Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 367

Remember: Vote Before the Poll Closes

Hello, Bookies:

We have just a few more days until our March book poll comes down, so if you haven't cast your vote yet, now's the time. Vote for your pick of the books below before 11:59 p.m. EST this Sunday, February 20.

Room: A Novel, by Emma Donoghue

Told from the perspective of a 5-year-old boy, the emotionally provocative Room explores the bonds between mother and child—in this case, a mother and child kept imprisoned in the 11-by-11-foot space that gives the novel its name.

I Don't Know How She Does It, by Allison Pearson

Pearson's debut, published in 2003, is a bitingly witty but thoroughly human portrayal of one woman's attempts to balance work and life.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

Award-winning writer Skloot's true tale of medicine and science, as intriguing as a top-notch detective story, traces the life and death of a poor Virginia migrant worker whose cancerous tissue yielded cells that became the catalysts for stunning medical breakthroughs.

Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall, by Kazuo Ishiguro

Characters and themes unite an exquisitely written quintet of novellas by the author of Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day.

What Should We Read in March?survey software

Half Broke Horses, Chapters 4 Through 6

Thanks for all your comments, Bookies—I'm glad to hear that all of you are enjoying the book as much as I am. Reader Brooke brought up an interesting topic I didn't mention in my previous post—Lily's mother. She seems to be the complete opposite of Lily and clearly thinks that a woman's goal in life is to be married off to a rich, successful man. In the second part of the book, we hear about Helen's tragic situation and her awful, heartbreaking end. Do you think her mom—who encouraged Helen head off to Los Angeles alone to pursue an acting career—is partially to blame for what happens to her?

 

It seems that Lily learned her lesson from her first "crumb-bum husband" and makes a much wiser choice in her second husband, Jim. He appears to be the perfect match for her—intelligent, kind, resourceful, and trustworthy. In fact, Lily says that his most important quality is that she "could trust that man inside and out." What do you think is the most important thing in a marriage—love? Trust? Common morals? Common interests? Do you think she would have married Jim Smith if she hadn't been betrayed in her first marriage?

 

We also see Lily dabble with something illegal—selling bootleg booze to make ends meet. If you were in her situation, would you have done the same thing? While I admire her resourcefulness, I don't think I would have done something against the law that could land me in jail.

 

Lily's "cleaning" strategy—or lack thereof—made me laugh out loud. Do you think she goes too far in refusing to wash her family's clothes, or do you agree with her reasoning? Obviously things are different when you're living on a ranch, but I think wearing the same dirty shirts and jeans day after day, week after week, would be just too much for me! I do hate cleaning my apartment, though, so her one-day-every-few-months of all-out cleaning sounds really appealing.

 

And for those who have read The Glass Castle, we start to learn about Rosemary—Jeannette Walls' mother—and what she was like as a little girl. Rosemary's attitude and parenting style definitely make a lot more sense as we see what her own upbringing was like. It's interesting that Lily, who herself was such a bold, headstrong, somewhat wild child worries about her "rambunctious" daughter. Do you think it's just a mother's natural inclination to worry about her children and try to steer them down the right path, or do you think she has legitimate concerns about Rosemary's behavior? Was it necessary for Lily to turn everything into a lesson and try to "stamp out" Rosemary's lack of focus, or do you agree with Jim that she needs to lighten up?

 

I'm rather sad that this book is coming to an end; for next Wednesday, we'll finish the story (chapter 7 through the end). Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below! 

Amy Butler Inspiration

I've loved designer Amy Butler ever since I first discovered her work over five years ago - I'm a very loyal fan! Her midwest modern aesthetic is so fresh and feminine and so are her lovely prints and patterns along with their playful colorways. Look at her latest collections...

Amy is quite the lady, she has her hands in every corner of the market from fabric design to authoring books, designing rugs, pulling together terrific sewing patterns, designing pillows and other soft furnishings for the home... the list never ends and I often wonder when she sleeps! She is also quite the social butterfly speaking at events like The Creative Connection last year where she was a keynote speaker and hanging out at her booths to connect with her customers and fans at quilting shows across the country. She is unstoppable and I'm inspired by her as a woman in business and by her vision, creative energy and talent.

If you don't know Amy Butler, this post is a little nudge to get to know her and what she does by visiting her website to enjoy an inspirational look around. Don't miss her fabulous online shop -- I encourage you to check out all of the products she sells and make sure you pick up her beautiful books too. I can't wait to see what Amy does next -- I'm hoping another decorating book similiar to Found Style and a blog -- I'm waiting for the day to read all about Amy's weekly adventures via a blog.

(images: amy butler) 

Easy to Recycle: Preserve Toothbrushes

You may or may not be familiar with the company Preserve, which makes everything  from toothbrushes and razors to picnic plates and food storage containers from recycled yogurt cups. In addition to making all of their products from recycled materials, you can also return their toothbrushes, razors, plates, and etc. to the company to be recycled.

 

And the process for the toothbrushes has just gotten even easier. Take a look at their packaging:

 

 

What makes it so easy to recycle is apparent when you look at the back of the package:

 

 

The package it comes in, is the same one that you can use to mail it back to the company for recycling. All without having to pay postage. It doesn't get much easier than that. Unless of course you sign up for their toothbrush subscription service, which helps you remember when it's time to change your toothbrush.

 

Have you ever used Preserve products?

 

(top image from Preserve, bottom image from Design Milk)

 

Calorie Counts on Menus—Friend or Foe?

A recent study found that children and teens pretty much ignore calorie counts posted on fast-food menus (which is required in New York City). While the kids noticed the calories posted, they ordered whatever they wanted regardless. No big surprise there—how many kids do you know are going to order the salad instead of the cheeseburger because it's 200 fewer calories?

But what about you? Do you notice when calorie counts are posted, and does it affect what you order? I personally love when places post their calories, and it definitely influences what I eat. It's so easy to order something—even something that sounds healthy, like a soup or salad—without realizing that my seemingly light lunch is packing on a lot more calories than I think it is. It's pretty shocking to see how many calories are in a large order of fries (1464 at Five Guys Burgers, to be exact—that's almost the total number of calories you're supposed to consume in an entire day) or a Starbucks Frappuccino (a grande White Chocolate Crème is 480 calories, which is essentially a meal). So I welcome calorie counts on menus; they help me make smarter, healthier choices. And I'll stick with the small fries and tall skim latte, thank you very much. (Most of the time.)

Are you a fan of calorie counts, or do you hate seeing them posted? And do they affect what you order?

Get Thicker, Longer, Fuller Eyelashes–Stat.

Over time, I've noticed how many women have a particular feature they like to enhance when they get all dolled up. Whether it's lips, eyes or cheeks; it seems everyone has their thing. What's mine? My lashes. Even if I walk out with no make up, I will swipe that magic wand to open up my eyes and make them standout. Most recently, I tried something that (as our beauty director describe in our March issue) has saved me time, money and sanity!

 

 

No, I am not going to tell you to rush to your nearest dermatologist for Latisse. In our March feature story, our beauty director talks about five of the latest treatments that could change your beauty routine. I decided to tackle my personal battle with short, stubby lashes.

 

I laid down for close to 2 hours, while Courtney Akai placed extensions on every last lash. Courtney does them herself and chats with you the whole time. By the end of the session, I felt like I had  a mini-psychology session and made a new friend.

 

As for my lashes, I love them. I get compliments from every one I meet. I don't need to curl, put mascara or even put liner on. They are so thick that the lashes create a subtle line right where my lashes start to grow. I wear minimal make up–concealer and blush. My morning routine has been cut in half, leaving more time for beauty sleep. All in all, I couldn't be happier with my experience.

 

 

What is your beauty battle? Would you get lash extensions? Share your thoughts!

The Best Of NY Fashion Week Day 2-4: Tory Burch, Rebecca Taylor, DKNY, Lela Rose & DvF

 

Fashion Week rolled on through the weekend and I'm happy to report back with some strong looks and wearable trends (vibrant colors, menswear, bold prints, chic layering and the 70's are back!) Here are a few of my favorite moments...

All photos from Style.com

 

TORY BURCH

REBECCA TAYLOR

 

 

DKNY

LELA ROSE

 

 

 

 

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

What looks or trends are you most excited about?

 

Do my appliances need to be high tech?

Upstairs, in a hall closet on the second floor of our home, sit my washer and dryer. While we rely on them heavily, they aren't very exciting to look at it and certainly aren't what I would consider high tech. One washes. The other dries

And, if I remember to do those things in a timely manner, our belongings come out smelling good and looking fairly clean.

Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and during my trip took time to check out how manufacturers are integrating technology into appliances like washers and dryers. On the list of new options observed:

Kenmore Connect - Appliances with Kenmore Connect will be able to send information to a technician over the phone, who can use the information provided to diagnose the issue, order a new part or set up an appointment to visit.

Kenmore App - Those of us who forget to switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer (sometimes for days), will appreciate the new iPhone/iPad app from Kenmore which, starting in 2012, will allow you to monitor how much time is left for the current load.

Nucleus GE Brillion - Nucleus' GE Brillion wirelessly connects with enabled appliances to gather energy usage information. It's more than about idle curiousity – it's also about determining how you can manage your energy consumption by making smart choices (like adjusting the thermostat) or shifting consumption to off-peak hours.

While some of these high-tech appliances were impressive, there were others that felt like manufacturers were adding "technology for technologies sake."

And am I the only one worried that more technology means more things that could break?

As a member of the Intel Advisors, I received support from Intel allowing me to attend the Consumer Electronic Show. Opinions stated here and elsewhere are my own.

Did You Forget to Send a Card? Last-Minute E-Valentines

Just in case you didn't get a card in the mail to your Valentine(s). Send one of these fun e-cards.

 

You can go artsy with cards from MoMA.

 

Akihiko Tsukamoto. Man Kiss + Lady Kisses = Love. 1982

 

Sarcastic with a greeting from some ecards.

 

 

 Send a sweet card from Kate Spade

 

 

Or a cocktail greeting from the Naked Bartender (this one is best for your girlfriends!)

 

 

And last but not least, one of our fave stationery companies, Red Stamp, has a new app that lets you send customized cards via email or on Facebook.

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

 

Love Is In The Air: Vera Wang For David's Bridal & BHLDN For Anthropologie Launches

 

Just in time for the annual day of L-O-V-E (Happy Valentine's Day!), two of our favorite brands are launching bridal collections!

 

 

So, you might be thinking: "Doesn't Vera Wang already have a bridal line?" She sure does, but not at these prices. Wang's ready-to-wear and bridal collections are too pricey for most--but the world renowned designer and creator of cool is offering her exquisite designs on a dime once again (I'm sure we are equally obsessed with her super affordable Simply Vera line sold exclusively at Kohl's). With the success of Simply Vera it was only a matter of time that she offer her bridal creations for the masses.

 

 

                                         

 

 

White by Vera Wang launched this past Friday (Feb.11th) at 150 David's Bridal stores nationwide.The collection will allow brides the opportunity to wear the designer gown of their dreams. From a strapless fairytale princess ball gown to a one-shoulder goddess column dress, there is a diverse range of ethereal looks for traditional and modern brides alike. The Spring 2011 collection is comprised of 12 styles priced between $600–$1,400 (a far cry from the average $5,000 retail price from her signature collection). Additional collections will launch each fall and spring season.

 

The gowns are simply gorgeous and complete reflect Wang's celebrated bridal designs. Can you tell which one of the gowns below is from her David's Bridal collection and which one is from her signature collection? Tricky, right?

 

Answer: The one on the right is from White by Vera Wang at David's Bridal and retails for $1,200 compared to the signature dress on the left that retails for over $5,000. Amazing.

 

 

Here are a few of my favorites from the collection...

 

Another company spreading the love this Valentine's Day is Anthropologie with the launch of BHLDN (pronounced "beholden," which means "to keep" in Dutch).

 

 

                                             

The collection is a beauitful gathering of heirloom-quality wedding gowns, artisanal hair adornments, footwear, and lingerie. And let's not forget the bridesmaids. For your pretty ladies-in-waiting there are mix-and-match frocks with rich hues and unexpected details.

 

 The dresses range in price from $1000-4000 and have free return shipping, so you can make sure to get you get exactly what you've been dreaming of for years. And after exploring the site a bit I was really impressed by the level of interaction. There are inspiring pictures of wedding photos from centuries/decades/years past and a cute survey that helps determine what type of bride you are (I'm a la bohemienne).

 

 

 

What do you think? Are you in love with the collections?

 
P.S. Shopbop.com has also fallen in love with bridal and will be launching the site's beautifully curated bridal boutique mid-March, so stay tuned!