New Year's Eve 2013

Here we are again, at the close of one year and nearly to the open of another. Like many, I typically find New Year's Eve celebrations to be a bit overrated and schmaltzy. In reality, what makes January 1 so different from December 31? Why are we so open to making positive changes in our lives one day out of the year when we all have the choice to make better and smarter decisions on April 17, July 22, or October 4? I ask this rhetorically, of course, since I have already written out my resolutions, dug out my gym clothes, organized my closets, and revisited the budget I created for myself back in June. 

The new year brings a renewed sense of order to our busy and chaotic lives and gives us hope that this is the year that we'll be healthier, wealthier, and wiser. That's my sincere wish for you, and for me, too. 

I'm feeling optimistic about 2014. Not that 2013 or 2012 weren't good years--they were--but I just have a feeling that this will be a good year. (Of course, I thought 2010 would be a good year and before January had even ended I'd slipped and broken my foot and ankle in five places. So, we'll see.)

So here's to you, here's to me, and here's to a wonderful, happy, safe, and sweet new year that's full of love, life, and laughter. 

In Care Of

Do you watch Mad Men? This is one of the best shows on television and if you're not watching it, you're missing out. A not-so-great episode of Mad Men is generally still better than a pretty good episode of most other shows.

The season 6 finale was last night, and after a somewhat slow but significant season, it didn't disappoint. Don sank, Peggy won [then lost then won again], Ted fled, Stan ate a sandwich, Pete crashed, Joan relented, Roger tried, Bob carved, Megan stood her ground, Don came clean, Sally realized, and now, we wait.

The one-liners were particularly sharp, while there are many memorable moments (Ken dancing, Don wah-ing), nothing beats Pete's elevator mini-tantrum.

via Vulture

Bonus: the 36 most GIF-able moments of Mad Men season 6.

Bonus II: Matt Weiner Explains the Hershey Bar

The Hater’s Guide to the Williams-Sonoma Catalog

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Kate Spade Saturday

I adore almost all things Kate Spade, from purses to jewelry to my hot pink day planner, so I was excited to learn about Kate Spade Saturday, a new brand set to launch in Spring 2013. 

"In a perfect world, every day would be Saturday." That's the motto behind the casual lifestyle line that is supposed to mirror Madewell (which I like) and C. Wonder (which I love) in price and aesthetic. This is not a diffusion line but a vertical brand that should capture current Kate Spade lovers and as well as attract new fans.

I received an email this morning about signing up for updates, so I did a little Internet research to see what else I could find out. And I found this from Style Bistro...

And I thought to myself, "Editorial mistake. Must have accidentally linked to American Apparel. Kate would never try to sell Minnie Mouse shoes." However, similar Google searches returned similar results. I'm holding out hope that more sneak-peeks of the collection come out soon. 

For now, Racked.com has six things you should know about Saturday.

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors, right up there with Hemingway and Irving and Fitzgerald and though I hate to admit it, Anita Shreve. I remember the first Agatha Christie book I ever bought, Hallowe'en Party, at a garage sale. I don't remember exactly the story line, although I know that someone dies from cyanide, which I learned is extracted from apple seeds. 

(I was in fifth grade when I read this book, and I can tell you that each and every time I have eaten an apple since, I think about how the seeds [though it would take literally hundreds eaten in one sitting] can be used to create cyanide). 

Anyway, Christie was a prolific writer and I've decided to read her novels in order. From the beginning, which happens to be the very mysterious, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I'm about eight books in, and I'm rediscovering some books I've read and some that I haven't. In between I'm reading others, like The American Heiress, which is pretty good. If you're a Downton Abbey fan, you'll enjoy The American Heiress. 

50 Shades of Don't Waste Your Time

Let's talk about 50 Shades of Grey for a minute. Maybe a couple of minutes. I read this book (and the two that came after it). I know, I'm hanging my head in shame. I'm normally pretty strong about not reading the hot new thing in books (except for Harry Potter... and Twilight... and Hunger Games...), but Amazon was having a three-for-one sale and I gave in. Sorry, I'm not sorry, except that I kind of am. Sorry, that is. This book was terrible. I mean it. 

First of all, they call it mommy porn for a reason. It is definitely porn-o-graphic. If you're a Puritan or a Jehovah's Witness, this is not the book for you. Probably Southern Baptists, too.

Secondly, the trilogy started as Twilight fan fiction; I really didn't enjoy the Twilight books, so I don't know why I thought I'd enjoy this series. (Confession: I only liked a lot, not loved, the Hunger Games trilogy. I know, I'm a horrible person.) 

Thirdly, the writing is just Gawd-awful. The main character has just graduated college and has neither a smartphone nor her own laptop. This is 2011; what kid doesn't have a smartphone or a laptop (insert desktop or iPad if that's easier to swallow)? And don't get me started on Ana Steele's inner goddess and/or her subconscious; her inner goddess is a tart and her subconscious is a school marm. She literally has named the voices in her head. I cringe thinking about it. Maybe she's Schizophrenic.

Fourthly, Christian Grey, the mysterious protagonist, is really just a creepy stalker. He randomly shows up on her family trip; he wants her to sign a contract to be a sex slave; he has her followed; he wants her to sign a contract to be a sex slave; he bugs her email; he wants her to sign a contract... you get the point.

In fact, I'm going to tell you what happens, minus all the S&M stuff. Ana and Christian meet, they fight, things get weird, they have sex, they date, they have sex, they break up, they have sex, they get back together, they have sex, Christian has a helicopter accident, they have sex, they get married, they have sex, she gets a stalker, they have sex, the stalker gets arrested, they have sex, they move into a new house, they have sex, they have two kids, they have sex, and they live happily ever after. The end.

You're welcome.

Books I've Read Lately and Liked

So, yet again, I'm apologizing for not posting to my blog [even though I have a nifty little button over to the right side of this blog that states I'm blogging without obligation, i.e,. I will not apologize for not updating my blog on a consistent basis.  Yet, that's exactly what I'm doing.  Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness.  At least I used punctuation.  Virginia Wolfe could learn a lot from me.].

Anyway, I've read a lot of books in the past few months that I wanted to mention.  I've started this post several times and scrapped it because... well, because shit happens and I got busy.  So, in no particular order, please find below a listing of books that I've read and liked:

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hiter's Berlin, by Erik Larson.  I can safely say that I'm an Erik Larson fan (so is the NYTimes reviewer).  Larson is the author of Devil in the White City and Thunderstruck (both of which I enjoyed), so I was looking forward to reading this book based on his past performance.  I have a strange fascination with the Nazi movement (and WWII in general), and this book tells the story of the U.S. Ambassador to Germany as Hitler rises to power.  It's a very well-written, fast-paced book about history; if a "history book" does not sounds interesting to you, then I might recommend that you make your own informed decision before purchasing.  Larson spends a lot of time in the details, but that's exactly why he is so adept at storytelling.  He does his research and presents it in an unbiased way to further the story.  I'd give it a solid A overall.

Recently, my book club chose from some classic literature and read Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson.  Honestly, I'm a bit indifferent about this novel.  I never read it in school, so I was looking forward to reading it for the first time.  What I didn't really care for was the overall plot; there was so much time spent leading up to the actual voyage and treasure hunt that I was sort of bored by the time we arrived on Treasure Island.  However, what I did like was reading about the inspiration for so many characters in pop culture, from Long John Silver to Captain Jack Sparrow to the ubiquitous pirate-with-a-parrot-on-his-shoulder-and-a-peg-for-a-leg.  Overall, I'd give it a C+ (remember, to those type-A students like myself, a C is actually average, not necessarily a failure).

The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff.  I actually really enjoyed this book that is simultaneously about the life of Ann Eliza Young (the 19th wife of Mormon prophet Brigham Young) and a present day murder-mystery that takes place in a modern-day FLDS family.  It's interesting to see how the stories intertwine, and I have to admit that I knew very, very little about the Mormon faith other than the commercials for TLC's Sister Wives (which I have never actually seen).  A note about this novel: the newspaper clippings, Wikipedia articles, etc., are presented as historical fiction; some of them do not actually exist.  Overall, I'd say B.  [This novel was also apparently made into a Lifetime movie, which makes me not like it although I realize that's dumb and very similar to my dislike of books with the "Oprah's Book Club" sticker on them.]

The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton.  I enjoy Edith Wharton (particularly Ethan Frome), and she did not disappoint with this novel.  Set in New York City in the late 1800s, it tells the story of the beautiful socialite Lily Bart and the unfortunate series of events in which she continues to place herself.  I have a hard time feeling sorry for Lily, as she brings many of her troubles upon herself, but I liked the glimpses into the high-society of Manhattan in the 1800s.  Edith Wharton wrote as she lived; she was born Edith Jones, and her socialite family inspired the phrase, "Keeping up with the Joneses."

Hearts

Update:  Thank you, each and every one of you, who have offered prayers and words of support and encouragement for me and for my family.  My uncle came through surgery with flying colors and is at home recuperating with family.  He has a long, long road to full recovery ahead of him, but due to his excellent health going into surgery, his prognosis is very good.  [My uncle has always had high blood pressure but low cholesterol.  He is a healthy eater, doesn't smoke, and may indulge in the occasional adult beverage.  He's been in his fair share of triathalons, and he takes spin classes five days a week.  This is why the sudden "walking time bomb" prognosis from the cardiologist was so difficult to comprehend.]

Since 1963, Congress has required the president to proclaim February as American Heart Month, since, you know, Valentine's Day (MY BIRTHDAY!) falls on the 14th.  As such, and since it directly relates to my previous post, I'm going to give you some interesting, and hopefully not too snooze-worthy, heart health tips.  Just humor me and go with it, ok?  Thanks!

• Floss daily!  Flossing can add up to five years to the average person's life expectancy.
• People that suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack.
• Stay hydrated – staying properly hydrated helps you feel (and look) better and water is a great alternative to high-calorie, sugar-sweetened drinks. Treat yourself to a fun new water bottle to encourage the habit – if it’s always handy, you’re more likely to drink up.
• Make a change – pick one small thing you can change about your daily diet – start buying skim milk, order the nonfat latte, skip the afternoon vending machine visit or add an extra veggie to your dinner plate.
• Try something new – dare yourself to try a new fruit or vegetable. Next time you’re at the store pick up something you’ve never made before. Many grocery stores have free recipe cards in the produce section or just type the food into your favorite search engine.
• Cooking at home is an excellent way to control the quality and amounts of what you eat. Take a date to a local cooking class to practice your skills or learn a new technique.
• Every cigarette smoked cuts at least five minutes of life on average, which is roughly the time it takes to smoke one cigarette.
• Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day.

The facts were compiled from the Google and the American Heart Association.