Back from Basketball

Getty

Mrs O returns to the White House after watching daughter Sasha play basketball. She wears a pair of patent leather boots which made their debut at the opening of the White House kitchen garden.

Nancy Reagan's Role

Google

Politico  reports on an upcoming PBS documentary about Nancy Reagan, due to be screened on February 6th to commemorate the centennial of President Reagan's birth. Will you be watching?

New Posts this evening!

Google

New posts will commence later this evening (GMT) as I am heading to London for the day to interview a politician for my university newspaper. Have a good day whatever you are doing!

Cupcakes from The Hummingbird Bakery

I re-embraced my partial domestic side this weekend, baking two treats from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook. The pictures show my attempt at the chocolate cupcakes, and I also baked the peanut butter cookies which are divine!

Do any of you bake, and if so, what are your favourite home-made treats?

Author's Own

Michelle Obama: I'll campaign in 2012

Christine Baranski's Sunday Routine

Chad Batka

Regular visitors to this blog will know that I am a huge fan of The Good Wife, and particularly of the character Diane Lockhart and the actress, Christine Baranski who portrays her. This article for the New York Times by David Rooney was a refreshing read and I loved 'nosing' in to Baranski's Sunday schedule. It is much more exciting than many of my Sunday's! Read the piece here.

Mrs O: Boosting America in her own fashion

The New York Times

The First Lady's choice of dress for the Chinese state dinner drew criticism from designers such as Oscar de la Renta and Diane von Furstenburg. The New York Times op-ed columnist Kate Betts, brings some perspective to the debate here.

Michelle Obama spends time with the military

Reuters

The First Lady spent time at Fort Jackson, SC yesterday, providing the keynote speech for the day's graduation ceremony. The visit also emphasised Mrs Obama's advocacy for child obesity, exercise and nutrition. Mrs O was prepared for the chilly weather, dressed in a grey wool coat by Narciso Rodriguez, a grey pantsuit and a Elongated Marquis pin by Alexis Bittar.

Ethical Jewelry from the White House

Kara Ross

As a visiting foreign head of state will testify, one of the most exciting events is the exchange of gifts. The First Lady, seeing the beauty in providing guests with sustainable, ethical and truly beautiful guests hired designer Kara Ross to design a small range of jewelry which can be given to wives of foreign dignitaries. The three pieces pictured above (a wooden bangle and two wooden necklace pendants) are made from wood from The White House with the stamping showing 'Made Exclusively for Michelle Obama by Kara Ross.' I would LOVE to receive one of these, and perhaps, the future sparkles with design possibilities for the First Lady?

This Week on the Hill...

MONDAY 24TH JANUARY: Two members of Capitol Police stand outside the US Supreme Court before the March for Life, commemorating the 38th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade

TUESDAY 24TH JANUARY: Senators Rand Paul and Kirsten Gillibrand sit together at the State of the Union

24TH JANUARY: Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sit together at the State of the Union

24TH JANUARY: A flag from 9/11 first responders is pictured at the ceremony giving the gift to the staff of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

WEDNESDAY 25TH JANUARY: Rep Paul Ryan and Rep Chris van Hollen confer at a House Budget Committee meeting

25TH JANUARY: Senator Patty Murray is pictured during an interview

25TH JANUARY: A copy of the Deep Water disaster report is pictured at a Senate Committee

THURSDAY 26TH JANUARY: The Capitol is pictured during the overnight snow storm

FRIDAY 27TH JANUARY: President Obama speaks at the annual Families USA Health Conference at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

Jackie Kennedy's pillbox hat missing

Google Images

Politico reports that Jacqueline Kennedy's pink pillbox hat from the day the President was assassinated has gone missing. The piece of history is believed to have been sold to a private collector or lying in an attic. The Chanel suit currently sits in the National Archives and Administration's complex in Maryland, unable to be on display for 100 years due to an agreement with the Kennedy family. The agreement between Caroline Kennedy and the National Archive's is due to be renegotiated in 2013. The hat was last known to be in the possession of Kennedy's former secretary, Mary Gallagher. Gallagher would not comment on the situation.

Michelle Obama on Oprah

2011 State of the Union: Official White House Photographs

Official White House Photographs

First look at the First Lady on Oprah

AP

Here's a first look at the First Lady's appearance on Oprah, to be broadcast later today. Mrs O talks about her involvement and admiration for military families, and from this hand-out image, appears to be wearing a hot pink shift dress by Prabal Gurung and a necklace by Fallon. We can't wait to see the rest of the outfit!

Gabrielle Giffords moves to rehabilitation center

Office of Gabrielle Giffords

Gabrielle Giffords was moved to her rehabilitation center yesterday, where she will continue her recovery after the Tucson shooting nearly three weeks ago. Doctors report a valve will be placed in her breathing tube to help her begin to speak. Her condition is said to be improving at 'lightening speed.' Read Huffington Post's full report here.

Decline of Detroit

The Huffington Post

The Huffington Post features haunting images of the decline of Detroit, taken by photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffe today. The one featured here shows the exterior of Michigan Central station. More can be found here.

SOTU: Michelle Obama in Rachel Roy

Getty

The First Lady returned to her love of shift dresses last night, wearing a Rachel Roy shift in the colour 'putty' to the President's annual State of the Union. Lucite bangles and a ribbon commemorating Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the victims of the Arizona shooting accompanied the dress.

2011 State of the Union in Pictures

Getty/Reuters