Beauty & Health
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A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to Phoenix
I got pneumonia. I had been trying to shake a fever for days thinking with enough pills and a heaping dose of denial I would be fine by the time I landed in the Valley of the Sun. Not so much. With aches, chills, a painful cough and a temp peaking around 104, it’s a wonder I survived the flight at all. The good news is that my parents live in Arizona half the year and my mom has an arsenal of doctors on hand. Within two hours I had seen the doctor, had a chest x-ray, was diagnosed and stocked with half a dozen medications. Amazing. That…
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The Princess Bride
Today is one very important day for one very lucky girl. If becoming a princess is lucky that is. Kate Middleton weds Prince William today and much of the world will be watching. Brits, Royal-enthusiasts and wedding aficionados will be tuning in by the millions to see what the bride has in store for us. I do like the princess-to-be. She’s pretty and polished and seems to have a gracious sensibility about her. But fashionable? Let’s not get carried away. If I could, I would love to give her a makeover and style her on her wedding day. Plausible? No. But that’s what you gotta’ love about a blog. …
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Tipping the Scales
What happens when you take the Caribbean sun, add a weeklong sailing trip and throw in a pasty lass of northern European* decent? You get one crispy chic. My trip to Guadeloupe and Isle des Saints was fabulous. We had gorgeous weather - cloudless skies, bright blue water and gentle breezes. Just what the doctor ordered. But maybe not the dermatologist. I often mention how much care I take with my skin. I wear sunblock everyday and haven’t spent dedicated time in the sun since I was twenty. The problem? When I do go in the sun, I fry up faster than bacon in a skillet. So although I…
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Spring Greens
Is there any other color on your mind this time of year besides green? Trees are budding, the grass is coming back and we’ve just celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. It feels like we’ve turned a corner and everyone is in higher spirits, so let’s rejoice in the one hue that delivers a boost of happiness just when we need it most. Kelly, chartreuse, lime or sage – whatever the shade – you are sure to find glorious greens all around you this spring. – nature / exteriors – “Green” buildings Ann Demeulemeester in Seoul and the Caixa Forum in Madrid. Spanish copper wall image c/o…
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Tidy House Tidy Mind
Some people dread the due diligence of home ownership, but for me, organizing and caring for one’s home is one of life’s simple joys. That’s not to say I don’t suffer from a messy garage like everyone else, but given limitless time and resources, I would trick out my garage until it looked like a feature in Martha Stewart Living magazine. Honestly, I think being organized is a lifeline to sanity. Sometimes, in fact, when my life gets too chaotic and I feel like I’m losing control, I find one small project – like organizing the kitchen junk drawer – and suddenly life feels much more manageable. It seems…
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True Romance
I am fortunate – especially this time of year – to have the two words above feature prominently in my life. But it wasn’t always the case. I know how lackluster single life can be regardless of how much one relishes his or her freedom. Love and happiness do, no doubt, go hand in hand. But that doesn’t mean you can’t imbue your reality with some of the magic of romance sans sig-other. It comes down to simple things like finding beauty and stirring the senses. As a designer, I do this for a living, so I found alternate avenues to joy when I was on my own. Below are…
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Winter Warm-Up
While at Battery Kemble Park this past weekend with Nina, I was reminded why some people love winter. The sky was clear, the sun was shining and the snow was glistening in the treetops and underfoot. It really was magical. I later wrote to a friend that it was a perfect day – “warm and sparkly”. Not exactly a scientific description, but spot-on nonetheless. Although I don’t think I’ve ever used those exact words to describe a project, I certainly could have. I’ve embraced that concept a few times over the past few years. One renovation in particular comes to mind. Huntley & Co. redesigned a Pennsylvania Avenue apartment for a…
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one-five-eleven
January 2011 is a big month for me. Huntley & Co. celebrates its fifth year, mon amour and I mark our 1-year anniversary, and [gulp] I turn the big 4-0! I’m more excited than anxious about this milestone. I actually like getting older, believe it or not. With every year I feel stronger, more in control, more the woman I am meant to be. But just because I like getting older doesn’t mean I like feeling older. And it’s tough not to when one’s birthday is in January. Without a ten-day respite in Bora Bora or a major cosmetic overhaul, it’s pretty difficult to look good this time of…
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Stocking Stuffers a la Georgetown
I am fortunate enough to live in Georgetown – an urban village in DC with cobblestone streets, historic architecture, charming restaurants and fabulous shopping – the perfect setting for Christmas. So as things quiet down, I'm going to grab a latté, enjoy my city, and pick up stocking stuffers from my favorite vendors. Below are nine items you may want to pick up for yourself. But buyers beware, some of these items are one of a kind and I may have already beaten you to the punch. ; ) 1. J. CREW 3222 M Street NW leather driving gloves 2. JEWELERS’ WERK 3319 Cady’s Alley…
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Think Pink
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am saluting one of my favorite colors – pink. This lovely hue often gets a bad rap. People think it’s a saccharine shade that should be reserved for little girls’ bedrooms and bubble gum. But pink can be as versatile and sophisticated as any color in the spectrum. I’ve used it in dining rooms, bathrooms and living rooms. And it’s always warm, sexy, feminine and inviting. Now before all you modernists and men poo-poo this idea, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Whenever I use pink in a room, the crew on site (plumbers, electricians, millworkers, etc.) always love…
