EDITH, AUDREY AND GIVENCHY...
three people, three dresses, the story behind the story!

In 1954 Audrey Hepburn was cast in the starring role of the original Sabrina movie. In that movie she is transformed from a shy waif into a sophisticated Parisienne. Edith Head was picked to design the costumes but she and Audrey did not always see eye to eye. Audrey had a style of her own and knew how to dress her very slender figure to its best advantage. She insisted that she pick her own wardrobe. Billy Wilder, the director, consented.

Since her transformation occurred in Paris, Audrey wanted to wear real Parisian Couture clothing. Her friend sent her to see Cristóbal Balenciaga in Paris but he was in the middle of producing his collection and could not help her.  He sent her to Hubert de Givenchy. Givenchy also was in the middle of a collection but allowed Audrey to see his work.  

She picked the three key outfits for the movie from his line... The beautiful collarless suit she returns home in, the gorgeous organza formal with blue embroidered flowers and the now iconic black dress.  Audrey asked him to re-do the neckline of his original black dress to cover her prominent collar bone. It became known as the "boat neck" and caused a sensation among American women. The dress would later be referred to as the "Sabrina'

The costume department had to duplicate Givenchy dresses in case something got ruined.  Edith Head sketched the little black dress and signed her name to it. Everyone assumed it was her own design. She never corrected them.  In fact she accepted the Oscar for the "Best Costume Design" at the Academy Awards. Audrey was horrified and called Givenchy to apologize. She promised him it would never happen again.

Givenchy never said a word until after Edith's death. Only then did he reveal the costumes were actually his designs.

He and Audrey became dear friends and he dressed her personally and professionally for the rest of her life. She wore his gorgeous clothing in Breakfast at Tiffany's

She is quoted as saying... "His are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality."

SPRING BREAK... SPRING CLEANING
Its time to get to work!

   

You would think because its Spring Break I would be going to some exotic place. Actually I'm only going as far as my walk in pantry, at least for day one. While I was recovering from my surgery I ate whatever anyone brought me and I was glad for it. I never gave my pantry a second thought. When I did finally venture downstairs I was shocked. Pretty much a "bomb" had gone off in there!!!!


All the grocery items were stuffed "willy nilly" everywhere, a 50 lb bag of dog food had been added (I have a "granddog" that visits occationally) and a HUGE box of paper goods was sitting on the floor, (my middle daughter's gentle way of saying we don't always have to eat off of the good dishes and no one wants to wash them)  

I'm back and this little room is getting a deep cleaning.  So excited I may not sleep tonight.







Try this simple recipe. It will make your house smell heavenly.
One lemon sliced
3 tsp vanilla
a few sprigs of rosemary
Cover with water and simmer.

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness"

Some attribute this saying to the Bible but its actually not there. The first reference goes back to Sir Francis Bacon who said it in a slightly different way... "Cleanliness of the body is deemed a reverence toward God." Then two centuries later John Wesley wrote, "Slovenliness is no part of religion, cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness."  The Amish use it, the Hebrews claim it, and I use to say it to my kids when it was time to clean house.  They just rolled their eyes and grumbled...  I laughed :)

Be sure to check out...

MAKE-UP FOR OLDER WOMEN

Click on the link for instructions on receiving a discount!

HAM IN A BLANKET...  looking forward to Easter Dinner MY MOTHER'S RECIPE This is not only delicious but it will make your house  smell incredible!    4 c. flour 1 c. brown sugar 2 T. ground cloves 2 T. powered cinnamon 2 T. dried mustard 1 T. black pepper cider Combine the dry ingredients. Add enough cider to make a stiff dough. Roll it out about 1" thick and lay it over the ham. Bake at 325  ( 25 minutes per pound for smoked hams) Remove from oven and discard the blanket. Slice and serve.

MAKE-UP FOR OLDER WOMEN...

Formulated in the UK and now available in the USA, Tricia Cusden's Look Fabulous Forever make-up, designed specifically for older women, is now being offered through Chapter Two. We are pleased to offer you a 10% discount 

From a flawless foundation to the perfect eye application Tricia's products and techniques will help you look and feel fabulous no matter what your age. I have posted her FREE video instructions. They are clear and easy to follow.  

To order click on...

 www.LOOK FABULOUS FOREVER.com

and follow these instructions...
1. Change to $$$$ in the top right hand corner
2. Browse through the product line and fill your cart
3. Type in Chapter2 (no space) during check out to receive a 10% discount.
PAYPAL IS NOW AVAILABLE



While you are waiting for your products to arrive watch Tricia's videos on applying make-up correctly. You are going to look fabulous!

Define your Eyes...

Applying the foundation

A Special Occasion

Quick and Easy

BAUBLES, BAUBLES AND BAUBLES...
also known as frippery, gewgaw, gimcrack, bibelot, kickshaw and tchotchke

Necklace #1 Talbots $48.65

Necklace #2 Banana Republic $69.50

Necklace #3 Talbots $48.65



I honestly have never seen such amazing costume jewelry. Its like the new rule is "more is more" For a true minimalist I am a kid in a candy store for the very first time. Before I make a purchase I always stop and think... "now how many years will I wear this?"  Not so with these accessories. I have eight granddaughters. Even if the trend changes, any purchase I make will be well used for years. 

Happy shopping!

Necklace Ann Taylor $69.50
Earrings Ann Taylor $39.50

Necklace #1 Nordstrom $58.00

EXCITING NEWS!!!

Introducing "Look Fabulous Forever" make-up for older women

Join us tomorrow and I will provide you with a code to receive an online discount... see you tomorrow!!

Meet Laura Dekker ...

 a very young woman of  a certain age

  

Laura was literally born sailing.  Her mother gave birth to her while she and her husband were on a seven year trip around the world.  For Laura's first five years she lived on that same boat. Then, when her baby sister was born, her family moved to Holland, bought a house and tried to be land lovers.  It didn't work. Laura's parents divorced and she chose to live with her father because of their mutual love of the sea.

She learned to sail at six and at ten she owned her own dingy. By eleven she had earned enough money doing odd jobs that she purchased a small yacht. It was a wreak but she and her father worked on it every day for months, making it seaworthy.  She named it "GUPPY" because when she is out in the vast ocean that is how she feels.

Laura had a dream.  She wanted to be the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe solo. At 13 she thought she was ready but the Dutch government stepped in and stopped her.  She and her father fought a legal battle for a year.  At one point the government tried to make her a ward of the state and determined her father negligent for thinking of letting her go. After what she calls, a horrible year, the courts decided in her favor and she was free to make her own choices. She set sail on August 21, 2010

 THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Her voyage started from Portugal westwards. These were her main ports...
Gilbralter (start)
Canary Islands
Cape Verde Islands
St. Marteens
Panama Canal
Crossed the equator
Galapagos
French Polynesia
Tahiti
Torress Strait
Darwin Australia
South Africa
St. Marteens  (finish)
In all she made 14 stops, riding out the hurricane season on land and doing her school work while on board. She rounded South Africa in a terrible storm, a feat most experienced sailors wouldn't attempt.

HER DOG SPOT

Spending that much time alone in the middle of the ocean allows for a lot of self reflection. Laura always knew she  loved the sea but after her voyage she knew it was her lifelong passion.
She had to come to terms with loneliness, boredom, frustration and fear.  She thought she would go insane when she lost the wind in the Indian Ocean. There was nothing she could do but wait.

She made friends in unexpected places and found strength in her inner self. When she finished her 5,600 nautical mile journey on January 21, 2012, she was 16 years and 162 days but her self-reliance, and determination rendered her much older. Pleased with her accomplishment she re-located to New Zealand where she "navigates" a whole new life on and off the ocean. Her next goal is to be a skipper of a large ship. 

Her advise to other women... "Follow your dreams"

Laura filmed her entire experience and it has been made into a documentary. It is captivating!   MAIDENTRIP available through Amazon.

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO WINTER...
and the "blues"

To say it was a hard winter would be an understatement. In mid December I had major surgery. It was unexpected and put me in bed for eight weeks on heavy pain medication.  For the first two weeks I wasn't able to go up or down the stairs. On week three when I descended to make myself a piece of toast my doctor's surgical nurse had a "fit" and ordered me back to bed.  Its been almost four months and I am back to work but my energy isn't 100% and probably won't be for a year.   Sigh....

The physical part was hard but so was the emotional. I have been nursing a case of the "blues" off and on for quite a while.  Yesterday I read this...

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair done and makeup applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room ...”

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 

 I realized my mind could probably use a little "re-arranging" 



The anecdote for sadness... GRATITUDE!

Good advise... I'm taking it.