Monday Mood: Meaning

My Monday mood board is normally light but sometimes we just need to vent. And sometimes it takes more than that. Sometimes it takes an army to get a message across. Sometimes our lives depend on it.

March For Our Lives

The kids have spoken. We cannot keep America great if we cannot keep America safe.

On Saturday, March 24, kids and families in cities across the country and around the globe took to the streets to demand change to gun control laws, so that their lives and safety become a priority in order to end gun violence and mass shootings in schools NOW.

The main protest was organized by students from the High School in Parkland, Florida, where a gunman from the same school killed 17 people and injured others on Valentine’s Day. March for Our Lives was anchored by the main event in Washington, D.C.

Sometimes it’s the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.

On Grief and Grieving:

Death can give focus to what money can and cannot buy. It can teach us what being rich is all about. No amount of money can ever replace the loss of someone we love.

Wealth and poverty are states of mind. Many people without money feel wealthy, while many rich people can feel poor. Death is a factor that changes all our views as we are forced to evaluate our worth and what ultimately matters in life – by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. & David Kessler.

I like this quote from Mahatma Gandhi – Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

On life Lessons:

Maya Angelou told Oprah Winfrey: When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. Your problem is you have to be shown 29 times.

How many of us have to be shown 29 times or more? Why do we have a lack of discernment for things that appear to be obvious?

Character is very much a defining matter in everything. Integrity is important.

If we’re not living life to the fullest we can at least create meaningful moments. That to me, seems reasonable. Because someone’s idea of living life to the fullest can mean jumping out of a plane every day while someone else might feel that reading a book a week is the answer.

What do you think?

Girl Who Would be King

Feel-good Friday: hey, it’s here.

Three days ago to be exact. We’ve been waiting for you so we can look like this:OR this??

Appreciating everything fashion and beauty, I loved seeing these women (minus the fabulous Linda Evangelista who is missing here) in fashion magazines in the 90’s.

Image Source: Getty

THE ORIGINAL GIRL GANG: Donatella Versace Brought Back These Supermodels For Her Spring 2018 Runway Show.

The ’90s supermodels were there to honor the 20th anniversary of Giani Versace’s death. Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen, and Carla Bruni all walked down the runway in shimmery gold dresses, making it the most instagrammable moment of Fashion Month — let alone Milan Fashion Week, hands down.

If you’re a fashion lover that would have been a moment to witness.

Smart women. Aside from their obvious beauty, most of these women have used their brains to go on to meet other success after modelling. Well rounded women care about a multitude of things knowing that an interest in fashion never minimizes one’s intellect.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend.

Girl Who Would be King

Feel-good Friday: from the heart

Very few people understand the heart

In truth, your heart is one of the masterpieces of creation. It is a phenomenal instrument. It has the potential to create vibrations and harmonies that are far beyond the beauty of pianos, strings or flutes. You can hear an instrument, but you feel your heart. And if you think you can feel an instrument, it’s only because it touched your heart. Your heart is an instrument made of extremely subtle energy that few people come to appreciate.

Taken from the untethered soul (chapter 6 – the secrets of the spiritual heart)

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: Hubert de Givenchy

“His are the only clothes in which I am myself,” Hepburn once said of Givenchy,

**Givenchy** designed outfits for many of Hepburn’s films, like this strapless, floral gown in 1954’s “Sabrina.”

according to Vogue. “He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality.”

Audrey Hepburn, as the designer’s muse, accompanied him in inventing a style that would redefine standards of beauty.

The House of Givenchy is sad to report the passing of its founder Hubert de Givenchy at the age of 91 (February 21, 1927 – March 10, 2018), a major personality of the world of French Haute Couture and a gentleman who symbolized Parisian chic and elegance for more than half a century. He will be greatly missed.

MAISON

THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE

Hubert de Givenchy founded his namesake fashion house in 1952. No sooner did it open than it earned a reputation for breaking with fashion codes of its time. After an incredibly successful 40 years career he would be succeeded by some of fashion’s great talents that contributed to the house of Givenchy ongoing story.

Hepburn’s Givenchy gown at the 1954 Academy Awards is still **one of the most memorable Oscars dresses of all time.** NBC/Getty Images

Hubert James Taffin de Givenchy founded his namesake House in 1952. That same year, he presented a collection that would leave an indelible mark on fashion history: his “separates” – elegant blouses and light skirts blending architectural lines and simplicity – met with enormous success in light of the more constricted looks of the day.

He also dressed the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly and many other famous and non-famous women. The most memorable fashion moment maybe: Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress, in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

The NY Times referred to him as the Fashion Pillar of Romantic Elegance.

Enough Said!

FUN, Girl Who Would be King

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.