Friday's Organizing Item

Today's Item: This basket may have it all -- nice design, right price, mixes with any style, useful for anything.

Some uses:

* magazines, next to bed to rifle through before falling asleep
* toilet paper, in a small bathroom on antique shelves that start low and go to the ceiling
* fabric, in a craft room to gaze at
* wine bottles or cans of limonata, in a dining room on a side table
* flipflops and sneakers, on shelves down low by a side door
* sheets and towels, in a guest bedroom
* children's stuffed animals, on the floor or shelves

Great Summer Dress

Yesterday's Agenda: As I was returning items to Anthropologie I came across a dress I had been eyeing for awhile. Well, I returned my items and left with two of the dresses -- one in black, the other in green.

These are perfect to throw on while running errands, dress up for night out or wear over a bathing suit. Very flattering. And the green is more kelly green.

*Bonus: Pick one (or two) up at the Georgetown Anthropologie or online!

MuseumsMuseumsMuseums

Next Weekend's Agenda: This blog wasn't really supposed to be about goings on in DC but there is so much going on over the summer that it's too exciting not to post about. And these are all "on my agenda" + provide inspiration for design and events.

So...Check out the Dupont Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend! Nine museums, free admission to all. Phillips Collection is a favorite and always a must. Looking forward to checking out Fondo del Sol, Anderson House and Textile Museum. Here's a great walking history if you have time. The Spanish Steps near the Textile Museum provide a great photo background. And the great Teaism is nearby -- must get the ginger limeade. Must.

*Bonus: Top it off with a visit to the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market on Sunday and pick up some in-season fruits and vegetables for Sunday dinner with friends.

Perfect Chair for Reading

Today's Agenda: Decide if I "need" this chair. It would be the perfect reading/guest chair. And the floor sample is on sale for $700 in the store.

Looking for Something to Do on Friday Nights?

This Summer's Agenda: Looks like Friday Jazz in the Sculpture Garden on the National Mall is back!

Planning Points: The Pavilion has great food and beer + wine and is open until 8:30 on Fridays. Here is the list and dates of performances. Enjoy a nice Friday night in DC!

Young Lions (fusion rock/jazz)
May 29 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Afro Blue (a capella ensemble)Duke Ellington Jazz Festival
June 5 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Deanna Bogart ("bluesion")
June 12 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Origem (Brazilian jazz)
June 19 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Junkyard Saints (contemporary zydeco)
June 26 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Bio Ritmo (hot salsa)
July 3 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Daysahead (jazz and R & B vocalist)
July 10 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Marty Nau (jazz saxophonist)
July 17 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Young Lions (fusion rock/jazz)
July 24 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Dixie Power Trio (traditional jazz)
July 31 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Krupa-Pilzer Quintet (women in jazz)
August 7 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Bruno Nasta (jazz violinist) followed byU.S. Army Blues (big-band jazz)
August 14 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Robert Boguslaw (jazz pianist)
August 21 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Tom Williams (jazz trumpeter)
August 28 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Phil Mathieu (jazz guitar)
September 4 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

Robert Redd (jazz pianist) followed byU.S. Navy Commodores (big-band jazz)
September 11 from 5:00PM to 8:30PM

New York Anniversary Trip

Last Week's Agenda: Celebrate 5-year anniversary + catch up with old friends and colleagues in New York! And, of course, enjoy great food.

Planning Points: I had set up dates with friends + colleagues/clients + husband ahead of time which made the week go super smoothly. Here are some highlights!

Brasserie (Perfect Scallops; Half Price Drink Happy Hour from 4-6)

Fig & Olive (Go for the cold soups or creative crostinis; multiple locations; tapas that your husband will eat)

Union Square Cafe (Classic restaruant; eat @ the bar; tuna tartare is delish)

Marlow & Sons (Menu changes daily; Cold romaine soup was worth the trip to Williamsburg; super relaxed)

Alfama (Just like in Portugal + the only restaurant with such an amazing selection of white port)

Magnolia Bakery (We had to...)

Cafe d' Alsace (Well-priced food; beef tartare had the perfect amount of mustard)

Bar @ the Standard Hotel (Lovely drinks; perfect lounge music)

Brooklyn Art Museum (Check out the "visible storage" exhibit; Great cafe)

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens (Beautiful lilacs; art deco architecture)

Thompson LES (Super swank hotel but friendly; Great terrace + bar + workout/spa area; could seriously live here)

Bonus: A great friend was out of town so we cat-sat for Eloise and enjoyed a stellar apartment well-situated at the edge of the Meatpacking District.

Sisters

Just ran across this picture of me and my sister and I love it! (and my sister!)

Finish Up Gift from Tara's Wedding Shower

{The Bride}

This Week's Agenda: Going to finish up a project from nearly two years ago...tonight! Tara (my SIL) and her husband Josh are going to Japan for a year to teach English. What better motivation to finish up the projects I started for her!

Planning Points: I hosted her wedding shower at our apartment -- tried to have all things Tara would love. Soft taco bar + sorbet bar + margarita bar! And great family + friends. One of the activities was putting together a note for Tara and Josh. I bought a photo book + patterned paper + found lots of pictures of Tara, Josh and family and friends. Each guest did a page in the book - it's always great to see how creative and thoughtful everyone is! I need to do my page and fill in the blank pages and then ship it off! Maybe a little Gossip Girl from Monday night will help the process??

Bonus: Here are some pictures from the shower:

Traveling Mother's Day Brunch

On My Agenda: Prepare Mother's Day brunch that can be taken from DC to Annapolis (about an hour's drive).

Planning Points: My Mother in Law really loves eggs benedict + eggs florentine. But how do I transport that with minimal prep on the other end?

Post-Plan Report: Brunch was a success! I managed to transport the following from our kitchen in Arlington to the deck in Annapolis (and make it a little lighter too!):

"Faux" Eggs Benedict/Eggs Florentine = Crustless Quiche (green onions + dill + vidalia onion + spinach + mozzarella + white pepper + hibiscus salt + egg beaters) + Whole Grain English Muffins + Hollandaise Sauce (courtesy of the Knorr mix + fat free half & half)

Asparagus + Panko Crumbs (with butter to brown + sea salt)

Yogurt Parfait (blueberries, strawberries, rasberries, blackberries + light cinnamon roll and vanilla yogurts + candied pecans and slivered almonds + sugar free whip cream ++ milk chocolate bite and candied crystal violets from Paris)




*Bonus: I found this treasure at an antique market in London (great vintage fair held at the old 20th Century Theatre in Notting Hill) and it was the perfect Mother's Day gift. It's Mom's favorite color!

DWR After Hours

Today's Agenda: Design Within Reach in Georgetown is hosting an art workshop tonight. Here is the description. Always enjoy a chance to sit among the nice, modern furniture. And to be in a store after-hours. (As a child I dreamed about being locked in a store after hours and have the whole night to explore.)

Art Advisory Workshop: Thursday, May 7, 6-8pm - DWR Georgetown continues to explore different aspects of design in the District of Columbia. Join us for an animated discussion on the importance of art in the home or office. Cheryl Numark of the Numark Gallery (numarkgallery.com) and other members of the local art community will be in the Studio to discuss the philosophical and emotive elements of art, sources for artwork in D.C. and how to change a space through the arrangement of art and furniture. Refreshments will be served.

Great Design on Design Websites

Today's Agenda: Finding DC Design websites and bookmarking interesting ones

Notes: Perusing the Internet results in some terrible, tragic websites. Even for design websites. But sometimes there are a few that really are amazing. Who cares if I need the product or service, I'm impressed and will take a minute to explore. There definitely needs to be substance behind the design, but I think the design and initial pull the website has on a reader is crucial. It's like my sister once said about our dermatologist when we were younger - "If he doesn't have great skin, how can I be sure that he'll be able to make my skin look great."

Here are a few I have run across lately that made me want to keep clicking:

http://www.designdc.com/
http://www.coleprevost.net/flash/index.html
http://www.samanthafriedmaninteriors.com/
http://www.gravitatedesign.com/index.asp
http://www.designcommission.com/

Rain Day = Ikea Trip

on way out door (with rain gear in tow...) to Ikea....

quick note to highlight BEST feature on a website = ability to check to see if product is in stock

Ikea's website then says how many pieces they have + what aisle to find it in (great for when you have to send husband to Ikea to minimize any IOUs he has coming for that effort)

hope I have some good luck...

(also enjoying my new Domino decorating book - images are great - feel inspired! )

RunRunRun

Today's Agenda: Work, work, work today so I can run, run, run tonight. Crystal City has a 5k series that Aaron and I ran two weeks ago. Great Friday night activity to kick off the weekend. Good training course + one of the nearby gyms gives free access so you can shower up after the run and continue your night.

Plan So Far: Pretty simple -- Running clothes, check. Running shoes, check. Ipod, check. Just need to drink water during the day (which I am terrible at). Then put on some John Legend ($20 million dollar song) + Justin Timberlake (Sexyback) and have fun.

*Bonus: We are hoping to meet up with our friends Brodie + Claudia and their little girl Margot and have a picnic afterwards. They have a great tradition -- when it starts to get warm they pick different sites around the city (Lincoln Memorial, Rock Creek Park, Iwojima) and put together a picnic dinner for the three of them. Looking forward to seeing them!