New York State of Mind: Hometown Journalism

photo by Mill Creek Multimedia

Today I'm sharing a heartwarming article written by Julie Muhlstein, a fantastic columnist from my hometown of Everett, WA.

Stories like this one are wonderful to write and even better to read. They give me hope and make me grateful for the blessings in my own life. I hope you enjoy Gage's story as much as I did. Happy Friday!

Everett Boy's wish to be a cop granted by Julie Muhlstein, The Herald - Everett, WA

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In other news, guess what I'm doing tomorrow...going apple picking in Wisconsin! I'm so excited. Pictures to come on Monday. What are you doing this weekend?

wednesday wisdom: beauty

 

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my mixtape for you

listen here

I love Spotify. You can access an endless variety of music without forking over a $1.29 per song (sorry iTunes). It's a great way to give a new artist a listen and check out all the songs on a brand new album before you decide to buy it. Plus, who doesn't love creating playlists! 

Today I thought it'd be fun to share the five songs currently at the top of my playlist. My mixtape for you if you will. How do you like to listen to music? What's your favorite song right now?

fantastic dresses to brighten a monday morning

photos via InStyle

It's a Monday if there ever was one. This morning I woke up an hour late. Then, when I went to catch the bus I found out it wasn't running due to construction. Can you say awesome with a capital 'A'?!

To brighten your morning and mine, here are my favorite looks from last night's Emmy's. Julianne Moore wins best dressed hands down. The color. The flowing skirt. The laid back hair. Elegant simplicity at it's best. Moore's ensemble emitted the same tone and splendor as Emma Stone's Calvin Klein frock at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards.

Ginnifer Goodwin's magnificent tangerine Monique Lhuillier confection was a close second for me. And although Julianne Hough resembled a shiny mermaid, I found myself completely on board with her look. Strange but true. It must be her fabulous hair.

What looks were your favorite?

New York State of Mind

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A thoughtful analysis about preconceived, often prejudice, notions on leadership...
 
Must Great Leaders Be Gregarious? by Susan Cain, The New York Times
"We prize leaders who are eager talkers over those who have something to say. In 2004, we praised George W. Bush because we wanted to drink a beer with him. Now we criticize President Obama because he won’t drink one with us."

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Another raw, poignant essay from Times' ongoing series about Anxiety...

Surviving the Pain at the Roots by Alexandra Heather Foss, The New York Times
"I believe that anxiety is the result of a violent culture where abuse has been so normalized it seems insignificant. We are told that to be strong means to suffer in silence, when strength really comes from giving our suffering a voice."

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An engaging perspective on the motivation behind work and its relationship to leisure...

What Work Is Really For by Gary Gutting, The New York Times 
"Capitalism, with its devotion to profit, is not in itself evil. But it becomes evil when it controls our choices for the sake of profit."

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A fascinating albeit disturbing article about the workings of child molesters, with the Jerry Sandusky scandal taking center stage...
 
In Plain View by Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker
"When monsters roam free, we assume that people in positions of authority ought to be able to catch them if only they did their jobs. But that might be wishful thinking."

Wednesday Wisdom: Romantic Optimism

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I wasn't a fan of Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, Love, but I completely identify with this statement. It sums up my experience with love. Too often I have fallen in love with a guy's potential rather than the here and now.

You can't change someone or make them progress faster than they're ready. You also can't propel two people to be at the same place in life if they're not. Despite my knowledge of these truths, I've fought like hell to disprove them. No such luck.

It's important to remain hopeful about love, but be careful not to deceive yourself into unnecessary heartache. There's no use running a three-legged race alone. It doesn't work. I've tried.

on my bookshelf...

Although working full-time and going to school seem to afford me little time to eat healthy and exercise, I've found myself reading more thanks to my one-hour lunch break and commute time on the bus.

Last month for The Everygirl Book Club I read Diane Keaton's memoir, Then Again. Like Diane's character and talent, Then Again is no ordinary memoir. Diane intertwines her mother's life story with her own, creating a beautiful tapestry highlighted by humor, memories, failures, and triumphs.

The Receptionist's cover might lead one to believe it's a work of fiction. However, Janet Groth's tale is one composed of fact and experience. Her prose captured me from start to finish. Anyone who is captivated by writing and publishing should read this unique biography.

I'll be delving into Mary Soames' memoir, A Daughter's Tale, this week. I discovered the book in the August issue of Vogue. Soames, Winston Churchill's only surviving child, was featured as part of the magazine's annual age issue. My interest was instantly piqued. Reading will now commence.