It’s that time again! Pamela Andino and her amazing team of creatives are bringing Houston another ultra fabulous event. Kaleidoscope Houston 2017 is here! The kick off party was held last Friday and it really got me pumped up for January 25, the first night. The theme for Wednesday in “Undefeated” which will have a sporty chic feel and feature athletes from various backgrounds. There will be music, food, drinks, dancing, and most importantly, amazing Houston creatives.
The second night’s theme is called “Collide” and will be rocker chic with a bit fur leather and shine. You can look forward to fashion runway, art exhibits, dancing, live art, silent auction, pop-up retail shops, and musical performances. Check out a few shots from the kick off party and I hope to see you Wednesday at Houston Life! Click this link for more information 🙂
Sometimes luxury is a crazy comfortable graphic tee, a pair of thrifted Levi’s, your most comfortable pair of heels, and your tried and true moto jacket. I mean seriously, when you need to look like you “tried” to pull yourself together but you really just feel like “jeans and a t-shirt” a look like this will work every time.
My friends over at Richly Clad have some of the best graphic t-shirts around. All of my favorites come from there and they’re so soft you could sleep in them. This one is no different. My “Pure Luxury” athletic gray t-shirt is everything I need and more. It dresses up a bit, dressing way down, and has all of the comfort you could ever want. As for my jeans, I thrifted a pair of vintage mom Levi’s a while ago and they’re so awesome, I could sleep in those too! Curse the people who starting the low rise denim trends. I like my jeans high with deep pockets. Lol
The sweetest thing about this look is the necklace. My dad got it for me for Christmas this year and said, I know you don’t need anything but this is what I thought a classy lady would wear. I was so impressed and happy to know that he wants to be apart of my fashion adventures. As for the hat and heels, they are totally optional. This looks works well even wit out them but I’m kind of in love with this hat!
Leave me a comment about your “jeans and t-shirt” look. Enjoy!
I know you’ve all heard of statement earrings, purses, or even necklaces but have you ever heard of a statement dress? I will keep this post brief but know that a “statement dress” is a thing! Lol
The beauty of a statement dress is that it’s one fabulous piece that commands every eye that sees it. It’s bold, edgy, luxurious and well made with quality materials. It’s design is interesting but classic. The talented design studio Inclan totally knocked this look right out of the part. This look is so strong, I nearly walked out of the door with no accessories on. Lol
Check out Inclan online and on Instagram for more information on this amazing Houston based design studio. I’ve also linked so similar moto inspired looks for you here. Enjoy!
Happy Fri-Yay! Today’s OOTD is quite simple and what I’d call, the epitome of casual style. Thanks to this Zaful.com for sponsoring this sweet shirt and Shein.com for sponsoring this ultra cool hat!
It means throwing on a comfy pair of distressed boyfriend jeans, a loose button down with cute details, adding in your favorite pair of sneakers, and topping it off with a cool fedora hat. If I could wake up every morning and wear this same exact outfit, I would. It’s safe to say this will be one of my new go to looks for all things casual.
Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite go to casual look is. Enjoy!
In Houston it’s Winter, then Fall, then Spring, and Summer will be here before you know it! You can’t really ever “put away” your summer clothing but that works for a person who cant make up their mind most times (like me).
This simple OOTD is a favorite of mine because it’s only one piece. That really takes the guess work out of finding something awesome to wear. This sweater dress sponsored by Rosegal.com has a lace underlay with cut outs. Now that takes a basic sweater dress to the next level. I adore little details that make simple things special. Now all there is to do is grab your favorite sneakers (For me it’s my chucks) , a jacket just in case “Winter” comes blowing through, and your favorite day bag.
This look took seconds to put together but looks so pulled together. Leave me a comment about your favorite sweater dress. Enjoy!
It went from hot to freezing in Houston and I’m happy about it because I can legitimately break out ALL of my faux furs!! This look is sooooo much fun all because of its unexpected elements.
First, lets talk about the elephant in the room, this ombre faux fur sponsored by SammyDress.com! I can’t lie, when I got this jacket in the mail I immediately opened it and petted it for 10 minutes. Lol It is so cozy and eye catching. This coat is for the bold, fearless, edgy woman. Just get one and think about it later! You wont regret it. Ha Ha!
I found this shameless “So Damn Magical” graphic tee at Beehive Houston. I went to a shopping event there not long ago. Not only did I have a great time, I found these cool pieces and got to hang out with amazing people. A simply worded tee with a loose fit but feminine light pink lettering is so perfect for my life. I’m not huge into pink but the symbolism in these words written in this color just did something for me.
As soon as I put my first leg into these pants I knew they’d be a perfect fit. The have a high rise, cool slits on either leg, and beautiful front seam details. What more could a girl ask for?
If you haven’t gotten a chance to visit the store in Rice Village go check it out. It is such a cute place to shop with pretty great prices. If I can afford it on a teachers salary than anyone can. Lol
Leave me a comment and tell me what you think about this look, enjoy!
Before I talk about more of my beauty regimens, let’s talk fashion! I’m a busy mom and elementary school teacher with a million things to do. There are mornings when I encourage my three year old to grab his own snacks (pre-washed fruit) from the refrigerator because I can’t peel myself off of the sofa. Lol This color blocked OOTD if for these moments.
OOTD
We will always have those events that creep up on us or have days when we don’t have the energy to put a lot of thought into an outfit. When those days arise it is great to have a “matching set” to throw on and run out of the door. This black and white color blocked set sponsored by DressLily.com is perfect for those moments. The diagonal color blocking design adds some interest to an otherwise basic look. The pockets on the pants have a white insert to help them pop a bit more too. I always like to have a bold element in all of my looks so I went for a fuzzy red purse this time. Don’t  be surprised if people start petting your purse! Lol
Beauty
Hair– I know, you must be thinking I don’t need much when it come to the hair department and your’e right. I don’t need a lot of product but I don’t need the right stuff! I’m finding so much success Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk line. It leaves my hair soft and shiny and my scalp moisturized. That’s all I need in my life right now. Lol
Skincare– I went to a bloggers brunch to learn more about Japanese skincare line Decorte. The science behind these product is freaking amazing (It uses Onsen LIVING WATER) and it smells divine. I honestly dragged my feet on starting this regimen because I knew I would fall in love with it quickly, yet the thought of replacing it once I ran out was troubling. Lol
I took the leap, and I freaking love it! I leaves my skin so soft, plump and smooth. That’s not east for my acne prone skin so I was super surprised at the results. I guess I’m hooked 🙂 You can find Decorte exclusively at Saks!
Don’t forget to leave me a comment about your favorite beauty product right now. Enjoy!
We all have big plans for the new year. Honestly, it can be a bit tough to get started right away especially when it’s a health goal. I love coffee and red wine so my teeth have taken a beating over the years. I’ve partnered with Smile Brilliant to meet a health and beauty goal in just a short time with out completely giving up two of my favorite things to drink.
Smile Brilliant specializes in high quality custom teeth whitening trays. They are made just for you so no need to worry about those generic strips that slide and move around as you use them. Smile Brilliant starts by sending you an amazing fully stocked kit that includes materials to make your custom molds,pre-paid postages, whitening gel, desensitizing gel and a storage case for your trays.
I felt a bit overwhelmed at the thought of making my teeth molds on my own at first, but the detailed directions made me feel like a pro. Once you send in your teeth molds, Smile Brilliant quickly sends back your custom whitening trays and you can start your professional whitening system at home right away.
I love that I can whiten while I cook dinner, do laundry, clean, and even write for my blog. No dentist appointments, time off from work, or inconvenience, yet this system is exactly what you would get at the dentist office.
I remember falling and chipping my tooth as a kid. One of the worse things about that happening was how terribly painful it was to eat or drink cold and hot things afterwards. One of the best things about this kit is the desensitizing gel that it comes with. You don’t have to worry about your teeth being sensitive to hot and cold things after you whiten.
I know you want to know how well it works so here are my real results!!! I can be a bit off a sceptic sometimes so after each session, I would closely inspect my teeth to see if I noticed a change. Putting my before and after pictures side by side made me so giddy! I am so impressed with the results after just 4 short sessions. In those 4 sessions I whitened for 45 mins at a time. You can whiten for up to 3 hours but I wanted to take a slow and cautious approach on this. I can’t wait to see more progress over the next few weeks!
Want a Smile Brilliant system for yourself? Enter my giveaway to win your own right here!  Enter to win a Smile Brilliant system! If you can’t wait until the giveaway is over you can order your own now. Use discount code “authenticallyb” for a 5% discount.
I’ve even included a Youtube video so that you can see how the system works in action 🙂
It’s not often that I have a look and evening plans for you all at once but today is your lucky day! What if you showed up in this fun navy fuzzy dress and wine colored hooded coat from Inclan, to Hungry’s grand opening to Upstairs on New Year’s Eve?!? Sounds like a slam dunk to me, plus you’d be supporting two Houston based businesses at the same time 🙂
The new Upstairs is having its grand opening on a very special day. Join the wonderful staff at Hungry’s Upstairs for a fun New Year’s Eve celebration. I’ve already previewed the space and sampled the food for you so trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed. The entire space is new and beautiful but you will especially enjoy the views Upstairs. If your’e still looking for something fun to do for NYE, reserve your spot at Upstairs!Â
When you walk into Hungry’s Upstairs go in true style with Inclan. This textured dress is making a statement as you enter the new year. It says , “I’m bold, confident, and ready to take on the world.” To top it all off, the rich wine color of their hooded coat will keep you cozy on the Upstairs balcony. It has two front pockets to hold your phone for quick NYE selfies and the hood may come in handy if it ever cools down here in Houston. Lol You can find their pieces at Sloan/Hall and Azuz Boutique in Rice Village and believe me, you’ll want to check them out.
Don’t say I never gave you anything! I just sat two gems right here for you. Make wonderful NYE plans and enjoy!
As you can tell by reading the blog I’m all over faux furs right now. It doesn’t even matter that its eighty degrees in December. Lol I know Houston’s weather is crazy but when it finally cools down, my furs and I will be ready. You can click each image for a direct link to each fur. Happy shopping & enjoy!
If your’e doing something a little less formal this New Year Eve and you just want to feel like a total bass ass this look will work for you. What I love about it is the unexpected details with the comfort of a t-shirt and shorts.
This mock neck top is soft and basically no frills…until you get to the faux fur on the sleeve then its EVERYTHING! Three bands to be exact and it’s just enough interest to raise a few eyebrows. The skirt is actually a skort (skirt & short combo) so you can totally rock a “short skirt” with out worrying about showing to much. Again, the skirt is simple until you lay your eyes on the lace up details on the left side. A comfortable wedge shoe a caged look and a small bag and I’m good to go.
Leave me a comment on how you plan to style your casual New Year Eve look. Enjoy!
A new year is upon us and we know a fabulous outfit won’t just plan itself. Ha ha! I’m so happy to bring you some New Year Eve inspiration this year! Although what we wear on NYE is important, the focus of this NYE look in how you want to feel. Â
While I’m out enjoying my loved ones and bringing in the new year I want to feel carefree and fearless. For me being carefree often equates to being braless. Lol You may be a bit self conscience at first but at least you wont have to spend the hold night readjusting a strapless bra. This greenish black velvet dress is sexy with out showing too much and even a bit mysterious. It has a criss cross strappy back that adds interest to an otherwise simple dress. The dress is one piece so no need to worry about multiple items. All you have left is to add shoes and some simple accessories. Knowing Texas it will either be absolutely freezing or sweltering hot so be prepared to have a jacket of some kind. I actually thrifted the faux fur you see here for about $10. Needless to say I felt so lucky finding a practically new faux fur in black! I couldn’t pass it up.
Lastly, I know it’s tempting to break out a new pair of shoes but for your comfort, choose a tried and true shoe that you’ve broken in already. You won’t want to dance all night if your feet hurt.
Leave me a comment about your favorite New Year Eve Look. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Â Enjoy!
Most times I feel like sticking to my tried and true palate of black, white, and grays. When I start to crave a pop of color I add it to my look in a bold way. For this outfit of the day, a subtle turquoise leather choker sponsored by E. Turner Couture was just what I needed.
My outfit consists of grays and blacks and I’m generally happy with that, but the V-neck line of my sweater and my hair being swept up in a head wrap left my neck feeling bare. Seems like the PERFECT place to add in this beautiful leather choker. It’s tiered and the material brings this look together and compliments my faux leather skirt. Whats beautiful about this look is that it just feels right. It’s as if the space was just right for the piece. Isn’t that just sweet?
Leave me a comment and tell me what you think about this look. Enjoy!
Before I go any further, I know…I went a little print crazy here but life isn’t fun if you don’t scare yourself a little bit from time to time right?
My motivation for this look was to simply have fun and to style something edgy & bold. I love “outside of the box” looks and as I put this together it just made me giddy. This entire look is either thrifted or already in my closet so altogether it probably cost about $25. I’ve linked some very similar pieces to help you recreate this look. You can try this look in various colors just be sure that the base color is the same. In this look it’s reds. I hope you go for it and have as much fun wearing it as I did. I guess I can call myself the “Print Gangster” now. Lol
We are well into the holiday season which means there are a few more holiday parties to hit. Why not step outside of the box a bit more for your holiday party look? One of my favorite quotes is, “People will stare, make it worth their while” , and this look matches that idea. The cool thing about this look is that I didn’t really have to purchase anything new. All of these pieces were already living in my closet with the exception of my fun new purse.
I like things that are a little unexpected so I went ALL IN with my head wrap. I see women wear head wraps often but how many times have you seen one fabulously styled with a sequins dress at a holiday party? !? I can’t say that I have. Lol
I wore this sequins dress to my blog anniversary party back in October. The great thing about this black and white sequins dress is that it translates to so many occasions. That’s the beauty of classic colors. I thrifted this red 3/4 sleeve coat nearly a year ago and I’ve finally been about to break it out. The details on this coat are amazing and its the perfect pop of color.This pop of color/contrast can be in any color and it would have the same effect.
This look could easily be overwhelming and “too much” but because everything is black & white except for the coat, everything fits right into place. The only thing left to do is put on a red lip and grab a fun purse.
Leave me a comment about your favorite bold look for the holidays. Enjoy!
Holiday shopping can be a little crazy but it’s so much fun when you can take the entire family along. That’s exactly what we did and it made a world of difference. I’m happy to be partnering with River Oaks Shopping Center to show you all there is to experience in this wonderful shopping area.
We started off at The Mad Potter to pick out and glaze some cool pottery pieces. Grant was so excited to pick his piece (An Elf), and choose all of his own colors. What I love even more is that it is definitely NOT just for kids. My husband and I joined in on the fun and Grant was so interested in what mommy and daddy were painting too. There were beautiful moments of silence while we were all painting. As a teacher and mom of a toddler, I value those precious peaceful moments.
After we wrapped up our painting session, we headed over to California Pizza Kitchen for some delicious pizza. Grant and Mike went safe with a cheese and pepperoni pizza. I took a leap of faith and tried a brussel sprout and bacon flat bread and I was NOT disappointed at all. It was so fresh and light that I could have eaten three more. Ha ha! The great thing about CPK is that they have a guarantee that if you try something new and you’re not satisfied, they’ll replace the item for you happily. How sweet is that?!?
We  took a spin by Steinway Piano and enjoyed looking  at and listening to their amazing pianos before indulging in some more shopping. We headed home for nap time to keep the tantrums away but boy did we have a full day. The best thing about it is that everything we needed was just moments away.
Take your crew for a family fun day at River Oaks Shopping Center and make a day of it. It’s truly your one-stop-shop for everything holiday this season. Enjoy!
Sponsored Post: This post was done in collaboration with River Oaks Shopping Center. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
If you don’t have a metallic piece in your closet yet, your’e missing out on a lot of fun! This metallic skirt is versatile and can go casual or dressy. This skirt goes to work, holiday parties, and out for a night on the town. You can find them is many tones and different colors to match your style. Gold happens to be my metal so I fell in love with this one instantly.
When styling this OOTD I chose a casual look and paired it with one of my tried and true sweatshirts that I’ve had for over three years. The truth is any cool graphic sweatshirt will work. Â Next, I added in my trusty comfortable black converse and my old faux leather jacket. As you can see this OOTD is super simple to put together but makes a big impact. It also helps you to remember how important it is to have staple pieces in your closet. I’ve created a completely new look with only one new pleated metallic skirt. I call that a victory yall!
Leave me a comment about the new piece your’e mixing with old items from your closet. Enjoy!
I get a lot of questions about how long my hair is right now and if I feel like I have enough versatility with this haircut. Although I am somewhat limited in my style choices I am being forced to be more creative with styling my hair lately.
Honestly, this length is a tiny bit awkward because it’s long enough to flop down when curly and wet, but it doesn’t look cute. Ha Ha! I’ve had success with pin & tuck styles, braids, and twist outs. Now I’m adding this pompadour to the mix. This style is even easier than the pin and tuck style I posted last week.
First, I used a blow dryer to stretch my hair out. As you can see I didn’t focus on the ends very much because the roots were more important.
Second, I took a small section out of the front and put the rest in a ponytail toward the front of my head.
Next, I took the hair that I left out in the front, placed it over the ends on my ponytail and smoothed it out.
Lastly, I tucked and pinned the ends and Viola! The pompadour is complete.
I hope you like this style and I will be adding more styles to the blog as i make them up. Let me know if you have questions about this this or any other natural hair style and I’ll get them answered quickly. Enjoy!
So you found a pair of ultra fabulous statement earrings, but you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed when it comes to actually wearing them. I know the feeling all too well. It’s the holiday season so I come bearing fashion advice as your early gift.
These unique Teal Fringe earrings are sponsored by E. Turner Couture’s Holiday Collection. They are colorful, big and bold. Not only are they beautifully made but they are the mother of fringe earrings with three full sections of quality material. I will always say that when you want to show off a statement piece keep everything else super simple. That way when people see you, their eyes got to you and your statement. Everything else can be “background” features.
For this look I kept all of the other colors pretty muted to let my earrings shine. My sweater has a lot of interesting features but it doesn’t over power what I want to show off. The perfect pair of boyfriend jeans, simple booties, cute purse, and I’m ready to show off my earrings and cool sweater to the world. Leave me comment about your favorite statement piece. Enjoy!
The holiday season is upon us and we will ask our loved ones, “what would you like for Christmas?” While some will raddle off a laundry list of things that they’ve been eyeing, others will be unsure. Take my husband for example who has already said, “I don’t want anything”. That’s almost the worst thing to hear because even though he says that, doesn’t mean I can sit empty handed on Christmas morning. Here is one brilliant idea that will work for anyone.
I feel like my husband has EVERYTHING! Most times a fancy dinner will have to suffice because any gift idea would really be a duplicate of something he already owns. However, he does have a beautiful, extensive watch collection. I have contributed to it over the years so I know exactly whats in it. I’ve said all that to say this! Find something that they love/collect and get them a unique high quality version of that thing.
It’s awesome to say that this post was sponsored by Jord Wood Watches because they make cool watches that add new elements to his existing watch collection. As an early treat, I got My husband the Delmar Zebrawood and Obsidian watch. They have everyone covered so you can get a men’s watch and a women’s watch as well. If you are looking for a unique watch, made of beautiful materials, check out Jord. The person who gets a Jord watch as a gift will be pleasantly surprised. Use the link below to enter the giveaway for a free Jord Wood Watch! Enjoy!
Authentically B 