Francesca’s Grand Re-Opening & Summer Must-Have’s

I have to say, John was a trooper! I am definitely lucky that he actually doesn’t mind shopping with me haha & that Francesca’s was having one of their amazing sales buy 1 get another item 50% off ! John of course spent a lot of time looking at the coffee mugs and ended up getting this one for his Mom for Mother’s Day! (Hopefully, she won’t read this haha!)

The store is seriously so gorgeous. The remodel looks amazing!I couldn’t get over how bright and open the space looked. Everything is organized and easy to find without having to dig! & they had beautiful displays that caught my eye immediately.

I think my favorite part was the accessories table. I’ll take one of each please! haha! These came home with me and I feel like I just NEED ( yes, need!) these and these for Summer!

Also, look at these coffee mugs! ahhh, I can’t take the cuteness. I have to admit, I am kinda loving all the cactus themed items for Summer. Look at this beach toteand little dish!

Beach bag heaven, that’s all I have to say! SOOOO many adorable options for Summer! My favs were the Mermaids are Real, Flamingos, and the pom-pom clutch! ( They are on sale BTW on the website)

The store manager was SO kind and helpful! I was also helped by Tatiana who started a fitting room for me. They even brought over colorful accessories to match the outfits I picked out to give me options. They were both so sweet and made my shopping experience so much fun!

Blue/White Dress | Top | White Dress | Maxi Dress| Pom-Pom Shoes|

For all my Houston ladies, if you get the chance go check out the new look of the store. I’d love to know what y’all think!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank you so much Francesca’s for inviting us to the grand opening and for sponsoring this post! Opinions are 100% my own.

Little Black Dress

Make up by Jessica Kirkland

Let’s take a second to talk about the star of the show – this (c/o )DRESS! Makes me feel like Sandy from Grease. ( I think it is the way the top of it fits.) Sadly, it is no longer available but Francesca’s has SOOO many other cute ones. I am also loving this gorgeous option from Francesca’s in white.

I also wanted to share some big, small, and random life updates with you guys to explain why we haven’t posted as much lately and what has been on our minds.

John decided around the holidays that it was time for him to step down from his position and leave his current job. His last day was December 31st. Honestly, we were both so scared and nervous. We knew it was the right decision, but he didn’t have anything lined up! It was a huge leap of faith, that ended in the biggest blessing. John was only out of work for a couple weeks and started his new job in mid- January.Then he had to go to Dallas for a month long work training. For the whole month, he would drive home on Friday from Dallas and we would have Friday evening thru Sunday afternoon and he would turn back and drive back to Dallas. With such a crazy schedule, John has had to take a step back from the blog the last couple months while he transitioned.

With John not as active on the blog, I honestly completely wore myself out trying to keep up the pace for the both of us. I work full time also, and definitely couldn’t handle my work load ( this is our busy time of the year at work,) the blog, and my fitness goals I set for myself this year.

While all of this was going on, we had serious car problems! Y’all, 2017 started out super rough. With the stress of John’s job/ car problems, trying to juggle it all, I found myself starting to burn out, which then lead to me comparison, lack of vision,and guilt for not giving 100% here. Then I went to Thrive Creative Conference 2 weeks ago and refueled my well a little. It is so refreshing to be surrounded by other creatives, bloggers, and small business owners. Their passion was contagious.

I was so ready, to get back to it! Then things happened. One, I got super sick and am literally just now recovering after almost 2 weeks! & also, John and I decided to finally part with our couch. Which in all honestly, even farther derailed us! This new couch is heavenly!! On a plus side though, I have gotten caught up on all my TV shows and even started a few new ones.

Whew, okay! I tell you all of this, because John and I always want to be real and up front with all of you. We struggle, we lose motivation, we, okay mostly just me, binge watch hours of This is Us on demand and put all of our responsibilities on hold. I truly believe there are seasons of life when life is just HARD and you have to just cut yourself some slack and give yourself permission to slow down, refill your cup, and then just get back to it!! We took a break and it allowed us to remember what our vision for Our Messy Table is. Lately, I have been posting more style and beauty posts here, which I love, but originally this was a place for John and I to share our projects, recipes, home décor and married life. While I still plan on sharing outfits and things I love, I want to get back to our roots and make sure we are sharing more of the projects that keep our table a mess.

If you stuck with me this long, thank you! Sorry for all the rambling. I hope this post helps you if you have felt like you aren’t measuring up or reaching your goals lately. It happens to us all!

Thanks so much for stopping by! We can’t tell you how much we appreciate you all.

]]> http://www.ourmessytable.com/little-black-dress/feed/ 0 http://www.ourmessytable.com/valentines-day-dress/ http://www.ourmessytable.com/valentines-day-dress/#respond Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:20:57 +0000 http://www.ourmessytable.com/?p=4245 Valentine's Day is only a week away! In case you are a last minute shopper, like me, I wanted to share an affordable Valentine's dress with you from Francesca's. Get excited, it is on sale and under $25! (Don't get better than that, my friends!)]]> Valentine’s Day is only a week away! In case you are a last minute shopper, like me, I wanted to share an affordable Valentine’s dress with you from Francesca’s. Get excited, it is on sale and under $25! (Don’t get better than that, my friends!)

Valentine’s Day Dress

You may recognize this dress from my Galentine’s post from last week! I love finding pieces that can be wornfor more than just one occasion.

I just love the lace & sleeve detail on thisdress!

Y’all, I have NO clue how I didn’t even notice the straps to my shoes weren’t on correctly. OHHHH well LOL

Affiliate links: | c/o Dress | Shoes | Earrings| c/oClutch ( Similar) |

Photography: Diamond Oak Photography

I would love to hear what you have planned for Valentine’s Day! Do you get dressed up and go out to dinner or do you keep it casual and stay in? While I do love to get dressed up, John and Ialwaysstay in on Valentine’s Day. I will be sharing why we started doing that close to 10 years ago ( wow, can’t believe it has been that long!) later this week and a fun dinner date night idea if you don’t want to get out and fight the crowds!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

With Valentine’s right around the corner, I teamed up with two of my blogging besties, Bridget from To Celebrate Everythingblog and Kelsey from Kelsey Byersblog for Galentine’s to share our thoughts on friendship, Galentine’s ideas, and of course our cute dresses from Francesca’s!I may have gotten a little carried away with this post, so grab a snack and stick with me to the end for a super fun giveaway announcement!

I am so thankful for these two girls! As you grow older, friendships are hard to come by. It isn’t as easy as it used to be when we were in high school and college and you were surrounded by your friends every day. When you find your #squad – the people in your life who love you, encourage you, and dream with you it takes effort and work to keep those relationships, but it is so worth it.

I honestly hadn’t celebrated Galentine’s before thisand now I am wondering whyyyyyy not?!I mean, a holiday that you get to get all dolled up in cute dresses, go tobrunch,hang out, drink champagne, have sweets or even schedule a photoshoot with your girls – count me in every year!

As much as I love makingGalentine’s a big celebration with my gal pals, I also think we should strive to celebrate our friends all year long. I know with work and family etc. friendships tend to be the thing that gets shoved off to the side. So, I wanted to share a couple ways I try ( again, try – I am not perfect and totally am the first to admit, I can get too wrapped up in what I have going on in my own life) and celebrate my friendships during the year even with a busy schedule.

1. Mani/pedi – Anytime I go get my nails done, I always send a quick text to a friend to see if they are in as desperate need as I am. I know not all of your friends may live close by, but at least the ones that do, I try and just see if they have a free hour. Knocks something off my to-do list and I get to relax and chat with a friend!
2. Coffee Dates- It is no secret, I love coffee and coffee shops. So, if I have a morning or an evening I need to get a couple things done and am going to go to Starbucks, I send out a no pressure text to let them know I’ll be at the bucks if they wanna stop by and hang out or even work! ( Helps that these two girls are also bloggers, which means there is always something to be done and it is nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of!)
3. Brunch- Even if it is just once a month or every two months – set up a brunch with your girlfriends. Try a new place or go to an old favorite, whatever it maybe you will always leave feeling so fulfilled.
4. Girl’s night-I need to plan another one! My last one was so much fun. In December some of the girls came over and we made Christmas bows ( here is a video of how to do one, you can actually use it for any occasion and not just Christmas!) So grab a bottle of wine or even these Cotton Candy Cocktails and have a fun girl’s night!
5. Snail Mail- This is great for the friends you can’t see all the time, but really want them to know you are thinking of them! I need to start doing this again. Last year, I made a goal to sit down and send out a couple cards once a month to family and friends.
6. Set Reminders- I try and set reminders in my phone when I know a friend has something important going on in their life. Whether it is a birthday, stressful meeting with their boss, ultrasound appointment etc. anytime they mention something like that to me, I try and write it down and set a reminder to touch base with them and to pray for whatever it is.
7. Be encouraging-A little encouragment goes a long way. Even if you don’t understand what your friend is going through, would have handled a situation differently, or maybe they have a dream that you just can’t even begin to understand. Despite whatever you are feeling about it, be that person that can be happy and encouraging for them and take an interest in your friend’s lives!

Okay, you know I had to take a quick second to gush about my dress from Francesca’s! I love the lace detailing on the top, the short sleeves, and how it has a high waistline!It is super affordable (On sale for under $25!) and perfect for any Galentine’s or Valentine’s plans you have. Stay tuned, next week I will be sharing this full outfit and also a casual valentine’s outfit on the blog too!

Bridget, Kelsey, and I will be sharing a giveaway on our instagram’stoday, giving one of you the chance to win a $50 Francesca’s gift card to go get an awesome dress for Galentine’s/Valentine’s day!! Keep an eye out on myinstagram for details on how to enter <3

Alright, this has to be the longest post I have ever written! Thank you for sticking around. I would love to know what your plans are for Galentine’s or how you celebrate your friendships throughout the year, leave me a comment below!

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you haven’talready, make sure to stop by Bridget andKelsey’s blogs. They are sharing their thoughts and ideas on Galentine’s too, as well as their super cute dresses! Sidenote: I am glad we are friends, because I definitely want to borrow both of their dresses haha!

Photocredit: Diamond Oak Photography

Thank you so much to Francesca’s for collaborating with us on this post. Opinions are 100% my own. (The giveaway is in noway affiliated with Francesca’s, we just love you guys and really wanted to give one of you a gorgeous dress for Valentine’s!)

I just love this love potion keychain! I decided to use it as a purse charm. I also have my eye on this one too!

c/o Shirt | c/o Purse (no longer available, I also love this one and this one) | c/o Love Potion Keychain | Jeans | Shoes ( Old, similar) | Earrings | Bracelet

Photography by: Diamond Oak Photography

Happy Tuesday!Today’s post is going to be short and sweet, because honestly I am starving. I have 30 minutes left in my lunch break to finish this post up, heat up my food, and hopefully have 5 minutes to mindlessly surf Facebook and Instagram lol!

Iborrowed a trendfrom my Grandma’s closet today and am absolutelyLOVING it. (Actually tbh my 91 year old, Meme, is super stylish and isalways ahead of the trends haha!) Seriously though,this embroidered flower shirt is so crazy soft and comfortable. I have been wearing it non-stop lately, because it is perfect to transition from Winter to Spring! On beautiful, sunny days (like today – Houston is in the 70’s!) I busted out my white jeans, but last week when it was freezing here – I wore it with a sweater, maroon scarf,and boots! When I actually take a second to put on sunless tanner, then I want to try it out with this skirt from last year too. I love pieces like this that can be worn with SO many different things! What do you think about the embroidered trend that is popping up everywhere right now?

We have some super fun Valentine’s posts coming your way this weekand make sure to follow our snaps ( ourmessytable) and insta stories this weekend, we are going to be exploring Houston to see it all set up for the Superbowl!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Only 5 more days till Christmas! yay! Every year on Christmas Eve, my Mom and Dad come over and we play “Reindeer Games” (card games, board games, or minute-to-win-it style relay races etc.) and the winning team gets a super awesome Santa trophy along with bragging rights for the year, while the losers have to have their pictures taken with light-up reindeer antlers! The lastthree years – it has been guys vs. girls and THIS WILL BE OUR YEAR!I already gave my Mom a pep-talk, because we have never won! Last year, we came close and tied, but it wasn’t an official win and the boys won’t let us forget it! This year I bought a card game that my friend, Elle, from Elle-Talk told me about called Exploding Kittens: A Card Game About Kittens and Explosions and Sometimes Goats! I think it is going to be a big hit and can’t wait for the games to begin LOL.

Affiliate Links: | c/o Sweater | c/o Purse (similar)| Shoes | Earrings (similar)

Photography : Dede Raad

On another note, it has been SO cold here in Houston this week, so I finally got to bust out all the sweaters and have been wearing this convertible sweater non-stop. It can be worn two ways and I honestly can’t decide which way I like better. It can be worn like a regular cowl neck sweater or OTS ( off-the-shoulder,) which has been such a big trend this year! The sweater is also super cozy, comfortable, and comes in several other colors. It is long enough, you might be able to even wear it as a dress with OTK boots too!

You can use my code OURMESSYTABLE15 for 15% off regular priced items until 12/24/2016! In case you missed it, I also shared this Bell Sleeve Lace dress from Anjoulis Boutique last week that I can’t wait to wear again for NYE!

Thank you all so much for stopping by OMT! We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and enjoy this time with your family. Leave me a comment and let me know what some of your favorite games are to play with the fam!

Note: Many of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase a product after clicking an affiliate link we receive a small percentage of the sale for referring you, at no extra cost to you. Just something we do to keep the lights on.

Affiliate Links: c/o Cowl Neck Poncho|c/o Purse | Long Sleeve Shirt |Jeans | Earrings (similar)| Shoes

Photography: Dede Raad

Happy Holidays! The weather is freezing in Houston right now y’all. ( Okay, not literally and to some you will laugh out loud when I say it is 47 degrees, but to us here in Houston – that is COLD.) I am trying not to complain too much though, last Christmas it was in the 90’s and this year, I ACTUALLY get to wear cute and cozy sweaters and ponchos(cue the happy dance!)

This cowl neck poncho has been on repeat since I got it and is so comfy and warm. I plan on wearing it this weekendwhen out Christmas shopping (fingers crossed that I can get all the shoppingdone – I haven’t even started yet!)I love that this ponchocan be dressed up or down ( like with these slip on shoes) and that I can wear it with so many different colors!

Hope you all love this outfit as much as I do! I am sorry we have been MIA here the last week or so. It has been a crazy couple weeks and we will fill you guys in on everything that has been happening very soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

S’mores & Sweater Weather

This Caraway Cold Shoulder Sweater from Francesca’sandI will be wearing these all Fall/Winter long.

This bar cart has been one of my favorite homepurchases EVER. I have used it in the traditional bar cart way, as a cocoa bar, to hold board games, snacks, and blankets, and now outside as a s’mores bar!

I had to throw this picture in here, because this is SO John. LOL! Middle of taking photos to decide to see how many marshmallows he can fit in his mouth. He always keeps me laughing, y’all!

c/oSweaters | c/o Coffee Mugs

Photography: Dede Raad / Hair & Makeup: The Bronze Body

John and I have had so much fun with Fall posts the last couple weeks. In case you missed it, here are a few of our favorites: Fall Bucket List, Burgundy Dress for Friendsgiving, Halloween Movie Mix, and Olive Green Bomber Jacket!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Affiliate links: |c/o Bomber Jacket | Shirt | Jeans | Shoes |

Photography: Dede Raad / Hair & Makeup: The Bronze Body

My favorite Fall trend right now is bomber jackets! I love them, especially this one from Francesca’s! It is super comfortable and as you know from my last Things to Roar About post, I kinda have an obsession with Olive right now. So, when I stumbled across this one -I knew it was coming home with me haha! & now that the temps are cooling down a little in the evenings, I am so excited to start wearing it! ( Oh, and I have shared a couple pics on Instagram, but here is the new hair. I am definitely loving the blonde/lob.)

What Fall trends are you loving right now?! Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Comfy & Casual

This vest has giant pockets on the inside that I LOVE. I could fit my phone in it

DRESS| VEST | NECKLACE | SHOES( Affiliate Link)

Photography by: Bree Pair

Sorry this post was short and sweet! John and I took blog photos tonight and then said “oh, let’s just watch one show….” that never really happens. Several shows later and here I am at almost midnight working on this post haha! But anyways, you can see a sneak peak of tonights blog photos & a confused/sad rant on MTV the Challenge Rivals Finale on Snapchat (Our Messy Table) or on the new Instagram stories!

Thanks so much for stopping by!