It’s been a little while since the last My Perfect Day feature but I am so excited because we’re starting the year off with my dear friend Caroline Harper Knapp, the founder of HOUSE of HARPER. Caroline and I have been friends for years and have even traveled together, so I just knew she would have the best recommendations for how to spend the perfect day in Houston, Texas! She is one the sweetest people and I always wish we lived closer because she’s the kind of girl you can just be yourself with. She’s so real and genuine, smart and kind, and of course totally gorgeous! I hope you enjoy her perfect day as much as I did!
My Perfect Day: Houston, TX with Caroline Harper Knapp
Hi y’all! I’m Caroline Harper Knapp the founder of HOUSE of HARPER. I’ve been friends with Mara for many years through the blogger community, and I am thrilled to be a part of this fun series! I remember meeting Mara at the FIRST Reward Style conference in Dallas probably back in 2012?!? We immediately bonded over having the same ‘real job’ as a Buyer and have since stayed in touch, been NYFW roomies and bonded over being #boymoms.
For a little background on me for those of you who aren’t familiar with HOUSE of HARPER, I grew up and attended college in Texas before moving to New York City with my husband in 2010. I worked as a buyer in the fashion industry for eight years (at Neiman Marcus and then Gilt Groupe), and I launched HOUSE of HARPER as a side hustle while working full time and living in New York City. A few years and a baby later, my husband and I moved back to Texas to be closer to family and I decided to pursue HOUSE of HARPER full time. We now call Houston, Texas home and I absolutely love our city and all it has to offer for our family! We have two little boys, Knox (5) and Andrew (almost 3). I think it’s the perfect city to raise a family because it’s a diverse, international city with quaint neighborhood pockets and so many cultural offerings. One of my favorite parts about Houston is the incredible community of female creatives, as well as the amazing fine arts and foodie scene!
My perfect day in Houston would start with a leisurely morning with our boys. Hopefully they would let us sleep in a bit, and then we would head to the farmers market for coffee and crepes while we shop for a few local, fresh foods for the week. After that, we would head to the Children’s Museum to let the kids play. Houston is home to the nations #1 Children’s Museum and our boys LOVE visiting! After some educational play, we would fuel up at Tiny Boxwoods for lunch on the lawn. In a perfect world, both my boys would head home for a nap and my husband would stay home with them so I could sneak away for a little self care facial or massage at Milk & Honey spa. After that you can usually find us playing in our front yard with neighbors then taking the boys to an early family dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood spots – Beavers West or El Patio. (I also LOVE to entertain at home so hosting dinner is always a fun evening for me, even if it it does take a little more planning and prep! I probably wouldn’t get in that self-care time. ;))
Fred and I also always prioritize a weekly date night to spend quality time together. We love our neighborhood on the West Side of Houston for great schools and family friendly activities, but when it comes to date night, it’s always fun to explore other parts of town, like the Heights or EADO. We’d probably end up at one of our favorite spots like Coltivare where you can enjoy cocktails in a bistro light-filled garden before devouring delicious pizza and pasta dishes.
After an activity filled day, I’d ideally be in my pajamas by 10:00 p.m. watching a Netflix documentary or reading a book before lights out! If you are visiting Houston, be sure to check out our city guide for all my Houston favorites!
I’m pretty sure we’re going to have to plan a trip to Houston soon! Didn’t Caroline plan the perfect, most relaxing day?! Let me know in the comments which cities or bloggers you want me to feature next!
P.S. If you missed the last four installments, you can check out other guides for Chicago, Venice Beach, Brooklyn, Raleigh, and Dallas!
xox
images by HOUSE of HARPER
