You know when you’re working too hard to make something work? Yeah, don’t. Whether it’s shoes, relationships, the biggest financial decision you’ll make in your entire life or high-waisted pants, this holds true: Don’t force it.

For years, I have been pining for a Proper Home Library. (By “Proper Home Library,” I mean an entire wall stocked neatly with books of beautiful prose and thought-provoking tomes, and a beautiful upholstered reading chair befitting a smartypants glamourpuss like me.) But in all the ways I’ve imagined it, I never dreamed up anything like this…

Earlier this year, I ended my relationship…with television. After making sweet love to my Tivo all winter, I decided to break it off with my remote and go back to the books. I went literal, literally.

So, for the first post in this series on Swagger, let’s start with the definition.

Swagger (SWAG-uhr): Noun.

It’s a FEELING: the ability to remain above it all, focused. Keeping your head about you when all else is going to hell in a handbag. It’s believing and acting like the chaos dumped at your heels was [...]

I have a little secret. I design women’s lingerie (www.lavande-swk.com) and yet my own top drawer has been woefully abandoned. My unmentionables have become just that. Not. Worth. Mentioning.
Admittedly, this isn’t something that’s important to most. Some people live by a mission statement. Or it might be crucial to make a final statement. For [...]