Pixie Pages

A Winter's Day

2012-01-23T18:57:00.000-05:00

Source: shellsonthebeach.tumblr.com via Joni on Pinterest

Ah, yes, winter. This is how I spent my day, hot tea and a few books and magazines while catching up on the laundry and doing some dusting here and there. A weekday off every now and then is a wonderful thing; it feels more relaxing than a weekend off. Right now I'm happy about quite a few things...

My sofa is due to arrive next month.
I broke out the good stuff and made real hot chocolate (no foil packets).
Laundry in my building! No more walking a few blocks on cold and rainy days.
Wool socks that I discovered while cleaning out the dresser.
New Lucky Brand jeans that are capri length (ankle on me).
Last night's episode of Downton Abbey.

Can you believe that January is close to being over? Done? Caput? Wow. Before you know it, it'll be February. Then spring. It's not really been a very bad winter so far, not much snow, very little rain and only recently has it really been cold. Let's hope summer is as mild.

Hello Duckies!

2012-01-18T13:53:00.001-05:00

Source: ariannabelle.com via keely on Pinterest

Wow. Once again, I've been MIA. We're down to the final push before everyone and everything heads out to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl. The logistics are mind boggling: over 160 phone lines across five venues, mobile units, generators, up-link trucks, sets, tape stock, cameras, merchandise...all converging on Lucas Oil Stadium in the next few days.

I saw the above photo on Pinterest and I just liked it. Maybe because I'm finally thinking about decorating my place (the sofa is to be shipped February 6th). Rugs, lamps, paint, decor. It's all mine and I can do whatever I want to it! That's nice after years and years of rentals.

At night I fall asleep perusing old issues of House Beautiful. However, this has the unfortunate effect of too many ideas for too little space. :) What color should I paint? What color scheme for a rug and throw pillows? I do love color so I have to reign it in a bit, focus so to speak.

In other good news, after 11+ years as a perma-lancer, I will be made staff in February! Hello health insurance and 401k and all those other things that grown-ups have! It's all very exciting.

And finally, my poor Tigers were shut out in the BCS Championship and the Saints lost to the 49'ers this past weekend so it's been a sad sports month for the state of Louisiana. I promised my 'Bama fan friends in co-workers that I would do this, so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em (at least until next football season): Roll Tide (and Geaux Tigers!). ;)

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 51

2012-01-09T13:02:00.001-05:00

Oh my, I'm late. I did read the book on time, however, posting here has been problematic. I spent Christmas in Green Bay for work, flew home and worked the Giants game and just returned from New Orleans after the Wildcard game. Life and work has been busy but ending the season in New Orleans was amazing. The Saints won, I ate King's Cake, saw Cowboy Mouth play while on my lunch break and a whole other slew of fun things between work hours.

And so the last book of last year was Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters, the first in the Vicky Bliss series.

I had not read this one before, which is hard to believe as I thought I'd read all of Elizabeth Peters' books. Sir John Smythe is not in this book or if he is, he was not revealed to the reader as such. Vicky sets out to find a statue and in doing so tries to beat her co-worker and sort of boyfriend to it. We meet Herr Schmidt in this book as he's looking for the treasure as well. It ends nicely with the statue found and Schmidt offering a job to Vicky and thus her move to Germany.

Whew! 52 books in 52 weeks. It was fun but I don't think I'll be doing that again.

Also, Happy New Year! (Also a bit late.)

And finally I'll end with the most exciting thing to happen in January will happen tonight. BCS Championship game in New Orleans.

GEAUX TIGERS!! BEAT BAMA!!!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 51

2011-12-25T22:34:00.004-05:00

Week 51! The end is in sight. This week's book is Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs.

I do like the Tea Shop series a bit more than these but it was a pretty quick and very easy read. Which is exactly what I needed this close to the end of the year and during the holiday season. Woman is murdered in a church in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong. Many suspects, few valid motives...but of course it all works out in the end.

Speaking of...Merry Christmas to you and yours. It's been an unusual Christmas, if I do say so myself. I've not really had a traditional Christmas in many years. Working in television pretty much guarantees that you won't and since moving so far away from the family it's been even less so. But this year I'm in Green Bay and am spending the holiday with my work / road family...all 120 or so of them.

Movie Night

2011-12-18T20:07:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, a weekend off from work, movie night, conversation....it was nice to feel normal during football season. I had informed MBE earlier in the month that Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows would be seen. I didn't think it would take much persuasion and so we found ourselves on opening weekend sitting in a fairly packed theater.

via Sherlock Holmes

It was pretty good, a fun caper; however as with many sequels I didn't find it as entertaining as the first. I did find myself annoyed with all the slow-mo action scenes acted out in his mind before the actual action scene but there were some fun parts and a lot of action.

On a side note, before the movie during the trailers for upcoming releases, they previewed a movie about Margaret Thatcher: Iron Lady. As a history buff and ex-history major it's definitely on the list of movies I'd want to see, but that's beside the point. The point is that after the trailer played, the girl in the row in front of us turned to her companion and said "Who is she?" What? OK, so said girl was in her 20's but really, she doesn't know Margaret Thatcher? The first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? Is our education system in the US so terrible that the average 20-something doesn't know Margaret Thatcher? Do they know Ronald Reagan? Mikhail Gorbachev? Heck, do they believe that the cold war was some 1980's video game? I'm really beginning to worry. I've often said the downfall of the US would be a lack of common sense but maybe just maybe it will be from a lack of not knowing our own history. Those who cannot remember the past are bound to repeat it and all that good stuff. Whew. Sorry for the rant but it really blew my mind, lol.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 50

2011-12-18T18:23:00.001-05:00

Fifty weeks down, two to go. Wow. Week Fifty's book was The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen.

I am such a fan of Sarah Addison Allen's books. This is the third book of hers that I've read and am waiting to get the fourth. These books are hard to describe, they're not really chic lit, nor romance, neither are they science fiction even though they contain elements of all these. What they are are magical, mystical books set in small towns in the South. Small towns where secrets run rampant and at the same time everyone knows everyone else's business.
In this book, Emily moves to a small town to live with her grandfather after the death of her mother. What she discovers about her mother shocks her. The woman Emily knew is vastly different than the girl that lived there years ago. Emily struggles to reconcile her activist mother with the mean and spoiled teenager that everyone remembers. Will she be an outcast because of what her mom did?

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 49

2011-12-14T13:44:00.001-05:00

Hello dolls (and guys). Another week down, another book down and another game...down! Woohoo. This week's late book is The Fred Factor. I can't get the photo of the cover to attach so you'll just have to deal with looking at this link.

This was picked because it's a super short book and looked like an easy read as it was. And I'm still late posting. How can that be? Hmmm. Anyhoo, the author starts the book with a story about his postal delivery man, Fred, who took the extra effort in his job and went above and beyond.

And it did motivate me. Honestly. For a minute. And then I turned around and went back to work and promptly forgot that I was trying to be more Fred-like. Yup.

So out side of that, I just returned from Dallas. It was a full moon this weekend and I fully blame all the crazy people at work on that. From catering snafus (fried chicken every meal? I think not!), to doggies pooping on planes. From someone running into a portable toilet (yup, the glamorous world of television sports) with a golf cart to hotel insanity. It was quite a weekend. By the way, I'd advise against running into a porta-john with a golf cart.

And so, with that, I bid you adieu.

Last Night...

2011-12-04T12:12:00.001-05:00

Courtesy Inside Sports

Yup. That's all. SEC Champions! Bring on the BCS Championship game...Bama, Oklahoma State...we're ready for you. Honey Badger takes what he wants. There may be craziness yet again in the BCS but for once, it's not about us. Undefeated. Unanimously #1. Life is good. Les is more. And all that stuff.

GEAUX TIGERS!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 48

2011-12-04T12:00:00.001-05:00

Finally, an on time post! I know. Let's all shout "hallelujah!". This week's book was a return to fiction after a few weeks of memoirs and such. Not only that, this week's book was a return to the mystery story AND a return to one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Peters.

Vicky Bliss, tall, blond and American, works in Germany at a museum. Along the way in her work travels, she's encountered evil villains and such. On this trip down the Nile, it's no different. After being talked into going on the cruise as an "expert in Egyptian art" but with the real intent of figuring out who the criminals and criminals to be are, Vicky finds herself completely undone by the arrival of Sir John Smythe. John and Vicky have crossed paths before, as he's one of the art thieves she's frequently run into but beyond that, they've lets say, been seeing each other for several years, on and off.

When John shows up with a brand new bride, Vicky quickly lets the authorities know who the criminal is but is it really John? Is she surrounded by the criminal underbelly of the art world? Are her undercover officers that she's reporting to really what and who they say they are? Things continue to go drastically wrong for Vicky but the day is saved by her boss at the museum, Schmidt, who shows up unannounced.

I'm sure I missed some of the Vicky Bliss series and must go back and take a look. Good book. Wow, only a few weeks left. I've enjoyed reading all these books but I don't think I'll continue into the new year, it's quiet stressful trying to blog them on time. Whew! lol

December? Already?

2011-12-02T10:51:00.001-05:00

Holy. Smoke. It's December. It's officially winter. THE TREE IS UP. Wow.

2011 Christmas Tree @ Rockefeller Plaza

And this morning I turned the heat on for the first time since being in my condo. The alarm went off and I hopped out of bed and thought "Wow, it's chilly!" and then I thought "Hey, I can control the temperature. I have a thermostat!" and then I did the happy dance.

For those of you who are thinking, "this girl has lost her marbles", let me clarify. For the past 10-11 years I've lived in a rental where I had no control over the temperature. The building set the thermostat and it was always FREEZING in the summer (way too much AC) and suffocating in the winter (waaaaaay too much heat). There were a few days every spring and fall where it was just right. OK, so I'm sounding a bit like Goldilocks here but it's true.

When I moved in to my condo a few weeks ago, one of the first things I did was to program the thermostat. Awesome. For this, these little things, I am thankful.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 47

2011-11-28T20:22:00.001-05:00

Yup, I'm not even going to go there this week. So let's just dive in, shall we? The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry was all that I hoped it would be.

Food, Paris, romance! What more can a girl ask for? Recipes, that's what. That old standby formula, chapter ended with a recipe lured me in once again. Kathleen finds herself jobless as the economy tanks. Her boyfriends talks her into taking her savings and going to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris where he meets her after quiting his job and moving from Seattle. Yes, the two marry midway and yes it's very much a "i-found-myself-while-living-my-dream" book but I liked it much better than Eat, Pray, Love which seemed way too whiny for my tastes. Ah, so it turns out that I do like chic-lit when it's in the form of non-fiction. Who knew?

And PS: The title refers to crying when cutting onions, not yourself as I had erroneously assumed.

PSS: I've not really mentioned it but I'm fully moved in, closed, broke and am a home owner! Isn't it the bees knees?

PSSS: (ok, no more p's and s's, I swear) I promise to take some photos soon and do a little write up. Especially since I'm planning to decorate. Some before and after action. Now THAT is definitely the bees knees!! Just be warned the "after" may take a while. So...just some "before" action. How's that sound?

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 46

2011-11-23T12:22:00.001-05:00

Darn! Late again! I know, I know...so without further ado, last week's book, The Anglo Files by Sarah Lyall.

The Anglo Files documents all the, um, unique characters of the English as discovered by Sarah Lyall. Lyall marries a Brit and moves across the pond (yes, I'm overdoing it a bit, aren't I). She looks into the quirky habits such as never turning on the lights, under heating their homes and a really strange chapter on hedgehogs.

There was a bit of history both ancient and modern and I found it a fun and entertaining read. Makes me want to take another trip to London!

And now, to follow this super short post....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: week 45

2011-11-14T09:55:00.001-05:00

Hotel No Tell by Daphne Uviller is the second in a series. If you remember, I read the first (Super in the City) and wasn't sure I'd hunt down the next. However, this one just happened to find me so I read it. What can I say. I actually liked this second book better than the first. The main character, Zephyr, was more mature and although her imagination ran away with her once or twice, it wasn't as out of the ball park crazy as the last book. I felt that Zephyr was much more a "real" character this time rather than a caricature of what a 20 something on the verge of 30 something, single, female in NYC should be.

Zephyr, now working as a junior detective in the NYC Special Investigations Unit, is assigned to work undercover at a local hotel where the owner suspects someone is embezzling funds from him. The Special Investigations Unit is involved because the city puts up visitors on official business there and thus they are losing money as well. Zephyr ends up on what seems to be a wild goose chase that has nothing to do with the case at hand...but does it? I guess you'll have to read to find out.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 44

2011-11-06T10:42:00.001-05:00

This week has been crazy, stressful and tiring. I've not had a lot of time to read so it's a good thing I'm a book or two ahead. Whew.

The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews is part of the Meg Langslow series and just as fun and entertaining as the previous books. While up for a 2am feeding, Meg hears noises from the living room downstairs. At first she thinks someone is up watching Animal Planet but soon discovers her ground floor is overrun by dogs, cats, birds and everything in between.

With the town out of money, the local animal shelter was being told it has to repeal it's no-kill policy and Meg's grandfather, father and brother decide to take action with a few other animal lovers and "liberate" all the animals from the shelter. But something goes awry, the guy that was supposed to transport them to another county never made it, and for good reason, he was dead.

Who murdered him and why? Was it about the animals? Or was one of the many ladies that he dated jealous to extreme? Did it have anything to do with his snooping into the town's finances? Twist and turns abound until all is reveals.

The Road to Home Ownership...

2011-11-02T09:51:00.001-04:00

Source: designismine.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

My thought for the day. Becoming a home owner, it's not easy, my friends! I was supposed to close yesterday, but alas, there were some issues on the seller's end and now I'm in limbo. This is stressful! I plan to live in this tiny apartment for the rest of my life (if I ever get in) rather than go through the home buying process again. lol.

Whew! I'm sure it will all work out in the end but in the meantime, I'm a nervous wreck! Almost everything is packed up ready to be moved, the utilities are already switched over as everything was a go to close until 7pm the night before. :(

52 Weeks; 52 Books: Week 43

2011-10-29T18:01:00.000-04:00

Yay! It's been awhile since I've posted my weekly book on time, but here it is. This week's book was a quick and easy read, a fun little jaunt along the French Riviera with Lady Georgiana Rannoch in Naughty in Nice.

Georgie is working as a volunteer in a soup kitchen when this book opens. Her brother and sister-in-law are off to Nice leaving Georgie alone in cold, dreary London until she is summoned by the Queen. Off to Nice she goes to recover the Queen's purloined snuff box.

Along the way she stumbles over dead bodies, models for Coco Chanel, has romantic and not so romantic adventures all over the coast. When staying with Binky and Fig (brother and sister-in-law) becomes unbearable, she chances upon an invitation to stay with Chanel and as it turns out, Georgie's mom, who owns the villa. Of course, the brooding, mysterious, Irish Darcy O'Hara is in town as well but he plays a very small role in this story.

Definitely a cute series and I look forward to the next installment by Ms. Rhys Bowen.

Rain Rain Go Away, I Have Lots to do Today!

2011-10-27T12:33:00.001-04:00

Source: weheartit.com via Paula on Pinterest

What a dreary day! But mom and dad are flying up and we we have only a few days to finish packing, close and move me in! So excited! Almost everything is in place except contacting the cable company to transfer my service; gotta have cable and internet.

Is it possible that it's already the end of October? Where did the month go? Where did the YEAR go?!? Wow.

52 Weeks; 52 Books: Week 42

2011-10-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

Good morning all! Once again I'm running late, thanks to work. However, I can't complain too much because without work, there would be no paycheck. And that would be bad.

This week's (last week's) book was The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch. In this edition, two Fleet Street newspaper editors are murdered on the same night around the same time. What did they have in common besides working on Fleet Street? Who could have done it? And why? As usual, there were a few red herring along the way to throw you off the scent but it's all wrapped up nicely at the end.

A Dinner Out for a Stressed Pixie

2011-10-18T15:49:00.003-04:00

This buying / closing / moving this is STRESSFUL! So stressful in fact, that I've completely become one of those people who can't-for-the-life-of-me remember what I'm doing, where I'm going, where I put the keys, cell phone, wallet. Arg! Anyhoo, to help alleviate said stress, MBE and I had dinner out Friday night, completely my pick of the restaurant litter.

I decided on Josie's Restaurant on the Upper West Side, it's a healthy, organic kind of place but the food was quite delicious. I had the organic angel hair pasta and turkey meatballs while MBE had some dee-licious grass-fed filet medallions.

It was just what the doctor ordered, no talking about work, mortgages, or the scary stuff but lots of conversation about the fun stuff: sofa styles and fabric, paint colors, decorating! We walked a bit before hopping the subway downtown when the rain started and I went home to collapse into bead, exhausted and a little less stressed.

Today, however, has been a different story. Today, my friends, I went to the DMV. I'll leave it at that as the less said about the NJ DMV the better. On that note, I'm off to comfort myself with ice cream, lick my wounds over my license photo and forgive and forget. ;)

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 41

2011-10-14T08:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday morning! Do you have any plans for this nice fall weekend? I am going to relax and continue my apartment clean out / packing. And read. It's a very nice weekend to read, dreary, rainy, cool. Hot cup of tea in one hand, book in the other. Sigh.

And that brings me to this week's book: My Life From Scratch by Gesine Bullock-Prado.

Because I love food, I picked this book up on one of my last trips to Barnes and Noble. It wasn't quite what I thought it was, for some reason I had it in my mind that it was more about cooking and less about baking but either way, it was a pretty entertaining read AND each chapter ends with a yummy recipe.

Gesine gives up a high powered job in Hollywood and moves to Vermont with her husband where they open up a bakery. To show what a goober I am, it took several pages of mentioning her actress sister named Sandy before I put two and two together...Gesine BULLOCK-Prado...Sandra BULLOCK. I really must insist that my brain has been overloaded lately and not functioning to it's full capacity. That's my story and I'm sticking too it.

Regardless, it's a realistic look at small business ownership as well as the small business food industry; enough to discourage any glamorous thoughts I may have had about owning my own coffee shop, etc. Not that I've had these thoughts but I'm thinking if I had, I definitely would think twice about it after reading this book. It's a lot of hard work. Early mornings. Crazy employees. Cranky customers. Yup, if I can't be independently wealthy and not need to work, give me 9 to 5 and I'm happy.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 40

2011-10-10T19:42:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! Once again, I've read the book on time but I'm a late poster. I do apologize but I've been in Atlanta and had little time to do anything except work, eat and sleep. This week's book is The September Society by Charles Finch.

This book finds our private investigator, Charles Lenox, heading over to Oxford and his old university stomping grounds to look for a missing student and the son of a peer. When a second student turns up missing as well and then a body is found, Lenox realizes that this is all more nefarious than he'd first thought. When ever twist and turn leads him back to a little known secret society, Charles heads back to London to see what he can find, risks his life and gets the girl.

Where I've Been

2011-10-01T09:27:00.000-04:00

Happy October! I do want to apologize for being so absent lately; it seems that if it weren't for book postings there would be none at all. Well, I've been a busy little bee. With football season here, work has picked up. And in addition, I'm in the process of becoming a first time home owner!

Yup, you read that right. Wow. Scary and exciting all at the same time. Who knew there was so much involved! I'm kinda freaking out right now as it's still a day by day situation on when closing will happen and such. Unfortunately, at this point, it's all out of my hands. I'm waiting for the bank to send out an appraiser so that they can get an idea of the fair market value and decide if they're willing to give me a loan for the amount I requested. Mortgage. Double Yikes!

It's a nice, tiny place, but about 200 square feet larger than my rental. I will be able to buy a couch! Imagine that, room for a couch and a bed. It's listed as a junior one / alcove studio so the bed is in a little alcove, not closed off but not exactly right at the door as in my rental. So excited!

Anyhoo, I'd appreciate any prayers, happy thoughts or good karma that you want to send my way. Oh, and decorating inspiration or ideas are wonderful too! :)

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 39

2011-10-01T09:19:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone! I hope you're enjoying this fall-ish Saturday morning. Welcome to Week 39 and Salting Roses by Lorelle Marinello. This arrived from PBS after a small stint on the wait list but it was worth the wait.

Gracie Lynn Calloway was found on the front porch one morning. She was found in a coal bucket, abandoned by her mother, raised by an older married-but-living-next-door-to-each-other couple and is your average, everyday tomboy Southern girl. But as her 25th birthday arrives, Gracie's world is turned upside down. It turns out that she was kidnapped as a baby and is really the daughter of a wealthy Connecticut family. Suddenly she's an heiress and nothing in her life will ever be the same.

The people she grew up with are treating her differently, the Northern family is pressuring her to accept the money, she's hounded by tabloid journalists when all she really wants to do is play baseball and work at the local grocery store as usual.

At one point, I just wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her but in the end, I developed a fondness for Gracie Lynn and all the crazy characters in her life. I admire her love of the only family she's ever known and understand the frustration that she feels at the secrets they've kept from her. All in all, this was a wonderful book and I'd recommend it to anyone.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 38

2011-09-23T19:13:00.000-04:00

Welcome, First Day of Autumn! I've been expecting you! I hope you bring your good friend, Cooler Weather with you soon.

Now that that's out of the way, let's take a look at this week's book, Super in the City by Daphne Uviller. Yes, another mystery, I can't help myself. In this book we meet Zephyr, a 20-something college graduate, med school drop out, law school drop out who becomes the super of her parent's building when James, the super is arrested. Hmmm. Zephyr takes over and meets Gregory, the exterminator; together they figure out some of the mysterious happenings in the apartment building but then Zephyr stumbled on a biggie. All along, Zephyr has questions about Gregory, mainly, he just doesn't look like an exterminator. Is he undercover? Is he part of the mob?

I thought it was a cute book but I'm thinking Zephyr and her very over-active imagination can get a little annoying. The second book in the series is on my To Be Read List so I'll give this character another shot.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 37

2011-09-18T20:38:00.003-04:00

Whew, running late and no photo to boot but here it is, Week 37. Live from the the bowls of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta I give you A Rather Curious Engagement by C.A.Belmond. This is the second in the Penny Nichols series and quite entertaining...or shall I say engaging?

I first met Penny in book one where she finds that her aunt has left her a small fortune. In this book, Penny and Jeremy decide to take a "gap summer" and figure out what they are going to do with their inheritance. Taking the advice of family, they decide on one splurge, a yacht that's being auctioned off in the south of France.

Once they become the owners, they find themselves embroiled in a mystery of a missing aqumanile that the previous owner last saw on the boat. Is it still there? Was is stolen? Was it ever there to begin with? Penny must figure it all out to save what's left of their summer.

Design*Sponge Book Signing

2011-09-13T19:50:00.001-04:00

Tonight was the Design*Sponge book signing at West Elm near Columbus Circle. Very. Cool. Grace Bonney is the founder of Design*Sponge, one of my all time favorite design blogs. The book is very much like the blog and has so much awesome stuff in it: sneak peeks of various homes, DIY's, general how-to information, resources, loads of pretty photos and tips... I need all the inspiration that I can find!

Ten Years Ago

2011-09-11T08:52:00.000-04:00

Via The New York City Fire Department

A touching tribute to those who showed true heroism ten years ago: NYFD Tribute. May we never forget.

I am so blessed. I took the NJ PATH to the World Trade Center every day where I connected to the subway to go to work. Because I worked in TV, we had odd and irregular hours. I didn't have to be to the studio that day until after noon so I was puttering around, watching the news before getting ready to go to work. I have thanked God many times that we did not have an early taping that day.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 36

2011-09-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

This week's book, 13 Little Blue Envelopes was not what I was expecting. I guess I should read the info a little better before I download the book. Not that it was bad, by any means, just that it was geared more to the tween - teenager out there. That being said, I had nothing else to read on hand and so I read every last word.

Quick recap, teen has boheimian aunt in NYC, aunt disappears, teen gets package full of letters with instructions to open one and complete the task inside before opening the next. These tasks takes her around England and off on a mini European vacation. Said teen's parents were never really mentioned which made me wonder what parent lets their daughter go off with a backpack around Europe with instructions to NOT contact anyone back in the US by any means. I know MY parent's would never have gone for that, just sayin'.

Fashion Night Out - NYC

2011-09-09T13:27:00.000-04:00

Last night was the annual Fashion Night Out. I didn't really go around to a lot of events, but Snowflake and I did pop on over to the Omni for a quick fashion show. They hosted a mini runway show by a designer who is staying there for Fashion Week.

The pieces were very runway, not much you'd wear for a day at the office, but very pretty none the less. I snapped a few cell phone photos while eating hor d'ourves off of fancy little platters. Now if I could only get to a tent at Lincoln Center...

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 35

2011-09-06T15:21:00.000-04:00

OK, better late than never, right? With that, here's last week's book, My Summer of Southern Discomfortby Stephanie Gayle. This was definitely chic lit, light summer reading and quite a fun little read. My Summer tells the story of a Northerner, Natalie Goldberg, who moves to Macon, GA after a disastrous affair with a co-worker. Natalie is a the daughter of a famous liberal, civil rights lawyer and dreams of following in her dad's footsteps. It's quite a shock to her system when she lands in Georgia, working as a district attorney, prosecuting those she always thought she'd be defending. Things turn decidedly more uncomfortable for her when she gets assigned to a case that finds her arguing for the death penalty which goes against everything she believes in.

I did enjoy the friendships that she struck up with Helen, a former Miss Georgia and defense attorney as well as with Lala, her elderly neighbor who's garden Nat goes to for refuge. It's more of a coming into one's own type of story as Natalie figures out who she is, that she does enjoy her job as a prosecutor and that working in the DA's office she's helping people, just not the way she always believed she would.

The Best Day of the Year!

2011-09-03T10:24:00.000-04:00

Via www.lsusports.com

I know I owe you a book today but sorry, that will have to wait because it's College Game Day!

Geaux Tigers!

Who Dat in Oakland

2011-08-28T20:53:00.001-04:00

Former KALBer's and Who Dat Nation members take over the Oakland Raiders field pre-game.

Fletcher and I worked together 14 (wow, really?) years ago at KALB-TV, the local NBC affiliate in Alexandria, Louisiana. He's now the sports anchor at WDSU-TV in New Orleans and I'm with the Peacock in NYC. Every now and then we run into each other at a Sunday Night Football game. I know it's only pre-season, but WHO DAT SAY THEY GONNA BEAT THEM SAINTS!!? Looking forward to the game in October back in my home territory.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 34

2011-08-27T21:25:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Oakland, California! It's week 34 and and I've just finished Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein. Assistant DA, Alex Cooper, works and lives in NYC. When a woman is attacked in her upper east side apartment, Alex is called to the scene along with the police. Later, another woman is killed in that apartment and the game is on. Missing books and maps, secrets at the New York Public Library, murder and old money all mingle on the pages to form a very intense and interesting read. I loved the story but even more, I was intrigued with all the behind the scenes historical info on the library building.

Who's Got the Blues?

2011-08-24T20:42:00.000-04:00

Not me! But I did listen to the blues! This past Sunday was a Blues and BBQ festival on the pier in the city and MBE and I stopped on by. I figured it would be the perfect way to see summer off before the season starts.

Alas, the first few pics that I took are a little blurry. I had the camera on manual focus and I forgot to do so. Oops! It was a lovely day, although it was supposed to rain, the sun was out and the temps were nice and I got a LOT of color. Besides forgetting to focus, I also forgot to reapply my sunscreen. Double oops!

Since the first band failed to show, we waited for the second act to go on; listened to a few songs and then hit the road. Unfortunately, sitting in the sun for an hour because the first band wasn't there gave me the blues, so by the time I heard the blues, I was feeling a bit done. Besides, I also had a belly full of a chopped / pulled pork sammie. It was billed as a pulled pork but it was really big hunks o' pig. But mighty tasty all the same, so no real complaints on the food front.

Exciting, no? Well, if you don't find that exciting, maybe you'll find this exciting. We felt the Virginia earthquake. It really didn't seem like such a big deal that some of the people on the local news made it out to be. The ground did not roll under my feet. The building only shook for maybe five seconds. Oh, and for the record, on really windy winter and spring days, it sways more than that it seemed to move in the earthquake. But still exciting none the less, a good excuse to congregate and watch the TV for news. And to top it off, a hurricane is headed up the East Coast. Craziness, I tell ya!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 33

2011-08-20T14:35:00.000-04:00

With Week 33 coming to a close, I went back to the cozy mystery. It's been a week of heavy rain with thunder and lightening so a perfect week to snuggle under a blanket and read a cozy. The owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, Theodosia Browning, is once again embroiled in a murder mystery in Scones and Bones; this one when someone is murdered at a "Pirates and Plunder" exhibit at the local historical society. Not only that, the main piece of the exhibit, a skull said to be that off Blackbeard, is stolen.

Much intrigue and mystery abounds as well as a continuation of familiar story lines: Theo has moved into her new house, meets a new guy and continues to flourish hosting tea parties and luncheons. A quick and easy read, this book has a host of familiar characters and just enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 32

2011-08-14T09:13:00.000-04:00

I first discovered this book on a flight to San Francisco. Snowflake had it with her and it was quickly abandoned. I then picked it up and started reading. Full of history, intrigue, money and wine, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The Billionaire's Vinegar starts with an auction at Christies in London. An auction for an extremely old, extremely rare vintage of wine purportedly owned by Thomas Jefferson. This starts a craze among the wealthiest of the wealthy in the high flying, money tossing 1980s of buying, even needing to own, rare bottles of wine. It becomes more about the prestige than the wine even as questions swirl about authenticity and Hardy Rodenstock, the man who introduced so many of these wines in private tastings around the world.

Was this bottle really owned by Thomas Jefferson? Did Rodenstock really buy it along with several others from someone who discovered the stash in a basement in Paris? And even more so, were these authentic vintages? All very interesting questions with answers that leave you with more questions.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 31

2011-08-08T20:31:00.000-04:00

Week 31 brings me to another Flavia deLuce book. I just can't get enough of these. In A Red Herring Without Mustard, Flavia sets out to find out who attacked the gypsy woman staying on the deLuce land.

The book opens at the country church fair where Flavia goes to the gypsy woman to have her fortune told. Flavia is unaware that her older sisters have bribed the gypsy woman to bring up their long dead mother. When this happens, Flavia, upset, bolts from the tent and knocks over a candle causing the place to go up in flames. Feeling guilty for what happened, she offers to let the woman camp on their land. When the woman is attacked, Flavia breaks out her sleuthing as well as her chemistry skills and solves the case, but not before encountering more than one red herring and no small number of villains.

This book continues with the theme of the financial difficulty that the deLuce family is going through as well as the sibling rivalry between the three sisters. It's quite touching in parts and funny on the whole. Flavia is precocious but lovable; at least to me if not her sisters! lol

Is it Sci-Fi or Western? Hmmm....

2011-08-05T14:00:00.000-04:00

Wednesday night, MBE and I went to see Cowboys and Aliens courtesy of the company. A few weeks before, an email was sent out for those wanting to go to a free screening. Sign me up! It was okay, I wouldn't say it was great, but it definitely had all the elements of a fun summer movie: cowboys, aliens, things getting blown to high heaven, a cute kid, a hint of romance, action, adventure...you get the idea.

The sole reason that I wanted to see the movie was because of Harrison Ford. Still love me some Harrison Ford. Hans Solo, Indiana Jones...any movie any character.

Besides, it was nice to have some excuse to leave the office on time. Since the NFL lockout ended, I've been a busy bee playing catch up. And they gave away a free drink and small popcorn! Totally a cool thing to do, lol.

So, have you seen any good movies lately? What's on your radar? Let me know.

August? Where Has the Year Gone?

2011-08-02T15:56:00.000-04:00

Wow! August 2nd. I meant to post on August 1st, but you know how it goes; work gets busy, you go home with grand intentions and then you take a nap and the day is shot.

This past weekend was my first off in a few weeks and it was packed. No photos, sorry, it was mainly things like: laundry, brunch, church and a few other things. On Saturday, I did do a Watson Adventure with a group of people.

I have to admit that I wasn't too excited about it but I also have to admit that it turned out to be quite fun. Our scavenger hunt took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and took us all over the museum, through different galleries to find the answers to the clues provided. I even found a section of the Met that I had no idea existed.

And one final note: 32 days until LSU football! Geaux Tigers!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 30

2011-07-30T08:54:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why I acquired this week's book; on the surface and from title alone, you might think it's chick lit and I'm not really a chick lit kind of girl. But, boy am I glad I gave it a chance.

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos really captured my attention and my imagination. Beautifully written, each chapter alternates in point of view: Cornelia a 30something cafe manager and Claire an 11 year old abandoned by her mother. The two cross paths when Claire shows up with her father, Martin, who is dating Cornelia.

This book is not about romance although there is a little of it in that, mostly it's about the friendship that forms between this woman and an unwanted child. It's about Cornelia's desire to save this child. It's heartbreaking to read the sections where Claire's mother is getting sick, become more and more delusional until finally she puts her out on the side of the road and drives away.

The strength that Claire has is evident in the lists she makes to remind herself what to do so that the outside world doesn't notice what is happening. From ordering groceries to be delivered and paying the bills, to forging signatures on school paperwork and sending out Christmas cards from her mother.

Cornelia on the other hand, puts on a brave face as she realizes that she doesn't love Martin. She could never love a man who had so little to do with his own child that he had no idea what was happening but she can't bring herself to leave as she feels that Claire would once again be abandoned.

In the end, after several twists and turns, and another huge loss, Claire's mother returns after seeking medical help. Some of how the story plays out seems highly improbable, yet because of how drawn in I was by these characters, that didn't bother me as much as it usually would. Like I said, I'm glad I gave this one a chance.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 29

2011-07-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

This week's book, The Uncommon Reader: A Novella, was a tiny, quick read but pretty interesting. It hinges on the simple idea that the Queen of England starts to read after following her corgi into a mobile library outside the palace.

Previously, the Queen did not read and initially checked out a book because she felt an obligation after wondering into the library. As she reads more from the library, she searched out authors that she knows from social situations but gradually starts on the classics. It is at this point that the Queen feels she's missed so much and has a lot to catch up on. Her staff and advisers are not happy with this turn of events, especially as she starts to become bored with her official duties.

Eventually, in an effort to curb the reading, it is suggested that maybe she start to write; a memoir is the perfect thing. Little do the advisers know that this recommendation leads the Queen to reevaluate her role and abdicate the throne.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 28

2011-07-19T11:39:00.000-04:00

Wow! I'm a terrible blogger! I completely let last week's book posting slide and I can't blame it entirely on the cold. I've just been a big ol' bag of lazybones.
So, as they say, "on with the show!". This, er, last week's book is The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries.

Yes, the title seems familiar, I've revisited the Emily Brightwell series and this one was just as quick and fun as the previous books. In this escapade, the Inspector is investigating the death of a wealthy society woman who's death was predicted by a spiritualist. Very Victorian if you ask me and the perfect quick summer read on my commute.

(By the way, when I speak of reading while commuting, DO NOT BE ALARMED, I commute via train, I'm not out there reading at red-lights while driving to and from work each day.)

Summer Colds and Other Fun Things

2011-07-15T20:27:00.000-04:00

Hello all! Sorry I've not been around, I've been busy sleeping the evenings away trying to get over this summer cold that has kicked my booty all this week. Well, I didn't just sleep of course, I went to work and did other things...the highlights are below.

* Finished this week's book which I'll blog about tomorrow

* Went to see Catch Me If You Can on Broadway with Christina...it was a blast, quite funny.

* Checked out Manhattanhenge with MBE...

* Enjoyed a day off in the city and another public art installation, Echo.

And now I'm off to relax and start a new book...which one will it be...hmmm...

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 27

2011-07-10T10:51:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone! Hope your Sunday is full of sunshine, breezes and relaxing on the porch with coffee. This week's book is Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart and it's a memoir about the author's summer in Manhattan spent working at Tiffany.

Set during WWII in the 1940s, Marjorie and her best friend Marty head off to New York after several of their sorority sisters found jobs in the city working at Lord & Taylor. Coming from Iowa, Marjorie is starstruck by Tiffany and the people that come in to shop there but she's just as star struck by Manhattan and falls in love with the city as only an exuberant college girl can. But the city isn't the only thing that captures Marjorie's hart as she meets a dashing GI at a dance and they date through the summer.

One of the best chapters in the book is when they all head to Times Square in anticipation of the war ending; millions of people, strangers who were all friends and family at that one moment, celebrating.

As the summer comes to an end, Marjorie has to decide if she's going to go back to Iowa or take a music scholarship to a prestigious east coast school. She decided to forgo the scholarship, return to Iowa and her family where she finishes school, falls in love and gets married to someone who was not her New York City GI.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 26

2011-07-02T18:10:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you're having a wonderfully long holiday weekend. I'm working but I'll have Monday off so that's something to look forward to.

This week's book is The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz. Yes, it's another book about food; a series of short chapters about life as an American living in Paris and again, each chapter ends with a recipe or two.

David is a funny and engaging writer and I found some of the chapters detailing differences between the Parisians and Americans extremely funny. Particularly interesting and hysterical were the chapters dealing with him going to see French doctors and his stay in a French hospital.

Are you reading anything interesting? Feel free to share! I'm always looking for new things to read.

2011 - The First Half!

2011-07-01T17:32:00.000-04:00

Left to right Row 1: January snow in Central Park, flowers on the Avenue, Ali's chips in Vegas

Left to right Row 2: Baby sunbathing, Ledson Vineyards, Belmont Race Track

Left to right Row 3: Gutenburg Bible, Roosevelt Island, Houmas House in Louisiana

Can you believe the first half of the year is past? It's summer and the longest day of the year is in the rear view mirror. There's still an NFL lockout going on and now an NBA strike. I've still not managed to purchase a condo but I have managed to read one book a week since New Years. I've not yet put on a swimming suit and the fall clothes are already hitting the stores. My resolve to exercise dail...er, make that three times a week has been an utter failure. Ethan finished his first year of real school with school bus rides and a class trip; Addison turned two and is quite a little ham. And now we move on to the next six months and see what happens!

Hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 25

2011-06-25T17:00:00.007-04:00

Ah, Mrs. Jeffries...I love this series. The poor Inspector has no clue (haha, get it, clue and he's a police inspector! I crack myself up) what his household is up to while he's at work. Well, I'll tell you what they're up to; fishing for clues from other households, gossiping with the shop keepers and dropping information in his lap without him even realizing it.

In this book, a vicar is found dead with a piece of paper in his hand, the paper has an address on it. Once at that cottage the Inspector finds a second body, that of an young woman who was murdered and shoved into the chimney. Are the two murders related? Is it possible to be just a coincidence?

It looks like it will take all the help he can get as no one knows who either victim is but oh don't you work, Mrs. Jeffries and staff is on it! Before long, they've theories worked up, gossip sussed out and solving the murder so that life for the Inspector can get back to normal.

A Mad Tea Tasting Extravaganza!

2011-06-25T07:07:00.001-04:00

Hmmm, okay, extravaganza may be a bit over the top! But my outdoor tea party plans were foiled by rain and more rain so in my mind, it's an extravaganza! If you're so inclined, follow this link over to Vanessa's blog and join the party. I'm sure you'll find something interesting, creative and beautiful along the way.

So, welcome to my Tea Tasting! Since returning from a wine tasting trip to Napa, I've been thinking a lot on what things taste like. How and why do people taste things differently? Why does the various flavors land on various parts of my tongue? And, hardest of all, how to explain what I'm tasting to others. I may never come up with answers but I thought I'd give it a go for the party.

I have several different teas and a few cupcakes to "cleanse my palate". I'm thinking that's not exactly the right way to do it but it works for me. I believe cupcakes are good for many things and so I've decided they're good for this purpose as well. Why not?

First up is Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice which from smell alone reminds me of the Red Hots candies I loved as a young pix. This tea was tasty without adding sugar; slightly sweet, very cinnamon-y and only a hint of black tea. There was no tartness, no bitterness just warm and smooth and I'm thinking I've found my go-to tea for next winter.

Next was Harney & Sons Paris which had a strong vanilla smell but more of a black tea taste. It was a bit more tart with only a hint of vanilla in the taste, however, I think I'd really like this one with a smidgen of honey to sweeten it.

And thus ends my tea taste testing...oh, try saying that three times. Now, off I go to enjoy some peanut butter and banana tea sandwiches! I hope you're inspired to try out some teas, maybe stray from the favorite English Breakfast and try new flavors. And don't forget! Hop on over to A Fanciful Twist and join in with the celebration.

Cinderella

2011-06-23T12:25:00.001-04:00

I've always loved the idea of the ballet but not having had the opportunity to see the ballet, I wasn't sure. Last year, after seeing The Nutcracker I decided that if possible, I would go see more. The costumes, the sets, the dancing and sheer athletic prowess of the dancers was everything I thought it would be; so when I received a brochure in the mail, I had to check out this season at Lincoln Center. And that is how I ended up going to see Cinderella Tuesday night after work, on it's opening night no less!

Photo via ABT

This version has the fairy tale was set in a modern (1920's) suburb where the ball attendees wore amazing beaded and sequined flapper-esque dresses. There were no mice but there were dancing pumpkins which is just as cool.

Photo via ABT

It really was beautiful and even injected a bit of humor at the expense of the evil step-sisters. After purchasing my ticket I wondered if I should have went for Swan Lake instead but decided that it was a bit overdone at this point with all of the movie hoodoo from last year's blockbuster. And I'm glad, Cinderella was just what the ticket.

An Island Adventure

2011-06-21T14:17:00.001-04:00

Roosevelt Island, that is! I have this list, a list of things to do...not a to-do list in the normal sense but a life / adventure to-do list. It has things on it like: travel to France again, go to the opera, yada, yada, yada.

This past weekend, I met up with MBE and accomplished "Ride the Roosevelt Tram" thus checking off another to-do. The Roosevelt Tram links Manhattan to Roosevelt Island while giving you a bird's eye view of the East River to boot.

Now, my whole reason for going to Roosevelt Island, for even knowing about Roosevelt Island, hinges on one thing; my desire to see the abandoned small pox hospital (yup, you read that right), otherwise known as the Renwick Ruin. Why? I have no idea, but I do have this romanticized idea of myself as an urban explorer, fearlessly going where few dare to tread! In reality, I stood on the outside of the chain link fence, on tippy toe, peering through to get a glimpse. Yes, my friends, this "fearless urban explorer" is a law abiding citizen, so that's as close as I got.

However, we did fearlessly walk up to the lighthouse! In a public park. Not behind fence. And without security cameras but anyhoo, urban exploring none the less.

And so, as the sun set over Manhattan, we boarded the tram back across the East River. Slightly sun burnt, very tired and full of an adventurous spirit!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 24

2011-06-18T09:13:00.001-04:00

Wow, 24 weeks in and I've had my first failure. I was unable to finish this book, I could not finish this book. When I first picked it up, I had an idea that it would be DaVinci Code meets Jason Bourne. Oh well.

The Magdalene Cipher is basically a conspiracy theorist in hog heaven. There's everything from crop circles, Virgin Mary sightings, dead cattle, CIA cover ups and apparently, Biblical secrets but I just didn't get that far. The main character, Jack Dunphy, is no Jason Bourne and seems to be a pretty dumb CIA agent. I think the clues would have to jump up and bite him for him to actually notice them, lol.

Anyway, I made it about half way through and decided that life was too short to force myself to read books that I just didn't like. So, on to the next book and the next week.

Full Circle: An Art Installation

2011-06-14T07:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, while out and about, roaming around, I stumbled on a photography exhibit at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park. The exhibit, titled Full Circle: Ai Weiwei and the Emperor's Fountain, showed behind the scene glimpses of the artist working on the bronze head replicas from a fountain in China. The actual installation is at the fountain in Grand Army Plaza on Fifth Avenue, which after realizing that, I hoofed it on over and took some photos.

The Plaza installation is called Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads. The animal heads are the artist's interpretation of those from the emperor's fountain that was ransacked and destroyed in the 19th century as the area suffered losses in the Opium Wars.

Where I've Been

2011-06-13T18:11:00.000-04:00

Since I've been MIA the past week, I thought I'd scan and post my only photos from the week. Yup, they're Polaroids. While cleaning up our office trailer on site, I found a Polaroid camera with 3 exposures left. Only two came out...I think the film was a tiny bit old.

Here's a group photo, a time out from the work. It's race day and broadcast air day so we're all a bit punchy after a week of work.

And here's the horses! But not the horses. This isn't from the big race, The Belmont Stakes, but from a smaller race earlier in the week. It was sunny and flippin' hot. So hot, in fact, that racing was cancelled the next day. Apparently, horses do not like the heat any more than I do.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 23

2011-06-13T08:45:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the late post on last week's book but today is my first day off since May 23rd. It's been busy busy at work lately. Anyhoo, on to the book!

I've been a fan of Molly Wizenberg's blog Orangette for a few years. In fact, when I first discovered it, I admit to staying up half the night reading back posts and drooling over the recipes. I bought her book, A Homemade Life, when it first came out but just got around to reading it.

The book is set up in small chapters, almost like blog posts, with a recipe at the end. Each chapter tells a story of her life back home with her family, during her father's sickness, the happy times and the sad times. It tells the story of how she came to be a blogger, her love with food and how she got to where she is now.

And just a side note, I'm definitely going to try making the Banana Bread with Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger. That is calling my name...mmmmm.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 22

2011-06-03T13:37:00.001-04:00

This week's book is The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. Last year, I'd read Garden Spells and had this one on my TBR list (to be read, for all my non-bookie peeps). After several months on the wish list it arrived in my mail box via PaperBackSwap.

It was a faster read for me than Garden Spells but just as enjoyable and infused with magic or should I say serendipity. The main character, Josie, lives at home with her mother and both seem to be stuck in the past with memories of Josie's father. It's interesting to read how the two women remember the man and how that creates tension between mother and daughter. The mother does not come across as a likable character in any way even after you find out why she's like she is.

Josie on the other hand is likable and comes out of her shell after waking up and finding Della Lee hiding in her bedroom closet. Della Lee is on a mission to help Josie and starts by sending her out to pick up a grilled cheese sandwich, where Josie encounters Chloe and the two become friends. As Josie's circle of friends and influence grows so does the tension with her mother. In the end, we discover a few family secrets and a huge secret about Della. So not to spoil it for anyone else, the secrets will remain secrets here. :)

More Minivan Adventures

2011-05-31T15:57:00.001-04:00

This is one of my favorite photos from the trip. I've always wanted to be the person on the top of the pyramid. There's an inside joke going on here as well; the person behind the wheel does not drive, which we think is hysterical. We're not moving and the ATV is not on so no safety concerns here. Mr. Winemaker was very nice to let five weirdo New Yorker / New Jersians sit on his machinery and then take our photo.

So how was everyone's Memorial Day weekend? I wish I had been able to have a long weekend and picnic in the park, maybe sleep a bit late and do nothing, but alas, work called. I spent the weekend in a dark control room but happily, the sun was still out and about when I left each evening. That made it better, although, I did secretly (okay, maybe not so secretly) wish for rain since I was stuck inside. I might have had the cranky pants on for most of the weekend. Just a little bit. Oh well, at least I can admit it.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 21

2011-05-27T19:20:00.000-04:00

Oh, I can feel it! I'm back on a good book roll. That's not to say the last few weren't good books but they weren't books that I couldn't put down. I have to admit, I'm a book ahead as I rushed through this week's book and have started and finished next week's book. Of course, that's what happens when you have two six-hour flights plus another six hours or so in delays.

Ah, this week's book, The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag. A Flavia deLuce book, the second in the series and just as good as the first. Flavia, if you've never met her, is a 12 year old girl who lives in Bishop's Lacey, in the English countryside. It's set post war in the late 1940s and Flavia is a chemistry whiz. Genius even. Flavia is also a busy body who constantly getting into other's business as she goes about trying to solve the murder of Rupert, the puppeteer who came to town.

This was a fun book and the story introduced us to Flavia's aunt, described as a battle axe but turned out to be kind of lovable in an old fashioned, bullish way. There was more of Flavia's sisters telling her that she was adopted, that the family voted her out and she would have to leave, which cracked me up because she believed them even though she's told that she's just like their mother. And yes, even though the main character is twelve, I wouldn't classify it as a children's book. So, feel free to check it out.

The Minivan Adventures

2011-05-26T22:27:00.002-04:00

I know, I've not been around a lot. After returning from a long trip to Louisiana, I was home for a few days and then off again. The glamorous life! Ha. If only, but this trip was pretty fun. I, along with four other ladies, had a girls trip to Sonoma and Napa for a friend's birthday. After landing in San Fran, we rented a minivan and hit the road!

I by no means am a drinker and I know nothing about wine and to be entirely honest, was worried just a bit about the trip. Well, I was wrong. I had a blast; I haven't laughed that much and that hard in a long time, I tasted wines I'd never have tasted and found that I have a bit of a knack for picking out flavors. Who knew? Right? Kind of crazy.

It was just a long weekend and we hit up as many wineries and vineyards as we could in our limited time and the girls bought as much as they dared ship back. We discovered that Cakebread Cellars has neither cake nor bread (thanks Paris!), that we can harmonize very well (not at all) and that Snowflake is really, really into staying on schedule. Really.

The photo at the top is from Whetstone Wine Cellars. I hesitate to say it was my favorite because we went to so many wonderful places, but this one was breath taking. The building looked like a French chateau, all stone and wood, glowing in the sunlight. Downstairs was the tasting room and upstairs was a complete living space that was very cute. The food was awesome and I tasted several wines that I thought were really good. And that is a first for me.

I'll try and post a few more pictures and stories of our trip in the next few days. Oh, and yay, I only had to take Dramamine once. I rock!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 20

2011-05-18T20:23:00.000-04:00

This weeks book, The Etruscan Bull by Frank Gruber, was the second book out of three that had some tie to Italy and the Etruscans. Unfortunately, it is an old paper back that I picked up in a thrift store in Louisiana and I'm unable to find a photo of it's cover.

The Etruscan Bull is a bit of a hard boiled detective novel, the PI, the beautiful woman who comes to his office and hires him; pulp fiction if you will. Not exactly my cup of tea but I picked it up when I had little access to book variety.

It was a pretty fast read, picking up speed as the PI goes off to Italy to claim an ineritance for an old army buddy. He's pretty sure that something isn't up to par and it turns out he's correct. In the mean time, there is murder and mayhem, an archaeology dig, mobsters and run in's with the law.

Up next is The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, a Flavia de Luce book. I fell in love with this character; a 12 year old chemistry whiz living in a small English village who constantly sticks her nose into the happenings around her.

Watching the Water Rise

2011-05-17T09:48:00.001-04:00

Since I just returned from visiting the family, I thought I'd write about the flood situation in Louisiana. The last time the Morganza Spillway was opened was the year I was born, 1973. For the two weeks I was down there we listened to the Army Corps of Engineers yap on and on about the merits of opening vs not opening the Morganza Spillway. Deep down, everyone knew it would be done; it had to be done.

Video via Youtube.com from the PBS Newshour

So we watched and we waited. We checked behind the levee every day. We took note of how much higher the water was than the previous day. And then I flew back. Now with the spillway open, the pressure is relieved off of the levee system surrounding the Mississippi River but the water is now rising in the Atchafalaya Basin and areas near my family and friends.

This is the seawall on top of the levee in front of my parent's house. The height of the levee plus the seawall stands at 34 feet. The river there is not expected to come over the dirt portion of the levee so they've not yet closed the flood gates that are built in every so often. They may get some water from the bayou on the back side of the property which does not have a levee but it would be minor and just backwater.

So anyhoo, a quick recap and update for anyone who might be remotely interested! As many are saying "if the Lord is willing and the creek don't rise" everyone should be safe.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 19

2011-05-15T08:23:00.000-04:00

Wow, I feel so behind and out of touch with my blog! I flew back from Louisiana and went in to work the next day and the rest of the week even though I'm supposed to be off until the end of the month. Unfortunately, there's work to be done and I have to do it. Well, let me rephrase that fortunately there is work to be done and I have to do it! That means another week with a paycheck.

Anyhoo, enough about all of that...this week's book was actually quite good. A favorite author but a series that I've not read before. Without further ado, Resort to Murder by Carolyn Hart.

I've read many of Carolyn Hart's Death on Demand series but had stayed away from the Henry O thinking that a main character in her 70s might not be relatable. How wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and now want to book a vacation to Bermuda, but without the murder. ;)

The story opens with Henry O and her grandchildren, ex son-in-law and his future wife and family in Bermuda awaiting the wedding. None of the children are happy with the idea but would they go far enough to stage a ghost to disrupt it? And the...murder. Hmmm. Twists and turns abound and the killer was a surprise, at least to me.

Thanks to the Bayou Sorrel Branch Library for a this find!

A Gathering of Family

2011-05-09T19:23:00.000-04:00

This Mother's Day weekend, the Allen family got together for our annual gathering; young and old, near and far...to celebrate, chat, eat and play croquet.

The babes took advantage of the sunny day to chillax in the baby spa, also known as mom's decorative pond.

The uncles and cousins rehashed last year's croquet game before the new game started and new champion crowned. As with every year, cheaters ran rampant. I won't point them out but if they're in the photo below, they're cheating...it's almost a guarantee.

The bounce house was a big hit as well but next year, we're thinking of upgrading to the giant, inflatable water slide! Now that has fun and disaster written all over it.

A good time was had by all. A little sunburn, a little bit of a belly ache from eating too much, a few mosquito and ant bites, but it's all good. It was a nice day to celebrate Mother's Day, a 40th wedding anniversary and numerous May Allen babies' (of every age) birthdays.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 18

2011-05-06T23:16:00.001-04:00

This week I'm in Louisiana visiting my family so I've a few books with me that looked like quick and easy reads. I picked this one up and started reading it without paying any attention to the cover. Wings of the Falcon is set in Italy where Francesca goes to live with her mother's family after the death of her father. Once there, she discovers The Falcon and finds herself in the midst of the Italian revolution to unite the Italian states. Just who is The Falcon and can he survive long enough to see the revolution started?

I'd never read Barbara Michaels and wasn't sure I'd enjoy the romantic bent to this historical / romantic / suspense book. It turns out that Barbara Michaels is Elizabeth Peters, my favorite author and the writer of the Amelia Peabody series. It also turned out (thankfully) to be light on the romance. As also mentioned previously, it reminded me of the Victoria Holt books that I devoured in the summers between 7th, 8th and 9th grades but with a lot less "sense of forboding", lol.

The next book is already finished so I'm a week ahead! Woot!

Views from the Hammock...

2011-05-01T23:01:00.000-04:00

Now, this, my friends...THIS is the life...

My parent's back yard is on the bayou so we sit and watch the tugboats, barges, pleasure boats and fishermen sail on by. Just a bit down the bayou is a draw bridge for car traffic to cross. About once every five years (although it seems more frequently), a tug pushing barges comes through and either can't navigate the curve or is going to fast and hits the bridge. When that happens, they haul a small ferry down that can cross a few cars at time. Yup, it's a completely different life down here.

Anyhoo, I've been relaxing each day in the little hammock in the yard, pushing it here and there, following the shade, watching the bayou, reading a book. Right down the bank is a wood duck roosting. I can't tell how many eggs she has, but everyday I check up on them.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 17

2011-04-29T22:30:00.000-04:00

Hmmm, I consider myself eco-friendly; I recycle, take public transportation, no longer use bottled water or paper towels and all that good stuff. This book appealed to me as I've been thinking on how I could be a greener shopper when I purchase my clothing. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed in this book. There were some strange suggestions: making a wedding dress out of a parachute being one of them. The author did suggest buying vintage and shopping at thrift stores and mentioned a few eco-friendly fashion lines but it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I don't think I really learned anything, lol, and I like to learn things when I read. Well, except when I like to be entertained when I read...but this was a learning kind of book and not so much an entertaining type of book if you can follow what I mean.

Oh well. I've since started the next book and made it about halfway through it today while lazing about in the hammock. It's one of those quick, summery reads, but of the "vintage" variety. And by "vintage" I mean something I'd have read back in the 8th or 9th grade. Think Victoria Holt...but not. Maybe I'll revisit Vicky later and relive my teenage summers. There's still a lot of books to be read or re-read and a lot of weeks left in the year. Who knows what will pop up on the reading radar! ;)

Have you read anything good lately? I'd love to hear some suggestions!

I See You!

2011-04-29T08:18:00.000-04:00

E was absolutely positive that he could see me through the camera lens, lol. Maybe not but the picture that I saw of him was pretty darn cute. Another lazy day hanging out in the tree house and shooting the BB gun. He was bear hunting. In the back yard. There are no bears in my parent's back yard nor anywhere near, but the imagination of a five year old cannot be contained and so, we went bear hunting with a BB gun.

So, how many of you watched the Royal Wedding? I have to admit, I forgot all about it. While on vaca here on the bayou, I tend to lose track of what day of the week it is, they all blur into one muggy and hot day in the hamock with the dappled sunlight falling on my magazine, book, laptop... Not that I'm so sure I'd have gotten up at 5am to watch anyway. I'll be content to look at all the wonderful hats everyone wore in the online photo galleries. I wish we Americans wore hats; lovely, wacky, wonderful hats like the British!

Louisiana Living

2011-04-27T21:18:00.000-04:00

Louisiana Checklist:
* hammock reading = done
* porch sitting = done
* neighbor visiting = done
* tennis ball tossing to Gemma the dog = done

Hmmm, quite a busy day! I'm not sure what I'll do tomorrow. I'm sure it will involve trying to stay cool, avoid sunburns and mosquito bites and general hanging out with the family.

Gemma is such a funny dog. She brings the tennis ball to you, sets it on the ground and just looks at you with that cute doggie look, head cocked sideways, pleading, "Please pick up the slimy tennis ball and throw it, pleeeease". If you ignore her, she takes her paw and pushes the ball closer to you and if you keep ignoring her, she takes it in her mouth runs to the bayou bank, drops the ball and then dives in after it. I guess she figures if you won't play with her, she'll do it herself. Funny stuff.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 16

2011-04-22T17:00:00.001-04:00

This week's book, I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith was very enjoyable with a few really funny scenes. Just ask the guy sitting next to me on the subway. I'm sure he thought the girl next to him; who not only was wearing bright. yellow. pants! but laughing out loud; was bats crazy. What can I say, I march to the beat of a different drum. I fully "blame" it on my Southern upbringing.

Anyhoo, back to the book. The book is written in the voice of Cassandra Mortmain and in the form of her journals as she practices getting things down in her efforts to become a writer. It's the story of Cassandra and Rose, her sister, as they live in a crumbling castle with no money and little food. Their father was the writer of one book that made a huge splash but hadn't written anything since and that aspect is a secondary storyline.

Life becomes interesting for Rose and Cassandra when two American fellows come to town after inheriting the main house from which the castle is leased. Cassandra's step-mother, Topaz, is quite a character and very close in age to her step-daughters. I thought the relationship between Topaz and the two girls was quite interesting; at times she's motherly and at others, it seems as if she and Cassandra are pals, discussing her relationship with Cassandra's father.
It reminded me very much of a Jane Austin book but in the post World War I era. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't believe that it's been sitting on my bookshelf for approximately 3 years. I picked it up one day in Barnes and Noble after the cover caught my eye. Now, I'm wondering how many other gems are sitting there waiting to be discovered!?

Empire in the Empire State

2011-04-19T21:04:00.001-04:00

Friday was a chilly, grey day but to the Upper East Side I went. It was haircut day! It had not been haircut day since October and I was well overdue. As I ambled up Fifth Avenue since I was a lot early (it's my MO, I can't help it) I stumbled upon "Empire" at the southern corner of Central Park.

I can't say that I get "Empire" so I'll give you a description from the website. It's a steel sculpture installment by artist Eva Rothschild and take the form of a "multi-directional arched gateway" A sort of gateway between two worlds is how the artist describes it. Hmm, I guess I kinda get it...

Anyhoo, the haircut turned out very nicely but it never turns out the same afterwards. Isn't that always the case? Why is it so hard to blow dry the hair and make it look like the professional blow dried the hair? Sigh. I guess that's why they are the professionals. Right now, I'm trying to grow out the bangs but I'm not sure. I think I'm a bang kind of girl but I don't want to look too young so the growing out begins. Again. Until I get annoyed because they're not growing fast enough, or because they are hanging in my eyes or because...

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 15

2011-04-16T14:38:00.000-04:00

This week I finished the previously abandoned Seventy-Seven Clocks by Christopher Fowler. For some reason, the second go at it was much more successful. I was able to stay interested even if I had to stop once or twice and take a breather, especially after a particularly graphic passage where a Bengal tiger eats a family in their London home. It's a very interesting book and, I believe, the 3rd in the series about two detectives in the PCU, Peculiar Crime Unit in London. This book touched on the Victorians and their leanings to the occult at a time when scientific advances are being made and how those two intersected in the 1970s to nearly destroy a wealthy family.

Not sure if I'll read more of this series, some of it was a bit too intense for me. I prefer fluffy happy murder mysteries where there's little to no blood, guts and gore.

Up next is a different book all together, today I started I Capture the Castle. This has been on my bookshelf for several years so it's about time. That's the whole point of this little challenge, right? Read it and send it on to someone else. Clear some space on my book shelf and all that.

Missing Pixie

2011-04-14T16:26:00.000-04:00

Wow! I feel like I've been MIA lately. Just working, reading and book reporting. It's actually been quite busy these days, I'm working on some horsey stuff and trying to get as much done before I visit my family in Louisiana at the end of the month. I just have to say, so this is what it's like to work 12 consecutive months!? It's been quite a long time since I've done that. I need a vaca :)

Right now I'm loving this photo from TRADhome the partnership online between Traditional Home and Lonny. Very cool.

I love that it's a tiny space, it's neat and it seems sunny. I also love the graphic black and white, the splash of blue (is that velvet?) and the wallpaper. LOVE that wallpaper. My favorite cupcake store has a very similar if not the same one on their walls.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 14

2011-04-10T13:45:00.000-04:00

I have a soft spot for archaeology, I contribute this to my love of Harrison Ford and thus my love of Indiana Jones. I picture it all adventure and treasure hunting with history thrown in for good measure and as much as I know that's not the case, the romantic in me believes my version. So without further ado, this week's read: The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips.

This is a story told through an archaeologist's journals and letters between the main characters as everything is happening and through letters between a retired private investigator and his client many years later.

This book was a bit dark towards the end as the main character, Ralph, seems to be going insane and his journal entries become less and less based in reality. It starts with the PI investigating the disappearance of some rich guy's son and leads him to England, America and finally Egypt where the story ends with still some questions left hanging.

I can't say that I enjoyed the ending, I guess I prefer books where everything is wrapped up nice and neat and explained in full detail rather than having to infer and decide for myself if what I think really is the case. Overall, I did enjoy the book (ending aside) but did find Ralph's journal entries to become boring and hard to get through, so much so that I skimmed through them getting the gist of the storyline but ignoring the other odds and ends.

Next up, I'm going back to the book I abandoned and am giving it another go. Since starting it again today, I've gotten back into it and hope it keeps my interest. Otherwise, twice abandoned means out the door.

What's Up Buttercup?

2011-04-05T21:31:00.000-04:00

Hope all has been well with you. In the past week or so I have:

* went to see Cedar Rapids which was funny as all get out!
* put more primer on Snowflake's "pine forest green" bathroom (green no more)
* church and brunch
* went to see Christina and Molly sing in the Summit Chorale spring concert
* celebrated MBE's birthday with dinner at Crispo, which was very tasty
* read, read and read more

And most importantly, I have begun a war of the wits with Mr. Mouse. So far, Mr. Mouse is winning the battle but I will win the war. I'm learning his likes and dislikes. For example, Mr. Mouse likes apple cores and melon rinds from my garbage can and peppermint tea. He does not like English Breakfast tea or peanut butter (which is in the humane mousey trap).

In my efforts to thwart his explorations, I've bought a new garbage can, one without the flimsy swing lid but with the stainless steel lid that I have to step on the little lever to open! I've also invested in some glass canisters to put the undamaged tea in since said tea's cardboard packaging was hardly mouse proof. It is exhausting, so much so that I would almost consider letting him stay...nah, not a chance.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 13

2011-04-02T12:13:00.000-04:00

This week's book was actually the second book that I read. Or tried to read. I was unable to "get into" the first book and so abandoned it and picked up The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.

When I picked this book up, I initially thought it was a young adult mystery story. The main character, Christopher, is 15 and he's investigating the murder of a neighbor's dog. However, as I'm reading, I realize that Christopher is either high-functioning autistic or has Asperger's Syndrome.

The most interesting part of this book was seeing the world through Christopher's eyes, seeing how he processed information unlike a "normal" person. The story follows him as he finds out who killed Wellington the dog and discovers a lot about his family that had been hidden from him.

Food is Good

2011-03-31T13:38:00.000-04:00

I love food. I love to read about it. I love to think about it. I love to eat it. And so I bring you my favorite food website...ever. TasteSpotting.

It's a never ending, continuously updated page of beautifully photographed food. And when you see something you like, click on it and whooo hooo, it brings you to the original site. There you can find the recipe, more photos or all kinds of goodness. What's not to love? I dream of making so many of the cupcakes, cakes, pies and cookies that I see there. Luckily for me and my jeans, my kitchen is too tiny to do much.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 12

2011-03-26T19:36:00.000-04:00

Week 12, ahhhh, Elizabeth Peters and The Deeds of the Disturber. The Amelia Peabody series is one of my all-time favorites and I admit, I have read this book before. Amelia Peabody Emerson and Radcliff Emerson are a husband and wife archaeologist team who find themselves battling crooks, thieves and murders at every turn, usually in Egypt while on a dig. In Deeds they are back home on the foggy, damp streets of London while being thwarted at every turn by someone killing off people at the British Museum. This series is funny and entertaining and this book was no exception as each adventure is more and more outlandish.

Sparkly Shiny Lighting

2011-03-20T16:02:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, MBE and I went to Home Depot, the Manhattan mecca of all things DIY. We were looking for nice but not expensive ceiling lighting. I have learned that my tastes rarely jive with my friends' tastes...clothing and home decor wise. I was drawn to the girly (of course), sparkly, shiny lighting which led me to consider what I would put in my apartment...that dream apartment with multiple rooms, a full sized tub, outdoor space. Yup, that apartment. Anyhoo, I put together a little mood board, if you will, of what would light up the Pixie Palace.

I can see right off the bat that I have a split personality :) That round sparkly chandelier, love it! I've seen versions in Home Depot and Pier 1 Imports as well as in the fancy schmancy online lighting galleries. And don't get me started on that crazy-but-awesome pirate ship! Gah! It's made the rounds in multiple home decor mags, in print and online, and I dream of it hanging in my library over a cozy, overstuffed, comfy reading chair (fantasy, people...it's limited in neither scope nor size).

And then. The other side of my personality loves the pharmacy lamps and the slight industrial feel of the smooth metallic surface. That table lamp is from West Elm and comes in polished nickle, which is calling my name. At around $60 each, they are quite the deal and if I had a table to put one on, I'd buy it!

Stamp Rug Love

2011-03-19T18:36:00.000-04:00

Photo via stamprugs.com

While reading the latest issue of Adore magazine online I came across these rugs that recreate British stamps. Rug Maker was given a license to make these rugs slash pieces of art with the Queen's profile on them and I love them! I think the grey is amazing but I also have a soft spot for the bright pink. And the green ;) I do love me some color!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 11

2011-03-18T14:14:00.000-04:00

Ah, today is a beautiful warm, breezy, sunny day and I'm sitting here with the windows open. The past week I've been spring cleaning after work and reading on my commute. This week's book was It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be by Paul Arden.

I found this book on the "free" shelf in the office and thought it looked interesting. The inside flap described it as using "the creative process of advertising as a metaphor for business practice". It's a small, compact book of advice and tidbits such as: don't look for the next opportunity because the opportunity in front of you, so to speak, should be what you're concentrating on.

It was a nice easy read which is what I needed this week. Something I didn't need to spend a lot of time on nor something that took a lot of thought and concentration. I've already started next week's book, a return to a favorite author and series.

Outside of that, I'm definitely feeling spring. It's in the air. The sun is shining, the air is warming up. The trees are budding and that darn pigeon is back on my fire escape. He insists on being my personal pigeon alarm clock every morning around 5am and HE MUST GO!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 10

2011-03-13T21:19:00.000-04:00

And we're rolling along (reading along?) just swimmingly! Week 10's book is The Last Judgement by Iain Pears. This is a book in the Flavia di Stefano art mystery series and is set in Rome, Paris and London. I've never been to Rome but I adore London and Paris and enjoy this series when I see it. The main characters are Flavia, a police officer with the Rome art theft squad and her fiance', Jonathan Argyll who is an art dealer.

Jonathan gets roped into picking up a painting in Paris while doing other work there and bringing it to a buyer in Rome. The client then ends up dead. Majorly dead. And thus, the multi-citied caper begins.

I enjoyed this book for it's setting but also for the historical lean to it. The mystery reaches all the way back to WWII and the French Resistance movement. I found the whole thing quite interesting even if one murder was a bit gruesome for my taste, but that part of the book was over fairly quickly.

Next up is an easy little book that I picked up off of the "free" shelf at work. I love that shelf! Does anyone else have such a thing in your office? I never know who has read and left the books and it leads me to wonder about my co-worker's literary leanings but I've founds some very interesting stuff there :)

And to close, I'll just say "Yay, spring is in the air!" but alas, so are my allergies. Ay-choo.

Pretty Pretty Pink

2011-03-10T14:10:00.000-05:00

Photos via The Nate Show

I've been catching up on my DVR'ed madness after a week in Las Vegas. While watching The Nate Show, I fell in L-O-V-E with this makeover of Dr. Ruth's NYC apartment. Love, I tell ya.

The hardwood floors are lovely but those white bookcases are amazing as are all the smaller chairs that fit so perfectly in a tiny place. And don't get me started on those pink pillows. The whole effect is clean and bright with a touch of whimsy. I could move in without changing a thing. Well, I might not be interested in the books that Dr. Ruth reads; on the other hand, maybe I *would* be ;)

The apartment has a small L-shaped nook on the far side of the living room area and he tucked in a little round table with a few chairs for a sweet little dining area! Color me three shades of jealous. I'm thinking it's time to do some more upgrading of my little apartment. I don't have room for furniture, but I can toss the futon frame and buy a real bed frame. I am embarrased to admit that. I do have a real mattress on top of said futon frame, but still.

What are you looking to upgrade in your home? Got any ideas for nice, but not overly expensive, bed frames? Let me know.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 9

2011-03-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

Hello little friends! I hope this Monday finds you well. I apologize for my 52 Weeks posting being late but anyhoo, life and work happens. I did manage to finish the book in week 9 I'm just a tad behind in posting it. This weeks book was Hotel Bemelmans by Ludwig Bemelmans. It chronicles the adventures of a young man who moves to America and works in a fancy hotel. He came from a hotel family in Europe but was sent to America after failing out of school and being fired multiple times.

The stories in this book gave me a glimpse of a time long past, where the wealthy lived fairytale lives. I picked the book up at a thrift store after seeing the cover where it said the preface was written by Anthony Bourdain. I thought it was a modern book but is actually a collection of stories written in the 1940s. As a food lover and a voracious reader of cookbooks and food literature, I liked this book even though it was less about the food and more about the goings on in the Hotel Splendide. All in all, I enjoyed Hotel Bemelmans very much, the characters were amusing and something interesting was always going on.

And now! Off to continue reading week ten's book. Whew! Good thing I have a nice 5 hour flight ahead of me. I hope to update you on my Vegas trip with some photos in the near future as well. Busy bee, that is me!

Viva Las Vegas

2011-03-06T00:05:00.000-05:00

What a week, and it's not over yet. We're on our last round of 16 for the night and tomorrow we tape the quarterfinals and Championship games. Vegas is an interesting place; so far I've seen a player hand over $50,000 in cash in a crowd of people to pay some buy-in fees. I've held two $25,000 chips in the palm of my hand and no, they did not belong to me. Cra-zy. Long hours combined with a lingering time zone issue has me pretty punch drunk but I'm having a blast.

In addition to all the work on the National Heads Up Championship, we also have the second annual HORSE Championship going on. The defending champion is currently tied at H-O-R with his returning rival. Riveting. I'm part of this game by the process of being used as a backboard to bounce paper balls off of into the nearest garbage can, tape box or bag.

There's one black eye, one slots winner, a case of pink eye and an amazing penthouse suite...once again, none of which belong to me. There's neither tiger nor baby and no one has trespassed on Mike Tyson's property (well, as far as I know);however, the crew is really, really wanting a tiger for the wrap party. I can see trouble in the near future. ;)

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 8

2011-02-27T19:38:00.000-05:00

She Aint Heavy, She's My Mother is the week eight book. This book was funny and touching all at the same time. It's a memoir written by Bryan Batt, an actor on Mad Men and a New Orleans native and it chronicles his life growing up with his mom, a chiffon wearing southern belle. He talks about his life in New Orleans and New York and finally ends with him in Los Angeles. I loved reading about many of the New Orleans institutions; Galatoires and Pontchartrain Beach.

Yesterday I made it back into the city to meet Christina for dinner at the Mermaid Inn Oyster Bar where I stuffed myself silly on the lobster roll. After staying out late the night before, walking all over SoHo and scarfing down on said lobster roll, I made it home just in time to pass out into a food induced coma.

And now my friends, I return my attention to the Oscars' red carpet show. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend as I have.

The One More Club; An Initiation

2011-02-26T12:38:00.001-05:00

Photo via Urban Daddy

Girls' night out dinners usually tend to run late or very early...early into the next morning. Last night five of us went to Hudson Clearwater to celebrate a birthday and it was no exception. The place is incredible. It was so warm and inviting; there's a bar in the sunken dining room and one in the front when you enter where you can sit and watch the kitchen prepare the amazing food. Such amazing things as creamed winter greens and crispy duck breast. Both of which I enjoyed immensely.

Later we convened at Fatty Johnson's to meet a few more people, after which I had full intentions of going home. But alas, I was kidnapped by members of the One More Club; members whose identities shall remain secret, and we headed down to Tribeca to Forge or Restaurant Marc Forgione. It seems the One More Club meets frequently at this location and blames me for staying out late, which is entirely ridiculous as I'd never been there before. Luckily for me, Mrs. One More's husband is aware of the duplicity.

And now, I prepare to meet another friend in the city for another day of fun, shopping and dining! Later I will try and update you all on my latest reading conquest, She Ain't Heavy, She's My Mother. Very funny stuff.

Just When...

2011-02-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought the snow had melted.
Just when I thought spring had sprung.
Just when I almost broke out the flip flops...

Oh well. This is what I woke up to on Sunday; for the most part it's melted off but the temps are still pretty darn cold.

Yet even with the cold, the wind and the snow, I met Snowflake and Fafa on the UES to try a new burger joint: Go Burger. I had the classic burger with gruyere and a chocolate shake. Mmmm-mmm. Snow and I ordered a side of fried pickles because if your going to do it, you gotta go whole hog. I thought the food was pretty good, the services as a bit slow, okay...very slow but all is forgiven since they've just opened a week ago. I'll give them time to get in their groove.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 7

2011-02-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Hope your weekend is going well. Yesterday and last night was so windy; 60mph wind gusts until around 10pm. Whew.

So this week's book was Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl. I enjoyed this book immensely. It's a book of essay like chapters that chronicle Mrs. Reichl's years as the food critic for the New York Times. To keep from being recognized and given preferential treatment, she would don wigs and create characters and then visit NYC's best restaurants. It was interesting to read how some of her characters were treated or mistreated at many of the restaurants simply because it was assumed they were "unimportant".

I've often thought that being a food critic must be the best job EVER, but after reading this I'm thinking differently. Before writing a critique, Mrs. Reichl would visit the same restaurant four to five times, going at different times of the day, with or without people, trying every dish on the menu. I think I would be tired of dining out every night and it seems that is how she became. The book ends with a phone call offering her the editor in chief position at Gourmet magazine, which is how I became familiar with her.

So, are you reading anything good right now? Do you have any suggestions? Now, I'm off to visit the library and look for my next book! Wish me luck.

Yummy Yum Yum

2011-02-19T11:29:00.000-05:00

Not my chicken noodle soup! Photo via flickr.

Just finished cooking a chicken noodle soup, bought chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and am ready for a yummy lunch after the 25 degree temperature drop overnight. Wow. Even though it's much cooler, I have the windows cracked because there is SUCH a ferocious wind blowing that I'm letting my little apartment get it's first good airing out since winter. Yay! I just love have the windows open with the brrrrr-eeze blowing through. Hope you're having a wonderful three day weekend as well.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 6

2011-02-15T16:10:00.000-05:00

Oh I'm behind this week! I finished the book on time but had to work this weekend and still haven't caught up on everything. But, without further ado, the book for week six.

Yes, yes, yes, I know, I'm back to the mystery but this series is cute and a fun read. Royal Flush is set in post WWI England and the main character, Georgie, is a minor royal (according to the author) who keeps getting involved in scrapes and murders. A light and easy read which was just what I needed.

Up next is Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl. As a former food critic at the New York Times and editor in chief of the now defunct Gourmet Magazine, this is a book of stories from her days at the Times.

Happy Spring Flowers

2011-02-12T12:47:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a day off before working this weekend, so I took advantage of the time, the sunshine and the warmer temps to go out and about. I'd read about these giant flowers installed in the median of Park Avenue and thought it would be the perfect outing before meeting friends for dinner. The art project by Will Ryman titled "The Roses" can be found from around 57th Street to 67th Street and will be up until May.

It's quite a site to behold. The flowers are HUGE, some up to 25 feet tall and the colors are so bright and cheery after all the grey winter weather we've been having. I was particularly smitten with the lady bugs having fun climbing up and down the stems.

If you're around the NYC area in the next few months, take a stroll up Park Avenue. There's a lot to see and the architecture is quite beautiful as well.

JCrew Love - Spring 2011

2011-02-07T17:00:00.003-05:00

Via the JCrew Spring 2011 Ready to Wear Lookbook

I have a small JCrew addiction. It is well known among my family, friends and co-workers and it's not unusual for me to show up dressed almost entirely in JCrew. Their skinny ankle / cropped jeans for everyone else are skinny just-the-right-length jeans for me. Love. It. I also love the way they play with color, lots of color, bright color. Boy do I love color. I'm really loving those cool turquoise-y greens, the belts and those red lips. Not loving the socks with sandals look however. I can't believe that's still hanging around! Maybe if you have long, slim legs you can pull it off but I have a feeling I'd look like an aging Toddlers and Tiaras reject.

Via the JCrew Spring 2011 Ready to Wear Lookbook

My favorite here is look on the end, those pink pants, that sparkly shirt...I love sparkle. I like those shoes; much better now that they're minus the socks. ;) I love winter but boy I am sure feeling spring right now!

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 5

2011-02-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

Wow, one month of 52 Weeks, 52 Books and I seem to be doing quite well; still going strong. Last week I read Night and Day by Virginia Woolf.

Virginia Woolf

It was a free Barnes and Noble Nook book and since I've not read a lot of Virginia Woolf, I thought I'd try it. It took me a while before I was able to keep Rodney and Ralph straight and spent most of the book wondering how Mary could be so friendly to Ralph and Katherine after falling in love with Ralph while he fell in love with Katherine. Mary turned out to be my favorite character; a strong and independent woman living alone in London.

I did enjoy reading about women in the era after WWI and how they were expanding their roles and moving into the workforce. It was also interesting reading about Mary's efforts in the suffrage movement and how she had this desire to right the wrongs happening around her. All in all, it was quite an enjoyable book, much more than the last Woolf book I tried to read, Orlando.

Have you read anything good lately? Do you have any suggestions for me to add to my to-be-read pile? Please share!

Zebras Are Cool

2011-02-05T13:01:00.002-05:00

Hello! How's everyone surviving this crazy winter? Hmmm? Today it's warmed up a bit (over 30 degrees) but there's a fine, misty rain which just makes me feel chilled to the bone! To the very marrow, I tell ya. I'm warming up by reading home decor blogs and online magazines. And that's how I came across this lovely little space.

photo via High Gloss Magazine

I'm not sure why I love it so much. It definitely has to do with that pinky red wall paper with zebras. I'm a little concerned that they are being shot at with arrows, but the color and graphic zebras...loving. Also loving that peek of the round chandelier in the upper left corner. Loving!

I found this picture in the new High Gloss Magazine from the home of the i suwannee blog. It's a new blog to me but I think I can kill a few hours looking at previous posts and it just might, might I tell you, end up bookmarked for future reading. I can't help myself, I collect home decor and design blogs. Check out both, the magazine and blog, if you are so inclined, you never know what you might find.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 4

2011-01-30T07:00:00.007-05:00

This week, with all the snow (another 19 inches!), I dove back into the cozy mystery genre. Yeah, I know, I know...it's not like I need to be snowed in to enjoy a good mystery. Anyhoo, I pulled out Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle. This is, I believe, the seventh book in this series, set in a NYC Greenwich Village coffee shop with excursions out and about the city. The main character and sleuth, Clare Cosi, manages the shop and seems to stumble over dead bodies quite frequently.

In this book, she's tracking down the person responsible for attacks on her ex-husband's soon-to-be wife. Eh. It was okay and although I've read all the others in the series, I was beginning to find them...well, eh. Some of the characters are down right annoying! I can't help it! lol. I'm not sure how much longer I'll stick with this series.

For next week's book, I'm working on Night and Day by Virginia Woolf; trying to get a little classic literature in my life. ;)

Ghosts of Subway Stations Past

2011-01-29T18:25:00.002-05:00

Photo from thecoolist

Today I went on an adventure; an adventure that I've wanted to go on for the past 10 years. I rode the downtown 6 train to the end of the line and stayed on while it looped through the closed-to-the-public, abandoned City Hall Station. Until recently, the MTA wouldn't allow passengers to stay on the train as it turned to head back uptown, thus the long 10 year wait. The station wasn't lit as well as in this photo so the one picture that we took with the handy dandy cell phone was blurry. I have to admit, after a 10 year build up, I was a bit disappointed! I thought I'd see the above, which I did but dark and dank, lol. Oh well, thus is life.

I do have an obsession with all things underground: abandoned subway stations, no longer used PATH stations, the mole people. I once spent almost an entire weekend in Paris underground touring the Musee' des egouts de Paris (the Paris sewers; totally sounds cooler in French) and the catacombs. I swear I'm not a morbid person but I did find both extremely fascinating.

Anyhoo, after our subway adventure, we headed uptown to grab some hot chocolate at Aroma Espresso Bar. I love hot chocolate and am always on the hunt for a new place to try. I think this one is my favorite so far, MBE might disagree. I liked that neither was it overly rich, nor was it ooey gooey sweet. They make their hot chocolate by pouring steamed milk over several chocolate "pralines" and you then stir it to mix and make it as chocolaty as you want or you can leave some un-melted at the bottom and eat it with the spoon. Next month is the City Bakery's Chocolate Festival and you can bet I'll be there.

Snowicane Season

2011-01-27T18:48:00.001-05:00

So I heard one of the news anchors call it a snowicane season, like hurricane season; I thought that was pretty apt. It's been one snow storm after another. Last night's storm was cool in that there was thunder and lightening while it snowed on average two inches per hour.

I took this picture walking to the subway this morning. The sidewalks weren't cleared yet so we were all walking in the street. It was quite a winter wonderland.

More Snow...

2011-01-26T20:42:00.001-05:00

This winter the snow keeps coming. And coming. In fact, it's snowing now. We're supposed to get 8-12" by tomorrow morning and so far the NYC area has had 37" for the season. The above photo is of the rooftop garden and buildings outside my office window. Very cool. With all this snow, I'm loving my fuzzy, warm, water resistant winter boots. I love them more every time I put them on, walk to the train and my little piggies are still toasty warm and dry. Heaven.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 3

2011-01-23T13:44:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! Sorry I've been MIA the past week but work has been busy busy and I finished up Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit while also reading Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.

First up Twyla. It was an interesting book, reading about her take on creativity and how creativity isn't something people have or don't have; that one person is born with and another without. No creativity is developed by habit, routine and hard work. She delves into (just a bit) the topic of creativity not being limited to artists, musicians, dancers or writers but everyone everyday.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a different book altogether and I'd say it's one of my favorite books in a long time. It reminded me of several books such as the Ya-Ya's, The Secret Life of Bees and something else that I just can't put my finger on. It was very touching and I have to admit, I went from crying to laughing several times. CeeCee is a 12 year old who goes to live with her older, Southern great-aunt after her mother's death. Very well written.

Outside of reading, my week was full of conference calls and speculation. Our company is in the middle of being sold / a merger / whatever the business peeps want to call it. It may be good for stock prices but there's a lot of uneasy worker bees these days and as usual, the rumor mill is working overtime. I guess there is nothing to do but sit back and wait and see. I'm glad I have my next show to work on to keep my mind off of it for the most part.

52 Weeks, 52 Books: Week 2

2011-01-15T09:00:00.009-05:00

Ah, another mystery story. I don't really know why I love these so much. Maybe because good always triumphs over evil? Or it could be since my early days, I've dreamed of being Nancy Drew, finding clues, solving cases. In real life, not so much, unless you count the case of the missing cell phone. And in that case, said cell phone was in the office, still plugged into the wall charging, where I'd left it upon departing the night before. OK, Nancy Drew I'm not. Anyhoo...back to the book.

The Body in the Bouillon is part of the Faith Fairchild series by Katherine Hall Page. I've read one or two from this series before, they're nice, quick, easy reads to snuggle under a warm blanket on a cold winter evening. I like the main character, Faith, as she's a caterer from Manhattan who now lives in New England. Maybe it's all the talk and the descriptions of the foods she's preparing throughout the book that really suck me in. I do love food.

Next week's book will not be a mystery, I promise. I'm currently working my way through Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit. I have to admit, before hearing about her and this book on other blogs, I really didn't know who Twyla Tharp was. I've watched a few clips of her dances on-line and it's pretty cool; I love to watch ballet but outside of that, I've never really been into dance all that much.

Snow Day

2011-01-14T14:51:00.000-05:00

Tuesday night we had more snow so I decided to walk up to Central Park after work and take some photos. On the walk, I looked up to see these baby icicles hanging from the subway entrance sign on Sixth Avenue. Aren't they the cutest!?

I took a lot of pictures in Central Park but I thought this one was cool. I have a few blurry photos of this crazy squirrel bouncing through the snow. Actually, it was launching it's little furry body into the air as soon as it would hit the ground until it arrived at a tree to run up. He was definitely a beach bum squirrel more than a snow bunny squirrel.