July 31st, 2009
We’ve never been shy about our love for the good old-fashion completely silly beach read. Chasing Harry Winston – we’re not above you. Hollywood Girls Club – sign us up. However, every now and then, we like to step it up to the notch between completely silly and AP Lit reading lists. This beach trip, here’s what we have in the hopper:
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Set in Jackson, MS in 1962, aspiring writer Eugenia Sketter Phelan is home from college and putting together her first manuscript. She writes the stories of the “help” in the wealthy homes in a scathing book that upsets the traditional Southern balance of power.
Peachtree Road, Anne Rivers Siddons
Written in 1988, the novel is about Old Town Atlanta and is the story of “manipulative, destructive cousin Lucy Bondurant Chastain Venable” (perhaps a modern day Emma Bovary?).
(And Miranda’s Big Mistake and Shoe Addicts Anonymous 
).
Full report to come.
July 30th, 2009
Big families are great, but after many years of eating, traveling, and sunning with them, you learn how to come prepared. 1. Bring extra shampoo (someone will steal it) 2. No need to bring sunscreen (plenty of prepared moms) 3. If there is something you don’t want to talk about, make it clear up front. Please see the list of off limit topics, put together by elaney, eMum, and eAunts (Feel free to print and take on your own trip):
Off Limit Topics (Not Comprehensive):
1. Jobs, and any job related stress
2. Relationships, and any relationship related stress
3. Why you voted for a Democrat
4. Health Care
5. Why Methodists are better than Presbyterians
6. Why Presbyterians are better than Methodists
7. George W. Bush
8. Whether or not you every wonder if your younger siblings will get married before you
9. An indepth analysis of the not up-to-par clothes you’re wearing, have worn, or will wear
10. Whether or not you’re “still running” while you’re in a bathing suit
July 29th, 2009
As a woman, you probably understand the allure of the verbal process. Maybe you don’t want everyone to know everything about you, but gosh if it doesn’t feel good. How is it that men can keep everything to themselves when women just want to share, share, share? Well, turns out there’s a biological reason. When women are under stress, their bodies release oxytocin (street name: the love hormone) that provides a calming, maternal, motherly effect that makes it easier for you to bond with other people. Estrogen enhances the effect. Men release the hormone too, but testosterone negates the effects. So interesting that socialization would follow that trend and it’s more acceptable for women to be emotional than men. For more, read the whole WSJ article here.
July 29th, 2009
The great thing about being a girl is that there are parts of the body that are beautiful on every woman. Every woman has beautiful shoulders and every woman (save cankles victims) has beautiful ankles. Show off your ankles with sandals that attract attention to them. Check out these shoes from Kate Spade, on sale at Zappos.
July 28th, 2009
Our girl Kate Hendricks has done the unthinkable. Risked her good school guaranteed mid-level marketing career for a life under the lights. Her new blog (laughtolive.wordpress.com) is detailing her journey as a stand up comic, and it’s really fun to read. Check it out!
July 27th, 2009
The night is upon us. Who’s it going to be? Ed or Kiptyn? Give us the old beauty parlor banter answer. Actually give three answers: 1) who is Jillian going to pick? 2) who should Jillian pick? 3) who would you pick?
July 27th, 2009
Favorites are one of our favorite things. We have favorite names (Frances), movies (see facebook), holidays (Christmas), and of course, we have favorite books of all time. We read everything from Misery Loves Cabernet to Anna Karenina, but the favorite elaney book of all time is A Widow For One Year by John Irving. It’s a masterpiece. Share your favorite book with the other elaney girls and their beach reading lists!
