The Young Victoria

I wonder if you've seen The Young Victoria yet?  If not, you must!  This was a truly wonderful movie.  The costuming was marvelous and the cinematogrophy luminous.   Most of us hold that iconic vision of the stout old Queen, aging and beloved monarch, in our minds.

You will see a different Victoria in this movie.  This film shows Victoria and Albert as the passionate lovers that they were.  Despite the common understanding that Victoria was a prude, she was passionately in love with her husband until the day that he died.

Martin Scorsese and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, produced this film.  Sarah has long been interested in Queen Victoria, the direct ancestor of her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.  She also wrote a book about Victoria and Albert's life at Osborne.

Don't miss her splendid Cavalier King Charles, Dash!

Seeing this movie is another way to live life beautifully,

Elaine

Beauty is Eternity Gazing at Itself in a Mirror - Kahlil Gibran

My mother was very particular about clothes and makeup.  "Put on your makeup, even if  you're just taking out the trash," was something she often said to me.

One of my treasured possessions is my mother's Art Deco style triple mirror.  Back in November, we had a terrible storm which damaged a good portion of my bedroom and dressing room.  The process of recovering insurance costs has been time-consuming and frustrating.  Fortunately, my mother's mirror and my dressing table that you see pictured here in this blog entry were not damaged.

Every woman should have a well-lit and beautiful location to check her hair and apply her makeup.  This is a touch of glamour which can be affordable for everyone.    A dressing table hearkens back to a former era when women took time with what was called their "toilette."

Think about where  you apply your make up.  It is easy to make this area neat, pretty, and imbued with glamour.  And that's part of living life beautifully.

Elaine

The Party

Last night, Joseph and I had an Open House for neighbors and dear friends to mark the end of the holiday season. I find that the holidays can be such a frenetic time to entertain. Sometimes there are so many obligations that one doesn't always enjoy oneself. Many have office parties and family commitments before the New Year. Our post-New Year gathering was relaxed and casual, with wine, appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, and some glorious desserts. There was football on the telly, lots of laughter, with friends chatting everywhere; perched on the arms of chairs, in our kitchen, the living room, and even sitting on the staircase! Enjoy the pictures!