I am cracking up over this list from Time.com
Here are a few of the entries
Dmitri Medvedev President of Russia
Yeah, sure he is.
Giorgio Napolitano President of Italy
He makes decisions, and Silvio Berlusconi ignores them. It's pretty funny.
Toll Brothers Homebuilders
That was a lot of McMansions you built. You'll totally get a segment on I Love the 2000s.
Greece
European country Hairy-chested, aggressive with women, charmingly backward — you briefly charmed us with that big, fat wedding. Then you spent so much more money than you made, you forced the E.U. to bail you out. It will be a long time before we watch a movie about you again.
Dick Fuld
The last CEO of Lehman Brothers ever That has to be hard to explain on a résumé.
Happy Friday
Horse Sense From Winston Churchill
In the spirit of the Kentucky Derby this weekend
a little horse sense from Winston Churchill
"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man"
"It is not enough for a man to know how to ride, he must know how to fall"
Santa Ana tiki trek, and Sad Leback
I'm not posting as often because I'm spending more of my free time out driving around and taking additional pictures of lost Orange County tiki shrines for my June presentation. Yesterday turned out to be "Santa Ana Tiki Apartment Complexes Day" -- and I visited quite a few..
I won't share all the details with you now, but I thought I'd offer proof that I'm out doing something productive.
The fellow in the photo above is Jim. He's in charge of security at a still-very-tikified apartment complex near The Block at Orange. When he saw me shooting photos through the fence of waterfalls, rooflines, tikis, etc, he didn't shoo me away. Instead, he gave me a tour and told me all kinds of interesting details about the place. Thanks, Jim!
This sign has nothing to do with tiki, except that it graces what was once a Polynesian-themed complex in Santa Ana. .
Poor Leback! Why is he sad?
Hot Black Hairstyles For 2010
Black hairstyles alter anniversary season, from one year to the next. Hot atramentous hairstyles for 2010 accept become added able and assorted with the appearance of new beard artefact formulations that acquiesce atramentous beard to advance damp and abate breakage. Atramentous beard is added breakable than best types - added array and density, tendancy to be dry and adamantine to moisturize, and generally breakable - so, the best atramentous hairstyles are advised to acclimate to the different characteristics of atramentous hair. Some of the latest atramentous hairstyles accommodate abbreviate bobs, which you can aroma up with added curls or accumulate beeline for beauteous aerial appearance effect. Adult brownie atramentous hairstyles are additionally a hot attending you may appetite to try. Bound bun updo can arise actual sexy; but you may additionally appetite to accept some braids or twists instead. Wavy and bound curls are additionally amid the hot favorites in atramentous hairstyles for 2010, forth with beeline beyond bangs.
Let us now booty a added attending at some of the hot atramentous hairstyles for 2010.
Shiny Atramentous Razor Cut Bob with Continued Bangs
This aberration of shoulder-length bob appearance appearance continued bangs and inclement lengths fabricated glassy with a collapsed adamant and appearance serum. The key to cull off a aces attending is to accept the absolute and best adulatory breadth ill-fitted for your facial appearance and structure. Ask your hairstylist to razor cut continued bangs forth the forehead up to a point area it almost touches your lashes. You can calmly appearance it application a paddle besom while draft drying; again align locks with a collapsed iron. Apply flash serum for best glassy finish.
Layered Atramentous Pixie
This abundant appearance is actual adulatory on any woman with atramentous beard and tends to accompany out the best appearance while cautiously concealing the flaws from view. It's a able appearance and a simple change in the allotment of your beard can get you a absolutely new look. The layers are absolute for abacus blush highlights to your beard to advantage up your personality or artlessly to accord your beard added definition.
French Twist Atramentous Hair
This appearance is one of the easiest atramentous hairstyles and is generally acclimated aback you appetite to get beard off your face. Beard is fatigued aback and twirled or askance appropriate at the nape of the close again affianced up in a cycle at the aback of the head. It's the absolute appearance for a aesthetic and adult attending and you can alike adorned it up with beard accessories such as brooches or tiaras.
Lustrous Atramentous Curls
Although angled and braid locks are hardly commutual with asperous layers. Coiled beard styles accomplish a beautiful exception. Get glam with this glassy abundant style. Blow-dry your beard while backcombing at the roots to get a big addition in volume. Use flat-iron to accord beard added bland finish. Use rollers to blanket the tips again abuse with your fingers to alleviate locks. Use flash aerosol for a absolute finish. The aftereffect is stunningly adult with the apart ringlets at the basal allegory with the bland arrangement up top.
Deep Atramentous After-effects with Ancillary Cornrow
This appearance is ideal for coiled beard that has a little bit of weight and volume. Work with your curls by fashioning intricate cornrows on one ancillary and adverse it with continued spirals on the added side. Use crimper band to ascertain the waves. The adult abysmal after-effects will accord a amorous and feminine, yet avant-garde effect.
Super Beeline Continued Atramentous Hairstyle
Long atramentous beard that is cool beeline and glassy consistently looks beginning and amorous with affianced up faux bangs. One of the easiest styles that women-on-the go favor. Draft dry with a flat-backed brush, affairs bottomward as you go. Polish tips with the use of collapsed adamant and you're acceptable to go.
Neiman Marcus - Is This Any Way To Market?
I have to say that in terms of marketing Neiman Marcus does just about everything right.
They have the stores, they have the goods and they have the sales staff.
Of course being too busy to go into the store, try on the goods and deal with the sales staff
I ordered this evening gown off of the Neiman Marcus website for the VRG gala.
On the website they had only one left in a size 4 and I snapped it up. I'd never bought an eveing gown online before but since I've worn Carmen Marc Valvo dresses in the past, I assumed it would fit. As it turns out the gown was cut a little large and I decided to return it.
Instead of sticking it back in the box and shipping it I decided to quickly pop into Neimans and return it in person and maybe see if there were any other dresses that I absolutely could not live without.
So there I was in the dress department waiting for someone to help me for more than 15 minutes. OK, so what's a little wait. I perused the racks and found a few fancy little cocktail dresses that had my name all over them...and god knows...I have the opportunity to wear fancy little cocktail dresses so often (not) but I am partial to them.
When a saleslady was finally available to help me she told me that because I had purchased the dress online I had to go to the top floor and return the dress to customer service. I was like really?
At any rate I trudged up the escalator with my long gown and returned it and then left the store to go back to my office.
So what's the issue?
If I had been able to return it in the fancy schmancy dress department, chances are that the sales lady would have been able to talk me into buying at least one other dress, and probably three, because there was an awesome sale and as I said before, I wear fancy little cocktail dresses so often, you know because my lifestyle calls for it...(not)
and because I just can't resist them at a good price.
Instead, she didn't didn't get the opportunity to up-sell me and Neiman's missed my business.
I ask you, is this any way to market?
They have the stores, they have the goods and they have the sales staff.
Of course being too busy to go into the store, try on the goods and deal with the sales staff
I ordered this evening gown off of the Neiman Marcus website for the VRG gala.
On the website they had only one left in a size 4 and I snapped it up. I'd never bought an eveing gown online before but since I've worn Carmen Marc Valvo dresses in the past, I assumed it would fit. As it turns out the gown was cut a little large and I decided to return it.Instead of sticking it back in the box and shipping it I decided to quickly pop into Neimans and return it in person and maybe see if there were any other dresses that I absolutely could not live without.
So there I was in the dress department waiting for someone to help me for more than 15 minutes. OK, so what's a little wait. I perused the racks and found a few fancy little cocktail dresses that had my name all over them...and god knows...I have the opportunity to wear fancy little cocktail dresses so often (not) but I am partial to them.
When a saleslady was finally available to help me she told me that because I had purchased the dress online I had to go to the top floor and return the dress to customer service. I was like really?
At any rate I trudged up the escalator with my long gown and returned it and then left the store to go back to my office.
So what's the issue?
If I had been able to return it in the fancy schmancy dress department, chances are that the sales lady would have been able to talk me into buying at least one other dress, and probably three, because there was an awesome sale and as I said before, I wear fancy little cocktail dresses so often, you know because my lifestyle calls for it...(not)
and because I just can't resist them at a good price.
Instead, she didn't didn't get the opportunity to up-sell me and Neiman's missed my business.
I ask you, is this any way to market?
Fancy Enough For You?
Well, since the Hermes cuff was such a hit
I thought that I would take it up a notch with this
20.36 Fancy Yellow diamond ring GIA VVS2 priced very well
Any takers?
I thought that I would take it up a notch with this
20.36 Fancy Yellow diamond ring GIA VVS2 priced very wellAny takers?
Female Hair
Some of my female hair models present for you all and if you really want to see the development of other hairstyles that you should never miss this blog a bit because I always show the variety of hairstyles here ok ....
Apparently Always Golden - Goldman Sachs
There's lots of good Goldman Sachs stuff on the net right now including Blankfein's statement and Senator Levin's questions. The Daily Beast has a nice aggregation of all things Goldman. But I would like to share this eternal email from a young Goldman Sachs employee that made it's way to the net.
Goldman's 'Fabulous' Fab's Conflicted Love Letters
Fabrice Tourre and his girlfriend talked like a couple very much in love.
They emailed back and forth about how they wanted to curl up in each other's arms and how they looked forward to tender moments together. Tourre, a Goldman Sachs bond trader, also wrote in the emails of the impending collapse of the subprime mortgage market and how he was masterminding ways at Goldman to make money from it.
Little did they know that three years later these very personal emails written through Tourre's Goldman Sachs e-mail account would become part of one of the biggest investigations into the subsequent financial crisis.
"Just made it to the country of your favorite clients!!! I'm managed (sic) to sell a few abacus bonds to widow and orphans that I ran into at the airport, apparently these Belgians adore synthetic abs cdo2," Tourre wrote in June 2007.
Earlier in 2007, in an e-mail to a friend, Tourre shares his fears that the product he helped create is crumbling -- and he has a sense of humor about it.
"It's bizarre I have the sensation of coming each day to work and re-living the same agony - a little like a bad dream that repeats itself," Tourre writes. "In sum, I'm trading a product which a month ago was worth $100 and which today is only worth $93 and which on average is losing 25 cents a day ...That doesn't seem like a lot but when you take into account that we buy and sell these things that have nominal amounts that are worth billions, well it adds up to a lot of money."
The collection of e-mails also show that Tourre was not the only person at Goldman with confidence the subprime market was doomed.
Daniel Sparks, a former head of the mortgages department at Goldman, is also expected to testify on Tuesday before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
"According to Sparks, that business is totally dead, and the poor little subprime borrowers will not last so long!!!" Tourre wrote in a March 7, 2007, email to his girlfriend.
Goldman is going to coast out of this situation quickly and, as usual, everyone at the top is going to get huge bonu$e$....but it amuses me the laxity with which the banker boys trashed their own deals in their business email. In a world where all electronic communication is monitorable, you would have thought that they would have been a little more careful...oh, but I forgot...why would they bother with a corporate culture of hubris.
But what I like best so far of the Goldman saga is John Hinderaker's Demonizing Goldman Sachs, an analysis of the testimony where the bankers outshone the Senators on every level, leading him to make this conclusion
I'm not a particular fan of either Goldman Sachs or Congress, but today's hearing confirms that, given a choice, I'd rather have Goldman Sachs regulating Congress than Congress regulating Goldman Sachs. Goldman's employees are much smarter, considerably more honest, and far more likely to have my interests at heart.
Oh Snap!
Hermes for Une Femme
I do like to know that our jewelry is going to a good home were it will be appropriately worn and appreciated.
Happily, the Hermes Collier de Chien bracelet (aka the bondage bracelet) has gone to a good home with our blogger friend Deja Pseu at Une Femme D'un Certain Age.
Hopefully she will post a photo of it on her wrist!
Happily, the Hermes Collier de Chien bracelet (aka the bondage bracelet) has gone to a good home with our blogger friend Deja Pseu at Une Femme D'un Certain Age.
Hopefully she will post a photo of it on her wrist!
How About A Little Hermes
from Beladora2.com
The Hermes price new is $1200
Just add your own thigh high black boots and think of it as dominatrix at a discount!
Visiting the Orange Drive-In
Yesterday, our lovely Orange correspondent and I were on a Modern architecture pilgrimage to the Crystal Cathedral campus in Garden Grove, and unexpectedly stumbled across the last remaining bits of the Orange Drive In Theatre. Not that they were marked or identified in any way, but it wasn't hard to figure out. Dr. Robert Schuller began his ministry in Southern California in 1955 by preaching to folks in their cars at the Drive-In. His pulpit was the roof of the snack shop, a portion of which was apparently saved in 2003, when the rest of the building was bulldozed. (The screens came down earlier, in 1997. The whole area is now part of a freeway onramp/offramp.)
Also saved for posterity were these speakers, which are designed to mount on the inside of your car window during the movie (or during the drive-in church service). There was also an organ, mysteriously unmarked, nearby. I'm not sure what its origins were. Perhaps it was used at the Drive-In also.
In any case, all this stuff, and a rotary telephone, are on display on the second floor of the Richard Meier-designed International Center for Possibility Thinking (a.k.a. the "Welcoming Center").Around Town - The Stigmatized at the LA Opera
Overall opera is a difficult art to appreciate. While some opera's are easily watched and enjoyed, such as Butterfly and Turandot, more often than not they are challenging, complicated, hours long and require simultaneous reading while watching the events on stage if you aren't familiar with the story or fluent in multiple languages. James Conlon's production of Franz Schreker's 'The Stigmatized' was one of these difficult operas but definitely worth seeing.
The story is set in fin-de-siecle Genoa with a plot that is marked by the Freudian undertones of the outside appearances and the internal decadence of the characters. There is ugliness and beauty and lust in the story, and of course a completely naked girl in a simulated rape scene on stage....because this is the LA Opera, and there are always naked girls and sex on the LA Opera stage.
The score is rich and romantic and sounds more like a film score than an opera. There are no snappy arias that you can hum to yourself later. While the Viennese Schreker is compared mostly to Strauss, I felt that his music was more akin to that of Korngold whose work was used both in opera and in film. Certainly Korngold must have been influenced by Schreker.
The singing by German soprano Anja Kampe, as the artist Carlotta, was extraordinary. She blew everyone away, including the lead tenor Robert Brubaker, as the crippled aristocrat. The set design was kept purposely simple in order to act as a background for a rich lighting design with elaborate projections. It was very beautiful production visually.
Here's the description from the LA Opera.
World-renowned conductor James Conlon continues the critically lauded, groundbreaking Recovered Voices series with the first-ever production in the Western hemisphere of any opera of Franz Schreker. The New Yorker commented that the work "vacillates between melodies of Mediterranean grace and textures of otherworldly complexity...One scene melts into another with cinematic ease."
Sadly, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center wasn't full and the average age of the audience was about 65. For a new generation raised on film, video games, twitter and instant gratification, I'm afraid that opera will be a lost art.
The story is set in fin-de-siecle Genoa with a plot that is marked by the Freudian undertones of the outside appearances and the internal decadence of the characters. There is ugliness and beauty and lust in the story, and of course a completely naked girl in a simulated rape scene on stage....because this is the LA Opera, and there are always naked girls and sex on the LA Opera stage.
The score is rich and romantic and sounds more like a film score than an opera. There are no snappy arias that you can hum to yourself later. While the Viennese Schreker is compared mostly to Strauss, I felt that his music was more akin to that of Korngold whose work was used both in opera and in film. Certainly Korngold must have been influenced by Schreker.
The singing by German soprano Anja Kampe, as the artist Carlotta, was extraordinary. She blew everyone away, including the lead tenor Robert Brubaker, as the crippled aristocrat. The set design was kept purposely simple in order to act as a background for a rich lighting design with elaborate projections. It was very beautiful production visually.
Here's the description from the LA Opera.
World-renowned conductor James Conlon continues the critically lauded, groundbreaking Recovered Voices series with the first-ever production in the Western hemisphere of any opera of Franz Schreker. The New Yorker commented that the work "vacillates between melodies of Mediterranean grace and textures of otherworldly complexity...One scene melts into another with cinematic ease."
Sadly, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center wasn't full and the average age of the audience was about 65. For a new generation raised on film, video games, twitter and instant gratification, I'm afraid that opera will be a lost art.
France as Viewed by the French
I tried to embed this slide show but it took to long to load
so instead
go here and enjoy
h/t Just Another American In Paris
so instead
go here and enjoy
h/t Just Another American In Paris
Looking back at Sunday's Knott's event
A lot has been posted to the web since our "Knott's Preserved" event on Sunday, so I thought I'd provide some links....
First of all, authors Chris Merritt and Eric Lynxwiler were interviewed on Airtalk with Larry Mantle the other day on KPCC. The interview is available online as a download.
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Dave DeCaro ran a recap of Sunday's events on Daveland. See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
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Tim at Vintage Disneyland Tickets also blogged about the event and also shared an outstanding 1953 article from Desert Magazine about Walter Knott's efforts to rebuild the old mining town of Calico.
The O.C. Register did short pieces about the new Knott's book and Sunday's panel discussion. I know they shot a bunch of video too, but (to my knowledge) that hasn't shown up online yet..
Even MiceChat left their usual Anaheim stomping grounds to give us a photo essay about Sunday's proceedings. (Thanks to our old pals Fishbulb and DustySage.)
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On Flickr, there have been some great photos of the event posted by Eyduck, Keith, Eric, Season Pass, and Dave Cobb. I also added a number of videos of the tours, shot by Katie Schroeder, to my own Flickr account. And one of my favorite Flickristas, Mini Jen, referred to Sunday as, "a who's-who of creative, retro peeps." It truly was, and I was so glad to be among them!.
Another large batch of photos was posted to TwitPic by "knottsbrryfarm."
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Blogger Giddy Girlie also gave us an account with photos of the event. (Note to GG: Thanks for your amazing compliment in the post that followed. I'm still blushing.)
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And on a related note, Ken had a great article on Outside The Berm about the fate of Knott's Little Chapel By The Lake.
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And on a related note, Ken had a great article on Outside The Berm about the fate of Knott's Little Chapel By The Lake.
Today's first two photos were from Sunday's "Knott's Preserved" history events. The last photo, immediately above, shows Knott's retail/dining facilities in the 1930s..
One last time: Huge thanks to Chris Merritt, Eric Lynxwiler, Phil Brigandi, Jennifer Blazey and the folks at Knott's Berry Farm for working your butts off and making this great event possible. It was an honor to be included. My thanks also to Werner Weiss and Allen Palovik, who volunteered to jump in and help with the tours if needed.
Layered Hairstyles - Stylish and Sexy
Layered hairstyles are actual accepted and accept been accepted for some time. They can be done appropriate on abounding altered beard types. What Are They?
They are hairstyles that cut the beard in altered lengths about the head. Sometimes the breadth differences are subtle, giving the beard added direction; sometimes the attending is a little added obvious. Layered hairstyles can be abbreviate or continued in length. They accord the beard administration and body.
They accommodate arrangement and aggregate to the hair.
Types
There are abounding types that are a actual contemporary attending appropriate now is the astern bob hairstyle, area the aback of the beard is beneath than the advanced of the hair. Another abundant layered attending is the continued bob. Layered hairstyles can ambit from actual simple bangs with face framing layers, to annoying all over.
Lengths of layered hairstyles alter abundantly they can be actual short, button length, accept breadth and longer. It all depends on a claimed alternative on how continued the breadth of the layered hairstyles will be.
Not Appropriate For Everyone
They are abundant for association that accept after-effects in their beard or beeline hair. They are not so abundant for association that accept actual coiled hair; they tend to coil up coiled beard and accomplish it a bit unruly. Beard that is actual blubbery can accept some but usually abacus added layers will aloof accomplish the beard attending bushy. They are ideal for attenuate hair; base beard does not assignment out so able-bodied with layers.
They usually crave little affliction and can accord beard a accomplished attending alike back little has been done to it. The attending can be a bit of a furry adult attending or can be one of the cottony agleam pin beeline looks that accept been accepted recently.
Where to Get
Layered hairstyles are offered at all kinds of beard salons. Most any beard chiffonier can cut beard in this way. An arrangement will be appropriate with a beard dresser. Actuality specific about breadth desires and appearance of the hairstyle is important back speaking with the beard dresser. They alter so broadly that actuality specific is important to get what one is the one that you prefer.
Orange County Tiki
I hope you'll be able to join us for dinner with the Orange County Historical Society at Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, June 10. I will be speaking at their dinner program about the history of the "Polynesian Pop" phenomenon of the 1950s and '60s in Orange County..
From architecture, décor and music, to literature, theme parks and backyard luaus, the South Seas was a wildly popular theme throughout Mid-Century America. This was especially true in sunny Orange County, where primitive carved figures, grass huts, 'Aloha shirts,' and lush jungle landscaping seemed right at home.
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The location for this dinner event is doubly historic. Don the Beachcomber is a historically significant restaurant that recently took up residence in one of America’s few remaining authentic tiki establishments: The former Sam’s Seafood. The place has recently been lovingly restored and improved. We'll be dining in the "Hidden Village" room, with waterfalls, a tiki bar, grass huts, fishing float lamps, tikis galore, and everything else you'd expect.
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The event is open to everyone -- not just Society members. But please sign up soon before we run out of space. To register or for more information, download a PDF flier at: http://www.orangecountyhistory.org/tiki2010.pdf
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(Today's photos show the late Pitcairn Motel on Harbor Blvd. in Garden Grove.)
How To Wear Vintage Estate Jewelry - The Gold Statement Necklace
Well, once I get on a topic I just keep going on and on....like how to wear Beladora vintage estate jewelry. I'm making this my BHB meme...at least until the ADD hits in and I go off on some other tangent.
Of course I love to wear Georgian and Art Deco diamonds...who doesn't
But more often I go for big bold statement pieces from the 1960's and 1970's.
Such as this gold and diamond necklace with pendant that was worn this week by Faith Hill
Here I am wearing the exact same necklace. It can be worn long as on Faith Hill or short, as I am wearing it here in this photo. I used the second half of the necklace to wrap double around my wrist as a bracelet. Might I add that the necklace also fits perfectly as a belt.
Here's he detail from Beladora.com 
Oh...and did you notice that fox throw that I am leaning against in the photo?
Of course I love to wear Georgian and Art Deco diamonds...who doesn't
But more often I go for big bold statement pieces from the 1960's and 1970's.
Such as this gold and diamond necklace with pendant that was worn this week by Faith Hill
Here I am wearing the exact same necklace. It can be worn long as on Faith Hill or short, as I am wearing it here in this photo. I used the second half of the necklace to wrap double around my wrist as a bracelet. Might I add that the necklace also fits perfectly as a belt.
Here's he detail from Beladora.com Why so expensive you ask? Simply because there is a lot of gold weight in this piece.
Oh...and did you notice that fox throw that I am leaning against in the photo?It is the same one from this famous va-va-voom photo of Kate Winslet from Vanity Fair.
Naturally, like the necklace the silver fox made by Frette is for sale...with a matching pillow.
Any offers?
Natural Hair Care Remedies
Most women dream about accepting admirable animated hair. They use a advanced array of beard affliction articles like shampoos, conditioners and oils to booty acceptable affliction of their hair. But little do they apperceive that some of the beard affliction articles may accept adverse affects on their beard because of the attendance of some chemicals in the products. It is due to the aimless use of beard affliction articles that best women today are in chase of some beard affliction remedies to restore accustomed beard growth.Similarly, some women are application some beard administration agents that can be damaging to the accustomed bloom of the hair. If they appetite to advance the accustomed beard advance it is capital that they stop application such articles and use accustomed beard affliction articles acquired from plants and assemble extracts.
Nature has accustomed us abounding herbs that are accepted to anticipate beard loss. There are some herbs that act as accustomed beard advance stimulants - they advance the claret apportionment in the attic and actuate the advance of beard follicles. They actuate the dermal papilla in the beard follicles and blaze all-embracing attic metabolism to enhance the accustomed beard advance cycles.
Experimental studies appearance that the extracts from grape seeds access the assembly of beef in the beard follicle. It has additionally been empiric that the grape extracts affect the beard advance cycles to accept added accustomed growth. Grape berry extracts advance advantageous beard advance by acquisition the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that stops the beard growth. The agents in grape seeds advice in facilitating the follicles to move from telogen (resting) to the anagen (growing) appearance at a faster rate.Ginkgo biloba blade extracts act as acceptable analeptic and one of the best acclimated http://www.hairinformation.com/hair-care-remedies/>hair affliction remedies. The abstract helps to access and advance borderline micro-capillary circulation, ultimately convalescent or advancement accustomed beard growth. The beard advance is angry through accumulated furnishings on admeasurement and apoptosis (cell death) of the beef in the beard follicle.
Aloe vera (aloe barbadensis) is a accustomed beard affliction remedy, which can be acclimated for alleviative alopecia. It contains aloenin, a almighty analeptic which promotes accelerated beard advance after any affliction in the scalp.
Sage (Salvia officinalis), additionally alleged 'common sage' or 'garden sage' is about acclimated as beard rinses or bark lotions. It is abnormally accessible in advancement burnish of aphotic coiled hair. Back attenuated with rosemary it stimulates beard growth. The capacity that are amenable for its beard advance aesthetic furnishings are tannins, saponins, borneol and camphor.
You can advance the accepted bloom of your beard by application accustomed oil as a beard affliction accessory. Oils such as attic oil, rosemary, West Indian bay and chamomile are some of the accustomed oils that are accepted to advice in beard growth.
Coconut oil is a triglyceride accepting a aerial affection for beard proteins. Because of its low atomic weight and beeline beeline chain, it is able to access the beard shaft. This beard affliction oil lubricates and gives a bland feel to dry beard shafts. It additionally heals the anatomy of damaged beard and protects it from adverse UVA radiation.
Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) is a alleviative assemble acclimated for alleviative assorted beard ailments. It is additionally acclimated as a accustomed beard conditioner, abnormally for aphotic hair. It is additionally acclimated as a analysis for dandruff. Rosemary oil stimulates the advance of hair. The capital basic of this beard affliction oil is caffeic acerbic and its acquired rosmarinic acerbic has antioxidant furnishings that advice in accouterment flash to hair.Lavender oil back acclimated as a beard affliction accent not alone helps in alleviative lice and fleas in the hair, but additionally gives a affable balm to your hair. It is additionally acclimated to amusement crawling and crawling in the scalp. Researches accept apparent that lavender oil may be able adjoin alopecia areata and may advice anticipate beard loss.
Georgian London Through The Art of Paul Sanby
If, like me, you have an interest in 18th and 19th Century history and art, check out the podcast on the Georgian London blog about 18th Century water colorist Paul Sanby at the Royal Academy
Around Town - The Los Angeles Antiques Show
Last night I was out and about with my fabulous client Sherry. Sherry is a major Beverly Hills party girl with a connoisseur's eye for fine estate jewelry. Basically she took me along as her chaperon, to keep her from getting into trouble with the all the bling and the boys at the opening night party at the Los Angeles Antiques Show.
The event was a super chic benefit to raise money for P.S. Arts which supports arts programs in the public school system.
P.S. Arts is supported primarily by the entertainment industry so no matter how impressive the antiques were, the people at the party were waaaay more gorgeous.
There was a nice celebrity turnout with Courtney Cox, Amber Valleta, Dita von Teese, Alexandra von Furstenberg, Marcia Cross, Lilly Collins and lots more.
(I was introduced to Lilly Collins last night by her mother Jill who I know through VRG and BHWC and I thought to myself what a lovely young girl. I had no idea that she played the role of the daughter in 'The Blind Side". If you haven't seen "The Blind Side" netflix it.)
Beladora Vintage Jewelry - How To Wear It
I realize that many fashion forward women think that antique estate jewelry is too old fashioned and frumpy for our contemporary lifestyle. I beg to differ. Not only is it easy to wear estate jewelry with current clothing styles, it adds visual interest to mix up the old with the new, especially if you mix up jewelry from different decorative periods. Today I'm wearing Georgian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Contemporary diamond jewelry...and it works.
Antique Georgian Diamond Brooch and Antique Edwardian Diamond Earrings
Here's the detail on the brooch 
Vintage Harry Winston Diamond and Sapphire Watch and Art Deco Diamond Ringalso added to the mix is an Art Deco Diamond Bracelet
OK, it won't always be the big diamond stuff...I have a couple of appointments today that call for it, but I will wear something vintage every day....whether big bold Retro brooches and bracelets, funky 1970's rings or a Van Cleef and Arpels Alhambra pendant that is less than 5 years old.
Whatever your style, vintage jewelry will work for you too.
SJP - Obviously Needs More Time At The Gym
Now if SJP just added an additional two hours a day to her daily two hour gym routine
she could look more like Madonna
Knott's, Lacy, Santa Ana, trains & Laguna Beach
Many thanks to everyone who came to our Knott's Berry Farm day-long history event on Sunday. Phil Brigandi and I had a great time giving the tours and attending the lecture and panel discussion. I still haven't recovered,... but I'd do it all again if asked. If you missed the event, Chris Merritt & Eric Lynxwiler's excellent new book Knott's Preserved, will be available soon in a book store near you..
The photo above shows Sunday's book-signing line-up of (seated left to right) J. Eric Lynxwiler, Tony Baxter, Steve Knott (grandson of Walter and Cordelia), and Chris Merritt. Standing on the left is John Waite, a longtime employee of ride owner/operator/designer Bud Hurlbut. The photo below shows Phil at the old George Washington Fireplace exhibit, which was refurbished in advance of our tour! Way to go, Knott's! I've posted many more photos of the day's events on my Flickr account.
Sometimes the good guys win: The Friends of the Historic Lacy Neighborhood (FHLN), a grassroots preservation group, just sent out a press release saying they have "settled an action in O.C. Superior Court against the City of Santa Ana to enforce the California Environmental Quality Act. The Petition for Writ of Mandamus, filed Nov. 19, 2009, asked the Court to void the City’s unlawful approval of the demolition of vintage homes in the Lacy Neighborhood because the City had not complied with state environmental laws designed to protect historic and cultural resources. The case was settled upon the City’s agreement to: Rescind its imminent salvage and demolition of 11 vintage and historic homes in the historic Lacy Neighborhood of Santa Ana. Reconsider the future of the 11 vintage and historic homes only after certification of an adequate Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Draft EIR for the Transit Zoning Code, which includes consideration of demolitions of Lacy Neighborhood and surrounding area, was thus revised and recirculated to consider a new alternative for rehabilitation of the 11 City-owned vintage structures. Reimburse the Friends for legal fees and costs."..
The Orange Empire Railway Museum's annual Rail Festival will be held this weekend. The museum is in Perris, California. "Ride trains and trolleys all day long, plus a special mini 'Run One' where you can take the throttle on a real railroad locomotive. There will be live bluegrass music, a special parade of Los Angeles trolleys, handcar rides, and other special exhibits. There will also be food vendors on site for lunch. Both steam and diesel powered trains will operate on the mainline!" Adults $12. Children ages 5-11, $8. Under age 5, free. See OERM's website for details..
.The Laguna Beach Historical Society has posted a bunch of photos from their collection to SmugMug. Check it out.
Strict, Sotto Voce or Just Plain Anti Diva Armor
Considering the Duchesse's post today on "Sotto Voce" style and her previous post on "Strict" style, I thought that I would show you what shoes I am wearing today. 
Purchased at Barney's many years ago these Italian fatta a mano shoes are a little bit beat up... but they are finally worn in and comfortable. I also have matching pairs in camel and black suede.
I don't know if these fall into the "Sotto Voce" or the "Strict" category in terms of style.
Purchased at Barney's many years ago these Italian fatta a mano shoes are a little bit beat up... but they are finally worn in and comfortable. I also have matching pairs in camel and black suede.
I don't know if these fall into the "Sotto Voce" or the "Strict" category in terms of style.But I will say that my environment is fraught with Divas and I don't deal well with the whole Diva thing. So I just consider these shoes as part of my "Anti-Diva Don't F**k With Me" style.
Someday we can have a further discussion on the semiotics of shoes...
The Joneses - There Goes The Neighborhood
An interesting concept taking product placement to a new level with family life as affiliate sales
Around Town - Sunday at the Skirball
I've always wanted to check out the architecture at the Skirball Cultural Center which sprouts out of the hills on the west side of the canyon between Bel Air and Brentwood and yesterday I finally had an event to attend there.
The Skirball Center, contains a concert hall, theater, amphitheater, auditorium, gallery space, conference center and various other areas of terraces and courtyards. Even with all of these features the overall structure, designed my Moshe Safdie, seems intimate because it was created as a series of interconnected low buildings punctuated by gardens.
At any rate it was the perfect venue for a lecture by Pulitzer Prize winning historian, David Kennedy and Hoover Institute Fellow, Thad Kousser, titled "What's The Matter With California". The lecture was Sponsored by the Bill Lane Center for the American West of Stanford University, which obviously deals with issues specific to this region. 
At any rate after coming to grips with the fact that the California of my parents and grandparents, of fragrant orange groves between benign suburbian sprawl, has long been gone and is never coming back, I was happy take my focus from the political to the personal and to sip some sauvignon blanc and listen to some soft jazz at Vibrato Grill high up in the hills of Bel Air.
The Skirball Center, contains a concert hall, theater, amphitheater, auditorium, gallery space, conference center and various other areas of terraces and courtyards. Even with all of these features the overall structure, designed my Moshe Safdie, seems intimate because it was created as a series of interconnected low buildings punctuated by gardens.
At any rate it was the perfect venue for a lecture by Pulitzer Prize winning historian, David Kennedy and Hoover Institute Fellow, Thad Kousser, titled "What's The Matter With California". The lecture was Sponsored by the Bill Lane Center for the American West of Stanford University, which obviously deals with issues specific to this region. The lecture focused on the political problems of California stemming from a gridlocked legislative process. Let's just say that the gist of the matter is that California desperately needs legislative and constitutional reform. But as we all know we seldom get the government that we want, unfortunately we get the government that we deserve.
While I do think that California, the 8th largest economy in the world...or something like that, will eventually recover from this cyclical recession, I'm skeptical of long term progress in terms of political reform.
When the best and the brightest from the brainiacs at Stanford and the University of Rochester can come up with this astounding conclusion in their report from last February
When a state legislature is not dominated by one party, and the salaries are modest, legislators waste less time on bills that benefit only their own districts, according to researchers at Stanford and the University of Rochester.
That doesn't leave me too hopeful. Because as astute as this statement is, any person of average intelligence would have rationally come up with the same conclusion...you know without a full on study. Is this the best that these professors have to offer?
Well apparently not, because they've got CaliforniaChoice.org which aims to educate the State's citizenry on constitutional and political reform.
At any rate after coming to grips with the fact that the California of my parents and grandparents, of fragrant orange groves between benign suburbian sprawl, has long been gone and is never coming back, I was happy take my focus from the political to the personal and to sip some sauvignon blanc and listen to some soft jazz at Vibrato Grill high up in the hills of Bel Air.Even with all of the problems of the State, at least we don't have volcano eruptions...yet.