This & That: No. 129

~Book

~The Woman I Wanted to Be

Hands down, Diane von Furstenberg is one of my favorite designers; her wrap dresses are what I would live in if I wore a dress everyday. In her new book, being released on October 28th, she takes readers back through her childhood in Brussels and along her journey to becoming the uber successful businesswoman. One of her favorite quotes that I regularly savor is “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to be” , thus the book’s title, and really, isn’t that what we should all want to define and then become in our daily lives?

~Broadway

~A Delicate Balance

~Three-time Tony award winning actress Glenn Close returns to Broadway this fall for a limited showing of A Delicate Balance. Directed by Tony-award winning talent Pam MacKinnon, she stars opposite John Lithgow in a drama about a marriage that is stretched to its limits in one short weekend. Previews begin on October 20th with opening night scheduled for November 20th at the Golden Theater and running through February 22nd. While I most likely won’t be able to enjoy this performance, if any of my readers get the chance, I would love to hear about the experience. I can only imagine she will be magnificent.

~Movie

~The Best of Me

If you were transfixed by The Notebook

, Nicholas Sparks has finally brought readers another book and now film to bring your box of Kleenex to. Inspired by his 2013 novel of the same name, Sparks treats his readers to a long-lost love story that reveals unknown truths and a passion rekindled. Opening today in theaters, have a look at the trailer below.

~Shopping

~Ganni Woolen Wrap Coat

Similar in style to a classic camel coat, this sleek wool boucle wrap coat is an investment that won’t break the bank and will leave you looking stylish for many seasons to come. Available in other colors as well, perhaps your new fall/winter coat is just a click away!

~Zara black ribbed long sleeve dress

When I initially saw this dress, I was drawn to it for its comfort and leisure-quality. Beckoning the woman wearing it to relax, yet feel feminine, add a cup of something delightful to drink and a companion to converse with on a lazy week day and this one piece wonder is a keeper.

~Travel

~The Farmhouse Inn

Okay, lovers of wine, travelers in search of luxury, I have found your new accommodations. The Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County, California, offers the exquisite backdrop of California vines and a boutique home-away-from-home that you will have a very hard time leaving.

~recipe for Fig Honey Tart~

And yes, the weekend has arrived, and what a rapid pace it did keep. Time for catching one’s breath, ignoring the clocks and finding more than a few moment of leisure to lounge, dream and be. Are you with me?

Yesterday someone asked me what I was up to this weekend, and in my foggy mind-state of exhaustion, I couldn’t remember. Soon after the conversation, I flipped through my planner and was reminded that while few responsibilities are on my list, I am looking forward to just meandering without purpose and letting the two days take me where they will. And what a gift such weekends are, no? I may not have felt this comfortable with saying “nothing” in the past, but I was internally giddy when the words left my mouth – not an ounce of feeling that I was uninteresting or anti-social. Whether that’s a sign of a too busy work week or discovering an inner calm I’ve been desperately wanting for far too long, I may not know, but I’m going to enjoy it.

As you go about your leisurely weekend, I’ve gathered up a few articles you might enjoy:

~Frustrated with multitasking? New evidence reveals that letting it go should be a top priority – read here to learn more.

~Don’t have time for a book club, but enjoy discussing what you’ve read with friends? Why not start an Articles’ Club?

~And in the pursuit of happiness, we might just be making a few mistakes. Read Marc & Angel’s article on the “7 Crazy Mistakes We Make In the Pursuit of Happiness“.

~And while I haven’t read the book by Gillian Flynn, I was invited to watch the film “Gone Girl” last weekend, and I was fascinated by how much it fascinated me. Why? At its core, it’s a brilliant satire about the ideals of perfections both men and women project and inflict upon themselves when it comes to marriage, as well our potentially misguided trust in mass media, or at least that’s where I’m at so far in my analysis. Read these two commentaries (here & here) to dive deeper into the discussion. Trust me, it’s worth your time even if you didn’t read the book or watch the movie.

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