I am experiencing technical difficulties...

...meaning, not only am I still brain dead from such an exciting (and long) weekend but now dad is in town visiting, so I'm afraid I haven't had a second of time to write. Hopefully back to regularly scheduled programing tomorrow!

Thanks for sticking with me ;)

Shoe Love: Mulberry

Mulberry booties

I'm headed to my beloved New York City today to attend Blogger's Night Out then have a girl's weekend. When I lived in NYC I viewed New York Fashion Week as a regular week of the year. I avoided the chaos of Bryant Park , now Lincoln Center. Although it is a bucket-list dream to attend a show, I didn't bother will stalking the tents because I was busy working and living my life.

Now that I'm not there, it seems like a huge big deal. I feel like an outsider gawking at the glory of the city and it feels strange yet kinda fun. So if I were to attend some shows this weekend, I would totally wear these Mulberry booties. I love the braided detail across the front, if a shoe could be motorcycle style and glamorous at the same time, this would be it!

Review: The Diner, Washington, D.C.

The Diner is a cozy, well... diner, tucked away in Adam's Morgan. My friend Stephanie and I found ourselves starving, slightly hungover, and wandering through the neighborhood one fine Saturday morning (let's be honest it was noon). As we walked past we noticed the piles of pancakes on other patrons plates and were immediately sold.

Whenever I go to brunch I always want something sweet and something savory. I can't imagine just eating a plate full of french toast or bacon, but I always want a bite of each. However, it's too much for one person to get a stack of pancakes and an omelet and a pile of bacon. I'm always left deciding between them or convincing Gman he wants pancakes so I can have a bite.

At The Diner you could order the breakfast special which included two eggs any style, bacon, sausage or ham, homefries or grits, pancakes or french toast, and white, wheat or rye toast AND coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. All of that can be yours for $13! I ordered the pancakes, eggs over medium, bacon, and homefries. I nearly cleaned my plate and felt like a champion. Not only that, but I didn't have to convince anyone to get the pancakes, I got a little of each. It was glorious.

Tips to Travel By: How to be a Georgia Girl

In the spirit of my Savannah trip, I was considering what tips I might offer my dear readers on how to navigate their next visit to the South. Then I remembered that my girlfriend Kate roots for the wrong team is a dire-hard University of Georgia fan. So I asked her to give us some advice on how to be a proper Georgia girl so we can be prepared for our next visit.

I met Kate when I moved to DC and was immediately drawn to her because her sweet attitude and chic, minimalist style. She's a southern girl who is always put together, even on the not-so-easy days her hair is fixed and her lipstick on.

Here is her advice, enjoy!

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself and Georgia {GA} girls in general.

When I was 18, I moved from Chapel Hill, North Carolina to Athens, Georgia to attend the University of Georgia for college. I was thrilled at the prospect of moving to “The Deep South” (South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi…and sometimes Florida and Texas). That first fall in Georgia, I discovered that all southerners share the same belief system; college football. It really is a unifying feeling in Georgia. Come Saturday, all differences are put aside and we’re all on the same team. Game day is in every sense of the word a production, beginning as early at 6:00 AM and ending long after the sun has gone down. A good Georgia girl will dress up for a football game just as she would for church, complete with curls and heels, despite the weather forecast, which is nine times out of ten the same. Humid.

A Georgia girl will not be picky at a tailgate. She will drink beer, she will drink bourbon, and she will eat (gasp!) loads and load of fried food. She will always crave Bojangles or Chick-fil-A the morning after a long night out celebrating a UGA victory. Oh, and that bit about southern girls talking slow? Certainly true. Our words drip with syrupy sugar and charm. And while there are always exceptions, I’ve found that we’re just plain nicer down south. We smile, we say yes ma’am and yes sir, we respect our elders, our boyfriends and husbands are perfect gentleman (in front of said elders, at least), and we would never shove in front of others to get a spot on the metro car. A man, yes, a man nearly knocked me over this morning while boarding the metro. Well I never!

2. Are there any stereotypes about GA girls that aren't true?

Contrary to popular belief, not all Georgia girls go to college to get their MRS degree, move back to her hometown, and pop out three camo-wearing, big-truck-driving, turkey-hunting boys by her 25th birthday. In fact, all of my closest girlfriends moved on to find great jobs, both in the US and abroad. Additionally, we were not all in beauty pageants as children, and we gawk along with the rest of you at Toddlers in Tiaras.

3. What types of customs should a traveler to GA be aware of? For instance, in NYC you don't make eye contact or stop on the sidewalk.

Promptness is very much appreciated in the South. Be it as formal as a play or informal as an evening out with friends, do try to be on time. On that not, always thank your host in person and follow up with a hand written thank you note. We like to keep things traditional, and there is a certain warmness and gratitude conveyed in a hand written note that e-mail cannot accomplish.

4. What do you find special about GA that the unsuspecting traveler might not look for?

Georgia has an incredibly rich culture, and I found the music scene to be especially good. Just look at all the musical artists from the state; The Black Crowes, James Brown, Otis Redding, REM, The B-52’s, Drive-by Truckers, Indigo Girls, The Allman Brothers (fine Jamie, they started in Florida but spent most of their time in Georgia), and my personal favorite, Widespread Panic. In fact, my house in college was down the street from the studio where they recorded their most recent album – it was so fun to figure out whose car was whose and walk by in hopes to find the boys taking a break on the porch.

If you are planning a visit anywhere in the south, I highly, highly suggest picking up an issue of Garden & Gun magazine – It’s a wonderful publication that highlights some of the best that the south has to offer in terms of food, drink, and cultural experiences.

5. Is there a traditional GA style meal that every visitor should try?

A traditional Georgian meal would be something we call a meat and three, meaning a meat, three sides and a sweet tea or lemonade. Typically you’re choosing from fried chicken, fried catfish, brisket for your meat, and then items like collard greens, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, hoppin’ john, corn on the cob for your side. Oh, and always a buttery slice of cornbread. Or a biscuit. Or both.

6. Anything else we might need to know before our next visit?

In Georgia, dogs is not spelled “dogs”, but rather “dawgs”. It’s a UGA thing that definitely spread throughout the whole state. It’s spelled like it’s spoken with a thick southern drawl. Something that really irks me (and my boyfriend, too) is when people invite you over for a barbeque, and then proceed to serve hamburgers and hotdogs. That, my friends, is a cook-out. No dead pig? Not a barbeque. “Y’all” refers to a group of people, as does “all y’all”. You may call it redundant, but it’s stuck in our vocabulary. And since Jamie dispels such great fashion advice on this blog, I’ll wrap up with this comment: Alabama fans ruined the hounds tooth pattern for America. Google it if you don’t believe me.

Discovering Art and Art History: Q Antiques & Design

photo courtesy of Q Antiques and Design, Chris Thompson Photography, 2011

As I mentioned two weeks ago here, dealers are an important part of the art world. They are the ones mostly responsible for the buying and selling of fine art and art objects. This week we will start with antiques, because who doesn't want something old and something new?

It can be difficult to find unique objects for the house or for gifts as your options are grab something at Crate & Barrel or sift through an overwhelming amount of crap at flea markets and random antique stores. Now I have nothing against Crate & Barrel, I go there often. However, if you are looking for a unique object to display or give, you likely won't find it there. I'm also one who likes to find treasures in unlikely places, but I generally don't have the time or the patience to dig.

This is where an antique dealer comes in handy. You have to be careful when choosing a dealer so often antique and antiquity dealers try to sell stolen items. Some also claim to be dealers with no credentials or background in the field. It's important to ask questions and get to know the dealer you are working with before purchasing items. Look for an 'about me' section of their website. Email or call the dealer to ask them about their education and experience. Ask which associations they belong to and ask where they source their goods. An honest dealer will be happy to engage with you and will get excited about having a relationship with their client.


One of my favorite dealers is Q Antiques & Design, owned and run by fabulous Kim Ahara. Full disclosure: Kim is one of my good friends. This is why I trust her work ethic and can attest to her enthusiasm and expertise.

What's nice about her shop is that a) it is easily accessible online even though she's up in Rhode Island and b) if there is something particular you are looking for, or a collection needing nurturing, she'll do the digging for you. You can trust that her objects are obtained in ethical ways and that she prices them fairly. She sums up her mission so much better than I ever could:

WHY Q ANTIQUES & DESIGN?

Because objects tell terrific stories that make us ALL smarter, more interesting and attractive.
Because people should be able to AFFORD museum-quality objects and we make this possible.
Because we believe in USING great objects in day-to-day life.

Because good design is tasteful AND timeless.
Because everything does not have to MATCH!

Because antiques are GREEN and good for the planet. Re-imagine, re-purpose, reinvent, reanimate!
Because COLOR is cool.

Because a fusion of antique + modern is CONTEMPORARY.
Because we are merely the custodians of historically significant, FABULOUS objects.

If you are looking for beautiful objects for your home, then I recommend heading her way. Here are some of my favorite goodies from her shop:

photo courtesy of Q Antiques and Design, Chris Thompson Photography, 2011

photo courtesy of Q Antiques and Design, Chris Thompson Photography, 2011

 photo courtesy of Q Antiques and Design

 

photo courtesy of Q Antiques and Design, Chris Thompson Photography, 2011

And when you do check out her shop, you must read about the Ancestors Gallery! It's hilarious...

Weekend Recap: The White House

Weekend Recap time! I try to get a post up right away on Monday mornings, but I've kept you waiting this week. I do hope you can forgive me! The highlight of my weekend was Friday night when Gman and I went on a private tour of the West Wing of the White House. The West Wing has been the official office of the president since 1902. It has been renovated since then and I couldn't wait to see where some of the most important choices of our country's future were decided. I don't watch shows like The West Wing and I'm not super into politics, so I did not have specific/grand expectations. In fact, until we arrived I didn't realize we were going to the West Wing, I thought we were going to the East Wing.

me standing in the entrancy to the West Wing Lobby

The space was more modest than one might imagine, with maze-like hallways, beige walls, and old carpet. The walls were lined with photographs of the president's recent engagements and activities and were hung strategically- for example pictures of Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton watching the Osama bin Laden situation unfold were hung outside the Situation Room.

The tour included spaces like the Navy Mess, the West Colonnade, Rose Garden and South Lawn -which were lovely in the middle of winter and in the dark, so I can only imagine how spectacular they are in the middle of spring! I thought it would be such a nice place for a picnic.

We got to peek inside the Cabinet Room, Oval Office, Roosevelt Room, Upper Press Hallway, and West Wing Lobby. What I liked about the Cabinet Room was that each member had a specific chair, literally engraved with their name, and the chairs were strategically placed around in order of when the department was established, with older departments closer to the president. The president's chair was larger than everyone else's. Our guide mentioned that when a member leaves the cabinet, they have the option of purchasing their chair. Gman and I agreed we would totally buy ours. Also the enormous table was solid mahogany (impressive!).

Paintings of daily American life, presidential portraits, bronze sculptures, and historic furniture made the offices feel homey and somehow ordinary. I kept thinking, I was just at work all day and now I'm taking a tour of someone else's office? What am I doing? But it was the president's office after all so I felt silly for even thinking that.

Amy Merrick

upholstered chair, table lamp, side table, chair, couch, floral fabric, striped fabric, patterned fabric

We stopped at the Oval Office for quite some time. There were only six of us on the tour and we had the place to ourselves. I kept pinching myself as I stared at the Resolute Desk, and great American works of art by Chile Hassam and Norman Rockwell flanking its sides. Behind the desk were pictures of Mr. Obama's family. This is where he sits all day, figuring out the worlds problems. Wow.

Then I noticed the other furniture. Our guide mentioned that each president gets to decorate the office to his taste except for the white marble fireplace mantle (original to the 1909 office), the presidential seal on the ceiling, and the two flags behind the desk. I thought over-all it was decorated OK, but imagined that Mr. Obama did this on his own, saying to Michelle, "hands off my man space. I'm going to do this my way." And so he included two plain ol' couches.

The rest of the weekend I obsessed over how I would decorate the Oval Office if I were the president. I was so distracted by it that I had to take action. I began searching for the objects I would use. I've never designed anything specific before and I got excited that I was designing my office in the White House. Way to put the cart before the horse, right! Well this blog can be my fantasy land so I present to you for the first time ever, a High Heeled Traveler interior!

I was inspired by one of Amy Merrick's fabulous floral designs, which I often secretly drool over, and that leather couch, which I must have in my life immediately. I wanted to modernize the space with color and texture, without taking away from its seriousness and historical nature.

What do you think? How would you decorate the Oval Office?

Shoe Love: In the Streets, Briton

I can't believe it's Friday again already! What a crazy busy week I've had. What about you? Ready for Friday? Ready for some Shoe Love?

It has been unseasonably warm, I can't help but want to ditch the black tights for Briton's bright yellow pumps. These are the perfect height for running around the office then transitioning to happy hour. No commuter flats needed!

I have a full weekend planned and I can't wait to share it with you on Monday. Hope you have a great weekend, dear readers!