Being Bridget

Designer Bags for Less

Who doesn’t want to score an amazing designer handbag for less? Would you believe me if I told you I bought this one, brand new {tags still attached!} for 1/3 the original price!? eBay is having a special on Coach bags right now that is incredible. There are so many steals for under $100 that it’s almost hard to narrow down my favorites. How perfect is this crossbody? It’s the richest brown and the softest leather, and I love that the body has two separate, zippered compartments. It’s a classic shape and color that I know I will wear it time and time again.

I’m a sucker for a crossbody {I love this one and this one} but Coach also makes amazing totes. These are great for work, and come in so many colors. I love the classic black, but they also have it in the same rich brown color as my crossbody and this beautiful pink-ish nude color as well.

If you aren’t big on bidding for items, eBay makes it easy by offering the ‘buy it now’ option. Over 80% of all items on eBay have the  ‘buy it now‘ option making your favorite item that much easier to get. The crossbody was a ‘buy it now’ and the check out & purchase could not have been faster!

What is the best designer bag that you’ve scored for less? Where did you find it? Let me know if the comments!

thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post

photos: The Retro Penguin

 

The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

A week or so ago I mentioned on my Instagram stories that I loved making gift baskets for people. Whether they just  graduated, had a baby, or are celebrating a birthday, there are so many fun & easy ways to customize a basket for anyone – no matter the occasion! I love them because they’re so much more personal than a gift certificate or bottle of champagne. Hand selecting items you think that person will love is so special – and the receiver of this gift is sure to feel the same way!

So many of you reached out asking for more details on how to put one together, so I thought Mother’s Day would be the perfect opportunity to show y’all how to make a basket for the special mama’s in your life! With the holiday just 3 short weeks away {may 13th!}, there’s no time like the present to scratch this gift off your to-do list. And lucky for you – the baskets are so easy and so fun to put together!

  1. Find a box, basket or container to put your items in. In my examples above, I used an old bread basket, and a box left over from a gift I had received a while ago. There are so many fun options you can find here but I’m really loving how earthy & beautiful this one is! If you want something more simple, this is a great option and these wire ones are so fun as well. You could even use a beach bag as your ‘basket’  {I love this personalized option} and stuff it full of your favorite beach accessories!
  2. Fill with stuffing. You need to create a ‘bed’ for your items to lie on so they look nicer & so it takes up some of the empty space at the bottom of the basket. I love to use crinkle paper, but you could really fill it with anything! Fabric, cotton, old newspaper….the options are endless!
  3. Fill with your favorite items! Again, the options here are endless, but because I’m on a major beauty kick right now, and that interest is something my mom and I share, I thought I would create the ultimate beauty basket for my mama!

To fill the contents of my baskets I went straight to the retailer I knew would have the best options – Nordstrom. Nordstrom has an incredible selection of giftables across all different price points that I knew would be perfect for the picking. It was nearly impossible to narrow down my beauty picks but I ended up going with these gold foil face masks {my mom is a long-time Estee Lauder fan}, my favorite sunscreen {as my brother puts it, we all live in a #paleprison } this candle I have and love in a mini version, RevitaLash because #duh who doesn’t want long gorgeous lashes!? and so many more fun products. I truly wanted this basket to be filled with goodies that could help my mom unwind, and what better way than to fill it with bath & beauty products that I know she’ll love!? With that being said, if your mom {or whoever!} isn’t as big of a fan of beauty as we are, feel free to fill you basket with anything! You could easily add in some fun earrings, your favorite notebook, a soft pj set, robe, slippers. or even a picture frame with your fav picture of the two of you. There are no rules here – you can add/subtract anything you think your mama would love and appreciate!

Because there are so many amazing options available from Nordstrom, I narrowed down a few favorites from the $25, $50 and $100 price points. Feel free to browse these categories and build your own basket!

UNDER $25

UNDER $50

UNDER $100

So! If you’re still on the look out for what to get mom for Mother’s Day, look no more. These little baskets made entirely of products and items found at Nordstrom would make the most special, unique and personalized gift.

Thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post! 

The Ultimate Weekend Girls’ Trip to Big Sur

A few weeks ago, my best friend Alixe and I decided to do a spur of the moment girls trip. We had been talking about organizing a trip together for a while, but our busy lives and hectic schedules got the best of us and we just never made any headway. That is until my brother’s wedding in New Orleans. Over a few glasses of champagne, we dreamed up the perfect spot – Big Sur! After a year and a half closure due to the California mudslides and wild fires, the road to Big Sur was open again and better than ever. Alixe and I knew we had found the perfect destination. We booked our flights Sunday and left that next Wednesday.

Our plan was to fly into San Francisco, spend the night at Alixe’s apartment and drive our rented car {a convertible Ford Mustang!} up Highway 1 to Big Sur Thursday afternoon. We would spend two nights in Big Sur, and then head back to San Francisco for one last night in the city before I flew back home to Dallas.

Before heading to the coast, we first wanted to have lunch in the city at one of Alixe’s favorite spots – Jane. Alixe is a major foodie, so it was hard for her to narrow down where we should eat. She said she finally decided on Jane because she knew their healthy menu was right up my alley – and she was so right! The extensive menu, filled with delicious sounding goodies, made it too difficult for Alixe and I to pick just 1 thing each so we actually ended up ordering 3 main meals, 2 cookies and 2 coffees #vacation. The food was so, so good and because it was such a beautiful day in SF, they had all the windows and doors open which made the entire setting dreamy. Perhaps the best part of the lunch though was the *most* random run in to one of my long time friends & favorite influencers – Jess from the blog Jess Ann Kirby. She lives in New England so it was so unexpected & fun to see her in California!

With Jessica from Jess Ann Kirby – one of my favorite ppl ever. We go way back!

After Jane, Alixe and I started the drive towards Big Sur. The drive is about 4 hours, and half of that drive is along the coast {aka highway 1} and soooo beautiful. At this point in the drive, Alixe and I were giddy with excitement. We pulled over several times to snap photos and take the Mustang’s top down.

VENTANA BIG SUR

Our first night in Big Sur was spent at Ventana. Having recently undergone a massive multi-million dollar renovation,  Alixe and I were excited to see what the resort had up its sleeve. After check in, we noticed a wine + cheese tasting that was open to all guests, so we happily grabbed a glass of wine, and a little of plate of cheeses to bring back to our room. Alixe and I stayed in a ‘ventana guestroom‘ which was really nice – it came with a fireplace, and a private deck that overlooked a massive forest. We were pleased! We also liked how central it was – it was right next to the pool area and social house making it easy for us to come/go. We immediately went to the pool area which was beautiful. The pool itself was too cold, but the hot tub was perfection and we enjoyed it for quite some time.

The upside to Ventana was the beautiful land and views from every which way you looked. Set a bit back from the actual coastline, you feel more in the woods here while still seeing the beautiful coastline in the distance. The food and drinks were also delicious and we really enjoyed our meals during our stay.  Minus the fact that you could hear your neighbors every move through the floors, the accommodations were cozy & comfortable. Did I mention our room had a fireplace? I loved that!

The downside to Ventana was their service. We were told there was service at the pool, but there was no one in sight to order from. When we finally got a hold of someone, they said it would be 45 minutes before 2 glasses of wine could be brought out. We thought this was odd considering the number of guests & size of the hotel, but tried to shrug it off. The next day service during brunch was almost laughable. Our waitress messed up our order several times {both food & drink} and kept making it seem like it was our fault. Again, Alixe and I let it slide, but we were slightly surprised given again, the small size of the resort, and the price we were paying to be there. When you invest that much in a stay, you expect the best. And Alixe and I’s overall experience was hampered by the consistent disappointment we felt in the Ventana’a ability to accommodate relatively simple requests.

If I were to recommend Ventana, it would be to go for lunch {you can do this as a visitor!} The patio they have overlooking the coast is absolutely stunning.

the view from lunch at Ventana

POST RANCH INN

Our check-in at Post Ranch Inn was actually quite similar to our check-in at Ventana. Our bags were placed in a waiting SUV, our car was whisked off by valet and we were offered a glass of wine while they found our reservation. All of that was lovely. But what immediately set Post Ranch Inn apart was something we desperately craved after Ventana – excellent service. After setting our bags down in our adorable treehouse, Alixe and I, quickly changed into swimsuits and went straight to the pool. When we ordered 2 spicy margaritas, there were delivered within minutes. It was then we knew Post Ranch Inn would trump Ventana, but I didn’t expect was that PRI would soon rank as one of the best hotels that I’ve ever stayed in in my life. More than just speedy cocktail service, the attention to detail the people who work at PRI show is unparalleled to anything I’ve seen at other resorts. We felt catered too without being suffocated. It was the best feeling.

I’ve already mentioned their impeccable service, but what also sets PRI apart are the cozy tree houses and cliffside bungalows, the incredible Michelin worthy food, and of course, the breathtaking views. Alixe and I truly felt so relaxed there we never felt the need to leave the property and wander elsewhere. Why would you when everything is better than perfect? The morning of our departure we decided to go on a mini hike around the property. We stumbled across the chef’s garden where many ingredients from the previous nights dinner came from, the yoga yurt where complimentary yoga is offered, and then finally the gorgeous pool surrounded by a huge field covered in wild flowers. Alixe and I were so in love with our overall experience at Post Ranch that we considered staying an extra night.

If you’re planning a trip to Big Sur I would recommend Post Ranch Inn a thousand times over. It was a 10/10 and would make the most incredible honeymoon, babymoon, girls trip or just quick getaway spot for anyone.

Breakfast amongst the clouds at Post Ranch Inn

One of three pools at Post Ranch Inn {this is the one surrounded by wildflowers}

One of three pools at Post Ranch Inn, an infinity hot tub – we spent the most time here overlooking the coastline

A few other notable places in Big Sur –

Big Sur Bakery – We stopped here on our way out and it was adorable! I got a big slice of banana walnut bread and it was heavenly. Seriously so good. I also picked up a bag of their homemade granola for my sister. Have heard their pizza is life changing! Sad I didn’t get a chance to try it.

Banana bread from Big Sur Bakery – so good!

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – Alixe and I decided to park across the street from Julia Pfeiffer State Park and hike to McWay Falls. We had read online that the trail to McWay falls was closed due to construction and that was true. Our ‘hike’ was more like a 5 minute walk to an elevated trail that overlooked the waterfall. it was cool to see, but not life changing…..we both felt like we checked a box and moved on. If you do go see the falls, go in the afternoon when the sun is shining! Otherwise it is cast in shadows and difficult to see.

McWay Falls

Recommendations I received:
Nepenthe – Go for a burger and an amazing view
Deetjen’s – Cozy breakfast
Rocky Point Restaurant
Big Sur Roadhouse – Stop here for coffee/donut. Really cool.
Overall our trip was one to for the record books! We jammed out to Taylor Swift in a convertible, drank more margaritas than we can count, and had the best time catching up. It truly was a weekend for the soul.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions! Can’t wait to hear from you! xx

 

Beauty With Benefits

Thank you to QVC beauty for compensating this post. All opinions are my own.

Back in the early Spring of 1989, a few months after I was born, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 2 Non-hodgkin’s Lymphoma – a very serious and deadly type of cancer that affects a person’s white blood cells. He was sick. really sick. But he needed to work because my mom was on maternity leave having just had me, and he needed the medical insurance that his job provided him. My mom and dad worked out that he would have his chemotherapy sessions on Fridays so he could spend all weekend in bed and recover. My mom, caring for myself and my 4 other siblings under the age of 5, told me that she would work really hard to keep us busy and out of the house so that my dad could rest peacefully. His chemotherapy treatments went on for 3-4 months, and were followed by several bouts of external chest radiation. Needless to say, 1989 was a difficult year for my family, but in so many ways we were so blessed. My dad made a full recovery, and is cancer free to this day. He was also very lucky to have a job that granted him flexibility in his schedule to be able to work while he was having treatments. We know lots of families aren’t so fortunate, and that many don’t have the resources to work, or even get help on finding a job that could offer the same flexibility and support that my dad was so fortunate to have.

That is where Cancer + Careers comes in. QVC & CEW launched the Beauty with Benefits campaign which directly supports Cancer + Careers, an organization which empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in their workplace, by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events.  As QVC states on their website “As the number of cancer survivors in the U.S. continues to grow, there is an increasing need for resources and support to help them get back to everyday life and work after diagnosis and treatment. Cancer and Careers helps nearly 300,000 people each year — online, in print and in person — by providing valuable information and resources via expert advice, interactive tools and educational events.” {Read more about that here} QVC is donating 80% {before tax + shipping & handling} of the purchase price of the items shown above {and so many more!} to this incredible organization. 80%!!!!! I know we can all feel good about making purchases when so much of the price goes towards an amazing cause.

Some of my favorite products included in this amazing campaign are below!

  • SK-II Mid-Day Essence Spray – Y’all already know I own & love the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence so I was thrilled to find out about this new product. You simply spray on your face whenever you feel like you need a little extra hydration and it even penetrates through your makeup!
  • Jouer Cosmetics High Pigment Lip Gloss in Champs Elysees – I’m not typically a lip gloss kind of gal but this color is so beautiful. It went on a bit tacky, and dried beautifully. I loved the way it looked & it lasted all day.
  • skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels – Y’all. Oh my gosh. These little cooling eye gels are my newest obsession. You already know I’m into face masks, but these little gels stand out because they go on cool without having to be refrigerated beforehand {something I’ve always done!} They’re also gel on one side, and cloth on the other which allows them to really stick to your face without slipping and sliding all over. Plus it makes clean up a breeze! They’re a win-win-win in my book.
  • Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Sheet Mask – Speaking of masks, these Peter Thomas Roth wrinkle sheets are so hydrating. As I’ve aged {and inched closer to 30 eeek!} fine lines and wrinkles have crept up around my eyes. Hence

Like I said, those are just a few of my favorite items being included in this incredible campaign, but please check out the full list of items here!

Thankfully, there are wonderful companies like QVC and Cancer + Careers who can remind us of our blessings and offer really fun ways for us to get involved!