Love in the time of Corona~

It’s all been said.  We’ve Googled “how to stay safe?”, we’ve Googled “how many have died in…?” and we’ve scoured the internet for Lysol wipes and Tylenol.

Not much left to do but accept, REALLY accept that this will change us…in big ways..and forever.

However…,

I see some amazing things happening.

I see more people out running than I have since the 70’s boom~

I see neighbors talking over fences…(I’ve been in a new town for 9 months and I swear, I never saw a neighbor before this month…I thought I moved into a very well appointed ghost town..I wondered where everybody was??)~

I see women sewing face masks, channeling modern-day Rosie Riveters.~

I see large alcohol distributors using their products to  manufacture hand sanitizer~

I see people in parks and online, playing with their kids. AMEN!

I know of one family that was seriously estranged, and now they are all quarantine under one roof, together again and healing.~

I hear more people talking about faith and God, or the deity they worship~

I see people eating better, building up their immunity~

I’ve seen the most amazing teachers, posting videos to their students, keeping them positive and challenged in tremendously hard times…Oh, how I wish I had teachers like these as a child!  I may have actually LIKED school!

(Colleen Delaney, your son Matt is a treasure..what an incredible teacher/mentor.!)

I feel, somehow, like we have become more humble and compassionate in the face of this scary unknown.

I have had this feeling all week that God is whispering “I will give you all ONE last chance to get this right…”

I hope so.

It’s going to be a long haul, even after the virus subsides…..

The economic impact will be felt for a while, but collectively, I really believe we will be ok, and maybe even a whole lot better…

As for me, I’m doing a lot of meditating, and that is REALLY helping keep my spirits up.

I have mentioned in previous posts that Oprah and Deepak Chopra sponsor free online 21-day meditation programs that are great…

They put this one up this week for those who are so inclined..and it’s terrific.

 

 

I’m exercising myself and my dog more, and he’s SO pleased..

I’ve also been doing more reading, which is my ultimate joy.  I’m reading a lot of books about how the mind can heal the body, and the many ways we can achieve that.  Fascinating stuff. I always thought the human brain was capable of SO much more than we give it credit for.

The best selling book “Radical Remission”, by Kelly A. Turner, and a new docuseries on Hay House have absolutely held me captive all week.

 

Harvard trained physicians and scientists, side by side with nutritionists, energy healers and Reiki masters, tackling the phenomenon of thousands upon thousands of people who have healed themselves of very dire diseases.  Some even without conventional medicine, using the power of the mind along with a toolbox of other things.  It’s so worth viewing, as it’s full of hope and positivity…what we need most now, no?

and of course, nail polish!  Now don’t get me wrong…I’m not being completely trivial and vain here….

I saw this online and thought “that would look so nice in the Summer”..which got me thinking, we ARE going to have a Summer….an optimistic thought among all the despairing ones.

So I ordered it, and decided I am wearing it as soon as it comes, and every day until this awful time has passed, as a re-affirmation of HOPE…Every time I look and my white nails, I will be reminded to hang on to my HOPE of a brighter tomorrow.

And HOPE lights my path~

Stay safe, love big and be kind to everyone.. we truly are all in this together~

A TIME FOR COMFORT ~

Are you flipping out yet?  Is your heart racing every time you turn on the TV?

Yes, we are facing the unknown.  Yes, it is a bit scary.

But..

We will survive.  That’s right.  You and me, and 98 percent of the population that actually have the misfortune of getting this snotty virus.

In the meantime, think comforting thoughts.  It’s really all you can do.

AND this..

Actually, you could raid the Walmarts and Costcos like they’re doing in New York.   (Jumping the gun for sure, but can you really blame them ?  The media, once again, would sell their mother’s souls for ratings, and hysteria is good for business.)

So instead of making a complete horses arse out of yourself, (Gwenneth Paltrow, I’m talking to you!)…

let’s all take a deep breath, take a break from the present pandemonium, and find some comfort.

Where else but in food, I always say.

I’ve dusted of two of my all time favorite comfort recipes for your pleasure.

Lillian Hellman’s Pot Roast is and has been, a delicious life saver for my family over the years.  It’s an old school crock pot miracle, with low rent ingredients, that can be put together before your Keurig cup is even ready.

 

As a real estate agent with hungry boys at home and 12 hour Sunday work days, this dish never, ever failed me.  Delicious, comforting and done in a snap, it was introduced in Nora Ephrons hilarious book “Heartburn”, back in the day.

Just google “Lillian Hellman’s Pot Roast” and you’ll find about 20 links.

Try it and see….

 

The next recipe is my invention, and so so good, and so so so so good for you!  As an old runner with achy hips, I’m all about the turmeric these days.  I put it in everything but coffee, ice cream or vodka (although I did see a recipe in the Times for a tumeric martini….may I never get that desperate!)

This best ever chicken soup is brimming with fresh turmeric, ginger, garlic and herbs.  All great for you joints and health! It freezes beautifully, and can be made with rotisserie chicken so it’s quick to make.

I just made a few gallons for when the Stop and Shop and Whole Foods stores get officially cleaned out by the panic parade….

Best Ever Chicken Soup~ (also known as “Old Runner’s Stew”)

1. 1 tbls olive oil
2.  6 cloves minced gaaaahlic (or garlic to non Bostonians)
3.  1 yellow onion, diced
4. 2 large carrots, thinly sliced
5. 2 celery stalks, chopped
6. 1 tbls fresh grated ginger (watch those fingers when grating!)
7.  1 tbls fresh grated turmeric (see above) or 1 tbls ground turmeric
8.  6 cups lo so chicken bro
9.  1 tsp freshly chopped parsley
10.  1 tsp freshly chopped rosemary
11.  1 tsp freshly chopped thyme (Where’s the sage, Garfunkel??)
12.  1 tsp salt
13.  freshly ground pepper
14.  1 cup of pearl or Israeli Couscous
15.  2/3 cup frozen peas
16.  1 shredded cooked rotisserie chicken, skin off

Just saute the garlic, onion, carrots and celery in the oil til softened.  Then add ginger, turmeric and broth.  Bring broth to boil and add all herbs, salt and pepper and couscous.  Turn to low and simmer til couscous is soft, about 15 minutes.  Then add the shredded chicken and peas and cook for another 5 minutes til it’s all heated through.

As I said, it freezes beautifully in case you get the flu, or some other thing we won’t mention….. It is loaded with nutrition and is very soothing.

Next, a heartbreaking joy of a novel that will stay with me for a long time…”Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano, is the story of a young boy who is the sole survivor of a plane crash that takes his entire family. It’s a stunning novel of courage and connection in the face of unimaginable loss.  Beautifully written, it transcends the madness of today and will take you to a world filled with hope…just what we need these days, no?

Finally, as shallow as it sounds, we all need to feel good…even in End Times….

I found this Nail Polish over the weekend that makes me smile everytime I see it on my hands..

It’s by Tom Ford and it has a nasty name…”Tom Ford F@*cking Fabulous Nail Lacquer” (yes, you read it right…! Seriously….)

Not cheap, but less than one gel manicure, and the colors are gorgeous!

Here’s my favorite, African Violet, perfect for Spring.

(ooh, who’s that handsome man photobombing my post??…)

I was skeptical about it’s wear, and with such a pricy product, I checked to make sure it was returnable if it was inferior.  Yes, returnable, but yes, a GREAT product!  Goes on easy, stays on through all my cooking and dishwashing, and love those COLORS!

Available at Nordstroms and Bloomingdales.

SO…remember, we’ve endured 9/11 and the break up of the Beatles….

Don’t panic..

Treat yourself..

Be kind to yourself and your fellow man..

and take a deep breath…

We’ve got this, ladies.~

 

 

We Shall Overcome~

As this week we celebrate the iconic Dr. Martin Luther King, I have been hearing these words everywhere. “We shall overcome”.

I had tremendous respect for Dr. King, and especially his vision that people
“not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Words I try to live by.

Having said that, I’ve decided to use these words in today’s post, and I hope it doesn’t trivialize his important sentiment…that is certainly not my intent…

But, HELL, it’s January, we are FREEZING in Boston, and we need to have some fun!

SO…

Here are some things that will help Overcome this  miserable month of dark and cold..

We Shall Overcome the Winter Blues, tips tried and true….

If you haven’t seen this show, The Kominsky Method, you MUST!

A comedy for and by adults, we blew through all eight episodes in a weekend and laughed ’til we hurt.

Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin are adorably brilliant as aging males facing their Golden Years, with an incredible cast that includes Paul Reiser, Jane Seymour, Danny DeVito, Ann-Margret, Jay Leno, Patti LaBelle, Elliot Gould, Kathleen Turner, Alison Janney, Bob Odenkirk and on and on….SO GOOD!

We Shall Overcome~

The constant misplacing of our beloved cell phones!

Head over to Bandolierstyle.com and check out these super functional, yet elegant and fashionable cell phone holsters…

 

These little gems are the “eye glass holder” of the 2020’s, for we (sometimes forgetful) chicks…Let’s face it…our cell phones, like it or not, are as important to us as our beating hearts….(Who among us has not had an almost heart attack at the thought we may have lost our precious phone??!!!)

Uber Fashionista Gwen Stephanie knows, right?  And if it’s cool enough for her….!

 

We Shall Overcome cabin fever~

By calling up your best friend and heading to the theater to see the MOST amazing performance you will see on film in a long time..

Perfect to chase the Winter doldrums, Renee Zellweger is MESMERIZING as Judy Garland in the film Judy, and is a shoo-in for best actress Oscar…You heard it here first, now go and see this poignant film of the legend in her later years…I just loved this performance!

 

Next, We Shall Overcome dry, winter skin!~

Like most women, I used this next product back in the 70’s in the bath…then heard it repelled mosquitos so I purchased more online last summer. (It worked!)

I never liked to take long baths, as I found it very drying on my skin.

Then I moved to a house with THIS TUB,

 and all bets were off.  I HAD to find something that would allow me to soak, and frequently, without shedding like a snake.

So I pulled out Skin So Soft by AVON, and applied it directly to my skin after my bath.

I’m amazed to say that my skin has never been softer, and I’m 61!  I have used every lotion, cream, etc. recommended by friend or dermatologist, and nothing has worked like applying this oil directly to my skin after my loooooong, hot soaks.

You can find it online at AMAZON.COM for $16.99. The original oil with is a miracle worker for me…

Finally, We Shall Overcome all the negativity that is swirling around us these day, by picking up this book~

Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life by Sarah Ban Breathnach .

This book literally saved my life when it was first published in 1995, and has just been revised and re-released with new content for THESE TIMES….

As a stay at home mom in ’95, with three lively boys, I found the days sometimes long and the well often running dry….

This book taught me how to see my life differently, by looking at the everyday gifts I had, and by giving GRATITUDE for those small things.

The book became an international best seller and was #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list for over two years!  It clearly resonated with women everywhere and was embraced by Oprah herself, who called it “life changing”.

I have re-purchased it 24 years later, and it is STILL speaking to me, setting me on the path to peace and and an appreciation for the simple beauty and joys in each day. They are there if you look for them, and this book is an excellent guide.

Morning coffee, a page read, and I’m all set to face the day.

I wish that for all of you!

Here’s to Overcoming, and here’s to the enjoyment of simple things..

Have a lovely week~

 

 

 

I’M THANKFUL FOR…~

THANKSGIVING WEEK IS UPON US….the years are flying, ladies..hold on with both hands!

I’ve many things to be thankful for this year…but then again, I have many things to be thankful for every year…even the not so good ones.

I practice gratitude, a concept that dates as far back as the bible, where Paul instructs “In everything, give thanks.”  Buddhists also consider gratitude one of the most important dharmas for fruitful living in daily life.

Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of the book “Simple Abundance”,  ignited a million woman gratitude movement in 1995, and I’ve never looked back.

Sarah reminds us, through her work, that there is beauty and bliss in the simplest of things…

A really good cup of coffee..

A baby’s laugh..

A heavenly pair of cashmere socks..

A decadent TV show..(think Downton Abbey!)

So the first thing I am grateful for this season is that I have re-purchased Sarah’s books, (my originals are long-lost in two moves), and I am currently savoring my favorites..

“Moving On” helped me tremendously when I was selling my home of many years and downsizing…It reminded me, page after page, that there is beauty everywhere in the big AND small,  if you look for it…

(Here’s some quiet beauty I have found in my new little home….Sarah is right again!!)

 

 

 “Romancing the Ordinary” is my other favorite…I love the ordinary moments where you see, smell, hear or taste something that just elevates your mood to joy….those are the best moments…

and they are all around us, everyday, if we look….

The next thing I’m grateful for is another book I am loving..

It’s the latest from the brilliant writer, Alice Hoffman, whose work I’ve loved since “Practical Magic” in 1995.  “Faithful” is the story of the power of love, generosity and redemption when the world looks bleak and you are out of resources.

A timely book, indeed!

Next is the new eight part series on PBS, called “Soundbreaking”…if you are a music fan, DO NOT MISS THIS

It traces your favorite music back from it’s inception  to the studio, where the magic happened…what a treat to watch!

How did “Yesterday” become the classic beauty it is?  How did Phil Spector’s famous “wall of sound” come to be? How many studio musicians did it take to make “Pet Sounds”?  All the way up to today’s rap, this series is a stellar behind the scenes look at “how the soup was made”  in the studio, with the help of a few genius producers. Great series, three crowns up!!

The next thing I’m thankful for this week is a lovely body lotion I stumbled upon in a gift shop in Meredith, New Hampshire while on a retreat.  I left my own lotion home, and was looking to find something to use for a few days.

I bought this lotion, and will be ordering it on-line for years to come.

By a company called Naked Bee, this Orange Blossom Honey lotion is a real treat.  It’s made from organic aloe and sunflower oil, honey and green and white tea, it applies like a blanket of softness, and smells INCREDIBLE!  Like an orange grove in the sun.  I put it on before bed, and the scent sends me off to dreamland, instantly erasing the stresses of the day.

Hard to feel bad when you smell so good!

I will be trying the Chai Tea, Grapefruit Blossom and  Lavender Beeswax lotions  in the future..and maybe even the Nag Champa one if I’m feeling adventurous.

https://www.nakedbee.bz

Next I’m forever grateful to Ina Garten, the fabulous Barefoot Contessa for bringing my humble cooking to the next level.  I’ve never made an Ina recipe that hasn’t  been perfectly delicious, and I doubt I ever will…she’s that good.

Here’s one of her recipes I’m making to bring to my mom for Thanksgiving…a sweet treat for a hardworking caregiver….

Recipe here…

https://barefootcontessa.com/inas-world/chocolate-bark

Thank you, Ina, for all the books and shows.  I’m a grateful cook!

Finally, I’m grateful for my family, and my three sons, all wonderful works in progress….but this Thanksgiving, I’m most grateful for the THE most patient man in the Free World, my best date, my husband Ed….and the Bruno Mars tickets he scored for me last week didn’t’ hurt!!

Yeeeeoooww!!!!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and treasure what’s good.  It’s all around us…~

What can YOU do…?~

Good Morning!

Have we all settled down since Tuesday?

I hope so.

I know for a fact that the sun still shines and the earth is still spinning, so it’s all good!

Last night, in honor of Veteran Day, we went to see “Hacksaw Ridge”, and I am so glad I did.

It’s exactly what the world needs right now, but alas, the people who need it most will never see it.

Based on the true story of conscientious objector Desmond Doss, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor in WWII despite refusing to bear arms, it’s a story of two things sorely lacking in our country today.

The courage of conviction, and love of god and Country.

Desmond was a Seventh-day Adventist, a religion that forbids killing or the bearing of arms.  Yet Desmond also loved his country.

As boy after boy enlisted in WWII, he struggled with how to reconcile the two.  He couldn’t turn his back on his religion, and wouldn’t turn his back on his country.

So he became a medic and enlisted in he army as a conscientious objector, one of the nations first.

He was ostracized at best, beaten and almost court marshaled at worse, but BECAUSE he was a man with the courage of his convictions, and a religious man who valued life, he went on to single handedly save over 75 soldiers in the battle of Okinawa without firing a single shot!

Such a powerful story on two fronts.

He stayed true to who he was, because he answered only to the god he served, and he had a tremendous sense of patriotism with a desire to do the right thing.

When I look around today, I see protests that go nowhere and achieve nothing, and a large portion of our population  who want to take from our country, but never give back.

And it breaks my heart.

There was one powerful scene that caused me to weep..(thank you, Mel Gibson for ALWAYS making me cry at the movies you produce..”Passion of the Christ” and “Braveheart” come to mind.)

The scene is desperate one, as the bullets are flying and Desmond’s fellow soldiers are being slaughtered all around him. He is at a loss as to what to do, as he serves a God who does not want him to pick up a gun….he looks around at the carnage piling up and cries, “I don’t understand..What is it you want me to do??”

How many of us, who worship a god, have been there in our lives…Sometimes the challenges  we are faced with are so hard, we are ill equipped to know the way…and we look up and say “WHAT ON EARTH IS IT YOU WANT FROM ME??”

I have found many times that the answer may not come instantly, but it does come if you wait.

Desmond’s answer to his question was that he was called to use his courage and resourcefulness to rescue  the wounded but not dead soldiers left on the battle field, still under attack.

Most of those men, who would have been left for dead if not for Desmond, went on to get married, have families and live full lives.

THAT, my friends, is a great story.

Whether or not you are religious in any way, if you are a citizen of the Unites States, especially today, you need to see this film and ask yourself the question John Kennedy asked you several decades ago…

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”

The answer to everything that ails our country today lies in that question, if you have the courage to answer it.

In honor of Veterans Day, just for today, can you give that some thought?  And maybe find a small way to give back  to the Greatest Generation for all their sacrifice, and to the Greatest Country on Earth, for all our blessings?? Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with the country, let’s reflect on what’s right, and act accordingly!

God Bless America, thank you , and have an amazing weekend ~

Beauty, the Books and Blood Orange Bliss~

New England in Autumn is a little slice of Heaven.

The foliage, the Indian Summer weather (warm sunny days, crisp, cool nights,) and OH, the food.  I’m a sucker for anything pumpkin. You could sprinkle pumpkin spice on a pile of dirt, and I swear I’d eat it!

Cold weather clothes are terrific as well .  It’s almost as if they KNEW we would be eating too much, and made oversized knit sweaters, bulky jackets and belly hiding sweater scarfs the fashionable thing.

On to beauty….

I make a point to walk every day in the woods near my home. I just don’t want to miss a minute of the glory!

Check this out from my walk yesterday…

It’s a breathtaking  time of year, and hard to feel anything but invigorated and alive when I’m out in nature, and that’s why I will always be a New England girl!

This week, lots of great reads were released.

So many books, so little time!

This first one I am enjoying is “Capture Your Style” by Aimee Song.

Because the political season is in full on ugly mode, I am trying to stay away from social media sites that just bring me down… I’ve traded more Instagram for less Facebook and Twitter in the precious little time I have in my day to browse.

I find Instagram uplifting and love seeing everyone’s day through pics. This book, written by a woman with one of the largest Instagram accounts on the planet, gives some great advice about photo shooting, editing, text, content, how to capture your own style, and tell your own story in an appealing way.  She’s made a five figure income off of her Instagram account, and travels the world snapping pics, so she knows her stuff. Her advice about editing apps alone is worth the cost of the book, if you care about the quality of your photos.

The second book, “The Bitch Is Back: Older, Wiser, and (Getting) Happier..by Cathi Hanauer is a FABULOUS read for we “femme d’un certain age.”  Chronicling some of the best women writers in their forties, fifties and sixties, these “bitches”, all bestselling authors and some of my favorites, offer unique views of modern womanhood today, but from an older and wiser perspective. Topics ranging from marriage and/or divorce, cancer, dealing with elderly parents or adult children, workplace age and sexism, highlight that we older women have a lot on our plates. Here, it’s examined with guts and gusto, and I yell  “Brava!” after each essay read.

We older women are AWESOME, aren’t we?? I want to send a Virtual  Crown to each of the contributors….it’s a terrific read.

Finally, last night in Boston, I had the best martini I’ve ever had.  And people who know me know that I make a mean martini.  It was a blood orange martini, but like no other.  One sip, and I was transported to Sicily, to the sun drenched blood orange groves.  HEAVEN!

I have made blood orange martinis before, but nothing tasted this good.  I asked the bartender, who kindly told me the secret.  They make it with a few tablespoons of this blood orange purée, imported from Napa Valley.

You can buy it online here. https://www.perfectpuree.com/product/blood-orange-concentrate/

along  with several other flavors like Meyer Lemon and Caramelized Pineapple, (have MERCY!) which I am eager to try next.

Whatever you view, read, savor or drink, do something nice for a stranger, and have a lovely week ahead~

POLITICS AND PUMPKINS, POLISH AND POUTS ~

Are you ready to toss your TV out the window?

Rip your phone off wall and throw it out? (If you’re ancient, and still HAVE a landline…)

If you answered “yup,” chances are it’s election season, and never has their been one as polarizing and difficult as this one!

 

People who know me know I am passionate about politics.  I do not discuss politics on this site, however, as it’s suppose to be a fun and uplifting place to come.  Politics, at least today’s version, has become a blood sport, pitting family members against each other, as well as friends and co-workers.

So, with help from fellow blogger Shannon Abels, I’ve devised what I think are some solid guidelines to get you through the next few months without losing your mind..

1. Seek out the truth

Often the important issues can’t be summarized in a tweet or news clip.  It takes time and patience and more than just skimming the headlines for you to learn the truth.  Especially with today’s media being, shall we say, agenda’d on both sides.  Be sure you are seeking out reputable sources, and just shut off CNN and FOX New altogether.

2. Converse to gain understanding.

The other day, I had a long political conversation with a Starbucks manager, in her mid-forties.  She was Black, Gay and adopted.  Listening to her, I was able to ascertain why she is voting the way she is, and, even though she and I are not in agreement about a lot of things, I now understand at least where her fears lie, and why she is voting the way she is.  We each have or own things that are really important to us, and no one candidate solves them all. Having civil conversation allows us to at least gain a better understanding of each other.

3. Determine if you have a willing audience for discussion

Nothing appalls me more, from either side, than a  person ASSUMING that everyone thinks like they do. They are the ones who will say at a dinner party “can you imagine the idiots voting for —- and how stupid can you be?” Facebook is different, because you know your audience and can control the privacy settings. But out in public, well, you’ve heard the saying “never assume…It makes an ASS out of U and ME!”  And just because a person lives in a heavily red or heavily blue state, does not mean they don’t think for themselves and follow the majority.

4. Seek depth, not soundbites

Soundbites lack context, but time is valuable: therefore, that is often all we hear or see. Please  be aware that there is always more to the story.

5. Watch or listen to debates

Sometimes, even the greatest pundits can’t cover up the lack of knowledge of a subject, or the extreme ideas or opinions of a candidate.  Truth speaks as candidates debate.

6. Seek out quality information, but less of it.

Read a paper or two, and limit yourself to about 15 minutes a night of political news from as unbiased a source as you can find…hard, I know.  After that, take a deep breath, and shift your focus.

It’s going to be a loooooong season.  Pace yourself, become an EDUCATED voter, then do your civic duty and VOTE!

Pumpkin is up next!

I found what looks to be a delightful recipe for pumpkin brioche in this months edition of  one of my favorite magazines, Victoria..

 

This will be a perfect accompaniment to my Bouef Carbonadde recipe ….

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Classic-Beef-Beer-Stew

It appears to take most of the day to make, but since I am having  guests tonite, I will attempt to make the effort and report back next time!  You can see the above photo, and my “finished product” side by side, and decide for yourself!  The recipe can be found on Victoriamagazine.com

Polish time!  You ladies know about my obsession with nail polish by now, and particularly about Smith and Cult nail polish.  Great wear, easy application with a super flat brush, and THE.BEST.COLORS…

These are the three I love this season…The first is called  “1976” (because it reminded the color chemist of her moms rose gold lame dress from the disco days…I was there in ’76, and Yup! They got it right! )

My other two seasonal favorites are called “Darjeeling Darling”, a gorgeous Autumn green, and “Dark Like Me,” and lovely burgundy.

Buy them at Newman Marcus or here ….http://www.smithandcult.com/nailed-lacquer.html

 

Pouts!!…Have you seen the new seasonal trend in lip color?  Dark as the night, matted and in your face…(or at least on your lips!)

The new shades are gorgeous…deep plums, blues, violets..colors we’ve never seen on lips..

The problem is, they look AMAZING on young girls, but not so much on “we of the older and wiser generation”..

So I did a little research and found just the one.  By Urban Decay, this line blew me away with color…

 

But putting them on my lips was waaaay tooo Bella Lugosi-esque!  Barnabus Collins would dig it, but my family would have been horrified.

So I settled for one from the Urban Decay line called “Seismic”, that had all the pigment and color of the deep, lovely violet, but with none of the matte, and it was delightfully moisterizer  to boot!

 

 

So now you can talk politics without getting tarred and feathered, bake a delicious pumpkin brioche, have beautifully colored nails AND wear the dark lip trend without being embalmed first!

And you thought you were just reading some little blog post…

 

Have a fantastic Columbus Day Weekend, and Wear Your Crowns! ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLEAR THE WEEKEND….~

I’VE BEEN A VORACIOUS READER SINCE THE “NANCY DREW” DAYS.  I’M HAPPIEST  WHEN I’M LOST IN A BOOK.

I ENJOY BIOGRAPHIES MOST BECAUSE  I’M ENDLESSLY FASCINATED BY HOW PEOPLE NAVIGATE THE JOURNEYS OF LIFE.

IN MY FIFTY PLUS YEARS OF READING, HOWEVER,  IVE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE THIS….

JUST PUBLISHED, “LOVE WARRIOR”, BY GLENNON DOYLE MELTON WILL BLOW THE LID OFF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MODERN DAY WIFE, MOTHER AND WOMAN.  IF “EAT PRAY LOVE” SPOKE TO YOU, “LOVE WARRIOR” WILL HAUNT YOUR DREAMS….

EVEN BEFORE OPRAH SWOOPED DOWN AND MADE IT HER BOOKCLUB PICK OF THE SEASON, I HAD READ THE BUZZ FROM AUTHORS I ADMIRE LIKE BRENE BROWN, ELIZABETH GILBERT, CHRIS NOTHRUP AND MARIANNE WILLIAMSON. THEY RAVED, AND THEY WERE RIGHT.

YOU WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO READ A MORE HONEST BOOK.  I COULD EASILY HAVE READ IT IN A SITTING, BUT SEVERAL TIMES I HAD TO PUT IT DOWN TO ABSORB THE WORDS.   I’VE SAID THOSE WORDS. I’VE HAD THOSE THOUGHTS…WE ALL HAVE IF WE ARE HONEST.  FINALLY, A WOMAN IS SPEAKING THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW HARD IT CAN BE TO WEAR ALL THE HATS, HOW FULFILLING AND DESPERATE, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

READ THIS BOOK IN PIECES, AS SHE MOVES THROUGH THE STAGES OF HER LIFE. BEGINNING WITH HER BULIMIC CHILDHOOD, THROUGH THE DRUG FUELED COLLEGE YEARS, TO MARRIAGE, MOTHERHOOD , SEPARATION, SINGLE PARENTING, RECONCILIATION AND FORGIVENESS, SHE BARES IS ALL WITH SUCH INSIGHT AND HONESTY, NOTHING IS SPARED.  ULTIMATELY, JUST AS THE BOOK WAS GOING TO PRINT, SHE ANNOUNCED SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE DIVORCING. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SAY THEY DIDNT TRY.

HER WRITING IS LIKE NO OTHER, AND HER TRUTH IS HUMBLING. THIS ONE WILL DO FOR OUR GENERATION WHAT BETTY FRIEDAN’S “THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE” DID FOR OUR MOTHERS..IT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT AT BOOK CLUBS FOR YEARS TO COME, AND IT MAY CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT OUR LIVES.

PROFOUND.

AND ON A LIGHTER NOT….

AND HAVE YOU SEEN THESE?

 

BY A COMPANY CALLED “BELLA BEAT”, FINALLY A “FITBIT” WITH A LITTLE STYLE.  THIS TRACKER, ENCASED IN A LEAF SHAPED PIECE, CAN BE WORN AS A PIN, NECKLACE OR BRACELET, IN SILVER OR ROSE GOLD.  AND IT DOESNT JUST TRACK YOUR SWEATY STEPS, BUT YOUR STRESS LEVEL, MEDITATION AND SLEEP CYCLES, YOUR FERTILITY AND MORE.

BEAUTIFUL PIECES ON THEIR OWN, GET ONE NOW AS THEY ARE BACK ORDERED FOR MONTHS…

I KNOW WHAT SANTA CAN BRING ME THIS YEAR IF HE CAN GET IT IN TIME!!

FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THEM HERE….

https://webshop.bellabeat.com/collections/all?sort_by=best-selling

 

ADJUST YOUR CROWNS, OWN AND CELEBRATE YOUR OWN STORY, AND HAVE AN AMAZING WEEKEND, OR WHAT WILL BE LEFT OF IT IF YOU OPEN THIS BOOK!~

THINGS I’M LOVING, SUMMER 2016❤️~

With Memorial Day upon us, I want to share some Crown~Worthy  things that, in my humble opinion, will enhance the all too brief summer experience. Remember, I’m from Boston…our summers last about ten weeks, our winters five months. Summers are sacred in New England.

SO! Having said that, here’s my SUMMER 2016 Hall of Fame Crown~Worthy list!

I love my champagne, but I love it even more, sitting on a beach, watching the sunset.

Veuve Clicquot Rose is the perfect drink for a special sandy sunset. It’s light, like the Rose we enjoy all summer, but with a magical taste of bubbly goodness, and SO pretty🍾 . It’s hard not to smile when enjoying a glass. Treat yourself at least once this summer. You owe it to yourself!

Summer tends to play havoc with my hair, newly silver. Between the UVA rays, salt water and dry heat, delicate gray shades don’t stand a chance. White becomes yellow in no time, and not in a good way.

After a year-long search, I finally found the perfect shampoo for white, silver and platinum.

Aveda Blue Malva is a joy to use. Smells like I think Heaven would smell (if I ever get there😉), and when your hair dries, it’s bright, silver and luminescent. Not a trace of dull yellow, and it feels like silk. Highly rated online, highly recommended by me. A Crown~Worthy  find a year in the making, but not cheap. It runs about $38 per bottle, but it’s 33 ounces, so you’ll use it awhile.

I can see a difference in my hair since using it, even in photos….

 

Next on the list…

I searched far and wide for a summer nail color I wouldn’t get tired of. One that was neutral enough to go with everything, but not boring like most neutrals. (I will never be accused of being boring!)

I saw this on a model in a magazine and eureka! That was it, and the search was on…

I finally found it, but it was sold out everywhere, forcing me to buy it direct from the company and pay shipping, which I was not happy about. But it’s mine, it’s on my feet and toes, and it makes me smile every time I look at it, so it’s all good!

It’s by a company called Smith and Cult, and while the names are insane, the colors are gorgeous. This green is called “Bitter Buddhist” of all things, but it’s a subtle, grayish green that reminds me of a Monet. The wear is great and, if you are into that kind of aesthetic, the bottle is gorgeous.

You can find it at Neiman Marcus, if you’re lucky, and other places online if not sold out. But I bought it direct from the company because when I finally found it, I had to have it.

Heres a cute article from the Huffington Post about the company and the crazy names of the colors..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/17/smith-and-cult-nail-polish-line_n_5990128.html

 

Next up, a water bottle that A. Looks sleek B. Keeps your water cold FOR TWELVE HOURS IN A HOT CAR….it’s true, I tested it, and may I introduce my new favorite thing…

 

Produced by the company S’well, these bottles are it for me!

Ranging around $35. per bottle, I’ve seen them in Starbucks and Barnes and Noble Cafes. Target sells the cheaper, smaller version of their bottle, but when it comes to water, go big or go home!
How pretty is this limited edition rose gold one….?

Oh, and did I neglect to point out that it keeps the above referenced champagne, or any other wine, ice-cold for an outdoor picnic?  And yes, it’s keeps your hot coffee steaming all day in the cold weather, but we aren’t going THERE today.🌞

Here we have a make your own ice cream sandwich kit from Williams Sonoma. SO cute, and you can customize all day long to make the perfect sandwich. I’m famous for my ice cream sandwhich cookies for the beach parties our extended family gathers at. This makes it so much easier. Why spend your precious time on anything but being creative?

My favorite is combo is salted caramel gelato, the sandwich dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkled with crushed cashews. The options are endless and we’ve been known to use anything from pop rocks to crystallized ginger! The kit is super easy to use, and  at a $19.95 price point for three, it pays for itself in no time!

You can purchase this at Williams Sonoma in store or online.

At last but not least, while I am a HUGE proponent of shutting off the TV and being outside as much as possible in the precious summer, here’s one hilarious show I found recently to binge watch if you have a rainy day.

Silicon Valley, an HBO comedy centered around the high-tech industry, is uproariously funny, or as one of my male friends said “freakin brilliant!”

It’s the story of a team of nerdy but brilliant computer guys naively navigating the cut throat Hi Tech industry of Silicon Valley. Having two computer engineers in the family, (how do you think I set UP this crazy blog?!), I can tell you from my sideline observation that the show is dead on, and funnier than it has a right to be! Now in its third season on HBO, it’s available for streaming. Enjoy!

Wherever your summer takes you, whatever you eat, drink, shampoo with or watch, have a GLORIOUS SUMMER and savor each and every day, and have a Crown~Worthy Memorial Day Weekend❤️👸🏼~

THINGS I’M LOVING NOW~

Well, hello SPRING! That’s what I’m loving most, even if it WILL snow tonight. I’ll be walking the beach and picnicking in no time!

I’ve talked about this before, but about four times a year, Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra join forces to produce a free 21 day meditation challenge. The first one I did, about two years ago, changed my life. I came to realize that whatever I was lacking, or whatever I needed, was right there inside me and always had been.   I just needed to make the time to access it.   That knowledge empowered me to make major changes in the way I think and the way I look at the world, and I’m better for it.  I look forward to their challenges now, each one focusing on a different thing.

Starting Monday, they are offering a new meditation challenge centered around weight and weight loss. If you need to lose weight, I urge you to participate. You won’t be sorry. It only takes about 17 minutes a day, and after twenty one days, you will think differently about your body, I promise!!

I’ve recently lost twenty pounds, but understand that keeping it off is going to be the real challenge, so I’m ALL IN for this one!

Just go to Oprah.com and find the above link to register. You will thank me!

The next thing I love was introduced to me when I was on my weight loss program recently. The diet, (The Fast Metabolism Diet, highly recommended,) requires that you drink half your weight in ounces of water each day. Yikes!!! For someone who doesn’t like to drink anything but coffee or wine, this was a challenge. Then I found La Croix sparkling water at my local Whole Foods, and became instantly hooked. It’s a sparking water that’s flavored with essence of natural fruits, no calories, no sodium, nothing artificial. SO REFRESHING, I can drink it all day.  With favors like coconut, cucumber mint, mango, pear, etc., you can shake it up!

 

Another thing I’m loving.. The new show Vinyl on HBO is a rollicking ride through the seventies music scene. Produced by Martin Scorcese and Mick Jagger, it’s a take no prisoners story of the excess of the seventies. Sex, drugs and rock n roll as only Martin and Mick could tell it.

And the cast??? Powerhouse Bobby Canavale soars as the coke’d up record producer Richie Finestra, with the golden ear for great music. Olivia Wilde plays his recovering wife, and GREAT PERFORMAMCES by Micks son James Jagger, Juno Temple, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ray Romano like you’ve never seen him. Hang on to your hat…especially if you remember the early seventies! When the Emmys roll around again, bet money of this!!!

Next.. After a long drab winter, it’s a bright OPI red for my nails. Nothing says Spring like Chick Flick Cherry

And finally, I’m loving my muse, Jesse, snoozing in the sunlight of the first Spring day.

Have an AMAZING SPRING, and a lovely week~❤️🌷💐🌸🌹

BRAVO, DOWNTON ABBEY👏

I came late to the party called Downton Abbey.

I didn’t even consider it til last month, when a nasty illness forced me to bed for an extended time.

I decided to rent an episode to see what the fuss was about. $90. worth of Netflix episodes and four weeks later, I had binge  watched six seasons of some of the finest TV  I’ve seen in a long time.

Almost immediately, I was transported to a world of pure bliss. Escapism at its finest. The decor, the scenery and those CLOTHES!!!🙏

While I feel the plots aren’t as epic as those of other great shows such as say,  “Mad Men” or “Breaking Bad”,  the brilliance of this show is that you come to care very much about the characters, and  are totally whisked away to another place and time. A time of all things gentle and lovely.

Feisty Dowager Crowley, played by the brilliant Maggie Smith, is a force to be reckoned with, but someone I’d love to have a tip of spirits with in another time. My kinda gal!

As an Ex-Pat in a very English world, Countess Crawley has her husband, Lord Grantham, and the rest of the house wrapped around her pretty little finger. She KNOWS you catch more flies with honey.

Lady Mary and Lady Edith give new depth to the words “sibling rivalry”….and yes, I did want to slap Mary many times.

Tom, the lower class mechanic who marries into this British nest is my favorite. Sparking Irish eyes, always the mediator with wit and charm, he won me over with his decency and huge heart.

Then there’s the overworked “downstairs staff”. All trying to just get by while taking care of the more fortunate class. Most certainly not the easiest of lives, but  they seemed to accept their collective lots and make the best of what were the times they lived in.

It’s not often that we are treated to such a beautifully, classy piece of drama. TV today is not for the faint of heart.

So I will miss this show tremendously.  I do, however,  hold out hope that I am treated to something again, as visually lovely and well done, in my ever advancing  lifetime!

Sunday night I’ll raise a glass and watch the finale.

BRAVO, and well done Julian Fellowes, et al, and thank you for making a tough Winter a bit easier.

Better late to the party than never!

Have a lovely week, and find your escape~

 

#52SATURDAYS, AND RECOVERY REMEDY

Last week, I spent the better part in bed with Attack Of The Killer Bronchitis. 2016 hasn’t been kind in the health department! I’m soldiering on, however, and I’ve even lost 13 pounds on my supposedly health inducing diet. I’ll take it, but I don’t do well being sidelined with illness.
My Saturday photo day gave me a good excuse to get out of bed,go visit my salon, and my favorite “color whisperer”, the lovely Bridgette. I always feel better after, and got my Saturday shot to boot!

Spending so much time in bed has some benefit. I caught up on my reading, and finished “Boys in trees”, the veeeery interesting autobiography by Carly Simon. She and Sean Connery, who knew?

Turns out, Carly is a really good writer, and the bio is chock full of antidotes from the Seventies. From Sweet Baby James, to Warren, Paul and Linda, Mick, et al, it is an enjoyable read. Made me want to dig out my fringe vest and guitar….if I had a guitar!
See you Saturday. Who knows what I’ll capture then??

CHRISTMAS, MY WAY~

This year, The holiday season was off to a bad start. The list of “must do” and “must attend”  was getting longer than my arm. I found myself becoming cranky and annoyed as I started making the endless lists and circling dates.

“This is not how I want to spend my time”, I found myself thinking over and over….

What to do?

Then I had an epiphany….this is MY one and only life, and for decades I’ve being living it to satisfy the desires  of others. It’s time for me to design a Christmas that resembles one I would like to celebrate..

and off I went…

Instead of spending Sunday at the mall running around with sore feet and too many packages, I saw a Nordic Christmas concert advertised at a local Episcopalian church.

I’m not Episcopalian OR of Nordic Descent, but it was just lovely…!

Then I made a tough call….to pass up one side of the family’s semi-mandatory Christmas party to go to see my parents, one who is ailing, and treat them to a weekend of high tea, laughter and reminiscing.

Next, a small but pleasurable departure from the Season of Stress. Leaving a work obligation later than expected, I took the time to pull off the road and watch this….

.

The sights and lights!

A Christmas martini and a Sound Of Music singalong❤️

We even squeezed in an OUTSTANDING movie….The Big Short,

Onto Christmas Eve…

A lovely meal at a reputable Asian restaurant after a beautiful church service…where they opened the windows because it was 68 degrees! A FIRST for this fifty-seven year old!

Christmas was an elegant brunch of Brioche French Toast and Barefoot Contessa “Crack” Bacon. Crack, because you eat so much you will need bacon rehab. Here is the recipe….

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/caramelized-bacon.html

The day ended with my favorite drink by the fire…
 No stress, all JOY❤️  (And off tonite to see the movie, “JOY”, starring some of my favorite actors.)

New Years Eve next, then off to what I KNOW is going to be an extraordinary year….my way!

Have an authentic week ahead, and Happy New Year!

Make it YOURS~

2016, ANTICIPATION, ADVENTURE AND A SPACE OF MY OWN🙏

 

I’ve been thinking about 2016, an exciting year for sure.

My husband and I will be selling our big old house and downsizing. The best part is we have no idea where we are going, or what we are looking for…it’s a wide open plan we call “The Great Adventure!”

Unencumbered now by the housing needs of our sons, we can finally plant ourselves where we WANT to be, not where we NEED to be.

And I, for one, could not be more excited. Our Final Destination, after owning five places in four cities in thirty years, is all about US, and will reflect our taste, our needs, and who we are at this stage in our lives.

One thing I know for certain… having lived with four males for the past three decades, it’s MY turn. I plan on surrounding myself with beauty, nature, and my own space to create, think, nap, reflect and dream.

Here’s a perfect book I found recently. A photographer happened upon a growing women’s trend in England called “The Small Spaces Movement.”

 

 

Women are carving out space for themselves in the most unusual places! Sheds! Who knew??

It’s like going back to the playhouse or treehouse of your childhood, but with electricity and in some instances, gas and plumbing!

I’m doing this for sure! I’m thinking Shabby Chic Shed, and I’m having a “NO BOYS ALLOWED” sign made for the door.😉

Also, at the start of every new year,  I like to challenge myself to take better, more interesting pictures.

To achieve this, I commit to a photo of the day, month, etc. challenge.

Here’s my post about photo diaries from January…

Photographs and Memories ~ 2015

For the upcoming year, I’ve chosen “52 Saturdays”….the idea being to find something interesting to shoot every Saturday, no matter what, and edit and post it on a social media site for all to see.

I chose this project because for the past 25 years, I’ve worked Saturdays in one form or another, and decided this year to give myself the gift of that day off. So this challenge was a perfect fit for me.

I will be posting the photo here, on Flickr, and on Instagram, starting January 2nd. Watch for it. I promise it will be fun!

Have a lovely weekend, and get ready for 2016!~

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE A CROWN WORTHY CHRISTMAS ~

It’s started, whether you like it or not, the holiday shopping season.

Here are a few things I would love to see under MY tree😉

 

 

Feather light, like a warm, soft hug for your feet, cashmere socks are the ultimate luxury. Perfect to wear in your winter boots, these by Garnet Hill are the ones to buy. 100% cashmere, no blends here. Lovely colors, and while expensive, can you put a price on pure happiness??

http://www.garnethill.com/women-27s-cashmere-socks/117684

Next, moisture is your best friend in the harsh New England winters. Your skin needs it, and your nasal passages will thank you as well, for this next gift.

How cute is this portable, aroma diffusing, warm mist humidifier that glows with soft light in the dark?

By Aliexpress.com, at a $31. price point, it’s a great grab gift or stocking stuffer for your girlfriends, or a perfect addition to a chilly college dorm room. Buy two, one for your bed, one for your office..

The next little slice of Heaven is from UGGS.Com
Cozy yet practical, these shearling, fingerless gloves are indispensable. If you’re like me, and can’t take enough photos of the beauty in the chilly outdoors, OR if you are a teenage girl and glued to Tumbler/Tinder/IG/FB texting, tweeting, etc., etc., and on and on…😩 (look UP once in awhile…It’s a beautiful world!), I digress…..these are for you. You need to keep those busy hands warm, and what better way to do it than with these babies…UGGS really knows how to blend warmth and practicality with style. I love this color, but they come in five…pricey for $145, but then they are UGGS!!

 

Next, a great book filled with three of my favorite things…Hope, Optimism and FOOD!

“MY KITCHEN YEAR, 136 Recipes that SAVED MY LIFE”, by Ruth Reichl, is part memoir, part cookbook, (a twofer!)

Ruth was the longtime editor of Gourmet Magazine, loving her job and her life. When the magazine abruptly closed, she was unprepared and lost. Each day was a challenge to rebuild and redefine herself in her midlife, a daunting task. But with a lot of courage, and a KILLER repertoire of comforting recipes, Ruth put one step in front of the other and literally cooked her way to solid ground once again.

I loved her pluck, her spirit, and her recipe for three day short ribs !!! Crown Worthy accomplishment, this book and her comeback❤️

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-kitchen-year-ruth-reichl/1120998970

You need a good candle, or twelve, in the winter, and these are the best on planet Earth. I promise.  By Diptyque Paris, this Feu de Bois candle smells like a crackling fireplace in a country cottage…in the woods…with pine cones..and a glass of champagne…and your honey beside you….can you smell it now😉?? WWW.diptyqueparis.com

Not cheap, but very high quality burn and scent is indescribable. You just have to trust me.  $60. For a large candle, but much class expensive than buying a cottage in the woods!

Finally, grab your best girlfriends, and give them a gift that will last the Winter,(and help you survive the gloom!)
Plan one night a week, buy some good wine, make some delicious apps, and watch one or two episodes of this HILARIOUS comedy!

Easily the funniest show I’ve seen in a long time. A perfect “girls night in” show..(which also made my handsome husband laugh out loud, too many times to count), this is the story of two lifelong BFF’s who haven’t been able to count on the men in their lives, so they form their own little family when one gets pregnant. Played BRILLIANTLY by real life besties Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, you would swear they don’t have a script. Supporting actor Keegan Michael-Key is the maniaclly  funny scene stealer, and ever-still-hunky, Kenny Loggins makes an appearance in the season two finale. (If you watch the series, you see this coming a mile away!)😆

Whoever and however you gift, find the beauty in life this season, and enjoy the magic.

Have a lovely, Crown Worthy weekend ~

FRENCH WOMEN HAVE GREAT PR PEOPLE…

OK, ENOUGH already about how superior French women are to every other feminine being on the planet!

Recently, I’ve noticed a glut of books on the market about how French women are perfect in every way.

Being a pseudo French woman by nationality, ( French Canadian, which means I’m REALLY imperfect by Parisian standards,) and an American by birth, I feel it’s time to knock our perfect French sisters down a few pegs….

First, the books……

Because no other woman could ever be quite so enlightened!!

And because no one can cook quite like THEM…..They cook like this EVERYDAY!!!

And when you’re rushing out the door to get your child to school, make the board room meeting, or hit the gym (which French women also NEVER do…they are magically thin) don’t forget to be CHIC and ELEGANT! This book will help….

And because it’s IMPOSSIBLE! to be as CHIC! and ELEGANT!  as a French women…we have a book to tell you how IMPOSSIBLE it IS!!!!!….Buy the book anyway….we need to keep French Women in expensive perfume to hide the cigarette smell…..(yes, that was catty….but true, and felt really good!)

They have secrets to feeling beautiful EVERYDAY!!! Ooh La LA!!!!!! That’s a lotta days, sister, non?

And of course, there are things French women NEVER, EVER, EVER, NEVER do….

(Sure they do…)

Also not true…..I’ve seen the French women on the Metro. This book says they eat cheese, steak, chocolate, drink red wine, and never gain weight, which leads me to wonder what the eating disorder stats are in Gay Paree!

and my personal FAVORITE….

So French women don’t sleep alone, eh???? Ever??? I’m guessing then, that there has to be a LOT of cat hair between those 5000,000 thread count Parisian sheets!!

Spare me!

It must be very difficult to be so perfect.

But I’m guessing that, at the end of the day, French women are very similar to Italian women, American women, all women.

And I’m guessing that maybe they are getting as sick of the hype as we are. It’s brutal to be perfect!

One thing I know, for sure, about my American sisters….

We never say never!!!

Have a perfectly imperfect weekend ~

BraVO, NETFLIX!!!!👍

Back from a short but sweet vaca with a tip you MUST take….

If you don’t subscribe to Netflix, get it… Today!

Then download the 13 episodes of the new show “Grace and Frankie”. Trust me on this.

Created by Marta Kauffman, who gave us “Friends”, finally we have a stylish, sexy, yet soul-filled comedy for the over fifty crowd….and it is FABULOUS!

Starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin (reuniting for the first time since the smash movie 9 to 5,) Martin Sheen, Sam Waterson and a terrific supporting cast, it’s the story of Grace and Frankie.

These two are as opposite as two women can be, but when life tosses them a BIG ONE, they become each other’s lifeline in a sad but somehow hilarious stormy sea.

Grace and Frankie were married for decades to two men who were law partners. The opening scene of the first episode sets the premise. Their husbands invite them to dinner to tell them they are gay, in love with each other and have been for 20 years, and want to get married!

What evolves from there is the most laugh out loud funny, yet poignant and intelligent show to come along in years, if ever….and with it, further testament to the incredible power of the female friendship

(A topic I blogged about recently here,

THE FEROCIOUS FEMALE FRIENDSHIP~

and dear to my heart❤️)

The “peyote” scene, and Jane Fonda’s GORGEOUS wardrobe are worth watching alone, but Lily’s comedic genius, and scene stealer June Diane Raphael as “Brianna”, make this show the overnight hit it is.

PERFECT for Summer binge watching, (don’t you love Netflix dumping ALL episodes at once so you decide when to watch??) I guarantee you will see aging, over fifty dating, friendship and even sex in a new light.

The BEST news is that it’s was renewed almost instantly for a season two, and hopefully many, many more..

 

 

Thank you, THANK YOU NETFLIX, for giving us this gem and showing to the world …WE ARENT DEAD YET!!

Have a humor-filled, joyous weekend ~

THERE ARE WORSE THINGS I KNOW, BUT………

Sunday night we say farewell to one of the most stylish, intelligent, historically accurate television shows of our time.

Mad Men is that show, and I go into mourning at approximately 11 PM, EST. , Sunday night.

For the past seven seasons, this classy show has taken us on a journey from the late 50’s to the early 70’s, with style, flair and brilliantly written dialogue.

Dashing Don Draper, Joan, Roger, Peggy, Pete, Sally and entourage extraordinaire  have enchanted, engaged and enraged us with a superb portrayal of life in those turbulent times. Six Emmys for best drama in seven seasons to boast… it was something!

The story centers around the  mostly functioning alcoholic “Ad Men” from Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price, Inc. The male characters started drinking by noon and took long, post lunch naps, while wheeling and dealing in the world of advertising in Manhattan. The men were unfaithful as a rule, as they worked and navigated the changing times. Their spouses dieted and chain smoked away the stifling housewife days, while the working girls fended off pre-feminism sexual advances from their “superiors”as seemlessly as they typed ad copy. All in a days work, sometimes shocking, sometimes sad and sentimental. And oh, those CLOTHES!.

The character that most intrigued me in this great drama was that of the tragic Betty Draper, Don’s beautiful, Grace Kelly-esque ex-wife and mother of his three children.

Betty was the original “Breck Girl”. A sorority sister beauty, Bryn Mawr graduate with a degree in anthropology, who never managed to get out from under the men in her life.  First her dad, then Don, then husband number two, the politically connected, old-monied Henry….always a man to look after her, always a man to dictate what and how she should do and be. No wonder she was bitter, and as ugly inside as she was beautiful out.

For seven seasons, Betty was the portrait of an unfulfilled life, as she seethed below the surface to be seen and heard for her brain as well as her beauty. She lived her days in a sort of quiet desperation, until she finally realized in the early 70’s that women were more than just accessories to men, and she found her voice.  She discovered her spine , followed her passion, and enrolled in grad school, aiming for a master in psychology and a career outside the rose trellised fences of home. The scene where she tells Don that she is going back to school is poignant because she is absolutely radiant with possibility, and finally on the road to personhood in her own right.

We female fans said a little, “you GO, girl” at the end of the episode….

but because writer/producer Matthew Weiner could not leave well enough alone and let Betty sail off into the sunset of academia…

~SPOILER ALERT!~

in the next episode, she is diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

Game over for Betty…

and she was just getting started.

The messages were plenty in this drama if you looked for them. This story line illuminates what I have always believed…that no one but you can make you truly happy.  You have one life.  You have to live it striving to make YOURSELF happy and fulfilled.  No one else, not children, a nice home, a large bank account or even Don Draper can do that for you.

If you chase happiness through other people’s visions and dreams, if you exist to please and make those around you happy, but forget who YOU are, you lose something really precious.  You lose yourself and your chance to live your life as only YOU were destined to.

I will greatly miss this show and its subtle lessons.

and OK, I will miss flawed, perfectly imperfect Dashing Don, too!

Sunday I will paint my nails “50’s red”, raise a Vodka Gimlet and a Pall Mall cigarette and toast the ending of a true television classic, the likes of which we won’t soon see again….I just won’t inhale.

Have a Lovely, Mad Men weekend….I promise I won’t jump ~

JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER ~

Finally, finally!  The temps are rising and people are heading outdoors!  YIPPEE!  We in Boston have been brutalized by the historic winter passed, and are ready to get out and about.

Picnics on the beach, barbecues, dining on the porch or under the stars, we are packed and READY!

SO today I have two great things for you to enjoy….

The first, Spicy Root Beer Baked Beans, is the very best take along recipe you will ever make for a gathering.  It is easy,  portable, freezes beautifully and is TOO.DIE.FOR.DELICIOUS!

Adapted from a recipe by chef Aarti Sequoia of Food Network fame, I humbly bring you the most delicious baked beans you will ever eat….and I’m from Boston…I know baked beans!!!

These beans are spicy and sweet, with smoky bacon, ginger and an indian spice called garam masala, which make them so very delicious.

It also contains a surprise ingredient, ROOT BEER, who’s sweetness balances the heat and subtle spices beautifully.

Don’t be put off by the garam masala if you’ve never had it.  It is nothing like the curried up pungent Indian food that some people are adverse to.  Garam masala only brings a warmth and depth to the beans without a heaviness of flavor.  Kind of like what cumin does to a chili dish.  You feel it more than you taste it.

But I digress.

Here’s what you need…Serves 8

• 1 pound of smoky bacon, cooked and crumbled.
• 1 large or two medium Vidalia or yellow onion, diced.
• 3 cloves garlic, minced.
• 4 tablespoons fresh ginger root.
• 1 1/2 bottles, (about 18 ounces) of premium quality root beer.
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar.
• 4 tablespoons molasses.
• 1 tablespoon grain mustard.
• pinch of red pepper flakes to taste.
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 2  cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained.
• kosher salt and pepper to taste.

We start with a dutch oven, or any oven proof pot, and a 400 degree heated oven.

First you brown the smoky bacon until it’s crisp.  Remove it from the pot,  along with all but about four tablespoons of the bacon grease.  Discard the excess grease and set aside the bacon.  Next, saute the large diced yellow onion, the garlic, and the freshly grated gingeroot, until all are soft.  Then add the tomato paste and cook for about another two minutes.

The fun continues when you add one and a half bottles (about 18 ounces) of really good root beer.  Get the best root beer you can find, as it does make a difference.  To that, add the cider vinegar, molasses, grain mustard, red pepper flakes and garam masala to the pot and stir til combined.

Finally, gently stir in the beans so they don’t break apart,  add salt and pepper to taste, and heat on high to almost a boil.  (Don’t season too much here, as when the beans cook down, the flavor intensifies. You can add more after if needed.)

At this point, your beans will be soupy and you will probably want to kill me for wasting your hard earned money…..but PATIENCE.

Pop this soupy mess in the oven and bake it for about 35-45 minutes, UNCOVERED, until the mixture cooks to a thick, lovely, luscious sauce for the beans.

Let cool a bit, then sprinkle with the cooked bacon, chopped.

That’s it!

I would love to see your face when you take your first bite.

WOWIE!

I’ve taken this to many occasions, and it’s always requested again and again.

You know you have a great recipe when THAT is the one dish people remember from a meal.

This is that recipe.  Forget the perfectly grilled steaks, or juicy ribs or burgers….They will be talking about and requesting this gem of a side dish for years to come.

The next little nugget I have is a lovely book of picnic fun …The Picnic, Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket, by Marnie Hanel.

Great, no fail picnic take along recipes, check lists, picnic games and rules, and even 99 uses for a Mason jar.  That, ALONE was worth the book.

You can buy it at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com

Here’s wishing you many memorable days and nights under the stars, with loads of good food and people you love.  Now hurry up and get out there…Winter starts is exactly 222 days!!!! ~