Three Grooming Products I Would Pack For a 3 Hour Tour

With a busy mother working all the time, my brother and I watched TV when we got home from school. There was no such thing as cable back then, and I remember our little black and white TV only got 2 channels. Gilligan's Island was on one of them, every day, so I have seen every episode and I am not proud to say, I probably know every line in the series.

Many times I wondered to myself, if I packed for that three hour tour and ended up living on that Island for the rest of my life, what would I bring in my makeup bag?

The thought that I would be without certain beauty items would make me nervous! I admit it! I am a slave to certain products and tools.

Having had the chance to be both a Brownie and a Bluebird and then a full fledged Girl Scout (with badges no less), I can't help but have survival thoughts to this day.

When it comes to grooming, if I had to pick, I have always thought I could get along well with three things:

1. TWEEZERS! Imagine the possiblities beyond plucking! They would be so handy for little jobs around the island. And since I would have so much time on my hands, I could pluck every hair on my body that I didn't like. I could do this for years... :-)

2. Waterproof CONCEALER! It would double as a spot foundation, and I would never look tired because I could cover up the dark circles! I would be style blog ready at all times.

3. Waterproof LIPLINER in light plum! Style confession: I have slightly crooked lips. The left side of my upper lip is fuller than the right. Not only is it crooked, but my upper lip is also larger than my bottom lip. Fortunately, it is not so noticeable unless you are looking up my nostrils, which I wouldn't let you do anyway. I tried to get the right side of my lip temporarily fixed once, with disastrous results (!), so I went back to tried and true lip liner. If the plum is the right color, it could even be used as eye liner too.

With these three items in my bag I could get along well on a deserted island (I think).

Now... what would I wear?

This is when I realized I forgot my GLOVES! Get your GPS for the road maps!

I might wear this, hoping that my fancy (COCONUT) dinners

would continue on the deserted island.

Look at that LONG PRADA SHOE! LOVE IT!!!

I would be sure to pack a silk blouse, silk skirt and a sweater,

for those few nights when an occassional ocean chill blows through.

And I would for sure pack my seamed stockings and a pair of

low heeled Prada's, like these that I snagged on eBay for $60.

Note to self: Dust off the Prada shoes before using the micro lens.

I would also be wearing pearls or a necklace, preferably CHANEL,

and one that sparkles so I could attract any planes flying above.

Now it's your turn.

What THREE grooming/beauty products would you pack that would handle your grooming needs on a deserted island? You only get THREE.

See you next time!

 Sweater: Tory Burch  Shirt: Talbots  Skirt: Escada  

Shoes: Prada   Necklace: 2011 CHANEL  

 Linking to Patti!

Linking to Momtrends!

The Purple Ostrich Loves Silk

I used to be a fabric snob and at one time,

I refused to wear anything but wool and silk.

I didn't care so much about brands,

but I cared about quality of fabric.

This purple silk blouse is from Target.

I bought it many years ago (for $19)

because it was silk. 

I never wore it.

Even though I purge my closet regularly, for some

reason I couldn't seem to let go of this little lavender

3-tiered silk blouse. I kept telling myself that

someday I "might" wear it, so keep it.

It appears that the blouse was waiting for it's soul mate.

Enter the soul mate:

These ostrich skin Prada Mary Jane heels

retailed for about $1000.

I got them for $150 because

they were worn twice.

Once I got over my phobia of buying shoes

that contained toe DNA other than my own,

I entered a world of being able to afford amazing

designer shoes.

How did I get over my freaky foot germ creep out?

I faced reality that almost all shoes are full of 

cooties! Especially the ones at department stores!

Think about all the people that try on shoes during

a sale! Those shoes are not NEW! They are broken

in and full of alien 'hoof microorganisms'.

Once I came to grips with the fact that most shoes

are loaded with creepy crawlies, and that it's just

life, and it wasn't going to change, I got over it.

Each hole had a huge ostrich feather in it at one time...

See the perfect road maps peeking through the polka dots. 

I love how my veins do such a smashing job of 

pumping all that life giving blood through my body!

Necklace and earrings are from a designer in Atlanta.

Her name is Susan Park and her studio

is called "Zenaholic".

Seams and ostrich skin,

a marriage made in heaven...

You can see how happy this outfit is together,

but it took a while for it all to mesh properly.

Sometimes a blouse needs to wait for that

right shoe to come along, and it could take years.

Patience is key.

Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy either.

If it did, we wouldn't appreciate it.

Thank you for joining me today.

See you next time!

Hat: Helen's Hats  3-Tiered blouse: Target  Silk blouse: Talbots

Silk Skirt: Escada  Shoes: Prada  Watch: Rolex

Necklace and Earrings: Susan Park for Zenaholic

Black and Baubles for Lunch and Dinner

I entertain formally in my home every week,

so I buy my dress up clothes for lunch and dinner!

I basically have dress up and gardening clothes

and very few middle of the road items.

That is what works for my lifestyle at this point.

I wear everything I show you here, but only at lunch or at dinner

and always in my house or my next door neighbor's.

I change my clothes and especially my shoes

when I have to walk outside for a while.

It is good for the expensive shoes to 

refrain from taking too many steps in the elements.

These organic sesame sweet potatoes and baby bok choy

and pineapple slaw were a hit this passed weekend.

The ridiculously simple recipes are at the end

of this post. Ha, ha, made you scroll! :-)

 

This is the other outfit I bought in New York.

I know, it is so 80's, with those shoulder pads

and baubles but I loved it when I saw it!

This could be MC Hammer approved if

I applied for certification...

 

I bought the Prada embellished with

Swarovski Crystal whacky heels on eBay from a 

woman who bought them in Rome and never

wore them.  She said she just wanted to

stare at the crystals...

 So I took control, bought them and have been

wearing them ever since! I can't stand to see a good designer

shoe go to waste! Ladies, take them out of the bags and boxes,

put them on your tootsies and enjoy them!

If you don't walk outside they will stay looking new.

These toe sparklers are my go to shoes on nights when

I am wearing something a bit drab that

needs some dazzle!

 

Hats keep hair off the face because nothing is worse

than a mouth full of food and hair hat!

Love those seams...

I have been wanting to wear this bracelet for probably 45 years.

It was in my mother's jewelry box forever and it is truly amazing

that after all the moving I did growing up and all the moving I 

did after I left home, that I still have it and it is still in tact.

After not being able to work this bracelet into any outfits before,

mostly because it looked "dated" for the longest time, now it has

taken on a new look and appears vibrant, even though it is tarnished.

A true rhinestone unsigned masterpiece, I wish my mother

were alive today to see me wearing her bracelet proudly on this blog.

She would love it!

Silk blouse feeling lovely underneath.

An eBay snag, brand new with tags, retailed for $187.

I paid $30, thank you very much.

This pleated sweater skirt is amazing!

I was literally trying this outfit on when

I needed to hail a cab to the airport

because of my flight leaving in 90 minutes!

There was no time left but I had to have

this outfit so time stood still for just a few moments.

  :-)

Looking most "HOUSEFLY-LIKE" in this shot! 

Very buggy, yet fancy too.

The best of both worlds. :-)

Daughter in the lens again. She left for summer camp today and will 

be gone for 4 weeks. I miss her already. It is just me and my oldest now.

I will be savoring my time with her until she leaves in September.

Did you know that sweet potatoes contain beta carotene and vitamin A,

vitamin C, manganese, fiber, complex carbs and antioxidants besides being

super yummy? Vitamin C is good for your gums and connective tissues so

sweet potatoes basically make you pretty. 

Cilantro is an excellent heavy metal detoxifier and when mixed

with bok choy, you get a super nutritious punch! Fiber and

sweet goodness from the pineapple make this a unique dish

they will either love or hate, because that is how it is when it

comes to cilantro! 

*Sesame Sweet Potatoes

Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Toss with a bit of olive oil to coat.

Sprinkle lightly with a good salt. Roast at 375 degrees until tender,

turning half way through. Let cool; toss with a few dashes of

sesame oil (to your liking) and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 

This dish tastes good warm, room temp or cold.

*Baby Bok Choy and Pineapple Slaw

Clean and slice baby bok choy into thin strips.

Cut the same amount of pineapple into little

pieces. Add an equal amount of cilantro and

a bit of salt. Let set for 10 minutes and serve.

Serve cold with your choice of protein for a light summer meal.

Thank you for joining me today.

I am linking to Patti at NotDeadYetStyle!

See you next time!

*Recipes adapted from a 2011 Real Simple

magazine I read last summer. The recipes

are from memory now. :-)

Top and Skirt: Kourosh New York

Silk blouse: Voom - eBay

Shoes: Prada  

Earrings: Adrian Apel from 10 years ago

Bracelet: Vintage from my Mommy

Joining Jill at Monday Mingle.

Handmade 40's To 2012: The Old Loves The New

Hello Everyone!

See that oven to my left?

It's proof that I am as amateur as you can get! 

 

This is a handmade jacket from the 1940's.

It has matching fabric buttons and the two on the top are rhinestone.

I wonder why only two of them are sparkly?

Were two fabric buttons lost at one point and replaced with the shiny ones?

Or did the person who made it put on only two sparklers because they were too expensive?

There was a war going on at that time.

I can only wonder why this jacket has only two rhinestone buttons. 

Whatever the reason, this jacket is oh so unique because of it.

Definitely one of a kind.

I can count on NO ONE in the world having this jacket but me.

I tend to like to be exclusive.

Hence the bullet proof seamed stockings. 

The skirt is the same vintage Valentino in Designer Dish.

I usually have only one or two navy skirts that I wear all the time.

Black skirts tend to dominate the closet.

My alter ego, who is a combo of Lucy, Ethel and now Queen Elizabeth II,

demanded to be seen today.

I was forced to wear the RED hair hat!

See my eye makeup?

No?

That's right.

Because I am not wearing any!

He, he, the practical sunglasses are a style blogger's best friend.

Those crows feet don't stand a chance here either.

One of the infamous rhinestone buttons.

The things you must have seen over the decades!

Speak to me...

Practically hugging this Prada like the beautiful Lady in Advanced Style

is hugging that jumbo, purple, quilted, Chanel bag.

The stockings have been crooked all day.

I didn't notice the seam was almost on my inner thigh until about one o'clock pm.

I put them on at 9:00 am.

Woodstock, guessing what the rhinestone buttons have seen over the years. 

 

Dog hair on the hardwood courtesy of Winston, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

 

I have never seen my ear lobe this close up before.

I am not sure how I feel about this. 

Rather invasive...from the outside.

Random black and white photo. 

I would be cast as the lead housefly in any production

if I wore these sunglasses.

Loving my new Tory Birch pumps I picked up at the Nordstrom sale.

The stacked heel and especially the bows bring happiness to my feet.

I have not gotten over my bow madness, just yet, but I am working on it.

BLA, "Bow Lovers Anonymous" has a meeting in my area.

My basil is doing AMAZING! Tasty detox anyone?

Between the bag, that outrageous basil and these tasty shoes, Winston is licking his chops!

Thank you for joining me. See you next time!

Jacket: Vintage 1940  Skirt: Vintage Valentino  Shirt: Pendelton from 2 years ago

Shoes: Tory Birch 2012   Bag: Prada 2011  Earrings: Vintage Sherman  

Sunglasses: Chanel  

Basil: Organic, started from seed indoors and growing

in an aquaponics system feeding off of fish waste

Designer Dish

My outfit today reminds me of a designer dish, made with unique ingredients

and simmered over a few decades.

The silk shirt is new, but the rest of the outfit has been aged like fine wine.

Similar to my "pushin 50" fine wine age.

Inspired by the chain on the Chanel bag, I needed a thick gold necklace to make this work.

Truth be told, I needed a necklace that I have seen on some rappers, but with the price

of gold so high, I knew I wasn't going to get a substantial gold chain around

my neck anytime soon.

Then one gold bracelet called out and said, "I will connect to everyone here, and together

we will make you that thick gold chain you desire!"

I love when my jewelry unifies itself.

And yes, it is normal for my jewelry to speak to me. :-)

I couldn't wait to add some spice... my "funky as all get out" Prada kitten heels. 

That stitching on the camel makes me swoon (almost salivate)!

After being inspired (shamefully envious actually...) of Jeannie from Gracefully50.com's

extensive (RIDICULOUS!) Chanel handbag collection, I couldn't take it anymore.

So I took out a second mortgage on my house and bought myself a new (used) little Chanel beauty.

The skirt is from Valentino and from the length of it, my guess is that it's from

the late 70's or early 80's. 

I love the gold buttons in the back that seem to simmer gently over the

slow flame (chain) from the Chanel bag.

 

I LOVE THESE SHOES!

I know, they are not for the weak of heart! 

Maybe they are too strong and overpower the dish? 

Chanel sunglasses with the red bows hiding are like a bit of chopped parsley, keeping it fresh.

Here is the necklace showing you how unified it can become when prompted

to become a part of the latest dish.

And yes, I am an opportunist too...

and that is our newest Tooth Soap®,

FennaMint Whip!

Thank you for joining me today.

Just as this necklace was happy to connect, I am thrilled you stopped by to connect too.

What outfits do you have that seem like a tasty dish?

I bet you have plenty you could whip up!

Have a beautiful day!

Blouse: Line  Shell: Adea  Skirt: Vintage Valentino  Stockings: Rawkul  

Gloves: Italian no name  Bag: Chanel Caviar  Sunglasses: Chanel  

Shoes: Prada  Hair Hat: Georgio

Speaking of DISHES...

Rouxbe knows how to teach you how to cook better than anyone.

I learned to cook from Julia Child when I was a little girl, but now

Rouxbe is here to fill in those cooking gaps for us.

I love Rouxbe almost as much as I love my Prada shoes!

Rouxbe Online Cooking School & Video Recipes

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