Goal Setting Tips for 2018

Rule #1:  Don't be hard on yourself.  This is a picture of the Advent Calendar from Trader Joe's.  It was full of delicious chocolates and tea.  Even though I am on Weight Watchers I felt having a small treat each day would be fine.  But, look what happens, no matter how good what is behind the door, if you don't have the time or the focus days go by without taking the time for yourself.  The same happens when you set goals.  Then a week in, you beat yourself up and probably quit.  I am going to boast for a bit, but in 2017 I rocked most of my goals for the year.  My work, travel and weight saw the most success.  Hope you join me here as we set new goals and intentions going into the new year!

Meeting Molly Hatch

 As I rise this morning, I don't have to look far to see the pieces of Molly Hatch ceramics I have purchased at Anthropology.  A Make Do Vase and a big ben ring holder happen to be within eye shot as I write this.  I have followed the ceramic artist on the internet and was excited to see this installation unfold:https://www.newarkmuseum.org/repertoire-molly-hatch

 I was even more excited to see it in person with a tour and presentation with Molly Hatch, herself.

 I found the Ballentine Housewww://newarkmuseum.org/ballentine-house  at the Newark Museum to be a Victorian Wonderland of the decorative Arts

 Was so happy I was able to see the rooms all decorated for Christmas

 But, the biggest treat was we had a high tea and were treated to cinnamon tea presented by https://www.harney.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=Harney_FSM&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=FB-TEA-HP-20-SHIP-1C  We even were treated to a tin to take home.  Can't wait to have my tea this morning in a forget-me-not tea cup I purchased.

The food was a delight surrounded by kindred spirits and exhibits of their tea pot and cup collections.

The presentation with Molly Hatch about her new book "A Passion For China" and by Mr. Harney about Harney and Sons teas all flowed together  and made a fine tribute to China for bringing us ultimately the dishes we eat on and tea that we sip.

Meeting Molly Hatch was a thrill and sharing tea with kindred spirits was a true Christmas gift.  I made sure to get a signed copy for my daughter.  She is engaged to  be married in 2018 and I have the perfect dishes picked out to give to her this Christmas along with the book.

Joyeaux Noel at April Cornell

 Please join us as we celebrate a French Christmas at April Cornell on December 9th from noon-3pm.  We will have Kathryn Gordon bring her sweet treats and Ellen Karchar from Pleasant Valley Lavender selling hand picked lavender gifts. Please like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/oceangrovestore/https://www.facebook.com/oceangrovestore/ to see all of our events.

Making a list and checking it twice

  Did you know about April Cornell 's simple  and free downloads?  Just go here: https://www.aprilcornell.com/prod_detail_list/notepads and click on the pdf file and print!!!  

Open 8-Late visit and life on Bleeker Street

What I think is great about Art, is how it represents what is going on in our lives, but it makes light of it.  Everyday there is something in the news closing or some business being bought for billions of dollars. The news is a true juxtaposition of our economics today.  What is sad is seeing the shape of Main Street shopping or the best example is Bleeker Street in New York City.  This is a great article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/fashion/bleecker-street-shopping-empty-storefronts.html.  At the same time I visited an Art Installation by Lucy Sparrow that was also featured in the New York Times.  I have been following her since her first Installation in London three years ago called "Corner Store".  I have written a lot about my dream of owning my own store one day, and how long it took me to finally make a leap of faith.  I was so excited to meet Lucy Sparrow and she was right under the  vinyl record covers she made out of felt.  Which I "felt" was really ironic, since our store turned into all of our inventory made out of recycled vinyl records.  So, I was lucky when I visited 8 'til Late located in the Meat Packing District of New York city in the Highline building.  She is only there one more week until June 30. Just read this article today June 22nd and she is CLOSED!!!!  There was a line when I left, and a friend went later in the day and waited twenty minutes to get in.  There is the installation in back and then the store is in front with everything in a Convenience Store  made out of felt.

 If there was line....it would go in front of the window and everyone would be taking pictures.

 Unless you see it for yourself it is hard to imagine these are all felt.

 I think this sign you get the feel of the felt and stitching.

 There were people buying boxes full.....you can see the mustard was almost sold out this morning

 I think this is brilliant.....

 When it is all together like this, it is very reminiscent of Andy Warhol

 Yes, and here is Lucy Sparrows with an Andy Warhol album cover........again brilliant!!!

 Lucy Sparrows is sweet and fun to meet.  Happy and eager to take pictures.  She actually wrapped everything I bought and I don't even want to unwrap it to take a picture.

 Her famous stuffed banana on the register.....should read up to find more to this story.  Wishing I had asked about the felt lottery....Is it a contest????

And the cutest of all is a felt mouse drowning in the bucket of felt mop water.

Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey

 A panel discussion with Danny Clinch, Ed Gallucci, Eric Meola, Barry Schneider,  and Frank Stefanko and moderated by Robert Santelli.  I had already met Danny Clinch and Frank Stefanko and  both were kind enough to take a picture with me and sign my album covers.  But, I really wanted to meet Bob Santelli and get Eric Meola to sign my Born to Run the unseen photos book.  This seemed like the perfect opportunity.  The seminar was held in the McCosh Lecture Hall which was an extra treat to sit in the beautiful architecture on Princeton Campus.  The meet and greet was held in the Morvin Museum, and was lovely with refreshments and wine and beer were served. We sold Bob Santelli's book in our store at Greetings from Geralyn, so I really wanted to talk, and get my picture taken with him.  He was really nice.  I am so impressed with his career.  He used to write for the Asbury Park Press and is now the Executive Director of the Grammy Museum.  His book "Greetings from E Street" is also set up like a scrapbook which I love with great reproductions of early posters, set lists and even a Stone Pony napkin.  His input of the influence of Asbury Park on Springsteen is extensive. I also wanted to get Eric Meola to sign a book called "Born to Run the unseen photos".  I had him sign right above the Elvis Presley button.  Because that is my favorite part of the book.  You can't really see the button on the album cover, but you can see it clearly in these pictures

Another nice conversation I had was with Ed Gallucci.  I was thinking how my favorite part of watching a Springsteen concert is the joy he exudes on stage with his smile.  But the photographs on the album covers don't reflect that.  But, when you walk into Ed Gallucci's room full of photos at the exhibition he captured Bruce's smile in most of his photos, like the one below.

 I ended the reception talking to Frank Stefanko who took the pictures of Bruce for Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River and the cover of Bruce's new book "Born to Run".  It was a great event and exhibit.   The exhibit runs until May 21, 2017 and for more info visit morven.org.  You can catch Frank Stefanko again on April 6 at 7pm  with the seminar:  Springsteen on the Radio 1973-21st Century.

Music to Live by

 Every now and then I try to find a playlist of songs to get me going in the morning.  I have been also doing mediation.  I have been searching for about a year for something to get me moving, words to live by that make me happy, and it dawned on me today.  Just make your own and get moving and stop searching for somebody's else's list.  We'll see how long this one lasts before I get sick of it.  But, hopefully it will get me moving.