Kate Gabrielle Yard Sale

I woke up super early and drove up to Hamilton to A) help Kate earn some cash to pay down her bills, B) score some goodies, and C) own something that was once in the coolest house in the Tri-State area! Check out what I got for only forty bucks:

I Heart Galison

A couple weeks back I did another puzzle order from Galison. The Chinese Zodiac one arrived with a teeny tiny bit of damage. I should have just ignored it but it bugged me and so I wrote in to the company and asked if I could return it for one that wasn't damaged. I kinda fibbed and said the puzzle was a gift, otherwise they might think I'm a spoiled brat that has to have everything perfect. Taylor was the one to receive my email and reply. I was really impressed with how sweet they were and so I'm posting the last of our convo here so that youse all can see just what kind of super-dooper customer service this company provides:

ME:

Just wanted to follow up and say that the replacement puzz arrived today in perfect condition along with the other Galison goodies I ordered thanks to the generous discount. I think I'm gonna need a puzzle shed by the end of the year, as my closet is quickly becoming stacked with fabulous puzzles! Thank you once again for all your help with this. I appreciate your time and especially your understanding and kindness. 

Have an outstanding rest of your week and take care,

Lisa Star

TAYLOR: 

Good morning Lisa,

Thank you for your wonderful follow-up! We're delighted to hear that the replacement Chinese Zodiac puzzle arrived in perfect condition and that you're enjoying the other Galison goodies :)

It sounds like your puzzle collection is growing beautifully and the idea of a puzzle shed sounds lovely!

It was a pleasure to assist you, and we're so glad we could turn this experience into a positive one for you. Your kind words and enthusiasm mean a lot to us.

If you ever need any more assistance or have questions in the future, please feel free to reach out.

Happy puzzling, and enjoy filling up that closet (or shed) with more fabulous puzzles!

Best,

Taylor D.

Galison Customer Service Team

July 2024 Books

♥ The Friday Afternoon Club ¹ by Griffin Dunne - This book was spectacular and I wish it was longer and went even more in depth. Ever since seeing Dominick Dunne's documentary After the Party I have been so envious of Griffin's little sister, Dominique Dunne because she was so lucky to have two brothers and a father that completely and utterly adored her. I know that Griffin had to discuss her death, but what I genuinely loved about this book was getting to know her and Ellen (Mrs. Dunne) and Alex (Griffin's brother) and of course, about Griffin himself. There were so many hilarious stories that had me cracking up and falling more in love with the entire Dunne family all over again. I will most certainly be seeking out a real copy of the book and also listening to it all over again.

* Catching the Big Fish ¹ by David Lynch - I know I've said this before but I really think I need to force myself to meditate and definitely to look seriously in to Transcendental Meditation. I need all the help I can get. 

Life Is a Gift ¹ by Tony Bennett - I've had the physical book for years but knew it'd be another few before I got around to it so I gave the audiobook a try. Joe Mantegna narrates, but where I loved his reading of Puzo's The Godfather, this one just felt over the top. Any of Tony's achievements were said as if it was the greatest thing to ever happen. This rang false because if I learned anything from Mr. Bennett's first memoir, the man is humble to the core. Glad I have the physical book so that maybe down the line I'll pick it up and read it in Tony's voice. 

♥ Warren the 13th and the Thirteen Year Curse by Tania del Rio & beautifully illustrated by Will Staehle - I absolutely adored this series and daydream of them one day turning each book into a short series on one of the streaming networks. This one, about our beloved Warren turning thirteen and things going very wrong right from the start was fantastic, with all the old favourites from the previous two books plus a gaggle of new ones. I loved getting sucked in to the World of Warren and following on his adventures, missteps, and especially his lucky breaks. 

♥ Narwhal's Sweet Tooth by  - I saw this at Reads in Phoenixville and it was too cute to pass up. Little did I know it would deal with serious dental issues, of which I am all too familiar. It was hilarious and adorable as hell with a lovely message. I really need to get more of the books in this series.

¹ - audiobook
² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

The Wink Is Comin' to Town!

When the Doylestown Bookshop announced today on their IG page that Henry Winkler, writing partner Lin Oliver, and illustrator Santat would be having a book signing in October, I jumped up and ordered a pair of tickets. I have a feeling I'll be going solo (what else is new) but who cares!? I can't wait!

"Not to be rude...

...but you kinda look like a toddler just sitting there looking at the oven." Ha! I guess seeing a fifty year old sitting criss-cross-applesauce style on the kitchen floor is something only a toddler should be doing. I'm telling ya, Lucy Rose is an unbelievably funny girl and doesn't even realise it.

Father John Misty Tee

I wish this shirt came in a girlie v-neck so I could buy it and wear it every day.

Happy 45th Anniversary!

Forty-five years ago this very day one of the bestest TV series of all time, Hart to Hart, made its debut. At exactly midnight I put on disc one and watched the pilot ep, which is one of my (sorry) least favourite episodes of the series (the others being the This Lady Is Murder, Murder in the Saddle, Solid Gold Murder, Rhinestone Harts, With This Hart, I Thee Love, and Pandora Has Wings. Out 110 episodes to only dislike seven isn't bad!). But even though I don't care for the one that started it all, I absolutely love watching it with the commentary by RJ, Stef, and Tom Mankiewicz. And so I spent the entire day relaxing in my grandparents' old recliner and watched nearly all of the first season. What better way to spend a Sunday!

I have what it takes...

This affirmation from Finch definitely applies to Bailey! Last Saturday she was extremely brave and conquered a great big fear at an indoor obstacle course. I'm so grateful that Ashlee shared the video.

Uncooperative

When Jackson was five months old I stopped at the house on my way home from the office. His father and I were trying to get him to wave. He was having none of it. But he did used to hold his hands together like a little butler, which I absolutely loved. The second mini-video was as close as I came to capturing it! 

 • ‎July ‎10, ‎2012 •

Noir at the DAM

The Haddonfield Zoo

I first saw this sculpture zoo while driving down Kings Highway earlier this year. I instantly knew that I just had to take Lucy there someday soon. Since it was a high of 75° today, we gals hopped in Roark and took off for an afternoon in Haddonfield. We were the only ones there and Lucy had a blast running around, climbing on the statues and giving them each a new name. We are definitely going back in December!

Cannonball

In case you are working on your technique and need a little guidance from a super-mega adorable eight year old girl.

Nourish the things...

• relationships with the people closest to me: Kayla, Isabella, Amy, Bishop

• learning: always looking out for new artists, music, authors, books, and films to help broaden my view of things

• the kids in my life: Jackson, Bailey, Lucy

• my body: with healthy veggies and juice (I need to work harder on this one and be kinder to my body and not let my sadness and anxiety be in charge of what I eat.)

• far-away friendships held together through letter writing and postcards: Autumn, Barbara, Helen, Michel, David, Natalia

• my brain: keeping it active with puzzles, learning new languages, & memory games

• home: trying to get finances under control, downloading Thumbtack, and hoping to get those things around the house repaired so I can enjoy being at my place again

• small businesses: I've been staying off Amazon for the most part and prefer to support some of my favourite shops such as Kate Gabrielle, Run & Fly, Baldwin's Book Barn, Inkwood Books, & Fishs Eddy, plus the Natural Health Store that's several towns away from me but has a nice staff and isn't Whole Foods

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Oasis - Up In The Sky

8½ Souvenirs - Minor Swing

Scritti Politti - Word Girl

Buddy Rich - Diabolus

John Legend & Miri Ben-Ari - Live It Up

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Woman, Woman

No Doubt - Doormat

Ben Webster - That's All

Ani DiFranco - Smiling Underneath

Rihanna - Disturbia

The Chords - Sh-Boom

Bell X1 - Eve, The Apple of My Eye

Cass Elliot - It's Getting Better

Josh Rouse - Winter in the Hamptons

Dear and the Headlights - Hallelujah

The Rocket Summer - Cross My Heart

Joe Williams - Tell Me Where to Scratch

4 May 2009

Puzzler's Paradise

I scored a major deal on this off Badge Bomb. They had slightly damaged puzzles for eight bucks. I couldn't resist this one!

Horatio

Jasper

Esmeralda Alana

(artwork by Allison Cole)