Just a little note to wish you and all your loved ones a spectacular Thanksgiving! We'll have our usual unconventional movie + Chinese food Thanksgiving of ultra low stress. Since I won't need to slave over the stove, I'll be using the extra time to sew a recital dress for K, work on the annual Advent calendar (see previous ones here and here and here) and finish up the next Furoku (it might be a day or two late...). I have so many thanks to give. Too many, really, and I think I'll leave it ... Read more
Things That Make You Go Calmmmmm
It's not even Thanksgiving yet and I'm already beset by the holiday fatigue. Retailers are streaming jolly tunes about Santa and snow everywhere I turn, and I find myself scouring online sources for gift ideas and feeling overwhelmed by the choices. Luckily, I've been reading all of your comments from the giveaway to amp up my mindfulness cultivation toolbox. Knitting kept cropping up so I took up my needles for the first time in years even though I'm a self-proclaimed non-knitter. It's ... Read more
Happy Friday + Randomness
Happy Friday! K is down with yet another fever and general malaise, and she's missed a couple of days of school this week. The prospect of trick-or-treating is looking a little dubious, much to her chagrin. I'm feeling some wooziness myself, though I'm fighting it with all my might. When we picked up K's costume elements last week, I spotted a Crock Pot for a good price, and remembered several friends telling me how much it can save time and money. My mom never used a slow ... Read more
Madame Frump No More
When I was a young lass toiling over catalog page layouts amid the design-y and stylish citizens of Williams-Sonoma / Pottery Barn HQ, I used to spend a lot of time and effort on my appearance because everyone around me sashayed about in beautiful attire. One of my good friends and co-workers -- he of the vintage couture connoisseurship and wearer of thrifted Ferragamo loafers -- would appraise my daily outfits and give me a thumbs up or down. We had the sort of honest and hilarious relationship ... Read more
Happy Friday + Randomness
It's been quiet around here, which means things are bustling in the background. I have much to share, but one of the highlights of last week was a Little Kunoichi event. It was my last scheduled event and was held at a beautiful Japanese gift shop/gallery called KOBO. There may be some more events in the future, but that particular book reading capped what I considered the launch season. My book has been out for almost five months, can you believe it? I just found out that someone's seen it in ... Read more