Window Shopping

I have been eyeing this market bag forever from Moop.



Dreaming of a summer closet full of skirts from Orangy Porangy beginning with opal blue diamonds and ending with jane hoodie skirts.

Reading about the inspiring family life as a live aboard {every sailor's dream} told here at Zach Aboard.

Enjoying affordable redecorating over at Eddie Ross. This is my favorite post of late.

Picking up Rosie Flo Coloring books at Morris Bookshop for my neice -a 6 year old artist - who has a birthday coming up.

It All Began With That Shoe On The Wall

My most recent obsession all began with this delightful post from Spagat about her upcoming trip to Procida, the gorgeous Italian island where they filmed The Talented Mr. Ripley. Then it started to grow when I read this post about a trip to Portland. Then I remembered a vacation spot which seemed like a good idea at the time, but would be a much better idea now that my daughter is older. And, just like that...the vacation obsession is born. I've planned about 60 in my head since Friday. One includes an amtrak up the west coast.

I've planned a weekend in my mind to Maine and trips to Bainbridge Island. And to the Greek Isles and Hawaii. Or back here to my favorite place.
And just for kicks, check out this place in the Maldives.

There are so few consecutive blank days on the calendar this summer, that I'm desperate to find a break in the work. We've looked at places close by and places far and I'm still coming up with not enough of something to make it happen. I'll keep looking.

Where ever it is, I hope it will be a new adventure, have salty air, a little bookstore, sandy paths and time to read, and carve out a space for just us.

In the meantime, maybe I will plot these imaginary vacations on the calendar and during those weeks, eat food that would be local to that area, play music from the region.

Where are you going this summer?

Summer Movie Memories

We actually saw a film in a movie theater last Friday!

Going to the movies is the one relic of pre-parenthood that I miss the most. We do the same thing at home, but there's just something about buttered popcorn, the air conditioned darkness and holding on to my husband's arm that feels like a real date.

Our film selection was dictated by the start time (7 is too early with our daughter's schedule and is 10 too late) so that left us with the 7:45 show, Oceans 13. It was entertaining, but mostly I enjoyed the Soderbergh lenses and filters that made everything so beautiful, the blues more blue, the yellows almost gold. The film has the same glow that Casino Royale has during those gorgeous scenes of the Ocean Club's beaches in the Bahamas and Bond sailing into the Grand Canal in Venice.



Could anything be better? [BTW, I discovered the Bond boat was a 54 ft Spirit. Va bene!]

Summer movie magic is captured this month in the online New Yorker Summer Fiction Issue which features fiction writers like Jeffrey Eugenides, Dave Eggers and others sharing their real-life summer-movie memories. Both the essays and the graphic art in between the essays are worth a glance.

Cup of tea?

Tea Worthy is a place to visit when you have a minute in between everything else that you have to do and hopefully pick up something worth your valuable time: a film to put in your Netflix queue, an album to download, a site to visit, etc.

As Adam Gopnik ( a favorite: check out Through the Children's Gate: A Home in New York and get Paris to the Moon) has pointed out, before becoming a parent, we are our own ships navigating out on the "sea of experience" but once parents, we become the harbor. Maybe it's because I am a sailor, but that analogy has resonated with me. I like being the harbor. When I'm not working, I want to be home with my family. But I do miss the creative outlets of pre-parenthood: a concert, the theater, trips without the pack-n-play.

This blog's mission is to break the sometimes isolating experience of being a parent and share creative endeavors that can get lost to sleep deprivation. Warm tea for weathering a storm in the harbor.

Here's today's blend.

Film
For Kids
Pippi Longstocking - A Gilmore Girls re-run reminded me of this classic. This dubbed version is so kitchy but my daughter and I are devoted fans. Caveat: the theme song will permeate your world.

For You
Stranger Than Fiction - One of the smartest movies I've seen in a while. Don't let Will Ferrell fool you. This is no Anchorman and there are no tridents. Dustin Hoffman is perfect in this movie. The soundtrack by Spoon (Spoon, Gimme Fiction) is worth checking out too!

The Holiday cotton candy but well worth the sugar rush. It's a love letter to the romantic comedy. The built in bookshelves are unbelievable. My inner nerd was swooning.

Trust the Man - a dark comedy by Bart Freundlich (Myth of Fingerprints) starring his real-life wife Julianne Moore and their real-life adorable children. Great performances. Very clever.

Something New (Widescreen Edition) - This movie feels like an indie movie classic. Some of the scenarios are a bit cliche but it's a lovely story, the performances are authentic and the art direction is really something.

New In Paperback

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (now on Broadway as well) The best book I've read in a very long time.

Organizing from the Inside Out, second edition: The Foolproof System For Organizing Your Home, Your Office and Your Life by : Julie Morgenstern. I drank the Morgenstern Kool-Aid long ago but of all of her books/dvds/materials, this is the strongest.

The Namesake: A Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri (film to be released this month) If you don't have time for an entire novel, you might check out this Pulitzer winning collection of short stories by the same author (Interpreter of Maladies). If you have even less time, I love "A Temporary Matter" and "This Blessed House" from that collection.

Love by the Glass: Tasting Notes from a Marriage I love this memoir from WSJ Tastings column authors Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher. They are one of those couples who just emit good energy. You can occasionally catch them on CBS Sunday morning recommending Summer wines or champagne for New Years and their picks are always perfect. They take the snobbery out of wine and replace it with the feeling of going over to a good friend's house for dinner.

Music
For the kids
Catch the Moon (Book & CD) by Lisa Loeb. She reminds me of my favorite childhood babysitter. A few nice cover songs that will be familiar to you as well.

For you
Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor
Corinne Bailey Rae by Corinne Bailey Rae
Wincing the Night Away by Shins

For you and the kids
Lemonade by G. Love. Picnic blanket music.
Recurring Dream: The Very Best Of Crowded House For turning up loud to clean the house on a Saturday morning.
Every parent relies on Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George (Jack Johnson) but you might also check out In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson. It think it's his best album and it's very kid-friendly.
Legend (New Packaging) by Bob Marley. Sure there are other albums, but why mess with perfection.

Today's magazine recommendation
http://www.cookiemag.com/ A parenting magazine that doesn't make you want to puke.

Websites/Blogs
www.holritzphotography.net and corresponding links for great photography and ideas for photographing/documenting your family. There are so many of these sites out there, but this one is special. This is a husband/wife team and they have such a strong sense of narrative and heart. They have a professional site as well but this one has photos of friends and family. The December 2006 posts include photos of her grandparents that are so touching. There's one candid of her grandfather holding his Bible that is a work of art. Amazing talent.

www.50books.blogspot.com A friend sent me this blogger's post about her baby's first birthday ( Happy Sam-iversary http://50books.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html) and I've been stopping by there periodically ever since. Witty and a nice resource for books and blogs.

Kid Friendly For the TiVo/DVR
Man v. Wild. Friday nights on the Discovery Channel. Englishman Bear Grylls (dad of 2) is this refreshingly optimistic guy who drops into challenging terrain and teaches viewers how to survive. He inspires me to clean up my language. Even when his boot is in flames on a moving volcano, he never drops the f-bomb. Instead he will say something like, "I need a new plan," or "It's not ideal, but it will work," or "If I'm honest, I'm quite tired." It is becoming a life philosophy around our house. For listings outside the US, check http://www.beargrylls.com/

For Rainy Days
The adults in your house will fight over 5 ct. Twistables Slick Stix Crayons by Crayola. It's like writing with lipstick. 2 words: SUPER FUN.
Bonus: I just learned that Crayola will let you customize your crayons box for $10 at www.crayola.com