Just for Fun – BYOP

I don’t know why they call them “Standard” Poodles when they’re anything but Ordinary.

I first heard about the Standard Poodle Club of the Desert at Poochella where I take my dogs for grooming.

The SPCD is a social club that is comprised of over 350 poodles and their people. They have meet-ups once a month from November through April to promenade oodles of poodles in a walk along El Paseo in Palm Desert. Then everyone meets for breakfast.

The goal is to socialize and share their love of the breed with the community. And it is a sight to see. I thought I would check it out even though my preference runs towards shelties.

After all, poodles are sought after canine companions, known for their intelligence, hypoallergenic stylish coat and good nature.

Fun fact: the poodle of yesteryear was originally used as a hunting dog in Germany.

To properly walk them, you have to look as good as they do.

I never had a Standard Poodle. As a kid we had two miniature poodles. Maybe because I was tiny at the time. Pom Pom, the male, was black. Trixie, the female, was white. People usually conjure up images of poodles elegantly prancing around a show ring. My mom had ours coiffed but never in a show ring. Although at the time they did run the show & appeared pretty high maintenance.

Website: www.spoodles.org

Girl Who Would be King

Feel-good Friday: Women

In honor of International Women’s Year. Here’s to New Places.

Happy Weekend

We deserve more than a day

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: Cowboy Hats

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys —Willie Nelson

**Jane Fonda** pulls off the cowgirl look *as only she can –* with natural style & grace.

How about cowgirls?

If you don’t reside in places like Tennessee or Texas, you seldom see cowboy hats worn except as a fashion statement. But they’re back! As a fashion statement or otherwise.

Cowboy boots are among the top spring/summer 2018 shoe trends, but to fully embrace your cowgirl spirit, you definitely also need a cowboy hat. I’ve been ~~anxiously~~ waiting for this Western style to reappear on the scene. That’s why I didn’t let go of a few pairs of cowboy boots that sat dormant at the back of my closet. And maybe that’s why I recently bought another pair of cute cowboy inspired ankle books.

**Madonna** has worn many hats — *both literally and figuratively.*

Back then: Montgomery Clift, Marilyn Monroe, and Clark Gable – The Misfits, 1960 Photo: Getty Images

They’re strong & sexy and have major attitude.

Photos: Getty Images

Food + Drink, Girl Who Would be King

Quick ‘n Easy Coq au Vin

Hearty dishes aren’t usually described as elegant, but this classic French recipe is the very definition.

This is something I would usually reserve for ordering in a good French restaurant, and even then, it’s not something I readily crave. But I had chicken and I had white wine on hand. Actually I had everything except the bacon so it made sense to find a recipe.

PHOTO: Liz Andrew. STYLING: Erin McDowell

The only problem? You need Julia Child levels of patience and skill to pull it off. Enter this foolproof version, which is ready in under an hour. Plus, it’s made with dry white wine instead of red for an elegant twist.

What you need:

3 pounds chicken (8 pieces total—thighs, breasts and drumsticks)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 strips bacon, diced

1 large sweet onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 pint cremini mushrooms, sliced

2 cups dry white wine

1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

½ cup heavy cream

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until it’s well browned, about 4 minutes per side.
Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Add the bacon to the skillet and cook until the fat begins to render, about 3 minutes.
Add the onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and mushrooms, and sauté until the mushrooms are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
Add the browned chicken back to the skillet. Pour the wine into the skillet, stir in the mustard and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat.
Cover the skillet and simmer until the chicken is almost fully cooked, 15 to 20 minutes.
Uncover the skillet and add the cream. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is fully cooked, 8 to 10 minutes.
Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

de rien

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Monday Mood Board #16

Academy Awards turned 90 last night. Here are the winning dresses of the evening in my opinion based on elegance, fit and one thrown in for her ability to carry it off with sheer style.

**Allison Janney,** Best Supporting Actress winner for I, Tonya, wrapped up her award season dream run wearing Reem Acra.

**Viola Davis** in a sequined hot pink Michael Kors collection and a matching clutch.

**Helen Mirren** in a deep blue long sleeved column gown.

**Laura Dern** in a Calvin Klein By Appointment white gown with asymmetrical sleevees.

**Kristin Cavallar** in a soft cream Pamela Rolland chiffon grown paired with Neil J. Rodgers heels and an Edie Parker clutch. Also wearing H Stern jewels.

**Taraji P. Henson** in a black custom Vera Wang gown. I wasn’t sure about this one but she managed to carry it off. Sexy + elegant. And **the legs….**

Photos: Getty Images

Girl Who Would be King, THINKAboutit

Self Care: Words from the Wise

Six months, when looking ahead seems like an eternity, but when looking back, it’s a blink of an eye. It really is.

One of my best friends gifted me with a book entitled when thing fall apart when things fell apart after losing my husband. Unknowingly, my sister gifted me with the very same book. They both believed the book would help guide me to some understanding or at least a place of acceptance. It was an interestingly thoughtful read and it did help to some degree. At the very end there was a website where you could enter your e-mail address to receive weekly mindful insights to your inbox. Reassuring insights are always encouraging, especially when they come from an American woman who became a Tibetan Buddhist.

Like all explorers, we are drawn to discover what’s out there without knowing yet if we have the courage to face it. -Pema Chödrön

Just wanted to share one which I feel to be thought provoking and true. Let me know if you agree.

THE UNIVERSAL DILEMMA

The source of our unease is the unfulfillable longing for a lasting certainty and security, for something solid to hold on to. Unconsciously we expect that if we could just get the right job, the right partner, the right something, our lives would run smoothly. When anything unexpected or not to our liking happens, we think something has gone wrong. I believe this is not an exaggeration of where we find ourselves. Even at the most mundane level, we get so easily triggered—someone cuts in front of us, we get seasonal allergies, our favorite restaurant is closed when we arrive for dinner. We are never encouraged to experience the ebb and flow of our moods, of our health, of the weather, of outer events—pleasant and unpleasant—in their fullness. Instead we stay caught in a fearful, narrow holding pattern of avoiding any pain and continually seeking comfort. This is the universal dilemma.

When we pause, allow a gap, and breathe deeply, we can experience instant refreshment. Suddenly we slow down, look out, and there’s the world. It can feel like briefly standing in the eye of the tornado or the still point of a turning wheel. Our mood may be agitated or cheerful. What we see and hear may be chaos or it may be the ocean, the mountains, or birds flying across a clear blue sky. Either way, momentarily our mind is still and we are not pulled in or pushed away by what we are experiencing. – Excerpted from: Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears – by Pema Chödrön

Why do people look for outside help or answers, and in doing so discover spirituality? It’s a survival mechanism to deal with life’s challenges which hits you in the face. I found out Pema came to explore her spirituality as an attempt to cope with the emotional trauma of her failed marriages.

About Pema:

One of the most beloved of American Buddhist teachers, Pema Chödrön has devoted her life to inspiring people to awaken and has changed many lives in the process. She is the author of many influential books, such as When Things Fall Apart, Living Beautifully, and The Places that Scare You. Her writing, which explores Buddhist concepts and offers paths to conquering subjects such as suffering, fear, and difficult times, has inspired people worldwide.

My advice: You take sound advice from the wise until you’re wise enough to offer your own.

Any advice?

Girl Who Would be King

Feel-good Friday: MARCHing right along

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.

Making any March Resolutions? Lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier, drink less, become vegan, meditate more, stress less, give more, motivate yourself……food for thought. More, Less, More, Less. Less is More.

Because time marches on and maybe New Year’s came and went so fast that you have to catch up with your resolutions which you’ll have a hard time resolving if you put too much pressure on yourself intending to fulfill all of them at once. You can only try to do your best.

Best of the weekend to you!

No Pressure.

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Design – seeing everything in black + white

I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to perusing open houses.

Mostly because I end up loving a lot of them and hate the fact that I can’t move right in or more likely, cannot afford to. But it’s fun to look. I realize how many different styles of homes I’ve come to appreciate. From Mid-Century Modern ~~easily influenced by where I’m at~~, to old world Spanish hacienda and country cottage chic but in a Cape Cod sort of way. I like furnishings that are modern, vintage, collectible and contemporary but comfortable. Mixed with vibrant colour or plain neutral. I don’t like too stark. I prefer warmth. But then I saw this:

I literally stumbled upon this unassuming ranch style home for sale in my neighborhood when out walking the dogs. It’s not quite finished being updated (at least on the outside) but I was curious so I wandered inside.

It was not showy; actually kind of simple in a bold statement kind of way. What I like is how clean and elegant black and white looks. Very parisienne. Very timeless. Very me. ~~at the very moment~~ Could it be I’m suffering from homestyle schitzophrenia?

Seeing something opposite to what you already have gives fresh perspective to how you can decorate. It doesn’t make it better, it just gives it a different personality. It’s always fun to see what others are doing when it comes to home decor or anything else for that matter.

Do you agree?

Photos: d. king

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: the Oscar for best dress goes to…

The Oscars are this Sunday

In my opinion, these are all academy award winning dresses.

Let’s just be clear that as much as we admire many of these stars, love the films they’re nominated for and even the ones who are there only for the sake of presenting an award, we really love seeing what they’re wearing and who wore it best. After all this is the time to pull out all the stops. The fantasy is being able to dress like a storybook princess one special day of the year.

There are so many past and present stars who wore it best. It was difficult to choose, but looking through the archives and in no particular order, I narrowed it down to some of my all-time favourites. So beginning with someone named DEBBIE:

Nominated for her role in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, **Debbie Reynolds** brought **the princess look** to the red carpet and the stage for a performance during the ceremony – **1958**.

**Jennifer Lawrence and Dior** have been a match made in sartorial heaven since the two began working together in **2012**. This lace and tulle confection which she wore for her Joy nomination was another one for the books.

In the span of a year actress **Lupita Nyong’o** became a style icon. Following her baby-blue Prada dress that she won an Oscar in, she followed it up with this intricate pearl-covered **Calvin Klein** Collection gown – **2015**.

*How many can pull off this color?* I say do it if you can and you will **be noticed!**
**Michelle Williams**‘s saffron **Vera Wang** dress has become one of the most memorable fashion moments. The actress attended with her then-boyfriend, the late Heath Ledger, who was nominated for his role in Brokeback Mountain, where they both met – **2006**.

**Gwyneth Paltrow** pioneered the caped trend at the **2012** Academy Awards in this **Tom Ford**, which became one of the biggest fashion trends from outerwear to cocktail dresses. It solidified her status as style icon – with good reason.

If only for my love of Vintage. Penelope Cruz channeled a fairytale princess in a **vintage Pierre Balmain** gown when she won Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona in **2009**.

Becoming the first African American woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress is certainly a moment in time to remember, as was **Halle Berry’s Elie Saab** partially sheer floral gown – **2002.** *And really; how many can get away wearing a dress like this.* **She did!**

As if **Mira Sorvino** knew she would be the winner of the night, the actress aptly dressed as a princess for her big Academy win for The Mighty Aphrodite – **1996**. I loved her in that movie, and this dress also reminds me of a vintage one hanging in my closet, only in black and a tad less formal. *Still waiting for my perfect role.*

No bubble head, **Joan Collins** clearly turned heads in this bubble hem gown—and in the 50’s no formal look was complete without elbow-length gloves. You don’t see dresses like this anymore – **1950**.

On Monday we’ll have a look at some of the dresses from this year’s Academy Awards.

How about you? Have an all-time favourite gown?

most images: harper’s bazaar

Art, Architecture, Culture, Girl Who Would be King

Art/Culture: National Theatre presents “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to see a special performance from London’s National Theatre of Tennessee Williams’s 1955 Pulitzer Prize-winning play

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

**Sienna Miller & Jack O’Connell in the starring roles.** Show image photography -Charlie Grey.

But I saw it from the comfort of my seat at the Camelot theatre in Palm Springs.

When my friend Megan told me she had an extra ticket for the showing I actually thought we were going to watch a live stage performance. It was instead a pre-recorded live performance in select cinemas around the world for one night only. And to my surprise it was very much like being right there in person. Or at least the closest thing to experiencing the actual feeling of sitting in the theatre. This was the first I’ve heard of National Theatre Live.

**Scene from the play. Production photography – Johan Persson.**

National Theatre Live was founded specifically to bring access to the incredible live performances of The National Theatre and shares them with audiences who may not have the opportunity to go to London’s West End to see them.

Broadcasts retain the feeling of a live performance and though each broadcast is filmed in front of a live audience in the theatre, cameras are carefully positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure that cinema audiences get the ‘best seat in the house.’ I was amazed at how good it was.

I vaguely remember seeing the movie about a tempestuous marriage in a dysfunctional family with lots of secrets and lies. In the original it was Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor in the title roles and I thought who would ever be able to outdo them? But this play, directed by Benedict Andrews managed to pair a wonderful Jack O’Connell as drunken husband Brick, and an amazing performance by Sienna Miller as Maggie “the cat”, Brick’s neglected wife. It’s a steamy family fight for survival that’s complex, riveting, disturbing and poetic all at once. I have to admit their Mississippi accents makes the fighting and arguing sound that much more romantic.

So unless I’m actually in London, I’ll be on the lookout for more of these cinematic events by this exceptional company.

ABOUT NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE
National Theatre Live launched in June 2009 with a broadcast of the National Theatre production of Phèdre with Helen Mirren. NTL captures live performances from the National Theatre and from other theatres in the UK and broadcasts them in more than 2,500 movie theaters and other venues in 60 countries worldwide. As of February 2017, the global audience reached almost 8 million people.

Next Production is Hamlet – The 2015 broadcast, with Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role, returns to UK and international cinemas.

Have you seen one of these?