Go for Brooch! Clutch Handbags on a Budget

I have many times in my life bought a clutch purse for a specific event or a particular gown. I have always loved the beautifully jeweled clutches on the red carpet that add that bit of extra punch to a cocktail or evening look. But what if you could vary one clutch a dozen times, for only a few dollars?

My husband's grandmother had a fabulous brooch collection, which I luckily inherited and wear often. Prior to an evening event years ago, I decided to pin one of her brooches to a basic black satin clutch and voila! The bag was instantly transformed.

I love pinning a singular, large statement brooch in the center. You can also create a small cluster of two to three brooches, asymmetrically placed, for a more complex look.

If you can't gather some vintage pieces from within the family, hit up a weekend flea market for some great finds. Our very own Eastern Market's Flea Market has an excellent vintage jeweler booth that sells pieces for as little as $1.

Make your handbag more versatile in a unique way. Instead of going for broke, go for brooch!

Happy Styling,
S.

European Escape: Weeknight French Fare at Montmarte

Now that we Washingtonians are enjoying longer daylight hours and a bit of cool breeze in the evenings (before summer officially arrives), grabbing dinner on a patio during the week can be the perfect way to decompress after a long day at the office.

Most Hillers hit Montmarte for brunch on the weekends, my husband and I decided to try them for dinner instead.

The patio, of course, is fantastic. The space has the perfect amount of umbrellas to shade everyone dining, but it doesn't feel cumbersome or enclosed.

Watching people stroll past from neighboring Peregrine Espresso and Pitango Gelato gives this little sliver of Captiol Hill the perfect European vibe.

We started with the crab cake, which is full of flavor and cooked to the perfect texture. Slightly crunchy on the outside, which is the perfect contradiction to the lump crab meat center.  For my main course I had the Mahi Mahi, which was on special for the evening.  The Mahi Mahi was served on top of a bed of bok choy and bell pepper with a slightly tangy sauce.  The flavors were exciting but did not over power the fish. Lastly, we finished the meal with a light flourless chocolate cake paired with two delicious cups of espresso.  

My husband and I have been to France multiple times, and I can say from my experiences, no one dines better than the French. When we said 'l addition s'il vous plait' the waiter smiled, 'oui monsieur'.  

Montmarte was the perfect escape from the rush and worry of a normal week day, I encourage you to check it out and experience a European escape for yourself.

Montmarte
327 7th Street SE (Eastern Market Metro Stop)
http://www.montmartredc.com/

Happy Hilling!
S.

Fashion Finds on Capitol Hill: A Sunday Afternoon at Pinktini

Hillers - as you know, our neighborhood is completely starved for fashion boutiques.  

If we want to find the perfect outfit for date night, a quick gift for a girlfriend, or a new fun accessory we have hardly any options on the Hill.  We end up going online or to somewhere else in the city which is so unfortunate.  I was really excited to check out Pinktini, a luxury women's fashion boutique, located right here in Capitol Hill.  

During my afternoon of perusing at Pinktini I found a little bit of everything. Here are a few highlights:

- A super chic white linen jacket with a bit of frayed edging, simple (but with a twist) to make it special

 

- A gorgeous blush sheath dress with killer beading detail, perfect for a special date night or cocktail event

- A super fun black & white maxi dress with cutouts at the neckline and (hello! pockets!) which I love in any dress 

I also found some great basic jeans and casual tops which would be perfect for pushing the stroller around the neighborhood, running errands, or grabbing coffee on the weekends.

If you are looking for a new accessory this would be a great place to stop as well. I found some gorgeous high quality cocktail rings, infinity scarves, and hand bags.  The boutique carries everything from Lauren Merkin to Big Buddha - which are amazing options!

Women of Capitol Hill, we should rally behind our local business and spend some time shopping locally at this great boutique.  Pinktini has the basics covered but will also push you outside your fashion comfort zone and offer some new and fresh options.

Pinktini is located next door to Port City Java at Eastern Market, look for the pink balloons! They will guide you to your neighborhood fashion destination. 

Pinktini

705 N Carolina Ave SE

www.pinktini.com/

Happy Hilling!

S. 

Grocery Shopping in Capitol Hill - Knowing Your Options

Every week we spend time buying groceries; which for most of us, is an annoying chore.  You hope when moving into a new neighborhood you will find some place to shop that will have exactly what you need. Lucky for us in Capitol Hill, we have a wide variety options on where to buy our weekly groceries. After six weeks of living in the neighborhood, here is what I have found.

Fresh Daily - Eastern Market
Eastern Market is known for it's weekend leisure crowds.  People stroll vendor tables filled with jams, scarves, and everything in between.  But during the week, Eastern Market is a great option for buying groceries the day-of.

Eastern Market is open until 7pm during the week. There is hardly a soul in the place on a week night so it is very easy to shop. Besides grabbing fresh meat, fish, or veggies you can also grab pantry staples at the booth at the Southeast corner of the building. They stock tomato paste, cranberry sauce, rice...you
name it!  The small space is crammed but I was amazed at what they had available.


Fresh Weekly - Relay Foods
Relay Foods is where I buy the majority of our weekly groceries.  Relay is actually an online grocery store focusing on local and organic items.  I was a little nervous about trusting someone else to pick out my perfect cut of meat or just-ripe-enough produce; however, I have been amazed at the quality of my items from Relay.

Relay can either deliver your items or you can pick them up from one of their truck locations on Monday or Friday from 4pm-8pm.  There is a charge for delivery; however, pick up option is free.  If for someone reason you are not satisfied with a purchase from Relay, just go to the online chat section of their website.  A customer service person will refund your item in literally less than 5 minutes.

Stocking the Pantry - Harris Teeter
Buying local and fresh is great, but sometimes you need to stock up on Oreos, Cokes, and instant Mac & Cheese.  You know, all the things that really get us through when we are too lazy to actually cook.

The Harris Teeter located at Penn Ave SE and 14th is great for pantry stocking.  They have pretty much everything you would expect from a normal grocery store.  And, they have free garage parking.  So whether you have your own vehicle or a Zip Car membership, you can really stock up and only have to make the trip once every three months or so.

For the Gluten Free, Organic Junkies - Yes! Organic Market
While Yes! Organic Market is very, very small they have a great selection for you gluten free folks.  They are located on the north end of Barracks Row. Yes! Organic Market has a decent wine and beer section as well as some ready made sushi, sandwiches, etc. in the back.  I do love that they carry hot Hale & Hearty soups, one of my favorites from living in New York.  The store is a bit limited for me personally, but it would be a perfect solution for someone who is gluten free.

Eastern Market
225 7th Street SE
http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/

Relay Foods
http://www.relayfoods.com/

Harris Teeter
1350 Potomac Ave SE
http://www.harristeeter.com/

Yes! Organic Market
410 8th Street SE
http://www.yesorganicmarket.com

Happy Hilling!
S.