Several months ago, I went to the National Portrait Gallery and enjoyed a beautiful exhibit featuring women artists who spent time in Paris during the first half of the 20th century. however this exhibit was not the only one that caught my eye while at the national portrait gallery. Not very far from one of the main entrances was a hallway devoted to the glamorous photos of Hollywood stars taken by George Hurrell. His work perfectly captures both the beauty and mystery of these stars of the Hollywood Golden Age. Here are some of my favorite photos from the exhibit. Enjoy!
This photo of the radiant Jean Harlow greeted visitors to the corridor of photographs
Background information on Hurrell
Dashing Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
This is one of my favorite photos of Gypsy Rose Lee
Earlier this year, I took one of my longest vacations (ever): I spent 20 days enjoying London and a transatlantic cruise aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne. The London leg of the trip was fantastic, because London is amazing. Trips to Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Zedel are always on the agenda, but this trip was marked by an even more spectacular activity: I got to see the live production of, The Devil Wears Prada.
Let me start this story by giving a little background. This trip was initially scheduled for a different set of weeks, but my friend had to change the dates to accommodate some new obligations. We had already purchased our tickets to the show, and we feared that we wouldn’t be able to exchange them for a different date. Fortunately, the gracious box office at the Dominion Theatre refunded the tickets and we were able to secure our seats for a different night (imagine trying to do that kind of adjustment here in the US: impossible!)
Fashions inside the theatre
We went to the show and it was INCREDIBLE! The music, the fashion, the overall story, and the diamond in the crown of this production: Ms. Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly. She is ethereal, and her voice is perfect. The whole cast was absolutely divine, but I particularly enjoyed the actress playing Emily, Amy di Bartolomeo. Every note, every scene, every accessory was chosen with care. I particularly enjoyed a scene where the ensemble cast came out and were wearing the colors of the French flag (bleu, blanc et rouge), and they were careful to walk in a way that kept the blue first in the lineup (lest it be confused with the red-white-blue flag of the US). Those kind of details are plentiful in this production, and it would be fun to see the show several times, just to see how many of these details I can spot.
Seen as we exited the show
The music was fantastic, the venue was convenient, and the performers were all perfectly cast. My only regret is that I didn’t buy tickets to see the show one more time before I left London! If you’re able to see it, I highly encourage you to do so. Because believe me, the Devil wearing Prada has never been more beautiful!
While in London earlier this year, I finally got to dine at Fait Maison, a beautiful restaurant that is perfectly Instagram-able (picturesque at every turn) and has an incredible menu. The restaurant has a menu that features French-Khaleeji cuisine. It was busier than I like (quieter meals in more spacious settings is my preference) but beautiful, popular restaurants are rarely quiet.
The restaurant has several locations, including one in Qatar. Since I stayed near Mayfair, I went to the Gloucester Road location (I went to the Salon de Thé, which is just a block away from another Fait Maison locations). I arrived during the brunch rush which, in hindsight, was a bad idea if my goal was to enjoy a quieter, more leisurely experience. That being said, the room was buzzing with families and “ladies who lunch”, and among the throngs I spotted Yvonne Osman (Om Waleed) the chef and proprietress of Fait Maison. A perfectly styled and elegant beauty, she looks exactly like the lovely caricature featured on the menu cover (that’s how I knew who she was!). She’s a swan in human form, and she floated through the restaurant with an inspiringly calm and self possessed energy.
The menu at Fait Maison
For my brunch, I enjoyed the Balaleet and the Fattoush Salad. The Balaleet featured sweetened saffron noodles that reminded me a bit of chopped up rice vermicelli (I’m not sure what kind of noodle was used: I didn’t ask). The noddles were topped with crumbled pistachios and a few beautiful dried rosebuds. The combination of sweet, savory and earthy was divine. The Fattoush Salad was an intoxicating blend of lettuce, pomegranate molasses, fresh mint, sumac, and pomegranate seeds, served in a crisp flat bread bowl that the server crushed together tableside, before serving it to me. I wish I got a picture before the crushing happened: the presentation both before and after was stunning. This salad continued the sweet/savory/earthy theme, but also added a bit of tart brightness with the pomegranate. Both dishes tasted heavenly. With my meal, I enjoyed some tea and leaned into my people watching hobby: this location is perfect for viewing beautiful people enjoying their beautiful lives.
My serving of delicious balaleet
My Fattoush salad
Fait Maison is such a fresh interpretation of vintage French-inspired dining. A meal here is like eating in a Rococo fantasy: the tables, wall art, and other interior design touches all create a dazzling effect that perfectly presents the Euro/Arabian style fusion that carries through the menu. I relished this experience and I can’t wait to return, so I can dine at some other locations and try some more of Fait Maison’s offerings!
The interior of the Salon de Thé
Have you been to any of the Fait Maison locations? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
The Embassy of Chad is one of the smaller spaces on Embassy Row, but don’t let that fool you: within the modest space was a gracious staff and a powerful art exhibit. The embassy’s walls featured the art of Doff, a Chadian artist that uses trash and other found materials to tenderly capture the beauty and heartbreak of life in Chad.
Caption under “Flower of Evil”, detailing the artist’s inspiration
Flower of Evil , 2024 (Made of bullet fragments)
Closeup of “Flower of Evil”
The pieces masterfully use materials as their own storytelling devices, a tactic used with gut-wrenching effectiveness. One piece in particular, “Flower of Evil” is composed of used bullet casings, a clear reference to the warfare that has haunted Chad in previous decades.
Women, 2024
Artist’s commentary on the importance of women in Africa
Closeup of Women
The intricate metal work, heartwarming depictions, and intimate understanding of the heart and soul of his people all make Doff an artist to watch. He has a gift that allows viewers to not only enjoy the art for what it is, but also prompts the audience to think behind the aesthetic and technical skill on display in each piece.
Plaisir Recreatif I
Artist’s comments that contrast the violence of male adulthood to the tender playfulness of childhood
I’m so glad that I took the time to visit this embassy, and I look forward to visiting them again.
I mentioned Passport DC and the DC Embassy Weekends in a previous post (I attended the Around the World Embassy Tour event during the first weekend of May 2024). However, this post will share the fun I had during the EU Open House Weekend in 2024. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the embassies this year, but I’m so glad I will be able to attend next year!
During EU Open House Weekend, a few friends and I toured the Embassies of Luxembourg, Estonia, Latvia, and Croatia. We ended the afternoon with a meal at Mad Hatter, a cute bar with lots of Alice in Wonderland-themed artwork.
Each embassy had some amazing things to offer. Luxembourg had delicious beverages and fantastic tins of cookies that they gave away to visitors. I was also fascinated by their history with roses: as it turns out, they were once known as the Rose Country for quite a few years, and these exquisite blooms were often sent out as decorations to royal and presidential gardens.
Luxembourg explains their rose tradition Inside of the Embassy of LuxembourgPerfect place settings at the Luxembourgish Embassy
Estonia was quite a treat: along with candies and beautiful modern decor within the embassy, they provided excellent information in flyers about this Baltic country. I was fascinated by the research that was published through Estonian universities, and the information provided made me eager to visit.
Dancing outside of the Estonian Embassy The exterior of the embassy Estonian modern artDining space at the Embassy of Estonia More exquisite art at the Estonian Embassy
The Latvian Embassy not only had dancers in the front, but they also had one of the most gorgeous tile floors of all of the Embassies we toured (I know that’s random, but I love decor). The mix of traditional and modern touches made Latvia a very special embassy to tour, and I can’t wait to either visit again, or go to the country in person.
Exterior of the Latvian Embassy Beautiful dining space at the Latvian Embassy Beautiful oil painting in the stairwell of the Latvian Embassy (From left to right) Flag of Latvia, Flag of the European Union, and Flag of the USA The tile I fell in love with!
As it turned out, a couple of non-EU embassies were open on this day as well. We were able to visit one of my all time favorites, the Embassy of Haiti, where a number of Haitian vendors were selling Mother’s Day gifts (this holiday was one day after the embassy events). I tried Askanya chocolates, bought some perfume, and just had an all-around great time viewing the Haitian Embassy again.
Art at the Haitian EmbassyThe Haitian art gallery is my favorite embassy feature Glorious metalwork on the exterior of the Haitian Embassy
Our last stop on our EU “tour” was the Croatian Embassy, which had several beverages to try, wonderful art, and a fantastic setup for taking pictures. I was very excited to hear that Croatian cuisine heavily features seafood: as a traveler that often has to alter her diet in order to accommodate local food availability, I love that one of my favorite food options is readily available in Croatia.
The perfect space for taking a photo at the Croatian Embassy Beautiful artwork at the embassy Learning about teran wineI love honey products!Fun facts about Croatia
Ending our day with the embassies at Mad Hatter was great! The food was solid, but the artwork really enhanced the overall experience. I couldn’t get enough of the Alice in Wonderland pictures and paintings.
Alice art at Mad Hatter Artwork of the White RabbitPoster of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland Artwork from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Stretched out Alice artArt stating, “We’re all mad here”More Alice and White Rabbit art
That’s a quick roundup of the Passport DC EU Open House Weekend. I can’t wait to return next year and make my rounds at some of the embassies that I missed in 2024!
Craving some international travel, but your budget is saying, “Nope”? Want to enjoy some international culture without the hassle of dealing with TSA? Every May, Passport DC hosts a month-long festival that opens up the doors to many of the embassies in Washington, DC. As someone that loves attending gala events, I’m especially thrilled to do Passport DC, because, unlike the galas, no tickets are necessary, and you can visit a lot more embassies in one day than you could normally enjoy during the average week in DC. This post highlights my experience with Passport DC 2024, and yes, I will be in attendance for Passport DC 2025.
The first weekend of the Passport DC festival is the Around The World Embassy Tour. This weekend features many embassies from Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Gulf countries, Eurasian and other non-EU European countries, and the UK. The doors open around 10 AM on the first Saturday of May, and most embassies will stay open until around 4 PM. The easiest way to enjoy this weekend is to start off with the map of the participating embassies: these maps are available either digitally (through the Passport DC website or mobile app) or in paper form. There are lots of signs located in the Embassy Row area, so you will have no problem locating the stands where you can get a map and a free tote bag (while they last). I like to gather with my friends at Dupont Circle (the park located in the roundabout is a great place to get your bearings and figure out where you want to go) and walk the length of Massachusetts Avenue. If navigating on foot is an issue, then charting your journey with a map, before catching an Uber to the embassies that interest you, is advised.
The Embassy of Trinidad & Tobago
This is a family friendly event, so if you want to avoid kids, this is not the event for you. There will be MANY families out, enjoying the festivities. Also, if you want to enjoy the sample delights offered at some embassies (the Embassy of Cameroon grilled meat, and it had their block of Massachusetts Ave smelling heavenly!), getting to the embassies earlier rather than later is advised. The lines get long and there’s always a risk that the embassy may run out of whatever it is that you want to sample. I got to try Sri Lankan tea and snacks, Haitian soup joumou, and Jamaican rum during my last visit.
This year, I went to the Embassies of Chad, Haiti, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, and the UK. In previous years, I’ve visited the Haitian and Kenyan Embassies. My only regret is not starting earlier in the day: I would have loved to take in even more international culture.
The Chadian Embassy (it will get its own post soon!)
Statue of Mustafa Ataturk at The Embassy of Türkiye (Turkey) – here’s hoping I’ll be able to visit the embassy AND the country in the future
Statue of Nelson Mandela outside of the Embassy of South Africa
Winston Churchill at the Embassy of the United Kingdom
Art inside of the Embassy of Jamaica
My day with the embassies ended with a delicious lunch at Rakuya, a Japanese restaurant that serves fresh, delicious meals. You will want to get here a bit earlier, too: they stop serving lunch around 4 PM, and shut down to prepare for the dinner crowd. Of course, if you have time to plan ahead, I recommend you go over to U Street Corridor and get some Ethiopian food, since most of those restaurants will be open after the embassy event until late in the evening.
Rakuya’s lunch special
I had a great time in DC during the Around The World Embassy Tour! Have you ever been to this festival? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
Recently, I visited one of my favorite museums, The National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. This museum is located right by Chinatown in downtown, a stone’s throw away from Capital One Arena. I was in the area while one of my friends visited from Atlanta, and we took advantage of a sunny afternoon and explored downtown DC on foot. She had never visited this museum before and, since the Portrait Gallery shares a building with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, I thought it would be a great time to visit both. I also got a chance to show her one of my favorite sculptures, The Death of Cleopatra by Edmonia Lewis (I wrote about this breathtaking work in this post).
As it just so happens, the museum had two exhibitions that were perfect for our artistic preferences. In this post, I’ll discuss one of those exhibitions (I’ll share the other exhibition in a separate post). Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900–1939 is a stunning collection of works from the various genius women that found themselves living in Paris pre-WWII for the same reason. Paris, during this time, was progressive enough for female creatives who wished to hone their crafts, giving them an environment to do so without the stigmas, pressures, or expectations of life in America. The women were often in Paris for art school, but ending up in some cases staying longer than expected, so they could continue to enjoy the freedom that Parisian life offered.
I focused on the Harlem Renaissance section of the exhibition, since this period fascinates me and offers many relevant lessons for creatives in the current day. I was thrilled to see some of my favorite artists represented in the collection, including Lois Maillou Jones, Augusta Savage, and Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller. And, naturally, no exhibition about the Harlem Renaissance would be complete without a Josephine Baker feature.
Sculptress Augusta Savage
Sketch of Lois Maillou Jones
I was delighted to see other singers that are sometimes overlooked during the conversations around influential vocalists during this period. Florence Mills, Nora Holt, Adelaide Hall and Ethel Waters were also highlighted in this exhibition, which was a refreshing surprise.
I was tickled to see a photograph of one of my favorite jazz-era entrepreneurs, Ada “Bricktop” Smith. Her Paris nightclub realized a level of success that Smith could have not even fathomed in America. I love that her entrepreneurial spirit led her to a foreign country, where she enjoyed a long and fruitful career.
This collection also introduced me to Laura Wheeling Waring, an African American female portraitist that captured some of the most brilliant women of the time. I fell in love with her portrayal of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the poet and literary editor of The Crisis, a magazine that published the works of a number of Harlem Renaissance greats (such as Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Nella Larsen, and many others).
Jessie Redmon Fauset by Laura Wheeling Waring
The exhibition also re-introduced me to Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, a sculptor that I’m excited to learn more about. I was captivated by her story, especially her diligence to her craft. She was so devoted to sculpting that she suffered through extreme poverty and physically demanding tasks (like carving stone and wood) in France, just to ensure that she could bring forth the art she desired to create. These hard times took a toll on her, but her efforts paid off, and she enjoyed success during her lifetime.
It warms my heart to know that, during a period of time where Black women in America were often pigeonholed into careers that were neither financially nor emotionally fulfilling, there were some brave and fortunate women that got to leave the States and experience peace and freedom in Paris. I am blessed to see portraits of these women, and even artwork that they created, during this exciting time in history.
The exhibition runs until February 23, 2025. I hope you all get a chance to check it out!
Happy 2025, everyone. It’s been several months since my last post. Fortunately, I’ve been away for (mostly) happy reasons. But I’m back (for now), because I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences and this is my favorite space to capture those moments.
Last year, my family and I were in the throes of an intense court case to determine guardianship over a relative with dementia. Thankfully, the case was settled and in the aftermath I was able to finally BREATHE and resume my normal life. It felt like I’d been holding my breath for over a year: always tense and bracing myself for the next round of insanity. Once everything was finalized, I could finally plan trips and enjoy the life I had prior to the case. So, to celebrate, I spent nearly 3 weeks away; the trip encompassed a stay in London and a lovely transatlantic cruise back to the US. I can’t wait to give you more details about both of those experiences!
I wasn’t aware how much of my life I’d been living on autopilot, due to devoting all of my excess emotional and physical energy to managing fibromyalgia. I streamlined a lot of my life, and reduced my energy expended so that I could devote everything I had to improving my health. The court case experience showed me how much I’d been doing things on “easy mode”, and, while that was crucial during the healing phase of my life, it left me unprepared for the unpredictability that came my way last year. I knew that I was in need of a change after I spent some time away and rested: the downtime was necessary but I didn’t have anything that “lit me up”. I came back home and felt better physically but also a little empty and lost.
Dealing with a chronic condition really distorted my sense of self and my vision for my life, and it caused me to see myself through the lens of a permanently ill person. I recall completing an incredible 3 day workshop a few years ago, and the personal vision I crafted during that workshop absolutely aligned with who I was then, but isn’t a perfect fit now. The thing is, the choices you make when you’re not at your best are generally not the choices you’d make when you’re feeling fantastic. So, as someone who has improved tremendously from where I was several years ago, AND as someone that finally has the energetic reserves to take on new ambitions, I can comfortably say that my personal vision needs to be recalibrated. I’ve already made some adjustments, but there are more tweaks I’ll make in the future.
It feels great to be back in this space, where I can share the things that light me up. And, I’m thankful for all of you who have stuck around. I look forward to connecting with you all in the weeks and months to come. Take care of yourselves, and I’ll talk to you all soon.
Happy Fibro Friday! The weather is getting warmer each day, and I find myself feeling happier and more energetic. The summer season is HERE!
June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. As someone that has dealt with chronic headaches for almost 20 years, I know a little something about a “mal à la tête” (one of the few phrases I managed to retain decades after taking my last French class). However, I was not aware there was a month dedicated to all of us that have to deal with headaches and migraines on a regular basis. I’m fortunate to have never experienced a migraine (though my mother used to have them when I was younger), but I often have tension headaches and other pain patterns.
The weird thing that I’ve noticed about having that chronic headaches is the fact that I almost always have a low level of pain going on. It’s very similar to how fibromyalgia works: pain is a fairly constant companion, but the level of pain is what makes the difference. My headache may be (on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain at all and 10 being severe enough to warrant an emergency room visit) either a 2 or an 8, but never 0. The pain is minimal on some days, but never completely gone. I’ve gotten really adept at functioning without pain medication on any day that’s less than a 5. That may sound awful, but when something has become your normal, you almost don’t recognize it. And, in the case of days where my pain level is a 1 or 2, I often feel ecstatic and like I can conquer the world!
A big part of how I manage chronic headaches is that I have an arsenal of things I do BEFORE I choose to use a pain medication. After years of using over-the-counter medication in an attempt to manage neurological and musculoskeletal pain, I became concerned with the long-term effects of these substances. Therefore, I try to avoid them for as long as I can comfortably manage. When I feel a slightly stronger headache, I don’t immediately reach for ibuprofen or acetaminophen anymore. Here’s what I try before I reach for pain
Check my hydration levels: I drink some water, because 9 chances out of 10, I’m dehydrated. Starting my day with a large glass of water is a great move that works well when I remember it. I usually keep a large glass of water on my nightstand, so I can sip before I go to bed and finish it in the morning.
Use my weighted eye mask: I’ve reviewed my eye mask over here before, and I still love it. There’s something about the counter pressure that really gives me relief. It’s a pretty inexpensive investment (I got mine from Amazon), and I find that laying down for a few minutes with this mask can really help with the pain.
Do some jaw and neck stretches: since most of my headaches are tension related, gentle stretching can relieve some of the tightness that contributes to the pain. This may not be particularly helpful if you suffer with migraines, or if your headaches are not tension related. But if you find that you clench your jaw or otherwise hold your face or neck muscles tightly, stretching them gently may help to loosen up those muscles and take off some of the pressure.
Pay attention to my triggers and actively avoid them: sometimes seasonal allergies, certain foods, or even particular daily routines can be headache triggers. If I recognize a trigger, I avoid it as much as I can. That can mean avoiding trips outside of the house during the peak pollen or poor air quality days, refraining from bread and other starchy foods, or getting extra sleep so that I don’t have an exhaustion-induced headache.
Eat something, and make sure it’s the right food for me: sometimes, the pain comes from eating too late in the day, not eating enough throughout the day, or eating the wrong food. A huge helping of fresh fruits and vegetables tends to give me a little relief. I’m sure it’s because these foods are more easily metabolized by me, but also, fresh fruits and vegetables tend to be very hydrating.
I discuss my practices for dealing with chronic headaches in one of my recent Fibro Friday videos. You can see it below:
Do you have chronic headaches? What have you found that works in helping you to manage them?
I just finished a few books recently, and now I’m on to the next set of books to read!
I hope that this new month has been treating you all well. I had a difficult time with my health recently (more about that on Friday) and I decided to lean into more enjoyable, restorative activities to help with that. One of my favorite activities for restoring my energy is reading. Recently, I completed a few books: first, I reread, Write It Down, Make It Happen by Dr. Henriette Anne Klauser. I’m considering doing another review on this, since I had some new revelations while reading it. Secondly, I reread How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb (it seems that March was a good month to reread some of my favorites!). This one I’ll definitely do another review on, since I honestly felt like I was reading it for the first time: it’s been so long since I read this one, and I got so many great takeaways this time! And, as you all know, I finished True Gifts by Jewel Veitch last month, too (I reviewed it here).
Over on my YouTube, I listed the books I’m reading in April. This week, I’ll be finishing up Where The Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah. I’ll also be diving into Take Care of Your Type – An Enneagram Guide to Self Care by Christina S. Wilcox. I’m curious about how I can leverage the enneagram to improve my life, so this should be an interesting book to read. I’ll also be reading The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The Secret to Loving Teens Effectively by Gary Chapman. As the parent of a pre-teen, I’m always looking for ways to deepen and strengthen our communication and connection, and I am a fan of Chapman’s work, so it’ll be great to see what strategies I can try with my child. Finally, I’ll be reading Pause, Rest, Be – Stillness Practices for Courage in Times of Change by Octavia F. Raheem. The author led a rest practice during ExodUS Summit 2023, and I was very impressed by the exercise. I’ll be replaying the rest practice at least once while I read the book.
Anyhoo, here is the video summarizing my reading list:
What are you reading this month? I’d love to hear what books you’re enjoying right now.
Bronze Butterfly 