Indiana State Pride

Hoosiers are we --- and proud to be! We adore #thenoke and #DTFW. We're passionate about Northeast Indiana and the whole d@mn state. We know the Midwest is a gem and has lots to offer. AND, we're happy to scream it from the rooftops whenever we get the chance. 

We Trovesters travel - a lot. We love seeing foreign lands, experiencing other cultures, learning new traditions and that's not likely to change. We're all explorers at heart. Perhaps the coming Fourth of July weekend has us feeling patriotic. We know America is a diverse and beautiful country with amazing assets in every state, within every region, on every coast. But we're always happy to return home at the end of any journey, because our Indiana lives are just as rich with family, great friends and the diverse beauty of our home state.

We have so much Indiana pride running through our veins and tons of Midwestern goodness in store. Come shop The Trove and show your love for the crossroads of America. 

To Market, To Market

We Trovesters go to great lengths to bring the freshest goodies to our corner of Northeast Indiana. We search high and low during  our personal travels and a few times a year, we assemble at the best wholesale markets to divide and conquer. We find not only fantastic pieces we just know  you'll love but also make new friends, strengthen our team bonds and consume more than our fair share of vino after long days on our feet. We love (almost) every single second. Take a peek at our latest expedition to the famed AmericasMart Atlanta. This massive wholesale market features an exhilarating yet exhausting seven million square feet. Yes, SEVEN MILLION! Our FitBit bands didn't know what hit 'em...

Trovesters REPRESENT! Just for the record, that's iced coffee in Melani's cup, not wine as you might have first suspected.

The labyrinth of hell...AKA Building 3 (of 4 total buildings). New tees, books, jewelry, linens and furniture found! 

Look for these stunning candle lanterns at The Trove, arriving soon!

Leslie, with one of our fab sales reps, placing a jewelry order.

Can't wait to add this new line to our jewelry department.

Placed a BIG order for these retro style Newgate clocks.

Love love love these cutie canvas totes.

We always have fun in the Ben's Garden booth.

Not so bad to be indoors on a dreary, foggy day.

These pretty throws and pillows have us dreaming of Spring!

Not everything's a winner. You won't be finding this one at The Trove...

And another item we won’t be bringing back.

Wine vs. Food --- there's a clear favorite.

New Bed Stu!

You're going to fall in love with new Barefoot Dreams for littles.

Kitchen islands, awesome tables and  accent pieces - Leslie was clearly having a blast at this booth.

It's imperative to practice restorative yoga poses throughout the day.

Whew! We're exhausted all over again.

Stay tuned for the impending arrivals of our many new finds!

The Art of Modern Print Publications

Print publications are folding left and right in this digital age (pun not intended however perfect). But while everyone and their mother now has a blog, there are talented photographers and writers creating gorgeous, more modern magazines. Driftless is one such example.

The brainchild of three passionate and talented women, this ad-free, indie publication highlights the food, art and culture of the Midwest. With expertly curated content, the full color issues are printed biannually and are chock full of stories, illustrations, swoon-worthy photography and design, interviews, recipes and comprehensive guides for adventurers. 

We are terribly excited to be the first stockist in Northeast Indiana to carry Driftless. We love their passion for stunning imagery, modern, minimalistic aesthetic and commitment to the art of storytelling. We're inspired by their love of this slice of America and we're proud to support Driftless as they show the world that where we call home is not just flyover country.

We just know you'll love to explore the beautiful Midwest through their lens. Pick up the latest copy of Driftless at The Trove. Want to learn more about Driftless? Click HERE




Go Camping!

We Trovesters just live to travel. We explore high and low, near and far and we won't rest until we see all corners of this amazing planet. While some of our adventures are far flung, there's nothing quite like a little camping in the good old USA. Whether your idea of camping involves chopping wood and sleeping under the stars or not-quite-roughing it in a charming, rustic cabin with proper cocktailing accessories, we have the coolest and most stylish provisions for your outdoor exploits. And if you just want to decorate as if you're outdoorsy, we can help you with that too. 

Come shop our selection of Izola pine scented pillows, Swell travel bottles and cool Esperos canvas backpacks. 

A great many people, and more all the time, live their entire lives without ever once sleeping out under the stars.
— Alan S. Kesselheim, Let Them Paddle: Coming of Age on the Water

Bangkok Street Food

I am of the firm belief that some of the best food in Bangkok can be found on the street being sold by vendors set up on seemingly every corner.  I have sampled the most delicious coconut ice cream, served with coconut meat and chopped macadamia nuts and the tastiest “mini pineapple” which my daughter proclaimed was better than any candy.  The following pictures prove my point that whether it was from a cart on the street or inside a market or from a boat that was part of a floating market, food in and around Bangkok may be the best when you are looking at the person who prepared it!

 

If I could eat one thing over and over again, it would be this Pad Thai. With a Singha to wash it down!

If I could eat one thing over and over again, it would be this Pad Thai. With a Singha to wash it down!


The epitome of chicken satay. What I’d give to find that on a street corner in my home town!

The epitome of chicken satay. What I’d give to find that on a street corner in my home town!

Nature’s Candy!

Nature’s Candy!


Heading to the floating market.

Heading to the floating market.

And to wash it all down…

And to wash it all down…

Deciding what you want to eat at the floating market is the hardest part!

Deciding what you want to eat at the floating market is the hardest part!

Dessert! Sticky Rice with an amazing topping of caramelized coconut. 

Dessert! Sticky Rice with an amazing topping of caramelized coconut.

 

Market Flowers

Orchids are my favorite flower.  So delicate, so easy to care for, so seemingly exotic, even though many of the species really aren’t.  Visiting several vegetable, fruit and flower markets in Thailand was a visual treat.  Orchids and lotus flowers abound.  A large bouquet of orchids could be had for about $1 USD.  Oh to have cut orchids in large bowls around my house!  I will settle for two or three stems in a plant!  I will let the flowers speak for themselves:

Pile of Orchids–$1 USD for a large bunch.

Pile of Orchids–$1 USD for a large bunch.

Take your pick! The choices are overwhelming and all beautiful.

Take your pick! The choices are overwhelming and all beautiful.

More varieties of orchids. How to decide?

More varieties of orchids. How to decide?

Fresh Lotus Flowers–I’d never seen these in such abundance.

Fresh Lotus Flowers–I’d never seen these in such abundance.

The subtle flowers are inspiring. Remind me of watermelon tourmaline jewelry…

The subtle flowers are inspiring. Remind me of watermelon tourmaline jewelry…

Lotus in their natural state.

Lotus in their natural state.

Sampaguita Flower leis. The Sampaguita flower is a type of jasmine and has a wonderful scent.

Sampaguita Flower leis. The Sampaguita flower is a type of jasmine and has a wonderful scent.

Making Sampaguita Leis in the market. Bangkok, Thailand.

Making Sampaguita Leis in the market. Bangkok, Thailand.

Thai Coffee

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 I’ve been out and about lately–when I found myself in LAX every weekend for four in a row, I thought I had died and gone to heaven!  Not what you might expect me to say, I know, but if I’m in an airport that means I am coming or going from an adventure and that makes me happy.

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When I travel, I love to experience food.  Really, food is my souvenir.  A recipe I brought back from my trip is for Thai Coffee.  This really helps a person make it across time zones, believe me!

Thai Kah-Fe


1 double espresso

2 T sweetened condensed milk

Spoon the condensed milk into a glass of double espresso and allow the milk to settle at the bottom of the glass.  Serve hot with a coffee spoon and stir to combine the coffee and milk before drinking.

Also, completely delicious over ice!!!

This recipe is courtesy of “At the Table of Jim Thompson,” an amazing Thai cookbook.

 

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Lady-like Pumps

 A beautiful shoe trend I noticed on my recent trip to NYC is the predominance of lady-like pumps.  The trend points back to the pointed toe, kitten heel, single soled shoe.  Still available are the more rocker style platform pumps, but the new trend makes them look down right tart-y!

Manolo Blahnik–always classy.. Via Barneys.com

Manolo Blahnik–always classy.. Via Barneys.com

I am particularly loving the new heels–the thin, flat heels at Louis Vuitton and the inventive whimsical heels at Marc Jacobs.  When worked in combination with the mod black and white palette it feels like a combination of the 50s and the 60s–in all the best ways!

Here’s the idea…black and white looks fresh again! Via NYTimes.com.

Here’s the idea…black and white looks fresh again! Via NYTimes.com.

I’m so happy I saved some of my old pumps from the early 2000s, but I’m sure I won’t be able to resist a new pair.

 

Musings on Tennis Shoes

 I’ve had a struggle with wearing tennis shoes in cities and on trips.  I have always felt too touristy or out of style, but my feet sure appreciate the support and ease of walking in tennis shoes.

I recently consulted with a fashion maven to see what her opinion might be about how to get around a city and still be on trend.  What to do?

Her advice was tennis shoes!  She had specific brands in mind, depending on your budget…

For the flush of bank account, behold the Lanvin tennis shoe:

Yes, Lanvin, the French fashion house, makes a tennis shoe!  It is adorable, I must admit.  So, instead of dropping beaucoup dollars on the stilettos you only wear once a year, why not get your price per wear with a tennis shoe?

Also saw these Golden Goose tennis shoes while perusing the Barney’s site–I like the skater boy look:

 

Oh the other side of the budget coin, consider Chuck Taylors by Converse.  Long worn by hipsters, musicians, and other creative types, Chuck Taylors come at a price point that is definitely easier to swallow.  I recently went on the Converse web site and you can even customize your own!  I’m debating on a pair of washed gray ones and think I may pull the trigger.  Maybe some bright colored ones for summer…

Lunch & Dessert in NYC

 On our recent long weekend in NYC, we spent a fun day strolling from SoHo to lunch in Greenwich Village at Minetta Tavern to dessert at Milk & Cookies.  It was the perfect way to recuperate from the overindulgence of the night before (and I will speak for myself in that department…) and to get a little bit of fresh air.  Although maybe we should have started with lunch and the restorative cheeseburgers and fries and ended with shopping because, really, our hearts and heads were just not into the shopping…

Minetta Tavern looks unassuming from the exterior, but the inside was hopping and full to the brim.  It seems that reservations are crucial–at least at noon on Saturday.  The menu is stocked with delicious brunch items and one person in our party veered from the cheeseburger/fries to experience the ham/grits/eggs combo.  The beverage menu looked worth exploring–but Diet Coke is such a perfect complement to a cheeseburger that I couldn’t resist.

Next stop:  Milk & Cookies!  I love this cookbook and was so excited to actually enter the bakery that chef Tina Casaceli put on the map.  It was quaint and adorable and evidently a stop on many walking tours.  It was rated 4.8 out of 5 on the Foods of NY Tours by over 180,000 guests!

Now that I’m home, I plan on getting out my cookbook to savor some memories from last weekend.  I love the way the cookbook leaves room for some creativity–by providing recipes to five different base doughs, then having examples of how to elaborate on them.  I’ve gotten fond of throwing in my own mix of goodies, depending on what’s laying around, into the various bases.  Try it on a cold winter day!