Hope you had a lovely weekend! I am prepping for a business trip and spending the weekend with my daughter and getting ready for travel. I also had such a good time at a luncheon and putting with friends at Bigshot Golf here in town. If you haven’t been over there, I highly recommend it! It was a blast! I planned to wear this dress that evening, but temperatures dropped quickly, and I ended up changing into jeans and a sweater. This shirt dress has the prettiest Madrid plaid print. Soft colors and delicate embroidery make this a really special piece. I’ve been wearing shirt dresses often lately - see this post and this post. They are so easy to throw on and look flattering on most body types. Because they are tied at the waist, it creates a natural hourglass shape. Plus, having a fuller skirt allows you to move freely without feeling like you are going to flash someone. Yes, you can even sit criss-cross legged on the ground when you pick a long enough skirt. Although the one I’m wearing is an investment piece, you can easily grab other options below! I rounded up a ton of them starting at $35. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter and win a free Younique MOODSTRUCK EPIC 4D Mascara!

My family is originally from the deep south and porches are a thing for anyone who lives in Alabama. Although I call Texas home, there are a few things from my childhood I’ve carried over here, and having a porch to relax on is a necessity. I recently made a few updates to my patio to include DIY paper lantern outdoor light shades. You basically tie a few paper lanterns together with thread and hang over the ugly old light fixture. Also, a fantastic idea for a party! My outdoor sconces are pretty deepest into the porch, so I’m not worried about wind damage. I went ahead and put together a few tips for decorating your patio!

After years of searching for a classic black shirt dress leave it to Amazon the Drop for creating what I consider the perfect one! I recently ordered this beautiful piece and put it on as soon as it came in. I recommend sizing down one size if you want it to be more fitted like I am sharing in these photographs. The dress is under $60 and comes in three colors. It took everything in me not to order a second one as soon as this one arrived. The fabric is made of lightweight but good quality cotton that’s breathable. It has a pretty cutout in the back and can be worn without a belt. The cutout has an elastic waist so it conforms to your body. I have more of an hourglass shape so a lot of shirt dresses gape at the chest and are baggy around the waist. Not this one! It fits just right in all the necessary areas.