Taking Color Coding to the Max

I’ve noticed many photos on Pinterest recently of people color coding their bookshelves. Some look amazing, with collections spanning one or more walls.

I can only dream of having a room filled with wall-to-wall books one day. But for now, I just have one little bookshelf to work with. But just because I don’t have a huge collection, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t try tackling this color coding challenge.

Here’s what I started with, my five shelves of books ranging from biographies to chick lit, to travel guidebooks and other novels (many past book club picks):

The first step was to pile all the books into color-specific piles. It was kind of interesting to note how many were white (how boring) and how many were red or blue.

Then came the hard part. Painstakingly placing each book in the best color wheel representation possible. To be honest, it only took about 15 minutes. It just seemed like forever! Here’s the result:

Fun, right? Okay, maybe I have a little too much time on my hands, but it was a little something different to try out.

Have you ever tried color coding anything? Your bookshelf, closet, work files?

A Look Inside the Hilarity of Tina Fey

If there were such a thing, I’d be a proud member of the National Sarcasm Society. I think that’s why I find Tina Fey so absolutely hilarious. She’s made me laugh since her days on Saturday Night Live!, and I became slightly obsessed with her writing after she made me love a movie staring Lindsey Lohan (Mean Girls). I still can’t forgive her for that. Needless to say, I was secretly thrilled when her new autobiography, Bossypants, was chosen as the June pick for my book club.

Once in a generation a woman comes along who changes everything. Tina Fey is not that woman, but she met that woman once and acted weird around her.

By page 1, I was already giggling to myself. And if someone were a fly on the wall, they’d be a little concerned about my constant outbursts of laughter – one time even to the point of tears. So yes – I LOVED this book. And instead of boring you with some long diatribe of why I think its so great, I thought I’d share some quotes I loved and leave it at that. So read them all. Then go buy the book.

Tip for women on making it in a male-dominated workplace:

No pigtails, no tube tops. Cry sparingly. (Some say, “Never let them see you cry.” I say, if you’re so mad you could cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone.) When choosing sexual partners, remember: Talent is not sexually transmittable. Also, don’t eat diet food in meetings.

After describing what society seems to expect girls to look like today:

The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes. Everyone else is struggling.

On touch-ups to her photos for a magazine:

I feel about Photoshop the way some people feel about abortion. It is appalling and a tragic reflection on the moral decay of our society . . . unless I need it, in which case, everybody be cool.

In one chapter, she kindly responds to some of the correspondence she has received:

From Dlisted.com

Posted by Centaurious on Monday, 9/21/2009, 2:08 a.m.
“Tina Fey is an ugly, pear-shaped, bitchy, overrated troll.”

Dear Centaurious,

First let me say how inspiring it is that you have learned to use a computer.

I hate for our correspondence to be confrontational, but you have offended me deeply. To say I’m an overrated troll, when you have never even seen me guard a bridge, is patently unfair. I’ll leave it for others to say if I’m the best, but I am certainly one of the most dedicated trolls guarding bridges today. I always ask three questions, at least two of which are riddles.

As for “ugly, pear-shaped, and bitchy”? I prefer the terms “off-beat, business class-assed, and exhausted,” but I’ll take what I can get. There’s no such thing as bad press!

Now go to bed, you crazy night owl! You have to be at NASA early in the morning. So they can look for your penis with the Hubble telescope.

Affectionately,
Tina

Yeah, that last one is the culprit for making me shed tears from laughing so hard. My cat even looked at my like I was crazy. And I just looked back and asked, “Who are you calling crazy?” Pssh. 

Smile! I think…

For those who don’t know this, I work in public relations. In the past, I’ve handled many accounts related to travel – most particularly a Central American country for which I led numerous media tours, resulting in some of my best memories.

So when my friend came across a book entitled, Smile When You’re Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer, she insisted I read it. I was immediately intrigued. While I’m lucky enough to say I truly enjoyed 99% of the writers I’ve traveled with over the years, I always wonder what their stories would say if there were no bounds — no editors, no fluffy story angles, just the straight up truth. (Although, while they may have some crazy tales, I really believe they enjoyed the country as much as I do.)

This book was written by travel writer, editor and photographer Chuck Thompson, who has been lucky enough to travel across the globe for many years. This book is essentially his revenge – of sorts – on all the editors who limited his writing to what people wanted to hear, versus the actual down and dirty truth. Just look at some of the chapter titles, and you’ll get the idea:

• Baked Alaska: How Drugs, Tourism, and Petroleum Tamed the Last Frontier
• Why Latin America Isn’t the World’s Number One Travel Destination and Probably Never Will Be
• Am I the Only One Who Can’t Stand the Caribbean?
• What Lazy Writers, Lonely Planet, and Your Favorite Travel Magazine Don’t Want You to Know

So during my #12: Raid a Book Clearance adventure, I snatched a copy of the tell-all novel and finally dove in last month.

The book was less about PR girls who destroy my industry’s reputation (thanks ladies), and more about Chuck lashing out with all his annoyances with the publishing industry and crazy antics of those abroad. It was definitely an uncensored collection of tales, with everything from prostitutes in Thailand, to crazy drug use in Alaska, to the actions of just plain stupid foreigners (not limited to Americans, phew!).

I was particularly interested in the Latin America chapter, and found so much of it to be true. Take this quote: “No place needs a good PR company more than Latin America. With so much going in its favor – food, scenery, the most hospitable locals on Earth – it still has a worse rep than the Florida Division of Elections.” I couldn’t agree more. He talked about how Americans have so many preconceived notions about this part of the world, and how its almost impossible for the region to beat this without us making a mindset adjustment. Really people… Its beautiful there. 100% worth a visit. Yes, there’s crime – just like there is in Los Angeles. Just be a smart traveler.

Its definitely entertaining if you don’t mind someone who seems a little angry and who won’t hold back with details. I found it hilarious at times – because I honestly cannot believe this guy has experienced all this craziness. And I think this book was just the tip of the iceberg.

Which brings me to his next book, To Hellholes and Back: Bribes, Lies, and the Art of Extreme Tourism. I think I might need to read that too!

An Intro to Clara Driscoll

Have you ever come across one of those antique stained glass lamps? You probably never gave a second thought to the amount of intricate work that went into the placement of each tiny piece of hand-selected glass. You also may not have realized they were produced by Tiffany Studios… owned by the son of the more mainstream Tiffany & Company jeweler.

I’ve been somewhat familiar with Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glass designs for years, coming from knowledge passed to me by my glass-collecting grandparents. I’ve seen some of his leaded-glass lamps, the stained glass windows, the paintings, pottery and even some of his jewelry designs.

So when I came across a book that brings to light a longtime Tiffany Studios secret, I was immediately intrigued.

Through letters discovered by art historians in 2005, it was revealed that a Ms. Clara Driscoll was likely the creative force behind the leaded-glass lamps depicting nature-based themes – the most popular of the Tiffany Studios lamps. She was definitely the artist who designed the two most iconic – Wisteria (shown in this post’s thumbnail) and Dragonfly (shown at right below). Clara and Mr. Tiffany, by Susan Vreeland, provides a first-person account by Clara (shown at left) of her time as the head designer of the little known women’s department at Tiffany Studios.

The novel itself was quite lengthy (400 pages) and could have been shortened by at least a third. But the story it told was indeed revealing and intriguing. As someone with an interest in art, I found the process behind not only the lamps, but also the mosaic windows, to be particularly of interest. Each lamp required several weeks to compose – and I mean 6-day workweeks of uninterrupted 10-hour days. Everything from the “cartoon” (the drawing), to the pattern making, to the hand selection of each color of glass, to the detailed contoured cuts, and onward. Phew!

The story also revealed the professional relationship between Louis C. Tiffany and Clara, as well as the four other men playing critical roles in her life. You are also able to catch a glimpse of turn of the century Manhattan. Including Clara’s first ride on her “wheel” (bicycle).

Now that I’ve completed this novel, I’m eager to return to the Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis C. Tiffany, including his jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass windows, lamps, and the Tiffany Chapel that was designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (which Clara played a major role in composing). They’ve also added a new wing that houses surviving objects from Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall country home and estate in Long Island (also detailed in the novel). Look for that post in the coming month!

The Tiffany Girls, on the roof of Manhattan’s Tiffany Studios

Raid a Book Clearance

Reading is one of my favorite past times. Its why I have a queue of books on my shelf and why I helped create a book club with friends. (And, for the record, I love holding a real book in my hands…no e-readers for me!)

I read practically every night and often at stoplights while driving around town. I’m known to take a blanket down to the park and read while enjoying the beautiful weather. I even look forward to one day having a room with several walls covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

So any opportunity to get a good deal on a book is one I’m sure to jump on. But I’ve never had the chance to partake in a store closing sale for one of the major chains (like Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million and…Borders).

Unfortunately for business, all but two of the Borders stores in Orlando are closing. But that’s good news for me, with prices reduced anywhere from 20-50%. The perfect opportunity to stock up on new reading material.

Surprisingly, the choices were not slim (as is so common at sales of any kind). I was able to collect 15 new reads for about $8 each on average. So, without taking into account any book club selections, I’m set for all of 2011.

Here’s the rundown of my bargain buys:

• A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond
• A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
• A Year in the World by Frances Mayes
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
• The Heroine’s Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore
• Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
• New York by Edward Rutherford
• No Touch Monkey by Ayun Halliday
• One Day by David Nicholls
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
• The Science of Single by Rachel Machacek
• Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham
• Smile When You’re Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer by Chuck Thompson
• Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch
• The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise by Julia Stuart

It’s a pretty broad selection of chick lit, humor, travel, history and more. I’m particularly looking forward to The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise (it looks like a quirky little tale) and Smile When You’re Lying (since I’m sure I can fully appreciate his stories, being that I work with travel writers for my day job).

Have you read any of these books? I’d love to hear any reviews!

A Biography of Chanel No. 5

I’ve read many biographies. They’re one of my preferred book topics. Similar to Sam Wasson’s Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. (reviewed last week), Tilar J. Mazzeo’s The Secret of Chanel No. 5 is not your typical biography. Just read its subtitle: “The Intimate History of the World’s Most Famous Perfume.” This is indeed the biography of a scent.

Let’s start with what I knew before I read this book…

Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was a breakthrough Parisian designer, rising to fame during World War I and turning heads with her simple designs, often inspired by menswear. Thanks to her influence, black dresses, women’s trousers, and pearls became fashionable. Coco was indeed a determined, business savvy woman.

But Chanel No. 5 perfume? Well, I’ve never even smelled it. I know many famous beauties have served as the “face” of No. 5, including most recently Nicole Kidman and Audrey Tautou (the current spokesmodel). Of course, I know the iconic square bottle. And I’ve definitely heard Marilyn Monroe’s famous quote…“What do I wear to bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course.” (This, before she was even asked to be the spokesmodel.)

So when I began reading this book, I was prepared to learn the story behind this famous scent and its creator. The complexity of its history took me by surprise…
The story begins in Coco’s childhood in the late 1800s. But instead of detailing influences on her fashion designs and strong will – so typical in every Chanel biopic – the story instead focuses on how scents and the number 5 weaved themselves throughout her bumpy life. Everything from her childhood residence, to her stunt as a cabaret dancer (apparently a dream of hers), to the man believed to be her one true love, Arthur ‘Boy’ Chapel. Indeed, his death had significant influence on everything in her life.

I don’t want to to give away all the secrets of the story, but will say its not as I once thought. Instead, I encourage you to read this book if you have any interest in fashion, perfume, marketing or notable figures in history.

You will learn the details of where this signature scent was derived from (did she really think of it?), how it was concocted, the brilliant whisper marketing campaign Coco launched (I took notes on that one!), her sale of the scent’s ownership in the mid-1920s (who knew!), the difficulties of production during WWII, her struggle to buy back the scent (repeatedly), the sometimes brilliant – but sometimes completely off base – advertising campaigns, and so much more. A very interesting read, indeed.

So where should a woman wear perfume, according to Coco? “Wherever one wants to be kissed.” Sounds perfect.

I’m just going to say it: I adore Audrey Hepburn. I don’t know why, but I just love her. I’ve always hated that she never authorized a biography. Apparently, she didn’t feel her life was interesting enough to warrant one. But yet, I know I’m not the only one who wishes she had.

One of my favorite movies that stars Audrey is Breakfast at Tiffany’s. An original choice on my part? No. But its a classic, so I don’t expect much objection from you. When a friend suggested I read Fifth Avenue: 5 a.m. by Sam Wasson, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. (more…)