Packing For TXSC -- My Essentials

Packing is probably my least favorite activity. I'm sure you can all agree with me when I say it's pretty awful.  What's worse than actually packing you ask? UNPACKING! I planned to post this before I left for TXSC this past weekend but with the anxiety of flying coupled with my lack of time I didn't get a chance to. Here are some of my favorite things that I packed on my trip. Above you'll see a photo of all the goodies I acquired over the weekend, and some of the fun pins we got for attending different sessions throughout the camp. Also want to give a huge thank you to Marshalls for helping me pack the perfect items for my trip!

I tend to be one of those people who puts everything into little bags. Even if it doesn't need a bag, I find a way to put things into organized bunches. I found the leopard ticket & ID holder at Marshalls and it was perfect for me to keep myself organized while going through security and the checkpoints at the airport. These cute matching KC bags (also from Marshalls) carried my makeup and all of my toiletries. I try to pack as light as possible, but that usually goes awry.

Picking a smaller piece of luggage usually forces me to pack lightly. I definitely wasn't prepared for all of the rain that was happening in Texas, but my rain boots & umbrella were truly the best items I packed this year! Although I switched outfits as much as I could, my hats and light jackets because my best friends because A. Sweaty/Rainy Camp Hair ain't cute, and B. It was chilly!

It's also not a true camping experience without my Minnetonkas.  I wore these pretty much the whole trip! My only regret is not bringing enough warmer attire for Sunday. Sunday was so beautiful and warm, and of course that was my last full day in Texas! I have a lot more to talk about in the upcoming week, but I am going to leave you with this packing post for now! I had such a blast at camp, learned a lot about myself and where I want to take my blog in the next year. I am excited for the motivation it gave me, and I truly feel recharged to take my blog in a new direction!

This post is sponsored by Marshalls & Project Fab. 

Prom In B&W

My outfit details:

Lace Canon Backless Dress . Bamboo Cutout Lace Up Booties 

Statement Necklace . Panache And Carry Green Handbag (not pictured)

all items courtesy of Lulus

Prom was magical. There was dancing, drinking, and lots of networking going on, and I loved all of it. It was a great time to meet people, take photos , and feel inspired by the decor and aesthetic the room had to offer. I think my favorite part was being on the dance floor and watching everyone loosen up and shake what their mamas gave them. It was also really cool to get a chance to meet some of my favorite bloggers in person, and get a chance to talk to them in real life. It's a really crazy experience meeting people that you feel like you already know..We're all connected in this crazy way, and I can't even fully explain it. Unless you're a blogger it's hard to understand how much we all bond, even when we don't know eachother, but it's a very cool humbling experience.

I actually had a serious outfit change mid-prom, and changed into this little number. I wasn't planning on it, but I ended up winning the item from the lulu's spinning wheel, and I just knew it was worth putting on that night. I didn't take any other pictures with it on, but I do have these from instagram that portray it pretty well. Did any of you go to prom? What was your favorite part?

TXSC -- Minnetonka Dinner

Let me start by saying that I truly had the best weekend in Austin. I had such a blast seeing all of my girlfriends, making new ones, and of course learning more about myself, and where I want to go with my blog. I have so many pictures to share, but I decided I am going to split it up, like I did last year as to not overwhelm myself or anyone else. I'm sure you understand :) Friday was spent with Minnetonka over at a special dinner they provided for some of the bloggers they have worked with and some new blogger guests (my plus 1's were Jenni & Lauren). The place was beautiful, the food was amazing, and as usual Minnetonka doesn't disappoint.

My favorite part about this dinner was being in a casual setting with a small group, and being able to actually have conversations that are more than "Hi here's my business card, bye." It was a perfect way to ease our way into the conference. I don't have many pictures of the remainder of the night because the swap was crazy packed, but I do have tons of pictures from the rest of the trip that I can't wait to share. Today is about getting life back on track and being home for once. (too much traveling!)

(group photo taken from Tieka's blog)

Texas Style Council: Thrifting/Antiquing

One of my favorite things about Austin was definitely the shopping. I found so many little treasures in the thrift/antique shops on South Congress Street. One store reminded me of Etsy because there were so many handmade items, everything from stationary, to jewelry, to clothing. I definitely brought back some great items, and I can't wait to wear some of it in my future outfit posts. Here are some of my favorite photos from the days we spent walking in and out of the stores in the rain..

 Thrifting with Amy

Texas Style Council: Poshmark Party

 Ready to go!

 A pretty photo with the littles

Andrea & Roxy

 The inside photo booth, photo by Peter Tung

 Veronika and I (ps. she's probably the nicest person ever)

 My roommate for the trip, miss wild tonic

[For those interested my dress is from Modcloth(by Dahlia) shoes are Jeffrey Campbell]

 The beautiful Blowfish display.

 The tiniest-most-delicious cupcakes in the whole world. 

 you bet your sweet behind every blogger took photos of these little guys.

 

 Brittany & Jenni

The Poshmark photobooth was hysterical, I look like a Mexican druglord

Photo with Lauren, Jennifer 

Saturday night was the Poshmark party, which was basically a huge party showcasing all of the sponsors for the Texas Style Council itself. After a long day of shopping, it was fun to unwind, meet some of the sponsors and sip wine while we got some free goodies! I really can't say enough about this trip, and everyone I met was so sweet and genuine. It's crazy how much most of us have in common, and when you meet, it's like you already knew each other and no introduction is necessary. I have a few more posts from TXSC and next week it'll be back to regular programming around these parts...Can't say I am really happy about that though, it's been SO fun recapping last weekend, and I almost wish I could do it all the time. For those who attended, which night was your favorite? Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend, the weather is supposed to shoot up again, and the rain is finally going to go away. Wahooooooo! Happy weekend everybody!

Texas Style Council: Breakfast & Chest Bumps // Our Last Day

I decided against going completely in order for the texas style council photos because it's way more fun this way. This set of photos was probably my favorite because I got to chest bump Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky, pretty much made my year...and if you see the photos on the bottom you will agree.  On the last day of our trip we woke up early and visited a little place in Austin called Another Broken Egg. Here are some photos of the breakfast and the chest bump-jump shots taken shortly thereafter. 

 Great coffee, and amazing food.. It was definitely a great place to start the day.

 All of us at breakfast

 from left to right:

Elise, Jenni, Elizabeth, Veronika & her husband, Lauren, Roxy, Amy

One of the best things about hanging out with bloggers all weekend is no one giving you the stink eye for taking 10,000 photos of the same thing (or taking pictures of random things as you're walking)...it was actually pretty funny because when our food came out, every single one of us was snapping pictures, and it wasn't weird at all! Another great part about hanging out with girls who blog is their willingness to take jumping photos in the restaurant parking lot-

exhibit a: chest bumps & high fives with delightfully tacky [I look like a snowman]

exhibit b:  all jumping together, like a flash mob [clearly we've done this before]

[some jumping photos courtesy of Amy's camera]