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    Happy Valentine's Day

Kindred Soles (How the Irish dance began)

Mistress Quickly Celebrates Her 100th Post

Non, MQ wasn't in Paris, on this occasion, but she was celebrating close by.  Enjoy the fireworks!

Small Curtains (Noren) & Tea Towels



Delightful artwork!  MQ recently bought one of these Japanese tea towels while in France. Wish they had the little curtains.  Click image to enlarge. http://www.madamemo.com/

Self-Inking Stamp Toys for the Office

Wrap It Up Baby! How to Giftwrap Like a Professional

Want to make your gifts look crisp and pretty after they're wrapped this Valentine's Day?

Simply place your index finger and thumb together, then run along the edges of the box to crease.

Eat Your Heart Out Martha Stewart: Cute Valentine's Day Wax Paper Wrap

Perfect Pop-Tart Wraps: Place tart in middle of sheet, fold and tie with kitchen twine.

Trashy Valentine Read

Gulp! I thought it said Call After Sex! Notice the bedraggled pair of tiny pink pumps!

Delightful Valentine's Day Reads

MQ discoverd 20th century author, Nancy Mitford, and an armful of her books while staying at the Swann Inn http://www.theswanswinbrook.co.uk/our-blog/ located in the the quintessentially English Cotswold village of Swinbrook, where she and her five legendary sisters grew up. Of course MQ stayed in Debo's room, aka, the Duchess' suite. Six bedrooms available: Stable One, Stable Two, Orchard Store, The Forge, Piggery End and Debo’s Room.  Click on rooms to view. 

http://www.nancymitford.com/

From the Quickly Collection

My favorite lemon hair Color Magic Barbie (c.1966) and her genuine pink Lazarus mink coat made in the Netherlands. MQ approached Theriault's auction house recently to discuss selling, but they passed. Sniff... it's just as well, isn't the mink divine?

Looks Tempting

Julia, Julia, Julia

As juicy as the prospect is, of Julia Roberts' portrayal of the evil queen in this Disney flick, MQ will continue her pasttime of consulting the critics at Rotten Tomatoes before deciding to see it or not. Opens in theatres March 16th, 2012.

Takeaway

Honorable mention from 2011: Mistress Quickly and her sister did Thanksgiving takeaway from a local store called Hen House near her house in Kansas City. Our grandmother's Lenox wedding-china (now shamefully divided amongst the two of us), was lovingly put back into service, albeit, not commensurate with the heights of its gracious past.

Does Paris Hilton Have the Celebrity Winter Blues or Simply Awakened from a Hello Kitty Catnap in her Trailer?

On Why It's Still Good to be Paris Hilton:

Do you think Paris is thanking heaven for her brand new $280,000.00 Ferrari?

How I Wish More Men Would Dress in February Whether They Live in Palm Springs or Not

Just Wake Me When January is Over

It's Still Not Too Late: The Perfect Winter Cruise Accessory

Fingerlesss mesh leather gloves (I presume one wears two), and winter white finger polish.

A Good Winter's Read: Ethan Frome

You'll never think of a sleigh ride in quite the same way after reading this haunting winter's tale, by Edith Wharton; it's a perfect January read (that ends in a major dustup), unless of course, you're a sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), characterized by episodes of depression that occur at a certain time of the year, usually during winter.The movie, based on Wharton's semi-autobiographical novel and starring Liam Neeson, umm, sucked, but don't let that sway you from picking up this bittersweet gem, a Mistress Quickly favorite.


Emblematic cover embossed in glittering red foil letters.

Oh Dear, Should My Shoes Be Pointing East or West?

For lovers of shoes, big & small. Comes with a red satin ribbon & charm.

Plush Christmas Present for the Pampered Pooch

Affairs of the Heart

My nephew and his bride marry in San Diego. We all needed hankies.

















The silk gloves I wore for the occasion.

The Cat's Meow: Rasberry & Sno Cone Blue Berets

Take your cat to Paris once - ruin him for life!

When Flying was Fun: Lucy Goes to London

Remember when flying used to be fun? In case you've forgotten, recline your seat back now, pour yourself a drink in a little plastic glass, and relive it here, in all its glory. This hilarious episode is from The Lucy Show in 1966. I sure wish we still dressed this way, too. Look at Lucy's classic vintage pink coat and matching coat gloves. It doesn't get any better than this.

Recent Aquisitions: Vintage Pink Glass Roman Soldier Cameo Ring & Military Inspired Vest

MQ loves antiquities, especially pink ones. My tiny treasure is arriving from the Paris Hotel Boutique in San Francisco this week - C'est magnifique, n'est-ce pas? I think it will look great with another recent acquisition - a new military inspired linen vest.

♫ Is That All There Is ♫

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe9kKf7SHco
Have a listen to this version of Peggy Lee's song, Is That All There Is. I've juxtaposed it here with another classic book cover by Dell. Enjoy the song and if you ever come across this book, let me know.

Who Wore it Better

Why does the word foil: vb (tr) leap to mind when I look at this picture of Paris and pal wearing, well, identical Paris hoodies? "I think Paris did this to me on purpose."

More from Japan: Pagodas, Candyland & Feng Shui

$2600 for the set of three antique pagoda bird cages

Ever wonder why buildings with pagoda roofs have turned-up eaves? According to the ancient principles of feng shui, they are intended to trick the evil spirits who are coming down to cause mischief, and deflect them back up. Mirrors placed above doors in strategic locations serve the same purpose and streets and pathways in China and elsewhere in the world were designed to be as crooked as possible to slow down bad spirits.

If your visiting San Francisco consider a stay at the Hilton Hotel located across the street from Portsmouth Square, a one-block park in Chinatown - it was built sideways, so that it would not cast a shadow over the park (shadows, of course are bad feng shui). And, don't forget to drive down Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world.

At Auction

I am not a huge fan of Beatles' music, but I love this psychedelic artwork by Richard Avedon created at the height of the Fab Four's fame in the 1960's. From top left are John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

My New Color Wheel

How do you like my new template? I love the stripes.

It's That Day of the Week Again

Dining with Horses

Dinner for eight served in the barn. Unfortunately, the only
utensil that's visible resembles a hoof pick.

Who Wore It Better?

Needless to say, sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton can afford not to borrow each other's tops. Paris gets five stars, tho her bag looks a little chunky - maybe she has another puppy in there.

The Alta Mira Hotel

Quel Dommage! This beautiful old hotel was a few minutes walk from my mother's and my apartment in Sausalito and a favorite spot to take out of town guests. In addition to dining on the lanai, which was legendary for it's view, the hotel had a seldom used small wood panelled dining room with pink table cloths and cozy fireplace (the perfect spot on a cold, foggy San Francisco day). The food on the terrace wasn't really good, but the frothy white Ramos Fizzes, made with orange flower water, gin, cream, lime, egg whites and super fine sugar all served up in a Tom Collins glass were delicious. Click to enlarge post cards.

Another Vintage Book Cover by Dell

I think this should be a status category on Facebook.

Fun with Photo Shop

My clam shell filled with M&Ms rests at the seashore on Harbor Island.

Never Tea to the Water

Preparing tea is an art for which the English are immensely proud. First of all, the pot itself must be preheated to the correct temperature. Then, one teaspoon of tea leaves is placed into the pot for each cup to be poured, plus a teaspoon for the pot itself. Then the hot water is added. Water is always added to the tea ... never tea to the water! Let the tea steep in the boiling water precisely five minutes, no more, no less. Now the tea leaves release their true aroma and bouquet. Combine with a biscuit and enjoy.

Lily Sutter on her Wedding Day

My Sister, the glamour-puss, in her satin wedding dress & veil. 

Click photos to enlarge.

Love on a Vespa. The Get-Away Car.