Updated on June 7, 2019
FASHION FRIDAY: THEY CALL IT MELLOW YELLOW!
Hi Guys! TGIF!
Today, I am very excited! My friends Mary and Rose are visiting from Ireland and England and will stay for a few days! They are both amazing Fashionistas. I am going to get them to model some outfits and will feature them over the next two weeks as my guest Fashionistas. Exciting! They don’t know about that yet lol!!
For today’s Fashion Friday, yellow is the colour! The sun is shining and summer is here in all its glory. The garden is a rainbow of glorious reds, pinks, yellow and more yellow! And yellow goes with everything – especially my very yellow house! Do I love the colour yellow? I guess…!! It reminds me of a time long ago when I was a teenager. Even back then I was huge into my fashion! I had a pair of bright yellow pants which I wore with an equally bright yellow top and a kelly green blouse inside the yellow sweater. As I was strutting my stuff up the town, past all the boys, I heard a voice from the group shout out “Hello Ms. Banana”. It put me off!! But I guess he had a point!!
Item 1:
The red and yellow blouse is vintage Banana Republic – there goes that banana word again!! It was a gift from my girls for Mother’s Day a few years ago. When summer arrives out comes my cheery blouse! I teamed it up with a bright yellow Vero Moda pants. This outfit brings a smile to people’s faces because it is so cheery and happy!
Item 2:
This sweet little cardigan and blouse twin-set is so light and comfortable to wear. It is from the Ralph Lauren Chaps collection. It was on sale this Spring. I had birthday gift cards for the Bay Store, so one thing led to another…
Item 3:
I bought this adorable Vero Moda yellow bell-sleeved blouse in Ireland last year but am only getting to wear it this summer. It is now a firm favourite in my mellow yellow department! If I’m brave enough, I may even wear it with the yellow Vero Moda pants. Though I fear I may be called a Banana!
Item 4:
It’s all about the Banana today! This yellow cardigan with cream trim is another vintage Banana Republic piece. I got it years ago and love it! The yellow and navy polka dotted scarf is also Banana Republic. I love the combination of the polka dotted scarf with the cardigan. Classic BR fashion! This smart cardigan can also be worn in winter, and adds a cheery pop of colour when teamed with blue denims. It makes the navy spots in the scarf pop with joy!
Happy Fashion Weekend my friends.
Play safe in the Sun!
Hugs,
Patricia xxx
Posted on June 4, 2019
GEMINI – STARLET OF THE MONTH!
“Everyone’s a star and deserves the right to twinkle” ~Marilyn Monroe
If asked to describe a typical Gemini woman in two words, all I need say is Marilyn Monroe! Everything about Marilyn is archetypal Gemini. Her charming allure, her wit and intelligence, her dark and her light side, her ups and her downs. However, it must be said, there is no such thing as a typical Gemini woman! No, these incredibly enigmatic, charming, and complex women are a law unto themselves. No two days are the same for the emotional and fun loving Gemini. In fact, if everything and everybody remained the same – they would die of boredom! It takes a very special person to keep up with them! Freedom, Trust, and Companionship are words very dear to their heart. I should add mental rapport too – that’s a big one! I compare a Gemini woman to a butterfly. Beautiful to look at, but if you try to possess them, they will fly away. Never clip their wings!
In its journey through the zodiac, Gemini is the third sign and is a masculine, mutable air sign. Its ruling planet is Mercury, the God of communications which bestows upon them a voracious thirst for knowledge. The combination of mutable air produces an objective, highly adaptable and mentally orientated person. Their mercury rulership gives them that urge to communicate and the capacity to link people and ideas together. Because Gemini can see both sides of a question, indecisiveness often results in anxiety. They use their quick wits and talent for improvisation to get around difficulties. It is basically an optimistic, lively and versatile sign. Super guests at any party as they mingle and bring their own special kind of magic!
Talking about magic, who can deny that Gemini women are laced with it! Marilyn gets my #1 vote, #2 goes to Angelina Jolie, and I also adored Gemini funny girl, Joan Rivers. What a riot! Other favourite Gemini celebrities would be actresses Annette Benning, Amy Schumer, Nicole Kidman and Octavia Spencer. Super models, Elizabeth Hurley, Heidi Klum, and Naomi Campbell – Gorgeous! I could listen forever to Gemini song birds such as Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac, Patti LaBelle, the ‘Godmother of Soul’, and Alanis Morissette. As for world famous Gemini tennis player Venus Williams – No, I would not challenge her to a game! Super talented are these Gemini Starlets!
The masculine element is an interesting one, and has surprised many a man! They see this gorgeous, ultra feminine Marilyn Monroe type of woman, and then one day Eureka! realize she thinks like a man, and when push comes to shove, can be just as rational and tough as any man! It’s just one aspect of her fascinating personality. A man should never take her for granted. Nor should he underestimate her intelligence. If he does, she will walk away. Angelina Jolie is another great example of this dual personality. Angelina is a woman of beauty, substance, and strength. Like Marilyn, men find her irresistible, but not many can keep up with her. And if things don’t feel right, she flies away – just like that butterfly!
With Gemini, the sign of the twins, you are not getting just one person – you are getting two for the price of one! I can totally understand how a Gemini woman could drive a man crazy – with love – and a desire to possess her! Curiously, they often attract possessive types. Gemini is not a naturally monogamous sign. They get bored easily, so a prospective suitor would need to sharpen that brain, be open-minded, exciting, fun loving, supportive, NOT possessive, generous, and a good sense of humour! Gemini is a generous sign by nature, so will appreciate the same in return.
From experience, the signs best able to ‘get’ the Gemini woman’s complexity are fellow Air signs, Libra and Aquarius. There is also great chemistry between Gemini and their polar opposite sign, Sagittarius. Aries and Leo can also be very compatible, as they will give their Gemini love freedom to be. As with all matters of compatibility, it is vital to get one’s full birth chart analyzed to see the whole picture – not just glimpses! The Sun sign is just one factor. The Rising sign, Moon, Mars, and Venus in one’s chart have also a lot to tell! Check out free sites like www.alabe.com to get free birthcharts.
To summarize this utterly charming, intelligent, complex, and versatile woman:
Happy Side:
Adaptable, cheerful, companionable, friendly, flexible, lively, playful, quick-witted, restless, talkative, thinking, creative.
Shadow Side (don’t worry, we all have our shadow side!):
Sometimes unreliable, fickle, hesitant, inconsistent, changeable, superficial.
Fashion for the Gemini woman:
Yellow is the colour for Gemini women. Nothing too conservative, but clothing that expresses their playful and fun-loving side. I have chosen the following from Pinterest for your visual pleasure! EnJOY!
Happy Birthday month to all you Gorgeous Gemini Starlets!
Hugs,
Patricia xxx
Posted on May 31, 2019
FASHION FRIDAY: HATS OFF TO SUMMER!!
Hi there Boomer Buddies! TGIF!
Don’t you just love those lazy hazy days of summer, when you can brighten up your world with cheery clothing, hats, earrings, scarves, shoes – the whole glorious rainbow of colour on you – and then some! The only colour I really have to watch is that in my hair! Which is why I like to wear a hat when the summer sun is blazing down upon me. Unfortunately, I find some straw hats are very warm to wear, and rather cumbersome to pack in a suitcase, or stow away in the overhead compartment.
This summer, my top find was this foldable and attractive straw hat – minus the middle part! I call it my donut hat. It folds so easily, you can pop it in your handbag. It also looks quite glamorous I think. I had fun dressing it up with various colourful sun glasses and matching earrings. Hope you like!
Have fun in the Summer Sun and play safe!
Hugs Galore,
Patricia xxx
Posted on May 27, 2019
MONDAY MUSINGS: MR. SCHADENFREUDE
As a happy-go-lucky Pollyanna type, I prefer to accentuate the positive, and eliminate the negative in life. I don’t like to mess with Mr. In-between, as in Mr. Schadenfreude! But, I can’t deny it, Mr. S. seems to be a very popular fellow these days! His charm immeasurable – or so it would appear. Translated, Schadenfreude means ‘Joy in other’s misfortune’. Whenever I see him in action, I cannot help but laugh. Sometimes, life really does require a generous helping of humour to get past the cynicism!
I became aware of Schadenfreude when watching reality tv shows like American Idol where Simon Cowell would savagely demolish contestants. Then those deafeningly loud fighting spats going on between the Housewives, which require you to turn the volume down, or better still, wear ear phones. Their fights seem to be getting dirtier by the day! There’s an awful lot of mean going on in our world today folks and Pollyanna and me aren’t a bit happy about it! I even see it on Facebook, or as some people call it ‘Fakebook!’. People prefer sad posts. No Happy, please!! We’re allergic to happy people. Misery loves company.
When I post sad, morose stuff like my darling dog of 17 years has died, my late Mother’s anniversary and I miss her, I’ve twisted my ankle and I’m writhing in agony, etc. — WOW! a deluge of people from a past life come out of the FB woodwork, knocking down the doors to like the post. Where did you guys come from? I rarely hear from you? Why do they prefer my sad posts? I wondered… But it goes against the happy grain for me to remain stuck in negativity, or to wear sad sombre clothing. I’m a Chinese Rooster after all!! We like to make happy noise and razzle dazzle!! No Schadenfreude on Boomerbabelife!
When I mentioned the fact that all my misery posts on FB get massive likes to a friend, the response was, “They are not sad your dog died, or you’re missing your mother, or that you are in agony with a broken ankle. No, they are happy you are sad, that’s why they liked your post.” What? I thought to myself, are people really that mean? I mean are they?
As somebody who likes to believe and see the good in others, it takes me longer to digest the fact that yes, people can be mean. My more rational and realistic spouse says so in no uncertain terms. He is a realist. I’m an idealist! I personally don’t hang around with the Schadenfreuders or Debbie Downers of this world. They don’t spark joy in me, and in many cases try to rob it from others.
So, my friends, if ever you see, or notice, Mr. Schadenfreude in action, beware! Give him the heave ho! Show him the door! He is up to no good and is barred forever from Boomerbabelife. This is a Pollyanna Only Playground!
Hugs Galore,
Patricia xxx
Updated on November 18, 2019
MALAGA – FABULOUS AUTOMOBILE & FASHION MUSEUM!
TGIF Boomer Buddies!
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Spain was a visit to the Automobile and Fashion Museum in Malaga. Fashion and automobiles go together, apparently, like caviar and champagne! The glitz, glamour, and excitement of this combination is a delicious one!
Fashion excites me in a way that is hard to describe. The more creative the costume, the louder my heart beats. The museum visit is still fresh in my mind, and it is one I will never forget! I wanted to share it with you today. If you are a lover of Couture Fashion, and all things glittery and glamorous, then a visit to this Museum is a must!
For your visual pleasure, you will see couture like you have only seen in the movies, exotic hats and fascinators, furs, frills, silks, satins, leather and lace – the whole gamut of fashion from the turn of the century, Titanic era, the roaring 20s, world war fashion, vibrant 50s, colourful 60s, disco 70s, and everything else in between!
EnJOY!
