But for the past 16 months, I have been pretty particular about one in particular. Then this week, after months of negotiations and culminations, walk-throughs and drivebys, buildups and letdowns, we decided to walk away. To be sure, this was not the expected turn of events, but even more surprising has been my reaction. I’m not disappointed. Not depressed. But actually, relieved. Yup, relief.

For so long, it was like trying to force a square peg in a round hole. All these problems, big and small, tripping up what should have been my joyous Jimmy Choo stride into the flyest house on the block.  And finally – FINALLY – I stopped. And that brings me to what just might be the most revelatory covetworthy idea yet. Covetworthy Tip #84: Don’t force it.

Incidentally, this truism is worth applying to many facets of a covetworthy girl’s life: be it shoes, relationships, high-waisted pants or the biggest financial decision you’ll make in your entire life. You know, when you’re working too hard to make it work? Yeah, don’t.

And as if I needed any more proof, there’s also this: since Monday, I’ve thrice been complimented by strangers on my makeup (when all I was wearing was moisturizer, Great Lash, eyeliner and Smashbox gloss.) Then two people stopped me in Beverly Hills and asked if they’ve seen me on television.

Coincidence? I think not.  Just goes to show that a clear head trumps clear skin anyday.

Related posts:

1. The Underwear Overhaul Project, Volume I
2. I Dress, Therefore I Channel My Covetworthy Style Icons
3. Swagger Defined

I have no space for a PHL of my own right now. The sexy hilltop lovenest we bought seven years ago now has exactly 100% more humans and approximately 300% more noise-making plastic things that must go…somewhere. So imagine my surprise when, surfing for beautiful things to write about on this blog, I came across this.

How gorgeous is THIS?!? I am enthralled by this and it just proves my point. Covetworthy Tip #938:  Open your eyes. Covetworthy is everywhere. This is elevated beyond a library: it’s an art piece, a conversation starter, and yes, the mother of all geek chic projects. I mean, who organizes their books according to jacket color? Are we in agreement that this will make it impossible to find a specific book? But aren’t we also in agreement that we don’t give a rat’s ass if the results are this good?

This photo has inspired me to create beauty around me and to find luxury in the little things, the mundane, the everyday. So today I’m starting with my bookcase.

What are you inspired to make more beautiful?

Related posts:

1. Reading is Mental
2. Clearly Covetworthy
3. I Dress, Therefore I Channel My Covetworthy Style Icons

Earlier this year, I had to end 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.

I have been an avid reader all my life, but for too long saying those words was cowpie. Living in NYC, I exhibited all the symptoms of a real reader – my four room apartment had but one television, on which I watched Seinfeld and the occasional rented video. I finished a book a week MINIMUM and frequented lit lovefests. Now my home has two more TVs than bedrooms, all but one have DVRs and my two-year-old can wield the remote with the best of ‘em. It’s just wrong.

My problem is/was that I had gotten out of the habit of reading. My TV and magazine addictions and their lure of good/bad, drama/suspense/conclusion wrapped in 22 minutes or 2 pages really jacked me up. Read the titles and you know the full story.

I took my book project seriously. I knew that, because I was rusty, picking up Cormac McCarthy’s The Road was probably going to be abandoned at the driveway. So I created categories, from the Brain-Candiest to “The Impressives.” Herewith, my report card (categories in italics, actual works in bold:

1. Chicky but Not Chick Lit. (Suffering through 2 hours of rom-com onscreen is agonizing enough. I couldn’t bear giving my nights and nail appointments over to it in print.) I read Valley of the Dolls. What a fun romp. Must have a dinner party with the girls to watch the DVD. Maribou slippers required. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls both by Lisa See. Enjoyable easy reads that made me treasure my friendships.
2. True Classic. As I do once a year, I read Their Eyes Were Watching God, and as I do once a year, loved it. I’m reading Wuthering Heights, which I haven’t done since 1989. The only one not completed, since other books keep cutting the line. Case in point…
3. Parenting. I read Nurture Shock, and it was indeed a shock. This book blew my mind. I have a lunch date-slash-discussion about it later this week and I cannot wait. This book rocked the San Andreas fault of my parenting ideals, and the aftershocks keep coming.
4. The Impressives: Outliers. Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. The End of Overeating – also a mind-blower. Another look at how the food industry has coopted and irrevocably altered the way, the amount and the quality of we eat.

So I give myself an A- for taking on and almost completing the challenge (damn you, Wuthering!!)  I’m starting it up again for winter. Want to read together? Here are my new categories, books yet to be selected:

• Something sentimental, a story that will remind me how precious and fleeting this all is. Love Story perhaps?
• Biography – I’m leaning towards Jackie O, probably because I just saw a doc about the Kennedys that got me all hyped
• An underappreciated gem
• A new voice. I read Uwen Akpan’s Say You’re One of Them last year and was reminded how delicious a new discovery can be.
• Domestic bliss – I’ll be home cooking and entertaining guests from now until January. I sure as shit better figure out how to make it pleasurable and presentable.

Happy reading!
Sxxoo

Related posts:

1. From the “Anything Can Have Style” Archives
2. Swagger Defined
3. The Underwear Overhaul Project, Volume I

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 your stepping stone to a greater and higher place.

It’s a FORM OF CURRENCY: yet unlike most monetary units, it isn’t subject to the peaks and valleys, whims and whimsies of the global marketplace. You can’t buy with it, but it can buy you lots…respect, loyalty, and power, to name a few. At home and in the home.  Abroad, as a broad, among the broads.

It’s a POWER POSITION: the corner office of cool. That DESIRED place we all strive for. It’s knowing what you’re worth and commanding full price, down to the last penny, pound or Euro.

It’s a CONSCIOUSNESS: Being fully aware of where you stand, who you stand with, who you can’t stand and what you won’t stand for.

It’s a MYSTIQUE: Choosing when, where, what and how many secrets to share. Chicks with swagger manage their magic well. They may live their lives as an open book, but they keep the juiciest parts password-protected.

It’s a LOOK: Ultimate comfort in one’s one skin, whether that skin is faux or fur, nude-colored or au naturale. You’re aware that fashion’s favorite new hue is violet, but when you rock it, rest assured that the word “shrinking” never enters anyone’s mind.

It’s a SKILL:  It’s being bold enough to step up to the plate, to admit one’s missteps, and most importantly, to step aside when the situation requires.

So now you know why it’s covetworthy.

Know someone with swagger? Share this with them.

Related posts:

1. Swagger that Matters
2. What I know…
3. Reading is Mental

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 me, it’s all about the Understatement. (And right about now, mine is the sound of crickets chirping in overgrown fields.)

I never thought this would happen. But two babies in two years can wreak serious havoc on a girl’s mojo, ya know? So now, bottoms bounce around with no tops. Once-doted-upon lace frillies (pre-bump) nestle next to well-worn Hanky Pankys (mid-bump.) Spanx sidle up to Agent Provocateur. We recently had a weekend away from the kids and, whereas I used to plan my vacation boudoir ensembles in advance, this time I just stashed a couple fresh pairs in the bag and prayed that this would be a lights-off situation. Pathetic.

What I know is that keeping a tight lingerie wardrobe requires maintenance. (Just like missing a few days at the gym won’t hurt, but skip a year and see what happens to your ass. No, seriously, go to a mirror and look at your ass.)

So I’m airing the proverbial dirty drawers to make this promise: I am heretofore undergoing an aggressive underwear overhaul.

1. I PLEDGE to purge – anything that doesn’t inspire has got to go.
2. I PLEDGE to buy things that match. Seems redundant but some things just must be said. (And THAT goes without saying.)
3. I PLEDGE not to make purchases from catalogs – that’s cheating. I will summon up the ovarios to walk into a lingerie department or boutique, and engage the services of a sales chick to fetch what I need, regardless if she’s enviably fit or heartbreakingly geriatric.

And finally…,
4. I PLEDGE to wear everything that I buy. No saving and no second-guessing.

Stay tuned for the updates, uploads and the uplifting…

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1. Closeted…