Friday, November 26, 2010

Hindsight - On How to Be Lovely

So, yes, I haven't posted in a while. This week has been pretty crazy - guests, kittens, etc. I'm now completely unsure as to where I will be living starting in February. I may return to San Francisco to continue on-campus studies, or I may remain here in New Orleans until the summer... Everything is up in the air. I've also got finals coming up, followed by Christmas and New Year's. I can't promise to post every day, but I will do my best to post at least twice (if not thrice) a week. Did you like my little inclusion of thrice there? It's one of my favorite obscure words.

A mother plays the guitar while her two daught...Image via Wikipedia
Zemanta Assistant seemed to think this picture was relevant to my article...?

Anyway, today I wanted to share some vintage beauty tips. I find these videos bizarrely fascinating. I guess I'm really just a historical voyeur in that I love catching glimpses of daily life in other time periods. I got the title for this from one of my favorite movies, "Funny Face":





On to the point. I've recently discovered the delights of Glamour Daze - in their own words "An Archive of Vintage Fashion and Beauty". If you haven't had a chance to peruse this blog to head over there and poke around. It's definitely worth it! They also do a series of Youtube uploads of vintage beauty and glamor one-reels. I've posted a few of my favorites below. Enjoy!

Movie Starlet Constance Bennet's Guide to Skin Care - late 30s. I always sleep with my makeup on, don't you?



A "Guide to Glamour" from 1940s stylist Ratherly Stern. I honestly think that teaching young people (not just girls) about good posture and hygiene is important.





And here a beauty series from the 1950s:







Remember, girls: Soda pop and a big gooey sundae do not a balanced diet make!
Nostalgically Yours

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Music Mondays - Longoria/Parker Grease Lip-dub

Before you watch this, I must warn you: it's the epitome of mediocrity. It's neither bad enough to be hilarious nor good enough to be appreciated by "Grease" fans. In fact, I'm not really sure why I'm showing this to you, except that it's at least a plus that they're playing off of a classic.



Juicy tidbit: the woman who plays Rizzo (and kicks Longoria off the bench) is the wife of a former team mate of Tony's. She and Parker have been allegedly sexting for seven months.

Again, I'm really not sure why I posted this. I'll post a proper Music Monday as well.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Orange One - Continued

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As those who follow my blog will know, the little orange kitten is still at the vet. Recap: His sisters thought his penis was a nipple so the literally suckled it raw (I know that sounds like a crass sexual joke, but I couldn't think of any other way to put it...). Now he's at the vet for at least a few more days and vet bill is probably going to be in the ballpark of $500... I just think it's more important to get him all fixed up now rather than incur greater fees later on, you know?


I got to visit with him a little today at the The Cat Hospital of Metairie. The folks there are so sweet! I'm going to send them some pictures to put up on their website to get the word out. His sisters are doing well, gaining weight (though still a bit small for seven weeks). I've gotten the chance to use one of my favorite French phrases this week: Comme ils sont delicieux quand ils ferment les yeux...! Which is a fancy way of saying "aren't they cute when they're sleeping?"


In my research regarding adoption, I've also heard rumors that there are people in this world who seek out kittens to adopt in order to a) feed them to snakes or b) use them as bait in dog fights. In my Candide-esque optimistic sensibilities, it's difficult to imagine that anyone could do something so awful to a defenseless creature. Despite this, I'm forging ahead with my plans for an adoption campaign that will put Soviet Communist Propaganda to shame!

I've actually been really good about not posting lolCats... Be proud!

In other news, the Calico really likes the rug in the back room...




If my aunt Victoria is reading this: no worries, they know how to clean themselves now and are no longer constantly covered in cat food! I'd like to give a shout out to Donna Baumann, our second donor to the Kitten Kause. The above video is dedicated to her.

I'z on your feet - taking a nap!


Love, Peace, and Kittens,
Nostalgically Yours

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Tired Old Queen at the Movies - "The Heiress"

So, thanks to Joe at Joe.My.God, I've had the fortune of stumbling onto this delightful character:


Steve Hays is the actor/comedian turned classic film critic. If you ask me, he almost puts TCM to shame, making classic film accessible to a generation that seeks only constant entertainment. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Turner Classic Movies fan, but it can become a trifle stuffy at times. Hayes manages to shake off the dust and move past the pomp and circumstance and just get to what makes these films wonderful! Here is his review of "The Heiress" from 1949:




See? Wasn't that fun? Anyway, I thought I'd share a little tidbit of my own regarding the aforementioned "Heiress". Edith Head, the world-renowned costume designer, specifically cut Ms. de Havilland's gowns so they would pinch and gap, making her feel uncomfortable in her own skin and enhancing the character's general self-consciousness. The only gown that was made to fit properly was the one de Havilland wears at the end of the film, once her character has come into her own. Now, I'm not saying that costumes can make or break a performance, but de Havilland did win an Oscar for this film (don't worry, so did Edith)... Just sayin'...

You know it's a good film, 'cause it says so on the poster.

I hope you enjoy Hayes' reviews as much as I do,
Nostalgically Yours

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Monday, November 15, 2010

Music Mondays - Jackie Evancho

I'm doing things a little bit differently this week. For starters, I had to retro-actively post this week's entry due to a mountain of homework and such. I'll probably put up more artwork later this week.

Ten-year-old Jackie singing on AGT

Anyway, for those of you that don't know, Jackie Evancho is the ten-year-old runner-up on this past season of America's Got Talent. Her voice stunned audiences nationwide; so much so that judge Howie Mandel asked her to perform a voice exercise to quell rumors that she had been lip-syncing. Here she is performing "Time to Say Goodbye" on AGT:



It is rather incredible. Normally, I wouldn't be featuring a singer such as Evancho. However, something about her struck me as I watch her appearance today on the View:



It's hard to believe someone that vibrant and well-spoken is a mere child of ten... The voice is one thing, but child prodigies have existed throughout history (Mozart played concerts by age five), yet often these extremely talented people tend to be withdrawn and somewhat shy. It's incredible to see a girl so mature at such a young age.

Jackie's second album hits stores today!

My favorite thing about her, though, is how she chose to use her gift. Perhaps it's just a bit of prejudice on my part, but I think it would be safe to assume that most girls Evancho's age listen mostly to pop. From personal experience, most children her age tend to find Classical music and Opera to be a terrible bore - which is perfectly understandable. Evancho breaks the mold and sings many beautiful Arias along with some more modern cross-over pieces. It's nice to see a young girl rewarded for taking an interest in something other than Hannah Montana (who, I should mention, no longer exists. Miley Cyrus has officially given up her alter-ego).

Jackie sings with Sarah Brightman on AGT

Plus, have you noticed she actually dressed like a little girl? I think she's a great role model for young girls who like to sing. Her second album, "O Holy Night" debuts today, and it's starting out second only to Susan Boyle on Amazon's Best-seller list!


Tiiiiiiiime toooooooooo say goodbyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeee,
Nostalgically Yours

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Orange One

Looking to adopt? Click here for more information!

I'm sure you've all been dying to know more about what's going on with the kittens. Well, they're all pretty much potty trained and I'm teaching them to like dry food. They groom themselves now and no longer require baths. They're up and playing all the time, except when they sleep - they look like angels.

He's going to be quite a lap cat.

The Orange one has given me some trouble, as explained in previous posts. He's basically stayed at the vet for the total of about a week. He's in for the weekend again, but I feel it's a lot better than having him at home, constantly trying to figure out if he's okay. I'm not vet, after all. He's in great hands with the folks over at The Cat Hospital of Metairie. If you own a cat in the New Orleans area, I highly recommend this place.

I was really surprised to hear from the woman at Lakeview Veterinary Hospital - not because they weren't professional and courteous, but because I wasn't able to return to them after my first visit. She called to tell me that someone was interested in potentially adopting a kitten. It's a demonstration of the caring and professionalism of the folks at this vet that they called me despite my not being a client anymore. This place also gets high marks in my book because of this and their great pet healthcare.

Although I had originally thought to keep one of these kittens, I've decided against it. These aren't my kittens. They are my babies, but like any other parent my goal is to raise them to send them out into the world and make sure they have the best life possible. It's simply not my time. In the words of Sarah Brown, "I'll know when my [cat] comes along."


I'd also like to thank Donna Baumann for her contribution to the kitten fund. I'm going to post another video later this week to honor my promise for the contributors.


Please send your good vibes out to the Orange One so that he can get better and come home ASAP.


Thanks for sticking with me,
Nostalgically Yours

PS: I've gotten questions as to why I have yet to name the kittens. I have a thing about names. I don't think I would ever want to adopt a cat that already had a name. It wouldn't be my cat. I'm waiting for the future owners to name their cats, because I feel that's more appropriate. I hope that makes sense?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Kitten Update

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I took the kittens to the vet today for their first real exams. Unfortunately there were some problems with his privates due to suckling by his sisters. Orphaned kittens tend to have a suckling complex since they cannot suckle at will from their mothers. Luckily, mine have stopped since being weened, but the damage was already done... The Orange One required a minor surgical procedure and is staying at the vet's over the weekend. I'm sick with worry and I miss him terribly. I know he'll be alright, but I can't help it. Please keep him in your thoughts and send him plenty of happy vibrations...

On a lighter note, the other kittens are doing just fine, though they are a bit underweight, according to the doctor. She encouraged me to let them eat as much as possible to keep them growing at a healthy rate. They have noticed their brother is gone, though. They're not playing as much as they normally do. Here are all four kittens yesterday, in a continuation of the video posted then:






Also, I would like to thank Angela Steele for being the first to donate to my Kitten fund! This video is dedicated to her! Thank you, Angela. The money will be going toward their vet bill.

Thanks,
Nostalgically Yours

Friday, November 5, 2010

More on the Kittens

Looking to adopt? Click here for more information!

If you take a gander at the right sidebar, you'll notice something new: a slideshow of pictures of the kittens, as well as a "donate" button. I've started a PayPal donation fund to help pay for vet bills, food, etc. I'm relying on your generosity to help keep me out of the poor house, since I am using my personal funds to take care of the kittens right now.



Being a full-time student, part-time blogger, and part-time mom doesn't leave room for work, so think of this as compensation for my blog posts on the kittens. The more donations I get, the more videos and photos of the kittens I will post! Here's a little teaser:



If you decide to donate, you should be aware that PayPal keeps about 3% of whatever you donate, so if you want to give me $5, you should make it $5.15 if you want me to get the full $5... Of course the kittens always welcome larger donations, but by no means is anyone obligated to donate.



The kittens are going in for their first official vet exam tomorrow, and I'll be sure to keep you all posted on their health!

Enjoy the video,
Nostalgically Yours

PS: They haven't learned to eat without making a mess, yet, so that's food on their schnoz, not poo!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

My Kittens at Play!

Looking to adopt? Click here for more information!

Does this need an introduction? I think not.





Enjoy,

Nostalgically Yours

Oprah/Sound of Music Follow-Up

As I mentioned in a post from last week, Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews, and all seven of the Von Trapp children appeared on Oprah last Friday. I didn't get to watch it when it aired, but here is the episode in its entirety from Youtube! Let's hope it doesn't get taken down any time soon...

Part I


Part II


Part III


I know it sounds cliché, but I laughed and I cried. This was a truly touching tribute to the film we all know and love. The special features a one-on-one interview with Julie Andrews, as well as interviews with the rest of the cast, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and a special guest appearance by Rosie O'Donnell.
I'd also like to correct my statement from last week. The special performance featured in the show was not by the actors, but by the actual Von Trapp Family Singers - the great-grandchildren of the real Maria (who herself makes a few posthumous appearances on the program).
The actor/children have also revealed they are co-authoring a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the film from their point of view, and will feature exclusive, personal memorabilia from their private collections. The book is expected to be out next year and make no mistake I'll be getting it (...as soon as it comes out in soft-cover).
This show also marks the first-time release of The Sound of Music on Blu-Ray disc. The film has been digitally remastered in honor of the 45th anniversary of its release.


Still clutching his box of tissues,
Nostalgically Yours