Houston Blogger Symposium

Just bought my ticket to this, if you're in the Houston area you should definitely check it out. Hope to see some of you there!

Kirsten over at Triple Max Tons was the first blogger I "met" when I came onto the scene, she helped design my blog site. Her amazing website skilled coupled with the idea by Megan from Greetings From Texas! came up with this amazing way for Houston bloggers to connect. I can't wait to attend and finally meet some of my fellow bloggers!

The Heights

I went to the Heights with my friend Ben for some lunch, shopping and of course a photo shoot. He's so good with a camera I couldn't resist taking advantage. Shopping in the Heights is full of these cool vintage and antique stores, and a few funky modern ones as well. We went into a ton of them, tried on some vintage hats, and looked at cameras for him. It was so nice to spend a day outside enjoying the weather and getting some shopping done as well. Enjoy!

Outfit

Dress: Tucker for Target (old)

Belt: Zara

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

Jewelry: black bracelets from craft fair, Tiffany Bead bracelet, ring from Charlotte Russe (old), Tiffany Bead earrings, necklace gifted from Ben

Sunglasses: Chanel

I'm Back!

Hey everyone!

I'm so sorry for not posting in, well, FOREVER! I promise I'm not wearing work out clothes all the time while I'm watching Baby E. This will no longer be my excuse and I promise to update my blog more!

So here's my first post back, a few photos taken at the 2012 HRC Gala this past weekend. (Thank you Ben!) I had an amazing night with Baby E and my uncles, as well as my awesome date. Doesn't he look handsome? I have gone to this event two other times before so this time I decided to go with something a bit more simple and dress it up with jewelry (In this case, diamonds thanks to my Uncle Michael). We sipped on champagne and had an amazing meal while many people spoke on the issue of human rights. Actress Amber Heard was there as well to lend her support to the cause. It was an amazing night and I cannot wait to be there again next year.

Photos courtesy of Ben

Outfit

Dress: Zara 

Jewelry: Diamonds thanks to my uncle, Tiffany bead earrings, Grandmother's vintage engagement ring

Shoes: Steve Madden (not pictured)   

Titanic

On April 12th the Houston Museum of Natural Science hosted a VIP night to celebrate the Titanic, 100 years later. My Uncle Matt (who's quite awesome, if you didn't already know) was able to get my friend Minhthy and I last minute tickets to this sold out event. Three cheers for Matt! I was never a huge fan of the movie and I wasn't one of those lusting teenagers over Leo. However, I am a huge history nerd and the history and story behind the Titanic fascinates me. The event described a first class area where a sting quartet would be playing (in my opinion, much like the band playing as the ship was sinking and people were scrambling to life boats) as well as third class where there would be a Celtic band playing.

The event was fabulous! As you entered you received a swag bag (if you were the lucky few like Minhthy and I were) that had free museum passes and a discounted Titanic exhibit pass, which I definitely need to use. Once inside, on the left was the live band for third class and on the right was first class, which was held in the gemstone area (a perfect place for first class). Minhthy and I decided to beat the crowd to the exhibit, so we started there. Upon entering you received a card with a real passengers name and a brief bio, I was an older woman with a daughter and traveled first class...we would need this later. Once inside it was incredible! All of the artifacts from parts of the ship, to history of passengers and the builders of the ship, and quite a few personal belongings. It was amazing to see what items were almost immaculately preserved and those that had much deterioration. At the end of the exhibit you were able to look up the name you were given and see if you survived. I thought since I was first class that surely I would have survived, but Minhthy told me not to get my hopes up....however, I did survive!

Overall this exhibit was amazing and the VIP night to celebrate the Titanic's voyage 100 years ago was a great showcase of her history. I can't wait to use my pass to the museum I got that night to go again and maybe I'll buckle down and see the movie as well.

 

Outfit

Top: Thrifted

Skirt: BCBG (old)

Shoes: Bebe (old)

Jewelry: Juicy Couture heart earrings, Bebe bangles, Stella & Dot ring, Chloe Lane Studio "Oui/Non" necklace

Purse: Louis Vuitton Eva

SeanDavidBradley

My friend Kim invited me to a photography exhibit in the Village that her friend was apart of. It was a really interesting exhibit, his photos were in a trailer while some of the others were inside. There were a lot of really interesting pictures. Some were different shots of people's body parts. Although how I typed this comes off a lot more morbid than it really was, it was cool seeing peoples feet and arms intertwined. There were also photos like the cake photo at the bottom of the page with graduated cylinders indicating what goes into the slice of cake. Or the photo of someone's head with a dotted line across the top. The thought that I had just watched Hannibal before going out that night made me believe they were going to eat her brains! However...that's just my thought on that one. My favorite photo in the trailer was one of a staircase, the first shot here. It took your eyes both up the stairs and down, I almost didn't know where to look!

Here are a few shots I took that night.

My favorite SeanDavidBradley photo

Me and Kim

Outfit

Top: Forever 21 spaghetti, American Apparel chiffon top

Jeans: Rock and Republic (old)

Shoes: BCBG (old)

Jewlery: Stella & Dot flower earrings, DIY bracelet, Nordstrom bird ring (old)

Purse: Louis Vuitton (old)

Bayou Bend Gardens

Tuesday Caroline and I decided to go to Bayou Bend Gardens. The weather in Houston has been so nice I want to do anything and everything that involves being outside. Usually I go to Starbucks with a good book to read and enjoy the sun, but lately I've been exploring more of what Houston has to offer. My Uncle and I went to the Bayou City Arts Festival this past week and over the weekend Caroline and I went to an outdoor Matisayhu concert. (I must remember to bring the camera when I do things like this!)

We spent a few hours in the gardens that were a little more difficult to navigate with a stroller than the guard led us to believe. But, none the less, we did a good job of wandering the gardens and even ran into the staff parking lot where we were kindly asked if we knew where we were going. At the back part of the house there was a small grassy area with a fountain that seemed perfect for a picnic (minus the fact that food isn't allowed). However we did stop to soak in the sun and snap a few pictures. I think Baby E enjoyed watching the fountain the best.

Outfit

Dress: Forever 21 (old)

Shirt: Forever 21 (old)

Sandals: Aldo (similar here)

Jewelry: Stella & Dot earrings, Stella & Dot bracelet, bracelet from Greece, vintage name necklace, gifted bangles from my mom

Sunglasses: Vintage Christian Dior

This Isn't My First Rodeo

It's official...I have attended my first Rodeo in Texas. I can now put truth into the statement, "This isn't my first Rodeo" (said in a thick Texas accent) It all started that day with a drive home from the gym. I noticed that an exit was blocked, mental note to ask the uncle when I get home. However I didn't need to ask him because as I passed the police blockade I saw a horse, then what the horse was pulling...a covered wagon. This was just the beginning of Rodeo.

Rodeo kicks off with a BBQ cookoff contest that my friends and I went to this past Saturday night. You pay an entry fee to get into the area which is pretty much like a fair, then there are separate tickets for each tent that has entered the contest. We went to a few tents but sadly we got there so late that we didn't get a chance to try any BBQ. The free beer made up for the lack of food, however, and the last tent we went to had a really great band so there was lots of dancing.

The cookoff ended at 11 so we ended up having to leave. But this is definitely on my agenda for when Amanda gets here in just a few days. I'm picturing the much needed funnel cake, silly fair rides, and o ya what makes it different from just your everyday state fair....bull riding! Get ready for an upcoming post about that!

Entrance into the Rodeo

The wonderful police officers manning the tent entrance

Outfit

Top: Forever 21 tank, Green Madewell top (thanks Estelle!)

Jacket: Zara (similar here)

Jeans: 7 for all mankind

Boots: Steve Madden

Jewelery: Madewell necklace, Marc Jacobs ring, Tiffany heart ring, Betsey Johnson Alligator ring
Bag: Louis Vuitton (similar here)

Bianchi meets Awesome Blossom

The other evening we had the pleasure of having Allen Bianchi, famed Houston architect, come visit our home.

I guess I should start off by telling you how my uncles ended up with a Bianchi house...they had been on several design home tours and kept a mental note of which homes they loved. The favorite ones they gravitated towards were designed by Allen Bianchi. The hunt then began for their perfect Bianchi home. About 3 years ago they found the house we're all living in today.

Now back to the visit...Allen came over to see how we had decorated the house and converted the loft space into a nursery for Baby E. We got to browse his website and see his past projects and learn all about his current ones, he's designing a house in Kuwait! I'm also excited to write that we get to see his office this week and learn more about his upcoming projects. We may even be apart of an upcoming project to build our next home, one can only hope!

Awesome Blossom

Allen Bianchi and me

Outfit
Top: Duo 
Bottom: Express (old)
Shoes: Tory Burch 
Jewelry: Duo necklace, Marc Jacobs ring, Betsey Johnson flower earrings 

Memorial Park

While my cousin was still here we all attended the Memorial park tree planting event. A lot of the trees  in Memorial park died after the horrible drought this summer. I heard it was one of the hottest summers, though thankfully I moved here right afterwards so I was able to skip the whole humid summer Houston scenario. Our family bought trees for all of us to help replant the park. This way as our family grows together so will our trees. (insert awww moment here) Then we were able to go to Memorial park and volunteer to plant the trees. Unfortunately it was raining, hence why my hair looks the way it does. I also didn't realize how muddy it would be but my Tory Burch flats got me out of having to plant in the dirt. Thank you Tory Burch!!

 

Thanks uncle MBP for the pictures!

Outfit

Top: Karl Lagerfeld for Macys

Jacket: Elie Tahari

Jeans: 7 for all mankind 

Shoes: Tory Burch  (similar here)

Jewelry: Madewell necklace, Marc Jacobs ring, bracelet from Greece, bow ring from Contemporary Art Museum

Roak

These photos were taken last Friday, yes I know I'm so behind on my posts! Apologies. I went out with a group of friends for a birthday. As I spend more time in Houston (it's almost been 5 months!) I'm meeting more and more new people. My friend Caroline is "good peoples" as my uncle says and so far she has only introduced me to the same kind of "good peoples". This was a much needed night on the town at a local club called Roak. It used to be a funeral home, insert eww, however on the inside it was amazing. I called it Houston meets Vegas, partly for the swanky bottle service tables, partly because there was a pool in the center of it all.

You probably remember this lace dress from a previous post here. I go from never wearing this dress to recycling it for two posts! I paired it with my beloved Steve Madden heels that were a spur of the moment Black Friday purchase. I love adding a pop of color to a LBD for an added wow factor. Also, my accessories were a recent purchase from my museum visits. The Contemporary Art Museum sucked me into their gift shop of amazing gadgets and jewelry. Who knew I'd find so many interesting pieces in a museum gift shop!

The girls and the birthday boy

Good Peoples

Thanks to my uncle for the amazing pictures!

Outfit

Dress: Zara 

Shoes: Steve Madden 

Jewelry: Necklace, bow ring, bangle from the Contemporary Art Museum, Bracelet from Greece, Tiffany ring, BCBG ring 

Purse: Louis Vuitton