Book Review ~ Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan

Late last month I was enjoying a long awaited night out with two of my best girlfriends and about 10 of their "new" girlfriends for a birthday dinner. I knew that my life would change when I stopped working to stay home with the kids but of the many many things I expected I was surprised by my best friends making so many new friends. So as I strolled into dinner that night I was more than a bit nervous (okay and maybe a bit jealous) as I only knew one other person. 

Even before the first appetizer arrived, I was already enchanted by each of the ladies I spoke with. And as I was whispering this very statement to the birthday girl I realized... of course these were lovely, intelligent and witty ladies... they are exactly like my own best girls! And all of a sudden any unease or nervousness I had dissipated. 


I'm not even sure why I started with that, other than the fact that while I was chatting with one of the fabulous ladies she suggested I read Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan. So on Christmas evening as I played with my new Kindle (you can read about my special love for my Kindle here.) I decided to order this book. My "new friend" mentioned the story is about Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney, the woman with whom he had a love affair. Well she left out a lot! 


This is a hard review for me to write because the book was so emotionally difficult. It both challenged my ideas of womanhood and motherhood and brought to question what I hold most important in my life. And to put it bluntly this novel is brutal in every sense of the word. No character comes away unscathed and the fact that the story itself is a true one makes it even more difficult for an emotional reader like myself to walk away.


While the story itself is factual, much of the inner dialogue is created by author, Nancy Horan with the exception of a few surviving letters from Frank and Mamah. Without the  creative additions given to us by Horan I'm not sure I could have enjoyed this book.  I'm not saying that it was a "hard read", but the inner turmoil and pain that all of the characters go through is gut wrenching.


I'll go ahead and admit that before reading this book, the only thing I knew about Frank Lloyd Wright was that he was eccentric and that he was a prolific architect.  Perhaps if I'd known more about his life I would have been less shocked by this book. 

The story follows the lives of Frank and Mamah both of whom are married with families at the time they meet. The story continues as they first fall in love and then later fight to spend their lives together while still maintaining relationships to those they were once closest. In both cases, their children are at the top of the list. 


I wish I could tell you that this is a story where all the characters live happily ever after but it isn't. Having said that, this may come as a surprise but I would highly recommend this book; which is of course why I'm reviewing it. I enjoy good fluffy romance as much as the next girl but sometimes it's nice to have one's thoughts and beliefs challenged, if for no other reason that it helps to sharpen one's personal ideals and morals in your own mind. And in this I think Mamah and I could agree. 


Despite my apprehension at some of the choices made, it is abundantly clear that both Frank and Mamah needed each other in every sense of the word. They fed off each other for their creativity and passion. In that sense it was wonderful to see them fight to be together in the most honest way they knew how. 


It is a beautiful and yet tragic love story that has stayed with me. 


If you've read this novel or do so after reading my review, please please let me know what you think. I'm dying to discuss this with someone and I'm pretty sure it's not on the top of DH's list. 


Cheers, 
Ouiser  

Something Borrowed, Something Blue...

As I've passed into my thirties I am attending fewer weddings and in turn more baptisms and birthday parties. But don't let this fool you, I still adore weddings and appreciate destination weddings now more than ever!

Holidays often inspire proposals, as it did for the fiance of one friend of mine this year. In her honor, here are a few ideas for fun gifts to celebrate this wonderful occasion.

It should come as no surprise that I enjoy reading about what's new in the world of weddings.  My favorite of course is ~ Town & Country's Weddings. As you know from this post, T&C is my favorite magazine. And it just so happens to be on news stands right now!



I stumbled upon this gorgeous notebook with "Wedding Belle" embossed on the cover while browsing through Smythons of Bond Street's online sale. I think it's the perfect gift to give a recently engaged friend. Lord knows when I was planning my wedding I was constantly jotting down notes about flowers, linens, guests lists and a million other things. I had a hot pink notebook from the Container store (which I loved!) but don't you think this little notebook is a bit more sophisticated? And it's on sale for only $36 right now. Click here to buy.

This beautiful glass has been one of my favorites for years! It celebrates love... of all kinds and just happens to be from my all time favorite shop, The Menagerie and not just because Vickie, it's owner was my very first employer. I credit her entirely with my love of sterling flatware. In fact, I could do an entire post on my love for this store. They sell linens, china, crystal, sterling and so many beautiful gifts for the home. Oh and how could I forget, they sell stunning one of a kind fine jewlery. I mean DH did have my engagement ring and wedding band made here. And his ring came from there as well, natch. So if you find yourself in Austin, Texas please please find time to stop in and tell Vickie I said hello! She and her staff make every customer feel like they are one of the family. If you don't find yourself in Austin, you can check out their website as well, www.themenagerie.com.

So, just a couple of gifts that make me smile. As with all my posts I hope you get a couple of new ideas and if you stumble upon a giggle or snicker here or there, well then that just makes my day!


Cheers, 
Ouiser

Golden Globes...

This will be incredibly short... if you are online and reading this... Stop,  Run don't walk  to your TV and tune in now to NBC to watch the Golden Globes!!! To me this show is infinitely more entertaining than the Oscars. Not to mention that one of my most favorite friend's father is the executive producer. Although don't think that means I've ever gotten tickets or anything. gahh! Maybe some public shame will help pave the way to attending one of these years.

Vanity Fair is also live blogging from the show if you want to check that out, click here.

Till tomorrow peeps... kick back, pour a big girl glass of wine (I'm sipping on a delicious Petite Sirah) and enjoy the three day weekend. Oh did I mention that DH is making chinese food? That's right I said "making" not "ordering." I am a very very lucky girl!

Cheers, 
Ouiser 

One Luxury I Can't Give Up ~ Crane's Stationary

I understand we are in a recession and considering that DH and I have had two babies in as many years, we certainly changed our lifestyle and our budget along with it. Did I mention we also bought our first house last year? Yes, so we owe a whole lot of money to the good people at WellsFargo as well.

There are plenty of things we've cut back on... some greater than others but there is one thing I just can't give up... fine stationary. Much like my interest in all things having to do with etiquette, I have a minor obsession with beautiful stationary. During a Christmas trip to England with DH a couple of years ago I was practically escorted out of Smythons of London after drooling on their stationary. I mean gorgeous!

Before I continue I should probably let you in on a little secret. While I adore reading about etiquette and the rules of past society I'm not even close to keeping up with the social mores of today. Do you doubt me?  How's this for crummy behavior, today is January 16th and I've yet to write even one thank you note for myself or my boys from Christmas. Uh huh, that's right and you'd think the guilt would be killing me but it's not.

I've got my gift list, my address book and even my beautiful stationary (more on that below) sitting on my desk just waiting. And every time I pass them, I sigh knowing they are glaring at me with a very judgmental smirk.

This is a long weekend, so perhaps I'll set a goal of 5 notes. That's not hard right? I'll just whittle away at  the list till I'm done. Keep your fingers crossed I get through the list before next Christmas.


So on to the purpose of this post.... Stationary. Like so many other things in my life, I was first introduced to beautiful stationary by Mamere. She gave me my first set of *personalized stationary from Crane's when I was in junior high. Of course I picked the white correspondence cards with hot pink and lime green ink. I believe I have mentioned that I was uber preppy way before it was cool. In fact it was decidedly uncool as I reached tween status in the midst of the wretched "grunge" phase. Ick ick ick!

Over the years I varied my stationary from the wild to the more traditional and in recent years I've settled on ecru correspondence cards with gold ink. I love love love it. It makes me smile just to look at the navy Crane's box. I also updated my enclosure cards when DH and I got married and love them as well. Very traditional, ecru with our names scripted in blank ink. I know its silly (much of what I do and think is in fact silly) but it makes me feel connected to the past. I often imagine life at the turn of the century being something like an Oscar Wilde play and I want to have the stationary to match.

If you love stationary like I do, you have your own favorite I'm sure but even if that is the case, I implore you to take a look at Crane's stationary online at www.Crane.com or even better visit your local stationer. Feeling the stationary gives you an even better appreciation for it's quality.

Oh and if you're looking for a fun book about etiquette in society please check out Letitia Baldridge's autobiography, A Lady First: My Life in the Kennedy White House and American Embassies. I read it years ago and it is a lovely and charming book. I'd loan you my copy but it's been exiled to our storage shed along with all our other sad and lonely books. Dear bookcases, where for art thou?

Cheers, 
Ouiser

** My stationary is personalized using thermography not engraving but I'm going out on a limb to assume that most people reading this aren't interested in a lesson in the difference. If I'm wrong you can read about the differences and even see a video about it on the Crane's website.  Engraving is more personalized but thermography is also lovely and less expensive.  See DH,  I'm totally thrift conscience! 

Sleeping with Steinbeck...

This post really has nothing to do with John Steinbeck, other than the fact that his image is currently staring at me from my Kindle as it takes a well deserved nap. Am I making any sense at all? If you own Amazon's revolutionary e-book devise also know as "crack for readers" you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Sweet sweet DH gave me the Kindle 2 from Amazon.com for christmas this year, even though I never asked for it and only even mentioned that I was "curious" about it once, several months ago. Nevertheless, I've been dying to get one! And secretly hoped that DH would "just know". You know what I mean ladies. Similar to hoping your significant other will just know you've had a bad day and show up with flowers without you saying a word. Yes, I know its unrealistic and unfair but I'm a woman and I'm both unrealistic and unfair. Deal.

Anyway, in the last year I've become a ravenous reader. For the first time in my life I might add. And it's completely and totally thanks to Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight series. Before I was submerged into her delicious world I read occasionally... maybe a book every few months (at best). They were almost exclusively non-fiction... which may have been my problem. But now I'm going through books like ... umm.... like a baby goes through diapers. Sorry, I'm not that creative and frankly I change A LOT of diapers so it's on my mind.

And while I thought I'd miss the actual touch and feel of a book I've been surprised by how easy it is to read on a kindle. It really isn't like reading on a computer as much as you'd think. Because it isn't backlit you don't have the harsh glare like you do with your computer. Plus it's infinitely lighter and easier to haul around with me, the baby and my nursing pillow. Mmm have I shared too much? perhaps...

As I was discussing with Mamere this morning I will likely still buy the occasional book, when I know I will want to return to it over and over and potentially loan out. For example, the Twilight series, of course I want hard copies, obviously! But for most books it's so very easy. It took me less than a minute to search, purchase and have my book uploaded in full to my kindle. Talk about instant gratification!

And you can have a number of national newspapers delivered to your kindle daily as well as magazines and some really great blogs. Sadly they do not offer any twilight blogs yet... nor do they offer any fanfiction. Gaaahh, that really would be the death of me if they offered that on the kindle. I fear I'd never put the poor thing down. But I've gotten off track.


I would HIGHLY recommend buying a kindle if you like to read but have little space for accumulating books or if you aren't close to a library. Did I mention most books cost less than $10? And they offer a lot of free books and not just the crappy books, good ones! I just ordered one this week.

I'm woefully behind on my "real" reading as I was sucked into a loooong fan fiction story over the last two days. But I'm finishing up two other books that couldn't be anymore different- Dante's Inferno, translated by Michael Palma and Sleep is for the Weak: The Best of Mommy Bloggers.  Since I'm reading them simultaneously I thought I'd review them together as well. We'll see what that looks like. I'll hopefully write about them next week. Along with another review of a gut wrenching book I read over the holiday break, Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan. It was an emotional roller coaster like I've never known.

So check out the Kindle 2 on Amazon.com and if you have any questions, please post in the comments and I'd be more than happy to answer. It really is an amazing little device that I've fallen for hook, line and sinker!

Cheers, 
Ouiser

Recipe of the Week ~ Beer Battered Fish Tacos

DH has returned home from Vegas and the kids' college fund is still in tact, life is good. 

I'm gonna keep today's  errr tonight's post short as I'd like to enjoy the evening with him, a nice bottle of chardonnay and  way too much Indian take out. Ohh, note to self I should really do a review of Bombay Curry Co. It's our favorite Indian restaurant and it just so happens to be about a quarter of a mile from our house. You know now that I think about it  I seriously think we picked our home because of it's proximity to our favorite restaurants. 

Something to ponder a little later, back to today's recipe.

Last weekend DH suggested we make fish tacos and he even found recipes for salsa mac n cheese and a homemade salsa curtesy of the uber talented Rick Bayless to accompany the tacos. If you have time check out some of Rick Bayless' recipes online. They are fairly easy to make and the depth of flavor is outstanding. 

These tacos are super simple and come together in a matter of minutes! About 10 mins from fridge to fryer to plate. I hope you'll try these sometime, I promise they'll be a hit!

Beer Batter Fish Tacos

1Cup        Dark Beer (I used a Shiner)

1 Cup       All purpose Flour

1/2 tsp    Salt

1 1/2 lbs Cod fillets, cubed

1 Quart    Vegetable oil, for frying

Corn Tortilla

Shredded Cabbage

Mayonnaise~Mustard sauce**

Lime

In a shallow bowl whisk together the beer, flour and salt. Rinse fish, pat dry and cut cod into 3 in long pieces. Heat oil in a dutch oven or large cast iron skillet to 360 degrees. Coat fish in the beer batter and fry in oil for about 2 mins per side or until a golden brown.

Let the fish drain and cool slightly on a wire rack. Place a piece of fish on a tortilla and add cabbage, mayonnaise-mustard mixture and lime juice to taste. 

** I mix 2 parts Hellmans light mayo with 1 part tabasco grain mustard for a tangy taco sauce. 

Cheers, 

Ouiser

My (not so) Secret Love ~ Drug Store Shopping

Good Morning peeps...


I'm on a high this morning and not just because it's only 9am and I've already had three large cups of coffee. As I mentioned before DH is out of town on business (in Vegas no less!) so last night I was on my own with the two kiddies. I was nervous, like really nervous.


Baby Deux was a rockstar! He let me sleep from around midnight till almost 5am! Frankly this is a longer stretch than I get on a normal night. And not to be outdone, our older son slept through the night as well. Recently he's been waking up around 3am, nothing too serious, just needing some parental reassurance.


Obviously I'm mommy extrodinare! Of course you just know that tonight is going to be a total mess with tears, spit up and poo. 


Anyway, last night as I was trawling twitter while sipping on a great red wine and reading, reading, reading I stumbled upon this little post "10 (more) Best Drug Store Beauty Finds". After actually letting out a squeal I hurriedly clicked on the link. How did I miss the first 10? 


And then a warm feeling of realization washed over me... I'm not alone ... there are clearly others out there that LOVE to shop at the drugstore. 


Now don't get me wrong, you all know I love me some Neimans but I also adore wandering through the aisles of my local CVS browsing the makeup, nail care, hair care, lotions and especially the magazine sections. In fact I was just thinking the other day what a luxury it is when I can make a drugstore run with out the kids. Sadly when they are with me there is absolutely zero "browsing". It's more like a precise military mission... get in, get the absolute necessities and get out. A successful mission involves no blood loss, not having to pay for something "we've" broken and getting out with at least half of the items on my list. 


I'm already planning a Saturday morning at Sugar House, my neighborhood spa for some lady pampering once DH gets home. Did I mention I got an obscene amount of gift cards for Sugar House this Christmas. Is it that obvious?


So, I'm thinking I'll have to build in some time for a leisurely browse through my neighborhood CVS to check out all these suggested "Best Beauty Finds. You know for "research" purposes. ;) 


These lists were put together by the writers at The Frisky- Life. Love. Stars. Style. I thought it was a website but I think it's a blog. You can visit their site by clicking here and you can follow them on twitter (as I do) by clicking here. 

Okay enough with the credit.... Check out the first top ten list of beauty finds here and the second top ten list here. I can tell you that I've been using Rosebud Salve for more years than I can count. I think Mamere turned me on to it but I'm not totally sure.  Of course when in doubt its never a bad idea to credit ones mother for all the good things in your life!


Happy Browsing!


Cheers, 
Ousier