Out With the Heirlooms

Seems that no one wants the "antiques" anymore that we have all accumulated through the years. It's very sad to me that the younger generations prefer IKEA over Henredon and Crate & Barrel over Herend. Read this article if you need more fuel for this fire.  What I don't understand is that the quality of the products made today versus the quality of products made even 25 years ago - well, it's like night and day. But have we come to realize a truly disposable world in every way? Yes, we have.  But the good news is for those that appreciate the quality of the older stuff, there is tons of it out there at rock bottom prices.  And if you are handy and have the time, paint the brown furniture!  It is so easy to do - even a Cave Man can do it!

So where do you go?

1) Craigslist
This is a great source.  These four chairs are being sold for $200. Get them for $40 a chair, paint them, recover them (a staple gun is all you need) and you have a really nice set of chairs.  You can see them here.

2) Etsy
I have found great things on Etsy. Some stuff is madly over-priced but a lot of the stuff is very reasonable. I have had my eye on this Bar Cart for quite some time. A good coat of paint and a little sanding and this baby is prepped and ready to go on a patio.  Put a lucite tray on the bottom.  Less than $100!

3) Chairish
This is a design lovers heaven if you like vintage.  See it here. I'd take this $125 Bar Cart and paint it.  It would be great either done in chalk paint (a white color with a blue, green or red undertone) or I'd do it in lacquer depending on where it was going.  This would look fantastic with paint and what a bargain!

(Bar Cart)

4) Crazy Flea Markets
There are some huge Flea Markets out there and some people work these.  I have a friend who goes to this one every year and swears by it. This is located at the Virginia/North Carolina border, just down I-81 south of Roanoke.  Read more about it here.

Friday September 2, 2016 - Monday September 5, 2016

The Hillsville Flea Market consumes the entire town of Hillsville. Antique dealers, gun dealers and traders of all kinds make this one of the largest shows in the southeast. Hillsville expects to draw over 500,000 visitors this Labor Day weekend.

Vendors set up their tent shops down the streets, inside the massive VFW parking area, and throughout the surrounding fields affectionately named “Bowman” and “Hunley”. Surrounding the flea-market area are hundreds of yard sales. The Hillsville Flea Market and Gun Show is a great place to find deals on antiques, furniture, vinyl records, books, baseball cards, coins, guns, comics, old pictures, army surplus, signs, clothes, gadgets, toys, knifes, collectables, tools, socks, and so much more. This event is sponsored by VFW Grover King Post 1115.

5) Auction Sites
The internet is full of auction sites.  Find ones that are in your state or within a reasonable driving distance or close enough so that shipping costs will be reasonable.  The world is your oyster!  The current bid on this side table is $14.  Yes, $14. Paint this baby.  Change the hardware. You could have a great looking very sturdy and well-made table.  See it here.

And then there is Ebay, Antique Malls, Yard Sales, Goodwill and even the local dumpster. Yes, I have found great furniture at the dumpster.  Reuse. Repaint.Reupholster.  Redo.  Recycle.  Have a great last day of July. May your Monday be manic, but in a good way.

The Elusive Evening Clutch Bag

The elusive clutch evening bag.  Darn right it's elusive, and expensive. You don't need to own many of these, and they last forever, but finding a few to own and keep, and afford, well, it's not easy. The ones I tend to love cost more than my first car, but there some very cute bags out there, to use sparingly through the years, but when you need a cute bag to dress up a black tie, plain dress, then you need it.

Like this one from Milly.  This will go with a lot, you can even use it with jeans a black sweater and a pair on Manolo Blahnik mules.  Mix and match, right?

(Milly)

This is an adorable and affordable summer bag, on sale right now at a very good price.  This one will last forever. Classic and simple.

(Kayu)

I also like this one from Milly now less than half price.  This will go with most anything.

(Milly)

Another cute bag for summer.  On sale too.

(Straw Clutch)

Another Milly bag.  

(Milly)

And I love this one!

(Tuckernuck)

One more for the summer weddings or cocktails.  I'd also use this for "going out."

(Tuckernuck)

And the tortoise shell clutch bag, it's a classic wardrobe staple.

(Tortoise Clutch)

Weekend Update

This last weekend in July is filled with horse racing.  Saratoga is in full swing and as we approach the last month of summer, there are many unanswered questions regarding who is the best three-year colt this year.  Some of those questions may be answered this weekend as the horses prep for The Travers in late August and then the Breeder's Cup Classic at Del Mar in November.

The Haskell (G1)
This will be one of the best races of the season as the contenders, well, any one of them has a very good chance.  You'll see some familiar names - Irish War Cry, McCraken, Hence, Practical Joke, Battle of Midway, and Girvin.  There's a new name in there, too, Timeline, who poses to be a real threat.  This unbeaten (in four starts) colt has seemingly come out of no where but he is the real deal.  Is he the new Arrogate? The race will be televised on Sunday, post time is 5:47 pm EDT. My bet is on Timeline.  This will be a great race to watch for sure!

BETFAIR.COM HASKELL INVITATIONAL S. (G1)
Monmouth Park, Sunday, July 30
9f (dirt), $1,000,000, 3yo, 5:47 PM (local)
P # PP Horse Sire Age/Sex Jockey Weight M/L Owner
1 Irish War Cry - Curlin 3/c Rajiv Maragh 118 5/2 Isabelle de Tomaso
2 Battle of Midway - Smart Strike 3/c Flavien Prat 118 5/1 Don Alberto Stable & WinStar Farm
3 Timeline - Hard Spun 3/c Javier Castellano 118 3/1 Woodford Racing LLC
4 Practical Joke - Into Mischief 3/c Joel Rosario 118 4/1 Klaravich Stables and W.H. Lawrence
5 McCraken - Ghostzapper 3/c Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 9/2 Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC
6 Hence - Street Boss 3/c Paco Lopez 118 12/1 Calumet Farm
7 Girvin - Tale of Ekati 3/c Robby Albarado 118 6/1 Brad Grady
(Blood Horse)

The Jim Dandy at Saratoga (G2)
Some other familiar names will be battling the turf in New York as Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing race in the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes.  These two have not met since the Preakness Stakes when a rested Cloud Computing stole the show and took home the Woodlawn Vase. 

JIM DANDY S. PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS (G2)
Saratoga, Saturday, July 29
9f (dirt), $600,000, 3yo, 6:18 PM (local)
P # PP Horse Sire Age/Sex Jockey Weight M/L Owner
1 Always Dreaming- Bodemeister 3/c John R. Velazquez 123 - MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St Elias,
Siena Farm and West Point
2 Cloud Computing-  Maclean's Music 3/c Javier Castellano 123 - Klaravich Stables, Inc. and Lawrence, William H.
3 Giuseppe the Great - Lookin At Lucky 3/c Luis Saez 117 - Mossarosa
4 Pavel - Creative Cause 3/c Mario Gutierrez 117 - Reddam Racing LLC
5 Good Samaritan - Harlan's Holiday 3/c Joel Rosario 119 - WinStar Farm LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC,
China Horse Club, SF Racing Group

The Alfie Chronicles
I've been very quiet about Alfie but he is having a good year and I don't want to jinx him.  He's won a number of tri-colors and he's looking very good this year.  We're going to a new venue this weekend, but am hoping he continues his winning ways.

 

 Other Stuff

My sister highly recommends this book, as do all of her friends.  I have not started it yet but you might want to add this to your list....

(America's First Daughter)

Serena and Lily, one of my favorite stores is having a big sale.  Their Tent Sale is one of the biggest sales of the year.  

(Garden Stool)

Happy Friday!

Lela Ray Horse Jewelry

I recently discovered Lela Ray jewelry and home accessories, many with an equestrian flair. 

(Black Horse Bracelet)

(Horse Shoe Bracelet)

 (Silver Cuff)

(Gold and Silver Cuff)

You can see more of her pieces here.

Black Tie Affair

Dressing for black tie or "black tie optional" is always a challenge and unfortunately, no one ever hosts a black tie or even cocktail event any more.  I have an event to attend in late September so I've been searching online for some options.  These are ones I found on Net-a-Porter and many of these are greatly reduced (some of their clothes are out of my price range) but this is what I came up with..... Which ones are your favorite?

1) Long Sleeves
I like this dress because it's not just plain black and it has long sleeves (I am always cold).

 2) Greek Goddess
This is a good summer dress but not for the fall.

 3) Back is Better
I like the back of the dress but not so much in the front. On the right person this will look smashing.

 4) Good Ordinary Black Dress
This is a good dress to be worn over and over again. Kind of plain and ordinary but sensible.

5) Cute Black Dress
Another somewhat ordinary but fun dress.

 6) Love the Lace
This is lovely!

 7) Sequins to Adore
I would have bought this one (and the shoes) if my size were still available.  Love this one. I'd wear this for years.

 8) Oscar Love
This is out of my price range but this is a great ladies' dress.

9) Velvet Goddess
Love this one too!

10) Summer Love
I adore this for a formal summer wedding.

11) Red is Not Dead
On the right person this dress will be stunning. Love the shoes too!

 12) Navy is the New Black
Love this one too!

 13) Another Navy Love
I love the style of this dress. Still on the fence about the shoes. Takers?

Marina Rust's Charlottesville, Virginia Home

Marina Rust’s 1816 Georgian brick home in Charlottesville, Virginia is profiled in August Vogue and it’s lovely. The charming guest house above was once the summer kitchen—perfection.

Photography by Roberto Gigli

When can I move in?

The Twelve Patterns of the Southern Silver Zodiac

Us Southerners know how attached families are to their "silver."  Nothing could be funnier than the "Twelve Patterns of the Southern Silver Zodiac" as outlined in A Southern Bell Primer: Why Princess Margaret Will Never Be a Kappa Kappa Gamma. Or you might read the newest version, Why Paris Hilton Will Never Be a Kappa Kappa Gamma.  And no, I am not making this up. To quote the author,
“Some people are born with silver spoons – Southern belles are born with silver patterns.”

 1. Francis I Reed and Barton   The Belle who chooses Francis I is a girl who wants it all. There are twenty-eight pieces of fruit just on the knife handle. It’s showy and opulent and so is she. A Francis I girl is likely to want a husband, children, a place on the board of the Junior League, and a full-time career. There is no end to what she can buy in the Francis I pattern. It comes with pickle forks, tomato forks, shrimp forks, lobster forks, grapefruit spoons, dessert spoons, ice cream spoons, even half olive spoons. Francis I girls are always compatible with mothers-in-law who have Grand Baroque or Burgundy. Their styles are similar.

2. Grand Baroque Wallace International    This is Francis I with roses instead of fruit. Grand Baroque girls also have a sense of the dramatic. But they often also have a literary bent. That’s why you can buy a sterling silver bookmark in the Grand Baroque pattern. Grand Baroque girls often date boys whose families have the Acorn pattern. But they don’t marry them. It’s just a youthful rebellion.

3. Burgundy Reed and Barton   This is Francis I without the fruit. Burgundy girls tend to be somewhat shy. They have dreams of being splashy, but they just can’t let go. Louisiana girls love Burgundy. It shows up on a lot of tables during Mardi Gras. They do well with friends who have Buttercup. They are not made to feel too competitive.

4. Rose Point Wallace International   Old-fashioned girls pick this pattern. It’s very popular with girls named Rose. Sentimental mothers who have chosen patterns like Old Master and Eloquence sometimes name their daughters Rose just so they can have a legacy all their own.

5.  Buttercup Gorham   Belles who choose Buttercup are always cheerful. They even choose the pattern because it’s so uplifting. Buttercup girls have friends with every kind of pattern. They are usually followers rather than leaders, but they are just so upbeat it really doesn’t matter.

6. Chantilly Gorham  Belles with Chantilly tend to be a bit prissy. They do best with men whose mothers also have Chantilly.  Never put a Chantilly girl with a man whose mother has Francis I or Grand Baroque. They will always be upstaged. Don’t let all that sweetness fool you. Chantilly girls were often fast in high school.

7.  Strasbourg Gorham  Strasbourg girls are traditionalists and just a bit formal. As good Southern girls, they are entranced with anything that’s festive and use their good silver almost all the time. Southern men love girls who pick Strasbourg because when Strasbourg girls bring out the good silver, they also bring out the good food. They don’t mix well with boys whose mothers have Buttercup. They will both always fight for control.

8.  Acorn  Georg Jensen   Beware of the Acorn girl. This pattern is lovely but foreign (it comes from Denmark). Girls who pick Acorn are rebellious. They march in parades and sometimes have been known to go to colleges in the East and drink beer straight from the can.

9. Old Master Towle  Old Master girls have spirit but don’t drift too far from tradition. Because of this they are fiercely attached to their family heirlooms. One Texas Belle got thirty place settings of her groom’s grandmother’s Old Master as a wedding gift. When she got a divorce, she took her husband to court over the Old Master and let him keep the Cadillac without a whimper.

10. Eloquence Lunt  Eloquence girls like nice things. They expect their husbands to provide. They are extremely loyal whether it’s a boyfriend, a best friend, or a pet. Because of this they get along well with more flighty girls who have Francis I or Grand Baroque.

11. Chrysanthemum  Tiffany  These girls have been known to turn up their noses at Francis I girls. They are just as flamboyant and just as demanding. They also usually have a lot more money to spend. Their husbands have to be good providers because they also insist on Tiffany crystal and Tiffany china. This is a relatively new pattern compared to some of the others. Girls with Chrysanthemum sometimes go really wild and live in avant-garde homes. But don’t worry, they still cut the crusts off their tea sandwiches and their daughters always get good recommendations to Kappa, Theta and Pi Phi.

12. Repousse  Kirk  Repousse is one of the oldest silver patterns. These girls often have mothers and grandmothers who also have this pattern. One Charleston woman explains every woman in her family for three generations chose this pattern. Then her son married a woman who didn’t even have a silver pattern. (uh oh) The mother-in-law insisted she pick something out and had relatives fill in the place settings. When the new bride completely bypassed Repousse by calling it “too fussy”, the mother-in-law knew the marriage wouldn’t last. And it didn’t.



The reality is that there is some truth in all this. This is great fun, and I cannot wait to share with my sisters, who are more attached to their silver than I am to mine.  And mine is Chantilly.

Beauty Bar

A beauty regimine is a personal choice, but I am always on the lookout for a new products to try as I mix and match the products I use, not aligning to just one "line" of cosmetics or skin care.  And because I don't go to an office every day, putting on make-up daily is not something I typically do.  But here are some of the product lines I am loving right now.......

Kate Somerville
I have tried some of Kate's products and they generally receive good reviews.  This "2 Minute Facial" would fit in well with my lifestyle. I'd love a facial but where would I find the time?

(Kate Somerville)

(Kate Somerville)

I have used the Gentle Daily Wash and like it a lot.

Erno Lazlo

I have been a fan of Erno Lazlo for years and know many people who use their line of skin care. The line is not inexpensive but their followers are cult-like and include many famous actresses.

“I owe 50% of my beauty to my mother and the other 50% to Erno Laszlo,” - Audrey Hepburn

Other well-known clientele include Marilyn Monroe, Nicole Kidman, and Jackie Kennedy. You have to "clock" your skin to understand which products you will use. You can do that here.

 NARS

NARS is one of my favorite make-up brands. I love their blush, their lipstick, foundation and eye shadows.

Christian Dior

I'm also a fan of Christian Dior cosmetics, especially their mascara.

Kevin Aucoin

I discovered Kevin Aucoin last year when I was in New York.  I love this line. The masara is wonderful!

(Kevin Aucoin)

Sachajaun Hair Products

This is on my "to try" list.

(Ocean Mist)

What's in your beauty bar?

The Dog Days of August

It's still July, but I always look forward to the month of August.  Summer is my favorite season and August epitomizes all that is summer to me. Why, might you ask?  Well.......in August.....

The US Hardcourt Tennis Season is Full Swing
I love to watch tennis and the US has several high quality tournaments that lead up to the US Open in New York.  There are tournaments in Washington, in North Carolina, Atlanta and Cincinnati just to mention a few. If you happen to live near these cities, it's a great way to see top players very close up, at a reasonable price. And then there's nothing like the US Open.  Cannot wait to go in September.

The Lilly Calendars Come Out
Need I say more?

The Fall Clothes Start Appearing 
It's fun to shop for winter when it's 90 degrees outside.  I love fall clothes and can't wait to start seeing what the new styles look like.

Saratoga
This is high on my bucket list, maybe in 2018 we'll make the trek to Saratoga in August.  I want to see The Travers in person and just everything I have read about this place, well, I know I will love it.

Trips to Bath County
When the temperatures rise, we escape to Bath County here in Virginia where the air is cool(er) and the scenary perfect for a hot summer weekend.

Summer Patio Dinners
I'm not an air conditioner lover, so I bear the heat and humidity and dine outside even in late summer. 

Enjoy this time of year!