Holiday Cards

I love sending cards to my friends, so when the holidays roll around, I go nuts.  I spend lots of time picking out the perfect card.  For many years, my holiday cards had a motorcycling theme.  Last year, I shifted to a fashion theme.  I sent cards displaying a drawn image of a Christmas tree made from high heels.  People liked the card.

This year, I want something fashion-related but more personal.  Something me.  After hours canvassing the Internet in vain, a thought popped into my head -- why not make my own cards?!  After all, I have some skill at photography.  I own raw materials.  And it promised to be a fun exercise.  So I embarked on the creative journey.

The image I created is shown below.  You've seen me wear those heels before (here).

The cards are printed by a custom-printer (CafePress) so, if you want, you can order some for yourself.  Then again, if you're reading this, you'll probably get one in the mail!

What do you think of the image?  Do you enjoy sending out holiday cards?

Supporting Good Work

There is a famous charity that gives annual "Genius Grants."  The grants are large sums of money given to people doing good work.  I learned about the grants years ago when my artist-friends all hoped to receive one.

The best part about the grants is they contain no strings.  The money can be used for any purpose and is intended to allow recipients freedom to spend more time on the activities they are being honored for.  Being committed to their projects, that's always the case.  Most recipients regret having to struggle to make ends meet while trying to write novels, compose music or perform social work.

You can't apply for these grants and nominations are made secretly.  There's no influence or lobbying that will get you the money; you just have to do good things and hope someone notices.

I like this idea.  I like encouraging people to do good work.  Our society needs more of that and, too often, we don't reward such efforts.

It's easy to talk big but action is where it happens.  I've decided to step up to the plate.

This year, during the holidays, I'm going to give three $500 awards to bloggers who are doing their best to improve our online community.  The cash awards are recognition for past efforts and encouragement for future contributions.  The blogging achievement I plan to recognize is not frequency of posting or number of followers but, rather, quality and sincerity of content.  I want to support those who open their hearts to us.  That's a rare and precious gift.

I'm not taking requests or nominations for these awards; they will be based on who I see improving our blogging world.  The recipients can decide whether they want to be mentioned publicly; they can remain anonymous if that's their preference.

Oh, and did I mention there are trophies involved?!  Everyone loves a bigass trophy.  :-)

Like last year, I'm calling these prizes the Bloggy Awards.  You'll hear more about the Bloggies when they are bestowed to deserving recipients in December.

My Halloween Costume

I love Halloween.  Not only does it give us license to indulge our fantasies, it introduces whimsy into our pedestrian lives.  We need more of that.

I dress up in costume every year and use the occasion to be creative.  My costumes are never generic (e.g., pirate); they are specific cultural references.  Last year I was Caroline from "2 Broke Girls," the formerly-rich girl now a waitress.  The year before, I was Alice Kramden of "The Honeymooners," Jackie Gleason's TV wife.

I usually spend many days pondering what to be.  This year, the idea for my costume occurred to me in a flash of insight.  Let me explain...

A decade ago, Jennifer Garner played a female secret agent in "Alias", an entertaining show that ran for five years.  Last month I watched every episode from beginning to end.  In most episodes, Jennifer's character, Sydney Bristow, gets dressed up in a glamorous gown, with perfect hair and makeup, and attends a fancy cocktail party at the bad guys' mansion.  While mingling with guests, Sydney slips quietly out of the party and sneaks down a corridor to a private office.  She picks a lock and enters the secluded office where she copies secret documents or steals a critical object.  An alarm then goes off and Sydney has to battle her way out.  She always makes it back, looking fabulous the whole time.

The combination of female glamour and exciting espionage is potent.  So, this year, I'm going to be Sydney Bristow!

As you know, I already own lock-picking tools to carry in my sequined clutch.  And today I bought a garter belt to holster my gun and tiny grenades.  One nice advantage is that I already have a gorgeous gown for this costume - you saw it here.  Oh, and I'll slip my combat-knife into the clutch next to a tube of lipstick.  A gal needs to be prepared!

What are you going to dress up as this Halloween?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secret Agent

When I was a child, I wanted to be a secret agent.  My favorite TV show was "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."  Its star, Robert Vaughn, portrayed Napoleon Solo, a secret agent who was suave and debonair.  He had confidence, poise and strength.  I was seven years old when the show started, an impressionable age.  I styled my hair to look like him.

I've never outgrown my ambition to be a dashing spy, skilled in subterfuge and armed with neat espionage gear. 

Last month, I watched all five years of "Alias", a TV show that ran from 2001-2006 and starred Jennifer Garner as secret agent Sydney Bristow.  In every episode, Sydney broke into a secure location by picking door locks.  It is a neat skill to have.

I'm proof that you're never too old to live your dreams.  So...  I studied and learned how to pick a lock.  It's actually not hard.  Once you grasp the concept, it just requires a little practice to get the feel of it.

Locks are interesting mechanical devices whose design hasn't changed in over a century.  Once you understand how they work, it isn't difficult to defeat them.  You just need two tools, a tension wrench and a pick.

I just bought those tools in a set suitable for secret agents -- they come concealed in a credit card!  The credit card slides open to reveal the hidden tools.  See the pictures below and note the name on the card.

Did you have any dreams as a child?  Is it possible to achieve them now?  Can you borrow some ice skates and win a local figure-skating competition?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Worthy Blog

After whining about a sadly large number of bloggers who've been slacking off lately, I want to shift gears and applaud someone who is doing good work in the blogosphere.

Bethany blogs at The Glamorous Housewife.  She recently put up a lengthy series of posts on the fashions and culture of earlier time periods: the Twenties, Thirties and Forties.  Her posts both inform and entertain with historical references, pretty pictures and commentary on interesting trends, such as the emergence and different styles of makeup.

If you like learning, browse through Bethany's blog.  If you're like me, you'll get hooked.  I love learning about how women lived in earlier times.  It provides context and insight into our present lives.

Where'd Everyone Go??

 

 

Where'd everyone go??

Over the Summer, I thought my Bloglovin reader was broken.  There were so few posts by my favorite bloggers.  I went to their blogs to check up on them and noticed many had been silent for weeks.  I started to worry about the bloggers.  Then I realized they were choosing not to blog.

Why is that?  Is it the season?  Are people vacationing?

Or is it boredom?  As someone who's blogged long-term (four years), I've seen many blogs come and go.  Most seem to last two years before petering out and quietly disappearing.

Have you noticed a diminution in blogging lately?  Why do you think that happens?

Trying A New Color

I rarely wear green.  I don't even think of it as a choice.  But I was at my local boutique recently and saw a cute mesh top in a pleasant shade of green ($10).  I figured it'd look good over a lime-green skirt they also sell ($10).  I wondered if wearing gold under the green top would brighten its luster so I gave that a whirl.

I'm not sure if this outfit works, but I like to try new things.  In person, the lady-tie has green in it that I thought would complement the other pieces but, in photos, you only see its predominant color (blue).  Looking at the pictures, I'd replace it with something else less clashing.

What do you think?