Hello, my darlings!

February turned out to be a pretty crazy month around here! I managed to come down with a killer cold between my Miami trip and my Tucson trip, so I felt like I was out of commission for almost a full month, between packing, traveling, unpacking, being sick, packing, traveling again, and then recovering! (There should be one more mention of “unpacking” but my suitcase is definitely still not yet empty, so I have to leave that one off the list for now. I’ll do it eventually. 

Traveling while still dealing with my new health situation was definitely an adventure. I usually use that word in a positive way, but not this time. Traveling with chronic pain is HARD. I’m not sure how many jewelry trips I’m going to be going on for now…definitely not as many as usual. I can’t currently travel alone and I can’t always be dragging Mr. DitL on the road with me. (He does have a life outside of helping me take selfies.)

We’ll see, though. There’s still a lot of 2019 left!

I often find February to be a tricky month. It’s cold and dark and it’s been cold and dark for so long that it can feel endless, especially because we still have a ways to go before spring. When I was in Tucson I definitely made time each day to go sit outside and bask in the sun like a lizard and it was glorious.

That’s enough rambling for now, I think! How have your Februaries been, my darlings? Does anyone else have February struggles?

xoxo,
Becky  

What I’m reading, #OscarJewelry edition:

I don’t write award show jewelry recaps anymore but I do love reading award show jewelry recaps!

The most important jewelry moment at the 2019 Oscars was that Lady Gaga became the third person ever to publicly wear the legendary Tiffany diamond – the previous one was Audrey Hepburn. I recognized it immediately; I jumped up and started yelling at the TV, gesturing wildly and shouting things like “IS THAT REALLY…?!?!? DOES SHE KNOW WHAT SHE’S WEARING?!?!?!”

Here’s more about The Tiffany Diamond from W Magazine, Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar, Town & Country, the New York Times, and Tiffany & Co. 

And more general recaps: 

Who Wore What ALWAYS has the details and photos of red carpet jewels. Her Oscars Jewelry recap already has a Part 1, a Part 2, and a men’s section. 

Hollywood Royalty: Jewels of the 2019 Oscars from The Court Jeweller. 

These Were the Most Dazzling Jewels at the 2019 Oscars by Beth Bernstein for Instore Magazine. 

JCK Magazine’s writers and editors choose their favorite Oscars jewels. 

The Most Exquisite Jewelry Worn at the 2019 Oscars according to Town & Country. 

The Best Jewelry at the 2019 Oscars from The Adventurine. 

And the winner is…Academy Awards 2019 jewel triumphs from The Jewellery Editor.

Personally if I ever go to Oscars events, I will wear the most dramatic gown I can find…but I do fully enjoy this style move from Melissa McCarthy and her husband. 

What else I’m reading:

Artist Tired of Reading Bad News Illustrates the Good Things That Happened in 2018.

To Save the Sound of a Stradivarius, a Whole City Must Keep Quiet. A fascinating read. 

Artist Spends 5 Years Covering Entire Kitchen in Millions of Glass Beads.

The Murky Business of Feel-Good Crystals.

“Rapunzel Horse” Has Captured Hearts of the Internet with Her Luscious Blonde Mane. You’re going to want to see this.

I’m obsessed with this style moment from Princess Diana. I’d never seen this picture before.

The Only Man Buried on the Moon.

 

Happy Friday, my darlings!

I hope you’re all having a great December so far. I can’t believe that Hanukkah is already over and Christmas is around the corner…my family is interfaith, so we celebrate both holidays. It makes this time of year a little crazy but extremely fun.

Keeping it short today because I’ve got cookies to bake and trees to decorate!

xoxo,
Becky

What I’m reading:

The Magician’s Land by Lev Grossman. This whole series is SO weird. Sometimes I don’t know if I like even one of the characters…but I definitely enjoy reading about them. The world is so vivid and creative and surprising and the twisty, meandering plot is amazing to read. Apparently there’s a tv show (or miniseries) too, and I’ll probably check that out.

A Bride for the Season by Jennifer Delamere. This is a Christian romance novel that I picked up by accident. Have you ever read a Christian romance novel? Some of them are very well written (they just have extra Bible verses and less sex, compared to most romances) but some of them are extremely preachy and moralistic, with a heavy dose of slut shaming. I have no problem with the Bible verses and less sex, I have a big problem with the slut shaming. I didn’t read more than a chapter of this book and I don’t recommend it. The religious elements felt forced into the story and very judgey, like the book was written just to serve as an envelope for the moral points the author wanted to make.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli. I thought this was the first book in this series, but I was wrong! I read and enjoyed it anyway. Colorful characters, genuine, sweet first love, diverse characters that feel like real people. Great YA. I’m going to read the other books.

Internets:

Did anyone else follow the story of the Times Square proposal?? The excited groom to be popped the question and then lost the ring down a sewer grate. The NYPD found the ring and, using Twitter, reunited it with the couple!

Book Riot’s Best Books of 2018!!! You’re going to want to read all of these.

16th Century Gothic Boxwood Miniatures With Extremely Detailed Carvings.

Michelle Obama On Lean In: ‘That Shit Doesn’t Work All the Time.’ Preach and also I need to read her book immediately.

Dichroic Installations Reflect Dazzling Rainbows When Light Hits Them. The more rainbows, the better.

Margaret Atwood is writing a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. This BLOWS MY MIND.

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