Ralph Lauren Collection

You watch Downton Abbey don't you?  Let's just indulge in a few pictures before I move on to my topic.

                          Last Sunday night's Episode One of Season Three.  It was a good one.

Okay, so I noticed that Ralph Lauren was sponsoring PBS and Masterpiece Theatre.  I wondered if he was being influenced by Downton Abbey, and if he had any 1910's or 1920's dresses in his collection.

                              I discovered no Titanic style dresses, yet it was still fun to look at his influence for the Fall '12 and Spring '13 Shows.

                            Yes, I see English "Weekend in the Country" with the tweeds and knits,
but I'd say 1930's is more influential in this line with the trousers and hats.

Click here to see the entire Fall 2012 Collection

Now just for fun, let's check out how different the Spring 2013 Collection is.

 
France and Spain are the influences and some 1970's.

 
Click here is see the entire collection.

One last thing.  It's January and the best time to go shopping because you can get 30% off already reduced prices.  I've been hitting all my favorite stores at the mall, but I had forgotten about looking online.  Here is the link to Ralph Lauren's Sale page.  His stuff is pretty pricey but gorgeous, and I did find several sweaters I like in $50 range.

Little Miss Austen

For Christmas my sister'n law Helen gave me the DVD of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly.  I have never seen this film before and am not familiar with the story as I am with Sense and Sensibility.  But I knew   everyone raves about it and also the BBC version from the 1990's with Colin Firth.

So as soon as the boys were back at school and Teddy was down for a nap, I placed my pile of ironing in front of the television and was ready to enjoy myself.  What is it about the 1800's that makes their stories so cozy and so appealing?  Well I decided in those next two hours what book was going to be on my reading list this year.

The very next day, look what I found at the BYU Art Museum Gift Shop!  The cutest board book.

            A counting book for little girls.   I don't want to spoil your discovery so I will only show one page.

After looking online, I found this author and illustrator have also made counting board books on Romeo and Juliet,  Alice and Wonderland, Jane Eyre, Dracula, and A Christmas Carol.  Such a great idea.

The Holidays Sure are Fun!

I took down my Christmas decorations yesterday, and enjoyed my vivid memories of the boys decorating the tree.  I hope they will want to help for lots more years.  It was so much faster putting up the lights on the tree with Henry there to hand the string of lights back and forth.

On Christmas Eve we had a full house.  Helen and Mike with Clayton, Charlie, Rose and Isobel slept over. Also we had the pleasure of Sarah and Brock, Sam and Sally, and Kristina staying with us.  We had so much fun we forgot to put the kids to bed that night.   Santa almost missed our house because the children were up until eleven.  Opps.
                                                                Never fear, he came.

Daniel spent the next week taking the boys skiing at Sundance and Beaver Mountain Resort.  On New Years Eve we enjoyed a curry dinner at John and Terri's, and then a game of Charades.

The children finally lost interest and left the adults to a more competitive game.  Somehow Daniel was able to get his team to say Gattaca (the movie with Ethan Hawk).  Wow.

At 9:59 pm we all counted in the New Year with the East Coast, each of us (kids included) holding Martini glasses full of sparkling cider.  It was a Happy New Years Eve.

Camelot

Yay, I have recovered from the holidays and am back to Musical Monday!  My Christmas and New Years were both fantastic, but the house sure does take a beating when we're having so much fun.

I have the soundtrack to both the 1960's movie and Broadway productions of Camelot.  The story, the music. It's all so great.  Here is my favorite song "What Do the Simple Folk Do?"

Oh wait, maybe my favorite is "How to Handle a Woman"

Will Power

Today I was given a tin of homemade English toffee.  It's so good and all day I have kept going back to the cupboard  to get another piece. But now it is night time,  my teeth are starting to tingle from all the sugar and I am worrying about how many pounds I have gained today.  The thought occurred to me, maybe I should throw the rest away.

This lead me to remember my favorite Frog and Toad story "Cookies".

Frog and Toad were having the same problem I am dealing with right now.
"We must stop eating!"  cried Toad as he ate another.
"Yes," said Frog, reaching for a cookie, "we need will power."

They first plan to hide the cookies in a box, then they tie a string around the box and then they put it on a high shelf.  After all their effort to keep the cookies from tempting them, Frog and Toad realize they can still climb up the ladder, bring the box down and untie the string!  Frog decides there is no other choice but to take the cookies outside and offer them to the birds.

"Now we have no more cookies to eat,"said Toad sadly.  "Not even one."
"Yes," said Frog, but we have lots and lots of will power."
"You may keep it all, Frog,"  said Toad.  "I am going home now to bake a cake."

I really relate to both characters in this story.  I hope nothing else tempting comes my way this holiday season.  But I know that's just wishful thinking.

Frog and Toad Together  by Arnold Lobel

Switzerland

When we were at Lake Como, we drove over the Swiss Alps to Zurich for two days and a night.
                          On our drive we saw lots of little villages nestled into the mountains.

Switzerland has the most beautiful countryside.  Green as England but with majestic  mountains.

                                               Zurich was as clean and polished as Disneyland.

           This church has stain glass windows made by the Jewish Russian-French artist Marc Chagall

                                                The city is built on the edge of a lake.

                       .                          This was the location of our hotel.

In Switzerland they speak German, French and English.

                                       Look at these crazy switchbacks!  We drove on them.

While in Zurich, we passed by a Bookshop.  I went in to discover new children's picture books.

 A Bell for Ursli shares the old Swiss traditions of ringing out the winter with their Spring Festival. 

Written by Selina Chonz and illustrated by Alois Carigiet 

Another book by same author and artist is The Snowstorm.  This time Ursli is older and we met his little sister Florina.  They are decorating their sleds for a sledding party.  If you have Swiss in your ancestry,  you should consider adding these two books to your collection.  They are so sweet and are a great way to learn your heritage.

Fiber

 When I was at the doctor's a few weeks ago, I picked up a booklet that I found very interesting.  It was about fiber and how unless you actively strive to reaching your daily requirements, it won't happen.

The National Cancer Society recommends you consume 25-35 grams of fiber every day.  You know preventing cancer was a big motivation for me when I first started drinking green smoothies.

There was a whole page on how much fiber is in each food item.  I really liked studying this list, and I am now going to copy it for you.

Whole Wheat Bread    1 slice     2.11 grams

                Rye Bread  1 slice    1.72 grams

       White Bread    1 slice     .50 gram

            Oat Bran    1 oz.       4.06 grams

Shredded Wheat    1 oz.      2.64 grams  

   Corn Flakes      1 oz.         .45 grams  

Brown Rice   1/2 cup   5.27 grams

White Rice    1/2 cup    1.42 grams

  Spaghetti    2 oz.       2.56 grams

         Broccoli     1/2 cup    2.58 grams

Brussels Sprouts    1/2 cup   2.00 grams

               Corn    1/2 cup   3.03 grams

       Eggplant    1/2 cup   .96 grams

      Green Peas   1/2 cup   3.36 grams

          Lettuce    1/2 cup    .24 grams

          Potato    1/2 cup   2.97 grams

        Spinach    1/2 cup   2.07 grams

          Squash   1/2 cup    2.87 grams

         Tomato   1/2 cup   1.17 grams

       Zucchini    1/2 cup    1.26 grams

Green (canned)   1/2 cup    1.89 grams

          Kidney     1/2 cup    5.48 grams

             Lima     1/2 cup     4.25 grams

            Pinto      1/2 cup     5.93 grams

Apple (w/ peel)     1 med.    2.76 grams

          Apricots     1 cup       3.13 grams

             Banana     1 med.     2.19 grams

   Blackberries     1 cup      7.20 grams

Boysenberries     1 cup      7.20 grams

        Grapefruit     1 med.    3.61 grams

           Grapes    1 cup     1.12 grams

          Oranges    1 med.    3.14 grams

 Pear (w/ peel)   1 med.    4.32 grams

Prunes (canned)   1 cup    13.76 grams

   Raspberries     1 cup     7.50 grams

 Strawberries     1 cup     3.87 grams

  Watermelon    1 slice    1.93 grams

Are you brave enough to eat prunes?  The second place winner is the berries.

Try adding some to your morning breakfast. 

What I have learned about babies

I have both my sister 'n law Jordan and my second cousin Daisy are expecting their first babies in February.  

I found myself wanting to share things that I have learned in the last nine years. 

1. Don't be afraid of generic diapers.  I have tried them all - Walmart, Target & my local grocery store.  They work fine and they will save you dollars each week on your grocery bill.

2. Always check their clothes before throwing into the washer machine.  Stain sticks and sprays usually can get everything out.  Be extra careful with bananas.  They will almost instantly stain your favorite baby outfit.

3. Do not use a baby monitor at night.  You will achieve deeper sleep and the baby will always be able to wake you when they really need you.

4. Smile at your baby when you are changing a poopy diaper.

5. Speak to your baby from the beginning like they understand, in your regular voice.

6. When your baby starts sleeping through the night, and then regresses, calm them down and offer them a bottle of water.  Explain to them its time to go back to sleep and that you are not coming back in.

7. Once your baby stops eating baby food, offer them exactly what the you are eating, obviously cut into to small pieces.  If you make your own baby food you can start this sooner.  Babies enjoy all kinds of food.  Turkey sandwiches, salad, curry, whatever you are eating.  This will not only encourage you to maintain a balanced diet, but prevent them from being a picky eater.

8. Always use the straps when you place your baby in a shopping cart or trolley. 

Never assume they will stay put.

I'll stop being a Mrs. Know It All now.  Congratulations and welcome to Motherhood! Your baby will bring you so much joy and love, and you will stretch and grow like never before.

James Galway Christmas Album

One of my all time favorite Christmas albums is James Galway, an Irish flutist.

 I grew up listening to his music and his Christmas Carols are so fabulous because the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Singers and Chapel Choir of King's School, Canterbury are filling up the musical air along side this magnificent musician. 

I really appreciate this album because in addition to its beauty, it has gems not often played.

                  I couldn't find what I was looking for on youtube, so I did something I've never              
done before, I uploaded onto youtube.  Boy was that tricky for me to figure out!  

"Past Three o'clock"

Past three o'clock

On a cold frosty morning

Past three o'clock

Good morrow masters all.

                                                                    Born is a baby
                                                                    Gentle as may be
                                                                   Son of the Eternal
                                                                    Father supernal.

                                                                  Seraph choir singeth
                                                                    Angel bell ringeth
                                                                Hark how they rhyme it
                                                                  Time it and chime it!

                                                                    Mid earth rejoices
                                                                    Hearing such voices
                                                                    Ne'ertofore so well
                                                                      Carolling Nowell!

                                                                      Hinds o'er the pearly
                                                                       Dewy lawn early
                                                                    Seek the high stranger
                                                                       Laid in the manger.

                                                                    Cheese from the dairy
                                                                     Bring they for Mary
                                                                      And, not for money
                                                                        Butter and honey.

                                                                     Light out of star-land
                                                                    Leadeth from far land
                                                                      Princes, to meet him
                                                                    Worship and greet him.

                                                                      Myrrh from full coffer
                                                                         Incense they offer
                                                                         Nor is the golden
                                                                        Nugget withholden.

                                                                       Thus they: I pray you
                                                                       Up sirs, nor stay you
                                                                          Till ye confess him
                                                                      Likewise and bless him.
Words by G.R. Woodward
The music is beautiful in itself, but I though you might be interested in the lyrics.