René of the Day // 10.25.11 // My book club...

René of the Day // 8.16.11 // A movie better than the book

This never happens... but I enjoyed a movie better than the book - honest. I'll admit, I tend to be a sucker for the New York Times Best Seller list - aren't we all? You hear the most about them and they're easy to get your hands on - you always know someone who's read them and is happy to hand it off. And so they circulate through your group of friends... and it seems like these days every single hit novel is turned into a movie, so you go to see it with said girlfriends.

I went to see it after work one evening with two gals from the office. I must tell you - I have discovered a great date night - if only MR and I ever spent an entire evening to ourselves in our home town. We're usually rushing from dinner alone or with our families to meeting our friends - it's always exhausting fun and we feel guilty not spending the time with them since he's not home very often. But I digress - one day we will do this! So the new Kenwood movie theatre is across from the mall and right next to Dewey's pizza (my fav & MR has never been!) and Orange Leaf, which is similar to Yagoot but a billion times better. There are 10 flavors of soft serve that change often. You fill your cup, mix and match flavors, then sprinkle on your toppings at the little bar and squirt on a variety of sauces and they weigh your cup. It's fun to build your cool concoction and it's rather inexpensive - and very delicious. Not to mention, the calorie count isn't too bad as far as ice cream goes. So - dinner, ice cream, movie. How perfect? And this theatre is fabulous - they have sushi from Embers, desserts from Frieda's bakery, you can bring anything in and they have a selection of flavored salts to put on your popcorn - caramel, jalapeno, parmesean garlic - I'm generally not a popcorn fan but I had to try a bite of Sid's with that stuff sprinkled on it!

Back to the movie... I read "The Help" a few years ago. It may have been my first year out of college, when I read at least 20+ books at my own leisure. I enjoyed the book but I wasn't rivoted as the people I talked to seemed to be. When I was younger I was always enthralled by the Civil War and the Antebellum south so it was really interesting to see the next generation of culture after chattel slavery was abolished. Even on a Tuesday night, the theatre was full - mostly women - and the entire room laughed, cried and sighed together - which made it a really involved experience. I also loved the involvement of the Junior League since I just joined and to see how it's changed and grown. Also, the product placement was neat to see - all the vintage packaging is pretty cool - and smart of those brands to include themselves.

Another NYT Best Seller that I read a while back and has been turned into a movie is "Water for Elephants." I read it around the same time as "The Help" and if my memory serves me well, I think I liked it a bit more than "The Help." I watched the movie on the plane ride back from Manchester earlier this month and it was very accurate to the book and that made me happy. A good deal of the "The Help" was left out of the movie - like Skeeter's relationship with Stewart - but I liked how it was abbreviated - and the movie was still very long by cinema standards. But Reese Witherspoon is a wonderful actress and it's a close call for another movie that is better than the book.

The bio at the top of my blog says "here's to overturning assumptions." I'm glad I have in the case for books always being better than movies! Right now I'm reading "The Hunger Games" series and I heard they're going to be made into movies too - we'll see if it stands the test.

René of the Day // 7.14.11 // Must Have: Kate Spade Book Clutch

I have been eyeing these adorable and intellectually-stimulated clutches by Kate Spade for months! Literature + KS style = divine. I was head-over-heels for "The Great Gatsby" style when the purses first came out but it's no longer available on the website. How smart would it look to carry this tucked under your arm? Oh! And my reading glasses are brown-framed Kate Spade spectacles - how apropos! Of course, I cannot justify this purchase right now - it's a not a practical every day bag and I have plenty of trips and other things that my money will be put to better use for in the coming months. But take a peek at these fabulous "book bags" by clicking here.

René of the Day // 7.6.11 // Hobo Lobo

Visit http://hobolobo.net
[Click the numbered buttons at the top to scroll through...]

This is a really neat website - incredible rolling story with impressive illustrations and copy. Some very talented minds must have been behind this project. From a creative and digital standpoint, it's very cool, but kids would be entertained, as well.  Bravo!

René of the Day // 6.21.11 // Special Gift

I've done a bit of spiritual seeking in the past year. It began with the Freedom series at Crossroads last spring. It was a heart-changing experience and a really wonderful time to re-connect with old friends and learn more about myself. That level of introspection can work wonders... I truly think it was a contributing factor to beginning my relationship with MR - we met just weeks after the sessions wrapped... and I had been stubborn on staying single for almost 3 years until then. 

I digress... I've learned a lot about God and my relationship with him in the past year. My mom and aunt Christine (Kiki) have listened as I've shared what I've learned and they also know that I am an absolute bookworm and holidays never pass without a book wrapped in pretty paper. Last Christmas, I had one last gift to open - a big orange book titled "The Handy Religion Answer Book." It was a very thoughtful and exciting gift - and per family tradition, I cracked the front cover to read the hand-written note that is always scribed into gifted books... And tears started to well in my eyes. The note was written in my deceased grandmother's perfect script. I was astonished and confused... She died in August 2007. But I remembered, we have two floor-to-ceiling book shelves filled with her books... old illustration books of Cincinnati, books on architecture, art and cooking (we have such similar interests!) My mom and Kiki had come across this book and knew I would love it.... It was an incredibly special gift.

I've been reading through it the past few days and was reminded of that story. MR is a loyal Catholic young man and is one of few I know my age who attends regularly and is a parishioner, even though he's grown up and moved away from home. I find that very admirable. My other grandmother, with whom I was very close, was Catholic and I always wanted to learn more to be like her. I am a heathen though - lol - I have never been baptised. So I'm learning more about Catholicism as I consider going through RCIA... I have a few good girlfriends who have done it and are doing it now so I am blessed to have them to consult for information as I explore. I'm looking forward to seeing where the Lord and my heart take me... and I'm sure grandma Dolores would be absolutely pleased. (See if you can read the note below.)

René of the Day // 5.25.11 // René's Book Club

I've been a bookworm since I was a babe. My grandmother started teaching me to read when I was 4 with "Stuart Little" and I was more excited about visiting the library than the ice cream shop. And my passion has gone in waves... it inspired my love of writing and I whizzed through books in grade school. Loathed them during AP courses in high school and text books were the majority of my college reading, of course.

I read over 30 books my first year out of college. Two years ago "Santa" brought a Kindle and I've become addicted. Although at the moment my nightstand is stacked with "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama, the Bible, "True Prep," "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," "The Art of Client Service," "The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," and "Wine and War," I recently have spent the last half hour of my evenings lying in bed reading "The Social Climber's Handbook" - not quite a trashy love novel but a theme I love losing myself in - rich NYC wives. This weaves the story of wealthy women whose husbands are running the prop desk during the market mayhem in 2008. I've cut out an excerpt - so fun how Kindle let's you steal little snacks to remember, since you cannot dog-ear a page or highlight, underline and annotate the pages:

How telling is that? I can certainly relate.

Friends, if you'd ever like to do a mini book club style session, let me know! I'd be all over it. I'm no Oprah (bless, today was her last show!) but reading and talking are among my favorite things, as you likely know. I'd love to share them with you.