I love the Third Coast. I have declared many times I-10 is my favorite interstate as it traverses along my favorite coast line, cruising past majestic live oaks, and meandering over marshes. I love sitting on the beach from morning until sunset and always in full view of the sun's parallel path to the shore. Richard Sexton's Terra Incognita beautifully captures natural landscapes from Texas to Florida, a body of work over 15 years in the making. The end result is sure to live on my coffee table someday.
When I was an "Inside the Loop" Houstonite, I lived mere blocks from Lauren of Nola West. Lauren is a well-established interior designer and a true original, never relying on trite magazine spreads or recurrent interior shots to feed inspiration and posts. Her impeccable eye and vivacious energy—she's from Louisiana after all—exude effortlessly from her blog. I'm thrilled to have such personality join the ITL ranks, and I hope you join me in giving her a warm Southern welcome!
Just popping in to give a huge thanks [and even bigger virtual hug] to Kelly for enthusiastically stepping in. She did a primo job keeping the spirit of ITL alive and well, and I hope you've enjoyed the blog's fresh voice for the past two weeks. Kel, you're welcome back anytime!
I'm currently in Udaipur preparing to cross a major event off my Bucket List. Religious festivals in India see the largest single gatherings of people anywhere on the planet, and for years I've dreamed of being smack dab in the middle of Holi. It is likely to be my most chaotic experience to date, but I can't wait to watch my clothes and skin morph into technicolor dream coats. Holi celebrates spring, so I hope things are beginning to warm up and blossom for everyone — especially after Kelly's snow-capped photos yesterday!
I've had so much fun filling in for Court over the past two weeks. Thanks for sticking with me and for all the lovely comments. To those readers in Houston, I hope to cross paths with you once I'm there!
Until then, I leave you with a few pictures, taken from my apartment, of the most recent big snowstorm to hit NYC (again!). While living in NYC, I've had the great pleasure to overlook the most charming historic cemetery. It happens to sit under the original St. Patrick's Cathedral (which later got quite a fancy upgrade on Fifth Avenue).
I will dearly miss this view. But...I'd be lying if I said I was sad to ditch the snow boots and heavy coats!
Yesterday: The snow begins...
Today: And continues...
And these kids, rightfully, enjoyed hours of snowball fights. I was tempted to run out and join them.
Be sure to check in over the weekend, as Court will visit with an India update. And next week, stay tuned for the next Guest Blogger, sure to delight us with her lovely finds and favorite things.
Thanks again!
xo Kelly
P.S. I can't resist. I just have to. It's too good not to. If you need a laugh, well this will do it. Consider it a parting gift.
How about taking a trip to Utah, Prague, or Italy? How about all three! Or at least a virtual one.
Thanks to the new technology of Spherical Panoramas, hundreds of "stitched" together photographs can create incredible 360 degree imagery that give the sensation of being transported to an entirely different place, with just a click of the button. Talk about budget friendly travel!
These are stunning panoramic pictures from Utah, one of the most beautiful states I've been to. Click on the images to take a trip.
The creators behind this panorama claim it's the world's largest: 360 degree city-wide views of Prague, with such incredible zooming power you practically feel like you're walking its charming sidewalks.
Ok, well not quite Italy, but close enough. These images of the Vatican are so spectacular, after taking this virtual tour, you can probably officially cross it off your To Travel list.
I’ve long had a soft spot for succulents. Being from Arizona, they remind me of home. Having absolutely no green thumb, they’re my plant family of choice because they’re low maintenance [read: slightly harder to kill] and so interesting. I'm constantly amazed by the hundreds of unique forms this plant species can take. They make for incredible images, but also beautiful houseplants, and thus also great gifts. And unlike when sending flowers to friends, succulents will last for months. If you buy succulents of your own, be sure to find out how often to water them. They don’t take kindly to over-watering. We Arizonans can, after all, only handle a dry heat.
In the early Aughts, I loved my nylon Kate Spade messenger so. I’ve recently wanted to trade in my tired old shoulder strap purses for the ease of a messenger bag. Call it a shake up for the new decade. I’ve got my sights set on Clare Vivier's beautiful leather messengers. Which, conveniently, can also be totes, perfect for when I [inevitably] change my mind again. And then in another 10 years, I can resurrect that Kate Spade and call it vintage.
Courtney and I are bound and determined to keep snail mail alive in the electronic age, if it’s the last thing we do! Nothing puts a smile on my face more than sending and receiving paper mail.
I tend to find one line of cards, buy in bulk, and use them for a full year. Then I have to find a new line, lest I accidentally send someone the same card twice!
2009 was the year of Quiplip cards. I just could not get enough of those sock puppet cards. 2010 will be the year of Uncooked cards. Because they are hilarious, irreverent, and utterly ridiculous. And these days, we can all benefit from a little humor by way of our mailboxes.
Dearest Courtney, please look away. As this will be your birthday card.
One of the things that I’m over the moon about moving is getting to drive again. [Unlike the subway, I’m typically unafraid to touch surfaces in my own car.] While my budget puts me more in the range of a used Pinto, I'm indulging some dream car fantasies. If I had all the money in the world [or a sugar daddy]…
1969 Mercedes 280 SL. Ohhh beautiful Pagoda top, you are a sight for sore eyes that have seen only yellow cabs for nearly a decade.
1984 Ferrari 400i. This car and Ryan Gosling: Two things I've passed on the street that caused me to stare shamelessly and drool. Sadly, I have ended up with neither - yet. [One also got me so flustered that I walked into a fire hydrant. I'll leave it to you to decide which one.] There is something just so fabulously 80s enough about this car. But good 80s. Dynasty 80s.
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I’m in the process of making my exit from NYC. Naturally I’m feeling very nostalgic. If I had to sum up my NYC cultural life in a word, it would be: Concerts. My favorite way of experiencing New York City life was through music, particularly by attending shows. There was a period where I could clock in one or two a week. [Oh youth, where did you go? We had such a good thing going.] If music was my religion, then Bowery Ballroom was my church.
As I tearily thumb through the stack of ticket stubs I've so obsessively saved, I’ve reflected on my absolute favorite shows and have settled on three.
• Most likely to make you want to make you ditch your boring day job, become the female lead in an all-boy band, don some hot little number, and then get up on stage, dance the night away, and show those boys a thing or two in front of hundreds of mesmerized fans: Metric.
• Most likely to get you so jazzed that you can’t contain your enthusiasm, and you high kick with such fervor and force, that your shoe comes flying off into the audience – as I once witnessed one of this band’s members do on stage: Dr. Dog.
Apologies for the less than ideal quality here – this was the best live video I could find that accurately captures how frenetically fun their shows are, and how they sing their hearts out. By the way, it was the chap in glasses and hat on the right who lost his shoe [never did know if he got it back]:
• Most likely to make you want to quit your life as you know it, leave it all behind, and join some crazy cult-like band comprised of dancing fools that wear robes and are just so happy! [Bubble machines included.]: The Polyphonic Spree.
I’ve been one good penny-pincher of late. If you had told Kelly 2005 that Kelly 2010 would be able to go six+ months without buying anything much more than food, Kelly 2005 would have thought you’d gone mad. Christmas did cause me to fall off the wagon a bit though – but really, just one little sip, I swear!
I have found the perfect way to quench my shopping thirst without causing any guilt [or any real harm to my bottom line]: Big, cheap cocktail rings. I can’t get enough! $20 later [or in some cases, $3.80], and the same outfits I’ve been recycling for months are like new! Ish.
I recently became a first-time aunt to the most scrumptious, adorable little girl. Sadly, my niece and I live on opposite coasts, so I rely almost totally on pictures to get my niece fix. I'm constantly rotating in new pics as my sister sends them [how quickly the little ones change!].
When looking for a low maintenance, affordable, yet attractive way to display photos of my niece that also makes it simple for me to change them up frequently [if not obsessively], I was not the least bit surprised that the darling San Francisco-based Curiosity Shoppe [run by an equally darling couple] had the perfect solution: Letterpressed Art Vignettes from Yee-Haw Industries - an inexpensive, flexible, and, most importantly, stylish way to display prints or photos with ease. They can also fit into frames, but are cute enough to stand alone.
If you're ever in San Francisco, be sure to drop by the Curiosity Shoppe. Bet ya $5 you won't be able to leave without buying something!
After 8 years, I have decided that it’s time for me to bid adieu to New York City and usher in the next phase. It’s looking likely that I will start anew in Houston [I told you I missed Courtney!]. As I imagine a new life in a new town, I have the daunting yet thrilling task of deciding what sort of job to look for. It is exciting to think that the world is my oyster and I can use this opportunity to pursue my passions.
For inspiration [and maybe an ounce of procrastination], I recently re-watched a speech given by Sir Ken Robinson at an annual TED conference on creativity. Robinson makes the compelling argument that it is misguided, even risky, to think of creativity as something that exists only in the arts or music. Rather, it has the potential to exist in everything, and everything is better for it. Creativity has just as natural a home in negotiating a business deal as it does in designing a beautiful piece of clothing.
For me, Robinson’s TED speech is like a tune-up when I need to be reminded to tap into the creativity and passion that exist in us all to answer big or challenging questions. It’s a bit lengthy, but a truly chills-up-the-spine satisfying way to spend 20 minutes. And he’s funny!
Hello, ITL readers! My name is Kelly, and I have the great honor of taking the reins while Court scours India for fabulous and interesting finds to share with us upon her return.
Courtney and I met in 2004 when we were both working for Hollywould in NYC; we were fast friends. Her departure from Hollywould was a sad day for me. Her departure from NYC was devastating. I still miss her dearly, but love that ITL has been one more way to keep up on her exciting life and the beautiful things she discovers along the way.
We all know Courtney has impeccable taste and a fantastic eye for design. I have big shoes to fill and hope I can do even half as good a job as she does.
Speaking of shoes…Since shoes fatefully brought Courtney and me together, they seem like a fitting start for my ITL stint. Loeffler Randall has long since been a favorite brand for us both. Around the time that seasons turn and brands debut their new collections, I stalk the Loeffler Randall site obsessively, impatiently waiting to get a load of what beautiful designs they’ve come up with next.
Though I've never had guest bloggers/contributors during my absence, I couldn't fathom 22 days of cobwebs and radio silence. So in lieu of a stale site, I'm taking this opportunity to introduce to you a couple of my most favorite gals around!
First up, my best friend Kelly is kicking things off for the next two weeks. She's worked for fashion and editorial heavy-hitters like Esquire, Cargo, Hollywould, Felix Rey and Fresh, and she's got an uncanny ability to always nail trend forecasts and branding spot-on. Kelly's sensibility is modern and engaging, and I can't wait to watch as she makes her impressionable—and darling!—mark on the blogosphere.
When the Bollywood-fantastic Jai Ho scene at the end of “Slumdog Millionaire” moved me to tears, my curiosity about India spiked to near obsession: I knew I had to visit, and soon. Next week I'm taking off on a 3 week adventure to India and Nepal with a dear friend, and I can barely calm my overwhelmed and anxious heart.
While I don't have any preconceived notions of this journey, I'm sure to witness every extreme imaginable. There's also something about travel that incessantly reminds me, regardless of schooling [both university and hard knocks], how much I have yet to learn; nothing compares to the awareness and education gained from visiting a foreign country. I promise to share all the ups and downs upon return, but this blog will be in great hands in the meantime. So stay tuned and phir milenge, friends!
This year my Valentine's Day is being replaced with Chinese New Year festivities [...when in Rome!], but I'm still tempted to whip up a tray of Passionfruit Marshmallows and dole them out liberally to all my loved ones. There's something understated about the marshmellow, and a gourmet-like version would, undoubtedly, be an unexpected crowd pleaser. The light, fluffy texture is the perfect compliment to passionfruit's tartness. Happy Valentine's Day and Gong Xi Fa Cai!
snow sugar* for dusting 180 ml [about 10 passionfruits] strained passionfruit juice 20 gm powdered gelatine 500 gm caster sugar 2 eggwhites pinch of salt
Lightly grease and line a 17.5cm x 25cm shallow cake pan and dust base liberally with snow sugar. Combine passionfruit juice and gelatine in a bowl and set aside.
Combine caster sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves, then increase heat to medium and cook for 5-10 minutes or until syrup reaches 125°C on a sugar thermometer. Remove from heat, add passionfruit mixture to syrup and stir until gelatine dissolves.
Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, whisk eggwhites and a pinch of salt until frothy. Gradually add passionfruit mixture, whisking continuously on medium speed until mixture has doubled in size, then slowly decrease speed and mix until mixture is warm [about 40°C]. Pour into prepared cake pan, and, using a lightly oiled spatula, spread evenly then dust top liberally with snow sugar. Stand at room temperature for 3 hours or until firm. Using a sharp knife, cut marshmallow into 2.5cm squares and roll in snow sugar to coat.
Store in an airtight container between sheets of baking paper at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
*Note: Snow sugar is a confectioner’s sugar with a vegetable fat added to prevent the sugar from absorbing moisture and dissolving. It’s available from specialty food stores.
I spent Sunday surrounded by camera buffs, gear heads and flash enthusiast/National Geographic photographer Joe McNally; it was heavenly. This was Joe’s first extensive teaching tour in Asia, and I sat wide-eyed as he built lighting apparatuses that rivaled the Petronas Towers. Not only was it fascinating to watch his work come to life before me, but it reminded me how much I love to learn. It's never too late to discover a hobby, and the time and energy spent honing your skills is a priceless personal investment.
Last summer I tried my darndest to perfect the ultimate margarita. After a month of adamant testing, I never quite found the one. Perhaps Giffard's new Agave Triple Sec could be the secret ingredient. Made from agave nectar, mandarins, clementines, honey and spices, this sounds like just the thing to push my summertime staple over the edge.
Frozen or on-the-rocks, what's your favorite margartia recipe?
Just one day prior to moving overseas, I disastrously lost my iPhone and every day since I muse over that Smarty Pants gadget. Everything under the sun was, literally, at my app-loving fingertips and I just discovered four more reasons to dis my normal cell:
• Words with Friends. [Free] Call all Scrabble obsessed, logophile phenes and engage in a word-slinging crossword combat. If you're afraid you can't mix work with your puzzling play, a text message or email will alert when your turn is up.
• Convertbot. [99¢] A graphic, well-designed conversion robot that translates over 400 different units including currency, length, mass and time — but handling conversions to and from mixed units pretty much takes the cake.
• AppBox Pro. [99¢] Mimicking an Apple home screen, your phone will be loaded with over 20 apps like a real-time currency converter, worldwide holiday calendar, tip calculator, translator, cinometer [a level utility], flashlight, and even a system to track the best time to try and get pregnant. It's the closest thing to a personal assistant without the ego trips and yearly salary.
• Karma Art. [99¢] The most creative way to pass time in doctors' offices/grocery store lines/on hold with your accountant...or if you just want to send something other than the ubiquitous text. Put together an original masterpiece quicker than you can say Win, Lose or Draw.
I was destined to be a part of the creative world—between my early obsession with Fashion Plates and declaration at a young age that Jem was more hip than Barbie, it was just a matter of time until my fondness for design became a career. A Louisiana native, I moved to New York and led the wholesale divisions for Hollywould and Jill Stuart, as well as designed with couturier Ralph Rucci. With my husband and our furry daughter, Burkly Deluxe, we embarked on a few years of overseas adventures in Malaysia. We are now back Stateside “Inside the Loop” in Houston, Texas.
