Week in Review: Week 201
Monday January 6
Love hanging in Barnes&Noble cafe leafing through expensive magazines.
I try to sneak pictures of things I want to look up online later.
Does anyone else do this?
TUESDAY jAN 7
Taking down the Christmas tree is sad.
Wednesday Jan 8
I love this little squirrel so much.
Acai Bowls for breakfast treat at work.
Thursday Jan 9
Morning sun on the trees across the pond.
My favorite lamp was broken in a mini bookcase earthquake but I got it repaired (the tape needs to come off).
Friday Jan 10
I adulted So Hard this week. I’m like, who even am I??
saturday jan 11
Chinese Scholar’s Garden in Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Staten Island (fun fact: you are in Staten Island, because you are in the borough of Staten Island. You are ON Long Island, because it is nothing but an island).
Art exhibit.
It was almost 70 degrees! It was glorious!
A different view of the city.
Just caught this briefly on the way home.
SUNDAY, JAN 12
Brunch in Brooklyn with a friend outdoors. It was a dream of a day. Warm, sunny, got to sit and people watch while enjoying our email. Eating outside is truly one of my Very Favorite Things. With a view. Especially of people walking by. And there were tons of people out on this beautiful day. People with their dogs, parents with their kids, couples hand in hand. I could have sat there all day.
Blinky Bettye
Checked out a chock-full vintage shop.
This lamp made me think of my mother.
Then we walked…
…to our Vision Embroidery class. I’m AWFUL doing anything detailed with my hands but I wanted to learn..
What a nice weekend. Now it’s back to work work work cuz I played all weekend!
What I’m Reading
![Everybody Died, So I Got a Dog: 'Will make you laugh, cry and stroke your dog (or any dog)' Sarah Millican by [Dean, Emily]](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41CMUGNjWzL.jpg?w=1170&ssl=1)
SPOILER ALERT: Everybody died, so I got a dog by Emily Dean. This book is an example of why you shouldn’t quit books you start out disliking. The first third I was annoyed, put off, ugh, she thinks she’s so funny, this is not funny. The middle grabbed me hard. For two days, to and from work, I cried in the car. The last bit she had me solidly in her corner, tearing up this moment, chuckling the next. And then it was over and I miss her. A memoir. Two thumbs up. 4/5
What I’m watching
Hulu finally had the newest season of Better Things with Pamela Adlon, so I consumed that in a matter of days. Love it, as always. I did manage to stretch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel out for most of December. This was not my favorite season. Least favorite season. But still, a very good show. Blew through Atypical in what seemed like minutes. Every episode makes me cry and laugh out loud. That’s a good’un. Started watching Virgin River, a Netflix series. Ehhh…it’s okay enough but it sorta feels like a long stretched-out Hallmark Christmas movie. You KNOW where it’s going, it’s just going to take 10 episodes to get there. But I enjoy looking at Martin Henderson, so…
You’re welcome.
And that’s it! Have a good week, everyone!
Tuija
I really enjoy your pictures. It is so much fun to see different places so far away, when sitting comfortable in own chair.
bettyewp
Thanks, Tuija! Comfy chair travel is a great kind! Glad you’re enjoying.
MJ
Re: B&N Café… guilty! I worry that there are so few bookstores left on Long Island that someday this guilty pleasure may be lost. It was indeed a glorious weather weekend… making it so much harder to get up and out to work work work this morning. Another 5 day work week… sigh… at least we have a 3-day weekend ahead 🙂
bettyewp
Yes, the loss of bookstores is sad, though I get it. I almost NEVER buy books from (B&M) bookstores anymore, they’re just too expensive. What I go for are the fancy magazines. I have a schpiel in my head that I always figured I’d whip out if anyone ever said YOU CAN’T DO THAT as I browsed through a stack of $15 magazines (which I consider to be BOOKS due to the price) about how I was allowing myself to get ONE, but I need to look through MANY to PICK one,” just as you would with the books. No one ever questions the people sitting in overstuffed chairs for an hour actually READING a book!
Yes, let’s just look forward to the 3-day weekend ahead (though I don’t think the weather is going to be ANYTHING like this weekend was. This weekend was a GIFT).
We should get together soon! Dinner one night?
MJ
I’d love to get together… let’s get it on the calendar. I’ll send you a message 🙂
bettyewp
I look forward!
julia
This wasn’t even a Where Bloggers Live post yet you showed us and taught us about your corner of the world. Fun! If I lived in one of those two doorways with the trashcans I would put some plants in pots all around my door to make it less depressing. And 70 degrees in January seems nice but is not normal. We are having warm temperatures here too which make it more bearable but is not what these trees need here. Happy Monday!
bettyewp
Yeah, did you notice the picture of the blooming white hellebores? They’re at LEAST 6 weeks early and I saw two yards with them. No, it is definitely not normal. But *was* enjoyable for one weekend in the middle of the winter.
Happy Week!
Melissa
I truly love your pic posts! I like that you stop to enjoy the moments as they happen and then share with your readers afterward.
It’s been years since I stepped inside a Barnes & Noble! I am shamelessly addicted to my amazon prime. Although, I’ve started getting away from downloading all my books and now buy some in paperback. People look at me strange when they see me reading a real book in a waiting room. Haha
Thanks for sharing! 😁
bettyewp
Thanks, Melissa. I do love trying to notice the small details around me. While everyone else is photographing the Brooklyn Bridge, I’m taking a picture of the dandelion growing through a crack in the sidewalk. The light on the wall through the window blinds. The cat’s shadow. A discarded glove at the curb.
Funny, my daughter has recently started using my Amazon Prime account for shopping. She noticed my user info one day and was like YOU’VE BEEN AN AMAZON USER SINCE 1999? I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IT WAS AROUND THAT LONG! Yeah, I was around for the start of Amazon when it was JUST BOOKS. I used to sell TONS of books on Amazon, it was so EASY, much easier than eBay, you just put in the ISBN number, condition and your price, done. You didn’t have to put in pictures or extensive descriptions, or even calculate the shipping. It was great. BUT, with every book seller in the WORLD selling on there, eventually prices went down down down until eventually it wasn’t worth the few minutes it took. Only the GIANT sellers could make it work, selling TENS OF THOUSANDS of books for (literally) pennies, and making a few extra cents on the shipping allowance. And now APrime is doing the same thing to “stuff,” killing B&M stores right and left. But it’s REALLY HARD to not succumb to the selection, price, convenience and SPEED of Amazon shopping.
I do still like a physical book. It took me awhile to get used to digital readers, though they have their own advantages over paper books…and audio books are SO great for car rides.
jodie filogomo
Okay, I’m adding that book to my list. I rarely don’t finish a book but the one I’m reading right now, the gentleman in Moscow, is getting tough to get through. I may not make it.
I’m actually jealous of your weather right now. Granted next week it’s supposed to get into the 70s everyday so I am totally looking forward to that. And I absolutely love that plaid shirt especially with the graphic tee. I can’t believe you didn’t show us the whole outfit! LOL
Xoxo
Jodie
bettyewp
I think Gentleman in Moscow is on my list (not high, but it’s there). I think I so-so liked Rules of Civility by the same author. I remember where I WAS when I read it, and sort of the basic premise, but it was non-astounding, so. Maybe I’ll keep letting GiM stay low on my list.
The miracle weather is gone for now – back to 30s and 40s this week…but that feels mild to me compared to some weather we’ve had the past few years.
I wasn’t shooting for the blog yesterday so only have a couple cell phone snaps of the outfit. It was “sneakers day” on the “outfitted for winter” wardrobe challenge…which I’m finding a little difficult to do along with the #jan20x20. I think in a day or two is graphic tee day for OfW. Well, I only have 1 graphic tee in my 20×20 challenge wardrobe and I just wore it yesterday. I don’t want to pull a SECOND one in cuz in 20×20 each item is precious and has to be able to fill more than one role. So I may not continue that one. Who knows.
I’m trying to think of some other challenge (WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME), like a REALLY really low number of clothing pieces for a week. Like, how few pieces can I use in a week, without repeating any OUTFIT. Like HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? Ha. I’m still thinking on it. Just before starting the blog I did my own self-imposed “no repeat outfit for 30 days” challenge, which…thinking of that now, hardly seems difficult at all. But I was also doing Gwynnie Bee then so had one new item every week to work into an outfit. And is really sort of contrary to the current “trying to work with fewer pieces in your wardrobe,” cuz obvi if you have a crap-ton of clothes, creating 30 different outfits would not be a challenge at all.
Linda Root
Fun pics! I, too, have recently taken photos of tops but from catalogs. Those two tops are exactly what I look for!
bettyewp
They’re from this book. And books by this author https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Homemade-Simple-Everyday-Designs seem similar, simple and lovely. Maybe THIS will be the year I’ll actually sew something!
bettyewp
I love that sort of easy, loose clothing – but it’s so hard to find in nice fabrics in plus size!
Daenel T.
These posts are so fun. I love the sneak peeks into your life and, gosh, your pictures are beautiful.
I just binge watched You. I regret that decision. I think I’m gonna go back to watching old episodes of Designing Women.
bettyewp
Oh gosh, so many people have been talking about it I thought, well, MAYBE (I don’t watch a lot of tv), but…now maybe NOT 🙂
Rhonda
Absolutely LOVE those floral chairs from the magazine pic!!! As an Interior Designer, I have a weird fetish for chairs and have collected several vintage ones in various stages of (dis) repair…all with grandiose plans of recovering with fabulous fabrics and funky paint! Currently, I use them, as is, for displays or as “tables”(i.e. to pile junk on) throughout my house…🤷🏼♀️ Have a great week!!
bettyewp
“I have a weird fetish for chairs:”
Ooh! Ooh! Me too! When I had houses (aka Room for Chairs) I was forever bringing home stray chairs from curbside, flea markets, friends’ homes, etc. I have had some Really Good Chairs! Sometime I should put together a gallery of my chairs, past and present. When I’ve talked about moving to California someday, by car, I’ve thought all I’m going to take with me is clothes, books, photos, a small box of mementoes…and a CHAIR. My last really wonderful chair I can’t bear to part with. Just me and my chair, heading west!
Chairs and dishes. And lamps. ha.
I’d love to see your chairs!
Rhonda
Gurl!!! Do NOT even get me started on dishes!!!!!! OMG! I’m fairly certain there is no such thing as TOO many dishes!! 😂🤣 I had a flashback to the Steve Martin movie, “The Jerk” when you said all you needed was your chair….and dishes…and lamps….😂
Ashley
That squirrel (and her story) is SO CUTE. I immediately googled how long squirrels can live as pets- they can live 20 years in captivity! Holy moly!
I love your sunset shots- I always feel really inspired (and in awe of nature) when I spot a sunset like this.
Wishing you all the good vibes + happiness in the new year!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
bettyewp
I googled the same thing and was so surprised!
I do love a good sunset – that day it had been behind us and we didn’t even know it was there, as the day had been quite grey…but then the bridge looped us around and THERE IT WAS! Such a nice surprise!
Thanks, Ashley, same to you!
Iris
Glad you had a more relaxing week. I’m still looking for mine.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com