Friday, March 14, 2014

Miller Time Friday: It Can Always Get Better, My girl crush and getting ready for a style statement tea party


Excellence.
Keep in mind I wrote this post yesterday during the height of a blizzard.  The snow is getting a little much, and I do worry that Mother Nature has been watching one too many episodes of Game of Thrones and wants it to be nice and snowy in early April when the next season begins. 

The most wonderful thing about starting over in a completely different career is that you have so MUCH to learn.  Were I to have decided that nonfiction was my dream, it would have been less of a steep learning curve, since I had done so much of that in my previous career, but where would be the fun in THAT?

This past week I have spent 2 days writing back story and motivation for all of the characters.  I continue to think of new ways to make the characters "real", new ways to make the plot hum.  I read voraciously about my new craft and I cannot wait to go to a conference later this year.  I am in a critique group that makes me think and I have a friend over on the Island who is also a big inspiration and help to me about writing.  I am planning to take an online course about writing for Children from Ryerson this spring.

At one point, Barry asked if I wasn't perhaps "worrying" the book. 

I think not.  I think I know it can be better and my desire is to send something out into the world that is at least as good as it could be.  Readers deserve nothing less and if I want this to be a career for the long haul, well, I need to put in the work to get it there! 

Every new thing I learn becomes an arrow in my quiver, a new tool that I will be able to use at some future point, both in this book and the ones that will follow it. 

And besides, work keeps me from gasping every time I look out the window...

*****

On a completely different topic, I have a girl crush.  Our own Jen Lawrence, who pops in to comment often, has the most wonderful blog that I completely knew nothing about til our other Jennifer mentioned it in her blog (it is a small world after all...)

Anyway, her blog Dwell on These Things, is just as lovely as her comments here. 

I binge-read a bunch of her posts (don't we ALL binge watch everything now?) and the writing and topics are divine and I think we may be separated at birth as when I read her list of likes, I could put a check beside almost every single one!

So if you are one of the few who has yet to discover her spot, scurry right over and enjoy the conversation!

*****

Not sure if you recall my post last summer about The Style Statement book?



Well as an early spring picker-upper, Saturday afternoon I am having a Style Statement tea party. 

We are going to discuss the challenges of doing the work, how we are using it (if we are using it) in our lives, from clothing to our homes to our careers, and we will even be doing a vision board.

Oh and there will be tea and scones and muffins.  You gotta love that!  I am looking forward to getting out all of my mother's fine teacups and spending an afternoon laughing with good friends!





***

Finally it is Friday.  And Monday is St. Paddy's Day.  And somewhere Fred will be out in the world with her green lace dress...

Let's raise a toast to our Irish chums shall we?

Since this is the day that everyone pretends to be Irish, let's make the

Everybody's Irish Cocktail Recipe

Yield: 1 Cocktail

Ingredients:

Preparation:

  1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
  2. Shake well.
  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  4. Garnish with the olive.


Everybody's Irish Cocktail



You may only get one of these down, but it will be a good time after that!

Have a happy Friday and Stay Safe Out there!
 

36 comments:

  1. This world is amazingly microscopic, and I adore Jen's blog...and Jen! The more I engage in this "bizarre?" microcosm of blog land, the more women I meet who I admire and find to be women I am delighted to know. You're pretty damn close to the top of my list, Wendy!!

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    1. right back at you Jennifer! I just need to figure out a road trip to your neck of the woods now! it is funny how we find people along the way that we have so much in common with. the only thing that still surprises me is that George hasn't found his way here yet, but really, that can only be a matter of time!

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  2. Oh so many beautiful teacups! You know I would love them. I need to come too! By the way, you found a beautiful blouse at Bloomingdales. I had an awful experience at the the flagship NYC store last week. I had stopped in for a yogurt and a quick look around. As I was leaving I put my scarf and coat on since it was only in the 20's outside. A few steps outside I was grabbed on the street by two men and a woman who told me I had to go back into Bloomies but didn't identify themselves. They grabbed me by each arm, dragged me up an escalator through the store and paraded me by all the customers and shoppers. They refused to answer my questions about why I was being detained. Obviously they thought I had shoplifted something! I informed them that the coat and scarf I had just put on were my property and had in fact been purchased at JCrew. They refused to listen or check and continued with me down a dark scary staircase into the bowels of the store.. Once there I removed the scarf and demonstrated that my belongings were not even from their store and when insisted that they release me or call the police they did let me go. Needless to say I was traumatized. I will have a hard time loving Bloomies again. But I will sure miss their yogurt! Compensation negotiations are underway. Glad you had a better experience and enjoy your tea party!

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    1. teacups, I will take pictures of mine for you tomorrow!

      okay that is seriously scary! I would go back to the store and demand to see the manager - that is outrageous!

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    2. How awful. Not sure what the compensation is for humiliation. Poor you.

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    3. I'd email the new CEO with a description of the event - also including time, date, appearance of the 2 security clowns - and id point out that while they were wasting time bullying you and fumbling over J.Crew merch, they could have been out on the floor catching >real shoplifters.

      A new CEO just started, his name is Tony Spring, I believe his email is tony.spring@bloomingdales.com

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    4. Teacups that is absolutely terrible. I wouldn't be able to go near the store ever again. I hope that you get the apology you deserve and are well compensated!

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    5. That's awful teacups, I would have been mortified and been in tears all night after that.

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    6. That's terrible! I hope they make amends in a meaningful way.

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    7. Thank you to everyone for your empathy. It was certainly frightening and humiliating. At the moment I just wanted to get out of the store but have since been talking with their regional security VPs. Thanks for your suggestion Fred. My husband and I are debating if it makes sense to use an attorney. It seems if they thought I had taken something they could have simply requested to look at it. I am really missing their yogurt though!

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  3. I do need to revisit Style Statement...I may be bit late to your tea :) I found this book to be quite enlightening if you can get through the difficult process. I do need to revisit it. Have a wonderful week end. We are expecting nothing but rain. May have to go to the movies. Much love.

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    1. BB - I wish you would pop over but our snow would KILL you! We had 2 more feet of it yesterday! I need to finish some of the exercises at the very back in the next month or two. Am not sure how my current bent towards more simple clothes fits in with the creative nostalgic style which I know to be inherently me. Maybe it is simply me trying on a part?

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    2. Some clothes may seem simple but they are just the back drop for those creative nostalgic pieces...your shoe collection will be the queen of the ball. Plus your glorious red mane is a style statement itself.

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    3. oh bb - you are ever the best! hmm - should I get into some of those gaudy j crew earrings - not!

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  4. Enjoy studying and learning - without it life is so stagnant!
    I just discovered Jen's blog too and really enjoy her writing and POV and I ended up binge reading her blog also :)

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  5. Your mother's tea cups are beautiful! I love tea from a beautiful tea cup. It tastes soo much better! Enjoy your lovely party. I don't know how you deal with that much snow. I get seasonal blues and Spring can't get here fast enough.

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    1. Oh those aren't hers - I haven't dug mine out yet - was lazy and pulled a pic off the net!

      As for winter - I don't know how I deal with it either!

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  6. I am wishing very much I could come to your tea party! I have a few of the exercises left to do at the end of that book but I really enjoyed the process when I was on vacation last summer. It's a great book.
    I also LOVE Jen's blog! She writes so well and she is so funny! And stylish!

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    1. I wish you were here too! WHat do you turn out to be in the end? remind me?

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  7. It's funny St Patrick's Day doesn't get a look in over here, I had no idea it was on Monday. Your tea party sounds amazing fun what a great idea, will there be pics?

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    1. Tbas - I will try to get them all to pose for pics! They are all beautiful so they ought to be willing!

      Have the Irish heard of Robbie Burns, heehee?

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    2. Oh yes so have the Ruskies, he is all about the common man, it's funny that we are so close yet so few even give a nod to St Patrick's I guess it caused too many problems here,

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  8. I think you'll never end up in the "plain" category, what with your shoes and jewelry and smile; you can mutate with your accessories and not need as much whimsical baseline, at a lower cost per wear.

    Tea and scones sounds perfect for a winter day.

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    1. Thanks Lane! The treats sound fun, but I am pretty sure I would rather be having a glass of wine with you on the condo! I keep forgetting to tell you that my daughter has a huge crush on your neighbour!

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  9. Wendy, you are too kind! Here I was having a perfectly awful day and you absolutely turned it around. What a sweetheart!

    The writing learning curve is steep and sometimes seems thankless but is sooo worth it when things start to click.

    I enjoyed the style statement book too. The tea party is a fabulous idea! Enjoy!

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    1. Thanks Jen and Sorry to just be finding your blog now! It is so good!

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  10. Well I am quite ready for one of those Irish Cocktails Wendy and having Old Man Winter shown the door. Very few cities do St Paddy's day like Chicago. They literally die the Chicago River green and have a massive parade with at least 500,000 attendees. The business district is already empty as people head out for a couple tune up cocktails before the serious drinking begins. It's the ultimate amateur hour...even worse than NYE.

    Regarding today's honoree, I must say Jen is every bit as fab as you say but she was just another mousey wallflower until Serena took her under her wing. Now she's vamping and rocking hospital robes. On the South Side they would say she thinks she's "Miss Thang".
    Very well done Wendy for a most worthy honoree.
    Slainte'

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    1. I really think I need to see that green river someday!!! Even here in our small neck of the woods people will start drinking in the morning on St. Patrick's Day. I think Serena is quite fantastic as well and you may well be right about who the mastermind is there!

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  11. oh wendy i so admire your commitment to writing. i wish i knew how to write but alas i'm just a typer.

    i'm going to pop over and see jennifers blog now. always looking for new ones you know.

    oh and i'm going to a downton abbey tea/birthday party tomorrow. i hope my pics will be blog worthy.

    xo

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    1. Janet, I think you were pretty darn well! Oh the Downton Abbey party sound so much fun! let's cross our fingers for good pics!

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  12. I would love to come to the tea party but I don't think I have the proper boots Watching the CBC news last night ... My jaw dropped.
    Welcome home .

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    1. Marsha, no one has the proper boots here!! It is crazy!

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  13. I really admire your passion and dedication to the art of writing, it is tremendously inspiring. The tea party sounds like so much fun - looking forward to hearing about it! Happy weekend!

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Kindness is a virtue...