SAY LA VEE

missing me?

2018-05-01T09:42:00.002-04:00

Come see what I'm up to on Instagram...merleb17.

xo
bb

checking in at the beginning of 2018

2018-01-04T18:31:00.001-05:00

The end of 2017 was almost as busy as the rest of the year.
During the break between Christmas and New Year's eve we worked on house projects and relaxed a bit and helped Youngest move into an apartment with his girlfriend. We did a couple of runs to Ikea and we rented a truck and we all pitched in and climbed stairs (so many stairs) to his really lovely new home.
I don't think I can adequately explain how I feel about him moving out...I'm sad and miss him and am completely thrilled for them all at the same time.
Middle has moved upstairs from his tiny downstair room and has proven himself a good neighbor. He checks in with me and is good company and I'm grateful for having children who understand the nuances of this situation.
Youngest still texts his sweet messages to me, too.
But, every once in a while, I catch my breath and need a little weep...or find myself very lonely on the train (we commuted together for nearly six years). I'm finding there is as little written on line about this situation as there is decent writing about menopause.
But there's a wonderful snow storm today and we are cozy in front of a fire while the plows go by outside.

Some links?

Perhaps I can get some of the amazing remedies I've bought in Germany for coughs/colds.

I need some of this.

Three co-workers got these for Christmas. I wonder...

Isn't this gorgeous?

I'm thinking these are pretty swell.

I have a hankering for these jeans and LOVE the model.

The floor is LAVA!!!!

It's going to be 3 degrees tomorrow evening. I've ordered some of these.

At work I'm busy planning a trip to Italy and one to London and I couldn't be happier.

Here's hoping you're all cozy at home!

checking in at the end of 2017

2017-12-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

It's been a very busy year...I helped with the planning, designing, and building of office space for 140 people and then helped with the move. I lived in the office space for the last four days, working around the clock. I loved it all. Construction and fine-tuning continued for a month or two. And we are finally settled in. But then I planned and threw an open house/holiday party for 300 people.
I'm tired of making decisions and making things beautiful.
Mixed in there was a gorgeous trip to Positano with my sweetheart, a book fair in London, one in Italy, one in Germany, and one in New York. I've traveled a lot - making decisions and making things beautiful.
We did Thanksgiving for 20 in our tiny house - it went well and we love having leftovers.
I'm trying to keep Christmas low-key but we'll go to New Jersey for dinner and to my FAOA's house.
And...my Youngest is moving out to an apartment with his girl.
It could be that I don't have the energy to be sad about that but I think it's that I'm so excited for them as they shop and plan and draw floor plans that there is no room for sadness. It's so wonderful and I'm so thrilled for both of them.
And Oldest has a wonderful girlfriend - a grown-up girlfriend who has proven to be an extraordinary influence in his life.
And my K has had a busy work-year.
My Middle is struggling a bit but has a good head and I think he'll find his way.

I suppose, if you're even here, that you've been looking at my Instagram. It's so easy to click a photo and express myself that I'm afraid I've gotten a little lazy. And this world, this blog world has gotten so different. At a friend's party last night someone asked if I was the friend who had blogged in the early days of blogging, and I suppose I was. It was a wonderful, honest and sincere community and I've made wonderful friends with lots of people...which brings me to 2018.
I'm traveling to Chicago in February to see Poppy and Angie and Wendy - a wonderful thing to look forward to.
I hope you are all well and wish you all good things for the new year.

xo
bb

Saturday

2017-09-02T10:40:00.000-04:00

It's true. I rely on Instagram to document what I used to write about here. I'm lazy and busy all at once.
It's the long holiday weekend after which K and I will fly to Italy.
We still need to shop as K is planning to make Japanese food for Paola. We have some tricky packing to plan as we will bring food with us, but we are experts at this kind of thing.
I'm having a wonderful time listening to The Hot Flush podcast that my friend (our friend) Kim does.
Don't I sound so modern? Listening to a podcast? Well, don't get excited - it takes a long time for me to figure out to get it to play on my laptop.
I've got a new laptop - well, two laptops actually as we ALL got laptops at work, but I got a new home laptop too as my wee little MacBook Air doesn't really charge properly anymore. They've got me a swell new MacBook. Not a Pro, just a MacBook and it's wee tiny as well and has a very sleek keyboard.

I had an extraordinary facial last week, gifted to me by a particular lady in a particular department to which I devoted a little extra care during the move. I'd love to say that I have regular facials but I do not. As I'm not presently getting my hair cut and the cost is close to the same amount, I might sign up for some (that's how my finance brain works) but it's not because I have a luxurious lifestyle but because I have (sadly) been battling rosacea which we ALL know is incurable. I tried two different creams on my own after much research to no avail and was fortunate enough to end up, last week, in the capable hands of the experts at Mario Badescu. I had always liked Mario Badescu products. I had, in fact, been introduced to them by the very same lady a couple of years ago. But this rosacea issue seemed insurmountable.
(Am I boring you yet?) Never mind. I'm doing much better with a not-so-terrible investment made in quality products under their direction.

Here are some wonderful links to get us off the topic of my face:

Would you like to listen to my friend Tyrrell Mahoney? Go ahead, she's terrific.

How about some pampering? (I'm not up to pampering quite yet. I'm still in rescue mode.)

I kind of want this car.

Don't put this in your mouth.

Miss Moss falls off my list every now and then but she's on it now (reading list, that is).

I might have to make this.

Watching this.

And some of these.

After all the Diana programs of late I have found myself looking here.

I have a lot of things from Everlane but am anxiously awaiting their jeans as I really don't wear jeans and am hoping theirs are comfortable and am pleased that they are $68. You may think $68 is expensive - and I do too as I have, in the past, worn $30 jeans from Old Navy, but compared to $250 jeans they may be a great alternative.

Will I? Won't I? I've contemplated having sandals or loafers made in Positano on trips in the past. Will I bite the bullet this time? I just don't know.

Watch for me on Instagram. I'll be all about the gelato, the beach, and spending some time with my darling K and pal Paola.

xo

update

2017-08-12T09:26:00.000-04:00

The move behind me, I'm trying to focus on what's ahead of me...

Our 35th wedding anniversary; we'll go out for dinner, and then to Italy.

An open house party at the office which I'll plan and coordinate.

Traveling to Frankfurt in October, which takes some early planning.

I'm only a little shackled by punch-lists and inspections and finalizing details at our new office but it sure is swell.

My commute is just a little longer, but I come out of the subway to this:

the Oculus.

The views are extraordinary-

That's St. Paul's.

That's the "Canyon of Heroes" with the harbor beyond.

That's the day I unpacked the (new) kitchen things.

We have a beautiful spot to eat in and space to lounge around.

If I can remember, I'll take a photo of my workstation. We all have workstations now, not that I mind.

I have links too!

I walk a lot.

Creative women have uniforms.

Don't you love behind-the-scenes videos?

I love weather, as you know.

I never use exclamation points. This is an interesting insight.

OF COURSE YOU NEED TWO.

Thank you, Australia.

Oh god.

People are awesome, thank you Kottke.

I've spoken to our friend Scot! Scot = longtime commenter/excellent good blog friend/all-around tremendous human! He's even cooler on the phone.

We're having my best move buddy to dinner tonight so I'm off to tidy up.
Happy weekend, all.

my big project, photos, some words

2017-07-01T07:31:00.002-04:00

760 plastic crates, packed, numbered, labeled, ready to go.

The staff (136 people) packed their things.
The movers packed everything else.
We closed the office at 3:00.

The movers had two trucks loaded in the first two hours.
At 5:30 they began loading the third truck.
My moving partner, C (IT Director) and I sat and worked with a last look at this
view.

We ate frozen food left by the employees and, at 10:19, got the word that the tree (last thing on) was loaded and truck 11 was leaving.
We grabbed our bags and headed downtown.
We had rooms in the Hilton next door.
We were told to prepare for very long days - and we were prepared.

Historic to the company (65 years old), the tree arrived first and was tucked safely away.
By the time C and I arrived downtown 760 crates had arrived and N, our project manager had put them, in threes, in each numbered location. So, things looked pretty good. Everything in its place - our job: make it habitable.

C set up shop at his workstation. I grabbed a crossbody bag for supplies and started walking the loop. There was no air conditioning.
I put branded pencils at the desks. Then laptop covers.
Over the course of four nights and three very full days I answered contractor questions, painter's questions, dealt with countless issues around furniture and walls and ceilings and water and electricity.
I don't understand IT so I can't list all C did but he was on site longer than I was each day/night save for Saturday when I texted at 10:30 that I had gone to the hotel. He texted back that he had a problem and was bringing equipment from the old office (the final IT move was scheduled for three days later). He needed a way to get the stuff into the new office - would I sweet talk the security guy? I did. It would have been free but I gave him a $20. That night ended at two or three in the morning with really bad chinese food.

We watched a thousand pound desk be set in place.

And, while checking wiring, realized how comfortable the floor was.

I put my hand on wet paint while the painter stood in front of me.

It was hours before I had a chance to wash it off.

We "deployed" 136 new laptops.

We discovered treasures in the ceiling.

I sat when I could.

We drank when we could.

There were no arguments.
No harsh words.
No crying.
No time to think of anything else.

And now we are there.
My pedometer shows that I've walked five to six miles a day since last Thursday and I've never left the building.

I'm home for the first time in many days.

We'll go to the beach.

11 days

2017-06-11T09:33:00.000-04:00

In 11 days my company move begins. The first shift of bins leaves my office at 5pm on the 22nd and business as usual resumes at 9am on June 26th.
I'm staying in a hotel next to the new office to be available for "countless finishing decisions." CR, the head of IT will stay as well, which is good as only he and I know how complex this task really is. I eat, sleep and dream it, every day, every night. This does not imply I don't like it - but it's all-consuming.

I'm on my fourth or fifth round of swimsuit orders. I've refined what I want, now I have to find it. This week: Garnet Hill.

All is well at home. All. Is. Well.
(I take days off when I can to REST UP. No kidding, this is exhausting.)

Some links?
Sure.

Creepy/good, new/old Radiohead video.

Love sandals and socks.

The number one domino artist in the world.

Great links to unexpected ASOS finds. My favorite is out of stock.

SO true.

I was seven years old when my best friend told me I had big thighs.

Yes, $40 shampoo had better be amazing. WHO IS RECOMMENDING $40 SHAMPOO!!?? (I had followed a link.)

The laundry hamper. I have 1600 square feet and it's still all about the hamper.

Turns out, I fly with some frequency. Will I do any of these things? WE'LL SEE.

And, when all of my workworkwork is mostly over, K and I will go to Italy. Watch for my new hashtag: Paolasdesperateethniccravings as K intends to cook some Asian food for her.

Happy Sunday, people.

tomorrow

2017-05-29T18:01:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow, I head off to work and work straight through to the next week.
I'll be working at an industry event from Wednesday through Sunday, so I've culled some links for you.

Here's how to make sauce.

This is wonderful to watch.

Isn't this a lovely little french press?

Goats.

Unexpected embroidery.

I am memorizing these poses.

I may have to make this pie.

Let's look at hats at Pippa's wedding.

I'm thinking about these. They look so comfortable and I just realized my Nikes are seven years old and falling apart.

From the same site as the matador's tailor is this story and so many others of note.

Are these the invisible socks I need?

This is a terrific beach tent.

Amazing and a little scary.

Sigh. The queen.

Wish me luck!

101 days, Paola

2017-05-27T08:57:00.000-04:00

In 101 days K and I will go to Positano.
We will eat here and go to any number of beaches.
We will eat... well, we will eat as people do in Italy. And K will cook. K will cook Paola something Japanese and we will sit for a long, long time and laugh and tell stories and probably cry a little too. I haven't seen Paola in seven years and our children have become men and so much has happened. Then again, Paola and I will likely fall into step without too much explaining.

I've shopped for a bathing suit in the last week, via the internet, and let me tell you: it's a minefield. I ordered a one-piece Ralph Lauren from Amazon with a tiny skirt. It had boning and was a little bit too big and gapped a bit here and there. Sent it back.
I got a two-piece from & Other Stories and love the shape of the top, which did not fit properly and thought the bottom was just about right, high waisted and comfortable. I sent it back.
I've got some options from Old Navy coming (I have some old Old Navy swim separates that are pretty great) and a few things from JCrew - think low/high.
I've always wanted to try a suit from JCrew.
In the past I've tried suits from:
LandsEnd - kind of old ladyish
Mara Hoffman - $$$$
Malia Mills - $$$$$ but very comfortable
Patagonia - $$$ no good if you might be chesty
Athleta - $$$ in my experience, oddly made, weird seams and fabrics
I may still try something I have in my cart at Boden.
I'd like to avoid underwire (any wire, really) and it seems to me that department store offerings are all too constructed. Another nail in the coffin of brick and mortar shopping. As I said to a customer service person at & Other Stories:
the whole point of swimsuit shopping on line is being able to try things on at home and send back things that don't fit/suit us. Unfortunately, I was speaking to a man and he just didn't get it.
In case you're wondering, K shopped for swimsuits too last week. He tried on a myriad of things in a store and ordered a few online. Two of them were pretty much perfect on him even though he hasn't got the body of a model either.
I'll spare us all the tirade of looking at the models in the swimsuits whilst shopping for one online.
The point is: we'll get up in the morning, walk down all the stairs to get some coffee and a pastry, we'll pack a light lunch and go to the beach and when Fabio calls and invites us to a feast, we'll go and eat more and it will be wonderful. And I'll work hard to forget how I might look in my swimsuit because I've learned that no one in Italy cares...
...in 101 days.

saw this this morning and had to put it here

2017-05-26T06:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday, people.
xo
bb

it's gin and tonic season

2017-05-20T17:57:00.001-04:00

It was 95 degrees yesterday and not much cooler the day before.

Our air conditioners are not in the windows and we sweated it out at night, I tell you.

Middle slept in the basement. All three of my sons have computers that generate enough heat to keep things toasty.

The heat had me convinced it was summer - but summer is still some time from now, technically.

But K and I have plans to go to Positano in September and these things conflated to convince us to go swimsuit shopping. As a result we are both drinking alcohol and planning our fitness regimes.

Between you and me, I'm not sure how I'm going to do my part of the fitness regime as I am either workingworkingworking or resting from the working.

I am so completely consumed by my job that I'm stupid and tired when I get home. Add 95f and I am lost. Useless.

So I bought a swimsuit and so did K and we will wear them in Italy and try not to think too much about how we look (or how I look) and enjoy ourselves.

The last time we were in Italy, Fabio called and told us we had to come to lunch (again!). K was on the phone with him and I told him to tell Fabio that my bathing suit was getting tight (and I probably weighed at least ten pounds less then). Who cares! said Fabio. And, really, who does care? Certainly no one in Italy.

Am I going on?

I'm drinking a gin and tonic.

Sunday

2017-05-07T11:02:00.001-04:00

And, so, we will go away. In September. To Positano. (My heart is leaping.)
In between?
A huge trade show, the move (I've just been told I am expected to be on site for an entire weekend), a small road trip to visit a friend, Mary and Chuck visiting, managing an event for a family function - all in June and July.
August is quiet though. But the fall is already busy.

Here, some links so we don't feel overwhelmed with the calendar.

I'm considering one of these - did I already write about it? It comes in my size and I swear I'm never doing underwire again. WHY?!

My pillow is dead. What next?

Had a sandwich from here. Died and went to sandwich heaven. Steps away from the new office.

An excellent piece on tailoring for larger men, which you may not find interesting but I appreciate reading about.

Heh.

Portraits of commuters.

Sigh.

I don't care for camping. This person understands me.

Oldest just sold his car and bought a new (to him) one. We love this.

Spending some time with this.

Cannot wait to eat here again.

Made me misty.

How happy I am that the boys are grown? Very happy. So much pressure.

ALAN.

It's beautifully cool out. I have a busy week ahead of me.
Be well!

Sunday

2017-04-30T10:34:00.000-04:00

Archery season is in full swing so K is off, arching.
I've put away the winter things (a chore I hate) and am staring at the summer things. I'm not impressed. You know I don't like the summer.

This week I:

went to the construction meeting

have been admonished for posting photos of the new office on my instagram (by someone who holds no authority over me or what I post, which has infuriated me)

have discovered that this may be my new subway stop,

was given these beautiful cherry branches on Personal Assistant Day,

worked an event at Carnegie Hall (a complicated place),

and am taking time to try to enjoy the Spring.
We have a magnificent display of lilacs outside the upstairs bathroom window. Our first decent crop of them in 20 years.
Meanwhile, K is about to trim the tree as he is growing hops at the foot of it.

I got to wear a headset at Carnegie Hall and announce when the CEO was in place and ready. All of this would have been far more impressive if the sound engineer who wired me up had put my walkie on the correct channel. But never-you-mind. I appreciated looking so official.

The office move becomes more complicated as the days pass. Some days it's all I work on: questions, decisions, renderings, solutions. Black or aluminum? Galvanized or stainless? Trash cans and fabrics and all the while the construction marches forward as the date gets closer and closer. It's like a train I cannot stop but must know a thousand things about. And I like the job of it but there are 146 people whose thoughts and ideas and concerns rest, partly, with me. As the CFO and I say a few times a week: thank god we trust and like the team we have chosen to work with.

I am ever-hopeful that, at the end of all of it, K and I will be able to go away someplace where I can rest my brain.

links and photos/photos and links

2017-04-23T16:23:00.001-04:00

I've spent a lot of time here

and, even when I'm not there, my head is there.
This week I worried over this

as the archaic city laws won't really allow for things to be the way we need them...which I cannot explain here and now. Suffice to say: three of us spent about 36 hours on it and I think the problem is resolved.

Spring is happening.

See the trees budding?
See me and K buying plants?

We're terrible gardeners but we try every year.
Tomatoes, window boxes, and, this year, hops.
Rosemary. We bought more rosemary. Not that we use it so much - we just love it.

K bought me this too. A new wedding band.
We'll be married 35 years in August.

Links?
Links.

Read up on Dave Chapelle last night and then watched his new stand-up. It was good.

So true, this piece is. I am, secretly, a ballerina.

Middle and Youngest's F1 playlist. A musical thing of beauty.

We've been watching Mind of a Chef and now we want one of these to replace the ancient Cuisinart we got as a wedding present.

Do I need this?

I used to use Bobbi Brown makeup but drifted. But now I'm back. I got some expert customer service/makeup advice in an online chat.

Maybe? Maybe.

My new office has an Anthropologie in the lobby downstairs and even though I broke up with them I saw this dress there last week and FELL IN LOVE. HA!
SOLD OUT.

I usually attend this event and missed it this year. And what an event it must have been....sigh.

This is a thing?

some links for Easter weekend

2017-04-14T11:42:00.002-04:00

Are you doing anything for Easter?
We'll clean up our front garden and eat ham.

Would you like some links for the weekend? Of course you would.

Each summer I purchase an inexpensive bracelet. It's my summer thing. If I buy one this year it could be this one.

A heartwarming commercial.

I've posted about him before but he never ceases to amaze.

These appeal to me.

One of the guys introduced me to him. I cannot remember which son it was.

Definitely trying this trick.

Do we need this?

I got some lacrosse balls to massage my hand with (yes, yes, I know) which prompted Middle to show me this. I had no idea.

My pal and I stocked up on some of this great stuff in Italy. We found some at the supermarket!

Isn't this lovely?

Youngest has requested some chicken parm for dinner so I'm off to procure.

Good weekend to you.

travelogue

2017-04-08T08:48:00.001-04:00

I've been on six planes in four weeks. I'm not complaining.
Some of my co-workers have been on many more.
I like to travel by myself and there's an interesting distinction between traveling alone for business and going on vacation. I make my own way and have my methods. I've streamlined the way I do things and I've made some mistakes.
(The solid black Vera Bradley carry-on bag is too big for me to carry comfortably.)

So, off to Italy I went.
I flew on BA as I couldn't face a layover in Paris, couldn't imagine not leaving the airport. Heathrow suited my purpose.
I got this nasty little cheese plate at Kennedy.

It really could not have been worse.
I got on my plane and found my Premium Economy seat (oh, yes), marveled at the difference a couple of hundred dollars can make, and settled in.
I can't say what movies I watched but I watched a lot.
I didn't sleep, which was a problem.
And then I was in England with my friend who had arrived on a parallel flight.
We met at Heathrow and waited together for the Italian leg of the journey.

And then, Italy. Crazy, busy, loud, Italy.
I had coordinated meetings and cocktail parties and brain-storming sessions in a palazzo and dinners and more cocktail parties and, of course some time to visit the drug store to buy Italian lotion and soap (as one does).

I stayed, we stayed, in an old hotel in the center of Bologna.
It was a little bit grand.

My room was across the alley from the yoga studio.

I did some stretches with them in the morning.

My other view looked out on houses and beautiful tiled roofs. There were church bells and arguments and the sounds of the neighborhood flooded my room.

I was in 218, off in the corner, far away from everyone else, which seems to be my wont. My room is similarly situated in London. No noise from the neighbors, I am away on my own.

In the evening, when we could, we'd have Aperol Spritzs and caper berries.
And, for five euros each we had this for lunch one day -

Because, of course, there really isn't any bad food in Italy.
The palazzo was as one would expect - but that didn't mean it wasn't stunning.

The meetings went well. The brainstorming session was a success.

We did some late-night dinners...

I found myself walking our notable author back to the hotel after midnight and marveled at the sights.

I shopped and walked and worked with one member of the group and really enjoyed my time with her.

Her room had a beautiful balcony and she shared treats with me at all hours of the day and night.

I threw one last cocktail party.

I made an arduous journey back to the hotel to travel outside the city to a very memorable dinner in a gorgeous old house.

And then, so quickly it seemed, after only four days, it was done and I was a bit sad and somewhat exhausted.
I donned my little Automobili Lamborghini hat (which looks kind of dusty)

grabbed a taxi and headed out.
It was a short hop back to Heathrow, where I had a massive layover.
I decided to get a cup of tea at Fortnum's.

It was very satisfying. But then a funny thing happened. The waiter brought me some smoked salmon to taste and, though I don't care for salmon, I ate it.
I had never had anything like it. I pushed aside my tea and ordered a plate.
Creme fraiche, slivers of delicate fish, the teeniest hint of red onion, capers...

it was one of the best things I've ever eaten.
I got on my big airplane. Settled into my seat and watched Lion.
I cried for every minute of it. I went to sleep. I got a taxi. I came home.

It was too little time. If I have a chance to go again I'll change that.
It was wonderful and crazy and busy - as Italy can be.

I'd kill for an Aperol Spritz.

notes

2017-03-30T08:15:00.000-04:00

I can't even begin to explain how crazy things have been.
I've been working intensely on our company move, I've been to London and come home with pneumonia, and I leave today for Italy.

We did a lighting test in the new space, we examined furniture for the new space, I answer dozens of questions about the new space. The new space fills much of my time and I love it but it is all-consuming. I'm working with a terrific crew of skilled people.

The weather here switches from spring-like (nearly summer-like) to winter in a matter of hours. All of my outerwear is on constant rotation.

Meanwhile, Oldest and I have switched from this:

(fear not, they were always returned for deposit/recycled)
to this:

It wasn't that we liked the water better, it was the convenience of a narrow-necked bottle. I spent a long time analyzing what it was that I liked about a bottle of water and made an informed choice. So far, so good, and dozens of plastic bottles are no longer part of our lives.

I like writing here but, frankly, don't have the time to examine my thoughts and type them out. I am on instagram if you'd like to see what's happening (merleb17). It's easy and fast to post photos.

I'm staying in a very grand looking hotel in Italy and organizing some events in a beautiful palazzo. Sadly, I won't be there very long and there seems no way for me to see my Paola.

We are busy, we are well (I am nearly over my pneumonia) and though we are not without our stresses, we are happy.
And, in the end, that's all one can ask.

links and photos and updates

2017-02-25T09:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday.
Here's what's going on -

Still very busy at work. Crazy busy, in fact. The next big thing is my trip to London where my dance card is quite full. I will have a Sunday afternoon free and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it.
Then I'm home for a couple of weeks and away to Italy where my schedule is even crazier.
It seems to have turned to spring here. Temperatures in the 60's.
Tonight, K and I will attend a "formal" birthday dinner party. What's "formal?"

I browsed shoes at Nordstrom last weekend.

And I did see some I liked.

White. Imagine?

Sometimes I think I'll never buy another piece of clothing. Only shoes.
Then things like formal parties crop up...or I have to wear something pink to an office function.
Which I did.

There's the bell-sleeved pink top I bought for the office event with my very fancy kinesiology tape.
A co-worker and I use the local ramen shop as a decompression spot after long construction meetings.

It's pretty great.

The windows are open, there's a dove in the tree outside and it's 57.
It was just a little while ago when this happened -

(note little snow face).

Ready for links?

Great photo.

Visit a French butter factory. (You can almost gain weight watching.)

I'm dining here.

Would you? I would not.

Did you know we despise Trader Joe's? We do.

Look. I'm terribly devoted to both the Minnie pant from JCrew and the Pixie pant, both stretchy and comfortable, but when you start telling me about dress yoga pants? Count me OUT.

WeWork for grown-ups.

First, this is a great microwave cleaning method, but secondly, what's going on in the comments?

Okay, so I get a lot of links from Kottke.

I need to go here. I want a sampler pack ($80).

Down To Earth shoes.

I am completely involved with This Is Us and it is absolutely Thirty Something updated.

This is on our list of documentaries to watch.

I have a crush on Emily Blunt.

Have a good weekend, friends.

dear K

2017-02-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

xo,
bb

snow day

2017-02-09T14:31:00.003-05:00

I know, I know.
I don't write here a whole lot.
But, hey, go see Joke. He hasn't written in years. He's returned to his blog as have lots of others, sort of fleeing facebook and twitter to escape the kind of blather that's taking over right now. I'm not passing judgement, mind, I'm just saying.

Anyway. We're snowed in at my house and I've just had Irish steel-cut oats and I'm feeling warm and cozy.

Links?
I've got 'em.

It's been a while since I've cried watching a Hallmark commercial.

And, while we're feeling good about people...this teacher makes my heart swell.

I have a great backpack (I need a backpack from time to time) for winter but I'm eyeing this one for warmer weather.

Middle would love this show. Note to me: tell Middle about this series.

I could move right in.

Isn't this a nice fashion story to see?

Sunday

2017-01-29T15:53:00.000-05:00

Is the Norovirus at your house?
It's a doozy. We've got a supply of bananas, applesauce, ginger ale, and Jello.
So our house is a little crazy and my job is a little crazy (I'm going to London AND Bologna AND moving the company) and I even stopped in at PT last week for a little fine tuning (I have "nerve stress" in my hand).
I'm not even going to mention the state of the union. STRESSFUL.

Let's look at some great links, shall we?

I've planned four events for the Palazzo Isolani in April. Isn't it lovely?

Have I ever mentioned that I'm in love with humidifiers? I am. And I love them even more if I can add essential oil to the mist. Small ones are much easier to take care of, fyi.

I kill plants all the time - actually, that's not really true. The truth is that I've given up on plants. But this makes me think I could grow something.

We watched the season finale (maybe?) of Sherlock a couple of weeks ago and felt confused/manipulated/emotional. This sort of captures it. Or maybe this does.

Following successful leak repair, we're going to have to repaint the kitchen. I'm leaning on the Elton John version of this song rather than the Wizard of Oz version.

There's a new ramen shop near my office. This may be my favorite.

Look! Youngest designed parts of this!
And he was part of the development of this after being at his job only a couple of weeks! He worked with David (Byrne)!

Here's a new favorite.

Fascinating.

I love everything about wedding dresses. My niece and god-daughter is a very successful wedding photographer. I'm so proud of her.

Life lessons.

Looking forward to this.

We're having sukiyaki tonight with our archery friends!

Stay healthy!

catching up, photos and links

2017-01-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

It's strange, writing here. I've fallen into the habit of doing this on weekends - and sometimes not even then. I feel a little sad about that but, right now, my day to day world is pretty complicated. And some of what I'm doing at work can't really be posted about for a variety of reasons.
But all is mostly well. K could use some work but that's nothing new.
Everything else moves apace.
I'm listening to This American Life and blogging. It's Saturday morning and tonight we'll have dinner with church friends who we haven't seen for a while.
I'm looking forward to it.

We watched the farewell address

it was hard.

I went on a long field trip to look at workstations.

Women in my city are wearing short boots and no socks and have bare ankles whilst wearing huge parkas.

And so am I.

Here's a pretty swell Ted Talk that made me cry a little.

I'm sure it's stress.

K and I had these a long, long time ago. I'd like to get K a new pair.

This is a fascinating list...but mostly because I don't do most of those things.

I have a thing about laundry hampers. And baby strollers. I walk past a baby store on my way to work and often have to stop and stare at the windows.

I'm organizing some events at a palazzo. A palazzo! Will I attend these events?
UNCLEAR.

I love this.

Thoughts on this? I'm not so sure.

So true.

My sons are very excited about this.

Our weather is strange. One day we need this, the next we aren't wearing coats.

Seen these? I may have mentioned them before.

Great mashup.

German favorite of the week: Blink eyeglass cleaning wipes.

a holiday recap

2017-01-02T10:34:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow I return to work.
I'll take down the tree today and do some ironing.
It's been a long, good break but I'm excited to go back to work as I'm further into the business of my company move and there are, finally, things to see and imagine about.
We did lots of fun things while I was home, though...

We had countless delicious sweets including two versions of this whiskey-apple-crumb-topped pie -

and this (not glamorous-looking) homemade toffee sponge dipped in chocolate -

as well as the now-famous Christmas Tits.
(Background: these pink cookies are made with cherry Jell-O powder and sugar and butter. The original recipe was found in TV Guide in the sixties and the dough is supposed to go through a cookie press. My mother and I have broken many cookie presses over the years - the dough is too heavy and dry and now I simply roll it into logs and slice it and bake it.)

K has made lots of beer and had a good time naming and labeling all of it. There are stories and reasons behind every name and picture.
We visited a brewery with our archery friends and had a swell time tasting flights.

And they taught us how to play Euchre, which we need to practice more.

We saw our Christmas movie:

Star Wars, which I did not expect to like but which I liked very much.
And then, we had Chinese food, as one does on Christmas Eve.
It was, probably, the most fun evening.

I think Christmas was a hit for all.
I got bootsbootsboots and some other wonderful things like a Magpul Daka pouch and a Nora Ephron book I'd been wanting.
The boys and I bought K a Phantom 3 drone and he's been practicing his flying.

K and I were treated to a very lovely sushi dinner.

Things rounded out nicely.
Champagne, a pirate movie, lots of laughs with our boys.

Seventeen is our lucky number so this year will, absolutely, be a good one.

Merry Christmas

2016-12-23T17:01:00.000-05:00

From this high midtown hall, undecked with boughs, unfortified with mistletoe, we send forth our tinselled greetings as of old, to friends, to readers, to strangers of many conditions in many places. Merry Christmas to uncertified accountants, to tellers who have made a mistake in addition, to girls who have made a mistake in judgment, to grounded airline passengers, and to all those who can't eat clams! We greet with particular warmth people who wake and smell smoke. To captains of river boats on snowy mornings we send an answering toot at this holiday time.
Merry Christmas to intellectuals and other despised minorities! Merry Christmas to the musicians of Muzak and men whose shoes don't fit! Greetings of the season to unemployed actors and the blacklisted everywhere who suffer for sins uncommitted; a holly thorn in the thumb of compilers of lists!
Greetings to wives who can't find their glasses and to poets who can't find their rhymes!
Merry Christmas to the unloved, the misunderstood, the overweight. Joy to the authors of books whose titles begin with the word "How" (as though they knew!).
Greetings to people with a ringing in their ears; greetings to growers of gourds, to shearers of sheep, and to makers of change in the lonely underground booths!
Merry Christmas to old men asleep in libraries!
Merry Christmas to people who can't stay in the same room with a cat!
We greet, too, the boarders in boarding houses on 25 December, the duennas in Central Park in fair weather and foul, and young lovers who got nothing in the mail.
Merry Christmas to people who plant trees in city streets;
Merry Christmas to people who save prairie chickens from extinction!
Greetings of a purely mechanical sort to machines that think--plus a sprig of artificial holly.
Joyous Yule to Cadillac owners whose conduct is unworthy of their car!
Merry Christmas to the defeated, the forgotten, the inept; joy to all dandiprats and bunglers!
We send, most particularly and most hopefully, our greetings and our prayers to soldiers and guardsmen on land and sea and in the air--the young men doing the hardest things at the hardest time of life.
To all such, Merry Christmas, blessings, and good luck!
We greet the Secretaries-designate, the President-elect;
Merry Christmas to our new leaders, peace on earth, good will, and good management!
Merry Christmas to couples unhappy in doorways!
Merry Christmas to all who think they are in love but aren't sure! Greetings to people waiting for trains that will take them in the wrong direction, to people doing up a bundle and the string is too short, to children with sleds and no snow!
We greet ministers who can't think of a moral, gagmen who can't think of a joke.
Greetings, too, to the inhabitants of other planets; see you soon! And last, we greet all skaters on small natural ponds at the edge of woods toward the end of afternoon. Merry Christmas, skaters!
Ring, steel!
Grow red, sky!
Die down, wind!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good morrow!

E.B. White

12/20/52

with thanks to Angela

Tis the season...

2016-12-18T10:56:00.000-05:00

for Middle's birthday

in which Youngest gives the very best

for antler-wearing

because he steps out each day with them on -

of decorations in all the usual places

holiday parties

and slightly hungover mornings

and more and more and more

and then some pie.

We have a busy week ahead of us.

In the meantime, some links.

My brother is posting holiday commercials - some notables:

Polish grandpa.

West Jet.

Mog the cat.

I can easily cry during any point in any of them.

Call me crazy, I like Rhianna's Pumas.

Need a hostess gift? Or any gift?

This appears to be a solution.

One of my favorite responsibilities is buying baby presents from the CEO. I like to get something the new parents might never purchase...but I'd never do this.

Here's a wonderful video about Harris Tweed. I had no idea.

We've done this and it's gorgeous (though complicated to be successful at).

I was so surprised to see this dress IRL. Lovely. I broke up with Anthro a long time ago but there is one in the lobby of my new office building. We live with hope.

Christmas Carpool Karaoke.

May your days be merry and bright.

xo