Reading Glasses!

Over 70% of adults need some form of vision correction.  As we get older, this number climbs. 

A fews weeks ago, I was sent a pair of AdLens reading glasses to review.  At first, I was excited to inspect these innovative glasses, where wearers can achieve perfect focus by simply self adjusting the dials on the side of each lens.  But then, I read some online reviews, and became concerned that I may not be able to spin a positive story.

Maybe not the most becoming glasses -- I
look a bit like a diamond jeweler!
But, AdLens glasses deliver on functionality.

Luckily, as soon as I put the spectacles on my face, my concern faded -- I don't agree with the online reviews. I think these glasses are ingenious.  And while I certainly wouldn't advocate purchasing these glasses as a substitute for taking a trip to the eye doctor, I do think that these lenses are perfect for casual use, or as a spare pair that can be left in an overnight case, in the car, next to the phone, or by the bed of a well dressed guest room. And for just $30, they can't be beat!

Arctic Char, what's more agreeable than that? Assuming you can see it!

This weekend we went to a trendy, yet rustically unassuming restaurant in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, called The Finch.  It was absolutely superb. The open kitchen in this restaurant helped to rally an energy of excitement from the enthusiastic and industrious staff, seemingly passing it along to all the smartly dressed patrons, as they savored their perfectly seasoned Arctic Char, sumptuous Berkshire pork, and house churned butter. And in keeping with all things Brooklyn, the menu, created daily, was farm to table.

But, while the atmosphere was  more than suitable, and entirely comfortable, it was dimly lit, making it hard to read the delicately printed menus.  Luckily, I had a pair of the AdLens reading glasses handy. After making my selection, I passed the glasses around the table, as all of us in our party, well into our 40s, needed to magnify the menu a bit! Smashingly, they worked for each of our various prescriptive needs and we didn't resort to shining the obtrusive, bright light of our cell phones onto our menus. Oh, and the glasses paid for themselves, considering we could clearly read the lavish prices on the wine menu.

Last week, I ran into a friend who is an Ophthamologist. Somewhat reluctantly, I asked if he would mind offering his opinion of the AdLens products.  Surprisingly, he had never seen these inventive glasses, and was impressed with the craftiness and functionality.  He seemed to really like them and went on to say that they definitely serve a niche, especially for those who really cannot afford the hefty price that comes with most prescriptions. That was a nice stamp of approval!

If you keep glasses around the house, I suggest checking into AdLens products. They also make sunglass versions. You can get more information about AdLens here:

https://adlens.com/shop/

By the way, if you are cooking this fall, these gorgeous Staub pots are still on sale at Sur La Table:

Mini Boden

Reading Aloud

Russian artist Viola Pushkarova (1929-2010), humorously captures a scene that invariably happens to every parent (above).  That man easily could have been me a few years back when I would fall asleep reading to my daughter. Come to think of it, I still fall asleep reading to my daughter!

Back in 2014, I wrote about the importance of reading out loud to children, commencing at birth. No one disputes the importance of reading on early childhood brain development, and that reading enhances vocabulary and communication skills and leads to earlier comprehension of words and ultimately to higher test scores, etc.  It should be part of every parent's routine and is often a special bonding activity between parent and child. But, I am repeating myself here -- so, blah, blah...

American artist Theodore Robinson (1852-1896) who, after traveling to France, worked with Claude Monet.  The influence is clear. And the subject matter -- what's better than reading on a beautiful day, in all those clothes??

But, did you know that reading out loud is also important for adults? Research is showing that the activity of reading out loud,  employing a great number of faculties,  helps to sharpen focus, exercises  more parts of the brain and even the body, and puts to good use the underused reading faculty of intonation.  Utlimately, reading out loud helps us to remember better.  Art Markman, PhD, wrote in Psychology Today about a study in which groups of people were asked to read a list, some out loud and others silently. Those that read the list out loud remembered it significantly better than those who read it silently. Adding auditory pathways while reading outloud to the visual pathways used in both silent and outloud reading  helped to link recollection. Interesting!

For older adults, especially those coupled, reading to each other is an effective mechanism to monitor each other's brain function (sanity).  It is a worthwhile tool to make sure the brain is still holding steady.  It also stimulates new conversation, and like children, is an effective bonding  activity. But, please, no bickering here!

My work of art, absorbed in one of her favorites - the Just Grace series

Why, you may ask, am I bringing all this up?  Aside from it being an interesting topic, I, like most adults, worry that I am not finding enough space to keep up with reading. Even my leisure design magazines are piling up unopened. As fall approaches, and routines get more firmly set, I hope to carve out and dedicate more time to the important activity of reading, sometimes out loud (to my daughter mostly).

This is how our family would spend our summer afternoons reading in upstate New York...ah, maybe an extreme revisionist version of my childhood!

I read some interesting books this summer including the first installment of the popular series, My Struggle, by Karl Ove Knausgaard -- but this was not quite to my taste. Below are some books that I do recommend:

My vision of Bathsheba, in Far from the Madding Crowd

1. Far the The Madding Crowd, by Thomas Hardy. It's just brilliant writing.  I enjoyed getting reaquainted with this classic writer.  It is fascinating to alternate traditional literature with the contemporary, to enter the mind of a writer who lived 100+ years ago, and to gain appreciation for what has changed, and realized how much hasn't.  By the way,  I read Far from the Madding Crown with the express interest of having it completed before the new screen adaptation arrived in theaters. I am a sucker for beautiful period films. 
   
2. & Sons, by David Gilbert.  While this book did not receive the praise that it deserves, I think it is smart and funny and hits a note for those of us who live in New York. It delivers rich textures, although it can be a bit crass at times, as it examines two generations of monied New York men. It's worth a look. 
3. 
4. A Visit from the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan.  Just read it! It won the Pulitzer, has some incredibly innovative chapters, and is intense yet humorous. 
   
5. My Brilliant Friend
6.  The Story of a New Name
7. Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay
8. The Story of the Lost Child (just out this month) all by Elena Ferrante. In this brilliant series (at times wrought with emotional turmoil) the very austere relationship of two women twists through their mid-century lives in Italy.  Absolutely engrossing and at times, graphic; this trilogy is fresh and entertaining.  
9. All the Light we Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr.  While it took me a few chapters to become enraptured, once in, I couldn't put the book down.  Set in World War II, this book follows a brilliant soldier and a blind French woman as they encounter unfathomable war-time circumstances.  It triumphantly builds into a suspenseful encounter.
   
10. The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt. Just read it. 

All of these books can be bought here:

And don't forget to read some of those passages out loud!

Back to School Hairstyle for Girls

Easy French Braid-like Hairstyle 

using Hair Ties --

A Back To School Favorite

Hair Ornaments have been used for centuries, with various levels of success!

Borrowing from these classics, below are instructions for an updated, whimsical style that always gets favorable comments, wherever we go...

French Braids are beautiful on girls, but for most (dads especially) they take a good deal of time and  practice before they look camera-ready.

My work around? Hair Ties...

Sephora hair ties are a staple in all of our bathrooms. 

Hair ties can be purchased in most chain drug stores and also at Old Navy.  But the Sephora nude ties (above) are my favorite, are the best quality and are perfect for autumnal ensembles. Check them out here:

http://www.sephora.com/in-nude-hair-ties-P393119?skuId=1652577

These styles (green) are on sale now (over 40% off), check them out:

http://www.sephora.com/ribbon-hair-ties-P291417?skuId=1429406

Grouped together, hair ties make playful, youthful pony tails (above and below).

Hair ties, spread out on the pony tail, look frolicsome, as well:

But my unbeatable use of the Hair Tie is the 

Modified French Braid

And here is one of the many reasons why:  Last night, we went to a restaurant in New Canaan, Connecticut and the woman seated at the next table asked how I did my daughter's hair.  Since she  was so enthusiastic about the look, seemingly ready for me to do it to her hair, I quickly promised that I would post the instructions on TheNattyDad, pronto!

More than any other hairstyle that I use on my daughter, I get the most comments on this style. It's easy, it holds and it makes an impressive, yet tasteful statement.

So here they are:

Section off the front forehead of hair and twist the first hair tie into this small section of hair. Be sure to get all the stray bangs (see below).

Next, pull the temple hair back into the crown of the head and pull it into the already tied first hair tie grouping. Place another hair tie into this group of hair (below):

Brush the side sections (near the ear) into the center and combine it into the two tied 

sections above it:

Keep pulling more hair into the tie until you have reached the end:

What makes this style unique is that, with each new tie, a wavey, graceful, almost 1940s coiffe is produced.  This wave can be made more feathery and dramatic by slightly pulling out some hair from each tie. 

This hairstyle holds all day long, even for active girls -- like my daughter. 

Another reason this style is ideal -- hair ties are less likely to break the hair. 

Placing an elastic in the same place everyday tends to cause breakage at that point, resulting in small hair pieces falling into the face.  Positioning hair ties throughout the hair not only looks colorful and gives a wavey shape, but it evens out the stressed points in the hair, keeping it more healthy, with less breakage. 

Above is another easy Back to School hairstyle. I did an illustrated tutorial on this last year, 

check it out:

http://www.thenattydad.com/2014/06/hairstyles-for-children.html

 Below is a link to a charming NY Times article, a Dad Braiding 101 of sorts, pointing out the growing necessity for men to learn how to take care of their daughter's hair:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/09/fashion/showing-dad-the-ropes-about-braids.html?_r=0

After many (too many) weeks of summer
I say -- Let the school year begin!