Some Crafty Uncraftiness

It has been brought to our attention that most people who drop by the LostGirls site don't realize that we have a store (update: the store is gone as of 2019). It's not anything as wickedly awesome as an Etsy page (though we do hope, in the future, to have something like that). But we have a good time adding a few of our favorite things to the store categories via Amazon. Our "aStore" can be found here. The main page is devoted to anything we've recently written about, but there are many other categories to explore.

The LostGirls Music Mix corresponds (when possible) to our LostGirls Music board on Pinterest, which is an ongoing collaboration between Meg and Jess.

Travel (which really needs a more adventurous name) includes all of the travel products we can't live without, and a few we simply wish for.  I'll be adding a lot to this one in preparation for my Spring trip to Italy.


Get Your Read On is a really reigned-in version of our favorite books and our recent reads. The following are the newest additions, which started this whole conversation about the visibility of the LostGirls aStore:

The BUST DIY Guide to Life - It really doesn't get more hipster than this. I'm going to buy it anyway.  But then I'd buy anything that Debbie Stoller (of Stitch'N Bitch) contributes to.

And then there's Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People by Amy Sedaris - For those of you who are not necessarily into crafting but could use yet another fabulous coffee table book from the fabulous and equally hilarious sister of author David Sedaris.  


So now you know - we have a store.  An aStore, to be precise.  It's never actually brought us any revenue, but it's fun to work with and we're working on making it more savvy.  The good news is that it is no different for you than a normal visit to the Amazon site.  No pop-ups or those annoying floating ads.  And if you want to see different content on there, all you need do is ask.  Enjoy!

I Just Want to Sleep Now

I've been reading about writing/reading challenges on BlogHer and have come across some really great ideas to get 2014 started.  I will probably do a mix of them, but wanted to share some of the ones that really appealed to me, just in case someone else stumbles upon this and it turns out to be just what they need.


A Month of Letters:  There's no way I can take time off from the internet anytime soon, though it's not like I'm on it that much lately.  Just the same, the idea of writing and sending something in the mail every day is lovely.  I don't have a ton of friends who will actually write back, but there are a few who have sent me letters and cards this past year and I have been really slow to reply.  So even though I'm not going to do this process the way it's posted, it serves as a great reminder that when I don't know what to write on my blog, writing a letter to a friend is always a good option to keep creativity flowing.

Family History Writing Challenge:  I have been researching my family history for quite a while, but it's been on and off.  I have a back log of unedited stories and notes from both of my parents about their families.  I would love to delve into my ancestry further, but just getting the stories of the people who are still alive has been really challenging and that's actually what I want to start with.  So, again, I'm not going to participate in this challenge, but (again) it reminded me that I have that project to work on.  And it got me to take advantage of a free trial period at Ancestry.com, so that worked out nicely to get my family tree started and figure out which gaps I need to fill first.

The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge:  My obsession with Gilmore Girls will never really end.  That said, Rory read a lot of books that I have no desire to read, but probably should read anyway.  This does not make me actually want to read them...  I'm far more interested in the fact that there are a bunch of great reading challenges on here.  The two I'm looking at are 101 Bestselling Books of All Time (I've only read 26 of them) and BBC's The Big Read (I've read 30 of them).  ...Maybe I should use one of these to start a book club on MeetUp...  

Too many things!


What I'm getting at is that if you're feeling out of sorts, directionless, have writer's block, what-have-you - there are a lot of great ideas out there to help get you moving again.  Just don't do what I did and overload on ideas without getting any additional writing done!

Attempting Adulthood

I sometimes feel like I'm the ultimate late-bloomer.  I am often told that I don't look my age (thank you, oily skin).  More often, that I don't act it (thank you, equally immature group of friends).  And I clearly I have a penchant for books that were meant for much younger women.  Girls, really.  Girls just graduating from college, getting their first apartment, moving away from home for the first time, having to learn how to fix their toilet or navigate a new city.  I've been out of my parents' house since I was nineteen and have been working ever since.  I've lived in four different states and nine different cities.  I'm old enough that I should know better about a lot of these things that various women are writing about for younger generations.  So why do I keep reading these books about becoming an adult (and how to go about it the right way the first time)? 

It all started a few years ago, when I discovered The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything (which I house in the Reference section of my Kindle).  Melissa Kirsch's book is a fun read and you can skip around or read it cover to cover - it's all up to you.  I am only now examining why it appealed to me.  Today, of all days, because I am reading yet another one of these books (more on that later) and because I let someone make me feel like a complete and utter failure as an adult for doing one thing wrong.  Not a small thing, but still.  And no, I don't want to talk about it just now.

In any case, what really got me interested, once I'd delved into this book, was that it did not shy away from reality.  Like the fact that many women suffer from irregular bowel movements.  Something most women do not want to discuss with anyone.  Holding it in, pretending we don't have bodily functions so as not to offend guys - what the hell are we thinking?  Shouldn't we be allowed to be human?  Shouldn't remaining healthy be more important than fitting into someone else's version of what you're supposed to be?  Along those lines, Kirsch brings up the fact that women's magazines aren't going to represent any female body you have or will ever see in real life.  In other words, stop comparing yourself to photoshopped pictures that make even the women they're supposed to be of feel insecure.

Books like this discuss things that women grow up (in most cases) believing apply only to them.  I have written about this before, but every time I talk to a group of women (friends, coworkers, what have you) about the nitty gritty of life, we always end up agreeing that we don't talk about these things enough.  Whether it's something serious like how many women actually suffer miscarriages and don't talk to anyone about it because they're afraid of what people will say.  To the far less serious fact that men aren't the only ones who fart and if you have gas, it's gotta go somewhere.

And thus, we come to my newest modern day self-help book: Adulting.    Written by Kelly Williams Brown (based on her blog of the same name), Adulting is very clearly for people much younger than me.  Unlike with Kirsch's guide, I will most likely only read certain sections.  But what made me like it right away was the confirmation of "it isn't just you."  I may not generally care about being normal, but it's nice to know that I'm not the only adult who has felt like a failure for forgetting to pay a bill or buy toilet paper or becoming romantically entangled with a direct supervisor at work (which, really, we all know better than to do, right?).  All of that was a long time ago and I am proud to say that I now always have a good supply of paper goods, I paid all my bills early this month and I think the feeling is mutual that there will be no romance between me and anyone else at my current job (just lots of love, you guys).

Since I've had a bad day for adulting, I'm going to take a moment for some affirmations.  Won't you join me?  Here are the things I need to remember make me a responsible adult (if nothing else):

I own a toolbox with a complete set of tools, extra nails and screws, and enough duct tape and Gorilla Glue to fix anything that needs fixing.

My kitchen is packed with good, fresh food and enough dry ingredients to make a big Italian dinner for last minute guests.

And this one, from Brown's Adulting blog:  I fully recognize that admitting I've done something poorly does not excuse it or make everything just dandy.  It is simply the first step in fixing the problem.  I also recognize that most people don't understand this concept and will therefore apologize for their actions without actually changing.

((sigh)) 

Possible future reads:

The Culinary Revolutionary

Julia Child, who would have been 100 years old today, broke a lot of rules and defied a lot of standards during her lifetime.  She did not fit the standard of television beauty (taller than most men and middle-aged, to start), but she was the first celebrity chef, thanks to her TV show on PBS.  She did not grow up obsessed with the culinary arts, but went from having little interest in food to being a cultural kitchen icon who wrote and collaborated on several cookbooks, having survived a rough start at the famous French culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu (her characteristic optimism and fearlessness at work).

Julia was determined, joyful and inspirational.  With her husband Paul, who is said to have sparked her initial interest in French cuisine, she started a food revolution, and what a team those two made.  Their love story is extraordinary.  The kind of story too many of us no longer believe in - a successful partnership involving both friendship and romance.  And Paul never seems to have felt threatened by his wife's success.  On the contrary, he inspired, supported and worked alongside her.  Given the times they lived and loved in, their accomplishments in life, work and their marriage are impressive.

Julia Child left a lasting impression on me.  When I was a kid watching her on TV, she looked too tall and sounded too funny to not be a bit awkward, but she was terribly confident and had a great sense of humor.  The first cookbook my mother bought herself was by Julia.  As well as the first one she gave me (you can read more about that on Uncrafty).   Julia was a remarkable role model for women.  She proved that you can be a feminist, a chef, a successful businesswoman and be happily married - all at the same time.  I am currently looking forward to reading the newest of her biographies, Dearie.  But there is a slew of books that celebrate her life available, including her own memoir.  If you feel the need to be inspired lately, here's your chance:

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz 

My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud-Homme

Appetite for Life by Noel Riley Fitch

A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS by Jennet Conant 

Julia's Cats: Julia Child's Life in the Company of Cats by Patricia Barey and Therese Burson

As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

For the Moblins

I have been doing a bit of babysitting this month for a friend of mine.  Her toddler is not afraid of monsters and completely understands that the moblin (which is how she says goblin) that lives in the storage closet of my house is not to be disturbed, but is not mean and won't eat her.  Unless she's stinky - moblins like stinky things.  Did you know?

I am always amazed at the way kids' minds work and the amount of joy they get from the littlest things.  Every time I show this little girl something new, she is so delighted and it is so genuine.  She is smart and fearless and she told me today that my cat Ricochet is her friend (he's in love with her, so yeah).  I think less about the stress in my life when I'm around her and after I drop her off with her mom, I feel lighter, if more sleepy than usual.  She makes me use my brain and gets me off my behind and out of the house.  I even write better because I'm not sitting in front of the computer all day.  It's a nice change.  From here on out, I'm going to refer to her as The Moblin on this blog, at least until someone tells me to cut it out (it might end up coming from The Moblin, herself).

Anyway, I have quite a few friends who have kids and I've promised all of them that I will try to include some stuff for kids and parents on this blog whenever I can.  This has been a bit difficult for me, as I don't have children of my own yet.  But I have been inspired by the moblin child I've been looking after, so I now have a few things to share with you.

California Baby Overtired and Cranky Bubble Bath:  I love the smell of this bubble bath - it is very subtle and calming.  We tried it out the other day and The Moblin loved it - especially because it comes with a bubble wand.  I don't know that the essential oils in this changed her mood at all (she wasn't overtired or cranky at the time), but I can tell you that the next time I'm stressed out, I'm going to use it for my own bath.

LUSH Rocketeer Bath Bomb:  I bought one of these when they first came out, then completely forgot about it.  Now I'm glad that I did - it was a big hit with The Moblin.  It even got her to scrub all over (thanks to the blue foam it left on her skin) and it didn't irritate her skin at all.  This bath bomb fizzes and floats around the tub, leaving trails of brightly colored foam in its wake, turning the water blue, then yellow, then green (without leaving a stain in your tub).  As with all LUSH bathing products, it left the whole house (and the child) smelling lovely.

Classic Disney, Vol. 1: 60 Years of Musical Magic:  The Moblin knows all the melodies to these songs, but is now also learning the words.  She has most of Part of That World down (she knows more than I do).  I'm very sad that this doesn't include Poissons from The Little Mermaid (I'll have to get Vol. 3 for that), but at least it's got Under the Sea.  Sorry, we're big on Ariel this week.  This doesn't have all my favorites, but it does have a lot of hers and that's more important...I guess.

Rick's Reads: A Collection from the Blog:  Rick Riordan is one of my favorite children's authors (Percy and The Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, The Heroes of Olympus).  He has written reviews for a wide variety of books for all ages.  I adore Riordan even more now that I know he's a Jim Butcher fan (a great recommendation for anyone who enjoys SFF).  He is also a dad and his reviews often reflect whether his kids liked the book he gave them to read, which is pretty darn cool.

We haven't had a chance to try out 123 Favorite Kids Song 1-3 yet, but it's going to be in the rotation fairly soon.  We enjoy Disney music, but there is more kids music out there to enjoy and quite a bit of it is educational to boot.  Once I've gotten the kid reaction, I'll let you know how this one turned out.  I'm pretty sure it will be well-received, considering how many songs I recognize from my own childhood from the very long list.

This post is for Sarah, a very sweet lil moblin.  For Tepi, who always trusts my book recommendations for her kids.  And, of course, for Tam-Tam and Wyatt - sorry it took me so long to write this!