Outfit:
Navy tee (Marshalls) – black vintage velvet blazer (garage sale) – Levis – boots (liz claiborne, consignment)

I thought I had put these boots away for the season. I’m sooo tired of them, but it was just way too cold for sandals when I left the house this morning (38 degrees)

Menu:
Breakfast: slice homemade bread toasted with apricot bonne maman preserves
Lunch: leftover rigatoni and romaine salad with sprinkle of gorgonzola (on salad)
Snack : cinnamon muffin at friend’s house
Dinner: Pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, black and green olives and wine

Garage sale season has begun. I bought this jacket and some toys and books for my children along with a tag-along that attaches to an adult bike so a child can pedal or just ride along. I’m looking forward to long bikes rides this summer.

I’ll have to do a book post soon, but I did watch a film the other day : “state of play” which, as a former newspaper crime reporter, I especially enjoyed!

Thanks again to everyone who has bought one of my books. So far, knock on wood, I have only heard of one typo, which has already been fixed in any future copies ordered. I also think I have fixed the spacing problem, but will need to order another book for myself to make sure.

One typo is not too bad, considering. At my old newspaper I would always be amazed that an article could be read by me 10 times and then by 4 other people and look great and then as soon as the printing presses ran, you could find a typo that nobody saw beforehand. Argh.

If you bought the book and have seen other typos, please email me at: mammaitaliana23@gmail.com.  Also if you hated it, I’d be interested in what you think could make it better. Conversely, if you liked it, I would be really grateful if you could find the time to put a review up on Lulu, if you don’t mind. Thanks so much.

Parenting with Love and Logic — This is really making me evaluate how I am raising my children, but in a good way.

Catching Fire – by  Suzanne Collins. This is the sequel to The Hunger Games, which I absolutely loved. This was good, but just a continuation, a tease, now I want more.

A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore. This book was the critic’s darling, but I found it lacking. Reviewers called it a perfect portrait of American life after 9/11 and it did have some insight into life during that time period, but there were several very poignant moments during the book that were just dictated in a blase manner — a child being killed, another child in foster care being tossed from home ot home, the death of the protaganists’s brother — that were just told in a very matter-of-fact way and didn’t move me emotionally in the least bit. I really didn’t care for the book.

Now, on to what I still need to read. I think I’m going to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo next because I have been looking forward to do so and also because it is borrowed and I need to return it. I also will work on finishing the parenting with love and logic book.

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman — a friend loaned me this one

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson— My SIL loaned me this. I’ve been excited to read it for awhile. Misadventures with Andi also just posted on this.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — another thrift store buy I just barely began before I got a library book in. So far, it seems like it is going to be really good.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store.

In my DVD Player

We finished up the very short DVD series on Dune. Ahhh, I need a new movie to watch — maybe a new series …. or maybe now that is spring, I’ll get back to my routine which includes very little tv or movies and lots of time outside and reading!

Not-A-Cent-In-Lent

I fell off the wagon a few times during the Not-A-Cent-in-Lent time but I still found that it was really valuable and worth doing and I hope to do better next year.

I made a list of items that I needed and wanted during this time. I’ve ordered a few of them already, including some new underwear, a new bra, a new pair of flat sandals, a pair of jeans and a black summery blouse.

I feel very good about buying these “basics” I had a long time (40 days) to think about what I truly wanted to spend my money on.

I also went to H&M and bought a navy tee-shirt.

Next on my list are some hair care products and maybe a pair of sexier summer sandals …

Rebecca Beeson T - Jcrew jacket - Levis - liz claiborne boots - scarf

On My Nightstand/In my DVD

Apartment Therapy – Fiona at  La Vie en Fifi wrote about this recently and I am ripping through it after picking it up at the library yesterday! (although you are supposed to take 8 weeks to do the action plan). I’m taking notes and enjoying it enormously.

A Gate at the Stairs by Laurie Moore — This was on my library “wait” list for ages, but finally it is my turn. I started it last night and can’t wait to get back to it.

Parenting Without Fear by Paul J. Donahue  — this is a library book that may not be exactly what I was looking for when I saw the title … we’ll see

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman — a friend loaned me this one

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson— My SIL loaned me this. I’ve been excited to read it for awhile. Misadventures with Andi also just posted on this.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — another thrift store buy I just barely began before I got a library book in. So far, it seems like it is going to be really good.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store.

In my DVD Player

Paris with Juliette Binoche — such a great story and beautiful scenery and inspirational style. i loved this movie.

JCrew tee - Levis - Etienne Aigner boots

So this is my concession to green, although my Irish inlaws will tell me this green doesn’t count (I always have the wrong green on every year.) They are VERY into this holiday, which is a lot of fun.

This outfit is missing something …. it just looks a little boring to me … maybe a scarf would have spiced it up a bit.

Menu:
Breakfast: whole milk yogurt with sliced bananas and strawberries; cafe au lait
Lunch: salami slices and pepper jack cheese slices with chips and salsa
Dinner: barbecued pork chops; peas; wine

On My Nighstand:

The Help  by Kathryn Stockett — This is for one of my bookclubs

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson— My SIL loaned me this. I’ve been excited to read it for awhile. Misadventures with Andi also just posted on this.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — another thrift store buy I just barely began before I got a library book in. So far, it seems like it is going to be really good.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store.

In my DVD Player

Up in the Air with George Clooney was entertaining, pretty good, not my favorite movie ever

Away We Go was a fun indie flick to watch this week

Boondock Saints 2 — perfect for St. Patrick’s Day week.

Levis - Men's Cashmere Sweater (consignment) - Etienne Aigner boots - silver hoops - silver chain

Menu:
Breakfast: bowl of whole milk plain yogurt with homemade granola; banana; cafe au lait
Lunch: leftover green salad from last night with added chunks of ham and cheese, pepperoncini

 Dinner: roast chicken with potatoes, carrots, onions; wine

Film

We finished the last episode in the HBO series Rome this week. Netflix has made the winter go so much faster. Looking forward to watching the Battlestar Galactica programs and then the Rome series has been so much fun . … what next? Dexter? I’m not sure.

I also watched “In Bruges” last night.

Tonight my other bookclub meets, which is always a good time. This bookclub is also reading (on my suggestion) Sarah’s Key, which my other bookclub read last month.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND

After complaining that I didn’t have a single book to read, I scored the jackpot. I had three library books I had been on the wait list for come in. I am reading the top three books in the order in which they are due back. I absolutely am enthralled by The Hunger Games. It is one of those books that makes me want to hide in my room all day and read. It is a futuristic, apocalpytic type novel. Very well written.

Missing Mark is the second in a series by a former TV reporter. I loved Julie Kramer’s first book, Stalking Susan, so I expect this one will be equally as enjoyable.

I can’t remember where I heard of The Believers, but I think it may have been a book recommendation in the New York Times.

Sarah’s Key is a bookclub pick for this month by one of my SIL’s. It is set in Paris and deals with the holocaust. I picked it up at the thrift store and can’t wait to get to it, but I need to get the library books read first.

I’ve seen Reading Lolita in Tehran so many times at the thrift store I finally picked it up for $.60. I’m not sure when I will read it because I am patiently holding back from reading Brava Valentine as long as I can resist. I am going to feature it for my other bookclub next month because it is my turn to choose the book.

FILM

On My Nightstand

Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. Regular readers  know I am reading this and what a huge fan I am of this author.

How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi. I actually cranked through this the first day I got it. Great ideas.

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. This has been recommended and mentioned so many times in my world, including by a published author friend of mine I respect, that I feel like I must read it. I think the final straw was reading it was one of the best books of the year on NPR’s website.

The Believers by Zoe Heller. I could be wrong, but I think this was also on a year-end best books list. Maybe NPR again.

Can you see or feel my joy around the world that I have a stack of good books to read again? I was starting to get depressed about it and then Wham-O, my library list came through. I always have about 10 books I am waiting for and this week, three came through!

In my DVD Player

I’m sure all the regular readers are sick of hearing this, but I am still cranking through the Battlestar Galactica series and get sooo, soo happy everytime a new disc from Netflix comes in the mail. Ah, the simple pleasures in life in the frigid midwestern winters!

And seriously, I don’t care how poor I get, I will NEVER give up my $14 a month subscription to Netflix, it SAVES my life during the winter.

This week we watched on instant play: Food Inc. which makes me want to go buy my own cow and chickens and keep them in my backyard and Blindness, based on a book I gave away after only reading two chapters. Now I wish I would have read the book, because I really liked the movie!

Outfit :
Black tee (Rebecca Beeson)
Levis straightleg
Boots (Liz Claiborne – thrifted)
silver hoops, silver chain
Menu:
Breakfast: yogurt with granola; cafe au lait
Lunch: leftover romaine salad; chips and salsa; banana
Dinner: pizza; wine
Finances:
$10 at thrift store for sweater, shirt and book
$17 for pizza
$5 at market
$15 at post office to mail xmas packages

FILM
I watched Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antionette” last night. It didn’t “move” me emotionally or strike any chords, but it was visually beautiful. The cinematography alone was reason enough to watch this movie.

OUTFITS:

1. OK, so I put on these boys style 501 black jeans I had bought ages ago at the thrift store and decided they were too boyish and hickish looking — the leg width screams 80s!!! I still want black jeans, though, I think.

2. Then I decided to re-evaluate my Free People top and while I sort of liked it in person (it is sooo unique with buttons up the back, lace and ribbons on the front) but when I see this picture I see again why I don’t like it. (Any opinions? My problems with it? The color, the length and I think it is so breezy, it needs to be worn with light colored shoes or sandals …)

3. The outfit I decided to wear for the day: Levis, teal jCrew top, navy cashmere cardigan*, turquoise/pink/multicolor scarf; boots

Outfit 1

Outfit 2

Outfit 3

*The problem with a small wardrobe is when it comes to cashmere sweaters, I tend to wear them so much they quickly look ratty, even when I buy the brands that are supposed to hold up the best (ie Ann Taylors have great reviews)

Menu:

Breakfast: one pancake; cafe au lait
Lunch: cheese and crackers
Snack: small popcorn at the theater; water
Dinner: leftover pasta; wine

Finances:
$8 shoe creme
$7 movie

I went to the second Twilight movie yesterday. Although I’m not wild about the sparkling of Edward and his acting is not that great, I loved the rest of the movie. I love Kristen Stewart as an actress and as Bella. I only wish I had her aplomb and quiet self confidence when I was a teenager.

I know she is about 12 and has the body of a 12-year-old boy, but I really like this look (straight leg jeans, green button up cargo style blouse and sneakers) Fiona — I could use converse …. opinions on whether this would work for a woman in her 40s ????

I actually have been eyeing a navy blue shirt just like this at Target (think it is the converse brand) and have tried it on a few times already. Which would be a better color for me.

I want this shirt, despite my previous bad luck with green

My rather large Italian butt would look much different in jeans like these, but I adore jeans!

Then last night I watched another four episodes of Battlestar Galactica. I am hoooked!

Outfit:

Navy JCrew top
Navy cashmere cardigan
pink and turquoise scarf
Levis
rain boots

Menu:
breakfast: banana; cafe au lait
lunch: cheese sandwich
dinner: tacos: wine

Finances:
$35 at Target

On my nightstand

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (not shown, it is now on my dh’s nightstand!): I finished this book on the place last weekend. We are discussing it at my bookclub meeting tonight

The Road by Cormac McCarthy — I started this in Sedona and it has completely captured my imagination, but I have set it aside because I just had a bunch of library books I ordered come in.

Dreaming in French by Megan Mcandrew — I began this last night. I can’t wait to get back to it. It is about an American couple transplanted in Paris told from their daughter’s viewpoint (so far that’s what it is about!)

The Likeness by Tana French — I think I heard about this by The Evening Reader’s  blog (see righthandside). Looking forward to starting this, as well.

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio  by Terry Ryan — my OTHER book club picked this last week for this month. Will have to get going on it. I have either already read it or tried to read it in the past. I’m sure I will remember which when I get started on it.

Slam by Nick Hornby — once again set aside until my library books are read.

FILM/MOVIES/TV

We just finished the last episode in Season 1 of Battlestar Galactica last night. (on netflix). Now on to season 2!

I will be hitting the movie theater sometime this weekend for the second Twilight movie, even if I don’t know what is called off the top of my head, I’ll be there!

BLOG FOR PAY UPDATE

So far, I’ve been offered two opportunities to post on here for pay and turned them both down. The first was a while back and was about plastic surgery. The second came yesterday and they wanted me to write about — get this — crotchless panties. No thank you. I will, however, post something for pay in the future if I think it will be relevant or interesting or at least nonoffensive, to you, my readers. Thanks for understanding.