Austin Christmas Bucket List

The wonderful Tori is guest blogging for us today! Read on her for Austin Christmas Bucket List.

It’s the most wonderful time of year here in Austin, and this year, even the weather reflects the time of year (for once)! I couldn’t help but think of all the fun things to do here during winter-time… and I’m sure this list isn’t comprehensive.

In no particular order, your Austin Christmas bucket list.   (Comment if I missed something crucial!)

• Trail of Lights at Zilker Park
• Yes, there will be traffic getting there, but spinning under the big tree is worth it!  Zilker even offers zip passes if you want to pay for parking and to be able to “zip” to the front of the line.

• Coffee at Spider House 
• Why wouldn’t you hit up Spider House and their year-round backyard of lights? It’s one of the most eccentric Austin spots and their awesome outdoor patio space can certainly be enjoyed during Austin’s generally 70-degree winter. 

• Lights on 37th Street
• Most of the houses on this street, which is right off the Drag in the UT campus area, go above and beyond decorating even with lights strung across the streets from house-to-house.  It’s a must-do. 

• Walk down Congress, enjoying the lights and the view, to Halcyon for s’mores

• Visit the Capitol and see the Capitol Christmas Tree

• Go ice skating and drink wine on the Whole Foods rooftop

• Visit Alamo Drafthouse for any seasonal delight:
• Master Pancake (if you don’t already know, a Master Pancake event is where the hilarious staff of Alamo makes fun of a popular, embarrassing-to-like movie)
• Elf, Bad Santa or Christmas Vacation Quote-a-long
• Christmas Sing-alongs
• Girlie Night: Love Actually
• Home Alone Pizza Night

• Watch the Christmas Light show at Mozarts 
• The amazing light show, which really is reminiscent of a Trans-Siberian Orchestra, happens every night; it starts at 6 pm and runs every hour until they close.  

• See the Nutcracker Ballet at the Long Center
• There aren’t many opportunities for a gal to get to dress up and be fancy with her friends, so seize this moment! The Nutcracker Ballet is an incredible story, and always danced beautifully.  Have a few cocktails, see the ballet and end the night with a white elephant gift exchange with your friends. 

• Watch the Longhorns win a bowl game
• This year, support the Horns at the Alamo Bowl (practically next door in San Antonio) against the Oregon Ducks.  Might I suggest stepping up your tailgate game with the adorable “Ooh La La” tee?  Or, we could overwhelm the Ducks with Texas-pride in the “Y'all” tee?

 Follow Tori on twitter @toritica, on instagram @toriklem and on Google Plus!

30% Off Everything on Our Gift Guide!

30% off everything on our Gift Guide with code GIFTGUIDE at checkout!

What to Wear For the Holidays

Not sure what to wear this holiday season? Not a problem! Whether you’re going to a fancy holiday party, or just spending quality time with friends and family, we’ve got you covered!

So you’re invited to a fancy holiday dinner, but you have no idea what to wear! We suggest wearing a basic dress like our Black Wrap Dress since it is so versatile! You can style this dress so many ways, making it your own depending on your shoes and accessories! Add a chunky necklace to draw attention to your face, or add a pop of color to our outfit by wearing red or gold shoes! Regardless of how you dress up this feminine wrap dress, you’re sure to look elegant and polished at any holiday event!

You don’t have big holiday plans? Not a problem! We suggest wearing an oversized sweatshirt or sweater paired with leggings and boots to keep you warm and comfy! These sweaters offer warmth, without sacrificing comfort, which we love! By wearing them with leggings, you can have a second helping of pumpkin pie, we won’t tell!

The holiday season can be stressful, but regardless of what your plans are, Longhorn Fashions has a wide range of outfits to choose from! Remember this holiday season, a smile is your best accessory!  

 By our fabulous intern, Devin!

Thanksgiving Outfit

Thanksgiving Outfit by longhornfashion featuring orange home accessories

Aztec Sequin Skirt Three Ways

Aztec Sequin Skirt Three Ways by longhornfashion featuring high heel pumps

The colors of this Aztec Sequin Mini Skirt are truly stunning! I have found myself wanting to wear it on so many different occasions and luckily I can, just by switching out my top and shoes.

I love it with a Chambray Top and booties for work, happy hour or drinks on Rainey St. To dress it up for a bar tab or birthday party, swap out the Chambray for the Black Fringe Tank and some sleek black pumps. Holiday parties are around the corner and this fun skirt is the perfect choice with a silk top and flats.

How will you style this gorgeous sequin mini?

Tessie

My Favorite Things About the Colder Weather

I asked everyone on the Facebook page today what their favorite things about the colder weather are and I have loved reading the responses!

It got me thinking what my own favorite things about this time of year are. Although I actually prefer hot weather to the cold (I start shaking super easily when I am cold and I love to hike, swim, etc so the sun is my friend), I appreciate so many things that the drop in temperature brings.

1. Family time

The Holidays mean extra time with my immediate and extended family. I love having everyone together to share stories from the past year and laugh about our favorite memories from our childhood. My sister and I used to always do some sort of fun activity so I have fond memories of making caramel apples with chocolate and peppermint candy or white chocolate dipped spoons.

2. Chili

We make chili on the reg when it is cold and have hosted a fun get together called "Chili and Cheer" in the past where all our friends come over and try a few different chili recipes. We play games, like our favorite Catch Phrase, while we eat, drink and listen to tunes. My favorite Turkey Chili was a hit last time!

3. Christmas Lights

Putting up Christmas lights with my family and going to look at Christmas lights on Saturday nights are two of my favorite things about winter. My sister always knows the best places to go look at Christmas lights in Dallas so we make sure to go when I am home (usually multiple times!).

I love checking out 37 1/2 Street in Austin and am so happy that the Trail of Lights is back!

4. Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate with MARSHMALLOWS is my go-to when it is cold. So delicious! I also love the white hot chocolate from Dunkin' Doughnuts, yum!

5. Riding boots

My love for booties is pretty evident year round, but when the cold weather blows in I am all about the riding boots with tall socks. I pair them with skinny jeans, riding pants and sweater dresses all season long!

6. N*SYNC Merry Christmas

I was a huge N*SYNC fan growing up and like most kids would beg my parents to play their Christmas cd on repeat during the holidays. Being an adult is so fun because now I can play it all the time without getting permission!

7. Sweaters

Cozy sweaters are must have! I love open sweaters because you can easily take them off when you get inside, but recently the beige knit sweater is my favorite. I love the length of it and the scallop detailing! Plus, it is super soft.

Another favorite sweater of mine is the deer print sweater with hood. It just screams winter to me and it is the perfect shade of burnt orange so I am looking forward to wearing it to watch the Horns beat Baylor the first weekend in December.

8. Snuggling with Toby

Toby, my 12 pound weenie dog, also gets cold really easily and loves to snuggle up in bed during the colder months. Since he was a puppy he has been sneaking under the covers and cuddling right next to me the second the first cold front blows through. I think he likes the extra body heat, but it makes me so happy to have him so close.

I'm sure I can think of a dozen more things I love about the colder weather, but now I'm off to find some burnt orange gloves for the store!

Don't forget to comment with your favorite thing on our Facebook page for a chance to win the Rust Sweater with Tie Belt!

Tessie

Tori's Thanksgiving Tips

It is Friday, which means the wonderful Tori is guest blogging! I was so inspired by her Thanksgiving tips and I hope you are too!

Happy Friday Longhorns!  We’re only two games away from the Texas – Texas Tech Thanksgiving game, which means we only have a few weeks until the big day. 

A few tips for the Thanksgiving season:

1.       Stay fashionably spirited!  What I love about most of the Longhorn Fashions’ clothes is that they aren’t football game day specific; you (Longhorn or not) can wear her dresses and sweaters whenever.  If you’re going to the game, you may wear the white knit sweater with the burnt orange skinnies and then hop out of the skinnies into black jeans and a gold necklace for family day.  If you aren’t going to the game, you can still keep your UT spirit all weekend long by wearing the LF chambray shirt with pants and a cute scarf – you might even toss in the turquoise cuff. 

2.       Be active! A favorite Thanksgiving activity of mine was introduced by Tessie herself: the Turkey Trot. It’s done in a lot of cities, so you can probably still partake if you’re out of Austin.   It’s a great feeling to get up, get active and then feel energized and guilt-free for a day with your family.  Austin’s CorePower Yoga studio is offering a donations-based class the morning of Thanksgiving if running isn’t your thing.

3.       Don’t wait until November 28^th to be grateful.  One of my Younglife leaders in college suggested we all make a list of five things we were thankful for each day; it is still one of the most rewarding journals to reread.  When you have to write five distinct things, your thankful list becomes pretty meaningful and detailed – not just “I’m thankful for health, happiness, family, friends, food, Longhorns and a roof over my shoulder” but rather “I’m thankful for the toasty heat coming out of my A/C this unusually chilly Texas morning.”

4.       Be someone else’s “I’m thankful for _____” Whether you buy the person behind you in line their meal, buy an extra sandwich to give to someone with a “Hungry, anything helps” sign, work late to help a coworker with their project or just decide to surprise your roommates with a home cooked meal, there’s a plethora of ways you can be the _______.

 Start a habit of volunteering.  There’s no need to wait until the New Year to make a philanthropic resolution.  The holidays are a good time to check out any charity work that’s available because most places have extra needs this time of year.  I encourage you to explore a longer term volunteering effort, and not just a seasonal one.

       Don't forget to look out for more guest blogs every first Friday of the month from Tori! Follow Tori on twitter @toritica, on instagram @toriklem and on Google Plus!

Can't Get Enough of Black and White Everything!

Can't Get Enough of Black & White Everything! by longhornfashion featuring zebra wall art

If you can't tell by all the new black and white arrivals that hit the store this week OR my Zebra costume for Halloween, I love black and white together and separate.

This look is classic and sophisticated while still being fun. The black and white shorts are my new favorite because I always have a hard time finding going out clothes that are affordable and that I will actually wear again. I love this alone or with black tights and pumps.

My second favorite is the new Ikat Jacket. This wrap jacket is so flattering!! And despite the crazy pattern, it seems to go with just about everything. The black and white sleeveless blouse is another great piece. It is a little bit longer in the back so legging fans rejoice!

What are your go-to black and white piece?

Tessie

Turkey Chili Recipe

The weather is cooling down, which means it is finally time to make a huge pot of our favorite late fall food, Turkey Chili!

We have been making my father-in-laws recipe for a few years now and it never seems to disappoint. Extra spicy is the way we like it at our house, but you can adjust it for you preference.

Another plus of this recipe is it is super easy! Just cook the turkey, throw in the other ingredients and let it summer.

Here is the official recipe!

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean turkey
1 (29 ounce) can of tomato sauce
1 (15 ounce) can of black beans
1 (15 ounce) can of corn
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 (28 ounce) can of rotel with green chiles
2 (12 ounce) cans of spicy V-8
2 pods garlic cloves
1/4 cup sliced pickled jalepenos
1/4 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper
1/2 teapsoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon dired oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1/4 cup chili powder

1. Place turkey in large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain and crumble.

2. Come all the other ingredients, bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

After that it is ready to serve! To enjoy it Tessie style, serve it over Fritos with chopped onions and cheese on top! Yum!

Hope you enjoy!

What are your favorite fall recipes?

Fall favorites!

Fall favorites! by longhornfashion featuring tree home decor

With Halloween this week and Thanksgiving around the corner it is no doubt that fall is in full swing! I am loving the cooler weather and PUMPKIN everything! My new favorite is the pumpkin butter at Trader Joe's! I finally went for the first time last night and loved it! I put the pumpkin butter on toast yesterday and on a GF waffle this morning, yum!

I am loving the cooler weather which has given me an opportunity to wear all the new sweaters we have in the store! I wore the Navy and Beige Sweater around the store and to dinner last week and couldn't get over how comfy yet flattering it is.

Per usual I have been pretty much living in the Burnt Orange Skinny Jeans. They are the perfect color for fall! I love how easy it is to add a statement necklace, white blouse and booties to them. Tada, ready to go! And now that the Army Jacket with Woven Back has arrived I am ready to pair them with that and hit up a pumpkin patch to find the perfect orange nugget to carve.

I am thinking the Burnt Orange Top with Round Neck is a great option for the day game against KU this Saturday because I can easily add a sweater when it starts cooling down, but I can't wait to wear the Shift Dress to Thanksgiving! So many options!

What are your fall clothing favorites?

Tessie