The Estate of Things

I once picked up Joyce Carol Oates’ novel Blonde almost ten years ago in a Barnes & Noble and began reading one of the chapters.  I didn’t purchase it that day but I did get it for Christmas from my husband this year.  It’s just as captivating as I thought it would be, a fantastic read so far.

Sometimes when Oates describes the streets and neighborhoods of LA during Norma Jean’s childhood, my mind drifts to memories of our trips to visit Betsy in LA. Can’t wait to go and visit again.

What will you be daydreaming of or reading this weekend?

photo taken in Betsy’s old neighborhood, Culver City 2008

The book Downtown Chic has been on my book radar for several months now.

The Novogratz family has also been on the radar because of this gem of a summer house in South Egremont, Massachussets which has been featured in numerous places including New England Home.

The Novogratz duo (+7) popped back in to my mind again when I was viewing the fantastic selection of design books at The Paris Market in Savannah.

image via Fine Things and Big Dreams

And it seemed to be really following me around after I read Lauren’s nice little review of the book at Pure Style Home.

I thumbed through the book and read the first two pages at The Paris Market last Thursday. After reading the first few sentences I knew I needed it. The gist, two people meet in North Carolina while the girl is in college, they move to Manhattan so boy can be stock broker and girl can pursue acting and fast forward…they marry, have seven children and begin flipping house–big houses.  By the way if you’re reading this Cortney & Robert–I’d love to have a copy!

So I did some digging about the Novogratz family and Sixx Design because I don’t have the book yet. And I found out that they have been busy moving themselves in a slightly different direction as a result of the housing slump.  Currently, that direction includes signing the whole fam up with Ford Modeling Agency and getting a deal with Bravo to do a reality series called Design Sixx.  I can’t find an exact start date but Bravo’s release statement said it would begin this month.

One of the episodes promises footage of a cab ride with Cortney as she goes in to labor with her seventh child, plus they’re gonna flip houses, occassionally party like rock stars and raise seven children.  La vie boheme.

Also interesting is the NY Times article called, Branding The Family.

*****Update*****: According to the New York Social Diary, the show’s name has changed to 9 x Design and it will air this Spring.

I’d like to say that I MARRIED ADVENTURE as well. I’d love for that to be true. I don’t know, maybe it IS true. I’m almost 30 and adventure is about the one and only thing I’ve remained committed to thus far. Hmmmm. So, maybe this book IS for me.

You’ve seen it right. Tell me you’ve Ebay searched it?? Tell me you’ve read it!!!?

From the Blog APT #412

From the Blog High Heeled Foot in the Door

From the Blog Matters of Style

From the Blog Beach Bungalow 8 via Style Court
From 2007 - that’s how long this has been going on!

A little something that is on this year’s list…buy me one or all of these at Amazon.