Don't forget that www.melaniespencer.com will always be your headquarters for news of writing and photo endeavors, so visit often and check new additions to the portfolio. Also, don't forget about the Sept. 10 LoDa Artwalk show in Mobile, Ala.!

Cheers!

Melanie

The past few days I've been neck deep in online adventures. I finally started a blog that I've had in mind for a long time. It's all about some of my favorite subjects etiquette, socializing, entertaining and style and I call it Re-find. Clearly I'm just not happy unless I'm doing 1,000 things. I think this is only No. 356, so who knows what's next?

In the meantime, click here to visit Re-find. I think it's the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Happy Earth Day! Those who know me or have read my blog for very long know that I'm all about conservation. We have to do our part to keep our planet running lean, clean and green. For some of us, a true love of nature is the only motivation we need to recycle, reuse and renew; for others money savings is the inspiration; a lot of parents want to leave the world in good shape for future generations; and still others might just be all around do-gooders. Whatever your reasons, keep up the good work.

That said, there are some of you who struggled to care. Perhaps for you, it might take a little kick in the pants from the Creator of creation. If so, you may want to read the article I wrote for the Texas Catholic Herald on our obligation as Catholics to be good stewards of the earth. Click here to read the piece (It starts on the front page and jumps to page 4).

For me it's simple; I walk or ride my bike to work several times per week; drive a fuel-efficient car; live in a small apartment; eat local and organic; compost; recycle; and conserve because I want to continue to enjoy this:

What's your inspiration?

As many of you know, the hubby and I are from Northern Kentucky, a hop, skip and jump from Cincinnati, Ohio. A friend of mine and Mark's is passing through Cincinnati on a road trip soon and asked for recommendations on what to do. If you only have one day or a few hours and don't want to have to have a plan, try this:

I recommend you drive there, park the car and:

2. Have coffee at Sitwells (named after Dame Edith Sitwell) click here

3. Eat lunch at Skyline Chili

4. Go for beers at Arlin's, click here

5. Grab a bottle of vino at the wine store, then have dinner at Biagio's Bistro (BYOB -- might be a cork fee if memory serves) No Web site, but here's a photo and some good info here

6. And if you have time, see a movie at the Esquire, click here

I'm sure everyone has his or her own opinion on a great Cincy experience, including the fantastic art museums, ball parks, bars, restaurants, shopping and fun neighborhoods, such as Mt. Adams, Mt. Lookout, downtown and beyond, but this is what I like to do when I only have one day or afternoon and don't want to drive all over town.

For years, I've been a fairly eco-friendly person. I recycle, renew and reuse; eat organic when the budget permits; work to conserve energy and water; pick trash up off of the ground and throw it away, even though it disgusts me to touch other people's garbage, but I love mother earth that much!; and use environmentally-friendly cleansing products.

So, when Lent rolled around this year, I decided that instead of giving up chocolate or caffeine again, I'd take steps to go even "greener." For me, this meant taking advantage of my apartment's composting program (I used to compost, but since moving to Texas eight years ago, haven't lived in a place where I was able to take it up again, until we relocated to Houston); walking to and from work several days per week (thankfully it's less than a mile away from home); having a few meatless days per week; and buying local food.

I was convinced that the last one would be the hardest and that it would be too expensive to continue in the long term, but to my delight and surprise, it has become the one that I most look forward to week after week. Lucky for me, Houston has a lot of farmer's markets. My favorite is Urban Harvest, which is available in various locations all over the city and on multiple days per week.To find a farmer's market in your area, visit the Local Harvest Web site.

All pros, no cons

The prices at the farmer's market vary in terms of expense compared to the supermarket, but what I've realized is I'm more mindful about quantity and therefore buy less. So, I believe it evens out. Also, when I see that I can't finish all of any given item, I share it with co-workers or friends, because it seems wrong to throw out something that was so lovingly planted and cultivated or breed and raised. Additionally, I've gotten to know my local farmers, so I get to ask questions and chit-chat with, for example Dustin, the guy who raised the chickens who lay the eggs I eat (Dustin's Eggs, if you are wondering) and the Atkinson family, who grow the strawberries I eat like a fiend.

Eating locally is more nutritious and better for the environment, because the food hasn't had to travel as far to get to your table. It helps also to support the local economy and small farms, which is close to my heart, since my grandparents were farmers. The farmers at my market practice sustainable methods, which again is good for the environment, the animals and the workers. And finally, eating seasonally has brought me back to a feeling I haven't experienced since I was a kid: the anticipation of enjoying foods that are only here for a certain amount of time.

This entry is running long, but I think it speaks to the fact that healthy food is something about which I'm very passionate. We as a society have got to get back in touch with our food. We need to be closer to where it comes from, how it's produced and how it's prepared --  meaning we should be cooking more of it ourselves. I like to eat out more than anyone, but even I know that there is no better way to know exactly what goes into your food, than to be the one who cooks it and to know the people who raise it. Plus, gathering and cooking the food that comes into our house offers another chance to spend time with family, which is of course the best part.

Please stop eating processed, chemical-filled, genetically modified, pseudo-food products. Please don't feed it to your children. Please, eat real food. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

One day not too long ago, the hubby and I visited a place called Ruby Tequila's in Midtown (there are a few locations in Texas), because we heard about some good happy hour specials. How could we have known, we'd fall in love? What you are about to see sounds weird, but push through that feeling and you'll enjoy the beverage I now see in my dreams. It's a frozen margarita with a Dos Equis turned upside down in it. Stay thirsty my friends.

Behold ... the Dos-Rita:

Most people know the Countes from the Real Housewives of New York. I am not one of those people, because I don't watch reality TV. That said, I do read etiquette books -- like a fiend.

Lessup's book, "Class with the Countess: How to live with elegance and flair," ($24) was released in paperback in January. The book is centered on the philosophy that elegance and class aren't a birthright, but rather, they are acquired.

If you know me, you know I'm a traditionalist when it comes to etiquette. So it's the big blue book by Emily Post all way for me. That said, I'm no snob (Ms. Post wouldn't approve of such behavior) and my bookshelves are laden with various books about style, grace and manners and I'm sure the Countess' book will soon be added to my collection. 

Oh, the Countess also has a blog.Guess who else has a blog? Yep, the folks at the Emily Post Institute. Click here for the Emily Post's Etiquette Daily blog, but troll around the site to find additional blogs and a treasure trove of advice and tips. The site is quite handy when you don't have your big blue book nearby.

Now, it's time for me to go, I won't try to explain the reason. Please have a great week and thank you for stopping by.

The writer J.D. Salinger, 91, whose most well-know work was "The Catcher in the Rye," died today, so I wanted to open this entry with a quote by him. He influenced and continues to influence countless writers, artists and those who simply felt he captured the angst of youth.

The New York Times obituary stated, "Fellow students remember him striding around campus in a black chesterfield with velvet collar and announcing that he was going to write the Great American Novel." Thank goodness he did. Rest in peace J.D.

On a lighter note, as promised (though a tad later than hoped), my number one photo assistant (the hubby) and I recently went to Galveston. The island is in remarkable shape considering they still are recovering from hurricane Ike.

After eating lunch (great burgers) at the Spot (3204 Seawall Blvd., 409-621-5237), we took a walk on the beach (above), then checked out the Strand Historic District. Many of the buildings date as far back as the 1840s and have withstood several hurricanes, including the 1900 Storm, regarded as the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

We stumbled upon the Tremont House hotel. It's breathtaking:

The original Tremont House was build in 1839. The current incarnation, the Leon & H. Blum Building, is half a block from the original and was build in 1879. The guest registry includes General Sam Houston, Buffalo Bill, Clara Barton and Ulysses S. Grant. To read more about its history, click here.

The hotel sustained eight feet of flooding from Ike, but you wouldn't know it. We opted to grab a cocktail in the atrium bar (extra dirty martinis) and chill out on the rooftop bar:

 Notice the Carnival cruise ship in the background? Galveston is one of its ports, along with several other cruise lines. The rooftop bar is very low-key and a casual retreat from some of the more swanky areas of the hotel.

Needless to say, Galveston is open for business. We'll return soon.

The interior does not disappoint:

The space is decorated with altars, Day of the Dead figurines, cobalt blue walls, Lucha libre and Mexican movie posters. Can you believe with all of this, they have delicious tacos to boot? It's true. Here's another peek:

Yes, we will visit this paradise again in the very near future. Ole!

Tacos A Go-Go, 3704 South Main St., Houston, 713-807-8226 (link to Web site is in the first sentence).

I attended the opening with the hubby (by the way, it's his birthday today), who as you can see, really gets into his viewing:

The piece he's checking out is David  Trautrimas' "The Projector Factory," (2006, Edition 7/7, 22 x 20 inches) and is an archival pigment print.

There is a great mixture of digital and traditional photography in the show and all of the images are for sale to the highest bidder, so if you are looking to add some new photography to your collection, this is a great place to start. Print prices varied from around $400 into the thousands.

This exhibit merely kicked off what ended up being quite a busy weekend. Check back tomorrow for a look at the vivid interior of Taco-A-Go-Go and on Wednesday, a trip to Galveston to take in a little nature, shoot some images for the Along the Way series and cocktails on the rooftop bar at the Tremont House.

Now that we got that out of the way, I took a trip to my neighborhood Starbucks yesterday in effort to a) get some much needed caffeine, b) soak up a little sunshine and c) procrastinate on writing an article. This is the Midtown Starbucks on Gray for those of you in Houston.

Much to my surprise and delight, the Starbucks has a dandy design thing goin' on (for the record, if you read the Jan. 11 New York Times T Magazine article about indie-style Starbucks-owned coffee shops, this isn't one).

Notice the cozy bar, decked out with vivid orange chairs and pendant lamps. The complimentary copies of the New York Times, Houston Press and Houston Chronicle are icing on the scrumptious Red Velvet cupcakes they've started selling.

While standing in line for my mid-afternoon, chocolaty mocha treat, I spied this assortment of yummy-looking panini. 

You know where I'll be at lunchtime today. And a special shoutout to my parents for the Starbucks giftcard they sent me for my birthday.

So to review: Coffee, cozy bar, free newspapers, red velvet cupcakes and panini -- I might move in.

I'm glad I finally went in, because it's quite a find. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of Strut, a boutique in Austin. The clothes are supercute, they have shoes and other accessories and everything is reasonably priced. For example, the most expensive item I saw was a sweet little tweed, three-quarter length, short jacket for $80.The earrings I went home with are hoops that are about two inches in diameter, sterling silver and hot. They were only $12. Score!

Em & Lee has five locations in Houston:

River Oaks - 713-524-8485

Rice Village - 713-942-9655

Midtown - 713-522-1900

Sugar Land - 281-494-0391

The Woodlands - 281-292-0155

It's definitely a great place to stop if you need a little pick-me-up or something cute to wear out on the town.

I'm especially happy about the fact that the Contemporary Art Museum (5216 Montrose) and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1001 Bissonnet at Main) are free and opened until 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

I'm looking forward to the "Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool" exhibit at CAM (the opening reception is Jan. 29, 7 to10 p.m.). Hendricks' portraits transform ordinary people into VIPs.

If the hubby and I don't end up going to Austin this weekend, we'll definitely check out the Houston Center for Photography 2010 Print Auction Exhibition opening reception on Jan. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

From the HCP Web site:

"Each year, HCP holds an annual print auction where artists, galleries and collectors from all over the world contribute high caliber photographic art that is auctioned to benefit HCP´s operating fund. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go directly to support HCP exhibitions, educational initiatives, outreach programs and the award winning publication spot magazine."

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship between me and Houston's art museums and galleries.

Yesterday while watching local coverage on ABC 13, KTRK here in Houston, I burst into tears when they showed a little boy being rescued from the rubble. He survived for five days without food or water. He was emaciated and looked so weary, but he had a huge smile on his face. It was indeed a happy moment, but heartbreaking to see this young boy so thin and weak. 

If you haven't yet donated money, please do it. Even a $1, if that's all you can spare.

In the Texas Catholic Herald, we are referring people to Catholic Relief Services, which like several organizations, was already in Haiti prior to the earthquake. It is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. Eighty percent of the residents of Haiti are Roman Catholic.

You also can't go wrong donating to the American Red Cross or the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which was established when, according to the Fund Web site, "President Barack Obama asked President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush to raise funds for immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts to help those who are most in need of food, water, shelter, medical care and support."

If you don't want to donate to the above organizations, find your favorite and go for it. The people of Haiti need all the help they can get.

In these pages, I'll explore everything from fashion and food to events and entertainment -- oh yeah, and art too. But, since I'm a news junkie, you should expect a bit of substance with the style. Don't be surprised to see the occasional mention of etiquette too, because while it may be fun to watch those gals rid themselves of all pride and dignity on "The Bachelor" ("k-lassy," not classy), I prefer a bit more decorum in real life -- ahem, mostly.

So yes, there is a time and a place for all of life's little shenanigans and also for it's simple pleasures, such as Saturday when, along with Mark (the hubby and movie maker extraordinaire) enjoyed a little beer tasting at St. Arnold Brewery in Houston. After a sip of the Brown Ale, I was seized by a sense of adventure and ventured into dark territory with a sip of Mark's Stout. 

Mark enjoying the delicious St. Arnold Stout in his souvenir mug.

It was a very civilized field trip and I recommend it for those of you who can appreciate a classy brew. We didn't know it at the time, but you can bring your own lunch. A lot of patrons came armed with pizza and sandwiches, as well as camp chairs and picnic blankets. Next time, we'll be more prepared.

Again, welcome. I hope you visit often and chat me up about my goings on and yours. And remember, keep it classy, mostly.