Web Sites »Duotrope

duotrope_colorblock_stickers-rf20e5e154e8a4f938e76764b7fd1a864_v9wth_8byvr_512Helpful Website for Writers

To say that having two small children has given me free time would be insane- but it does me strange small pockets of time where I might be wide awake but forced to be still and quite with my thoughts as one baby naps on my left arm and another snores to my right.

It’s during these moments of stillness that I’ve been writing short stories and while my goal is to finally get ideas I’ve had for sometimes decades in my head “completed” in some tangible way, I’ve also been slowly trudging through editing and sending them out for publication.

It’s a daunting and humbling process (I’ve racked up two rejections so far with, no doubt, many more to come) but made considerably easier with the website Duotrope. It’s a subscription site loaded with helpful information about publishers, an extensive searchable database and a fantastic Submission Tracker.

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Posted on May 22, 2013

Web Sites »What’s Good At Trader Joes

tjReviews of Trader Joe’s Brand Food Products From People That Are Totally Not Affiliated With Trader Joe’s

Having a Trader Joes (two actually) nearby that aren’t insanely crowded like our old Union Square location has allowed us to fully embrace the chain of that specializes in easy but unique ready made meals, cheap wine, and can boast that it does not use GMOs (yay). But, the variety can be overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be great if someone out there had tried all the offerings then written concise, entertaining reviews?

Well, I have good news for you! What’s Good At Trader Joe’s does just that and it’s already led me to their Mango Passion Granola (yum!) and Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip (yum, again!) neither of which I would have necessarily picked up while browsing. It’s a little over doing it to do research before shopping like this, but we like to over do it, right?!

A few more photos wouldn’t hurt, but I am impressed that it’s consistently updated.

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Posted on May 3, 2013

Spend a Couple Minutes »Dark Sky

20120515-204110.jpgiPhone App

No weather forecast is more annoying than a 30% chance of rain all day. It basically means nothing.

Optimists could get caught in the rain while others could plan a whole day indoors (particularly if you’ve got a little one) only to realize after the fact that you could have gone outside after all.

Dark Sky, which I heard about on NY1, puts an end to the doubt.

It does one thing and one thing only: accurately let you know if it will be raining where you are in the next hour.

It’s been quite useful to me and is well worth the few dollars.

 

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Posted on May 15, 2012

Web Sites »Andre Studios 1930 – 1941

from New York Public Library

Whoever’s in charge the New York Public Library online stuff deserves a big kiss from me.

First I flipped over the menu archives now I’ve found an amazing collection of fashion sketches from the Andre Studios.

While much of the business information about Andres is gone, their drawings remain.

They were extensively employed by big fashion houses who used these detailed sketches as reference material (much like European shopping trips or trend services of today that help everyone knock off each other .)

If you love fashion you could get lost in here for weeks.

Thank you NYPL for making these which were once only available to researchers online for all of us to view and fawn over.

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Posted on March 30, 2012

Spend a Couple Minutes,Web Sites »What’s On the Menu

New York Public Library Project

What’s on the Menu is a project from the New York Public Library to transcribe vintage menus for prosperity.
They have over 40,000 menus from the 1840?s on and you, yes you, can help by transcribing dishes in your spare time all while discovering dishes like Consomme Madrilene Frappee and Cream Fritters Au Sabayon.

The menu covers are also great to browse.

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Posted on February 13, 2012

Web Sites »Longform

new and classic non-fiction articles, curated from across the web, that are too long and too interesting to be read on a web browser

I am so happy to have found Longform, a site that compiles the most interesting articles recently published.

The Apostate (Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology), The Lost Boys, The Movie Set That Ate Itself, and You Say You Want a Devolution? are all fascinating.

I’m a little worried that I have found Longform because it’s costing me sleep!

Their top stories of 2011 is a good place to start and I’ve been using instapaper to collect interesting ones to read later. (Look at me and modern technology!)

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Posted on January 22, 2012

Books »The House Book

by The Publishers of Phaidon Press (2001)

While I sometimes bemoan the waste of my days of dual incomes and thoughtless spending (where’d it all go??) it’s nice to still reap the benefits.

In particular I have a great collection of beautiful art books and Phaidon’s The House Book is one of my favorites.

It’s a comprehensive but friendly to limited attention spans with large beautiful photographs and brief synopsis of architects and architectural styles.

Heavy hitting household names like Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry are here as well as less well known masters like Daniel Grataloup and Osamu Ishiyama.

There’s plenty of fodder for dream house building in your mind though it might also make you feel dismayed that our country is such a wasteland of cookue cutter blandness.

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Posted on January 18, 2012

Web Sites »Here’s Greenpoint

Scoops, Storefronts, History and Local Deals from Brooklyn’s Hidden Gem

In New York people tend to get fanatical about their neighborhoods. We want to know every move, change and history. For us Greenpointers now there’s one stop for all of that.

Here’s Greenpoint has breaking news about openings and closings, restaurant guides, historical photographs and tips on the latest happenings. Since Mike introduced me to the site I’ve been checking in daily. It’s visually clean, easy to navigate, and works great on an iPhone which is a rare found plus.

They also have Park Slope and Williamsburg editions and updates are easy to keep abreast of if you “like” then on Facebook (something I rarely see the point of but here makes sense).

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Posted on September 9, 2011

Books »DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide

by Brandon T Snider (2011)

I have always, always loved bright, stat and photo filled reference books. As a kid I poured over this huge Your Fifty States Book and an old Hollywood guide of actors and actresses with glee.

So I was thrilled when friend and author  of The DC Comics The Ultimate Character Guide, Brandon Snider brought a signed copy of this bold, fun, informative book for little Van – because I will enjoy it as much as he will.

Now, super hero comics have never been my brand of nerd, but I love reading through the character’s vital stats, background, nicknames and super powers.

From Adam Strange (who defends the universe, but would rather hang out with his hot wife and baby daughter) to Zatanna a magician babe who not only fights forces of evil, but puts on elaborate magic shows in her spare time (in fishnets!), from the disgusting janitor turned purple toxic donut eating Parasite, to the comely Sebastian Ballesteros who for a brief, totally hunky moment became the studly male version of Cheetah, from Brainiac, who travels the universe in an insane Iron Maiden-esque skull ship to Harley Quinn who left her life as a respected psychiatrist to commit crimes with the Joker – there’s a super hero or villain here for everybody.

I can’t wait til Van is big enough to totally geek out with this.

Thanks Brandon!! (pictured below in one of his more sophisticated looks).

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Posted on July 31, 2011

Web Sites »Winter is Coming

News and Rumors About HBO’s Game of Thrones

If you just can’t get enough Game of Thrones, Winter is Coming is a great site with interesting recaps, reviews, rumors and more. I was especially excited to read here that one of my favorites, Asia Argento is being considered for a role in season two. I love that the site is accessible to both readers and newbies with articles written specifically for each group to prevent spoilers.

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Posted on June 16, 2011

Web Sites »Pixiwoo

Never Too Late To Learn the Smokey Eye… Guest Written by Dana:

Pixiwoo is a sister team of makeup artists, Samantha and Nicola Chapman that post video tutorials on how to apply makeup.

This is a truly inspirational site for someone, like me, who has always shied away from most makeup, especially any dramatic looks. Samantha favors fashion and catwalk looks and Nicola prefers celebrity styling.

For example, some vlog entries are: Everyday Summer Look with Wearable Red Lips, Elizabeth Taylor Makeup Tutorial, A Guide to Estee Lauder Lipsticks or Jennifer Lopez – ‘On the Floor’ Makeup.

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Posted on June 10, 2011

Web Sites »Tiny House Blog

Small Spaces, Big Dreams

I always prefer a small house to a large one. When many people crave open floor plans and sky high ceilings, I’d rather cozy into one of those hobbit holes (as long as I had a second hole to store my clothes).

But my love for small spaces pales in comparison to Kent Griswold’s. From yurts to cabins, campers to houseboats, if it’s tiny and it’s a house you can find it at his Tiny House Blog.

Ignore if you can that it’s littered in ads – the content is great. Most of the entries deal with serious information on how to build, live in and find your own little spaces. But for those of you who are, like me, less of the “doing” type, there are also tons of beautiful photos to browse whilst dreaming of hobbit living.

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Posted on March 2, 2011

Books »Barnetoy du selv kan sy

by Elsebeth Gynther and Bjarne Solberg

I took these shots of a lovely vintage Swedish sewing book months ago, but they got lost in the shuffle of my photos and I am only remembering to share them with you now. Be sure to check out the parkas, vest, quilting and body suits below/after the jump. If you can read the language – seeking out books from Elsebeth Gynther and Bjarne Solberg might not be a bad idea, especially if looking like the coolest Swedish lady from 1980 something is high on your to do list (which it should be).

Click here for the rest of Barnetoy du selv kan sy

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Posted on October 8, 2010

Spend a Couple Minutes »Financial Cosultation with Susan Lee

For Freelancers

While I am mostly excited about my new career path which is sure to be better for my little one, I was a bit intimidated by the whole freelance taxes stuff. I found a woman named Susan Lee through her extremely informative website Freelance Taxation that is full of information that any freelance artist can learn from. She also has a radio show called You and Your Money that you can listen to on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City and is available for private consultation. I went to see her last week and had all my questions answered. Money and money related issues can be confusing and obnoxious to creative business people, so a specialist who can help you along your way (and is available to do your taxes too) is a god send. Tell her I sent you if you make an appointment.

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Posted on June 6, 2010

Books »Christian Lacroix on Fashion

by Christian Lacroix (2007)

If Christian Lacroix wants to talk fashion, I am listening, or in the case of the exquisite and inspiring Christian Lacroix on Fashion, I am looking. I found this all color coffee table book for a surprisingly cheap 25 at a local shop and have been gazing at the contents ever since. Any fan of incredibly detailed clothing and sartorial history will find themselves equally transfixed.

Divided into themes like “colour” ( “The red that I love to use everywhere… comes from my mother.. She always dressed me in red, or at least a touch of red, which had a cheering effect”), “Checks, plaids and tartans” (“Eccentric yet conservative, checks and their Scottish cousin, tartan, re the essential embodiment of British dandy chic.”), “ceremony”, “graphics”, “patchwork”, “cobwebs”, “black”… the book features short, colorful descriptions and beautiful photographs of beautiful clothing.

From ivory garden party dresses from the 1900s, capes from the 1880s, the work of Mainbocher, Chanel, Gres, YSL, Heim, Vionnet, Worth, Dior, Rabanne, Ungaro, Balenciaga and of course, many from Lacroix himself – there is so much style here it will make your toes curl with excitement.

Click here for the rest of Christian Lacroix on Fashion

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Posted on May 31, 2010

TV Shows »Baby Human

Geniuses in Diapers

I’m not sure how interesting Baby Human would be to those not expecting or with a young child, but I am finding this sing songy educational documentary about the stages of development in babies fascinating and cute. Chapters are broken into breakthrough stages: walking, thinking, talking and illustrate with scientific experiments and lots and lots of smiling adorable babies. Which, of course, aside from the research part, are the main reason to watch.

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Posted on May 9, 2010

Books »What to Expect When You’re Expecting

by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

Yes, it’s true: Jim and I have a little one on the way!! Safely past my first trimester, we are excited to find out if it’s a boy or a girl in the next couple months. The classic What to Expect When You’re Expecting was our first purchase when we discovered we were pregnant. It answers so many of the questions mommies-to-be have, plus some you (or at least I) had never thought of.

Of course, all that information can also get one worried, so I put the book back on the shelf for weeks at a time. The new edition cover features a strange Photoshop-illustrated, photograph hybrid woman, but don’t be concerned, the information inside is still the same as it’s always been (with modern updates of course).

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Posted on April 18, 2010