We have no bananas today

Okay, my friends. I'm going to level with you. Don't I always? This blog challenge has been very difficult. The blogging every day wasn't so bad... but my plan to blog every day, sew two new pieces, cook 2 new meals, 1 dessert, 1 cocktail, make 3 crafts, work full time, sleep, spend time with friends and family, celebrate a holiday, and prepare for my birthday... well, that got a little overwhelming.

I went over to visit my mom yesterday with plans to sew a new piece and finish another so I could channel my inner Jane Powell:

The skirt was nearly done and I had the pattern, the fabric, and thread, and the buttons for the shirt. But I drove to my mom's house and realized I had clean forgotten the skirt at home. And my mom and I spent a good half hour or so trying to figure out if we could use the fabric I had brought for the shirt. It turns out the fabric I had brought was not the right fabric at all. In the end, we didn't sew it at all - which is just as well - and instead we spent some quality time just talking about stuff: sewing, crafts we want to make, relationships, cooking, cakes, physics, work, food. It was a great evening!

No sewing was done at all and my mom told me that it was perfectly acceptable to say that this project was too difficult and not have an outfit post today. I decided to meet that halfway. This challenge is too difficult - I kind of figured it would be. The whole purpose of this project had been to sort of go overboard on the blogging and figure out what worked, what I liked, what I didn't like. I still wanted to do an outfit post today, so I'm going to do just that - but it's all pieces I had in my closet.

Here is the look I'm inspired by today:

Sigh. Audrey Hepburn. She's just the coolest. Look how effortlessly she wears that side-tucked shirt. Here's how my outfit turned out:

Do I look just like her? Nah. Is it comfortable and convenient? Not particularly. But the thing is (and I've thought about this a lot) Audrey Hepburn is Audrey Hepburn. She could wear something completely ridiculous or unflattering - and she's still Audrey Hepburn. She's still timeless, chic, classic. There's also something to be said for the haze of time. So many things look super cool in older pictures but you try them out today and they look costumey or over-the-top.

I shall continue posting this week but I will probably continue to bend the rules (maybe even every day) until the end of this month. There will be no set theme this week. Just some odds and ends. On Thursday, I'll discuss where this blog will go in the future. Thank you for sticking with me throughout this blogging adventure!

I shall be the most sophisticated woman at the Glen Cove Station.

So, here's the thing. Friday would normally be my day to post a recipe of some sort (Foodie Friday and all that). But, my recipe for this week is a dessert for two. And I just can't justify making two desserts for just me. Not because I don't deserve it but because I probably wouldn't want to eat both. So, I'm waiting until tomorrow when my friend is coming to visit and I can make the dessert for two for the two of us.

In the meantime, enjoy some pictures of Audrey Hepburn!

I could have sworn you took in more territory than that

Today's Spotlight on a... scene. I'm going to post about one of my favorite scenes in Sabrina (1954): the scene when Sabrina arrives from Paris.

It's a wonderful scene because we (and David) finally get to see Sabrina as she really is, a witty, beautiful, sexy, confident, classy woman. She's no longer the shy, lovelorn girl she used to be. I love the character's growth and how Sabrina coming into her own is what makes her so irresistible.

You young people are so old-fashioned!

Movie review this week: Sabrina (1954). I had to rematch this one in order to review it. When I said that this was Audrey week, I probably should have clarified: it's more like Sabrina week. Her films really do deserve individual attention.

I actually saw the remake of Sabrina before I saw the original. And with pretty much any movie that involves a remake, I tend to spend the whole movie comparing the two. I like the original but I grew up watching the remake, so I actually almost like it better. But that's for another day.

Things I don't love about the original Sabrina:

• The  part where Sabrina attempts to commit suicide - this part bothers me. I think it's supposed to be funny and I know it's supposed to give us an idea of how very much she loves David and kind of how dramatic she is. And it does set up for the fact that she's not at all bothered about being pursued by David when he's engaged - after all, if she was ready to die over him, what's a little thing like an engagement? But this scene is so early in the movie that it starts me off being a little frustrated with her. I have friends who have struggled with depression, so the scene being a bit of a gag annoys me.
• I have a hard time with Humphrey Bogart in the romantic role. The character of Linus Larabee is a tricky one because it's the older brother who has a tough exterior that gets kind of cracked by the sweet and genuine Sabrina. So, he's already a pretty unappealing character due to the fact that he's a bit of a jerk for most of the film. Humphrey Bogart is so much older than Audrey Hepburn and he looks much older than she is, so I struggle with seeing his appeal as a romantic interest.

Things I do love about the original:

• Audrey Hepburn - because of course, she was flawless.
• William Holden - sooooo charming and soooo dreamy
• All of her clothes - pretty much everything she wears in this movie is incredible. And some of them are things that us mortals couldn't pull off nearly as well. I mean, people can pull off anything they like - but Audrey could wear a button down shirt tucked in to the side and it looked chic and natural; anyone else tries that it and it's like "oh that's an interesting look. Did you mean to do that?"

• The cooking school scenes - they're very funny and very memorable
• The fact that Linus asks Fairchild about how Sabrina is doing in Paris - okay so Linus isn't my favorite romantic character in a movie. But I do love that in this version, he actually asks after Sabrina and the audience understands early on that he knows who she is, remembers her, and vaguely wants her to be happy. It sets up nicely for them falling in love. It doesn't entirely redeem Linus to me but it helps.
• The other domestics - they're pretty much my favorite characters in both versions but I do love them in this one too.
• The chemistry between Audrey Hepburn and William Holden. I've read that they had some real-life chemistry and I love how that carries over on the screen.

Ultimately? I do like this movie a lot. It's not my favorite romantic comedy but it is a really good, solid movie, with a fantastic cast and director. I saw it on one of the TCM cruises and got to hear a historian give a brief discussion on it and he said that the movie was originally supposed to be made in the 1930's but, due to the war and whatnot, got pushed back until it was eventually dusted off in the 1950's. And he explained that if it had been released in the 1930's, it would have been a vastly different movie because the country's view on wealth was different then. The movie has a bit of a jaded feel in terms with how it deals with the wealthy Larabee family and he explained that that was a product of its time. I love that about this movie; the context of it all kind of fascinates me.

I could have sworn I knew every pretty girl on the North Shore

This week is all things Audrey!

I will probably have multiple Audrey Hepburn-inspired weeks or months in the future. Let's be real; she's a fashion icon. I think the fun thing about wearing outfits inspired by Audrey Hepburn is they're not terribly flashy or wild-looking. She's so timeless in her fashion. You can wear a nice, quarter-length black shirt and black pants and ballet flats and you're pretty much set! 

Who are some of your fashion inspirations?

How long has this been going on?

I really don't know where I found this photo. I think I stumbled upon it when I tried to look up a different picture of Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn but I just think it's one of the cutest and funniest pictures ever.

We're after the same rainbow's end.

So, first on the agenda for today is a little shameless plug for myself and then another plug for someone else. Hooray!!

First, is a new video I made - this one's a tribute to the oh-so-lovely Audrey Hepburn.



I hope enjoyed it! Now, on a similar subject - as you may or may not have noticed, that song was performed by my good friend Emma Wallace. I'm not sure how many of you follow her blog but she has, for some time, spoiled us all with some really wonderful song sketches. Now, she's offering a really exciting opportunity: to be among the first to join a song sketch subscription service. How exciting is that!? It's an incredibly good deal: $4 a month for a weekly song sketch - basically the equivalent of a weekly iTunes purchase (and, in many cases, cheaper). Except that it's an exclusive song that only a small and lucky few will have the opportunity to enjoy. For full details, visit her blog here. She only needs a dozen more people to sign up before she meets her goal, so the sooner you sign up, the sooner we'll get our song sketches.

In Roger's flick, it, like, rains.

I'm afraid this is quite belated. I was supposed to have this up on Monday but I hadn't written my August posts yet. And then on Monday I worked until 9:45 and then on Tuesday I worked at 7 so wound up on not having time. But enough of my excuses...

So, one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies is Paris When It Sizzles, which, incidentally, I believe should have been titled The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower (the title is symbolic, of course; she doesn't actually steal the Eiffel Tower). And this is one of my favorite scenes. It's so wicked funny!

It's National Crime Prevention Week. Take a burglar to dinner.

What can I say about How To Steal A Million that hasn't already been said?



Well, frankly, nothing. I loved it and there seems to be few ways to praise something with originality.

I have to admit that I avoided it for a while. I sometimes avoid movies that I want to like but am afraid I won't like (Sullivan's Travels, Meet John Doe, Dinner at Eight). I would read reviews of the film and think, I'd probably really like this, and then I'd watch the trailer and think, oh maybe not. And then I would shuffle it down the queue. Anyway, I finally decided to be bold and try it.

I think I've been starving myself for a treat. Because it was a-mazing!! Such a brilliant movie! It's so happy, so funny, so charming, so beautiful, so romantic. So great! Again, I don't think I can say anything that hasn't already been said by other bloggers: I love Audrey Hepburn, I love Peter O'Toole, I love the costumes, I love the dialogue, I love the location. I just loved it.

And now I have to buy it. Well, okay, not now per se as I'm trying to save up, but now I want to buy it.

It's all in the wrist

There are lots of great photos of Audrey, but I think this may be my favorite.

I advise you to stick to two subjects, the weather and your health.

#12 in my count-up, My Fair Lady (1964)

(This is one of my favorite movie posters of all time. Just look at the details! So beautiful!)

I was honored with the opportunity to be a guest blogger on one of my favorite blogs, Emma's music blog. (Thank you, Emma!) In the post, I discuss Audrey Hepburn and My Fair Lady. I do not currently have a poll idea. I'll have to think about it for a little bit. If you have any suggestions for a poll that have to do with #12, do let me know!

A pretty girl is like a melody

When I wrote my list of favorite 20 actors, I had so much fun that I couldn't wait to make a list of 20 favorite actresses. And then I realized that I should stretch out the fun and let it last all year long! So, the new plan is: every month I'll feature a new list. If you like the list, then please feel free to consider yourself tagged and make your own. So below is a list of my favorite 20 actresses and my favorite of their roles. Enjoy!

Oh, and a brief disclaimer: This aren't really in any particular order. Basically, the top ones are my favorites and the bottom ones are slightly less favorite. The top 5 or 6 are my tip-top favorites (I'm numbering them so that I can keep track of how many I have).

(Also, a second brief disclaimer: Grace Kelly is not on my list, despite the photograph of her here for the simple and shameful reason that I've only seen her in 1.5 movies, same goes for Barbara Stanwyck, who I've only seen in 1 movie. I plan to remedy the situation in each, I promise!)

1. Audrey Hepburn
Funny Face and My Fair Lady


2. Ginger Rogers
Roberta and Monkey Business


3. Myrna Loy
The Thin Man and Libeled Lady


4. Claudette Colbert
Midnight and It Happened One Night


5. Cyd Charisse
The Band Wagon and Silk Stockings


6. Olivia de Havilland
The Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood


7. Kathryn Grayson
Thousands Cheer and Kiss Me Kate


8. Judy Holliday
Born Yesterday and It Should Happen to You


9. Marilyn Monroe
The Seven Year Itch



10. Julie Andrews
Mary Poppins


11. Irene Dunne
The Awful Truth


13. Donna Reed
It's A Wonderful Life


14. Sandra Dee
That Funny Feeling


15. June Allyson
Two Girls and a Sailor



16. Katharine Hepburn
Bringing Up Baby


17. Shirley Temple (okay, I know she's little, but I love her!)
Little Miss Broadway


18. Ava Gardner
One Touch of Venus


19. Natalie Wood
The Great Race
20. Ruby Keeler
Footlight Parade