Being Bridget

Archives for March 2018

Happy Hour with Mark & Graham

Mark & Graham has been one of my go-to’s for giftable items for years. Their personalized gifts make it into my gift guides every holiday season, and I most recently fell in love with this personalized dog bed that I’m still pining after {hint hint, husband!}. Having recently received some wonderful items from their latest collection, I couldn’t wait to put the cute pieces to use for an impromptu happy hour with my girlfriends at my house. Hey, any excuse for wine + cheese with my galpals, amirite?

The Mark & Graham personalization options never cease to amaze me – I loved that I was able to choose from a wide selection of colors and styles, and I finally settled on this uber cool + modern two letter style for the stemless wine glasses & woven placemats, and the more traditional 3 letter style for the color fringe napkins. These designs perfectly represent the intersection of me and my husband’s often opposing styles – modern meets traditional.

I also loOoOove how all three of these items are multi-functional – the stemless wine glasses are plastic so they’ll be great for backyard barbecues, outdoor concerts, neighborhood walks with my hubby & the pups, (don’t judge!) or a beach picnic {rose, anyone?}. They also come in 7 colors and are kid {and pup}-friendly. Hey! Plastic and a low center of gravity for spills should be music to all of you mamas’ ears out there!
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The woven placemats are great because they can be dressed up or down, and they’re neutral so they can be paired with any color. I loved mixing them here with the pops of blue, purple, and turquoise of the table. These would make the best hosting or housewarming gift because while they are certainly unique, their neutrality means you don’t have to worry about choosing something your host might not like! Also, it’s worth noting that the personalization is optional!
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Last but not least, these gorgeous color fringe napkins are so fun for summer. With 4 different colorways to chose from, I’m so glad I went with the turquoise! They’re bright & happy and add such a sweet pop of color to any dining experience. Something about turquoise always brings out the aura of tranquil waves, easy beach sunsets, and brighter-than-blue coastal skies for me – which, in a place like Texas, is a constantly refreshing!
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Do you have plans to host any fun events or dinners at home this year? If so, Mark & Graham is the place to look for the best and brightest in entertaining essentials. If not, perusing Mark & Graham’s latest styles will surely result in you coming up with the excuse to host something – big or small – it sure did for me! I can’t wait to pull out these favorites again and again.
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thank you to Mark & Graham for partnering with me on this post!

Pink Shorts

Top: Maison Labiche // Shorts: Keepsake Horizons Shorts // Bag: Clare V Leopard Clutch // Sunglasses: Old, similar here // Shoes: Vince Karen Wedges {similar option here}

Waking up in San Francisco and it’s the best feeling! The weather is so crisp here, and the sun is shining with blue skies. My best friend, Alixe, and I are starting our road trip up the 101 to Big Sur today! We can’t wait for the adventure. We’re staying at the Post Ranch Inn {eeeee!!!} and the newly renovated Alila Ventana {one night at each!} We plan on hitting up Big Sur Bakery, Nepenthe, and a few other local favorites, as well as hiking Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – we hear there is a beautifu purple sand beach & a gorgeous waterfall! Seriously, just typing this all out is making me so excited.

I brought these big beautiful pink shorts for the trip because I knew they’d be perfect in this weather. The fabric & shape makes them feel & look elegant, and they are easy to dress up or down. I decided to style them somewhere in the middle above. I could easily see myself wearing this look to brunch with friends on the weekend or to a happy hour after work. They’re incredible comfortable and I love them paired with a crisp white t-shirt {my favorite are from Maison Labiche!}

Hope y’all have an incredible Easter weekend! Make sure to pop by tomorrow for a home post with Mark & Graham!

photos: The Retro Penguin

TRAVEL MUST HAVE: TRUFFLE CLARITY CLUTCH

 

Talk about removing bulk from your travel carry on. This slim + sturdy clear {+ TSA approved!} Truffle case is the best thing since sliced bread {or atleast since I discovered this}. It drastically minimizes the space needed to transport liquids during travel, and the plastic is hearty so it keeps it shape & protects the contents inside better than a flimsier, cheaper alternative would. They key is that the base of the case is slim, so you can easily slip this into your work bag, suitcase, or carry on tote without thinking twice. I literally cut the space I was using in half! When you’re traveling, you want & need all the space you can get, so this is crucial.

I first discovered the Truffle Clarity Clutch a few months ago at a baby shower when my friend Louisa pulled three of them out of her bag! Each clutch held a different category of items – first aid, make up, pens/notebooks…. I was mesmerized. With the help of these little bags, her purse was so organized.  I looked into my own purse and saw a sad sight: hair ties, loose change, my wallet, sunglasses a few pens, and a random smattering of other items. I knew I needed these magical pouches {love how many sizes are avail!}

Lucky for me, I found them here. I immediately bought the large white clutch and it was love at first sight. It’s super slim, sturdy, well made, and chic enough to pass for an actual clutch {hello new stadium rules!} I tested it out this past weekend when travelling home to New Orleans for my brother’s wedding and it worked so well – I came home and immediately purchased 3 more. The best part about these bags are how slim them are – they are serious space savers! As I mentioned before, I can fit two bags in place of the 1 bulky bag I was using before {see above} and fit 2x as many things!

And if you’re not ready to invest in the Truffle bags just yet, you can also try out this much cheaper alternative! Although less sturdy & slim, it is also TSA friendly! Shop both options below, and let me know if you get one for yourself!

Also avail at these other retailers: Nordstrom // Neiman Marcus // Waiting on Martha

The Best Everyday Jeans

Top: J Brand tee // Jeans: J Brand Maria Skinny Jeans // Shoes: Frye Ivy Lace Up Sneakers // Sunglasses: Similar // Lipstick: Chanel no. 104 // Bag: Similar

Y’all, these jeans may be the softest jeans I’ve ever put on my body. They have this delicious velvet-y texture that is not only extremely comfortable, but also great looking as well. I love the color of these jeans too. They’re that perfect, summery blue that looks good with any color. I paired them here with an easy {& classic!} crewneck tee, but a white tank and some strappy gold sandals, or a light pink blouse and wedges would also look amazing {really, the options are endless!} J Brand is one of those classic denim lines that consistently makes well made jeans. You never have to worry about investing in a pair because you know they aren’t going to stretch out, they aren’t going to wear out, and they for sure aren’t going to go out of style! They make the classics that you can count on. I bought these from Bloomingdale’s which has an incredible selection of denim – you can see more of their J Brand jeans here!

Oh, and Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!! Are y’all doing anything fun? I’m hosting a ‘sprinkle’ for a girlfriend who’s having baby #2! She had the brilliant idea for us all to go get spa treatments together followed by a fun lunch on a patio somewhere. Seriously my kind of baby shower!! 🙂 Let me know what you have planned in the comments!

thank you to bloomingdale’s for sponsoring this post!