This month we met a group of friends for our summer reunion which was held at the Finger Lakes. What a great place to vacation. There are all kinds of things to do. Lots of boat rides and activities on the lakes, viewing a bunch of falls (all of which were dry when we were there because of a drought and they did not start “falling” again until the day we left after there had been some rain!) The wineries are fabulous and the New York Finger Lake wines are really coming on. All in all it was a fabulous trip.

And on one day I got all of my creative juices flowing! Our first stop was at Note Fragrances.  Note is a perfumery where you can make your own scent. Last June I wrote a blog titled A Woman’s Good Scents. In it I discussed my love for fragrance and my interest in the fragrance notes. This place was made for me.  Here one can go through scent families and the note classifications. I was able to “discover your scent story”.  First you sit down and go through the various categories of scents: floral, sweet and spicy, earthy/woody, herbal, citrus, fresh and clean, fruits and berries. Then you decide what notes should be: top notes are “the first notes you smell”, middle notes are “the heart of the fragrance”, base notes are “the depth and longevity of the fragrance”. Then I got to work.  Knowing all of the scents that I like (and like me!), I selected each scent. Mark told me the best way to test it out was to dip the stick into each of the scents and clip them in a holder they use and fan out the sticks. Then you fan away and see how you like the result. Both my husband and I liked my combination and I was ready to turn it over to Mark to blend. Your personal scent is registered and numbered with them so that you can reorder as needed. I named it “Elaine’s Mix” .  Not terribly original, but I will remember it. Here is my scent Top Notes: bergamot and sweet orange; Middle Notes: lemongrass and chamomile; Base Notes: sandalwood and amber. I was so excited with my creation. Note Fragrances is located on the East Shore/Seneca Lake, 5930 State Route 414, Hector, NY. Well worth a visit if you like fragrance and are looking for originality.

From there we went to The Corning Museum of Glass. Here there are many exhibits of glass art, history and technology. We went to a live narrated hot glass demonstration which was fascinating. But, here comes the best part. My friend Julie and I made our own glass with the help of their glassmakers. We both made pendants. We each picked the colors we were interested in and then, like a real glassmaker, we made the piece melting it over an open flame blending the colors and determining the shape. So exciting! I can’t wait to get the piece I made. It had to cool for a 24 hour period and then they mail it to you if you can’t get back to pick it up.

In one day I got to experience two of my passions, creating my own fragrance and making a piece of jewelry. And then to be able to come back to our hotel (La Tourelle in Ithaca) and share my day’s experience with our friends over dinner made it to my “best days” list.

Life is good.

This summer we were in Italy, France and Spain. I thought for sure I would have lots to write about what was worn on “the street”. To tell you the truth, I feel there is more inspiration and interesting outfits seen in New York and New Jersey!

But, this was not a complete non-event. There were several items that I saw repeatedly and I thought I would share this with you.

Dresses, dresses, dresses!! Maxi’s were all around. Many were strappy or had cut outs in back. The look was good! Very flowing and a lot of white.

Stripes- everywhere-mostly black/white, navy/white. Stripes were in dresses, skirts and tee tops.

Lots of skirts with high/low hems. I have been talking about that as a big look here too.

Lacey short shorts- on the right legs this is a fabulous look

In shoes a popular look is caged styles. Heels, wedges, sandals and even a gladiator or two (why am I surprised since I was, after all, near the Colosseum!!)

Accent color for accessories was Yellow. Loved that. Very fresh.

One of the most interesting looks was in hair color. You see lots of red in Europe. A particularly good look was brunette chin length loose curls with deep red only on the tips of the curls. Looked really good.

Fashion is becoming so universal now with global coverage and availability. It is fun, though, to see how different countries interpret trends.

 

 

We had an absolutely fabulous trip this month. It was technically our long overdue honeymoon. We wanted to make this trip 4 years ago, but my dad’s illness changed our plans. It was now finally a good time to make this trip.

The trip started with 4 days in Rome, Italy. This was an appropriate start since it was on my last trip to Rome in 2002 that I made a wish and threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain. Tossing a coin, according to legend, will guarantee a return trip to Rome. I took my coin tossing very seriously because I had gotten a divorce and was throwing my coins with the added wish to come back again with the love of my life. And here we are!! I took Tom to Trevi fountain and we threw a coin in as a thank you for granting my wish!

Rome was alive with tourists from all over the world. Our first full day was spent at the Vatican. This is a must see for everyone. The art is spectacular. And for me everything the Vatican represents is important. We had a great guide, Massimo, who was fun and informative. We walked and climbed so many steps that my husband called the Vatican a spectacular stair-master!!  The next day we also did a lot of walking seeing many sights that Rome is noted for. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Beverly Hills which is located in a more quiet area near Villa Borghese.  We discovered some “neighborhood” restaurants that were so good.

Then part two of the adventure began! My friend (since the 7th grade!) Carol and her husband Tony joined us and we left on a Mediterranean Cruise. The cruise on Oceania’s Riviera left from the Rome port (Civitavecchia). The ports were Livorno, Italy (which was access to Tuscany- 2 hours drive to Florence and excursions to Lucca and other areas of interest), Portofino, Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Saint Tropez, France; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Ibiza, Spain; Amalfi/Positano, Italy; and back to Rome. Wow!! We covered 1743 nautical miles.

The beauty of all of the architecture and cathedrals and art put your mind on overload.  Everything is so OLD and majestic in Europe. Then there was the contrast of Monte Carlo. You could actually smell the money! There were magnificent yachts docked there and there was no such thing as a normal car…everywhere you would see a Rolls Royce, Lamborghinis,  and cars that  I could not identify because they were zooming by.  The Principality of Monaco is still very much in love with Princess Grace Kelly. We visited the Prince’s Palace and the Monaco Cathedral. And of course, we had to stop for a wine and Monaco’s own beer (very good by the way). I wanted to go into the casino so that in any future James Bond movies I would be able to identify the location, but, they have a separate casino in the casino for tourists.  I was only interested in the real deal and since we were not interested in gambling we passed on that.

Each of the places we stopped had their own special personality and the weather in this region is glorious. Even though this region is a higher latitude than we are here in NY/NJ, the weather patterns are very different. Much less of their weather comes from the polar regions and they get trade winds that are milder than ours. This results in a drier and hotter climate. This gives way to palm trees, lemon trees and orange trees. Portofino, the second stop made in Italy, is a very picturesque spot. As you approach from the sea your eyes view multicolor villas all along the waterfront. This was once a quiet fishing village which is now full of boutiques, restaurants and beachside cliffs.

Stops in France were Marseille and Saint-Tropez. Marseille is France’s oldest city and a very busy port. The Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde is here. There are 200 steps to reach the Basilica. If we are ever back here we will choose an excursion that involves wine trails! And, I think I’ll remain loyal to Paris as far as French cities are concerned.  Saint-Tropez is another “playground to jetsetters, fashion models and millionaires”. This is the place where Brigid Bardot was “discovered”. Saint-Tropez played a major role in the history of modern art. Paul Signac “discovered this light infused place and inspired painters like Matisse, Bonnard and Marquet to come here”. Saint-Tropez remains an interesting site for painters. Quite a few very classy yachts hanging out here too.

This was my first trip to Spain and it definitely will not be the last. I fell in love with Barcelona. It is a gorgeous, lively city.  Barcelona is a province of Catalonia. It is the capital and largest city. This is the home of The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia.  This basilica began in 1882 and is not yet complete. This soaring basilica was designed by moderist Antonio Gaudi. It is simply incredible. The Poble Espanyol (the Spanish Village) is an architectural museum and a lovely place to walk around and  have lunch and shop in the boutiques. I plan on coming back to Barcelona and exploring the entire city. Our next stop in Spain was Ibiza. Ibiza is part of Spain’s Balearic Islands. The island is 8 miles wide and 25 miles long. In the summer months Ibiza turns into a huge scene for partying and dancing. They say 2 million young clubbers descend on the island to party. Disco is alive and well.

The trip wrapped up in Amalfi and Positano. I have to say, there is NOTHING like approaching the Amalfi coast from the water.  It is truly one of the most breathtaking views you will ever see. There are dramatic cliffs and beautiful scenery. We anchored off the coast and tendered to Amalfi. From there we motor-boated to Positano.  One of my favorite movies is Under The Tuscan Sun.  Positano is where she went to find Marcello (I think that was his name). I saw the apartment balcony where it was filmed.  Got in some shopping in both spots. Did I mention that lemoncello is produced in Amalfi? The size of the lemons are like grapefruits!  And the lemon gelato was delicious!!

Leaving the port, our ship had a very romantic departure. Bellinis were served on the upper deck and Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman were singing “Time to say Goodbye” full blast over the loudspeakers!! Do I have to even say there were tears flowing down my cheeks?? We arrived the next morning back in Rome.

A Mediterranean cruise is one of the most romantic trips you can possible take. It enables you to see so many places and you don’t have to pack and get to the next stop. I recommend Oceania. It is a very classy cruise line…no midnight buffet…no roving photographer wanting you to to buy a picture he took of you!  I highly recommend the voyage and all of it’s experiences. Enjoy.

 

Upcycle– verb: to process (used goods or waste material) so as to produce something that is often better than the original.

I have recently been introduced to a line called Retro Remix Pass It On.

A very talented artist, Dawn Lipman, has been “upcycling” vintage handbags and belt buckles. She combs through flea markets and thrift stores to collect vintage “treasures”. Dawn started RETRO REMIX in 2014.  Her studio is filled with vintage handbags, vintage jewelry , remnant trims, ribbons, tassels and lace. She creates original artwork and photo montages for the handbags on the computer. Then they are printed to paper and run through a laminating/adhesive machine.  These graphis are applied to the bags and she finishes the edges with vintage trim remnants. Dawn also crafts one of a kind belt buckles.  The blank buckle bases are filled with vintage jewelry, skeleton keys, and watch parts and watch bands. Each buckle is sold with a snap on leather belt.

The result is nothing short of spectacular. Barbara Lattoz is the sales consultant for the line. When I recently had a house party for Touchstone Crystal Barbara also brought a representation of the RETRO REMIX line. The women attending my party were so excited with what they saw and many went home with a new “old” bag!!!

The concept is just so great! The styles are very glamorous and some are kitsch. There are hollywood icons laminated on bags as well as cartoon super heros!! The entire thing just generates energy and individuality. And in addition to your upcylced product, you can create your own story about the original owner of the bag.  The bag I purchased was made in France! I have been having fun wondering about the original owner.

Dawn will be on LBI , NJ 5/29/16 at the Viking Village Art & Craft Show. She will also be at the Spring Chester Craft Show and in September on the 4th back on LBI at the Viking Village Art & Craft Show and then on 9/18 she will be at The Fall Crafts & Art Street Fair in Ridgewood, NJ.

Barbara Lattoz can be reached at barbaralattoz@aol.com. Her # is 908-963-1654.

Parties are a natural for these products. Enjoy!

Here are a few of styles:

A friend of mine has recently become an Independent Consultant for Swarovski’s direct selling division, Touchstone Crystal. Of course, as any good friend and fellow jewelry lover would do, I hosted a party.

There is something to be said for how far social selling has advanced since Tupperware! My party was “Crystals and Cocktails”. And we sure had both going on at my home and as my guests arrived I could see that they were ready for both.

Barbara had transformed my dining room table into a sea of sparkle. The merchandise exceeded my expectations and my guests were thrilled with what they saw and heard about the product. Imagine…a 90 day product guarantee and lifetime warranty. Where do you see that? And the personal connection of social selling  guarantees the guarantee!

Each woman reviewed the catalog  and then approached the table “store” that Barbara had arranged. You could see the sparkle jump up off of the table and and start dancing in everyone’s eyes. Pens fast and furiously started to write down numbers. Cell phone calculators were assessing the damage. One by one we sat with Barbara to place an order. One of my friends said it is like we are lining up for confession!! But, the beauty of this line is that it is affordable…and sooooo glamorous…and sooooo sparkly that it does not require asking for forgiveness to make the purchase. The phenomenon about social selling is that one has a captive audience. An audience that is focused AND socializing at the same time. You don’t find that in a department store.

The evening eventually wrapped up with a bunch of happy people  heading home to think about what they will be wearing with their new purchases and oh, how fabulous they will look.

If you would like to know more about this product and would like to shop my party go to Barbara Baselice-Lattoz’s site:  https://sites.touchstonecrystal.com/barblattoz/myevent?e=52274

You will not be disappointed…and you might even consider joining Barbara’s team. Then you can help to bring “sparkle” into the lives of many people.

SPRING 2016! For someone who loves fashion there is nothing better than the season changing. At the same time one sees what is in the stores to wear for the season we are also hearing about the next season’s runway shows in NY, Paris, London and Milan. Makes you feel like a kid in a candy store. For now, let’s look at the trends for this spring season and I’ll share some what-was-seen-on-the-street at the fall 2016 shows.

The freshest look right now is the COLD SHOULDER and off the shoulder dressing.  This is seen in tops and dresses.  Seeing the shoulder peak out gives a very sexy, flirty look and a confidant attitude. Styles are being seen that are simple for daytime dressing and of course lavishly done for evening. WIDE LEG PANTS  AND PAPER BAG WAISTS for pants and skirts are also on trend. To carry this off, it is best to pair the pant with a slim top to balance the look. Pants and skirts are also being seen low slung, resting on the hip with wide legs.  A must have is an ANKLE LENGTH PANT.  So, let your ankle flash as well as your shoulder!  BOMBER STYLE JACKETS are being joined by more TRADITIONAL BLAZERS as well as TRENCH COATS.  More of this will be seen for Fall 2016. PONCHOS AND KIMONO TOPS continue this season in sheer fabrications as well as lacy looks. FRINGE also continues. So, if you stepped out last spring/summer and added these looks to your wardrobe, it is still very visible for 2016. MICRO PLEATING is also a hot look for this season. You will see this in skirts and dresses as well as sections of tops- perhaps in sleeves or the back. RUFFLES ARE IN! You will see lots of cascading tiers on tops and dresses.  DENIM is also trending…as if anyone ever lets it go.  It is a little more “done up” in prints as well as acid wash and embroidered and in eyelet textures. SEQUINS AND SPARKLE are everywhere! And it is in colors burgundy, green, navy and not just black.

STRIPES AND PRINTS: There are stripes everywhere. Stripes are in tops, vertically and   horizontal. Many are trimmed with lace.  You will also see tops in stripes that are done in sequins for both day and evening.  The stripes done in skirts are usually on the bias and look fabulous with an asymmetric hem.  In PRINTS you will see that GINGHAM  has grown up and is seen in a variety of sizes. PATTERNED PATCHWORK combines ditsy floral prints in bold color combinations.  You will see this in tops and dresses as well as skirts. BEAUTIFUL FLORAL PRINTS are everywhere including shoes!!    

SHOES: on the street at the runway shows the top look was ankle boots. NY is partial to the moto boot. London seemed to favor a higher strapped sandal as did Paris. Milan liked a heeled ankle boot.  Lots of ankle straps on high and low heels and wedges. But the best thing seen was low white sneakers in Paris!! These sneakers were worn with dresses and midi skirts!  Now they won’t be able to say that you can tell who is an American Tourist because they are in sneakers !! I love it.    

That sums up my HAUTE POPS for Spring 2016.                                                                                                      

Has anyone ever asked you “Are you happy?” We were sitting with my mother this weekend at her residence waiting for the afternoon musical entertainment and she turned to my husband and asked him that question. Without hesitation he said “Yes” and looked at me. I thought my heart would burst.

Happiness is not something to take for granted. Happiness is a process. Happiness is a gift. It is a gift we give ourselves. It is a gift we hope we share with our friends and family. I read an article in Elephant Journal “40 Life-Changing Quotes on Happiness”  (by Francesca Biller) and there were some great quotes in the article.

“The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.” (Henry Ward Beecher). This is mastered by young children and the elderly and they don’t even realize they are doing it! It does not take much to make a child happy. Sometimes it is the box that a gift comes in that brings them pure joy. And it dos not take much to make an elderly person happy. Sometimes it is as simple as seeing you walk into a room and take the time to have a cup of coffee with them.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” (Helen Keller). In my opinion, this really speaks to relationships. The obvious being when you have a loss in love either through a break up or death of a loved one.  But this is also true when a friendship is broken. Sometimes you do not even know what went wrong and often it is caused by other peoples’ drama which impacts on your relationship. Sometimes it cannot be fixed and one needs to stop looking at the closed door and be ready for what is beyond the open door.

“Sing like no one’s listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody’s watching, and live like it is heaven on earth.” (Mark Twain). That should be everyone’s mantra. Happiness comes from within. Make it happen.

I hope that each of you can experience the feeling of hearing someone say they are happy and know that you have contributed to their happiness.

 

Well, it has been quite a weekend for snow on the east coast! I know…it’s winter why do we act surprised? As I sit here looking out at about 2 feet of snow my thoughts turn to Spring 2016 and the colors we can look forward to.

The color experts at Pantone selected the “color of the year” for 2016 in December 2015.

They stepped out of the box by picking TWO colors. Both of the colors are as tame as you can get. They are Rose Quartz and Serenity. These two colors are also known as pastel pink and pastel blue. Story goes that they were chosen to breakdown stereotypes and promote gender equality. I do believe that color is a form of expression. The color pink reflects well being and blue reflects tranquility and is very soothing. I think that both of these colors will be big in home decor. With so much turbulence in an election year I think that many people will be looking to decorate their homes in colors that will be soothing and relaxing when they are at home.  Both of these colors mix beautifully with gray.

From here the color experts and designers expand the color palette. Quiet colors do prevail, but there are exciting brights added for optimism. There are no real distinctions made in color choices being made for men and women.

Here is the PANTONE palette for Spring 2016.

The color palette starts with Rose Quartz. This is soft and soothing like a blushing cheek! This color is followed by Peach Echo which is friendly and warm. There has been lots of orange going on lately and it will continue for spring and this peach is a complement. Next comes Serenity. This blue is restful and soothing like looking up at the blue sky. This color is followed by Snorkel Blue which is in the navy family but it is happier and more energetic. Doesn’t the name conjure up thoughts of vacations?  The center color on the palette is Buttercup. This color definitely makes the wearer feel like they are in a happy, summer place. Next comes Limpet Shell. This is a shade of aqua which is clear and crisp. Next in line is Lilac Gray. This is a basic which gives a little edge to a classic gray shade. Pump up the energy with the next color which is Fiesta. This is a yellow based red that is vivid, exciting and very free spirited. This is quite the contrast to the softer shades on this palette. Next is a beautiful neutral labeled Iced Coffee. This color is earthy and soft and is a foundation for the other colors. The last color in the palette is Green Flash. This color “calls on the wearer to explore, push the envelop and escape the mundane”. Wow…that is asking a lot of this beautiful shade of green! This is the basic palette for Spring 2016.

Fashion Snoops‘ color forecast is for 5 key palettes for spring. They are: SEASIDE which is vibrant mid tones which cover the pinks, coral and melon. They say Orchid and Aqua are emerging colors.  Custard (shade of yellow) is “lively” and Chartreuse is introduced as a new lime. HEIRLOOM is the jewel tone palette. Red and green continue as well as dark burgundy and brighter Ruby. They say  “Green becomes more influenced by blues with Evergreen and Dark Teal colors. While Navy progresses as an influential base color, Indigo offers a new alternative. Grape purple is featured as a new fashion color”. DESERT BLOOM is a neutral palette. This palette is earthy. Moonstone blue is an exciting new fashion color in this palette.  SOFT NOSTALGIA is a pastel palette lead by Blue Hydrangea. Pink is a focus in this group. There is also Chambray, Wisteria Purple, Lemon Chiffon and Sea Glass green. Neutrals here are Buff, Ecru, and Bone. Dust is the season’s gray. BACKYARD is the bright palette. Green shades are pivotal and Canary is a saturated yellow. Candy Apple is the red. Electric Blue is in this palette too and Periwinkle is new as an alternative to Electric Blue for summer. Clementine (orange) remains.

Colors are always so much fun to play with in your wardrobe. Each color can play to a distinct mood. Enjoy it!

 

In the fall I saw an adult education class titled “The Mindfulness Side of Meditation”. The description read that the course teaches mindfulness based practices that will reduce stress, develop a calm relaxed attitude and a sense of well being intentionally bringing awareness to your daily experiences.  I AM IN!! It went on to say that Mindfulness is “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose in the present moment, non-judgementally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (Jon Kabat-Zinn). It said that Mindfulness is an excellent practice for teahers and parents to practice and it helps to develop a sense of calmness and awareness and focus in children. I thought, perhaps this would be good me to practice and bring some of this to my mother since we are now the parent to her and it might help with her anxiety. I have to say, it has helped me and I plan on taking another class in the spring.

The biggest thing I got out of this so far is the meditaion. I have been able to focus my thoughts and stay a bit more calm, breathing and allowing space for emotion. Recognizing what you are feeling is such a good feeling . I am learning to accept how I feel in that moment without judging it or needing to change it.  It teaches us to understand that you can’t fix an emotion, just be with it.

I think it is important to start each day with gratitude. It is important to bring awareness to your speech and interaction with others. Mindfulness is non-judgementally experiencing what IS. It would be a much more pleasant way to spend your day if you are not judgemental. You can not change another’s behavior but you can change how it affects you. Be kind to yourself.

I leave you with a thought from my teacher that made us all laugh.   The author of this quote is unknown. “Spiritual Fitness:  If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills, If you can be cheerful of aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can face the world without lies and deceit, If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, Then you are probably a dog.”

Be kind to yourself and that kindness will overflow.

Happy New Year.