Lessons Learned ::

“ A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms. ”

— from Zen Shin Talks

my blog, via hemingwayandhepburn

 

 

 

Be like nature and do your own thing.  You are far more interesting when you are true to yourself.   

 xo,

R+H

Welcome Back :: Domino

Hello lover!

I'm so excited to hear that Domino is finally, officially back!

The interest and love that magazine garnered was so strong that I was (honestly) surprised to hear it had ended to begin with.

But hey, after a couple years and several rumors that it was (possibly resurfacing), Domino has emerged, as beloved as ever.  


...and actually, probably even better than ever.





3 Reasons Domino is Better:

1. They're back.  After 4 years + an economy that killed plenty of magazines.  Enough said.
2. You can basically order right from the website now, as you read the features.  And have it delivered straight to your door.
3. Obviously the online component is great.  Because I used to have to just lug all the magazines around with me when moving from apartment to apartment - and that got heavy.

Now, you can start the week off right and peruse the revamped, online magazine all evening long.  Happy Monday everyone.


xo

RH

Relax, it's Saturday

Yay, the weekend has arrived!

 

I'm a major proponent of travel, and a lover of adventures, but sometimes everyone needs to find some peaceful, quiet place and just slow down.

Slow way down - to hear the chickens clucking; feel the wind blowing; smell the leaves burning. 

 
Get back in touch with nature - no cell phones, no laptops, and internet, and social media.  No crowds or deadlines.  Just you and the big, wide woods (or fields, or mountains, or sea)... you would be surprised to learn how small you are.

Clean out your house and your life.  Throw away things you don't need anymore, and rid yourself of anything that is holding you back.  Clear the clutter - because quite frankly, you probably don't need everything you are currently holding on to.

On the other hand, keep your friends and family closer than ever.  Be thankful that you aren't alone in such a crazy, busy, loud, frantic world. 

Happy weekend.


xo

RH

Glamorous Little Things

In honor of the middle of the week - can you believe it is that time already? - here are some lovely, gorgeous still life shots of your basic, everyday, household items.  

Ralph Lauren: L’École des Beaux-Arts

 ...well okay, not really "everyday", or "basic", but all that could be separating them from their boring cousins is some fancy gold spray paint and twinkling crystal adornments.  So, the question is, how creative are you?

 

Kelly Wearstler: vintage gold shell chairs

Or, instead of spray paint, add some pretty upholstery and a ribboned bouquet. 

 

 

Turn your ordinary day into a perfectly glamorous day!

 

xo

RH

12 Steps for A Great Day

1. If it feels wrong, or if you are in doubt, don't do it.
2. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.  Don't beat around the bush.
3. Don't be a people pleaser.  Do what makes you happy.
   
4. Trust your instincts.  You have them for a reason.
5. Build yourself - and others - up.  There is enough negativity out there, you don't need to add to it.
6. Dream.  Set goals.  Make a plan.  Stick to it.
7. Don't be afraid to say "no".  You can't do everything.
8. Don't be afraid to say "yes". 
9.  Let go of things you can't control.  Make peace with life, yourself, and others.
10. Be thankful.  (and, yes, there IS always something to be thankful for).
11. Be friendly.  Be the type of person you would want to be around.
12. Acknowledge that you are intelligent.  Say it!  Too many smart people beat themselves up.  You are smart.  You can do it. 

Have a good day :)


xo

RH

Color Love

Blue is one of the most prevalent colors in nature for good reason.  It's calming, peaceful, and pretty.  It complements, in some shade or tint, every other color and skin-tone. 

Scroll down and see what I mean.   Enjoy the velvety texture of a jacket, the inky darkness of the sea, the veined delicacy of petals, the feathered, gold-speckled plume of a bird, and try to tell me that these images would be better in any other color. 

  

xo

RH

Random delights

Every so often I just like to bask in the simple pleasures of random delights, and today is one of those days.  Here are some little things I'm loving today:

Crusty, flaky, warm, fresh breads.  Of any size.

Pretty living rooms + wall galleries.  (and dogs).

Lovely, warm, ladylike clothes + a great pair of heels.

...and because I'm a classicist, Sean Connery.  The best Bond.

What, or who, is inspiring you today?

xo

RH

Why, yes...I agree!

How eminently sensible of you, Frank...

Why any female would want to dumb herself down for any reason (to snag a man, keep a job, "make" some friends) is entirely beyond me.  If you have brains, use them!

And, quite frankly, you'll attract a better caliber of people around you anyways, by being true to yourself. 
 

Have a great day, you smart thing, you!

xo

RH

Happy Monday!

I took a mini-vacation last week, which accounts for the lack of posts, but now I'm back and loving Fall!  The hot chocolates and warm, fluffy bread; the black coffees and thick sweaters; the falling leaves and smells of burning wood.  

Well... we haven't quite gotten that far into Fall yet, but you get my drift.  The nights are definitely getting cooler.  The leaves are changing  just falling to the ground.  And I haven't found any time yet to go to the mountains.  But I have been to numerous football games, which is always a Fall favorite.  (not that I really get the game, but the excitement is palpable and there is always something or someone to watch).

Of course, Autumnal fashions are always some of my favorite!  The layering opportunities are numerous, and really, who doesn't like coats, and big sweaters, and warm boots, and pretty hair ribbons, and leather gloves?  

What is your favorite part of Autumn...  The smell of woodsmoke and burning leaves?  The warm, spicy drinks, and savory meals?  The football games, family gatherings, and apple pickings?  The crisp night air and thick warm sweaters?


xo

RH

Adoring:: Paul + Joanne

Paul Newman + Joanne Woodward are, in my humble opinion, one of the cutest celebrity couples ever.  

They had the perfect blend of mixed interests and diverse tastes (he: car racing / her: opera).  They enjoyed being silly together, yet both were very intelligent.  They both believed that being friends was important to their marriage.  They even lived far away from Hollywood, in Connecticut, like a more "normal" family. 

Paul + Joanne

Newman once attributed their lasting union to "correct amounts of lust and respect."  And who isn't familiar with his often-repeated quote in Playboy magazine about the temptations of other women: "I have steak at home. Why go out for hamburger?"

And according to Joanne, "...if you can make somebody laugh, then that's very important."

Paul + Joanne

While their love affair may have started off slowly and rather bumpily, they did manage to spend 50 years married together (a monumental feat by today's standards) while living a larger part of their life than normal under the celebrity microscope.  So kudos to them.

What do you think?  

x,

RH

A Little Laugh

Here's a little laugh for the day.

And a question: should boosting someone's self-esteem be that obvious, or should it be a soft, quiet affair?
 

Have a happy day!


x

RH

Black + White

There is something so elegant and crisp about a black + white photo.  Sure, watching a movie in color is more fun...and sometimes it's more easy to distinguish what is happening in the background, but give me a photo in black + white over color any day if you are trying to tell me a story.  

I almost think the emotion in a classic black + white photo is more easily established.  Nothing is distracting you from looking straight into the soul of the captured image.  And the reality is stark, which lends for a more defined connection with the picture.

Colored photos are fun and energetic.  Black + White photos are timeless. 

"Practical conversation in French by 9-year-olds."Here waiter asks gentleman to approve the wine, as lady consults French menu. New York’s Hunter College, 1948. |  By Nina Leen

Army Chaplain Eugene A. Turner distributing Bibles to soldiers during The Second World War.

Tom Hardy

If I could, I would probably turn my house into a gallery, and like in a museum, I would create one section for just large, simple, elegant black + white photos.  I am just so drawn to them...wondering what the photographer was trying to create; what was the subject thinking or feeling; what was the societal mood at the time of the photo?

Lady in coat at restaurant.

Paris

What do you think?  Would you decorate your house, or a specific room in your house, using only black + white photos?  Or do you incorporate all different sizes, shapes, and colors into all rooms?

Write me a note below! 


x,

RH

Happy Thursday!

Be a fun one to hang out with.  I mean really, would you rather live life with the joy of the first row or the solemnity of the third row (below)?

Be classy.  Always.  You never know who you might run into.

Be yourself.  People would much rather hang out with you than some attempted version of something, or someone, else.  
 

x,

RH

Good Posture :: Why it's Good!

Remember being told (repeatedly) to sit up straight, stand tall, walk straight, and have good posture, and don't slouch?  As annoying as those mantras used to be when we were younger, it's true that they were important.

Along with creating the perfect ladylike pose, good posture also reduces joint strain, and can eliminate muscle pains and headaches.  Good posture also improves your breathing, circulation, and self-esteem.

Wait...what?  Good posture affects more than just your body?  Yes!  Turns out good posture also affects your self-esteem, your sense of control, and the way you feel.  Sitting and standing up straight can improve your mood and your energy levels, as opposed to slouching - which can make you feel more depressed.

Researchers at Columbia University performed a study and found that people who sat with an open, expansive position showed a greater sense of power and control than those who sat with limbs folded toward the body. 

What’s more, this group (who sat properly) also had higher testosterone (responsible for vitality) and lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) than the group who sat with constricted posture. And if that isn't enough of a game-changer, in a Northwestern University study that mimicked workplace scenarios, both managers and subordinates were more confident and powerful when employing expansive postures.

Standing tall - not hunching over to look at your phone - gives you an air of confidence and intelligence.  You'll find you are more apt to look people in the eye when talking to them, which will further increase your confidence and communication skills.

Amazing!  What this means is... mother was right!  Sit straight and stand tall.  Your body (and your hormones, and your energy levels, and your improved self-confidence) will thank you, and you may even make progress towards that next promotion!


x,

RH

Happy Wednesday

It's the middle of the week!  For those of you with a countdown, only a few more to go until the weekend...

And it's August!  The summer is already almost over, and I intend to soak in the rest of this beautiful season.  The smell of freshly-cut grass, the beautiful sunflowers popping up in all the fields, the crickets chirping all through the night, the lightning bugs flirting through the evening.  

Have you just sat outside in the lawn and enjoyed the loveliness of a warm, carefree day? 
 
Are you making the most of this time and weather to stay fit and healthy?  Sure, some of the days are slightly sticky and humid, but think of how much more bundled you have to be to merely go running or walking in the snow.  Ride a bike, stroll down main street, hike a mountain and view the majestic heights.  Now is the time!  Don't wait.  

August - by, Inslee Haynes

x

RH

Ballet Beautiful

There are numerous ways to stay healthy and in shape -- running, kick-boxing, cycling, swimming, yoga, pilates, and many more.  One excellent way, that many people don't usually initially think of, is dance.  Whether it's the salsa or ballet, dance is one of the best forms of cardio + stretching out there.  

Enter Mary Helen Bowers, the lady responsible for getting Natalie Portman ballerina-ready for her role in Black Swan.  Check out the below short video ... and learn some easy ballerina-approved exercises to not only make you feel more in shape, but also more lithe, graceful, and elegant.


PS - she was pregnant while shooting this.  Now we should all feel really inspired.  :)


(*sadly, yes, there is a short commercial prior to the clip)

x

RH

A Little Motivation

London, during the Blitz.  1941

For all the down days, rough days, rainy days, and bad days -- just remember it could always be worse. 

I am continually amazed at the amount of life my grandparents or great-grandparents had endured by the time they were my age.  Or the countless millions of other faces in the world who grew up before they reached adulthood.

Before social media, television, microwave dinners, drive-throughs, virtual realities, online dating, and phones this was life.  Working hard in the field or factory.  Surviving crisis after crisis.   Waiting for hand-written letters to arrive by mail...and sometimes they came too late for their information to be useful.  Planting, growing, weeding, harvesting, milling, sifting, and finally baking, your own bread.    

If they could do it, with less amenities, less money, less of a "social presence" or "online voice", and only a handful of few close friends or family... can't we?  


"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

-Romans 8:28

Little Coffee Shop

In honor of coffee beans everywhere, and the caffeine they provide me, here are some pretty pictures of coffee shops.

They are the best place to be on rainy days.

x

RH

Living :: Simply Glamorously

Living glamorously may seem like something only the very wealthy can do these days.  And living simply may sound like that means using, creating, and buying only what you simply need -- which to an extent is true.  

But is is possible to live simply + glamorously together?  I believe yes.  I think that simplicity can be glamorous, as it allows you to weed out anything that isn't truly beneficial to you or your life in some way.  Eating healthy foods produces better skin, hair, and nails, and gives you more energy - that leads to looking and feeling glamorous.  Decorating your house to showcase only what is important to you, or inspires you is both an exercise in simplicity and a mastery of glamour.  Why hold onto things you don't need, or that don't serve a purpose?

It can be as simple as fresh flowers in every room.  Or using the fancy silver and serving trays, just because you like to.  Or placing those paper doilies under the glass by your bathroom sink.  When you go away for vacation, pay attention to the little details that you enjoy, then recreate them in your home.  


"Always, always, always choose quality over quantity.  This obviously can't be mentioned enough.  But it once, and buy it correctly."



Other ways to live simply + beautifully:

1. When decorating or dressing, choose similar colors or shades for a glamorous effect, and different colors for a fun effect.  
2. If you don't have time for ironing sheets, just do the pillowcases.  It makes a big difference and there is nothing like sleeping on crisp cotton.
3. Have several different sources of light in each room - sunlight, lamp light, candlelight, low-wattage bulbs.  They all contribute to the warmth of a room.
4. There are few words more simple or welcomed than 'Please' + 'Thank You'.
5. Remember to have a cheerful attitude - moods are highly contagious.
6. Be a good listener.  
7. Be thankful.  Every day.  There is definitely always something to be thankful for.
8. Don't have anything in your house if you don't believe that it is beautiful or useful. 
9. Laugh.  Every day.
10. Dress nicely.  You have only once chance at a first impression.

How do you live?

x

RH

Lifestyle :: Change

Under the age of 35, broke [or nearly broke], single, and looking for career growth a job, period?  

That is a tall order these days - for most college graduates, it can be daunting and downright terrifying to realize that you just spent your entire life preparing for a job that you now can't find.  And you don't even have money to take the bus home after the interview.  

Well, here's a little map of the best cities to move to.  Provided you can pay for the gas to get there.  Factors such as cost of living, rent, job availability, other young singles, restaurants, etc., are all taken into consideration.

If you can't make it to one of these cities, you better take the time to learn how to grow your own kitchen-windowsill garden.  And hey, you could always raise a chicken - it will provide you with a source of daily protein and companionship. 


x

RH