DIY Burnt Orange Texas Wreath

(Level of Difficulty: Easy)

By Thuy

Spread the holiday cheer and show your Longhorn pride with this fun DIY wreath!

I had so much fun making the wreath that I decided to make another one! (photos: Thuy)

Step 1. Gather the supplies. You will need:

·         A plain green wreath

·         Decorative orange and white flowers

·         Texas ornaments

·         Orange or white ribbon

·         Craft wire or sturdy green twisty ties

Since I am decorating on a college budget, I took my time hunting for good prices. I found the wreath at Garden Ridge; the flowers and pine cones are from Michael’s; and the Texas ornaments are from Hobby Lobby.

Step 2. Arrange the flowers and ornaments to your liking, but remember to leave room for a bow at the top of the wreath! Try alternating the colors, shapes and sizes.

Step 3. When you are happy with your arrangement, secure the ornaments using their original strings or use craft wire/twisty ties. The flowers should stay in place if you just poke them through the wreath.

Step 4. Make the bow. This part is a little tricky, so I consulted with bow-making experts on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70gvnlixO04. Secure the bow with wire/twisty ties.

Step 5. Hang your wreath for all to see, or wrap it up and give it to Longhorn for Christmas! 

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Sweater
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Burnt Orange Sweater | Checkered Sweater | Open Sweater
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White Top with Bow | Bow Back White Blouse
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White Gemstone Necklace - Longhorn Fashions
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Burnt Orange and Brown Gemstone Necklaces - Longhorn Fashions
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Orange and Burnt Orange Necklace - Longhorn Fashions
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Things I am Thankful For

The title of this post should actually be: “The People I’m Thankful For.” The people sitting around my family’s table, or the ones that I wish were here, they are the reason that we have a turkey and a table weighed down with delicious food. I love Thanksgiving more than any other holiday because it is a time to give thanks for all the people we’ve been blessed to have in our lives.  

I am also thankful for FOOTBALL!! Thank you, Texas Football for giving me a reason to wear burnt orange. Thank you for bringing my friends and fellow Longhorns together to cheer for our school. And thank you for entertaining my family while we sit in coma-like states after our Thanksgiving feast. Though we said our last “Goodbye to A&M” (in a very memorable fashion!), we are making room this year for new traditions when we welcome the TCU Horned Frogs to Austin.

Here’s to family, friends, food and football! Happy Thanksgiving!

Thuy

Thanksgiving décor on a college budget! 

Thanksgiving Outfit for What to Wear..Where!

Today I am linking up with Forever 29 for What to Wear Where, Thanksgiving edition!

Since I will be scrambling to get from the Turkey Trot to Thanksgiving lunch with Corey's family at noon, I may opt for something more laid back than the original outfit that I posted in my Thanksgiving Favorites blog. If the weather cools down, I am going to go with my favorite Burnt Orange Skinnies (they stretch, thank gooodness...no one needs tight fitting pants on Turkey Day), a loose fitting denim shirt, flats and light weight accessories (don't want to feel weighed down while trying to eat that third piece of pie!). You can click on each image below for more details on the specific item.

I am thinking that a leopard scarf or a printed cardigan will be a great way to add some fun prints to this chill outfit! I will probably wait and make a last minute decision on which one to wear once I check the weather. ::Secret: I am hoping for the Aztec Printed Cardigan because it is seriously so comfy, y'all.

The horns are playing TCU on Thursday, so of course I will be wearing my Gold Texas Necklace for good luck.

What are you wearing for Thanksgiving? Share your outfit today on www.4ever29blog.com or in the comment section below!

Thanksgiving Outfit for What to Wear..Where! by longhornfashion featuring yellow gold jewelry

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Texas Holiday Wish List

 ‘Tis the season for freshly baked sugar cookies, Christmas tunes on repeat, strands of twinkling lights, and... presents.

We have selected our favorite pieces from Longhorn Fashions that are perfect for gifting to all of your friends. Or perhaps you will save these for your own wish list!

There is something for everyone, whether your style is classic, glamorous, bohemian or casual chic. So start shopping or start dropping some major hints!

The best part is that all of these items are under $55, so Christmas shopping just became a lot more affordable! 

Featuring the Longhorn Fashions off-the-shoulder dress, long-sleeved beaded top, and open back top with embellished trim, short sleeve burnt orange top, Gold Texas Necklace, White Spade Earrings and Burnt Orange and Gold Earrings

Longhorn Fashions Peplum Top, Cowl Neck Sweater, Ivory Long Sleeve Shirt, Skater Dress, White Horse Bit Bracelet, Orange Bangle, White Enamel Bangle, Burnt Orange Leather Wrap Bracelet, Kate Spade Polka Dot Heels

Longhorn Fashions zig-zag maxi dress, cozy Aztec print sweater, burnt orange print top, crochet detail top, Zebra enamel bangle, turquoise necklace, Sam Edelman Leopard Booties

Featuring the Burnt Orange Sweatshirt, Classic Burnt Orange Top, Burnt Orange Skinny Jeans, Sweater Dress, Gray and Burnt Orange Scarf, Silver Texas Necklace, Gecko Bangle

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Thanksgiving Recipe

By Thuy

My family’s Thanksgiving menu always covers the basic, traditional dishes—mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, stuffing and cornbread. However, it’s our signature dishes that I look forward to the most, including bacon-wrapped green beans, marshmallow fruit salad, and Pumpkin Chiffon Pie.

Four years ago, my mom and I watched a special holiday segment on “Oprah” where she was raving about her guest chef’s pumpkin pie. We trusted Oprah, so we decided to try the recipe out and have been making the same pie every year since.

This is the perfect Thanksgiving dessert, because when you’re already over-the-top full but can’t resist a piece of pie, pumpkin “chiffon” is the way to go. It’s light and airy, so I’m always able to find a little more room for one or two slices! Feel free to nap after consuming!

(Recipe: Christina Ferrare. Photo: Oprah.com)

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

Servings: Serves 8

Ingredients

·         1 envelope unflavored gelatin

·         1/2 cup sugar

·         1/2 tsp. salt

·         1/2 tsp. cinnamon

·         1/2 tsp. allspice

·         1/4 tsp. ginger

·         1/2 tsp. nutmeg

·         3/4 cup milk

·         2 large egg yolks , beaten

·         1 cup canned pumpkin puree

·         2 egg whites

·         1/4 cup sugar

·         1/2 cup heavy cream , whipped

·         1 (9-inch) graham cracker crust

·         Whipped cream for garnish

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the gelatin, sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and nutmeg. Stir in the milk, egg yolks and pumpkin. Cook over medium heat until the mixture bubbles and thickens. Remove from the heat and chill until partially set, about 1 hour.

Remove the chilled pumpkin mixture from the refrigerator and give it a stir, set aside.

Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form, then gradually add the sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks from. Fold into the pumpkin mixture along with the whipped cream. Pour into the pie crust and chill for 1 hour. Decorate the top with more whipped cream.

I can't wait to enjoy this pie on Thanksgiving in my Burnt Orange Dress and cardigan. 

Thankgiving Favorites

By: Tessie

Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, family, friends and….football! All of these things come together to create the perfect holiday. Whether you spend it with your family or your friends that have become your family, it is a great day full of love and thanks. This will be my second year to spend it in Austin and I am looking forward to repeating some of my favorites from last year.

I hope you enjoy my list of Thanksgiving favorites below:

1.       Turkey Trot

The Turkey Trot is such a fun way to start the day and allows you to go back for seconds and thirds of your favorite pie later in the day without any quilt. I did Turkey Trot in Dallas a few times with my friends growing up, so I was so happy to learn that Austin has Turkey Trot of their own. Thundercloud Subs puts on the Austin Trot and the proceeds go to Caritas of Austin. Founded in 1964, Caritas of Austin is a non-profit organization that serves 20,000 people who are homeless, the working poor and documented refugees in Travis County. 

I did the Trot last year with two of my girlfriends and we loved seeing all the families who were out there running together. A lot of families did the 1 mile option with their pets and the number of adorable little children and pups dressed up as pilgrims and Indians made my day. 

My friends and I did the 5 mile option and really enjoyed the course that goes around the downtown and central Austin area. I don’t run that often, so running it with my two girlfriends that do run regularly kept me going and I was proud of our time. What I really loved though was the feeling of being a part of such a big event that gives back to Austin community and Caritas of Austin. Everyone at the Trot was very friendly and so excited to be there. I will definitely be partaking in the Turkey Trot again this Thanksgiving!

2.     Anything pumpkin!

I have been a huge fan of pumpkin pie since I was a wee little tot. Now it isn’t just pumpkin pie that I love, it is really anything with even a hint of pumpkin in it. Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin pancakes – the options are endless!

The past couple of years I have made Pumpkin Oeey Gooey Cake and I can’t wait to make it again this year. It is really simple to make, but very rich and delicious. I sub gluten free cake mix for the regular yellow cake mix since I have to follow a gluten free diet, but either way it is mouth watering good! 

Cake:

·         1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix or gluten free yellow cake mix

·         1 egg

·         8 tablespoons butter, melted

          

Filling:

·         1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

·         1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin

·         3 eggs

·         1 teaspoon vanilla

·         8 tablespoons butter, melted

·         1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar

·         1 teaspoon cinnamon

·         1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

3.     Tailgating and football

Watching football is definitely the icing on top of the wonderful Thanksgiving cake. This year we are extra lucky because the Longhorns play in Austin and we get to attend the game! We will probably head to our tailgate promptly after eating our Thanksgiving meal. The tailgate will be a great way for our friends and their families to come together on this special Holiday. We are going to bring dessert to the tailgate and some leftovers for snacking. If the weather cools down, we will have to add hot apple cider to the list!

Although I will miss the TX vs A&M Thanksgiving tradition, I am excited to watch the horns play TCU at home and am looking forward to meeting some of the TCU fans. Since myself and some of our other friends are Dallas natives, I am sure we will also have the Cowboys game playing at the tailgate. Hopefully we will bring a football and even have a little game of our own, Friends style. All and all it should be a pretty awesome day!

4.     Fall clothing

Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to wear your best fall outfit. Since we will be out and about from morning until after the game that evening, I am going to opt for jeans, a burnt orange top and riding boots. I will also carry a scarf in my purse in case it gets colder as the sun goes down. 

The Thanksgiving outfit I am planning in my head is below! Although, I have to admit I do not own that Pippa bag (but am currently lusting over it) and there is no way I would ever spend that much on riding boots, but I can't find the Tahari camel colored riding boots that I scored at Marshall's online. They look pretty similar to the ones included below and I love the camel color with burnt orange and denim. A warm cashmere scarf, similar to the Burberry one, is also something on my splurge Christmas list.  

Thankgiving Outfit by longhornfashion featuring super skinny jeans

What are your Thanksgiving favorites? Any delicious recipes that you want to share? 

Basketball Season Begins!

By: Thuy

Rick Barnes and the Texas Longhorn basketball team will host Fresno State in their season opener tonight at 7 pm!

Oftentimes, we forget that there are sports besides football because we live in Texas, where football is king. But everyone should experience a Texas basketball game, so go and cheer loudly tonight!

Two years ago, I attended my first live basketball game at the Frank Erwin Center and the atmosphere was unlike any other. Students were on their feet stomping on the bleachers and cheering, the band is blasting right next to the student section, and everyone was actually paying attention to the game! Not to mention, the view is a lot better in a smaller stadium!

Here are some great tips if you are a student who plans to attend a basketball home game:

• Print your tickets in advance here! Basketball tickets are free with the LASP, but you still need to print a ticket
• Remember that seats in the student section are first-come first-served, so even if you have a ticket it does not guarantee you a seat.

The “Come early” part of “Come early, stay late, be loud, wear orange” is truer for basketball than football games. Arrive early to save your spot in line! If the game tips off at 7:00 pm, doors will open at 6:00, which means you should be there by 5:00. Wear your burnt orange top or dress with pride and cheer loud! 

Texas swagger. The 2012 roster includes returning players #12 Myck Kabongo, #10 Jonathan Holmes and #1 Sheldon McClellan. (Photo: Dallas News)

Add Some Sparkle!

What to Wear?

By: Thuy

It was an all-around win for the Longhorn football team on Saturday! If this is any indication of what is to come, the Big 12 is in for a BIG shakeup! I’ve got my fingers crossed.  

The football season is winding down, and yes Iowa State, TCU and Kansas State are potential roadblocks to Texas’ bowl game aspirations. However, the greater issue is... what do I wear?? Since this weekend is one of the last home games of the year, my outfit seems especially important.

Sparkles are often reserved for special occasions, but closing out the football season calls for some sequins. Especially if we win!

Let these pieces shine by pairing them with simple accessories. Or take baby steps and start with a shiny statement necklace.

New Longhorn Fashions top with beaded detail, Longhorn Fashions dress with sequin hem, Longhorn Fashions fall statement necklace

Lubbock or Leave It: Having a Good Time in the Hub City

Hi all! I’m Tessie’s older sister, Lilly. I’m a Texas Tech graduate and Lubbock enthusiast, so this week of football in our family is like religion and politics - best if left out of family discussions. Our mom changes the UT flag on her front porch to a UT/Tech house divided one (that’s right – my colors get one weekend a year), and we all try to watch the game and play nice. One of my favorite memories of the Tech/UT game was when Tessie visited me Halloween weekend from Austin and we sistered it up around Lubbock. If you’re headed out west this weekend, I’m arming you with some of my favorite Hub City hot spots.

Consider this your guide to Lubbock outside of the Jones stadium designated tailgate area!

First of all, when you are driving in to Lubbock make sure to admire the world’s largest windpower farm in Sweetwater, Texas. The big windmills against the plateaus and big sky are one of my favorite things and I think they make the drive so peaceful! All you Austinites who love outside and keeping it weird should agree. While we talk about the drive, do not go one mile over the speed limit in Scurry. I’m so serious! They’re worse than that guy arresting celebrities by the border. It’s a trap.

When you exit 19^th Street to go into town, you’ll see the Buddy Holly Museum. Stretch your legs and make sure to get a picture in front of the fun statue of his glasses. If you go inside you will see the pair that was found at the plane crash scene where he died. R.I.P. Buddy Holly, the original hipster heartthrob.

Nightlife

My advice is when in Lubbock, do as the cowboys do. There will likely be some big parties, but my favorite spots for Friday night in Lubbock have a country feel. The Blue Light is in the Depot District and always features great country songwriter sets on Friday night. One of my favorite college memories is a Randy Rogers set here where he played acoustic three feet in front of my chair while sporting a Dr. Dre t-shirt.

Food

Everyone knows the cure for too much booze or football is something fried. At Spanky’s in Lubbock, they fry everything from huge chunks of cheese to zucchini. It’s on University right across from Jones stadium so make sure to stop by for dinner after the game! If you’re not including breakfast at your tailgate or need to fuel up more than your car on the way out of town, check out the Pancake House on Ave Q. The sweet potato pancakes are amazing and are even a little burnt orange looking.

Booze

The biggest change in Lubbock since I went to school is that you can buy alcohol in town. Beer and whiskey for sale on almost every corner is a revolutionary idea for a drinking town with a football problem. Since trips out to see the bright lights of the strip are off the itinerary, if you have time I highly recommend a venture to Llano Estacado Winery. They’re just a little drive out of the city and open at 10am so you can take a tour and tasting and grab a few bottles for your tailgate!