Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Hope everyone has some great plans for tonight! I'm off to a cocktail party to heckle and hand out candy to the kiddies - can't wait and I have my pumpkin ready to carve! But, before I can indulge in a spooky theme cocktail, I'm off to Thrift Village to pull together a costume. I work well in a pinch, so I'll let you know how this one plays out!

By the way, how much do you love the antique paper pumpkin! We had a bunch of these growing up and I wish I could find them... they are too cute (and oddly creepy!)!

Costume Contender... "Working Girl"

[Photograph: 20th Century Fox/The Kobal Collection]

"Working Girl" is one of my favorite movies of all time. I LOVE it! I've seen it so many times I can't even estimate the number, and Carly Simon's "Let the River Run" has been a theme song for my life! Love this movie!

So, as I've been trying to figure out my last minute Halloween costume for tomorrow, this movie came to mind.


My plan is simple... recruit a costume-less friend to be Tess McGill and find a preppy old suit at Goodwill to dress as the amazingly bitchy WASP Katherine Parker. I'm sure I can even rope in a Jack Trainer. I have crutches and a boot from a horrible squash injury a few years back (couldn't make it up if I tried) that really channel Sigourney Weaver's great moment of accusing Tess of stealing her idea by pointing a crutch in her face. Classic!

Ah, this movie is too great! Check out "Let the River Run" and feel the inspiration!

In My Library... Giraffes? Giraffes!

"Giraffes? Giraffes! is the first in the series, and puts forth the following novel theories: that giraffes were not part of any evolutionary chain, but came here from Neptune, by way of very long (but convenient and fast) escalators; that giraffes are expert dancers, but they become angry if you ask them about their dancing; that giraffes control over 90 percent of what we see in mirrors; that the Giraffe navy is as strong as ever, contrary to recent claims in the popular press."

Funniest... book... (not ever) but EVER! I found this book at a great shop in the Mission while on a business trip to San Francisco this winter. I've always loved giraffes, but I had no clue what I was in store for with the brilliant Giraffes? Giraffes! by Dr. & Mr. Doris Haggis-on-Whey. Seriously... laugh out loud hilarious!

Dating Hunter S. Thompson

Okay, this might have to be a reoccurring topic for many reasons, but I'll start with a simple fact... every man I've dated (including my amazing boyfriend!) LOVES Hunter S. Thompson. It's a bizarre phenomenon, especially since they're all incredibly different. Maybe it's a prippy thing...
[© AL SATTERWHITE, 1974]

But, the reason I wanted to chat about it today is because it is a great Halloween costume! My boyfriend has been various incarnations of him over the years and I think it's brilliant (and in his youth, HST is sexy)! So if you are struggling to motivate your man with getting dressed up, suggest he go Gonzo and follow the style icon loved by men - Hunter S. Thompson!

A Week to Go Until... NEW ORLEANS

So, a week from today I'll be in New Orleans! The trip is a birthday gift for my boyfriend (who's never been) and I'm ready to celebrate! My last time down there was prior to Katrina, when my sister was living there. I can still remember my first time in the city when she was visiting Tulane, where she ended up going. That first visit felt magical - which I know is beyond cliche - but very true. The smell, the buildings, the people, and the overall vibe was unlike anything I'd experienced. Seeing it again, and with my BF experiencing it for the first time, is going to be absolutely amazing!


I'm thinking one of our first stops might be Port of Call. Where do you think the best low-key lunch spot is in New Orleans?

Perfect Hostess Gift... Cocktails and Wit

When in doubt while buying a hostess gift, go to Fred Flare! The "Gin and Titonic" ice cube tray is a perfect gift and conversation piece. The art of entertaining doesn't have to yield a bottle of wine - you can ensure the next invite with a gift like this! Plus, it makes me want to have a Battleship Tournament of Champions party.

Light Bulb Moment... Vintage Patterns

Patterns seem to be kind of a thing from the past. Growing up, my Mom would take me to the fabric store where we scoured over huge binders filled with pictures of potential cotillion class dresses. Since putting on my white tights and headband in preparation for dancing with sweaty handed young men wasn't always how I wanted to spend every other Tuesday, I must have blocked out the memory... but BRING BACK THE PATTERNS!


Last week, I was thinking about how much I love vintage clothing and how I wish there were more vintage shops in DC. As I pondered road tripping to Richmond or Philly (both vintage hotbeds), I had a revelation... find vintage patterns and have the clothes made! Why didn't I think of this before? How did it not occur to me? Well, I can't wait to enact my plan and pictures will definitely be posted! Check out So Vintage Patterns and get on the pattern bandwagon with me!

Happy Monday... Now that It's Over

This postcard has been in a drawer (or sometimes discretely hidden on the desk) of every office I've had, and anytime I get a bit perturbed it makes me laugh. I found it at The Crafty Bastards sale in DC, and Rar Rar Press has plenty of other inappropriate designs to get you through any Monday... or day that feels like Monday.

Je t'aime

Every time a French word falls out of my mouth, I cringe a bit. Taking basic French, even if to just pronounce things properly, is on my list of things to do! Hopefully, the fact that I could listen to people singing in French for hours will help me! This simple French children's song is one that I love, and one that I'm hoping will help me with my language skills. It is so beautiful!

In My Library... Peggy Guggenheim

I've got a quick response every time the question of "name 3 people, living or dead, you would have to dinner" comes up, and Peggy Guggenheim is definitely one of them! After finding her biography cover, Art Love: A Biography of Peggy Guggenheim interesting while on a trip to the Hirshhorn Museum in college, I bought it and loved every page!

[Photo: Art patron Peggy Guggenheim at the Museum of Modern Art in 1942 from Associated Press]

Her incredible life, impeccable taste, and volatile personality make it an amazingly quick read. The history surrounding her collection, and her love life, are full of unbelievable events. Peggy's bold and brave taste has definitely influenced my own, and her life story is one I keep coming back to over and over again! Plus, gotta love her shades!

For the Love of Popcorn

Last night, my boyfriend picked the movie with the agreement that he would make the popcorn. It was definitely a fair trade, because he makes the most delicious stove popped popcorn! He'll mix up the toppings - ranging from sea salt and pepper to olive oil and freshly grated italian cheeses. To me, it's perfect every time! I'm waiting for the time when I finally fight for a movie and surprise him with truffle oil and black pepper popcorn. Do you have any secret popcorn toppings? Would love to know them!

The DC Champ... of Can Beers

I have to confess... I love dive bars and canned beer! Love. But in DC, great bars are not easy to find, and reasonably priced cans of beers are even harder. On Saturday, I headed out to hear a friend's bluegrass band play on H Street, a very "up and coming" going out destination. To be honest, if you're not from DC be prepared to feel like the cab driver took you to the wrong part of town. While many of the most creative and fun spots are in this area, the surroundings don't really suggest that's the case. In the heart of H Street, you'll find The Pug.



The Pug might not grab your attention at first glance, but definitely stop in! There is a great boxing theme to the bar, with decor that is warm and inviting. The service is awesome - with bartenders that are attentive and no-nonsense. With no jukebox, the bartenders play what they want and it turns out to be what you want... a perfect blend of classics and great emerging bands. Now here comes the best part, an ample selection of canned beers you probably forgot existed when you left college (or hell, high school!). There are no inflated PBR prices, and your can of beer is perfectly paired with complimentary cheese balls. Overall, this place is great! Visit it or revisit it - and remember what a solid bar is all about!

The Pug | 1234 H St., NE | 202-388-8554

The Carnivore's Classroom

Over the past 3 years, it seems like the New York Times can't go 4 months without writing about the renaissance of butchers. As a fan of all things old school, I'm all for it! I think it's fantastic that there's been a return to people taking an interest in what they eat and how they eat it. I'll even go so far as to say one of these butchering classes looks like an interesting experience. Would you chop your own chop?

Rain, Rain, Go Away... or Maybe Not

Years back, I was caught in a Paris rain storm (much like today's DC downpour!), but a miracle happened... the storm started just as I was passing by the most gorgeous umbrella store, Madeleine Gély. My Paris souvenir was a beautiful umbrella, which without the storm, I never would have splurged on! Over the years, it remains one of my favorite travel purchases. Sometimes the practicality of the moment, leads to a lovely and timeless buy.

The Proust Questionnaire

Your idea of happiness... Your heroes in real life... Your motto...

It doesn't get more timeless than the Proust Questionnaire! These books are gorgeous, and I adore reading my friends responses. And in this high tech world, you can even fill one out on Facebook thanks to Vanity Fair! Love it!

Here comes the sun

I love vintage sunglasses! These Porsche Carrera aviators are a perfect example of how some styles never get old. Plus, it's fun to have something to hunt for when shopping at flea markets and thrift stores!

Delicious, Delicious

In a few weeks, I'm off to New Orleans for a long weekend birthday celebration! I can't wait, and I've been counting down the days until I'm listening to jazz, knocking back Hurricanes, and enjoying one of the most amazing cities. I was lucky enough to find a can of Cafe Du Monde at the grocery store, and every morning I've been loving the unique coffee with chicory blend made famous in New Orleans.

If you enjoy smokey flavors - definitely check it out!

A little bad girl style...

Since fall has finally hit, I haven't been able to get motorcycles out of my mind! Even though I've never been on one (a goal for my 30th birthday!), I'm aching to hop on a bike and cruise country roads. Think Naomi Watts riding around in "Eastern Promises." With motorcycle jackets once again dominating fashion magazines, it's clear I'm not the only one with bikes on the brain.

Around this time last year, I made the great purchase of a Barbour women's motorcycle jacket, and can't rave about it enough! It cinches perfectly at the waste, the wax clothe is instant vintage chic, and the quality matches Barbour's reputation for timeless sturdy goods. The only thing - it keeps me too warm on these sunny fall days! In any case, check out the Barbour jacket as a classic Prippy alternative to the black leather "bad girl" jacket.