End of Summer...

Every year a group of us spend Labor Day weekend at a beach house to end the summer with a bang.  It is bittersweet knowing summer is coming to an end, but the weekend is always lots of fun!

This year we had about 30+ people in one huge beach house.  The house was right on the beach! 

So of course the first thing we did was head down to the beach at sunset to take a pic!

 The two girls that I nanny were also there. They are the cutest girls on earth, and were a lot of fun to play at the beach with!

 Our first full day at the beach was rather cloudy so we took more pics than laying out!

 Me and my "bestie", Beth El!

Later that night we went  

DISCO CRAB HUNTING!!

If you have never done this you should! All you need are some colorful flashlights, disco music, a net, and a group of fun people! :)

Unfortunately I have no actual photos of the the hunt.  I do, however, have pics of us taking the kids down to the beach to let the crabs go free the next morning!

 Poor little crabs were so disoriented...we shouldn't have kept them overnight. :(

 After releasing the poor crabs my sis and I decided to take advantage to more photo opportunities!

Then off to the beach we went...along with the little ones!

 I promise I wasn't playing in the sand by myself...the girls were building sand castles with me...not sure what happened to them in this picture! Haha!

 I got a tad burnt after playing out in the sun all day!

 A few final photos as we prepare to leave Monday morning. :(

How did you spend your Labor Day weekend?

 ~ Elle

Texas Heat

Living in the summer Texas heat you find you do whatever you can to stay cool!  Hair is always up off your neck and even accessories such as belts start to be avoided as an unnecessary added layer in this heat!

 That being said here are a few styles and ideas that work well in this kind of heat.

1. Airy Cotton Dresses

(Not jersey, and ones with a thin slip layer are best to hide the sweat! Yes I said it...sweat! It is unavoidable in this heat! It is almost unbearable to wear any kind of jeans! Light airy dresses are the best!)

2. Cut Outs/Open Backs

 (Keeping it classy and not hoochy is key...but anything to help feel the breeze is a plus!)

 

 

3. Printed Fabrics

(You might be asking why printed? Well not all fabric hides the fact that you are sweating bullets, and I find printed fabrics are a huge help!)

4. Swimsuits 

(I have to admit when at home I am usually working in my yard, or lounging about in a sundress or swimsuit!)

 5. Hats/Updos

(Keep the sun off your face unless you want to look like death in your later years! And keep your hair off your neck or you will die from heat!)

 These tips might seem silly to some, but if you live in Texas you understand! We are just far enough from the coast to not get much of a breeze, and far enough south to be get heat stroke!

~ Elle

Weekend Report - Part 2

If you read my last post, you know my dear friend, Mattie, came for a visit this last weekend.  We had a blast! Dinner and drinks Friday night, beach on Saturday.  Which I forgot to mention after the beach we came home cold and tired.  So of course the only cure was a nice cup of hot chocolate/coffee, and a chick flick! We watched Time Traveler's Wife. I cry every time I watch that movie!  

But I still love it!

On Sunday we decided to take a trip to Montrose for a nice Sunday brunch and some antique/resale shopping! It was wonderful and relaxing!

Both my sisters joined us!

 Above: Me with my younger sister, Jenn, from Contemporary Harbor.

 Me and my older sis, Christie!

 And of course we have Madelyn in her adorable blue skirt and lace top!

 My wonderful Houston friend, Beth El, and my sis enjoying a Mimosa!

We had a lovely brunch in a nice little patio garden at Empire Cafe!  I personally have to say I've never had a better chocolatey coffee then their 'Milky Way'!  I think I practically chugged the whole glass it was sooooo yummy!

We continued our day walking around Montrose, shopping. Unfortunately I have no photos of that as we were much to focused on a shopping! I will have to do an outfit post to show you the adorable dresses I got!  I plan on wearing several this coming weekend when I go visit my hubby!! 

 

(This fabulous comfy dress cost me a whole $13 at Ross, belt $10 at Tillys.com)

We finished the day with dinner out on my patio, proceeded by silly photos in my back yard!  Enjoy!

 Here no evil, see no evil, speak no evil!

 The more the merrier!!

 Group hug!!!

 Have I mentioned how silly we are?!?  I am going to miss Mattie so much!

Look how well my Hibiscus bushes are doing! We carted those things all the way from Mississippi because my husband bought them for my birthday 3 years back!

Speaking of my husband...I get to see him in less than 48 hours!! He is graduating Army Basic Training this weekend! But he is still not coming home yet. :*(

Stay tuned for pics of all my bargain dresses I bought for the weekend!

Fur Fabulous Wishes

Ok...so I've been craving a furry hat for months now. You know...like the solid furry ones the Russians wear? I think they are so very winter glamorous! Of course, it needs to be faux fur!  My only problem now is that it still isn't even cold enough to really wear boots here! *agggggh* How ridiculous would I look wearing fur in Texas?  You know what? I really don't care! As soon as a cold front comes through you are going to see me in fur!