Month: August 2016

5 Must-Have Items for Fall 2016

by Jerrica B.

We’re still several weeks away from cool weather, but it’s never too early to start scoping out your must-have clothing items for fall. Every year we see new trends emerge, but the local boutiques in Monroe-West Monroe know just how to keep you up to date on the latest styles. Here’s a look at some of the season’s hottest pieces and where to find them.

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HerringStones Boutique- Monroe 

1. Hats

The hat is where it’s at. These go with EVERYTHING, and they add so much flair to your outfits. As we transition into fall, the style moves from straw and woven hats to heavier textures like felt and suede. There is a hat for everyone, with a wide range of brim sizes, crown shapes, and textures. Add some adventure to your outfit with a panama-style hat or a wide-brimmed fedora, or make it classy and cute with a felt floppy hat. BONUS: If you’re having a bad hair day or missed a wash, then this is your go-to solution. These gorgeous hats from HerringStones Boutique are perfect for fall.

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Hemline- Monroe

2. Bomber Jackets

This jacket style is huge right now, and this is another trend with tons of variety. Remember when leather bomber jackets were popular a few years back? This is a twist on that trend in that these jackets come in all sorts of textures and colors. The basic cut of the jacket is what stays the same. The end of the jacket hits you right at your natural waist, which gives you that hourglass silhouette. It’s perfect for your high-waisted jeans or your A-line midi skirts. This jacket from Hemline is a beautiful, neutral blush that can be paired with almost any color, making it a super versatile piece.

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K-Sera Boutique- West Monroe

3. Suede

Adding this texture to your fall wardrobe will make you stand out, for sure. It can put a chic spin on any outfit. From pants and leggings to tops and vests, this fabric can be found as just about any piece of clothing. This outfit from K-Sera Boutique goes full suede with both top and pants in this smooth fabric.

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Free Birds Boutique- West Monroe

4. Chokers

No matter how much you try to deny it, this trend is back. But this time, it comes in a variety of styles. Leather, lace, and velvet can be used, and a pearl can give it that soft accent. This stylish piece makes your neck look longer and slimmer. Check out Free Birds Boutique in West Monroe for these unique choker styles, and find what works for you!

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Eleven 26 Boutique- West Monroe

5. Lace-Up Necklines

This is a fun trend that made waves over the summer and has now carried into the fall. This sultry neckline adds an interesting twist to your typical casual shirt. As it transitions into fall, you’ll see these pieces become available in more fall colors, heavier textures (like velvet or suede), and with long sleeves. These pieces from Eleven 26 Boutique prove that this style is here to stay. Throw a wide-brimmed fedora with this style for an effortlessly cool look.

This fall, don’t forget about your local Monroe-West Monroe boutiques who have you covered for the latest fashions. What are some of your favorite upcoming fall trends? Let us know!

Coca-Cola Week at Biedenharn Museum and Gardens

A whole week dedicated to America’s favorite beverage? We’re in.

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An accurate representation of all the Coca-Cola we’ll be drinking to celebrate.

The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens will be celebrating its inaugural Coca-Cola Week Sept. 6-10. There will be a variety of events and fun activities including a look at the museum’s Coca-Cola collections, a display of Coke vehicles and a dinner featuring a Coca-cola based menu. Check the schedule below, and remember to mark these dates on your calendar!

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The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Musuem is your exclusive Coca-Cola Week headquarters.

Tuesday, Sept.6th

The week kicks off at 7pm with author Larry Jorgenson. Jorgenson will be discussing his upcoming book about various Coke museums and public collections of the iconic brand in the Education Building located behind the Coke Museum. This program is free and open to the public.

Jorgenson is a self-described “news dog”, who started working for a newspaper when he was only 13. He conquered the world of publication, radio, and TV news and now focuses much of his time on history. He recently completed a book on the history of Hot Wells, Louisiana.

Jorgenson’s upcoming book, The Coca-Cola Trail, is about the influential people and places that make up the history of Coca-Cola. People like Joseph A. Biedenharn, who in 1894, made a world changing decision and became the first to ever bottle Coca-Cola.

The book details the stories of the early independent bottlers throughout the nation, who had the vision and invested their efforts and money to create what is now the world’s best known product. With over thirty chapters, the book takes readers on the Coca-Cola Trail adventure. Accented by historic photos and interviews, the book pays tribute to those who really made history happen!

Now 122 years later, Coke is not only the number one soft drink in the world, but it is also an iconic image that represents family, fun, and home.

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Soda Jerk at Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum who is surprisingly sweet.

Thursday, Sept. 8th

At 6pm, Chef Pat Nolan will wow guests with delicious food prepared with Coca-Cola or other Coke brand product. A beautiful four course meal will begin before sundown. Guests can enjoy a flavorful menu of deep fried Coke and crawfish fritter, green salad with Sprite vinaigrette, Coca-Cola beef short ribs, garlic Cola chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed green beans, and Coca-Cola tres leche cake. Before each course, Museum Director Ralph Calhoun will present a taste of Coke history and trivia. Guests will be seated at tables of six to encourage conversation and fun. Music will be provided by the NELA Clarinet Choir directed by Scot Humes.

Reservations are required for this amazing event. The dinner is $35 per person and seats can be purchased by calling the Museum Gift Shop at 318-387-5281 or stopping by.

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Vintage Coke Delivery Truck at The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum which is the perfect vehicle to drive around showing off all the Coca-Cola you just bought for Coke Week.

Saturday, Sept. 10th

The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens will not only offer visitors FREE ADMISSION but also excite them with Diet Coke and Mentos Blasts, at 11am and 1pm. Visitors will also be able to view and interact with classic Coca-Cola trucks, including a Model A Ford, a Model T from 1917, a Coca-Cola Panel Truck, and a 1946 Chevy Flat Bed delivery truck. Several Soda Jerks will be available to illuminate patrons on the 100th Anniversary of the iconic Coca-Cola contour bottle.

The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens is open Tues. thru Sat. from 10am to 5pm. Free parking is available on three sides of the museum. The main parking area is located on Speed Avenue near the main entrance to the Coke Museum. Tour information, maps and tickets are available at the Museum Store located inside the Coke Museum. An unloading zone for buses is also located on Speed Avenue directly adjacent to the Coke Museum. Adults $6 Students $4 (Under 12 years old) Annual Pass $20 (a great bargain) Tickets may be purchased in the Museum Store, located in the Coke Museum building at 2000 Riverside Drive (the corner of Riverside Drive and Speed Avenue).

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Executive Director, Ralph Calhoun, please call Mr. Calhoun at 318-387-5281 or e-mail at director@bmuseum.org.

6 reasons to escape to Monroe-West Monroe with your family in September

  1. ULM Football
    ULM football field
    ULM Football Field

    Start your 2016 Football season soaring while watching the ULM Warhawks fight their way to a season of victory starting with a home game at ULM’s Malone Stadium against the Southern Jaguars to kick off the season on September 3rd.

  2. Prep for Hunting Season
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Hunting bows

What better place to get ready for hunting season than in the heart of Sportsman’s Paradise!  Get your gear here at great local stores like TP Outdoors and The Honey Hole, or even from classic retailers such as Academy Sports & Outdoors or Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Looking for a way to get the kids involved? Come visit northeast Louisiana the weekend of September 17th for a Hunting & Fishing Day in Tensas Parish where the whole family can practice skeet and archery shooting as well as get their hands dirty with some live critters!

  1. Making New Family Memories
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Go-Karts at Excalibur

Break the back to school blues and take some time out to reconnect with your kids with a quick weekend away. Make new memories with your kiddos here by strolling through the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo and Splash Pad, doing some Go-Kart laps at Excalibur Family Fun Center, and of course, taking a photo op with a stop by the Duck Commander Warehouse!

  1. Trying Something New…Like Kayaking on a Bayou!
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Kayaking on Black Bayou

Not everywhere has bayous, and definitely not everywhere has ones where you can rent kayaks and canoes to go exploring! Make some new, adventurous memories as the temperatures begin to slowly fall while you experience a beautiful fall sunrise or sunset along Black Bayou.

  1. Escape from the world

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    Southern Escape

Well…sort of. Take one of the Southern Escape challenge courses with your friends or family as a time to get away from it all….literally. How, you may ask? Through hour courses, you are locked in a room and must creatively work together to find your way out. The catch? NO PHONES ALLOWED. But don’t we all need a mini vacation from our phones sometimes?

  1. Shopping…lots and lots of shopping.
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Shopping on Antique Alley

It’s true that Monroe is home to the second largest mall in Louisiana (Pecanland Mall), but there are plenty more places to shop as well! With hundreds of stores both locally owned and chain retailers, there is no shortage of shopping here! What better places to get your home ready for the fall season then at Walsworth and Company, Woodstock Furniture Revival, or at the regionally known and loved Paul Michael Company.

Need any more reasons? We doubt it. But if you do, find out what amazing things you can shop for, eat, and discover while in Monroe-West Monroe along with a full calendar of events.

DIY: Vintage Frames

DIY projects are always a fun way to spruce up any home, but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly where to begin. If you are looking for a simple inexpensive project to add a unique touch to your home décor this is the blog for you!

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Ouachita River Trading Company

The first thing I needed in order to start my project was frames. I wanted to find frames that were actually vintage to add to the look I was going for, so I headed out to Antique Alley. With over 40 unique antique shops and boutiques I knew Antique Alley would be the perfect place in Monroe-West Monroe to find exactly what I was looking for. After shopping around I was finally able to find three frames at the Ouachita River Trading Company that were perfect for my project. Next, I picked up some chalk paint from Cotton Port Antique Mall and I was ready to start my project.

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Supplies:

-Picture frames of your choice

-Chalk paint

-Painters tape

-Paint brush

 

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Use the painters tape to cover up anything you don’t want to get paint on. I really liked the gold border on one of my frames so I decided to use to painters tape to cover that up. You’ll also want to use the painters tape to make a border between the paint and the glass of your picture frame.

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Once you’ve got the tape in place it’s time to start painting. I used Vignettes Chalk-Style Paint color Linen that I got at Cotton Port Antique Mall and was ecstatic with the results; however any type of chalk-style paint will work. For two of the frames I wanted the original color of the frame to show through the paint, so I applied a thin layer of paint using long brush strokes.

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I love how these frames turned out! For the final touch I added photos taken around Monroe-West Monroe, and decorative ribbon to one of the frames. Add your own family photos from your visits to Monroe-West Monroe and create a unique souvenir that you can cherish for a life time.