BATTERIES NOT REQUIRED

Over the last five days Blogger, the platform that hosts this blog, experienced system-wide outages and data corruption that made it sometimes impossible to post or comment--and made some posts and comments disappear. Supposedly the issue has been resolved and data restored (although many comments are missing form recent posts on Style Maniac).  The incident reminded me that much as we all love this online medium, sometimes there's nothing better than holding a tangible thing in your hands.  Like a book.  Books have long been and probably always will be one of my top choices for a gift.  Coffee table books, cookbooks, mysteries, manuals, romance, fiction, faction, biography, travel, humor, art--whether you're buying a gift for a birthday or a backyard barbecue you can choose a book that will transport, educate, entertain, delight; not just once but over and over again ... no batteries (or blogging platforms) required.

Need specific book gift ideas?  Check out the Fabulous Finds previously featured on Style Maniac in my Amazon Boutique.  You'll also find Reader's Choice selections for cozy fall reads, pretty coffee table titles and summer books for lazy days by the lake, pool or beach.


Photo from flickr.com via Alison on Pinterest
Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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LIGHT X DESIGN: The Magic of Bentley Meeker

From the moment I glimpsed an advance cover of Bentley Meeker’s Light X Design: 20 Years of Lighting I not only wanted to review the book, but to develop a series of stories around it.  Light has such a profound effect on our surroundings, our moods, our memories-- our lives.  And yet it's so often an afterthought, or not thought of at all.  But for decades it has been thought about, played with, produced by Bentley Meeker.  He and his firm, Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging Inc., have created the ambiances for celebrity weddings (Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta Jones, Billy Joel & Katie Lee), luxury brand launches (Christian Dior's J’Adore perfume, Blackberry Bold), superstar charity fundraisers (with Elton John at the piano), extravagant bar mitzvahs (one recreated the Las Vegas strip), and much more.

When my review copy of Light X Design arrived, it delivered, at first glance, just what I expected: page after oversized page of lavish photos, a kaleidoscope of eye candy.  At second glance, I noticed that someone had wisely arranged the book not by event type or chronology but by venue.  And so you realize that the electric blue fairy tale forest of Melissa Rivers’ wedding existed in the same Terrace Room of the Plaza Hotel as a wedding that seems to float on clouds of soft candlelight.  Or that a dizzying two-page spread features 36 shots of the exact same space lit 36 completely different ways.  And yet despite the technical complexity that must go into these projects, according to Meeker the heart of every design--no matter what the occasion, the budget, the client—is to achieve one goal: Make the space and the people in it look and feel incredible.

Frankly, I had not expected to find such straight talk in a coffee table book.  And so I decided to head to New York City for the Light X Design book launch and see for myself just how this mix of simplicity and spectacle worked in real life.  And perhaps see if  Bentley would have a chat. How fabulous would it be to glimpse into the mind of this star lighting designer and translate some of his magic for our everyday lives?

Turns out, pretty fabulous.  

(to be continued ...)

Light X Design: 20 Years of Lighting by Bentley Meeker.  Published by Glitterati Incorporated.   Cover photo of a Cynthia Rowley fashion show by Roger Dong.Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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THE RED LIST: From Cute to Clever to Couture

From couture to clever to cute, here are a few more delights on my hot list this month:  

The Spring 2011 collection from Christian Dior.  Inspired by the drawings of Rene Gruau, stunning, sublime and yet wearable, too.  The New Look in a whole New Way.  (See the runway show, here.) .... Someone at Swanson Vineyards has a delightful sense of humor, adding clever names and bold, witty packaging to tasty wines.  The series includes choices for various holidays, but the "Expensive" Christmas Wine remains my fave .... When my 10-year-old niece, who devours books like candy, spied Henley: A New York Tail by Julie Muszynski amongst a stack of review titles in my office she immediately snatched it up.  We both agreed:  thumbs up for the cute tale of a prince of a pup living the good life in New York City.  With charming illustrations and interactive elements.  Yes, you could call it Puppy Love.

Christian Dior collection first spied on Nicolette Mason.  "Expensive" wine bottle image by John McJunkin courtesy Swanson Vineyards.  Henley: A New York Tail available through Glitterati Incorporated and Amazon.Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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WHAT WILL SHE CHOOSE? {giveaway winner}

Thanks to all of you who entered our first ever, blog birthday celebration giveaway.  It was wonderful to meet new subscribers and discover some new blogs.  And of course, I so appreciate that you've joined the conversation here at the Style Maniac blog, on the Facebook Page and Twitter.

And now for the winner of the $50 Amazon Gift Card, as chosen by the nifty Random Number Generator:


Congratulations to Cara!
(p.s. Cara authors a lovely blog, Lilac & Grey)


Cara didn't mention what she might choose with her gift card, so hopefully she'll share that with us.  Have fun shopping, Cara!

Photo by Kristen Angelo as seen on Kelly Marshburn's Pinterest.  Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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HAUTE LEGS

When it comes to stockings I'm spectacularly boring: it's black, nude or nothing.  But after peeking at an advance copy of the new book Emilio Cavallini, I'm thinking of legwear in a whole new way.  Since his start with Mary Quant in the 1960s to this very moment, Cavallini has produced decades of stunning designs--daring die-cuts, complex prints, sweet polka-dots, fluorescent florals, vivid color mixes--that can only be described as haute couture hosiery.  It's wearable art.  And then it's actual art as well:  Cavallini uses his stockings as though strings to weave complex spiralgrams and geometrics you can hang on your wall.  (Those are stockings in photos 3 and 4, above.)  And then there's the art of the book itself, with its lavish photos and silver foil cover sheathed in sexy black cut-out tights.  It's all an over-the-top treat--with prices to match (stockings in the Emilio Cavallini online boutique average about $25, the book lists for $100, although Amazon offers pre-orders for under $60).  A splurge for a book or pair of pantyhose; not so much for art to put on your coffee table and couture to sheathe your legs. Before indulging in the latter, though, I'd have to learn the art of putting on a pair of hose ... without getting a run in them.


Photos by Nicola Ciona from Emilio Cavallini.  Edited by Benedetta Barzini. With 250 photos of both the stocking collections and the artwork created from them.  Coming March 2011 from Skira, distributed by Rizzoli.Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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IT's A GIVEAWAY!

We've had fun celebrating Style Maniac's recent Blog Birthday -- and now it's time for (one of) you to get a gift!  And what could be better than choosing your own?  So, as a thank you for your support over the past two years, I'm offering one lucky subscriber a chance to choose something you love ... books, movies, music, whatever! ... with a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card.

Yes, that's right:   Fifty bucks to spend as you like at www.amazon.com. Here's how: 

(1) Follow or Subscribe Via Email to Style Maniac (options in sidebar).
(2) Leave a comment about what you might choose if you win.
That's it! 


For EXTRA ENTRIES leave additional comments if you:
"Like" the Style Maniac Facebook Page  | Follow @thestylemaniac on Twitter
Enter by midnight EST on 2/14/11. If you Subscribe Via Email make sure you activate the confirmation link sent to you.  One winner will be chosen at random and announced 2/16/11.  Gift card sent in email format and valid only on www.amazon.com; other Amazon restrictions may apply.  Note: Amazon did not sponsor this giveaway.  It's solely my gift to one of you.  Good luck!

Image via LensEnvy on Flickr Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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BEAUTIFUL BOOKS: What's On Your Coffee Table?

"The best decoration in the world is a roomful of books." 
-- Billy Baldwin


Sometimes, I admit, I do judge a book by a cover.  Whether art, photography, fashion, food, design, "coffee table" books can add spectacular color, life and interest to your home, for a smidgen of what real art would cost. In keeping with this month's theme, and continuing our seasonal series of reader's favorites, please share in the Comments section some of the beautiful books you display in your home. I'll then list your pretty picks, along with your blog link if you have one, in the Style Maniac Amazon Boutique (if offered direct by Amazon).  Looking forward to meeting some gorgeous new selections.

Currently on my table: Degas by Robert Gordon & Andrew ForgeSource URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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GIVE A GIFT ... of sweet simplicity

A jar of kisses,
A charming little tree,
Something homemade wrapped up beautifully.
No trips to the mall. No hassles at all. Not a lot of cash ...
Just simple sweet presents given with love and panache.


Oh my, she's rhyming! Yes, the Christmas tunes have gone to my head ... or maybe it's my head cold, just in time for the holidays? In any case, here's some final tips from Style Maniac's mall-free, hassle-free, pour a glass of bubbly and enjoy the spirit of the season Gift Guide. Hope you've found it helpful. If you have a suggestion for a chic and charming gift that doesn't cost a mint, please share with us in the comments, below. And may we all enjoy a merry, happy and healthy week before Christmas!

1. Festooning the simplest of gifts with lovely embellishments makes them even more special. TIP: when it comes to wrapping, wired ribbon is your friend.  It stays in place and makes bow-tying a cinch.  For my own presentation inspiration, I've just ordered  Ribbons: The Art of Adornment.
2. Stylist Summer Watkins created the Jar of Kisses as a gift for her boyfriend, but it could just as easily be filled with pledges to babysit for a friend or promises to do chores for your sister.  Best of all, it requires no special skills to assemble--just your own sweet sentiments, a pretty jar and lovely buttons.  For more of Summer's magic, visit her blog Grey Likes Weddings.  {Photograph by Caroline Tran.  Originally seen on 100 Layer Cake}
3. That charming little tree, discovered on Design Elements (one of my daily blog reads), truly captures the spirit of the season:  sometimes the tiniest touch of Christmas Cheer is all you need. Perfect for a small apartment, or perhaps to give a friend who's not up for holiday decorating. NOTE: Many grocery stores offer mini trees for sale.  For ornaments, you could seek out unique pieces from craft shows or home decor shops, or adorn with vintage brooch ornaments you create yourself.
Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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THE FALL BOOK LIST: Add Your Pick For A Cozy Read In Cool Weather

Just in time for cool weather: curl up with a cozy ( ... or scary ... inspiring ... entertaining ... ) book recommended by Style Maniac's smart, fun and stylish readers.  Yes, that means you!  Please add your choice in the comments section below.  I'll then list the titles, along with your name and link (if applicable), in my Amazon Boutique.  Looking forward to some great new fiction or fact for fall ...

Young Girl Reading by Jean-Honore Fragonard Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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FALLING CLOUDBERRIES

I'll admit it:  I often buy books for their covers, even cookbooks.  Having once designed books, I appreciate the challenge of capturing the personality of the text and writer in just the glance of an eye.  And I figure if that much care is put into design, the content and editing should hopefully show the same.  So, yes, the lush image and pretty pattern of Falling Cloudberries captivated me first.  And then I opened it to discover inside an entrancing mix of memory and mouth-watering food.  Tessa Kiros' exotic family tree twines in branches from Finland to Greece to Cyprus to South Africa to Italy, a path that perhaps very few of us know.  But at its core is the influence of her heritage--her parents and grandparents--on her cooking and recipes.  In much the same way my own family tree has influenced my thoughts on home ... fashion ... style ... love ... life.

She's also written one wicked good fried potato and artichoke recipe.

Falling Cloudberries: A World of Family Recipes by Tessa Kiros available in Style Maniac's Amazon Boutique (see sidebar or click link above).Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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THE SUMMER WE READ GATSBY

Before we head into a fun, fresh Fall season I thought I'd wrap up our summer posts with one last beach book, particularly since it's set on the East End of Long Island, where we kicked off our "The Beach, The Book, The Look, Let's Cook" theme in July.  The Summer We Read Gatsby is a breezy, entertaining read, with a charming cast of characters you'd happily share a beach house with summer ... after summer.  (Hint, hint, author Danielle Ganek:  a sequel would be swell.)

What are some of your best memories from this summer?  And how will you be spending the Labor Day holiday?

NOTE:  Style Maniac will be taking the week off and will return in September with lots of stylish goodies.  I truly enjoyed all of your wonderful comments and contributions here and on the Facebook Page this summer, and look forward to many more in the seasons to come.


Image via danielleganek.comSource URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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OCEAN CITY

 


The fifth element in a great beach vacation: the people you share it with. Not all friends travel well together. Luckily, The Blogstresses* [who?? see end of post] get along just fine whether at city or shore, a delightful fact we discovered when Barbara Hammond suggested she, Lee Romano Sequeira and I hold our monthly gathering at her cheerful beach house in Ocean City.

THE BEACH:  Ocean City, NJ  Although on weekdays a peaceful calm reigns over the stretch of sand and sea at the end of Barb's block, the front porch is where she finds her bliss, whether painting, writing, refueling or socializing. I just love this poem she wrote about it.

THE BOOK: Barb chose Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, Put On My Pajamas and Found Happiness by Dominique Browning because "it resonates with me about how crazy our lives have to get before we slow down and really live.  And I love Dominique's blog, mostly for the visuals. She has the most beautiful blog--wish I could figure out how to emulate it!"

THE LOOK: Barbara Hammond's creative cottage is just what you'd expect from an artist, with handpainted murals and a happy kaleidoscope of colors. "For years my husband, kids and I moved all over the country," says Barb.  "But no matter where we lived, for two weeks every summer Ocean City was home. Now I'm living my dream by having my own house here."

For attire, former Jersey girl Lee suggested I head to B&B, a mini department store overflowing with sundresses, bathing suits, flip-flops and more.  (I did and snagged a cute little aqua sundress and crazy-big, leopard-lined Murval straw bag for a song.) 

LET'S COOK:  "How about my Lemon Pasta?" Barb responded when I asked what she'd cook at the beach.  " It's quick, easy and good hot, room temperature or cold."  (I couldn't wait for a beach trip.  Made it immediately and mmmm--delicious anywhere!)  Here's the recipe:

1 box of your fave pasta
2 lemons (or more if you're crazy for lemon)
1/3 cup good extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (or romano if you like)
Cook pasta per box directions. Meanwhile zest one lemon into a bowl then squeeze both lemons into same bowl.  Add olive oil.  Using a small whisk gradually add cheese and mix until cheese melts into the oil and becomes creamy. Toss pasta in this yummy mixture and enjoy!
Book image via www.slowlife.com. All other images courtesy Barbara Hammond.  To see more of Barb's work visit her Flickr page and blog, Zero to 60 & Beyond.

*Who are The Blogstresses?  Three Philly friends--myself, Style Maniac; Barb, Zero to 60 & Beyond; and Lee, Madnesss, Mom & Me--who support, inspire and assist each other in our blogging endeavors ... plus enjoy cocktails and a lot of laughter.  If you recently started a blog, biz or other new venture I highly recommend gathering a support group to share the sometimes bumpy, other times bubbly journey with you.Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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BOOKS & BOOKS

Now here's a bookstore built for a Style Maniac: fresh, inviting modern interior; well-edited selection of new fiction, local authors and stylish coffee table books (many of which have been or will be featured on this blog); a helpful staff, robust events calendar and charming children's section--plus locations near some wonderful beaches.  The newest branch of Books & Books (pictured above) opened on Main Street in Westhampton Beach earlier this month; other locations can be found in Bal Harbour, Miami, Coral Gables and Grand Cayman.

Photos by Doreen CreedeSource URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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WESTHAMPTON BEACH

THE BEACH:  Westhampton Beach, NY  Many people think of The Hamptons as celebrity-centric and somewhat surreal.  But the Hamptons I know, thanks to my husband's family, is all about casual, low-key living:  Mornings spent on a deck overlooking a sliver of the bay, steaming coffee in hand and The New York Times at your feet.  Afternoons on the uncrowded beach just over the dunes, where the water gleams in ribbons of sapphire and jade.  Evening cocktails followed by a meal everyone helps assemble--something simple, uncomplicated and very very good.

THE BOOK:  Jaws by Peter Benchley  A visit to Westhampton cannot go by without a reminiscence of the year this classic tale literally swept the beach.

THE LOOK (fashion):  The cover-up is a bit of a fantasy given its price point, but the wide-brimmed, crushable/moldable white Scala hat and silver Cobian flipflops are two of my beach essentials.  THE LOOK (decor): Though the porch and dining room images above come from a stylist's imagination, they capture the relaxed, eclectic ambiance I associate with Long Island's East End ... and they'd fit perfectly inside one of the charming shingled fisherman's cottages that thankfully still survive.

LET'S COOK: Kitchen Express by Mark Bittman  Suggestions more than recipes, none longer than a paragraph, all that can be put on the table in 20 minutes or less, leaving lots of time to enjoy a spectacular sunset, animated conversation and the distant sound of crashing waves as dusk turns into night.

For more on Westhampton Beach & summer style join Style Maniac's Facebook Page and follow @thestylemaniac on Twitter.

Photos 1 & 6 of Westhampton Beach by Doreen Creede.  Jaws image via MoviePoster.com.  For details on THE LOOK (fashion) go here (thanks, Kelly, for your help finding the chic tunic and bikini).  Porch pic from La Plage collection, RalphLaurenHome.com.  Dining room  from archive issue of InStyle magazine.  Books available through Style Maniac's Amazon Boutique. Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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THE BEACH, THE BOOK, THE LOOK, LET's COOK

THIS MONTH JULY & AUGUST ON STYLE MANIAC: Beautiful beaches, ravishing reads, fashion fun, decor delights and easy entertaining.  Stop back every week for a new waterside destination and feel the cool ocean breezes sweep away this sweltering heat.

While you're here, check out the great summer book selections recommended by Style Maniac's smart and stylish readers.  Thanks Lee, Susan, Trish, Lou, Cassidy & Andrea for getting us started. (If you haven't added your pick yet click here.  For the full list go there.)  Enjoy!

Photo by Tony Cenicola via The New York Times.com
Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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HELP FILL OUR BEACH BAG

Off I go from city to shore ... but alas my beach bag is a bit bereft of books.  Can you help me--and all your sister smart and stylish readers?

Please share your suggestions for great books to read while lazing on the beach ... lolling by the bay ... or keeping cool by the pool.  Just add the title, a brief  note about why you recommend it and your name in the Comments section below.  

I'll include your title for sale in the Style Maniac Amazon Boutique  throughout the summer (as long as it's sold & delivered by Amazon directly) and I hope to feature a few selections in upcoming posts.

Thank you! Looking forward to discovering some great new summer reads!Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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SPRING GIFT GUIDE: Gifts for Grads

Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss at your local bookstore and here.  Yellow patent leather passport case and luggage tags by Baekgaard.Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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SPRING GIFT GUIDE: Mother's Day

Part One of Style Maniac's Spring Gift Guide: a suggestion just in time for mother's day.  Check back every Friday this month and discover great gift ideas for grads, dads, brides and birthdays.


For mothers, for daughters, for any woman you love--Jaime Morrison Curtis' new book Prudent Advice: Lessons for My Baby Daughter (A Life List for Every Woman) based on her profound and touching blog. Particularly perfect as a last minute gift find since the book is on pre-order.  So print out the cover image above, place it in a pretty frame, add a massive bouquet of white tulips* and tell your mom she'll be one of the first to get this new treasure that, as one reviewer noted, "eschews the obvious and embraces instead the importance of qualities like curiosity, wonder, adventurousness, and empathy."

*If you live close to your mom, you don't need to rely on a florist for a beautiful bouquet.  High-end grocery stores like Whole Foods have surprisingly good selections. Just remember to buy a lot of the same color flowers --for tulips at least three dozen--so the arrangement is luxuriously abundant.  And please, no filler greens!  (For tips on how to keep flowers fresh longer see this coming Monday's post.)Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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ALMOST FRENCH

Part Two of "Paris & What She Read," with recommendations from some smart and stylish Francophile friends.  For Part Three, a pick by Anne Jensen, please visit the Style Maniac Facebook Page.




ALMOST FRENCH by Sarah Turnbull

"There are many books about expats living in France but this one is slightly different.  Australian-born Sarah Turnbull captures the joys and challenges of straddling two countries and not truly belonging to either.  She provides very interesting perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of living in France." --Andrea Sowitch



Andrea and I have been fast friends since bonding during our junior semester abroad in Nice. In the time since we've shared countless talks about film, books, love, food and France.  Andrea is now a marketing consultant and continues her French language studies through Alliance Française in Denver.
Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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PARIS & WHAT SHE READ: A Moveable Feast

As much as I love reading, I've never joined a book group.  For me, reading is such an intensely personal and transporting experience--a good book can take me to so many different places in time and emotion--that I prefer to revel in it as my own private pleasure.  I do, however, love to trade recommendations with fellow book lovers.  So while thinking of what titles to highlight this month, I asked a few friends, Francophiles all, to share their favorite tales of Paris. First up, Janis Goodman tells how Hemingway seduced her with his classic memoir of The Lost Generation in Paris of the 1920s.

As someone who had grown up reading literary excess, I was entranced by the spareness of Hemingway's prose, which managed simultaneously to convey so much.  When I read A Moveable Feast, Paris came alive for me for the first time, freed of all the clichés I’d been fed throughout childhood. Woven throughout and imbuing the spell of Paris was his nostalgia for lost youth, lost love, spent passions.  The city became a real, living place. If I’d had a daughter, I would have named her Hadley, after Hemingway’s first wife, with whom he shared those early years, and whom he lost when they were over. --Janis Goodman

Janis and I met through our fun and feisty Movie Diva film group.  She has a Ph.D in public policy and women's psychological development, an adorable prince of a pup named Snippet and a love of all things French.  When not in Paris she and her husband are active supporters of Philadelphia arts and culture, such as The Pennsylvania Ballet.
Source URL: https://thesoap-box.blogspot.com/search/label/books
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