NEVER GIVE UP

I recently ran across this quote: "....the only real failure is to never try." --Paula Deen. I'm sure there are many others who have said the same in some way or another. I just happen to run across it from Paula today. I think it's worth hearing over and over again.

Hugs--duchess

I've learned quite a few things about being happy. More importantly, I've learned more about me.

I'm taking a break from watching films. A small break. I'm reading "The Happiness Project" as part of my New Years Resolution. So far (only on chapter 3)

BLESSINGS

A friend of mine works for a hospice company. She loves the work, although it is quite difficult dealing with the end of life so often. She reminds her facebook friends daily to know we are blessed and to take advantage of each day we are given. Her message really touched me today. I want to share it with you:

"My prayers are with the two deaths I accompanied this weekend--one a baby and one an elderly man. Reach out to those around you who are suffering and let them know you care! Never let a day go by that you do not make relationships right. Time passes too quickly and you don't want to live with regret."--Dianne

I so appreciate her messages. She reminds me daily to embrace my blessings and make the most of every day (which she does). We all need a reminder every now and then.

Hugs--
*duchess*

NEW YEAR, NEW DREAMS

I have been encouraged to put together a "vision board" this year. I've never done one before, but I think it will help me focus my thoughts. As a "creative" type, my mind is always going with new ideas but sometimes they never happen. :( That makes me sad. I'm assured that if I put thoughts on 'the board' it will help me make them happen.

I have been cutting away getting ideas on the board. I'm really, really excited to make it happen!

I've been horrible at blogging lately. I think that needs to go on my board--blog more often or something like that....

*duchess*

LOVE THIS!

Saw this on the "Pickles" website:

http://www.pickles.no/cute-gift-bags/

I want to do this first thing this year!! I just picked up some fabric/old sweaters from the thrift shop. I think I'll use those first. :)

*duchess*

FIRST GIFT

Here's a message from a fellow blogger at Whatever:

yes....i am talking about water again.
today is the day where bloggers everywhere are joining together in a campaign to
buy water for christmas.

4500 mothers bury their children EVERY DAY due to contaminated water.
the lack of access to clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations.
and it doesn't have to be.

as we get ready to rush through department stores and browse through catalogs searching
for the perfect presents....lets pause for a moment.
let's PAUSE.
today...November 13...lets buy clean water.
clean life saving water.
$10 will provide one person in africa clean water for 10 years.
your money can change and possibly save someone's life.
a real life.

$10
that is 2 starbucks coffees
it's on CD on itunes
it's a pizza
one movie ticket
less than one container of detergent!
$10 can change someone's life.

click the link below to be directed to the secure donation site of the highly recognized, non-profit
charity: water.
click on the yellow donate button.
All donations are tax deductible.
100% of the profit goes directly to clean water solutions in west africa.

http://http//www.charitywater.org/pages/water4christmas/

share this on your blog.
link it...copy it...tell everyone."

water4christmas

I follow a terrific blog every day. One that makes me smile and feel happy whenever I read it. The blogger loves rainbow colors and I can't help but smile everytime I see one of her 'rainbow' photos. I'm not sure she even realizes her photos run in rainbow colors. I have a friend just like her actually. Everything in my friend's house is organized following the rainbow color wheel. My son does this too! I think these are happy people! :) All of her photos are amazing.

Meg, the author of the blog 'Whatever', and a few of her friends spent a whole childless weekend making crafts for this special non-profit: Water4Christmas. I thought it was spectacular! If I lived anywhere near them, I would have definitely joined in the fun. I love volunteering for great causes.

Here's the link to Whatever. Read a bit and buy a few items from the Etsy store they put together specifically for the water cause.

*duchess*

REEL REVIEW: VALENTINO

"I make dresses for women who actually wear them." –Valentino

If you haven't already seen "Valentino: The Last Emperor" documentary, you need to! I loved it. What a great peek into the life and design process of this incredible fashion icon. I wish it would have been longer than the 1-1/2 hours.

The show follows Valentino and his long time partner Giancarlo through the final year of the Valentino spring collection, Paris runway show, celebration of his 45 year career as a fashion designer (a 3 day celebration), and the finale runway show collection in Rome. In addition to all this fabulousness (is that a word?), the peek into his personal life is irresistible.

As for the Haute Collections, the real magic happens in the backroom where the devoted seamstresses work tirelessly to help Valentino complete his designs. Not one sewing machine in the whole place!! Everything is done by hand. Unbelievable. The method is simple: The head seamstress is handed a sketch by Valentino himself, he gives her a brief review of what he wants, she then returns to the workroom where they make the design come to life. At one point in the film you see 6 ladies working on one dress finishing the details just before Valentino's review. Truly shows you must be born into Haute Couture to know and respect this method. You slowly realize perhaps this complete design method and hand sewn art will die without the likes of Valentino.

His personal life is truly "LaDolce Vita." Private jets, Royalty, super models, famous film stars, 6 villas, 200 house staff, and one fabulous house manager who makes everything work seamlessly treating Valentino like royalty (one could argue he is). All this giving Valentino time to design and sketch his like-no-other creations. His homes are perfect, impeccable, sculptured, and indescribably gorgeous. His perfection is carried throughout EVERY aspect of his life. His impeccable business suits. Everything he touches. He and Giancarlo have spent their 45 years together 365/24/7 as described by them. A beautiful relationship you get to see firsthand. Inspiring!

A definite MUST SEE. One of my favorite films!

*duchess*

Drew Barrymore released her first directorial debut this weekend. I didn't see it this weekend due to the never ending flu feeling here at my house. I woke up today to not so good reviews on her behalf which was disappointing. I, for one, will always support Drew no matter what the critics say. I love her enthusiasm and love of life. It's contagious.

We are coming into the 'Oscar' season, meaning the Oscar worthy films will be out soon. This summer was slow to say the least. Are there any companies out there making good films? We can't even depend on the well knowns anymore. I look forward to the coming months. Surely something will be worth watching. Until then, I'll remember the Emmys red carpet with a smile on my face.

POOL TRICKS

I'm not sure why, but ever since we introduced our dog Lily to the pool, she loves taking a swim on the back of whoever will let her ride. She'll just lay her head on your head and bark until you start moving. Sounds silly, I know, but she loves it. You'll occasionally find her swimming or wading through the pool by herself if no one else will join her. She was a stray my son brought home over the summer. He couldn't stand looking at her sad eyes. She's a pit bull mix and a real sweetheart. We couldn't let her go once she came home that day.

*duchess*

SOMETHING NEW?

I've been away from Blogging for so long now....I'm feeling guilty. Then I started thinking about WHY I wasn't using the blog to share thoughts, etc. So...for my birthday, I treated myself to a new look. Do you like the new design? I still have lots of work to do to finish tidying up, but it's close. The designer I hired did a fabulous job. It was quite easy and painless.

Then I started thinking I might just be bored with the subject matter. Not that I'm bored with movies but that the movies being released lately have been really boring. I felt like I was writing the same thing over and over---boring, slow, etc. Where are all the creative geniuses that are supposedly flooding Hollywood? Or is it their producers and movie houses that are taking away their creative license? Who knows...

Blogs I read are mostly about Moms sharing their everyday happenings, women sharing their life experiences, and of course (because I'm an Interior Designer), I always browse the blogs related to interiors. I'll continue to browse these for sure...but what of my own blog?

I'm thinking my blog may need a bit of tweaking in many areas. I'll try to be better about posting, but give me some time to think and re-create what I want to share.

*duchess*

THE MASCOT AND HIS BROTHER

Last Friday night was the school football game. My oldest son is the school mascot. He had just gotten out of the costume when I took this photo. Poor guy was soaked it was so hot outside that night. He's giving his brother a loving hug--which doesn't happen often. Glad I got it on film... :) And yes, it's time for a haircut.

*duchess*

GIFT

This gorgeous flower kept me company while I was on the terrace in Montreal. The owner of the B&B grew them in various places on property and then placed them at the breakfast table for his guests to enjoy.

p.s. I was testing the photo option import program. I love the size and clarity of this photo!

Checking the text update to Blog. Let's hope it works! :)

MONTREAL

NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL in Old Montreal. Horse drawn carriages are available at the plaza for tourist to enjoy.

CALIFORNIA AGAIN...

It has been a whirlwind month. I've been stressing because my blog hasn't had much attention this month--even though I'm always thinking, "oh, I need to blog about that..." Just didn't happen.

We spent the last week in San Jose and the Trampoline and Tumbling Junior Olympic Nationals Competition. This is also the only time this summer the 4 of us will be all together. Camps and what not will fill the rest of our summer. (School starts early August here in Texas.)

So how did my gymnast do you ask? Well, he came home with 2 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal (by 3 tenths). But I can't tell anyone because he doesn't want me to brag. Here's the champion:

The other big news is that a day after we got home, Kooza celebrated his 13th birthday (photo above). Yep! All this good stuff happening in one week. Bliss.

CALIFORNIA

I’m back from my trip to California. L*O*V*E that state! The weather actually felt cold to a Texan like me. I know. You can giggle. I packed shorts and short sleeved shirts, but only wore my blue jeans, long sleeves and kept my jacket close by. By week’s end I was adjusting to the 70 degrees, but then it was time to leave. Luckily, we have another trip to California planned this month. I can’t wait to get back!

Here’s a picture of my new friends, D&M and Jake the Wonder Dog, strolling along Seal Beach after a great breakfast at The Rivers End café.

REEL REVIEW "NEW IN TOWN"

It could have been, should have been…but sadly wasn’t the cute romantic comedy I was expecting. I was so looking forward to seeing Harry Connick in a new film too! The story was all too familiar and to be brutally honest, the filmmakers missed the mark in every sense. Sadly, I would put this film on the ‘skip it’ list.

Luckily, you have no choice at this point except to rent it. If you have a Redbox near you, that’s the best way to go (only spend the $1). New in Town should have been made for television release—even then, I’ve seen better shows.

Having said that, I believe the lead actors did the best they could with the material they were given….

*duchess*

REEL REVIEW

Wolverine

Which ending did you see?? There are 3 you know. Our friend Skip did a stand up job working with the other writers and Hugh Jackman to put together a film that left us hanging—and wanting to see the next installment. Wolverine probably isn’t everyone’s ‘cup of tea,’ but the Duchess definitely liked it. Yes, I’m more of the romantic comedy fan, but every now and then I love a good fantasy/action movie. After all, we’re looking for an escape from reality, aren’t we?

This Wolverine takes us back to the beginning. I don’t know the comic book story character, but I’m getting to know this crew of X-Men and the bonus mutants. The story line is a little disjointed. There are a few corny lines. All is quickly overlooked by the fantastic graphics—and of course, Jackman himself. It’s crazy what they can do these days! I walked out of the theater saying, “Wow, how do they come up with that stuff?!? Huge imaginations! And the graphics—you can hardly tell it isn’t real.” Well...there were a few places where you could tell, but nothing that breaks the illusion of the story. There were just enough slow moments to let you catch your breath and then continue the ride. Believe me--I don’t think anyone can say they know what is going to happen next when they watch this one.

We’re all expecting action adventure for the summer. Make this film your first stop. ….and be waiting for more from Skip Woods.

*duchess*

p.s. It is quite graphic. This one’s not for the little guys unless they’re used to watching that sort of violence.