Weekend Morning Comforts

The ideal leisurely weekend begins with the streaming morning sun through large east facing windows, the soft whistle of chirping birds as they gently wake the neighborhood, a hot cup of English Fortnum & Mason tea and piles of reading material to choose from.

~Weekend reading that I’m currently diving into: The Myths of Happiness, Paris: The Novel, Paris Street Style: A Guide to Effortless Chic~

Over the past week I’ve been thoroughly enjoying a wonderful decor book Designer’s at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living by Ronda Rice Carman who is the founder of the decor and lifestyle blog  All the Best: A Passport to Stylish Living.

While many decor books are fun to flip through, her new book surpasses the standard. Solely compiled of interviews with more than forty top interior designers (Tobi Fairley, Kathryn M. Ireland, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Mary McDonald, Brook and Steve Giannetti, Bunny Williams and David Oliver just to name a few), each designer shares images from their home and offers advice via five pointed questions Making an Entrance, Decorative Details, Flowers and Fragrances, A Beautiful Bed and Creature Comforts.

I particularly loved the Creature Comforts question in which each designer reveals a short list of simple luxuries that they feel complete a life of living well. And as I woke up without an alarm clock this morning (a wonderful simply luxury indeed), I wanted to share a few of my creature comforts in hopes that you as well would take a moment to ponder your own (and share here on the blog if you’d like). Here are a few comforts I absolutely adore:

(1) a plush down comforter to snuggle underneath each evening, (2) rooms filled with decor that tells a story of travels, memories and a life of love and lessons, (3) stacks of reading material, (4) hot water boiling in a classic white Le Creuset tea kettle ready to create a lovely cup of lavender/black tea, (5) dogs wandering throughout the house, (6) a kitchen stocked and able to create any meal that piques my craving, and (7) jazz tunes filling the home with background music

Have a lovely weekend everyone, and thank you for stopping by to enjoy a weekend extra post.

 

Images: (1) source (4) source, all other images The Simply Luxurious Life Instagram

Tuesday’s This & That: No. 1

 
When I first began The Simply Luxurious Life, one of my weekly regular posts was “Cups of Tea” where I would share favorite fellow blogger posts, shopping finds and other ideas I wanted to share with my readers. Upon revamping my approach to blogging, “Cups of Tea” was eliminated; however, my regular readers have been quite persistent in voicing their desire to bring “Cups of Tea” back. So . . .

Every Tuesday (instead of every Sunday, when it originally appeared), you will find This & That where I will share the many discoveries I find while perusing through books, newspapers, websites and scrolling through my apps on my iPad each week.
Read more »

Why Not . . . Read? Part Une

A bibliophile I proudly claim to be, and I strongly suggest (although I have a very strong suspicion you are as well) that you become one as well if you are not already.

I am a devourer of books, magazines and news articles.  My night stand always has at least five books or magazines placed atop it in the evening as to give me options to choose from to suit my mood. And the pleasure derived from this activity is one that I have control over in choosing what I read, how much I read and what I learn.

One of the most empowering abilities reading gives us is that it truly places the world at our fingertips. Whether it be non-fiction or fiction, biography or self-help, historical or culinary – we are all capable of learning anything we decide to set our mind to.

With all of that said, there are many benefits that can be extracted simply by being an avid reader. Since the list is quite lengthy that I’d like to share, I’ve broken it up into three pieces.  The following two lists of benefits will be shared in the subsequent Wednesday Why Not . . .? posts during the next two weeks. But for now, let’s take a look at the first five gifts that reading provides:

Reduce Stress

One of the pleasures at the end of my day, on the weekend or while on vacation is having the time and lack of responsibilities so that I may just read.  There are few things that cause me to lose all track of time than to be lost in a good book or article. Finding the time to read in each of our daily lives is a simple way to reduce stress, calm our mind and remove it from our busy list of to-dos in order to get lost in someone else’s story, life or experience.

Become More Intelligent

One of the most understood benefits of reading is that a person’s intelligence increases, their “smarts”, shall we say, improve because they are learning in-depth knowledge about either an event in history, a person’s background, how something works, the proper syntax usage, and so much more. I would argue that even when the content may be questionable, the value of reading the written word is still a benefit.

Improve Vocabulary

As an English teacher and having many friends who teach at all grade levels, it is quite evident that the simple repetition of choosing to pick up a book, a magazine, or newspaper at night (or anytime) will repeatedly increase one’s vocabulary.  Yes, memorizing words on a list works as well, but reading pieces of literature that include higher level word choice immediately enhancing your ability to absorb something new.  Even if you’re not sure of the exact definition of a word you have come across . . .
Example: obdurate -

“She was so obdurate, that no amount of persuasion could make her alter her stance on on the political issues being discussed at the Thanksgiving dinner table.”

. . . by searching for context clues, you are becoming a more active and engaged reader, thus, improving your intelligence and consequently improving your vocabulary one word at a time.

(answer – stubborn)

A Feeling of Satisfaction

Upon finishing a challenging book or a classic you have heard people allude to time and time again, only to be unsure of what they were referring to until you yourself read the book is a priceless feeling of satisfaction. The act of completing something that pushed you a bit, asked you to consider something you hadn’t thought about before or presented something to you that you had never heard of, is a way to bring more satisfaction into your life. I still have the goal of reading all six of Jane Austen’s books and believe me, when I do, I will be dancing on the moon.

Refinement of Life

One of the things that excites me about picking up a new book or the arrival of new magazines each month/week in my mailbox is that I may just find ways to further create my ideal life.  I am notorious for ripping out pages with articles that I want to never forget because of the ideas they share or the topics they discuss.  I swear to this day, that I learned the detailed fundamentals of giving myself an at home facial by reading Teen magazine as a pre-teen. Reading exposes our thoughts to new and different ways of doing things or inspiring us to try something new that we may never had considered before. And that is why I wholeheartedly believe that if you are an avid reader, you’re life has every opportunity to be rich and cultivated no matter where you live or what your circumstance.

Click here to read Part Two with even more benefits of incorporating reading into your life will be shared.  Have a lovely Wednesday!

Images: (1) Source 

Discover Yourself And Set Yourself Free

“What we become depends on what we read after all of the professors have finished with us”

-Thomas Carlyle

Over the weekend, I had a very philosophical discussion with my mother (I love such talks, truly), and one of the topics that came up was reading, books and opportunity.

Fostering a love for reading is the most inexpensive way to travel the world, to expand your mind and consequently, to discover who you are and what you are passionate about.

The thing about reading is that it doesn’t end with school, it doesn’t end because the assignment is done; it truly is a pleasurable pursuit that stays with each of us long after the last page is read.
And I believe that is what makes reading so powerful. Not only are we learning about the plot that is unfolding or the history that has taken place while we are reading, but we are enhancing our vocabulary, picking up subconsciously how to construct sentences and how to be better conversationalists. The same certainly can’t be said for television. Reading is a multi-faceted pastime.

An opportunity to be freed from our circumstances comes the moment we immerse ourselves in any given book we are interested in. Truly, to be able to read is a gift. A gift, I have to be honest, I probably take for granted.  Because it is without question that, as S.I. Hayakawa reminds us,  “. . . people who have read good literature have lived more than people who cannot or will not read.”


As I think most readers of blogs would agree, reading exposes us to the world, so that we are not boxed in, confined to what someone else believes.  Instead we can make up our own mind, read multiple viewpoints, get to the bottom of something.  Reading provokes a curiosity that truly is a quality which aids in successfully living a full and contented life.  To be curious is to have an innate thirst for knowledge, and to have the peace of mind in knowing that if we can’t hop on a plane and visit the country of our dreams at any given moment, we can pick up a book that is set where we would some day like to be.

Upon reading my first classic piece of literature in high school, I can vividly remember saying to myself with unedited glee, “The author is speaking about life, I can apply this to my life!” And that was the moment, however elementary my thought process was then, that I fell in love with literature. Not only do books teach us about life, but what keeps me coming back and picking up book, after book, after book, is that they can teach so much about who we are, what we can become, what mistakes not to make, and so many times, what risks to take.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. It is wholesome and bracing for the mind to have its faculties kept on the stretch.”

-August Hare

Without question, the focus on being well-read should be viewed as equally, if not more importantly, as looking good when we peek at ourselves in the mirror because with intelligence, comes the ability to have a quick wit and an understanding that beauty fades and intelligence remains. 
Consequently, “Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.” Reading is a simple luxury.
Have a beautiful Monday and if you can, find time today to read something that you enjoy, but at the same time challenges you.

Images: (1) Source 

Always in Vogue

One of my favorite novels and most intriguing and respected authors has reached a silver anniversary today, and I couldn’t let it go unnoticed on the blog.  Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is celebrating fifty years since being released in 1960, earning three Academy Awards for the film starring Gregory Peck in 1963 and having earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1961.

(Nelle Harper Lee in the balcony of the courtroom in Monroeville, Alabama, where her father, A.C. Lee, regularly tried his cases.)

Many people wonder why she hasn’t written a second novel, and while there is wide speculations (in fact, she did begin one and worked diligently to produce it), her sister Alice said simply that Nelle (Harper is her middle name) knew with her next work she would only go down with regards to success.  Maybe she’s right, who’s to say.  The production of her most successful novel took over ten years – rewritten three different times - each in a different point of view (the published version is in two points of view – first and third) and was said to be a tribute to her father who wasn’t too keen on her moving to New York City and abandoning her education of become a lawyer, as a way to show respect and proof that her idea to move to New York was not in vain.

I find myself coming across more and more people who have either named their child or their dog Scout due to their appreciation of the novel, many of them teachers, but not all. All of this focus on a novel that has provoked me to read subsequent books to further understand the theme and the author (Charles J. Shields’ Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee), as well as literary critiques caused me to come to the conclusion (one I have always been aware of, but maybe never truly expressed) - that being well-read will never go out of style. Consider this quality the little black dress of life if you will.

“Fashion fades, only style remains,” is one of the many timeless and true aphorisms uttered by Coco Chanel, and it is applicable beyond the confines of the fashion industry. A woman (or a man) will continue to be intriguing far beyond their beautiful facade if they continue to fill their mind with voluptuous amounts of the written word.  Whether it be a classic here and there, followed by a quick beach read, and don’t forget the articles in numerous well-respected magazines and journals, newspapers, worthwhile internet articles, the list could go on and on.

Needless to say, read. Carry a book in your purse at all times for those moments when you are waiting in the doctor’s office, or stuck in traffic.  Read, learn, soak up all sorts of varying perspectives so that when you do come to a conclusion, you’ve done so with an open mind.

And of course, your cocktail party chit chat will never be lacking.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

 

Images: (1) Source (2) Source  (3) Source (4) Source (5) We Heart It (6) Source

I’m Craving . . .

. . . time to read endlessly. . .

. . . peonies from the Farmer’s Market that opens today!

. . . fresh new white sheets for my bed . . .

. . . and a grueling workout with a bit of Glee on my DVR to help get me through it. (Sue Sylvester seriously cracks me up!)

Images: (1) Source (2) High Meadow Flower Farm (3) Decor Pad (4) Gossip Sauce

Why Not . . . Pamper Yourself?

Rewards tend to be one of the best ways to pat ourselves on the back without tooting our own horn on a job well done.  No one needs to know why we are pampering ourselves, maybe it’s simply because we made it through the holidays without having one confrontation with any of our relatives, and isn’t everyone kind of expecting us to do this anyway?  No matter how small the victory, a necessity I believe we should always include in our day-to-day lives is a moment, an afternoon, a day, a weekend or maybe even a week, of pampering.

If you are a planner, planning a reward at the end of your week or your busy season at work, will be something to set your sites on while you are toiling away.  Often times the anticipation of a luxurious evening of pampering is just as uplifting as the pampering itself . . . well, almost.

For example, I was well aware that this past April was going to be a month without a moment to pop my head up above water in order to have some time to myself.  Mind you, I was busy most of the time being involved in some of my favorite social gatherings, but none-the-less, no down time.  I crave my down time; it is like water to me, my necessary sustenance, and my best friends and family are well aware of this.   Being the planner that I am, back in February, I scheduled my seasonal facial to fall during the week after things had finally ceased to be as demanding.  I cannot tell you how many times, I have thought of this hour of serenity and quiet.  It has kept me zen during some stressful times.

While some of you may already know exactly how you want to pamper yourself, let me share with you a handful of ways to consider on your quest to take some time for yourself.  I’ll start with rewards for the simple victory of making it through the week and work my way up to – “just passed the bar exam”, or “finished my first grueling, yet rewarding year as a professional in my field”.

Update Your Reading List

During the beginning of my career, I became quite the regular at my public library.  After all, I wanted to read the ubiquitous new titles that were being released and a slew of the magazines as well, but my budget just wouldn’t allow it, so to the library I went. I try to always keep this time of my life in mind when I’m purchasing a couple of the most recent hardback titles at Amazon or in my local bookstore.  In being continually reflective on this time of my life, I find myself feeling as though it is a bit of a reward to purchase a new book without having to finish reading it in a certain amount of time. While this may seem a bit of a minor reward, consider treating yourself to your favorite item on the bookshelves or a handful of magazines that allow you to dream and be inspired.

Pedicure

For so many women, a pedicure is a necessity, and while I wholeheartedly agree, sometimes providing your own pedicure has to make do during those times when you just can’t fit a professional pedi in.  So for a bit of a pampering, reserve an hour at the end of a long work day and head on down to your favorite salon to soak your piggies while someone else does the work.

Facial

As I have mentioned before, planning a bit of a motivator to make it through the week, month or season, depending on your situation, is a helpful way to add something uplifting or positive in your mind to focus on while you are making it through your many obligations at work.  This past year, I was finally able to take myself up on a promise I made more than five or so years ago, to have regularly scheduled seasonal facials.  I can’t tell you enough, how I treasure this quiet time to let someone else pamper me.

Massage

Instead of just letting your face have the TLC you crave, why not allow your entire body in on the pampering.  A massage at the end of a busy month would be a fantastic way to bring closure to each of the twelve calendar pages.  Whether you are taxed and physically needing one or not, this treat is a time to bring calm to not only your sinewy body, but your overworked mind.

Retail Shopping

Who wouldn’t love some retail therapy?  Can’t find the time to stop by your favorite boutique?  Why not do a little perusing on the internet?  Or better yet, go ahead and purchase those pair of Tory Burch Miller Thongs you’ve had your eye on for the summer months.  Allowing yourself to buy just one item when you usually don’t purchase any, or a handful, if you usually purchase one, will most definitely serve as a treat. If you hurry, Shop Bop is having a 15% off sale that ends after today (May 5th).  Simply enter the code INTHEFAMILY15‏, and you’ve not only purchased an item you’ve had your eye on, but you’ve found yourself a bargain!

Hire a Stylist

Okay, here is the biggie.  The one you’ve earned through months or may a handful of years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.  Why not hire yourself a stylist to help put together a wardrobe for the next upcoming season? While Rachel Zoe mostly likely wouldn’t be in most people’s budgets, there are many stylists in your area that can do a wonderful job.  Inspire Style, for example, is a style coaching business located in Portland, Oregon, Minnesota and Washington, that strives to help you find your very own personal style, and even specializes according to your career, if you’d like.  You may schedule a closet review, style profile, partner shopping, make-up lesson, hair session – anything that will better create the outer image you desire.  I learned about Jandi Chanel Girard, the founder, last year in The Oregonian, and she has since expanded her business dramatically.  I, personally, can’t wait to schedule an appointment!

All right, so you’ve seen my list.  Out of curiosity, what would be some other ways you might want to pamper yourself?  I’m all ears!  One can never have enough ideas for pampering in their arsenal. Have a lovely Wednesday and hopefully some time to plan your next bit of pampering.

Images: (1) We Heart It (2) Source (3) Salon La Kenona (4) Hill Grove Hotel (5) Wedding Mapper (6) Obsession MIA (7) The Insider

What to Read?

Every once and awhile I find myself without a book in which I can’t seem to put down.  Thankfully this is not the case right now, but just in case you’re currently in limbo, looking for a book to read and unable to find one that grabs your interest, I thought I’d share a few that I would gladly read again and would be happy to lend you if you only lived nearby.

My selections are each from a different genre or category, and each, in their own way, offers a bit of pleasure, a smile or two, or additional contentment to your already fantastic life.

 So read on to maybe find the book you’ve been looking for to add to your nightstand.  Fingers crossed.

1. Take It Up A Notch

Happiness that is.  The word “project” looks and sounds a bit daunting, but do not be deterred.  Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project is for anyone who already knows that the life they have is quite all right, but they just don’t feel they are appreciating it enough, or feel that with just a few tweaks and adjustments they may find their life more enjoyable.

Some excerpts:

“Act the way I want to feel. This . . . sums up one of the most helpful insights that I’d learned in my happiness research: although we presume that we act because of the way we feel, in fact we often feel because of the way we act.”

“Even a modest pleasure can be a luxury if it’s scarce enough – ordering coffee at a restaurant, buying a book, or watching TV – which is why deprivation is one of the most effective, although unenjoyable, cures for the hedonic treadmill.”

“It is easy to make the mistake of thinking that if you have something you love or there’s something you want, you’ll be happier with more.”

“Enthusiasm is more important to mastery than innate ability, it turns out, because the single most important element in developing an expertise is your willingness to practice.”

2. Inspiration to Start Anew

Kristen Lobe’s novel Paris Hangover has been available for a handful of years, but I had to include it.  I have revisited this book a number of times, and I still find myself being mesmerized by the main character’s gumption and tenaciousness. 

If you’ve ever wanted to find the courage to pack up just enough of your belongings (and your furry-haired friend) in a couple of suitcases and relocate to the city or locale of your dreams, this novel will give you the nudge to make your dream a reality.  The protagonist, a bit whimsically, begins the novel by deciding to start her life fresh in Paris after having lived in New York City most of her adult life.  The adventures and loves she encounters make for a scrumptious tale.

3. A Light-Hearted, Enjoyable Caper

When picking up a book to dive into, I need to feel better after having read a chapter or two, not disturbed.   And while I love mysteries, sometimes the violence involved is too much. 

Well, if you are of the similar mind, I have an author for you to begin reading – Peter Mayle.  He, like the aforementioned protagonist in Paris Hangover, up and moved from the states to Paris and currently resides in the south of France.  The majority of his fictional books involve a mystery, but death is not the crime.  In The Vintage Caper the mystery lies in “who stole the wine?”  Other subjects in earlier books included the seeking of the beloved truffles, and stolen artwork as well.  Light-hearted, yet still illegal activities nonetheless.

What you will find in his most recent work (pictured below) is savory descriptions of French cuisine, brief, yet interesting schooling on wine and vivid imagery of beautiful chateaus and wine cellars in France.  Needless to say, this novel piqued my interest immediately. 

4.  Common Sense Repackaged

Bethenny Frankel has kind of taken Bravo by storm lately, and I must admit I jumped on the bandwagon.  Her first book, Naturally Thin, came out last year, and she has since followed it up with a book of even more recipes, as well as a book of rules for remaining naturally thin – The Skinnygirl Dish and The Skinnygirl Rules.  Before you skip over this book because it involves “dieting”, read a few of the excerpts because it might just catch your attention.  As much as we all pride ourselves on knowing what we should do, this book reiterates and gives specifics to make sure we do indeed do what we know we should do.

Excerpts:

“I think everybody deserves to be healthy and get into the best shape of her life.  That’s why I’ve collected all the simple facts that have taken me twenty years to learn, and crystallized them into ten simple rules.”

“Your diet is your bank account. Don’t eat too much of any one thing, don’t eat the same thing twice, balance starches with proteins, vegetables and fruits with sweets, and always balance a splurge with a save.”

“Dieting is not helping you; it’s hurting you and subtly undermining your own personal power.  It also negatively alters your metabolism.  I’m serious about this.  Diets, by definition, tell you what to eat. Why should anybody else tell you what to eat?  What does anybody else know about what you need and desire?  It’s your body, your taste buds, your preference, your life.”

Hopefully, your curiosity has been teased a bit regarding at least one of these books, and if not, please share what you would gladly read again or pass on to a friend.  I’m always in search of my next new book.

Here’s to a lovely treasured Thursday.  Happy reading!

Images: (1) Image Source

Rooms of Inspiration – Shelves of Comfort

As a kid I always had my nose in a book.  Charlotte’s Web was my first official novel, and I was thrilled and felt quite accomplished to have read it by myself in 2nd grade, or was that 3rd?  Who remembers, 2nd sounds good though, doesn’t?  Anyway, Nancy Drew was next.  I absolutely loved her character – strong, independent, beautiful and intelligent.  Who wouldn’t have wanted to be cracking crimes left and right?  Maybe that’s why I’m also a fan of Murder, She Wrote?  Anyways, I’m digressing terribly.

As I recall the importance books have played in my life, I begin to realize why having them around me is so tremendously comforting.  It is in a book you can escape to when you are in a position where you’re waiting for something to happen – a hair appointment, the train to arrive or someone special to step off of the plane.   It is a book you can turn to when your mind is exhausted from the day’s events.  It is a book you can depend on when you can’t quite find the answer to the question just yet. A habit I try to keep is to always have a book in my purse just in case an opportunity presents itself.  After all, you never know.

I’ve always felt that the best gift in the world, for me at least, would be to have an unlimited gift card to Amazon or a local bookstore.   To be able to purchase books like candy and add them to my collection, what a luxury that would be.

Looking around my decor each time I have moved, the books I have collected reveal the past I have just completed.   It makes me smile, but also reveals how much I’ve grown, how diversified my tastes have become, and it thrills me as I become curious of what books lie in my future.

With that said, below are a gathering of rooms filled with books and magazines in their own unique way.  Each one would be a pleasure to spend time in whether it be to peruse through the collection or to simply read just one book and then drift sleepily off into a nap. 

Out of curiosity, what role do books play in your life?  And which room calls to your taste?  Here’s to finding the next book that you can’t put down until you’ve finished. May you find it in the near future, or even better, maybe it’s already on your nightstand waiting for you this evening. Enjoy the escape.

 

Images: (1) Oliveaux (2) Elle Decor (3) Point and Click Home (4) Elle Decor – Badgley Mischka’s home (5) So Haute (6)Traditional Home (7) Elle Decor (8) Traditions Journal (9) Elle Decor (10)Traditions Journal (11)   Elle Decor (12) House Beautiful (13)Traditions Journal (14)The City Sage (15)Ticklish From A Distance (16)Elle Decor (17)La Dolce Vita    

Guilty Pleasures

We all have them.  Some of them we don’t want to admit to, but the truth is we all have guilty little pleasures we allow ourselves to indulge in time after time.  One of mine, I am somewhat embarrassed to say, is Bravo’s original housewives - The Real Housewives of New York City. I have been patiently waiting for the third season to arrive, and thank goodness the wait is over; my craving has been filled (at least for this week).   This show is most certainly a guilty pleasure.  Reality shows don’t usually do anything for me, but for some reason, I’m enthralled with Bethenny, Kelly, Jill, Ramona, LuAnn, and Alex and have been for the last two seasons. 

Since I am on the topic of guilty pleasures, I decided to come clean and list a few more of my dirty little secrets that I can’t help partaking in every once and awhile. Now that I’ve proceeded to get the ball rolling, I can’t wait to hear some of yours!

This photo is a little deceiving since everyone appears to be happy, but I thought I’d include it because it is such a rare moment with the entire NYC Housewives cast.

A much more accurate depiction of any given weekly episode.

A little bit of a cliché, but there is a reason why people love chocolate chip cookies – such a comfort food.  The buttery, gooey chocolate, melt-in-your-mouth  yuminess.

Making a night of it.  Dinner and a movie – including the bucket of popcorn.

After all, it is Friday and by the time I get off work, it will be happy hour, anybody interested in joining me? 

Going to a bookstore and getting lost for hours.  I simply love picking out my dream list of books, finding a cozy chair somewhere in a hidden corner and reading until I get sleepy.  At that point, if I have found a book I just can’t leave the store without – it’s mine. 

Making the decision not to work out.  I always feel tremendously guilty, but once or twice a week I allow myself to kick off my heels after work and slip into something cozy instead of my workout attire. 

To all of my readers, have a lovely weekend.  May it be filled with at least one guilty pleasure (or two).  Cheers!

Images: (1) Bravo (2) B Side blog (3) Soda Shop (5) Renaissance Salon (6) Lisa Gold Research (7) Photo Bucket

Books, Books, Everywhere!

“I must have books everywhere. They’re the soul of a room—they reveal the taste, the interests, and the secrets of whoever lives there.”

—Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, April 02

So what are your books saying about you as they lay on the coffee table, or are stacked on your shelves? Would it give an accurate depiction of the person who resides in your home?  If you’re like me, it would reveal a forever evolving rotation of interests. I’ve noticed in the past few years, I’ve included more non-fiction books than ever before, but I clearly have a predilection for fashion, home decor and classic novels.  Europe also tends to be a common theme in my collection of comfy summertime fictional books, so I’d have to say I have a desire to travel as well.  

Out of curiosity, do you agree with the whispered message your books are sharing with visitors as they come into your home? And if so, what is the message?

Here’s to a great week and hopefully many hours of found time to catch up on your pleasure reading.

Images: 1st – Flickr, 2nd - The Independent

The Nourishment of Books

Books for me are akin to a bank account overflowing with wealth. There is a genuine comfort in knowing that I have, within my reach, a book to get lost in or to learn from or even to simply gaze within all dependent on my mood. Whether it be a classic such as Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird or a tearful, but at the same time uplifting memoir like Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, there is tranquility in knowing I can always take my thoughts somewhere else.

During my days in graduate school, I came to realize that having a solitary book upon my bed stand was equal to having not one. I remember vividly my mentor's description of the many books beside her bed stand. "A book of every genre because I'm never quite sure what my mood will be at the end of the day. All I know for certain is that I will need a book to end it." I envisioned two or three stacks, or should I say piles, of books alongside her bed. Although I never saw it, her description was motivation enough for me to slowly begin to relinquish the least bit of guilt for having my own mini-library beside my bed.

Photo: Elle Decor

As the years have passed, my own pile has grown, shrunk and grown again, depending upon how quickly I keep up. Currently I have Muriel Barbery's Gourmet Rhapsody, Mireille Guiliano's French Women for All Seasons, Peter Mayle's Toujours Provence, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking (the first cookbook I have ever read in bed!) and three other books from the library that looked interesting (I already know I'm going to have to exhaust all of my renewals).

Regardless of how many books I have or how many times I have read my favorites, the beauty of books is that there is always a plethora of new ones to explore. Maybe that's why books are such a comfort, because it is understood that they will always be there, dependable like a loyal pup. There is one new release in particular that I am anxious to get my hands on that becomes available tomorrow, and while it is sitting on my Amazon Wish List, I hope to have it sometime soon delivered to my door. For women who struggle, strive and hopefully succeed in having it all, I am curious to see how exactly she does it, Mika Brzezinski's All Things At Once. If anyone has read it and has any thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Here's to happy reading, and may you find exactly what you need at the end of your day sitting upon your bed stand tonight!

Sun Shining on a New Decade

The sun decided to greet 2010 and welcome it into being this morning. What could be a better comfort than sunshine on a January day? Wanting to get the year off to a great start, I took my dogs on a walk this morning, and they too seemed to love the sunshine. I've always been a morning person and seem to be much more productive in the am hours, so when noon arrived and my "to do" list was all checked off, I was a very surprised, but a very thrilled worker bee. There are not too many days when this occurs. It always seems I'm adding more than I'm check off as the day goes along.

Along my walk, my mind kept contemplating my resolutions. Upon arriving home, still not sure which ones I wanted to add to my list, I came upon a book mentioned on Habitually Chic's blog today that I thought would be a great book to investigate:

If anybody out there has read it, I would love to know your thoughts and whether or not it was a good book to purchase.

Anyway, back to my resolutions. These are the other few that I am determined I want to accomplish. Just a warning, I may periodically add to this list as my mind continues to wander.

#3 Complete at least one marathon this year.

#4 Decide to make happiness a habit. As Mary Engelbreit quotes in one of her books, "Happiness is a habit, cultivate it."

An Easy Monday

Ingredients:

*my dogs all snuggled up
*freshly fallen snow
*a clean house
*Sunday New York Times - (one thing I refuse to be cut off from due to where I live is the New York Times. Unfortunately, it is not delivered in my area, so I have to have it mailed to me, which actually isn't so bad. I only receive it a day later. Yes, I know this isn't perfect, and I can just as easily read it on-line, but there is something about holding a paper in your hands, flipping through the Style section, Book Review and The New York Times Magazine without having to be plugged in anywhere. A bit indulgent, but a necessity that I can afford, so I do.)
*a crackling fire
*reruns of Frasier
*a new book from the library that is a simple read, Feminista, and I can easily pick up no matter where I last put it down
*free time

Hopefully you too are able to find time after bustling around during the holidays to kick back and take the last few days of not only the year, but the decade in leisurely. Enjoy!