“The common belief in our culture, with its Protestant work ethic, is that play and successful work are antithetical. This is a perversion of the natural order. The truth is that nature bestows superior work and problem-solving skills on creatures that love to play.
“I once saw a series of National Geographic photos that showed a raven trying to crack open a walnut. The stakes were high, because it was winter and food was scarce. The raven stood at the top of a snowy hill, holding the walnut with one claw and prying at it with his beak. He worked so hard that he finally fell right over on his back and skidded, headfirst, all the way down the hill. At this point, the raven forgot all about the nut. He spent the rest of that afternoon walking up the hill, rolling over on his back, and sliding down again. This, my dears, is nature’s way.
“My clients usually believe that in late Square Three*, as work pressure mounts, they should reduce the time they spend playing. Actually, the opposite is true. The more intensely you have to work, the more you need to take play breaks. Playing improves your creativity and problem-solving skills, minimizes burnout, and maintains high-level performance. Iron-willed self-discipline may be just the thing if you’re planning to be a ruthless psychotic despot. Otherwise, let the games begin.
“When I was teaching business school, I’d often assign hardworking students two hours of play every day during final-exam week. They invariably reported that their performance improved as a result. The reduction in study time was more than compensated for by a dramatic increase in the speed and effectiveness of their work. I’d like you to do the same thing this week; two hours a day not just vegetating or fulfilling social obligations but having genuine, all-out fun. Ask your essential self what it wants to do during playtime. See how much your productivity increases and your desire to commit mass murder recedes.”
- Martha Beck, Finding Your Own North Star, p. 336-337
Mr. Jaunty and I will be house-sitting for a few weeks. The home in question has a piano, accordion, three cats, treehouse, garden, fruit trees, badminton net, basketball hoop, a Wii, great Lego collection, movies ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to Eddie Izzard, and maybe a thousand books. A neighbor has offered to share his pool.
THAT’s why I missed the last two days of Summer Black-Out 2010: blissful distraction. If you could use some distraction yourself, start with a classic:
The blog may be quiet, but don’t worry — my daily outfits are less noteworthy than ever before. Personal hygiene can’t compete with all these luscious distractions. Let’s skip photos, shall we?
Top – Hand-me-down from a friend, no tag Belt – Steve Madden via Marshalls Cuff Bracelets – Ebay Jeans – Seven via Ross Sandals – Same ol’ thrifted no-name flip-flops
I ordered these cuffs as a 25th birthday present for myself— back when I thought I was debt-free and thought I had two summer jobs. The bracelets have phoenixes on the sides, a good symbol for someone who’s felt burned alive and reborn a few times…
I’d like ‘em even better if the phoenixes were right side up.
Yesterday, Mr. Jaunty and I went to watch this year’s Raft the Rio event— follow the link for a video of some nifty rafts in action.
Embarkment scene. Boy, I’m gonna miss the desert sky:
One heroic man waded halfway across the Rio Grande to rescue a lost [inflatable] orca…
…which is how I learned that some parts of the mighty Rio Grande are only knee-deep. Ha!
Swimsuit – Maxine of Hollywood via Ross, four or five years ago.
Formerly turquoise and white, I dyed it blue
This swimsuit taught me a valuable lesson: I HATE BULLET BRAS. A profile photo would reveal this suit’s retro pointy silhouette. It’s novel, sure, but the cups tend to dent —- “novel” and “dented” are two mighty unflattering adjectives for breasts.
On the other hand, I could stash my keys in there. Maybe a snack and a towel, too.
Here’s what I wore to a small dinner party tonight:
Top- Thrifted, no label. Formerly pewter, I dyed it Skirt - Adrienne Vittadini Studio via Marshalls Earrings -gomeagan.etsy.com, two years ago Belt – Calvin Klein via Savers Shoes – Kenneth Cole Reaction, thrifted
Not a major triumph. A tighter belt would have helped. I’d hoped to pull off a non-sequitur shoe, but I didn’t realize how shabby these looked. Curses! Looks like they’re demoted to casual events. UPDATE: The velvet hasn’t worn off the sides after all, they only LOOK pale because the material reflects light. Whew!
I’ve given up high heels, see, but still occasionally need dress shoes. Nothing says “party!” like mauve velvet shoes with pointy, bejeweled toes. I hate to see these fall apart.
Seen any gorgeous, vegan-friendly, nearly-flat shoes lately? Rhinestones optional.
Today, I only left home to 1) check the mail and 2) have this picture taken:
It was windy, and my camera died before we could manage an even semi-flattering shot. If I don’t hurry up and have some fun, today will have been a complete failure.
Hat – Peter Grimm, via some sketchy mall shop that only sells $7 hats Top – Charlotte Russe Jeans – Seven via Ross, two years ago Belt - Thrifted years ago Sandals – Thrifted, same as every day
This sash is my answer to the obi belt. As much as I love obi and corset-type belts on models, any belt wider than 2.5 inches makes me feel dumpy.
You can’t tell from the picture, but the belt is cream satin, printed with delicate pink and blue flowers. Every time I try to give it away, it steals my heart again. How many belts look like old china?
Today’s Lesson: don’t nap in my clothes until AFTER the daily photo. I’ll model this skirt again after it’s had a good wash and press.
Top – Thrifted, Twenty-One. Drawstring neckline had a big, floppy bow, but I put an end to that Skirt – Mossimo via Savers Belt – Dissected two thrifted belts, made this one Bag – Aeropostale via Ebay Shoes – I only own one pair of sandals. Expect to see these a lot
About that belt…
Years ago, I bought a turquoise and orange leather belt with this steer-head buckle. I was helping a friend teach simple line dances for a church activity, and thought it’d be a hoot to show up with a tacky, western-themed belt. I even bragged to pals about my huge belt buckle.
Ha! By southern New Mexico standards, my buckle was downright dainty. The ranchers and rodeo champions in the congregation put me to SHAME. I never knew how many platter-sized belt buckles lurked in my friends’ closets, waiting to double as shields or sleds.
The blinding orange ‘n’ turquoise belt was eventually replaced with something more subtle, vegan, AND versatile; the macrame holes make this belt adjustable enough to wear at waist or hip level. Nifty, eh?
I always assumed pencil skirts wouldn’t accommodate my big ol’ legs, but A. of academichic inspired me to give ‘em a go. Thank you, A.!
Sal at alreadypretty.com has declared this week Summer Black-Out 2010, in which all interested parties abstain from wearing black clothing for seven days straight. Sal’s rules allow for black accessories, workout clothes, and prints containing black.
But after my strict religious upbringing, I DEMAND rigorous standards; therefore, I will wear no black whatsoever for the remainder of this week. Not even black undies! Don’t worry, I don’t post underwear pictures, unless this and this count…
Anyway! Because I’m a day behind schedule, I will do penance by continuing the challenge an extra day. Two, if I have enough clothes.
T-shirt – thrifted, Anchorblue. Formerly white, now dyed Necklace – Ross Skirt - Mossimo. Formerly beige, now dyed Sandals – thrifted, no name Purse - Some cheapy brand called “Emille M” via Ross
Permission to speak freely? I… I don’t LIKE black, so I rarely wear it. I admitted this at alreadypretty.com; Sal signed me on anyway. She’s so benevolent.
So while ditching black is no great sacrifice for me, posting pictures is. While I dearly, dearly love clothes, I seldom love full-length photos of myself. Ah well! Time to face facts. How can I ever refine my personal style without knowing how I really look?
Tune in tomorrow for more Summer Black-Out 2010 pictures!
When reading old British novels, I’m sometimes jealous of characters who receive “hampers“. The Little Princess got them, I know, as did James Herriot…. did Harry Potter ever get a hamper? Anybody?
Last week, my Mom and sister sent me a queen-size package full of candy, clothes, music, toys, beauty samples, novelties, a book, etc.. As I opened it, cooing and gushing, I realized, “Hey, this is the American equivalent of a hamper! ” I guess ‘hamper’ sounds exciting because it’s foreign, like siestas and autobahns.
This massive care package/hamper also contained a 14 oz. bag of…
…multi colored tapioca pearls! Way to go, Thailand!
Tuesday I made a double-batch of vegan tapioca using this recipe, which might benefit from clearer directions. The pudding was fine, if a little heavy. Mr. Jaunty loved it. Alas, the pearls lost their color while cooking, giving the pudding a slightly gray cast. Dingy pudding.
Back when I was young and ambitious, I read Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Now that I’m only semi-young and even less ambitious, I greatly prefer Small House of Uncle Thomas:
Is it safe to say that everyone prefers Small House of Uncle Thomas?
