the world according to sherimaven

 Good morning, Monday...here you are again. Yup.

So this weekend, I was walking with Khan in Merrick Park, surely one of the most dog friendly malls in these here fine United States. For those of you unfamiliar with Merrick, it’s a lovely outdoor mall here in Coral Gables with high end shopping (think Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo, and for those of us more grounded and realistic, Banana Republic, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, and Ann Taylor and some others that are slightly more reasonable). I love it there because it’s super pretty and you can be outside, because Nordstrom E Bar has the best vanilla chai around, and because they love dogs at this joint. Doggies can go into any store they want to, and my little pup has become quite the savvy shopper. He loves this place and struts around the stores like a fashion champion. Mama is proud.

So we went into Tiffany’s on a lark as I have not been there in ages and can’t resist a little sparkly sparkle once in a while (what girl can really?). I must admit- I’m not much of a Tiffany’s girl but the lore of the place is magic and some of the pieces are lovely classics for gals who like to play it a bit safe (not sure I am one of those girls but do admire a classic piece of jewelry as much as any card carrying member of the female race). There's something about that blue box that turns a girl into a bit of a reduction.

While strolling through the store, I came across this wallet, which immediately brightened my mood. The boys from Lambertson Truex are doing all of Tiff’s leather goods these days and damn if I did not fall head over heels for this little Tiffany blue wallet- have never seen that color in leather and it’s just a sweetheart of a way to hold your funds and stash of cards and such. I also really adored the agenda- with everything on my phone these days, it feels a bit decadent to have an agenda in your purse- taking up space but a lovely little accessory for jotting down meetings, thoughts, and shopping lists, of course. Khan approved too, until a rotten little boy pulled his tail and ran away. Meh.

So, fellas- all 3 of you that read this blog (ha), please consider this as a very lovely gift for Valentine’s Day or some such occasion worthy of a little extra love. And ladies, if you are single and ready to mingle this Feb 14th, buy either the wallet or the agenda- I am almost certain either one's  a lucky charm, and will bring out your inner Holly Golightly, regardless of whether you’re more rock and roll or tough than the typical Tiffany  chick. I hope you enjoy your week this week- and perhaps enjoy it a weensy bit more with some lovely takes on classic accessories, brought to you by Tiffany. Swoon.

Cause that’s what’s up this Moon River of a Monday in the MIA. XO

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/CategoryBrowse.aspx?cid=667912&mcat=148212

Hello dear Friday. I am so very happy to see you.

Regardless of our social mediaholic tendencies or my love of expensive backpacks, one thread is common in my quest for a good life- I need to laugh. And frequently.

I figured since all of you in the Northeast are snowed in indefinitely, with more on the way, you may need something to watch on the telly. Look no further than Ricky Gervais's stitchy new show on The Science Channel, "An Idiot Abroad", of which he is the Exec Producer. The show has Ricky's friend, Karl Pilkington go around the world and observe cultures other than his own in a most ridiculous way. Karl is the genius British every man, and he kills every time- there is no way you are not fracturing a rib when you watch this show, it's that funny. The premise is genius- a travel show hosted by a guy who hates to travel and would much rather be at home in the UK- immediately we see a twist on the erstwhile travel show format, which results in pure comedy magic.

 I just watched the episode where he visited China, ate toads, and was nonplussed by the Great Wall, one of the wonders of the world. Hilarity ensues, and Gervais's genius is further confirmed, even if his super snark grated on me at the Globes. Needless to say, laughter is the best medicine and you need to watch this, snowed in or not.It's not fair how funny British people are- their delivery of simple observations has always been snort worthy. Had to share with you- go forth and Tivo and G-d bless this show that provides some much needed comic relief.

Cause that's what's up this funny as hell Friday in the MIA. Laugh a little (ok a lot)  and have a great weekend. XO

http://science.discovery.com/tv/an-idiot-abroad/bios/karl-pilkington.html

Hi, Thursday...I'm a bit tapped for inspiration today, as posting about fancy shoes and watches and frocks seems a bit irresponsible after yesterday's musings (don't worry I'm not lost forever).

So seeing as I'm tapped, I ask you what would Hunter S. Thompson do? It's a legit question, when one is feeling a bit depleted. I'm just in a general state of meh so figured we should look to Hunter and his holiness for a cure to this particular brand of malaise. Oh, and here's what he would do in such situations of inspirational void:

Every now and then when your life gets complicated and the weasels start closing in, the only cure is to load up on heinous chemicals and then drive like a bastard from Hollywood to Las Vegas … with the music at top volume and at least a pint of ether.  — Hunter S. Thompson

Not a bad suggestion...surely would give me something to write about. Cause that's what's up this fear and loathing filled Thursday in the MIA. XO

 Hiya, Wednesday. Have you ever taken Anusara yoga? It’s pretty phenomenal, all about alignment and such...realized why I could never do a backbend and feeling much better now knowing my shoulders were all jacked up in that position...anyway...

I wanted to talk to all of you about something that’s been troubling me of late. I’ve been doing lots of writing these days on social media and such and was wondering if you are all feeling, well super taxed by the tremendous amount of “engagement” we have with this blur of work and life these days. By that I mean the whole never disconnected thing. Maybe you are one of the few valiant types left on Earth that don’t feel the need to endlessly check email, voicemail, Facebook, Linked In, Foursquare and any other infinite social platforms, but I have fallen victim to information overload, and my need to disconnect has me feeling a bit depleted of late. I have a visceral fear of not being connected to my life and everybody else's- a fear of not answering an email quickly enough, a morbid phobia of sitting still, and a practically insane need to "app" myself into oblivion.

Many of you are too young to remember a time when work was done, and then, well it was done. Sure we pulled all-nighters, and worked as hard as we worked today. But we did not have the same tools that now allow us to be engaged at all hours, at all times.  At some point, it’s important to balance the end of the work day, and the time needed to spend with each other to fulfill our needs for a happy home life. Just this morning, I saw families doing  digital “cleanses” this am on the Today Show, wherein they make the choice to not use any sort of wired device for a week, and in one extreme case, six months. It sounds insane to all of us, and that in itself is crazy that we can’t fathom a world where people are not plugged in.  I’m wondering if it’s time for a little bit of tune out, turn off, drop out before we all implode. There's simply too much ambient cultural and supposed "social" noise happening for any of us to really know what the fuck is going on.

My aunt, a stealth watcher of culture who always inspires me for this blog and beyond, told me about a story on her local news in Philadelphia where there’s been a rash of robberies in the very upscale New Hope, PA area. We’re talking spendy homes, mortgaged to the eyeballs, with double Range Rovers to match. The cops were stumped as to how this area was having so many robberies, until they figured out that the burglars were on to the fact that the people in said homes were never there- thus easier to rob. And why were they never home? Because they were working their designer clad tails off to support a lifestyle that was no longer in reach. This brings up two points: why have all this “stuff” if you are working so hard you can’t even enjoy any of it? Or better yet, if you are never home to protect such stuff, somebody is gonna take it from you. Harsh.

This leads me to believe that it’s time for all of us to rethink what we think we need to be happy in this lifetime. Many of us have had this notion top of mind in this epic recession- but many still can’t seem to disconnect not only from an endless work cycle, but from all of those material things that supposedly add to life. And maybe if we went a bit more downscale in our spendy ways, we could all be home a little bit more. It’s just a thought. We are all working ourselves into submission and not taking the necessary time to recharge, to free ourselves of stress and hostility and plain old fashioned workplace madness. I’m afraid that this culture of connectivity has turned us all into Type A machines, even if some of us are more likely to fall into the lower level of the alphabet family (more Type C or D for instance).

For those of you ready to disconnect this very second, I give you this rather clever site, a website that asks you to disconnect for 2 long minutes, and do absolutely nothing, against a backdrop of a serene ocean. (Of course you need to be connected to a computer to do this, but never mind that). The site is called “Do Nothing For 2 Minutes”, and is already a social sensation. I think we should all try this today, and think about how crazy our lives have begun by all of this constant connectivity and need to be “on”. If we took some time to rethink our values, our work style, and our relationships, we may feel a little less vacant. There is surely more to life than all of these things we think make us whole, make us smarter, and more brilliant in the workplace. I myself have not yet mastered this, but the thought of cave dwelling in India for about a year is becoming more and more appealing as I seek to define myself with things outside of the workplace, and think about what really matters to me. The art of doing nothing is more important than ever- take some time for yourself today and just disconnect. Everybody needs a break from this frenetic open all day and night existence. And that’s what’s up this this thoughtful Wednesday in the MIA. Please find some time for yourself today that doesn’t involve a wireless or wired device. As far as I can reckon, a good walk in the park with someone you are nuts over and a cone of mint chocolate chip is immune from most 3G networks. There’s simply not an app for that. XO

http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/

Hi, beautiful Tuesday. Supposed to be a tempestuous bitch of an evening weather wise, but right now Miami is all clear.

How do you feel about backpacks? I'm a fan, have been for a while- many of you are grey enough to remember the Prada backpack days. I myself had a Stussy one for a while- I think they're perfect for urban adventures and great for airplane travel as well, and your shoulder will not feel that burn from schlepping that tote full of Conde titles onto a transatlantic flight. I spotted this one by Tory Burch and find it really chic. I may have to have this- think it's cute and somehow streamlined and not at all outdoorsy (which I most definitely am not- though it could work for that glamping trip I talked about some time ago). Think it's sporty without being too casual as well.

I would rock this with a cute, shrunken blazer (Band of Outsiders anyone?), white shirt, and a knee length a line skirt or some cute ankle length slim pants. It would also look good with some denim, wide legged, and a low v neck tee or cardigan. Love it. Preppies among you may like some of the colors it comes in (think we've got olive, orange, and on shopbop this sorority green), but I would most likely stick to the black or the olive. Since we've all got enough on our shoulders these days, this little investment may help lighten the load (magazines and therapy not included).

Hope you're having a lovely morning, cause that's what's up this packed on the back Tuesday in the MIA. XO

http://www.shopbop.com/tierney-backpack-tory-burch/vp/v=1/845524441889018.htm?folderID=2534374302043323&extid=froogle-TORYB20684

Good morning, Monday. Lots and lots of traffic today so excuse the delay...but without further ado, I wanted to talk about my new favorite thing, Archie Grand notebooks.

It's timely really that I happened to stumble my butt into J. Crew on Friday, where I was gobsmacked by how well merchandised the store is these days. Amidst a sea of brightly colored cashmere and basic khakis ( I want every sweater PS), I found these lovely little notebooks by Archie Grand- one for any type really- with titles boldly placed on front with names like "Artists I Met and Liked, Writers I Met and Liked, Excesses I Had and Liked (a favorite- duh)", and well, you get the idea. The Scandinavian notebook maker has been cranking these out for some time now, and leave it to the brilliant J. Crew to showcase these just in time for Valentine's Day, because the small ones will only set you back about $11, and the jumbo notebooks are about $26.

I say this discovery is timely because CBS Sunday Morning had a feature this weekend about how penmanship is dying, which makes me sad. I myself have always written like a doctor, maybe a doctor who has been inhaling ether for hours on end. I have horrible handwriting, and I've always wished otherwise. And it more than concerns me that people are not writing handwritten notes anymore, and future generations may give up on taking pen and pencil to paper altogether. So let's take part in preserving the fine art of jotting down a thing or two and buy a notebook. Trust me, you can still write things down if you give yourself a chance. So if you're looking for a charming gift or a lovely vessel for inspirational thoughts or images, get one of these, would you? I think they're divine, and there's enough titles to choose from where you will surely find one to your "liking".

Cause that's what's up this dot your I's and cross your T's kind of Monday in the MIA. XO

Here's a link to their site, and one to where you can buy these online if you're resisting a stroll through the Crew these days:

http://archiegrand.jetshop.se/default.aspx

http://www.jasperandblack.com/Cat-69-1-150/shop-by-collections-archie-grand.htm

Hey hey, Friday. You're here and I'm crushing hard on your sexiness.

Not sure what I was looking for online yesterday, but somehow came across some old Specials videos on You Tube. I remember being a hardcore fan of all things ska as a mispent youth. Watching those vids now, I remember why- just look at the amazing style, the fantastically graphic album and flyer art (a visual world of black and white and maybe some pink thrown in for fun), and the party music that can lift a sagging mood any day. Just look at how these dudes dressed- skinny suits, braces, short pants, Fred Perry. Believe you me, some ska will be in full rotation today as I teeter towards the weekend. The Brits did ska better than the Americans (sorry Sublime and No Doubt fans), and my severe Anglophilia was much informed by bands like The Specials. if you listen to this music now, you realize these guys were talking about racial unity and bringing people together- a noble cause disguised by some seriously kickin' dance music.

If you need a primer on such things, the bands to check out are The Specials (their self titled album, pictured here is one of my all time favorites), The English Beat, Selecter, Fun Boy Three, Madness (now rethinking the name of my dog- Suggs would have been good) and the more new wavish Gang of Four and guilty pleasure General Public. And of course let's not forget Fishbone (American), whose skankin' sounds accompanied many a college party back in the day.  Loving the way these dudes dressed...looks very now somehow, doesn't it? Of course, if you're a purist you can check out the first wave of ska straight outta Jam Rock, with bands like the Skatalites and cool cats like Byron Lee.

And that, my bebes, is what's up this rock steady, rude boyesque, big, big monkey man of a  Friday in the MIA. All the love, kids. Blast some ska this weekend and get happy. XO

Bonjour, Thursday...sometimes I get stuck for inspiration and have to go deep into les catacombes of my brain to seek out thoughts and notions to light my fire. Today I'm going back in time to my Paris trip, most particularly those incredible moments/hours spent at the flea markets. That feeling of waking up early in Paris, with the rooftops yawning and heaving their morning salutations- the cafe creme at the tabac on my corner (Le Diplomat) and the brioche specked with dots of hard sugar- heaven. Porte de Clignancourt, officially called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen,  is certainly the biggest flea in town- the treasures there are not to be reckoned with- it's a labyrinth of incredible old chairs with beautiful bones, leather goods from Morocco perfect for your next trip abroad, and everything from vintage Fellini posters to floppy felt hats and beyond- it's a force of the found.

Going to those flea markets is a mind blowing, heart happy experience- seems like the whole city comes out and searches for something special to bring home, something with history and dust and a storied past to reinvent. I'm not sure life gets better than that, really. I guess my Romanian peasant roots come out at places like this- I love to haggle, hustle, and dig. I love the banter (in French) amongst the shopkeepers and their customers and the rhythm of walking through those narrow streets created by stalls and stalls of vendors.  I love how well curated the stuff is at the Paris fleas, of which there are many.

Dying to go back. Now. Maybe you're thinking of a place that sends you today too. If you're a bit mucky or stuck  today, find that spot and keep it top of mind. It will surely get you through.
Cause that's what's up this flea filled Thursday in the MIA. XO

Wednesday, baby. Wednesday.

Let's get to it. I've talked a ton about how much I love white for Spring, almost as much as I like the whole jewel tone thing happening. White feels fresh, new, alive, clean. It's minimal, it's pure, it's chaste yet sexy and youthful. I'm going to say that Hannah McGibbon's flurry of white frocks for Chloe,  Spring 2011 send me. I am particularly obsessed with the white long sleeve number, with the sash and nude ballets, which was spotted in February's Bazaar (which by the way is packed with amazingness).

True this dress is not unlike a glamrous hospital gown, or a chic nursemaid's uniform. I ain't mad at either of those traits. This is the perfect little dress for warm days- I love the body grazing silhouette and the barely to wrist lenght of the sleeves.  And those flats? Absolutely beyond  in that almost not there kind of way. (We all know flip flops in places like Manhattan can be sticky. Literally. These feel almost bare foot, but covered. GENIUS). I would wear this dress to DEATH- love the knee grazing length- pretty, feminine, and breezy. Problem is, I can't be trusted to wear white. For each time I do, I inevitably get schmutz all over myself. You must be a bit careful with that vinaigrette when wearing this dress- but no matter, the risk is worth it. And the other ones shown here are lovely as well. And since I'm all about renewal this year, white suits me perfectly. In Judaism, we wear white during the high holidays (the Jewish New Year) to signify purification, renewal, and a clean slate. Its powerful lack of color is statement enough, and it's brightness can perk up the best of our bad days. (I have seen the way people react when I wear a white shirt- I notice people are friendlier to me when I am doing white vs. when I am doing black. Perhaps it makes us appear more open? More accessible?)

So bring in that white light this Spring, or if you're feeling a bit blah, throw on a white men's shirt for a bit of a boost- added bonus is that white lights up the face. Cause that's what's up this pure as snow Wednesday in the MIA. And as Billy Idol once said, "it's a nice day to start again." XO

Hiya, Tuesday...nice day today in the MIA...dog sweet as pie this am, life is good.

So check it- last night I had an inspired conversation with a friend of mine who used to teach spin at my gym.  I’ve noticed of late he’s been posting tons of photos he’s been taking on Facebook of late- I was curious if this was a new hobby, a new direction, a new gig? And because I’ve produced photography for oodles of years, I of course was skeptical about my former spin teacher becoming the next big thing on the commercial photography scene. It’s such a hard business- so much banging of collective heads against the wall, so many ups and downs, so many egos. I simply had to find out what was up.

Interestingly enough, my friend just turned 40 in October. I am fully versed in turning 40, having just done so in July. I can’t stress enough how much of a turning point that is- one filled with fear and a sort of “40, really?” kind of feeling. But here’s what else happens- you find your way. FINALLY. This friend, like me, discovered a passion that laid dormant for many years, while he focused on personal training and buying and running a gym. Then he bought a camera.

And the “found” happened. Just like that. He’s loving taking pictures, cares not whether he can make money from snapping away, and is doing it for the sheer love and discovery of passion. This was a relief to me- because 40, for me anyway, was all about finding that something that makes my heart pound, my brain sing, and my blood flow (my found is writing). When I started this blog, I did it just to do it- as a disciplined exercise in writing and sharing every day, five days a week. I did not think about money, writing professionally, or where this blog would take me. But because of it, and because I did it for the sheer joy of it, I got some writing gigs and am focusing on building that part of my career. I just told my husband the other night that I finally knew what I wanted to do with my life- and that is- concentrate on a writing career, hopefully get a column somewhere, and use my words a whole lot more. Maybe getting older has to do with really seeing, feeling, looking at things more carefully. And maybe those observations manifest in some sort of found creative cojones. There’s even wisdom inside coffee cups sometimes. That’s how being 40 is. You see the every day in new ways that surprise you.

And I guess my friend likes surprises too, because he is going to take a lot more pictures, build a website, and continue to unearth treasures of his creativity that he never even knew existed. PS- it’s very brave to be creative and share your words, photos, drawings, dancing with the world. But guess what? 40 is all about being brave, having the courage to know yourself better than ever, and accept that the path you took to get there is showing you something completely different than what you expected.

And as I sit here and write this post while listening to a little Johnny Cash (I am on a country roots bender these days), I feel inspired and grateful that others in my age group are experiencing these kind of “found” moments that are pivotal to transforming us. Don’t let anybody get in your way in pursuit of your “found”- pay no attention to what people think, fear not their judgments and negativity. When you do something for the pure love of it, the opinions of others don’t mater, because you’re being true to yourself. And sure 40 is wonky in some respects (wrinkling, more grays, hurting yourself in your sleep and waking up sore), but in most respects it’s a revelation. When I turned 30, I was so relieved to be out of my debauched 20s. When I turned 40, it was not relief, but a moment of sheer “aha”. I’m going to honor that moment and keep it with me for the next few years as I focus on my creativity. I hope my friend does the same, though I wouldn’t mind him teaching spin again. He’s great at that too. Oh and PS- this does not mean quitting everything else because you’ve got your “found”. It just means thanking the sweet Lord that you are able to make a living doing something while you pursue this love of yours. And worry about how you can stop doing the other stuff later- be grateful you’re multitalented, even if one talent is nudging you to get on with it than the others.

I suppose that’s it for now. I wanted to share that because it’s truly awesome, this 40 thing- if you find your “found” earlier, good for you. I’ve always been a late bloomer, and I guess my friend is too. Whatever you’re doing today, just know you are on the road to something, like it or not. Keep moving forward and the rest will take care of itself.  Just be true to yourself, be yourself, and the “found” is inevitable.

And that’s what’s up this bad ass Tuesday in the MIA. XO