So I called a time out. My mom and I went for margaritas and nachos at a local mexican place and had one of the best, most honest conversations I’ve had with her. My mother makes everything better and I want to soak up as much good mom energy as possible while she’s here this week.

So I’ll be on hiatus for the rest of the week, enjoying time with my mom and keeping the daily stress at bay.

Image via Elis Lids

Partners in Preservation enlisted the help of some of my favorite blogs to spread the word. Read about Heather of Habitually Chic‘s visit to the LES Tenement Museum. Which by the way, if you’re visiting NY and want a less touristy place to really soak in some NY history, I’d highly recommend a Tenement Museum tour!

The brilliant Scout at Scouting NY introduced me to the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital. The buildings are in various stages of decay and I agree with the Scout, they are most fascinating. Especially when you see, as in the picture below, how the spaces looked then and today.

The benefit of Partners in Preservation is that we actually could have the opportunity to see these spaces come back to life. Check out the website and VOTE every day until May 21 to help save one of NY’s relics. It’s not hard and costs nothing. Why not do a little good today?

I’m a lucky girl, my mom’s in town this weekend for Mother’s Day (along with my aunt Ann). We’re going up to Hudson to see how the tableclothes that she and my aunt MADE for the wedding look. Can you believe that!? I’ve seen one of the tablecloths but I can wait to try it out with a table setting and vase, all set up. My cousin and I have a surprise for the moms on Sunday as well. Should be a good weekend, hope you have a lovely one as well.

Images via Habitually Chic and Scouting NY.  

Repurposing Handwriting, anybody?

Applying notes and messages to fabric has definitely been seen before, but now its much much easier. Using Spoonflower, John and Sherry at Young House Love, first created a fabric with their daughter’s name (Clara, handwritten by name) then used their little one’s scribble to imortalize her artwork in a blanket.

Totally into this idea! Though if my recent posts are any indication – I’d need my editor (that’s BC) to do a thorough review before printing!

Images via Jolie Marche, Repurpose My Life, Young House Love

In 2001, this iconic image brought the spotlight back to the egg. And in 2005, the Egg Chair was re-introduced. The right photograph below is of the original designer in his throne.

The current Egg Chair design looks identical to it’s original counterpart but rencent changes improve the experience of “cocooning” in the Egg.

Um, you guys? Is that Megan Draper in the chair on the left?

Information via Ovalia Images via Ariacao

Images via Hartong International 

The Kyrimai Hotel, about four hours south of Athens, seems a good place to start. For one, the views are stunning, day or night. But my favorite parts are the interior stone walls, beams and the washed out linens and fabrics. The design of the structure feels almost medieval, but the room textures and accoutrements take the space to such a relaxed contemporary place. I normally go for rooms with a bit more color, but I’m totally digging this situation. Perhaps I’m spellbound by the sea. I believe that could happen.

Words

Images via Kyrimai Hotel 

Yes, my trip to New Orleans, my first introduction to the old girl, was quite something. Thank you to Emmy, Em Ab, T and Caroline for making it a trip to remember and to Swirls and Brooke for planning this amazing weekend for us all. I appreciate and adore these ladies so much.

Happy weekend to all!

BTW, did I tell you I’m boxing again?

Image via MeccInteriors

My cousin, Em, and I flew into Mobile on Friday where we met up with our friend Swirls* who lives in Biloxi on the Gulf Coast. Swirls had to run a secretive bachelorette party errand so she dropped Em and I off at Mary Mahoney’s for an afternoon beverage. The story of Mary Mahoney’s is that it was built in the 1730s and then opened as the “old french restaurant” in the 1960s by one Mary Mahoney. The space itself consists of an beautiful white house, a wine cellar (that is currently the bar) and a idyllic courtyard. We chose to spend our afternoon outside, enjoying the light breeze and a glass of wine.

*My iPhone incorrectly corrected my friend’s name to Swirls, henceforth she shall be known by that name.

On Saturday morning, my gang of rock stars had brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. The two sisters, Emma and Bertha Camors, born 1858 and 1860 respectively, belonged to a proud and aristocratic Creole family. They ran a notions shop on the site, which was previously the home to five governors. The building is now home to a fabulous brunch place, with an unending buffet of breakfast delights. At the beginning of our meal, we were encouraged to go through the line at least four times. Especially interesting to me was the front hallway which featured the four flags that ruled over New Orleans throughout the years: Spain, France, the Confederate States, and the United States.

We hit a lot of traffic on the drive into New Orleans, which gave us optimal time for reading up on New Orleans’ most haunted places. Some days later, while waiting for dinner at Mona Lisa, we found ourselves standing in front of the LaLaurie Mansion, reportedly one of the most haunted houses in New Orleans. I’d tell you the story but I’m actually getting creeped out just writing this. So if you’re into horrific ghost stories read up on it. If you’re a big chicken, like I am, enjoy these photos of the home when Nicolas Cage was the owner back in 2009. It looks much less scary from this perspective.

Interiors of LaLaurie House via Examiner

I’m not sure how we covered all that we did in two days: dinners out at Marigny and Mona Lisa Restaurant, jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters, afternoon at Jazzfest, singing along at the Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop piano bar, cocktails at the Hotel Roosevelt bar, breakfast at Cafe Dumonde… and we managed to squeeze in some shopping here and there.

One of the first shops we came upon was the gorgeous Antiques de Provence, which reads like a page out of the blog Velvet and Linen. More and more, I’m getting into (what I would call) a french/swedish hybrid design style -some combination of the whitewashed feel of swedish interiors with the pretty lines of french antiques. Were I executing that vision in my own home, I’d start with these classic french pieces. I love the scale of those big armoires and large garden urns, the detail of the chairs with their nailheads, and the overstuffed bergeres may be on my lifetime design must-buy list.

At the total other end of the spectrum (and kinda the other end of the French Quarter) sits a junk shop called Greg’s Antiques. Affordable and chock full of antiques, vintage and salvaged pieces, this is one of those place you’d want to spend a day wading through. They had a surprisingly large selection of giant drums that would be so cute as a low side table or nightstand. But I was most transfixed with an old yearbook, that belonged to a geeky looking sophomore named Steven, who was dating either a hot senior named Judy or a Judy in his class. Had I more time, I’d have rooted through the book to solve the mystery.

They’ve got some good antiquing in New Orleans! On my next trip I hope to get to spend even more time exploring the local shops.

Images via Antiques de Provence and Greg’s Antiques