabeth Lanier Designs// Silk Cowboy Shirt - Reformation// Beaded Skirt - Parker// Don't Mess with Texas Boots - Justin// Pink Dipped Horse Hair Earrings - Katie Kime// Navy Off the Shoulder Top - Alexis// Cowboy Pants - Mary Katrantzou// Rodeo Queen Clutch - Skinny Dip London// Teal Horsehair Earrings - Elizabeth Lanier Designs// Black Ruffle Top - Cynthia Rowley// Metallic Skirt - Cynthia Rowley// Calf Hair Heel - Charlotte Olympia// Red Heel - Charlotte Olympia// Blue Bandana Heel - Charlotte Olympia// Rocket Western Shirt - Coach 1941// Suede Skirt - Blank NYC// Red Boots - King Ranch Saddle Shop

Q: Why are pastel-colored gowns so hard to find? A: Challenge accepted

In just less than a month (23 days to be exact but whose counting), I have the great honour of being a part of my cousin's (cuz-from-my-huz-band) wedding. This particular bride-to-be is one of those rare breeds who trusts her bridal party enough to give them their choice in gown (no, I wasn't even that chill) - her only request was to keep it solid and to keep it pastel. 

When you get marching orders from a gal who gives you major closet envy on the reg, you don't want to drop the ball (and not just because its a kinda-big-deal occasion) - partly because you want to confirm her faith in you was well-placed and partly to put in some effort to look half as good as the stunning surroundings - but mostly because you want to make her as happy as she makes you (the beauty of sisterhood, y'all).

And is there anything more happy than a gaggle of girls dressed in light hues watching one of their besties live out her dream day? Based on the times I've been fortunate enough to be part of the gaggle, I can assure you there isn't. 

Bebidas on the Brain

Its not everyday you meet an institution whose ambiance alone inspires your wardrobe. But its also not everyday (especially for this downtown Houston resident) that you're so plagued with indecision you voluntarily put yourself on a temporary liquid diet, consisting of a green juice (hello miss healthy), a fruit smoothie (just call me the smoothie qween), an almond milk latte (ya know, the reg), and a side order of matcha (all the cool kids are doing it). This liquid diet lasts until you flip the menu over and have a minor panic, since you're subsequently forced to decide between your choice of breakfast taco (eggs for days), avocado toast (ptbb = proud to be basic), an acai bowl (si, si, si) or a havarti & cheddar grilled cheese (when you're really feelin' naughty). 

This is just a teaser pleaser of the drinks and bites offered at Bebidas, our neighborhood River Oaks juice/coffee bar, started by the folks behind Adair Kitchen. If you haven't been yet, you must. go. now. Or wait until tonight, when they host their Wednesday night food truck dinner in ze garden.

One of their smoothies is named after the goddess of fruit headdresses herself - Carmen Miranda. I'm channeling the Brazilian bombshell in this post, while debating whether or not to Favor that chicken salad sammy to my desk (pretzel bun = worth it). 

Gingham Dress - Asos// Gumball Drop Earrings - Suzanna Dai// Fruit Hat - Valdez// Fruit Sunglasses - Shoptiques// Fruit Hoop Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Gingham Top - The Reformation// Magenta Shorts - Paper London// Off the Shoulder Dress - Isolda// Fruit Headband - Etsy// Citrus Swimsuit - Stella McCartney// Chiquita Banana Heels - Charlotte Olympia// White Halter Dress - Isolda// White Fruit Dress - Anthropologie// Fruit Cat Flats - Charlotte Olympia// Black Dress - Victoria Beckham

Flight OF Fancy

As we say ta-ta to February this week, we say hello to the coming of spring and all the weddings, luncheons, showers, outdoor parties, rehearsal dinners, sip-and-sees, Easter brunches, and cocktail-attire-occasions that make up the season. Embrace the madness, radiate the flower power, spread your wings, put some spring in yo' step, and exude the birds and the bees, flowers and the trees feelings the vernal equinox is about to usher in. 

Flower Earrings - Patricia Peckinpaugh// Flower Dress - Emilia Wickstead// Pink Earrings - Nicola Bathie// Crop Top - Milly// Pink Skirt - J. Crew// Pink Clutch - ODLR// Pink Bird Earrings - Mercedes Salazar/ Peach Dress - Rhode Resort// Bird Dress - MSGM// Green Bird Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Parrot Earrings - Nach Bijoux// Bird Jumpsuit - Red Valentino// Cream Clutch - Clare V.// Blue Earrings - Nicola Bathie// Pink Jumpsuit - C/MEO Collective// Bird Earrings - Mignonne Gavigan// Pink One Shoulder Dress - Self Portrait// Gray Clutch - Zac Posen// Yellow Bird Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Off Shoulder Dress - Keepsake// Blue Shoes - Schutz

*Insider tip - the website for Mercedes Salazar shows all prices in Colombian currency; to order for shipment to US just shoot them an email!