Sense Appeal XXX

for the eyes:

{Vaudeville's curb appeal sets the tone for what's in store inside ::  the basement houses the bistro, the surface level is chocked full of stunning interiors all with a subtle Southern sophistication and up top is the tasteful art gallery}

The Texas hill country stretches through and around Austin. It's an impressive feature of the Texas landscape, something I was reminded of during my day trip to Fredericksburg when the wild flowers were in full bloom.

I met my aunt, uncle and parents there for lunch at Vaudeville, a three-story spot in the heart of town sure to make any designer, foodie and artist swoon. With peach season approaching, I recommend paying this little town a visit with one (or two!) stops at Vaudeville.

for the mind:
I probably wouldn't have been as enchanted with the above spot even a few years back. When I started BOD, I flirted mostly with fashion writing. During college, I made a departure veering more toward food, but now I find myself dabbling more and more in interior decorating.

{my Austin sister's home in South Austin with a renovated dining room with freshly coated navy walls, new sconces (which she appropriately calls the "earrings" adorning the room) and that yellow guy who has an identical twin that not pictured.}

I knew this was inevitable as my mom and sisters have always maintained a keen sense of style when it came to decorating their homes. I hope I follow suit. I, at the very least, know to be choose wisely.

image via

I read and sort through interview responses for our various series on the Camille Styles site. We featured the husband and wife duo behind VeeCaravan, and they said what most other interior designers do:

Love everything that comes into your home. 

They also said,

Do what you love and what feels right and people will respond to that.

for the ears:
'No Words' by Erik Hassle

I like the irony in this song as the artist explains how, despite his acclaimed "way with words," he becomes speechless when trying to express his feelings for whomever this song is devoted to. It also happens to be really catchy.

fashion for feel:
My parents gifted me with a Saint Benedict Medal necklace after my thesis presentation. I like where it rests right on my heart, ideal for its protective purpose and also perfect for layering other trendier pieces like so...

the 'Florence 'bracelet & 'Margaret' necklace

Loren of Tribe + Glory contacted me about her collection of hand-crafted jewelry from artisans in Uganda and was kind enough to share some of the pieces. I am most impressed with Loren's initiative to empower these African artisans and launch this project out of pure passion:

At Tribe + Glory we believe there is beauty and power in recognizing and encouraging individuality among our team. Each woman is different, each is important, and each brings new life and personality not only to our program, but also to each piece of jewelry! 

Shop through this season's selections including my personal favorites -- the Florence bracelet and Allen necklace.

for taste:

My house this year practically backs up to one of Austin's most beloved trails--Shoal Creek. I only recently discovered how that scenic pathway could lead me to the cutest area in town, Clarksville.

A few friends and I recently brunched at the girliest spot historic Clarksville caters to, Josephine House (yet another perfect project put together by the MM Hospitality group). The black rice bowl with poached eggs and seasonal veggies was as delectable as it looks, but go for the granola.

Happy first day of May!