Isle of Jura

Jura, a small Hebridean island and producer of Jura single malt is home to 3,000 deer and 180 people. Many have described the island as isolated and otherworldly. Little wonder George Orwell came here to write 1984 more than 50 years ago. Orwell described the island as "an extremely un-get-at-able place". That much hasn't changed. Even for those of us who live in Scotland.

You can fly to neighboring Islay (pronounced eye-la) from Glasgow but most people drive. It’s a three-hour journey from Glasgow to Kennacraig, followed by a two-hour ferry to Islay and a five-minute hop across to Jura.


Jura is an island rich in history, myths and superstitions. Excavations show it welcomed some of the oldest settlements in Scotland over 8,000 years ago. It also became a Viking stronghold, while its ancient graveyard at Kilearnadil boasts a number of Knights Templar gravestones and is reputedly the resting place of a saint.

Those who make the trek to Jura have always come of their own accord. Mostly it has been for the seclusion, Jura’s famous single malts and jagged landscapes. While all are perfectly good enticements, my exacting motivator is the Jura Lodge.



Opened in late 2006 and designed by French designer Bambi Sloan,
the delightfully over decorated lodge boasts high-thread-count linens, a vast kitchen, stags heads, Bakelite phones and plenty of whisky. "No plastic!" was Bambi Sloan's edict when she began conceptualizing and collating furniture and decorative pieces for the lodge.

To capture the spirit of the island, where the rugged meets twee, she combed the flea markets of France and Belgium, as well as Spanish emporia for delicate vintage linens, lace, glass, leather and metalwork to complement the rugged tooth-and-claw elements.

Its two massive floors can accommodate up to eight people and comes complete with a live-out housekeeper. Perfect for endless conversations around a wee dram, peat burning fires and views of the amazing Jura sky.

Question

In the last few days the number of visitors to my blog have more than doubled. I know that over time exponential growth is normal, but I would love to know how you found All the Best (google search, newspaper, magazine, another blog). As always I welcome your thoughts and comments.

All the best,
Ronda

Pernod

In a few days I will profile the fabulous caterer Peter Callahan. A recent email exchange with Peter reminded me of my aperitif of choice over the Thanksgiving holiday. It was in New Mexico, sitting by a roaring fire, that I discovered the lovely concoction of Pernod and ice cold water. Admired by generations of artists, from Van Gogh and Manet to Wilde and Poe, for its unique color and refined taste, Pernod has been a popular drink in France for many years.

Pernod is generally considered a pastis, an anise-flavored liqueur, typically containing 40–45% alcohol by volume, hence the reason to mix it with water. The traditional mixture is four parts cold water to one part pastis. As a side note I have been told to never drink it with ice. When absinthe was banned in France in 1915, the major absinthe producers (then Pernod Fils and Ricard, who have since merged as Pernod Ricard) reformulated their drink without the banned wormwood component.

A premium liqueur, it boasts a natural anise flavor derived from a distilled blend of aromatic herbs. Its relative in Greece is Ouzo, in Italy Sambuca and in Turkey Raki. The exotic bouquet, when tasted neat, is potent and bittersweet, but with the addition of water, it turns milky-opaque and has a long, liquorice-like finish.

Chefs worldwide have an appreciation for Pernod's ability to flavor the meal without overpowering its natural taste. I’ve just discovered this wonderful mussel recipe that I plan to making over the weekend. As a general rule Pernod should be added at the end of the cooking process to yield the best flavor. Enjoy!


Mussels with Pernod And Cream
1 1/3 cups sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only)
1 1/4 cups dry white wine
2 pounds mussels, scrubbed, debearded
1/2 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons Pernod
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Combine sliced leeks and dry white wine in large pot. Add mussels. Bring to boil over high heat. Cover pot and cook until mussels open, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer mussels to medium bowl (discard any mussels that do not open). Add whipping cream and Pernod to pot; boil until liquid is slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Mix in chopped parsley. Return mussels and any accumulated juices to pot. Simmer until mussels are warmed through, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper.

Serve mussels with broth and good bread for dipping!
Serves 2

photos flickr

Brussels

I received so many great suggestions last month when I asked for Paris hotel recommendations that I thought I would seek advice for hotels in Brussels. We are planning a trip for April and I'd like to start my search in the next few weeks. Restaurant suggestions are of course welcome too!

All the best,
Ronda

Profile: Carla Lane

One designer that I have recently discovered, thanks Style Court, is the talented Carla Lane. I instantly fell for her use of color and pattern mixed in playful West Coast style.

Carla, an east coast native, studied art at Pratt Institute where she received a BFA with honors. However, her first job after college was not in design but rather journalism working for W magazine. After moving to Los Angeles, Carla rediscovered her passion for design and launched Carla Lane Interiors in 2006.

I think we will be seeing much more from this talented designer in the years to come and I for one can’t wait to see what her future holds.

How would you describe your personal style?
It’s always a mix of high-end classic pieces layered with low-end vintage flea market finds. Like a $15 dollar dress with a fab investment bag.

What decorating trend you would like to see less of? What would you like to see more of?
I like a little bit of everything; glam, modern, bohemia. I do a lot of traditional homes and I try mix it up with unexpected pieces and patterns. I can’t say I want to see more or less of anything. I’m not a style snob. You can’t be if you’re in this business. Clients will constantly test you with their style or something they refuse to get rid of. You learn to make it all work. That's always the challenge as a decorator.


What do you miss, if anything, about your former career as a journalist?
That’s easy - the parties! I started my career in NYC covering social events for WWD (Womens Wear Daily). I’d spend all night hunting down socialites for the fashion pages. When I moved to Los Angeles it got a little more glam like movie premieres and the Golden Globes. To be honest, I miss the events because they gave me an excuse to dress up all of the time.

What is the one thing in life you can't live without?
My husband, my dogs and the California sunshine - I need all three to function normally.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
If I’m daydreaming it would be Halston for sure! Mr. Halston discovers me roller skating in Central Park. Immediately names me his muse. Dresses me in one of the amazing diaphanous creations I inspired and whisks me to an intimate dinner at Truman’s where we meet up with Bianca and Mick before heading off to 54. I love everything about the 70’s - the hippies, the old school preppies, disco, Annie Hall, David Hicks. From a design stand point the 70’s ruled on all levels.

What is your favorite indulgence?
Wandering around Paris with some euros in my pocket and a whole day to waste.

Thinking about your own home what is your favorite room?
My pink office. I spend most of the day in there so I’ve tried to make it a feminine and organized space. We play music. My dogs lay under my desk. I assisted the incredible interior designer, Jackie Terrell, and we worked out of a similarly small office in her home. I loved being close by. We were more efficient and I was able to soak up her genius like a sponge. I doubt my assistant feels the same way!

What books are on your bedside table?
US Weekly; Eat, Pray, Love; Sudoku books.

Do you have a favorite fabric or pattern?
I’m just finishing up a very traditional home and during the process I fell in love with all of the chintz from Bennison. I grew up in a very formal chintzed out home and thought I’d never ever go back. Now I’m chintz happy and can’t get enough.

Profile by Ronda Carman

Shopping on Saturday: Archipelago Destinations

Travel is high on my priority list for 2008, but until I reach my various destinations I will just have to enjoy the scents of the cities and countries. The Destinations Collection of Archipelago candles lets you experience some of the best fragrances collected from around the world. Each candle is packaged in its own gift box – complete with a removable and fully functional luggage tag.

The hills of Tuscany
Archipelago Botanicals Tuscany Candle is scented with Sweet Basil, Cilantro and Rosemary.
The hills of Positano leading to the coast
Archipelago Positano Destinations candle combines white nectarine with sweet persimmon and pomegranate.

Incense burning in a Dubai hotel
Archipelago Botanicals Destination Dubai Candle is scented with amber, mandarin and musk.

Profile:Laura Yaggy

I can’t think of a nicer or more talented person for the first profile of 2008. Laura Yaggy is the gifted designer of Lorely furniture named for her father’s beloved Maryland rye whiskey. A Trinity College graduate with a bachelor of arts in Art History, Laura has always been intrigued by color, design and the decorative arts.

After relocating to New York and accepting a job with the venerable New York interior designer David Easton, she spent several years working with clients to find custom furniture. It was during this time she began to notice a gap in the furniture market. Buyer’s choices were limited to hard to find antiques or assembly line basics, and thus a new career was born. Laura’s designs are the perfect balance of function, texture, luxury and whimsy.


How did you get your start as a furniture designer?
I started out working for David Easton and even though we had every resource you could imagine there were things like bedside tables, cocktail tables, side tables that were always a challenge to find. When I left DAE it became increasingly clear to me that there was a real need in the market for chic, well made furniture so I started Lorely. The greatest thing about Lorely is that we have standard shapes, sizes and colors but we can customize anything or even create something completely new for our clients. Our goal is really to become the “go to” for all those hard to find pieces.

What inspires your designs?
Everything. I always have a camera with me so if there is something that I think is particularly wonderful I will just snap a photo and tuck it away until I go into “design mode”. My husband caught me taking a photo of a ratty seat cushion in Marrakech. He thought that I was insane but I just loved the detail on it and I knew that that photo would come in handy. I have photo’s of buildings, doorways, antiques, fabrics, rooms…I like to record everything in case I might need it some day.

What it the one thing in life you can't live without?
One is just too hard to pick…my husband, my dogs, a little peace and quiet, maybe some fresh flowers and definitely positive thinking.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
Bill Baldwin decorated my grandparent’s house in Baltimore before he came to New York. Unfortunately Grandmother is no longer around so I cannot ask her all about it so for me to spend the day with my Grandmother, whom I adored and am said to be very alike, and Billy Baldwin, who is without a doubt one of my icons, would be the most wonderful.

What is your favorite indulgence?
Time by myself.

Who are you style icons?
Billy Baldwin because his style was incredible and very new at the time…and of course because of the Baltimore heritage that we share.

Fulco di Verdura because his jewelry is just amazing and never takes itself too seriously.

Nancy Lancaster because she really understood how to make a house comfortable.

David Easton has incredible energy and will go to the ends of the earth to find just the right thing and I could not have asked for a better person to have leaned from.

Frances Elkins because her interiors were breathtaking and the glass balusters on the staircase at the Kersey Coats Reed house is one of my all time favorite things.

Tony Duquette -I know everyone is inspired by him right now because of Wendy Goodman and Hutton Wilkinson’s new book but I just think that he was incredible.

Charlotte Moss for her incredible attention to detail and impeccable taste.
The list goes on….

Thinking about your own home what is your favorite room?
I love our study because it is finished and it is not changing but I also love my Living Room because it is constantly changing! We are about to completely redo our kitchen, which I am convinced will make me a fabulous chef so perhaps my favorite room will be the Kitchen come March?

What books and magazines are on your bedside table?
The new book on John Fowler
The Year of Endless Sorrows by Adam Rapp
Domino Magazine
And my latest obsession…National Geographic

Profile by Ronda Carman

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. It was one year ago that I started All the Best and never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined where it all would lead, hence the 2007 in my blog address—self-limited thinking on my part I guess. I will of course keep my blog address and the 2007 will now represent the year established, as I hope there will be many more years of blogging to come.

Little did I know when this all began that I would have the opportunity to meet and profile so many interesting people over the course of a year, by far my favorite aspect of blogging and I am planning many more for 2008. I find the stories behind all the creative and artistic minds to be personally inspiring.

My overriding goal and resolution for the coming year is to complete a book version of All the Best (the vision is becoming clearer by the day) and to find an agent and publisher. A lofty goal, I know, but I’m very excited and determined to see this dream come to fruition.

I will readily admit that I find the whole literary world to be a bit daunting and slightly mysterious, but I am up for the challenge. As always, I am open to your advice and suggestions.
All the best in 2008,
Ronda

Thank you to all the following people who help to make All the Best a huge success in 2007:
Patricia van Essche
Anna Spiro
Rita Konig
Susanna Salk
Carmen Reid
Ruthie Sommers
Schuyler Samperton
Priscilla Stephan
Elisa Strauss
Mark Christofi
Timothy Whealon
Nathan Turner
Joanna Weinberg
Katharine Pooley
Christopher and Suzanne Sharp
Michelle Smith
Mesi Jilly
Wendy Goodman
Grace Bonney
Holly Dunlap
Miles Redd
Lily Maddock
Sara Happ
Kelly Wearstler
Chloe Warner
Tyler Dawson
Olivier Magny
Jan Showers
Michael Devine
Courtney Cochran
Jay Jeffers
Anne Harwell

Mission Inn

I'm sitting at a Starbucks in Southern California. It's the first time that I've had internet service since Christmas day. The weather is sunny, cool and crisp, a stark contrast to Scoltand during the winter months. It's been great to visit my husband's grandparents, despite the lack of technology.

Last night we went for drinks at the wonderful old historic Mission Inn in Riverside. The Christmas lights were beautiful and of course the children were mesmerized. It's been 6 years since our last visit and I have very fond memories of drinking a bottle of Opus One in their beautiful dining room.

For 125 years the Mission Inn has been the proverbial center of Riverside, host to a number of seasonal and holiday functions, as well as occasional political functions. Pat and Richard Nixon were married at one of the two wedding chapels and it's where the Reagans honeymooned. The hotel has played host to nearly ten American presidents. At Christmastime the Mission Inn boasts a Festival of Lights complete with 3 million Christmas lights and over 400 animated figures. It's quite a sight to behold. Enjoy the photos and I will post again when possible.

All best,
Ronda

My Favorite Things - Chloe Warner

I thought I would save one of the best for last. The wonderfully talented and adorable Chloe Warner really struck a cord with so many in her recent All the Best profile. I especially loved her answer to my question who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day? Chloe's answer: The Wearstler. We would start off with a leisurely tour of her house, followed by her spending the entire day teaching me to be a baller. Then she would loan me an outfit and invite all my friends over for a dinner party.

Chloe's gregarious nature and witty personality certainly comes across in her designs and unquestionably sets her apart from the rest. Here's to wishing you all the best in 2008 Chloe.

Favorite city:
San Francisco
Favorite movie:
Wet Hot American Summer
Favorite season:
Summer! I love short sleeves.
Favorite fashion accessory:
A killer bag
Favorite food:
Guacamole with a side of margarita
Favorite flower:
Peonies!
Favorite memory:
Camping in Big Sur with my husband (then fiancee), test-driving wedding songs by the fire. V. romantic.

Photo Domino Magazine

My Favorite Things - Suzanne Sharp

My profile on Chris and Suzanne Sharp, founders of The Rug Company, was one of the most popular of 2007, and rightly so.

Firmly established as dynamic and pioneering rug label with shops in London, New York and LA all offering handmade, contemporary and traditional rugs, Chris and Suzanne are trailblazers in their industry.

Aside from the professional accolades, Suzanne Sharp is indeed one of my favorite style icons. She possess that certain je ne sais quoi that I find to be quite refreshing these days and I adore her inimitable take on style in a way that is uniquely her own.

Favourite City
Venice, always an inspiration: I love crossing St Marks Square in the evening especially if it’s aqua alta!

Favourite Movie
The Leopard (Luchino Visconti), the pace, photography and atmosphere remind me of my childhood in the Mediterranean.

Favourite Book
Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy), the intensity of this book is awesome.

Favourite Season
Summer, I love to be outside…and I don’t have to wear so many clothes!

Favourite Wine
Bramito

Favourite Food
Spaghetti alla vongole specially if eaten by the sea.

Favourite Flowers
Big cabbage roses, hydrangeas and any old fashioned flowers.

Favourite Memory
Camping in Africa by the Zambeze river with my husband and our children and being scared out of our wits by a lion.

Photo: Living etc

Profile: Jill Goldberg

A visit to Boston has been on my list of places to revisit for quite some time. XV Beacon is at the top of my list of places to stay and Hudson the place to shop. Owned by former actress Jill Goldberg, Hudson is the perfect mix of old and new, casual and stylish yet very sophisticated.

Jill has impeccable style, taste and one simple rule when hunting down items for the shop: “I buy only what I would put in my own home. I just throw everything into the mixing bowl to see what I’ll get,” she notes. “It usually works.” It seems to work very well indeed!

How would you describe your personal style?
My own personal style, I consider to be the same for living and for dressing…comfortable, but with as much style as possible. I want to live in my space, put my feet up and allow the dog up on the couch.

And the same for dressing, I want to be able to do everything that I need to do throughout the day, without worrying about ruining this new shirt, and roughing up these new shoes…etc.

What do you miss, if anything, about your former career as an actor?
The thing I miss most about acting is that feeling of excitement when getting a call back after an audition or actually getting the job! There is a feeling of such great victory and acceptance. Sometimes I feel that way when someone buys something expensive or when interior design clients decide to go with everything single thing I choose for their space.

What decorating trend you would like to see less of? What would you like to see more of?
I don’t know if it is considered a trend, but I can’t stand it when people paint obnoxious primary colors on one wall and call it the focus of the room! Buy some art or put up beautiful wallpaper, but please don’t blind me with bright color.
Wallpaper is what I would love to see more of! There is definitely a comeback coming on and there are so many stunning patterns and styles out there today. Plus it is not such a commitment like it used to be.

What it the one thing in life you can't live without?
My dog Love! I want her with me every minute of the day. She makes me laugh, and reminds me to relax.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
I would most like to meet Ralph Lauren and get all of his advice on everything! I would love to spend the day living a ‘Ralph Lauren ad’ at one of his many homes.

What is your favorite indulgence?
Warm and luscious Chocolate Soufflé.

Who are you style icons?
Obviously, Ralph Lauren is at the top! Otherwise it’s not necessarily people, but the visual things around me, whether it’s a funky girl walking down the street or a great house in a magazine.

What books are on your bedside table?
I love you Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle. It’s hilarious and so true!

Profile by Ronda Carman

My Favorite Things - Anna Spiro

When I started All the Best it was purely for my personal enjoyment and a way to archive my growing collection of magazine articles and favorite travel destinations. I had no idea that anyone would come to visit my site or that I would find so many fantastic blogs.

One of the very first I stumbled across was Absolutely Beautiful Things. The name alone was enough to hook me and then I fell for the talented Anna Spiro. Not only is Anna a design genius and the owner of Black & Spiro in Brisbane, Australia, she is also one of my favorite bloggers! I never tire of her creative tablescapes and inventive use of color.

Merry Christmas Anna.

Favorite city:
Venice. It's just so romantic and whimsical and different from any other place in the world.

Favorite movie:
There are so many movies I love! It’s hard to narrow it down to just one. I love all 'girly' movies and ones that make me cry. I know that may seem strange but sometimes it's just great to watch a movie that makes you cry and cry and cry. I feel so much better afterwards!!

Favorite season:
Definitely Christmas time and as Christmas falls in summer here in Australia, I have to say the Christmas summer holidays at the beach. It’s my absolute favourite time of year.

Favorite book:
My French Life by Vicki Archer

Favorite food:
Jelly Babies

Favorite colors:
Pink, blue, yellow, orange, aqua, green, white, black…I love them all!!

Favorite flower:
Pink Peonies

Favorite memory:
Christmas holidays as a child at my family's beach house at Stradbroke Island.

Off for the Holidays

We are heading to California and to Pennsylvania for some homemade pumpkin pie. There may be a day delay in my postings. Once I am online again I will post more of 'My Favorite Things' from Chloe Warner, Anna Spiro and Suzanne Sharp.

Profile: Rankin/Bass

Just like a kid at Christmas, I am particularly delighted by this profile. I can fully appreciate that this post may resonate more with American readers, but I hope you will indulge my Christmas whimsy.

The Rankin/Bass animagic Holiday specials are as much a part of my childhood memories as putting up the tree and hanging the stockings. Beginning in the early 1960s, the team of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass and writer Romeo Muller created some of the most memorable stop-motion animation (or "animagic") Christmas specials of our time, the most popular being Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Other seasonal classics include Frosty the Snowman with the voice of Jimmy Durante; Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town narrated by Fred Astaire; The Year Without a Santa Claus, including the memorable characters Snow Miser and Heat Miser and The First Christmas featuring the voice of Angela Lansbury.

Their final stop-motion style Christmas story was The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus taken from the L. Frank Baum story of the same name and released in 1985.

Many of these specials are still shown seasonally on American TV and some have been released to video and DVD. Rankin/Bass stop-motion features are recognizable by their visual style of doll-like characters and ubiquitous powdery snow.

I am so grateful to author and Rankin/Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt for taking the time to contribute to this special holiday profile.

Cyril Ritchard with the cast from The First Christmas

Q&A with Rick Goldschmidt:

One of my very favorites is 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (1974). What are you personal favorite show(s) and/or character(s)?
I love 'Twas the Night before Christmas (1974) too! My favorite is sort of a tie between Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and Mad Monster Party (1967). I love the character designs and look of both shows!

Tony Peters designed Rudolph with a very simplistic style and Mad Monster Party was designed by my favorite artist Jack Davis (Mad Magazine).

How did you become the Rankin/Bass historian?
I graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in illustration and became a humorous illustrator like Jack Davis and did editorial cartoons for the reporter newspapers. One day I spoke with Jack and asked what happened to Arthur and Jules. He put me in touch with Paul Coker, Jr. (another Mad Magazine artist that I love). He gave me Arthur’s Bermuda phone number and from there I had to prove to Arthur that I was serious about a book. I sent him sample chapters and the rest is history.

In terms of sales which Rankin/Bass is the best selling?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the longest running, highest rated tv special of all-time!


What is their least known?
There are a few. I love their first feature film in animagic, Willy McBean & His Magic Machine (1965). It has the same look and voice actors as Rudolph and was shot at the same time. Another rare one is That Girl in Wonderland, which was cel animated and featured Marlo Thomas.

What do you love most about your association with Rankin Bass?
The people, the art and the music. I love the music of Maury Laws and the lyrics of Jules bass. I have become great friends with Maury! I also have a recording career and record so I understand what it took to put these things together and have a great appreciation for it. I also want to give credit to two wonderful guys named Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass. Without them, there would be none of this and I can't think of two nicer guys!

When writing your book, could you ever have imagined that "The Enchanted World of Rankin Bass" would retail in second hand stores for $150.00+? Given this demand, will more copies be published?
I am amazed at the demand and the fact that the hardcover sells for over $250. I am talking to a few publishers for a Christmas 2008 release. I want it to be like the Hanna-Barbera Treasury by Jerry Beck. Of course I want to add update it. A few years back we found and restored the Rudolph & Santa Claus animagic figures.

In your opinion what makes Rankin Bass animation so enduring and special?
I always say it's a combination of heart and warmth. Romeo, Arthur and Jules knew this was the key to what they did. They also worked on many levels: music, design, voice actors, etc.

This was the reason for my book The Making of the Rankin/Bass Holiday Classic: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Miser Bros Press). I wanted to break it down and show what went into making these and who was behind it.



What is the most common question you are asked about Rankin/Bass?
What is wrong with the misfit doll? Arthur Rankin, Jr. says "she was clinically depressed, because she was cast off by her mistress and they didn't have Prozac in 1964." In his scripts Romeo never wrote what was wrong with the doll.

What happened to the materials and ‘puppets’ used in the making of the shows?
Some have survived. I have a few from The First Christmas (1975). We take the completely re-stored Rudolph and Santa to appearances around the country.

I know of the whereabouts of 10 or so. Maury Laws has Donner. Arthur has a few from some specials that were never produced on Shirley Temple and Punch & Judy. David Scheve has Father Time (Red Skelton). Gene Muller has a reindeer and a tree person from Marco (1970).

People are fascinated with the animagic figures and they truly are one of a kind treasures. I have wood carved salad utensils from Mad Monster Party that Arthur Rankin gave me and told me never to sell. They were carved by the animagic puppet makers. Frankenstein (fang) is the spoon and Dracula is the fork.

Profile by Ronda Carman

A Lynn von Kersting Christmas

[Images removed at the request of Darra Baker]

I have posted before regarding my love for Lynn von Kersting's design talent. Mrs. Blanding's recently did a post with photos of von Kersting's home and it reminded me that I had these Christmas photos tucked away in one of my many binders. Enjoy.

A New Year's Resolution

Over the weekend I began to think about my aspirations and resolutions for 2008. One of my goals this year is to run the Loch Ness 10K in October. I have always held marathon runners in great esteem. Ironically, I’m not a runner! I love the treadmill, but I can't imagine it is the same as running a 10K. So, why do I want to torture myself and include this among my goals for 2008? I guess to prove that I can actually do it and it seems like a great way to shed a few pounds and tone up my body.

Luckily, I am not the first non-runner to have this harebrained idea. Dawn Dais, the former self-proclaimed “worst runner in the world” has written the book for me—The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women. A guide for other couch potatoes who decide that running a marathon sounds like a fantastic idea. The Non-Runner’s Marathon Guide for Women is a witty and inspiring chronicle of her trials and tribulations as she gives up her recliner for the road.

I would love to know if you have any advice, suggestions or recommendations.

All the best,
Ronda

Carol of the Bells

My current obsession is Carol of the Bells by The Bird and The Bee. It was a recent iTunes single of the week and I listen to it every day, over and over and over again.

The indie/pop/alternative duo from California (multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin and singer Inara George) offer an upbeat blend of electro-pop rhythms and playfully melodies. I would love to hear a full version Christmas album next year!

I will state for the record that I have not purchased any of their CDs, but I do plan to download Please Clap Your Hands featuring Polite Dance Song from the fourth season of Grey's Anatomy. I do know that their debut album Again and Again and Again and Again was released in two versions (explicit and non explicit) but I have not listened to either album in full. Without yet knowing a great deal about The Bird and The Bee I put their lyrical style in a similar category to Kirsty MacColl (risqué lyrics paired with the low-key lounge style rather than the vocal similarities). I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Listen to the full version of Carol of the Bells

Shopping on Saturday

I am a self-confessed book junkie. My list is always growing and consequently never ending. I could easily and happily fill an entire house and blog with nothing but books (magazines too for that matter). One of my fondest memories as a child is going to the library and having free reign to lose myself among the old, dusty literature.

This year my Christmas list consists only of books. Here are just a few I hope to add to my personal library.

The Well- Lived Life by Dominique Browning

Robert Indiana by Nathan Kernan

Let Me In by Mario Testino

Palm Springs Style by Aline Coquelle

The Carlyle Assouline Books