Urban lifestyles that make sense
lifestylist
This user hasn't shared any biographical information
Homepage: http://lifestylist.com
Posts by lifestylist
A Lifestylist’s Food Picks For Super Bowl XLV
Feb 3rd
After years of build up and waiting, Super XLV has come to North Texas! Even with this crazy weather we are seeing more people trying out our favorite places to eat, drink, and be social. I found another great article written by a NT Times writer about where to go, and I love that he mentioned Bolsa - one of my favorite spots right here in The Lifestylist’s neighborhood – Oak Cliff.
Bolsa is one of our many restaurants that has focused on using as many ingredients as possible that are locally grown or produced. Everything is super fresh, and the wonderful staff and atmosphere make it a great place to hang out.
The cheese flight is wonderful and a perfect starting point. My favorite entree is the Jimmy’s Pizza. It’s on a paper thin flatbread and has just enough heat to make me happy.
Save room for dessert – we tried the peanut butter and jelly Panna Cotta was heaven, and drizzled with local honey. Other recent choices were Chocolate Chunk Tart, Lemon Honey Cake and White Chocolate Rum Tart.
Prices are reasonable, and they have a great covered patio for warmer days that is pet friendly.
Soup’s On!
Feb 1st
It is FREEZING here today -last night a “northerner” blew in bringing ice, snow and frigid temperatures to Texas. Fortunately I went shopping yesterday and stocked the shelves of things this Lifestylist® loves to cook.
Vegetable soup is so easy to make from scratch – all it takes is your favorite vegetables, some chicken or vegetable stock and my secret ingredient – a few cans of Ro-Tel. I just prep all of the vegetables, put them in my slow cooker, add the stock and Ro-Tel and let it cook for 2 – 3 hours. It couldn’t be easier and healthier. I make enough to last a few days so I can be as lazy as I want to.
Recycling an Older Home
Feb 1st
It’s beginning to look like the interest in The New American Home 2011 is going to continue long after IBS 2011 is over. The homeowners have been gracious enough to put up a website where they are saying thank-you to all of the wonderful companies that have made this home a success. I also just found a great video on The Deconstruction of The Original Homes that shows how everything was recycled.
These homeowners went above and beyond to make sure that this New American Home was one of the best and most successful, and I’m thrilled that they have asked this Lifestylist® to help them add their life and style into their beautiful new home! Stay tuned to see the changes that we make.
NY Times Chooses Oak Cliff as the Place to Be During Super Bowl XLV
Jan 31st
They say it’s all about location, location, location, and I love that the NY Times had an article today about the place to be seen during Super Bowl XLV is Oak Cliff! The Home Idea Factory has been located in this historic district for over 10 years, and we couldn’t agree more. The Bishop Arts District of Oak Cliff is truly a neighborhood and we love living and working in this diverse community.
Part of the Lifestylist® movement is about buying local, and there’s no better place than in Oak Cliff. Dude Sweet Chocolate is a must visit destination for anyone with a sweet tooth – their artisan chocolates are the best I’ve had anywhere in the world. Great live music? Check out Jack’s Backyard - a little bit off the beaten path but still in Oak Cliff. They have a wonderful “backyard” with fire pits where you can enjoy great food and great local musicians in the company of friends. And a little known fact is that they have one of the best brunches in town with bottomless mimosas – the perfect way to start game day!
We will be sharing as many of our local favorites as we can here before the game. If you need a referral just for you, feel free to email our Lifestylist Advisory Services at: info@lifestylist.com
See you at the game!
Lifestylist Advisory: Super Bowl XLV
Jan 28th
There are two things this Lifestylist knows a lot about: North Texas and great food. With Super Bowl XLV happening right here in our own back yard we wanted to give you an insiders guide of great things to do and dine while you are enjoying some Texas hospitality. The places everyone knows about will probably be packed, but there are lots of amazing spots that we normally don’t share with “outsiders” so we can be assured of getting our favorite table. I’m going to break the code of silence for this next week because we want you to experience our town like a local.
One of my favorite spots to enjoy the best in southern cuisine while enjoying a great cocktail is Hattie’s in the Bishop Arts District. Bishop Arts is about a mile south of downtown Dallas and this quaint area has lots of locally owned restaurants, shops and art galleries that are open late. The people watching is some of the best, too – you never know who will be dining next to you!
Moderately priced, this small, intimate restaurant encourages reservations. Be sure to check out the specials – you won’t be disappointed. My favorite appetizer is the fried green tomatoes – if you have never tried them before this is the place!
Try to allow enough time to enjoy a drink at the bar before dinner and say hello to the house mixologist Sam.
Hattie’s is open Tues. – Sat. 11:30 – 10pm. Phone: 214-941-7400
Design Trends to Say Hello or Goodbye to in 2011
Jan 4th
Every year Lifestylist Design has put together a list of the top design trends we see moving forward, but this year we are going to do something a little bit different.
One of our favorite editors – Jenny Sullivan with Builder Magazine has put together two great lists – 10 Design Trends for 2011 and 10 Residential Design Trends You Won’t See in 2011. We love the fact that Jenny has quoted us about the fact that formal spaces are becoming a thing of the past, and we are looking forward to sharing how our new homeowners Tim and Alison re-purpose these spaces in their new home.
One thing that Jenny mentions that is particularly exciting to me is how positive she is about modular housing. As you know this is something I am especially passionate about, and it’s looking like this form of housing is about to become more widely accepted.
I’ll be leaving for the International Builders Show in a few days, and I’m looking forward to revealing some of the great ideas we used in The New American Home 2011as well as other ideas and products I’ll be able to find and share.
Here’s to a great 2011!
Lifestylist® Advisory: Travel Tips From The TSA
Dec 23rd
Are you wondering what currently you are allowed to take through security on your next flight? Thanks to some great tweets from the South Bend Airport, I now know about the TSA site where you can search for these answers. Just enter in what you are curious about (mine was sewing needles so I can do my needlepoint on long flights) and it will give you a definitive answer.
Thank you SBA for sharing this great resource – hopefully this will keep the security lines moving on my next trip. If you need ideas on where to go and stay on your next trip, be sure to check out our Lifestylist Travel site to give you some ideas filled with life and style!
Pixie Dust
Nov 26th
I just returned from a magical week in Orlando. Someone said they scatter pixie dust at the airport when you arrive, and I’m starting to believe them. Not only was I able to take part in a home that will probably be one of the the high points of my Lifestylist® career, but I was also blessed to spend some very special time with my kids and grandkids and share my Lifestylist® approach with them. Being a Lifestylist incorporates life and style, and getting creative in the kitchen is definitely part of that.
As part of the staging for The New American Home, I purchased a large amount of beautiful granny smith apples to add color and lifestyle to the kitchen. After we were finished with the shoot, I thought why not recycle them and make a pie with the grandkids? Neither of them had tried making a pie before, and with Thanksgiving being only a week away I thought this could be a great time to make their first.
Jenna may only be 8 yrs old, but she loves to cook and is really good at it. She has taken part in the Jr Chef Camp at the Gaylord Texan that Chef Joanne teaches, and was excited about trying out her culinary skills making a pie. Many adults would be daunted by this task, but Jenna dug right in. After teaching her some basic knife skills and precautions, she peeled and cored all of the apples herself. Brother Christian decided to help us make the crust, and we made a huge mess (sorry Trish!) but I’m sure it was a day that they will always remember.
I am so grateful to have the loving, supportive family I have, and the amazing clients that believe in me and what I do. Here’s to the start of a holiday season filled with hope, happiness and lots of pixie dust!
The Great Pumpkin Farm
Oct 30th
Being a Lifestylist sometimes means getting off the beaten path, and when you do you never know what you’ll discover.
This week I was in Western NY for the opening of the Riedman Development and @home Builders Design Center, and decided to take a different route back to the airport. When I did I drove past The Great Pumpkin Farm and knew I had to check it out. If you are in that area it’s a must visit, if not take a look at the video we put together. Happy Halloween!
The Challenges of Living an Urban Lifestyle
Oct 29th
Dallas News had a great story today about the challenges and opportunities of living an urban lifestyle. It is a lot noisier than suburban living, but it’s always been a fair trade-off for me so I could enjoy all that urban living offers.
When I lived in Tribeca trucks would be going past my window all night getting to the tunnel, but after awhile you really do get used to it and when I went to another place it could be too quiet for me!
Being a Lifestylist® is about celebrating different types of lifestyles, and living in the city is what works for me right now.