Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 451

A Special Message to You From Ann Patchett

I'm very glad that Real Simple chose my book Truth & Beauty for their book club (and I'm glad they still have a book club!). In 2008, when this club read my novel Run, I was asked if I would answer some questions from readers online and I was happy to do it. When I was asked if I'd answer questions in the same manner for this book, I said no. I never feel very comfortable answering questions about Truth & Beauty. I am essentially a novelist, and all I can say is it's one thing to talk to...

Pretty Easter Table

Looking for a few inexpensive additions to your Easter table? Hop on over to Pottery Barn - they always have the sweetest seasonal items, at great prices. Like these Victorian motif glass tumblers in a perfectly pastel assortment of colors.

 
They're just $36 for a set of six, and are just as perfect for cocktails on the patio this summer as they are for Easter brunch. If you're lucky enough to be the guest at someone else's brunch, these would be a great hostess gift!

While you're there...

Botox Gives Back! No, Really!

No matter how you feel about the use of Botox—some people love it, some people think it's the downfall of Western civilization, or some people don't care one way or another-—there's one thing I think most people can agree on. Giving much-needed funds to worthwhile charities is always good. That's why the new "My Expression of Kindness" Campaign by Allergan, the maker of Botox Cosmetic, is pretty great.

What they're doing is this: When you go onto www.ExpressKindnessCampaign.com and complete a ...

Cleaning down-filled items: Any luck?

So, I've been tossed up about a cleaning project and thought I'd get your input. I have a great featherbed that is in serious need of a cleaning. I've had it for about three years and every few months I'll vacuum it and Febreze it. I've even taken the chance and scrubbed it down with a cup of soapy water, but that only created gross looking watermarks. I'm sure that the easiest solution of all would just be to get a new one, but I'm determined to at least take a chance at giving it a good...

Easter Side Dish Recipes

We're taking Easter dinner on the road this year. My 99-year-old grandmother (yes, 99!) isn't feeling up to traveling, so my family is bringing the meal to her house. The problem? She has a pretty small kitchen, so there's not a ton of room for prepping and cooking. Instead, my Mom and I are going to split the cooking duties (she's doing the main and desserts, I'm taking care of the sides) and prepare everything we can in advance. This means I'm on the hunt for make-ahead, delicious side...

Brocade Home: 8 Favorites

Brocade Home, a furniture and accessories store with both an online shop/catalog and a retail storefront in New York City, has some great offerings for the season. In fact, I spotted a few instant favorites that I'd like to share this morning -- 8 favorites in fact. First, I like the new square turned leg dining room table ($499 square or $799 rectangle) which would suit a room that is either very modern with bright accent colors, a bit country with wooden farmhouse chairs, or even one that h...

Keeping It Simple: Wash-and-Wear Suits

Staying on top of dry cleaning was always difficult for me when I worked in a business formal office. Many nights I didn't get off work until after 7:00 p.m., when the dry cleaner closed. I can remember ducking out of meetings, running to the cleaners, getting my clothes, and then going back to work with plastic bags in tow. I've never been keen on the chemicals that dry cleaners use, and I hated all the money I had to spend to keep my clothes looking nice.

Now that I primarily work from...

Please Come Say Hi

So Real Simple is celebrating its 10th anniversary in April, which is wonderful and fun and pride-inducing and, frankly, completely exhausting. We've got scores of people on staff working to produce two all-day celebratory events, one in Chicago and one in New York. Details below. I'd love to meet you if you're in the neighborhood:

IN CHICAGO

When: Friday, April 9

Where: Union Station

Time: Noon to 7 p.m.

IN NEW YORK CITY

When: Thursday, April 15

Where: Grand Central Station

Time: Noon to 7 p.m.

Truth & Beauty: The End

It's hard to find the words to express the sadness I felt at the end of this book. Lucy's tragic, self-destructive, and—in the end—hopeless life will haunt me for some time. Between Ann and her army of friends, Lucy had all the support she could have possibly needed to survive. And yet her suffering and self-loathing were insurmountable. Given all the peaks of success she experienced in life academically, professionally, and socially it was just so painful to watch that all unravel and...

April Results, and a Question for You

Hello, Bookies:

First off, some news: Ernest Hemingway's classic memoir of Paris, A Moveable Feast, won the April poll (so Bookies Kati and Camille, who each posted that they were pulling for the book, obviously worked some good mojo). Staff editor Yolanda Wikiel will introduce AMF later this week, after Casey concludes Truth & Beauty.

Next, our good friends down the hall on the print side want to know this: What's the funniest book you've ever read?

Write a line or two about it below...