Lions and tigers and bears... (Oh my!)

Well, it's that time of year, isn't it? The season when most people dress up, eat candy and scare themselves silly.

I, for one, do enjoy a little scare every now and again. Not the terrible, nasty kind (I don't watch horror films or read anything stronger than an Agatha Christie :), but the slightly eery, gives-you-goosebumps kind. I can conjure it up pretty easily with my imagination. Just give me a dark room and a couple of creaky floorboards... ;)

My siblings love to make fun of how easy it is to get me to scream. Even when I know that one of them is waiting to leap out and scare me, I still jump and shriek aloud. Just a few days ago my sister almost gave me a heart attack when she hid in a closet in my basement. Totally unexpected. ;)


Do you scare easily? And do you like to be scared?

I thought it fitting, considering the season, to use this month's Classic Actress Style post to share a classic, terribly scary moment from the silver screen. If you didn't get nervous as a child when the Cowardly Lion first made his appearance... you had better not wait around for the Wicked Witch. ;)

(Click to watch Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man scared out of their senses by the Cowardly Lion. ;)

Of course, Judy (or I should say, Dorothy) takes things just the way a plucky American girl should. She is startled and frighten by the CL's appearance, but when he threatens her dog... just watch how she springs into action!

She handles the Wicked Witch just as bravely; dousing the green fiend  in water while trying to save her friend. And then, like any polite child, she apologizes. It's a good thing that it came too late. ;)

Of course, the truly frightening moment is when the true Wizard of Oz is first revealed. Suddenly, everyone's big dreams don't look so attainable...

The Wizard of Oz was the first movie in which I saw Judy Garland (if you've been following the blog, I think you know how special she is to me :), and even before that, I loved Dorothy. She was my childhood heroine and I envied her the fantastical trip to the "merry old land of Oz." (Oh yes, and that sweet blue and white checked dress!) I have a fair share of  movie memorabilia, and Judy singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" still remains one of my favorite film moments of all time.

(Click to watch "Somewhere Over the Rainbow")

You know a movie is a classic when you re-watch it in your twenties and appreciate it as much as you did when you were ten years old... maybe even more.

Do you have fond memories of "Oz?" Anybody have a favorite classic (not really) scary film? ;)


Images: Doctor Macro / NYTimes

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Feelin' So Fall

Some things I love about October...

1. Fall foliage! We've just reached the peak in color here in New England, and if you live anywhere else, you should be jealous. ;) Oh yes, and the sun always casts the most gorgeous shadows across the road, shooting through the colorful trees like stained-glass windows. That is, when it's not raining...
2. The chill. While feeling freezing isn't always fun, that nippy breeze that hints of winter is rather refreshing. It makes everything smell so nice and crisp!
3. Chai tea and hot cocoa. Warm drinks are such a wonderful, therapeutic part of the season. This all-natural powdered chai from Trader Joe's is my favorite. :)
4. Pumpkins! and other fall decor. I carved a pheonix on my pumpkin this year and displayed it in my new space until the thing decided to go moldy on me. Now it's taken up residence on the front porch. You can see a picture here at my TwitPic page.
5. Clothing. We've already touched on sweaters, but boots, scarves, knee-socks, and fingerless-gloves are equally lovely. And I adore layering!

What are some of your favorite things about fall? 
Any special times or traditions you're family or friends share?

Speaking of layering, one of the fun things about the season change is how you can take your clothes from summer into fall. This skirt, which I re-fashioned back in April (click here for the tutorial) is too short to wear with bare legs in the fall... unless you don't have any trouble staying warm. (I'm usually freezing!) So I brought it into the fall season with the addition of some fun knee socks (in my favorite teal shade, of course). The cropped sweater/hoodie became a good friend of mine last year, as did the flats (also in teal). I just love feeling comfy and cozy without sacrificing fun pieces!

What I'm Wearing:

• Grey sweater with hood by Loca Loca- hand-me-down (I get random clothes from other people a lot, if you haven't noticed that already!)
• Black camisole by SO - from Kohls
• Denim skirt by Mossimo Supply Co. - hand-me-down - re-fashioned by me
• Teal knee-socks by SimplyVera/Vera Wang - from Kohls (I got them  at the end of the season for $1.40 :) 
• Teal shoes by Mossimo Supply Co. - from Target
• Jewelry by random - necklace from the Dominican Republic, bracelet was a Christmas present, ring came from somewhere ;)

One thought I had when I put this outfit together was that it was rather on the "teen-ish" side of things. I love youthful clothes and trendy, cute-sy pieces... as well as more "mature" looking, classic styles. But I wonder if, at 22, I should be wearing more of the latter?

Nah. I'm only young once, and plenty of people have thought I'm sixteen, so I may as well dress the part. ;)  I've always identified and been friends with people who are younger than me anyway.

So, I guess the important question is... what are YOU wearing today? :)

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Sweaterrific

I am not such a great knitter.

My younger sister taught me how to do the basics (like, what is required to make a scarf) about four years ago, and I pick it up every winter without fail. And then drop it in the springtime.

I've still got last year's scarf in a tangled bunch on my shelf.

My craftmanship last year was especially poor, and this particular piece has some strange holes. I was too lazy to go back when I dropped or added a stitch... and just remedied it in in the next row. Not such a good idea.

It's no wonder the poor thing looks at my so reproachfully. :P

Perhaps it's only the cold weather that inspires images of knitting by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate. Maybe I just don't have the patience for such a time-consuming craft. Regardless, I routinely pick up my knitting in the fall, and drop it in April.

It's a good thing I feel a longer lasting affection towards my sweaters. :)

My sweaters see me through three seasons of the year, receive a warm welcome come fall, and are bittersweetly bid farewell when the spring weather gets to be too hot. I've had a passion for sweaters since I was a young teen, and I've still got a couple of my first favorites, although they are so weary that I'm really going to try to convince myself to throw them away. :(

It seems that people are always giving me sweaters, long ones, short ones, classy ones and ugly ones. I've kept most of them and my collection overflows a big cardboard box. They are just so hard to part with!

Here's some reasons why I love them:

1. They add warmth to whatever I'm wearing. (Yay for layers!)
2. They are comfortable. So relaxing for around-the-house or out in public.
3. They aren't always bulky! Depending on what type of sweater you wear and what you layer underneath, they can stay slim and flattering.
4. They are unstructured. I love knits that stretch, drape and just hang so prettily. Must be my love of dance wear and costumes. :)
5. They're classic. (Seen here on Audrey, Grace, and Marilyn.)

I thought this photo shoot was absolutely adorable, and "oh! so cozy" looking! Not only are the sweaters all terrific, but every other piece is equally warm and chic. Wearing a light scarf wrapped over your head like a headband can keep you even more snug, and stockings or fingerless gloves (I'm wearing both as we speak) do wonders.

The way that skirts are worked into these ensembles is just brilliant, from solid button-downs to bright patterned, full and flowing. How about a wool or tweed one? Or a little lace dress?

Sweaters never looked so good. :)

What's your knitting story? Do you love your sweaters dearly? What's your favorite cold weather piece or accessory?

For the record, I had a lovely vacation time with my family and managed to get some much-needed rest and refreshment. I'm hoping the rest of the month will be just as sweaterrific! :)

God bless. Thank you, as always, for reading!


Images: VogueGirlKorea via dustjacket attic

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And the winners of the K & A Soap collections are...

Libbi and Grace! :)

Random.org picked numbers 29 and 57 as the special ones this evening. :) Libbi has won the 1st collection, which includes Honey L'Occitane, Apples and Cinnamon, and Fresh Cucumber. And Grace (click the name to see if it's you, because there were a couple of "Graces" entered :) will receive the 2nd set, which has Lavender, Orange Creamsicle, and Cookies 'N Cream.

Congratulations girls! :) I hope you enjoy your prizes! I'll be contacting you through your blog/email, so keep an eye open.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I hope you'll consider supporting K & A Soaps in the future. I love 'em dearly. ;)

God bless.

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Audrey Style

Audrey Hepburn is arguably one of the most famous and iconic women of the past century. She still gets listed in polls as one of the most beautiful women of all time, beating out famous contemporaries like Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Interestingly, she did not consider herself a beauty, disliking her crooked teeth, wide nostrils and large feet. Of course, we take a look at one of her photos and say, "Come on, you gorgeous Audrey, what were you complaining about?"

This presents something intriguing to consider. The way we perceive ourselves can often be so different from what others see. We examine every flaw and enlarge it in our minds, thinking that everyone else ponders it as much as we do ourselves. Not only is this completely untrue, but a very unhealthy mindset. And it will be something women struggle with until the end of time.

The only way to change this perception is to focus on the positive, speaking the truth and affirming the fact that each and every one of us is unique and beautiful, created by a loving God. And really, the outside is just the shell of the real you and me, and the most perfect physical beauty can not cover up an ugly heart. On the flip side, inner loveliness is unable to be contained and makes the person who possesses it more beautiful than any of the "perfect" celebrities and models that are attacking us from magazines and runways. Don't forget it.

Now to get back on topic (lol)... Audrey Hepburn seems to have been a woman who had that special inner beauty, also possessing  a deep well of compassion for others, the gift of making anyone at his ease, and the carriage and behavior of a finely bred lady. And, of course, she knew how to have fun. (Her informal, behind-the-scenes photos are some of the most amusing and endearing glimpses of her personality.)

Audrey Hepburn is also known for her attainability. While other 1950s glamour girls were parading around in evening gowns and jewels that would never fit in a normal women's budget, Audrey made big sunglasses, classic  pearls, and the astonishingly simple LBD (Little Black Dress), pieces that every woman could wear, look good in, and afford. (Although she also wore her own fair share of couture, establishing a lifelong frienship with Hubert de Givenchy, who dressed her for some of her most memorable films.) She never even had her ears pierced.

In my opinion, Audrey was never so lovely as in the film Sabrina. (Although her first Hollywood film, Roman Holiday, remains my favorite of her work.) The pixie hair cut suited her lovely angular face like no other, in my opinion, and I love her best when attired in the simple black top, cropped pants and ballet flats she wears late in the film (also the button-up top and shorts from the boating scene). That sort of casual glamour is the very best kind.

Of course, that amazing black and white Givency creation worn at David's party has become an icon itself. I have seen numerous recreations of the simple cocktail dress with elaborate overskirt and stunning embroidery, but it's pretty hard to live up to that original.

Now here's one of my favorite clips from the film, in which Audrey sings the popular French tune, La Vie En Rose. You pretty much can't beat her rendition. Oh yes, and Linus' brilliant advice regarding impulses. ;)

I've got a huge publicity still from Sabrina hanging in my sewing room (wearing the aforementioned black with flats ensemble) and seeing her there when I'm working always inspires me. How amazing it would be if I could be half the well-behaved lady with the heart of love and service that she was.

If you want to read more about Audrey and really get inside the heart of this beautiful woman, I highly recommend Audrey Style, by Pamela Clark Keogh. It paints a intimate, honest portrait of a very special person.

I hope you're having a lovely week! God bless you all. :)


Images: Doctor Macro

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