Happier at Home

 I just picked up Gretchen Rubin's new book Happier at Home. Do you remember her first book, The Happiness Project? Being a self-proclaimed "homebody" myself, I was curious to hear what she had to say about being happy at home. The premise is this..Gretchen takes a new school year to embark on a journey where she focuses on themes such as marriage, parenthood and possessions. Her goal was "making her home a place of greater simplicity, comfort, and love."

Honestly, I just purchased the book during a run to the bookstore after the storm. I am barely into chapter one. So far, I like what I see.  As a collector of quotes I will leave you with a few quotes Ms. Rubin included in Happier at Home.

"To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition,

the end to which every enterprise and labour tends."

- Samuel Johnson

"Safe, safe, safe," the heart of the house beats proudly.

- Virginia Woolf

"The true secret of happiness lies in the taking

a genuine interest in all the details of daily life."

- William Morris

Tricia

PS
pay attention reader ~
this t has a little book-related theme going.
Stay tuned..

Photo Friday 87

Snow in New Jersey

Sleeping in Pennsylvania

BLOOP

Hurricane Sandy did not skip over Pennsylvania.  In fact, the eye of the storm hit Atlantic City and proceeded due west toward Philadelphia.  We sit just north of Philly and got it too.  

Blooper #1 --- It seems everyone lost power except for me.  Sigh.  Not only did my house remain energized but so did my office.  Sigh again.  My entire family was fat and happy at home.  I worked like a dog.  

You and I got together for some stress relief --- we shopped and ate at a "chain".

Blooper #2 --- Does the JCrew clerk really need to double check a sales price. We gave her good information. Do we look dishonest?  

Blooper #3 --- Does Pottery Barn really have to remove from a frame a piece of paper with a copy of a hand sketched pumpkin before selling it to a customer? Copyright?  Weird.

Blooper #4 --- Who was in charge of the leftover "Bam Bam Shrimp" and left it on the perfume shelf in Sephora?  A mystery smell and some mystery meat for the salesclerks.

Overall, we made it thru the storm and had some really good laughs.  And thanks for treating me to a grande salted caramel latte --- I really enjoyed those 1,000 calories at 9:00 pm.

Tracy  

with a little help from my friends

In the midst of disaster, the best of humanity manages to shine above the floods, rubble and despair. I am always impressed by the kindness of friends and neighbors and amazed by the care of strangers. In just a few days, we have begun to rally for those in need after Hurricane Sandy.

The marathoners, facing a cancelled race after months of training, ran through New York to help those in need. My nephew's school sent home a flyer, "Reach the Beach",  requesting clothing, food and supplies to be delivered to the Jersey shore this weekend. Folks in my own neighborhood are gathering a list of items for those desperate for basic necessities on Staten Island. I could go on and on.

Once power returns to my house and I get back on track, I want to be part of the shining example of the best of humanity. Hopefully, my children will pitch in too. There are so many ways to help.

Tricia

Happy Election Day

Don't forget to vote..

"Now, let me be clear. The path I lay out is not one paved 

with ever increasing government checks and cradle to grave assurance

that government will always be the solution. If this election

is a bidding war for who can promise the most goodies

and the most benefits, I'm not your president.

You have that president today."

~Mitt Romney

"In the end, that's what this election is about.

Do we participate in a politics of cynicism

or a politics of hope?"

~Barack Obama

Tracy & Tricia

So Long Sandy

What a week. In NJ, this t lost power the night of the storm. In the morning, we discovered a large tree had fallen on the fence and patio furniture. Other than that, we are (thankfully) safe and sound. The news we were able to hear on our tiny battery-powered radio didn't convey the devastation we finally saw on television. Still without power, schools closed and gas rations, we are hoping for our situation to improve as each day goes by. Here are a few photos from this past week..

Tricia

 a missing section of fence

from a tree that fell during the storm

power trucks from Texas (!) headed

to NJ to help restore power

empty shelves at grocery store

William's Halloween was

"16 Candles" this year..

he pretended to trick-or-treat

CHICAGO

I had the opportunity to visit the Windy City last week --- CHICAGO!  Lots of reference to wind lately.  It was a business trip but I was with a bunch of dynamic women.  

We stayed at the Hilton on Michigan Avenue and here is a snapshot of what we saw in the few moments to spare:

Walked to the new Millennium Park and saw 

the super cool and unique bean sculpture

Saw the river that flows thru the city.  Did research while walking 

and we believe it is called the Chicago River ~ what a unique name!

Walking around great architecture and great buildings

Thought of you sister as we cruised past the Tory Burch store!

(note Jack Spade store to the left)

Ate at a small, local restaurant in some neighborhood.  It was packed and great.

Loved the menu.  Pizza, grinders, antipasto, etc.  

But not any old pizza ~ Pizza Pot Pie only.  Yum!

I would love to go back again and explore some more.  

Tracy