Up popped the daisies!

Talk about coincidences but I've had two come up recently. While watching a DVD & while looking for a new home. If you haven't read the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald or had a chance to see the movie, I recommend looking into The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
I could dissect this film & get very philosophical & write flowery verse about this film but that's not my purpose. I'm much more shallow than that.;)
In the film the leading lady is a woman named Daisy. Ken doll and I only knew of one other book by FSF that had a character named Daisy in it. Maybe there are others, I'm only part way through The Beautiful and the Damned right now and so far no appearance of any Daisy characters.

Then a few days later in my search for a new place to hang our hats, I stumbled upon a coach house for sale. It's address is 290 Ridge Road Lake Forest, Illinois. It is for sale for $1,400,000. and it is said to be the house where Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. In the main house resided Ginevra King, rumored to be the real life inspiration for Fitzgerald's character Daisy Buchanan.
The main house (I did a little research and in 2007 the main house was for sale for $6 million). I don't know if the main house sold, I guess I could find out but I'm not all that interested. I'm not buying it and I'm not buying the coach house either. But it's just one of those funny little life's coincidences.
And speaking of coincidences another famous house in the the north burbs of Chicago just went on the market, see if you recognize it. It was built in 1953 (370 Beech St. Highland Park, Illinois)and is for sale for 2.3 million and was in a very famous movie.

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

I just watched this last night although it happened last month. Lucinda Fredericks (Australia)and Headley Britanna, together, powered to the lead at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. It was this clear round in the jumping phase that took them to the lead. Gotta love the elegance and grace!
I'm singing to the tune of "horses, horses horses" as I post this. My sister would crack up right now. The horse thing being a family joke (literally) and we often sing "horses, horses, horses" to each other. That line comes from that scene in Sleepless in Seattle remember? Right at the beginning where Meg Ryan's had her little moment singing along to the holiday tune in her car?
Horses, horses, horses..

Logos and Labels and Gas Masks, oh my!

Yesterday, while reading a blog written by the Preppy Princess I was inspired to post these pics. She had a picture of brand recognition going too far. It was a car with the Louis Vuitton logo all over it. I'm not going to show a pic of the car you are going to have to visit her intriguing blog yourself. Go now..
Are you back yet? I know it's a good blog..Lot's to read and you can go back to it later, you're reading my blog now, remember?
Now believe it or not Gucci used to make wall paper (I don't know if they still do) and I had a client about 4 years ago who wanted Gucci wall paper on the walls of his bedroom and "with the G's".
Labels have their place in the world. I have a few that I "can't live without" but I also appreciate the fine tailoring or the unique designs of clothing that happens in many times to be accompanied with a label.
Shown below are some brand named items that I can do without, I mean I hope to never need one and then is sporting Gucci REALLY going to be relevant?
As for the former client with the Gucci wallpaper by the time I showed him the total cost and compared it to all the lovely leather goods available at Gucci and all the beautiful options available in fine wall coverings, he ended up with a beautifully designed bedroom & a year supply of loafers to accompany each season!
Thank you Diddo Velma for the pic of your masks. Shown are Bling, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

Summer gatherings and potato chips

Good Morning! Happy belated Memorial Day! I hope that none of you found yourself waking up as face down lawn ornaments over this past weekend.
I understand that holidays can sometimes get out of hand.
I wanted to thank all of you for your supportive comments and emails regarding my Friday post. Being well mannered never goes out of style. Period! Unless you are a comedian or a political/social satirist then.. go for it! The world is your oyster, there's a lot to comment on, other than that, it just comes out wrong.
Speaking of wrong, did you want to hear about my tummy troubles with the Mexican Layer Dip Flavored Pringles? Probably not, but here it goes.
When I was just a young deb (Yes, I said it, I'll post a pic of this monumental moment of my life (it really wasn't) sometime when I can find the photo album. **NOTE**Let me just add that I'm not a snob or stuck up, my parents were traditional people and this is just what you did for your daughters when they became of a certain age. My parents were very old fashioned. Anyway, following this event I went to Europe where I traveled, experienced European culture and discovered the fun and deliciousness of Walker's Crisps.
Have you ever had them? My first flavors were pickles and then pot roast dinner. Not bad for a potato chip! Over the years I have sought out markets that sell European products here in the states or ordered the chips on-line. They have flavors such as: roast chicken, steak & onion, prawn cocktail, chili & chocolate, crispy duck & hoisin sauce, fish & chips, etc.
Pringles have recently gotten a little daring with their flavors. I spotted two new flavors that I had never seen before. Mozzarella & marinara sauce and Mexican layer dip flavored chips. We selected the MLD. We avoid products with MSG but I just had to try them!! HAD TO! Knowing fully that this was going to end badly.
It did and I'm not quite myself today, so my apologies if todays blog is plain and original flavored.

Distasteful Blogging

I joined the blogger world less than a month ago and today I unsubscribed to one of the first blogs I joined.
Let me take you back many years ago when I first joined the Junior League. After a few letters, written by friends and friends of friends about my character and commitment to helping to give back to the community were submitted, I became a provisional member, then later an active member, sustainer comes next. We were a group of ladies who without a question had the character of women who were or tried to be above all else, good human beings. Membership requirements were different then. Now because of declining membership the formality has changed and anyone can join as long as you fulfill your hours of volunteerism and pay annual dues. The group of knowing one another through friendships, families, business, clubs, etc. is smaller and the intimacy is different, it's bigger and less private. Socially different but financially this is good, that means we can raise more money for people in need.
With that said, we did not wear our membership of the league like a label of status on a shirt.
I was following a blog of woman who writes about shopping, new products, vacations and her league membership (all thing of interest to me, I enjoy seeing how other people live, it's human curiosity). Today I have unsubscribed to her blog. WHY you ask? Today she made fun of an ethnic cultural group and somewhat mocked their idols of worship, their dress, their "street" culture. I'm aghast and appalled. I am saddened. With the economy changing I thought more people were "getting it". Letting people live and not focus on our differences but what brings us together as humans. (Trust me, I'm not a liberal nor am I going to ask you to hold hands and sing with me but give me a sec, please).
I've had and had not in my lifetime and it certainly NEVER made me feel superior to any person. Money may have given me a sense of financial security but never "better" than anyone.
As an avid volunteer, my charitable energy has been to help people and I just kind of ignore what's on the outside because we are human beings with the same needs (food, shelter, clothing, kindness, optimum health, love) and the same hopes (education, monetary satisfaction, continued security & success). I find her blog today completely distasteful and I have unsubscribed.
I laugh because although my world is aesthetics and I earn a living from changing the way things look and manipulating space, I must emphasise why I became an interior designer. "IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS".

Cheers and Happy Blogging! (I'm on the right)

The ABC's of moi!

A - Age: La di da da..Was that the door bell I just heard?
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: Chores..What are those? Ok, I dislike all domestic cleaning duties but I do them. Opening windows helps blow dust onto the carpet & rugs for a quick one stop vacuuming sweep. lol..
D - Dog's name: If I had a dog, he would be a White Highland Terrier named affectionately, Waffles.
E - Essential start your day item: My morning kiss from Ken doll
F - Favorite color: Pink!
G - Gold or Silver or platinum: Depends on the ensemble of the day. Metal depends on textures and textiles worn
H - Height: 5'2 1/4"
I - Instruments you play: Nothing anymore
J - Job title: Interior Designer (this may change, I know how exciting a career change. Looking into something in historical preservation and antiquities).
K - Kid(s): None, maybe one day or maybe I'll become a foster parent in the near future
L - Living arrangements: Ken doll & Cassie the cat along with 2 very quiet goldfish.
M - Mom's name:
N - Nicknames:
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: ah ha..the secret comes out, Very very recently I was involved in a pretty serious car accident in January, hence the blog and free time to write. I'm almost fully recovered!
P - Pet Peeve: Lot's but who wants to hear me complain?? Let's move onto Q
Q - Quote from a movie: "That's some good iced tea".
R - Right handed or left handed: right
S - Siblings: Sister
T - Time you wake up: 7ish
U - Underwear: TMI, who makes up these lists?
V - Vegetable you dislike: Not too crazy about the lima bean, the brussel sprout or that slimy one - Okra
W - Ways you run late: Changing outfits after being fully dressed
X - X-rays you've had: Recently far too many to count, I probably glow at night
Y - Yummy food you make: I'll have another one, please!
Z - Zoo favorite: Getting back into the air conditioned car after leaving

Help!

Hi bloggers! I need your help! I just went to the "edit my blog" section and there you were. You lovely people have written me such nice things and I didn't even know your comments were there. OK, so I feel really dumb here. Help! I need blogger assistance. How do I know when someone has left a comment? I see other blogs and their comments are there for all to see. Secondly, I love free stuff & love to give things away, other blogs have contests for free stuff, what is this all about? Then there are two other things, paid to advertise on your blog? Is this a good idea? Is this a scam? Will I invite more harmful viruses to my computer? Then there is that whole going public thingy? Does this REALLY change how many people read your blog? I'm on the fence about that last one. I like the profiles of my whole 6 followers (let's meet & have drinks) and it's ok if that's all I ever get in the quantity of readers but this could be my big break to get famous! LOL..If you have any answers, please be so kind and respond for me.
I am posting a pic of Ken doll taken about 8 years ago. He still has great hair just not so 2001 Fluffy. We aren't camera people, I don't know why it just is one of those things so pics of us are scarce. Thanks again for your help in advance!