New Day, New Job(ish)

Good morning! I know it’s been forever but I have some news! Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for me… After two amazing years at the magazine I will be making a transition and going to work for one of my favorite spots in Memphis, Local Gastropub. (Do me a favor and ‘Like’ their Facebook page, please) I will handle social media/PR and special events for their two locations… doesn’t that sound fun? We’re still working on an official title – I proposed VP of All The Fun Stuff. Verdict’s still out. AND, to make the deal even sweeter, I will still be contributing some stories/design work to the magazine! So, if you think about it, send some positive vibes, thoughts, prayers, namastes… whatever you’ve got. And I promise to make more time to update you on the hilarity that is sure to ensue. Because, let’s face it, my current life is pretty much a bad Katherine Heigl movie. Which, even at its worst, is still pretty entertaining.

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College Football

If you don’t know already, I am a BIG football fan. There are the obvious things like supporting your school or state, spending a beautiful fall afternoon outside with friends and the general thrill of competition. But there is also something much greater that surrounds the athletes, coaches and fans. I grew up playing sports and have no doubt that what I learned on those courts and fields has made me a better person today. Teamwork, persistence, the value of hard work, the power of positive thinking and sportsmanship are the invaluable lessons being taught in locker rooms around the world.

Aside from the fact that my beloved Arkansas Razorbacks suffered an embarrassing loss, this weekend in college football was pretty devastating.

Early in the afternoon Tulane safety Devon Walker collided with a teammate in a head-to-head hit. The result was a fractured spine.

Hours later Arkansas cornerback Tevin Mitchel was injured during a very similar play and had to be carted off the field.

The Razorbacks senior quarterback, Tyler Wilson, took several major hits and did not play the second half due to an “injury above the shoulders” which most people took to mean concussion.

Scary, right? Despite my unending love and respect for football/athletic competition, Saturday served as a stark reminder of how brutal the “game” can be. Even scarier is the fact that most of the athletes are doing such serious damage to their bodies at a very young age. The point of this post is to remind us (myself included) that while it is easy to get lost in trash talk, game day parties, and Ws and Ls, the players and their safety are the star of the show. In short, have some respect. Take a moment to thank the players and coaches from all teams for giving us something to cheer for and keep those injured in your thoughts and prayers as we get ready to watch it all over again next Saturday.

Devon Walker image, Tevin Mitchel image, Tyler Wilson image

Three Little Things

Hooray! It’s Friday! I managed to survive The Big Move and the first week in my new house with only one major meltdown (it was during a marathon session of sofa shopping… it would be weird if I didn’t have a meltdown). I’m still waiting for the panic-inducing furniture to be delivered so you’ll have to wait to see what I bought but I will share these three little things that I am loving so far.

My kitchen has these lovely little shelves flanking the sink. I have a feeling the contents of these shelves will change as often as my mood but for now they are home to: a very sweet little pig friend that I’m pretty sure my grandmother gave as a last-minute-oh-yeah-I’m-bringing-somebody-to-Christmas gift for an ex-boyfriend, an adorable invitation to stand next to one of my best friends as her flower girl bridesmaid, two Andy Warhol edition Campbell’s Soup cans (available at Target for a limited time. Go get some. They are divine.) and a piece of pottery I made during one of the two times I had to take Beginner Pottery. I don’t want to talk about it.

Next up are my dining room chairs! I can’t get over them. They are so perfectly modern/quirky next to my antique pieces without being all Zooey Deschanel. Sorry. I’m just not into her. Get the splurge here. Or the steal here.

And finally, another little pig friend in the cast iron soap dish I found at Sheffield Antiques Mall. Definitely worth the drive, folks. The candle is one I picked up from this lady friend of mine. It is from Anthropologie and makes your house smell as good as your Pinterest house looks. Trust.

The Day The Princess Died

I don’t know about you but I remember exactly where I was on this day fifteen years ago.

I was in a hotel room in St. Louis, MO with two of my best childhood friends and our families on a last-hoorah-before-school-starts vacation. I’m sure we went to a Cardinals game and Six Flags and probably shopped in that train station/mall place but I couldn’t tell you one thing about it. We woke up that morning to the news that Princess Diana had been in a car accident and died. Like most 11–year–old girls at the time, I was infatuated with everything Princess-y and especially with Diana. She was just so… regal! Always poised and flawlessly styled, she was the ultimate fairy tale. Needless to say, I was heartbroken.

Fast forward fifteen years…

Last night, The Fabulous Pat Kerr Tigrett featured four of Diana’s gowns which she purchased from the Christie’s benefit auction that took place in June of 1997—two months before Diana’s death. The dresses were displayed in a room at the Dixon Gallery where guests were invited to view Diana’s dresses alongside a few of PKT’s own designs and some incredible pieces of jewelry. It was the perfect way to celebrate a woman who’s style and grace I have idolized for almost twenty years. And while Kate is great and all… Diana still reigns in my mind.

Can you believe it’s been fifteen years since her tragic accident? Do you remember where you were? In a world full of women like Snooki, Lindsay Lohan and the Kardashians it is nice to remember what a real role model looks like.
Even if she was taken from us far too soon.

PKT being interviewed by Joan Rivers after the Christie’s auction and two of the four dresses

Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch, made for her in 1856

Models in PKT’s lace tops. You cannot imagine how beautiful this lace is.

In true Diana form, proceeds from this fabulous event were donated to Hope House — a care facility for Tennessee’s precious children affected by HIV.

Princess Diana by Mario Testino, 1997. More images here.

Wallpaper Diaries

Sorry for the lame title, folks. It sounds like some cheesy 80′s murder mystery centering around some South Fork housewife and a sweet, soft-spoken yard man who maybe had a love child and kept her hidden in the guesthouse bathroom that was lavishly decorated with 18k gold leaf wallpaper. A constant reminder of the stark contrast between the child’s life and that of her cold, botox-ed mother.

Uh… anyway… Let’s talk about wallpaper. I find myself seesawing back and forth between “YES! Graphics on the wall! Prints and patterns everywhere!” and “OMG! What do you mean there’s no way to remove it beside burning the whole house down?!” Think about it. It has been no less that 3 years since I helped my mom remove a metallic bronze twig pattern from the dining room walls in her house and if I don’t have to do it again this side of 100 it will still be too soon.

But it looks sooo good! For a while. See? Saw. (see what I did there?)  Stay with me. The point is that today I found these sites that sell temporary wallpaper! What an idea! Has anybody tried it? Do you think it’s too good to be true? Can you help me, please? I need paper! On my walls! But I need it to be temporary!

 

Images from my Pinterest board. Duh.

I Love Moving

When I last left you little darlings I told you about my decision to make the move out east. Or “Out Easy” as my iPhone has so wittily corrected it to. So, naturally the next step is to… well… move.

A certain someone recently made it obnoxiously clear to me that he “hates moving.”
Guess what, pal—everybody “hates moving.” But, in true blogger form, I have a different opinion on the subject. I LOVE moving.

For me, moving represents reflection and opportunity. It is the chance to spend countless hours with whatever friend is stupid nice enough to listen to you reminisce over old photos/mementos/crap and it is the perfect time to throw out old photos/mementos/crap to make room for new ones. It’s a fresh start. A new space to make new traditions, friends and memories. Personally, I cannot wait to see what fun being Out Easy brings my way. Yes — it may be a slow, painful process to move all of my things… but most great rewards in life require a slow, sometimes-painful process. For example, shopping for new jeans.

So, to The Ones Who Hate Moving, I do hope you don’t look at everything in your life with such a negative, critical eye. Logistically? Yes, moving is terrible. Horrible, even. But you get over it. And you get on with your newly purged, fabulously-current life.

Home Sweet Home

After much consideration and deliberation I have decided to take my talents out east. I have lived in downtown Memphis forever and while I love the people/places/energy, it’s time for a change. So–what does that mean for you, my avid blog reader and friend? That means you can expect to see more of Memphis, more of my inability to complete Pinteresty DIY projects and maybe… just maybe more of my dog, Moose. If you’re nice to him.