Friday, February 4, 2011

Friday Design Inspiration

I think that I really really love blue walls . . .




Kelly Rae Roberts via Mabel's House, this whole room is full of prettiness, so just check out the link.

I also appear to really love strips so expect to see lots of striped stuff in the future.  I might like them as much as I like polka dots, which is A LOT!

Also, M. and I really need to get rid of our coffee table, but I cannot for the life of me find a coffee table that I like.  Most of the ones on Craigslist involve marble or glass or metal, which is not so much us.  Anything I find online has lots of dollar signs in front of it.

I'm thinking that instead of a traditional coffee table, we might do a large storage ottoman, a la the picture below, or a vintage steamer trunk . . .




I clearly love how Le Musings of Moi put together her entry and living room.  I think it has a great mix of modern, whimsy and vintage style.  And, it wasn't styled by an interior decorator or designer, it's someone like me (but probably more creative) putting together a pretty space that is easily attainable.  I like that best!




Thursday, February 3, 2011

A Novel Life: The Forgotten Garden

I finished up The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton last night.  Despite reading a lot of mixed reviews, I ended up really enjoying the book.

























Most of the complaints I read focused on the fact that there were so many narrators and time periods being explored throughout the book and also the fact that the book's mystery was extremely easy for the reader to solve.  I understand both complaints but didn't find that either factor impacted my enjoyment of the story. 

As for the time period and narrators - there are 3 primary narrators, one in the 1900s, one in 1975-1976 and one in 2005.  Their stories alternate chapters.  Additionally, the book will break from this formula and tell pieces of the story in the point of view of secondary characters.  They also break the book with three fairytales written by one of the characters.  So yea, it is a lot.  But, I didn't struggle with it or find it overwhelming.  A little self editing probably would have made the story better, but each narrator moved the story along and exposed pieces of the mystery that the other narrators wouldn't have been able to.

As for the mystery, I think the people who complained about it need to realize that the characters are solving the mystery, not the readers.  As a reader, we're privvy to more information than the character, so yes, it will be easier for us to solve the mystery.  But, there is so much more to the book than the mystery that made it still enjoyable.  Plus, the author throws one or two curveballs out there that made me question how sure I was that I knew the answer.

Amazon.com can summarize the book far better than I will be able to:

Like Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved classic The Secret Garden, Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden takes root in your imagination and grows into something enchanting--from a little girl with no memories left alone on a ship to Australia, to a fog-soaked London river bend where orphans comfort themselves with stories of Jack the Ripper, to a Cornish sea heaving against wind-whipped cliffs, crowned by an airless manor house where an overgrown hedge maze ends in the walled garden of a cottage left to rot. This hidden bit of earth revives barren hearts, while the mysterious Authoress's fairy tales (every bit as magical and sinister as Grimm's) whisper truths and ignite the imaginary lives of children. As Morton draws you through a thicket of secrets that spans generations, her story could cross into fairy tale territory if her characters weren't clothed in such complex flesh, their judgment blurred by the heady stench of emotions (envy, lust, pride, love) that furtively flourished in the glasshouse of Edwardian society. While most ache for a spotless mind's eternal sunshine, the Authoress meets the past as "a cruel mistress with whom we must all learn to dance," and her stories gift children with this vital muscle memory. --Mari Malcolm


That summary actually doesn't tell a whole lot . . . but, whatever.  M. will tell you that I am the worst at summarizing stuff, so trust me, it's better than what I would have done!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


1. My Greatest Adventures 8x8 Fine Art Print by The Light Fantastic's shop
2. My Grandmother's Garden Miniature Terrarium from doodlebirdie's shop
3. Second Star to the Right - Photo Print on Antique Book Page from miss quite contrary's shop
4. Burford Cottage from maryellengolden's shop
5. Snow White Inspired Locket Brooch from ThisYearsGirl's shop
6. The Collection Number XIII A Signed Fine Art Photograph from gilding lilies' shop
7. The Secret Garden Tea Cup and Saucer from zinnia pea's shop
8. Custom Shabby Chic Rosette GARTER SET from SweetlyFallen's shop
 
If you're reading along with me, the next book I read will either be Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurty or The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  It all depends on my mood come tonight!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

A Resolution Check-in

As we enter February and say goodbye to the first month of the new year, I figured now is the best time to come back to my goals for the year and let you know how I did on Month 1.

I have 2 goals for this year -

Goal 1 is to lose the 25 pounds that my body has accumulated in the time period that M. and I have been together.  Oh what love does to you . . . it makes you fat and poor.  It's worth it, but still!

When it comes to diets, I always work hard at them for about a month but abandon ship once a plate of french fries or a bagel comes my way.  However, I told M. that I'm not dieting, I'm making a lifestyle change.  To be successful, I got back on board with Weight Watchers and I decided to set monthly lifestyle/diet goals for myself.

My goals for January were to get on track with Weight Watchers and stick with it; no more soda and reduce artifical sweeteners; and to reduce alcohol.  A little later into the month, I also decided to quit fried foods, which means no more french fries and potato chips, which are easily two of my biggest weaknesses.

And how have I done?  Big check mark!  With the exception of one weekend of weakness, I stuck pretty close to all of my goals.  I wasn't perfect . . . we went out for dinner with friends or family once a week during the month (thanks to a month of birthday celebrations).  Last week we had pizza for dinner on Friday, I drank lots of beer on Saturday and on Sunday we indulged in wine and brownies.  However, when we went to the bar on Saturday, I ate french onion soup and a spinach salad, despite being tipsy and everyone else around me eating delicious fried food.  So, I might not have been perfect, but I am proud that I still practiced self restraint.

And, excitingly enough, the scale at the end of the month was kind to me.  I have lost 8 pounds, which means I am 17 pounds closer to my final goal.  I tell you what, I was giddy about that weight.  I could not stop smiling on Monday and bragged to everyone about my weight loss!

Now, I need to keep moving and keeping losing!  My goals for February include introducing consistent exercise to my weekly routine (I have started by waking up forty-five minutes earlier every morning and doing yoga as of yesterday), reducing white carbs and reducing sugar intake.  I am hoping to lose at least 5 pounds this month.

Goal 2 was to drastically reduce my personal spending and to save money for our trip to Greece, our future home and the future in general.  Despite having to buy gifts for 3 birthdays this month, I did really good!  I was so proud of myself.  And then I exchanged some Christmas items at Garnet Hill, which resulted in them withdrawing almost $400 from my personal account, to be reimbursed when they received my exchanged items.  I didn't realized that they would take money from my account, so imagine my shock one day when I expected to see $500 in my checking account, only to have $36.  Not cool.  So, about 2 weeks later, I am still waiting for them to return my money.  Once they do, it'll be moved into my savings account.

The good news is, other than that exchange, I have only used my personal account to buy gas, birthday presents and lunch one day in the month of January.  So, I am willing to say that despite all the online window shopping that I have done, I still drastically reduced my spending compared to other months, which means I have been successful.

I am really proud of myself for sticking with my goals for my first month.  I tend to stay motivated but find excuses to still break goals and promises that I make to myself.  However, I stuck to it, with the idea that I want to wear a bikini in Greece and not be looked at as "the fat American" and I want more money!  That alone has really made me excited this month and kept me motivated.

I know that some of this stuff will get more difficult as we get further into the year and as I get farther away from making my inital resolution.  I hope that by establishing monthly goals, I can keep it up for the rest of the year!