A few weeks ago I had the privilege of going to France with my parents and my two daughters. This was one of my mom’s dreams — she’s been talking about it since my oldest daughter was born — and I’m so glad we were able to do it! We had an absolutely lovely vacation, and I’ll remember it always. One of my favorite parts was watching my kids interact with and experience life in a different country. They loved trying to speak French and eating all the delicious food! As with…
I have so much to show you design-wise, but it’s not completely ready yet. I’ve spent the last month trying to find a contractor who will finish this one last job for the beach house rental, but no luck so far. As soon as that’s ready, I’m going to flood your inboxes with photos of the renovation! While we’re waiting, I thought I’d step outside the design box and share some of my favorite tips for enjoying the cherry blossoms in DC. Springtime here is magical, and…
We just returned from a glorious week in Ocracoke! This was our third time visiting the island, and it gets better each time. I can’t recommend it highly enough. This place has the perfect mix of natural beauty, fascinating history, and welcoming spirit. There’s not a hint of pretension on the island, and I love that! This small island off the coast of North Carolina is accessible only by ferry, private boat, or private plane. Most of the island is a protected natural habitat where wild horses roam freely. But near the tip of the island…
One of our favorite places in the world is the Big Easy! I love the music, the heat, the food . . . the city seems to pulse with energy and joy. John visited New Orleans many times before we met (he had a good friend who lived there), and he’s introduced me to some fabulous places that are off the beaten track. I loved experiencing the real New Orleans–so much better than Bourbon Street!–and today I’m sharing some of his best recommendations with you. Listen to live music outside the French Quarter From the…
We spent a wonderful weekend in San Francisco! John’s dear friends’ daughter was becoming bat mitzvah, and we attended the ceremony honoring this beautiful young woman. We spent the rest of the weekend wandering around the city, eating and drinking. It’s such a magical place. Everywhere we went, I was blown away by the architecture. Seriously, I was standing on street corners gaping at people’s houses. The whole place felt like a movie set. I hung out the window of a cab to photograph some of the beautiful homes on California Street! The…
Happy 2022! It’s hard to believe that this next year has come so soon . . . the years seem to fly by faster and faster. Cheers to new beginnings and the freshly-sharpened-pencil feeling of a new year. We rang in the new year in Texas with John’s family. They live near Dallas, but we met them and some of John’s childhood friends in the Hill Country, a collection of small, picturesque towns west of Austin and north of San Antonio. The area was absolutely lovely, and the trip exceeded my expectations in every way…
Glacier National Park in Montana is one of my favorite places in the world! But it can be a little daunting to plan a vacation to such a remote place, and I’ve certainly learned a few lessons about traveling there. Hopefully some of these ideas will make your vacation less stressful and more fun! Planning is absolutely key when it comes to enjoying Glacier! I recommend having a solid plan but also remaining flexible. Sometimes the National Park Service closes trails because of bear activity, the parking lots fill up earlier than you expected, or wildfire smoke makes…