Pretty Pleats

A few weeks ago my daughter and I took a trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas where we stayed at the beautiful historic Arlington Resort and Spa. The hotel sits on federal land and flanks one of the ends of Bathhouse Row. Packed with history and architecture we spent the weekend exploring sights of the past. I wore the most beautiful shade of rust with pretty pleat details paired with suede grey boots. Being from the South, we have warmer fall and winter months so I usually resort to picking seasonal colors and textures instead of tons of layers. This dress is gorgeous and comes in a variety of shades from magenta to black.

Three Tips for Managing Your Sanity at Work

Whether you work from home or have returned to the office, mental health concerns are still on the rise. Things are just different than they were pre COVID. There’s no denying we live in a different world than two years ago. However, no matter what shape things are in, we can still find ways to connect with our coworkers, create a space and environment we love working in, and enjoy our time doing the things that pay the bills. Although I am a work-from-home employee, in recent months my company has been pushing more face-to-face meetings and company events. Our home office employees have returned as have many of my friends. In a very uncertain time, I find it’s best to stay positive and realistic. Understanding that things are going to remain dynamic as we continue to navigate a pandemic and just take it one day at a time because nothing is set in stone. Here are a few ways I’m managing my sanity as I go back to see people face to face.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe

Last week I did a massive closet cleaning. I decided to discard anything I haven’t worn in two years unless it was a special occasion worthy. It was so freeing to remove dead weight in my closet. I feel like my clothes can breathe again. After I finished discarding, I made a list of things to add to my closet. I’ve had more client and business meetings as of late and knew I needed to revamp my work wardrobe (see this post and this post). Building a capsule wardrobe for the season makes it easy to grab and go when you are in a hurry. I added cotton shirts like this one from Hill House Home and these from Amazon. Then, a beautiful blazer is perfect for a meeting over coffee. Finally, adding some basics like dress shorts, a new pair of jeans, and don’t forget a few pairs of shoes.

Small Town Charm: A Weekend in Historic Vicksburg

Over the summer I had the pleasure of visiting beautiful Vicksburg, Mississippi. This historic town offered the best weekend getaway and if you are looking for a lovely place to stay in the South, I highly recommend a brief trip. Nestled along the Mississippi River there is plenty to see and do for a few days. I loved how much history took place here to include the European exploration and Civil War events. There is so much culture to soak in while you stay and overall one of my top cities to travel to in the past few years. Below you will find few of my favorite spots including where to stay, what to eat and things to see while you are there.

Fire Red

Some nights have to be documented. Last week my daughter made all A’s on her first middle school report card and I couldn’t be happier for her! I believe moments like this should be celebrated and so off we went to dinner for a special treat. Golden hour was exquisite so we stopped on the way to grab a few photographs. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of working with photographers, friends, and family to help me take photographs on the blog but my favorite person to work with is my kiddo. She’s developed such a skill set through time and these are some of her best work! I believe if you put in hard work and focus time and time again you’ll find that skill is built over time. Whether it’s good grades, or it’s a series of photographs, repetition increases the ability to get it right.

Fall Sunset Walks

A long walk is just what I need at the end of stressful days. I believe walks at sunset are one of the easiest and quickest ways to connect with your inner self and admire the beauty of the world we live in. After hours of being connected to my phone and computer - getting the chance to disconnect from techonology and reconnnect with nature helps soothe anxiety. Fall is my favorite season for sunset walks. The air is crisper, the breeze is cooler and the earth lights up with strands of gold grass and leaves. It’s truly a magical season and evening walks light up my soul.

Rainy Weather Picks for Fall

One of my favorite things about Fall is getting to pile on layers! Recently I refreshed some of my rain gear to include a lightweight olive rain jacket that can be worn over a sweater or layered with a long sleeve shirt. The price point was incredible and the cut is so flattering! Having a cinched waist gives a feminine shape to the jacket without a lot of bulk. Although I love my Hunter rain boots (I have a tan pair of the original tall and then a patent red version of the huntress) I decided to opt for a shorter boot this season. Again, going with an olive green I picked these up from Amazon. After walking around for an hour in them as a test run I was surprised by how comfortable they are! You can shop both my jacket and boots as well as a bunch of other chic options below to brighten gloomy days!

Fashion, Petite Style, Lifestyle, StyleCrystal LowySeptember 17, 2021Rain Coat, Rainboots, Rain Style, Fall Style, Olive Jacket, amazon, AmazonComment

Fall Color Palette from Amazon

Fall is approaching next week and I’m here for it! I mentioned recently that we won’t get a true Fall for a few more months, but I am transitioning my color palette and textiles over to Autumn hues like burnt umber, walnut, olive, mustard, and sage. Recently, I’ve been drawn to shades of green and rich browns. If you live in a warm climate like me, you can get into the Fall spirit by incorporating short sleeve or sleeveless lightweight sweaters. I’ve also started updating my work wardrobe for in-person meetings as well as shoe choices to include short rain boots, mary janes, and textured pumps. Below is a quick round-up of my current favorite purchases on Amazon!

Lifestyle, Petite Style, StyleCrystal LowySeptember 14, 2021Style 31, Fall Style, Dresses, Boots, Hat, amazon, Amazon ShopComment

Postcards from North Padre Island

The island stretches a full 60 miles until you reach the Mansfield Channel that separates South Padre Island from North Padre Island. It’s absolutely beautiful and I look forward to getting the opportunity to come back and camp for a few days. I highly recommend bringing hiking boots so you can explore the beautiful sand dunes and grasslands. You’ll need to watch out for rattlesnakes, but other than that it’s a pretty mild hiking environment. You can watch the sunset over the Madre Lagoon which is one of seven estuaries in the world. I also recommend bringing a cooler with extra food and snacks in the event you were stuck. There’s not a lot of people as you get further down the coast (sometimes miles in between campsites) so keeping enough food and water on hand is essential.

Work Wardrobe Refresh

The world is coming back into motion and I have to tell you, I’m here for it! Yesterday I had to drive into Houston for a business meeting and I realized over the past few months I really needed to up my work wardrobe. After living in sweat pants and tank tops for what seems an eternity, it was finally time to grab a few new items for work events. So many offices are re-opening or moving to part-time staff working at the office. I figured many of you could also benefit from a few new work inspired items for your wardrobe, too.

Welcome to 36

Wow! I’m not going to lie as I sit here and write early this morning I cannot believe I’m turning 36 years old in a few hours. Age is funny. I remember a few years back when I lacked purpose in life I felt old and withered. These days I feel like my life has just begun. I feel vibrant, alive, and excited when I rise each morning. I feel like tackling the day is a privilege, not a chore. Over the past two years, so much of my life changed and I’m here for it! I’m living proof that you should not give up on your dreams. Keep going, keep striving, keep doing the baby steps until you reach what you’re after.

Wearing Confidence

A few years back I went through a period of time where I was really shy. Growing up we traveled all over and I was constantly the new kid. It was so embarrassing to eat lunch alone until I made friends. Later on, I struggled with anxiety and found social interactions intimidating all over again. I started working on better lifestyle habits and slowly gained more and more confidence. Just about that time a friend of mine reached out and introduced me to the most amazing mascara. I partnered with a company and immediately was plugged into a team of girls who really cheered me on! We became fast friends over Facebook and they would give me encouragement when I posted! I had no idea how much I needed that in my life and am forever grateful.

Meet My New Personal Trainer

Back in June, I realized I was getting bored with my workout routine. Every few months I try to switch things up or I find that I don’t push myself to workout daily. My go-to is to walk or run but I felt like in the heat of Texas summer that was even a stretch to do. Just about that time my friend Courtney reached out and offered for me to try her workout program. I told her immediately I was down! At this point, I could benefit from accountability and a new routine. I’ve been going through the workouts the past five weeks and not only have I seen muscle tone, I’ve also noticed my strength improved! She’s offering 50% off to all of my friends who register through noon tomorrow using this link so I had to pop on and give you all of the details to the program.

Getting Inspired Again

At the beginning of summer, I felt so worn out. I had just come off of a four-month push in my business and at work, my daughter broke her elbow and had surgery, and stress was at an all-time high. I felt exhausted and uninspired. Have you recently been there, too? I’ve learned as the years pass that life comes in waves. Sometimes you are riding a high and then the valleys in life happen. As I approach being 36 in two weeks I’ve been reflecting more and more about these seasons in my life. How do I manage the lows better? How do I encourage the high points to stay high longer? How do I stay inspired when I don’t feel like I have much energy? As I’ve reflected I found a few things that help me get through the waves of life.

Summer Whites

As we wind down with the second half of summer I felt like it was the perfect time to pull out some of my favorite white pieces. Being from the south, classic white cotton eyelet lace is a practical and pretty textile that’s easy to keep clean. Throw the item in the washer and line dry for the best results. White cotton pieces are worn time and time again throughout the years and my go to for getting dressed quickly. I’ve rounded up a ton of pieces below for you to shop ranging from high end to Amazon finds under $20. Whatever your budget is you can find quality pieces in your budget.

A Modern Yet Chic Apartment in College Station, TX

It’s been a place full of growth and discovery. A home filled with peace and love. I believe we are products of our environment and I sought to create a place for Skyler and myself to flourish in! From Covid to working from home to homeschool This is where all the magic happened that created the life we have now I will be forever grateful for these memories and the life we created one day at a time. The apartment is three beds and two full baths with high ceilings and beautiful granite and stone textiles. I love how much light is throughout the day! Although the space evolved over this past year, I tried to carry the same look and feel throughout the space - whimsical, chic, and feminine.

Lifestyle, Inspiration, Style, interior designCrystal LowyJuly 21, 2021Interior Design, Home Sweet Heel Clicks, Home, Decor, ApartmentComment

Sweet Summer Moments

I believe there are seasons for everything in life. I mentioned in my post last week on listening to your inner voice how I needed to take time to enjoy the things I’ve worked hard for over this past year. After a season of grinding every day from early morning until my head hit the pillow my body was telling me to get more rest. I started incorporating more quiet time, regular massages to work out stress knots in my body, and sleep to help combat the pressure. As the days began to get longer I noticed I also shifted in my sleep schedule. I awoke a little later and went to bed later. Instead of fighting this, I decided it was time to breathe it all in and just go with it. You see, as much as goals are incredibly important so is joy. Without joy, we cannot experience the fruit of our rewards. Savoring the sweetness of summer has never been so vital for me in the past. But here we are and I’m embracing this season. Time is precious and you cannot relive moments.

Warm Summer Nights

About this time of year I reach for flowy dresses and skirts since the humidity and heat are really high. Lately I’ve been pairing my summer dresses with mini bags like this one from House of Want. I love the quality of the purse and that it’s made of vegan material instead of leather. The gold hardware is also such good quality creating an expensive looking aesthetic. You can grab this one or the pink one I wore in New Orleans in a post from earlier this week. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite finds for summer right now below! Hope you guys are having an amazing Fourth of July weekend!

Petite Style, Style, LifestyleCrystal LowyJuly 3, 2021College Station, TXSummer Style, Dresses, Maxi, Style 31, PlatformsComment

Listen To Your Inner Voice

Are you one of those people that gets a strong sense of direction in the pit of your stomach? Like there’s something inside of you urging you to move one way or another? I am that person. I’ve always had a strong intuition but growing up and into my early adulthood, I didn’t always pay attention to it. In fact, sometimes I would rationalize against it. As I’ve aged (hello 35 almost 36) I’ve learned to trust that inner voice. The inner voice doesn’t steer me wrong. In fact, every time I’ve gone against it I’ve later regretted it. I believe intuition is just as important as what our minds can come up with. I find humans rationalize emotional and illogical choices to justify doing them. I also find that we lead so often with our heads and not our hearts.

Small Town Charm: Fairhope, Alabama

On my way home from my travels this week to the Florida coast I made it a point to take a short detour through Fairhope, Alabama. It’s a coastal city about half an hour South from Mobile, AL and an hour from Pensacola, Florida. The city has so much charm it felt like I was instantly transported to a little European town. From lovely boutiques to patios covered in flowers there’s no dull corner as you make your way through the streets of their small downtown area. The city dates back to late 1800’s when a group of popular reformists decided to create a southern utopia. The city was built for creative and free thinking people. Around 1908 the city was established with about 500 people.