Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 338
May 30, 2011
Road Test: What Do You Want To Read About?
Every month Real Simple features a beauty road test story. In the last couple months we've covered a variety of products from eye shadows to primers. But when planning for some future issues, I thought to myself, what do online readers want to see in this column. So I'm asking for you some help...
We try to keep it both interesting and helpful by testing products that you use everyday. So, we'd like to hear your opinion.
What products would you like us to test for the magazine? Would you like to see updated stories on certain products you've already seen? Or are the products we haven't tried that you are dying to know what the best brands are? Tell us below and thanks for your help!
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May 28, 2011
Good Money Karma? A Supreme Example
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor revealed Friday that she received nearly $1.2 million from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group to write a memoir of her life.The advance was unveiled in an annual report of the personal finances of the court's nine justices. It's ironic in that Sotomayor has never shown much interest in making money, and in fact, when she was confirmed by the Senate back in summer 2009, was carrying quite a bit of debt.
I can't help thinking this is anecdotal evidence of the old adage "do what you love and the money will follow."
Sotomayor's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico after World War II and she grew up in a housing project in the South Bronx. Her father died when she was nine and she was raised by her mother, a nurse. She completed her undergrad at Princeton and her law degree at Yale. She has dedicated much of her career to public service, as a prosecutor and federal judge.
When Sotomayor ascended to the nation's highest court, she had nearly $16,000 in credit card debt, $15,000 in dental bills, a mortgage of roughly $382,000 on her Greenwich Village apartment, and just $32,000 in savings. That despite an annual income close to $200,000. (For the record, it would have been wiser for the "wise Latina," as she calls herself, to use the savings to pay off the credit cards.)
Sotomayor, who is divorced with no children, had most of her net worth tied up in real estate, valued around $1 million. At the time of her nomination, the White House told the Wall Street Journal she had been generously providing for her 82-year-old mother as well as other family and friends. At Christmas, she bought holiday gifts for more than 60 people, including the custodial and lunchroom staff of the courthouse where she served as a federal judge for 17 years.
When asked how she managed to file such streamlined financial disclosure reports, Sotomayor, according to a Washington Post source, replied, "When you don't have money, it's easy. There isn't anything there to report."
So is Sotomayor's recent windfall a karmic reward for dedication to public service and personal generosity? Is it a lesson in worrying less about money and more about making an impact in the world with your time and talents, and taking care of others? It sure is nice to think so.
Do you believe that if you do what you love the money will eventually follow? Or is that a bunch of hooey?
May 27, 2011
Starting Next Wednesday: 30 Days of Creativity
Here's a little something to ponder over your long weekend. Starting next Wednesday, June 1st, you can join the 30 Days of Creativity project. Basically the founders are asking people to pledge to create one thing each day in June. It doesn't matter what it is; instead, it's about exercising that portion of your brain.
There are a few ways to participate. One is via Twitter, you can share photos of your creations, whatever they may be, by tweeting with the hash tag #30daysofcreativity. The second is on Pinterest, where they will have a board for everyday of the challenge, and you can pin photos of your creations on to those boards. It should be a pretty cool way to see all the things people are making.
Still not convinced? Here are the founders' 30 reasons to join in:
Garner a sense of accomplishment.
Form a (good) habit.
Conquer the fear of the unknown.
Find new friends.
Solve problems.
Refine your skillz.
Experiment with something new.
Defeat the resistance that's in your head.
Save $ by being creative.
Build your portfolio.
Motivate friends and family to be creative too.
Exercise the creativity we're all born with.
Overcome writer's block.
Utilize the drafting table, DLSR Camera, Guitar you bought years ago.
Break the monotony of not doing anything creative.
Make your mom proud.
Network with other like-minded people.
Challenge yourself daily.
Show off and be proud of your creative work.
Join a creative community.
Do something free of judgment.
Move beyond your comfort zone
Inspire others.
Get excited about new things.
Improve time management.
Eliminate procrastination.
Have fun.
Gain self discipline.
Use this as an excuse to buy a new (camera/screenprinter/piano/etc).
Create stuff you've been wanting to do anyway.
Let us know if you'll be participating, and have a great weekend!
What Are You Grilling for Memorial Weekend?
After a couple weeks of rain and cloudy days, this weekend is supposed to be beautiful—perfect barbecue weather to kick off the unofficial start of summer. Are you firing up the grill, and if so, what are you making? If you're thinking burgers, try these 10 new recipes for easy ways to dress them up (sun-dried tomatoes, bacon and sauerkraut, feta and mint—yum!). Or take your typical hot dog to new heights with these three creative topping ideas. And of course, you can't forget the sides—potato salad, pasta salad, and coleslaw are must-haves for your backyard bash.
Here are more great recipes to get you started:
Sausage Heros
Grilled Buttermilk Chicken
Chili-Rubbed Pork Kebabs With Pineapple Salsa
Plank-Grilled Salmon With Lemon and Fennel
Grilled-Peach Sundaes
Have a happy Memorial Day!
(image: Tom Schierlitz)
Welcome, Bookies!
Hi! I'm Lisa Whitmore, and I'm excited to be your No Obligation Book Club leader—for the first time—this month. Here at Real Simple, I'm the senior beauty and health editor. That means I edit our beauty and health stories, research all sorts of interesting health topics, interview doctors and other experts, and, yes, test out a lot of lipstick. Tough job, I know.
I'm really happy that you chose Talking to Girls About Duran Duran for our book this month, seeing as Duran Duran was my first bona fide band obsession in middle school. (I remember sitting in my friend Lisa G's bedroom with our 45's of "The Reflex" with the limited edition poster sleeve, deciding which of the guys would be our boyfriend for the day—mine was Simon. Again, middle school.) When I flipped through this book, I was taken with author Rob Sheffield's totally relatable voice, and seeing both the Smiths and the Psychedelic Furs in the table of contents...well, that sealed the I-need-to-read-this deal for me.
I have a hunch I'm going to want to blow through the whole book in one sitting, but in the name of good discussion, I promise to pace myself. In fact, let's break up the reading like this:
For Friday, June 10: the Go-Go's through Roxy Music.
For Friday, June 17: Bonnie Tyler through the Smiths.
For Friday, June 24: the Psychedelic Furs through Duran Duran.
We've got a nice, long weekend to get reading, but before you go, tell me: What was your favorite '80s band? (Mine? So hard to choose...I'll say New Order.)
—Lisa
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Friday Find: Nicole Miller Addison Bag
There is a distinct difference between my everyday bag (big enough to transport my life: journals, a pair of flats, magazines, miscellaneous toiletries, water bottle, several pair of sunglasses, etc) and my weekend bag (a smaller bag that holds just the essentials--wallet, phone, lipgloss and a book--that won't break my back as a run around the city, while also complementing my weekend wear).
This season I have found my go-to weekend bag--the Addison bag ($165)--which happens to be designed by one of my favorite clothing designers...Nicole Miller!
We know and love Nicole for her fun and sophisticated sportswear and to-die-for dresses and gowns--we can now add handbags to that list. The New York based designer recently launched her bag collection and the result is nothing short of fabulous.
If you're looking for simple and clean designs with special detailing...then you'll love these bags.
My favorite detail on many of the bags is the inventive bike chain strap. It gives a bit of edge without going too rock-n-roll.
What do you think?
Here are some additional styles from the collection:
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
What's the deal with QR codes?
Has anyone else noticed the crazy looking, often black and white, graphics which have been popping up on ads, signs, web sites and business cards?
No? Oh, nevermind.
Okay - seriously. If you haven't seen these little icons, stay tuned. You will - QR (Quick Response) codes have become the darling of the communications world, because, embedded within the shapes that make up the code is the ability to get your phone or mobile device to do something – visit a specific web site, show a YouTube video, display a phone number, or deliver a message. (Click here for a technical description of QR Codes from Wikipedia).
For the consumer, using a QR code is fairly simple. You need a phone or mobile device with a camera and a QR code reader application, which are available from a variety of sources. (I found several for my iPhone that were free, or available for a small cost).
With the app open, you hold your phone up to the QR code, and wait for the app to process the information embedded within the code. How it performs is determined by the person who created the code. (You can try it on the code above which should link you to a video "Why I listen to the Manic Mommies.")
So, as you are running through the grocery store, trying to keep track of your kids and all the items on your list, should you take the time to scan a code if you see one? The answer is - yes, as long as you don't mind being disappointed.
As QR codes proliferate, companies and communicators like myself are struggling with how to use this new technology in ways that are meaningful, avoiding, as one of my clients said, "the Ralphie moment."
You know. That moment in a A Christmas Story when Ralphie, upon receipt of his Secret Society decoder pin, was disappointed to discover that the secret message was a commercial for Ovaltine.
More times then not, when I've scanned a code, I have received something akin to advertising. For example, the sign from M&M shown below. Looks cool, right? And I assumed (incorrectly) that scanning the code would deliver something such as a coupon for dark chocolate M&Ms. Instead, I was sent to the Facebook Page for M&M Canada.
That's not to say there aren't great ways QR codes are being used. I found one in a luggage catalog that, when scanned, linked to a video demonstrating all the features of the high-end suitcase it was displayed beside. And many retailers are looking at ways to provide discounts and coupons through QR codes.
Have you scanned a QR code? Did you get something that made it worth the effort, or did you have a Ralphie moment?
Organize Books by Color
I want to share a cabinet of curiosities from my home because you may appreciate seeing how a visual person organizes design + decorating books. This isn't anything new, I've seen others organize their books according to the spine color for ages, but because I never liked seeing rainbow-filled walls of books on multiple shelves, the idea of organizing books by color didn't impress me. I guess because the last thing I want is for my book collection to become the focal point in my living room. So I found a way around it that is stylish, understated and functional.
I recently bought this vintage French cabinet with glass doors and inside, I arranged all of the antiques and collectibles that my husband and I have amassed - I believe collections should be contained so our antique books and miscellaneous finds from flea markets, auctions and antique stores look nice in this cabinet. But as I was arranging everything, I felt as though it could use a bit of color to liven it up. I also wanted to add some modern pieces to the cabinet mixed in with the older things, so in went favorite pieces from my collection of white ceramics - the vintage ones from East Germany alongside the newer ones from Jonathan Adler.
Then I stood back and felt that color was still missing. That's when I grabbed my favorite decorating and design books and decided to add them in. I mixed neutral ones in on the 6th shelf along with more neutral tones on the bottom shelf in whites, browns and black along with a bright yellow and orange book. Yellow, brown and orange book covers didn't feel fresh in this arrangement and were a bit too strong, so I took book jackets in those colors off to see what was beneath and often I found colors that I liked much better. For instance, many of my Pottery Barn books are orange so I took off their jackets to reveal a really great tan. I didn't want to leave orange and yellow out completely, so I added two on the lower shelf just to be fair. I wanted my rainbow to me a bit more chilled out. :)
I found that in a "rainbow" collection of books, it's a good idea to weed out colors that you really don't like. If you feel red is too strong, or you can't stand yellow, just pull them out and see if they have a different cover lurking beneath their jacket. Lots of books these days have dust jackets, I prefer them because a book feels more finished, but I also don't mind removing them if the jacket isn't my taste. Don't apologize or feel bad for having preferences and sticking to them!
I like that the cabinet isn't loaded with colorful books from top to bottom. The hint of color towards the bottom is fresh and clean but also understated -- you notice them but the books aren't the focal point in the room.
The result is a cabinet with some old things, some new things, and a stash of my favorite design and decorating titles that guests can enjoy while in my living room. I am visual so I remember the spine color better than the book title -- however I was careful to not mix in craft books, novels, travel books, etc. because I know that this would complicate things and I could easily lose track of where my books are. By keeping the books to a smaller, more curated collection and sticking to one topic, color coding really works.
Do you organize your books by color? If so, does it work for you now that you've lived with it for awhile? Or do you have difficulty organizing them by color? Do you like this idea, would you try it at home?
(images: holly becker)
May 26, 2011
Use Simple Syrup to Sweeten Iced Coffee
If you switch from hot to iced coffee as the temperatures rise, consider switching your sweetener as well. Subbing in simple syrup (a solution of sugar dissolved in water) for regular sugar, unless you like the taste of the sugar granules in your iced coffee, that is.
And for even better iced coffee, try making it in a cocktail shaker. Putting the coffee, ice, sugar (or simple syrup), and milk in the shaker and giving it a few swift shakes for a perfectly frothy morning drink.
What are your best iced coffee making tips?
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Smoky Eyes Made Easy
Sometimes classics are the how-tos that stump me the most. Red lips, simple cat eyes, and smoky eyes are some of the tried and true beauty looks that have stuck around as trends, like a little black dress. Recently, I found the best compact that not only has every color you'll need to create a range of smoky eyes–from a dramatic glam to a more natural subtle style–but a little surprise inside that makes achieving it foolproof.
Smoky Eye Kit
To buy: $37, gloprofessional.com
There are a couple smoky eye kits on the market, but this one is my absolute favorite. The shades are build on each other, making it easy customize your look. Plus, the hues complement a range of skin tones. But the best part of the compact is what comes folded up in the box: this step-by-step visual.
Isn't this the greatest little discovery? It's wonderfully simple and easy to follow. I am a visual learner, so this is perfect.
What is the easiest way for you to learn how to create new looks? Share your comments below!
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