The Girl's Guide
Issue 78: Showered With Love
Welcome back to The Girl’s Guide! If you missed the most recent issue, find it here.
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Ask Evie
Recently, a reader wrote in with the following question:
Dear Evie,
While you're in the bliss of babies, I'm thinking about wedding bells. Do you or your readers have any tips on an elegant and affordable bridal shower in Washington? My BFF just got engaged and I want to fete her this late Winter/early Spring! - Made of Honor
Truth be told, my bridal shower did not take place in DC — my family hosted it for me in my home state of North Carolina. Therefore, I asked all of you for your best DC bridal shower tips! Here’s what you said:
Know where to save and where to splurge. - Tori Smith
"This is so tough, especially in a city where EVERYTHING is expensive! It can also feel tough to match the look of all the fancy parties you see around town on a budget. Know that whatever you do, your friend will love it!
My Matron of Honor threw the sweetest bridal shower for me in 2019. She hosted it at my townhouse on Capitol Hill, which made it feel cozy and so DC. Having it in a home will definitely save you money (if you don't live in a row house, I'm sure you know someone who does!). If you can't find a row home to use, try a local coffee shop like I did at Ebenezers Coffeehouse for this friend's baby shower recently. Personalize it with touches like custom cookies (I love Fluffy Thoughts Bakery), yummy appetizers, and a signature cocktail (Half Baked Harvest has great ones)! For this friend's baby shower I ended up catering the cheese board from Honeyleaf Platters. It ended up being surprisingly cheaper than doing it myself and more efficient on time to get it catered. Add in a few fun games (one my friend did was recipe cards for everyone to help us start a family cookbook) and a great balloon arch for photos (check Amazon for a cheap balloon pump and balloons... get at least a set of 100).
Last tip, think about areas where spending might be unnecessary. In my opinion, one area to cut, aside from the venue, is personalized favors.”
Here are a few more tips y’all sent in:
Accept shower decorations and games from recently married friends — you’ll save a lot of money!
Floating showers allow you to invite more people, and since people will mingle you don’t have to do the typical bridal shower games.
You don’t have to wear white! Wear whatever season colors or dress you love.
Consider using a tent in a loved one’s yard — you’ll save money on rental space and can reuse the tent.
Personalized games focused around the bride/couple are always the most fun!
Don’t forget to have someone keep a list of who gave each gift!
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously!
Interview with Tori Smith
For this week’s Girl’s Guide, I’d like you to meet Tori Smith, a Michigan native who now calls DC home! Connect with Tori on Instagram and Twitter.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
I've lived on Capitol Hill near Union Station for three and a half years and it has been the perfect place for this phase of life. My husband and I picked this area because of the proximity to our work. We loved walking to and from work together. I really enjoy the residential feel of Capitol Hill while still being within walking distance of all the major things to do and see. We are close to Eastern Market, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park, and the National Mall. We are looking to move though as our lifestyle is changing a bit with new jobs in a different part of town. If you have a part of Fairfax County that you love, send me a note!
What does your life look like right now?
I work at a small economic policy think tank where I specialize in international trade and other aspects of international economics. I started this role in April 2022 and it has been a wonderful change. It's hard to find a place to work in DC where your co-workers feel like family and I've been lucky enough to find that twice! My husband and I have two calico cats (Izzy and Piper). We are looking forward to growing our family soon, but it has been a rough ride because we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility last summer. One in eight couples experience infertility and of those 20-30 percent have unexplained infertility like us. I share a lot about our journey with infertility on Instagram. It can be incredibly difficult to navigate as a person of faith, but we are doing our very best to keep God at the center of every decision we make.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned over the course of your career?
There are two pieces of advice that have always served me well throughout my career and I try to share them with every single person I mentor. First, always be the best trash man. My dad instilled this in me as a young girl. Basically, always be the hardest worker in the room and never think that any task is beneath you (no matter your title). Someone will notice your work ethic and realize you shouldn't be a trash man anymore. Second, there is no one right way to get to where you want to go. It is important to look up to people and learn how someone you admire got to their current role. However, there's no one right way to reach your dream job. If you think about every step in your career in terms of the skills you need to develop or sharpen (and then pair that with a killer work ethic), you'll be well on your way to being qualified for your dream job.
What's a book you think every woman should read?
This doesn't apply to every woman, but at my phase in life the book I find myself most recommending is Expecting Better by Emily Oster. This book is a great resource for expecting mothers or people thinking about starting a family. As someone with an economics, data, and research background, I find myself asking why more than the average bear. Emily does a fantastic job at presenting you with the data, helping you to understand how to discern between good and bad data, and then giving you space to make your own conclusions.
What's your favorite coffee shop or restaurant in the DC area?
Like most people living on Capitol Hill, my favorite coffee shop is Ebenezers Coffeehouse. I spent so many afternoons in my early DC days meeting people for coffee at Ebenezers, and it holds such a special place in my heart. The manager and staff at Ebz are fantastic and the profits from the company help to support the mission work of National Community Church. I'm not a member of that church, but it is heartwarming to know that my money is going to support a good cause. My go-to drink at Ebz is their spiced chai with their specialty syrup of the season.
The Haps
6 New Restaurants to Check Out in DC
I was very excited to see Le Mont Royal in Adams Morgan on Washingtonian’s list of new bars/restaurants to check out in DC. My husband Nick highly recommends the poutine and the purple pool table. Also on the list is “Bolivian cocktail concept” Casa Kantuta, organic bakery Manifest Bread, and Spicy Water African Grill (coincidentally, spicy water is what I call LaCroix).
French-ify Your Home
Everyone says they love the timeless appeal of French decor, but I decided to investigate what makes it so unique in my latest story for Evie Magazine: How To Make Your Home More French Without Moving To Paris. It may come as a surprise to you that French style is much less about specific items and more about how you use your space — read my article to find out if you already have French design sensibilities!
Here are a few more links to what I’m reading, cooking, and listening to these days:
Why Are Eggs So Expensive?: Harvest Prude investigates the high prices at the grocery store.
Girlboss, Interrupted: The Normalization of Neglect: Podcast host Helen Roy interviews @GoingGodward about her work as a school-based therapist and the hurt and despair under the surface at many public schools.
DC's top two leaders disagree on how to save downtown: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser wants to change regulations limiting building height in some parts of DC.
13 Best Comfortable Heels for Work: Washingtonian’s work heel roundup includes a range of prices and styles.
Hot Cocoa Mix from Scratch: Inspired by this tweet, I’m sharing my favorite homemade hot cocoa mix recipe with you. (I’m too lazy to toast the milk powder like the recipe suggests — let me know if you do.)
Bulletin Board
MARY ELLEN O’LEARY welcomed baby girl FIONA GRACE on January 11. Congrats on joining the girl mom club!
Congrats to TAYLOR and LOGAN LOWE, who announced they are expecting a baby boy in July! Read last week’s Girl’s Guide interview with Logan here.
MADELINE PELTZER joins Michigan Rep. John James’ office as press secretary. She was previously at the RNC. Congratulate Madeline on Twitter!
Announcing ELLEN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY… Photographer Elle says: “I've loved taking engagement, family, graduation, and ‘just because’ photos upon request from friends for years, but it wasn't until searching for a photographer for my recent wedding that I realized how picky I am about photos — I was looking for something clean and classic, that didn't look too Lilly Pulitzer or too ‘van life.’ I did find an amazing photographer (who's now thriving in Denver), but I wanted to start creating the timeless, natural, and joyful images that I spent so much time looking for, right here in NoVa/DC (and at the affordable prices I'd been looking for too). I'd be delighted to have you join me!”
