To Brighten Your Day

Photos courtesy of Anthropologie, Emily Hensen for Design Sponge 
M Design Interiors, Quadrille, PB Teen and Melissa Rufty Interiors

Shop Local

I have always loved the movie "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. In college we watched it constantly one reason being it was the only video we had at the time. For those of you who lived under a rock in the late 90's, the storyline is Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) feisty, yet cute owns a little book store, the "Shop Around the Corner" meets Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) online and they fall for each other.  They meet each other in person without knowing of their online affair but Kathleen dislikes Joe because Joe's discount Fox Bookstore is moving around the corner and is inevitably going to put Kathleen's little shop out of business. It is Hollywood and in the end they are together in a garden of flowers and life is perfect, romantic, with no worries.

This week such is not the case with some of favorite local businesses owned by friends who put their heart and souls into their dreams, passions and who cannot compete with the likes of the big box Joe Fox stores. The doors of favorite children's clothing, toy and maternity stores are all closing at the end of this month. It is with great sadness that I post this but with hope to inspire everyone no matter where you live to shop your local businesses. You can make a difference by using your locally owned hardware store, farmers market, flower shops or even pharmacy...I love mine they deliver and treat you like a person not a number!

www.ShopLocalRaleigh.org is an organization that "promotes locally owned businesses and works to educate consumers, business owners and the Raleigh community about the many benefits of spending locally." Independents week July 1-7 encourages everyone to support your community...I encourage you to do it all the time.

Worlds Away

The past few weeks between work and play I feel like I have traveled around the globe yet have only been in 3 states. I suppose that is a good thing, being able to find so many worldly goods without traveling to the ends of the Earth. One of my current client projects is finding outdoor accessories including topiaries for their front porch, the perfect planters and the greenery that will complete their "Low Country" front porch look.

 

Success in finding ligistrum double ball topiaries, low maintenance and beautiful.

 

Beautiful, affordable black urns...picture of the finished product will have to wait until the project is complete... Success!

Market Imports

 

My hunt for the perfect accessories took me to an amazing store, warehouse, not sure what you call it... Market Imports located next to the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, NC has the most amazing finds! It is a treasure trove of eclectic furniture and accessories for indoor and outdoor. While I am picturing the most extreme and diverse of their inventory please know that they have a great collection of blue porcelain china, clay pots in every shape color, size, fountains galore and the list goes on... 

I wish I were as comfortable as this Merlick in the 100 degree weather while working.

Furbish Studio

I was also able to do a little shopping for myself while working of course, hazard of the job but I dropped into one of my favorite new haunts Furbish Studio. Lucky for me they had just received their newest shipment of Roberta Roller Rabbit for home. All I can say is ooh la la, fun fun! First of all every little accessory in Furbish is a designers dream. Jamie Meares the creator and owner behind all the beauty paints most of her furniture with a little help from her friend she has that pops up from the basement. She has ready made pillows ready to walk out the door onto your sofa and great knick knacks for your home.

I happened to pick up these 2 Roberta Roller Rabbit pillows for my newly painted wicker chairs and voila ready for my party.

Remember my chairs for a deal?

Before

After

Love the blue and green elephant print.

This bamboo bench at Furbish is tres chic.

Perfect sized asian inspired side table.

Furbish Studio

1020 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27605

High Street Market

New fantastic finds just listed last week!

Images Courtesy High Street Market

Calypso

St. Barth

2 things would love to have... Calypso's Chevron Kurta and

Jodhpur Pouf

Betsy Burnham

One of my favorite designers is LA based Betsy Burnham and her designs are edgy and eclectic. I like her because she is under the radar yet her work is phenomenal. She always loves to use an animal print which I think too is a staple for any space.

Images courtesy of Design Sponge, InStyle, Lonny Magazine 

Interview with Jimmy Moore

About two months ago, I did an interview with Jimmy Moore of the Livin' la Vida Low Carb internet empire. I hardly remember what we talked about, but I think it went well. I enjoyed Jimmy's pleasant and open-minded attitude. Head over to Jimmy's website and listen to the interview here.

I do recall making at least one mistake. When discussing heart attacks,I said "atrial fibrillation" when I meant "ventricular fibrillation".

Urban Dwelling

DwellStudio

I must tell you I am excited for a few reasons today, the 1st being my baby turned 1 today and we celebrated with fresh off the press Krispy Kreme Donuts this morning...nice way to start the day!

I am also equally excited and eagerly awaiting my samples from Dwell Studio for Robert Allen which just launched with 72 available custom fabric  patterns! Of course I will not be receiving all 72 but some of my favorites that I think my clients will love.

Dwell Studio is the baby of Canadian born Christiane Lemieux, a graduate of Parson's School of Design, wife and mother of 2 1/2 (lab Jake included in the 1/2). Lemieux is the founder and Creative Director of DwellStudio and DwellStudio for Target. Lemieux has branded herself  urban chic with home accessories with categories in baby, children, home and table.

 

DwellStudio bedding is available in sets currently and can be mixed with vibrant wallpaper and accessories for a custom designed room.

www.dwellstudio.com

An inspiration board shown on DwellStudio's blog shows their creative thinking that inspired them to create their Peacock "Citrine" collection. What a gorgeous collaboration of colors...

These are some of the samples shown of the DwellStudio Collection for Robert Allen.

All Photos courtesy of DwellStudio and DwellStudio Blog

What an exciting new venture for DwellStudio and exciting new prints for us to choose from!

Party Pops

InStyle

I do have a refreshing treat that I found today in this month's InStyle magazine that I am going to try for the weekend, Peach & Prosecco Ice Pops...enough said!

3 cups unsweetened white grape juice

1 cup prosecco ( or ginger beer for non-alcoholic)

3 tbsp lemon juice

6 peaches sliced

Combine grape juice, Prosecco, and lemon juice in a container with a pour spout. Place 1 or 2 peach slices in each ice pop mold. Gently pour liquid over the peaches. Cover mold with aluminum foil, secure your Popsicle sticks, and freeze for at least 12 hours.

Enjoy

In Search of Traditional Asian Diets

It's been difficult for me to find good information on Asian diets prior to modernization. Traditional Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese diets are sometimes portrayed as consisting mostly of white rice, with vegetables and a bit of meat and soy, but I find that implausible. Rice doesn't grow everywhere, in part because it requires a tremendous amount of water. Removing all the bran was prohibitively labor-intensive before the introduction of modern machine milling. One hundred years ago, bran was partially removed by beating or grinding in a mortar and pestle, as it still is in parts of rural Asia today. Only the wealthy could afford true white rice.

Given the difficulty of growing rice in most places, and hand milling it, the modern widespread consumption of white rice in Asia must be a 20th century phenomenon, originating in the last 20-100 years depending on location. Therefore, white rice consumption does not predate the emergence of the "diseases of civilization" in Asia.

In the book Western Diseases: Their Emergence and Prevention, there are several accounts of traditional Asian diets I find interesting.

Taiwan in 1980

The staple constituent of the diet is polished white rice. Formerly in the poorer areas along the sea coast the staple diet was sweet potato, with small amounts of white rice added. Formerly in the mountains sweet potato, millet and taro were the staple foods. During the last 15 years, with the general economic development of the whole island, white polished rice has largely replaced other foods. There is almost universal disinclination to eat brown (unpolished) rice, because white rice is more palatable, it bears kudos, cooking is easier and quicker, and it can be stored for a much longer period.

Traditionally, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure were rare, but the prevalence is now increasing rapidly. Stroke is common. Diabetes was rare but is increasing gradually.

Mainland China

China is a diverse country, and the food culture varies by region.

Snapper (1965)… quoted an analysis by Guy and Yeh of Peiping (Peking) diets in 1938. There was a whole cereal/legume/vegetable diet for poorer people and a milled-cereal/meat/vegetable diet for the richer people.

Symptoms of vitamin A, C and D deficiency were common in the poor, although coronary heart disease and high blood pressure were rare. Diabetes occurred at a higher rate than in most traditionally-living populations.

Japan

On the Japanese island of Okinawa, the traditional staple is the sweet potato, with a smaller amount of rice eaten as well. Seafood, vegetables, pork and soy are also on the menu. In Akira Kurosawa’s movie Seven Samurai, set in 16th century mainland Japan, peasants ate home-processed millet and barley, while the wealthy ate white rice. Although a movie may not be the best source of information, I assume it has some basis in fact.

White Rice: a Traditional Asian Staple?

It depends on your perspective. How far back do you have to go before you can call a food traditional? Many peoples' grandparents ate white rice, but I doubt their great great grandparents ate it frequently. White rice may have been a staple for the wealthy for hundreds of years in some places. But for most of Asia, in the last few thousand years, it was probably a rare treat. The diet most likely resembled that of many non-industrial Africans: an assortment of traditionally prepared grains, root vegetables, legumes, vegetables and a little meat.

Please add any additional information you may have about traditional Asian diets to the comments section.

Dad's Day

Happy Father's Day

A special day for all the fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers everywhere. I know my family has all of these and I want to say how grateful I am to each of you for the love and support you have given me and give me everyday, thank you. My sweet husband thank you for being the backbone of our family, a wonderful husband, my biggest supporter and most of all thank you for our 3 beautiful children and the love you show them everyday!

Pictures are courtesy of Marie of Phreckles Photography. I have been working with Marie for a few years since she relocated here from Boston. She has become a friend and my kids love her! Her style is urban and eclectic and she loves to use color which makes me love her even more! www.phrecklephotography.com .

620 W Lane Street Suite 201

Raleigh, NC 27603