Don’t you love how small the world is? I was raving about Truly Madly Guilty this summer, and the next week Ken discovered that his friend’s wife, Faye Bender, is the literary agent for Liane Moriarty (not to mention a number of other authors). I had the privilege of interviewing Faye and finding out more about literary agents and the writing world. Take a look!
Meet Faye Bender, Literary Agent Extraordinaire.
Hi. This is Ken. The Josie Girl’s Husband.
I am hijacking the blog today to let you know that today is the 5 Year Anniversary of the Josie Girl Blog, which all started with this post here.
I am incredibly proud of my wife (Yael if you call her by her middle name, Anika if you call her by her first) for having the commitment, creativity, and discipline to put forth such great content over the last 5 years. Since her “go-to” toast is lists, I wanted to share the Top Five Things you didn’t know about The Josie Girl / writing a blog:
1) She is the anti-blogger. Working in the industry, I can safely say writing good content is only 20% of being a mainstream blogger. The other 80% is promoting yourself, through social media, networking, etc. While The Josie Girl loves the 20%, she refuses to do the 80%. She is the shyest blogger ever. Her Instagram is private. Her Twitter is run by the company (outed). And she literally has never shared a single one of her posts on Facebook (and won’t let me do it either). The vast majority of her friends don’t know about her secret blogger life, and she wants to keep it that way. (NOTE: If you are a loyal reader, please recruit your friends!)
Me and wifey
Although it seems like it should have been a joyous weekend celebrating my son’s seventh birthday (thank you so much to everyone who sent me greetings on his special day — truly felt like my birthday, thank you), it was darkened by the political climate in our country. I spent many “birthday greeting phone calls” talking and worrying about what was going on — it feels like a bad, bad movie. It’s a scary world out there, and let’s make sure we do what is right for EVERY single person in our country, regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. Here are some important links around the web.
Family ice cream birthday party (celebrating Cruzzie’s 7th birthday and my sister’s 36th birthday) — the ice cream cake was DELICIOUS and I ate more than my fair share…..but YOLO.
Sorry for all the personal posts recently! Seems like there has been a lot of traveling and exploring, and therefore lots of pictures and stories to share with you all. So here is a break from my personal life (thank god, right?) and links to things around the web that I find interesting!
My cool kid in the gorgeous state of Oregon.
If you have an hour and a half of free time, I highly recommend watching the Tony Robbins documentary on Netflix. Urged by a good friend to watch it (exact words: “Urgent”), I watched it immediately and found it riveting, emotional, powerful, inspirational, and curious. A must see. If only more people could be as authentic, sincere, deep, and real.
I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such strong, empowering, creative, smart, and talented friends. My friend, Sawako, is no exception. Not only is she beautiful, caring, insightful, smart, and a wonderful mother and friend, but she also runs her own business selling bike helmets and accessories. The company’s name is her namesake, Sawako. (To watch a video of the company’s story, go here). Take a look at our interview below. Thanks, Sawako!
Meet Sawako.
Readers of the blog know that Ken and I first started dating at Stanford from 2003-2005, when he was at Business School and I was getting my Masters in Education. To say that his class had some amazing people would be a huge understatement. (By the way, if you’re wondering what the most read post in the history of the Josie Girl Blog is, click here): Today, we feature a power COUPLE from Ken’s class, and speak to Jess Yagan. She shares how she and her husband approach work… and life … Enjoy!
In my previous life, I was a math teacher. I taught for ten years; in a public high school in the Bay Area, a public high school in New York City, and then a private middle school. Each school had its strengths and difficulties, but I was drawn to teach, not just because of my love of the subject matter, but because of my love for the students. Many students were my first children; people that I cared for, worried about, cried over, and loved.
Graduating from Stanford with my MA in 2004. I thought graduate school was hard, but nothing is as hard as your first year teaching.
Luckily (and happily) married for the past 8 years, I have not been exposed to the drag and difficulty of registering for wedding presents. I remember too well the agony of registering, dealing with the stores and returning items, getting the word out to people where we were registered, and suffering through one of the three stores we dealt with suddenly going out of business (and us not getting any of our items). Thankfully, people are way smarter than the rest of us, and there is a new and innovative way of registering… Zola, an online registry where couples easily build, manage, and create registries with a variety of products and services. One of our dear friends, Laura Wales Holliday, is now the CMO of the company and I was able to sit down with her and get more information on the new way to register!
How does Zola work?
I FEEL LIKE I DRANK TEN SHOTS OF TEQUILA LAST NIGHT! HUNG OVER! In reality, I am still recovering from our weekend and was in my pajamas by 6:15 pm. We did nothing for Cinco-de-Mayo (my favorite holiday). But still, my head feels fuzzy….
EXACTLY! Follow this guy on instagram (earmuffs!) for belly laughs.
All, Thanks for all the support about the Paris Marathon. More later this week, but it went well, and I am on my way back. I wasn’t shooting for a PR, so it wasn’t quite this in terms of my time, but I emerged happy and more importantly, healthy. On to today’s post!
Beautiful and successful, definitely a rich bitch. Empowering and inspirational!
Hola, amigos! The kids and I had a great time with my parents in Mexico (Bucerias, outside of Puerto Vallarta) last week, and are now on part deux of vacation with my beloved husband and his parents in Puerto Rico. One spanish speaking place to the next, (but Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean)! As I am still on vacation mode (= no downtime away from kids, and when kids are in bed, I collapse), instead of a full post, here are 5 photos that give you a good feel of Mexico. Enjoy the brightness, color, and look!
Day 1 Yellow wall.
On this blog, we have had the privilege of seeing some aspects of my mother-in-law (Josie Natori)’s home; her (sick and drool-worthy OMG I NEED IT NOW) closet and the (incredible, chic, and original) silver bathroom in herapartment. And now, we have the opportunity to take a sneak-peek look at the Natori Office in NYC (I highlighted my mother in law’s office here — the office within the office). Come take a tour of where the magic at Natori happens! First stop: 18th Floor (come back Friday for more on the 19th Floor).
Once you exit the elevator, you see “Natori” written across the wall. Most impressed = Cruzzie. N A T O R I.
I am (majorly) blushing…..I’m so excited to share with you the latest feature by my new friends at The Glitter Guide! The lifestyle website dedicated to helping its readers “shine bright” put together a really fun article featuring our home. I LOVE the piece and am so flattered they featured the pictures and details of my interview with them. Enjoy the below pics then click through to the article.. Thanks Glitter Guide!
I am awkward. And it kind of looks like I am wearing 80’s arm warmers (as cool as they are, I am not).
I LOVE this pic!
Maybe it is from the extensive NYC Kindergarten interview / application process this past Fall, but for whatever reason, I became obsessed with finding the right pencil skirt. Nothing screams more “conservative” and “boring” and “grown up” than a classic pencil skirt, and yet…….I needed to have one! I scoured the internet for a hip looking skirt, to find that the best one was sitting right in front of me. Yep, a pencil skirt from Josie Natori. And I must say, that it is by far, the most perfect pencil skirt I have ever owned (yes, I only own one, but this is hands down a gold medal winner). I could have saved countless hours and just purchased with one single click. So ladies, you owe me! If you, too, want a great basic in your closet (that is actually FAR from boring, and grown up), then simply go here. And tada, all done. You are set! AND BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS PLUS DRUMROLL…it is on sale! And will not last long….so hit it up PRONTO.
Apologies for the selfie, but it’s worth it to show the beauty of this skirt!
Before I get to the post, one quick note: my fabulous mother-in-law Josie Natori will be on HSN launching N Natori Ready-to-Wear and selling exclusive N Natori loungewear styles. Be sure to tune in! Times:
Tuesday, 10/29:
2 AM EST
7 PM EST
8 PM EST
The collection is actually already available online at HSN.com here. Happy shopping! On to the post!
As a compulsive organizer, I rely and *need* to write down and organize my thoughts. Jotting down my errands, tasks (and yes, I do write “Take a shower” on my to-do-list) is an essential part of my day. And not just on any type of paper, but on pads and posts from Knock Knock.
HALLELUJAH! Thank goodness for all these tools!
Ken and I are just back from Norway and one of the most amazing wedding celebrations/weekends we have ever been a part of. There are some Norwegian themed posts to come, but in the meantime, Ali Berlin, Contributing Editor, to the rescue! Take it away!
___
My dear friend Kate Seward is a cool, brilliant captor of beauty. Street style photographer, pro blogger and wordsmith, her way of witnessing the world stirs my insides. Kate and I met through our mutual BFF Carrie when we all lived in San Francisco, and I was instantly intrigued by her choices: lifestyle, clothing, books, words, perspective and humility (yes, I believe humility is a choice). Her talent is profound, her self-expression exquisite.
Kate started her blog The Styley in March 2011, and since then the New York Times has featured 25 of her streetstyle photos.
Since I am a wannabe amateur photographer (Bixby, my dog, is my main subject), I went straight to KS with my questions on how to snap better. Thought we could all use a few tips so here are her responses, along with some images which are individually labeled with the Hipstamatic film, lens and flash used on each one.
Kate Seward, Mistress of Light and Lens.
Thank you, Lonny Magazine! Ken and I are so excited (and can’t believe) that we were featured in their June magazine. The piece was on young families that try to make their homes hip and chic, while also family-friendly and functional.
My favorite picture of the photo shoot!
The article featured both our New York apartment, and our home in Pound Ridge, NY, which the Natoris have owned for more than 25 years (Ken’s parents just completed building another home on the property). We have spent the past few months redoing and redecorating the house, and are so excited with how it turned out.
Cruz’s bedroom in NYC; my favorite room in our whole apartment. The colors and patterns bring such happiness and joy to the room, and to us!
We worked with 2 amazing interior decorators. Nicki Hill Rose helped us with the first renovation in New York (pre-Cruz), and Allison Tick did the second renovation (pre-Zoe), and the full project in Pound Ridge. We would not have been able to do it without their help!
Our bedroom in NYC, not shy of vibrant colors.
We are so thrilled with how everything turned out. The article has a lot more pictures (32 pages!) so please check it out and support Lonny!
Pound Ridge, NY. Master bedroom. Love the LOVE.
Pound Ridge living room, outside. And yes, hello plastic red and yellow airplane. (Cruzzie loves this plane so much he sleeps with it every night. No joke. He cuddles it like a teddy bear. Safe to say he is a dedicated airplane lover).
Cruz’s teepee, Pound Ridge guest room. I found the teepee on etsy and love it more than Cruzzie does. If I go missing, that is where I will be…huddled up in the teepee with a jar of peanut butter and some babka.
Thanks to the amazing Lonny team! To read the whole feature, go here.
I spend way too much time on the internet on pop culture, hot gossip, and the perfect outfit. Superficial, girlie, and way-too-blonde. I am trying to change, and one of my goals in 2013 is to make more of an effort to read and be more up to date with current events. No one likes a blonde who can comment solely on US weekly tabloid press….but watching the news puts me to sleep (seriously), and I barely have enough time to read the styles section of the NYTimes, let alone the front page! But I think I have a solution…
Thank you, theSkimm, for making keeping up with current events and news so cool, easy, and fun!
theSkimm is a daily newsletter that simplifies headlines for the educated professional (or stay-at-home mom). Delivered to your inbox before the start of the day (around 6 am), the Skimm summarizes all the current events in a fresh, smart, and tongue-and-cheek manner. It gives you enough information to have an educational conversation and does so in a fun and interesting voice! Their motto is “We read, you Skimm.”
The beginning of today’s newsletter
the Skimm was launched in July 2012 by Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin; two young, savvy, professional roommates who happened to meet while studying abroad in college. And look at them now! theSkimm is taking off and inspiring us all to be more informed, aware, and in touch with the news! I had the opportunity to interview Danielle and Carly — take a look! And don’t forget to subscribe immediately!
Carly and Danielle. Photo taken by Sophie Elgort.
Question: How did you come up with the idea?
theSkimm was born out of what we saw as a void in the market. In our former careers as TV producers, we saw that our friends, who were highly educated and had great jobs, had no time. They wanted to be informed. They wanted news on the go but there was no product out there that they felt connected to and wanted to come back to each morning. We created theSkimm as a way to get your news in a way you enjoy and start your morning off right.
Here we go, again. Officially on spring break, I have more time, energy, and desire to read books! So here is my long, aspirational, and overly-hopeful list of books to read for Spring (Summer / Fall / Winter) 2013!
1. Me Before You (Jojo Moyes)
2. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (Sheryl Sandberg)
3. Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand)
Special Sunday post from The Josie Girl!
For those of you with cable, be sure to tune into CNN International tonight (Sunday) at 8:30 PM EST for an AMAZING 1/2 hour feature on Josie Natori and The Natori Company. The show is Talk Asia, hosted by Monita Rajpal. Cruzzie and Zoe make their TV debut!
The show is fantastic, and gives you great insight on my mother-in-law, Natori, and what goes on behind the scenes. In addition to 8:30 PM EST on Sunday, the show will also air Tuesday at 3:30 AM, and Thursday at 12:30 AM. It has already been on a couple of times, and it is great! Be sure to watch CNN International!
Small things I am thankful for….
* Coffee
* Jars, jars, and more jars of Peanut Butter
* The sound of giggles
* Amazing, loving, loyal, and caring friends
* Crisp, fresh apples
* Electric toothbrushes
* My health
* Cookies
* Creative combinations
* Cashmere
* Kale
* More Kale
* And even MORE Kale
* Equal rights
* The ability to impact a student’s life
* Showing girls and boys that a woman can be good at math
Happy Teacher’s Day and Happy Teacher’s Week! Yes, the first full week of May is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Hooray! And tomorrow (Tuesday) is National Teacher’s Day. For those of you who don’t know, when I am not blogging/raising my son/exercising/cooking random healthy food concoctions, I am a middle school math teacher. This is actually my 8th year of teaching math and I have taught in both public and private high schools and middle schools on the West Coast and East.
I love teaching. Getting through to a student and making a difference is an incredible feeling. I am obviously biased, but I think teachers are incredibly underappreciated (and underpaid!). Especially living in New York where there is so much wealth and so many people who work in finance, it seems crazy to me my mind that teachers aren’t more appreciated, and that there isn’t more of an effort to attract people to education.
Teachers do love being told that they are making a difference. So if you are a student, a parent of a student, or a friend of a teacher, make sure you do something to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and Teacher’s Day. A small comment, thank you note, or other sign of appreciation goes a long way. Trust me!!
Who is your favorite teacher and how did he or she affect your life? Tell your story and forward this to your teacher! I can tell you from first hand experience how incredibly touching any thank you, email, note, or hug means. It is those moments that make teaching all worth it.
Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl
Follow @JosieGirlBlog
Blog Home Page
