Loving Lulu Organics

I first bought Lulu Organics Hair powder about a year ago when I was looking for a way to refresh my hair between shampoos. Never having tried hair powder before I wasn't sure what to expect but it did the job by absorbing excess oil and it smells fantastic. I adore the vintage image of the brand and packaging. And, of course, it's USDA organic. My favorite is the tuberose. Check out the great blog have a great blog on their very cute website. Lulu Organics is just an all-around yummy company.

Dirt Candles

One of my favorite new discoveries is Dirt Candles. They are made from GMO-free soy wax made with organic soy cultivated in the USA. Not only do they smell great but the packaging is made from recycled material and printed with soy inks and the labels are made from corn making them biodegradable. Also, a portion of the profits from each candle goes to charity. It's always important to take into consideration the ethics of a company.

Dirt's Beach Bum must be the perfect summer candle. With notes of seawater, kelp, fresh rain and white sand it will help extend your vacation long after you leave the beach.

Wilmington

I just returned to DC from a family vacation at North Topsail Beach, North Carolina. I spent the past week lying on the beach, trying to coax my dog into the water, reading, fishing, walking on the beach and eating fresh seafood. Here are some photos I took from a day trip to historic downtown Wilmington, a place I often visited in my youth. 

The restaurant Cedar

Matt and I saw the hilarious and imaginative Paper Hearts tonight at E Street theater. We are always a little bit at a loss for places to grab a bite to eat in this area. However, we have managed to scope out a few places between ESPN Zone and Hard Rock Cafe. We love Bistro D'oc and Poste but tonight we decided to try something new. I have walked by Cedar and glimpsed inside a few times but never have I gone in until tonight. we had already had sushi so we just went for drinks. A gentleman who was walking in the door as we perused the menu said he loves the place and goes there all the time. With that recommendation we headed inside and bellied up to the bar. I am happy to report that the bartender was courteous and well-prepared for the job. My Gold Rush (Maker's Mark, lemon Juice and local honey) was top notch and Matt liked his Gin Cooler (Henricks's, lime and mint). The menu looked delicious though we didn't try anything. I'm guessing that by the attention paid to quality at the bar is also paid to the food.

I  loved that the restaurant wasn't too huge (I'm guessing about 1,000' max) and the walled were decorated with cedar forest murals (love it). The bar was sturdy and spacious with a huge mirror that reflected on the dining room. The atmosphere was sophisticated and cosy. In a non-murdery way it reminded me of the bar from The Shining. I mean that the music was cool and classic, the bartender was what you want in a bartender and it felt like another time when all of that is the standard. 

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

On a recent trip to Philadelphia I discovered a store that would serve as a huge inspiration for what I want do with my store. Art in the Age is sells clothes, art, accessories and other items made by their community of artists, creators and thinkers. The name and philosophy behind the brand come from an 1936 essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" written by a German cultural theorist named Walter Benjamin. (more below)

Better they explain it than me. Here is the philosophy in their words:

"Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction firmly believes in empowering artists producing high quality work marked by fine craft and intellectual rigor. We do so by applying the fruits of such labors to the cultural forms of everyday life, granting those who wish to engage the opportunity to do so in his/her own environment. Rather than exist at a distance in the white cube of the gallery space, we weave our offerings into the collective surface of myriad personal contexts. In this troubling epoch of industrial commodification, standardization of reproduction, and fomentation of a society of shallow spectacle, Art In The Age issues a challenge and rally cry. We fight fire with fire, subsuming the onslaught of watered down facsimiles and inaccessible displays with thought-provoking products of real cultural capital"

The design of the store is so inspiring as though you're in another time when products were all made by hand and were of high quality. I think smart businesses like this are the future of retail.

I cannot forget to mention The Root which is a pre-temperance alcohol made with sarsparilla, sassafras, birch bark and other wild roots and herbs recreated by the AITA folks. Also, it's organic.

Gypset fashion

So I was inspired by my last post to create a wardrobe for my new Gypset life and here it is. 

1. Indigo's Antiqued Silver Circle Design Earrings,  $19,  fantasyjewelrybox.com2. Silver Lace  Cuff Bracelet,  $1,621,  luisaviaroma.com
3. Odeletta Dress,  $295,  calypso-celle.com
4. J Brand Oneil Love Story Jeans ,  $209,  anthropologie.com
5. Pour la Victoire 'Leonora' Sandal,  $260,  nordstrom.com
6. Hobo International Amuse Clutch,  $145,  rubyrow.com

7. Sevan Ship Carving Ring,  $24,150,  barneys.com

8. Egyptian Glass Perfume Bottles,  $19, sharpe-designs.co.uk.com

9. Bead and Feather Necklace,  $26,  dorothyperkins.com

10. Shaye Todd Bg Head Bandeau Bikini,  $185,  net-a-porter.com

11. Egyptian Hanging Glass Vase,  $8,  berbertrading.com

12. Feather and Smoky Topaz Solitary Rings,  $247,  my-wardrobe.com

13. Nightscatter XL City Tote,  $1,419,  mytheresa.com

14. Ikat Spice Print Pillow,  $225,  jasonhomeandgarden.com

The Gypset

Isn't it everyone's fantasy to a bohemian world traveller living an unconventional life by your own rules? Roaming the globe with no particular destination in amazing clothes picked up at exotic locations? Sleeping in yurts or houseboats under a sea of stars with perpetually perfect beach hair? It is mine. I even named my cute little dog Gypsy. 

Julia Chaplin is a freelance journalist based out of New York who coined the term Gypset (gypsy + jet-set) to define a new type a travel and the people who are lucky enough to have that lifestyle. Her new coffee table book, Gypset style published by Assouline, features beautiful photographs and profiles of the gypsetters and touches on the progression of the movement. Some of those featured in the book include the Mignot sisters (I'll write more on them later), Jade Jagger, Devendra Banhart and Alice Temperley.

(A treehouse in Kenya.)

(A VW bus.)

(A model in gypsy-inspired dress from French Vogue.)

(The Mignot sisters rooftop.)

(The Mignot sisters.)

Tokyo Milk

If you're in the market for a unique scent look no further than the perfumery Tokyo Milk. I have been a long-time fan of the spicy and complex Ex Libris. I love the packaging and cool names. I hear their Paper and Cotton is fresh and great and I can't wait to try their woodsy Dead Sexy. To top if off bottles go for only $28.

Anthropologie Displays

The work of the visual merchandisers at Anthropologie always inspires me. I love how they tie in their customers lifestyles (reading, gardening, cooking, dog-walking, art) with their products. They manage to tell a story with each display or make them look like a page out of a fairy tale in such an artistic way. I plan to take some cues from them when I am designing the window displays for Woodland. Here are some of my favorites:

Adios NPR!

Less than a week ago I officially left my job as a designer at NPR To pursue some of my other passions and hopefully open my skin care boutique (named Woodland) in DC. I will miss the good people ad free concerts. I especially enjoyed the design work I did for NPR Music. I will remain a fan. We had some good years...