Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 426

Does Money Buy Happiness, or Just a Better Life?

In the global survey, researchers measured well-being by asking respondents to rank themselves on an imaginary ladder zero to 10 (with 10 representing "the best possible life for you" and zero the worst). They found that life satisfaction rises significantly with household income, but didn't make as much of an impact in how people felt in the prior day.

The other survey found that while happy feelings rise with income, the correlation plateaus around $75,000. "Perhaps $75,000 is a threshold b...

LulaKate Bridesmaid Dresses: From Wedding To Weekend

It's wedding season, and boy do I know it! I am a bridesmaid in three weddings this summer! And thankfully, all the dresses are gorgeous. Phew!

I've noticed more and more designers are offering styles that can be worn after the wedding--yet are still chic enough for that special occasion. Gotta love a 2-for-1! 

I'm definitely going to make sure that the dress I choose for my bridesmaids are double-duty as well. I was recently inspired by the dress choice by my friend Daisy (see below--mine...

How do you track your workouts?

Last week I started something new – riding my bicycle to work.



As part of my new fitness routine, I decided to also start tracking my rides. Not only did I want to know how many calories I was burning (and, more importantly, how much of my homemade guacamole I could eat later), I also wanted a record of my workouts – Something I could look at it when I am feeling less than motivated.



Because several of my friends were using the site DailyMile.com to track their workouts, that's were I decided...

Who am I being ruder to now?

One of the biggest, most exciting shake-ups from my childhood was when our parents finally gave in and let us get call-waiting on our phone. We were definitely the last people on our block to spare people from hearing that annoying—and now virtually extinct—sound of the busy signal. But one of the rules my mother insisted we follow with this newfangled technology was that whomever we were talking to first was the priority conversation, and anyone who beeped in had to be told, "I'm sorry, I'm...

Jo Malone Candles = Love

I am so super addicted to Jo Malone candles that it's not even funny. And now that I'm here in New York finding them in lots of the homes I'm visiting of friends, I see I am not alone in this Jo Malone obsession. Are you a fan too? They are just heavenly, right?

The shower gels are also heavenly. Ever since Jo Malone opened shop in my town I've been a lady obsessed! I love burning candles, even in the summer when it's hot outside -- a little grapefruit or something citrus-y can be sheer...

Await Your Reply: Part One

Hi, readers,

Thanks so much for all your summer reading suggestions! I think I have enough titles to keep me busy for the remainder of the year. I was happy to see that several of you are checking out books that I just have thoroughly enjoyed (Sarah's Key, The Passage, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Bridge of Sighs, and the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson). But on to our current read...

Right off the bat, we certainly realize that things are not right in each of the...

Tired Eyes, Bright Eyes

I've discovered the most brilliant product ever. It makes you look well-rested, bright-eyed, and gives skin a luminous finish. What made me reach for said item? Read on.

In my neck of the woods, that being New York City, NY, we're suffering from a heat wave. We're talking so hot, that when I went to score some ice cream at my local grocery store, the refrigerator shelves were completely bare (it was quite the Mother Hubbard moment and, eventually, I did find some after checking three other...

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Yesterday I was taking a stroll down the sleepy suburban street I now call home and couldn't help recalling the lyrics of the late Mister Rogers:

"It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?"

Looking at all the houses surrounded by leafy trees and flowers, I wondered about the folks who live inside. Since moving into this neighborhood two weeks ago, two women have come to my door bearing friendly smiles and baked goods. One li...

Extreme Picky Eating: Eating Disorder or Personal Choice?

I touched on this a tiny bit in a previous post about dietary "late bloomers", but an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal yesterday had me thinking about this topic anew. It's all about super-picky eating.

And we're not just talking about someone who simply can't stand cilantro, who loathes lettuce on their sandwiches, or banishes anything involving broccoli. We're talking about people who have a roster of acceptable foods so shockingly limited that it's amazing they don't have scu...

John Derian

I've been in New York since Saturday melting in 100+ degree temps, but I would rather melt here than anywhere else on earth (okay, outside of a tropical island) because there are so many cafes and lovely shops to duck into for cooling off and browsing. Yesterday I hit John Derian for the first time, by accident, and it was a treat because John happened to be there and so I met him -- a real pleasure to meet someone whom I've followed for so long now.

 

John has two shops nearly next...