Month: October 2010

happy holloween from rawsilkandsaffron.com

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I have a love/hate relationship with Holloween. As a kid, I was often made fun of for my choice of costume because I made them myself, so I stopped dressing up for the occasion. Then when I was in my 20’s I was forced to dress up at work because it was required of us to be a “team player”.  In my 30’s I ignored the occasion all together. Now, I have made it a habit to walk  through different neighborhoods in San Francisco in order to see  all the little ones in their adorable costumes as well as those who took the time to decorate their homes as if it were Christmas. Anyway, either way, I do want to wish all my followers and  friends and family the Happiest Holloween and please play it safe.  So, in honor of Holloween, I have included photos of some of my favorite pumpkin carvings. I am going to miss my traditional walk through neighborhoods on Holloween in the U.S. this year, but from the picture below, can …

french women manifesto – who knew

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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 …

fall 2010 suggested books to read

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    I love books and so I practically buy one a month to read.  I am always searching for new publications when I walk through bookstores and enjoy picking, in my opinion, what I think is a good read. Don’t get me wrong, I love all books except  suspense/mystery,  but since I tend to hon in on my creative side more so than the other sides, I choose books which will help me escape  the realities of life, even if for a few hours a day. I have, for that reason, included a list of new publications popping up at bookstores which I think may be fun to read this winter. Let me know what you think and/or if you have other suggestions, please feel free to drop me a line.

admiring haute couture

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Now here is another topic I have difficulty incorporating into my everyday life and conversation – haute couture –  best described by fashionera.com as being a  French phrase for high fashion.  Couture means dressmaking, sewing, or needlework and haute means elegant or high, so the two combined imply excellent artistry with the fashioning of garments.  The purchase of a haute couture model garment is at the top level of hand customised fashion design and clothing construction made by a couture design house.  A model haute couture garment is made specifically for the wearer’s measurements and body stance.  The made to measure exclusive clothes are virtually made by hand, carefully interlined, stay taped and fitted to perfection for each client. A haute couture could cost anywhere from 20K to whatever the price may be for the exclusively created masterpieces by the best of the best fashion designers. I have included a slideshow of some of the most interesting of styles for 2010  from the likes of Christian Dior, J. Galliano, Chanel, John Paul Gultier and more. Enjoy!

friday travel picks – le meurice hotel, paris

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I love to travel and probably can do so six to ten months out of a year, if I had the chance. Having also had the wonderful opportunity of being a travel agent, I was fortunate enough to have access to most anything related to travel I can possibly imagine in order to plan other’s dream holiday or just fantasize about mine. So, in light of my love for travel,  I have decided to set aside  Fridays to include my vacation picks, whether hotels, spa’s or destination around the globe. For my first choice of quality hotel, I have included here the website to Le Meurice Paris (***** hotel) for that special anniversary, birthday celebration or honeymoon. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

straight or wavy long hair for the woman over 40

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What can I say, I am a fan of long hair and will stay with it for as long as I can get away with it. But the funny thing is that I have naturally curly hair and as a result, spend my entire youth trying to run away from the curls and the waves without much success. However, in the last decade or so, I have been able to straighten my hair thanks to all the tools available to make it work successfully. But now, everywhere I turn,  women in my age group with long hair are going wavy or curly once again and I am fighting with myself to make the switch, because although I can do it naturally, I feel better with my straight hair. So, I am throwing this entry out there to all the women who are in the same boat as me. Let me know where you are with today’s “hair style pressures”.

french women diet plan, take 2

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I had written an entry back on June 22, 2010 here about how I planned to follow the recipes in the book French Women Don’t Get Fat to see if I am able to shed a few pounds and improve my  somewhat healthy  eating habits. Now, I consider myself a pretty disciplined individuals and when I put my mind to something I normally or usually do it. But in the case of this “diet” plan, I somewhat put it on the back burner for more reasons than one.  So, as I began to strategize for the Fall to Winter season meal plans for myself to avoid gaining the holiday pounds, I decided to check out the website for French Women Don’t Get Fat  as well as flip through my copy of the book in order to chart my meals for the next few months. So, here is one that I will use over and over again, I guarantee it. My favorite soup,  Buttersquash. I have included the recipe here just in case you are a …

colorful door knobs in decor

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I can’t stress the fact how much I enjoy walking through an Anthropologie store, ANYWHERE,USA and playing with their display of door knobs. They are colorful, creative, interesting, somewhat antique and “in my opinion” can be used for more than just door knobs. They are a great enhancement to the old boring key holder rack  in a home. A fun costume necklace, bangles and scarf  holder rack (which is easy to make) for your daughter’s room, AND as a rack  in the kitchen to hold  recyclable grocery bags and umbrellas.  They are make a wonderful personalized gifts for the holidays and even Mother’s Day (if you happen to be into making your own gifts).  So check them out and let me know what you think? Also, if you have your own suggestions of using these wonderful door knobs, please feel free to share them with us.

casual weekend sweaters

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On the weekends, I like to revert back to my tomboyish ways by dressing  as casual as possible and while doing so, I want to simply be able to throw on my favorite pair of comfortable jeans and a sweater and call it day. Since I agree with  fashion advisers in suggesting women over 40 stay away from bulky sweaters, I  found a few which I think will do me just find this winter season. The cool thing about these sweaters is that they are border line between dressy and casual, which means I can wear them over slacks or a skirt to work or with jeans over the weekends. I call these sweaters transition sweaters from mid fall to early winter and then from late winter to “almost” spring in some places. I found these at J. Crew (in store and online) and although sometimes it’s really intimidating to walk into the store if you aren’t twelve years old, the sweaters are well worth the effort nonetheless. Let me know what you think?

fashionista or sarah jessica parker?

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One word, which took me a while to get used to, is none other than the word “fashionista” and after looking it up in the dictionary to get the true definition of it, I discovered that EVEN this word’s meaning has evolved through time as a result of shows like “Sex In The City” and Sarah Jessica Parker. I am certain that most any woman is aware of the show, the movies and Sarah Jessica Parker and of course there are some of us who admire her style and others who question it.  But I must say, although eccentric and sometimes over the top, her sense of style is most unforgettable and  a challenge for most anyone else to pull off. So, here is hoping we can duplicate her conservative look as a woman over 40 and do our best to avoid the rest.