Hello Pretty

What is that you ask?  It's an iPhone charging dock made out of  a book.  Jane Eyre in this case. It's kindof fantastic.  I'll be honest, I don't really understand how the charger is in there and I don't really understand how the phone stands up like that without any sort of rest.  But I think it's fab-o regardless.  It's also a bit pricey at $50....Wonder if I could figure out how to make this myself?? hmmm.....

Rich Neeley Designs via Etsy

Ballerina Dreams Anyone?

I happened to wander across these images and was reminded of the book they belong to, Little Ballerina (written circa 1958).  I don't know about any other girls out there, but this was the book that made me want to be a ballerina when I was growing up.  They had pretty tutu's and adorable themed costumes.  Not to mention the wand AND perfect puppy bringing them their toe shoes. Did anyone else read this book when they were growing up?  Did anyone dream of pastel tulle and satin point shoes?

Prepare to Pout and/or Tear Up

40 beagles were recently freed from a lab in Spain where they had spent their entire lives living inside crates.  They were never able to interact with each other, had never been out in the sunshine, or felt grass on their paws. This might be the sweetest video and yet the most heart wrenching at the same time.

Now It's Time For Christmas!

Being as Thanksgiving is now over, it's time to get in the Christmas spirit! I was asked this morning what I would like for Christmas and I realized that I had no idea.  I've decided that getting myself in the mood will help not only come up with ideas of what I would like, but ideas of things to give others.  Maybe, just maybe, they might inspire you as well!  Happy Black-Some-Of-Us-Wouldn't-Be-Caught-Dead-In-A-Mall-Today-Friday!

What Nyquil Dreams Are Made Of

Picture Patti LaBelle (pictured here)


Wearing something like this......



Except picture more gold tassels...
p.s. In case you didn't catch my earlier note---Go see Doyle and Debbie (pictured above) IMMEDIATELY

Barbie's Dream Outfit

I will take this outfit.  This whole look, in fact. Like now. Cause the girl looks rockin.  You, Julie Bowen, officially win "Best Dressed" for the AMAs...at least as far as I'm concerned.  Appropriately rock star, grown up, and HOT.  You win.
via people.com

Reward Writing With Kittens

Hey NaNoWriMo people!  Need some inspiration to keep writing that novel?  You've only got 10 days left!

Written? Kitten! rewards you for writing 100, 200, 500, or 1000 words by showing you a super cute picture of a super cute kitten.  Does it make me want to write a novel? No.  But I definitely just wrote 100 words (that actually did form a logical paragraph..although the thought of writing nonsense came to me later) to see how the kitten would appear.  It's silly and cute!

For those of you writing on a consistent basis, enjoy some kittens! But don't forget to save your work!

Politics At It's Finest

I read an article today featuring what might be the best political party idea I've ever heard of.  The Cocktail Party promotes conversation between people and the exchange of ideas which we are greatly lacking in today's political exchanges.  The idea is that the act of enjoying a relaxing cocktail at the end of the day with another adult, encourages slow conversation comprised of breaks (sipping your drink) which allow for others to speak their minds.  People spend the cocktail hour unwinding from the day's stresses and enjoying the company of others.  This is not a time for argument or work.  This is the time where we should be enjoying the leisure of life and appreciating the finer things such as a great martini.  The Cocktail Party doesn't obviously promote any particular political stances (although they do seem to follow more liberal people on Twitter--including Barack Obama).  I highly suggest you check them out and remember to that a conversation is to be enjoyed, not an opportunity for argument.

I'll take that martini now.  Bombay Sapphire, extra dirty, blue cheese stuffed olives.  Thanks.

The Cocktail Party
The Cocktail Party Philosophy

The Vikings Would Like One Please

NFL Searching For Any Unused Harbaughs

NOVEMBER 17, 2011 |

NEW YORK—After noting the respectable performance of Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and the excellent record of San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, the National Football League announced Tuesday it is actively seeking any and all Harbaughs currently not in use. "If we could find maybe three or four more Harbaughs, we could replace at least one of the Whisenhunts, Turners, and Sparanos we're making do with now," a statement from the league read in part. "The NFL is prepared to offer a hefty finder's fee to anyone able to locate adult male Harbaughs of decent condition who can speak English and identify a regulation football." NFL sources said the only person to answer the inquiry, an Africa-American male who became agitated when asked to produce proof of his Harbaughness, was almost certainly former Minnesota Vikings coach Denny Green in disguise.

via: The Onion Sports

Hear Ye Hear Ye!

Notice anything different?
Maybe the tabs at the top of the page?

Basically just the one that says "Books and Babes"?  Well, for anyone who is interested, I've started a page on here that contains a list of the books we've read for our book club.  I'd like to add more information to it eventually but I just have the basics on there right now...

Also, in case you're looking for some new book blogs, here's a list of some blogs I've wandered across lately
Booksidoneread.com
Sophisticateddorkiness.com
Bookshelfmonstrosity.blogspot.com
Shelfrenewal.com (full disclosure, I know one of these lovely ladies and I didn't "just" wander across this blog but I don't think I've mentioned it before)
 (just because it made me laugh)

Possibly Inspired

Inspired to pretend that vodka and tequila are prettier drinks than they really are?  Maybe.  But in all actuality, I'm potentially inspired to spread some holiday cheer in a more random way this year.  That may have been the most fluffy way I could have said that.  Let me clarify.

For every year of my life, my cousins and I have traded names and exchanged gifts.  Each year you were responsible to give one cousin a Christmas present and when I was younger, this was all fairly easy to do as we all were usually together for Christmas.  Fast forward 20 years and our group of cousins has grown by a significant number of cousins, cousins-in-law (if that's a term) and babies of cousins (2nd cousins?).  We've also branched out across the country.  Basically this means that trying to get the name exchange done, gifts purchased,and sent out was a bit of a process.  Some cousins were very good about doing this, others were not.  Which means some people didn't get presents and I  those people felt sucky.

This year, there is talk about changing how we celebrate Christmas and each other.  Some people want to send gifts, some people don't.  When the conversation came through my inbox this morning, I started thinking about what made sense.  What could we do that would be fun, would celebrate the holiday, and would still treat someone to something special?  I came up with the idea of performing random acts of kindness.

I suggested that we all take the $20 dollars (or more if possible) that we would have spent on a gift and instead found a way to perform a random act of kindness.  I'm not sure exactly what that could be but the ideas that have crossed my mind were donating needed items to an animal shelter, buying McDonalds gift certificates to hand out to strangers (in memory of trips with my grandpa to MickeyD's for happy meals), paying patron's library fines, handing out tacos to strangers on the street...I don't know...something...

I'm hoping my cousins are as excited about this idea as I am and being as I also suggested we document these random acts of kindness, I'm hoping I can show them on here! To be honest, I think I might just do it whether anyone will join me or not.  If you, o' readers I may or may not have, want to join me, feel free to email me a picture of your random act of kindness and I'll post it on Reckless Reading!

Happy Thursday

Bubbles and Bubbly

This is the sort of evening I want to have soon...a lovely bubble bath and a glass of bubbly...I don't understand people who say they don't like taking a bath...even men...clearly they just haven't done it right

If this picture doesn't inspire a girl to take a nice girly smelling bath and enjoy the crap out of it, I don't know what will...

Why I'm Not Writing A Novel

Because coming up with 6 word memoirs every day is HARD.

But here are the 2 I've come up with for yesterday and today:

Ralph Lauren makes awesome food. Who knew?

Day 1 of 5 miles. Barf.

Room To Read

Carnegie who?  John Wood is the founder of Room to Read and has opened 5 times as many libraries than Carnegie.  Wood has focused on opening libraries in the most poverty stricken, illiterate areas of the world.  His work is fascinating and inspiring.

NYT His Libraries, 12,000 So Far, Change Lives

Room to Read

Read his story, look at the website, and find a way to support the effort!  Especially when that means doing fun things like shopping and drinking!

Memoir Of The Day

Man peed in chair. Lucky librarians.

NaNoWriMo HeyYo

What the eff does that mean you say?

National Novel Writing Month. The point is to write a 50,000 word (about 175 page) novel in the month of November.  Anyone from authors to amateurs can do this (assuming you have that many words that make sense together sitting in your brain) and get the glory of being added to the winners page!

I won't be doing this.

I do not have novels of any length waiting around in my brain.

I do however think I'll challenge myself to write a 6 word memoir every day.

Sings Cher in the car. Loudly.

Anyone want to join me?

NaNoWriMo

Six Word Memoirs

Laugh On