Page Turner: Winston & Clementine

"Winston & Clementine:
The Personal Letters of The Churchhills"

Amazon Says . . .

"I seize this fleeting hour of leisure to write and tell you how much I liked our long talk on Sunday," Winston Churchill wrote to Clementine Hozier in April 1908, shortly after their third meeting, "and what a comfort and pleasure it was to me to meet a girl with so much intellectual quality and such strong reserves of noble sentiment." They were married by September; he was 29, she 19. They would remain married--though, due to political circumstances, they were not always together--until his death in 1965. During that time, their daughter Mary Soames remarks, some 1,700 items of personal correspondence passed between the two. Winston and Clementine is far from a complete collection, but it does offer a comprehensive overview of their epistolary relationship and the deep love and mutual respect upon which their marriage was based. It may be somewhat disconcerting to see the man who stirred a nation to war with "blood, toil, tears, and sweat" and other memorable phrases sending "kisses to my sweet and beloved Clemmie cat," yet it also makes the imposing statesman seem more human.

Sometimes Clementine would send written messages to Winston even when they were together; it was an opportunity to gather her thoughts, or avoid taking up her husband's time with arguments when he was busy managing the war. In June 1940, for example, she told him that "there is a danger of your being generally disliked by your colleagues and subordinates because of your rough sarcastic and overbearing manner.... I cannot bear that those who serve the Country and yourself should not love you as well as admire and respect you." A few of the letters are accompanied by little cartoon animals that they would draw for each other: she always drew the posterior view of a sitting cat, while he would sketch pug dogs, and later pigs. Even toward the end, when they both had to deal with increased infirmity and tragedies among their children, they still found time to send "little love messages" to each other. Looking back at their marriage, with Soames's edifying commentary sprinkled throughout (as well as a quite well-done biographical dictionary), is an experience both revealing and touching. 

Arbiter Elegantiarum: Charles MacPherson

Who is a role model that you have looked to in cultivating your sense of style? What would you consider to be their “secret ingredient”?

Firstly, I must acknowledge my Grandmother, Mother and Father who were all enormous influences on me. Outside of my immediate family, I believe it was my second employers Messrs Barette and Pearce who taught me style at a commercial hospitality level that to this day is still my measuring stick both personally and professionally. It all comes down to two things; first “attention to detail” and second “scale”. With both of these items suitably addressed, everything else falls into place no matter what your style!

Who is a role model that you have looked to in cultivating a life of substance? What would you consider to be their “secret ingredient”?

Two people in particular come to mind. First is Maya Angelou who I respect as someone who is cultured, influential, intelligent, smart, fun and a “bon vivant”. Professionally, Leticia Baldridge comes to mind. She is someone who is fearless while dealing with world leaders as she demonstrates that self confidence and kindness can help to overcome challenges and difficulty in the world of diplomacy!

If you could go beyond a company's marketing chatter, what would you really like to know about them when you are deciding on a business deal? How do you gauge their level of style and substance?

There are so many amazing companies out there. From a list of my favourite companies I would love to peak behind the magic curtain of Apple Computers. I want to know how they determine function, elegance, style and train their employees to this standard. For me I marvel at their consistency and believe that it presents a model more companies should strive to achieve!

What is the most important piece of advice that you would offer College Grads entering today's job market? How can they put their best foot forward? How can they take advantage of volunteer opportunities to cultivate business contacts?

         1. Be yourself

         2. Never impede your thirst for knowledge

         3. Do not fear graciousness and manners; they have allowed me a fabulous life

 
If you could change one thing about your style, what would it be? When you consider your priorities, is there anything that you would change if you had more time or resources?

I don’t think I would change anything about my style. Is that pretentious of me? Perhaps I could learn to do a better job of editing … remember “less is more” and I sometimes fail at that particular lesson.

 

Style Savvy: Well Penned

Kate's Paperie

 

Tiffany & Co.

 
My favorite!  Conway Stewart's Kipling

The Power of Nice: 3 Things That Keep Me Nice

If you could pin someone down and ask them why they might behave badly, I bet you would get a wide range of answers. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, so I turned the question on myself. What makes me behave, uh-hum, unfavorably?

My answers were not pretty, nor mature, nor rational. I was forced into realizations that were even a bit uncomfortable. I am 38 years old and it still puts me in a bad mood when it’s really humid and my hair won’t act right. I think nasty thoughts about my children if they eat all of my favorite potato chips before I have some. I even get irritated about going to church on Sunday mornings if I’ve not had all the coffee I’d like.

Now, since I’ve divulged all this about myself, I’d prefer not to hear another word about it. I’m working on these… and many others.

I do, however, have 3 tactics to share that keep me on my best-behavior toes.

1) I use the myAgenda like I use oxygen. Feeling like I’ve overlooked something or realizing I’m late for an appointment because I’d forgotten about it puts me on the fast track to irritation. This compact calendar offers space to keep up with even the smallest details. It’s Murphy’s Law that says when I’m at my desk, I need what’s in my car and vice versa. Just by having a one-stop-shop for everything from appointments to book titles to passwords lets my mind be free of the burden of trying to remember where that post-it note went. I highly recommend this as a way to keep your thoughts and commitments organized.

2) Finding time for myself nearly every single day gives me the time I need to keep my perspective. Often, when we run across someone who is “having a moment”, we think something like, ‘It’s just a red light. Your screaming and ranting is not going to make it change to green any faster. And, really, doesn’t a red light last only a minute or two?’ Perspective. It’s the magic potion for irrational reactions to everyday situations. Your own strategy for finding and keeping perspective may be a jog, hanging with your children or even reading a book. The secret is to figure out what works for you and do it.

3) I go outside. The fresh air, the sounds, the sights…aahhh. It’s a distraction, pure and simple. To walk outside is to take a break from all the visual reminders of things to do. After a few short minutes of Vitamin D, I’m revived with a new attitude. It is said the lack of Vitamin D contributes to Seasonal Affective Disorder in which people experience depression due to the lack of sunlight. Anais Nin, a French author, said “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Our state of mind makes a difference when it comes to behavior, so let a little light in!

Whatever your own tactics are, just be sure to use them with regularity. Why wouldn’t you use anything at your disposal to put your best foot forward? So, put a smile on your face and a skip in your step and, of course, be nice.

Cocktails & Canape: The Fruits of Your Languor

The leaves of which are widely accepted as the iconic first fashion statement, one of my favorite fruits makes its debut in local markets mid-month. Paired with a clean, crisp white wine, fresh figs are the epitome of sophistication, elegance and abundance.

We weren’t surprised when the oh-so-versatile fruit made a media splash after being featured as the secret ingredient on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.” After all, there has even been some speculation that the “forbidden fruit” was a fig and not an apple.

Here are some of our favorite ways to serve them:


· Broiled with Honey & Brown Sugar


· Wrapped in Pancetta or Prosciutto


· Goat Cheese & Bacon Kissed


· Snuggled up with Chorizo & Blue Cheese


· Garnished with Chèvre & Chopped Cashews


· Dancing on Gingersnaps with Mascarpone & Chocolate Shavings


· Stuffed with Bourbon “tipsy” Walnuts

Entertaining has never been more relaxed, not to mention rewarding.  For more recipes, download the Fig Fest 2009 Recipe Book by clicking here!

Page Turner: Christine Eisner

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One of Ashley's favorite "Tweethearts,"
the ruby-slippered Christine Eisner
brings us a Classic!  Amazon says . . .

"With simple tools and do-able steps, Comfort Living will guide you in creating a home that transforms the way you experience each day. No big investment of time or money is required. Filled with exercises, ToolBoxes, photographs and planning pages, this book becomes a personalized experience for each reader, customized to individual needs and wants, much like a wedding planner or baby book. Just as comfort food does more than satisfy hunger, Comfort Living realigns your surroundings so that they support your priorities and feed your soul."

Find out more about Christine & this lovely book at:

www.ComfortLivingByChristine.com

Arbiter Elegantiarum: Nina Restieri

Nina Restieri, Founder/President of momAgenda

www.momagenda.com

Interview By: Kate Lewis

Who is a role model that you have looked to in cultivating your sense of style?  What would you consider to be their “secret ingredient”?
 

My mother. Like me, she was a big picture thinker who goes with the flow. She was also a model to me because she was a mother to lots of kids and a business owner. She owned a marketing business. Her entrepreneurial spirit was certainly an influence.I don’t think you can get away from that when your parents have it. My parents would often talk around the dinner table about this or that commercial and how or why it was effective. That definitely made an impact on me.
 

Who is a role model that you have looked to in cultivating a life of substance? What would you consider to be their “secret ingredient”?

Again, my mother. She started her own business but was the best mom anybody could have. She possessed those dual values of working hard and building a home.

If you could go beyond a company's marketing chatter, what would you really like to know about them when you are deciding on a business deal? How do you gauge their level of style and substance?
 

I want to know why they exist. What is their core value? My company exists to help make mom’s lives easier, so I try to align with companies who have the same mission. I can judge their credibility by looking to see if they walk the talk and I use social media for this. Twitter is a great way to get to know people. For me, people can see I have the same struggles with kids and schedules as my customers do.

What is the most important piece of advice that you would offer College Grads entering today's job market?

Know who you are and follow that. It’s critically important to find work that doesn’t feel like work. They should do something that excites them, something they can feel passionate about. Find a career that allows that. Use your gifts!

If you could change one thing about your style, what would it be?

I wish I were more even-keel. I can be a bit of a hot-head. My husband is not that way and talks me down about once a month [laughs]. I think this has contributed to a lot of his business success. Often, I get this way when I’m stressed because I have too much going on.