(A beautiful start to the week.)
This week was rough. James and I didn’t feel well, and juggling schedules and emotions was really tough at times. But today is Friday and we have a weekend full of fall events to look forward to. I baked pumpkin bread last weekend, but we still need pumpkins for our porch! That’s part of our plan, as well as some relaxing, too. Here are a few things that caught my eye this week.
This video makes me smile.
A new musical based on Degas’ Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.
Tom Hanks’ new short story.
A watch workshop. I find this fascinating.
VavaVida, one of my favorite fair trade stores, is raising money for breast cancer research.
Destination: Delivery’s weekly post was written by the author while she was in early labor.
Have a wonderful weekend!
(Lena Dunham, photographed by Chris Buck for The Guardian.)
I just finished Not That Kind of Girl, Lena Dunham’s eagerly anticipated memoir, and I really liked it. It’s been picked apart by critics and there’s even some controversy, too, but I found it entertaining and insightful. Dunham’s life is completely different than mine, and I enjoyed her humor and honesty as she describes significant events from her life. It’s clear from the beginning that Dunham doesn’t have it all figured out yet, and like most people in their twenties, she’s still working on things. She just chooses to do it on paper and in front of a camera, topless.
Because she’s not yet 30, most of Dunham’s essays revolve around her childhood and college life, and her writing is very relaxed and conversational. Since I’m a fan of both Tiny Furniture (Dunham’s film) and “Girls,” I find it a bit hard to separate Lena, the writer, director, and actress, from Hannah, the character. While reading Not that Kind of Girl, I could hear Hannah’s voice and I pictured Aura’s family loft (seen in Tiny Furniture) when Dunham described it throughout the book. I’m certain that Hannah and Aura are extensions of Dunham, because she created them to embody various aspects of her real life, and everything seems to mesh well in her memoir.
Dunham was raised by artists in New York City and comes from a privileged background, so her writing has an obvious affluent slant to it, sort of like Sofia Coppola’s works. I don’t mind that fact, and it’s a nice escape from my quiet, suburban life. I find Lena Dunham really refreshing and she is honest to a fault. If Not That Kind of Girl is your first introduction to Dunham, it might be off-putting, but for fans of her show, it’s a nice glimpse into her real life.
Have you read the book yet? What did you think?
(Belgian chocolate from Mary Chocolaterie.)
Ryan spent last week in Belgium for a work conference, and he brought back some wonderful treats for me! Before he went, I made sure to do my research, and discovered that Belgium is a great place to stock up on French beauty products found in the abundant pharmacies there. Two great articles are by Bois de Jasmin and The Private Life of a Girl, if you are interested in learning more. It’s common for visitors to bring an extra bag along to tote home their beauty finds, and that’s exactly what Ryan did, along with some Belgian beer, of course.
He also bought a lovely box filled with handmade chocolates from Mary Chocolaterie, and as you can see, the box is almost empty now.
(Beauty products from a Belgian pharmacy.)
My list of beauty items included anything by Roger & Gallet, a French parfumeur that no longer sells products in the United States. I used their soap as a girl, when my mom was able to buy it at a local perfume store, but now it’s incredibly hard to find. Ryan brought back a large collection of fragrant soaps (only three are pictured here), as well as some lovely body spray, too. He also found Nuxe’s famous lip products, Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm and the Lip Moisturizing Stick. The balm is thick and heavy, meant to be used overnight and in cold weather, and the stick is great for everyday use. Some of Nuxe’s products can be purchased online, so I can restock if I want to.
I didn’t get to visit Belgium myself, but these finds sort of make up for that fact. And best of all, Ryan has a trip to Paris in the works, so I’m already working on another list. Have you ever visited a French pharmacy? I’d love to hear about your favorite products.
