Maisie Dobbs

I am always looking for new authors and came across Maisie Dobbs Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear at my local independent bookstore. There is an entire series set mostly in London before and after the first world war. It reminds me a bit of a grown up Nancy Drew. She is an independent young woman who zips around in a sporty convertible solving crimes. She has a kind father who is concerned about her, but her mother died when she was young. The time period and place plus additional characters such as her mentor, assistant, and benefactress make it different enough to be interesting while reminding me of books I have read in the past. I started reading Agatha Christie at 8 years old, but many modern mysteries are too violent and gory for me. This is evocative of an earlier time, not just in the setting, but also in the writing style.

I am just starting my fourth novel in the series and have purchased many more. The Mapping of Love and Death has been my favorite so far.

To Blog or Not to Blog - That is the Question

Clearly, I started this blog many years ago, but did not have the time or inclination to update it. It was started as a random experiment, just a place to keep a record of the books I'd read (original title Book Worm) for myself. Looking back, there have been many reasons that I had mixed feelings about blogging on a regular basis. For one thing, writing is my day job, and I was not sure if I wanted to spend my free time obligated to write. My schedule can get very busy at times. Until about a year ago, I only had a work computer. I'm also a fairly private person in general, and was not sure how much of my life I wanted to expose to the world. More recently, I've been shocked at the vitriol sometimes directed at people online from Rachael Ray to bloggers. Nevertheless, I've been considering trying it out to write about things that interest me: books, food, fashion (with a little f), travel, aging gracefully, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also have a digital camera that I'd like to try out, and expand my horizons a little bit. I'm not sure where this will lead, but have a feeling that it will be an adventure.

For those of you who do blog, why did you start?

The Lucky Shopping Manual

I've collected fashion, beauty, and style books since I was 13 or 14 years old. Actually, they were initially from my perusals in the library. One of my current favorites is the Lucky shopping manual.

T-shirts

• 2 good white tees 
• 2 good black tees
• 4 tanks
• Striped tee (wide or narrow stripes)
• Henly or polo
• Solid tees in unpredicatable colors
• A few fun tees

Tops

• 6 work tops
• 3 fun tops (for going out at night)
• 4 weekend tops (t-shirt alternatives)

Jeans

• 1 pair to wear with heels
• 1 weekend pair you can wreck
• 1 pair to wear with flats
• white jeans
• cords
• another of your favorite pair
• fun jeans

Pants

• 3 pairs winter work pants
• 3 pairs summer work pants
• 2 pairs all season weekend pants
• 1 pair lightweight evening pants
• More summer and winter work pants
• Fun pants
• Velvet or sating evening pants

 Skirts

• 2 all-season work skirts (tropical wool)
  
• 2 summer work skirts (crisp and structured)
• 1 denim skirt
• 2 summer weekend skirts (dress up or down)

Sweaters

• 2 fitted pullovers for work
• 2 cardigans (for evening and office)
• 1 black turtleneck
• 2 weekend sweaters
• 1 evening sweater
• More weekend sweaters
• 1 vintage sweater

Jackets

• 1 Good wool blazer
• 1 short jacket (lightweight wool)
• 1 denim jacket
• summer blazer
• velvet blazer
• lightweight short jacket

Summer dresses

• 2 weekend dresses
• 2 work dresses
• 1 daytime party dress
• 1 evening dress
• More summer weekend dresses

Winter dresses

• 2 work dresses
• 1 weekend dress
• 1 evening dress

Shoes - winter

• 2 pairs knee boots
• 1 pair good office shoes
• 1 pair casual shoes
• 1 pair evening shoes
• Another winter boot
• ankle boots
• 1 flat office shoe

 Shoes - summer

• 2 pairs good office shoes
• 1 pair flip flops
• 1 pair good flat sandals
• 1 pair strappy, sexy sandals
• More fun strappy sandals
• light-colored office shoe

Underwear

• 7 pairs everday underpants
• 3 everyday bras
• 1 pair evening hose
• 1 black bra with pretty straps
• 1 nude stretchy camisole
• 1 silky camisole
• 1 pair thin wool tights for winter (solid or tweedy)
• 1 convertible bra (switches to halter or strapless)
• Work hose if needed
• Another every day bra 
• Some fun bras
• A full slip
• A half slip
• Stockings and a garter belt
• Another silky camisole
• Some thin, fitted tanks for layering

Time Management From the Inside Out

Julie Morgenstern's book has some useful ideas:

• Figure out how long it take YOU to do things. Then just accept it and plan for it. If it takes you two hours to get ready for work in the morning or make dinner, then so be it and work your schedule around it accordingly.
  
• Treat time like a container. Although knowing that only so many hours will fit into a day or week isn't original, it helps me to compare it to a physical space. There's only so much room on a shelf or closet. When you run out of space, you have to get rid of something. It's the same with time. When you had something to a time container, something else has to go. And, having a set place for a particular activity also helps, but I find that more challenging.
  
• She also discusses connecting each activity in your day to a particular goal or value. While this is useful, I find that I need some diversions that have no goal at all. Still, it makes think more about choosing a healthy meal or getting out to rollerskate.