If you've never been to the Depot at Gibson Mill and love anything collectible or vintage, you must go.  It is one of my favorite places to find treasures in the Charlotte area and it never disappoints.  I'm typically there for a minimum of three hours bumbling about,  digging through baskets and collecting inspiration from every nook and cranny in the place. 

 It's a sprawling 85,000 square feet of  vintage pieces, furniture, dining sets, clothing, jewelry, tchotchkes, records, collectibles, ephemera and things you never even  knew you wanted . Prepare to be amazed and maybe even slightly overwhelmed. Before my first visit, a friend told me to "pack a lunch" and "wear some sneakers." She was right. The Depot is one bad mammajamma! 

These pictures were taken from my last visit when I had the pleasure of going with my buddy Brooke, who had never been there before. I really can't decide what's better, digging for treasures for hours or bringing people there for the first time and seeing their eyeballs pop out of their head. As you can see above, Brooke scored a lovely repurposed peach side table for her adorable home.  I was on the hunt for vintage details for my wedding and ended up leaving with a Turkish Kilim rug and vintage postcards.  NOTE: If you go into the Depot without a plan, be prepared to leave with a Turkish Kilim rug or something equally off-course. 

That being said, I'm never mad when I leave the Depot. It's one of my happy places. If vintage is your thing, here are a few other local "spots" to check out- Oak Street Mill, Sleepy Poet Antique Mall and Downtown Mooresville. 

I am so excited to share a sneak peek of what will likely be a staple "spot"  for vintage clothes and stylish notions come tomorrow.  The traveling trunk show known as the Frock Shop has found a permanent home in the MONA (Museum of Neighborhood Art) building,  a local art gallery and studio space, which sits happily on the corner of Central Avenue and Hawthorne in Plaza Midwood. The Frock Shop Style Lounge fits perfectly into the renovated space which already houses a delightful assortment of locally made art, jewelry, sculpture and other Charlotte-centric goodies. 

I was introduced to the Frock Shop and the adorable Caroline Cook-Frers last year by friend and proverbial shopping instigator, Nikki Mueller, who dropped in on one of Caroline's trunk shows hosted at Eco-Licious. That day, we arrived early and got our own sneak peek shopping experience before the droves of women came in to devour the racks of well-curated clothes and accessories.  I found my most favorite pair of red vintage flats along with an armful of one-of-kind clothing.  I was hooked and have been stalking, I mean, following Caroline and the Frock Shop ever since. 

The Style Lounge is charming and the MONA house itself is laid out in a way that invites exploration. Natural light floods the space, the wood floors creak with character and the handcrafted archways gently lead you from one carefully curated area to the next. Caroline has put the same care into her new space as she does with her collection of handpicked clothing and accessories. The drippy chandelier that hangs above the Style Lounge is her grandmother's, the wallpaper is vintage and the mirrors that adorn the space are bright and colorful.  It's all the perfect accessory to her unique collection. Have a look! 

 INSIDER TIP: Frock shoppers that visit the Style Lounge will get first dibs on all new arrivals before it hits Caroline's online shop and ongoing trunk shows.  

The Style Lounge opens to the public tomorrow with a Grand Opening celebration beginning at noon until 8 p.m.  MONA is located at 1200 Central Avenue.  I'm thinking I'll be there quite often. Maybe the handsome MONA owners, Dan and Brian will be so kind as to let me pay rent.  Happy Frocking! 

I wanted to share a few more pictures from our time in New Orleans.  From the ornate to the ordinary, it was a feast for our eyes.  Of course, I had to start the day with delicious coffee and pastry. I personally love the picture of the mustachioed Mister (Happy Movember!) drinking his chickory coffee. He's so patient with my incessant picture taking. At least we share the same love for taking pictures of our feet in different places.  

When the Mister has the rare occasion of getting his hands on the camera, he takes lovely shots. This is me on Frenchman Street, THE place to catch live music. You can hop from place to place along this street and catch band after great local band. I was heading to that antique shop across the way. 

You know I had to snap a photo of this orange bike! It is my favorite color after all. And this turquoise? It was everywhere.

Whenever I think of New Orleans, I think of brick buildings with iron details like these. This was taken while wandering the backstreets of the French Quarter. There were beautiful tree-lined streets and historical homes. 

It was perfect.  I couldn't tell you the last time we had two whole days to wander with absolutely no agenda. I can't wait to do it again in another city. New York, is that you calling? 

Yesterday, the Mister and I had a splendid time wandering the French Quarter,  New Orleans.  It has been quite some time since we've had a full day with no agenda and it was awesome. We spent the morning in the French Market district perusing the flea market and historic streets. I love being in cities with so much history, there are beautiful old homes with amazing handmade detail, brilliant colors cover the aging facades of each home and the streets are a walking timeline of years gone by. 

Our first stop was Croissant D'or for coffee and pastries. I picked up this  recommendation from Michael Stipe's (R.I.P. REM) guest post on GOOP a while back. The Mister drank chickory  coffee and I had a cappucino and almond croissant. After we fueled up, we took off into the streets and hit the antique stores. There are tons of them in NOLA and they didn't disappoint. I hope to be showing you a lovely Russian teapot that caught my eye very, very soon.  

We popped in and  out of random boutiques like Paper Plume, a stationery store with lovely calligraphy supplies and old school correspondence seals. There are plenty of art galleries too. Our favorite was  Antieu Gallery and the work of Chris-Roberts Antieau. She makes these whimsical fabric applique pieces that are brightly colored and often have a sens e of humor. Her style reminds me of the work of Frida Kahlo, one of my all-time favorite artists. Eclectic and colorful. 

We were able to catch up with a friend for afternoon coffee at Cafe Envie and then finished our day with po-bo boys and Abita root beer from Mahony's Po-boy shop. The rest of the evening was spent with family, relaxing and savoring our splendid day. We're headed  to Magazine Street today for more shops and happy meandering. I can't wait to share more of our trip with you. 

T-minus 2 days 'til Thanksgiving! Happy Tuesday! 

I woke up later than expected last Sunday, the day after my marathon. 
Or,  so I thought. I had forgotten about daylight savings time and the extra hour gifted to me during the wee hours of my post-marathon slumber. I'm an early riser so anything after 8:00 a.m. is technically late for me and the clock read 8:15 a.m.  It was really 7:15 a.m. Joy!

 As I stirred around the quaint beach rental, so did my good friend and running partner. We took a quick trip to buy coffee filters and brewed a fresh pot before taking off on a well-deserved walk around the sleepy beach town of Tybee Island. 

We took it slow, coffee in hand, bundled up just enough to protect us from the chilly morning air and sea-induced wind.  Mornings naturally make me happy, but I love capturing the beauty of the world seemingly before the rest of the world wakes. There's something special about that. 


Here are a few pictures I took while we walked the beach.  All of them were taken with my iphone, most of them with my Instagram app. Enjoy! 

When I crossed the finish line at the inaugural Rock-and-Roll Marathon this past Saturday, I checked off one for the bucket list. This race was a culmination of weeks (17 to be exact) of hard work, not to mention, a personal accomplishment that represents the last few years of personal transformation for me. This was a super big deal on so many levels, honestly. I haven't felt so gushy since I fell in love with the Mister.

It was also my first time in Savannah. Although the race and recovery afterward kept it low-key, we still found time to enjoy some of the sights. Here's  recap of our lovely marathon weekend: 

Savannah is a city rich in culture and history and is rumored to be one of the most haunted cities in America. The buildings openly show their age, some appearing near ruin, yet there exists an eerie beauty that permeates the streets. We chose to stay on Tybee Island, a short drive across the Georgia marshlands,  where we rented a cottage. Once checked in, we headed straight to the Expo to pick up our bib numbers and mingle with thousands of other excited runners. 

We weren't that excited, really. 

We took some time to walk along the riverfront and take in the pre-race excitement. To be honest, I was exhausted from an already busy week and was looking forward to taking it easy. We  headed back to Tybee where we had our pre-race meal at A.J's Dockside, a recommendation given to me by a former Savannah local. If you're ever in the area, be sure to get the crab stew. It was amazing. 

I fell asleep eeeerrrly, like 8:30 p.m. early. It was good thing because we had an early wake-up call.

We had some difficulty getting to the start line due to poorly organized transportation from Tybee Island into Savannah. In fact, we had to go renegade by hitching a ride with a couple lady runners who just so happened to pull up at the right time. No big whoop, it was only our first marathon. No need to warm-up or take time wrap our heads around this monumental feat. 

Despite the obstacles, we were hell bound on making it to the start.  It certainly wasn't my preferred method of starting the longest race of my life, but hey...we made it albeit thirty minutes late. We sprinted to the start and hopped onto the course, a little ruffled but ready to run. 

26.2 miles is hard, I ain't gonna lie!  I went through moments of doubt wondering "Why the hell did I sign up for this?!?" and broke down at the half-marathon point.  But then, there were these beautiful moments filled with support and community and spanish moss and rock bands and  I knew that everything would be okay.

Our toughest moments began around mile 18 and we endured a dreadful stretch of highway between miles 21-24, like "I would rather run a 5K on a bed of nails" kind of dreadful. It sucked. Nuff said. 

Once we got through to mile 25, we were home free.  I thought I'd be crawling to the finish, but I was exhilarated and so, so happy to finish. Check us out on the home stretch...

This is my uncontrollable, "I'm so happy to be done" face. It ain't pretty, but that's the real deal. Look at my swollen fingers. I like to think they're swollen with awesome. 

I didn't spend too much time hanging out post-race because my legs wouldn't allow it. I was surprised at how my whole body hurt, even my shoulders. That's never happened before, but I guess when you run four plus hours, body parts are bound to rebel. I made it back to Tybee for a scalding hot shower,  nap and generous slathering of Tiger Balm for my sore muscles.  I smelled so purty. 

Rest was short-lived because I had dinner reservations at Moon River Brewery where I met up with some fellow bloggers. Unfortunately, the only blogging buddy I knew didn't make it to dinner that night.  That's alright, though, I made some new friends and got to connect with fellow runners. 

It was great to socialize with new people and fellow racers, but the Mister and I were off to a walking ghost tour so we took off early. I heard there was a  delicious ice cream stop after dinner that we missed. For the record, I usually don't miss important events like ice cream. 

Check out the posts from all the folks I met at our post-race dinner plus one from my "missing" buddy, Kelly.

Kelly's Race Recap
Meghann's Good Times
Shirtless Ben's PR
Katy's Half-Marathon

Overall, I had an amazing experience for my first marathon.  I couldn't have asked for a better friend and running partner and the Savannah experience, minus the transportation debacle, was fantastic. I'll definitely be back to peruse all the wonderful antiques shops I spotted but couldn't quite get to and to capture all the beauty of the city.  There's hella-good design going on in Savannah too. My poor legs and time constraints just wouldn't allow too much sightseeing.  
I did, however, take some photos on Tybee which I'll share with you in a post coming soon. 


Thanks for reading! Happy Tuesday! 

During a recent trip  and first time visit to Philadelphia, we made a special stop at the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP). It seems a bit of an oxymoron to call a penitentiary a sunny place, but for the record, the sun was out the day we visited ESP.  If you can't tell by the photo on your left, the place was fascinating and uber-creepy. 

ESP is where the movie 12 Monkeys was filmed, where Al Capone was imprisoned and one of the first places Charles Dickens came to visit when he came to America. ESP also made an appearance on Ghost Hunters. 

ESP sticks out like a medieval sore thumb in the contemporary urban landscape of today's Philadelphia.  It's haunting facade serves as a distinctive relic of a different time and place. Built in 1829, ESP was the world's very first prison and remained an active penitentiary for 142 years. 

The first thing you notice from the outside is the ominous castle-like presence which, we learned, was an intentional part of the design aesthetic. It was meant to evoke fear and dread much like the castles of old. When the prison was first built, it sat by itself atop a hill, its 40-foot walls a cautionary image built to remind citizens to abide the law.  Today, ESP sits smack dab in the center of one of Philly's distinct neighborhoods on Fairmount Avenue. 

At ESP, they give free one-hour long guided tours of the facility which sounded like the most informative way to go about the property.  Hmmm....not so much. Maybe it was the day, maybe our tour guide was new or maybe she was hungover,  I'm not sure.  Whatever the reason,  our tour lasted about 20 minutes and covered a fraction of the grounds. 

When asked if our group had any questions, I piped up and asked about a picture of a man that listed him as one of ESP's "Most Notorious Criminals."  That question led to a lengthy silence followed by more awkward and uncomfortable silence. We never did get an answer and soon after that,  the "one-hour" tour was over. 

Not to worry, we jumped on the audio tour which turned out to be THE way to go. The audio tour was narrated by Steve Buscemi, one of my favorite actors and led to a three-hour exploration of ESP. We had an amazing time walking the grounds and seeing this established ruin in all its ghostly glory. 

ESP was America's very first prison and quite state-of the-art for its time. It even had heated and running water before the White House did.  I learned that when the prison first opened in 1829, every inmate was placed in solitary confinement. Each inmate had his  own individual cell and small exercise yard. The goal of solitary confinement was penitence or regret for harms done. The prison was designed with sky-lit vaulted ceilings to evoke the feeling of a church or monastery where quiet reflection was the norm. ESP is touted as an established ruin today and inspires a sort of shock and awe as you take a look around and learn about its history. 

Inmates were often subject to cruel punishments and stints in solitary confinement so restrictive, it would make them  go mad or blind. When unruly inmates were placed in the "hole" they were often supplied only with a metal rack for a bed, no mattress and a bucket to use as a toilet. Prison guards would often serve only bread and water as meals to those inmates. We got to climb down into the dank "hole" and have a look. It almost makes prison life today look like a room at the Ritz. One time in the "hole" on a guided tour was enough for me.  Just sayin. 

In addition to the stunning grounds and well-kept ruins, ESP hosts a seasonal haunted house that would most likely make me pee my pants and had art installations weaved throughout the property. Well worth the meager $12 admission price. I didn't expect to enjoy going to prison as much as I did, but I'm so glad I decided to check it out. It was an unexpected bright spot on our vacation. 

Hello! I got back  Monday night from a much needed trip to Philadelphia where I  visited one of my bestest buddies, attended the 4th Annual Roots Picnic and explored Philly for the first time.  Besides perfect weather, Philly turned out to be the perfect city for my tastes. Not too big and marinated with history, Philly definitely showed me some love. 

I knew that Philadelphia was the central hub of our forefathers, but was surprised to learn just how many  of the nation's "firsts" came from this town.  Philadelphia was the nation's first capital, had the  first banking system, the first government and first ever prison. 

There is rich history at every turn, lovely architecture and culture embedded in each distinctive neighborhood. The Mister and I stayed with my bestie in her apartment building that was easily 100 years old. Inside there were hand-carved staircases, vintage tilework, tall ceilings and a "this place has GOT to be haunted" vibe that made the whole experience authentic. 

Our weekend included EATING, lots and lots of eating, sightseeing, dancing and meandering about the city. We got to experience everything from cheesesteaks to the Liberty Bell, the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP), a wicked music festival hosted by the Legendary Roots Crew and sweet vintage finds in between. Our trip to the Eastern State Penitentiarywas so spectacular that I have a whole 'nother blog post dedicated to it.  

Here's a look at our trip......

Like I said, we ate our way through Philly and took no prisoners. Here's a bite-by-bite account of our stops ...

Cheesesteaks: We quickly learned that the best cheesesteaks are almost everywhere in Philadelphia and that it really comes down to your preference and good bread, of course.  It's GOT to be soft in the middle.  There are are also two camps of firm believers- those that believe in the Whiz (Cheese Whiz, that is) and those who don't. I tried sandwiches with and without and enjoyed both.  We had sandwiches at Campos in Old City Phila and George's on South Street. 

Mama Veg's: The Mister and I found this gem-in-the-wall on our first walkabout in the city. You should know that I'm a sucker for falafel or anything slathered in tahini so, as soon as I saw a group of locals wearing yamakas inside this kosher, middle eastern eatery, I knew this was a real deal place to grab bite. It certainly did not disappoint. 

We opted for the vegetable latke sandwich which came in a whole wheat pita schmeared with hummus and a spicy sauce topped with one of their famous falafel, cucumber, lettuce and tahini- a vegetarian gutbuster. 

Mercato: We came here on our first night for a cozy dinner at this Italian-inspired eatery. The best part of this place is that their Executive Chef won an episode of the Food Network show, Chopped. Mercato had a killer octupus salad ripe with capers, olives and lemony-arugula. I had cioppino, a spicy Italian seafood stew, for dinner and we all had afogato for dessert which was perfect on a full stomach. An afogato is espresso with a scoop of ice cream and a couple ladyfingers for dunking. The espresso mixed with the sweet creaminess of the ice cream is a perfect pair and pick-me-up all in one. 

La Colombe: If you want a great cup of coffee or delicious espresso, you MUST come to La Colombe. The long line for coffee moved quickly and the service super friendly. They also serve La Colombe coffee at breakfast joints all over town. We had some at Day by Day and Sabrina's Cafe. 

Speaking of... Sabrina's Cafe was a fantastic breakfast spot! We strolled by this  sidewalk spot while shopping in the Italian Market and spotted some dope dishes, like the cream cheese and banana stuffed challah french toast, that made me do a double-take. We came back the next day to eat for ourselves. The portions were generous and obviously cooked from scratch with lots of love. They also had a brunch menu with dishes named after characters in the Neverending Story which scored points in my book big time!  

Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant: We traveled to University City to meet a friend and eat at Abyssinia. We sat around a mesab, a traditional Ethiopian dinner table and sampled wat (spicy stews)  from all corners of the menu including Doro Wat (chicken), Sega Wat(lamb) and Beef tips. We loaded up on veggie sides like spicy lentils, collard greens and yellow split peas. Everything was served atop injera bread which soaked up all the delicious flavors. No utensils here- we all happily ate with our hands. 

Varallo Bros: Holy Italian Bakery! We came here for breakfast and fuggedaboutit! I had a cappucino and a sfogliatelle and the Mister instantly ordered half a dozen of their famous cannoli to go which we ate with our homemade pizza later that evening.  Say it with me in your finest NY Italian accent- "This shit is to die for."

I could go on and on about our trip. The food and the sights were only part of it. I can't even begin to tell you about how The Roots and Black Thought rocked my world or about my new music interest, Hank & Cupcakes, an indie duo from Crooklyn via Israel. 

 I've got a post coming up about our visit to the Eastern State Penitentiary and another on some of my vintage finds on South Street. Thanks for reading, especially if you made it this far in the post. Philadelphia is the biz. That is all. 

Hello! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I just got back from a lovely trip to the ATL where I got to spend time with new friends and old. I also got to attend the Wedding Day Hooray, an indie craft festival for all things wedding. 

For those of you who don't know, I AM a bride-to-be! The Mister popped the question in January on my 30th birthday, a complete and total surprise to me. Unlike some gals, I did not have my wedding planned before I hit puberty so this is all new to me. Thank goodness for friends and the internet! 

Nikki Mueller of Not Made in China turned me on to the event and subsequently snagged a booth to pimp her wares. Last Friday, we hit the road like Thelma and Louise. Here's what inspired and delighted me this weekend...

A few other notables that I didn't capture on camera...

Paper Acorn- Lovely custom luminaries
Olive- Darling dresses galore from darling designer Katriesa Raines
Limon Verde- Beautiful Handcrafted silver filigree jewelry
The Sugar-Coated Radical- Delicious  candy including exotic caramels and gourmet lollies 
Home.Made Catering from Scratch- All I have to say is Cheese Straw sandwiches with pimento cheese. Slap ya mama good! 

I left with a few loves including Save-The-Date magnets from NMIC and a serious hankering for a Guest Box and a brooch bouquet. My head explodes multiple times a day with wedding ideas. I'm not sure the Wedding Day Hooray slowed that down much, but it has sealed the deal on a few pieces of the nuptial puzzle. Our wedding date is set for October 13, 2012 which leaves me plenty of time to continue the hunt for handmade goodies.  

Somewhere between the intersection of Huntersville and hillbilly lies the Bradford Store, an organic gardeners dream.  Since 1912, the Bradford Store has been supplying homegrown organic produce and products for locals via a charming country store and gardening center. 

A friend of mine turned me on to the place last year when I was embarking on my very first organic vegetable garden. It was her talk of a 50-pound bag of worm castings (a.k.a. worm poop) that convinced me to take a trip there. 

Going to the Bradford Store is like taking a step back in time. Depending on what time of year it is, you can expect to find "cut-your-own" wildflowers growing next to rows of the latest seasonal produce. Organic supporters of all types flock there. Farmers born and raised in the area mingle amongst curious townies and newbies like myself and every person is just as welcome as the next. 

Out back is the gardening center where you can find all your plants, seeds, organic fertilizers, books and even chickens. That's where I met "T", one of the two gentlemen who run the center. When he first introduced himself to me, "T" was sure to tell me that his name was "T", no more, no less. When I inquired about the rest of his name, he politely reinforced the brevity of his name. 

"T" is tall, friendly and resembles a farm-freshversion of Tom Selleck, confidently wearing his own organically grown mustache. "T" is good peoples and can tell you mostly anything about organic gardening. I've learned to trust what "T" says.  

In addition to the Garden Center (above left), there is a sweet little antiques cabin (above right) that is worth a look. I've found some really affordable treasures there.

Across the way is the Country Store which is as charming as it sounds. Inside, there is a wealth of local, organic produce, locally made jams and preserves, farm-fresh eggs, cheeses, homemade beauty products and, wait for it,  fried peach pies. 

Getting out there is a bit of a  hike, but I promise you won't be disappointed. Anything that supports local and organic farming, for me,  is well worth the trip.