• About

Renee Writes Now!

~ Observations from a Writer-in-Residence

Renee Writes Now!

Monthly Archives: March 2013

To grandmother’s house we go

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by ReneeWritesNow! in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Design, Family, grandparents, Home, Memories

Dollhouse

My grandmother kept a toy chest ( hidden behind an armchair in her living room) to entertain us.

Undoubtedly, Nana would be appalled to see the latest trend among grandparents is renovating basements and bedrooms into lavish accommodations for their favorite houseguests – their grandchildren.
Custom-built beds, play kitchens, ping-pong tables and workbenches (not to mention swimming pools and basketball courts) are altering affluent grandparents’ homes to ensure frequent visits from the little ones.

At Pottery Barn Kids the most common request this year comes from grandparents looking to create nurseries in their home, says company president Janet Hayes. “They decorate full rooms with the intention of creating a space for them to stay over,” she says.

An online children’s furniture store based in North Carolina reports cribs that cost an average of $1,000 and hand-painted wooden letters that spell out the names of their grandkids are best-sellers.

Last year, an AARP survey of 1,904 grandparents indicated they spend $1,000 a year (or more) on their grandchildren. To accommodate multiple grandkids from different families, they purchase height-adjustable tables and chairs, stain-proof upholstery and removable floor tiles that hold up to spills.

Throw in a teepee to play or sleep in, a chalkboard wall, custom murals and some electronics and you’ve got a weekend retreat that rivals the Magic Kingdom.

Looks like baby boomers who are becoming grandparents won’t be downsizing anytime soon…I wonder how my grandmother spent so little money, yet we could hardly wait to spend time with her?

Gentlemen, pop your collars

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by ReneeWritesNow! in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

clothing, fashion, leisurely sport, style

michael-bastian-spring-summer-2013-
Brace yourself, Muffy – preppy style is back.

Menswear designers from Giorgio Armani to J. Crew popped the collars of their Spring 2013 sport coats and suits in a style reminiscent of the 1980 bestseller, “The Original Preppy Handbook.”

Designer Michael Bastian admits that his versions were inspired by issues of GQ magazine from the early 80s. But there are practical reasons for the trend, too. Frank Muytjens, head of men’s design at J. Crew, told the Wall Street Journal that a turned-up collar “is rooted in functionality. It’s another layer of protection against the cold of winter.”

True, but the popped-up collar actually began as primitive sun protection: Tennis champion Rene Lacoste designed a polo shirt in 1927 for himself. Lacoste wanted a flexible collar that could be flipped up to prevent sunburn on his neck. The style grew popular in Europe as well as the United States, because it came to evoke a life of leisurely sport.

The look took a rebellious turn in Hollywood when James Dean sported it in “Rebel Without a Cause,” followed by Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront.” (Remember Fonzie’s leather jacket on “Happy Days?” He was hardly a prepster.)

A word of caution, gentlemen: When popping your collar today, it’s preferable for it to look a little imperfect. Perhaps one collar point could stick up slightly higher than the other? Or a little bent?
Consider it as a nonchalant flourish meant to give your outfit a bit of flair.

The Author

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 658 other subscribers

The Award-Winning Book

Recent Posts

  • The Land of Lost Luggage
  • All is calm, all is bright
  • A not-so-happy holiday
  • It’s a little like Thanksgiving
  • Reading Aloud to Children

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • May 2015
  • March 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012

Favorite Things

aging Architecture artistic pieces arts author Awards book Book Expo. author books Build business children Christmas clothing Community Construction Conversation cooking creativity Design Dreams dress code entertainment environment Family fashion Florida Florida architecture food Gardens Health history Holiday Home Homeowner Homes Houses Housewarming Humor inspiration kitchen Life lifestyle literature love Memorial Day Memories mood Mother Mother's Day motherhood Moving nature New Home Preservation publishers read real-estate relationships Religion Residence school Sept. 11 Shelter style Support teenagers Thanksgiving transportation travel vacation wardrobe wedding Writer writing

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Categories

  • Dementia
  • Teens Read
  • Uncategorized

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Renee Writes Now!
    • Join 294 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Renee Writes Now!
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...