Mastering the Art of Julia

I know I'm about a year too late, but did you guys see that wonderful movie, Julie and Julia? I'm re-watching it. I forgot how wonderful this movie is. Its one of those you can pop in at any time and enjoy over and over again. Based on the book by Julie Powell, this movie really brought Julia Child back onto the front burner. She was such a wonderfully exciting woman. I find it so extraordinarily inspiring that she didn't even begin culinary school until she was 36. There is so much pressure for those of us in our 20s to know just what we want to do with our lives as soon as we graduate college, and just look at Julia. She found her calling a little later, and it happened perfectly for her. Mastering the Art of French Cooking is in the top 10 Best Selling cookbooks of all time. Julia brought this art to the women of the United States, and we could never thank her enough. If you haven't seen this great movie, watch it! It will inspire even those whose cooking level is only making toast or a box of Shells and Cheese, to poach an egg or even attempt Beef Bourguignon.

I Love Lucy

Yesterday would have been Lucille Ball 's 99th birthday. I am lucky enough to have a mother who is obsessed, and I mean obsessed with I Love Lucy. She used to tape the re-runs off TV on our VCR and we ended up with nine or ten VHS tapes full of episodes. If we were bored and there was nothing good on TV, or during lunch time we'd pop in a tape and watch some Lucy. Thank god when the DVD sets started coming out cause those poor VHS tapes were getting worn out! Not only was Lucille Ball incredibley funny, she was also a television pioneer. She and Desi Arnaz were the first to use the 3 camera technique, filming scenes from different angles, which is now used in every TV show ever. She also came up with the concept of syndication (again, thank god) and she was the first woman to own her own film studio, Desilu which made such shows as The Dick Van Dyke Show, My Three Sons, The Untouchables, Make Room for Daddy, That Girl, and many many more. Lucille Ball was dubbed The Queen of Comedy, and rightfully so, 50 years after I Love Lucy, it is still played on TV and she still known by everyone everywhere. Some of my favorite episodes are Lucy Tells the Truth, Breaking the Lease, and Housewarming. The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour was also great with guest stars like Talulha Bankhead, Betty Grable and Harry James, and Danny Thomas. Happy Birthday Lucy, we're still watching!

Vintage, Used, and Fabulous

Antique malls, flea markets, and second hand shops have the greatest finds. If you have any sort of taste for vintage style, these places will become your best friends. Find a great antique mall and it'll be your go to place if you want to find some inexpensive accessories and knickknacks for your home, if you need a place to spend a rainy or snowy day, or if you just want to go wander around for some inspiration or alone time. Good Juju is an amazing market full of great finds from all eras. Unfortunately, it's only open the first weekend of the month, Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 12pm-4pm. It is such a fun place but, since its only open for a short time, there is often a crowd so get there early! Located in the West Bottoms at 1412 W. 12th street, get there this weekend for some great finds! Vintage Market is located in Zona Rosa and is open seven days a week. Its a little more girly but also has great prices and amazing finds. Jewelry, clothing, furniture, pictures, tons of great stuff and girly fun! Parkville Antique Mall is a hidden treasure, located in English Landing Center, right by the park, you can spend a whole day in this place. Really great deals and tons of booths, if you haven't been there check it out. I found some great stuff to furnish my new apartment! River Market Antique Mall is another place you could get lost in. Four floors of stuff to rummage around in, you will be thoroughly worn out after a trip here. Shopping second hand is great. The stuff you find is higher quality than anything made today, you won't end up with the same stuff that all your friends have because its totally unique, and its a form of recycling, instead of buying new stuff made from new materials, you are finding great stuff that already has a story and life behind it. 

Rhinestones are a (poor) girl's best friend

Lately I've been on the look out for great vintage rhinestone clip on earrings. Luckily, they can be found at a lot of flea markets.  I bought my first pair for $6 at an antique store in Weston, Missouri and found two other pair for great prices too (one pair was only $4!) I like stuff like this because they can really glam up otherwise blah outfits, (I like to wear mine with a simple black t-shirt, cute jeans and flats) or they add a great touch when you're dressed to the nines. 

You're Gonna Make It After All

Someone left me a comment (!!) wanting me to write about retro television shows..which happens to be one of my areas of expertise. I just tried to write one blog about my top favorites, but i realized it would end up being two pages long so I'm going to take them one at a time. I had to start with my favorite show of all time, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Who could guess why this show would be the favorite of a little girl when she's 10, but that's my reality. This show, I believe, has shaped my entire life. Were there other shows quite like this? I watch it now, in my late twenties and think, this show was like Sex and the City of the '70's. Maybe not sex, but lots of dates, maybe not labels, but great '70's fashion! Mary Richards left a man who wouldn't give her what she wanted, she moved to Minneapolis, became the executive producer of the worst news show in town, and lived her life true to herself. She also met Rhoda Morgenstern, who for me was the true hero of the show. I think Rhoda was the first person I really idolized, her sarcastic, self-deprecating humor, her bright pink apartment, her New York accent, and who can tie a scarf better than Rhoda? When I was about 13 I found an etc. sign at a thrift store, just like Rhoda had hanging in her apartment, I spray painted it gold and hung it in my bedroom just to pay homage to her. Mary and Rhoda were best friends, they were both smart, stylin' independent ladies who weren't going to settle for anything less than what they wanted. I'm getting a craving to pop in a DVD right now and watch a little Mary and Rhoda myself.