Hello and Happy Wednesday all! 

Question: 
Do you love mac and cheese?

I do! 

And someone was able to sneak into my dreams at night and create the restaurant dedicated primarily to mac and cheese! I have been patiently waiting for this place near my house to open for sometime. When it finally opened, I just had to try it out! 

It has so many mac and cheese options! Its almost unreal! Their bowls range from buffalo blue cheese mac to lobster mac, to chicken parm and sweet and spicy mac! I met the General Manager, Wes, and he was telling me his favorite pick is the buffalo blue cheese with tater tots. So, I went with that! It did not disappoint!

Spicy, cheese, hot, and delicious! 

In addition to mac and cheese they have a selection of grilled cheese sandwiches that mirror their mac and cheese options! In fact, there is one called the best of both worlds, which allows you to get mac and cheese on your grilled cheese! 

They also offer vegan options as well as meals for the kiddos. 

One really fun catch I noticed when I got my order was that the mac and cheese came in a heart-shaped bowl! 

It is a small detail, but it is so thoughtful and creative, I really appreciate those kinds of details! In my opinion, those are the kind of things that I remember and that set places apart from others! 

Wes was very kind! He actually played a role in getting the restaurant built, so he is also now one of my favorite people! He chatted with me about the restaurant, went over all of the options -since it was my first time there- helped me select, and allowed me to take pictures, ask questions, and even let me get the obligatory foodie shot before he put it in the bag for me. 

The atmosphere inside in general is a very pleasant vibe. It is a great place to treat the kiddos on a Saturday afternoon, or a great place to order from for game day snacks! Or just a perfect place to treat yourself from time to time like I did! :D

A big thanks to Wes for his help with this post! And I know for me, I will be going back to get some more of the delicious mac and cheese! I hope I see you there! 

Thank you so much for reading! I will see you guys on Friday! =)

Hello all! Happy Monday!

I hope you all are well! 

I'm feeling a bit better. I hope that it stays that way! When I took these pictures, however, I was kind of in the midst of the worst of the anxiety last week. I had just had some counseling earlier that day, which helped a lot, and I knew I wanted to stay busy and keep my focus on other things. But I also wanted to be comfortable! So, I stuck with a very casual but very cozy look -a white sweat suit. 

I elevated the look a little by pairing it with a deep purple peacoat and a chic, black, cross body bag. 

Shockingly, I wore this outfit the whole day and somehow managed to not spill anything on it! It was a true miracle! xD

I went to another place where I really like to shoot and was hoping to have the whole courtyard to myself -it was like 1pm on a Wednesday!- but no! I had to share the space with several people. No big deal really. 

Later on that afternoon I thought about the first time I went to this particular location to take pictures. I was so nervous! I must have sat in my car for about 10 to 15 minuets psyching myself up before I finally summoned the courage to get out and get the pictures. Even then, I tried to take them as fast as I could! Now, I don't really think twice about it! 

Even with a few stares here and there, and people asking questions, I just smile, answer, and go about my day. 

It was fun to see how far I have come. And it could not have come at a better time! 

Thank you so much for reading! 

And thank you all who reached out on IG, FB, or text to send me love, support, or kind words! That really meant so much to me! 

I hope you all have a great day and a great start to the week! 

Hello and Happy Friday! 

It has been one hell of a week! I shared this week on my IG stories that I have been dealing with some pretty heavy anxiety. I wanted to talk about it a bit on here for a few reasons. The first reason is purely for me. I have found getting these feelings out and written down -or in this case typed out- it can be therapeutic. But also, for anyone else who may read this and maybe struggling too. 

Social media can be a double edge sword. There are a lot of really great things about it but -in my opinion- one very big downside of it is that it can be very misleading. It can make people seem like life is always perfect and it is not. I want to be transparent with my blog and my sober journey. Yes, getting sober was the best thing I have ever done for myself. Yes, it feels great to be sober today, and yes, a lot of really great things have happened as a result of being sober. But it is not always an easy journey.  

The anxiety I have felt the last few days has been overwhelming. In the moments it felt like it was not ever going to end. And while I did not necessarily want to drink, I did want the feeling to go away as quickly as possible and that drink seemed dangerously close. Since getting sober, this is the first really challenging bout of anxiety that I have dealt with. I've dealt with other stressors before but nothing as intense as these last few days. 

I have dealt with anxiety on this level before when I was drinking. The biggest difference between then and now is that now I have solutions. Thank GOD! I have a group of very supportive friends and of course my family who I can turn to and encourage me to talk about my feelings and who offer me words of wisdom or a warm hug. Several people reached out on IG with sweet messages and love and you guys have no idea how much it really means to me. 

I am still dealing with the anxiety, but it is on a much more manageable level than it was and for that I am so thankful! 

I hope if anyone out there is struggling, you read this and know you're not alone! And feel free to reach out! If not to me to someone. And I will always advocate for finding a good counselor/therapist! There is so much to gain from therapy! 

​Switching gears completely!

Today's look is one that I really love! It is feminine and polished and kept me nice and warm all day! It is easily going to be a look I'll be wearing on repeat all season long! 

It is an interesting contrast between the different shades of blue and the dressiness of the skirt and the casualness of the vest. But I am here for it! 

The best part? Both pieces are pieces that I have had for a while now! And I am still finding new and interesting ways to restyle them! 

Thank you so much for reading! And thank you again for all of the kind words you guys sent me this week! 

I appreciate more than you'll ever know! 

Have a great and safe weekend! I will see you on Monday! 

Hello and Happy Wednesday! 

Today I want to share with you an event I went to last Wednesday. It was the 2nd Annual Vestique Fashion Show! 

I have been to Vestique several times! It is one of my favorite boutiques and I knew this event would be a lot of fun! It did not disappoint! 

It was a charity show where all of the proceeds went to benefit a charity called Channing's Joy, a charity that helps families of children with autism. 

It was held at the Bazal Gallery Lounge in the NC Music Factory. That is one of the most beautiful and unique places I have been to! It has two levels to it. The top level, which is where the show was held, was GORGEOUS! It had arched ceilings with paintings on it, and had a very elegant, renaissance feel to it. The bottom level, on the other hand, was a stark contrast! It had a very eccentric and gothic feel to it! Equally beautiful but drastically different. 

The evening consisted of a cocktail hour beforehand (I did not partake in the cocktails, just the mingling!) where there was an opportunity for attendees to bid on items at a silent auction. The show began at 8. There were three parts to it: Fall Fashions, Outer Wear, and Evening Wear. All of the styles were new arrivals at boutique, and they were SO cute! I was kind of glad I had forgotten my debit card at home, otherwise I may have spent a small fortune, as they had a pop-up boutique there as well, which featured some of the clothes from the show!

A live auction took place as well during the show. It was my first time at a live auction and I'm.... not really a fan, if I'm being honest. It was fun at first, just ran a little long for me. But it was for a good cause, so I have no real complaints! 

All in all, it was a really fun evening full of new friends, new experiences, and fun fall fashions! It served a worthy purpose and raised all of the money they wanted and then some!  

Thank you so much for having me! And I cannot wait to go shopping soon! 

​Thanks for reading! See you guys on Friday! 

Hello and Happy Monday! 

Today I wanted to kick the week off with a bit of color! 

It was so dreary and grey all weekend, if felt like a dose of bright colors was in order! And I have really gotten into emerald green! Since Fashion Week, when I wore the brown dress, green pumps combo, I have been leaning heavily into emerald green! I continued that theme with today's post! 

I also love this look because it has such a power, boss lady feel to it! I feel so fierce with these combinations of colors. And I topped it all off with a bright, red, lip! 

​The trouser are part of the Cider set that I shared a while back. 

As it turns out, they pair really well with this fall inspired body suit! The orange/reds and pale yellows really pop against the green. 

The textured bag adds for a nice touch as well! 

It is relatively new, but it has already come to my rescue a handful of times! It pairs well with just about everything! 

Thank you all so much for reading! 

I hope you all have a great weekend ahead! I will see you on Wednesday!


Pants: Cider
Body Suit: Shein
Bag: Shein
Shoes: Amazon

Hello and Happy Friday! 

We have come to the end of another busy week! And on top of that the news is too much to bear right now. Now a days when I start feeling anxious or overwhelmed, I have a few options to ways to cope. One of those ways is to turn off the tv or radio and go for a walk. 

There is a beautiful park not too far from my house and I usually go a walk there, take in the fresh air and the beauty of the leaves changing color. Or even just sit and listen to the ripples in the water. 

This particular day I explored another area of the park and found this cool spot that made for a great place to get some pictures in as well! 

The fit for today is a very casual fit. 

An oversized t-shirt from one of the best nights of my life so far! My Beyonce Renaissance t-shirt. Can you believe I almost didn't get it!? It was at the end of the night and my aunt had stopped to get a t-shirt herself. I kept eyeing it, but the only sizes they had were a small and a large. I figured a small would be really snug and then shrink on top of that. Impulsively, I got the large, suspecting it would shrink as well and maybe fit more like a medium. It did not. But it worked out anyway! I still love it. 

It is funny because even though this is a very casual look, a lot of thought went into it. I opted for the greenish-blue biker shorts because I loved how the black and grey in the t-shirt looked against the shorts. I tied a flannel shirt around my waist 1. to act as a belt of sorts and cinch my waist a bit and 2. in case I got chilly while out, I could use it as extra coverage. 

This is a look I have worn a lot all summer and so far, this fall. (Okay, maybe not this EXACT look but ones very similar!)

It has an effortless, get-up-and-go, vibe to it, which I am always a fan of. You still look put together though. I also appreciate it because it is another side to my constantly changing styles. I feel like this summer in particular, I really nailed the dressed down, casual looks! I used to always go to leggings and a t-shirt. But this summer, I feel like I have found ways to make dressing down more interesting and more me! 

Thank you for reading!  Have a great weekend ahead and please be safe! 

Hello friends! Happy Monday! 

I am going to start out this week with a heart of gratitude. I have had what I felt was a rough few weeks, but I am trying to look at all of these setbacks with gratitude instead of frustration. I'm grateful I have a place to stay while I look for my own place, I am grateful that I have a lot of people around me trying to help me through the home-buying process and make smart decisions. I am grateful for my friends that I can vent to and who support me and encourage me. 

Blog wise, I am grateful because even though I have been crazy busy lately, I have made connections and enjoyed moments with new friends that have been so wonderful. I am grateful I have all of these moments I can now share with you guys! 

On to today's look! 

I got this dress last year, and oddly did not wear it as much as it deserved to be worn. But I am determined to wear it more this season! And it could not be a more perfect time to break it out! The temps are dipping down finally! There is a chill in the air! (I had to wear a light jacket out of the house this morning!) 

The dress itself is sleek and warm! Very flattering as well as comfortable! 

I opted to dress it up a bit more this go around. (I brought it with me to Seattle and wore it with a jacket and tennis shoes and that ended up being such a perfect fit' for Seattle!) I paired it with white boots from Shein and a white bag. 

I personally love the usage of only three colors. It keeps it very simple and clean. 

I also find that the boots and bag really pop against the dark hues of the dress. 

It was kind of a darker day when I took these pictures, which I feel really make this look work even better! 

What do you guys think?  How do you guys like to restyle old pieces?

Thank you so much for reading! Enjoy the extra video this week! I have really enjoyed sharing my time at Fashion Week with you! I hope you have liked it as well! 

See you on Wednesday! Have a great week! 


Dress: LOFT (old)
Boots: Shein
Bag: Target

Hello and Happy Friday! 

Today it is the color combo I had no idea I needed in my life! 

Chocolatey brown and emerald green! 

This was one of my favorite looks that I wore last week to Charlotte Fashion Week. I wore it to the first night of the runway shows and I felt like a showstopper! I got so many compliments on this dress! I have to give my mom some kudos because the gorgeous, coin belt is hers! I've borrowed it a few times but it seems to have been made specifically for this dress! 

Kidding! (sort of!) 

The emerald, green heels are just the icing on the cake!! 

They pair unexpectedly and yet beautifully with the brown dress! 

I could not tell you what it was that made me decide to pair these two colors together. My natural inclination was to go with a gold or nude shoe color. But out of nowhere I got this idea to try a green heel! Thank God for Amazon! I ordered these beauties and never looked back! 

What are your thoughts on this color combo? Are you a fan?

I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend ahead and I will see you Monday for another fun fall look! 

Thank you so much for reading! =D

Dress: New York and Company
Shoes: Amazon
Bag: Shein

Hello and Happy Monday! 

Fresh off of Charlotte Fashion Week and ready to hit the ground running! 

Today's look is a fun fall look that has a bit of a 70's feel to it. 

Granted, when I took these pictures, it was still really warm! Now, however, it would be perfect to wear out and about! 

The vest in particular is interestingly enough probably the warmest part of the look. It keeps in heat really well! Which will be great now that it is cooler! I have a longer one in a teal color that is also really insulated! 

I personally love styling the cropped version of the vest. (Interesting that the cropped style has carried over into autumn!) And I love the neutral color of it. It makes it easy to style! 

The denim cargo skirt is another new piece. It is really cute, but I have to be a little careful getting out of cars as it is a bit on the short side! 

I have a ton to share with you on Wednesday! So, stay tuned! Also, wish me luck! I am in the process of buying my first home! I'm excited, nervous, stressed, but trying not to be stressed all at the same time! 

I think I have found a place I like! I'm putting an offer in but I guess time will tell if I get it or not! 

Fingers crossed! 

​Thanks for reading!  =D

Skirt: Shein
Vest: Shein
Jumpsuit: Shein
Booties: Shein
Bag: Target (OLD)

Hello and Happy Friday! 

I am right in the middle of Fashion Week here and it has been such a blast so far! I cannot wait to share more with you next week! 

​The wide array of styles that I have seen are partial what inspired this look! 

Tulle is one of my all-time favorite fabrics! It can create a range of different looks! From show stopping to (like in today's look) very feminine and serene. 

The blush pink color is neutral enough to be style with many different colors, and the tiered design gives it a great deal of character! 

The black and white striped turtleneck top is a great contrast against the skirt. 

Thank you so much for reading! 

I hope you have a great weekend ahead! 

​
Skirt: Shein
Shirt: LOFT 
Shoes: Shein
Bag: Target