Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 364
February 25, 2011
White Modern Lighting Round-Up
Looking for lights? I'm currently scouring every corner of the web to find great lights for our home. It's hard because I need so many since we moved in to a space much larger than the one we had before. I'm going to make a few big lighting decisions this weekend and place some orders, and I'm excited to see how they end up fitting my home. Are you also looking for lighting? If so, and we happen to share the same taste, you may like my choices below.
Ahhhh, the Paper Chandelier by Moooi (my ultimate dream light for my entryway). Another nice pendant is the Moooi Random light.
The Patrick Townsend Orbit chandelier is my favorite pendant and has been for years but it's not being made for the EU yet and I moved to Germany so it won't be hanging in my home anytime soon which sort of depresses me. I also love the Bertjan Pot Not Random light (lower right) and for a kitchen -- the Luncheonette pendant lamp from Anthropologie (upper left).
Cornet Pendant Lamp by Tse & Tse (bottom right), Bulb by Sofie Refer (top right). MHY by Muuto (top right) and the Acquamiki Suspension lamp by Michele De Lucchi (bottom left).
Modernica Bubble lights in any shape or size, though my favorite is the Cigar CC. LOVE THEM ALL!
Do you have any modern light favorites? Do tell! :) And happy friday, I'll meet you back here on Monday...
February 24, 2011
No Need To Apologize for a Little Clutter
I don't talk about it publicly very often, but I have a physical disability. The reason I don't talk about it is because I rarely think about it. And, the reason I rarely think about it is because I was born with it and it's the only life I know.
Besides, you can't see me from your computer, and even if you could see me, you probably wouldn't notice. I've been acquaintances with people for decades, and they are absolutely unaware of it. I've been on national television a few times, and not once has a member of the public noticed. I was a teacher for three months before a single student asked me about it -- and appearance-obsessed teenagers notice everything.
I've concluded that my disability is invisible to other people for two reasons. The first reason is because humans are self-absorbed. We spend most of our lives thinking about what we need to do, what we want to say, how we wish to act, and concerned about our personal protection and happiness. Being self-absorbed is a survival technique, and it's not good or bad, it's just a fact. If someone I've just met notices my disability, it's usually because they have the same genetic disorder or someone they love does.
The second reason my disability is invisible to other people is because no one is looking for it. It's like the selective attention test. (If you haven't taken that test, you should. It takes just a minute or two.) Since I'm not walking with crutches or using sign language to communicate, I'm not sending any obvious outward signals that I might have a handicap. And, seeing as I don't reference it in conversation, no one looks for it. It's the invisible gorilla in the game of pass.
So, why am I talking about my disability in a post about home organizing? Good question.
I bring it up because I think it's time everyone stop apologizing to others about the clutter in their homes. This might be you: Someone drops by your house, you invite her inside, and then the first three minutes of conversation you are apologizing for this mess and that mess and, oh, that mess over there.
Your visitor wouldn't have even paid attention to the mess had you not spent three minutes pointing it out to her. Sure, we all have cluttered areas of our homes we don't want people to see. However, pointing it out, talking about it, and drawing as much attention to it as possible will only have the opposite result you want.
Realize that 1.) the person probably isn't concerned about the clutter in your space unless it's dangerous or affects him in some way, and 2.) the person might not even notice it unless you point it out and draw attention to it. Take a breath, invite in your guest, and spend that time talking about something you want to highlight instead.
Tasty Popcorn Recipes for Oscar Night
The Oscars are on this weekend, and whether you're having people over or just watching them in your PJ's (or both), you're going to need something to snack on. What better than popcorn? Especially when you try any or all of these six easy upgrades.
Garlic Oil and Pecorino Popcorn
Popcorn with Brown Butter and Parmesan
Let us know if you try any of these recipes or if you have an easy popcorn upgrade of your own.
Related:
How to Make Award-Worthy Popcorn
Welcome to March's Book Club!
Hi, everyone! I'm Kathleen Harris, the managing editor of RealSimple.com. My job is to make sure that the website keeps producing great new stories and features (like the No-Obligation Book Club) for you, our devoted audience. So if you ever want to let me know how we're doing, don't hesitate to e-mail me at kathleen_harris@realsimple.com.
Back to the books: I had such a good time leading the discussion in November 2009, when we read The Art of Racing in the Rain. I'm pretty sure that this month's winner, Room, will also be great fodder for conversation. Deputy Editor Maura Fritz just lent me her Kindle to read it, which will be a first for me (how unwebby of me, right?).
So let's get reading. Why don't we tackle the first 100 pages, chapters Presents and Unlying, by Friday, March 4. Until then, I hope you enjoy!
P.S.: I know it was a very tight race for the winner—but for those of you who voted for Henrietta Lacks, don't fret. We'll be sure to include it as a contender for a later book club pick.
Can the Genius Bar help my business?
Last week, on my flight home from a business trip to Texas, a funny thing started to happen. My MacBook Pro started to falter. With the colorful ball spinning every time I tried to open a file, or type a sentence, I found myself beginning to panic.
Despite it's hot pink exterior, my laptop is a business tool I rely on heavily. Take this most recent trip during which I used my MacBook to correspond with clients and colleagues, access my computer at work, and work on client projects, as well as drive the presentation I was giving.
Back in the office the next day, I backed up my data (something I do religiously), then attempted to repair my laptop's disk drive. After searching for a system disk which, in the end, wasn't the right version for my computer, I decided to take my problem laptop to the experts – the Genius Bar at my local Apple store.
Making my appointment for that evening, I noticed something new – Apple wanted to know if the appointment was for business purposes. Checking in, I was asked the same thing and told it was so I would be "directed to the correct person for handling my issue."
20 minutes later I was back on the road, with my laptop safely in my bag and working great thanks to genius Mike G. of the Natick Apple store who had rebuilt my hard drive, and explained what to look for in case the problem was a sign of a failing hard drive.
As an Apple-based business, the Genius Bar has been a blessing. In the past, if something went wrong with our computers, the president of our agency (and chief technology officer), could spend hours or days troubleshooting anything from software issues to hardware problems. Now, we take our troubles to the Genius Bar.
For example, a couple of months ago, when we experienced a cascade of power supply failures (we lost 6 towers in one week, plus my old laptop had a graphic card failure), we brought all of the failing systems to the Genius Bar for parts replacements and consulting. The obvious benefit was less hours spent dealing with technology, and more hours spent helping clients and paying the bills.
Leaving the store yesterday, Mike took my card so he could confirm we were registered as members of their Business program, which would allow us to receive special benefits including discounts on purchases, and preferred treatment if we arrive at the Genius Bar without an appointment.
Whether for business or personal reasons, have you visited the Genius Bar?
Blah blah blah, she said. Rescue me!
Recently a reader wrote in with an etiquette dilemma we all face. Sometimes it happens at a party. Or with a colleague at work. Or when you get stuck with a certain sort of a seatmate on a plane.…
francesca1: What is a graceful but effective way to escape people who talk too much? Also, what is a nice way to end a conversation?
My first instinct was to wonder about the specifics: Who cornered Francesca1, and where did the boring conversation occur? While there are plenty of ways to slip away, the solutions are often situational.
If you're at a party, for instance, you can make a graceful exit by introducing the boring talker to someone else ("Do you two know each other? Mary, meet Miss Dull….") and then excusing yourself. This is known as the "put on your own oxygen mask first" technique. You save yourself—and worry afterward if other people around you also are gasping for air.
In the office, however, you may need to take extra care not to offend a colleague, even a particularly tedious one who drones on and on, because this is exactly the sort of person who one day may get promoted and become your boss. The best way to end a mind-numbing workplace conversation is to pretend you're the one with the problem. Look at your watch and say, "Oops, I just realized I'm late for a meeting," and then go hide in the restroom until the cost is clear.
Pretending you're the one with the problem also works in a hostage situation—when you're sitting next to a wearisome passenger on a plane or a train—but in that case you can simply pretend your problem is a pile of work you need to finish before the trip ends. "I envy you for getting to watch TV on this flight, because I have a horrible report to write," you can say, before you open your laptop and start typing, regretfully but decisively.
If you're in a public place—at the movies, say, waiting for the lights to dim—you can claim your cell phone is buzzing and excuse yourself "to answer it where it won't bother anyone." Then change rows.
There are so many possibilities—have I overlooked your favorite solution? Or, is there an all-purpose answer, something you can say to extricate yourself from any unpleasant conversation?
How do you end a dull conversation?online surveys
(image courtesy of Realsimple.com)
February 23, 2011
Half Broke Horses, Chapters 7 Through 9
Hi Bookies, we're at the end and now I want to go back and re-read The Glass Castle to keep the story going. I'm constantly amazed by Lily's resourcefulness. Is there nothing she can't accomplish? Catching a wild horse, getting free gas on the way to and from Tucson, earning her college degree in two years, flying planes… It was touching that she made it back to see her dad right before he died; they clearly had a strong bond, and it's fitting that Lily was able to do one final thing—promise to bury him at home—to give him peace of mind, just as she had done throughout her life. And of course, utterly ironic—and eventually convenient—that she drives a hearse to visit her dying father. After he passes away, Lily doesn't spend any time grieving over him; did you think she would be more emotional about her dad's death?
When Rosemary disobeys her mother and goes swimming with the Havasupai in the middle of the night, Lily loses her cool and beats her furiously in front of the two women from the Arizona Department of Education. Considering Rosemary's generally mischievous and wild behavior, I found this a little shocking. Do you think Lily goes too far? Why do you think she gets so angry with Rosemary's behavior? If Miss Pearl and Miss Finch hadn't been around, do you think she would have punished her as violently?
I was a bit surprised that Lily and Jim decided to move to the city once they left the ranch. They're such born-and-bred country people; they truly love the land and feel such a connection with animals and nature. Plus, they like making up their own rules and doing what they please. I guess they really were looking for a complete change. I found their perspective on city life fascinating, especially how the modern or convenient things they initially enjoyed—like having a radio—turned out to have a more negative than positive impact on their lives (hearing constant crime reports every day). It's something we still hear today, how things like cell phones and e-mail are supposed to save us time and make our lives much easier, but end up creating more stress and work in the long run. Which "modern conveniences" in your life do you think are truly beneficial, and which do you wish you could get rid of?
When Lily thinks Jim might be cheating on her with the "office floozy," she enlists Rosemary to spy on him. This was probably the one time in the whole book Lily does something I entirely disapprove of. It's one thing to spy on your husband—which is somewhat questionable behavior to begin with—but to have his own daughter do the dirty work? When it comes to marital issues, especially if there are unfounded suspicions of cheating, I think children should be left out of the picture entirely. I thought it was unfair of Lily to even put the idea of Jim lying or being unfaithful into Rosemary's head, even if she did try to cast the spying ('investigating," she called it) in a positive light. What do you think about Lily using Rosemary to spy on her own father?
In the final portion of the book, we get to hear about Rosemary's courtship with Rex Walls, who ends up becoming her husband. Wow. All I can say is, Rex is quite a character—even more rambunctious, outrageous, and contrary than Rosemary. It's no wonder she quickly becomes smitten with him; he provides the constant excitement and danger she craves. And it's no wonder that Lily disapproves of him. Do you think that because Lily was so hard on Rosemary growing up—always trying to teach her lessons and drill common sense into her—she actually succeeds in driving Rosemary away? Does Rosemary marry Rex because he's the opposite of Lily in many ways?
Thanks for reading along with me and sharing your thoughts, everyone—it's been fun! And I have great news: The author, Jeannette Walls, will be answering your questions next month, so post them along with your comments below by next Wednesday, March 2. Personally, I would love to hear a favorite story about Lily that Jeannette remembers from her own childhood. And I'd also love to know: What was the most surprising or shocking thing Jeannette discovered about her grandmother while researching this book? Was there anything that was particularly difficult to write about?
Fitness With Frills, or Without?
While I have happily upgraded from saggy, low-quality, inexpensive workout pants to the insanely fabulous ones that cost a lot more over at Lululemon, increasing reports about the rise in gyms with fewer frills and lower monthly dues got my attention.
After all, when it comes to a place where you can clamber aboard a treadmill or elliptical trainer, it doesn't matter all that much to me if there's a mini-fridge of perfectly-stacked, perfectly chilled eucalyptus-scented hand-towels or if there are 200 different group fitness classes offered every week.
That's the thinking behind places like $20-a-month Blink Fitness, a new spin-off from high-end chain Equinox: Blink gyms offer no group classes, no on-site trainers, not even hand towels with which to wipe your sweaty brow. (It's BYOT! Or, get one from a vending machine.)
While there are only three locations of Blink so far, I started thinking about the things I really need in a gym, and whether I'm paying more than I should. For me, my top priorities are: 1. plentiful, good equipment (i.e. machines that work and are repaired promptly), 2. cleanliness, and 3. location. If it's dingy, broken-down and too far from home, I am never going to get there. But beyond that—all those wacky classes, dozens of muscled trainers milling around, luxe lotions in the locker room—it's not that important to me these days.
Does going to a plush, amenity-laden gym motivate you? Do you prefer the old-school clank and clamor of some community gyms? For those of you who hit the health club, what are the top three things you look for?
Organization Inspiration: Arrange Your Books by Color
Organizing your books by color isn't a new concept, but it's a very pretty one. And we found some inspiration today in the form of a video to show you just how great a color-coded bookcase can look.
Take a look:
What do you think? Do you organize your bookshelves by color?
Related:
The Easiest-To-Assemble Bookcases
Get Excited: DEREK LAM + eBay
We have yet another high-to-low designer collaboration to get excited about! Yipee!
This time around it's from famed designer Derek Lam who has teamed up with eBay to create the line: DEREK LAM + eBay.
Shoppers everywhere are invited to view the entire collection of 16 dresses and vote now for their favorite one--a clever way to get consumers involved and help the company figure out what 5 dresses will be produced.
Plus, by simply voting you are entered to win the entire collection. The winning dresses will be announced on March 1 at dereklam.ebay.com. And believe me, you want one of these dresses. Just look (my favorite is the bold blue one with tie-shoulders)...
The dresses range from $125 for a waist-tied t-shirt dress in black silk poplin or pink dahlia for $125 to a floor-sweeping dress for $275. Still a bit pricey, but a welcomed alternative to the price of a dress from Lam's signature collection that averages an eye-popping $1,400! Ouch.
Remember, make sure to vote before March 1st!
