One of Those "Housekeeping" Posts That’s Only Interesting to People with Blogs…and Mom of Course

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And by “housekeeping” I’m talking about my blog – not my house. This is probably one of the most boring genres of blog posting out there…yet at some point we all do it.

Even if we only have five readers, we feel the need to update them on how we feel about blogging, changes we’re making, and of course those apologies for letting days go by without a single word, image or flash of brilliance. “Don’t feel abandoned loyal readers – let me explain.“

And for those of you with huge readerships, this is probably warranted. But for the rest of us – it’s a bit like talking to ourselves in the mirror (or maybe chatting on the phone with Mom).

Either way – we all do it eventually. And today – I can’t resist the pull. The siren call of “blogging about blogging.” Because I have been a big blogging FAIL lately.

Here are the reasons why:

1. I started a new blog for my parents’ shop Style Key West, and while they are writing and providing content, I set everything up for them. And I also write all of their Monday posts – just so you know.

2. I have been trying to post more frequently on Wishing True. I love my little pretty things blog even if it does have a tiny readership. So I don’t want it to go the way of Underdogs Unite.

[See – I told you – BORING!]

3. My twins have recently decided that we are once again connected by umbilical cords. The separation that took place three years and almost four months ago has completely slipped their minds. Much like agoraphobics with their homes, they become increasingly uncomfortable as the space between us begins to widen. And if I leave their sight for more than a few minutes, the panic attacks begin. If I want to be on the computer, I generally have to work around the two squirming three year olds on my lap.

[Oh god – now she’s blaming her kids. Shameless!]

4. I have a son named Oliver who has some special needs. He’s a handful. The end. Epilogue: I’m now taking him to extra therapy which requires driving everyone to appointments, WHICH entails getting three children suited up for the cold, getting them out to the car, getting them into the car, driving to the appointment, getting them out of the car, getting them into the building…you get the idea. The appointment and round trip drive time is approximately an hour and 45 minutes. And the rest of it takes approximately an hour and 45 minutes.

5. I’ve decided that after about five years, it’s time to start noticing that I have a husband and pay some attention to him when he’s around in the evening. We do things together that we both enjoy (translation: watch television) and surprisingly, this doesn’t involve me using the computer.

[Mooooommmmm! Are we there yet?!]

Not yet. 6. The number of television shows that I watch either real time or later on the computer has become out of control. Especially now that Lost is back. Sorry Deep End – I have a full plate right now. If you’re around in three years and I’m the only one who has no idea what people are talking about at cocktail parties, then I’ll have my regrets and add you to the Netflix queue. But for now, I’m already in the process of making cuts. Private Practice – you have a lot of potential and if I had the time, I’d definitely keep you on staff. But you know what they say, “last to come, first to go…” (Pssst! Flash Forward – make yourself scarce. I don’t want her to remember when you joined the team until after she’s gone.)

[Now that’s just pathetic… ]

So as you can see (if you’re still reading, that is) I have very good reasons for my dismal performance in posting here and HELLO! commenting. Seriously – I still love you – but if the name of your blog starts with any letter after L, I’m having a hard time reaching you in my reader. And that is going to be a big priority this week: catch up on my reader and visit some of my new commenters.

So to wrap up one of the most ennui inducing blogging about blogging posts, I’m now going to kick the eye rolls up a notch by adding some pictures of my kids!






Aren’t they the cutest ever?! I knew you’d enjoy that. Almost as much as my fiction writing. Which I skipped today…more apologies on that. Will the disappointments never end…?

*ALSO: I have some reviews and news up on As Good As Cake. Check it out!

Fashion Art in Decorating

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Several months ago I read a great guest post from Anh-Minh on sfgirlbybay. It included some lovely images of fashion sketches as art.

In her work for an article on secondhand shopping, she discovered some original 1970s fashion sketches. Once framed, these inexpensive pieces created a very unique and charming display:


She then found images of other fashion sketch displays that I love:




I’ve got soooo many “pretty things” that I’d like to display and I would add fashion sketches in an instant.

One of these days, I’ll have a little room for myself (an office perhaps) and one wall will be dedicated to the treasures I’ve collected over the years. The ones deemed too girly for shared space with my husband, that is (which is pretty much all space – though in his defense I’ve gotten away with a lot of girly stuff!)

So I’m now on the lookout for some fashion art to add to my stash…

Friday Fiction – on Tuesday: Introducing Ellen

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Didn’t get a chance to do any writing on Friday – there didn’t seem to be a minute to sit down. But now I have one, so this is a make up post.

Last we left off, Vivi and Ivy had an hour to kill, so they turned on the TV and promptly passed out. I’m going to let them sleep a bit longer since there is another character I need to introduce, Ivy’s mother Ellen.

Want to catch up? You can do so HERE.

In 1980, three important things happened to Ellen Chapin. She turned 35, moved to Washington DC and decided that her macrobiotic diet just wasn’t going to work out.

While it had been a long time since she felt particularly young, there was something about 35 that sounded decidedly old. So six months before her birthday, Ellen stood in front of her mirror and made a rather painful assessment of the state of affairs.

She wasn’t overweight, but after the birth of two children and several years of eating cookies out of the box in grocery store parking lots, she wasn’t exactly slim either. Her mother always claimed that extra weight aged you by ten years. So according to this theory, she looked about 44.

Carl always claimed that he liked her shape. That he preferred soft and womanly to muscular and masculine. But Ellen would have settled for something in between. Something less matronly. Maybe firm and curvy? Maybe just less flabby…

So the first thing she put on her to do list was “change eating habits.” Nancy suggested exercise, asserting that the endorphins she’d experience while running would give her “twice as much energy for chasing after the kids.” But after polite murmurs about good ideas and definitely thinking about it, Ellen promptly dismissed the idea. With the exception of years of dancing in her youth and a few failed attempts to attend a local Jazzercise class, Ellen did not exercise.

What she did do was read. So a trip to the bookstore was made and the answer to all of her problems was procured. Or at least, that’s what the book claimed to be able to do. It proposed that by changing her diet to include only “clean” foods, she would look better and feel better. And better was one goal to which Ellen felt she could confidently aspire.

I’ll be back with more of Ellen on Friday…I think…

Brooch Baubles

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Yesterday I posted some hats from Tissage that make me feel like I was born in the wrong era (admit it – you know this feeling – at some point during your childhood you wanted to be Anne of Green Gables or Laura Ingalls…)

Another speciality of Tissage is the necklace with a vintage brooch accent.

Here are some that I would love to own:






And here is a bonus brooch bracelet that I wouldn’t kick out of my jewelry box:


You can add these to the Valentines Day wish list…

"How Do We Feel About Opera Length Gloves?"

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Okay – I’m not really interested in opera length gloves (today). That’s just a S&TC line I’ve always liked.

I’m currently obsessed with these cloche hats from Tissage:







That last one especially makes me want to crawl inside this old British television series and never come out.



Truly one of my favorite fashion eras.

More on Tissage tomorrow…

Valentines Day Gift Buying Guide (Part Two)

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Continuing my buying guide (aka wish list)… Here are a few more lovelies that caught my eye.

This adorable cloche hat:


Ruche

Does it come with the curls?

Anything wrapped like this:


…and by “anything,” I mean this necklace:


Bonbon Oiseau

And finally – I wouldn’t mind an evening out worthy of this frock (plus the frock of course):

But only if you really love me…

Valentines Day Gift Buying Guide

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A gift buying guide for ME that is…

I think I’ll devote the next couple of days to gift ideas for everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday.

Here are a few items that you might want to consider (okay – for YOU if you insist – but be aware that I have ME in mind):

The lover of pretty things in me wants to display these on a shelf…


…while the book nerd in me wants to run my fingers across the spines and wish I knew how to read French.

*I was originally going to feature a gorgeous cinnabar bracelet from FrenchBlue, but by the time I came back to grab the image, it was GONE. Quel dommage… Instead I selected these books which I just noticed are also now sold. Mon Dieu, one must act fast when shopping at FrenchBlue!

Moving on… I’m in desperate need of a gold cuff bracelet.

This one will do.

And would love another Liza Hirst to hang on my wall…

I’ll take a painting of flowers (and an abstract one at that!) over dozens of roses any day.

That’s enough for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with some more gift suggestions (for me).

Continuing to Cultivate Genius

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The other week I posted some pictures of my son, Oliver’s invention: a slide made from the playroom coffee table placed at an angle, along with a large stuffed animal “sled.” Simple. Safe (hey – no one got hurt!). Brilliant.

And now my younger son, George has astounded me with yet ANOTHER new invention made from household items.

[In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that he probably got this idea from seeing me dislodge a bead from a straw (yes – most of my daily accomplishments now run along those lines…) But regardless, his entrepreneurial spirit can’t be denied.]


So tell me – what would you make with a small, blue orange juice cap and a vacuum cleaner attachment?


An awesome blow gun of course!

AND an extra long one:



Here it is in action:




Even I had to try it out:

I know – I’m pretty gorgeous right? Sadly, I’ve never been one of those people who comes back from the gym glowing… And seriously – it couldn’t have occurred to me to splash on a little makeup before taking those pictures?


Wait – why do you suddenly bring up Botox? Back to the invention…

As usual, my pictures just don’t do justice to the subject. So I took a video:

OUCH! That hurt. But don’t blame the invention – no injuries were sustained during actual blow gun activity. (And how about that dirty wall? Yikes! Time to do some cleaning…)

Hours of fun! Can’t wait to see what they come up with next. Eleanor doesn’t show much interest in this area, but you never know what she might do with some glitter and a few My Little Ponies. Stay tuned…