Tablescapes and a Design Icon

I took a very short break at lunch today to join some lovely new friends at Kappa Tablescapes. Tablescapes is a wonderful fundraising event that is put together by the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association and is a well orchestrated collaboration of designers, boutiques, sponsors, fine table and floral designers and the like, all coming together to create beautiful, themed designer tablescapes. Kappa is the tribe that I belonged to in college ;-) so it is an organization that is especially dear to me. Here are a few of my favs...

Black and white stripes :-)

I wish the colors relayed better in this photo. This table was the most gorgeous peacock blue!

One of my favorite flowers, dendrobium orchids!

The featured speaker this year was Jan Showers. I simply adore her style! She is truly one of my designer style icons and I was thrilled I got to meet her! I've previously gushed about her here, here, and here.

Here she is signing my copy of Glamorous Rooms. This is one of my favorite cocktail books, not only for the content but the book itself is really beautiful.

I was so darn nervous that my hands were shaking and resulted in this blurry picture with my camera phone. I didn't have the heart to ask to retake it :-/

It was a fabulous event, a delicious luncheon, and a lovely time spent with some new girlfriends.

I hope you are having a great start to the week!

What I'm Loving...

My new mini schoolhouse pendants over the bar in the kitchen, installed courtesy of my amazingly handy husband.
Happy Hump Day!

Project Sneak Peek

I checked in on one of my kitchen remodel projects this afternoon and it is looking lovely if I may say so myself. Just needs a few more tweaks and she'll be ready for her close-up, Mr. Demille.
In the meantime, check out a few glimpses.

I hope you are having a great start to the week!

Happy Monday!

What I'm Loving...

I'm gushing over this kitchen! It is the perfect mix of old and new!
I would take her just like she is!
Happy What-I'm-Loving Wednesday!!!

In My Mind I'm Goin' To Carolina...

Last weekend, my husband and I took a little jaunt to North Carolina. Go on, cue the music. He had to go to Charlotte for work, so I used it as an excuse for a little getaway. After he took care of business, we drove over to Asheville for the rest of the weekend. Have you been to Asheville? It reminded me a lot of Austin. It is a really cool little town with a hippie vibe. Think art galleries, book stores, euro style street cafes, somebody playing guitar around every corner...you get the idea...immediate relaxation.

We had a late lunch at Modesto. Oh. my. yum! Mussels Diavolo done perfectly! Oh, and the maitre d' sings Italian opera on the doorstep, no biggie....yeah, I could have sat here all day!

Walkin' the streets of Asheville.

We stopped at Mayfels for dinner. Yep, "black and white stripped awning...we are eating here" I'm pretty sure that is how this restaurant was picked :-)

Fried green tomatoes with spicy red pepper aioli and goat cheese...wow, these were good. I had butternut squash soup. Perfect with the crisp mountain air!

The next day we drove a short 10 mins to see the Biltmore Estate. I thought I was going to have to drag my husband, screaming and kicking, but he was surprisingly down to check it out too.

Extraordinary wealth at it's finest.

I walked around barefoot on the front lawn...had to bring a little bit of that Texas class, y' know.

Frank partaking in acting like we lived there :-)

Gargoyle!

Me and the hubs.

I couldn't get enough of that herringbone ceiling. I looked at it forever!

That's quite a view you've got there Mr. Vanderbilt.

Some of my favs...

The leaves were just starting to change...so pretty.

I saw these little guys on our forest walk out and couldn't resist.

The Biltmore is pretty cool. If you are into that kind of thing I recommend checking it out.

I hope you are having a great week!