jennifer aniston – a woman over 40

I can’t help it, I have to give credit where credit is due and in this case, Jennifer Aniston deserves a hand of applause for making this woman over 40 feel inspired to go from

This boring look

To this sexy look I dream of duplicating

{For photo resources, please click here}

 

springtime 2011 outfit picks from a woman over 40

As most  of us Americans are programmed to finish preparing our income taxes, to turn them in by midnight the 15th of April, every year, I bet most of us don’t realize that this year we have until the 18th of April to complete them due to some observed holiday technicalities in one of our states.

Either way, the rest of the world could care less and lives their lives as if it was just another day. So for the folk outside of the states and my much appreciated readers, I have  put some outfits together which I, for some reason, have incorporated into my Spring to Summer 2011 wardrobe.  Hope you like.

Have a Great Weekend Everyone!!!

valentine’s day romance – suggestion 4 – dinner and a movie

Now, I saved the best for last, well at least from where I am sitting. Dinner and a movie suggestion for a romantic evening at home is ideal in every sense of the word, if done right.

This suggestions would be best if, those with children, are able to find a sitter away from home and if one partner can surprise the other with it.

Rent a couple of the movies I have suggested above or others that you think are in line with a love story/romantic theme. Contact your local purveyor of fine foods or a restaurant to order a steak or seafood dinner for two.  I prefer  Dean and DeLuca’s Valentine’s Day Meal  from their menu here . They also carry a large selection of champagne as well as  sparkling wine or wines in general so it makes the planning easier.

Organize the living room or family room (wherever the television is) for the setting. Setting up the center coffee table with candles, flowers and fine china is ideal place to eat, while sitting on a bunch of pillows.

Just keep in mind some of the films have not yet been converted to blue ray or whatever new DVD type gadget there are out there, so order the films accordingly

golden globe gowns for the over 40 crowd

You know I actually was going to leave this topic for my other blog here, but since the fashion introduced on the red carpet is pretty influential and vital to the fashion industry and trend followers, I decided to include some of my favorites and not so favorites from this year’s Golden Globe for the over 40 crowd.

My list of picks for best dressed:

1. Jennifer  Lopez  - Zuhair Murad gown – best dressed winner in my opinion
2. Nicole Kidman – Prada gown – safe and flawless
3. Kyra Sedwick – Emilio Pucci gown – gorgeous in my opinion – vibrant colors and riskee but truly gorgeous.
4. Melissa Leo – gown unknown – safe, beautiful in a sequence  gown.
5. Julie Brown – Tadashi Shoji – elegant and glamorous and very age appropriate

My list of picks for the worst dressed:

1. Helen Bonham Carter – Doesn’t matter what gown – disaster
2. Tilda Swinton – Doesn’t matter what gown – with her model like features, she could have dressed better.
3. Julianne Moore – again her choice of gown is a miss.
4. Halle Berry – Nina Ricci – although she looked hot, in my opinion she forgot to actually wear a gown over her under garment.
5. Sandra Bullock – Jenny Packham – not the best look for her beautiful features.
6. Edie Falco – Valentino gown – not a fan of her take on the one shoulder gown.

i want what monica bellucci is having please

I have always appreciated foreign actors more so than the ones in LALALand. I’ll tell you why. Talent,” natural” beauty, more talent, minimal drama and much more talent. However, some foreign actors (actresses) just to make myself perfectly clear, I appreciate for their physical attributions and outlook on life more so than their creative talents.

With that said and in light of this blog’s theme, I  want to introduce one actress, who I think has not only aged gracefully, but  in my opinion is one to be admired for her efforts to remain true to herself no matter how demanding her career and lifestyle may be. She is none other than the Italian actress, Monica Bellucci, who at 46 just recently (May 2010)  had her second child with husband Vincent Cassel.

I can honestly go as far as  comparing her beauty and gusto to that of Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch, and just by understanding her attitude through personal quotes and interview, I know that her core make up has contributed to her flawless outer appearance and beauty. She is well-known and admired throughout Europe and even when at her worst (her fluctuating weight) she has looked her very best. She is a true inspiration for the voluptuous woman and an individual  to reflect upon when one’s self esteem is  tested.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from Monica Bellucci which keep me inspired and focused:

“My body is so important to me… my face, my arms, my legs, my hands, my eyes, everything. I use everything I have.”

“Beauty becomes alive and interesting when it’s habited.”

“The human intelligence has progressed at the technological level; not at the level of feelings.”

“It is a handicap if you’re stupid, but not if you are intelligent and know how to use your beauty.”

“I feel fine and comfortable with myself, but not because I’m beautiful. I know many beautiful people and their lives are just so terrible. They feel so uncomfortable with themselves. Being comfortable is not about what you look like, but how you feel. I’m a lucky person because I’ve been loved a lot. I have a great family.”

“[Talking about why she will not move to Hollywood to further her film career]: “I could never live there. They are obsessed with youth and beauty even more than us. There is this thing in America where actresses reach 40 and go mad. The film industry wants all these young people. They also like a different sort of woman (to me). I will never be skinny. I also had a child a year ago, and I have been lazy. I love to eat. Who cares? I am natural.”

Have a nice weekend everybody!!!

french women manifesto – who knew

I know, I know you are probably getting sick of my French this and that, but if you are then please turn the page, otherwise sit tight and share with me cause there is plenty to write about.

According to the book French Women Don’t Get Fat (website) there is a manifesto to follow. I actually laughed when I read the list because most of the items listed are a clear description of what I stand for and believe in. So I suppose I am truly French at heart. . So here are some of my favorites

French women eat for pleasure.
French women eat with all five senses, allowing less to seem like more.
French women enjoy going to market.
French women do enjoy wine regularly, but with meals and only a glass (or maybe two).
French women eschew extreme temperatures in what they consume, and enjoy fruits and vegetables bursting with flavor at room temperature, at which they prefer their water, too.
French women get a kick from Champagne, as an aperitif or with food, and don’t need a special occasion to open a bottle.
French women typically think about good things to eat.  American women typically worry about bad things to eat.
French women know one can go far with a great haircut, a bottle of Champagne and a divine perfume.
French women honor mealtime rituals and never eat standing up or on the run.  Or in front of the TV.
French women love to sit at a café and do nothing but enjoy the moment.

in honor of the color pink

One of my favorite color is pink. It wasn’t always like that but after Victoria’s Secret introduced us to the color pink with their beautiful shopping bags, pink was quickly added to my favorite color chart.

The problem with pink is that if it isn’t the right shade or incorporated with the right accent colors, it almost looks unappealing. I know most women in the U.S. shy away from it because as a child they were forced to wear pink and when they had daughters of their own, all the gifts included the dull, traditional pink color.

What has happened over the years however, is that the color pink has taken on a whole new look. We have so many variations (or hues) of pink that it is almost a sin not to consider the color in home decors, clothing lines and now even appliances, motorcycles and sometimes hair color.

My favorite shade or hue is the cherry blossom flower colors pictured here and I must admit I use the color throughout my life proudly.

So to just give you some examples of how you can incorporate the color pink into your life,  just in case you don’t want to wear the color, I have included some photos to consider:

interior affair for this woman over 40

If someone were to tell me I won a good amount of money to redecorate my home, of course after relocating to Paris or perhaps to New York, I would immediately go to the internet for the most inspiring styles and decor to incorporate or copy for my nice, new loft or apartment.

For a person like me, who likes change almost on a weekly basis, it is really  difficult to pin point any particular style. I use what I like and sometimes that may mean it is too unconventional, somewhat bizarre or even  eccentric for my circle of family and friends, but for the most part it works for me.

The way I see it, I really don’t feel that every room has to be the same in style, I also like mixing and matching furniture, colors and themes as long as there is some interesting flow to what I have created.

So, although some of the photos I included are just the tip of the iceberg of what I see happening around me, when I decorate an apartment or a loft, it will at least give you an idea of where I am going with it. Hope you like and if you don’t then feel free to share your style by including a link of your blog or your favorite blog.

This would be my entrance

My living room

Dining Room

Master Bedroom with luggage rack - Because I love to Travel

Bathroom 1 or 2

Guest Bathroom

Kitchen style 1 - I can probably add 100 photos of kitchens

Guest Bedroom

Master Bedroom 2 - Just In Case I need space

Family or Gathering Room

Family Room Desk and Chair

My Office style 1 - This room I can take into a whole new level as well

This piece has to be on top of the stairwell just because

This article was inspired by www.frontherightbank.com

Parisian chocolat and teaser desserts

propertyofrawsilkandsaffron

I am not a fan of desserts but once in a while, I do get a sweet tooth and feel the need to sample a light and fluffy dessert and/or a piece of quality chocolate.

My favorite dessert of course is French dessert and although they have been infused into the American culture via restaurants and some gourmet grocery stores, it is not the same as eating one in, say Paris or anywhere France.

What is the most amazing is, the number of chocolatiers or “chocolat” (French Spelling) boutiques around the city of Paris and some in the French Riviera. The neatly and beautifully displayed chocolates and desserts in a perfectly temperature controlled boutiques give you a sense of experiencing being “a kid in a candy store” except for adults.

I had trouble deciding on which piece I wanted to sample and had a blast pointing out the creations to my husband while we travelled the region. The flavors, aroma, quality and care taken in the masterpieces are something I will miss until the next time and in the meantime, I have to search for French desserts in my neck of the woods, which hopefully could hold me over.

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choosing a handbag for fall 2010

1. Dooney & Bourke ‘Dillen – Small Priscilla’ Flap Satchel$295.00

2. Halogen® ‘Work’ Leather Shopper$198.00

3. MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Hamilton Chain – Large’ Vertical Tote$298.00

4. Gianni Chiarini ‘Vintage – Medium’ Flap Satchel$358.00

5. Lucky Brand ‘Trippin Out – Large’ Leather Tote$239.00

6. MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Gansevoort – Large’ Tote$498.00

7. COACH MADISON MAGGIE BAG$348.00

8. COACH MIA LEATHER CARRYALL$358.00

Finding the right handbag is probably the most difficult task for me, because I am very picky on what I want a handbag to do for me.  So, I often times shop, probably the entire season for the right bag and then walk away without buying anything.

This year I am having the same trouble because, I want a camel colored bag, not yellow, not tan, not semi-orange but camel. The problem is that I haven’t found the right shade for my taste. I have actually found some handbags which I am interested in but for some reason the color and the style are not one and the same.

I have included a selection above of all my choices and hopefully will settle on one before Spring 2011. I think I am leaning towards no 3.