everything that's NOT famous.

As I've mentioned a hundred times, I LOVE NYC! Despite summer school madness, I was able to visit the city last month for the weekend. Caught the Jimmy Fallon Show, and a Yankee game, had a bottomless champagne brunch, got a blow out, ate way too much. All of my favorite things. I love the busyness of the big city. The people, the bustle, but what I never really stop to experience is the little things. The places that are less populated. At the start of the year Will Ellis came out with Abandoned NYC and shows exactly what I've been missing, the underbelly of my favorite city.

In this photography book, Ellis sheds light on anything and everything that is not famous in the 5 Burroughs, along with a short history. It's very cool. Coffee table book cool.

needlework.

Summer school is over, time to get crafty! One of my favorite craft books of 2015 came out earlier this month, How to Sew Little Felt Animals by Sue Quinn. These animals honestly look like they came out of a craft store, they are really cute and detailed, and I love their little outfits. All of the patterns for the different animals are completely separate, which makes them all look unique, and the step-by-step instructions, written and visual, will appeal to any and all beginners.

 

The woodland animals included in this book are:

 Male Rabbit in a Schoolboy’s uniform of trousers, blazer, sweater, collar and tie
Female Rabbit in a Schoolgirl’s uniform and cardigan
Male Squirrel in gardening dungarees and scarf
Female Squirrel in a summer sailor dress
Bear with nightcap, blanket and mini teddy bear
Male Mole in working clothes of a cap, neckerchief, waistcoat and trousers
Female Mole in winter clothes of a coat, skirt and headscarf
Male Mouse with outdoor clothes if trousers, a hooded coat and scarf
Female Mouse with outdoor clothes of a skirt, jacket, satchel and bow

one book tour guide.

I typically only review travel guides of places I've been to myself (I only traveled through Austria briefly on my way to Venice), but I couldn't help but share Rick Steves Pocket Vienna guide because it's SO amazing that it's giving me the travel itch. In true Rick Steves fashion, he shares amazing maps of Old Town and the Vienna City Walk, helps you plan your time wisely, and shares history on the places you should visit. Seriously, who needs a tour guide? Not you!

for the every woman.

You may not be able to always tell this from her novels, but Lisa Scottoline is pretty hilarious. You can see for yourself in her latest collection of funny anecdotes that she writes with her daughter titled, Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat? Which any woman who breathes can relate to.

It's summer. And yes, the beach makes me look hella fat. But Lisa and Francesca want me and every other woman out there to have a worry-free time even if our bodies aren't summer ready, because, honestly mine has been like, once. Their stories are soooo so funny, and multigenerational. Francesca being single in her early twenties living in NYC and her mom being, well, a mom. There is a touch of serious here and there, but these ladies definitely aren't trying to kill the mood, so mostly they keep it light, except when it comes to their spaghetti sandwiches.

kick ass giveaway!

Win a FREE copy of Embracing the Seasons: Memories of a Country Garden!

 

 

 

 

all you have to do is email your name, address, and this book title to: jenileerose@yahoo.com to enter!

Giveaway ends on 8/11 at midnight!

Good luck :)

summer read.

I have definitely been slacking in my suggestions on what to read this summer, in the pool or on the beach, with a cocktail in your hand, because my soul has been shattered by my summer school kids. But I have a great one for you today. The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Francis is a novel about three sisters who vacation together with their families (including their recently divorced parents) every summer on Cape Cod, only this summer there is A LOT they aren't talking about.

As you can imagine, there is tons of drama with rocky marriages, boy toys, inappropriate flirting, hoarding...that will probably make you feel really good about your own family situation.

from rock bottom to recovery.

Summer Secrets by Jane Green has much more depth than many of the other summer novels I have read this season, so if you are looking for light and airy, wait a few days and I'll give you some suggestions. But for now...

It's 1998, and late twenty-something Cat is an alcoholic, although she refuses to admit it until it costs her everything. Now it's 2014 and Cat has gotten ahold of herself and is now traveling from London to Nantucket to make amends with her family. But will the stress of reuniting with the family she lost lead her back to the bottle? This is an extremely emotional story of the internal struggle that alcoholics face, and it's heartbreaking to watch.