My husband and I are so excited to announce that we are expecting a little one due this summer! We couldn’t be more excited and are feeling overwhelmingly blessed. At times throughout the last two years I wondered if I would ever have this moment, so sitting here today, writing out these words, feels so incredibly special to me.
Can’t wait to share this next chapter {and all of the details} with you!
xx
When I got married, I knew I was ready to graduate from buying inexpensive linens, and upgrade to bedding that I would not only love, but also own for forever. I was tired of replacing my inexpensive, scratchy bedding every year after holes would form, or a seam would come undone. When the time came, I immediately knew that I wanted said bedding to be from Leontine Linens. If you aren’t familiar, Leontine Linens is a New Orleans based company founded in 1992 by Jane Scott Hodges. They’re known for their incredible high quality designs and fabrics that will truly stand the test of time. The designs are traditional, without being too stuffy, and made by some of the best needleworkers in the country. When I recently received my duvet in the mail, a card was signed by the three women who had worked on the piece. How special is that?! I love that Jane Scott connects us to the brand in this way. Having grown up in New Orleans, I felt proud to have a company like this highlight the artisans that create these beautiful and intricate designs. When I finally crawled into my bed, with all my new Leontine, I not only felt a sense of comfort, but I also thought of home, and I think there is something really special about that.
To back up a bit, when it came time to pick out my own pieces, I actually didn’t go into the showroom in New Orleans. Abbie, who works at Leontine, was traveling through Dallas for one of their many trunk shows, and we made an appointment for her to come to our house. I was, of course, overwhelmed with the many options, but Abby was so great in helping me narrow down my ideas and helping build a bed that made sense for us. I knew I wanted to keep the light greenish/blue of the walls in our master the same, so I nixed any green/blue thread option when deciding on colors. I ended up deciding on grey because it felt soft, and subtle but not overly feminine or masculine. I knew my husband would like the way it looked in the room and it just blended so nicely with the colors already there. I chose my married initials – BRB – because, well, in the south, that is just the way it is. According to southern tradition, women get monograms in the bedroom, and men get theirs in the bar! 🙂 However, had my married initials not looked right together {sometimes, depending on a monogram style, certain letters can lay poorly next to each other} I would’ve chosen our married monogram. I was open to all ideas – but settled on BRB because it is also what looked best in the monogram style I chose.
Did you know that if you live to be 75, then you spend over 25 years of your life asleep in bed? Isn’t that insane to really stop and think about? I know the bedding is expensive, but I find so much joy in coming home from a long day and crawling into my beautiful, crisp sheets. I would rather spend my money on this luxury than any Chanel or Hermes bag of the moment, or even a pair of shoes or a dress. What I loved most about when I first shared my bedding with my Instagram followers, was that so many people came out of the woodworks to share with me their own Leontine story – many had been gifted a baby blanket when they were born that they still had on the end of their bed some 20 years later. Others had sheets or a coverlet, or even shams they had bought right when Jane Scott opened shop almost 30 years ago. To hear firsthand from so many, how durable these bedding items really were, only solidified the thought that these sheets were truly a very special investment that I will enjoy for many years to come.
Without further adieu, I wanted to hand the post over to Abby who is going to help answer some of the many questions you all had in regards to Leontine Linens! But before I hand it over, let me say one last thing – I know it can be difficult to get a feel for pricing, due to the nature of their custom business, so I made sure to have Abby include the pricing of my own bedding below. I am a little nervous of the backlash this may cause due to the high prices, but please know that I am only sharing this to help any of you who are interested in owning Leontine for yourself. I want you to have an honest and transparent understanding of what my bedding cost piece by piece so you can make educated decisions for your own bedding from there.
Ok. That’s it from me….Enjoy!
What piece {or pieces} would you suggest to someone just starting out?
1 or 2 shams and a blanket cover or duvet cover.
What would you suggest for a first time buyer? What is a great starter item?
For the bed- a monogrammed sham or two, or a monogrammed blanket cover from Sleep Essentials LLC. For the bathroom, two monogrammed terry hand towels make a statement.
Can you order online? Or do you need to visit New Orleans to buy? What do you do if you
can’t make it to New Orleans?
Due to the custom nature of our linens, all orders can be placed over the phone or via email. Please reach out to get your project started. info@leontinelinens.com OR 504-899-7833. We have a showroom in New Orleans, but we also travel to markets, please see our travel schedule here! We are headed to a city near you!
NEW ORLEANS SHOWROOM
3806 Magazine St. Suite 3
Monday through Saturday – 10am to 5pm
What items does Bridget have on her bed? Styles/sizes/colors/monogram type
Pillows:
– 3 European (26×26) French Case in Quartz Linen with White Linen trim. Piped edge. No Flange. 1″ Bands. No monogram- $185 each
– 2 King French (20×36) Case in White Birdseye with Quartz Linen trim. Piped edge. No Flange. 10″ Frances Embroidery monogram in Swiss Fill Raindrop #9095. Initials: BRB – $660 each
– 2- 5×16 Neck Roll in White Birdseye with White Linen trim. Scalloped Bind Flange. Ties one end. 3″ Frances Embroidery monogram in Swiss Fill Raindrop #9095. Initials: BRB – $265 each
– King Polyester Pillow Insert- $50 each, Euro Polyester pillow Insert $50 each
Sheets:
– King Flat Sheet in White Percale with Quartz Linen trim. Straight Bind. No monogram – $300
– King Fitted Sheet in White Percal – $280
– 4 King Pillow Cases in White Percale with Quartz Linen trim. Straight Bind. No monogram – $90 each
Coverlet/Duvet:
– King Blanket Cover in White Birdseye with Quartz Linen trim. Scalloped Bind. No monogram – $425
– King Duvet Cover in White Birdseye with Quartz linen trim. Piped edge. No Flange. White Percale on reverse. Button Closure. Frances embroidery monogram in Swiss Fill Rain Drop #9095. Initials: BRB
How long does it take to receive an order once placed?
Linens of this nature take time. We have an 8 – 10 week lead time for most of our collection. Our accessories and bed clothes have a 4-6-week lead time.
Price ranges from what to what?
We have designs to fit all budgets. Due to the custom nature our pricing structures reflects the intricacy of the designs. We are happy to provide pricing over the phone or via email.
Does Leontine make mattress pads?
We do make a variety of mattress pads!
How many pillows should a proper bed have? Let’s do two examples – a king and a twin
There is no set way you have to arrange your pillows, but typically your sleeping pillows will go behind your shams. On a king bed there are several options for pillow layout. Three euros with two kings in front is pretty common, or you can skip the euros altogether and have just two king shams. Neck rolls or boudoirs are good accent pillows for in front of these shams if you want another layer. We also offer body pillows that look nice in front of three euros on a king size bed. For a twin-size bed, a king sham will fit across the width of the bed and works well, or you can do a euro sham either for the main accent pillow or with a standard or boudoir sham in front of it.
Does Leontine preview monograms? Can they help you pick which monogram is best for your initials?
We can definitely guide you, and we do offer hand drawn sketches of the monograms once you have selected one or two options.
Does Leontine offer double thread colors?
Yes! Our embroidered monograms and borders can be done in 1-3 colors. Our applique can be contrast stitched in a complimentary thread color so that your monogram is in two colors.
Can you register for Leontine Linens?
Due to the custom nature of our items, we do not have a traditional bridal registry program, however we would love to assist you in creating your linens for your new life together as a married couple. We recommend gift certificates and ordering your linens when you are ready. We do have a wonderful line of accessories that make beautiful bridesmaids and bridal gifts.
Does Leontine have gift cards?
We do! Give us a call or send us an email and we can help you order one. We can send you a beautiful gift certificate via USPS (wrapped up with ribbon in a Leontine box) or email.
What fabrics do you offer? Bridget often mentioned that her sheets were ‘crispy’ – what does this mean?
Available sheeting material options are percale or sateen. Our percale has a crisp yet soft hand, and our sateen is extra-soft with a slight sheen. Our sheeting is American Supima cotton milled in Italy and is the recommended base fabric for sheet sets, duvet covers, and shams. Bridget has the percale sheets.
Classic Pique is recommended as a base fabric for blanket covers, shams, duvet covers, bed skirts, and shower curtains. We offer two pique styles: Dakota, a diamond pattern, and Birdseye, a pointelle pattern. Bridget has the classic pique in white birdseye on both her coverlet and duvet. Click here for example images.
Does Leontine do sales?
Due to the custom-made nature of the items, we do not run sales.
What is the process for choosing what you want?
Please click here to see our design process!
How does one go about choosing a monogram? There are so many options!
Typically, a good start is to decide whether you want an applique (done out of fabric) monogram, or an embroidered (done out of thread) monogram. We can guide you based on style, whether you are looking for traditional, or more modern or you want simple or more embellished and send over our suggestions also based on your initials. Here is a complete list of the monograms we offer, as well as our monogram guide.
Do you create table runners?
We do! We can do them in white or ivory hemstitch or in colored linen, with a monogram or border, or just simply plain. We can do them in any size as well.
How does one care for your Leontine?
Our care guide is linked on the website
Thank you Abby! And thank you to everyone who sent in questions, and to all of you who were so sweet about my bedding. It truly is one of those things that just makes me feel good – and I’m so happy I am able to share that with you all. If we missed any of your questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below and I will make sure either Abby or I answers them ASAP! xx
Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating the love, affection and appreciation you have for your loved one. Whether that equates to a romantic dinner for two, a cozy night on the couch with Netflix, or flowers and candy, the point is just to spend quality time with your significant other. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer for how to celebrate, but if your plans do involve gift giving, then you might find the list below helpful. Compiled from you guys, {!!! the many readers and followers here and on Instagram} I took the best ideas and listed them out below. Coming up with gift ideas for men is hard, but you guys did not disappoint, and these ideas are incredible!
Round of Golf – For the man in your life who loves golf, you can find a public course and get him a gift certificate. He can either hit balls with friends, or play a round or two.
Afield: A Chef’s Guide to Preparing and Cooking Wild Game and Fish – Great for guys who love to hunt. It has a ton of wild game recipes and instructions on how to properly prepare it.
Lovebook – A website where you can create a personalized book with doodles and stories of your own relationship. It is professionally bound and set to last a lifetime! Right now you can save 20% with code: VDAY19
Chatbooks – Similar to the Lovebook, but more focused on photos, this custom photo albums can cost less than $20 to make. Fun to center them around a theme like a recent trip or special event. Super easy to upload & quick for delivery!
Engraved watch – Watches are so personal already, but pick it up a notch by adding something sweet on the backside. Initials or an inside joke work too 🙂
Make him dinner + dessert with a special paired wine list! If staying home is more your vibe, then do something special by making his favorite meal and pairing it with a special cocktail or bottle of wine. Thoughtful, and you can do it in the comfort of your own home!
Cologne – My husbands favorite cologne is this one from Van Cleef & Arpels.
Massage {couples?} – Most men love a massage, but won’t treat themselves to one, so surprise him with a gift certificate to your favorite spa! Better yet? Make it a couples date and you can enjoy the treat too 🙂
Customized M&Ms – When my husband and I first started dating I ordered him a big canister of M&Ms {his favorite candy!} with a picture of his face printed on each one. Not only did we laugh A LOT over them, but they were delicious too! The great thing about the customization process is that you can get super creative! A picture or text, a mix of colors – you name it, M&Ms can handle it. Get 25% off right now with code: VDAY25
A subscription to Butcher’s Box – For the guy who loves to grill! Free shipping delivers the best 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork. All of the animals are humanely raised and free of antibiotics and hormones. Choose from their curated mixes of beef, chicken, or pork – or customize your own! Next it will be delivered to your doorstep. What guy doesn’t get excited over meat?! Starts at $129/mo
Create a custom experience – A few years ago I planned a weekend trip to Fredericksburg for my husband and I. Since he is normally the planner, I wanted to surprise him with everything – I made all the dinner reservations, planned out our hikes, and scheduled a wine tasting or two. He was so happy because he could sit back and just enjoy – he didn’t have to worry about what was next because I had already done it all for him! To this day, it’s still a trip we think about all the time 🙂 If a trip isn’t in your budget, get on Ticketmaster and see whats coming to a town near you – maybe his favorite team is playing, or his favorite band? A reader wrote in and said she bought tickets to go see Cirque Du Soliel when
Jack Black grooming products – beard lube, body wash, face scrub etc. I’ve heard great things from so many readers about the men in their lives loving these products! I especially love these little gift sets!
Beauty Counter also just launched a mens line called ‘Countermen.’ A bunch of readers raved about this line as well.
Man Crates – This is a themed crate filled with all the things your man could want. The themes range from cooking and drinking to sports, grilling and something curiously titled ‘project.’ I’m intrigued already! They even have a section on their site devoted to Valentine’s Day! Get 14% off if you spend$100 of more.
Yeti cooler – Arguably the best cooler on the market, my husband loves/lives for his yeti cooler. If you are looking for something smaller, we also own this one and it’s a really great, more manageable size. Bonus points? Fill the Yeti with his favorite beer before you give it to him!
Birchbox Subscription – Each month, he’d receive a supply of five grooming samples—from anti-aging moisturizers to beardcare supplies to hair styling essentials—delivered to the door for just $10/month. What man wouldn’t want a monthly surprise? You can sign up for a 6 month commitment for only $60.
Divvy Up Socks – A friend of mine gifted me these custom socks over Christmas and they had Biscuit and June on them! I actually texted her saying ‘oh my gosh, the dogs {on the socks} look sooo much like Biscuit and June!’ and she responds ‘THEY ARE BISCUIT AND JUNE!!!” ?? Love the idea of getting a pair for my husband so he can wear them to work. Maybe I’ll also put my face on a pair…..why not?! ?
A nice bottle of bourbon – Atleast we know they’ll use it! You could always pair it with a nice customized decanter and/or a set of glasses!
Goldbelly – You can order food and desserts and meats from all over the country. One reader said, “I ordered him his favorite hometown Memphis BBQ {we live in DC} to be delivered on Valentines day!” Brilliant – and who wouldn’t love something thats hard to get from their home town?!
Custom Metal Book Jacks – If the man in your life has a pair of cowboy boots then he needs this custom metal book jack. It will help him get his boots off and I love that you can customize them a million different ways! Thinking my husband might need one of these!
OK! There you go – the best of the best ideas I received when polling for those tricky to buy for men! What are your plans for Valentine’s Day this year? Do you buy your man something? I think we are getting together with a small group of friends this year and having a pizza party 🙂 Let me know in the comments what y’all plan to do!
I wouldn’t say I’m a travel expert by any means, but I have been on ~20 long haul flights in the last 3 years, so I feel like I have almost gotten my prep down to a perfect science. Long haul flights are exhausting – we are often cramped into tiny seats, for hours and hours at a time, trying to get a decent amount of rest, but we all know how hard that is. There are so many factors that are out of our control, so I like to do as much in advance as possible to atleast make the things I can control more enjoyable. My top tips & tricks are below!
SLEEP
Buy & bring an Ostrich pillow – We all know that sleeping on a plane can be difficult, but with it’s super soft jersey material, and bead-like interior, the Ostrich Pillow makes it so much easier. This O shaped travel pillow lays on top of your eyes and ears, blocking out sound and light, and acts as a rest for the head. I first discovered it’s magic a few years ago when my {now} husband had a medical emergency when travelling. My {now} sister-in-law, Katelyn, had an Ostrich pillow with her and let me borrow it when it became clear I would have to spend the night at the hospital in a chair – It blocked out the beeping machines, the lights from other patients and made my awkward angles comfortable enough for me to get a few hours rest. Ever since that moment, I have sworn by this travel accessory, making it my #1 must-have. More recently, I have discovered the brands newer item – this neck support pillow which I only bring on long haul flights because it is such a pain to carry around {it’s much more bulky than it’s sister product!} But y’all, as much as I hate carrying this product through the airports, it makes sleeping so much more pleasant when on the plane. AKA it’s 1000% worth it. It’s also covered in the same soft jersey material as its sister, but instead of having a soft beaded interior, this pillow is made of a more stiff insert that gives your neck the support it needs. This past Christmas, when flying to Switzerland, I had a middle seat in the middle row {literally the worst of the worst} and had it not been for this little guy, I wouldn’t have slept at all!
Don’t forget an eye mask – If you have the ostrich pillow already, then you don’t necessarily need an eye mask, but I always travel with one anyway in case I need it post travel days. For example, sometimes my husband stays awake longer than I do, or the windows in the hotels don’t have sufficient black out shades, so I find it really convienient to have this eye mask on hand. It takes up zero space in my carry on tote, and because I love the way the soft silk feels on my eyes I will often layer it under the ostrich pillow when traveling too {why not?!} Pro tip: even though they aren’t as pretty, buy the navy or black silk – the lighter colors are prettier, but will show make up and dirt.
Bring your own sleep aid – If you have trouble falling asleep while flying, I can’t recommend Melatonin enough. This herbal remedy is sure to help ease the toughest of sleepers into a soundful slumber. I’m sensitive to medicine, so I use this brand which is safe for children {and only 1mg}, but if you’re less sensitive, Vitafusion has 3mg per gummy and will certainly do the trick. It also comes in pill form if gummies aren’t your thing.
COMFORT/EASE
Change into sweatpants – My parents grew up during the golden age of travel – a time when flying was not only luxurious but also something to get dressed up for. Forget the destination! Flying was the event. Fast forward 30+ years, and flying has become a lot more relaxed, and although I don’t wear my ‘Sunday best’ when I travel, I do think my parents instilled in me to always look somewhat put together. There is the age old saying of ‘you never know who you are going to run into’ and I honestly couldn’t agree more. I know I would be mortified if I saw someone I knew and I looked like a total slob while walking through the airport. Long haul flight or not, save the sweatpants for your seat. Speaking of which…as soon as I’m on the plane and settled into my seat, I privately change into these sweatpants. I don’t like to wear clothes that restrict me or dig into my skin and these sweatpants will keep me as comfortable as possible when trying to sleep. I love these particular sweatpants because they are warm without making me hot and they roll up into a small enough ball that they don’t take up a ton of room in my carry-on tote. 30 minutes before landing, I change back into my jeans and am ready to face the world again.
Pack an oversized scarf {this one comes in four different colors} – The temperature on a plane is unpredictable, so I always pack a scarf to have as a layer incase I get cold. It’s lighter than a full-on sweater, but gives you that extra coverage if your t-shirt isn’t enough. My Favorites are these ones from Shopbop.
Pack a pair of long socks – There is nothing worse than being too cold on a flight, and for me, that starts with my feet. If my feet are cold, then so is the rest of me! I can’t stand bare ankles when flying, so I always pack a tall sock. These are my favorite {because they’re thin but keep you warm} but any brand will do. Bonus points if they are compression socks!
PACK YOUR OWN ACCESSORIES
Bring your own pair of earphones – Unless you’re flying first class or business, you don’t want to rely on the earphones handed out to you for free by the airline. They’re often broken and/or inefficient and can make your ears hurt if you use them for long periods of time. I always pack my own set, and for that there is no better option than the AirPod Pros. I swear by these! I even own multiple pairs because I use them so frequently.
Never lose a charge – Travel days are often long and when I’m abroad, things tend to take a little longer to load on my phone, which then in turn drains my battery quicker than I’m used to. This portable charger has been my favorite for the last year or so because of its compact size and ability to charge my phone from dead to full 2x over before recharging. I also love its compact size – it doesn’t take up a ton of room and it isn’t massively heavy {something I definitely couldn’t say about the Anker}. You never want to be stuck in a situation where you need your phone, and it’s dead, so this little guy is the perfect security blanket.
Buy your own water/bring your own snacks – before you board the plane, buy yourself a large bottle of water. They will serve beverages throughout the flight, but its nice to have your own so you can fall asleep without having to worry about knocking over your cup of water, or missing the service altogether. Also, I always pack a few of these Kind bars – I hate feeling hungry on a flight because there is nothing you can do but wait for the next meal handout. These are my favorite because they’re filling and delicious!
Bring your own entertainment – there is nothing worse than getting onto a flight and realizing that you forgot your book or that your TV doesn’t work. I always have a plethora of podcasts and tv shows downloaded in advance so I can pass the time easily and/or have something to fall asleep to! I also love a good book, so bringing one or two of those is always a smart idea if you have the space in your carry on. Right now I’m listening to Dr. Death – a podcast about a corrupt doctor in Dallas, and currently downloading ‘You‘ on the Netflix app which I’ve heard is equal parts creepy and addicting.
STAY HYDRATED
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate – It shouldn’t be surprising that airplanes dry you out – The humidity level in the cabins of most commercial airlines is just 10 percent to 20 percent {sometimes even lower!} For reference, the average humidity for a room in your house is anywhere from 30 to 65 percent. Because of this, I apply a layer of serum and moisturizer as soon as I step foot on the plane to give my skin a heads start on hydration. I also try to drink as much water as possible. This will do wonders for not only your skin, but for your jet lag as well. Last but not least, I love to pack these cooling eye gels to help fight the puffiness I know I’ll be feeling when I land. They are slick on one side, cotton on the other, so they don’t slide down your face, or leave a slimy mess on your face. Plus they feel like they’ve been cooling in a refrigerator even when they haven’t! In case you’re wondering – I always pack a few of my most essential beauty items in my carry on when traveling in case my checked bag gets lost.
Do not wear mascara – Have you ever fallen asleep with mascara on? It’s the worst. Your eyes ache, and they look all puffy, and often times dry, crumbling mascara will be cascading down your cheeks. I typically go to the airport without make up on, but if thats not your thing, then remove it as soon as you step foot on the plane. Go to the little bathroom and use a make up remover to take it off, and then follow with your most hydrating serum and moisturizer.
Hand sanitizer/wipes – hardly need to explain this one. Planes are so. dang. dirty. Wipe down your seat once you get on the plane, and then use hand sanitizer after using the restroom {even after washing your hands}. I don’t do these things every time I travel, but if it’s cold & flu season, and I’m trapped on a plane for 8+ hours you can bet your bottom dollar that I do!
Brush/toothbrush toothpaste – Fall asleep or not, everyone should brush their teeth before getting off a long flight. I always keep my toothbrush and travel paste handy and when I go to the restroom to change out of my sweatpants back into my jeans, I always brush my teeth. You will feel so much better once you do, and it will wake you up a bit too!
Last but not least, if you are checking a bag, put atleast one change of clothes and underwear + anything you couldn’t live without in your carry on should your bag get lost. International airports are a zoo and I can’t tell you how many times my checked back has gotten lost. It always shows up a day or two later, but I have definitely learned my lesson. Also, last but not least, NEVER check your jewelry or any electronics. Or really anything of value! Always bring those with you on the plane.
Well, there you go! Those are my tried & true tricks for guaranteeing the most successful long haul flying experience. I hope you found those helpful, and if you have anything to add please leave a comment below!
