All White & The Art of Balance

outfit details // OTTE NY 'Sophie' Silk blouse, J.Crew Cotton Faille Pull-On shorts (now 30% off with code GOSHOPPING), Madewell Sandals (sold out but similar style here & 30% off with code SUMMER), Ray Ban Wayfarer sunnies

If it seems I have been MIA on the blog lately, it is because I have! I have this constant struggle between working on the blog and my photography. The blog is my baby and something I love but I always wanted the blog to take me in a direction where it could grow into something else. Let me just say, and maybe I will be wrong in this, but I never wanted to be the person blogging forever. I always wanted an out. So when photography picked up I went with it. And the past few weeks it has PICKED.UP. Because I am leaving for the summer everyone is trying to stock up on photos, which I love. Not because of the money but because I truly love to learn and enhance this skill. And the only way you really improve is practice. And it helps that I absolutely love every single person I shoot. Being that this was a dream of mine, I have said yes to every job that has come my way which leaves very little time for blogging or anything else.

While this is something I could have only dreamed of it hasn’t left any time for other avenues of my life. For one, thinking of my Paris trip. I know if you follow me on Instagram it would appear I have been thinking of the trip for weeks. Wrong. My sweet husband, who is supporting me on this trip in every sense of the word, is getting a bit concerned. Not only have I not looked at my french in weeks (which I have to take a language test on my first day), I have also not thought of plans, packing, logistics, and getting affairs settled in Dallas before I leave. For example, I needed to take my laptop, which I haven’t used in years, to the Apple store to get cleaned and add memory. Have I done that? Nope! Am I running out of time? Absolutely! Sometimes there really just aren’t enough hours in the day!

I am a firm believer in the idea that EVERYTHING happens for a reason. Hell this Paris trip is living proof, however I do know that things don’t always fall into place and that I need to take the time to organize and plan. There is are a lot of emotions (and money) going into this trip so it is time I buckle down and make it my priority. The past few weeks I have learned that I need to say no when I have other areas of my life that need attention. But isn’t saying no one of the hardest things to do, especially when you are saying no to something you love? I am a Libra and we are always working on the art of balance. Something I have clearly not figured out yet! But I am taking pages from my husbands book and taking this week to really figure out this trip, sort my affairs, and practice some french. I do have a handful of photography jobs but nothing that I feel I can’t handle. I hope to update the blog as much as possible this week and this summer but if I can’t I hope you bare with me (and know that I will eventually return)!

If I am not updating the blog I can always be found on Instagram, Snapchat (sothentheysay), or Facebook

outfit details // OTTE NY ‘Sophie’ Silk blouse, J.Crew Cotton Faille Pull-On shorts (now 30% off with code GOSHOPPING), Madewell Sandals (sold out but similar style here & 30% off with code SUMMER), Ray Ban Wayfarer sunnies

image shot by Meredith Braden

All White Style

outfit details // DL1961 'Florence' skinny jean, Madewell blouse, Superga Lace sneakers (GET THEM 50% off here and here)

accessory details // Ray Ban Wayfarer, Hermes "H" bangle, Croghan's Jewel Box Crest Ring, Dana Rebecca Lauren Joy necklace, Ellie Jay 5 Row diamond

photos shot by B. Hafner

What a weekend! I attended a bachelorette party for one of my favorite people – my little from Kappa – and had the best time lounging by the lake, having a dance party, and eating! Oh did I eat! I have been working hard on being healthy the past few weeks and it all went to, well you know where, this weekend. I guess you need a break every so often but it is haaard to get back on that wagon!

Speaking of delicious food, last week right before I left I attended the first ever dinner on the reflective pool at the AT&T Performing Arts center in Dallas. It was such an amazing experience and I was beyond excited to finally attend an event with the hubs. We enjoyed decorating cakes, walking the grounds at the Nashar and then heading to the pool for dinner by Wolfgang Puck. It was one of my favorite experiences I’ve had in Dallas thus far. Before the event I had the lovely hubs snap a few photos of my outfit. The invite said to come casual which is so hard in Dallas. Casual basically doesn’t exist here. They say casual and everyone shows up in a dress and heels. It is crazy and totally confusing to me! Because I am all about casual (the real kind) I decided wearing a monochromatic outfit was a great way to dress up jeans and a blouse. My philosophy as of late, “when in doubt, wear all white.” It ended up being the perfect look, even if I was the only one in jeans! Ha! The evening was a huge success and I hope to share photos soon.

outfit details // DL1961 ‘Florence’ skinny jean, Madewell blouse, Superga Lace sneakers (GET THEM 50% off here and here)

accessory details // Ray Ban Wayfarer, Hermes “H” bangle, Croghan’s Jewel Box Crest Ring, Dana Rebecca Lauren Joy necklace, Ellie Jay 5 Row diamond

Beauty Routine: Skintastic, Dallas

Lately I have been focusing A LOT on my skin. I have come to understand that the damage I did growing up is completely haunting me now and more than ever before I am scared to add any more damage. I am a sunscreen nazi and never try to keep my face in the sun for very long. Not only am I trying to avoid the rays but I have also been much more cogniseseznt of the products I use and how often I get treatments. I used to never take time to get facials unless my mom kindly bought them for me. They seemed like one of life’s little luxuries that could be afforded to be skipped. At least until I got “old” and needed them. Oh how I was wrong! I have come to learn that you can’t wait until you “need them” as then it is too late. You must be proactive and get ahead of the curve.

Because I had no clue where to start I got in touch with Skintastic, a local plastic surgery and treatment center. I had heard great things about them in the past and after doing my research I knew this was the place to be. After a look over the “menu” I decided a Microdermabrasion was exactly what my dry, lifeless skin needed. A microdermabrasion, also called a Lunchtime Peel, is a skin polishing technique, which blasts fine particles of sand-like crystals (aluminum oxide or table salt) against the skin. After that the crystals, along with dirt and dead skin, are vacuumed away and you are left with the most radiant, glowing, smooth skin. The entire process takes about 30 minutes and is completely painless.

After my treatment with Karen, who is amazing and I HIGHLY recommend, my skin was literally transformed. The next day I received THREE compliments from complete strangers. The photo above was taken two days after the treatment and has no airbrushing! Before the Micro I swore I needed botox but now I am thinking all I need is to take the time to head to Skintastic to treat my skin. I have had microdermabrasion in the past but none have transformed my skin the way this one did. Perhaps my skin was that desperate but never-the-less I will be going back for more. I actually plan to do one or two more before my summer abroad. After all, the french hardly wear make-up and have the most gorgeous skin so it is imperative I get mine Paris ready!

For more info check out the Skintastic website

image shot by Meredith Braden

*this service was provided by skintastic for review.

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