The Azalea Trails

This past weekend, the River Oaks Garden Club presented the Azalea Trails event that was hosted by two MFAH house museums, Rienzi and Bayou Bend, as well as five other locations.

Though I am a native of Houston, I had never been to the Azalea Trails or even Bayou Bend before this past weekend. I am glad, though, that I finally went and checked this event out over the weekend, otherwise I may had never known how beautiful the grounds at Bayou Bend truly are.

Needless to say, I will definitely be make more trips to Bayou Bend now that Spring has come and enjoy the nice weather while I can.

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Insta-February

 

Looking back on February, I can honestly say that it was a month that was well spent. It also went by way quicker than January did due to the lack of crazy snow/ice storms!

I can’t wait to see what March has to bring, especially with the first day of Spring being March 20th. Spring is one of my favorite seasons (the other is Fall), so I am quite excited to see all the new blooms and to be able to enjoy being outside without it being too cold or too hot.

 

Psst… I tend to post more things on Instagram, so if you want to see all of what I’m up to be sure to check out my account @shortsweetandlovely !

Heights Mercantile

Over the weekend I finally decided to check out the Heights Mercantile Area that opened up last year and am so glad that I did!

Heights Mercantile (located at Yale and 7th Ave) is an urban market district that comprises of several shops and eateries, which includes The Gypsy Wagon’s Houston location. This store is ah-ma-zing! Not only do they sell stationary and products by Rifle Paper Co. but they also have the cheekiest home decor and fun clothing styles.

Another popular store that is located in Heights Mercantile is the storefront for eyewear brand Warby Parker. Known for their retro styles and “Buy A Pair, Give A Pair” program, Warby Parker has become a household name now in the world of eyewear, which is easy to see due to the crowd that gathers in their store.

So if you live in the Houston area or are coming to visit here soon, be sure to check out Heights Mercantile and the quirky Heights neighborhood that it sits in.

-Christen

Happy Galentines Day! / Flower Vibes TX Flower Arrangement Class

This past weekend I had the pleasure to attend a floral arrangement class taught by the girls behind Flower Vibes TX and hosted by Tidbits Houston and Emerson Rose.

Right when I walked in, I was greeted by not only the amazing sight and smells of the flowers that I knew we’d be working with but also local donuts, sweet treats, and rose. What more could a girl want, right? However, that was just the beginning as the lovely girls behind the whole invite warmly greeted me and were also super helpful throughout the whole event.

I won’t lie, I came in with a reservation or two and was also wondering what the class would be like, as it was what some would classify as pricey. Twenty minutes into the class, though, I quickly realized that the price tag was worth it and also very reasonable considering the quality of flowers that we used.

Making a floral arrangement from the ground up was also way more challenging than I thought it would be. Every time we would add a new type of flower or greenery, I always felt the need to rearrange. There was one point where I wondered if I even had room for anymore flowers because it seemed so full to me! Overall, I learned a lot (we were even taught how to fold our rose petals to create a more artistic look) and gained a huge amount of respect for those who do this on a daily basis.

I hope each and every one of y’all has treated yourself to something this week, in honor of Valentines Day. If there’s one thing that I’ve done, whether I’m dating someone or not, it’s treating myself to something around Valentines Day. Self love is important, y’all.

Oh and to all the girlies out there–Happy Galentines Day!

-C

P.S. I got my red dress off of Amazon and was just over $20. What a deal!

“The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta” Exhibit

If there’s one thing that was on the top of my 2018 To Do List, it was to go see the Oscar de la Renta exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Having grown up watching movies that were costumes by the likes of Edith Head and Givenchy, I came to love fashion and view it all as a work of art. Oscar de la Renta, in my opinion, is among the likes of Head and Givenchy. Not just because he dressed women in gorgeous pieces but because he knew it wasn’t the clothes that made the woman, but the woman that made the clothes. In his own words, “it’s not about what you wear, but about how you live your life.”

So, here’s to taking de la Renta’s advice and having a life worth living and also to the wonderful art that he created.

-C

The Hummingbird Wall

If there’s one thing that’s for sure on my “2018 To Do List”, it’s checking out more murals!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Houston has really come to embrace this form of art and therefore has a massive quantity of murals located all over the city.

Since moving back to Houston, I have definitely made it a priority to find as many murals as I can and will soon be posting something that encompasses all those that I’ve come across so far. So be on the lookout for that!

Happy FriYay, y’all!

-C

Looking Back on 2017

From my first ever solo trip to Seattle (a place I’ve never been to, no less!) to trying to expand and play with my personal style to Hurricane Harvey to the Astros winning the World Series–this year has been a crazy one!

Below are some of my favorite moments and photos from this past year. So thanks to everyone who I got to spend this crazy year, and thank you to Joybird and many other retailers for giving me all the design inspiration that I need for my new place.

Cheers to a new year!

-C

(All photos are my own unless otherwise stated)

Winter Street Studios/ Hello there!

Hello lovelies! 
It’s been a crazy past month or so post Hurricane Harvey for those of us in the Houston area. Sadly, there are buildings in downtown Houston (i.e. the Wortham Center and the Alley Theatre) that won’t be able to reopen until next year. 

Nevertheless, Houston is a city made up of resilient individuals who are proud to call H-town home. I happen to place myself in that group and have made it a personal mission of mine to start scoping out more local commodities, whether it’s food or clothing brands or art. 

One place that is home to some amazing local art is Winter Street Studios. In conjunction with Sawyer Street Studios, this cool little portion of the city not only offers gorgeous artwork but also hosts a variety of events. 

-C 

Shades of Blue

Being a big fan of just about any shade of blue, I just had to have this super cute Escapada top. Besides the gorgeous blue colors, this top also has a fun tassel fringe bottom. I also love how well it paired with these white Target chino shorts, that I’ve been practically living in lately, and these Charming Charlie tassel earrings for a fun Fourth of July outfit. 

What are some fun pieces that y’all are loving lately? 

-C

 

P.S. I apologize for being absent from Short Sweet and Lovely for the past few weeks–things have just been a bit crazy for me as of late!

Instagram Round Up

I don’t know about y’all but I am loving the off the shoulder trend.

These earrings are not only gorgeous but also help fight against trafficking.

I’m always one to love a good classic print and this gingham dress is no exception.

One of my favorite places in Houston–the David Adickes Sculpturworx Studio.

Outfit 1 details: Earrings; Top; Jeans; Purse (J Barton Clothiers); Shoes

Outfit 2 details: Sunglasses; Earrings; Dress; Purse (J Barton Clothiers); Shoes