Q: What should I wear to the Stewards of the Wild Zoo Party tomorrow? A: Something Wild (insert smug face emoji here)

PSA: If you are: 1) In Houston, 2) looking to have a wild & crazy time tomorrow afternoon and 3) want to up your street cred while also supporting a good cause, look no further than the Stewards of the Wild "Keep Houston Wild" event at the Houston Zoo (yes yes yes).  Do you have anything better to do on a Thursday afternoon than to share your time with the animals and some of the leading figures in conservation and habitat management? I didn't think so. Get the deets and an idea of what to wear below. 

Cheetah Heels - Ann Taylor// White Cat Clutch - Loewe// Khaki One Shoulder Top - Sea NY// Gingham Crop Top - Tome// Tribal Print Skirt - Isa Arfen// White Snake Earrings - Lako Bukia// Pink Elephant Purse - Loewe// Pink Pom Pom Heel - Ann Mashburn// Snake Dress - MSGM// Teal Tassel Heels - Katy Perry Collection// Cheetah Pants - Stella McCartney// Beige Hoops - Mercedes Salazar// Zebra Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Jaguar Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Parrot Clutch - Serpui// Toucan Clutch - Serpui// Tiger Jacquard Dress - Giamba// Tiger Print Dress - Paule Ka// Feather Earrings - Lizzie Fortunato// Parrot Earrings - Elizabeth Cole// Zebra Heels - Gucci// Khaki Halter Dress - Ulla Johnson

Q: Thoughts on A Memorial Day Weekend Wardrobe? A: The Brighta, the Betta

There are moments I wish I was that I-only-wear-neutrals-and-only-own-20-items-of-clothing-and-somehow-manage-to-always-look-chic-AF girl (ex. un, deux, trois), but then I remember the powers that be had other plans for me. I'm hardwired to dress for the occasion, I wear my surroundings and gravitate towards large and in-ya-face accessories like a moth to a flame (and I got two ear lobe surgery notches on my belt to prove it, baby). So you can sing me the praises of versatile solids and closet staples until the cows come home and you can tell me Audrey didn't become a style icon by wearing pink glitter jelly slides, but you'll never convince me beach ball earrings aren't a wise investment before a three-day weekend at the beach. Ya just won't. 

So when asked by an amiga for help picking some pieces for a Tulum getaway this weekend, I should've warned her about the high risk of being blinded by the bright. But good golly, Miss Molly I'm not sending you to Mexico looking like a wallflower. I'm just not. 

Striped Bags - Mar & Sol// Beach Ball Earrings - Lou & Taylor// Printed Dress - Monki//Neon Striped Dress - Corey Lynn Calter// Teal & Neon Green Earrings - Shashi// Blue Linen Crop Top - Mango// Red Pants - Paloma Blue// Crochet Jumpsuit - Miguelina// Macrame Earrings - Roberta Roller Rabbit// Lace Up Tank Dress - Chio//Peach Cover Up Dress - 9seed// Rainbow Pom Pom Mules - Corey Lynn Calter// One Piece - Agua de Coco// Pink Glitter Jellies - Urban Outfitters// Bandeau Bikini - Mara Hoffman// Fringe Slides - Mystique// Off the Shoulder Tassel Dress - Pitusa

Q: What To pack for a Ranch Weekend? A: This! (And a personal Cooler)

Hump day is both a time to marvel at your resiliency in making it halfway through the work week and to contemplate the weekend shenanigans at bay. My personal projections lead to a friend's ranch in south Texas, to which I've never been and from which I may never return. Something about being deep in the heart of rural Texas makes returning to the office on Monday seem more of an optional kinda thing. 

Our host sent a detail email earlier this week that reads in part: "It will be warm, so I just wanted to give you a heads up that we killed four snakes around the compound over the weekend." While that may unnerve the average reader, I want you all to know I am UNPHASED (such news serves the master plan well - a snake bite seems like a legit get out of Monday-free card to moi), but will pack accordingly nonetheless. Stay tuned for a recap of how I negotiated a mutually-beneficial relationship with the serpents by incorporating them into my ranch look (I'm-a-Slave-4-U-style) or a blogging hiatus caused by a near death experience from snake venom a-la-Cleopatra (open to either scenario because I'm just chill like that).

Bird Earrings - Wed to White// White Embroidered Top - Chantik// White Jeans - Industry Standard// Blue Slides - DVF// Black San Antonio Top - El Interior// Black Jeans - Industry Standard// Brown Boots - Tecovas// Green Horse Hair Earrings - Elizabeth Lanier// Tortoise Mirrored Sunglasses - Illesteva// Bikini - Camp Cove// Sunscreen Mist - Super Goop// Gingham Dress - Zara// Tri-Colored Slides - Charlotte Stone// Herringbone Hat - Jeanne Simmons// Black Tank - Splendid// Light Wash Jeans - DL1961// Black Boots - City Boots// Turquoise & Red Beaded Earrings - Indian Summer Collection// Pom Pom Earrings - WestPack// White Eyelet Top - Anthropologie// White Shorts - Mother// Teal Cooler - Yeti// Fringe Sandals - Matiko

Q: What Say You To a Cinco de Mayo PoSt? A: Sí, Señora!!!

In this case, the señoras are Laura Nell Burton and Christin Gish of Cloche Designs, the new boutique-service lifestyle brand in which I've finally found my obsession-over-details soulmates. The creativity, beauty and love that Cloche infuses into each of their projects (see for yourself here) is unlike anything I've ever stalked-from-afar before. Need some serious occasion inspiration, amped up tablescape aesthetics, or wowza-I-want-to-be-a-hostess-when-I-grow-up motivation? Follow their Insta and prepare to be awed as you #getyourclocheon (and to swap that dress-you-don't-need on your wishlist for some china-you-didn't-realize-until-this-moment-you-need-so-badly).

When Laura Nell & Christin reached out to me with the idea to create a collage styled for their upcoming Cinco de Mayo project, my reaction was a little bit of this, this, and this. It was hard not to get carried away while scheming what to dress-to-impress to an event that is sure to be planned with the utmost devotion to detail and commitment to theme (which just so happens to be my fourth fav holiday, y'all). Their big reveal won't come until later this week, but (unlike those mature mavens) I just couldn't wait another day.

So in sum, things I'm looking forward to include (but are not limited to): margaritas, maybe one day blossoming into a hostess-with-the-mostess & (until then) making some more cobloges (can I make that a thing or is that too Gretchen Weiners of me?) inspired by the motif-magic crafted by the masters at Cloche. 

Red Sombrero - Amols'// Peplum Crop Top - Elizabeth & James// Gold Tassel Earrings - Indian Summer Collection// Stripe Palazzo Pants - Viva Aviva// Green Bucket Purse - Aranaz// Red Mules - Kate Spade// Crystal Flower Earrings - Shourouk// Green Strapless Dress - Milly// Beaded Clutch - Anthropologie// Rainbow Heels - Charlotte Stone// Green Sombrero - Amols'// Chili Pepper Earrings - Auden// Stripe Dress - Asos// Margarita Clutch - Kent Stetson// Embroidered Mules - Tory Burch

Q: Want to Help Me Find Something to Wear to a Mexican Lotería-Themed Party? A: You Bet Your Bottom Peso I Do

It's not just any Cinco de Mayo party - it's a Mexican lotería card party. How 'bout dat? Not familiar with Mexican lotería cards, you say? Well, how lucky for you that I'm in your life to impart such fun and mostly useless knowledge.

Lotería is a traditional Mexican game (very similar to bingo) that's played with a deck of 54 cards and a grid (tabla for those that habla) - but instead of calling out the number/letter combo in a lunch lady voice a-la Americana way (why we always so refined?), the announcer says a riddle to indicate which card has been selected. Apparently these riddles are most entertaining part of the game ("since poetic license is afforded to the announcer of lotería, the success and popularity of the announcer depend on his cleverness and style"). The player who fills up their grid first is the winner-winner-chicken-dinner. 

The images on each card (examples below) are iconic in Mexican culture - so when I heard that some party prodigy out there is throwing a Cinco de Mayo shindig and has assigned each guest a lotería card to dress up as, I fuh-reaked out (to put it mildly). A few (~50 or so) links later, I overdid with outfit options for a fab San Antonio friend who had been dealt the palm tree card. With all the incredible palm-pieces circling around the online retail merry-go-round lately (see some looks below), I think being #blessed with La Palma card means you've already won the lottery. 

Best of luck to the invitee who got the El Cazo card (literal translation - the saucepan), and someone (anyone!) please throw a lotería party and invite me. 

Lotteria Card Blouse - Alice & Olivia// Fringe Embellished Skirt - Lela Rose// Palm Leaf Clutch - Novica// Sirena Pendant - Etsy// Rafia Pom Pom Heels - Prada (via The Real Real)// Weaved Palm Headpiece - Etsy// Wrap Palm Print Top - Rixo// Palm Print Trousers - For Restless Sleepers// Pink Glitter Palm Leaf Earrings - EachToOwn// Palm Leaf Slippers - Charlotte Olympia// Palm Tree Earrings - Elizabeth Cole// Zipper Bustier Top - C/Meo Collective// Palm Tree Fringed Skirt - Marco de Vincenzo// Woven Heels - Schutz// The Lovers Clutch - Alice & Olivia// Banana Leaf Crop Top - Dolce & Gabbana// Palm Leaf Earrings - Mercedes Salazar// Striped Skirt - Tome// Palm Leaf Heels - Charlotte Olympia