More troubles for Conde Nast

It seems it's not the cover cost of their magazines that is the problem at Conde Nast. They just don't know how to run their business. If this continues, I expect we will lose a few more of our favorite magazines. Unless you read Golf World....


In today's New York Post:

"They are overstaffed and overpaid. They should have cut back 20 percent when they cut back five," this person said.

That kind of thinking is stirring fears inside that a new round of cuts could be coming. And for the first time in more than a decade, the privately run company led by Chairman S.I. Newhouse Jr. and CEO Charles Townsend could be awash in red ink.

"We continue to manage our business through a difficult economic climate," said a Condé spokeswoman.

Much of the problem rests with Condé's policy of never discounting off the rate card.
"Advertisers are finding that they can buy around them," said the former executive.

Only one magazine in its stable is showing a rise over a year ago: Golf World, a small circulation weekly, that is up 16.5 percent through the Feb. 23 issue.

You can read the article in its entirety here:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02252009/business/getting_nasty_at_cond__233__156766.htm

I wonder how long it will be before we hear rumblings about Vanity Fair and Vogue? What a waste.

It's a beautiful day!

My Mother used to wake me up for school by annoucing in a cheery morning voice, "It's a beautiful day in Chicago!" I would quietly groan and wonder what Chicago had to do with New Jersey and then Colorado. I would either roll my eyes or think "Tell me what kind of day it is here!" Who is that happy in the morning, anyway? Today while I was out inspecting all that grows in my little backyard, I thought of what she used to say. I Googled it and it turns out to be a phrase of some fame.

I found an article on Time.com, dated August 4, 1941. and it seems radio announcer Everett Mitchell of the Farm and Home Hour radio show used to begin every broadcast with those very words. Who knew? Even more importantly, who knew my mother listened to that? Well, now I know and so do you.

And now I have to say it: "It's a beautiful day in Chicago!" and in SoCal.

This is one of my favorite spots in the yard and what I can see out my back door from my living room.
Roses are beautiful in the garden but even better when cut and taken inside.

The succulants are beginning to bloom.
This poor little plant had a tough winter but surprised me with the first gardenia of the season!

All the rain we've had lately has made the lavender, green onions and geraniums very happy.

The bold colors and double blooms make ranunculus some of my favorite flowers to plant.

Delphiniums in bloom tell me that Spring is coming soon!

Thank goodness for that.

Iris is my ever present helper in the garden and

an instant poser when she sees the camera.

She is definitely a groovy feline!

We make better music when we all come together

Life, our county, the world feels so out of balance right now but when we remember we are all connected, that we are greater than the sum of individual selves, we can make beautiful music together. It is never distance that separates us...

We are all beautiful.

We are all lovely.

We are all broken in our own way.

Be kind to each other.

It's all we have.

Domino, Simon and Schuster and me!

All our efforts in getting the attention of someone connected to Domino magazine has worked! I am humbled and amazed by this comment left on my blog by Nina Schwartz of Simon and Schuster. My friends, we will be having a Domino: The Book of Decorating give away right here on my little blog! Stay tuned for all the details.

Nina, thank you so much for this honor, and it is truly an honor for me to host a give away on your behalf. Thank you also for noticing us and responding.

Dear Petunia,

Here at Simon & Schuster, we're all mourning the loss of Domino magazine, and it’s clear you feel the same pain. Not long ago (October '08), we published Domino: The Book of Decorating, by the editors of the magazine, and we're happy at least that their innovative and gorgeous ideas can live on in this book. We'd love to offer you two copies to give away on your blog to your readers who are no doubt as heavy-hearted as we.

Please let me know if you'd like to participate, and I’ll send you the books! (And I apologize for offering this in a comment -- I couldn't find your contact info on the site!)

Nina Schwartz

Associate Marketing Manager Simon & Schuster

nina.schwartz@simonandschuster.com

Any day with The New Yorker is a good day!

Pictures of life in NYC...

The endless stream of honking cabs....

News stands that carry everything a girl needs to read!

Walk-up flats...or down depending on if you're moving in or out!

The ferry boats....

All the different neighborhoods full of their own personality and food!

I remember the first time I got off the subway and walked up the stairs to the street level in Chinatown. I was blown away that after five minutes traveling underground I could end up in a different world! In that moment, I realized and felt the wonder and power of this city.

Happy, happy love day!

May your heart and hands create music for someone special today.

Wild Fires

Those of us who live in California are no stranger to the devastation of fire. We used to have "fire season" but now that season is all year long. It is an unconscionable event when the devastation of fire is intentionally set into motion. Out of the wreckage of every fire story, however, come the stories of great humanity, of the small and sometimes big things people do for each other in the face of great tragedy. As much as I fear for the people in the path of the fire, I fear for the wild life as well. I can only imagine the confusion they must be experiencing, their fight or flight response triggering them to flee out of sheer instinct. But to where? I always wonder, to where. I'm sure by now you know that Victoria, Australia is on fire and that most of the fires were set. 200 are feared dead, two have been arrested in connection with starting those fires. Watch the video below to see one of the most touching acts of kindness I have ever seen. This is amazing because Koalas are not known for their sweet dispositions, in fact, quite the opposite. Her paws were badly burned and because of the firemen who found her, she'll be listed as a survivor of this great catastrophe.

Bless her heart. In order to live, she had to take a chance and trust the hands that offered her help.

She has been named "Sam" by her rescuers and is being cared for at the Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter. She has made a new friend there named "Bob", another Koala, who is keeping a close, protective watch over his new little friend. We all need more happy endings.