I love this old book. It's a little old fashioned (in the weird way) in places, but mostly it's old fashioned in the good way. The book gives advice like: don't wear tight shoes, you can't be charming if your feet hurt. Hilarious, but still true.
Charm is a word that has some negative connotations now, but in this book it means sincerity, kindness, generosity and ettiquette. It was originaly published in 1938, but no culture has needed it's advice more than our current one.
As you read, you may have to edit for content. For example:"There is scarcely an hour that passes in which someone doesn't do something for you. It may be the grocery boy . It may be the mailman. Most of all it will be the people with whom you work and live. Do you stop to realize the humanity of these givers of good things that make your life comfortable? Your telephone operator, your stenographer, your maid, your laundress, the man who tends your garden (I wish....), the chauffer who taxis you? What is your attitude toward them? Are they mere scenery, something you paid for and so needn't be aware of? You can't afford to think so. Your attitude toward those who serve you reflects your attitude toward everyone else. Charm springs from warmth, not etiquette."
I don't have gardener, (dang) or a chauffer (no biggy, I love driving) but I have a hundred people who help me accomplish the things I want to do. How would you like to be the kid at the UPS store that does my laminating? Poor guy. I should tip him, but I hope that I thanked him very kindly anyway. I sure appreciate that he made my Christmas card so shiny. I love shiny. I need to do this better. I get so distracted thinking about other things, I often don't even look the cashier at the grocery store in the eye and say, "Hello". Bad manners. I am going to do better.
Anyway, (rambling, sorry) this book is just silly in places (the parts about bathing), but it has some great points. Enjoy!
Spiegel is having an amazing sale. These shoes are $19.00 and they come in black! I love them. See them here.
The Granny Chic Outfit of the Week has to include this beautiful blouse. I love this deep cranberry red, it seems to be rare the last few years. I hope cranberry makes a comeback, this shade anyway. This picture does not do it justice. See it here.
I love wrapping Christmas packages and these are a few of my favorite package designs.
Thanks to Uncle Paul for sending me the story about the wreaths at Arlington this morning. If anyone would like me to forward it to them, let me know. My intention in writing this blog was just to write about things that are pretty and things that are fun, a kind of cheery hello to friends. However, every once in awhile I must say something serious. I am so grateful to live in this free land. I am grateful for the soldiers whose remains lay beneath these stones and for all of the other soldiers who have laid down their lives for their friends. I am also grateful for many families that I know who have done without a family member for long stretches of time even during Christmas, so that a soldier might serve their country. God bless our brave Soldiers and their brave famililes this Christmastime.
Granny Chics can be found at the great yard sale on the World Wide Web, Ebay. I like to type in vintage anything and I often come up with something fun. Look at this cute fabric which I found by searching vintage +bluebird... one of my favorite searches.
CBS Sunday Morning featured a story about Dorothy Draper a few weeks ago and now I am seeing her everywhere.
I love the tradition of Santa Claus. I always have. But, even more than the myth, I love the real story. Nicholas was born in the third century in the village a Patara located on the southern coast of Turkey. He was raised by wealthy parents who were devout Christian and who died leaving him a wealthy orphan. He was made a Bishop of Myra while a young man. To follow the example of Jesus, he used his entire fortune to bless the needy. He was known for his generosity to children and his love for them.
I ate some chocolate cake that was amazingly tall and very delicious and it had a green mint frosting with chocolate ganache. It was very good! And I ate some other cake that looked kind of like this. It was chocolate cake with chocolate bits inside and it had whipped cream topping with crushed candy cane on top. Amber, please send the recipe?
I know several people who love these dolls and this ebay store has a great selection at very reasonable prices..
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
It seems like the perfect thing for the Rock-n-roller on your list. These guys were great at the 2002 Winter Games in SLC. I really hate to buy crappy Christmas cds don't you and it's all about having the tunes going during the holidays. :)
