Belle’s Weekly Reading: December 6, 2013
Dec 6, 2013
1) When I was seventh grade, my Mother bought me my first Seventeen magazine. It was the back to school issue, and Katherine Heigl was on the cover. Those glossy pages are remembered fondly. Perhaps that’s why I found this list of headlines from vintage teen magazines made me chuckle. I also like the list of Cosmo headlines, they never cease to amaze.
2) I’m attending a holiday party where the host has requested that all the women wear red. I sold my go-to red dress a few years ago, so I guess it’s time to find a new one. I’m thinking about this lace Adrianna Papell, or this Cynthia Steffe dress that looks like it could be Monique Lhuillier. Maybe I’ll just rent this one-shoulder dress from Badgley Mischka, instead?
3) While I am not a parent, I found this article, “7 Secrets to Raising Happy Kids” very illuminating. Lots of good advice, not just for raising children, but for being a fully-formed person.
4) The temperature was -24 degrees in Montana over the holidays. I was forced to buy a pair of glittery shearling-lined boots to wear as slippers because my parent’s house never cracked 55-degrees. I’m thinking about picking up these TOMS boots to wear in the house instead, or maybe I’ll just go 80s and buy leg warmers. Very Flashdance.
5) The Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette is selling out everywhere, and with its selection of rose-hued neutrals, it’s not hard to see why. Ulta has fresh stock, so get ’em while they’re hot.
6) Check out these amazing shadow sculptures. Nothing is what it seems.
7) Roland Mouret, why must you tease me? Your dresses are beautiful, but the prices obscene. Even when I find them for 75%-off at Centruy21, they still give me pause. This is the Target designer collaboration that I would most like to see.
8) Unlike most of my gender, my handwriting is terrible. My old Boss once banned me from writing him any notes because he could never translate my “serial killer scratches.” Due to our reliance on typing, some schools have stopped teaching cursive. Comedian Stephen Colbert does not agree with that decision, this video defending his position will cheer up a dreary Friday.
9) Kate Middleton wore a $36 Zara necklace to an event. It is now selling for five-times that amount on eBay.
Want something similar for under-$75? This multi-row Cezanne crystal necklace is beautiful. I also LOVE this beaded multi-row necklace from INC, the mix of grey, silver and gold is so beautiful. And if you prefer something with rocker-chic, this Topshop chain necklace bridges the gap between edgy and pretty.
10) It’s a bit too cold to be thinking about flats with open backs. But I loved these Sam Edelman studded shoes so much (esp. at $110), that I bought them so I wouldn’t miss out come March.
11) This weekend, my hometown is having a food drive. Our little community donates more pounds of food than the City of Seattle collected at their food drive. I’ve always been proud to be from such a generous place, but one thing has always perplexed me.
You see, it takes hundreds of volunteers to collect food from the working class neighborhoods because there is a bag on every porch. Only a dozen are needed to do pick ups in the Country Club and the wealthier subdivisions. Studies show that nationally, the poorest 20-percent of Americans give 3.2% of their income to charity, while the wealthiest 20-percent give only 1.2% to needy causes.
It’s the season to be grateful for what we have. So even if you can only make a small donation, I encourage you to give to FeedingAmerica, a charity that helps local food banks and non-profits that feed the needy. If you’re from MT, you can give to the MT Food Bank Network directly. And if you have the means, think about setting up a recurring donation that can be debited from your account each month.
Is that seriously how cold your parents keep their house?! Here in MN the temp was -11 this morning and we do 66 but I found myself pushing it up to 68. I cannot fathom 55!
They don’t intentionally keep it that cold. They have a rather crappy in-floor heating system that cannot keep up with the temp, when it drops below 10. Wouldn’t be a problem if the house was in DC, huge problem in MT. The man that built it was an idiot, and they bought in the summer. Not cool. Or too cool, as the case may be.
My theory is that working class and poor people KNOW what it’s like to be poor and hungry, even when you’re working two jobs. They know how lousy it feels to be hungry and not be able to feed your kids because you got laid off or were sick for two days that you didn’t get paid for. Therefore, more charitable.
You’re probably right. The recession should have proven that anyone could wind up in need, but some people still think it can’t happen to them.
Poor people know what it’s like to be living paycheque to paycheque.
That said, from a net dollar value, I am not going to judge rich people for not giving more of their income on a percentage basis.
We are all forgetting some basic math here:
1.2% of $1 million = $12,000
1.2% of $100,000 = $1200
3.2% of $20,000 = $640
3.2% of $30,000 = $960
I think we should go easy and back off demonizing the rich folks and just be thankful there are still some giving out there.
Everything is relative.
It isn’t about demonizing, it’s about asking people to give more to worthy causes if they have the means. I’ve always tried to give a percentage because I believe that the more I receive, the more I should be willing to give.
This already has me prepping/nervous for my holiday trip home to Montana.
The Kate Effect really is amazing!!! Especially since yesterday’s ensemble was her worst to date, in my own opinion