I am crazy for the smell and look of cut flowers. Freshening the vase water or managing the stamen pollen can be a hassle. An alternative to that effort is a dried boxwood, an orchid, a myrtle topiary or a large monstera leaf.

Netflix’s new series “You” roped me in with its premise of stalker love but what really grabbed me was the well designed glass cage in the basement of Mooney’s bookstore. While not a new concept to preserve light and privacy, the interior glass room is a great way to add a modern architectural detail to an otherwise plain space.

A little reflection is in order before moving on to 2019.  As always, there has been change–not even such unpleasant change, although that’s in there too.

2018 was learning how to let go of things I didn’t know needed to be let go.

Becoming an empty nester  was not so much a loss as it was a realization that life goes faster than you think it will and all the time and opportunity you think you will have once “fill-in-the-blank” happens doesn’t necessarily materialize.

Cooking for two is not as satisfying as cooking for more. Yet, I have spent more time than I would have imagined on the phone with my children–because when they call I will always answer and put everything aside to hear what they want to say. They are so damn interesting.

A long term friendship ended in 2018. And that’s both sad and freeing.

A man I knew when he was a vital college and professional athlete is battling a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a sad long term prognosis.

A college boyfriend died too young. While he didn’t factor into my life for almost 30 years, his loss feels painfully current. It is now only I who will hold the memory of that time.

A treasured mentor is no longer available. His progression of Alzheimer’s makes him unreachable.

Not all holidays will each family member be in attendance and not all flights with loved ones aboard will land safely with a text message to me.

I have let expectations go in some of my relationships and upped them in others.

In 2008 I read Nora Ephron’s book, I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts About Being A Woman  and I now know a bit better what she meant. I recommend it.

I look forward to 2019, to learn to be a better me without some of the distractions I have had in the past. And to prioritize new ones that bring me joy.

Time for my annual list of words or phrases that need a little space before employing them in our speech. Cheers to 2019.

Up level

Level Up

Skill set

Codify

Optics

Mike drop

Disruptor

Vertical

Tribe

#too, (not, #metoo, that one can stay)

No matter the length or fabric, I am a huge fan of a toggle coat.

My Grandma Anne used to preach “you buy good and you have”. Translated, this means, buy the best quality of something you can afford so you can use and enjoy it forever. Conversely, if you buy something cheaper, it will fall apart sooner and you will have nothing. I was tutored on place settings, table linens, and the way fine garments are finished. Grandma Anne was all about having good. Taking good care of whatever she had was in that lesson too. Polishing the silver service my mother gave me or my luxurious leather boots all bring me back to that sentiment. When we purchased our quality vintage dining room table many years ago, one of its brass feet was badly pitted and water damaged. Pre-Google, I struggled how to fix it myself. A recent quick search gave me a hardware resource for the replacement . Voila, I bought good and now I have

After years of looking at white marble, black marble is looking fresh in bathrooms and kitchens.

Sometimes style things just grab your attention. I don’t know if I will ever wear black tights (are tights back?) with white shoes, but this looks so good to me right now.

 

Faux Bois “false wood” has its roots in the Renaissance as part of  trompe-l’œil. It became more widely popular as a craft in the late nineteenth century in both public and residential applications and still plays well with all decors. I think it looks especially great in modern settings.