When Daily Harvest reached out with an invitation to try their delivery service, I was hopeful that this would be the perfect solution to healthy eating on a busy schedule! I’m happy to report that I’ve been loving the convenience, healthfulness, and deliciousness of these crafted cups (don’t even get me started on the smoothies) and am excited to share more today! (Psst… sharing an amazing promo code at the end of the post!)
Does anyone else feel like they lived primarily off of sugar and carbs over the past month? I loveenjoying all the holiday treats and candy, but once the new year hits, I’m always ready for a reset. (And for my body to remember what a vegetable is… ya feel me?)
Andrew and I have decided to try to eat more plant-based meals and less red meat in 2020, which should be interesting considering we’re basically carnivores! (Joking, but we do love our meat.) And while I’m usually pretty good about getting lots of fresh veggies and fruits into my diet, I’ve noticed that whenever I get busy, convenience, unfortunately, outweighs nutritional value.
When Daily Harvest reached out with an invitation to try their delivery service, I was hopeful that this would be the perfect solution to healthy eating on a busy schedule! I’m happy to report that I’ve been loving the convenience, healthfulness, and deliciousness of these crafted cups (don’t even get me started on the smoothies) and am excited to share more today! (Psst… sharing an amazing promo code at the end of the post!)
So, what exactly is Daily Harvest? A service that brings pre-proportioned cups packed with wholesome, delicious superfoods straight to your doorstep. Arguably the best part? They’re designed to be ready to eat in about 5 minutes!
One of my favorite things about Daily Harvest is the variety of recipes they offer. I’m known to get in a lunch-rut after a few months of eating the same thing over and over, and Daily Harvest makes it easy to keep things interesting!
One of my favorite cups they offer? Smoothies! All you have to do is fill your cup with a liquid of your choice (I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk), throw it all in the blender, and voila. A beautiful, deliicous, healthy snack!
You’ll also find harvest bowls, soups and even lattes available from Daily Harvest. I love preparing a harvest bowl, like the Brussels Sprouts + Lime Pad Thai, and combining it with a side like brown rice or salmon. A great hack for preparing a healthy meal!
When it comes down to cost, I consider what I would spend on a fast, unhealthy meal. Comparing that to a Daily Harvest cup, which varies from $6.99 to $7.75 based on what plan you select, I can’t help but feel like these are an amazing value. Convenience, taste and wholesome, healthy ingredients all in one? Yes. Please!
To make things even sweeter, use my code LONESTAR for $25 off your first Daily Harvest box!
daily harvest promo code:
use code LONESTAR for $25 off your first Daily Harvest box
The older I get, the more I love sharing about food, recipes, and what I’m enjoying in the kitchen. I’ve loved seeing y’all enjoy this type of content over the years, as well! So I hope you’re excited to hear about this healthy hack to Andrew’s and my new year’s resolution. These Daily Harvest cups are a new favorite, and I’m excited at the thought of how convenient they’re going to make our new goal of eating more plant-based meals this year!
Is healthy eating one of your resolutions this year? I’d love to hear how you’re tackling it in the comments below!
I hope you’ll enjoy this dose of Monday morning inspiration. So many spring-inspired pieces to love!
Two posts in one day! How’s that for a jumpstart to the week?! (Someone pry this third cup of coffee away from me, please.)
Like I mentioned in my first post today, I had this roundup of the cutest new arrivals to hit the web from last week all ready to go for Friday. But between the late night, early wake-up call and general non-stop nature of my trip to Birmingham, I never got around to hitting “publish.”
So, I hope you’ll forgive me and simultaneously enjoy this dose of Monday morning inspiration. So many spring-inspired pieces to love!
click directly on an image to shop
Now that the holidays are behind us, brace yourself for all the creamy neutrals, pretty pastels, and lovely layers to get us through these next few months!
This taste of spring is making me especially happy, and in the mood for Valentine’s day! (One of my favorite holidays, don’t judge me.) Dreaming of being beachside in this maxi dress and these perfect wedges. Who’s with me?!
In order to get the full picture for this past weekend, we should really start on Thursday morning. That’s when I boarded another plane… this time to Birmingham! Southern Living, only one of my favorite publications of all time, invited me along with 12 other incredible women to spend Friday with them as their 2020 Tastemakers group. Jetlag and all, I couldn’t say no!
Since I haven’t done enough traveling these past few weeks, I thought a quick trip to Birmingham this past Thursday and Friday sounded like just the thing! :) All jokes aside, I had a fantastic time with the Southern Living team, and am so excited to share more about my time there!
I also had a fun “Latest & Greatest” post all ready to go, but with the 6am wakeup call on Friday morning, coupled with the 10pm return flight home, I never got around to hitting “publish.” Then, the best weekend ever happened, so here we are! A fresh, new week, and finally a chance to share a bit more about everything that’s been going on.
That’s why today, I thought it might be fun to do two posts… first, a little weekend recap! Then, check my latest post for the fun new finds I tracked down last week!
weekend recap
In order to get the full picture for this past weekend, we should really start on Thursday morning. That’s when I boarded another plane… this time to Birmingham! Southern Living, only one of my favorite publications of all time, invited me along with 12 other incredible women to spend Friday with them as their 2020 Tastemakers group. Jetlag and all, I couldn’t say no!
the suitcase story
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The weekend got off to quite the start. In order to fly into Birmingham, I had a connection it Atlanta. Fun fact about planes that fly in and out of Gainesville… they are usually so small that carry on bags get placed under the plane. So, once I de-boarded, I waited for my pink little suitcase to appear, then off to find Bojangles I went!
About 45 minutes into my layover, I was scrolling through DMs and came across one that stopped me in my tracks. “Hi! I was just on your flight and I think we accidentally switched bags…”
Turns out, I’m not the only pink suitcase owner out there! Meet the adorable Erin, and get ready for the craziest story ever. Apparently, she had seen me in the Gainesville airport, pink suitcase and all. Turns out, she was carrying the same one, which… and get this… she purchased after she saw me post about it a year or two ago!
So, when she deboarded in Atlanta and realized she had the wrong pink suitcase, she had a feeling I had been the one she’d switched with! A DM, phone number swap and a few hours later, we, and our matching bags, were reunited in Birmingham. How crazy that she had seen me in Gainesville, how crazy that I had decided to randomly check my DMs in Atlanta, and how crazy that we were both flying to Birmingham?!
This picture will always make me smile. Stories like these are the ones I cherish, and make me especially thankful for this random, fun, crazy job I have! And for the sweetest followers in the WORLD, like Erin!
the best meal of 2020 (already calling it)
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Thursday night, the Southern Living team invited the 13 tastemakers to dinner at Automatic Seafood & Oysters. Friends, I truly mean this… it was one of the very best meals I’ve had in my entire life! Everything from the drool-worthy rolls (I had two, mind you) to the side-vegetables accompanying the main courses was absolutely divine. If you’re ever in Birmingham, you must check this spot out! Amazing ambiance, too!
I put this outfit together last minute, but love how it turned out! I layered this houndstooth coat (sold out) with a new houndstooth skirt… fondly naming the combination “houndsteeth” in my Instagram Stories. (Have y’all heard of Storets? I came across the brand via an Instagram ad and ordered a few pieces. Really fresh, unique styles. I’m a fan thus far!) To top it off? My favorite velvet headband, a slimming black bodysuit and my favorite shoes for a polished, put-together look!
southern tastemakers gathering
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To circle back on why I was in Birmingham in the first place… a few months ago, I received an invitation from Southern Living magazine to attend their “Southern Tastemakers” gathering. This is the second time the publication has held this special day, bringing together thirteen women from different backgrounds/professions/stories across the south, and I feel more than honored to have been included! You can read more about the first Tastemakers class here.
We started the day with an early-morning photoshoot, which will be in the September issue of Southern Living! Pinch me!!! (Also, I thought I had posing down for blog purposes, but I’m pretty sure I looked like a bump on a log in front of all of those lights, photographers and makeup artists. Haha! Can’t wait to see the finished product!)
After we wrapped up the shoot, we spent the rest of the day touring the amazing Southern Living facility (the test kitchens… oh my word!), hearing from some of the amazing editors (still pinching myself I got to meet the Editor in Chief, Sid Evans) and share our stories in an intimate, round-table setting.
I didn’t really know what to expect from this whirlwind trip, but I left feeling so inspired by the amazing stories I heard. There’s a special intangible quality in each Southern woman. What a treat to see that special something shine through in each, beautiful story!
A huge thank you to Southern Living for including me in this day. I can’t wait to share more when the issue comes out!
the best weekend
After all the craziness of the past week, I can’t tell you how amazing it was to wake up in my own bed on Saturday morning… with a full weekend with Andrew ahead! I honestly don’t remember the last time we had a weekend together, between the holidays, his call schedule and my traveling. The weather was perfect, and we were determined to make the most of every second!
We started out with a bloody mary on the porch enjoying the sunny (and surprisingly non-humid) weather! Ever since the bloody mary bar we had on our honeymoon in St. Lucia, Andrew has been determined to become an expert on the cocktail. This critic gives his most recent recipe 5 stars… delish!
A little bit later, we headed to the opening of the new UF Ophthalmology Clinic! It’s no secret I’m endlessly proud of Andrew and all he’s doing and learning in this first year of residency, but something about seeing the amazing new facility he’ll be working in had me bursting at the seams. It was amazing!
After an afternoon birthday party for the precious little girl of one of Andrew’s fellow residents, we headed to dinner at our favorite Thai spot, If It Is, and then to the Baylor vs. Florida basketball game! Not going to lie, it felt a little intimidating being one of the few Baylor fans in a sea of Gators, but it was equally as thrilling! So fun to come away with a win. (Even as a reluctant fan. :)
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earrings // top (old Lilly Pulitzer // jeans // shoes (old vince camuto) // bag
Sunday morning, Andrew’s sister came to visit! We started with the most divine donuts in all of Florida, Halo Potato, before a wonderful church service and relaxing afternoon. The best way to chase away those Sunday scaries!
After a big, transformative, busy, atypical January, I am feeling so at peace and thankful this morning. I’m still processing all that the Lord has shown me this month, and instead of feeling the urge to figure it all out right away, I’ve decided to do my best to rest, return to the normal swing of things, and watch and wait as my heart continues to process all of it.
I’ve also decided to give myself a bit of grace in terms of “getting back into the normal swing of things,” as I referenced above. You may remember me mentioning how I realized my desire for “routine” had become an idol in my life. (See the video here.) Now that I’m aware of that leaning in my heart, I’m determined to embrace this month for all it’s been, the travel, the jetlag, the loss-of-routine, etc, instead of fretting over it.
While January usually denotes a “fresh start” for the new year, I’ve found that it’s instead been a puzzle piece that doesn’t seem to quite fit between 2019 and 2020. So these next few days, I’m rounding out January with a thankful heart and open hands… letting go of expectations, and looking forward to the fresh start February opens with happiness and hope.
Wow… I did not mean for this weekend update to turn into a heart-to-heart by any means, haha! But you know me. When something’s on my heart, I share it! So no matter how January has shaped up to be for you, I hope you’re finding contentment right where you’re at, and thankfulness for what this first month of 2020 has brought!
Today, I’m excited to share five looks I curated from these new J.Crew arrivals. They have me itching to pack up my bags and head to the beach! Who’s coming with me?!
While I’m usually one to delete retailer emails without a second glance, there is one exception that I always look forward to. J.Crew, y’all! Whoever is in charge of their email marketing deserves a raise. Between new arrival alerts and early sale access, J.Crew seems to be my one virtual penpal these days, and I’m not mad about it.
This morning, I woke up to this subject line: “704 new arrivals!” Before I knew it, I was combing through the beautiful pieces that just hit the J.Crew website. Spoiler alert: They are so good. Spring is forever my favorite season to dress for, and I loved seeing bright colors, feminine silhouettes and even a few new swimwear styles in this new drop!
Today, I’m excited to share five looks I curated from these new J.Crew arrivals. They have me itching to pack up my bags and head to the beach! Who’s coming with me?!
look no. 1
Timeless glamour to the tee. I adore the pink + caramel color combination, and can’t get enough of this mix in particular. This pink paisley shift is calling my name. Also, these ballet slippers, which come in so many different color ways, look just like my Chanel pair!
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look no. 2
Navy or nothing, right? Add in a little rickrack trim and a bow, and you’ve got a sophisticated ensemble that packs a punch. This headband style is adorable, and I want it in every color. (The good news? There are quite a few to choose from!)
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look no. 3
Sugar, spice, and everything nice… this outfit is what my not-yet-spring dreams are made of! Cozy pieces in soft, rosy hues make for the happiest little look you can wear now through April. Are these pants not divine?
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look no. 4
White, blue and a beach! One of my favorite combinations of all time. I bought a one-piece swimsuit in this beautiful rickrack trim last year and absolutely loved it. Def wanting to add the two-piece style to my collection this year! Doesn’t J.Crew always have the best swim?!
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look no. 5
I never said I was one for subtlety! Dreaming of this vibrant, fabulous situation. You need to see these shorts on the model… the fit is too fun! Add some cerulean blues for an unexpected color combo that looks meant to be.
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If this is our first taste at spring style this year, I think we have a lot to look forward to! Question: Do you have a retailer newsletter you love?! Let me know!
Today, I thought I’d share a collage post with you about some items I packed for this time in Rwanda along with some of the beautiful keepsakes I found while I was there!
Here I am, sitting at my breakfast table. Typing on my laptop. Sipping my second cup of coffee and munching on a snack. (Thank you jetlag-induced 4am wake up.)
After 60+ hours of travel, meeting twelve women who would quickly turn into dear friends, spending time visiting different communities in Rwanda, learning more about the beautiful country, seeing firsthand the hunger epidemic, attempting to emotionally process at the end of each day, trying my best to carefully articulate and retell the stories I heard and so, so much more, it feels odd and surreal to be transported back to “normal life,” sitting here drinking coffee, sharing a collage post with you today.
This trip to Rwanda in an effort to help raise funds for the school lunch program of Rwandan-founded and operated organization Africa New Life has shifted something in my heart. And to be honest, I can’t yet put a finger on what that is. But I am praying the Lord continues to move and stretch and grow that something in my heart so that my life looks different than before, and that I’m able to share that change with you as it unfolds.
(Quick recap: Africa New Life is an organization founded by and operated by Rwandans, which began in the wake of the genocide of 1994 in an effort to transform lives and communities through preaching the Gospel of Christ and Acts of Compassion. Their Food For Tomorrow fund exists to supply students with a nutritious lunch every school day, so they can growing and learning regardless of what is available at home!)
I want to take a second real quick to just thank you. Friends, I am so moved by those of you who decided to stay invested in what was happening last week. (And if you don’t follow me on Instagram, please take a second to view my “Rwanda” highlights here.) There’s a weird tension in being a “fashion blogger” but wanting to your platform for things other than, and much more important, than just that. That tension, and how it would be perceived, is something I worried about for weeks leading up to the trip. So I just want to express how thankful I am for those of you who decided to tune in instead of check out. AND I am so moved by those of you who decided to give to the Food For Tomorrow campaign!!!
Here’s some AMAZING news: Collectively, you all contributed over $5,000! I’m matching $5,000, then a foundation in Austin is matching that… so all in all we have collectively raised $20,000 for this amazing cause. I can’t!!!
Today, smack in the middle of the weird tension I described above, I thought I’d share a collage post with you about some items I packed for this time in Rwanda along with some of the beautiful keepsakes I found while I was there. And there are two reasons why:
First off, I’m hopeful that if anyone didn’t have an interest in the Food for Tomorrow campaign but did have an interest in what I was wearing, they’ll learn more about the amazing movement through today’s post.
Secondly, I didn’t share details on anything I was wearing last week, and that was on purpose. I wanted to keep the focus on the story on the amazing impact that the Rwandans who operate Africa New Life are making in individuals, in families, and in entire communities. Since I did receive tons of questions about different “outfits,” I thought I’d make this a hub for those details for those who were interested.
Finally, I had the chance to visit some amazing artisans and shops in Rwanda that are creating beautiful things. It’s my joy to share them with you!
So, let’s begin with a few things I packed that were particularly helpful:
Dress is much more conservative in Rwanda, and since the thought of wearing jeans all day every day made me cringe, I decided to purchase a few midi skirts and maxi dresses for the trip. It felt odd buying more stuff to spend time in communities where there is much need, but at the end of the trip, our group was able to donate these to Africa New Life.
A few things I’d highly recommend if you’re visiting Rwanda anytime soon? First off: Birkenstock sandals. Oh my word. I used to make so much fun of my sister for wearing these, but now I don’t think I’ll be able to take them off! I spent zero time breaking them in, and felt comfortable in them day after day, all day long. Amazing!
Secondly? Melatonin gummies. I was skeptical, but these helped so much! I will say though… I had some odd, vivid dreams when using them, haha. Has this happened to anyone else?
Now, I’m so excited to share with you a few of the amazing places in Rwanda we got to shop!
DuHope // This beautiful shop exists to create a safe and holistic way for Rwandan women to exit sex work. The pieces in this store were absolutely beautiful! I walked away with these gorgeous earrings and wore them throughout the trip. They were definitely my most-asked-about piece from the trip, and you can make them yours while contributing to an amazing cause for just $26! Follow DuHope on Instagram here!
Rwanda Clothing // Not only is this gorgeous store packed with everything from baskets to furniture to jewelry to clothing and more, it’s run by the most amazing #bossbabe, Joselyne Umutoniwase. We had the privilege of meeting her and seeing the below-store workshop where she manufactures her beautiful pieces. I found a stunning embroidered sheet, coffee cups, a set of beautiful earrings and much more. A must visit if you’re ever in Kigali! If not, be inspired from afar with her Instagram page.
Abraham Konga // We visited this amazing store twice during our time in Rwanda. My favorite purchase from the trip was a beautiful gold cross bracelet, but I came home with so much more! Everything from beaded headbands to colorful baskets to nativity sets and ornaments. A beautiful store operated by an incredibly talented artist. See more of his work here.
This is just a teeny bit of so much more that I’m looking forward to sharing about my time in Rwanda, and again, I’m so thankful for you taking the time to read more about it!
I’m can tell that the transition from sharing about this experience to the usual content I post here on Lonestar Southern is going to feel strange, but I’m hoping to do it one step at a time, with as much grace as possible. We’ll see how much that process is helped by the extreme jetlag I currently have going on! ;)
Today, I thought it would be fun to share a little history of bridal portraits, a few reasons why I loved taking them, and of course… the images!
It has been months since my last Wedding Wednesday post (not to mention over seven months since Andrew and I married… what?!?!) so needless to say I am thrilled to be back with another wedding-centric post!
When I first mentioned “bridal portraits”, I was surprised to receive many messages asking what on earth bridal portraits are. It didn’t take me long to realize that the tradition is mainly a southern thing, Who knew?!
So today, I thought it would be fun to share a little history of bridal portraits, a few reasons why I loved taking them, and of course… the images! (Along with the one we chose as the “official” portrait.)
We’ll start with the photos, then get on to the rambling below. :)
my bridal portrait
While traditionally, a bridal portrait features the entire dress, I wanted something a bit more relaxed and in-line with my personality. We decided on this black and white shot of me sitting on the stairs of Park Cities Baptist Church. There’s something classic about it that I love so much!
my bridals
Here are a few other favorites!
a brief history of bridal portraits
The history of bridal portraits dates back to long before cameras were around. In a nutshell, royal families would have oil portraits commissioned of a bride in her regalia to commemorate the occasion.
Fast forward to the mid-1900s. At this point, it wasn’t especially common to have a photographer at one’s wedding and reception. Brides would, therefore, dress in their full ensemble and pose for a photo at a photographer’s studio in order to capture the occasion.
This photograph was then displayed at the wedding reception near the sign-in book, a tradition that has carried through to today! Brides would also often gift this portrait to their husband for his desk. So sweet, right?
In today’s world, where nearly everyone has a camera on hand (thank you, cellphones), bridal portraits have become less of a “necessity” and more of a following of tradition. I have plenty of friends who have taken bridals, and plenty who haven’t. It seems to be a mixed bag these days.
why i loved taking bridal portraits
If I’m being honest with you, taking a bridal portrait was never really up for debate during the wedding planning process. It was something that had always been done in my family, and we (and by “we” I mean my mother and I) didn’t ever consider not taking them. I am so, so happy I did take bridal portraits, and thought it might be helpful to share why if you’re on the fence!
trial run
The day of my bridals was when we scheduled a full hair and makeup trial run with my fabulous makeup artist, Maitee. This allowed me to see my whole “look”, from head to toe, before making the final walk down the aisle. I’m so happy we did this, because after taking the bridals and seeing the images, it allowed me to make a couple of minor tweaks. For one, I realized I wanted to wear my veil a bit lower. Another small change? Making my hair a bit softer. Finally, we ended up adjusting my bow one final time in alterations to make it less “poofy” and more symmetrical. All small details, but ones I’m glad I had the chance to perfect!
more time in my dress
I also love, love, loved having a few extra hours to “play” in my dress. Just as everyone warned, our wedding day flew by. That’s why I look back on the evening of my bridal portraits and feel so thankful for the time I got to spend, on a sunny and calm evening, soaking it all in before the big day! There wasn’t a strict timeline I had to follow, nor were there hundreds of guests to greet. It was just a fun, carefree afternoon spent getting excited for the big day!
stress-free shots
Another reason I’m thankful we took bridals? What started as a sunny, bright wedding day turned into a huge rainstorm right before the ceremony! Looking back, if it had rained all day we would hardly have any photos in my dress and veil. Some of my favorite images and details of my dress and veil were captured during the bridal portrait session, and I’m so grateful we have them!
We also got to have fun. I was dying for a “cupcake shot,” and I kid you not, those were the words I used when I told John my vision. He captured it perfectly, both in his studio and at the church, and we ended up using one of them for my official portrait! My dad also handed me his sunglasses at the end of the shoot, and it resulted in one of my favorite photos:
special memories
Not only did taking bridal portraits allow me to tweak my final look and spend extra time in my dress, but they also provided me with some of the sweetest memories. It was a magical afternoon with my mother, sister, and of course, John.
I also had my dad join at the end of the session! He and I are incredibly close, and I knew we both needed to let out all of our tears before the big day. Just like we had predicted, waterworks were flowin’. Now, granted, we were still very emotional at the ceremony. But it was definitely worth it to get the initial cry-fest out of the way! (Here’s me seeing my dad right when he walked up.)
This is also one of my favorite photographs ever, and one I’ll cherish my whole life.
“should i take bridal portraits?”
I think this question really comes down to what is most important to you in terms of budgeting. Choosing not to take portraits can, on the one hand, be a great way to save money. Plus, odds are you will be able to take the same type of photos on your actual wedding day! And honestly, I don’t know that anyone truly misses seeing a portrait at the reception. The bride is right there, isn’t she?!
If, however, you love the tradition of capturing a portrait and it’s not too detrimental to your budget, it can be a great way to capture some special moments before the big day. I also think it’s a great way to take away some of your anxiety/nerves in regards to your hair and makeup for the day-of!
Hopefully this answers all of your questions regarding bridal portraits, but if not, please let me know in the comments below! Now I’d love to know… did you take bridal portraits, or do you think you will?
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