Summer Reading
A not-so listy list of must-read authors, Southern and otherwise
Bon Vivant
Design, entertaining and good living with New Orleans Bride and Homes & Lifestyles editor Melanie Warner Spencer
The Joy of Text
Putting pen to postcard is a charming alternative in the electronic age.
Home away from home
Creating a comfortable, cozy cubicle for a more appealing workday
Road Trip Chic
Consider comfort and little luxuries for summer car voyages
Picnic Perfection
Elements of stylish dining outdoors
Summer Rituals
Lemonade, terrifying cleanses and road trips
Fête Accompli
Keeping it simple, celebratory and fun when co-hosting a party
Everyday People
Five individuals that make life easier, better and more relaxing.
Contain and Maintain
Decorative baskets, bottles and boxes keep essential items at your fingertips.
On the Move
With the right tools, even moving day can be infused with little luxuries.
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Melanie Warner Spencer is a native Kentuckian, but says she got to New Orleans as fast as she could. For more than 16 years, Melanie has covered lifestyle, design and entertainment at various publications, serving as the design columnist at The Austin American-Statesman, a senior staff reporter at the Houston Chronicle and most recently as the editor-in-chief of Houston Brides magazine. Her work also has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Huffington Post and Reuters in the United States and across the globe. In her spare time, Melanie is an award-winning fine art photographer and has been honored by the Texas Press Association for her editorial photography. She also has been honored by the Press Club of New Orleans for its Excellence in Journalism Awards and is currently serving as a media member of the board of directors. Cooking and eating fabulous food and taking road trips with her spouse of 16 years, fellow writer and filmmaker Mark Patrick Spencer however, is at the top of her list of favorite pastimes. Click 
