emerald 116

I like to introduce my readers to all of the important characters in my life. Meet my newest love- she's a Husqvarana Viking and I've yet to name her. Purrs like a kitten, though. I knew it was a perfect match when she sewed right through 73 (ok, nine) layers of denim without so much as a hiccup.

(BTW if you are in the Albany area, the independent H.V. retailer that rents space in JoAnns is having a killer sale on machines. Like killer. They have a fancy computer one that is practically half off (that I decided against because I have enough sewing machine troubles without adding in computer troubles, am I right?))

magazines, a personal history

(Click picture to enlarge.)

In the beginning of my magazine reading life, there was Highlights. Finding hidden pictures, etc. No doubt it was slipped into my reading pile as part our summer enrichment activities (which was just a fancy name my mom used to fool us into doing homework during the summer in hopes of fostering a lifelong "love of learning"... sneaky, but effective).

Then came the Teen Beat/Tiger Beat phase, which probably lasted longer than it should have. JTT (come on!), Devon, Leo, the Lawrence Brothers and a few certain boy bands that I refuse to blog about.

Onwards to Seventeen, YM and the like. Not much in those magazines, so not much to say here.

I won't pretend that I don't pick up a Glamour or Cosmo every once and awhile, usually alongside a purchase of nail polish, self-tanner, Riesens, hair product or all of the above. At-home spa days, you know. But for the sake of chronology, let's leave them behind in the 2002-2006 period of my life.

Here's where things start to get lame. Women's Health isn't so bad though. Healthfulness. The first tends to get repetitive each issue and the contradictory to the point where I'm not sure WHICH workout to follow for a beach ready bod in six weeks and whether or not I should drink red wine or coffee or cut out caffeine or take multivitamins or abandon them.

On then to Yoga Journal, which is great and has been uncanny in its timeliness of answering my internal questions ("WTF is Warrior III and how the hell do I do it?" Answered in the next issue. "My allergies are kicking the crap out of me!" And it's talked about in the next issue. And so forth. "I wish my calves were more stretchy and flexible." Enter an article all about stretching.)

I've written about The Economist before.

We know about Blueprint (and Domino). And now I should admit that I've just fallen full force into Martha Stewart Living. I've only ever bought two issues of it, but that's probably just because by the time I'm finished waiting in line at the store I've already scoured it cover to cover. And this, my friends, is lame. Right? I mean, Martha? Should be making fun (and omg do yourself a favor and click the link, watch the video). But instead I'm secretly harboring dreams of becoming a food photographer. Blergh.

keep on truckin'

I planned to run 7 miles yesterday. In a decidedly uncharacteristic move, I ran 8 instead. That felt pretty good.

weekend sewing workshop

Swoon swoon swoon.

Heather Ross, of Weekend Sewing fame, is hosting a few Weekend Sewing Workshops at Blueberry Hill Inn in Goshen, Vermont. She promises "serious social sewing, amazing gourmet eating, and a little hiking and swimming at one of the most lovely little secret forest lakes in the state." Yes, please. The cost includes two nights at the inn, all meals and access to an intriguing "famous bottomless chocolate chip cookie jar" plus the pleasure of bad-ass seamstress company. Just wanted to spread the word in case anyone is looking to double or even triple their cool points this summer.

PS- Oh yeah, and Denyse Schmidt will be a guest teacher. In case you hadn't already decided that this is the coolest-sounding event ever.

PPS- Have I talked about Weekend Sewing yet? Since everyone & their mama has posted about it, I'll let you wander around Google for the more eloquent book reviews. In sum, I'll say that it freakin' rocks. Added it to an Amazon.com order and haven't looked back (it's real cheap on there). Expect to see some projects pop up here this summer.

(Photo from Weekend by Heather Ross)

Update: It turns out I shared my desire for this book with you before, just know that I have followed through and continue to ogle its pages on a regular basis.

on shoes and neuroses

At our weekly dinner, the gals & I were discussing high heels. None of us wear heels with any regularity but we love the idea and look of them. For me, a few factors discourage heel-wearing:

1. Comfort. The most comfortable heels are nowhere close to being as comfy as the shoes pictured above.
2. Self-consciousness. I feel kind of crazy in heels and I imagine everyone is looking at me thinking, "Poor thing. She doesn't wear heels much and now she walking funny and is on the verge of tipping over."
3. Efficiency. I'm usually running late for something, so I need to be able to scoot around fast and without fear.
4. Laziness. I don't know... I've got a few pairs of cute flats and a pair of moccasins that I rotate in with good frequency, but in the winter I usually throw on the Earth shoes (unless boots are required), in the spring and fall I've been throwing on the Keens, summer weekends I break out the Birks and duh for my runs I rock the Asics.

Heel-wearers, how do you do it? Tell me your secrets. In theory I KNOW that heels make your legs look longer and leaner and meaner and fiercer, etc. etc. and we can all agree that the illusion of longer legs wouldn't be the most disastrous thing for me... but in practice I just can't get myself to wear 'em. But I secretly love them.

(Is it weird that after I took this picture, I started to worry that it wasn't the most accurate representation of my shoe collection and that maybe I should take pictures of all of my boring shoes to prove that I'm not actually as lazy as I pretend to be with my shoe choices. The only reason I didn't do this is because I was running late. Aha! And needed practical shoes to run out the door. Full circle.)

a reminder