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The Best, Extraordinary Vintage Posters from France, America and Italy

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

vintage fashion poster

BEAUTIFUL FASHION HAT DRESS GIRL FLOWERS FRENCH 24″ X 36″ VINTAGE POSTER REPRO $14.85

When I was living in a college dorm, I suffered from the fate many other like-minded girl’s endured. It was the inevitable fate of THE POSTER FAIR. Dun, dun, duuuuuun!!!!  They lure college freshmen to this poster fair, where they charge way too much money for cheesy posters that are either so famous you’re sick of them by the time you walk it back to that dismal dorm you’d so hoped to cheer up, or it looks like it could pass for a Hallmark card. Now, many  times that works for some girls – they just want a picture of a bunch of kittens dressed in pearls. But I only bought MINE because it seemed the THING to do.

I wanted desperately to be liked by my roommate, and she was very…Martha Stewart-y in all of the most generic of ways. But now that I’m older, I want to tell gals of ANY age – you don’t have to settle for what someone else will like, especially when it comes to the art on your walls. Don’t offend your eyeballs just to please someone else!

For those of you who are older, you may think posters are tacky. And well, they KIND of are. But 1.) it depends on the type of poster 2.) it’s easy to buy an inexpensive frame and frame those suckers to look 10x’s more expensive than they even are. Talk about smart shopping.

So, I went onto Amazon and looked for all sorts of vintage posters. It’s amazing that so many old ad campaigns have become such amazing posters. I doubt they’ll be using art from the Coke ads in THIS era as art posters down the road. Although those “Got Milk” posters might someday be collectible… (and I was totally a teen who had a couple of those posted on the back of my door). Anyway! I think vintage posters are an excellent way to go, and they are surprisingly inexpensive.

A lot of the posters I’ve picked have a strong female icon in them, and that’s because I think you should have that where you live as a reflection of either who you are or (let’s be honest) who you struggle every day to be.

So here you go, the best vintage posters I found:

vintage posters

Call Again vintage-style JA Doll cigar ad POSTER RARE – 24″ x 36″ $9.99
VINTAGE French Fernand Clement & Co Bicycle Poster Pal Print $17.95
Jouets (Vintage Ad, As Seen on Friends) Art Poster Print – 24″ X 36″
Au Bon Marche, Jouets et Etrennes Giclee Poster Print by René Vincent, 56×38 $179 – Too expensive, but too cute not to show you guys!
Fine Art Vintage poster Art Deco YOUNG GIRL IN GREEN poster by TAMARA DE LEMPICKA $19.99
Leonetto Cappiello (Cognac Monnet) Art Poster Print – 24″ X 36″ $3.31
L’Instant Taittinger Styles Art Poster Print, 25×37 $9.99

vintage posters 2

Vintage Art Deco Perfume Creme Cosmetic Poster By Emilio Vila $19.99
GIRL UMBRELLA THE DUNES BEACHES BY THE SOUTH SHORE LINE CHICAGO ILLINOIS VINTAGE POSTER REPRO
Coca-Cola Pin Up girl Vintage Advertising Poster $11.99
Vintage Fine Art Poster “Toilettes de Campagne et de Bains de Mer” By Andre Pecoud $18.99
PHOTOGRAPHY CAT AMBROSIO TORINO ROMA ROME ITALIA ITALY ITALIAN 15″ X 18″ VINTAGE POSTER REPRO $7.90
CYCLES SIRIUS BICYCLE WOMAN LEVALLOIS PERRET FRANCE VINTAGE POSTER REPRO $14.85
BLUE PEACOCK MODERN NEW YORK VINTAGE POSTER REPRO $14.85

She shops smart – she’s you. Our fashion under 100 blog is here for you!

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The Jessica McClintock Bedding is a Horrible Temptress to Me, Urgh

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

jessica mcclintock bedding

I absolutely do NOT need to buy the Jessica McClintock Juliet 4-pc King Queen Set. But I still bookmarked the page. Because…it’s kind of amazingly gorgeous, and I didn’t even know that Jessica McClintock was making bedding! But I was shopping at Marshall’s and saw the Jessica McClintock Paloma bedding and almost bought it on the spot.There’s also the amazing Talenti gold, and Belacour… AND Romance and Paris Blues. …But I can’t buy them ALL.

“Romance begins in the bedroom, and through this collection Pacific Coast has done an exceptional job of capturing what I am most fond of – A Romantic Lifestyle.” – Jessica McClintock Home Collection

paloma beddingtalentibelacour

romance quilt

paris blues bedding

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A Troubled Artist’s Words are Healing to this 20-Something

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
View of Arles with Irises by Vincent van Gogh

View of Arles with Irises by Vincent van Gogh

Who is Vincent Van Gogh – aside from the most basic of ideas in your head? He was a painter – famous of course, or else you’d probably never know his name. His name is synonymous with “Starry Night” one of his most famous paintings. You might also be able to recognize or name some of his other more famous works like his the eerie Skull with a Burning Cigarette, Bedroom in Arles, The Red Vineyard, Cafe Terrace at Night, The Starry Night, Starry Night over the Rhone… well, there’s plenty to pick from. My favorite groupings of his work are the ones with cypress trees (Olive Trees with the Alpilles in the Background, Cypresses, Yellow Wheat Field with Cypresses) and flowers (Sunflowers, Irises, Poppies, Red Poppies and Daisies,  View of Arles with Irises).

Olive Trees with the Alpilles in the Background, c.1889

Olive Trees with the Alpilles in the Background

As I read accounts of his biography online, I am struck by a man who had passion and was consistently put down and rejected by other’s. While I have always heard he “cut off his ear” it would appear he only cut off the bottom part of an ear lobe (not that I’d recommend it! – but the exaggeration of an entire ear being sawed off is quite different). What I had not realized was that he hallucinated near the end of his life, committed himself to an asylum for a while, and became so severely depressed that he ultimately walked into a field and shot himself in an act of desperate suicide. There is no firm grasp today on what they can say Van Gogh was afflicted from, but everything from paint poisoning to schizophrenia has been suggested. There was an awful lot of tragedy in his life, and I focus on it not to draw up a picture of a fractured man – but to show that even those who are greatly accomplished are afflicted by life. For as much as people in the public eye want to go out of their way to say they’re normal too, I feel this far too often gets whitewashed to be PR friendly and fake. Had Van Gogh lived today, we might never have learned of half of the things we know today, because glossy magazines make everything so false and shiny and “perfect” (this is why all models are generally impossibly thin). I think it’s important to understand where the heart of Van Gogh’s passion came from – which is, from feeling. And while I’m no artist, I can relate to being compelled to live my life by my heart, even with a brain that is admittedly often unhappy.

Yellow Wheat and Cypresses by Vincent Van Gogh

Yellow Wheat and Cypresses

I might have been afraid to be in a room with Mr. Van Gogh – some of his paintings are so aggressive that they make me uneasy. Other’s I quite love. But what surprises me are the quotes attributed to him from many respectable quote websites. The entire reason I began to write this piece about Vincent Van Gogh was because of a quote I saw and thought I ought to e-mail it to my Mother, who gets discouraged by her own painting far too often. But as I say about any sort of art (whether it be writing or photography) – if you’re unsure of yourself, then you’re probably better than you know. It’s often those who cockily think they’re really good that are the let down’s.

Vincent Van Gogh Irises

Irises

So, I’d like to share with you some of the Vincent Van Gogh quotes I found to be most touching to me. I hope that at least one makes you pause and reflect, or feel happier for a moment. And if he truly did say these things, maybe he was much less scary than I let myself believe in my head. Sometimes wisdom and a great capacity for love are buried under layers of what seem to be unapproachability, shyness or mistaken anger. If I could travel back to the 1800’s, I like to believe that I would walk forward with a courageous head and heart of open-mind, ready to acknowledge a man who at that time was overlooked. I’d ask him for his lessons, his wisdom, his thoughts on the small and simple things about the stars and the flowers. I always forget how much more the stars and flowers matter than anything else. But through his paintings, I am reminded. They take me to a place that seems very innate within me. I understand art more than I can understand most things – and the thing of it is that I am no art scholar. Art does for me what art is hoped to do for those by create it: make you feel. And as a writer, I’m equally drawn to his words. He spoke of what you could generalize into categories of  “disappointment”, “inspiration”, “love”, and “purpose”. I put these in quotes because I think that the most moving, powerful quotes supersede any supposed category. They are always so much more than just the idea of one word. That is what makes a quote memorable. And these I find to be worthy of committing to memory.

Vincent Van Gough quotes that I found particularly moving:

  • If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced. – Vincent Van Gogh
  • But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things. – Vincent Van Gogh
  • I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people. – Vincent Van Gogh
  • In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing. – Vincent Van Gogh
  • Love always brings difficulties, that is true, but the good side of it is that it gives energy. – Vincent Van Gogh
  • “How can I be useful, of what service can I be? There is something inside me, what can it be?” – Vincent Van Gogh

Add a little bit of Van Gogh into your day while improving your interior design skills very slowly…Van Gogh switch plates.

I played around in photoshop for this, let me know if it's embaressingly bad!

I played around in photoshop for this, let me know if it's embarrassingly bad!

Van Gogh – Cypress with Star Decorative Steel Switchplate Cover $8

Van Gogh – Irises Switch Plate – Single Rocker $9

Van Gogh – Sunflowers Switch Plate – Single Toggle $9

Van Gogh – Yellow Wheat & Cypresses Switch Plate – Double Toggle $11

Van Gogh – Poppies Switch Plate – Double Toggle $11

Van Gogh – Almond Blossms Decorative Steel Switchplate Cover $8

Van Gogh – Poppies in a Vase Decorative Steel Switchplate Cover $8

Van Gogh – Starry Nighton the Rhone Decorative Steel Switchplate Cover $8

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Free Art to Download and Admire As Though You Had Good Taste AND Lots of Money

Friday, March 5th, 2010

sarah golden JenSkelley

Sarah Golden’s Blog / Jen Skelley’s Etsy Shop

indie fix art

The Feed Your Soul – the Free Art Project is a great way to expose your eyes to new art, and get free desktop backgrounds. You can also save the images (legally!) and print them out to frame.

Every month new art is added and removed. “”Each invited artist will contribute one print that you can print out on some cardstock and frame or even just thumbtack to the wall.”

If you’re an artist, you can contribute too. It’s a great way to get exposure to your shop. I discovered two artists I especially like – Sarah Golden and Jen Skelley!

She shops smart – she’s you. Our fashion under 100 blog is here for you!

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Can you Love Yourself Radically?

Sunday, February 28th, 2010
This is what I look/feel like far too often. Is that a familar look from your mirror? It's no good. A smart female has to be happy - because being happy is the smartest thihng you can do. But how do you do that?

This adorable kitty is demonstrating what I look/feel like far too often. Is that a familar look from your mirror? It's no good. Being happy is the smartest thihng you can do. But how do you do that?

A while ago I saw a twitter hashtag about “radical self love” which is such a huge concept that it baffled me into silence. And then I forgot about it entirely while life marched on with the annoyances of coupons and phone calls. Meanwhile, I’ve been fighting some sort of flu, and feeling the way day old Ramen must feel (which is to say: BLERGHITY BLERGH BLERGH, wah).

So, this morning I find myself up early, feeling marginally better if only by a placebo effect of taking a ton of vitamins and sleeping approx fifteen years! I’m was on twitter, and I found myself trying to find people who were talking about this radical self love thing. Well, I’m no expert (and always out of the loop, I fear…) but I guess it was radical self love month this February? ANYWAY. Via XOX Bubbles, by way of Gala Darling, I saw there was a questionnaire. Well, I’m as drawn to questionnaires as much as I’m drawn to making excessive lists… So I’ve filled it out. With um, actual honesty. Gulps.

tap dancing

What does RADICAL SELF LOVE mean to you?

The art form of refusing to judge yourself harshly is radical self love. The ability to see a pimple or (gasp!) two in the mirror and still have no shame or lowered confidence to go about your day is radical self love. The idea of waking up every morning and being determined to go out of your way to be nice and make your day happy for yourself is radical self love. Dealing with ugly pieces of honesty in your life and not letting them rule it – is radical self love. Radical self love, to me, means being happy and not apologizing for it. It means blooming and running with your potential. It means flossing so you don’t have to get dentures, not covering scars or birth marks, saving something sentimental even if it’s ugly, not wearing trendy shoes if they hurt your feet… It means admitting what you love…. especially that you love yourself.

If you were engaging in RADICAL SELF LOVE on a daily basis, what would that look like?

You’d see me smiling. I wouldn’t need to sit and try to practice “smile therapy” anymore, that’s for sure… (don’t laugh!) I’m sure I’d look physically the same, but if you examined my aura (which I totally believe in!) you’d see it was a happy color. As far as the actions, I’d personally really focus on monitoring my ridiculous stress levels that are not consistent with the reality of what they should be. I would definitely take more time out to lay on the floor with my cat and just “be” without an agenda, or thinking an hour ahead to a plan. I’d do that “live in the moment” thing that people talk about, and stop putting everything off. I’d use my shampoo every morning instead of saving it until it’s expired.

What small pieces of that can you bring into your life TODAY?

Well, I guess the shampoo thing isn’t so difficult…I really want to stop “saving” so many things, thinking there will be some perfect time where I’ll be glad I’ve saved things. I need to use my stuff and be glad to have it. And while that sounds shallow – it does deeper than that. I need to be aware of TODAY, and do something unexpected and out of my routine. I need to be aware that the only one in charge of my happiness is me, rather than letting that fall onto other people in my life.

flower

Which qualities or attributes would you like to bring into your own life via the application of RADICAL SELF LOVE?

Just getting myself to like myself would be a big challenge. I never feel accomplished, or worthy, or like I deserve anything good. When people give me compliments I’m all about deflecting and fidgeting.

What beliefs do you currently hold that are stifling your regular expression of RADICAL SELF LOVE?

I guess I don’t feel that I’m “worth it” no matter how many L’oreal commercials I see.

Are the people & activities in your life HELPING or HINDERING you in your quest for RADICAL SELF LOVE? Would you be better off without them?

Actually, I have very supportive friends who never say anything but helpful, understanding, and sweet things to me. Like any normal person would, I call them liars and run away! Heh. Well, metaphorically. I simply refuse to believe them if they say anything nice. Or I take what they say, and then scale/downgrade it about 30%. I have a hard time saying good things about myself, but I’ve really followed-through on efforts to back away from frenemies in my life.

cat

How can you reflect RADICAL SELF LOVE in the way you speak, the way you dress, the way you decorate your house, the work you do?

I can take care of myself better and go the extra half mile if I have the energy (like painting my nails). I think I would benefit from exercising more than the paltry amount I do now – and the endorphins might help more.  I can finally buy a DUST RUFFLE, instead of just keep putting that at the bottom of my list – even though I really really want one because my bed feels ugly without it! When it comes to work, I can try to be less detached and worry less about getting my feelings hurt – because I have to learn to let things bounce off of me more. I’m sensitive, but I need to keep a balance. I’d like to feel more connected on all levels of my life – surrounding myself with what I truly like, and just having everything be a true reflection of me and not my anticipation of what some anonymous person might want. I want to be less easily discouraged, and I should actively remind myself to do so.

Who could you use as a RADICAL SELF LOVE role model?

This is a tricky question because I feel like everyone is under-loving themselves. Even celebrity role models I could list probably have just as much doubt about themselves sometimes, but they’re not going to voice too much of that in their national interviews. So, one of the role models that comes to my mind is my cat. HEAR ME OUT. She cannot be shamed, she has lots of self-confidence, she does what she wants, she takes lots of time to nap and groom herself, and she always lets people know when she wants something or need something. Animals in general are my radical self love role models.

Photo credits:

Please feel free to comment on the things I’ve shared, or leave a link to your own answers. And remember… She’s Smart – She’s YOU. The website  URL of shessmart.com is actually a totally self-affirming one, which I hadn’t realized because I am usually thinking about too many things at once. This blog is meant to be for YOU, whoever you are. The inspiration comes from being someone who wants fabulous things and has good taste, but cannot just go out and buy everything with no concern for price. Over my 20-odd years, I’ve had to learn to comparison shop, make pro/con lists in my mind at registers, and find the places where I can get something I really want for much less than where it’s most easily found (Sure, Bloomingdale’s has great shoes. But DSW has similar shoes at prices I can actually afford.)
The idea of not listening things on the blog that are over $100 (unless it’s a computer, piece of furniture or space suit) stems from the very real fact that that’s how I shop. When it comes to blush, comfortable flip flops, or a new pair of capri’s – I never spend more than $100. And if ever I buy a space suit, I’m sure I’ll comparison shop for THAT, too!

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What are the Best Reed Diffusers? AVOID Greenair!

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
It looks nice, huh? WELL, IT DOESN'T WORK!

It looks nice, huh? WELL, IT DOESN'T WORK!

I made a very poor purchase the other day while trying to help the planet! I was using a gift card at Marshall’s, and saw they had a display of all of these different reed diffusers. Because I keep hearing about how the scent of lavender can considerably calm a person, I decided I’d grab one. But there were lavender reed diffusers from several different brands. I picked the one from Greenair, which said it was “organic and earth friendly aromatherapy”. Normally $10.00 per bottle, I got mine for $5.99. The box claimed it was an earth-friendly product made of natural essential oils that would continue to scent my room for up to three months. Well, they should have mentioned that it wouldn’t even work for one day!

I followed the instructions just as I was told, but there was no scent coming out from the reeds unless I put my nose right over them. So I spun the sticks and flipped them around as the box said to do. But still, no scent. Meanwhile, the fluid is draining away and evaporating so fast that 1/3 is practically already gone after TWO days!

Trying to salvage a horrible product, I used the sticks and pretended I was some sort of exotic Geisha as I applied the aromatherapy oil to my neck (fully aware that it might cause a rash – but I’m reckless). Well, no rash. But no scent! It smelled for the first 30 seconds, and then it fades away. And I use essential oils for perfume, I know that’s not right. So basically, this was a total waste of money. And I read Amazon reviews that say the same thing I’m saying! Urgh.

1 Greenair Review here

2 Greenair Reviews here

1 Greenair Review here

Because I trust other people more than what companies websites say (which is, in essence – why Shes Smart offers reviews and giveaways so you can shop smart!) I went to see which reed diffusers had the best scores on Amazon.But that wasn’t helpful as most only had one review (and you can’t really rely on just one review if it’s one sentence) and one person had even voted for Greenair!

I need to know, what are the best reed diffusers?

I’m told the brand Antica Farmacista makes good ones, but they’re also upwards of $50.00.

Antica Farmacista Amber 250ml Home Diffuser

Antica Farmacista Amber 250ml Home Diffuser

Amber Diffuser$56

best reed diffusers

Japanese Cherry Blossom Reed Diffuser

Luckily, my friend says The Body Shop has nice reed diffusers, and they’re under $30. Whew. On Amazon there is ONE Vanilla one for $8, and ONE cranberry one. Snatch them up if you think you’d like to try them. I’m not sure. I think they’re priced lower because the cranberry one comes out only around Christmas. I’ll note that I have essential oils from before Christmas and they still smell great, though. And if they had one in lavender, I’d buy it right now. I just don’t want cranberry or vanilla.

She’s smart – she’s you! Shop smart because smart shopping is always in style! Our fashion under 100 blog is here for you.

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I’m a Doll! No, Really.

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

vintage doll poodle

My Winter wardrobe has been tres stylish, no? I feel the braids give me just enough whimsy!

madame alexander spring doll

Come Spring, I think I’ll go classic with a nice straw hat and floral dress. Pearls and lace mandatory, of course. We’re not running a brothel!

drew barrymore dollIf I want to be a bit more of a flower child, maybe I’ll be a bit more casual with a flower in my hair. (Note: this doll reminds me of Drew Barrymore via the 90’s)

barbie swimsuit vintage

Of course, when it’s time to swim I’ll put on my swimwear. Matching hair bow and nails, yes.

vintage pussy meow

And forget about that pooch, I’ll adopt a cat like this vintage “Pussy Meow” kitty.

(This is a random post, but I was looking at vintage dolls online so I couldn’t help it! I guess if you want a ShesSmart angle – it’s smart to get toys for your kids that they’ll always remember. I was surrounded by dolls as a kid and I LOVED them – no matter the price, or even if they were from a garage sale!)

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Too Often the Spam is Gonna GETCHU! Like The Rhythm in that Gloria Estefan Song

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

spam

Dear Smart Readers of Ours,

You have to be ever-vigilant about e-mail spam, even more than you THINK. Those spammers get smarter all of the time, even though they are generally quite a lot of idiots. I guess I would say their METHODS get smarter. Urrgh. I almost fell prey to a spam scam this afternoon! The only reasons I was able to spot it as a spam e-mail was that it was very generic (most companies and pr firms will tailor things a little bit) and I did a google check.

First I googled “TopSpot” and it seemed fine. But one of the auto google searches also prompted me to “TopSpot promotions scam” and boom, I saw that lots of bloggers said it was spam. This is where if you reply, you get on their radar. They scare you into wanting to reply to get off their list. This is what I would call….spam that does not look so spammy as it clearly is! They don’t talk about Nigerian princesses or a stranger needing money for some disease – it’s not OBVIOUSLY a spam e-mail to a lot of people (like me – and I’m not an idiot!). But it is. So here is the e-mail, and you tell me if you would have spotted it as spam right away. (Note: I’ve gotten genuine e-mails about people wanting to advertise before, and it would be nice to have someone buy  banner spot on ShesSmart.com which is why I was inclined to think maybe it was real! But as too many things in life are, this was just another case of “too good to be true”. I bet no one wants to give me lots of money if I only loan them a little until their trust fund kicks in, either?)

Dear website operator,

My name is Liz, and my company Topspot Promotions represents sites in entertainment, sport and gaming. We are looking at reputable sites to place our clients’ ads. Please let me know if you are interested.

For further details please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Liz Jenkins
Advertising Consultant
Business Development Department
liz.jenkins@topspot-promotions.net
Topspot Promotions

To permanently delete yourself from our list, simply reply to this with a blank email and you will never receive any communication from us in the future.

If I were to title this post as they always titled Friends episodes this might be, “The one where Jessica gets a headache that only gets made worse by stupid spammers trying to weasel their way into her life, wherein she decides to smash cans of tomatoes with a croquet mallet.” And if I had tomatoes or croquet stuff, that would even be true. I will call it Cromato therapy and it will be the RAGE over in England, where they probably do have croquet mallets.

Gloria Estefan…was same-tone jean on jean EVER fashionable? There is no excuse!

And you’re very awesome if you know why I’m including a piece of music from the Heathers movie:

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What I Find Surprising AND Reassuring

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

cat with socks

Two dissimilar words came to my mind the other day. They were, “Reassuring and surprising.” They promptly moved into my brain as I was laying on my bedroom floor to do some stretching. I do stretching on the floor for my back, since sitting at a desk all day can make you as achey as I imagine Heidi Klum’s permanently stilettoed feet must feel. (And even heels when preggers? Really now!)

After I’d been laying on the floor like an idiot, feeling unfairly lulled into a pre-dinner nap, I moved my head just enough to catch a glimpse of my cat lying on the floor near me. She’d been out of my eyesight before, and since shopcat’s ninja-quiet, I hadn’t heard her at all. Knowing that she was there made me geek out a bit, and that’s when I decided my feeling of this was that I was surprised but also reassured. It’s not totally unexpected to see Shopcat lurking somewhere I don’t expect her to be. And the sight of her is always welcome (well…not while I’m in the shower – and yes, that has happened). The idea that she would curl up to me, especially when I’m feeling a little low, reassures me that she feels affection towards me. And yes, I’m weird and I crave approval and affection from my cat! I’ve noticed that she follows me around wherever I go very trickly. (I’ll look up and notice that she’s on a chair nearby me while I’m watching Netflix goodies, or that she’s appeared on my bed while I’m organizing my socks.)

So, that warm feeling of seeing Shopcat there with me was surprising and then instantly reassuring. And I really like those two words paired together. Since I’m always thinking about what to write here, I wondered if there was any way to group items as being both surprising and reassuring. As you maaay have realized, I obviously did. Since I’m about to tell you!

I’ve made a list of items that I find bring out that feeling of being surprised then reassured.

1. Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls episodes that I’ve already seen surprise and reassure me by how easily re-watchable this show is. I think that quality is due to how witty and fast-paced it is. I only own one season (the 7th – the worst season!) but you can watch them on THEWB.COM for free! Yay, free stuff.

2. Soft Socks. I recently bought two pairs of Aloe Socks by Earth Therapeutics. I got mine at Kohl’s for $8.00 each. You can also get them online @ Amazon. These socks are so soft that if you forget you’re wearing them and take a moment to focus on your feet – it’s amazing to realize how comfortable you truly are.I want to note that I didn’t really take much note of the aloe factor for the socks, but I did find they were terrific to put on after I lotioned up my feet. So really, any super soft chenille sort of sock could work.

3. Apple Chips. So delicious, but low in calorie. Mmm. If you get in the habit of eating them, you start to think you’re cheating on your diet. But you’re not. Genius! I like the regular ones, or cinnamon ones.

4. New Pillows. When you get new pillows, every night you’re surprised at first by them since you’ve been out of bed all day. And then you become happy with your decision to purchase them. I’ve been experiencing this ever since I bought two new Calvin Klein pillows on sale at Marshall’s. They are SO fluffy! Softer pillows are great for people who sleep on their stomach/side – which is what I do. They were a great investment, and I got two for the price of what just one was at another store. (I secretly think that the Leachco Snoogle Body Pillow looks awesome, haha. And it has amazing reviews! But apparently these are for pregnant moms, blah blah. They get all the fun. Har. …And omg, the Snoogle Loop looks even more cool. You could use that in bed to watch TV. Ungh. Wants. I want it just so I can say “Just let me go get my Snoogle.” :D )

6. Lippy that lasts. Whether you want a lipstick that lasts, lipgloss that lasts (good luck) etc – it’s great to find a product that really works for you. It’s such a surprise to look in the mirror two hours after you’ve left home, only to see that your lip product is still there and working. One product that I’ve found that works for me is the Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain. But you still should do some layering to make the color last. When I wear it, I always put some sort of sheer lipstick over it. Lipliner is another great thing to help color stick and stay – no matter the product. The color I have for the Lipstain is the #400 “Everbloom Kiss”. It’s my favorite of all of them. I’ve also tried #410 “Bit of Blossom” (nice, a medium raspberry) and #445 “Cinnamon Smile” (a little too dark/muddy for a fair complexion).

Top Photo:

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‘Making Rounds with Oscar’ Book Review & Giveaway

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

making the rounds with oscar

A therapeutic book on death, dying, and one almighty cat.

I’ve just loaded the above picture into this post, and who should appropriately appear? Shopcat. Of course, she didn’t. That’s not her way. Instead, I felt the  soft brush of fur against my leg, as she moved about in the shadows under my desk. And just like that…I was convinced cats were psychic!!!  …Kidding. Kidding. Even after reading “Making Rounds with Oscar” I am not “convinced” that cats are “psychic”. And to be fair, that is not the premise of this book. Not at all. It’s what lured me in, but it’s not what kept me turning the pages.

I was sent a copy of “Making Rounds with Oscar – The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat” authored by David Dosa M.D., and as an obvious lover of cats, I — well, quite honestly I’ve lost my train of thought because I went off to play with Shopcat! It wasn’t a “need” to do at this moment, but I think that taking the advice of this book is important. And at its core, this book talks about the curative power of animals – cats in particular. And after I’ve played with Shopcat, freed my mind of everything other than pretending the toy I’m using is a little mouse and we’re in a chocolate factory that Shopcat guards, I do feel a restorative sense of power over my work capabilities. And on this dreary Tuesday morning in the midwest, Shopcat helps me feel less alone.

Helping people fight loneliness is something Oscar the cat does for the patients of Steere House, a nursing home in New England. I am a strong advocate for Animal Assisted Therapy, and truly believe the presence of animals helps people in even their most terrible situations. Heck, maybe especially during the terrible ones.

What makes Oscar such a unique cat to study is his supernatural-like ability to predict patients deaths. That sounds spooky, but it wasn’t like that. Dr. Dosa interviewed many of the patients families and found it was not the case at all – Oscar was not seen as a bad omen or grim reaper. He was seen as a guardian, or someone to help with an impossible transition.

While there are a couple different theories for why Oscar could be able to know when a patient is about to die, it still wouldn’t adequately explain why he does what he does. So even if there’s a science to Oscar being able to smell something in the air that signals a body preparing for death, it doesn’t explain why he’d go lay with them in their final hours. Oscar was there for the patient and the patients families, like a fuzzy ball of warmth.

And Oscar wasn’t just there for the patient. In some cases of  “the final hours” he’d be in the room, but be near the visitor instead. He lent his support. This cat, like I’d say all cats, has a sense of empathy. And like many cats, he’s not generous with it – the book describes him as your typical antisocial cat who makes up his own rules. Now, while this book talks a lot about why having a cat around a nursing home is helpful for patients and visitors to feel a sense of ease, much of this book surprisingly wasn’t about cats at all.

The book talks about the disease of dementia, in particular. A disease that is scary to so many because of it’s horrible power of your life (to erase the memories of someone’s) and because it has no cure. The first time I ever heard about Alzheimer’s disease I thought it couldn’t be actually true. “A disease that wipes someone’s memory? That sounds like a curse in a fairytale!” Curse though it is, a fairytale it is not.

I’ve thankfully not had anyone in my family affected by any type of dementia, but I have had a family member in hospice care due to a massive stroke. Almost too easily I can remember the long generic hallways lined with sad patients dulled into silence, and the sadness and uncertainty of those more difficult visits towards the end. I still found this book a compelling read because of it’s insights into what doctors vs. patients experience when confronted with end of life care for family members. I think this would be a reassuring read for someone who has gone through it, or is currently going through it. You could consider it your weekly therapy session. And just like therapy sometimes does, this book will undoubtedly make you cry a little.

Oscar is famous, although I doubt he would care to be told that. He’s like the Meryl Streep of the celebrity world. Fame doesn’t phase him, and he does not try to exploit it. He just keeps doing what he’s doing. Naturally, Wikipedia has an entire page devoted to Oscar the cat. CBS news recently published a piece titled “Furry Angel of Death? Meet Oscar the Cat” and The Boston Herald warns us to “Beware the Death Cat“. People need to make it funny, or question it. But to people who aren’t afraid of the label of “cat people” I don’t think we are all that surprised by Oscar. Cats are a little bit mystical (as are most animals, in my experience) and they are great comforts.

In the end, the thesis of this book backs up something I’ve long touted as fact to my family:

Life is unfair. But cats make it better.

Shop: Making  Rounds with Oscar – The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Cat

Giveaway: TWO (2) winner(s) will receive a copy of “Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Cat” by David Dosa MD. This is courtesy of Hyperion Books. (more…)

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