Breast Cancer is something that has deeply impacted my life. Growing up my family lost two very special women to the disease. But it wasn’t something that only impacted me when I was young but the older I get, the more I am directly effected by this vicious disease. Sadly, I bet you would be hard pressed to find a person who hasn’t been effected by it in some way. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month I wanted to introduce you to an actual survivor, Elizabeth Gillett, creator of the beautiful, one-of-a-kind scarves.

I first heard of  Elizabeth from my dear friend Debby who wears them often. I always thought they were absolutely gorgeous! The colors and material were unforgettable. Fast forward a few months and I received the scarf (pictured) from my other dear friend, Cathy. Cathy is an extraordinary person. She is fun, beautiful, kind, and like Elizabeth, a breast cancer survivor. Her story, which she shares on her blog, has opened my eyes even wider to breast cancer. There are so many different strands, treatments, and questions that it can all get overwhelming. Thankfully, Cathy kicked cancer in the ass (GO CATHY!!) and is now focusing her journey on helping others through their battle (definitely go to her blog or e-mail her if you need someone). She is so courageous and I am truly honored to call her a friend.

I am thrilled to finally have my own Elizabeth Gillet scarf, especially since it came from such a special friend and survivor. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and 99.9% of you reading this have breasts, I hope you all take a moment to learn what you can do to stay healthy and knowledgable. I found this great website, or you can read her articles (and e-mail) with Cathy directly for any type of support! Much love to you all!

When I have those, “I have nothing to wear” moments, I always reach for a shirtdress. Not that they are a throwaway outfit but because they are simple, put-together, and always appropriate.  They are the first thing (besides a white t-shirt) that I throw in my suitcase before a trip. Depending on the material you can usually dress them up or down and get away with wearing them just about anywhere. When I bought this Stateside Shirtdress I debated about keeping it. Finally I pulled the tag off and just went with it. Thank the fashion Gods! I have worn this dress more times than not. No joke, my husband now calls it my “uniform.”

Because every closet needs a good shirtdress, I have found a few below that I think would be amazing! And all are under $150! Also, something to remember, a shirtdress looks great with sandals now and a scarf, boots, and blazer later (or even under a sweater)! So don’t be scared to spend money on one in the late summer. They are always a staple!

shop the shirtdress (by clicking on the image below)

Outfit Details // Stateside Shirdress (on major sale / size down), Superga Platform sneakers, Lacoste hat, Karen Walker ‘Helter Skelter’ sunnies

I can’t say that I have spent much time in the desert but it is a place I always wanted to visit. In college my roommate and best friend was from Arizona. She was studying abroad a semester and needed to bring her car back home. I happily agreed to tag along on the drive from Dallas to Scottsdale. I couldn’t wait to see a different part of the country. I remember thinking how much I loved the landscape. My friend, who grew up with it, was less than impressed. But I loved the wide open spaces, the muted colors, and the random mountain of red rock. Growing up in Houston this was all so new and beautiful to me.  All I could think about were the cowboys and Indians back in the 1800’s and how they would ride their horses on those same exact fields. I know that sounds nuts, but I love making up stories and relating them back to history.

This past weekend my husband surprised me with a trip to Arizona to check off some major bucket list items (more coming on that). To me, desert style means boots, hats, scarves, and minimalist clothing. I know the desert can get cool at night so I tied a denim shirt around my waist in case I might need it. The desert and our trip was so calming and re-centering. I can’t wait to go back!

GET THE LOOK // Blank Denim Saturated Shorts, Modal V-Neck t-shirt, J.Crew Panama Hat, Ankle boots, Ray Ban Aviator, Silk Scarf

GET THE LOOK // Blank Denim Saturated Shorts, Modal V-Neck t-shirt, J.Crew Panama Hat, Ankle boots, Ray Ban Aviator, Silk Scarf