Book Report: ‘Just What Kind Of Mother Are You?’ By Paula Daly

Paula Daly is my new favourite author and she should be yours too.  I started reading her latest book ‘Just What Kind Of Mother Are You?’ a month ago and have looked forward to getting into bed with it every night since then.

The backdrop of this story is the Lake District in the North of England. I went there on my 29^th birthday when I lived in Manchester so making this an even more magical read.  It is definitely one place you need to experience in your life.  It is truly a romantic, seductive and beautiful place to inhale.  An innocent setting for a story such as this.

Picture windy roads splashed with grandpa trees, thatch cottages, Lilliput Lane imagery, poetry, lush gardens, deep walls of mist for miles, clean crisp winds, and the smell of grandiose spooky Lakes beckoning to get lost in.  The Lake District echoes safety, comfort and the love of nature.

I fell for Paula Daly’s brand of writing – it’s not often that you get swept into a fever to read quickly about characters after only the first few pages into a book.  This book is an easy ready but an intriguing one at that.  There are loads of lil details that are full of symbolism that require a slow digestion.

I was drawn in on the first page with the tale of a weird man stalking young girls on their way home from school.  Safety and comfort begone!  We are introduced to the main character Lisa, a kennel owner and mother who had a responsibility to care for her best friend’s child who dum, dum, dum —disappears on her watch.

Lisa is a likeable character.  Indeed full of flaws but a tour guide full of wonderment, self-reflection, self-doubt and a mistress of ‘taking on other’s peoples stuff in times of guilt’.  We all do this stuff.  Reading about these sentiments through this character made me reflect upon how I would have handled certain situations if I was in her shoes and my own complexes.

I found myself constantly examining the characters presented in the book and looking under rocks for them to trip up.  Daly kept the story very tight but at the same time left you wanting more after small reveals came to fruition in every chapter.

I appreciated the bubbliness and light hearted hand that Daly writes in.  This story is not overly complicated and a nice change from the heaviness of this genre.

The conclusion of the story is a jaw dropper.  No matter how many clues you collect on the way would you figure out who the true criminal is until the very last page.  This is a sign of good storytelling.

http://www.randomhouse.ca/books/226382/just-what-kind-of-mother-are-you-by-paula-daly

Buy it here!  Just What Kind Of Mother Are You?

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day is weeks away so it’s time to get a leg up on how to celebrate the mom in your life.  Here are some gift ideas to start you off.

If you live in Vancouver check out The Urban Tea Merchant’s Mother’s Day Tea Service.  It features a splendid selection of handcrafted tea-infused tea sandwiches, petite savories, and delightfully luscious sweets. Offered in the tea service is an optional sparkling tea cocktail infused with TWG Tea.  Each mom will receive a 50g TWG Tea gift to take away. There is no better way to show your love and appreciation for the most important woman in your life. This special tea service is available from May 10^th to May 12th at The Urban Tea Merchant’s Downtown Vancouver Tea Salon.

If you can’t take your mom for tea, maybe pick her up a tea stash from The Urban Tea Merchant. My favourite tea of the moment is Bain de Roses Tea from TWG Tea.

 

Bain de Roses Tea from TWG Tea

In the month of May, the roses of Grasse come to bloom, enveloping Provence with an incomparable and luxurious perfume. Masterfully blended by TWG Tea, this sensual Darjeeling is a magical union of extraordinary roses and hints of vanilla and sweet spices. Show your gratitude for mother’s feminine touch with this outstanding tea.  You can also couple this tea with the Bain de Roses Tea Scented Candle which will add to a lovely ending to her day.

http://www.urbantea.com/

What lady wouldn’t like a posh eau de parfum on her special day?  I like Penhaligon’s Artemisia Eau de Parfum.

 

Artemisia Eau de Parfum 100ml

Head Notes

Nectarine and Green Foliage

Heart Notes

Green Apple, Lily of the Valley, Jasmine Tea, Violet and Vanilla

Base Notes

Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber and Vanilla

Created in 2002, Artemisia is both floral and fruity with a beautifully sensual powdery dry down. Caramel soft, sweet, powdery and silky. A tumble of green apples and nectarines washed with jasmine tea and sprinkled with a luxurious medley of violet, cyclamen and lily petals. All this softly unfolds with great subtlety surrounded with layers of honeyed vanilla, warm spices, a touch of amber and a hint of musk. Haunting and addictive.

http://www.penhaligons.com/shop/fragrance/artemisia-eau-de-parfum-100ml-496881.html

For a gift that will keep giving, consider giving her the latest and greatest book from Kate Atkinson entitled ‘Life After Life’?

Life After Life

by Kate Atkinson

How do writers tell a story? How do they choose the minute details to make time’s arrow chart a straight path? Take a fork in the road, make a mistake, deal with it. Kate Atkinson, who keeps reinventing herself, has created a character who spans Britain’s course through the two “world wars,” who keeps dying and being reborn into the same person, who with each subsequent rebirth retains atavistic cellular memory of past experience, and thus the pageant of history unfolds through the same eyes with differing results. Her family core retains its shape as does her personality, but with each variation there is further insight into life at its moments of indelible change with Ursula at the center. This is a rich, satisfying book that resonates with intelligence, humor and compassion. Atkinson has never let me down — I’ve been reading her since the late ’90′s, and continue to be amazed at her virtuosity.

http://www.randomhouse.ca/books/211671/life-after-life-by-kate-atkinson

I like the idea of picking up a cool note card and using your own words to convey why your mom is important to you.   Check out Cath Kidston Mini Notes.

Cath Kidston Mini Notes

These irresistibly petite notes are perfect for dashing off a quick, pocket-sized message or adding a little card to a mother’s day gift.

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/paper-goods/stationery/notecards/cath-kidston-mini-notes.html

Finally, pop on top of a Cath Kidston mini note card a cool Rimmel London:  Royal Gloss Lip Gloss.  It will sure put a smile on your mom’s face for those on the go days.

Rimmel London:  Royal Gloss Lip Gloss

Rimmel Royal Gloss Delicious Lip gloss is deliciously sweet and fabulously juicy.

http://us.rimmellondon.com/

Happy Mother’s Day from Thirty Four Flavours!

Jonathan Adler’s ’100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life’

Jonathan Adler’s ’100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life’

When I first moved into my condo, I remember feeling so overwhelmed.  I wanted to clutter the space with furniture and live like I was in a Parisian Apartment.  I remember getting words of advice from friends – two pieces stood out.  ‘Your home should be your oasis’ and  ‘Don’t buy furniture for visitors to sit in – this is your home 24/7’.  These words resonated with me.

When I visited Jonathan Adler’s boutique in Chicago this past summer it was like a dream come true.  Being a total fan girl of Mr. Adler’s design aesthetic it was amazing to see and feel his pieces first hand.

This past fall his book, appropriately titled ‘100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life’ was released to much acclaim.  If you are looking for slices of ideas to pop into your swelling, change up, clean up and refine this book will make a tidy investment.

Let me tell you a bit about Jonathan Adler.  He is a TV personality, interior decorator, house wares entrepreneur, sharp-witted cultural authority, and mad potter. His eponymous lifestyle brand debuted 18 years ago and now encompasses myriad product lines–from pillows and plates to furniture and lighting–sold in 17 retail stores and hundreds of wholesale outlets. Recently, Adler has branched into fashion, launching a capsule collection for denim brand 7 For All Mankind and partnering with the world-renowned Lacoste sportswear brand.

Mr. Adler’s newest book is a vibrant, hilarious mash-up of style bible, decorating tome, and self-help guide. In gorgeous, full-color spreads, 100 bold ideas for Happy Chic dwelling, decorating, and entertaining are revealed.

This book is exquisitely organized.  My favourite bits were the Macramé owl activity with gatefolds for your leisure and the custom LOVE note cards.  Ever so 60’s but made au courant chic with Jonathan’s touch.  There are 3 other projects included in this book in fact.

I know his porcelain pieces are popular in store, online, in hotels and homes – but I’m a big fan of his needlepoint pillows.  It may not fit into my design esthetic in my flat right now but it has inspired me enough to pick up my cross stitch projects again and give them a go.

An investment I need to look into for the year ahead is finding some neat vases for my space.  Jonathan’s Santorini vases are retro but also add a polished element to your living space.  Saving my Canadian dollars now for my next summer’s visit to Jonathan’s shop in Chicago.

Jonathan Adler 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life

Hardcover: 172 pages

Publisher: Sterling Signature (Nov 15 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1402775075

ISBN-13: 978-1402775079

Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 2.2 x 26 cm

Buy it here!  http://www.chapters.indigo.ca

‘Wall and Piece’ by Banksy

I was listening to Massive Attack over the weekend and it reminded me of the time when they played Toronto 2 years ago that Banksy’s street art just happened to appear near their Sound Academy venue days before their show.

Fans of the Wild Bunch years and of Banksy’s art were brimming with excitement that perhaps Banksy was in the city in commemoration of MA’s first North American date of their ‘Heligoland’ tour to support his mates.  As quickly as his art popped up it disappeared with city officials painting over the piece.

The Queen from Banksy

Banksy, Britain’s now-legendary “guerilla” street artist, has painted the walls, streets, and bridges of towns and cities throughout the world. Not only did he smuggle his pieces into four of  New York City’s major art museums, he’s also “hung” his work at London’s Tate Gallery and adorned Israel’s West Bank barrier with satirical images.  His work is unmistakable—with prints selling for as much as $45,000.

On a trip to London’s Tate Gallery in 2010 I picked up a paperback of his work simply titled ‘Wall and Piece’.  I t contains neat photographs of his work and small anecdotes of how he works stealth like under the cover of night, exquisite  stories of his identity nearly being blown, challenging political agendas in the UK and always pushing the is it graffiti vs. is it art? envelope.

Sure it maybe a big year for the UK coming off the Queen’s Jubilee and just recently the Olympics –these big events must have certainly rattled Banksy’s anti-establishment tail.

‘Throughout this period Banksy remained steadfast in pointing out that this ‘Cool Britannia’ thing was all shit. He was the little boy who said that the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes. His campaign was massive and sustained like a well-planned military action. He seemed to be everywhere you looked. He reminded us all that we are the rats.

But Banksy’s rats celebrated a tough survival instinct too. He made them inventive and cunning – qualities you need in the ruthless culture of today. Not only did Banksy’s street work remind you that power does exist and it works against you, but also that power is not terribly efficient. It can be and should be deceived.’ (from Huffingtonpost.com article titled ‘Banksy Graffiti: A Book About The Thinking Street Artist’).

In celebration of the UK in pure Banksy style – I’m giving away a copy of ‘Wall and Piece’.  Thank you Chapters Indigo!  If you would like a copy, please subscribe to my blog by Sept 15, 2012.  If you have already subscribed consider yourself already entered into the draw.  Happy week!

Wall and Piece from Banksy

Buy it here:

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Wall-and-Piece-Banksy/9781844137879-item.html?ikwid=wall+and+piece&ikwsec=Home

Sleigh Bells On ‘No Reservations’

As others have done before, Sleigh Bells will appear on No Reservations this fall. The Travel Channel recently posted a teaser for the season premiere episode which features footage of Sleigh Bells hangin’ with Tony Bourdain in Austin during SXSW, crushing margs and roastin’ pigs.

Sleigh Bells have been on a permanent rotation on my iPod since last summer whenever I bike or elliptical it.  Their music is pop infused with aggression, chuck in a dash of guitars and a girl screaming melodically in the background.  It’s fun.  I like it.

I found it funny in the clip that Alexis is the only girl in a house full of tattooed boys.  Of course she is.

I’ve only recently started watching Bourdain’s shows after friends have been telling me for years to check out his style of travel journalism.  Late bloomer yet again.  I appreciate his cultural takes on holiday whilst also speaking about local cuisine and it’s importance in that particular town.

This episode of ‘NR’ airs 9/3 on the Travel Channel. Bourdain also hung out with Neon Indian, hopefully some of that will make the episode as well.

Book Report: Elizabeth The Queen: The Modern Life of a Modern Monarch

Elizabeth The Queen:  The Modern Life of a Modern Monarch:  By Sally Bedell Smith

People who read this blog may know that I lived in Manchester, England for a handful of years in my 20’s.  It was a real ‘growing up’ time in my life.  During that time I really fell in love with learning about the history behind the monarchy in the UK.

This year marks the the Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II.   2012 is marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. She is today queen regnant of 16 sovereign states, 12 of which were British colonies or Dominions at the start of her reign.

Queen Victoria in 1897 is the only other monarch in the histories of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and a few other Commonwealth realms to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee. Following the tradition of jubilees past, a Diamond Jubilee medal is being awarded in various countries and holidays and events will be held throughout the Commonwealth.

I thought what better time to do some reading on her than now.  I picked up ‘Elizabeth The Queen:  The Modern Life of a Modern Monarch’.  It’s a huge book – 537 pages in length and let’s say reading this book really hurts one’s breasts when in bed.  But it’s well worth it.

If you watched ‘The King’s Speech’ last year – it only gave you a teaser into her childhood.  But it‘s a nice springboard into how she was raised and how she puts duty as a monarch before anything else in her life.  It’s quite emotional to have read how her connection with her family and her royal roots enabled her to make some pretty startling choices as a teen, young adult, married woman, mother and now monarch of not only England but other Commonwealth countries.

The book goes in depth into her love affair with Prince Phillip, how she coped with her father’s passing, glimpses into her coronation, her neglectful relationships with her children during their early years and those scandalous Diana and Fergie years to name a few.

The book is hardly written in a National Enquirer style but rather more from stories stitched together form history and people who either worked in ‘her world’ or knew her.

I wish there was more info on her relationship with Wallis Simpson.  Also at times the book did tend to ramble on for too long about certain times in history.  I think the writer really wanted to give as much enough as possible to really give you a sense of her, Elizabeth.   She succeeded.

This book is a great holiday read and very easy to get through.  If you want to get swept into luxury and learn about the monarch in England from the ground up – this is worth the investment.  The book ends with Kate and Will’s wedding day.  I loved that the book comes full circle and you as the reader get an honest snapshot into her mistakes, her successes, her conundrums and most of all her selflessness.  She really is a genuine, hardworking and earnest woman behind the crown and orb.

Book Publisher:  Random House

Price:  $34.00 CAD