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♥ Leopold and Helena forever 😍 Since my  blogs on Prince Leopold are popular (you never know which subjects will be a hit!), I will share a few more photos I love, but did not use in the 1st or 2nd  post. In truth, I am touched by the Prince's personality and life story and now consider him my Victorian history pet . So if you find any rare photos of Leopold or his wife, Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany, send them my way! I love  the top left photo  of Prince Leopold taken in 1875 at Oxford University by Alice In Wonderland's author, Lewis Carroll. Wearing a gorgeous suit and shoes, Prince Leopold is handsome in his cap and gown. It is my favorite college photo of him, despite initially posting one of the Prince standing and looking into the camera. The  top right shot  of Leopold's wife,  Helena (a/k/a Helen) , is a bit washed out, but I like how she faces the camera looking like a lovely doll in her wedding attire. So often Victoria...

Weighing price, convenience and effectiveness, I lean towards organic personal care products. When it makes sense, I switch from drugstore brands to products with cleaner, organic ingredients. It's difficult to go totally orgainic, but we can be mindful to reduce the amount of chemicals we use in our beauty products. Most shampoos will clean your hair just fine, but the commericial hair conditioners still work better than any organic conditioner I have tried. Plus, the mass produced name brands of shampoos and conditions are less expensive than many organic brands. If you wash your hair every day, it's worth considering how much money to wash down the drain. Will it be pennies, or dollars? Sometimes it's worth the extra cost, sometimes it is not. Photo credit: Jacqui Writes I always return to the drugstore brands of hair conditioners. Recently I tried Ganier Whole Blends Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner Coconut Oil & Cocoa Butter Extracts . Forumulated with South Paci...

Lori's Shoes Of Chicago  is a fabulous find! Launced in 1983 in a vacant storefront on Armitage Avenue by Lori Andre, the entrepreneur has two passions: shoes and gourmet cooking. Thirty-four years (and three sons) later, her business now includes several other brick and mortar stores, as well as, a thriving website.  Moreover, Lori's business model remains the same: Offer fashionable, high-quality shoes that customers won't find elsewhere at affordable prices. The retailer's shoe buyers select styles from small factories in Italy that are new, fresh and fashion-forward, but not so bizarre and aggressive as to be impractical.  ' Some of the shoes are made in the very same factories as well -known couture brands, but Lori's Shoe stock is aimed for people who don't spend $1,000+ on footwear, yet still covet well-made shoes. As reported in The Chicago Tribute , her top selling brands include Bernie Mev, Jeffrey Campbell, Franco Sarto, Sam Edlelman and many cont...

Easter is this Sunday ... and not a moment too soon. Old Man Winter begone! On the Western Hemisphere, it's symbolic how Easter arrives as spring begins. In the west, we have persevered through another cold, harsh winter when nothing grows, and now can look forward to sunny days as a new cycle of life begins. Christianity recognizes that not all is right in the world. Both good and evil exist. There is much suffering and injustice on earth. In fact, history is a solemn record of hard times marked by hunger, disease, death, natural disasters and political unrest, etc. But Easter reminds us to look at the big picture. Find the light at the end of the tunnel. With perseverance, good can ... and will overcome evil. Explaining why evil exists is difficult, and yet without strife , there is often no growth . I have heard it said, we learn as much from our hardships and failures as we do from our successes. Easter reminds us to look on the bright side of life!  Be positive. Have hope. Opt...

To be honest, I only own 3 party bags. One was a gift, the second a hand-me-down from my mother and and the third one, I bought for under $50. And ... I can't claim to personally own a costly clutch purse, made of silk, or decorated with glittery Swarovski crystals. But that doesn't stop me from recognizing beauty when I see it.  Inge Christopher makes some fine party purses! You will pay 3 to 6 times more than what I paid for mine, but will get upscale silk, snakeskin, leather, metal or wood, as well as, eye catching embellishments. If you're always partying, you can justify the greater expense as an investment.  Many of the clutches are designed to hold an iphone, and there is a wide selection of materials, shapes and styles. I picked a few of my favorites. As you can see, I tend to stick with a classic style, but you might like something more unique like the Luma Mini Tote . When putting on the Ritz, most of us want to look our swanky best, which just might include a qu...

Photo by  Growlerfills Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia sits The Floyd Country General Store . People who pay a visit feel like they have stepped back in time. A real country store serving a rural community, its shelves are stocked with a bounty of quirky and practical goods, including penny candy, books on farming, local arts and crafts, eco-friendly cleaning products, kitchen tools, casual clothing, and old fashioned toys and games. The store has an inviting cafe. All the food on the menu is fresh, locally-grown and homemade. You will find country favorites like barbequed pulled pork, Chicken Brunswick stew and pinto beans with onions and cast-iron-skillet baked cornbread. Be sure to save room for the hand-dipped ice cream. All year-around, the general store hosts a popular Friday Night Jamboree of Appalachian music and dance, where some of the most esteemed, old-time musicians take the stage. The evening starts at 6:30, features three bands, and by all accounts, l...

Nordstrom , the swanky retailer, is running an anniversary sale. The promotion ends August 5th. It's where to shop for upscale clothing, shoes, handbags or jewlery that you want to have in your wardrobe for years to come. It's not where I, personally, turn for articles, which will quickly go out of style, since you can find lots of fun, trendy pieces elsewhere (at H&M, Forever 21 and Target) for much less. But, what if you don't have a Nordstrom in your town? I hear you! Don't be afraid to buy items from this store online. Since they sell high-end merchandise, you can count on quality arriving in your mailbox, plus Nordstrom offers free shipping and returns. So if you make a mistake, you can exchange, or return the goods at no charge. That's the only way to shop for outfits and boots online! It just might be the perfect time to pick up a few expensive wardrobe pieces you need at 30% - 60% reductions. Worth a browse. You may also enjoy: Kate Middleton Has Somethi...