This & That: November 3, 2017

Book

—The Patriarch:A Mystery of the French Countryside (Bruno, Chief of Police Series) by Marin Walker

Released a couple of years ago, the mystery series starring Bruno offers its tenth novel for readers. Beginning with an invitation to attend a lavish birthday celebration of a World War II flying ace Marco “the Patriarch” Desaix, the mystery begins with the shocking death of one of Marco’s longtime friends.

—Just One Thing by Rick Hanson, Ph.D

Psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson offers a reminder of how focusing on one simple habit each day, we can make our minds the servant, and each of us its master. The reminder of simplifying our lives and how we go about our days is a reminder of so much that we allow to happen that doesn’t necessarily help us. Therefore, Dr. Hanson offers 50 brain exercises, seemingly simple, to shift the quality of our lives into something we are thankful to be experiencing each day.

Film

—LBJ

With limited release of LBJ (Lyndon B. Johnson) starring Woody Harrelson beginning today, as someone who is always curious about history, I am certainly curious to seek this film out. Following Johnson through his selection to be JFK’s Vice Presidential candidate through the successful passage of the Civil Rights Act and then to losing the Democratic Nomination to pave the way toward his first official presidential run, the makeup may be hard to get past, but once you do, the storyline is worth being reminded of.

Francophile Find

—The Sharper the Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter and Tears in Paris at the World’s Most Famous Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn

Released nearly a decade ago and still selling well after becoming a best seller, Kathleen Flinn, in her mid-thirties at the time, had just lost her corporate job and so decides to head to Paris . . . to learn how to cook at Le Cordon Bleu. The journey of discovery in the kitchen (recipes are shared), Paris and maneuvering a significant unexpected turn in life, pick this book up if you are looking for inspiration to dare to dream and want to slip away to Paris each time you turn the pages.

—The Gourmands Way: Six Americans in Paris and the Birth of a New Gastronomy by Justin Spring 

Released last month, Justin Spring’s new historical examination of six well known food writers of the twentieth century –  A. J. Liebling, Alice B. Toklas, M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, Alexis Lichine, and Richard Olney — is receiving high praise for sharing the joys, discoveries and many highlights each individual discovered during this revolutionary period in French food.

Music

—The Thrill of It All by Sam Smith

British singer Sam Smith releases his second album today, and after hearing the song belong performed on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago, his amazing falsetto vocal range will again be highlighted. Have a listen below.

Shopping

—Everlane, The Oversized Blazer

Everlane, as I shared last week, has an applaudable business model. While offering quality classics made with complete transparency on production and price, it is a brand that is always aware of the trends. So when a trend can clearly be a classic item which has a modern update, they take notice. Case in point, their oversized blazer available in herringbone and black.

~recipe for Roasted Squash, Caramelized Fig, and Feta Salad~

Welcome to the weekend and the subtle slide into the holiday season. With the prompt shift from Halloween to holiday shopping guides beginning to be posted (Oprah just shared her favorite things – see the link at the bottom of the list below) and weather forecasts predicting snow this weekend here in Bend, I do believe it has begun. And the salad above looks to be a delicious holiday healthy side to add to the table, non?

This weekend my schedule is wide open after tending to a few weekend tasks, and I must admit, that is just the way I prefer it especially with significant travel plans just around the corner. All the more reason to savor the time inside at home, staying put and dreaming away. Wishing you a lovely weekend, and thank you for stopping by. Until Monday morning on the podcast (this coming week David Lebovitz stops by! Episode #182), bonne journée.

~How to Build a Network for Positive Relationships

~Looking forward to this author’s new book to be released, but in the meantime, this article will pacify me for now . . . How to Know If You’re Settling

~How to Spend 7 Incredible Days in Paris

~A sweet, cozy recipe for Brioche au Sucre

~This writer tried to be a stereotypical French girl and it changed her life

~Based in Paris writer Dorie Greenspan shares her Evening-in-Paris Dinner approach in the Times magazine

~Oh, and let the holiday shopping begin! Oprah just released her Favorite Things List.

from The Simply Luxurious Life®