Oh, For Auld Lang Syne: A Few Things To Keep In Mind This New Year's Eve

New Years Eve- everyone's chance at a brand new start.  Start 2009 off right by putting your best foot forward at tonight's big bash.  Also, when making resolutions, keep them realistic, attainable and a little bit enjoyable.  And as always, keep your status as a lady of class and integrity in mind.

Getting Dressed

New Years is an excellent excuse to go the extra mile in the glam department.  Try sticking to the bread and butter of glamour- black and white.  Classic, ladylike accents like bows and pearls are absolutely fitting.  Legs should be covered up- whether you go for dark hose or thigh-high stockings, it's going to get cold tonight and there isn't anything more glamourous to keep your legs warm than a good pair of tights.  Heels, if you're braving the snowdrifts, can go sky-high tonight, and you should feel free to experiment with those glossy patent leathers or fabulous animal prints.  A simple shoe is always a good idea, too, especially if your outfit commands a great deal of attention.

The Party

A lady usually arrives no later than 15 minutes late for a party.  Too early and you're standing around uncomfortably, too late and you're being rude.  Make sure to thank your host/ess as soon as you arrive, and if you can, bring them a gift.  Perfect host/ess gifts include a bottle of wine, a little box of chocolates, and of course, a giant bouquet of fresh-picked blooms.  [The latter is best for hostesses]

Don't walk home alone.  Ever.  First of all, any lady worth her weight in pearls will have a slew of prospective male escorts just begging to take her home and second of all, it's extremely dangerous to walk home alone tonight.

Take a cab.  Driving is out of the question tonight, unless of course you are 100% sober.  Even if you are, however, the roads are particularly dangerous due to others who may not be.

Ladies sip bubbly on New Year's Eve.  On that note, Bambino should not be consumed.  The photograph is a last resort.  If you can get your hands on it, look for a bottle of Moet Chandon or Veuve Cliquot- the ultimate best.  Be careful to match each glass of champagne with a glass of water- it's a little less than ladylike to be the first one drunk.  Ladies really should avoid getting drunk at all, but allowances need to be made sometimes.

A Few Extra Tips

1. As after any party, make sure to send a Thank-You card to the host/ess.
2. If you spill something, apologize with sincerity but don't let it ruin your night.  Ask your host where they keep their cleaning products, clean it up quickly and thoroughly, and carry on with your evening.
3. Don't partake in drugs or alcohol if your host/ess has asked you not to.
4. If you need to smoke, don't do it indoors.  Ask your host/ess where the best spot would be and honour their wishes.
5. Totter off to bed when you feel obnoxious.  Do not become that annoying drunk girl.  It's perfectly acceptable to politely excuse yourself and find a cab home.  It could be expensive riding alone, but sleep is always a good idea and waking refreshed and ready to face the day is always in style.
6. It's always far more agreeable to be the lovely sober girl than that wild drunk chick.
7. Don't lie to other party guests or put on accents- too much work.
8. Treat everyone very kindly.  This is always the most important rule.  It's polite, creates friendships and could result in an invitation to the next party.
9. Take time to make pleasant conversation with the other guests, but even more importantly, spend time with your friends.  That's why you're at the party!  Also, include new friends and never, ever, gossip.

A Word Or Two On Boys

Tonight could be, for many, a night wherein time is spent with boys- and we're not talking about playing jacks.  Here are a few good ideas to keep in mind when dealing with gentlemen.

• Being smitten does not excuse a lady from keeping her wits- and manners- about her.
• Screaming on the inside at the sight of a particularly lovely specimen is always allowed.
• Screaming on the outside is rarely acceptable.  
• When making conversation, do not dumb yourself down.  Even if there's an awkward silence.
• Let him be a gentleman, i.e. holding doors, taking your coat, holding your chair.  It makes him feel good, and it makes you feel like royalty.

Have fun tonight, ladies.  Be graceful, elegant, classy and fabulous as always, but take this opportunity to have a smashing good time with the people you love.

Photographs by Chris Taylor, Jayne Siwik and Annie Webber

Birds of a Feather

Lovely little chaps to perch in your dressing room.

Tuesday Morning Market

Jayne Siwik at the Hamilton Farmers' Market

Fresh blooms- justifiably extravagant: give them to your mother, the hostess of the next big bash on your calendar, or just drop them into a vase and enjoy!  [When placing flowers in water, cut the stems at an angle, under a running tap, and plunge into a vase of water immediately].

Choose foods you'll eat straight away, like a lovely loaf of bread- perfect for antipasto and dipping in bread and oil at lunchtime!  When buying produce, try to buy for a few days at a time- you'll get out in the fresh market air more often and you won't waste food or money.

Try everything!  Markets are wonderful places to sample a new food.  Always a worthwhile adventure- samosas.  If you ask nicely, you can even get yours heated up to eat straight away.

Always carry a roomy bag to stow away your purchases and cut back on those plastic bags.

What to Wear

• Flats for sure- be sure you're ready for a long meandering stroll!
• Jeans or casual attire are more than acceptable in the marketplace- one should not ever avoid dressing up, but pearls and lace might be more fitting in a different environment
• Scarves
• Skirt and thick tights
• A comfy button-down shirt
• Chunky knits
• Relaxed makeup and hair- it's the market, not prom!  Pull your hair back into a ponytail, or let it hang down your back in soft pretty waves.   Open up your eyes with a little mascara, carry a little lip balm and encourage a healthy glow with a dusting of blush, and you're good to go!

Miss New Booty

The irreplaceable Claire Webber and her brand new boots.

Ringing

Here's to a wonderful Two-Thousand-And-Eight, and best wishes for an even more wonderful Two-Thousand-And-Nine. Tune in tomorrow for all things New Years Eve.

Early Risers

The "Coffee-and-a-Newspaper-Before-The-Sun-Comes-Up" Playlist

1. Iron and Wine Love and Some Verses
2. Dala Hockey Sweater
3. Kimya Dawson Tire Swing
4. Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch I'll Fly Away
5. Iron and Wine Naked As We Came

Be My Baby

When visiting a newborn, it's important to keep a few things in mind.

1. They are quite possibly the most adorable things you will ever see.  Be prepared.  But do try to keep from weeping incessantly.
2. Never ever call a baby ugly.  First of all, newborns are just getting started on the gorgeous thing, and second of all, babies are beautiful no matter what.
3. Don't ask to hold the baby if you don't actually want to.  This is simply a terrible idea.
4. If and when you do choose to hold the baby, place the baby's head in the crook of your arm (the other side of your elbow) and wrap your other arm either around the baby or around your arm.
5. Don't be afraid to talk to the baby, or tell it nice things.  Just don't get carried away and try to avoid baby-talk.  Keep in mind that just because you are in the company of an infant, you yourself have not regressed to their vocabulary.

Pictured above is Madelyn Francesca Palimaka, O'Keefe House's most beloved little person.  We wish Kate and Jared all the absolute best in their adventures with Maddy.

Photographs by Chris Taylor and Kate Palimaka

Christmas Day Is In Our Past, So Long As We Have Hands To Clasp

Christmastime has come and gone, and now it's up to you to put pen to paper- 'tis the season of the Thank You Note.

Photography by Nataliya Scafer, Corey Bullock and Caitlin Pupillo

A Sampling of Lovely Photographs

Photography by Madeline Ferrier Webber

To Market, To Market, To Buy A Fat Pig

One must eat in order to live, so you might as well do it right.  A trip to the market, no matter the season, is your best bet for the freshest produce and the most colourful characters.  Always keep in mind when visiting your local market to treat everyone extremely kindly, smile quite a lot, and make pleasant conversation- you never know which vendor will a) become your lifelong butcher/baker/candlestick maker or b) cut you a bargain on that head of lettuce.

The "I'm-off-to-market" Playlist

1. Beirut Elephant Gun
2. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
3. Simon and Garfunkel America
4. Stars Elevator Love Letter
5. Bob Dylan Wigwam
6. Unit 2 + 4 Concrete and Clay
7. Zoot Sims Blinuet

Stay tuned for Tips, Tricks and What to Wear for a Successful Market Trip

Words To Live By

"Words to live by" is a phrase that's thrown around a lot, but these words of wisdom from the reigning queen of elegance herself, Coco Chanel, are truly worthy of the label.

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous"

"Elegance does not consist of putting on a new dress"

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same"

"Elegance is refusal"

"Fashion is made to become unfashionable"

"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone"

"I don't know why women want any of the things men have when one of the things that women have is men"

"Jump out the window if you are the object of passion.  Flee if you feel it.  Passion goes, boredom remains"

"Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury"

"Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty.  It is not.  It is the opposite of vulgarity"

"There are people who have money and people who are rich"

"A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future" - Coco Chanel

From the Desk of Michelle Tiangco

On Perfume

Perfume.  Let's not shower ourselves with it... that's what showers (with water and soap) are for!

Once you get out of the shower, spray it then.  It soaks into your body and stays on longer.  True story.

On Hair

Never dry your hair without styling it at the same time.  It just becomes huge, frizzy and never able to straighten or curl (nicely) afterward.

On Timing

Let's face it, is one hour ever enough time to get ready?

On Dressing Well

The outfit you pick out the night before is almost never the one you run out of the door with.

On Facing The World

Foundation- please, your face should match the rest of your body.

And that's all I could think of for now, my dear!

How to Fondue

Tips for a Flawless Fondue Experience

1. Don't eat too much cheese, it expands in your stomach and makes for a very unpleasant tummy-ache.
2. Sit back and get comfortable, (with one leg tucked behind the other and proper posture, of course!) fondue takes a while.
3. Experiment with different combinations and offer to make something for the person seated next to you.  It's the culinary version of being the life of the party!
4. Just because you're roasting, grilling, dipping and boiling your own food, don't forget your manners!  Say please and thank-you and don't forget to pass nicely.
5. Never eat off the fondue fork, and be wary of other diners' dietary restrictions/preferences.
6. Drink plenty of water and eat slowly.  Since the servings are so small anyhow, savour every bite!
7. As at any dinner party, be sure to contribute your share of conversation, but don't be too stuffy- enjoy yourself, enjoy the food, enjoy the company!  And of course, offer your services to the host/ess by way of preparation, serving and/or set-up.

After the fondue is put away, make sure to take part (and do your very best to win) any board or card games offered.  And most importantly, even if you spill cheese on your lap, pour wine down your neighbour's back, or knock the fondue pot off its stand (try not to....) always thank your host/ess at the end of the evening.

Happy Fonduing!

La Belle Vie

To all those with the travel bug but no means of hitting that open road, best wishes for a frugal second semester.  Tune in later for travel tips, tricks and etiquette.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

When bad things happen to good people.  People who prank each other.