All content copyright 2009 by Holly Gleason. Web design by Lauren Carelli.
A charming French film confection—with subtitles—that captures the tale of a lonely, isolated little girl who grows up to punch through her sadness by doing small miracles of goodness for others. Shot in rich color-steeped moments, it is beautifully framed and utterly evocative, and Audrey Tattou is mesmerizing as the enfante innocente looking for meaning and hoping it will come through creating unseen joy for others.
If Alice’s Wonderland was a café called the Two Windmills, and the characters she met were extreme eccentrics, but utterly human, this would be the work of Lewis Carroll. With an elder figure as shaman/godfather offering insight and encouragement via a painting he can’t quite “get,” Amelie is pushed towards knowing her own shadows and doubts even as she ultimately embraces the life that’s been evaded.
Warning up front: it’s a little sweet and very floral. But if you want to light a wick and have spring roll through your house, this is the number to fire up. As the scent of freshly cut jasmine wafts through your house, life in New Orleans right after a morning rain emerges. There’s a relaxation to breathing deeply—and remembering how sweet simple basic things can be.
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If ever there’s been a woman who’s seen it all in terms of rock music of the modern era, it’s Robinson who was on the bus and on the plane, basking in the rumblings that fired the music. Every month, she covers a lot of ground and in a few phrases pretty much defines what the best records coming out each month are made of. An informed overview where the vignettes are more than clever but actually insightful can only come from one who exhales music… and that one would be Lisa Robinson.
Even better than a Listening Station, because her terse writing and insider’s understanding captures these records’ essence. And her taste is exquisite, so you can trust her with your hard earned money.
The go with anything bare as you dare, yet not overtly whorey shoes for spring into summer. These will be the ones that the girls who know fight each other for—or else narrow their eyes and hiss under their breath because somebody else has them. Woven with lots of room to flaunt the foot and perfect pedicureon top, laces that can go high or just encircle the ankle a few times like the promise of some kind fetish entanglement, the wedge is narrow enough to remain true to feminine curves while sturdy enough to offer the kind of support and comfort these shoes never have. Investment shoeing to the max, but something that will also survive the season.
An almost nude lip gloss that tastes just a bit like its namesake, this is sheer with one coat and offers a nice natural opaque finish with two. But even more importantly in these windy chilly days, it’s rich in emollients to protect and nurture element-abused lips as it imparts a finished look that’s as natural as it is polished.
It’s the rule of Kate Des Enfants McMahon’s mother. And if you knew Kate, you’d know what a fountain of light, good cheer and better energy she is! The logic behind this is wonderful: If you make a new friend every year—and that’s a real, deep, meaningful friend as opposed to the drive-by acquaintances most of us have in our majority—when we’re old, we’ll have the greatest trove of riches that money can’t buy.
What is more energizing than friends? What lifts you up? Helps you through? Brings you joy? Busts you when you’re delusional? Makes you laugh and see the idiocy when you just can’t take any more? Exactly! Kate—and her mother—are right. And if you’re starting later than you’d've liked, make it two! But, don’t sacrifice depth and meaning because you’re trying to make up ground… that utterly defeats the purpose.