lit*chick

Holiday Miscellany

2009-11-14T12:35:27-05:00

Did you eagerly wait for your favorite Christmas shows to come on (back when there weren't dvds and a gazillion tv channels)? I'm guilty of planning around A Charlie Brown Christmas. I realize it isn't necessarily healthy for evenings to revolve around the television, but for me these shows are a big part of the excitement and preparations. And just so you don't miss them this year, here is a link to the 25 Days of Christmas and countdown schedule on abcfamily.

Also, a friend and I were discussing the difficulties of hiding presents in the trunk when you drive a minivan or suv, or other trunkless vehicle. While I do most of my shopping online, a few years ago I bought a medium sized colored Sterilite bin for hiding my top secret purchases in the trunk area. Just wanted to share that in case you were having a similar issue. Perhaps your kids are nosy enough to pry off the top, but I don't think my kids even realize there's a box back there.

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Cookbooker

2009-11-14T08:32:24-05:00

Curious? Read about it on this post @ Books on the Nightstand.

Have a great weekend!

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book temptress

2009-11-13T13:42:47-05:00

I'm staying in today...the kids are home, it's raining, and I have an opportunity to work on my december daily. So I direct you to the aptly nicknamed book temptress Frances @ nonsuchbook for today's offering. Oh does she ever lead me into glorious heaping amounts of trouble.

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Hmmm..

2009-11-11T23:11:00-05:00

Either I have more (in amount) conservative readers than I thought (hello peeps - we are all welcome here) or the drop in Mrs. Obama's approval rating is no joke. All this to say ELIZABETH you are the WINNER of this beautiful book. I need your addy....please don't make me get off the couch, email me!

I'd love to tell you what's up next - a book review, a Christmas list o'fun, more Evie - but I just don't know yet. Do you ever have tons of ideas flying around with no space to land? That's me up in the clouds. So I'm hanging out and trying to work on my December Daily album. And looking at Tumblr...talk about enabling.

Back to the December Daily, I am determined to FINISH something. I started a couple years ago - chose the album, decorated the cover (all stickers). Last year, I gathered materials (sort of) which came to an abrupt halt when I had to move all the scrapbook materials to make way for Evie (well worth it I must say). This year, I'm still gathering and hopefully will have something to show by the end of this week. If you are working on one too...let me know and we can encourage one another. If you've already put yours together :P, just kidding, sorta.

Here's the cover:

And to our veterans (one of whom is my father in law)...THANK YOU.

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Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy Review & Giveaway

2009-11-04T19:23:56-05:00

Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy by Mary Tomer

The cover says it all or does it?. I'm the first one to judge a book by the cover - here the bold graphic with lavender definitely captured my attention but I couldn't help cringing. Hoping I wasn't in for an entire book of forced comparisons between Mrs. Obama and Jackie O. And I must say except for the title, it is refreshingly spare of such references. Whew.

I confess to treasuring my books from the 1980s chronicling Princess Diana's fashions. Oh how I loved her fancy hats, jewels, and shoes to match. So I was intrigued by this modern version. Sure, my favorite display at the Smithsonian is the gowns of the First Ladies. But I really hadn't given Mrs. Obama's clothes any thought besides liking the color of her inaugural suit.

One thing we should be able to agree on regardless of politics- this book is absolutely gorgeous. Besides being visually stunning, Mary Tomer does a thorough job of telling the stories behind Michelle Obama's fashion choices during the campaign continuing through the inauguration. Inspired by the website Mrs.O, the book's design is simple, staying focused on the clothes. Each layout contains a description of the designer, the event, and the accessories accompanied by a full page photo of the outfit and in some cases, a close up of the fabric. Most of the designers are additionally highlighted in interviews and comments on their work.

It is informative and serves as a unique look at not only Mrs. Obama's style but the decisions behind each choice. While I'm still not sure she has attained fashion icon status, this book is the beginning of a convincing argument. And if it means brooches are back, then I'm in.

My favorite parts: the sewing label page titles and the illustrations.

You can continue to follow the fashion @ www.mrs-o.org.

Would you like to win a copy? Leave me a comment by midnight Tuesday, November 10.

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Thank you to Anna at Hachette for the book.

Happy Halloweiner

2009-10-31T21:52:00-04:00

I tried unsuccessfully to get the brothers to dress as condiments...but they wanted no part of it. So she was a lonely, but happy hot dog. Hope everyone stayed safe!

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Ten on Tuesday: Evie Edition

2009-10-27T17:16:39-04:00

1. This is Evie also known as the Evenator (her Transformer name)

2. She is 4 months old. And very long.

3. She can roll over and likes applause.

4. Her favorite song is Tom's Diner (the remix-only because of the duh duhs, mama prefers the original)

5. Her favorite person is Caleb. And vice versa. I'm a close second - she knows where her bread is buttered.

6. She loves to bathe. Especially if she can gaze at the beautiful & friendly naked baby in the mirror.

7. She is a morning person, about 7ish. And she doesn't like to nap except when no one is watching.

8. Her favorite thing to do is blow raspberries and chew on two fingers.

9. She is nothing like her brothers, yet the same.

10. This is Evie and she is altogether lovely.

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Have you seen Nook?

2009-10-23T12:18:07-04:00

Barnes and Noble's new e-reader looks pretty fierce - with the ability to share books and a color touch screen. It will be available on November 30 and can be preordered now for $259.

As a Kindle owner, I hope Amazon figures out a way to offer some add-ons or else we may be left singing "What have you done for me lately?"....stay tuned for more in the e-reader wars.

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The 13 Days of Halloween

2009-10-20T03:00:00-04:00

The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene, Illus. Tim Raglin. Ages 4-8. Originally published in 1985, reissued by Sourcebooks

There are only 11 costume prepping days until Halloween but you aren't too late to catch this one. The 13 Days of Halloween can be read or, as we prefer, sung to the tune of The 12 days of Christmas. A spooky serenade unfolds as the "green man" (our name) tries to woo his lady friend with an odd assortment of gifts. And the boys think each gift is funnier than the last - thanks in part to the wonderful illustrations. We all have our favorites - mine are the three fat toads with baby bonnets.

The illustrations are lively - each one a fitting and fun accompaniment to the verse. With so much to see on each page, we find a new creature every time. And the pictures are not too creepy. I don't like creepy.

I'm giving my gently used copy away and in order to get it mailed before Halloween it's only going to stay open a short time. Leave a comment and tell me about a most memorable costume - it can be one from your past or something your children wore.

Giveaway ends Wednesday (that's tomorrow) @ midnight EST.

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Book Decor

2009-10-13T10:42:31-04:00

I don't know about you, but one of the first things I notice when I visit someone's home is if they have books. I think a home is incomplete without a bookshelf or six and if you were to come to our casa, you will probably trip over a book on your way to the shelves. So I'm always noticing book decor and tips for organizing etc. Here are some I've come upon in the last week.

seen on ohdeedoh

Nesting Place - in the midst of an EXTREMELY insightful series "31 days to a better dressed nest" is a post about bookshelves. On a tangent, this is the site where I found my basement paint color Tobacco Road...having never actually seen it in person before it went up on the wall. And she is right, it's fabulous - and now I do whatever she says.

stacked paperback wallpaper @anthropologie

wakefield chandelier @ pottery barn

AND a baader-meinhof moment

While reading The Three Robbers to Owen we happened upon the word blunderbuss. I thought it was made up, but turns out it's really a nice way of saying gun. And then I saw this book:

Feel free to link to your favorite bookish pics or products in the comments. I'd love to see more!

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