THANKSGIVING!

Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where this week I am celebrating Thanksgiving with all my dear American friends!

Here are a few images, firstly a traditional meal and all its trimmings:

And some familiar sights of the season:

And some of the families celebrating:

And for some perhaps a less happy time of year:

How will you be celebrating this year, dear readers? Do tell me!


And do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock!
Have a great weekend! And see you again for Ruby Tuesday!
Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR!

Dear readers, as you can see I’ve arranged for the latest Ferrari from the recent Paris Motor Show to be at your complete disposal, naturally plus chauffeur! Do let me know where you’d like to go (the sky, or rather the horizon, is the limit!) and who you’d like to take with you (excluding family members and Significant Others!)

Is there some place you’ve always wanted to visit but never had the time or opportunity? And a person you’ve always wanted to meet - to take along for a long, private conversation? (Could be an actor, singer, public figure etc!) Do let me know! (btw George Clooney is fully booked – by moi!)

Happy Ruby Tuesday and Rednesday!
And do visit other Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday posts! (Links at Work of the Poet & Sue Loves Cherries.)
Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)
PS Have a good week and see you again for Alphabe-Thursday!

'I' IS FOR *IMAGES* ~ AIRBRUSHED IMAGES!

Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where ‘I’ IS FOR *IMAGES* - AIRBRUSHED IMAGES!

There has been a lot of comment in the UK press about airbrushed images and their effect particularly on the impressionable young. A survey found that half of 16 to 21-year-old girls consider having surgery to change the way they look and 42% of 11 to 16-year-olds admit to watching what they eat. What’s your view? Do celebrities, politicians etc have the right to have their ‘image’ retouched and set impossibly unreal standards? Here are some examples:

1.Twiggy – before and after her (later banned) Olay shoot (above)
2. Keira Knightley – poster and less-busty reality (below)

3. Tina Fey - minus scar on her chin

4. Filippa Hamilton received an apology from Ralph Lauren for digitally narrowing her waist

5. Actress Jennifer Ellison – airbrushed to appear as if posing nude in 2004

6. UK Department Store Debenham’s swimwear campaign showing differences between original image (left) and retouched version (right). Centre shot shows “flaws” to be airbrushed.

IS IT OK FOR CELEBRITIES ETC. TO AIRBRUSH THEIR IMAGES? AND WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US? DO YOU RETOUCH YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHS?!
Do tell me! And do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers and also new followers who visited or commented this week! Have a great weekend!
And see you again for Ruby Tuesday!
Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)

WHICH OLD FAMILY RECIPES FILL YOU WITH NOSTALGIA?

There are, of course, some dishes that are probably best left dead! Squeamishness has put paid to a number of ancient foods, for example the Roman garum and liquamen - pastes made from rotting fish guts and heads. Fortunately you can now buy a jar of readymade anchovy sauce if you haven’t any rotting fish guts and heads handy!

And have you ever made bheja, curried sheep's brains, a Pakistani delicacy? No, nor have I! The smell of boiling brains is one that’s truly repulsive and the end result’s not all that great. Liver pâté has the same consistency and tastes a lot better! There are, too, some dishes you know you'll never want to eat again, and others, like the oft-repeated example of Proust's madeleine, which take you back into another time and place. Which dishes have entered your family's mythology, for either the right or the wrong reasons? (Below, Thai RED curry for Ruby Tuesday!) Happy Ruby Tuesday and Rednesday!
And do visit other Ruby Tuesday/Rednesday posts! (Links at Work of the Poet & Sue loves Cherries)
Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)
PS Have a good week and see you again for Alphabe-Thursday!

HIGH COLLARS AND FASHION TRENDS - WINTER / SPRING 2010/ 2011!

Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where ‘H’ IS FOR *HIGH COLLARS* AND OTHER FASHION TRENDS – THIS WINTER/SPRING!

Here are some trends for this season and the next. Now, time to ‘fess up! I do tend to dress a bit conservatively and live (a lot) in trousers/jeans so I’m not totally sure about some of these trends. But hopefully they speak to you! Do tell me what you think!

KEY:
1. High Collars (above)
2. Sexy Turtlenecks (below)

3. Maxi Dresses

4. Military

5. Patchwork

6. Poncho

7. Quilting

8. Thigh-High Boots

9. Wide pants

10. Fringe

11. Gloves

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THESE TRENDS? ANYTHING HERE FOR YOU?
Do tell me! And do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers and also new followers who visited or commented this week! Have a great weekend!
And see you again for Ruby Tuesday!
Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)

EVER VISITED A THEME PARK LIKE THIS ONE?

Ferrari World Theme Park, Abu Dhabi, which recently opened, has according to Ferrari the world's fastest roller coaster and a 20-storey tower ride that duplicates the G-forces felt by race car drivers. Ferrari is the first sports car manufacturer to venture into theme parks, calling it the world's largest indoor park and the first in the Middle East.

DO YOU LIKE THEME PARKS? WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THIS ONE - IS IT WORTH THE (LONGISH) JOURNEY?!

Happy Ruby Tuesday and Rednesday!
And do visit other Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday posts! (Links at Work of the Poet & Sue loves Cherries.)

Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)

PS Have a good week and see you again for Alphabe-Thursday!

WINTER / SPRING 2010/ 2011 TROUSER TRENDS!

Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where ‘G’ IS FOR ‘GAP’ AND OTHER TROUSERS TRENDS – WINTER/SPRING 2010/ 2011!

Here are some trends as exemplified by Gap and three other manufacturers. Now, I confess I live in trousers but I’m not totally sure about some of these. Do tell me what you think!
KEY:
1. Gap (Premium) (above)
2. Gap (True Straight) (below)
3. Gap (Perfect)
4. Gap (Really Skinny)
5. Gap (Slim Cropped)
6. Gap (Boy Fit)
7. Gap (Modern Boot)
8. Gap (Curvy)
9. Gap (Relaxed Crop)

And three non-Gap designs:
10. Preen
11. Michael Kors

12. Jaeger

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THESE TRENDS? ANYTHING HERE FOR YOU?

Do tell me! And do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers and also new followers who visited or commented this week! Have a great weekend!
And see you again for Ruby Tuesday!
Enjoy!
XOXO LOLA:)
Paw Note: This blog does not endorse Gap (or any other designer) – featured solely to describe trends!