Hyacinth

A hyacinth bouquet, from the yard.



Not to be confused with Hyacinth Bucket ("It's 'Boo-kay'!"), from the hilarious British TV show "Keeping Up Appearances".

I just happen to love both.

Also, this is my 444th post on this blog. 

That is all.

:)

2012 Oscar Night Fave

My favorite look of the 2012 Oscars was Penelope  Cruz's. I love the style (Kind of 50s), the periwinkle color, and her adorable hair style. (Dress was Armani Prive`.)
I also appreciate the fact that she is not scrawny and sick looking like many celebs and movie stars. She has a trim and healthy looking, very womanly figure!

Way to go,  Penelope.

Giveaway Extension.....And Other Things

-I am extending the Cameo Necklace giveaway through the end of this week (To Friday Feb. 3). I think I need some more entries to make it evenly "fair"..... so please drop in to this post and add your comment to enter. One way or the other I will post the winner on Sat. Feb 4. I was going to do a second giveaway of some other equally as awesome items but it's not going as well as I had hoped, so I'll hold off on giveaways #2 and #3 until later .......

 - Visit my friend Mary's "Fashionably Yours" blog; she has some great tutorials on there and cleverly put together outfits as well.

- Check out the new website for L*PIDA. The Project Leader is my sister Noelle, and they're raising money to support The Nepali Rescue Project; who then use the  money to rescue and restore women and girls who are victims of human (sex) trafficking. Read more about it here.

 - I have been (finally) reading the "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" trilogy by Stieg Larsson and loving it. Highly recommend. (But not if you are squeamish, or easily offended by crime/violence/sex/etc.)  They're some of the most brilliantly written novels I have read in a while; I find it hard to put them down.

- I have been drinking hot cocoa made like this ; and I will never drink it any other way again.

- Downton Abbey Season 2 is airing on PBS in the States right now; are you watching? Downton is my new favorite in TV viewing; I have watched the first season about six or eight times through; no kidding. Then I figured out ways to see season 2 before it was released here in the US. However, if you have not seen the first season; don't try jumping into season 2. Too many details you won't understand. (Season 1 is on Netflix.) Also, They'll be doing a 3d season! I am thrilled!

Ruche TV.

Winter Lookbook 2011 - so romantic. At the end I bet you'll say "awwwwwwwww" like I did. :)

The Help

I see a LOT of movies but don't always "review" them here.

But I have to say something about "The Help".



My sister and I saw it last evening and we both adored it! I have not read the book yet; that's on my books to buy and read list for very soon.

I highly; highly recommend seeing this movie; and seeing it now and not waiting for the DVD, if at all possible. It's just that epic.

I was expecting to enjoy it; but I was not expecting to be so moved by it. I laughed so hard my sides hurt, I cried, I was angry, ashamed, I identified, I laughed a lot more, I was shocked, surprised, annoyed, I wanted to punch some of the characters in the face a few times, I laughed some more, cried some more, and when it was over I just wanted it to start all over again....

It is not often that every emotion and feeling are stirred by a movie; but this movie completely touched every corner of my heart and mind.

Yes, the costumes are amazing. The sets were perfect. Sissy Spacek was incredible. Bryce Dallas Howard blows me away every time I see her in a movie (even though she needed a good spanking in this one).

If you can, spring for a babysitter, take an afternoon off from work, or whatever you have to do and go see this movie with someone you love.

I promise you won't regret it.

(I plan on taking my parents and husband to go see it again soon.)

"The War Bride" Movie

Last week I discovered a new "favorite movie"; the Canadian film "The War Bride".



I love everything about it. The story, the characters; the period sets, and the costumes - which are perfect.

 As you know I love the WW2 era; I have a special attachment to this period, because of my special attachment to my Grandparents, who lived during this time.

 I have a fascination with women in the War Era and all they endured and how they lived while the world around them was in chaos.
 I love the fashions, the hair, the hats, the cars, the music, the dancing, the home decor, the Victory Gardens, the crafts projects, the objects, the movies, the magazines - everything. And I have made it a little hobby of mine to research and sometimes emulate the ladies of this time. It makes me think of my beloved Grandma and Grandpa. (Grandpa was in the Army and fought in Europe; Grandma was a WAVE and tracked weather.)

Anyhoo, back to the movie:

 It is a story of a young English woman, Lily, who meets, falls in love with, and marries a Canadian soldier in London during the height of WW2. They get married in a hurry, and soon enough he is rushed off to fight on the front; leaving her alone.... and pregnant.



 The Canadian Government sends for many of the wives of the Canadian soldiers and brings them to Canada to be looked after by the soldier's families. I suppose it was some kind of patriotic, "boost the morale on the home front" kind of political scheme. So she, her young baby, and her BFF decide to travel to Canada and  get away from war torn London.



Lily's bff "lucks out" and finds out her hubby's family is wealthy and welcomes her with open arms; but poor Lily and her baby are met with cold indifference by her husband's mother and sister - who are poor and live on a farm in the wilderness.

 Instead of welcoming Lily and her baby with warmth and affection, they resent her and her strange English ways; leaving Lily feeling alone and miserable.



 As the months drag on, Lily learns to cope with farm life and she struggles to form a decent relationship with her new family, and the community, who do not care for her much either.

 (I love the scenes in the 40s farmhouse kitchen and farm; it's just so adorable.)

 Lily loves to sew and soon starts sewing pretty little things for the ladies in the community.


 Soon, Charlie (her husband) arrives home - but he is a changed man. The horrors of war have made him sad and bitter; and he is not the man she remembers. Still, she is determined to start anew,  and in time he unloads his feelings and his heart begins to thaw.



 The mother and sister also begin to accept Lily, and the community as well.

 By the end of the movie, the War has ended, and  all is well between Lily and Charlie. The family is beginning to form a  bond and everyone finds peace with each other.

 It is definitely a new favorite of mine and one I can watch again for sure! It is available on Netflix to watch instantly; and in segments on You Tube as well.
I highly recommend it.

(However; if you are sensitive to kissing/make-out type scenes, you may have two or three to skip. But there is nothing R rated in the movie. It's actually rated PG)

Cute Love Story!

In this post by Aunt Ruthie at Sugar Pie Farmhouse, she relates the story of how a lovely lady met, fell in love with, and married a wonderful guy she met by

- Visiting the guy's sister's blog
- Commenting
- emailing
- Saw the guys picture on the blog
- Meeting up with the blogger
- Meeting the blogger's (handsome and single) brother

and...

You have to read the post to find out the details and the rest of the love story.

Just too cute.

Oh yeah, happy Groundhog Day. :)

White Christmas - The Best Christmas Movie Ever

Ok, so Christmas is officially over, but I forgot to mention before it was over, that my favorite Christmas Movie of all time is Irving Berlin's "White Christmas"!!

(Also: we actually had a white Christmas this year, with snow and everything! For the first time since .... well, I'll put it to you this way: I have never seen snow on Christmas my whole life.)

Anyway... we've been watching "White Christmas" forever. I recently found out that it has been made into a Broadway musical.





The 1954 movie stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen. And I love Rosemary Clooney. And Vera Ellen.... what a dancer!



The songs are great .... c'mon, it's Bing Crosby! And the dancing is amazing. I love the costumes, the story, everything.
Ok, so there are some pretty cheesy sets.... but this was back in 1954 when they did almost everything on sound stages in Hollywood.




This is my favorite scene. The guys stall for time for the girls to get away out a window (long story) so they lip sync to a recording of the girl's song, the famous "Sisters". It is hilarious! Apparently, it wasn't supposed to be in the movie, but it was so funny, the editors left it in. I am so glad! (Below is a clip someone made of parts from two different scenes.)



Another cool thing we noticed awhile back is that the same actor who plays Bernardo in West Side Story is one of the four dancers in the "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" number that Rosemary Clooney sings.

And of course, my favorite Christmas song, "White Christmas" is in it. :)

Here's another little clip with some amazing dancing. Vera Ellen just blows me away.



(Sorry that blogger is cutting off the right hand edges of these you tube things.... grrrrrr)

Mad Men

So I've been hearing all kinds of buzz about the show "Mad Men" from vintage sellers/buyers; "Mad Men" is a regular tag and title used on etsy for 60's items; etc.
But I had never seen the show; so I got season One from Netflix.





And - sorry, "Mad Men" fans - I was most certainly unimpressed.

Yes, the costumes are fantastic. I appreciate that aspect - 1960s fashion is very misunderstood and under appreciated by some who associate the 1960s only with "hippie" and "mod"; and don't take into consideration the classics like the "wiggle" dress, sheath dresses, etc. The 60's had a LOT of timeless styles to offer the fashion world. And these are showcased in Mad Men.

But I could not get past the charaters; or the plot. Especially the leading male role, Don Draper, who comes across as a good looking, alcoholic, chain smoking, womanizing, aloof person who is habitually unfaithful to his perfectly lovely wife. Ik.

And the fact that the leading female office role seems to be intent on completely undermining a new office girl's purity and scruples. Gag.

The men are all rude and disrespectful of the women in the office, and everywhere else; and I simply cannot detect a solid plot beyond the routine rudeness to women, and talking about advertisements.

Ok, by the third episode, some of the screwed-up home life of these people started to emerge as well. Yay.

All while looking amazing in spot-on 60's costume; I'll give it that.

Maybe it's just my wholesome, country, church going, "respect ladies and treat them like princesses" upbringing getting the better of me.

But Season One Dick One was enough Mad Men for me.

Can anyone tell me if it gets better? If it improves, maybe I'll try watching some more.

Australia

I was going to post something entirely useful and sensible but it will have to wait.

My brain is all a-flutter.



It's not like I haven't seen the Australian "horse adventure" movies before. I grew up watching a mini series in the 1980's called "Five Mile Creek", all about a stagecoach line in the Australian bush. Full of horses, costumes, moral lessons, and - of course - tough, muscular, scruffy, manly, sweaty, hard-working men on horses.

Then there was The Man From Snowy River, and the sequel.... and I fell for Tom Burlinson in that hat on that scrumptious horse jumping off that mountain side every single time I watched it.



Just as the romantic lead females all did in the movies/episodes. How could you not?



After all those years, I never got over horses, which explains my barn full of 7 horses..... and all their "stuff".
And indeed I fell for - and married - my own real-life "tough horseman", Kevin - who bears a resemblance to the Man From Snowy River. (Except for the period clothes.) (And mine is American, not Australian.)

What inspired these reflections?

Last night we watched "Australia" the movie - which I had seen before, when it came out in 2008. But hadn't seen it since then - and I was reminded of how much I love it.

The movie takes place in 1939 right as WW2 was cranking up. It stars Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. If for some reason you have not seen this movie, go thou to your Nexflix account and rent it. Or buy it on eBay like I did for $10.00.

Here are a few reasons why you should do this.


(I need this riding outfit. I need it, I tell you. I cannot ride without it.)







Oh yeah, and there is this:


Need any more convincing?

Movie Review Weekend: I'm Just Not That Into "He's Just Not That Into You".

I had heard all kinds of hype about the romantic comedy "He's Just Not That Into You" being sooooooo funny, so I went and rented it and "State Of Play", picked up my sister Noelle for a evening of movies and black bean Chimichangas.

Yawn.

Please.....!

And after it was (finally) over, all I could think was what a waste of a perfectly good $3 rental fee and two otherwise productive hours.

It was almost as bad as Duplicity, last year with Julia Roberts and Clive (be still my heart) Owen. The last romantic "comedy" I saw that was actually funny was last year's "Bride Wars" with Anne (gorgeous) Hathaway.

But this one? Bleh. Whatever. I don't think I laughed one time.

Next DVD was "State of Play" with Ben Affleck (Ben A Flake) and one of my favorite actors ever ever, Russel (be still my heart) Crowe.

Now, here was a movie I could sink my teeth into! Mystery, intrigue, murder, conspiracy, political scandal, Washington cover-ups, drama, suspense....... oh yeah, definitely.

So. To re-cap.

"He's Just Not That Into You"? Big thumbs down, and zero stars from me.
"State of Play"? Two thumbs way up and ten gold stars. I could buy that DVD for my political, military, espionage, violent danger thriller DVD collection. Mmmm-hmmm.