 May 6, 2009, at 10:18 am 
I was really enjoying the weekly style column, but as I’m currently unemployed I’ve been avoiding all things shopping-related to keep myself on budget. In light of this I’ve decided that a change is in order, and the weekly style column will be going away. I will still be posting great shopping and style finds when I have them, just on a little looser schedule. As always, if you know of products I should check out, please send them to me or post them here. All ideas are appreciated.
As you can probably guess from the last few style entries, I’ve been spending my time reading instead of shopping. Lately I’ve been re-reading books I’ve already read, including books from my childhood. I highly recommend it.
This week I re-read The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. This book was probably the most significant book of my childhood. It’s the one that got me started in reading fantasy, which is the primary genre I read growing up, and it really encouraged my love of reading. I also think it helped to keep alive my love of magical things and to foster my belief that there’s more to life than meets the eye. I can’t remember anything I ever read before I read this book. Granted, I was 9 or 10 when I read The Blue Sword the first time. I do remember I was really bored with the books I was reading before I read The Blue Sword, and this was my first “close to adult” book. I also remember that as I kept reading fantasy, I started to worry that if my parents realized I was reading such adult books they might be upset. They weren’t, of course, but it was my little rebellion, even if it was imaginary.
So the other night I picked up this book that has been so significant in my life, that I haven’t read in many years, and was shocked to discover that I remembered the first few lines. I remembered how Harry loved the fresh squeezed orange juice, even if I didn’t remember Harry’s name until I read it again. I was hooked in after only the first chapter, knowing that it just gets better and better, and relishing all the details that were coming back to me. It was like going home after many years away.
When I got to the end of the book I found it just as satisfying as it was the first time. I wanted more, and I even re-read passages again just so I could stay in that world a little longer. I felt like I was 10 again, in love with Corlath and Harry and the world they lived in. It is said you can never go back, but, I think, by losing yourself in the right book, you can.
April 29, 2009, at 1:08 pm 
Almost every Spring I place an order for at least a couple pairs of Reef Ginger sandals. I’m a bit of a flip-flop junkie and would spend the entire summer in these comfy beach shoes if I could. (and maybe someday I will!) While I have a variety of different brands and styles the Reef Ginger are still my favorites. The sole seems to have just the right mix of support and give to make them really comfortable, and they don’t have that floppy, smack-you-back feeling that some styles have. They come in a variety of different strap and sole colors to match any outfit. I prefer those with black soles as they show less dirt so I can wear them anywhere. They’re also really easy to clean, and are affordable at only $20 per pair.
Reef sandals are available through a variety of retailers, but I usually order mine from US Outdoor. They always have a good selection in stock and I’ve had no issues placing or receiving my order. I would love to tell you about their customer service, but I’ve never had to contact them!
April 15, 2009, at 5:58 pm 
I’m currently reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Usually I would wait until I’d completed a book to blog about it, but what fascinates me most about this book is not the story, but the way the story is told. Don’t get me wrong, the story is excellent also, but the writing is unlike any other book I’ve read. Sebold writes in first person, but as the heroine of the book is dead she knows the thoughts and feelings of all the other characters. Consequently the book feels as if it’s written in first person omniscient, yet the tone all belongs to the heroine. The story is interspersed with memories and is told in vignettes, but at the same time it’s told in a way that’s really easy to follow. I’m a little in awe and hope someday to be able to craft a story this well.
I picked up my copy of The Lovely Bones from the used books section of a Barnes and Noble. I didn’t know B&N stores had used books sections, but I’m thrilled. It’s taken me a while, but I’m becoming quite a fan of used books. If you’re an online shopper, check out B&N’s online network of used books from stores around the country.
April 2, 2009, at 11:41 am 
This is my absolute favorite body wash – the coconut lime verbena creamy body wash from Bath and Body Works. It’s got a clean, mild scent that smells (of course) like coconut and lime and reminds me of sitting on the beach in Mexico drinking pina coladas and frozen margaritas. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that?!
I also love this body wash for the great things that it does for my skin. It keeps me feeling moisturized, even in the winter, yet it doesn’t make me break out – all it’s moisturizers are oil-free. If you’re not into the coconut lime scent, the cucumber melon scent is really nice too. And if you feel like you need a bit more moisture, Bath and Body Works makes matching luxurious body lotions too.
March 25, 2009, at 12:43 pm 
A few weeks ago a purchased a hardcover copy of Twilight, just to see what the big deal was about. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie, and since the movie was coming out on DVD soon it seemed like time. So last Wednesday evening I opened my copy and started reading. By Thursday afternoon I had finished it and was at the bookstore buying New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I was addicted. Watching Bella and Edward fall in love wasn’t enough, I had to know what would happen next.
I finished Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final book in the series, late Saturday night, and purchased Twilight the movie Sunday morning. I wasn’t sure if the movie would be able to capture the book; it’s hard to fit so much emotion and action into only two hours of screen time. While I still feel that the book tells the story so much better than the film, the film does hold it’s own. It’s definitely worth watching whether you’ve read the book or not – but if you’ve seen the movie and haven’t read the book, I recommend reading the book next.
As of this writing, New Moon the movie is in production, scheduled to be released late this year, and the movie version of Eclipse is planned for a 2010 release. I haven’t seen anything yet about a film version of Breaking Dawn, but I would assume that’s coming also, probably quick on the heels of the others. I’d imagine it’s a bit hard not to want to film these back-to-back since many of the characters don’t age, but of course the actors do! As for additional books in the saga, there’s no news yet. Midnight Sun, the companion to Twilight told from Edward’s viewpoint, is on hold indefinitely while Stephenie Meyer works on other projects. I have a feeling if she starts work on it again she will remain mum about it, and we’ll only hear the good news once she’s finished writing it. I, for one, have my fingers and toes crossed that we’ll hear more about Bella and Edward. Meyer may be done writing about them for a while (I refuse to believe she’s done permanently!!), but I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of reading about them.
If you’re addicted like me, you can hear more about her writing and publishing process, read outtakes, and even see photos of the Cullens’ cars at Stephenie Meyer’s website.
March 19, 2009, at 7:53 pm 
I absolutely adore this lip balm. I bought my first Philosophy Kiss Me lip balm years ago when I lived in New York City. They only made it one color and sold it in little tubs back then, and I applied it with my finger. Now there are multiple colors and flavors and the choice between no SPF and SPF20, and they’ve also added an exfoliating lip scrub to the line. The new little tubes (okay, not terribly new, just new to me) make it easy to apply on the go, and with all the options now there’s a balm for any event or time of day. But the main reason I love this product is that it locks moisture into my lips and helps to heal dryness and cracks better than any other balm I’ve tried. I often use this as an overnight treatment, applying it just before bed, sometimes followed by a little Burt’s Bees balm to seal it in (the Burt’s Bees is more waxy). I’m not sure my lips could make it through the harsh Minnesota winter without it. So pick a color, or go clear. Either way your lips will be protected, and plenty kissable.
March 11, 2009, at 1:53 pm 
I find gummy bears completely addictive, so it was just about impossible for me to pass up Bissinger’s Gummy Pandas. These bears are made with organic ingredients and come in really yummy flavors like blueberry acai and pomegranate white tea. All five flavors are loaded with antioxidants and while I’ve personally only tasted three of the flavors, I can tell you they’re some of the best tasting bears out there.
Gummy bears are a great snack even if you’re trying to lose weight, as they’re low in calories (Bissinger’s blueberry acai gummy pandas are only 8 calories per bear) and contain simple sugars to give you an energy boost. Since all you really need is few bears here and there when your energy is low, Bissinger’s sells the bears in a resealable pouch so they won’t dry out between snacks. If you’re like me and have a hard time having just one or two, knowing that they’ll will taste just as fresh later on can help you resist the urge to eat them all in one sitting.
I should warn you, these are VERY addictive. Pandaholics Anonymous, anyone?
March 4, 2009, at 2:47 pm 
I’m sure you’re thinking, “Down SWEATER vest?!?”, but yes, that’s what Patagonia calls it. This vest is designed with smaller channels for the down, allowing it to keep you warm without a lot of added bulk, so it fits more like a sweater. Not exactly like, but more like. It’s surprisingly warm yet flexible – I’ve found I can wear this vest over a wool baselayer and a light wool sweater and be comfortable walking the dog in 20 degree weather, but it doesn’t make me overheat when I wear it indoors either.
The exterior fabric of the vest, made from recycled polyester, is windproof and water-resistant. It holds in the feathers well and resists tearing – I learned this well on the first day I wore the vest when I clumsily caught some of the vest fabric in the zipper. If it had torn, I would have been covered under the Patagonia Ironclad Guarantee, which I also know from experience is the real deal. The vest has three pockets – two handwarmer pockets and one rather large interior pocket that the vest can fold into when I need to stash it in my bag. The zippers are solid and are the quality I’ve come to expect from Patagonia. I’m very happy with the fit also, not too snug and not too loose, and it follows the natural contours of my torso. All in all I think I’ve made a really good purchase, and I can tell already that it’s going to get a lot of use.
If you’re a guy, Patagonia makes this vest for you too :)
February 25, 2009, at 7:18 pm 
I’ve received my second set of moo cards this week and they look fantastic! I’m very pleased. If you’re not familiar with these cards, you should be! They’re made by a company called Moo, and run $20 for a set of 100 cards. If you have a Flickr account, you can link your Flickr account to your Moo account and bring over your Flickr photos automatically – no manual uploading required! Moo let’s you choose up to 100 images per set, so if you desire 100 unique cards, you can have them for no additional charge. Moo is located in the UK, but if you’re stateside you’ll still get your cards fairly quickly – it takes about a week for them to print, and then another week to ship.
As always, if you see a card you’d like, send me an email or a flickrmail. I’m up for trades :)
February 18, 2009, at 12:18 pm 
I love these bars! They have the taste and texture of dense, chewy brownies with walnuts, but hidden inside are two servings of fruit. I keep one in each of my camera bags and take them on all my bike rides, just in case I feel my blood sugar start to drop. They’re low on the glycemic index, which means that they provide a steady level of energy and won’t cause a sudden surge of blood sugar followed by a drop. They’re the perfect snack for me when I need to keep my energy up and keep hunger at bay.
Clif uses all organic ingredients and free-trade cocoa in these bars, and they’re a member of 1% for the planet, so you can feel good about where your cash is going when you buy a nectar bar. Good taste, good for you, and good for the planet – I couldn’t ask for more in an chocolate bar.
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