Maggie Jane’s, Formerly Known as Bucket List

One of my favorite buildings in Old Town is 114 South Royal, where Mint Condition used to be housed. It’s rickety staircases and narrow rooms are just so quintessentially “Old Town,” and make shopping there such a unique experience. About a year and a half ago, two stores moved into and shared the space: Bucket List and Maggie Jane’s. I honestly was always a little confused by the separation, and everyone knew Bucket List since that’s what the sign said. Nothing but fun trinkets, beautiful gift items and vintage decor, the store (stores?) was an immediate hit with locals and tourists alike.

maggie4

The two stores decided to split ways, however, several months ago, and now Maggie Jane’s inhabits the space exclusively. Although the apparent name change may be confusing to shoppers, I think you’ll be pleased. The owner of the store describes her aesthetic as vintage, romantic and urban-chic. I would actually disagree. I walk into the store and feel transported out of any urban environment into a cross between French countryside chic and Southern charm. Plus, now they sell CeCe Caldwell Chalk and Clay Paint, offer decorating and styling services and custom furniture painting. Despite the identity crisis the store has experienced in its first year or so of existence, the owner of Maggie Jane’s has a real knack for creating a world in which you can get and want to be lost.

(No website yet, but I’ll update this post when they launch it.)

maggie5

maggie3

maggie1

Weekend Planner

Here’s the breakdown:

  • Don’t waste anytime! Head over to Periwinkle for The Loren Hope Trunk Show. It lasts until Sunday, but you don’t want to miss out on the amazing jewelry that will be snatched up fast.
  • Gold Works is hosting their Mother’s Day Trunk Show Friday-Monday from 9AM to 8PM. This three-day trunk show will feature the recently-launched Gioia Collection and the signature Precious Briolette Collection by designer Mia Kratrin. Selections from Collection, including the Ruby Lariat, have been worn by Red Carpet Hollywood celebrities. Katrin will be at hand for any style recommendations.
  • For all cooking aficionados, Chef Jenn Crovato will be signing her cookbook, Olive Oil, Sea Salt & Pepper, from 4 to 7 p.m. this Friday (May 10) at The Butcher’s Block. The book provides tasty recipes while teaching you the four fundamentals of delicious cooking.
  • Stop by the Athenaeum on Friday from 4-7PM for their Neighborhood Social. Meet other residents of Alexandria and look through the exhibit. It’s your last chance to participate in the drawing for 4-Hour Friday or Sunday Free Rental of the Athenaeum; drawing will take place at 6 p.m.
  • Grab your kids away from the electronics and head over to Hooray for Books! to meet Erin Hunter, author of the Survivors series. The book signing starts at 6PM. RSVP to  703-548-4092 or info@hooray4books.com.

And on to Saturday:

  • Fitness on the Run invites you to Boot Camp Saturday morning at 8AM. The class provides an individualized challenge for everyone who is up to it. But if 8AM is too early for you, get your work out in anytime that day. FoR has a full day of Kettlebell classes taught by Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) certified instructors.
  • Monday’s Child is hosting their annual Mother’s Day Sale with deep storewide discounts. You don’t want to miss out on these deals.
  • The Alexandria Black History Museum is inviting families with children (ages 6-12) to their Family Legends Workshop from 11AM to 1PM. Adults and children work together to choose a “legend” in their family,write their story and make it into a handmade storybook to take home. The class is taught by local book artist, writer, and educator, Sushmita Mazumdar.
  • fibre space has found a new space! Head over to their current location for their Moving Sale! on Saturday and Sunday. Help clear the shelves before the great move by shopping a store-wide sale at 20% off. Everything is discounted.
  • Revel is having a hyberNATIONS Trunk Show featuring illustrations and apparel by their designer of the month. Kevin Solley, the artist behind hyberNATIONS, has created a  clothing line that represents people and cultures from around the world. Stop by between 4-8PM.
  • If you’re looking to update your diamond collection, Mystique is offering a private one day showing with designer Andrew Meyer.  Andrew Meyer is one of the leading designers for bridal and diamond jewelry -  known for quality and attention to detail.

For Mother’s Day:

  • Celebrate at The Christmas Attic’s Mother’s Day Tea. Bring Mom in anytime for a relaxing drink and she’ll get her own cup and saucer for free!

Between the many trunk shows, exciting book signings, and Mother’s Day sales, there is no excuse for a boring weekend. Check out our calendar and begin planning your weekend!

Monday’s Must-Haves: Tote-ally Rad

050613

When (sort of) warmer temperatures arrive, I always find myself drawn to the tote. Whether I’m headed to the pool, work, or lunch, I find that I’m carrying more: sunscreen, a change of clothes, an extra pair of flip flops, a bottle of water, etc. Combine with that my penchant for a more casual look in the spring and summer, a large tote is my go-to bag. These four options are ones that I’ve had my eye on, but would also make great Mother’s Day gifts!

1. Market Tote Bag at West Elm

2. Ombre Straw Tote at Anthropologie

3. Woven Cotton Tote Bag at Red Barn Mercantile

4. Cestino Caramel Tote by Massi (Doesn’t this one make you think of walking home from a Tuscan market with fresh vegetables, pasta and bread and a bottle of wine? One can dream.)

Weekend Planner

  • If you catch this weekend planner in time (before noon), close your computer, grab the keys and pay a visit to 529 Kids Consign to celebrate their first birthday! If you aren’t able to make the celebration, stop in sometime this weekend and congratulate Megan and Pouneh on their success–getting through their first year in retail is a huge accomplishment!
  • Fibre Space’s workshop this evening is my favorite they’ve ever had. Check out the crazy adorable toy you will learn to make! Make a bunch over the next few months once you’ve learned how and save them–they’d make great stocking stuffers! (Yes, that is a holiday reference in May!)
  • Tonight, meet the star of ABC’s hit series Nashville, Chip Esten, and watch him perform songs from the show and other favorite tunes while enjoying barbeque and award-winning craft beef from Port City Brewing Company!
  • The Spring Fling Vintage Dance Party is tonight at the Athenaeum–with the Swing Band of the Alexandria Citizens Band. Plus, Amalgamated Classic Clothing in Del Ray will offer a prize for the best vintage ensemble!

All of that and we haven’t even started with Saturday yet!

  • Find out what mysteries lie behind the closed doors of four of Alexandria’s historic sites! Attics and Alleys is a new three-hour walking tour featuring the rarely seen spaces of four sites: the Lee-Fendall House, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, and Carlyle House.
  • Wagers and winnings, juleps and jockeys, food and fun! It’s the Junior Friends’ Bowties and Belles Kentucky Derby Party!

An open house at the Athenaeum, a perfume sampling at Bellacara and many other events are going on this weekend. So, check out our (now functioning!) calendar and start planning your weekend!

The Purple Goose’s Facebook Contest!

Who here gets annoyed with all of the sharing of lame pictures on Facebook lately? I mean, if I read one more inspirational quote about how life is about the journey, not the destination, I will seriously think about suspending my account. From time to time though, I come across something on Facebook that someone has liked or shared and think, “Oh yeah, that’s cool.” And I move on with my life.

But every now and then I come across something on Facebook that is just worth blogging abou. That’s right folks. I am “sharing” something on the blog that I discovered on Facebook because it is just that good. I had another post scheduled for this morning (coming next week!), but decided this was more imminently important.

Purple Goose

If you are unfamiliar with the children’s boutique, The Purple Goose, in Del Ray, follow them on Facebook right now. I mean, right now. It’s a great little shop, and they have the best Facebook giveaways. This month though I appreciate the simplicity and accessibility of the giveaway. They aren’t asking the world of me to enter:

Playhouse

For the entire month of May, do something on our page, like something, comment on something, ask a question, post a photo, go through our over 5,000 pictures in our photo albums and like your favorites, let me know you recommended a friend, just say or do something and you will be entered to win! You will be entered each time, no limit. I will go through our page everyday and put your name in a hat each time. The grand prize will be this fun retractable playhouse from Chicco, brand new in the box. If we have a lot of participation, we’ll add a second place, a third place and a fourth place winner! Good Luck, we will draw the winner June 1st!

I can do that! I do anyway. I’m forever “liking” their posts, so basically I can carry on as usual and may be the winner of a really fun toy for the kiddos. Thanks for being creative and generous, Purple Goose. I’m a fan.

Purple Goose1

Monday’s Must-Haves: Periwinkle

Today’s Monday Must-Haves edition is a little different. We decided to partner up with Periwinkle to bring you eight looks. Actually, the ladies at Periwinkle picked 4 different items and styled them 2 ways–a casual look and a professional look. Even better? Each featured item is from a new “Under $150” section on Periwinkle’s website!

Item1

Item #1 – Teal Chevron Blouse $68

Look 1: Ark & Co Jacquard Jacket $95, Nanette Lepore Valley Skirt $248, Butter Shauna
Wedges $308, Oval Drops Necklace $56
Look 2: Kate Spade Sunglasses $145, Infinity Scarf $32, Joe’s Jeans Straight Ankle $158, Butter
Paulina Wedge $345

Item2

Item #2 – Carmela Hi-Lo Tank Top $64

Look 1: Scarf $32, Work Tote $120, Kate Spade Sunglasses $145, Level 99 Lily Relaxed Skinny
Jeans $162, Nanette Lepore Absolute Wonder Wedge $298
Look 2: Polka Dot Cardigan $88, Anni Kuan Easy Boot Pant $165, Butter Gilly Patent Heel $275

Item3

Item #3 – Chevron Tank $68

Look 1: Nanette Lepore Tecktonic Jacket $428, Yoana Baraschi Stretchy Tux Pant $245, Butter
Pursue Heels $286, Flower Power Necklace $42, Shopper Tote $128
Look 2: Scarf $32, Kate Spade Shades $145, Joe’s Jeans Straight Ankle $158, Mystique
Turquoise Stone Sandals $176

Item4

Item #4 – Chevron Black & White Short Sleeve Top $68

Look 1: Nanette Lepore Canyon Jacket $428 , Anni Kuan Easy Boot Pant $165, Bowler Bag
$128, Butter Pursue Heels $286
Look 2: Joe’s Jeans Bootcut Visionaire $165 Beverly Feldman Nova Wedge $265, Multi-Chain
and Pearl Necklace $58, Kate Spade Shades $145

Weekend Planner

Well, we are still working on fixing the calendar on Alexandria Lifestyle. Fingers crossed that it is fixed before next week’s Weekend Planner. Thankfully, you will find everything you need to do know here. It’s gonna be a great weekend!

  • One of my favorite jewelry designers, Ruth Barzel, is having a trunk show all weekend-long at one of my favorite boutiques, Periwinkle. There couldn’t be a better collaboration.
  • MAPPing Alexandria is the culminating event in Alexandria’s National Poetry Month. The event with feature readings of poems about our beloved city with Poet Laureate Amy Young.
  • A free facial and makeover at Bellacara? Yes, please.
  • Perhaps the best reason to have a sale ever, Bishop Boutique is giving customers a 15% discount on all LK Bennett items in honor of Will and Kate’s anniversary. Love it.
  • A spring tasting courtesy of La Cuisine.
  • And finally, one of my favorite foodie/charity events of the year: Carpenter’s Cook-Off at the Birchmere!

Now that you’re all up-to-date on this weekend’s happenings, let’s all hope the Calendar is back up and running soon!

Bellies & Babies-Detour to Del Ray

Being a new mom-to-be in Alexandria, finding a new maternity or baby store makes me so happy! Bellies & Babies in Del Ray was such a wonderful surprise to happen upon during a walk the other day-the charming house-turned-storefront welcomes you inside where there is not much you will not find.  The front of the store has lots of gift items-games, toys, and you’ll also fine bibs, onesies and outfits made by local artists.

562052_571040229595391_1817077790_n

From there the store winds through rooms of the house, filled with gently used items- clothing as well as equipment. If you are on the hunt for a stroller, furniture, or other baby gear they let me know they update their Facebook page with announcements as it comes in. They carry new Ergo carries and accessories and the Aden and Anais line as well.

 photo-29

Once you make your way upstairs there are three divided rooms- girls, boys, and maternity. All of these items are consigned and they have an amazing range of sizes, and selection. I left with some great gender neutral pieces all of with were just gently used. In the maternity room they have pieces you can buy and more formal dresses you can rent for a special occasion–a perfect idea!

dresses.jpeg

The store owners are welcoming and very helpful, and will work with you to consign your items as well. Its a perfect way to up-cycle clothes your little ones, and you, have grown out of! Make Bellies & Babies a stop on your next tour of Del Ray–if you need any more incentive Dairy Godmother is a few blocks down the road- music to a pregnant ladies ears!

 

Bellies & Babies
1913 Mount Vernon
Del Ray, Alexandria VA
(703) 518-8908
www.belliesbabies.com

The Sugar Cube

2013-03-16 16.56.11

March seems like forever ago, and part of me can’t believe that it took me this long to write about my visit to The Sugar Cube. So, bear with me and think back to the much colder month of March.

I asked Alyssa and Kim, co-owners of The Sugar Cube and sisters, if I could visit their St. Patrick’s Day-themed kids’ class to see what it is all about. I arrived a good thirty minutes into the class to catch the kids in action. Cue one of the cutest scenes ever. A handful of adorable children with chocolate smeared all over their mouths greeted me, and then proceeded to show me their creations: little pots of “gold”-covered chocolate coins. While I was there, they danced a little, laughed a lot, had a snack, and most importantly created something themselves that they could then eat or share later. The atmosphere was structured but never overly serious, and Alyssa and Kim both have great patience and kindness toward their students. I can’t wait to bring my girls back!

2013-03-16 16.58.36

2013-03-16 17.12.01

2013-03-16 17.13.39

2013-03-16 17.16.31

2013-03-16 17.14.14

Beauty: Mom on-the-go

I recently asked owner of cosmetics boutique Bellacara, Angela Sitilides, what she recommends for days when I am literally running out the door after my little ones. Is there really a beauty routine I can implement that won’t be time-consuming? Angela is a mom herself and understands what we need:

We get “on-the-go-mom” questions all the time. It generally involves a woman walking in and saying, “I literally have 5 minutes. Can you get me looking pulled together in that amount of time?” The answer is yes. If you thoroughly wash your face at night then you don’t have to wash again in the morning unless you have an oily skin type. A simple swipe of toner and you can refresh the skin and wipe away any overnight residue. Follow with a serum, moisturizer and sunscreen.

Jouer-luminizing-moisture-tint1

For make-up we recommend a bb cream or tinted moisturizer. They are more sheer and don’t require the perfect application and blending that a foundation does.  We love Jouer luminizing foundation with SPF 20 ($38). A cream eyeshadow can be applied with the finger in seconds (try Smashbox Limitless Cream Shadow ($19). Mascara that doesn’t smudge from pre-school drop off until baseball practice pick-up is essential. A tubing mascara is great because it coats the lash and then binds to itself rather than the lash, literally forming a tube around the lash with no smudging or flaking. Among the most popular in this category are Blinc Mascara ($26) or Kevyn Aucoin Volume Mascara ($25). A cream blush can be applied with the fingers and can also be tapped onto the lips and rubbed in for a base stain. Try a natural color so blending won’t be an issue. Try Stila Convertible Color which is a blush and lip stain ($25) in Lillium. Keep a tube of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50) in your handbag. It has an SPF15 and a bunch of nourishing oils to hydrate the lip. Because it is a balm, it can be applied without a mirror or for a busy mom…using the rearview mirror which is likely the only one she she looks into all day.

Kevyn-Aucoin

For a quick hair fix, a dry shampoo can do wonders. We love Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo ($18).

I have used all of these products now, and truthfully, I still forgo most of the makeup portion on busy days. The cleansing routine has helped immensely though, and ironically my two favorite of these products are from the makeup recommendations: the Jouer tinted moisturizer and Kevyn Aucoin mascara. I swear by both now. Try them out and let me know what you think!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...