Jun
4
Delayed gratification can be fun!
Filed Under Babies and Children, Beauty, Clothes, Dinner at Home, Eat and Drink, Great deal, Home, Sale, Shoes, Wine, live music | Leave a Comment
One of the best things about shopping in local stores is the instant gratification: Choose, pay, and wear it out for drinks that very afternoon. Today, the Shop Tart had a lovely experience with delayed gratification. Two weeks ago, she was fitted for two bras by Carol of a Soft Touch at Belle Vie. After a fitting, Carol orders the bras and you have to wait. Waiting is hard, but the lovely thing is that you’ve already paid, so when your order arrives, it’s like it’s free! Today, the Shop Tart’s mother had an appointment for a fitting and the Shop Tart’s bras had arrived. They fit perfectly, bien sûr. Afterward, they went to lunch at Cloud Nine, where the Shop Tart enjoyed a beloved standby, the spinach salad. She and her mother fell in love with the glassware by Sophie Conran for Portmeirion. The bubbly flutes made the Shop Tart wish she could get married all over again - to the same husband, of course - just so she could register for them.
And the salad bowl? Yes!
Why stop there? The ice bucket was mad chic, too.
And, erm, just in case you wanted to get the Shop Tart another little present? This cake plate is fab (and would make a nice cheese plate, too, n’est-ce pas? Cake stands with low pedestals are verrah modern.
While she was browsing, the Shop Tart spotted a plate of angel food cake with pineapples, strawberries and…wait for it…lime zest. She resisted sitting back down to order a piece, but just barely, and only because her mother had an appointment at the car shop and they had to leave. She ran into a pregnant friend who was there to pick up one of Cloud Nine’s scrumptious cookies; did you know a cookie a day makes babies prettier? True story.
After lunch and bra shopping, the ladies headed to the car shop to leave Shop Tart mère’s car for service. Belle Vie shows shoes from kicks and la mère had seen a pair she wanted to try in her size. Lucky for her, they were in stock and on sale. Hooray! Kicks is still offering 30% off the first pair you purchase and 40% off the second. Never one to miss out on a sale, la mère wondered aloud if the Shop Tart might want to buy another pair. Mais oui! The Bijou de Pied flip-flops in purple were the perfect choice, around $30 with the discount. Maybe she needs the other colors, too.
And home she went to relieve the brave sitter, who had taken the children to Gilbert for strawberry picking, which gave the Shop Tart the perfect excuse to pick up some Gullah Gourmet biscuit mix from Simply Savory for strawberry shortcake. The shortcake didn’t happen though, because the she took the children to the pool instead, followed by diner at Pho Viet on Decker. The dinner was divine, but you will have to do without photos. Why? Because a certain toddler was acting like a complete maniac and the Shop Tart didn’t want to identify herself for fear of prosecution. Let it suffice to say she highly recommends the chicken and shrimp bún and the Vietnamese seafood crêpe. The Vietnamese spring rolls, which are really more like wraps, reminded the Shop Tart that summer is here and she needs to pull out Mai Pham’s Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking
In other news…
- Speaking of delayed gratification, the Shop Tart is halfway through her Laser Genesis treatments from Illumination Med Spa, as well as halfway through her series of facials with LED light therapy at Pout. She’s really starting to see a difference in texture; her skin is much smoother to the touch. Pesky breakouts and fine lines seem to be less prevalent, too. Loving these results!
- Revente got a Marc Jacobs bag in yesterday. The fab purse retails for $1250 and Revente is offering it for just $750.
- Lola has a brand new shipment from Velvet. Cool and easy for summer!
- Sid & Nancy has expanded their buying hours to…every day, all day. Take in your hippest clothes (you know, the ones you can’t fit into any more) and sell them for a little cash.
- Simply Savory’s free wine tasting is happening tomorrow from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, with a special addition. Lynwood Duke will be there with samples of her homemade Biscuit Bites in buttermilk and Country Ham. Perfect for gourmet snacking at the beach, at the lake or on the porch.
- Local band Lunch Money is playing Lollapalooza this year (cool, huh?) and you can get their CD at KD’s Treehouse. If you’ve never seen or heard the band, you must. Great fun for all ages!
- Check out brand new Tory Burch at VanJean, sure to be fabulous!
- Belle Vie is having a crazy Doncaster sample sale. Everything is divided up by size, so browsing is easy!
- During the month of June, Oyster bar is offering half-off oysters every day from 4 to 6 pm.
- Take a look at new summer clothing at Bohemian, including lots of cool cami-style tops for summer from Free People, Project E and 213 Industry.
- Tonight, enjoy an Oregon-themed happy hour on the patio at Solstice: $3 glasses of Oregon Pinot Gris & Oregon Pinot Noir al fresco with complimentary Oregon-style snacks from the kitchen.
- Ross Holmes will entertain the crowd at Dianne’s tomorrow night. Do make a reservation, as seating is limited.
- H2 and Tonic day Spa are offering free microderm abrasion with every one hour facial this month.
- At Frame of Mind from 5:30 to 8 pm, Kenneth Gutzler will be presenting his art. There will be wine, cheese and chatting, the perfect thing for after work or before dinner.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
Jun
3
Oh, the keerus pants.
Filed Under Babies and Children, Clothes, Dinner at Home, Eat and Drink, Exclusive savings, Great deal, Men, Sale, Shoes, vacation | 5 Comments
What? You’ve never heard of keerus clothes? Well, then. You might want to start by learning the origin of the word. The concept of keerus clothing is simple, really. In fact, you have keerus items in your closet right this secend, or you should. They are the cornerstones of your wardrobe - the pieces you reach for when you want to feel comfortable, when you don’t know what to wear, when nothing else will do. They are the comfort food of fashion. Like the best comfort food, they are well made and not so precious they can’t be enjoyed. They are Simply Savory lasagna made with fresh ricotta, not from the freezer. They are piping hot, hand-cut fries with real cheese at the Whig. They are lightly-salted Kettle chips with chipotle mayo from Rosewood Market.
Most men have entire keerus outfits. The Shop Tart’s husband has a winter keerus outfit (tan corduroys, v-neck sweater, button-down shirt, sport coat if necessary, the Burberry one, of course) and a summer one (Lacoste knit shirt, orange and red seersucker shorts, Converse sneakers.) A certain chic boutique buyer’s husband has a year-round keerus suit: white button-down shirt and khakis, sunglasses worn on the face or as a necklace. The smartest men know their keerus clothes and stick with them. The Shop Tart has more keerus items than she can count. In fact, she has made a point of trying to purchase only keerus things, which is harder than you might think. You see, one doesn’t always know what will be keerus.
During a recent trip to Kicks, the Shop Tart tried on no less than one hundred pair of shoes (True story. Ask Trenholm, who cheerfully went to get every single pair.) She was searching for a pair to replace - or supplement - three keerus pair she had found there in the past. One was a pair of gold sandals that she almost wore to death last summer. She wore what was left of them in the Dominican Republic in November and they are only suitable for walking back and forth to the beach now. Frustrated at her inability to find the perfect new pair that would solve all of her shoe issues, the Shop Tart was almost ready to leave. But…but…she spotted one more pair. She had seen them before, but they weren’t on sale then. And they didn’t set her heart aflutter, as some shoes will do. As it happens, these were the sort of shoes one has to try on to appreciate. She slid her large, boat-like foot into the sandal and felt a little shiver. Could it be? Could this shoe be The One? Hmmm… The other sandal was added. She walked around the store. In fact, she followed her toddler through the shop, because he insisted that she do so while he carried one of the decorative paper umbrellas. She was forced to trail behind him, singing, “Chim chiminy, chim chiminy, chim chim, chireeeee…” Which was annoying, and not just for her. Everyone in the store was forced to listen to her singing, which is less than soothing. What kind of toddler needs a traveling soundtrack?
Although the Shop Tart felt tense, the fab Tibi sandals withstood the pressure. And, dear reader, she bought them. She didn’t realize the keerus nature of the sandals immediately. It didn’t dawn on her until she wore them all weekend and for two days after that. She will be wearing them again today and probably tomorrow. Are they gold? Silver? Golden silver? Who knows? They go with everything and they feel great. Isn’t new love grand?
The keerus concept applies to more than just clothing. Everyone has a keerus breakfast. The Shop Tart’s is steel-cut oats made with hazelnut-vanilla rice milk and sprinkled with dried fruit and a handful of chopped nuts. She has several keerus lunch spots. Yesterday, she ate at Rosewood Market, where she knows that her lunch will always be fresh, healthy and delicious and she won’t have to worry about any creepy ingredients. The Mediterranean pizza special was divine.
Today, she has plans to dine at another keerus spot, Cloud Nine Market. Her mother has an appointment with the bra lady at Belle Vie and the Shop Tart has to pick up the bras she ordered (Oh, how she hopes they are keerus bras!) Cloud Nine is just down the street and one of her favorites. Can’t wait!
In other news…
- LaRoque has a 50% off sale rack. Time to score an original at a fraction of the regular price.
- Mbellished is having a sizzling summer sale, 30% off everything but invitations. Time to stock up on fab hostess gifts for every summer trip!
- Shop Tart Deal Alert: Ashley Hayes, a certified Pilates instructor with a great reputation, is offering Shop Tart readers an Introductory Pilates session for only $30. This would be a private, one-on-one session with the Pilates machines. That is an incredible deal. if you haven’t tried Pilates, this is your chance. Even one session on the machines will help you bring more to your mat practice. Call 803-800-6726 for your appointment as soon as possible, as she will get booked.
- Just the thing has fab floral jewelry. Check out the “Employee Pick of the Week,” chosen by Lacie, store manager in Atlanta.
- Word on the street has it that the All-Local Farmers’ Market will be held permanently at 701 Whaley, starting July 4th. Love that space, love the market, love the idea!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
May
28
Rainy day fun.
Filed Under Babies and Children, Clothes, Eat and Drink, Good Cause!, Great deal, Jewelry, Men, Sale, Shoes, Wine, cheap treat, live music | Comments Off
Some days aren’t meant for work. Due to inclement weather, they aren’t so great for play, either. The Shop Tart recommends a little Happy Hour, grown-up style. That would be as opposed to just-out-of-college-and-broke style, which involved slurping up as many vodka tonics as possible before Goatfeathers’ happy hour ended and drinks were rendered unaffordable. Grown-ups have more fun, they really do. Once upon a time, on a warm and dreary day, the Shop Tart had childcare and nothing to do. She also had a cell phone, with plenty of fun people in the contact list. Her first text - “having bad day. glass of wine at gourmet?” - was answered with a cheerful phone call and happy hour was ON.
Lucky for the ladies, the outdoor tables at Gourmet Shop had cleared by 3:30 or so when they arrived. Yes, that’s a bit early for a glass of wine, but it was kind of close to a weekend. As they perused the wine list, they were cheered to see splits of bubbly were available. Or so they thought. As it turns out, the low prices were for full-sized bottles. The lovely people at the café realized the futility of trying to mark up prices for drinking in when someone could just run inside the shop, grab a bottle and uncork it themselves. So, this lovely bottle of Pol Clément set them back just $9.99.
As mentioned before: Early Wine + No Food = Unseemly Behavior. The Shop Tart recommends the cheese and pâté plate. She and her friend took the waiter’s suggestion on cheese and pâté and were not disappointed. Not one little bit.
Also available on the menu:Two cheeses and two pâtés, One cheese and two pâtés…or the deluxe Three cheeses and two pâtés. Or you can go pâté-only. Or cheese extravaganza. Or prosciutto and parrano. Or melty Brie with baguette. Are you hungry? Shop Tart Tip: You can always recork a bottle and take it with you, so there is no need to guzzle. You can also leave a glass or two for the waiter. Did you know that “pourboire” means “tip” in French? And that it translates literally to “for drinking?” But do not consider the dregs of your wine to be an actual tip. Leave a real one, as your waiter is probably the last guy to go home, because of those irritants still out on the sidewalk. And do offer to close out your tab as soon as you are finished ordering so he can tally his sales. That is a nice thing to do.
Yesterday was a rainy day but a bottle of bubbly was not at all what the Shop Tart wanted. To cheer herself up and entertain her middle child and his friend, who had both given stellar performances in the school play that day, she accompanied them to Simply Savory for ice cream cones. Delish! There was a group of ladies in the wine room who appeared to be enjoying a birthday luncheon; this looked like a great deal of fun and the Shop Tart thinks she would like to entertain a group of ladies there herself one of these days. After that, she made a quick trip to Kicks, where spring shoes are 30% off. How could she resist? She’s patiently waiting to see if those multi-colored Nanette Lepore sandals can be located in her size. These perfect-for-the-rest-of-your-life Jill Stuarts are on sale:
And, yes, the Shop Tart knows you were eying that fab pair in the background. Gorgeous! They are by L.A.M.B. and are also on sale.
Now, are you looking for a real deal? A deal so good, you’ll feel giddy? How about these super-comfortable, classic ballet flats by Restricted? They were only $54 full-price, so at 30% off they are more or less free. As you may know, the Shop Tart gets emotional about her passion for tan patent leather shoes of any style. Navy patent is mad sophisticated. And fuschia? Yes! You could score all three for the price of just two.
These are also on sale and practically free.
Out of your size? Never fear. There were plenty of new things in all price ranges (Psssst…mostly on the lower end. We love summer!) The Shop Tart predicts the Jeffrey Campbell gold ruffled sandals will sell out by the end of the week and the shell and lizard pair next to them won’t be far behind.
Lurrrve these Nanette Lepores (you can see the green soles reflected on the table!) and the metallic Andrea Carranos next to them. All three could be worn through summer and into fall (and winter…and next spring…)
There were more new kicks by Enigma and Restricted (always great prices!), Nanette Lepore and others.
And these were just out of the box, not even on the floor yet.
After Kicks, the Shop Tart stopped by Non(e)such for a wedding gift - Annieglass with a gold rim to complement the bride’s china pattern - which they wrapped and mailed for her. She spent a few minutes chatting with the ladies at VanJean before heading home to make eggplant pizza. What a lovely way to fill a rainy day with sunshine!
In other news…
- If you have a child or just like to shop for them, do stop by KD’s Treehouse and join their club for occasional emails and special discounts!
- Today and tomorrow, get 20% off spring and summer merchandise and 10% off denim at M Boutique.
- Bohemian has new shipments from Free People, Dogeared (gold necklaces, irish linen bracelets and other jewelry) and Ragdoll (super comfortable layering tanks and bandeaus in charcoal and a beautiful range of purples.)
- Spring merchandise at Max and Prissy is at least 30% off.
- Tonight from 5 to 7 pm, head to Cellar on Greene for a $7 wine tasting with one of the Shop Tart’s favorite wine reps, Michael Cramer. Pinot noir and chardonnay. Yum.
- Friday evening, Sprummer is the place to be. Great time, great cause. The Shop Tart and her husband had a ball last year and can’t wait to go back. Edwin McCain and the Blue Dogs are playing, the food will be fabulous and so will the company (ahem.) Get your tickets now.
- Everything is on sale at Weathers, y’all. S’crazy!
- Solstice is teaming up with Three Dog Bakery for another Doggie Wine Dinner on June 18th. Call the restaurant for details and reservations.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
May
27
Big fashion night in Columbia.
Filed Under Babies and Children, Bags, Clothes, Eat and Drink, Great deal, Meet the Designer, Sale, Shoes | Comments Off
Yesterday afternoon, Allison Barnes from Southern Living was in LaRoque with AnnaBelle to get a feel for the shop for a piece in the magazine. The Shop Tart was there to get a feel for all the cool new stuff AnnaBelle has in the works, including a reversible skirt (Business on the inside, party on the outside, or vice versa. Gorgeous either way) and some shorts similar to the dressy silk ones we’ve been seeing in all the magazines (But with bigger, better, non-bulky pockets.) A mother, her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were there and the daughter, looking for a graduation dress, found the perfect one at LaRoque after going to several other shops and “trying on hundreds.” While AnnaBelle fitted her for a few minor alterations, those amazing cookies from Devine Foods next door kept the boyfriend busy, although he seemed to hold his own with all those women. Later, another mother-daughter team stopped in for dresses for an upcoming wedding. The mother scored a dress she had spotted a week before in the window and loved. The little brother, dragged along for the trip, also enjoyed a cookie. No wonder all the boys love AnnaBelle. Have you tried those cookies? If she gave you one, you would love her, too, if you don’t already.
VanJean was bustling, too. In the morning, the Shop Tart popped in to rifle through the sale racks. Somehow, though she has seen it all before courtesy of her obsession with new shipments, she always finds something new. Frankly a new, recesso-fabulous price can make what’s old seem new again. Gorgeous top and lust-worthy skirt? Scored! Later that afternoon, Phillip Lim Sales Director Chiaki and New York Store Director Esteban from the big city were in VanJean chatting with the ladies. That evening, owner Melissa Blanchard wanted them to enjoy a true southern dinner, so off to Mr. Friendly’s it was. The Shop Tart met them there and felt a little light-headed faced with all that fabulousness, but Chiaki and Esteban were as down-to-earth as anyone she has ever met. Esteban, who entertained the heck out of the table with a true-life New York City shoplifting story, might be an even bigger fan of Morrissey than the Shop Tart is*, which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt how very cool Phillip Lim is. He has a lot in common with Mary and Kindall, who are not afraid to chase down would-be shoplifters, though it’s a bit more harrowing and involves trains in the big city. On the other hand, our police have more time to follow up with the perpetrators. Chiaki has an adorable nine-year old daughter. In a photo on her mother’s phone, she is grinning and wearing a fab trench. Of course, the Shop Tart had to know who did the trench. Donna Karan, bien sûr. Oh, to live in New York City as the daughter of someone in fashion…why do these things never happen to the Shop Tart? And…um…by the way…HOW COOL IS IT THAT THE SHOP TART GOT TO HAVE DINNER WITH PEOPLE FROM PHILLIP LIM? Answer: So cool. You will not be surprised to see how well Esteban and Chiraki rock the comfortably fabulous and modern style that is Phillip Lim. Fried pickles, green tomatoes, and grits were enjoyed by all.
Because Mr. Friendly’s is the place to go with out-of-town guests who want a taste of southern style, AnnaBelle and Allison from Southern Living were dining on the patio. The Shop Tart joined them after dinner to dish about shoes, dresses and all sorts of other fascinating subjects. Allison is so much fun and the Shop Tart thinks if she ever wants to move to Columbia, we would love to have her. In a super-classy move, the Shop Tart graciously offered to finish the dessert they had left on the table. Yum. Can’t wait to see the piece on AnnaBelle, but don’t hold your breath, because these things can take a year. Frankly, this is a good thing for you, dear reader, because you have months to place your orders before she gets too busy. Look at these two lovely ladies…
The Shop Tart came home and tumbled into bed (after washing her face, applying sufficient skin-care products and brushing her teeth, of course. And drinking a cup of tea. And watching her first episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey
In other news…
- The aforementioned VanJean sale? Yup. Go get fabulous deals on things you can wear right this second. Did the Shop Tart mention how she loves Phillip Lim?
- Everything at Kicks is 25% off.
- Check out the cuteness at KD’s Treehouse right now…
- Since they were closed on Monday, Solstice is offering a great lists of half-price wines this evening. Enjoy!
- Thursday and Friday take 20% off spring and summer merchandise and 10% off denim at M Boutique.
- Enjoy a complimentary (that means free, yo) wine tasting tonight at Cellar on Greene from 5 to 7 pm. The tasting is free if you buy one item from the menu (And we all know that Wine + No Food = Sloppy Drinker) and $5 if you don’t.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
* Although not, perhaps, a bigger fan than Mr. Shop Tart. Had to add that so Mr. Shop Tart wouldn’t throw a fit.
May
26
Some people just have a knack…
Filed Under Clothes, Dinner at Home, Eat and Drink, Exclusive savings, Great deal, Home, Jewelry, Sip and Shop, live music | 3 Comments
Last week, when the weather was mellow and the mosquitoes were easily dissuaded by a spritz of repellent, the Shop Tart was invited for a drink on the patio at the home of her friends Tracie and Jay. They were joined by Jeffrey Day, arts aficionado and one of the brightest new stars in the local blog pool. Jeffrey was getting ready to head to Spoleto, where he is now, and his updates are a great read, although they might make you insanely jealous if you wish you were there. Anyhow, the conversation was interesting and any evening that ends with the singing of Tammy Wynette is a good one in the Shop Tart’s book.
Tracie, by the way, is one of those people who puts together a fab party with seemingly no effort. First of all, she uses these mad chic linens from Flock Home, with which the Shop Tart has become truly, madly, deeply obsessed. Designer Gina Pericini is a friend of Tracie’s from California. Maybe the secret to being casually hip-as-hell is having the right friends. Or maybe the friends come second. Chicken, egg, chicken, egg. The drink turned into a light dinner and the Shop Tart sipped cava while her hostess chopped, oiled and salted various delicacies for the grill. Did you know that green onions, lightly salted and grilled, taste better than onion rings?
Green onions, green tomatoes, okra, corn on the cob, tuna…all lovely grilled. She also had the famed Palmetto Cheese, both jalapeño and regular for comparison. Food is always a nice conversational piece. People love to share their opinions (which is why so many of them have blogs. Ahem.) Another friend once hosted a pizza tasting party, serving local pies, all cheese and offering pads and pencils for scoring. The Shop Tart doesn’t remember who won, but the party was a hit. On the patio, Tracie laid out a feast - olives, palmetto cheese, strawberries, crackers, vegetables for dipping - divine!
The patio offers a view of the lawn, which is more sculpture garden than lawn and is utterly lovely. Jay Hubbell is an artisan stonemason and sculptor (yes, the Shop Tart had to text Tracie for that description) and his work can be seen in various spots around town. It’s large in scale and the effect of several pieces in one yard is stunning. You know what else is stunning? A guy who can build stylish tomato stakes at the drop of a hint. Love these. Love!
While the tomato stakes are the bomb, you can glimpse a better example of Jay’s work to the left. In fact, while Tracie was preparing dinner and the Shop Tart was watching and sucking down cava sharing charming anecdotes, Jay was giving Jeffrey a guided tour of his work around town.
The evening was lovely, as were the handmade stacks of crackers, Palmetto Cheese, hot sauce and grilled green tomato. Yup. And the Shop Tart thinks we should all follow Tracie’s lead and enjoy a branch or two of something lovely from the yard (or the neighbor’s yard, if they are generous or not home.) So simple, so stylish, n’est-ce pas?
In other news…
- Collect your old gold and head to Unforgettable Fine Jewelry on Thursday from 6 until 8:30 pm for a gold party. You know how it goes: Bring your unwanted gold jewelry to sell for cash or…drumroll…this is where it gets interesting…double the amount in store credit! And…you and the other guests will enjoy complimentary drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres and live music while you wait for your gold to be valued. Entry is free but space is limited, so call 779-3636 today to r.s.v.p.
- Check out new stuff at Revente from Blue-Q, including eco-stylish water bottles.
- Shop Tart Deal Alert: Ashley Hayes, a certified Pilates instructor with a great reputation, is offering Shop Tart readers an Introductory Pilates session for only $30. This would be a private, one-on-one session with the Pilates machines. That is an incredible deal. if you haven’t tried Pilates, this is your chance. Even one session on the machines will help you bring more to your mat practice. Call 803-800-6726 for your appointment as soon as possible, as she will get booked.
- The Vidalia Casserole from Simply Savory was mouth-wateringly delicious. Call and see what they have in the freezer or just stop by. This is the easiest way to enjoy a home-cooked meal!
- Thursday night, pack up your lawn chairs and head over to Riverbanks Botanical Garden for Rhythm and Blooms. Enjoy live music by the J’ouvert Steel Band, wine and tapas available for purchase, pre-prdered picnic baskets and gorgeous spring weather. Picnics must be ordered from Riverbanks by 5 pm the Tuesday before the show. You can also browse local art while you sip, chat and listen to music. Rhythm and Blooms is the perfect way to kick off your weekend and this is the last one! 6 to 9 pm.
- Friday evening, Sprummer is the place to be. Great time, great cause. The Shop Tart and her husband went last year and can’t wait to go back. Edwin McCain and the Blue Dogs are playing, the food will be fabulous and so will the company (ahem.) Get your tickets now.
- On Saturday, wake up early and head down to Hyatt Park at the Eau Claire clock tower for the Ribs & Renaissance Festival. According to their Facebook page, “this will not involve people running around in Medieval costumes, but there will be a ribs tasting.” There also will be other types of food, cheap beer, local music, indie movies and - most importantly - Crafty Feast, an independent craft fair. Love Etsy? This is the live version. The festival lasts from 11 am until 8 pm. Enjoy music by American Gun, Magnetic Flowers, The Unawares, Mystic Vibrations and more. Crafty Feast will include fifty-six vendors. Bring some spending money because most of these yummy goods only will be offered in Columbia once. See you there!
- Friday from 6 to 8:30 pm, head to Frame of Mind to “Investigate Mike Krajewski’s DNA.” Enjoy an evening of his art, music and film.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
May
25
Happy Memorial Day!
Filed Under Babies and Children, Clothes, Eat and Drink, Home, Jewelry, New Shop Opening, Sale, Shoes, Wine, vacation | 2 Comments
So…the big Westin Resort Wedding Weekend was not a complete success. The Shop Tart had a lovely time Friday at the post-rehearsal party in Bluffton. At 4 am, she woke to a loud shrieking noise. Her throat felt like it was on fire. Back in the day, she would have downed a few ibuprofen after recalling that, yes, she had had about four too many drinks and, yes, too many cigarettes will make one’s throat sore. But that was then. She had, in fact, behaved perfectly decently. Really. No cigarettes and only one too many glasses of bubbly. The loud shrieking noise was a fire alarm. Luckily, there was no fire. Not so luckily, the faulty alarm continued for thirty minutes. Although she has never been to medical school and isn’t even particularly bright in the science department, she knew immediately that the sore throat was a case of strep. How did she make this brilliant diagnosis? Well…the toddler had been diagnosed with strep on Friday and given that the weekend babysitter was a bona fide trusted adult and loving family member*, she and Mr. Shop Tart decided to head to the beach anyway. Karma in action, kids. True story. She secured a prescription for an antibiotic from a dear doctor friend in Columbia and sent poor Mr. Shop Tart out for the dope.
She rallied for breakfast (love a fancy hotel buffet!) Afterward, because it was pouring rain and they were unable to swim or enjoy the beach, she and Mr. Shop Tart spent some time wandering the hotel. He exercised and she sat in the sauna and felt the delicious heat permeating her rapidly-healing body. Antibiotics work really fast when you only take them once every ten years or so. She drank myriad cups of herbal tea and even enjoyed a little shoe-browsing in the lobby on her brand-new MacBook Pro 
After checkout, they went to the Boathouse for brunch, which the Shop Tart recommends. Maybe it was just because she was feeling better, but her crab cakes and eggs were delicious. The restaurant’s wine list was more than decent and, given the virtuous weekend she had, the Shop Tart is not ashamed to admit she enjoyed a glass of Principessa di Gavia, which she knew from Baan Sawan. Dry, white wine: It’s what’s for breakfast, y’all. She and her husband also enjoyed quietly mocking some guy at the next table who must have seen Sideways one too many times. Quietly mocking people without needing to say the words is one of the great joys of marriage.
When they arrived home, they took the whole family, intrepid babysitters included, out for dinner at the Cock n Bull. Oh, the lovely shrimp burger…
Here you go…
- KD’s Treehouse has the new Kate Quinn organic tops for grown-ups. Yay! Now adults can have the same soft, cotton next to their skin that the kids have been enjoying.
- Pink Sorbet is offering 25 to 65% off, through today. Lilly is the perfect antidote to the rainy day blues, n’est-ce pas?
- Kicks is still offering 25% off the entire store. Hooray!
- In Charleston for the weekend? Don’t forget to take a look at the groundbreaking pop up shop at 501 King Street. The concept and the locally designed fashions are mad hot.
- Lots of places are closed today, so call before you go. And expect more updates tomorrow. Mwah!
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
* Thank you, Aunt Molly! And thank you, Aunt Molly’s helpers, Uncles Nick and Barkley!
Mar
9
Follow the Shop Tart!
Filed Under Babies and Children, Beauty, Clothes, Eat and Drink, Exclusive savings, Good Cause!, Men, Shoes, Sip and Shop, Trunk Show | Leave a Comment
The Shop Tart had a harrowing joyful weekend, caring for her darling children all by herself while her husband rocked out to Morrissey in Myrtle Beach. The Shop Tart considered going, but there is no Westin Hotel in Myrtle Beach. She does love Morrissey. And his new album did not disappoint. She is terribly grateful to her dear friends Kristy and Anthony, who stopped by for a glass of wine on Friday evening to save her from drinking alone with the children, which is neither safe nor in good taste entertain her with adult conversation. Finally, it’s warm enough to have drinks on the porch, which the Shop Tart plans to do, every single night until it gets cold again. Shop Tart Tip: If you want people to just drop by, and you should, always keep a few snacks on hand. Nuts and olives will suffice. Frozen, ready-to-heat treats, like spanakopeta from Cloud Nine, earn bonus points. And cute cocktail napkins, you should definitely have those. The Shop Tart is just a tiny bit embarrassed that she offered the balsamic almonds in the jar, rather than in a pretty silver bowl, and forgot the cute napkins entirely. Oh, well. We all know the wine is the most important part anyway, n’est-ce pas?
Saturday was soccer day, with one match in the morning and one in the afternoon. In between the matches, one of the soccer players had choir and the other one accompanied the Shop Tart, his toddler brother, a friend and her two daughters to Yo Burrito for lunch. The Shop Tart has found Mexican to be an excellent cuisine for children, as chips are usually provided early on in the experience. The toddler loves chips and is blissfully quiet when his mouth is full of them. Saturday night, Mr. Shop Tart returned and the Shop Tart enjoyed a long bath (with the fan on, so she couldn’t hear the children. She knows you understand.)
Don’t we love spring? Every single shop is filled with bright, shiny new things and more boxes are being unpacked every single day. And outside dining (and drinking!) is de rigeur. Lovely!
The week ahead…
- Owner and shoe goddess Jackie Howie of Kicks founded Get in the Pink to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of her shops. On May 9th, Get in the Pink will host three fab events: The Stiletto Sprint (men welcome), a 10K road race and Soirée on the Saluda. All proceeds from the day benefit the American Cancer Society. The Shop Tart will be there to cheer the runners and she will certainly toast them at the soirée that evening! Registration for the events begins March 15th.
- Shop Tart Savings Alert: Shop Tart readers get 10% off at Revente and Sid & Nancy when they mention the Shop Tart. Save even more on fab designer treats!
- Shop Tart Savings Alert: Are you totally ready for the Cup? Dress? Check. Shoes? Check. Friends to “watch horses” with? Check. Hat? Oops! 2G’s has Cup hats and they are offering 10% off to anyone who mentions the Shop Tart, so go get one!
- Solstice is having Babysitter Night again tomorrow night. Take the kids and let them be entertained while you enjoy a fab meal in peace, you happy party parents. Just like being at Club Med. Mwah!
- Love your spa treatments? Love to save money so you can have them regularly? Tranquil Moments Day Spa is offering a Spa Club for $49.99 a month. With your membership, you’ll receive one one-hour spa service of your choice each month, along with a 25% discount on additional spa services. And…earn points for each service you enjoy to get even more discounts on future services. Wheeee!
- On Wednesday, head to Granger-Owings for a trunk show featuring Corneliani, Zanella, Robert Talbott and Lorenzo Banfi Shoes. Enjoy a light lunch and refreshments between noon and 2 pm and register to win a Roger Talbott shirt or seven fold tie of your choice.
- M Boutique has a brand new shipment of BCBG, a line known for producing wearable trends, so go get it!
- Save $25 on a color treatment or $10 on a haircut at Urban Nirvana with coupon - email the Shop Tart and she’ll forward you the coupon.
- Weathers is having a Custom Clothing Event starting today and continuing through Saturday. No matter your political persuasion, you must admit our president is an attractive man with great suits. Word has it he favors Hart Schaffner Marx. The event includes Hart Schaffner Marx and Measure Up Custom Shirts. Here’s how it works: Receive 15% off when you order a custom suit, sport coat or pair of slacks or 25% off when you order two custom suits, sport coats or slacks and order three custom made dress shirts and receive the fourth one absolutely free! On Wednesday, representatives from both lines will be in the store to assist you with your choices.
- Did you go to Camp Gravatt? The Shop Tart did, for five glorious days in the summer after second grade. Do you like peanut butter and chocolate? The Shop Tart does. Stop by the Art Shack Gallery and Cafe for a (peanut butter and chocolate) Gravatt Square. All proceeds from the sale of Gravatt Squares will be donated to the Gravatt Scholarship Fund.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
Jan
26
Follow the Shop Tart!
Filed Under Babies and Children, Bags, Beauty, Clothes, Eat and Drink, Good Cause!, Great deal, Home, Jewelry, Sale, Shoes, Sip and Shop, Trunk Show, Wine | Leave a Comment
The Shop Tart had a lovely weekend - thank you for asking - with Frogmore Stew for fourteen of her dearest friends at her kitchen table. And copious amounts of Champagne and birthday cake, bien sûr! Because it was her birthday, she asked her lady friends to arrive an hour and a half before the gentlemen. She offered aprons and Champagne as soon as they walked in the door and the ladies chopped, chatted and chugged until the guys arrived for dinner. Is it obnoxious of the Shop Tart to say the picture doesn’t do the meal justice? Oh, well. She is what she is, n’est-ce pas?
She turned 28. Again. Her birthday comes at an ideal time, when everything is on sale!
She has a busy week after her birthday…
- AnnaBelle of LaRoque is throwing a party on Thursday to celebrate (and show off!) her fab new space. Stay tuned for details.
- The Super Bowl Sale at Kicks of Lexington, Lola and Lola G is happening on Friday and Saturday, with a preview sale (snacks and sippers included, bien sûr!) on Thursday with a $10 cover charge to benefit Hands of Hospice. The sale will feature 10-, 20- and 30-dollar bins, as well as 50 to 75% off all Fall and Winter shoes. See you there!
- Head to Kicks on Devine Street Thursday evening from 5:30 to 8 pm for a Lia Sophia jewelry show. They are still having a huge sale on fall shoes, 50% off. Look for special mark downs that night only on spring shoes! As for the jewelry, buy one item at full price and get up to two items at half price. Sounds like a plan!
- Sid and Nancy is having a book exchange - Bring a book to the shop and take one home. January is the perfect month to stay in, curled up with a good book.
- Simply Savory’s free wine tasting is happening Friday afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30. This Friday, they’ll host a Grand Opening party for the Deli and Dip. Mayor Bob will attend for ribbon-cutting duties.
- Have you combed your closet for potential spring consignments to take to Revente? The Shop Tart has and is hoping for a few bucks to spend on new looks!
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Britton’s is hosting a Yansi Fugel trunk show, with a special appearance by Maggie Silvestri, account executive for Yansi Fugel. Enjoy 10% off special orders and 20% off in-store purchases during the show.
- Mark your calenders: The Devine Street Sidewalk Sale is February 14th. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, lovely!
- Pout is celebrating a fifth birthday, with five days of senses. Today is “Sight,” so select eye products and eye services from esthetician Shannon will be 25% off. Tuesday is “Smell,” with discounts on candles, fragrances and other delightfully smelly things. Wednesday’s theme is “Sound” and you can look for discounts on Stila’s talking pallettes, select glosses (hear the sound of kisses being blown!) and Art of Shaving power razors. Thursday will focus on “Taste,” so head to Pout for a birthday bash with door prizes, goodie bags, discounts galore, tasty snacks and Champagne from 10 am until 7 pm. “Touch” is the theme on Friday. See you there!
- Just the Thing’s winter clearance sale is still on, up to 75% off.
- Both H2 and Tonic Day Spa are offering free microdermabrasion with any one-hour facial through the end of the month. Slough it off, baby, slough it off.
- “Desserts and Designers” is happening at Creative Tile’s Northeast Showroom tomorrow at 5 pm. Chat with designers while you browse tile selections and fantasize about your new kitchen. Solstice will be there with dessert and Max and Prissy will be showing clothing from the shop. Stop by for a glass of wine.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
Jan
22
Get your healthy glow for less (and another Cheap Treat!)
Filed Under Beauty, Clothes, Eat and Drink, Great deal, Home, Sale, Sip and Shop, Wine, cheap treat | Leave a Comment
Good Morning, dahling. How are you doing with your New Year’s resolution? Not so good? Well, change it. Easier resolutions are best and the Shop Tart has one for you: You hereby resolve to go to Rosewood Market with a dollar (just a dollar!) and buy a key tag which will entitle you to a 5% discount on absolutely everything in the store. Everything, as in fresh produce, vegetarian options galore, healthy deli foods, skin-loving beauty products, vitamins and magazines. And everything else. The Rosewood key tag dangles from all the chicest key fobs in town.
You can use it to buy the Shop Tart’s latest and greatest seasoning, Garlic Red Pepper Miso. Her charming friend Tracie turned her on to it and she’s been adding a scoop to various dishes ever since. Bonus: Miso is really, really good for you!
Don’t forget to stock up on fresh produce, a no-brainer when it comes to eating right.
The Shop Tart can’t guarantee the health benefits of this cereal, but how could she resist the name? Sounds like a good time!
With the 5% discount, you can shop more often at Rosewood, where everything is good for you (but not in an “Eat your vegetables or no dessert for you, young lady” kind of way). The Shop Tart will step gingerly onto her soapbox for a moment… So many of us battle our weight when we should be worried about our health. If you take the bull by the horns (or the, um, gourd if you are vegetarian) and change your eating habits for the better, your happy weight will find you. Really. Eat foods as close to nature as possible, don’t suffer unnecessarily and find some sort of exercise you love. In her capacity as a Pilates teacher, the Shop Tart is often asked what kind of exercise people should do. Her answer? Whatever kind you will do. Don’t like getting your hair wet? Skip swimming. Don’t like short skirts and cute instructors? Tennis is not for you. Don’t like former ballet dancers? Forgo Pilates. Whatever you choose, make sure you stretch a little, strengthen a little and sweat a little. Focus on health, not weight. You’ve heard it before, but it’s true, true, true! Incidentally, the Shop Tart finds Self Magazine inspires without hurting her feelings. She gleans an encouraging health tidbit or three from every issue. And she picks up her skirt and steps delicately off the soapbox.
Since we’re improving ourselves, how about a Cheap Treat? Do you get patchy bits of dry skin in the winter? No worries, you don’t have to admit it. Most of us do, whether on the face, elbows or any other location that misses summer humidity. If you want skin as soft as a baby’s bottom, why not use a product meant for a baby’s bottom? Don’t use it on your face in the day time, unless you’re into the greasy look, but A+D Original Ointment banishes dry patches like nothing else. Getting ready to go out? Dab it on while you’re fixing your hair and wipe it off, along with those dry flakes, before applying make-up. For really dry skin, apply heavily before bedtime.
Need another reason to banish junk food? The Shop Tart recently spotted this sign. She feels scared.
Now, go be lovely!
In other news…
- Simply Savory’s free wine tasting is happening tomorrow afternoon, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. This week, they’re serving Foxbrook Chardonnay, Foxbrook Merlot, Trapiche Malbec and Trapiche Pinot Noir. Yum!
- Mark your calender: AnnaBelle of LaRoque wants you to see the new shop and she’s having a party next Thursday evening. Details coming soon! Stop by this week for a 75% off winter and fall sale rack and new styles for spring.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
Jan
21
Snow Day!
Filed Under Babies and Children, Clothes, Eat and Drink, Great deal, Home, Jewelry, Sale, cheap treat | Leave a Comment
Kindly spare the Shop Tart your lecture about how it was so much colder up north and you had to put chains on the tires and people down here are so silly because everything closes when it’s cold and rainy. She knows all about these things. She went to college. In Canada, even. Snow days happen. All your plans canceled in one fell swoop, when you learn that school is closed and your little darlings will be home. No shopping for you, dear. No relaxing lunch downtown. No child-free, Champagne-heavy Inauguration Day party at your sister-in-law’s. Hmph.
But you know what you can do? Redecorate the top of your dresser. The Shop Tart has trouble with big projects; the top of one piece of furniture isn’t so daunting. Her dresser, which also serves as her bedside table, mocks the rest of her bedroom with its slovenliness. Scatterbrain that she is, the Shop Tart must have several magazines and at least two books going at the same time, so she can choose based on her many, many moods. And she must have at least one receptacle for change; it never overflows because she regularly swipes coins for parking. She must have at least one other receptacle for sunglasses and keys. As you can see, there are at least two pair of sunglasses strewn on her messy “before” dresser. And a piggy bank, camera lens, coffee cup and a tie. And some other stuff that won’t fit in the overflowing drawers below.
In fact, a few magazines escaped the top of the dresser and migrated to the floor. She would like some credit for making her bed (and she should probably admit she did it just for the picture, although it might have been more dramatic to have left it unmade.) What’s a girl to do?
Without further ado…please admire the Shop Tart’s solutions. Apologies if she is a little too proud of herself.
- In order to keep all those magazines and books neat, she propped a bamboo box on its side to serve as a small bookshelf. She promises not to let it fill to overflowing. The old camera lens and her dad’s old camera that goes with it act as a bookend.
- Two open bamboo boxes rest on top of the box, one for change and a larger one for sunglasses and keys. They are easy to remove and replace. Ease is the key to staying organized.
- A small ceramic skateboard made by one of her children and the pictures, one of her husband and one of her with her first baby, remained, as did the bag behind them. The bag is from Cartier, modified by the Shop Tart’s husband with a picture of himself a a teenager, and contained a watch given to the Shop tart on her tenth anniversary by said husband. Not ready to part with it just yet…
- The piggy bank, coffee cup and tie were banished.
Ooh! She did one more thing: replaced all the plain metal knobs with amethyst balls wrapped in brass wire. Hard to see in the photo below, but the Shop Tart is tickled pink by them*.
Funny thing about organizing…it usually leads to more organizing. The Shop Tart didn’t stop with the surface of her dresser, but moved on to the four small drawers at the top. One contained tights and slips, one contained lingerie, bathing suits and cards from her children, one was reserved for socks and the fourth had a bunch of belts and random spillover from the top of the dresser. After pruning and tidying those, she couldn’t help but move to the larger drawer below, and the one below that and the one below that. Lo and behold, she moved to the closet and tackled the small dresser containing pajamas and underthings. What a rush! Several bags were filled for Goodwill; several more were filled for the garbage. Finally, she tidied the top drawer in her bathroom; it was very scary and she’s glad to have it behind her. Up next? The hanging clothes, bags and shoes. The Shop Tart hopes to find a few things for consignment at Revente, a great way to get paid for all her effort, n’est-ce pas?
Why are people so enamored of Spring Cleaning? When the cold leaves town, the Shop Tart wants to go out and about, enjoying the sunshine. Cold, rainy days are perfect for cleaning. If we have just a few about a million just a billion more, she can achieve perfect organization!
So joyous over her newly organized dresser, the Shop Tart found time to make Inauguration Day cupcakes for her children, who were excited to be home from the school to watch our newest president take office. The Shop Tart took pride in her children’s civic-mindedness, but was was relieved they understood the importance of cupcakes to commemorate any important occasion. Lemon with vanilla icing. Delish!
Now that you can leave the house…
- VanJean’s sale is still marvelous, plenty of fall and winter left, and new things for spring are rolling in by the truckload.
- Mary has new shipments of Diana Warner jewelry and dresses by Shoshanna and Milly. They also carry plenty of merchandise for under $100, a trend the Shop Tart loves.
- Speaking of Under $100, check M Boutique for the latest trends at prices you can get your wallet around. They pioneered the “Under $100″ trend! Well, not really, but they were on the bandwagon pretty early.
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart.
* She found them on sale at a certain national chain, whose warehouse happens to be right here in South Carolina, which means they ship really quickly. Almost instant gratification.
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