GOODBYE 2019

Hello Everyone!!!

Ready or not, another year and another decade is coming to an end. Did I stick to all my resolutions and goals? Hell no, I didn't really have any. My only life goal and mantra is that from Auntie Mame, "LIVE LIVE! Life's a banquet, and some sorry suckers are starving." So much out there to see, and people to meet, and places to go. So it will be another year of not sitting on the sidelines and Ill keep putting out. No, that's not right, Ill keep putting it out there. Oh Dear getting out there, THAT'S IT! Life to short to not enjoy it's delights.

speaking OF PUTTING IT OUT THERE! 

Although the above picture does represent me to some extent! Champagne can have a wicked affect sometimes on me. So Im signing off early as much to get ready for the night. New Years always is a fun and special feeling night. It is time to wash away a year you might not have enjoyed, and gives hope to a new year and slate. After years of going out in the debauchery, I opted nine years ago to have friends in now for the evening, though I do have a rule of dressing up...a tuxedo shirt and bow tie or mandatory. I generally have  copious amounts of food and  champagnes flows all night to the wee hours...music, good friends, and the ball drop. I welcome all to stay and pass out where ever they can find a spot.  The next day, New Years Day is followed by my legendary Pork and Sauerkraut dinner whilst we take in the color and delight of the Mummer's Parade, literally an ALL DAY parade here in Philadelphia. It's always a good time, and I feel sets the tone for the New Year.

I had a good year and can't complain about to much that happened. I had a pretty good year. And Warbucks is surprising me with yet again another unannounced visit. He's in Quebec and Montreal on business and is stopping in for the two days. One never knows where he is. He has yet another surprise he says.  My only wish for the New Year is for my friends, and you all included, to have a happy, healthy and  peaceful New Year!!! Hopefully you'll be back to suffer through my antics for another year.....and I truly thank you all for always stopping in and for your friendships. And for next year, like these two GRANDE Divas....may Happy Days truly be here again next year... with out you know who. May we all be singing this one! I feel a good note to end the year on.

HAPPY NEW YEARS FRIENDS🎉

CHUCKLE OF THE DAY

Thats all.

MS.GUINNESS

Daphne Guinness  is an English socialite and fashion designer. She is also direct descendant of the 18th century Irish brewer Arthur Guinness. I can remember years ago I saw her at one of Amanda Lepore's cabaret shows. I was quickly mesmerized by how striking and well dressed she was....she became an instant muse and inspiration for fashion in my own work. Hell, if money were no object and I had been a woman, I would most likely be dressing just like her. And what a colorful background she has.

Her father is Jonathan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne, the eldest son of Diana Mitford and Bryan Guinness. Diana Mitford was the daughter of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, the father of the Mitford sisters. Mitford divorced Guinness and married the leader of the British Union of Fascists, Sir Oswald Mosley, 6th Baronet. Daphne Guinness has said she did not know of Mosley's political affiliations, before she heard it in 1980 on the BBC News that he had died. 

Daphne Guinness' mother, Jonathan Guinness' second wife, was Suzanne Lisney, of Cadaques, Spain, and Paris.  As a child, she grew up in the country houses owned by her family in England and Ireland. She spent her holidays in an 18th-century former monastery in Cadaqués, Catalonia, where the neighbors included the likes of Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp, Dieter Roth, and Richard Hamilton. Can you even imagine having neighbors like them??? Daphne started her foray into fashion with friend, the legendary Isabella Blow. At the request of Fashion Institute of Technology director Valerie Steele, she spent two years mounting an exhibition of a hundred displays of her clothing, which was staged within the context of her other projects, film and modelling  She has worked with Karl Lagerfeld numerous times and famous milliner, Philip Treacy.  She was a good friend of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Scheduled to model for charity on the runway the day his suicide was announced, Guinness veiled herself in mourning. 

She designs fashion, jewelry, and perfume. Since 1994, she has been on the International Best Dressed List. In 2010, she was named in Tattler's top 10 best-dressed list. In 2011, she created a make-up line for MAC cosmetics. In January 2011, she was asked by Tom Ford to close his comeback womenswear show.

If that isn't enough Ms Guinness has also become a camp character, and a fixture in club scenes.  A philanthropist...In 2012, Guinness auctioned 100 items from her wardrobe to raise funds to start the Isabella Blow Foundation: a charity that provides donations for bursaries at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, and also supports various mental health charities. But it's her art and music to me that sets her apart. She is definitely memorable, and her fashion is simply stunning. But if your looking for something out there Avant gaud and something different, look no further. Please....she was doing Gaga before Gaga.

LAST MONDAY

I won't be doing any bitching about Monday today, since when this post, I'll be most likely nude in bed and looking at the back of my eyelids. When my boss called and told me to take last Friday off, he put in a day for me, he was right, why go back to work for one day, so I'm off till after New Years Day. Yet another unexpected gift. So MM #1 Fan came to the Casa to meet me and another friend when I got back home and made a weekend of it. We took in a  zoo on Friday where I fed that giraffe,  and on Saturday we hit Philly to take in some sights, ride the Ferris wheel at City Hall, drinks at the Four Seasons in the Comcast Tower and a fun little bar called Tinsel on S12 th Street. What a hoot that was. We even saw the Grinch!!!! This season has been swell and fun and relaxing, just the way a Christmas should be...spending time with friends and enjoying the seasonal delights. I mean feeding a giraffe and riding a Ferris wheel in December? It has been a different Christmas for sure. Here are some snaps with some of my own. 

Had a fabulous mind altering time at Tinsel. Their seasonal cock-a-tails were delish!!!! And would you believe they even had a drink one could enjoy out of a snow globe?!?!?! And you could keep it.

City Hall is always a hub of activity at the holidays. Ice skating and this year a Ferris wheel which was great fun.

Always fun people watching at the skating rink. I just sit and look pretty.

I thought we might hit the tree. Yikes!

This guy has been doing the Grinch for several years now. I thinking he may be cute under all that make up. Oh lord...Im trying to pick up the Grinch now!!!!!!!!

South 13th Street looked amazing and festive!

Trees in the Four Season at Comcast....

...with sweeping views with our libations.

Boy... I really do live this city.

 And finally we see the fat man heading back to the north pole. Found this pic on the interwebs and loved it's swagger and style!!!!

Happy Monday All!!!!!

WILD KINGDOM

In the mall where our Bloomingdales is located, I very seldom venture into the mall. I have never been much of a mall shopper, opting for in town shopping. Very few stores in the malls I shop except for maybe 3 or 4 clothiers I frequent. The only time I go into the mall is for my second morning coffee and then head back to work to my shop in the store. I did however venture out when we got quite before Christmas to go and sit and watch the carousel our mall has indoors. The carousel has been refurbished  from the old amusements park that used to sit on the grounds of the mall today. Pretty neat, and it's nice to see the magic the carousel still holds for the kiddies. It was always fun trying to get to ride your favorite animal, if it wasn't all horses....

The giraffe was always my favorite if it wasn't all horses.

But on Friday MM #1 FAN came for the weekend, and we went to Elmwood Zoo for a few hours where I fulfilled a Christmas wish...I fed a giraffe!!!!! 

I already want to go back for a up close and personal tour with the giraffe's. And note...they slobber... a lot. but not as much as some men I've been with.

Did you have a favorite animal to search  out?

HOUSEWARMING

When away for the holidays, it's nice to come back to the Cas du Borghese. It's always so warming, even though the houseboys seemed to be lounging about.

It's always nice to see them being artistic too.

My "agency" was even nice enough to send over my newest one.

I have always loved the unpacking part.

HAPPY YULETIDE

A HAPPY YULETIDE TO YOU ALL...AND AS IS TRADITION.... Bucks County native Christina Perri and her brother Nick.

So beautiful.

xoxo