Miller Time Friday: Flying High

Happy Friday!!!

It is a cold rainy day here but never mind, I'll be locked in my office writing all day anyway.

First I thought I would write to you!
I am about to cross another thing off my bucket list.

Some women dream of meeting movie stars, others dream of meeting rock stars, but I dream of meeting

him:

That is the face of a content man!

David McCullough!

As you know, I am crazy about McCullough and his work.  And happily for me, he has a new book coming out May 5th about the Wright Brothers.



You can read more about the book here

Best of all, Mr. McCullough is going to be in Boston towards the end of May and I will be there!  (well Barry too, but he doesn't seem quite as giddy as me).  I was hovering over my keyboard the morning the tickets went on sale, and was giddy when I got mine (What?  You think I was crazy to think there might have been a run on this engagement? tosh!).  When I got to the part in the online form where I had to say where I'd heard about the talk I dutifully wrote in "I follow David McCullough" at which point my daughter stopped me and made me add "on facebook" lest Mr. McCullough get some kind of restraining order for me. 

I hope to meet the man in person and have Barry get a picture of him signing my book and if I do, you know I will post it here. 

Adding to the jolliment of two nights in Boston, we plan to stop in and see our lovely Lane en route home.  She has seen Mr. McCullough live and assures me he lives up to my hype.

By the way, I do realize this makes me a history geek.  But I care not.  My only warning to the Bostonians in attendance will be this: best not block my view of the great man....

In honour of Mr. McCullough's new book, let's make a cocktail, shall we?

Paper Airplane

 

3⁄4	oz	Bourbon
3⁄4	oz	Amaro Nonino
3⁄4	oz	Campari
3⁄4	oz	Lemon juice

Instructions

Shake, strain, straight up, cocktail glass

Have a happy Friday!

xoxo wendy

 

Shoesday

There is something profoundly delightful about not wearing socks for the first time in Spring.  There is a giddiness about it that is only matched by the giddiness one feels when one is rewarded by a free dessert at a restaurant or discovers that Ben Affleck is in Cape Breton, a mere six hours away, and probably staying with GetFresh's dad. 

EVERYONE has Spring Fever these days.  Even Ben it seems, who is visiting a monastery.  Namaste Ben!

Today was that day.

I sashayed forward in skinny navy trousers, a t-shirt and a jacket and a pair of trusty J Crew Kiki ballet flats - AND NO SOCKS!

Never mind that the backyard is still snow filled.  It was 15 Celsius and the sun was calling to me with the siren call of one who knows that her victim wants nothing more than no socks...

Yippee!!!

I was so giddy that I also purchased a lovely new pair of sandals, having tossed a bunch that had seen a better day... 

They have left me for that great shoe store in the sky, and I salute them...

The sandals?  Sam Edelman's GAREN sandals, jewelry for one's feet!

Excuse the chipping on the left big toe...

There is nothing I love so much as a blingy flat sandal.  It is perfection - it can be worn with jeans, dresses, shorts.  You can walk for miles in it (thanks Sam E for the padded sole) and be as happy as a clam.

I cannot recommend this shoe enough!

In other news - the 30th wedding anniversary that we are hurtling towards in September now has a destination.  Paris and Bruges.

More details to come, but flights are booked, accommodation secured, walking and drinking regimen underway.  Please let it be warm enough for sandals....

How about you - bought any shoes lately?

Have a fabulous evening!
xoxo wendy



 

Miller Time Friday - In the Navy

Another week has flown by, and it has been a busy one!  Revisions, staring out the window to help the snow melt, counting the hours till the season 3 premier of Orphan Black.

And dressing up a little.

After a winter of hibernation, the beast has been released and I am trying to dress up a little more these days.  Kind of that, "don't save it for an occasion" thing.

I thought I would share a recent purchase, the J Crew drapey oxford dress, which I snagged for a ridiculous price, something like $45CDN.  The material is described as crepe, but it actually feels like a viscose/linen blend and breathes very well.

I'm kind of blurry here.... Maybe I'm airbrushing myself these days....

I love this dress.  It is a true navy with black piping.  It is bringing out my inner Parisienne.  I am wearing it very simply today with my old Donald K. Pliner stretchy boots and a JCrew navy featherweight cashmere cardigan I bought a couple of years ago. 

A close-up of the material.  I can't wait till I can wear bare legs again!

I love this dress so much, and it was so cheap (and yet does not feel cheap on!) that I've ordered it in ivory as well. 

 

 

 

What's up for your weekend?  We are working around the house and I will be writing, writing, writing.

 

Since it's Friday and I haven't done this in a while, how about a Navy Blue Blazer Cocktail?

 

MAKES 2 COCKTAILS
INGREDIENTS

2 oz. navy-strength rum, preferably Smith & Cross (available at Drink Up NY)
2 oz. blackstrap rum, preferably Cruzan (available at Drink Up NY)
1½ oz. fresh grapefruit juice
½ oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. orgeat syrup
¾ oz. cinnamon syrup (see recipe)
1 oz. 151-proof rum, preferably El Dorado

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill 2 tempered-glass mugs with boiling water; set aside for 2 minutes. Discard water; add navy-strength and blackstrap rums, juices, syrups, and 4 oz. hot water and stir. Add 151-proof rum; ignite

 

 

When I got to the ignite part, I became afraid.  Perhaps I will stick to pinot noir....

 

Have a happy Friday!

 

xoxo wendy

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Some portents of Spring...

Well we are in Spring here, regardless of the four feet of snow that cover the ground.

Signs of Spring:

1) Barry and I are walking outdoors again. 

There is nothing like a good hour-long walk to re-invigorate the world.  We are back walking regularly now that the ice has finally left the streets (i.e. last week) and this is a wonderful thing).

2) I am attracted to all things floral:

I picked up this scarf at Chapters yesterday:

Lovely, light and long, this is like wearing a flower garden around your neck.

Interested in another colour way?  Chapters has you covered:

or

Or perhaps a pillow would do?

 

 

I also picked up the sweetest coin purse that can attach to your purse or key ring:

3) New Sneakers

I needed new white sneakers and I found them by Vans:

So fresh, for now...

4) Muscari or Grape Hyacinths

Mine won't be blooming till mid to late May, but for now, I am cheered by a little pot on the table:

5) Longer days

I don't know about you, but in the winter I am practically hibernated.  Now I have all of the energy and enthusiasm that a gal could be want...  Even the label on my salt is making me feel cheery...

6) Return of the Winter Folks...

Just as mine is finally ending, theirs is just beginning, and I can't wait...Getting ready to geek out tonight!

So those are my signs of spring.  How about yours????

xoxo wendy

Spots, Stripes, Style

When last we spoke I was eating buttercream frosting.  It was good.  Too good.  But never mind...

I have been meaning to share how much I love the J Crew Indigo Stripe t-shirt - it really is divine - so soft and just the loveliest shade of blue...

From the website:

Since it is on sale today for 25% off in  few sizes, thought I would spread the love!  I'm wearing it above with my Joe Fresh wide-legged trousers and my old J Crew navy featherweight cashmere cardigan.

As promised, I finally remember to take a picture of myself in the leopard print coat I bought at the end of February before I headed to NYC:

I like the coat because it is a very muted leopard print, and being darker, looks better with my colouring.  I think.  There is lots of camel, brown, black and grey, and it kept me plenty warm during my trip and looked good with a dress and with the grey and black Ponte pants I wore.  Since I wore my burgundy Aquatalia boots, I chosen a raspberry coloured scarf to wear with it.

For you Jennifer!

The coat was from a store called Le Chateau and was actually made in Canada,
as are a lot of their clothing, apparently

I have been thinking a lot about style, thanks to the Spring weather and Jennifer's lovely new blog series Women with Confident Style.   Now that the doldrums of winter have passed, I have turning my attention to my wardrobe and thinking about what did/didn't work last spring and summer and the kind of clothes I want to wear now.

I have a serious crush on navy these days, blue of any kind really, as evidenced by this season's shoe purchases and my new theory dress.

But I do feel that I am still transitioning from my workdrobe, and still kind of missing the dressing up. 

I think I went completely casual for awhile, likely in response to the suits and pencil skirts, but I am missing dressing up, so have been taking pains lately to start putting on the dog again. 

I want to be comfortable, since I spend so much time sitting at a desk writing, but I want to feel like me again, and I think the pieces I have purchased this Spring, which I would describe as being in the dressy-casual vein, are slowly but surely getting me there. 

What I also realized was that I tended to not wear some of my nicer things because I was "just home".  But then they sat there, unloved, and what good is that?  So I am trying hard to try to wear them and trying hard to try to add the extras again - the necklaces, earrings, bracelets - that I always loved.

While I wait to find my style guru in Jennifer's series, I am starting to see how this new homedrobe is going to work and what I do and don't feel comfortable in, which, as Jennifer would say, is a good thing, since being comfortable in your clothing, physically and spiritually, gives you confidence. 

I also want to give a shout out to the Chic at Any Age blog, which today has the most fabulous post on what women 50+ want from their retailers.  This has been something I have been thinking a lot about lately when shopping.  I walked into a local shop here lately, one that is targeting itself to the older woman demographic, and was horrified to see that everything was billowy and boxy.  I have tried both and they look wretched on me.  I do not want to dress dully, but I also do not want to dress in a way that is inconsistent with who I am.  And frankly, I'm not loving a lot right now.  So bravo to both of these wonderful blogs for raising issues that are definitely on my radar these days!

So - how is your spring shopping coming along?  Do tell?  I am still on the lookout for another dress and maybe a skirt.

xoxo wendy


 

Easter, and the living is snowy....

Oh whatever - have decided to start offering igloo overnighters to make a quick buck...

We did Easter this morning since that was the only time we could get DD, DS and DS'GF all in one place.

We take what we can get!

There was a veritable feast.

Homemade hot cross buns (less cross-y but am sure I am still in good with the Big Man or Woman):

This was a Nigella Lawson recipe so I got all swanky whilst doing it
You will note no raisins.  Raisins are an abomination to mine eyes!
 

Quiche Lorraine:

We made two kinds of muffins, bacon, a massive fruit bowl and drank Mimosas.

The piece de resistance was the white cake with buttercream (or as I liked to call it Easter Chick) frosting and edible flowers:

I'm calling it - this is Pinterest worthy!

Barry getting ready to dig in...

 

Bunnies galore:

And pink flowers...

And the odd chick running around

I dressed for Dani in my new Theory dress and the navy satin jacket I scored from J Crew on sale from $310 CDN to $50 CDN on one of those crazy sales.  I love its swingy-ness and plan to wear it a lot - especially with skinny jeans!

The hardware is rose gold.  I like it and am wearing it with my Fossil rose gold watch Barry bought me for Christmas.

The shoes are Stuart Weitzman slingos.  I almost wore my new wedges, but it was snowing...

A lovely cobalt colour.  Here the jacket and shoes are paired with the printed skirt I bought at
& Other Stories in NYC

I am quite sure I don't need to eat now till Mother's Day....

Wake me up when Spring actually comes, will you???

Happy Easter!  Blowing kisses your way!

xoxo wendy

No fool am I....

I was thinking about April Fool's day this morning.  For some reason, when we were kids we felt that you could only play an April Fool's joke before lunch time.  I suspect this was something an adult told us, lest we harass them with our (mostly) juvenile pranks.

But no pranks for me today.  I am writing and enjoying the cold, blustery, sunny day, and yes, I am enjoying being able to flush with abandon.

After hitting my mid-winter doldrums, and not even realizing I was, I am now back and interested in clothing, painting some walls, spring cleaning and the like.  It feels like a clean sweep, and I am content to freeze my bottom off rather than continue to wear heavy sweaters. 

I have even been fussing over myself - my clothing, my hair, my makeup.  Taking extra care, as if I might go back out into the world once more...

I have bought shoes that I don't have a hope in hell of wearing for another two months (at least!):

J Crew's Marcie wedges

This spring I have been besotted by navy, though I have bought very little.

I must recommend this seam pant by Joe Fresh in black:

They are so comfortable and so inexpensive that I purchased them in tan as well!

Here's me in mine, with my patent loafers.  I look forward to wearing them with a little heel.

really I should crowd-fund to put an elaborate mirror elsewhere...

You can buy yours here.  They are actually cheaper in Canada!




teamed with an old J Crew lightweight merino sweater

Look at that happy smile!  Why is she smiling?  She has a new obsession!

I think I am the last woman on the planet to watch how-to makeup videos on YouTube.  It's literally changed my life.  I love it!  I am especially besotted by Lisa Eldridge.  She has a divine British accent and she shares all kinds of happy secrets for making you look like a million bucks.  And you can watch them over and over.

I don't know about you, but when I am purposefully not spending a ton of money on clothing or other things (besides books - Love my books!), there is nothing so lovely as a new lipstick or eyeliner - inexpensive and can really change your look.  I will try and remember to do a glam look one of these days and post it. 

One thing I purchased recently that I love:

Clarins lip comfort oil:

Oh my gosh, this is good stuff.  I feel like Cleopatra dipping into the honey pot when I slather this stuff on!  Yay you, Clarins!

I have also been using a new eyeliner in a lovely subtle aqua shade by Lise Watier in hopes of beckoning Spring to my front door...

Really, is there anything as lovely as a new frippery that costs little but provides so much delight?

How about you - any Spring Fever?

I leave you with a poem by one of New Brunswick's most prized writers and poets, Sir Charles G.D. Roberts.  I used to live across the street from his old house when I was at University, though he was long gone, passed away in 1943. Charles was one of the first superstar writers from Canada and I like to go visit his grave now and then and see if any of that good writing mojo rubs off!

Now that's a moustache!  I so picture him tramping the woods, all romantic..

 

 An April Adoration
by Sir. Charles G.D. Roberts

Sang the sun rise on an amber morn -
'Earth, be glad! An April day is born.

'Winter's done, and April's in the skies,
Earth, look up with laughter in your eyes!'

Putting off her dumb dismay of snow,
Earth bade all her unseen children grow.

Then the sound of growing in the air
Rose to God a liturgy of prayer;

And the thronged succession of the days
Uttered up to God a psalm of praise.

Laughed the running sap in every vein,
Laughed the running flurries of warm rain,

Laughed the life in every wandering root,
Laughed the tingling cells of bud and shoot.

God in all the concord of their mirth
Heard the adoration-song of Earth.                             


I feel pretty damn adoring myself this fine day, and I hope you are, too! 

xoxo wendy