Don't you just love the home section of Anthropologie? The eclectic, diverse look of their glasses, dishes, linens, furniture and decorative accents are unlike any other store, much less a national retailer. But have you ever wondered who picks out these great finds and where on earth do they discover them? Now you can find out and go along for the adventure.

A new TV show on Sundance Channel called MAN SHOPS GLOBE premiers October 7th and follows Keith Johnson, buyer-at-large for the innovative retailer, as he travels six months of the year exploring and shopping everywhere from flea-markets in Paris to remote artist's studios in Turkey. The half-an-hour show will follow Keith as he travels in France, Turkey, South Africa, Holland, India, U.K., Tunisia, Argentina. Whew, and this is just the first 8 episodes! 

I'm sorry I am late with my report on my weekend in New Orleans -- I've been digesting. I also hope it won't be doubly disappointing that I did zero shopping. Zero. So you must be thinking what did I do if I wasn't shopping, house hunting, or going on Craiglist crusades? Well, I was eating and eating and eating, and then repeating until fully, completely stuffed for 3 days. Sounds gluttonous and delicious? It absolutely was. Tight fitting pants? Left at home. 1 week, 6 workouts, 3 trips to the steam room, and countless liters of water later I'm de-bloated enough to recount my restaurant itinerary for you (while wearing my rings again). The highlights are:

I Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. I'm headed to the magical city of New Orleans for a family weekend. (Happy Birthday Mom!)

 I promise to report back on lots of great restaurants and shops. Here are some pictures to tide you over in the meantime.

All of a sudden it seems like the Surf Lodge, a little boutique hotel in Montauk, NY, is summoning me for a visit. First I saw it in this month's Coastal Living and just today Design Sponge blogged about designer Robert McKinley's laid-back and fab style. And from these photos I am all about a long weekend way up east.

The fresh, fun look continues from the outside with funky outdoor spaces (Did you know the tree in the photo above is actually an outdoor shower?!) in the calming interior guest rooms (below). 

Every trip to New York I usually pack full with tons of walking through great neighborhoods, shopping, a museum exhibit or two, and frequent visits with friends -- and all of these usually fall in between my scheduled meals to check out what's new on the dining scene. With so many fantastic places to eat and drink a few days indulging in the city is never enough (note: my AMEX may disagree).

So I was so pleased to stumble upon a few photo slide shows on The New York Times' website Dining and Wine section that take us inside 3 of Manhattan's best: Savoy, Rye, and Bar Artisanal (all for free!). Like so many others, each establishment has it's own unique concept and exquisite interiors to match.

Savoy is in SoHo on Prince street.

While I really love my house-- I feel like I am never actually spending any time in it. Every weekend there seems to be something pulling me into the car or to the airport and I know I am not alone.  Since I am forever packing, washing and then repacking my suitcase I thought I might look into a better strategy for travel.

I love this jet-set kit i found on Delight.com complete with carry on bag, luggage tag, refillable 3 ounce bottles, and a check list to make sure you haven't forgotten a thing.

Late last week I got back from almost two week in Greece on my honeymoon. I can't stop talking about what a gorgeous place it is and what a wonderful time we had. But more than just the warm sun, amazing food, and friendly people-- the style of the Greek Isles is by far the most addicting. The mixture of cool colors, rich history, and a simple emphasis on relaxation make Grecian style ideal. Good news -- this Mediterranean style can easily be incorporated with just a few Greek-inspired accents. Here are some of my favorites...

I recently spent a few days in San Francisco for work, but did manage to squeak in a visit to San Fran's Ferry Building. Located along the Embarcadero and the end of market Street, the Ferry Building is a must see on your San Francisco trip.

Ready to hit the beach for a few relaxing days in the sun? Before you head to the sunny shores, make sure you have all the necessities ready so you can fully enjoy your well-earned vacation.

I dont know what it is about women, and I know I'm not alone in this, but for some reason I always feel the need to purchase a new beach bag every year. Lands' End has great sturdy canvas tote bags that stand upright and are perfect for holding everything you need. I always end up spilling something in my beach bag, whether its a drink or sunscreen, but the canvas fabric is easy to clean with a little bit of soap and water, and the antimicrobial finish prevents the fabric from mildewing. They start at only $17, so you can easily justify splurging on a new tote.

Don't miss the exhibit in Moma's parking lot called Home Delivery. Part of a larger exhibition on prefab houses in America, they've assembled 4 different prefabs which you can walk through! Designer Ron Marvin and I strolled through the houses, talking about his design background--visual merchandising for Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Hold Everything and about crazy children's names. [Note to all future parents considering "original" names for their kids--children in the cruel elementary school environment want, more than anything, not to stand out. You are dooming your child to torment by naming him Hertz.] It was one of those good New York summer days, with a breeze blowing and midtown hustling all around, and  there we were in this oasis of calm, experiencing some pretty great ideas about how to live more simply, in these pared down environments that provided everything you'd need, really.   Photo by Librado Romero, courtesy of The New York Times.