Being Bridget

Archives for January 2019

Things to do in Munich

A week or so ago on my Instagram, I asked for recommendations for my upcoming trip to Munich. I’ve never been to Germany before, and with being sick, and so much going on, I haven’t had the time to do my own research! You guys did not disappoint – I received so many wonderful recs,  but below are the ones I got the most. I’m not sure what we’ll have time to do {and what weather will permit!} but I wanted to share them all with you in case  you’re planning your own trips to Munich or the surrounding area!

  • Mike’s Bike Tour: By far my most recommended activity was Mike’s Bike Tour. Five-star reviews and a number-one rating, the Tour lasts four hours. But you do stop halfway through to enjoy an hour at the Chinese Tower beer garden for food and drink (at your own expense). If it wasn’t planning on snowing our entire trip, we would definitely be doing this!
  • Sound of Music Tours: Who doesn’t love the Sound of Music? If I ever catch it on TV, I always stop to watch. It is so exciting to be so close to where they filmed a movie I’ve probably seen a thousand times! As for the tours, there are a plethora of “Sound of Music” tours to pick from if you can get yourself to Salzburg (Panorama Tours in particular). However, Radius Tours offers a day trip to Salzburg from Munich. Part of their tour, once in Salzburg, does cover the musical!
  • Jack Glockenbach: Cozy Vietnamese restaurant outside of the City Center.
  • Cotidiano Promenadeplatz: Cotidiano is a breakfast/brunch/lunch chain all over Munich.
  • Brenner: Modern restaurant with great ambiance, outside seating, and extensive menu with great Italian options.
  • Neuschwanstein Castle: A 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. It was Disney’s inspiration for the Cinderella castle! Must plan ahead so tours don’t get sold out–you can walk around the outside of the castle for free, but to go inside you’ll need to have a guided tour booked. Tickets need to be picked up at least 90 minutes prior to the tour time. Allow for at least four hours of travel before your tour! The Wallet Diet has a GREAT step-by-step guide for getting to the castle!
  • Kafer’s: Gourmet market with high-end food of amazing quality! You can grocery shop in the market then go eat upstairs in their more formal restaurant.
  • Lodenfrey: Munich’s equivalent of Bergdorf Goodman, Lodenfrey is the creme-de-la-creme of high-end luxury brands. During Wies’n time, they have the most beautiful dirndls and lederhosen on display in the windows. You will find cold weather brands such as Colmar Originals, Holubar, to Wolford and Falke. The descending stairs lead you to an array of the latest designer bags displayed as artwork on the walls.
  • Herrenchiemsee New Palace: About one hour away from Munich, you could either drive or do a day-trip on a tour. Schloss Herrenchiemsee Castle is on the Herren Island in the Chiemsee Lake and boats to the palace depart from Prien am Chiemsee. Note that Euro-City (EC) trains connect Munich and Salzburg nonstop and therefore do not stop in Prien.
  • English Garden Tour: There are both walking tour and biking tour options.
  • Fussen: Almost two hours way from Munich, a great day trip for scenery and shopping. Fussen sits at the southern end of one of Germany’s most popular scenic routes, Romantic Road. Driving the route makes for a great excuse to explore the other towns and villages scattered along this picturesque stretch of road.
  • Oberpollinger: First-class shopping experience with great food options, as well.
  • Jodlerwirt: Bavarian bar/restaurant with Alpine hut-style decor and fun vibe, offering live music (YODELING!) and regional food. Fun bar stop for after dinner!
  • Hofbrauhaus Biergarten: As one of the most popular sites with tourists, it is sure to host an international crowd but still provides traditional eats, drinks, and hospitality. Pass through the archway to a tiny Bavarian kingdom fit for 400 people at a time.​
  • Weinhaus Neuner: Go for a dinner with a quiet, soothing ambiance and excellent food! Warm, gothic interior with ornate, hand-carved wooden doors.

If you’re heading to Munich soon, let me know what you have planned in the comments below! And if you end up using any of these recommendations I can’t wait to hear what you think! xx

image via

My Pantry Makeover: Before and After

Ok you guys, I have to admit. I have totally been bitten by the Marie Kondo bug, and all  I can think about is cleaning out my house. The stacks of mail, the drawers full of random items, the boxes in the attic….I could be the poster child for ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ But it’s a new year, and a new me and I am committed to getting my house in order.

If Marie Kondo’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she is the bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy, and is the star of a new Netflix Original series Tidying Up where she visits people’s homes in order to help them get organized. And y’all. Let me just tell you – this show is as addicting as it is inspiring. I swear, I just want to throw everything in my house and/or give it all away. I’ve seriously caught myself multiple times this week asking myself if an item sparks joy in my life – this is part of the KonMari Method – Kondo’s technique she uses when helping people decide if they keep or get rid of something. Does the item make you feel warm. Does it bring you instant joy? If the answer is yes, then you should keep it. If not, let it go. Honestly, it’s kinda cut throat and I like it. Marie Kondo, where have you been all my life?

In honor of my newest TV obsession, and 2019 goal, I want to share with you my little pantry makeover from last year. I worked with Margaret from Neat Method to re-do this odd space under my stairs {the only place we have dedicated to storing food} and it was a MAJOR game changer. I mean, just look at that before shot. Looking back, I can’t believe I ever lived with it like that! Although, I’m sure thats what all of Marie Kondo’s clients say. 😉

The first step was to remove everything. Margaret took everything out and separated it into categories. Chips & crackers in one section, baking goods in another section. Condiments, cooking oils, cereals, nuts etc. All separated out. This was such an amazing way to see how much stuff  we had in there – and how many duplicates! We threw away items that were expired, and donated items I didn’t want. Margaret then took measurements, made some notes, and headed out for The Container Store.

The items Margaret brought home: Water Hyacinth Storage Bins with Handles {for baking goods, chips, crackers etc} // Copper Rattan Storage Bins with Handles {for baking goods, ziplock bags, and tin foil/wax paper/saran wrap} // Tosca White Basket with Wooden Handles {for snacks, crackers, bagged items} // Can storage rack {for La Croix overflow} // OXO Good Grips Rectangular Canisters {for nuts, cereal} // Madesmart Lazy Susan // OXO Good Grips Square Canisters {for flour, sugar etc} // Spice organizer

So, there you have it. Can you believe such a small space can have such a major transformation? Over a year later, we are still rocking {& loving!} Margaret’s work. Next Up, I am going to attempt to clean out the drawers and cabinets in my bathroom. Over the years I’ve let one too many beauty products pile up and I just need to get them organized! Of course I will share those before and afters once I have them.

Are there any spaces in your home that need a major clean out? Are you feeling motivated in 2019 to start fresh? Let me know in the comments! I’m thinking I may not be alone 🙂

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 top 5 bottom // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 top 18 bottoms // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26

For most, Valentine’s Day is all hearts and flowers and romance usually coming out in the form of wine and chocolates and a fancier-than-usual dinner. But for me, Valentine’s Day is more playful.  Not one to follow the “rules,” some of the items above might seem odd at first glance. A swimsuit? As a gift on Valentine’s Day? C’mon.

SWIM
Growing up, my mom always surprised me with a new swimsuit on Valentine’s Day. It always made me feel so excited for Spring after what always felt like a long and cold winter. I absolutely loved this and always looked forward to what my mom picked out. #5 is already on its way to me. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it! Its playful top and bright red bottoms are so different from anything I’ve seen before. If you prefer something with less frills, #18 is probably more your speed. I love the chic bandeau top and flattering high-waisted bottoms with a tie! Lastly, I own #23 in a different print by the same designer and it’s one of my favorite swimsuit shapes. Can’t get enough of leopard so this combo is my new fav!

BEAUTY
What woman doesn’t want a beauty item or two on Valentine’s Day? Splurge a little and get her the highly coveted and 5-star rated Vitner’s Daughter. A blend of all organic + active botanical ingredients make up this serum that is sure to give your lady a movie star glow. The “Jet Lag” mask is perfect for the traveler, and the eye patches from Peter Thomas Roth are for the woman who likes to sit back and relax. Another splurge is the swoon-worthy Dyson hairdryer {#14} which dries your hair in 1/4 the time as a regular dryer. Last but not least are my new favorite make up towels from Weezie {navy so they never show a stain!} At $40 for the pair, these make the perfect gift.

HEARTS GALORE
It’s a little cliche but I couldn’t help from picking out a few of my favorite heart items. #10, #17, and #20 are all so cute and so wearable even after the holiday! I wear hearts on my clothing all year round! The PJ set {#20} from Roberta Roller is my new obsession. I was gifted a set of these pjs over the holidays and I haven’t slept in anything since. They are the perfect weight and come in so many cute patterns. This heart design was too cute to pass up. Last but not least, this “LOVE” necklace is something I’ve owned for over a year now and hardly take off. It’s delicate, sweet, and such a great everyday basic.

MISC
Other favs included these super cute heart-shaped sunnies {I have them in two pairs!}, this googly-eyed clutch, these gorgeous leopard sandals {#1 on my wish list right now!}, this adorable monogramed canvas pouch, and these super funky sneaks. Can’t get enough of any of them!

What are your Valentine’s Day traditions? Do you gift your loved ones or just treat it like any other day? I’m so curious! So let me know in the comments below 🙂

Are Golden Goose Worth The Investment?

First post of 2019 and I thought what better question(s) to answer than one I receive almost more than anything else! Are Golden Goose sneakers really worth the investment?

But, first, let’s go back to the beginning. I bought my first pair of Golden Goose sneakers in February of 2017 – right before I left to live in Geneva. I knew Europeans had a much cooler way of dressing and I wanted to have a pair of sneakers that were comfortable, but also ‘cool’ to wear to my classes everyday. I decided on a simple white + gold color combination because I wasn’t sure how I would match + coordinate outfits with a funkier pair, and the gold felt special, while the white kept them neutral. I loved them. And I really did wear them to 90% of my classes {see photo of me below on my first day :)}

My next pair was my black and silver pair. I wanted to branch out a little, and because I always wore & loved my silver oxfords, I thought this pair would be great. I had the ‘plain’ pair, so I wasn’t afraid of being a little more adventurous this time around. As soon as I started wearing them, I realized how easy they were to incorporate into my everyday wardrobe. I actually found them more fun + just as easy as pairing the white ones. How is this so? I know you must be wondering, and I’ve thought a lot about it. My thought is that on most days, I just want to wear something simple. A pair of jeans, a white t-shirt or sweater. Workout leggings and a sweatshirt. By adding these fun + funky silver shoes, I actually feel like my outfit becomes a little more elevated. What was once a boring and simple outfit is now chic because you have a pair of playful, yet stylish shoes on your feet.

Third and fourth pairs of shoes were purchased this past summer. I decided to really go all out and get a full on sparkle and a leopard/red combo {similar also here}. I love both. When I first purchased them, I actually wore the leopard and the red pair almost immediately. I wore them with everything. I loved how funky and playful they were and how much fun they made every {otherwise boring} outfit feel. The sparkle pair on the other hand, I struggled with. I bought them in July, and I didn’t wear them once until October. I honestly wondered if maybe I had made a mistake. And then, when I was looking for something exciting to wear for HopeFest {our yearly fundraiser we hold at Happiest Hour here in Dallas} I decided they were just the addition I needed. Happiest Hour is a bar, and I knew I would be on my feet for hours, so I knew comfortable shoes were a must. These were so comfortable, so fun, and just the special addition I needed for my outfit. I honestly haven’t stopped wearing them since! If you follow me on Instagram then you have seen me wear them exclusively for the last two months 😉

I wanted to answer a few questions I’m always receiving about my Golden Goose sneakers below! If you have any more, leave a comment and I will be sure and add it to the blog post!

Are they well made? I find that my Golden Goose sneakers are very well made. They’re solid and very durable shoes. I’ve worn mine while tromping through airports, mud fields, hiking, for days on end, and they always look the same. I was worried about the sparkles on my silver sparkle pair rubbing off and they haven’t at all – I don’t think I’ve lost a single spec!

Are they comfortable? Golden Goose sneakers aren’t cushy in the same way that say, a pair of nikes would be. They’re not soft – they have a hard sole. But with that being said they’re definitely not uncomfortable.

Do they fit TTS? Yes! They fit true to size. They are not offered in half sizes, so if you are in between sizes, size up!

Do they all come distressed? Yes, they all come distressed to a certain degree, but I’ve noticed that the distressing is not all super noticeable. Scroll back up and look at the side shot of my silver sparkles – only the sole is really somewhat scuffed and its just honestly not that noticeable when I’m wearing them. The same goes for my black + silver pair.

Do they ever go on sale? Yes! They go on sale all the time! My favorite sites to stalk for a sale are SSense and FarFetch. I also love keeping an eye on eBay. You can find tons of gently used and new Golden Goose sneakers for way, way less than the original costs. I’m currently obsessing over this pair and stalking the site until I can find it in my size!

Do they wear well? Can they handle the snow/ice/rain? This goes hand in hand with the well made question but in my opinion they do wear well. I have worn each pair many, many times and have barely noticed any wear on any of them. Maybe this is because they come pre distressed so it also hides any marks I make, but to me, they look as good as new.

What socks do you wear with yours? I wear these no show socks from Loft. In my opinion, there is no better sock {read why here!}

How do you tie them? Depends on how Im feeling – I used to let them kind of hang open loosely, but recently I’ve been more into a tighter tie. I don’t think there is any right or wrong answer here! Anyway you tie them will look good.

Hi-tops or low tops? I’ve only ever been brave enough to buy {and wear} the low tops but I am obsessed with how the high tops look on other people! I really want a pair. One of my closest friends has a few pairs of the high tops and wears them with everything  – like long beautiful dresses, ripped up denim, or Mi Golondrina skirts. I mean, she just makes them look so dang cool. Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve got my eye on this pair! Just waiting to find them on sale 🙂

What do you wear yours with? Literally anything! Jeans, skirts, dresses! You can add these sneakers to any outfit to make it feel instantly more stylish.

Do you prefer the more funky styles or the more classic? This is hard. I thought I would prefer the more classic styles {hence why I started off with the white/gold} but honestly, I really gravitate and wear the funkier styles way more. I think if you’re going to spend a lot of money on a shoe, and it’s going to add a bit of playfulness to an otherwise boring outfit, it should be a bit of a statement! The great thing about Golden Goose sneakers is that they come in hundreds of colors, fabrics, leathers, sizes, and styles. There are literally so many to choose from. I am sure there is a style out there for everyone.

So the question is, are they worth it? To me, they are. They’re fun, funky, playful and easy shoes you can throw on with any outfit. They’re well made, and they just make me feel a certain way when wearing them. With so many price point options out there, you don’t need to pay full price to get a pair! As I mentioned above, they’re always going on sale, and eBay has tons of great options. So don’t let that scare you away if you really want a pair! Honestly, it’s a little hard to describe the transformative power these shoes have on an outfit, but you might just need to trust me. 😉 Once you buy your first pair, you’ll be hooked!

photos: The Retro Penguin