Friday, September 29, 2017

Friday Morning...

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend, I don't know about you but I'm certainly excited for October. The weather is getting cooler and I'm so ready for scarves and hot tea. How was your week? What have you been up too? How's work and life? I don't have many plans since I'll be working but cheers to the weekend and if you've been like me and in mood to read, watch and listen to all things French, I think you'll enjoy this playlist.




(image

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

The Librarian Suggests




What I'm Reading: 
Compensating a little for not really reading last month, I read six very different books. I started with a short story by J.D. Salinger, The Girl I KnewA little difficult to find (because it doesn't appear in any of his short story collections), I had to really put my degree to use to find a copy.  First published in 1948 as the feature story in Good Housekeeping, this story was both haunting and beautiful. A young American boy traveling to Europe for work befriends his neighbor's daughter, a romance quickly blossoms but just as fast has it started, the two are torn apart by marriage and World War II. If you've never heard of this story, I bet you have heard of this quote, "She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there, leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together." Such a profound and powerful statement, Salinger definitely ranks as a top three author, I find most all of his work exhilarating. I also read The Bad-ass Librarians of TimbuktuLive Alone and Like ItThe Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Big LifeFor the adventurer and historian (to learn about the complicated past and present of the Middle East), you are in for a treat and a wild ride in The Librarians of Timbuktu. For further reading, The Storied Life is also an excellent choice. The goddess and Queen Bee herself, Majorie Hillis wrote a hilarious etiquette/how-to, if.../guide to life for the single woman in Live Alone and Like It. I could not stop laughing while also seriously taking notes on how to live my life to the fullest and how to embrace myself. There are basically no words for The Ocean at the End of the LaneI mean everyone knows Neil Gaiman is a master at storytelling, you can just tell that this guy loves books. A beautiful story about childhood, magic and how a duck pond can be an ocean. And lastly, The Big Life. Ann Shoket is the epitome of life goals. The ultimate badass babe, she teaches you how to embrace who you are and to shoot for the stars.  

What I'm Watching: 
Lady Gaga: Five Foot Two - an absolute must for any Gaga Fan. 
And I have been since the beginning. 
Jerry Before SeinfeldReminiscing over my favorite evening hanging out at the comic strip. 
Note to Self: go to more comedy shows! 
Broad City + The Mindy ProjectBoth shows are back for a new season! 

What I'm Listening Too:  

Monday, September 25, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 picnic and read.
 window seal garden...
 days in the sun :)
 these wine caps...
ready to hit east hampton with this blanket...

(images via instagram)

Friday, September 22, 2017

Friday Morning

It's been a draining week so without going into full detail of the longest week ever, I wish you a relaxing and wonderful Friday and weekend. What are your plans? I'm binging the current season of Younger and trying to finish a book that needed to be finished on Thursday. Have a good one and see you next week :)




Thursday, September 21, 2017

Atlantic-Pacific





Blair Eadie from the popular Atlantic-Pacific blog has collaborated with my ultimate favorite Humanitarian Consumer brand, FEED. Her bag has finally launched and it's definitely on my radar for the fall. What is your number one item you need this season?! 

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Fall Goals: Be Home

When you're home, are you really at home? Or is your mind elsewhere - work, kids, your side hustle? When you think of librarians, you probably imagine a dull life in which every drawer in her house is filled with a bunch of sweaters. In fact, it's the opposite. The problem with being an educator, your mind is constantly going a thousand miles a minute. And it never stops. Last night I couldn't sleep, I was up until two in the morning because my brain decided to kick into overdrive; unfortunately this all too familiar feeling is something most Americans share. I knew I couldn't go to sleep until these two ideas were written down on paper - so I turned on my lamp, dragged out my binder and started outlining and creating design plans at 2:15 in the morning, this is a problem, I know! Don't get me wrong I love what I do but it wasn't until this last Sunday, I noticed something I hadn't felt in years. The front and back doors were open, I had Gilmore Girls on downstairs with a candle lit and I was reading a magazine and eating lunch, it felt so good. My mind was completely at rest. This feeling seemed so foreign to me. 

I've been coming home after work for a year now without having to think about school, yet this sense of peace was never there and for someone who depends on a quiet home after work hours to recharge, I didn't realize I was never truly alone with myself. I hadn't felt so alert and aware. It was like I came out of a meditative state and woke up- the smell of my lotion, the autumnal fragrance of the candle my sister lit, the sound of the birds outside, the homemade meal I had just made. I want to say it made me happy, but really it just made me upset. I'm sad that I strive for balance and try to be in the moment, I actually think I'm someone who lives in the present but really, I've been absent for so long. So to kick off the first of my fall goals is when I'm home, to actually be present.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Leading Ladies

Five Things You Need to Know About Susan Cain

1. Graduated from Princeton with a B.A. in English in 1989 and went on to earn a doctorate degree from Harvard Law in 1993. 

2. The Feminine Mystique was the inspiration for writing her own book, Quiet

3.  Cain's interest in writing about introversion reportedly stemmed from her own difficulties with public speaking. 

4. Despite being an introvert and having spent her life talking about the power of introversion, she has given more than 40 lectures to hundreds of people around the world. 

5. Her TED Talk video received it's first million views faster than any other video, today it is one of the most viewed TED videos of all time.


Monday, September 18, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 girls night in plans...
 pumpkin pop-tarts are a must!
 One of the best shows I've ever been too...
 feta mac n' cheese and decorating for fall.
 all the rosé, please!

(images via instagram)

Friday, September 15, 2017

Friday Morning

By now, I've already been up for three or fours driving out of town to the annual staff training and day full of seminars that is All Staff Day. A day for librarians to gather, teach and learn how to make libraries more relevant and easily accessible. I'm also heading to a concert afterwards, so it will be a long and eventful day. Have a wonderful weekend and see you next week :)





#Librarianproblems

When you go over the story time rules three or four times and parents still don't listen to you
#librarianproblems

Thursday, September 14, 2017

A New Day





It's not exactly getting cooler here but I'm more than excited to start shopping for the autumn season. And if it hadn't been for the month and half I wasn't shopping at Target, I may have never stumbled across their new clothing line. The other day I found myself not looking for anything in particular but came out with a few bags of just clothes. Their new clothing line, A New Day is my favorite reasonably priced brand right now. Sweaters and jackets, pleated skirts and the ultimate "Sarah" look, plain but sophisticated dresses; I can't tell you how much I love this fun but professional brand. Head over to your closest Target and stock up because I see these items selling quickly. Oh, and have you checked the flannel shirt dresses?! 

(images)

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Top Five





I typically don't like the look or the chaos of a million apps on my phone. There's no swiping through five different pages of apps, I keep them all on one page and organize them by type - so the life of a librarian. I've been recently introduced to some while others have remained favorites for awhile. What are you five favorite phone apps?

Orai: I have never felt comfortable with public speaking and then I became librarian where I coordinate with many community leaders, I speak at schools and other community functions, not the mention the five story times and other events that go on at the library. And then I started a podcast, where I feel very self conscious, but it's fun. Orai helps you improve your speech, I don't say um as much as I use too and I love it!

Trip Advisor: Not so much for going out of town but for finding things to do in my hometown. 

Goodreads: A social media outlet for readers. Create book lists of all kinds, reading challenges and share your favorites with friends. I'm constantly receiving recommendations and tuning in for a quick author chat. 

WTForecast: A hilarious approach at providing you the most up to date weather. Since I have a closeted obsession with the weather (and weather movies), I thank a family friend for introducing me to this fun app. 

Oxford English Dictionary: Because I'm a bibliophile, it helps to keep a dictionary on hand. Or you know, you're just a nerd and like the whole 'word of the day' challenge and like to impress friends with your expansive vocabulary.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Life Lately

I don't know if you've been to Target recently but there's a new clothing brand, A New Day and I love everything about it. From sweaters, flannel shirts, pleated skirts to purses, every item is worth buying. This past week, I had to get myself a few new outfits for the fall season. 

Seriously, I can't wait for this book to arrive in the mail. 

I've been wearing Egyptian Musk for the last two weeks and I stumbled across an old favorite

A newsletter, a podcast and show I cannot stop talking or thinking about. I'm thinking I need to pick up a copy of Big Little Lies (the book) from the library so I can get even more details. 

A projector for screening movies and tv shows outside on my patio. 

Even though I'm not in school, I had to get a few things for back to school shopping.
(like these colorful papermate pens, a new binder and dividers)

The perfect snack during the day!
 

Monday, September 11, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 I live for pink cotton balls.
sparkling rosé and big little lies...
ready for candy and halloween movie marathon.

(images via instagram)


Sunday, September 10, 2017

Poem of the Day

I still love you sunshine and swimming and sea
and strawberries, you know that I do 
but i'm ready to move on
to something that's new
so now, I am waiting for sweaters. 

Friday, September 8, 2017

Friday Morning

Good morning and Happy Friday!!!! I'm certainly glad it's the weekend even though it was a short work week. I've been dealing with a lingering headache for the past few days so my plans are close to nil for the weekend. One of the Ladies from The Librarians Suggest and I are bringing a new segment to our podcast so make sure to tune in next week to hear what's new with the two of the three library gals. We're excited, especially since it's a subject that is near and dear to our hearts even if it's a bit morbid. And since my boyfriend has been counting down the days for IT, we'll be seeing that this weekend. What are your plans. Have a good one!





 

Thursday, September 7, 2017

It Starts With One Step

I was thumbing through a children's poetry book in the stacks when I heard a very loud patron ranting at the front desk. Daily interruptions are apart of my job, I'm use to this so I kept working, assuming another librarian would help the individual. As many of you know libraries bring all sorts of people together - families, tutors, people seeking jobs, students, readers, working people taking their lunch and enjoying a quiet break and people who don't have homes. Libraries are a safe place, everyone is welcome. We don't discriminate, we instruct, we research, we help, we teach and we're constantly being trained so we can administer just about any situation. Literally everything from heart attacks to people who suffer psychologically, even individuals who overdose on drugs.

It was a warm, August afternoon and there was blood, seven wounds and a knife. The man dozing in and out of consciousness was yelling that another library user was trying to kill him. I froze, my heart sank and all I could think about was that the door was five feet away, just bolt (I told myself). It was only weeks before this incident that staff had been trained for this but I was still unable to move, my eyes fixated on the back emergency exit. Through their tears a brother and sister snuck up behind me and whimpered, "Ms. Sarah there's a man with a knife." I wanted to break down, but I couldn't let these kids see me upset or that Ms. Sarah (the role model) couldn't defend them in a crisis. I quickly got as many people as I could out of the library and went looking in bathrooms and storage closets and found one more family. By the time my side of the library was evacuated, the knife had been surrendered and the attacker had been cuffed. I remember standing in front of the gentleman bleeding out thinking, this is like a friggin episode from a Crime Scene television show.

In those first five minutes, I was petrified but over the course of a four hour lock-down, I felt safe and stronger than I ever thought I was. So many friends and family called asking if we were okay, how crazy the situation was, how scary for the staff and patrons. It was all of those things, it was surreal and jolting. In moments of crisis we have two options, fight or flight. And I chose to stay! However, I can't help but think about this terrible feeling I have. Initially, I had partially lost my hearing (I'm assuming due to shock) and days after I had nightmares that were way worse than the real scenario. Walking into the library weeks after I couldn't help but feel this looming presence of something much darker.

I use to associate violence with war and in the movies, but hate and violence has become such a central part of our culture. It's seeping into every part of our lives and it's beyond terrifying when you see it firsthand. We think it will never happen to us or in our towns or at movie theaters, malls or libraries. Yet, everywhere seems to be an open target. It's present in every country on the planet. How did our world become so negative, what is happening to us? Women are banished to huts while on their periods, we're literally running people over with cars, we're blowing up our planet because we hate one another. We have marches and rallies and we think it's ok to dehumanize each other! How did we get here and how do we make it stop? I never thought I'd be living in a time and witnessing the same horrible atrocities that my parents and grandparents saw when they were my age.

How do we teach tolerance and end violence? It seems difficult (and daunting) because these ideals (of prejudice, egotism, fraudulence, and hatred) run deep in our countries veins. All you really need to do is start with one small, single step! Go out of your way to be nice. Help one person today and the next day and the next...choose to be a good person. I didn't think I could shake the feeling of being scared of what happened at my library but I started opening doors, saying good morning and buying coffee for strangers, looking people in the eye and listening instead of talking and I started feeling safe again.

(image)

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Things I'm Into This Week






I've been following the Betches for at least a year, I've read their books and subscribe to their newsletter. Even though I get most of my daily news from The Skimm, The Betches provide a hilarious approach to the news. So do yourself a favor and subscribe to The Sup

I'm currently reading The Badass Librarians of Timbuktu, and I can't tell you how much I've leaned about the history and current state of The Middle East. It's a fascinating and intellectual read but it has that Indiana Jones adventurousness to it, so it makes it all the better. A true story based on  academics and local families racing on camels (literally) to save and preserve their history and culture against losing it all. I'm following them in every capacity I can and can't wait to finish this so I can start The Storied City.  

This french shoe brand is everything!

It shouldn't be all that surprising that I like to read about all things British. If you're a nerd like me and you have a thing for Victorian England, the queen mother herself, indulge in Queen Victoria's journals :)

I'm surprised I've only read about 75% of what I should have read by now. Have you read these children's classics? I've made it my fall challenge to read through this gigantic list of children's classic literature. Have I mentioned I've never read the Chronicles of Narnia? Are there any other children's librarians who haven't read this series. I really hope I'm not alone!

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 this face is everything.
 long weekends call for game day.
 ready for a little dirty dancing next spring...
 the september issue.
on sundays I mask...

(images via instagram)

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Sunday Showing

Last week as I was finishing Stranger Things for a second time, The Returned (it originally aired on A7E but there is a petition for Netflix to pick it up) was a suggested title. The description hooked me immediately and after twelve straight hours of watching the entire first season, I was more than outraged when I learned the show had been canceled after only one season. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a television junkie because I actually stopped watching tv during the week a few months ago. But this show had me biting my nails and kind of screaming at the tv. Binging and relaxing is for weekends, I didn't have anything planned and luckily my boyfriend was done to be lazy and watch it with me. I've literally been talking about this for the past week but I can't help it, it's that good. Hopefully you'll check it out and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Friday, September 1, 2017

Friday Morning...

What are you plans for the holiday weekend? I'll be surrounded books (and by that I mean exploring new bookstores, trying our a few bookish bars, and of course actually reading) and going out with friends. Did I mention, I'm so not ready for next week or the next six months! I mean I'm really excited our library is full of really awesome programs but when you run six programs a week, it's a little draining. So to one more sane and hopefully quiet weekend, I hope you have a wonderful holiday and we'll catch up next week :)






Leading Ladies

Five Things to Know About Bernadette Marie: 1. Trained and completed two degrees, an AAS in Communication Design and BFA in Textile S...