Beach Week, Day Four: Bella Luna.

Time for some girly. And Bella Luna's the place. How fabulous is that garland? The window displays are worth the price of admission alone.

Janice Elder is the owner of the shop that one of her customers calls "Estrogen Heaven." Indeed. You'll find handbags handmade from vintage quilts, retro art prints, cards and buttons from Anne Taintor ("I love not camping" is my favorite), handknit animal backpacks for toddlers as well as scented soy candles, great little chandeliers and too many other things to mention. I'll just let the pictures do the talking...

Bella Luna's online shop doesn't quite look open for business, but stayed tuned. To visit or bookmark for a future visit, go to bellalunatic.com.

Beach Week, Day Three: Jeff West Home.

This adorable, unassuming little cottage on Rehoboth Avenue belies the well-edited luxury inside. "Bespoke Beach" is the term Jeff has coined for his vision. Light and bright and airy. And artful.

I love the lithos of these beautiful old dog drawings from the 20s. His shop contains quite a few original works of art including watercolors and oils tucked into comfortable vignettes.

Blue and white is a beach staple. It looks especially fresh here with touches of apple green.


Red is an especially appropriate accent color at this time of year. How great is that floor? While it's not for sale, I am in love with that bamboo chair, which is.

I forgot to ask who these linens are but his website has linens from Charlotte Moss.

Antique Staffordshire transferware lined all in a row...

And here he is. He couldn't have been nicer. I left with quite a few things including Christmas cards from Susan Wallace Barnes and a couple of wreaths including one topped with a handmade ornament from Annapolis, MD folk artist Natalie Silitch, who is featured at the Delaware beaches exclusively at Jeff West. Her ornaments are currently being featured at Bergdorf's and have also graced Christmas trees at the White House during the past two administrations. Pretty cool. You can visit Jeff's website here to get a feel for some of the merchandise up close and personal.

Beach Week, Day Two: Tulip.

When I did my posts about Delaware, I didn't mention Bethany Beach. The reason is because the best thing about Bethany (IMO) was Tulip - and it had already moved to Rehoboth.

Tulip is owned by twin brothers Kurt and Wally Wode (that joke was for you, Wally). It is on Route 1 between Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches. It's an interesting mix of blingy ballgown gorgeousness and down-to-earth hand-craftedness. Let's browse and see what you like.

Sunburst mirrors suit the beach. And, of course, a carved deerhead (actually it's an antelope or something) fits in anywhere.

A lot of the local stores carry items that reflect beach life such as coral and shells but here they always manage to throw in some of the unexpected, like those interesting ceramics on the country cupboard.

Or this fabulous chandy.

The beauty is in the mix. Lodgy leather and transitional tortoise mix with translucent capiz shells to trip your light fantastic (I think I'm channeling Linda at Lime in the Coconut).

And texture. You can have an entire room of brown and white that looks interesting because of its varied textures. Silks and abalone, sisal and crackled ceramic contrast with shiny mirrors and polished chrome.

And just when you think you've got the place figured out, they throw you a curveball.

A well-loved, hand-hewn table shows up. Many items are one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces. And then there's a fun section of state pillows and glasses, another with soaps and potions and, oh, I almost forgot: The motherload of Vera Bradley. An entire room devoted to it.

But here's what I left with: A beautiful wreath for the front door of the beach house, the cutest little owl soap with a leaf soapdish and a gift for my daughter. And I found a few of my favorite Christmas Fir votives tucked in the bag.

Life's a Beach.

Welcome to Beach Week on Hello Gorgeous. It's perfect timing I think, considering the weather in some areas right now. I went to the beach over the weekend and took pictures of some of my favorite shops cuz I know how y'all are into that sort of thing. The great thing about shopping at the beach is that there is something for everyone - from high-end to funky and everything in between. Ready? Let's start with some funk, compliments of Detail, A Gallery for the Home.

Michael Muller and Tom Boeke are the owners of Detail Gallery. Detail showcases the works of many local and regional artists, including owner Michael's art and offers plenty of other out-of-the-ordinary goodies for the abode in a jam-packed home-like environment.

Who doesn't love a tinsel tree? The ornaments are especially great. And because nothing gets by the eagle eye and multi-layered prescription eyeglasses of Hello Gorgeous, the man to the right of the tree? He appears to be starring in one of Michael's collage pieces looking especially fabulous (click here to see more of Michael's art):

Uncertain Choices by Michael Muller, multimedia, $375

Mascot Extraordinaire Mirabelle the Boston Terrier is the adorable face behind the store and the inspiration for many items within, such as greeting cards and reusable recycled shopping bags created by Muller.

But that's not all! The Adventures of Mirabelle which has been featured on Michael's website is about to be published as a children's book. I can't wait for it to come out. Go here to see some of Mirabelle's adventures, also available online and in-store as cards and prints.

Birddog, with watermark

Difficult as it is to leave lovely Mirabelle, it's time to move about the store:

Flora in Black by Brent Rodgers

Doesn't the top artwork look so Mad Men? And oh, yes, I came home with Miss Flora below looking all Marie Antoinette-y and fabulous. And speaking of Queen Marie:


And equal time pour les messieurs...


Some family-friendly art:


A handful of accessories, fresh from the oven:


At his old location, he had quotes from "Barefoot in the Park" painted onto his walls. Because it is one of my all-time favorite movies, I immediately loved his shop. Here, perched amongst the candles and soaps is a signed photo of Mildred Natwick, who played to perfection Corie's mother, Ethel. Rent it if you haven't seen it.


If you don't live around here, you can still visit the Gallery and shop online. But if you're in the area, it shouldn't be too hard to stop by. In fact, next Saturday, Dec. 13, is the Second Saturday Destination Art Walk from 4-7 pm. Be warned, I left town loaded down with booty from my weekend (having planned to not buy a thing).

I mean, shop owners have to eat, too, right? *wink* I'm just doing my part for local retailers in this lousy economic and retail environment.

The Most Awesome News Ever.

I am so excited I am going to bust!!

I just got home from a meeting at my daughter's high school about their upcoming trip to London to march in (actually, to not just march in but to lead) the New Year's Day parade for the Queen, when it was announced that they are (drumroll, please):

MARCHING IN THE INAUGURATION PARADE!!

How unbelievably incredible is that? I am so proud I can't stand it.

P.S. Stay tuned for Beach Week, beginning later today. I'll be featuring a different shop from Rehoboth Beach every day.

I Love This Song.

It makes me want to be at Daytona Beach, making out with some guy from Holland, Michigan... I mean, it takes me back to senior break in Florida. Only it's updated for the kids, beautifully by The Bird and the Bee:



They also do a gorgeous, very cool version of Carol of the Bells, perfect for the holidays (just ignore the anime).

H. G.'s Helpful Hints.

Okay, this is just like Heloise. Only better.


I was looking for an image to depict my destroyed All-Clad 2-quart pan and this image pops up. A pan whose owner thinks it is a burnt image of Elvis. So if all you have is a burnt pan, you are so much better off. Because you only need help for your burnt pan, not psychiatric care for your Elvis idolatry. I am all over Elvis, but this kind of thing scares me. Like Jesus toast and all that. Really. Just take your meds and go back to bed. Or sell it on eBay. Those people love that shit.

However. If you burn the living tar out of your All-Clad pan such as I did recently while making applesauce, I have a remedy.

I thought I had ruined my pan because it was the serious burnt-on business that wouldn't budge even with heavy scrubbing. The blackness seemed burnt into the pan. No amount of scrubbing would move it.

Voila, the remedy:

2 T. hydrogen peroxide
1 T. dish soap
2 inches of water
large-ish sprinkling of baking soda

Boil for 5-10 minutes. It will literally lift off the pan. Watch it because it will bubble up like mad.

Hopefully you are not such a clod in the kitchen as I (am). If you are, you're welcome.

Hello Gorgeous: A Lifetime of Hairdon'ts.

Let's talk about my hair issues. I have a hair appointment today. The day I started this blog, I posted about my then-imminent hair appointment at the time. Perhaps if I give you some H.G. hair history, you will begin to understand my tortured relationship with my hair.

Here I am at 1 year old. Happy. Fuzzy. Oblivious to what the future holds in store for my impending locks.


Here I am at age 3 when my mother would pincurl my hair. I remember trying to sleep with my hair in pincurls or rollers poking into my head all night. I never realized my mom was passive-aggressive until just now.


I was 7 when my mother took me in for a Pixie. I looked like Judyfrickin' Carne from Laugh-In. She would tease the top of my hair until it poofed out at the crown. I would leave the room and lick my hand to wet my hair down until it stuck to my scalp. This photo does not really do justice to the height at the crown of my head. It also looks like I just got up so it was smashed down during the thankful night.


When I was in middle school, my aunt became best friends with a hairdresser. Her name was Kris and she looked like the Krissy doll (which I never had as a child and ordered for myself from eBay one year but that's another story) from my childhood. Gorgeous, long red-toward-auburn hair. She wreaked havoc on my scalp covering. I was her pet (read: Guinea pig).

Here, she did my hair for my 7th grade dance. It was a miracle of suspension. There was a cloud of hair in the back in the form of a humongous bun which this photo does not accurately depict. She put plastic ivy leaves in it, I shit you not. I went to the dance looking like what I now realize is a future polygamist wife. Even the dress (although I loved it at the time - it was so long and the closest I came to a gown for some time) is so Little House.


The summer after 7th grade I got my hair cut into a shag just in time for camp. No complaints here actually. Except maybe that plastic barrette. Oh, and what the hell is up with the clown paint? I hate clowns.


I would like to point out that in between all of these fabu-do's my hair would grow out long and straight, just how I liked it. With or without bangs. It drove my mom crazy. Clearly.

Fast forward to 8th grade. Another dance. No wonder I went alone. Again. This time I got a Pageboy. See? They weren't just regular haircuts, they had names and everything. When I got to the dance, it was Day 2 of said 'do. Lacquered to within an inch of its life, much like a Jeffrey Bilhuber dining room. At the dance one of my future closest friends said, "How do you get it to stay like that?" She used to carry her brush around with her and had straight hair and 5 boyfriends at once. It was bouyant, my hair. Springy.


The photo above does not do justice to this particular look. I looked like a regular on the Lawrence Welk Show. Good Jesus. Like this:


Things got worse when my mother discovered Home Permanents. I flatly refuse to show photos from that time. Actually, my hair was worse in the 80s when I paid for permanents. One particularly memorable one involved tongue depressors. My hair was so vast, it defies description. Something like this:


I am happy to say that I moved forward long ago. Anytime I try to deviate from the norm, though, I run into trouble. Which is why today I am in for the same ol'. Again.

Wish me luck.

I O.D.'d on Pie.

Pecan pie, specifically. I ate so much on Thanksgiving that I couldn't eat a bite of pie. Well, I made up for it by eating mostly pie for the following 3 days and consumed almost 3/4 of the pie myself. Mmmmmmmmm.

I moved here almost six years ago during the holiday season. I was so excited to bring a little bit of the Midwest to the East Coast so I made cookies and cakes and pies (we are all about the dessert tray) and nobody touched a thing. Well, hardly a thing. Except me and my daughter. I wondered what was wrong with these people. Seriously. This family doesn't really like sweets. My youngest stepdaughter eats sweets (and cheese) almost exclusively but she doesn't really like homemade things, only processed, packaged sweets. It breaks my heart.

Our first Christmas here, my oldest stepdaughter and I made an apple pie. It was gorgeous and sky-high, with a flaky, homemade crust. She said, "What's wrong with it? Why is it so tall?" And nobody touched it. Everybody claimed they were too full from dinner but I think perhaps they didn't trust pie that didn't come from a box.

In subsequent years, I learned to restrain myself. I now make a couple of things my daughter and I like for treats and sometimes I don't even make dessert. It's just not right. I even make cake out of a box sometimes now because I know only two people will touch it and you don't want to eat the entire cake so it's less sad to toss out the remainder of a cake made from a box, right? Right?

My mother would disown me.

So, last year I made Red Velvet Cake for Christmas dessert. Every Red Velvet Cake recipe I found contains something like 2 cups of oil. It was disgusting. All I could think of was how moist it was because if you put a gallon of oil in it, it is going to have no choice but to be moist. And when you add a gallon of Red Dye No. 40, it will be red. And a little carcinogenic to boot.

But for today, I will be detoxing with Miso Soup. Ever since I discovered how easy this is to make with Dashi (dried Bonito Fish Soup Stock granules), it is my go-to lunch and pie detoxification program (and it only takes about 7 minutes to make fresh):

Miso Good For You

Shiro (Mild) Miso Paste

Hon-Dashi Soup Stock Granules

Dried Cut Wakame (Seaweed)

Miso Soup

3 T. Shiro (mild) Miso Paste
3 c. water
1 t. Hon-Dashi Soup Stock granules (you can use flakes and remove flakes after water simmers)
1/2-in. pieces silken (or firm) tofu
Dried wakame (seaweed)

Note: This recipe can be easily divided by 3 for a single serving.

Heat 3 c. of water to boiling. Before it boils, add the soup stock. When it begins to boil, remove from heat and add miso paste. Put back on burner at reduced heat and heat until dissolved - do not boil. Add pieces of tofu and broken pieces of dried seaweed. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes to rehydrate seaweed. Top with scallions, if desired.

Funny, They Don't Look Low-Budget.

Did everybody see the great "rooms" by design bloggers Courtney Barnes from Style Court and Grace Bonney from Design Sponge for the November issue of InStyle magazine? I thought they were such great ideas for budget or, really, any decorating. In case you didn't see them:



So chic and affordable! I cannot believe they could all do this for these prices. I suck at shopping. You know me - I could come home with only face cream when I could've purchased a bed for the price of it.

Is there Polyvore for home decor? It would be fun to try to put together rooms like this. I would especially like to see what Polyvore Expert Stephanie from even*cleveland would do. Buy the way (Freudian typo), she has the cutest wool and cashmere hot water bottle covers for sale on her etsy.

Grace.

by Eric Enstrom

Have a lovely Thanksgiving.

xo

Holiday PSA.

On your holiday travels, the Board of Directors and staff of HG just want to remind you to drive carefully because this is likely to be the guy driving next to you.