Revisit
the things in your closet (buried way back there – who knew I have 2 black
tuxedo jackets) or revamp something to give it new life.
I
recently combined my skill of embroidery with the need for something new to
wear and I managed to pull off a cute and new-ish cardigan. I got the pattern from the
Sublime Stitching website: http://www.sublimestitching.com/pinupswandpanthers.html
I
basically learned how to embroider from Jenny Hart’s book Embroidered Effectshttp://www.sublimestitching.com/embroideredeffects.html I highly recommend this
book, the instructions are super straight forward and it comes with lots of
patterns that are easy to iron onto your fabric.
I
also have to mention my favorite embroidery related website www.feelingstitchy.com which is one of the cutest and most
inspirational craft website ever.
Sometimes we all need a break. Whether it's an actual break where you take a vacation or an emotional break. And although I love to read, it happens that every once in awhile every book I pick up is garbage. It either doesn't interest me or it's just plain boring. I have no problem acquiring books. I love spending lots of money and time in my favourite bookstores. And the piles of books becomes bigger and bigger and yet none of them actually appeal to me.
I was happy to discover I wasn't the only one that experiences this. During my literary slump I heard about Nick Hornby's Ten Years in the Tub which is a collection of his "Stuff I've Been Reading" articles for the Believer from 2003-2013. Each article starts with "Books Bought" and "Books Read" and I was comforted by the fact that the 2 lists didn't always match. And he doesn't always finish everything he starts either. In fact, he's pretty hilarious when he doesn't like a particular book, which are not named because of the Believers tongue-in-cheek dictum that all reviews be positive.
Over the ten years its interesting to see the slumps that Hornby goes through. Some months he can read a whole bunch of books, while others he unapologetically admits to only have read one or semi-reading. He often gets books for free, especially those that remind his gift givers of his writing. And he says there's nothing worse than reading an author similar to yourself.
The Years in the Tub is not so much a book about books but a book about the reading experience. Because sometimes we proudly display the front covers of our books while other times we prefer to read certain titles on our e-readers not so much for convenience's sake but for the discretion it allows.
"In the decade that he’s been writing this column for the Believer(with the occasional month off to watch Friday Night Lights or the World Cup—two of the three acceptable excuses for not reading, the other being “captured by pirates”) Nick Hornby has created the most intelligent, engaging case for reading you’re ever likely to encounter. Funny without being snarky, generous without sacrificing critical heft, Hornby-on-books is, forgive my English, bloody brilliant. “Stuff I’ve Been Reading” is unfailingly smart but without any of the obnoxious showy bits—lit theory, obscure Russian surnames, untranslated French (agreeably psycho-surrealist, the book nonetheless reflects Spankmeoff’s fromage de l’extrémité arrière)—that might serve to remind a poor reader that while he attended Eastern Washington University on a partial welding scholarship, the author happens to be a Cambridge man." - from the Introduction by Jess Walter
You can tell just how strange of a person I am by looking at
my bucket list. I don’t have any of the normal things like skydiving or
visiting the Taj Mahal, although I wouldn’t mind the last one. For instance, I
would really like to host an epic dinner party.
When I was a kid my parents
often had dinner parties where their guests included artists, writers, fellow
professors, etc. I remember the delicious dishes my mother would prepare and
the conversations that would last for hours. I learned how heated discussions
didn’t necessarily need to end in arguments or grudges. And when I got older my
parents told me I didn’t need to sit in on those dinner if I didn’t want to.
But as long as I lived with my parents I was more than happy to attend. I
served as my mother’s sous chef and learned some great tricks. And although I
wasn’t always sure enough of myself to participate in discussions, I soaked it
all up like a sponge.
The first couple of places I’ve lived in after moving out of
my parents’ home were not big enough to host the kind of dinner parties I dream
of. And still my dinner plates don’t all match. But I would like to try my hand
at inviting the right mix of people even for a buffet style dinner party. And
here are some books that have helped me come that much closer to my goal.
"Corey Mintz hosts dinner parties in his home every week. Before that he was a restaurant critic. And before that he worked for a living, as a cook. He began hosting without napkins or stemware, serving wine out of Nutella jars. But after entertaining politicians, artists, academics, monkeys, librarians, chefs, sommeliers, cops, lawyers, psychologists, a spy, a forager, a rabbi, a gambler, a drug addict, and a mayor, he's become a pro." Here he is in front of the Type Bookstore window with his book, How to Host a Dinner Party. He's truly an inspiration for us normal folk who don't have a giant dinner table that seats at least 12. His book is also very thorough and reads almost like a manual for those like me who really appreciate the step-by-step guide.
I saw this book on the Design Sponge website and I have still yet to pick it up but I can't wait! In A Curious Invitation, Suzette Field chronicles forty of the greatest fictional parties from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park to Douglas Adams' flying party above an unknown planet in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Field describes the hosts, venues, guest lists, dress code and what was served at each party. What a great idea to focus on such a minor and, yet to Field -- monumental moment in each novel.
Ru, a novel by Kim Thuy is the story of Vietnamese boat
people thrust upon the foreign shores of Malaysia and then Canada all told
through vignettes. Originally written in the French it was translated by Sheila
Fischman. Winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award and a finalist for
the Giller Prize it is no wonder this book has received so many accolades.
The reader learns the meaning of ru on the first pages of this novel:
“In French, ru means
a small stream and, figuratively, a flow, a discharge – of tears, of blood, of
money. In Vietnamese, ru means a
lullaby, to lull.”
It’s as though these vignettes are memories told by the narrator
in an attempt to purge themselves of their past and at the same time to soothe
their wounds. Each chapter stands out on its own but is connected to the others
as only memories can belong to one another. At times the story makes no sense
but that is because the story of our lives are difficult to understand. And ru
is the story of the immigrant, the refugee, the child with many histories.
“I was born in the shadow of skies adorned with fireworks,
decorated with garlands of light, shot through with rockets and missiles. The
purpose of my birth was to replace lives that had been lost. My life’s duty was
to prolong that of my mother.”
The issue of identity is such an important theme in any
immigrant tale but in Thuy’s book it takes on so many tones. The narrator’s
relationship with their mother is only one such aspect that is so difficult to
broach. Immigrant parents are often overbearing, set high standards and expect
their children to lead successful western lives. But when you throw into the
mix a longing for one’s past and an expectation that one’s children will honour
that past it becomes a different type of identity split.
This is the type of book that makes its readers work for it.
A short and simply written book it can be easily overlooked but the reader must
recognize the beauty in this simplicity in order to appreciate the bigger story
behind it. I encourage all readers to give this book a try.
I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. I think it's a holiday created by the Hallmark people to sell more cards. And make single people people feel sad. While making people in relationships feel stressed that they need to do something romantic on command. I guess the discounted candy the next day is a good thing. Here are some amazing cards I like for my version of Valentine's Day.
When I was 5 years old my parents enrolled me in tap dance lessons. My very first (and very last) dance recital was to this Pete Seeger song. I had a pretty amazing childhood.
You either love lists or you hate them. But when my friend @caitlinptov asked me to exchange our top 5 Movies, books, musical artist/group and TV shows I thought it was great fun. It's amazing what you learn about your friends when you break it down to the things we love. And you may even discover an artist or book that's new to you and find something new to put on your list of favourites.
So here is my Top 5 list.
Movies:
1)Casablanca (1942)
"Here's looking at you kid." This is the epitome of Hollywood drama and glamour. How could Rick give up the love of his life and save her new lover on top of it all? When there are spies and war to think about I guess you'll do anything. Also, never have I heard so many catchphrases in one place. "We'll always have Paris." *sigh*
2) Gone with the Wind (1939)
Rhett Butler is the original bad boy. Perhaps I'm a romantic at heart (I'd have to be with my movie choices) but I just thought that Rhett and Scarlett's relationship was the most complicated, destructive and most beautiful thing in movie history. There's also the civil war for you history buffs.
3) Lost in Translation (2003)
Another amazing Hollywood relationship but this time its between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansen…er, I mean their characters. This is my favourite scene - a bed scene with no sex - because they talk about how hard life really is and how beautiful that is at the same time.
4) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
If only we could erase those who hurt us from our past. Because it's amazing how much the people we love can hurt us. What I loved about this movie, besides its premise, was the dreamlike qualities it took on and the drug induced memories Joel has about his past. I also can't get enough of funny men in serious roles as you can see from Bill Murray, Jim Carrey and Will Farrell.
5) Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Harold Crick is an unassuming IRS agent who's life is calculated down to the last minute. Little does he know that he is the character of a novel and that his death is eminent. This doesn't work for Harold Crick because he's just found the love of his love. There are so many favourite scenes in this movie that it was difficult for me to pick just one.
Books:
1) A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark
Our heroine Mrs. Hawkins is a war-widow living in a rooming house in South Kensington working as an editor for a failing publishing house. Her fellow housemates are experiencing the negative ramifications of a stalker, someone that Mrs. Hawkins knows and detests but who can and will ruin her life. This was a book that inspired me to eventually (one day) work in the publishing industry despite its failing qualities even in the 1950s. I was also inspired by Mrs. Hawkins, a young 20-something year old who finds out that only she is in control of her life.
2) Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd
A coming of age about an art student who enrols in a state university where his demanding (and possibly crazy) graphic design instructor challenges his very being let alone understanding of art. This novel is loosely based on the real life experiences of the author who studied at Penn State.
The book itself is a piece of art that you can only appreciate when you hold it in your hands. So go get a copy!
3) Portnoy's Complaint by Phillip Roth
Believe it or not my parents got me this book to read when I was a teenager and it totally blew my mind that they would think of me as an adult because boy oh boy are there some adult situations in this book. Let's just say there are certain scenes I will never get out of my head. Also Phillip Roth is a genius and this was my introduction to him. Holy crap.
“Do me a favor, my people, and stick your suffering heritage up your suffering ass_ I happen also to be a human being!” ― Philip Roth, Portnoy's Complaint
4) Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind
Never have I been more frightened then when I read this book. (I probably scare easy but this was intense.) At the same time as I was terrified of Jean-Baptiste I also felt sorry for him. He was a product of his environment and although he was a 'monster' could he really help it? The movie does not do this book justice. This was another recommendation from my parents. My folks are awesome.
“Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it.”
5) Lost in Translation: A Life in a New Language by Eva Hoffman
The classic immigrant tale of a young girl who leaves behind all that she knows for the land of opportunity. This book explores many different types of relationships the most important one being that which we have with language. This was one of the first diasporic stories I have read and it really struck a chord with me. Finally, there were other people just like me.
“If all neurosis is a form of repression, then surely, the denial of suffering, and of helplessness, is also a form of neurosis. Surely, all our attempts to escape sorrow twist themselves into the specific, acrid pain of self-suppression. And if that is so, then a culture that insists on cheerfulness and staying in control is a culture that—in one of those ironies that prevails in the unruly realm of the inner life—propagates its own kind of pain. “Perhaps perversely, I sometimes wish for that older kind of suffering—the capacity and the time for a patient listening to the winds of love and hate that can blow you like a reed, for that long descent into yourself in which you touch bottom and recognize the poor, two-forked creature that we all are.”
