Memorial Day 2010

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

They played this video in church last year. It is so moving and a wonderful reminder of what today is all about. Today is a vacation day for many of you, but it is also a day to honor every fallen hero. There are thousands of men and women that have served our country and continue to fight for our freedom daily. We are so incredibly blessed to live in a nation where our flag flies high for freedom. Today I thank each and every person that has ever served. You will always be our heroes! If you have a family member, dear friend or acquittance that is veteran or is currently serving remember to thank them for all they have done and all they continue to do! May God Bless America and the brave men and women that have fought for Her freedom!!!

Keep Calm and Carry On For A Cause!

As mentioned several weeks back Annechovie was helping design a shirt for a charity mother help found: The Fading Ladies. The shirts are now in and they could not be any more fabulous! the slogan is a favorite to many of us and the artwork is especially dear to my heart (flashback to summer of 2009 when my dream of riding an elephant finally became a reality!).

Below is an excerpt from my mother's blog, but please also visit Anne to read more (and thank her!).

Here is the design for the latest shirt from The Fading Ladies. We feel most fortunate to have had Anne Harrell of Annechovie donate her artwork to us for this fantastic shirt. Don't you love the woman riding the elephant--she is calm and she is carrying on! Thank you so very much Anne for your generosity. You are helping to make life better for girls in India!
Our shirt proceeds will be donated to the Arushi Girls Shelter in Gurgaon. It houses over 47 girls and is run by the Salaam Balaak Trust. Please visit our website and the following sites for more information:
www.salaambalaaktrust.com
Shirts are available here- shipping to the US is available!!

Monkeys, Monkeys Everywhere!

I love using animals when decorating! Dog and horse needlepoint pillows are classics are are paintings of either. Who ever said a rug with elephants or plates with birds were over the top? While I seem to have a bird obsession, I must admit monkeys are starting to become my thing- I am an attraction to tropical animals. Not only are they cute (okay, and dangerous at times), but they are so whimsical! Monkeys have been used in decor for centuries, they are classics!While my home may never have painted monkey panels like Chateau de Chantilly outside of Paris I have found some accessories that I can use to make do!

Pomegranate Placemats and Napkins

Two's Company Monkey Banana Bowls

Monkey Pillows

Monkey Candlesticks

Monkey Lamp

Herend Monkey

WASP Wednesday: Dallas Eatery

Do Wednesdays tend to sneak up on you like the do on Muffy and me? It seems the weeks are simply flying by!

As we know any good WASP enjoys a good meal. The WASP has their staple restaurants in their hometown, but since the WASP loves to travel Muffy and I are dedicating this week to the WASPiest of eateries in Dallas and Los Angeles.

Dallas is home to a handful of divine establishments (did you know there are more restaurants per capita in Dallas than in New York City?!) and every Dallasites, including the WASP, loves eating out. While Mi Cocina to wonderful for a casual dinner and The Mansion cannot be beat for a quick lunch my favorite eatery is Cafe Pacific in Highland Park Village.
Not only is the decor to the WASP's liking, but the food cannot be beat. While Cafe Pacific cannot seem to do anything wrong their true crowd (WASP) pleasures are their sweet potato strings and the ice cream, pecan ball served in a pool of chocolate sauce. Now of course they serve some of the best sea food in town and their house chop salad is par to none too. Another perk of Cafe Pacific is its' location. The WASP can do one stop shopping in Highland Park Village. After meeting friends for lunch they can pop into Harry Winston to have their gems fixed, have their photo developed down the way at Cooters Camera, run into Tom Thumb for the pantry staples, swing into RL for a new dress and then grab an iced tea from Celebrity before heading home. Not only is the restaurant well decorated, the food is marvelous and the surroundings cannot be beat; Cafe Pacific is a WASP haven!

Design On My Mind

Lately, I have had interior design on my mind and Thibaut just makes me swoon every single time! Is this room just just perfectly?

Ready for Summer!

The warm weather has HIT Dallas and it is time to dress appropriately. I am looking for things that are

Flirty
Fresh

and FUN!

Chixie Party!

Today, Cassie and I hosted our very first Chixie party for friends! This has been in the works for well over a month so we were so excited the day had finally arrived.

We put on our favorite staple Chixie pieces (and some new Lilly too!) and got ready for all our of dear friends to arrive.
The table was set up with loads of treats for our wonderful guests. I made two chocolate chip balls, onion souffle and then put together a cheese tray. We then cheated and ordered cupcakes, a Chixie cookie cake and quiche. We served pink lemonade as well as our beloved Neiman Marcus spiced tea!

Chixie, Chixie everywhere!
Cassie is a very talented jewelry maker. She has come across so many fabulous stones and beads over the years and has been able to put these to good use. I can only lay claim to the pearl ribbon necklaces (which have sold out!!!), everything else is made by Cassie!

We had a wonderful afternoon with friends and Chixie. We are so blessed to have friends that constantly support us in our new endeavor!

Happy Weekend!

I hope you weather is warming up enough that you can enjoy a marvelous weekend!!

PS- This outfit is not totally random...I am finally going to debut one of my Daphne's tonight at dinner!

SALE, SALE, SALE!

It is time to give a new home to things I have not worn in over a year. Do you want to give them a new home?! All items are listed below and sizing and rather generic. I did not include measurements for this reason however please do email me should you have any questions. If you are interested in an item or if you have another offer please email me. Shipping is $5 per item, but as always I am of course willing to combine that. All items will be freshly ironed before shipping. I will send all invoices via Paypal plan on shipping items as soon as tomorrow! Shop away!!

Lilly Pulitzer Shift, Size 4- SOLD
Lilly Pulitzer Preakness Shift, Size 4- SOLD
Lilly Pulitzer Capris, Size 4- SOLD
Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2009 Apple Dress, Size 4- SOLD
Brooks Brothers Oxford Shirt Dress, Size 2- SOLD
This has a matching belt, but I wore it with striped grosgrain which I will send too.
NWT Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2008 Ginger Jar Tunic, Size Small- SOLD
Lilly Pulitzer Pink Trench Coat, Size 4- SOLD

Doing What is Right

Yesterday I got a weekly devotional email from a wonderful man that I met many summers ago at Camp Greystone. While I love every devotion I have received from David this week's really stood out.

Everyone does want to be liked, we are all human so that is nothing other than natural. However, there are days when we face the decision to be right or wrong and sometimes put aside that right thing just so we can stay at the top. Whether it be a tiny white lie or something that could change a relationship with someone forever it is sometimes hard to see past yourself. I hope you enjoy the following devotion as much as I did! Are you willing to be a Godly leader even it means jeopardizing your worldly popularity?

The excerpt is by Dr. David Cox, and the Scripture is in the excerpt.

Everyone likes to be liked, and it is biblical to be in good standing with our peers. In fact, the Bible says about young Jesus that He grew in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) One sign of a good leader, however, is the willingness to make the hard decisions that you know will be unpopular and unfavorable.

Popularity is something that most people desire but not something that can be used as the guiding light when making difficult decisions. It can be very tempting, however, to make decisions based on how others will react because of the accolades and positive cheers of those around us.

Herod ruled Galilee and imprisoned John the Baptizer for John s strong preaching and stand against adultery. Entertaining the Who s Who Crowd of Galilee at his own birthday party, Herod beheaded John even though he knew he should not do so. He was very sorry that he had put himself in such a position. He was king, and he could have done anything he wanted. So why did he go through with the beheading? Because of his dinner guests. (Mark 6:26) He had publicly promised his niece whatever... Subsequently, she had asked for John s head. Feeling that he must save face and please his guests, Herod had it done. He was a king but not a leader. He pandered to the crowd in his royal workplace instead of doing what was right and sensible. In reality, your long-term reputation and credibility take real hits when you make your decisions based on popular opinion.

At times, you must be to be a leader at the expense of being unpopular. It does not mean that you are rude or insensitive to those around you, but it simply means to do what is right. It may be that in the end you really are appreciated for the tough call you made, but even if the admiration society does not show up when you have made a wise but difficult choice, doing what is right carries with it its own reward. Making decisions based on personal popularity is like eating a bowl of banana pudding with extra marshmallows and vanilla wafers: it tastes good at the moment but if you make a regular habit of it, you are not going to like the results!

The Greenbrier, Take Two

These are a few of my favorite (pink and green) things!!!

WASP Wednesday: Summer Essential

Well, school is letting out and the summer house is being opened up...the cool spring days are coming to an end and summer is in the air for the WASP (that is if you do not live in Texas where summer hit about a month ago...but hey, we take 90 degree days over snow in a frozen tundra any day!)! So, in honor of the finally being able to wear sundresses and Bermuda shorts Muffy and I bring you a WASP summer essential today!

When I think about summer I think of lots of linen, fun dresses and SANDALS! Yes, sandals are most definitely part of any WASP's summer uniform. Whether you are hitting the beach, strolling the streets of Watch Hill or sitting at home you will be trading in your Stubs and Wooten slippers for something more seasonal. While Lilly McKims and anything from Miss Trish of Capri are the upcoming sandals the WASP staple sandal is anything Navajo! The comfortable sole, multiple color combinations and classic look make the Navajo style sandal a go-to in any WASP's closet.

Though the great debate between Stephen Bonanno and Jack Rogers may never end the fact the a Navajo matches everything and anything is more than apparent. Metallics and white match everything, but a more outgoing (or perhaps a new age) WASP can still make a statement with a more vibrant combination; classic with a twist is a must in today's society! So fellow WASPs it is time to iron your Bermudas, make sure your tunic is still crisp and throw on something that never goes out of style! Whether your Navajos be red, gold, blue, pink or white you you are sure to fit right in while the summer is still young!

The Greenbrier, Take One

This weekend was not only fun, but it was also educational. I learned so, so much from Mr. Varney himself. If you have ever been to or read about the Greenbrier you know it is very rich in history. I loved learning about every last detail from the best of the best. Perhaps the thing that Mr. Varney said that really got me thinking was this:

"What is the very first room you remember?"

Can you recall? Well, I bet you never would have guessed that the first you room you can recall defines the style you have today. Mr. Varney pointed this out to us first thing Saturday morning and really got my thinking. While I very faintly remember my 1987 nursery in Americus, GA I can almost perfectly remember our living room in Memphis, TN circa 1989. There were two beautiful floral wing back chairs and a beautiful navy blue velvet sofa. There were many lovely accessories throughout too. This room proves Carlton's Varney's statement to be true. I am a traditionalist when it comes to decorating and I love floral chintz, blue (and white) everywhere and LOTS of accessories (these are what make a room and a home). I could recreate this room today, 21 years later, and I would just love it! This was just one of the lessons learned on Saturday; isn't it fascinating?

After a morning of learning and a delicious lunch (I got to sit with some of Mr. Varney's St. Croix clients!) we strolled the grounds before tea. Above, I am fresh out of the sun waiting for Mr. Varney himself to sign my books. I am sitting in a Fudge Apron wingback chair in the Victorian Writing room (or the most photographed room in America as Mr. Varney would say). Do you know where the name Fudge Apron comes from? Dorothy Draper gave this fabric the quirky name because it reminded her of a Nana's apron. After a busy day in the kitchen any Nana was sure to have had a "fudge" of all foods of all colors on her apron...thus was born this famed print!

Before signing my book Mr. Carleton Varney remembered me from our lunch Dallas- I was BEYOND honored! He is such a kind yet charismatic person. Mr. Varney is the type that always makes you feel like the only person in the room. He is one of a kind!

Before singing my books Carleton Varney also asked me if I was an interior designer...apparently I have the look. Again, I was so touched and honored!
Don't you love the scarf tie which Mr. Varney is known for? What an amazing opportunity this past weekend was! I cannot wait for Carleton Varney to return to Dallas in the next few months. I will clear by schedule and will be waiting in a floral dress with all ears open!
PS- I do want to hear what the first room you can remember is. Does Mr. Varney's point prove true for you too?

Lunch at the Greenbrier

Well, after an AMAZING weekend I am fresh off the plane from the Greenbrier. My friends and I simply has the VERY BEST time at the Dorothy Draper event. I will be filling you in on the details throughout the week, but had to indulge with you at Draper's Cafe sooner rather than later.

While I remember very little about my first trip to the Greenbrier some years ago I do remember how much I loved Draper's Cafe. The decor is classic and fun and the food is almost too delicious so I was counting down until I got to once again enjoy a delightful meal.
After a relaxing morning at the hotel we headed over to the cafe for a farewell luncheon.

Mmmm, so many specialities...what should I order?!

I think every city needs a Draper's Cafe sweets counter!

The meatloaf caught my eye. I am a sucker for good meatloaf, I take after my father, and actually rarely eat it so today's lunch was pure bliss!

After cleaning my plate it was time for some sweets and treats!

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream with good, old fashioned hot fudge!

A perfect Sunday afternoon surrounded by pink and green, the best of friends and good food... it sure doesn't get much better than this!

The Land of Fudge Apron Chintz

This weekend I am jet setting to the Greenbrier with a group of friends. We will be attending the "High Style of Dorothy Draper" event that Carleton Varney is hosting. I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Varney a few weeks ago at a private luncheon I am more excited than ever. He is a marvelous man who is incredibly talented and so warm and welcoming. It will be a fabulous weekend at a fabulous resort and I will be surrounded by FABULOUS people!

If you missed the Dorothy Draper installment (or if you simply need a refresh!) of WASP Wednesday I have included it below

"Never look back, except for an occasional glance, look ahead and plan for the future. Success is not built on past laurels, but rather on a continuous activity. Keep busy searching out new ideas and, experimentally, keep ahead of the times, or at least up with them."

Dorothy Draper

If you have been reading my blog you of course know what an icon I consider Dorothy Draper. Not only was Mrs. Draper the first to make interior design a profession (a HUGE feat for a woman do anything like this in the 1920's), but she was also one of the first to let us know that not everything in a room had to match. Like a true WASP Dorothy mixed this and that, the old and the new, the bold and the subdued (well a tad at least) to create the ultimate look. If you have ever had the privilege of walking in to a room done by our famed subject you know what I mean. You just want to look at everything and take it all in, but at the same time it is never too much. Bold floral prints are mixed with even bolder stripes and every color seems to pop; Draper's rooms are nothing less than pure eye candy as you are surrounded by pure beauty.
Dorothy Draper's talent of course made her one of the most sought after designers of all time. She decorated the homes of fellow WASPs, complete with personally designed fabrics, but she also enjoyed concentrating on public spaces. From restaurants to some of the VERY BEST (and my favorite, think the Waldorf Towers, The Breakers) hotels Dorothy put "the Draper Touch" all over the country.

I am lucky enough to live just blocks away from Texas's very first penthouse which Dorothy Draper was commissioned to design! Dorothy went back to her WASP routes and created a little English home atop the Stonleigh Hotel. She brought in wonderful antiques and English oak paneling, but also put down a vibrant carpet and bold sofa. There is never anything dull in a Draper room! Though the Stoneleigh was recently redone, thanks to Mr. Carleton Varney (another wonderful WASP that deserves his one WASP Wednesday), Dorothy Draper's spirit lives on in Dallas, TX!

Perhaps her most well known project was the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, WV. If you have ever been to the Greenbrier you can feel energy and happiness radiating through the walls. Dorothy Draper designed rooms that elevated spirits and made you feel at home. The giant black and white tile floor mixes with it's surrounding architectural elements, bold covered furniture and Blue Canton lamps just prove her point: not everything has to match! Every room at the Greenbrier is divine. In fact, so divine that I have thinking a blog gathering might need to be held on sight next Spring, more details to come, but are you interested!? Today, many are crazy about their entire home matching and having beige, beige everywhere. However, remember next time you are revamping a room take this week's WASP's lesson to heart and mix things up. Perhaps you will be talked about in years to come and be crowned 'one of a kind' in design!
I shall now leave you with a WASP Wednesday fun fact: did you know Dorothy Draper is cousins with another WASP designer? Can you guess who? Sister Parish (whose real name was also Dorothy, WASPs tend to pull from a smaller name pool) of Parish-Hadley!