Jul
3
But if you don’t have a car, or any friends with cars, well then. The other day, the Shop Tart realized that the tire she had convinced herself was “just fine” really was going flat, like everyone kept telling her. Tires are not fun to buy, they really aren’t. Much like feminine hygiene products, however, they are necessary. Can you imagine if we had to wait for an hour or two to buy tampons? That would not be okay, not at all. Tires, of course, must be installed by a professional, unlike…never mind. This metaphor is getting gross.
The Shop Tart likes Nuttall for tires. Why? Well, they have good tires. They’re family-owned, in the third generation now. But they also have free wireless internet while you wait. This goes a long way in her world. She also really appreciates their honesty. When she first owned an SUV, she was shocked to learn that tires for these things, even the cheapest ones, are much pricier than tires for a Toyota Corolla. At Nuttall, they offered her another option; she could replace the two most worn tires, usually the front ones, and rotate the back tires to the front. Then she could do the whole thing again when necessary. Tires, as she learned, don’t wear out at an equal rate. In the end she ended up paying the same, but it was distributed over time, much less painful. Nuttall, just so you know, is the place on the corner of Millwood and Gervais, right beside that Chinese place. They’re also quick. We like that. At least the new tires have a French name. That’s kind of fun, n’est-ce pas?
Speaking of fun, the Shop Tart is at the beach, right here in Latté Litchfield at the moment, drinking herbal tea and rambling on and on about her life. The children are trying to set up a surf leasson through Surf the Earth today. In just about the most exciting moment of the summer, they have been given a kid-sized surfboard by a real-life surfer friend of their parents’. The Shop Tart is thrilled with this development, as she thinks surfing is akin to Yoga. And anything Yoga-like is good for kids.
Speaking of Yoga, the Shop Tart should probably go do some, because she is freaking out, for a good reason, though. She ran out of St. Tropez tanning mousse last week and nothing - nothing - gives a more natural look. What’s a pasty girl to do? She’s headed to the drugstore to see what she can find. Please email her or send her a Tweet in the next few minutes if you have a great drugstore tanning recommendation. Please. And don’t mock her for being so uptight. If you saw how pale she was, you would understand why she could barely enjoy the Frogmore Stew and bubbly at her aunt’s house on the ocean last night (She managed, but it was hard.) She couldn’t stop thinking about her lack of color. She forgot to read her own calendar and it didn’t dawn on her that she wouldn’t be able to pop into Pout on the way out of town to pick up more St. Tropez. The moral of this story is of course to always read the calendar.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
P.S. Looking for dinner tomorrow night? Word on the street has it that Moe’s Italian Grapevine, Motor Supply, Garibaldi’s and Tombo Grille will be open. Hooray! And…they won’t be open by tomorrow, but Cupcake is coming to the Vista on Lincoln Street. Not familiar? They sell cupcakes, lovely cupcakes. We love the branch in Charleston! Don’t forget that the All-Local Farmers’ Market has now moved to a permanent location, 701 Whaley Street every Saturday, starting tomorrow. Hours will be extended for the opening, 8 am until 2 pm.
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Jul
2
The Shop Tart loves to eat. She even loves to cook, but not necessarily on your schedule. Hmph. One of her favorite things to make in the summer is a big plate of Vietnamese salad rolls. Wrapped in rice paper and stuffed with whatever you like (think fresh, local vegetables and leftover barbeque), they are delicious. The Shop Tart’s favorite Vietnamese and Thai cookbook is called, simply enough, The Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking
Another cookbook she can’t live without is the Larousse Gastronomique
Risotto is also a favorite dish, like Rice-a-roni, the San Francisco treat, but fancier. The New Basics was the source for her first risotto and she still refers to it, although she now takes quite a few liberties with ingredients. The New Basics is good for demystifying fancy food. Demystifying is our goal in life, n’est-ce pas? She also highly recommends the chocolate chip cookie recipe from that book, but feel free to add extras, like coconut, raisins, pecans or peanut butter chips.
The Shop Tart has been meaning to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life ever since it was released. The other day at Rosewood Market, she sat down to eat her lunch and it happened to be right on the shelf next to her head. This seemed like a clear enough sign, so she read it while enjoying her salmon and salad. She has a feeling this may be one of those books she takes a while to finish, unlike her beloved chick lit, but it’s good. Barbara Kingsolver and her family eat local food for an entire year and write about it. Although most people would find it nearly impossible to eat local food only (unless Pringle’s are local?) the book is inspiring. If you are wondering, “Where have I heard of Barbara Kingsolver?” wonder no more. She is also a novelist and, if you haven’t read The Poisonwood Bible
The other day, Mr. Shop Tart brought his wife a couple of books, including Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal
Speaking of food you don’t have to cook, the Shop Tart met two friends at Rosso last night for snacks. On her way in, she met one of her dear readers. By the way, for the record, she loves it when people introduce themselves to her in public, especially when they follow the introduction by telling her they love her writing. It rocks. Ahem. The lady and her friend were enjoying a bubbly rosé on the patio. The Shop Tart approves, not that they need her permission. Mwah! At the bar, she enjoyed her glass of prosecco while her friends sipped Aperol spritzes, an excellent summer choice. Aperol, an Italian aperitif, contains bitter orange, rhubarb, gentian…wait. All you need to know is that it’s an Italian aperitif. Fancy enough, n’est-ce pas? The bitter liqueur is combined with Orangina, prosecco and orange slices to make a refreshing, alcohol treat.
The Shop Tart ordered fritto misto, a delicious dish consisting of little pieces of fried seafood, most notable for the inclusion of what she and her table mates thought were slices of deep-fried lemon. Whatever they were, she liked them. Tip: Order a side of the Meyer lemon aioli for dipping. Some of it comes on the plate, but the Shop Tart is a big dipper.
By the way, ain’t nothing wrong with a little bowl of olives. Nothing.
The winner of the evening was the lady who ordered the caprese involtini special, a bed of arugula topped with fresh mozzarella and basil-spinach pesto roulades and an assortment of heirloom tomatoes. Delish!
In the end, everybody won, everybody with a pocketbook, that is. Rosso has something that every bar in the world, no matter how seedy, should have: Bag hooks under the table. Thank you, thank you, thank you! The Shop Tart has actually considered carrying such hooks in her bag and screwing them in wherever necessary. That might not go over too well - it might even be vandalism - but she would be doing the place a favor. Observe her white canvas bag, dangling over the floor, safe from harm.
So, where are you headed this weekend? if you’re in town and have plans to go out, call before you leave, in case your destination is closed for the holiday. In fact, your best bet is to pick up some Port Royal shrimp from the Piggly Wiggly and pair it with chipotle mayo from Rosewood Market and roasted asparagus. Why not head to Simply Savory’s free wine tasting tomorrow afternoon and take advantage of their 15% case discount to get some wine to last you through the weekend? That’s what the Shop Tart would do!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
P.S. Have you ever been to the Columbia Museum of Art gift shop? You should, because it’s fab. They have lovely artsy things as well as great stuff for kids, like summer projects and books, including the much-in-demand Van Gogh’s Colors and brand new titles. Great for long car trips!
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Jul
1
Mr. Shop Tart has a thing. His fondest wish is that his sunglasses could make him look like a French spy. This is asking far too much of a mere pair of shades, even if they are very, very cool. He came close with a pair from Frame of Mind by Blinde. Very close. The Shop Tart doesn’t mock, though, because she wishes her sunglasses made her look like an Italian movie star. This is not going to happen. But she can try.
The trunk show at Folline Vision Center yesterday was fab. While the Shop Tart doesn’t wear glasses, frames like this make her wish she did. These brown frames, by Christian Dior, had just a hint of blue at the bottom, only visible from certain angles.
And if she did wear glasses? She would have more than one pair. She wears shoes every day and she certainly has more than one pair of those. If she wore glasses, she would want different colors to match her mood, her outfit and the season. Mr. Shop Tart has some Buddy Holly-style frames he only wears with a white dinner jacket.
Folline Vision has so many glasses that could help the Shop Tart look more like the Italian movie star she is on the inside. These would be perfect for her Italian-movie-star-reading-the-New-York-Times-in-a-cafe look, n’est-ce pas?
Gucci and Christian Dior representative Rick Clark was in town to show extra styles and answer any questions. He explained that eye wear designers create their lines for clothing designers based on the current collections. They might use similar hardware to the latest bag, for example. Happily, a pair of Gucci shades is much less expensive than the Gucci bag, so you get a lot of glamor for a fraction of the cost.
Although it would be silly for the Shop Tart to wear glasses without a prescription, just for her image (and, um, she would never do that), she can wear sunglasses. Gucci and Christian Dior make some darn cool ones. In addition to those lines, Folline has plenty more. The Shop Tart loves - loves! - sunglasses by Oliver Peoples. She’s a sucker for a celebrity endorsement and movie stars love them. Zooey Deschanel is a fan and she is way cooler than the Shop Tart will ever be.
The thing about sunglasses is that you should wear them every single day for your health. The right shades can protect your eyes from future damage and help prevent crows feet. Those enormous frames? The ones that look great with the baby blue Jaguar convertible as you tool around town with your hair pulled back with an Hermes scarf? They offer even more sun protection. While being older is loads of fun, looking older is not. And don’t you want to be as chic as possible while protecting the delicate skin around your lovely eyes? Hm? Since you’ve decided to wear sunglasses every day, for your health, you need more than one pair. At least three, five if you have a toddler who likes to hide things. One of those pair should be these, by Christian Dior. On the days you are not wearing them, you may lend them to the Shop Tart. Once she gets that baby blue Jaguar convertible, they will look even better.
These Dolce and Gabbanas would really help her with the Italian movie star thing, n’est-ce pas?
Or Prada? Would that work? Si, bella!
More Gucci? Perché no?
By the way, if you are looking for chic readers, as a certain Shop Tart fan was, Folline carries a full line of Eye Bobs, in all colors. With these, no matter how vain you are - ahem - you won’t mind wearing your readers. Speaking of vanity, readers also help prevent crow’s feet, because they keep you from squinting.
Eye Bobs cost $65 and $75, but they also have a large selection of readers by Cal Optix, priced around $35.
Of course, they can put reader lenses into any frame in the shop, so there’s always that option. Congratulations: you no longer have to look like a crazy old lady in your readers!
Mais oui, the Shop Tart had to save the best for last. These shades by Cartier would probably change her life. maybe you would like to buy them for her? Or at least a pair of Oliver Peoples? It is almost her half-birthday after all. These are so mad fabulous, they give her chills.
In addition to being incredibly fab, the folks at Folline are incredibly nice. When they noticed the Shop Tart’s sunglasses falling off her head and sliding down her nose - repeatedly - they adjusted them to fit, which made her day and will no doubt make her upcoming beach vacation ten times more relaxing. Mwah!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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Jun
30
So. After the pedicure at Soak (Were you paying attention? Were you reading yesterday? Really? Mwah!) the Shop Tart rushed home to change. She had been planning to wear a borrowed dress. Funny thing. It was too hot to wear the (oh, so lovely!) dress. The Shop Tart is never one to shy away from a last-minute fashion decision. Tout d’un coup, she thought of the Loeffler Randall zippered skirt she had purchased that very day. When she bought it, she knew nothing more than that it was marked down to a mere $65 and that it fit her, in a good way. She advocates buying such things at a great price, even when you don’t know exactly where a zippered cream-colored pencil skirt might fit into your wardrobe. Why? Because it will eventually be the solution to a fashion emergency.
Saturday night presented just such an emergency. One of the Shop Tart’s most fabulous friends was celebrating a birthday, a big one (twenty-three, of course.) She had to wear just the right thing for a big night out with the ladies. The borrowed dress, paired with her new Louboutins purchased on sale from Coplon’s made the perfect outfit…if it had been twenty degrees cooler. But it was hot, hot, hot. She had to wear the Louboutins, had to.
The new skirt was hanging in her closet, très visible, as new pieces should be. Shop Tart Tip: Don’t put new things away immediately; leave them out in the open for a few days so you notice random ways they might fit into your regular rotation. So, the skirt it was. She tried it on with the shoes and a black and red patterned sheer top she scored in the Lola sale recently. Loved the look, but the top had sleeves and sleeves just weren’t going to happen in that heat. Next, she tried it with a Phillip Lim ruffled tank. Bingo! When she arrived at her friend’s house, the birthday girl looked fab, because she had hit the VanJean sale just after the Shop Tart that morning. And here they are, the birthday girl in a Loeffler romper and shoes and the Shop Tart in her last-minute look.
Sweet puppy Charlotte, named after Columbia’s own Kristen Davis’ character in Sex and the City, looks on, wishing she had hit the sale, too. Or at least stopped by Pupckakes, next to VanJean, for a treat. Charlotte has requested a post about doggie treats, so look for that soon and please feel free to let the Shop Tart know about your pooch’s faves.
After mimosas made with Italian blood orange juice - really, you must try them - all the ladies piled into a couple of cars and headed out to Garibaldi’s, where they enjoyed more bubbly (Please note that the bubbliest ladies were not driving. Safety first!) The food, as always, was perfection. The Shop Tart loved her arugula and orange salad with pine nuts.
One of her friends enjoyed the endive salad, always a favorite.
The Shop Tart and her sister-in-law split grouper stuffed with crab meat, which might be the best dish on the entire menu. They ordered extra sides of spinach and bok choy. Did you ever notice the list of sides at the bottom of the menu, including the aforementioned greens as well as asparagus and a few others? They’re only a couple of dollars each and the Shop Tart loves her vegetables. The birthday girl was fêted in true Garibladi’s style, with a candelabra and singing, of course!
She was only a little embarrassed and recovered after the first bite of scrumptious mud pie.
The Shop Tart is having trouble recovering from that fab Alexis Bittar cuff. Hopefully, her friend will let her borrow it once or twice. Or maybe you will buy her one from Non(e)such? After Garibaldi’s, the Shop Tart was supposed to go home (the birthday girl did, wisely), but her husband was out visiting a friend from back in the day who was in town for the weekend. The Shop Tart had her driver take her there. As these things go, she got talked into going to see Grey Egg at the Art Bar. Or maybe she talked everyone into going. What is the deal with bands that don’t start playing until midnight? The Shop Tart is almost too old for this sh*t. She rallied, though, and didn’t get home until one in the morning. Wheee!
She got just enough sleep to make it to church in the morning, where she wore her fab new Phillip Lim jumpsuit. And worshiped (God, not Phillip Lim, silly.) After church, she finally got to try Pawley’s Front Porch. She had heard rave reviews, including some from her own family, who had been there without her a couple of times. Believe the hype, y’all. The menu looks great and everything they tried was tasty. The menu is very similar to Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s, with a long list of sandwiches that can be ordered with chicken or as a burger. The Shop Tart is always disappointed by restaurant fish tacos, because she thinks her own are delicious. The fish tacos in restaurants never have enough other stuff. Pawley’s tacos with mahi were delicious. Hooray!
The specials looked great.
Mr. Shop Tart tried the lobster tacos, which didn’t disappoint one little bit.
The middle child wanted a veggie burger, which he had enjoyed before - he raved about it, in fact - but they were sold out, so he tried the grilled cheese from the children’s menu. It was good. The onion rings, though? He had to defend them from the rest of the table. They were quite possibly the best onion rings ever - and the Shop Tart has sampled a lot of onion rings. Someone is a little ham. Wonder where he gets that?
The other two children enjoyed chicken fingers. The Shop Tart always tastes the chicken fingers, as she once had a very bad experience with a child’s meal at a well-known upscale restaurant (raw chicken with a coating so tasteless even her toddler turned up his chicken-finger-loving nose.) These were delicious, as were the sweet potato fries and the regular fries (not pictured, but devoured nonetheless.)
Later that evening, the Shop Tart made fresh, Vietnamese salad rolls with her dear children. She had to share that, lest you think they only eat chicken fingers. Mr. Shop Tart was out of town and he missed it, poor guy. They were stuffed with cucumbers, local shrimp, carrots, red pepper, sprouts, fresh basil and mint, red leaf lettuce and the requisite rice vermicelli. So good, you have no idea. They had lemon poppy seed cookies for dessert, because the baby wanted cookies (and actually said please) and the Shop Tart didn’t want to go to the store. The ingredients for lemon poppy seed cookies were in the house, so there you have it.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
P.S. Belladea has new dresses from Lilla P and Susana Monaco - super comfy and très cute. Don’t forget to check the calendar for other events today!
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Jun
29
Friday, the Shop Tart was still on her Post-Vacation Detox. This sounds depressing. In fact, it was not. She had the perfect excuse to visit the new Ole Timey Meat Market on Rosewood. The day before, she had received the following two texts from a friend.
New Ole Timey Meat Market on Rosewood has wild Atlantic salmon for 8.99lb, frozen. Killer deal considering it’s so hard to find wild salmon here!
And they sell wild gulf shrimp for 9.50lb, arriving later this aft. Grilling the salmon tonight and will let you know how it is…
And later?
Ole Timey Salmon Report, Post Grilling: SO good!
The Shop Tart was due for a meal of steamed salmon and greens with lemon juice, so off she went to the market. Well. Right after a quick stop at VanJean, where she scored a fab jumpsuit. The meat market is the bomb. Every Thursday, they get fresh fish, always wild caught. If they don’t have what you want fresh, they have plenty frozen. They have other awesome frozen stuff, too, like biscuits and twice-baked potatoes.
And, um, these. If you want some.
The Ole Timey Meat Market is located in the old Keg, across from the Shop Tart’s beloved Rosewood Dairy Bar.
The market also has a decent selection of wine and and beer, as well as house-made pimento cheese, egg salad and chicken salad. Best part? No cell phones allowed, so you can’t call anyone and second-guess your choice for dinner.
The dinner was delicious; the salmon was perfection and the collards from her CSA box fresh and flavorful. After her meal, which included no alcohol whatsoever thankyouverymuch, she took a long walk, came home and watched Law & Order
Saturday morning, she awoke bright and early. Well. Not too early, because she stayed up too late watching the aforementioned Law & Order. With one husband and two children at the gym, she was left with her oldest child, who had a hankering for the Gourmet Shop. After a super-healthy breakfast of steel-cut oatmeal made with rice milk and walnuts, they stopped at Revente to drop off a few items for consignment (Go get ‘em. They’re lovely and a bit young-looking for the Shop Tart.) While she was there she spotted this Phillip Lim fringed dress in a size two. Gorgeous! And you could wear it to holiday cocktail parties, with black shoes and a gold bag, if you ask the Shop Tart. At the Gourmet Shop, her son enjoyed the breakfast panini.
The Shop Tart has always been intrigued by the avocado plate. As luck would have it, olive oil, avocado and lemon were all allowed on her super-healthy meal plan for the week. Delicious! And, yup, the kid got the bread.
Afterward, they stopped at VanJean to pick up a dress the Shop Tart was borrowing from someone who works there (Long story short: The day before, she wanted to buy the dress. She also wanted to buy the jumpsuit. A choice had to be made. One of the ladies who works there owns the same dress and offered to lend it to the Shop Tart so she could get the jumpsuit. Hooray!) And, um, the sale? It’s raging. The Shop Tart couldn’t resist a Loeffler Randall zippered skirt for only $65. Could you?
After VanJean, the Shop Tart and her son went to the All-Local Farmers’ Market at Rosewood Market. This is the last time it will be held there. Starting next week, the All-Local Market will be held every Saturday at 701 Whaley. Never fear: Rosewood Market is not closing. They will be open as always, serving delicious healthy treats all day long. In fact, next Saturday after you hit the All-Local Market at 701, stop by Rosewood for whatever you didn’t find and get lunch while you’re there. The crêpes smelled divine.
The flowers from Floral & Hardy Farm were glorious as always. The Shop Tart got a bouquet for herself and another for a friend’s birthday later that evening.
She also got yellow beans…
And organic cherry bark tea…
And fresh vegetables…
And garlic…
And green tomatoes for frying…
Fresh eggs…
She didn’t get these poppy seeds, but they did inspire her to make lemon poppy seed cookies the following evening.
She also learned that Anson Mills sell popping corn. Cool!
Although the Shop Tart didn’t need honey, she buys this when she does. Did you know that eating local honey can help keep seasonal allergies in check? That might be some kind of hippy rumor, but isn’t it a nice excuse to enjoy honey?
Do go to the All-Local Market next week for its opening day at 701 Whaley. Eating local is hands-down the least expensive and most socially responsible way to get healthy.
After the market, there was more fun to be had! The Shop Tart, her sister-in-law and her niece went to Soak for pedicures. Ahhhhhh… What a lovely way to spend an hour chatting with a friend. Even the playlist at Soak is perfect. The Shop Tart chose Parlez-Vous O.P.I. for her toes, her sister-in-law chose silver and her niece chose the mad fabulous orange at the end in the picture below.
The Shop Tart loves the new art at Soak, by Heather Lahaise, who designed the Shop Tart’s logo.
Toenails freshly painted, detox completed, the Shop Tart was ready to party, but she’s afraid that she’s gone on long enough for one day. The rest of the story will have to wait. She does hope you will take advantage of all the sales around town this week. The deals are mind-boggling. À demain, mes chèries.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
P.S. Unforgettable Fine Jewelry just received a shipment of “Diamond in a Pearl” by Galatea. The jewelry is unusual; the pearls are actually carved to hold diamonds. And you, dear Shop Tart reader, can receive 15% off these lovely pieces, just by mentioning the Shop Tart. Mwah!
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Jun
26
Well, Detox Week is almost over and the Shop Tart is ready to get right back on the summer party train. In fact, she can’t wait to mix the cucumber, basil, celery and lime juice from her detox with some vodka. Probably not what the recipe author had in mind, but how can she resist? It should be particularly lovely if she uses Thai basil.
Yesterday, she made a quick stop at Pout to replenish her supply of Alison Raffaele Face Forward Age Response primer, which keeps her from getting too glowy in this heat. She also stocked up on Guinot Double Minceur Ciblée, which is a nice way of saying “Double Slimming Targeted Treatment,” which is a nice way of saying “fat cream.” Ladies, cellulite lotion works. It doesn’t do miracles, but a good one will “reduce the appearance of cellulite.” Usually, ingredients like caffeine and menthol help tighten the skin. No idea what is in the Guinot, but of all the fat creams she has tried, the Shop Tart loves this one the best. It seems to have an immediate effect and, unlike some others, it doesn’t smell bad, which is a good thing because if you smell funny, people won’t even notice your lovely smooth skin.
She also needed waterproof mascara. After trying several from the drugstore which dried out her lashes, she was ready to see if Tarte could do better. She had actually shied away from Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Splashes! 4 in 1 Natural Waterproof Mascara because she didn’t like the packaging. Love Tarte, think this looks cheesy.
Lo and behold, she was about to purchase the mascara, nautical tube and all, when she noticed the Eyequatic set, only a few dollars more, which included three waterproof eyeshadows (cream and powder, so actually six) and a fab scarf, perfect for holing her hair on the beach or at the pool. The tube of mascara that comes in the kit is not wearing a denim suit with nautical accents, thank goodness. Although the tube is smaller, everyone knows you’re supposed to throw out mascara after a time anyway. We don’t, but we should. The Shop Tart has never in her life used an entire tube of mascara - and she wears a lot of mascara and keeps the products way longer than the package recommends. This mascara doesn’t get clumpy in the package like so many others do, especially the waterproof ones.
The eyeshadow is kind of nice, too. You’re meant to apply a layer of the cream shadow with powder over to create the waterproof effect. It actually works. The blue was a bit extreme for a mother of three at the pool, but the purple and gold are lovely. The Shop Tart recommends blending with your fingers or a brush if you don’t want très heavy shadow. And if you do? Rock it. The Shop Tart is your fashion cheerleader and she wants you to be happy.
After Pout, she headed to Finleaf, in hopes that some of the art from the Dock Walk would still be there. She missed the Dock Walk because she had a meeting at the exact same time (for the Columbia Children’s Theatre steering committee. She was thrilled to be asked!) Lucky for her, some of the art was still around, including these skate boards, which she has now realized would look mad cool on her front porch. She hopes to get to them today, if the artist hasn’t taken them already.
The slideshow includes art from the Dock Walk as well as some pieces from Finleaf’s regular stock.
Now that the Shop Tart no longer drinks coffee or soda, she has become an herbal tea junkie. This room at Finleaf, full of everything a chic tea-drinker needs, caught her eye.
The first thing she noticed when she entered was the lovely smell, coming from these packed shelves of loose tea. She left with a bag of delicious, fragrant rooibos.
The other reason she went to Finleaf was to see if they still had the thin, cotton tunics from India that make such great cover-ups for the pool or beach. They did and she picked out a lovely black and white print. She has a more colorful one from last year and loves them both. The tunics look great over a suit and you can throw on pants or a denim skirt for a quick trip to the grocery store or a casual, post-beach dinner. Bonus: They are only $38.
The summer heat is in full effect and the Shop Tart is ready to start making nothing but appetizers for dinner. Today, she is still in detox mode and will enjoy steamed fish and greens for dinner. Tomorrow night, she’s celebrating a friend’s 40th (and the end of her detox) by going out for dinner. Sunday night, she plans to make Thai salad rolls. Don’t you think she needs these little bowls for the dipping sauce? Wouldn’t that be lovely?
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
P.S. Simply Savory is open for breakfast. They will serve from from 7 to 10 am weekdays and 8 to 10 am Saturdays. The Shop Tart thinks this is just what Devine Street needs!
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Jun
25
Estella Vitae is what Anthropologie might be if it was still cool. Scratch that. Estella Vitae stands alone as a fab, fab shop full of fab, fab stuff. Just off King on Society Street, you could miss it if you weren’t paying attention, which makes it feel like a secret. It isn’t a secret, but still. There is no sign, just the name on the door.
The Shop Tart didn’t have time to go to Estella Vitae, really. Her eight-year old son had been more than patient while she tried on bra after embarrassing bra at the Bits of Lace sale. Her husband was already back home in Columbia, with two children suffering from post-vacation lag and a bunch of suitcases that needed unpacking*. But how could she pass by those shorts? And the fab yellow blouse? The jaunty scarf? And the belt? Oh, the belt. She had to know what was beyond the door. Had to!
As it happened, the eight-year old was riveted. There were three floors, several rooms and lots of weird stuff for him to explore. He spent a great deal of time on the floor examining a box of old wine keys. In fact, he was so riveted, he failed to notice the vintage Playboy magazine on the settee not six feet away. The shop is a brilliant mix of modern and vintage, from furniture to clothing. And shoes! Loved these ballet flats in every color.
And John Fleuvogs. The Shop Tart has loved them since college. Look at them. Mad chic and comfortable, too.
Owner Ginger Evans reworks vintage slips into gorgeous creations. Some of them could be worn as dresses. The Shop Tart is a little too old for such a thing, but she was tempted. She’s actually kicking herself for not snapping this one up, even if she only wore it at home. The mermaids!
When you go - and you will - plan to spend a lot of time, so you don’t miss the little things, like these cuff bracelets, made from ties and buttons.
And can we all go “SQUEEEEE” over this lamp? Can the Shop Tart have it for her fantasy dressing room? The one with a full bar and open shelves for each and every one of her handbags?
And the vintage jumpsuit with matching jacket? Oui? Oui!
This bracelet, found in an open jewelry box with other vintage pieces, is gorgeous. The Shop Tart likes to think Alexis Bittar saw it and was inspired to create his retro cuff.
Love these!
One more? Just one more. The Shop Tart would like to have a tea party, just for these plates.
If you, like the Shop Tart, want to see more, do take a look at the rest of her photos. And do go to Estella Vitae next time you’re in Charleston.
Shop Tart Tip: Kicks is closing…from July 1st to 4th for painting. What does this mean for you? The shoes have to go. The first sale pair you buy will be 40% off and all additional sale purchases will be 50% off, starting tomorrow. Hooray!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
* Incidentally, the Shop Tart’s still-full suitcase is on her bedroom floor. She got home on Saturday. She is a slacker. But she made a rule: She is only allowed to wear clothes out of the suitcase, so it will get be unpacked in no time.
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Jun
24
Well, the Shop Tart couldn’t resist. The Bits of Lace warehouse sale was calling her name. She had to go, even though one hapless eight-year old boy was forced to accompany her. Does it help her case if you know she took him somewhere fun for lunch first? And that he is a mellow child in general and probably didn’t mind? Leaving Isle of Palms for Columbia, her husband took the toddler, who is not fit for public consumption unless there are chicken fingers involved, and the older boy, who is excellent but old enough to be more than a little perturbed by hundreds of bras in one room. The Shop Tart and her middle son started their afternoon in Charleston with lunch at Fleet Landing on the water.
A while back, one of the Shop Tart’s friend’s fathers died. Sometimes sad occasions bring people together and several friends from far away converged in Charleston to attend the funeral. They needed drinks and lunch, always a fun combination. MK, whose father had died, suggested Fleet Market, apologizing for the tourist factor. The Shop Tart is a tourist, so this didn’t bother her one little bit. It was lovely. Even though the occasion was sad, it was great to connect with old friends and have drinks at lunch, just like the old days. The Shop Tart can’t remember which came first, a shared bottle of bubbly at the bar or lunch, but she does remember the bar, right on the marsh, and how great the breeze felt and how pretty her friends looked in the late afternoon light.
Eating at Fleet Landing with a child was a different experience, but just as much of a pleasure. He wanted to sit outside, right on the water, so they could watch the boats. It was a little warm, but the Shop Tart figured she owed him.
Already attempting to erase the two-week vacation extravaganza of pimento cheese, potato chips, ice cream and bubbly, she ordered salad with grilled salmon. The salmon was cooked just right and she felt healthier already.
Her son agonized. he wanted the crab cake sandwich, but he wanted a Caesar Salad. The salad promised shaved Asiago cheese, which he adores. He was thrilled to learn he could have the salad with a crab cake on top. In fact, it made his day,
The Shop Tart had, believe it or not, never had Caesar Salad before. She tried it. Why, oh why, has she never tried this before? So freaking good. And with a crab cake? Divine! Her son enjoyed doing his impression of Gordon Ramsay, which he prefaced (as he always does) by explaining that he really did like the food, but was going to pretend to be the famous chef, just for fun. Just so you know, the Shop Tart and her older two children have been enjoying every single episode of Kitchen Nightmares on Hulu. After all, they bleep out the cussing, so it’s harmless. Anyhow, Chef Ramsay almost always orders crab cakes or risotto, if they are available. The Shop Tart agrees that these two dishes test the mettle of any kitchen nicely, but that is neither here nor there.
After lunch, the duo headed straight to the semi-annual Bits of Lace sale, held in a previously empty storefront right off of King on Society Street.
Oh. My. Goodness. It was worth any amount of hassle. The bras were plentiful and they were divided on racks by size. The salespeople, as professional in the sale as they are in the shop, replaced things neatly as customers were finished trying them. Heaven! And the prices? They sent shivers of joy down the Shop Tart’s back, all the way around to her uplifted bosom. It takes a mighty fancy bra to uplift the girls and fancy bras are très chère, ma chèrie. Prices ranged form 60 to 75% off and the Shop Tart settled on two bras: A Cosabella that came in actual sizes, rather than “small, medium, large” as they often do, and…wait for it…drum roll…SQUEEE…an Eres…with the matching pants! Y’all. Eres bras are normally two to three hundred bucks. She got hers, a lovely charcoal gray, for only $60. The Cosabella was a mere $20. This, ladies, is worth a day trip. In addition to Cosabella and Eres, they have loads of other top brands: Marie-Jo, La Perla, Chantelle, Simone Perele and more. They also had quite a bit of lingerie, sleepwear and bathing suits. The sale continues through the end of the month. If you want to share a ride, the Shop Tart could probably be convinced to go back, especially if you drove, so she could have a glass of wine at lunch.
After that, the Shop Tart and son headed a block over to Estella Vitae, which she full intended to tell you all about today. Alas, it will have to wait until tomorrow as the Internet Gods were not smiling on her house today and she got a late start. The Bits of Lace sale is exciting enough for one day, n’est-ce pas?
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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Jun
23
Ever since Charleston Fashion Week, the Shop Tart has wanted to visit II Brunettes in Mt. Pleasant. She missed their show, but heard it was fab. On her way back from Isle of Palms on Saturday, she finally made it there.
What a treat! The store is beyond fabulous, with brands like Tucker, Corey Lynn Halter, Virgins Saints and Angels, Generra, Jacob’s Eye, Lauren Moffatt, Boy Meets Girl, Splendid, Tulle and on and on. The Shop Tart was thrilled to see her fave jeans by Current Elliott and she fell in love with a jacket by the same. A while back, a reader on Twitter asked the Shop Tart where to find a good faded jean jacket. She didn’t want to give an answer unless she meant it. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the coolest jean jacket she has ever seen. Technically, it’s chambray. But it is awesome. And sold out all over the place. II Brunettes had two left. The photo doesn’t do it justice. This jacket is the perfect mix of tough and girly, mature and youthful, sophisticated and unpretentious. Love!
She also loved this jewelry by Virgins Saints & Angels, très chic, très stackable.
There were loads of things on sale…
Although the Shop Tart could have taken a hundred pictures, she was short on time (and accompanied by a child who really wanted a bagel) so these will have to do.
Seriously? If you are anywhere near Mt. Pleasant, like within three hours, you need to make a trip to this shop. Even if you are just in Charleston for the day. Cross the bridge, do what you have to do, just get there. Anyone up for a day trip?
If you don’t have time for a day trip, remember that shopping right here in Columbia is hot, hot, hot*. There are mad deals all over town. Yesterday, the Shop Tart finally found time to get to Coplon’s. Shoes and big designers are 70% off. That means they cost 30%. When you look at the price tag, multiply by three and move the decimal over one spot. That’s your price and it’s pretty awesome.
Shop Tart Tip: Most people try to multiply by the percentage off, then subtract from the total. Save a step. Multiply by the percentage you will actually have to pay. Or…do what the Shop Tart does when she’s too giddy over a big sale to think straight in a hurry and ask a nearby salesperson to calculate it for you.
Speaking of salespeople, no matter how excited you are, be nice. Big sales are not their most fun days. They work harder and, if they’re on commission, make less money. Don’t be shy about taking a hundred things into the fitting room (Dear Salespeople, Please don’t throw shoes at the Shop Tart for telling people to do this. Well, maybe if they are really nice shoes, like Louboutins. And she gets to keep them.) You need to try on a lot of things to make your decision and a big sale is a great time to score something a little different from what you normally wear. So go nuts! Well, not totally nuts. When you are sure you don’t want something, put it back neatly on the hanger, refastening anything you can, and offer to let the salesperson put it back on the floor, so another happy shopper can try it, m’kay? Mind your manners (because if you are really nice, they might find something in your size at a great price that you missed.)
The Shop Tart agonized. She loved this dress, by Hoss Intropia, but it was too long. The in-house tailor recommended removing the white stripe rather than lifting all the stripes, but the Shop Tart couldn’t bear to lose any of the colors. Without them all, the dress is just not the same. So, if you are tall, please go buy this dress with her blessing. It’s 50% off and a size 2.
She also loved this 70% off blouse, by Marni. Check out this photo of her taking a photo of herself in the dressing room. Normal. Not.
In the end, the Shop Tart was forced to choose just one thing (Even at 70% off, Coplon’s is a bit of a stretch for her budget.) She wanted the top (Which had pockets. How cool is that?) and she wanted these two pair of shoes.
She also wanted these, but eliminated them because she wasn’t sure how often she would wear them. So…fab vintage-Chanel-looking Louboutin Gino sandal or edgy black Jimmy Choo Samoa sandal? Both are sold out all over the place, which adds to their allure, n’est-ce pas? Guh! There was only one thing to do. She put a different shoe on each foot and wandered around the store for a few minutes. She had to know which shoe felt best. Interestingly, the Louboutins won, even though the Choos felt better at first. Also, she realized that if she didn’t have the Louboutins, she would feel weepy later. For years and years. Now, what to wear with those fab sandals? They’ll have to go with something already in her closet (unless she finds a really, really good sale somewhere…) And, golly gee, if you want to get a present for the Shop Tart, the blouse or the Choos would do nicely.
Do enjoy the lovely slide show of sale items, heavy on the shoes because the photographer was obsessed. There were plenty of clothes on sale too, and you really, really need to go.
And where will we go today? Looking for a sale? Go anywhere, because it’s all on sale! Wheeeeeee!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
* Ha, ha. Are you singing that song now? Do you want to join the Shop Tart in a Conga line? S’fun!
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Jun
22
And wasn’t it a lovely vacation? Before the week was over, the Shop Tart and her friends were wondering if they could get a discount on a two-week rental next year. Never before has a beach vacation been so relaxing, so divine, so absolutely perfect. The vacation was so relaxing, they rarely had any desire to go out. Poe’s Tavern, however, could not be missed. One evening, they loaded up the children - four total (Score: Shop Tart 3, Other Team 1) - and headed to Sullivan’s.
If you haven’t been to Poe’s, you must, with or without children. Although the atmosphere is casual (Duh), they do have bubbly. The Shop Tart consumed so much bubbly and pimento cheese last week, she has decided to do a one-week detox to get back on track. Believe it or not, she actually enjoys this sort of thing. Besides, she has to be good and healthy for her trip to Paris in a month, during which she plans to eat and drink herself silly. Where were we? Oh, yes, the bubbly at Poe’s. Pretty good, not bad.
Notice the writing all over the table, highly amusing to the children, who had never seen such a thing. The middle child, who at least had the sense not to write his own name, scrawled “Bob the Builder.” Mr. Shop Tart enjoyed his own glass of bubbly and, for some reason, saw fit to do some sort of fake gang sign when his wife snapped this shot. Or maybe it’s a real gang. Like a gang of lawyers who are also dads. And drive Priuses.
The wildest toddler on earth was not so bad at Poe’s. He was probably tired from his earlier beach antics. Because this…
…was placed out of his reach, he was entertained by this door, mercifully secured to the floor and wall.
He was also chatting happily to himself about “My chicken. It’s coming soon, my chicken.” Unbeknownst to him, Poe’s doesn’t have chicken fingers, his favorite restaurant meal. His parents are no fools and chose not to tell him this. Toddlers don’t do well with anticipation. He got mac and cheese. He lived.
Much like Gordon Ramsey and his crab cakes, the Shop Tart must sample cheese fries on any menu. These made a delightful appetizer and were right up there with the Whig’s. They appeared to be hand-cut, were nice and hot, and had plenty of real cheese. Cheesy to the last bite, in fact, just the way she likes them.
The middle child ordered the soup of the day, a Manhattan chowder. He loves this picture, because it looks like Napoleon Dynamite is about to eat the soup. Too bad it didn’t come with tots. Ha!
The oldest child, who rarely gets hold of a burger thanks to his family’s mix of vegetarianism, pescetarianism and not-much-red-meat-eatingarianism, ordered a cheese burger. This burger is from the children’s menu, but a grown-up could eat it. Not that the Shop Tart made such a responsible choice, but you could.
Mr. Shop Tart ordered the famed Mahi tacos, which come in plates of two or three. Knowing his wife would demand a taste or an entire taco, he wisely ordered the larger portion.
The other adults at the table ordered the famed Tuna tacos. Delish!
The Shop Tart, on a roll after the cheese fries, had the Starving Artist, a bunless burger served with a choice of cheese (jalapeño Jack, in this case) and bacon blue cheese slaw. Utterly satisfying and about half of the reason she needs to detox this week. Sadly, she ordered in haste and would have preferred the sweet pepper goat cheese, but there’s always next time.
Don’t forget to be very quiet on the way out, no matter what those hooligans across the street are doing.
In the week ahead…
- The Shop Tart predicts you will enjoy reading the calendar to find out what’s going on around town. Mwah!
- KD’s Treehouse is now offering Swaddlebees Organic Cotton Diapers. The Shop Tart hopes all you new mothers will consider using cloth. She used it to varying degrees with each of her children and found it to be a breeze once she got used to it. And really? It’s much better for the environment. Why not give it a try, even if you just use them at home? By the way, pins are a thing of the past. It’s all about velcro and snaps, y’all.
- Pout is now offering PCA peels to calm rosacea, treat pigment disorders, enliven aging skin and reduce wrinkles, acne and sun damage. But does it do windows? Even if it doesn’t, the Shop Tart is in and plans to call in-house esthetician Shannon for an appointment tout de suite.
- Have you heard about Columbia Originals? First of all, it’s free. Second of all, it gets you free food. At any participating restaurant, you can sign up and get a card. Every dollar you spend at those restaurants counts as one point. Every 150 points gets you a $10 credit at any of the restaurants. Best part? The program is only open to locally-owned, independent restaurants. Check out the list of participating restaurants here.
- Sales, sales everywhere, y’all. And it’s hot as heck, so get all those bare pieces you couldn’t imagine being brave enough to wear a few months ago.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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