My wife’s favorite restaurant was the Daily Grill in Tyson’s II Galleria. I say “favorite” because it not only served genuine California cuisine like sourdough bread and fresh Cobb salad, but had a bartender who was a wizard at mixing Sidecars just the way Ali loves them. I say “was” because the property managers atRead more
Let me be clear: I’m not normally one to go in for rappers. Over the years the only rap that has ever gotten significant play in my house has been Gil Scott-Heron at one end of the spectrum and MC Hammer on the other. So Macklemore? Not my usual fare. However, I had heard ThriftRead more
I’ve updated this guide for 2014. HERE. Whenever I talk to people about Pies & Puggles, I generally describe it as a blog about thrifting with a heavy dose of cooking and DIY. This inevitably leads to a discussion of the thrift stores I like best in the Northern Virginia area so I thought IRead more
Reader Elaine asks: I have two mid century chairs that were oil finished and then left outside. the wood is now grey. I want to rehab the wood(teak) I believe, and then stain and wax. How do I go about rehabbing the wood? I was going to start with sandpaper. Do you have any suggestions? Read more
I make resolutions all the time. Why wait for the new year when you can make a resolution today? Of course, that doesn’t mean I fare any better than resolvers of the new year variety. I have vowed not to buy clothes for a year (two Augusts ago), to get dressed every day for aRead more
This year was a strange one. Right around this time in 2012, I was still in California after my brother’s wedding. I was dreading going back to work in a place where I didn’t feel safe. I no longer trusted myself to do my job and I’d convinced myself that no one else thought IRead more
I’ve said it here before. Sometimes you visit four thrift stores in one day and find nothing. Other days you find nothing…except something like this. It’s a mid century atomic style clock, like the George Nelson ones that everyone so loves. This one is by Seth Thomas, so a period knock-off of sorts. It’s stillRead more
As you might have noticed, I bake a lot. And I mean a lot. Between my business baking dog treats and all my little personal projects, I bake something nearly every day. So when my stupid cheapo rolling pin started to leak water on my dough (probably from being immersed, which granted you’re not supposedRead more
Tonight I went to my first ever cookie exchange. I know, how have I never never been to a cookie exchange? Anyway, a crafting group I belong to decided to host one and so I felt some pressure to step up my packaging game a little. I figured a crafting group would expect better than just aRead more
I bet you thought I forgot about this challenge! I haven’t. I just decided that posting an outfit picture a day was actually kind of a lot of work and so it fell off while I was baking for shows back in mid-November. I have only had a day or two where I was allRead more