MY BOOK CLUB MEETING
I love to read. Always have. I was the kid who made the other kids climb on the
bookmobile to check out books when the books I desired were greater than the number I was allowed to check out. My mother-in-law was known to say she smokes in the shower – well, I read at stop lights.
So no surprise that I am in a book club. It is my second one – the first faded our when we all made the transition from at home moms 
to back to work moms. I was invited to join a group attended by one of my non-reader friends, so I was a very pleased to find that this group was well organized and actually spent a great deal of the evening discussing the book!
Each month the person who chooses the book hosts the group. January was my month. I chose Case Histories by Kate Atkinson which I read some time ago an liked a lot and when I found that a second book with some of the main characters was out – I thought I would re-read the first with book group and then jump into the new one all primed up. The main character is Jackson who in the first book was a detective with several cases working which, turns out, were interconnected. Rather than being a detective story or a mystery story it is those things and character study and a story of love and loss and a discussion about the ability to keep those you love safe.
So I am making Almond Cake with Raspberry Sauce and Double Chocolate Cookies and veggies with dill dip and some assorted hot
little finger foods. Putting out some wine and bottled water and sodas, pulling out every chair I have got and arranging them in a big conversational group and leading the discussion tonight.
I can’t wait to see what we are reading next!
Technorati: books, book club, Case Histories, Kate Atkinson, bookmark, book ornament, chocolate cookies, chocolate desserts, book lover’s gifts, discuss books, stamp box, happiness is a good book, reading,
NATIONAL BUBBLE WRAP APPRECIATION DAY
I was watching KPIX CBS 5 news this morning and had a good laugh – how often does that happen these days? They were closing the show by talking about this being Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day and the anchor, John Kessler was popping the bubbles and his partner, Sydney Kohara was looking at him just the way I look at my kids when they are being annoying. It was classic and sent me off into the day with a smile.
Technorati: bubble design, bubble night light, bubble switch plate, bubble wrap, Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
THE YUMMY MUMMY MOVEMENT
I suppose January brings out my cranky pants. It has been gloomy and rainy and I just want to wrap up in 
something big and soft and plop into a chair with a good book until spring. The last thing I need is to learn that I am supposed to be aspiring to be a “Yummy Mummy”. Apparently I ought to be wearing stilettos to the petting zoo and smokey eyes to the supermarket.
They say it is a matter of retaining your “self-image” after marriage and motherhood. That I can relate to. When I had my twins I had only just stopped working in a fairly professional environment 2 days before. But the silk blouses were not going to stand up to burping, the pantyhose made no sense at the playground, and I had given up sky high heels in my 20’s.
When all 3 of my kids were of ages where I could step out of their lives more, I did take a look at my wardrobe and wonder who I had become -after 12 years at home with kids, the power suits and little dresses were way out of style.
Many who have embraced this “movement” think that we are to maintain our sexpot selves and remain clad in couture of the moment, designer jeans and carry budget busting handbags. This sounds a bit like the peer pressure my 14 year old daughter faces, not something grown women need to foist upon each other.
So I checked out the website of the Canadian based Yummy Mummy Club - and guess what? Their motto reads:
What Is A Yummy Mummy?
A true Yummy Mummy struggles to find the impossible balance between the single sexpot she used to be, the woman she’s become, the professional she works hard to be, the wife she aspires to be and the mother she has to be. Basically, she’s confused and exhausted.
Now that I get. So why has this be interpreted by so many to be about designer this and sexy that? I understand that these are different times and that many successful women have children and continue their careers and consider their appearance an important asset – but I don’t get this need to look “hot” at any age and circumstance.
I know there are those moms who love to be told they look like their daughter’s “sister”. Who love the MILF label. I feel sorry for those women. I consider them stunted, not empowered – not in the way I wish for my daughters.
Take a look at some great gift ideas for the women in your life – yummy or mommy, sister or friend. We have hundreds of designs to satisfy every woman’s interest!
Technorati: career, children, couture, daughter, designer, empowerment, family, fashion, hot, mother, sexy, sex pot, style, women, yummy mummy
For more gift ideas for Mom, see our Squidoo pages.
PERK UP YOUR RENTAL APARTMENT
My son has moved into his first apartment. He just couldn’t take another semester of dorm life and managed to find a rental close to his school in Monterey which was affordable enough to pass the budget imposed by dad.
So we have been checking Craig’s list and garage sales and made a trip to Ikea. For the first time he has a bed larger than a twin size and gave up his tattered denim bedspread for something a bit more sophisticated. He was never one for plastering his walls with posters – in fact he asked for one of the framed Miro prints we have to put in his apartment.
All this takes me to the subject of fixing up a rental space – and there are so many things you can do to personalize and upgrade the look, without spending a fortune or breaking the rental agreement. Thinking in terms of the lighting, you can replace the switches with dimmers to add more flexibility to harsh overhead lighting. Then frame it out with a decorative switch plate. They are easy to install and then remove and take with you at moving time.
I love these new wall decals you can put them up in any space to add personality, then just peel them off when you move or just want a change. They really make short work of all those white walls.
I have given night lights to practically everyone I know. You can brighten up a dark corner or light the way to the bathroom at night. With more than 100 designs to choose from, there is one for every personality or theme. This on matches my son’s little red car.
For his kitchen he chose black laminate dishes and cups, flat ware with red handles and red and white dish cloths and pot holders. So I added a refrigerator magnet with veggies on it to remind him of his mom.
See our Squidoo page for more ideas.
Technorati: apartment decorating, custom switch plates, decor for rental, dimmer switch, Milano decorative switch plate, night light, nite lite, refrigerator magnet, switch plates, theme switch plates, veggie, wall decals
WHAT WE WANT IN 2008
At the end of the year, there are always articles telling us what is out and what will be in. There are forecasts about fashion colors and home decor trends and now that we are food obsessed – the latest must try cuisine.
I have always been a bit wary of these lists and forecasts – unless, of course, something in my life fits the trends – then I feel very hip. At Kyle Design we see a lot of variation in what is selling and we always speculate about it. This month we are selling a lot of Polished Chrome switch plates. Late last year we were selling tons of white switchplates. The 2007 trend forecasters told us last year was the year of Oil Rubbed Bronze for kitchens and we didn’t sell very many of that finish for wall plates all year.
So what will happen in 2008? Trend spotters see the green movement going home, the interest in all things luxurious, cool metals, contrast and peaceful, spa like atmospheres.
We know many people like to carry the themes of their home decor into details like custom switch plates. Our Art Deco switch plates and our Craftsman switch plates are perennial favorites. We have added some new designs which have gotten some attention, especially the Bamboo design. I think the bamboo would look nice in a home with
Asian themes as well as in rooms where you want a tranquil, spa feel. Our custom switch plates can go upscale and funky – whatever you wish. I’ll be writing more about decorating themes in future entries.
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OFF TO THE DENTIST
I always seem to set my medical and dental appointments in late December and early January. I had the mammogram in December, the check up last week and the dentist today. I am not afraid of the dentist, but I can tell this is going to be a painfully
expensive round of visits based on the location of my chewing trouble.
A lot of people must love their dentist – or a lot of people like to buy things for the dentist in their lives. We sell a lot of card cases and business card holders and badge reels with our tooth design. The business card cases are an especially nice graduation gift and we engrave a lot of them with newly earned “DDS” titles.
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FELLED BY THE FLU
My New Year’s Resolutions always include a focus on my health. I am past the age where I beat myself up for my appearance – but at the age where I am more mindful of my longevity.
I ushered in 2008 with the flu. I never get the flu. I rarely even get a full-on cold. But this bug has kicked my behind. I have been sick as a dog for over a week and I am not happy about it. So this year I resolve to get my first flu shot.
Technorati: business card case, flu, flu shot, health, New Year’s Resolutions, resolutions
