Modern Femme loves...Hermes scarves

My family members are devotees of Hermes.  The men love the ties, the women the scarves.  None are ever discarded, we pass them down generation to generation.  I have some of my grandmother's scarves in icy blue and dusty olive, my husband has a cheerful assortment of my (now retired) father's ties.

Besides their swoon-inducing colors and designs, Hermes scarves can be all the accessory a lady needs.  In a perfect world, where I would have closets full of Hermes scarves, I would only need one dress, five scarves, and some matching heels for a different look every day of the week.    

A sheath and her scarves by modernfemme featuring silk scarves

And sometimes an Hermes scarf is more than just a scarf.  Look at the delightful transformations of these French masterpieces:

 

Bisous mes cheries,

MF

Modern Femme loves (she thinks)...Google Glass

My brother-in-law sent me this video for Google's latest innovation.  It's amazing to watch - the rapid advances of  technology are marvelous and slightly terrifying.  I can still remember writing letters to my college roommates, in that dark era before email and cell phones.  Will we all eventually become like the Borg, with technology embedded into our very senses?  Is resistance futile?  I'm not sure that I would mind, after watching this video.

Quick and easy marinade

Y'all - I made this marinade at 6:00 am this morning - its easy and fast to assemble, and fabulous with beef on the grill. You probably already have at least 4 of the 6 ingredients in your pantry:

2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced rosemary
2 teaspoons minced thyme
1/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Pinch salt

Throw these ingredients together in a ziploc bag, and marinate (in the fridge) your choice of beef for 8 hours, or up to 2 days.

When ready to grill, remove beef from its happy liquid haven, and discard marinade.

Ta da!

Lessons from Lent: on sacrifice and humility

I want to tell you all about a lesson I've learned over the last week about the right and wrong way to make a decision about sacrificing something, and how important humility is in that decision.  I'm going to tell it through the lens of Lent.  But before I get going I want to issue this disclaimer:  I haven't spoken about my faith before because I strive to keep this blog relatively light-hearted, and because I believe that we each have a unique relationship to our existence, and the right to interpret that existence (atheist, agnostic, believer) in whichever way we choose.  M'kay? Let's all be friends.

Anyway, let me get on with it - Wednesday of last week was the start of Lent, which is a solemn time of 40 days of fasting/sacrifice, prayer and reflection in the Christian Church.   Last Wednesday, I impulsively decided that for my Lenten sacrifice I would give up my nightly cocktail, and then announced my decision on Facebook for all my friends and family to see.  While I had good intentions, I realize now that I made that decision for all the wrong reasons.

(Wrong) Reason #1: While this was a worthy gesture of Lenten fasting because I really LIKE my glass of wine or beer each night, when I made my decision public, it went from being something that should have been quiet, internal, and contemplative to a big deal, with a fair share of boastfulness and swagger.  

(Wrong) Reason #2:  Instead of thinking about the spiritual and emotional benefits I would gain from participating in this sacrificial gesture, I focused on my pride - anticipating murmurs of approval from family members, and even going so far as to think, "ohhh I bet I'll lose some weight, I should weigh myself at the start of the 40 days and again at the end and see if I'm down a few pounds."   (In case you haven't guessed, this is not the point of Lent.)

I'll spare you the suspense - it's probably not a big surprise to hear that in the past week I succumbed to temptation and had a glass of wine (or two).  Trust me, it was a glass of wine with a lot of baggage and all of it was prideful.   From the my first sip I was thinking "what will others think?  Will they be scornful of my weak will?  Will they say cruel or hurtful or judgemental things?  Will I look like a fool for having made this a big deal publicly?"  Again, NOT the point of Lent.  (Thank goodness for forgiveness - I'll get 'em next year, J!)

But, sacrifices - rightly or wrongly made - don't just happen at Lent.  A sacrifice doesn't have to be tied to a spiritual practice.  We all make sacrifices everyday - we sacrifice eating food we love to go on diets, we sacrifice our beloved wine or beer to go on the wagon, we sacrifice our fun diversions by trying to not spend so much money, we sacrifice sleep to exercise, or sacrifice time to ourselves to volunteer in our communities or do things for our family members or friends.  Maybe you haven't thought about it this way before, but making a decision to diet or start a new routine is a form of sacrifice. 

And here's what I've learned:  Any sacrifice, whether it be abstaining from something (dieting, giving up something you like to do), or adding something new to your life (a workout regime, volunteering your time), that comes from a boastful or prideful place is doomed to eventual failure because you aren't doing it for yourself.  You're doing it for the attention and admiration from others. 

In other words, if you're considering starting up an intense workout regime because it's badass and other people will admire your dedication, hold on.  If you're looking in the mirror and wanting to diet because you want people tripping all over themselves to tell you how gorgeous you look, wait.  If you're thinking about volunteering somewhere because you want to be known as the really generous, big-hearted community member, back it up.  All of those reasons have nothing to do with you.  You are making a decision to sacrifice something to gain the approval of others.  And let me tell you - cause I know from immediate experience - that dog won't hunt. 

So my dears, if you decide to make a sacrifice - whether it be starting a workout routine...or diet...or abstaining from something...or volunteering your time, do it because it will make you, and you alone happy.  As in, you'd be okay with no one ever knowing that you were waking up at 4:00am to run, or only eating whole grains and lean protein, or heading up the staff at your local food kitchen.  You would know, and that humble knowledge would be enough - in fact it would be more than enough.  That is the lesson that I learned this week.

Photo by davidh_

 
Imperfectly yours,
xoxo
MF

Today's Modern Femme: Malonda

My dears - it's been a while since I've posted on the "Today's Modern Femme" series, but yay, we're back!  The only thing fiercer than the wind on my walk to drop Bebe off at daycare this morning was the fabulous Malonda.  As I gritted my teeth against the freezing cold, I saw her statuesque figure and fantastic hair, and knew that nothing short of frostbite and hypothermia would keep me from interviewing her for y'all. 

Malonda isn't just striking on the outside - she's a creative and entrepreneurial force! Here's what the author, host, spokesperson and model had to say about her winter beauty routine, anticipated spring fashion, and the perfect menu to serve during the Oscars....

MF:  Hi Malonda!  What are you wearing?

Malonda: Hi Libbet, I am wearing Gucci shades,  Bamboolze Ear Spears, Boden leather boots, CJ by Cookie Johnson velvet pants, a Francesco Biasia leather purse and a wool Ben Sherman coat.

  

MF:  I don't know about you, but this winter weather is brutal on my skin.  Do you have any products or routines that are a must for your winter beauty regimen?

Malonda: Winter is brutal and is important to moisturize, moisturize and moisturize some more. It is also important to drink lots of good water (alkaline if possible), drink fresh juice, eat fresh fruits and vegetables and get as much rest as possible. In terms of my actual skin care regimen I produce an all natural and organic body product line called Ellie Oliver (www.ellieoliver.com) which I named after my Great-Grandparents Ellie and Oliver Richard. I use all of my own products because they are created with premium ingredients and work so well.

Recently I started to cleanse my face with a new product that I recently developed - Aunt Gladys Get Pretty Skin Oil which is so amazing! Sometimes I use the oil alone with water or I mix it with my Aunt Gladys Get Pretty Skin Cleansing Grains for an added benefit because the grains act as a gentle exfoliant. Next I follow up with a little of the Get Pretty Skin Oil or my Get Pretty Skin Butter. This cleansing routine along with a weekly Get Pretty Skin Facial Steam helps to give me the glow that I need to feel fabulous. I also drink my Get Pretty Skin Tea because it takes care of my skin from the inside. I will be 41 years old on March 21st of this year and it is important for me to take better care of my skin so that I can age gracefully. I have clients of all ages and all of them rave about the instant glow that they get all year round from using my Aunt Gladys Get Pretty Skin products which can be found online at www.ellieoliver.com. My Get Pretty Skin Oil is not available online yet but it will be soon. If anyone is interested they can contact me via malondarichardsia@gmail.com.

MF:   A beauty and an entreprenuer, you are an amazing Modern Femme!  Now tell me, spring is approaching - what are you most looking forward to, sartorially-speaking?

Malonda: I am looking forward to finding contemporary African graphic prints to mix with rare vintage finds. One of my favorite things about spring is being able to wear bright handbags and bold accessories to communicate my bold approach to fashion.

 MF:  I'm having an Oscar party.  What should I feed my fabulous guests - finger food or a sit-down meal?  Any recipe recommendations?

Malonda:  You should feed your guests some fabulous vegan /vegetarian finger foods coupled with vegan desserts that will have them asking for the recipes. You can choose your favorite films from the nominations and name the dishes after them or you could create a unique dish and name them after your top picks.

Visit pinterest.com for delicious /fabulous recipe ideas. Here are a few that I would recommend.

Strawberry Love Juice

2 pints of fresh strawberries (save enough to use on top of glass)
3-4 lemons (peeled if not organic)
1/4 cup of agave nectar
1 medium piece of ginger (size of your pinkie finger)
40 oz of spring water
star shaped ice (use a silicon mold and fill with spring water - for added style you can add pieces of lemon rind and or strawberries for extra flare)

Juice the strawberries and lemons in a juicer and pour the mixture into pitcher of cold spring water and ice. Serve chilled with star ice cubes with a slice of strawberry in fancy tall glasses.

Or buy store bought lemonade, crush strawberries and pour the mixture together
and serve chilled  with star cubes with a slice of strawberry in fancy tall glasses.

Stuffed Mini Mushrooms with Shredded Beets

1 pint of Bella mushrooms
Amino Acids
Beets
Store bought Hummus
dried Basil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Rinse the bella mushrooms and  put them onto a parchment paper on a cookie sheet pan. Fill mushrooms with amino acids and bake until dark brown (usually 20-25 min). While the mushrooms are baking shred the beets with a julienne peeler and place in a small bowl.

Once the mushrooms have cooled put them on a large white dish or any fancy dish you have and fill them with a teaspoon of hummus, top with basil and the shredded beets.

Sweet and Salty Vegetables
Fresh or Frozen vegetables
Coconut Oil
Pink Himalayan Salt

Steam vegetable medley in a steamer or on a stovetop steamer. Once cooked put the medley into a large ceramic bowl and top with 2-3 tbsps of coconut oil.

Sprinkle some pink himalayan salt over top of the vegetables.  Put vegetables in small / medium sized white ceramic containers

Crunchy Caramel Popcorn:
Popcorn
Pink himalyan salt
1/4 cup of coconut sugar
1/4 cup of agave nectar

Pour 4 tbsps of popcorn in a pot and cover the popcorn with coconut oil. After pop corn is popped set the pot to the side.

Heat agave nectar on low heat. Mix in brown sugar and stir until it is a syrup. Pour over popcorn and gently mix until all of the popcorn is covered.

Set up popcorn station with additional toppings in small white ceramic containers.

topping #1: vegan chocolate
topping #2: salted peanuts
topping #3: vegan marshmallows

Lemon Love:
Serve lemon sorbet in mini glasses topped with fresh raspberries

Many thanks to the amazing Malonda for all her recommendations and links!  If you covet Malonda's look, check out these pieces:

I hope you all have a fantastic day, and I will be eager to hear if any of you give Malonda's skincare line or recipes a try!

xoxox,
MF

Forget Cupid, love thyself!

My mother refers to Valentine's day as a "Hallmark Holiday."  As in, Hallmark makes a lot of money off of feverishly promoting February 14th.  As does Kay's Jewelers, Hersheys, 1-800-Flowers, and lingere stores everywhere.

Those who scorn the holiday say that it's lame to have one day where we march in lock step, buying the chocolates and flowers, arranging the dinners and gifts, declaring our love via credit card.  Shouldn't every day be a day worthy of gestures of love? If there's yearning behind the scorn, it's concealed from public eyes.

I agree that every day should be a day where love is celebrated, and yes, I do think that the chocolate, flower, and card companies seek to promote this day to pad their coffers.

But what's wrong with a little celebration of love, folks?   It shouldn't matter whether you're single or coupled, or in-love or out-of-love with another.  There's one person that we all have in common, someone who can always be the subject of our affection on Valentines day...

Ourselves.

Here's my proposal for Valentines day: love and pamper yourself! Whether you're single or coupled, this Thursday embrace the day as an opportunity to declare your affection for yourself.  Here are some ideas of a Valentines day gift to you, from you:

Option 1.  Take the day off from work.  Call in sick, or burn some annual leave.  Then...

A) Go see that movie that you've been meaning to catch (I would love to see this, this, or this.) While you're at the theater, buy an enormous tub of popcorn and a box of candy and eat as much as you can. 

B) Schedule a spa day.  Go all out - pamper yourself, cause you're worth it - massages, facials, mani/pedis.  Book them back to back, drink cucumber water and lounge around in your robe.

C) Stay home and watch tv all day in your pajamas.  Really get into it - I'm talking a marathon movie day, like Bond, Twillight, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Tyler Perry's Madea collection, you name it.  Be sure to take breaks for take-out, like pizza or Chinese, and be sure to eat at least one pint of ice cream.  Wash it down with a split of expensive champagne.

Option 2.  Go to work, but...

A)  Schedule a lunch date with friends.  Live on the wild side and have a glass of champagne at lunch.  Have everyone bring a gag gift and open them at the table.

B) Buy yourself flowers.  Go over the top - if you want purple peonies and yellow lilies, splurge and get them.  Put them somewhere front and center where you will be able to see and smell them all day.

C)  Have a dinner party - Nigella Lawson has a menu all ready for you.  Instruct your guests to wear red or pink.  Make little crafty party decorations, play some party games, and celebrate a love that deserves recognition - friendship.

Option 3.  When all else fails...

A) Buy yourself a little something.  Be terrifically impractical.  Perhaps a set of black lace unmentionables, to bring a sly smile to your face.  Or a comfortable pair of pajamas, with sweet pink piping, to make you feel like Doris Day.  Maybe you've always wanted to lounge about in the morning in a silk robe, drinking a strong cup of coffee with your feet coquettishly curled underneath you.  Or channel your inner Marilyn Monroe, and wear some Chanel No. 5 to bed...and nothing else.  Blow your budget out of the water, and show the world who you adore by slipping a pair of Loubotin pumps on and taking Cupid mid-stride.  Or be direct and to the point, and wear the name of the person who you love (you!) close to your heart, monogrammed in gold.




What ever you choose to do this Valentines day, please remember:

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
- Buddha

and...

“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”
- Oscar Wilde

Happy Valentine's Day, my dears.  I hope your February 14th is full of love and affection.

xoxo,
MF