Life with Dee

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Life With Dee Book Club!

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I’m so excited to tell you about the latest Life With Dee feature. I’m starting a book club! Each month I will recommend three books. In some cases these will be books I’ve read and can recommend to you. And some of the books will be ones I will be reading for the first time, right along with you.

I often have more than one book going at a time, usually each in a different genre. For instance, I usually have something fiction, something non-fiction, and something to inspire me. So most months, the selections will reflect that quirk of mine and will give you a variety to choose from.

I will provide links to Amazon for each of the selections (I’m an affiliate so if you purchase via these links I receive a small portion of the purchase price but it doesn’t cost you anything extra – and I greatly appreciate the support!) but I encourage you to first check your library or local, independent book store.

So, now that we’ve got all that out of the way, let’s take a look at our first selections!

LWD Book Club ~ March 2016

LWD March Book Club Selections

Gracious Living in a New World by Alexandra Stoddard

I am a huge fan of Alexandra Stoddard’s books. I own most of them and have re-read portions many times over the years. This one is currently on my bedside table. You may have noticed it in photos. I have the hardbound copy with a lovely, aqua cover. From what I found, that version is only available used but Amazon does have a paperback version. If you haven’t read any of Stoddard’s books you are in for a treat. She shares her thoughts on how we can live a beautiful and gracious life even in these busy and often stressful times.

Gracious Living

 

Living Forward by Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt writes and speaks on topics such as personal development, leadership, productivity, platform and publishing. This is his brand new book and my copy is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to reading this one.

Living Forward

 

Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

I read her book, The Fixer-Upper, a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. Our library had this in audiobook format so I’ve been listening to it in the car. I’m about 2/3 of the way through. It’s a fun, light read (or listen, as the case may be!) and we all need something like that now and then.

Beach Town

If you read any of these I do hope you’ll leave me a comment or send me an email to let me know what you thought. And if you have any recommendations for future book selections, I’d love to hear those, as well.

Happy Reading!

Book Quote

Read Across America Day

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Today, March 3rd, is the NEA’s 17th annual “Read Across America Day”. That sounds like a great reason to talk about books. I joined a new, online book club the first of the year. We vote on a book to read each month. So far we’ve selected:

I’ve read “The Grapes of Wrath” several times but it’s been several years. I’m looking forward to revisiting an old favorite, especially because this year is the 75th anniversary of the book. The Grapes of Wrath 75 Project is really cool and I urge you to check it out. The project will include:

“…a studio CD album, a DVD of our filmed collaborations and interviews, and a live performance series. We will also create an interactive website for readers to explore their understanding of the novel by looking at modern themes. Through storytelling, interviews and new original music inspired by the issues and characters from The Grapes of Wrath,  this project aims to bring light to todays issues through exploring one of our greatest American novels.”

Here is the first leg of the journey as they retrace the original Route 66 path of the Joads. 

I-40 has since replaced Route 66 but portions of it were still in existence when I was a child traveling with my family from California to visit our Oklahoma relatives. There are still portions of the old Route 66 in existence and there are some rather interesting roadside attractions along the way, including the Blue Whale of Catoosa which David and I visited last summer. In fact, Oklahoma still has 400 miles of old Route 66, more than any other state.

It took a bit of a search but I found my old copy of “The Grapes of Wrath” and will start it tonight when I go to bed.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck #bookclub
What are you reading? Have you read “The Grapes of Wrath”? If so, did you like it? Leave me a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (Chapter 4)

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Chapter Four
Hair Rules
Non, Non, et Non
 
Hair is the subject of Chapter Four and again, “natural” is the name of the game. No teased and lacquered hair for the typical French woman, please. Soft, shiny, and with a bit of swing…that’s the preferred look.
It may look as if it happens effortlessly but French women are willing to make a significant investment in the care of their hair. She will take the time to find just the right cut and (perhaps) color to suit her and budget for the expense of upkeep. She will pinch pennies elsewhere in order to afford professional hair care.
One thing I found interesting is that, according to the author, French women may only wash their hair twice a week. Until fairly recently, I washed mine every day and thought that was essential. However, I’ve discovered that it’s possible to cut back and have your hair actually look better.
Hair length is another consideration, especially for the older woman. At least where I live, most women my age have short hair. I am bucking that trend because I just feel more like “me” with some length. A shoulder-length bob is apparently a popular look for women my age in France but anything goes as long as it’s flattering.
Color is the next topic in this chapter and this is where do-it-yourself is not generally the best choice. This is something I discovered for myself a number of years ago. When I quit my job as a R.N. in order to homeschool our kids, our income was cut in half. In looking for ways to cut expenses I gave up having my nails done and started coloring my own hair. The discontinuation of the color I’d been using and a disastrous attempt with a new color sent me scurrying to a salon to have the damage repaired. It looked SO much better than what I’d been doing myself that David told me to just keep having it done at the salon. Money was no longer a concern but I had just gotten in the habit of doing it myself. However, he convinced me that this was worth leaving to the professionals. There is also a discussion regarding allowing one’s hair to go gray but let me just say, I’m nowhere near ready to make that choice.
Care and maintenance finish off the chapter. Other than argon oil, there aren’t any specific product recommendations. Rather, there are general tips regarding the avoidance of stripping the natural oils from one’s hair and not overusing hair products. One tip I am going to try is applying argon oil before shampooing. I am also on the lookout for a good, deep moisturizing treatment to use once a week.
I think we all feel better about ourselves when our hair looks good and it’s worth the time it takes for every day to be a “good hair day”.
~~~~~
I planned my day in order to have time to watch a French film I’ve had here from Netflix for the past 2 or 3 weeks. The film was “The Double Life of Veronique”. An interesting film and a nice way to spend a Friday afternoon.
 

French Friday ~”Forever Chic” (chapter three)

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Chapter Three
Le Maquillage
More Than Ever, Less Is More


The overall goal for the Frenchwoman is to appear natural. Hair, skin, style, makeup…a lot of effort may go into achieving it but the goal is a natural, effortless appearance. Tish Jett discusses makeup (maquillage) in Chapter Three, breaking it down into the following categories:
Foundation – choosing the right color, texture/type, how to apply
Powder – translucent powder and how to apply
Bronzer – how to apply for a sun-kissed look
Eyes – mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, highlighter, eyebrows 
Lips – the two lipsticks every woman needs
Cheeks – cream or powder?
Fragrance – No discussion of French beauty is complete without perfume.

This was my favorite part of Chapter Three. I started wearing fragrance before I was a teenager. Love’s Baby Soft, anyone? I then graduated to Charlie which I thought was quite grownup. And then during high school I discovered Shalimar by Guerlain.. Real French perfume. I was immediately captivated by it and have worn it almost exclusively ever since. It’s expensive but I consider it a necessity and wear it every day. I feel naked without it, and not in a good way. 

This was a fun chapter containing a number of helpful beauty tips. I love the quote the author uses to end the chapter:

“It’s a privilege to be a woman; every woman should abuse that privilege. Forget the past. Do everything according to love, pleasure and passion.” ~ Eric Antoniotti

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (chapter two)

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I am finally getting around to reviewing chapter Chapter Two of “Forever Chic”. Chapter One was way back in October! Well, better late than never, right?
Chapter Two 
More Than Skin Deep
A Celebration of La Toilette Française
In this rather lengthy chapter, the author details the methods and various products used by French woman to maintain their lovely complexions. French women take their skin seriously and are willing to spend a substantial amount of time and money on its care and maintenance. 
First of all, French women believe every woman should have her own dermatologist. And French mothers make a point of starting their daughters out with good skin care habits at about age 12. Some of the recommendations are the standard ones we all know:
  • avoid sun exposure
  • remove makeup before going to bed
  • moisturize 
Tish Jett then takes us on a detailed journey through the various products and skin treatments available to French women. Everything from cleansers to moisturizers to Retin-A to lesser known items such as pre-sun pills, Jett discusses a multitude of products and her personal experiences with each. She also covers skin procedures such as Botox, fillers, peels, mesotherapy and laser treatments.  The information on each product and treatment is concise, yet thorough. 
Skin care doesn’t end at the neck, however. Jett goes on to discuss the importance of caring for one’s entire body. French women are also diligent about keeping their bodies “soft, mostly hair-free and smelling delicious”. Exfoliation and daily moisturizing are essential. Manicures and pedicures keep nails looking attractive. 
Reading this chapter almost overwhelmed me with all the various potions and treatments available. If one has the time, money and inclination there are plenty of ways to keep one’s skin looking as good as possible, as long as possible. But even if you aren’t inclined to utilize every option, there are some basic things every woman can do to keep her skin in good condition:
  • wear sunscreen (I opt for natural mineral makeup on my face rather than chemical sunscreens)
  • cleanse skin thoroughly
  • moisturize
  • exfoliate (personally I think this can be overdone, especially if you have sensitive skin)
  • hydrate (6-8 glasses of water per day)
  • get plenty of sleep
  • avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
Several years ago I learned about a skin care method from an older French woman who was then living in Houston. Her name was Jane Sebeyran and she had her own skin care products. The key to her method was avoiding the use of soap and water, utilizing instead a tissue-off cleansing cream. It is now becoming popular to use oil to cleanse one’s skin but back when I first learned of her method it seemed rather odd. Several members of the French Chic Yahoo Group had tried her products and reported such amazing results that I finally decided to try myself. Within about a week, my formerly oily skin had regulated itself and breakouts became almost non-existent. I was sold! Sadly, *Ms. Sebeyran, who was in her 80s by that time, began having some health problems and shut down her business. I haven’t found anything quite as good as her formulas but adequate substitutes and the same basic method have kept my skin in good shape – as long as I don’t get lazy about the whole thing. 😉

Essentially, my skin care routine (when I’m doing it right) involves a tissue-off cleanser before bed and a good nighttime moisturizer. In the morning, something like witch hazel on a cotton ball to refresh the skin and then a daytime moisturizer. I use mineral makeup which is a natural sunscreen. And that’s it.

Well, I’ve got a party to go to so I’ll have to wrap this up. Leave me a comment if you have a skin care method or product to recommend. 

*Update: I was in a hurry as I wrote this post last night and didn’t have time to include links. I just Googled Jane Sebeyran and am sad to report that she died a few months ago. 

French Friday ~ “Forever Chic” (chapter one)

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Today is the first “meeting” of the French Chic book club. We are reading Tish Jett’s new book, “Forever Chic: Frenchwomen’s Secrets for Timeless Beauty, Style and Substance”. We are on our way to New Orleans today so this post was written last night, before any actual discussion on our group site.

Tish Jett moved to France “for two years” for her job and more than 25 years later, she’s still there. “Forever Chic” is dedicated to women of “a certain age” (over 40) and is a distillation of what she has learned from close observation of those legendary French women.

The first chapter is: The Allure of La Femme Française d’un Certain Âge


As one who falls into the category of a woman “of a certain age” I’m most definitely interested in how French women remain stylish and alluring no matter their age.

As I read through the chapter I highlighted the following words:

1. Self-confidence
2. Pragmatism
3. Simplicity
4. Quality over quantity
5. Natural
6. Informed
7. Discipline
8. Priority
9. Self-respect
10. Discretion

I now have this list of words written a small piece of paper (in pink ink) by my computer to serve as a reminder.

Tish, who teaches adult English classes, asked her French students (age 44-75) what keeps them young. No one mentioned a facial cream or beauty trick. Here is their list:

Things that keep you young
  • travel
  • classes (everything from painting to yoga)
  • annual museum memberships
  • children and grandchildren
  • entertaining
  • fresh air and long walks
  • eating lots of fruits and vegetables
  • sex
My children are grown and I don’t have grandchildren but I can certainly pull off the rest of that list. In fact, most of those things are already part of my life. 
I enjoyed this first chapter and have already gleaned some helpful advice. I look forward to what the rest of the book holds. If you have the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you don’t but are interested, consider ordering a copy and joining the discussion here in the weeks to come. 

French Friday – Book Club

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New book for online book club!
Forever Chic by Tish Jett
The French Chic group I belong to decided it would be fun to do an online book club. As we were discussing which book to read first one of our members humbly mentioned that she had a book coming out. Parfait! Several of us pre-ordered and it began shipping this week. 
I received my copy a couple of days ago and I’m really eager to begin reading it. We will probably cover a chapter a week and my plan is to share some highlights here on “French Fridays”. If you’d like to join in, you can order your own copy here. It’s available in hardback and Kindle versions. I have a Kindle but I opted for the hardback so it can take its place amongst my collection of French-themed books. I’m so glad I did because it’s absolutely gorgeous with quality binding and darling illustrations. You should also check out Tish’s blog, A Femme d’Un Certain Age.

Check back next Friday for the first chapter of “Forever Chic”. Bonsoir, mes amis!

What’s on your nightstand?

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 I mean, what book(s) are you reading?  I’ve recently read two excellent books that I highly recommend.  The first is “Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity From a Consumer Culture” by Shannon Hayes and the second is “Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer” by Novella Carpenter.   Have you read anything good lately?

Right now I’m reading “Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life” by Frances Mayes.  Mayes is the author of  “Under the Tuscan Sun”.  I can’t recall if I read the book but I have seen the movie two or three times.   With all the turmoil in the world and the stressful situations our family has faced in recent weeks, I needed something light and pleasant for bedtime reading and this book fits the bill.

I also have other books in the works, too.  I just finished “Living a Charmed Life” by Victoria Moran and quite enjoyed it.  I like to have something non-fiction that can be read a couple of paragraphs at a time in the bathroom so that’s been my “bathroom book” the past few weeks.  Now I’m re-reading “The Martini Diet” by Jennifer “Gin” Sander.  It’s a fun, light read.

The other day I saw that Crunchy Chicken is hosting an online book club in April and they are reading “Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology” by Eric Brende.  I read it several years ago and found it very interesting so I’m going to read it again with the Crunchy Chicken crowd.  If it sounds interesting to you, head on over and join in.

So what are you reading these day?  Any recommendations?  Would you be interested in participating in a book club here on Tea With Dee?  If so, do you have a book suggestion?