Lifestyle Archives - Page 8 of 8

Helpful Holiday Tid Bits

November 10, 2016

This HM midi off the shoulder dress in bordeaux will have you running to the store to snag it.. under $35!

But can we please take a minuet to swoon over these Burd Life earrings and arm party?! I felt like a truly Holiday fashionista modeling these GORGEOUS designs. They’re truly luxe and 24 karat gold plated! Yes, you need to add these to your Christmas list stat ladies. Also, Burd Life is offering 25% off your ENTIRE ORDER today, along with free shipping using code “gracefullysassy” . This makes receiving these as a gift a real possibility!!
Houston Photographer: Jonathan Ivy // Houston Hair Stylist: Cattleya Hair Studio

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks out, Christmas is knocking on our door, and I am in heaven with all the Holiday festivities! Don’t get me wrong the Holiday’s for me are a true joy… But I will also be the first to say they can be a bit stressful.

I have found a few tid bits that help me fully enjoy the holidays without the annoying cousin stress breaking me down.

A Few Tid Bits

INDULGE– Eat those homemade cookies your mom only makes once a year, snag a piece of Grandma’s made with love cheesecake, and splurge a little on your favorite seasonal cocktails. I am not saying to bring down the house, but go ahead and enjoy yourself! I have a favorite Chardonnay that I feel is pricey, but every Christmas season my dear husband tells me to get out of the house and purchase that bottle.
DO SOMETHING FESTIVE– I will be totally honest, in Houston doing something “festive” during this time of year can be tough because of the southern weather we’re adorned with. I have GREAT news for you though, a waterpark that opened in Katy, TX this past summer is hosting a Winter Fest. It includes ice skating, snow slide, Santa meet and greet, and a huge trail of lights. Whether you have children or just a date for the evening, this is festive fun for all ages!
SMILE IN THE FACE OF CRAZY– If you by chance don’t have some sort of crazy that joins your family Holiday functions, well you’re just plain LUCKY! I feel most of us have those in our lives, we love, but may not always like. The best advice I can give you is to SMILE! This happens to be the time I look forward to All Year…. and smiling regardless of your crazy is what I will do because ain’t no one ruining my Holiday fun!

I wish you nothing but happiness and warmth on your Holidays this year! “Come let us adore him”

The New Blogger Struggle is Real

October 13, 2016

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houston blogger, fashion blogger, style blogger, work wear, business casual, - The New Blogger Struggle is Real by Houston fashion blogger Gracefully Sassy

Photo Credit: Tousled and Teased by Crystal

Top: HM (similar) Pants: HM (similar) (similar) Heels: Steve Madden Phone Case: Melsy’s Illustrations
Hair : Cattleya Hair Studio

New Blogger: 4 Tips to Keeping Life Level

WHOOOOAA! Yep, I am battling a sinus infection while working hard at my full time job to then rush over to my blog photoshoot (second shoot this week!) at the end of the work day and hoping I still have energy to give my husband my full attention when I get home. Did I even get the gym, shower, and dinner in there? I promise I am not whining! I adore being a wife to my husband and that is first and foremost my highest role, but I also enjoy my job and love my title as a new Blogger. I have wanted to start my blog for quite some time now. I have finally taken the plunge and truly enjoy putting it ALL out there for ya’ll! Feel free to let me know if I am a little too blunt, but again I can’t promise that I will change.
I am still learning how to juggle it all. I can’t even say I was doing the best job at juggling home, work, family, and events, on a good day before I began blogging. Now add that in and my planner is overflowing. My husband and friends frequently say “Here she goes pulling out the planner. What is she planning now?!”. The past few months has taught me a lot on how to balance LIFE. I still have room for improvement in some areas, but hey I am moving on up in a positive direction! One day during the lunch hour I grabbed my co-worker (who also is a photographer on the side) and we headed out to shoot what is now this post. These are my helpful new blogger tips I have learned the hard way. But please, please, please if you have any advice on how to juggle this thing we call life in the blogging world I am all ears!

To the New Blogger – PRIORITIZE:
I didn’t realize how many blog events, shoots I was attending in a week. This wasn’t until my husband was expressing his sadness with me being gone so frequently! #wifefail The balance I have found is one blog event/shoot during the work week. This allows me to balance my full time job, hit the gym with my husband, take care of dinner and general house duties without being dog tired.
TIME FOR YOURSELF:
Nonstop rushing can leave me not even enjoying a pedicure because it becomes something I just must have done for photos. There are mornings where I don’t get up extra early with Kyle. I can rest until he leaves for work, then wake up and have my coffee/news time in a peaceful way. This is roughly a 10-minute shenanigan, but it is oh so necessary when I have been catering to everything but my own body. The rest of the morning seems so much more peaceful. “Pray and Slay” is my moto and I am able to make this happen on days I take time for myself!
FAMILY:
It may seem like a taxing day when you have a list of to-do’s and one is stopping by the in-law’s house to say HI! Luckily, I have been blessed with incredible in-laws that I love spending time with. The thing I don’t love, is how I am constantly on my phone in the middle of chatting and playing cards with them. Between answering emails and tending to social media I barely look up to acknowledge my family. I am so, so grateful to have my followers who genuinely care about my posts! This is something I thank God for. I want to be sure to chat everyone back or say “Girl, own it you’re awesome!”. In the same, family is near and dear to my heart. They do NOT deserve to take a back seat. In the balancing act, I have adjusted things. Making memories with our loved ones is everlasting and something we all must move higher up on to-do list!
TAKE OFF YOUR PLANNER HAT:
My name should have been Sarah“Planner” Henson. Everything in my world has a time, place, and full details (well I like to think it does lol). This drives my husband absolutely insane! He is care free and light hearted. Accctually, this is as huge blessing for me. Kyle comes through with the You Need To Be Care Free Honey at the perfect moment. RARELY do I have a totally free Saturday that isn’t filled with events whether it be blog related or personal. When I do, I give it all to Kyle! I let him choose everything without warning even if it is lounge day on the couch with Netflix. Not only does this make him happy, but it gives me a chance to laugh until I cry with truly enjoying my best friend. Hand down best advice I have EVER been given… “Never stop dating your spouse!”

Okay, I fully apologize for the long post, but this is something that has been on my heart to share. Now it is out there and my anxiety is lightened! Thank you very much for letting me vent, just please whatever you do don’t think I am not wonderfully thankful for each and everyone one who reads my blog! I am just trying to learn how to keep life level.

Football Season Fun & Date Night Ideas Even He Will Enjoy

September 15, 2016

Shirt: ATX Mafia Photographer: C. Wright Photography
Hair Color: Cattleya Hair Studio Hair Styling: Tousled and Teased

PSA: I joined a fantasy football league! (My league is a filled with lovely gals who know a whole heck of a lot more about players from a variety of teams compared to my little self) The ever so fantastic ladies over at ATX Mafia sent me this amazing shirt that I will be wearing every game day as my lucky t-shirt “Go Cowboys”. They have amazing, but super trendy graphic tees that make any woman look the part for Sunday football.

Week 1…. I was shocked at and my stats. I was playing against my sister in law who is the football queen. You gentlemen would be shaking in your boots if you were matched up against her during week 1. I have NEVER even understood how fantasy football truly worked; up until this weekend I didn’t even have the ESPN Fantasy App. My poor husband is having to really “blonde it down” for me in a very patient way. I am catching on as time passes, and now more intrigued with other teams than just the Dallas Cowboys. We are officially in week 2 and I will be sure to update my blog on any insights I can provide as the season continues. If you are interested on how the entire fantasy football league process works just message me via email or any social media and I will be sure to work on whole blog post about that process!

In joining this Fantasy Football league it has really made for something fun my husband I do together to have friendly competition. We are both enjoying something he truly loves, and I am really relishing understanding the game in a new way. Football Sundays can be daunting to any lady who wants to spend time with her love (if he is a football fan). Instead of resisting it I thought what better way to make it enjoyable for both of us. My husband plays on weekly leagues and just prefers that version better than the yearlong leagues. He was honestly excited when my draft day came. He was super into it WITH me and kept me from having an anxiety attack when my 2 minuet pick timer would start! Little tid bit of information… Football isn’t only taking up his time on Sunday, but also Thursday night, Saturday (college), and Monday night. So with that being said, my suggestion to you if you’re looking for date ideas that don’t break the bank, will get you two having competitive fun with one another, and will air on the side of something he really enjoys see my 4 ideas below!

COUPLES WHO PLAY TOGETHER STAY TOGETHER- 4 DATE NIGHT IDEAS DURING FOOTBALL SEASON

Buffalo Wild Wings– Thursday $.69 boneless wings special. Kyle and I can go for football and dinner all in one at a great price on Thursday. We make little bets throughout the time we’re there regarding who’s fantasy team/players is outscoring the others. This fun competition and bets are fun to cash in on when you get home 😉
Bowl and Barrel: Houston– B&B is just how it sounds, they offer great bites, trendy bowling, and wonderful sips for the perfect double date with friends. Grab your girlfriend who is begging to get her love off the couch during game day and meet them for bowling, football watching, and genuine fun. The guys will be perfectly happy that they can watch the game with a beer and wonderful food, as well as you enjoying bowling and a date night out with friends. My handsome and I ALWAYS get competitive at bowling and this is our type of Friday night with the best friends.
Attending a Baseball Game- Here in Houston our hometown MLB team are the Astros. Minuet Maid Park is the home for the Astros and they offer great seats on weekday games ($10 and up) for a true bargain. The baseball season is coming to a close, but there is still some time left in it. This window gives us a chance to mix things up when we’re engulfed in football. My husband is an avid Texas Rangers fan. We do our best to see at least one of the games each series they come into Houston! We park at the famous Lucky’s Pub that offers great game day specials, then head over to the ballpark. I grab great, but budgeted seats for us and they do NOT disappoint. This is one of our all-time favorite dates together.
Rainy Day Monday Blues- When Monday comes, we are pretty woozy. We’re recovering from the weekend business and hitting the gym after the work days ends. I am a firm believer that a killer gym day earns pizza for dinner! At least that is the way it is in our household. Marcos Pizza is our go to. The pizza is delicious and we have never had to wait longer than 40 minutes for our delivery to arrive. We come dragging in from the gym, after calling our pizza in on the way home, grab the dominoes for “slapping some bones” while we fall on the couch for MNF! This is our low key, in home date night that is still fun and allows us to rest up without feeling like we’re missing game night!

LOVE, Anyone?!

August 26, 2016

In the lovely city of Houston shortly after the Pulse tragedy in Orlando, the Pride Wall was created. The Cultivate Project , that C . Wright Photography is co founder of, offers bloggers in Houston, TX a chance to be inspired and mingle with one another, all while being photographed for our amazing blogs! The first event they held was at the Pride Wall in Montrose. Many other amazing vendors came together to provide props, tasty treats, and wonderful enthusiasm to inspire us all in the crazy heat!

Photographer: C. Wright Photography
Tasty Treats: Good Gosh Ganache
Sassy Signs and Style: My Urban Invites

This wall is near and dear to my heart because of my family members who are apart of the LGBT community. When I was watching the news to find out about Pulse my heart sank! That weekend was suppose to be nothing but bliss for everyone who was in attendance at the Pride events in Orlando, Florida. The one message I would love to send in some mass way to the world is, come together and love one another. Having hate in your heart only weakens you as a person, so in actuality you’re hurting yourself by showing hatred to others. I everyday have to make a conscious decision not to judge everyone and everything, but I am human and make mistakes. Everyday the “trying” I do helps God mold me into the person I want to be and not the person I am at times!

“God is love” 1 John 4:7
“Do unto others as you would have them do to” Luke 6:31
Top: Francescas // Denim: Anjouils (old pair) similar // Sandals: Steve Madden // Crossbody: J.Crew