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Friday Five |Fall Sale Alert

August 26, 2016

biscotti & blue jean shorts for breakfast

It’s your Friday Five Sales Alert! When Lyndsey posted about her spirit state, she reminded me how much I love Brooke Feather. Despite being a bit out of my budget, I was excited to see a rack with a sign noting 70% off, and I snagged the perfect pair of denim cut-offs in my size. Mine were four-years old and had four-too-many holes.

Bonus incentive was discovering a huge role model of mine, Brettne, is besties with the Brooke Feather owner (and my sister!). A small world that makes shopping at boutiques more fun. But, today, I bring you the big brands, leading you to all the right links for steals on summer and fall styles.

Gap‘s suede game is strong this season. I still love the suede shift and jacket I got in New York in the coolest caramel color. Shop for yours and get 40% off with code More.

Speaking of suede, there’s a fabulous pair of green suede flare shorts on extra, extra sale at Intermix…among other darling things you didn’t know you needed until now.

J. Crew just launched their new collection, and plaid crop pant, my eyes are on you. Get 25% off with WEEKOFSTYLE when you check-out.

Get comfy in Calypso cotton and linen for your Labor Day weekend getaway or staycation.

And for local Houstonians, head to Biscuit Home next week for the Mi Golondrina pop-up. Get there at 2 sharp on Wednesday, August 31st as the gorgeous, hand-embroidered tops typically fly off the racks fast. And the dresses, which make for the prettiest maternity gown.

Happy shopping!

-Molly Bridget of Bridget’s Own Diary

Around {H} Town + Travel, Fashion, Featured, Giveaway

GIVEAWAY|Beth Orduña leather + pearl necklace {retail value $484}

August 22, 2016

Hey guys! We’re helping y’all get through these last dog days of summer with some killer giveaways on L. Avenue. I’m most excited about today’s giveaway. We’ve teamed up with Brooke Feather {more info on this fab boutique here} to bring one lucky reader a leather and pearl stunner statement necklace by LA designer Beth Orduña. Brooke Feather introduced me to Orduña’s designs and I’m now a self proclaimed super fan of this brand.

I actually own this exact necklace that we’re giving away and have been wearing it on the reg all summer. It’s so easy to throw on with my go-to jeans, tee and blazer combo. I love that, like a scarf, it can be tied in tons of different ways depending on your mood or the outfit to achieve a different look every time. Be sure to enter via the link below and on Instagram here.

Around {H} Town + Travel, Fashion, Featured, Lifestyle, Travel

What to WEAR | Charleston

August 18, 2016

Throughout our action-packed travel-filled summer, I put together lists upon lists of all of my favorite spots in Charleston, Santa Barbara, Hilton Head Island and Laguna Beach. I’m super excited to share the inside scoop on these cities with you and hope that you might find some inspiration for your own upcoming travel plans. One question that holds true for every trip prep is, “What do I wear here?” Every city has it’s own unique style and I like to blend in with the locals. Today, I’m sharing what I wore in Charleston earlier this summer.

Wardrobe wise, Charleston is relatively casual yet southernly sophisticated. Since we went during the heat of the summer I saw a lot of sun dresses, linen and bright florals on the ladies. Seersucker shorts and polos for the guys and khaki pants in all colors. Preppy southern gentlemen if you will. For daytime I put the girls in light linen dresses and more traditional smocked dresses for dinners out.

I was blown away by how much there is to see and do in Charleston, which will keep first timers like me coming back to this charming southern spot. There is something for everyone ranging from the antebellum historic sites such as Patriot’s Point or Fort Sumter, to the Children’s Museum and the South Carolina Aquarium for the kiddos. The shopping is insane, Hampden Clothing and Beckett Boutique among my favorites. I’m still full from eating our way through Charleston. The food was some of the best I’ve ever had. The Macintosh being my favorite dinner spot and The Peninsula Grill at Planter’s Inn for brunch. No matter what, be sure to pack a comfortable shoe because you can pretty much walk the entire city.

outfit details, clockwise from top left

outfit 2 | embroidered top and shorts | sandals | clutch

outfit 3 | boho top | linen pants | gladiator sandals | clutch

Around {H} Town + Travel, Fashion, Featured

best off-the-shoulder dresses

August 15, 2016

After some much needed closet reorg, I realized I’ve binge-purchased off-the-shoulder dresses this summer. These trendy gems have obviously been all the rage for a while now. Maybe because they’re such an easy piece to throw on during the dog days of summer. Not to mention, most of my off-the-shoulder dresses are flowy which work well for a baby bump. On average I gained around 50 pounds with each of my previous pregnancies. {Insert monkey with hands over face emoji} What can I say, my go-to food groups are pizza and ice cream right now. Anyway, I think a women’s shoulders are pretty no matter what phase they are in, so I’m highlighting what works for the current situation. Here are my 10 favorite off-the-shoulder numbers this summer, you can snag most of these on sale now!

I talked a lot about getting smarter with packing for vacation earlier this summer and these sandals have made packing a lot more efficient. Cambiami designs a sandal that has interchangeable colors so you can change out the straps to coordinate with all of the outfits in your suitcase, rather than packing multiple pair of flats for your trip. I’ve been swapping out the denim and cork straps on my trips this summer. Happy feet, happier outfits.

Around {H} Town + Travel, Coffee Talk, Eats, Interiors, Lifestyle, Travel

Friday Five | The Little Things

August 12, 2016

little things, like looking up, can change your perspective on your week

As I added a coffee date with Lyndsey this morning to my calendar, I noted the charming ‘event name’ example text Google provides: “Breakfast At Tiffany’s.” It’s the little things that can make a big difference during your week. So, here’s some little links and things that made mine. Hopefully, yours too.

on-point design :: I’m heading to The Hamptons next weekend to put the ultimate exclamation mark on my summer. And I’m. So. Excited! While I plan to spend most of my time outdoors, I hope to scope out the modern interior of this hotel in Montauk.

future fantasizing :: My brother and soon-to-be sis-in-law are going to New Zealand for their honeymoon; my bestie and her fiancé are also crossing the Pacific to Thailand. Here several bloggers dish it out on their chosen destinations.

but also being present :: I’m nearly done with Bread & Wine and can’t wait to start Present Over Perfect with a Bible study group. For all you moms about to enter the fall frenzy of back-to-school, packing lunches and pretending to be sane, this read might be for you too.

savoring the season :: I had aaaall of the summer things last night with almost aaall of my sisters: a watermelon cocktail, a peach burrata salad and an eggplant entrée. It was szechuan at State of Graceand and totally insane. Here’s some other delicious ways to serve eggplant.

planning ahead :: I’m also putting my white ensembles on heavy rotation before Labor Day hits, especially last weekend at White Linen Night in the Heights. But, my eyes are peeled for the winter ahead and having borrowed my mom’s black coat all last year, I figured it was time to invest in my own. Here she is, shipping to my doorstep soon! Maybe got these beauty booties too.

But since we’re clearly still in the midst of summer, get your hands on the bag of the season. Rest assured, it’ll carry you through next spring and summer, too. Or you’ll carry it, rather 🙂

-Molly Bridget of Bridget’s Own Diary

Around {H} Town + Travel, Fashion, Featured

Summer’s hottest bag {back in stock} | Cult Gaia

August 7, 2016

Ask anybody, the IT bag of summer has got to be the Gaias Ark bag by Cult Gaia. This bamboo handbag kept popping in up in magazines, on Insta accounts that have in the hundreds of thousands in following {aka really popular or famous people}. Everywhere but the usual online suspects. I assumed as much, surely unattainable.. And if attainable it must cost a small summer fortune. Wrong and wrong. I finally found the Gaias Ark bag locally in Houston at Saint Cloud boutique. Sadly, it sold out as quickly as you can say “cult gaia.” The good news is this bag is back in stock. Stock is limited and I assume the bags will sell out ASAP. I mean, they are a no brainer, the small version {seen in my photos below} is only $88 and the larger version is $98. A steal for the IT summer bag. And we’ve still got 6+ good weeks left of summer dressing. Not to mention, I’m also finding ways to style my bag right into fall.

Today’s outfit mixes summery suede sandals and my Cult Gaia bag with a fall-ish suede dress and leather lariat necklace. It was the perfect outfit for a night out in Santa Barbara. I scored the dress on sale at Nordstrom {sale ends tonight at midnight!} and the sandals were borrowed from Lauren, L. Avenue’s biz development guru. I basically want everything Lauren has and now that these bad boys are on sale it’s going to be hard to resist adding them to my cart.

photos by Alexandra Gibbs, on location at Four Seasons Biltmore, Santa Barbara

Around {H} Town + Travel, Fashion, Featured

crochet cronies

August 2, 2016

When crochet hit the runway during the Fall NYFW for Spring 2016, I had instant reservations. Sorry to the crochet cronies, but I just immediately had a flashback to a matching ombre crochet set I wore in college {my friends still make fun of me for this aggressively hilarious outfit}. But this time around designers have put a chic stitch in crochet, so much that I bought an entire crochet outfit by Alexis. Contrary to my college crochet getup, I streamlined my crochet look by going all white. I’m in love with this crochet cross back top and tie waist short duo as it perfect for those hot summer days paired with a flat or low heel sandal. I think you could even rock this look for night with a black sandal, but for obvious reasons, my nightlife adventures are taking a hiatus, so I am rocking this pair for a daytime stroll in Charleston.

To add a bit of merriment, I accessorized with this sunflower colored clutch. I’ve carried this bag non-stop this summer. It’s so bright and cheerful to me, and pops perfectly against my all white wonder.

photos by Melissa Toms

Around {H} Town + Travel, Coffee Talk, Fashion, Featured

Romper Room

August 1, 2016

Well hello guys! I’ve been pretty checked out this past week. I hosted a few groups of friends in beautiful Santa Barbara so the laptop got pushed aside and replaced plenty of pool and beach time. My hosting itinerary was pretty aggressive being nearly 7 months prego but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. My friend and beauty blogger pal, Kathleen joined the girls and me with her two boys the first half of the week and then my friend and business partner Lauren flew in with her two boys. At one point the lineup was 3 moms vs. 6 kids under 6. And 2 of the 3 moms are very prego! WILD times, but good times and even better, happy and hilarious memories. I’m not going to lie I’ve never appreciated having a hubby more from a parenting teammate standpoint. The guy does a lot for our girls, not to mention he’s a lot of fun too. I think he deserves some extra loving this week.

When it comes to having no extra time for getting ready I’m most often throwing on a dress or romper because it’s one step faster than two pieces. Rompers are a go-to during the summer. I found this cute ikat print at J. Crew and it actually fits the baby bump, so that’s a plus too. It’s just so easy which is exactly what busy mamas need. Even on vacation, there’s never a dull moment and rarely time for primping. I’ll definitely break this guy out again next summer. It also comes in black and it’s currently on sale. Not too shabby for a Monday.

photos by Mari Rice

Around {H} Town + Travel, Eats, Fashion, Featured

the new happy hour

July 12, 2016

In case you haven’t noticed over the past 23 weeks there have been a lot more food related posts here on L. Avenue {most recently here and here}. Let’s just say this pregnancy has food on my mind more so than the others. Especially ice cream. My ice cream consumption goes up every summer and this summer there have been very few days without a scoop of the good stuff. The girls aren’t complaining about daily ice cream runs either. I opt for Jeni’s from OHIO that Whole Foods now carries when we’re at home. And my new favorite Houston spot is Fat Cat Creamery in the Heights. I’m on a mission to learn to make my own ice cream and am starting with this recipe.

Today’s summer outfit looks like it could be it’s own flavor of ice cream. J. Crew’s summer prints make me so happy and this is one of my favorites. I really wanted the off the shoulder top and this matching skirt, but neither were going to fit my growing baby bump for very long. I’d rock the off-the-shoulder with flare jeans or a pair of bermuda shorts all day, every day.

Here are some other fun prints I love this summer

outfit details | dress, on sale! | Aquazurra wedge sandals, similar style here, similar look for less here | crossbody bag | sunglasses, also love this aviator version

photos by Mari Rice

Around {H} Town + Travel, Coffee Talk, Eats, Featured, Friday Five, Lifestyle, Motherhood

Friday Five | Let Freedom Ring

July 8, 2016

The Rhubarb Fizz at Neat packs the perfect punch to beat the summer heat with Prosecco and lemon.

I’m still recovering from my back-to-back vacations, first beachside with my family then lakeside with my boyfriend’s. Ready for the weekend, I won’t let summer slip by without enjoying all the fun and freedom it affords.

Rosé in hand isn’t a bad place to start (here’s 9 of the best), or a cocktail with rhubarb, which my sisters and I sipped at the perfectly curated bottle shop in quaint Alys Beach, NEAT.

As someone who can often dodge being direct, I liked hearing-from a guy’s perspective-that commitment can be viewed as just as much of a fulfilling adventure as traversing the globe or climbing the corporate ladder. Confidence and clarity will cause you to express this and convict the people you love to believe it.

Growing up with six older siblings, I get a peek of what’s ahead and right now, that’s parenthood. I basked in the freedom to go to and from the beach at my leisure and lounge poolside, good book in hand, with little interruption. I can’t wait to have kids, but witnessing what a labor of love it is reiterates what this blog reveals: it ain’t easy.

On that note, we’ve got another baby on the way to round the grandkid count to a neat dozen. With Lyndsey announcing her third, I thought this was a fun series of old-wives-tales of how to tell if a little brother or sister is soon to come. Poll: do you like to find out (and plan the nursery!) or wait until the birth for the ultimate surprise?

This was my billion dollar idea, now sitting amidst prime real estate in Times Square. With create-your-own bowls being a culinary craze, I’m sure tourists, foodies and cereal enthusiasts alike will flock to Kellogg’s to concoct their specialty bowls. I’ll have Life with dark chocolate chips, blueberries and cinnamon, please!

Happy weekend! Soak up the summer. And the sun!

-Molly Bridget of Bridget’s Own Diary