We've moved!

I have moved! Please continue to follow Genuine Joy at: www.hilaryphelps.com! 

Pretty pieces: a classic J. Crew Blazer

Mid-length Skirts by J.Crew
Boots by Tory Burch

I adore this J. Crew blazer, for it's classic elegance and its versatility. There have been many a year where navy replaces the ubiquitous black in fashion, as it truly matches and compliments any color - red, green, blues, orange and the obvious white, cream and grey. Matched with a t-shirt or a dress shirt; pants or skirt; Hunters or heels, it can go from day to night. It's important to have classic pieces that I can have in my closet and wear for years and this blazer fits the bill to a T!

History of a Golden Globes dress

With the constant evolution of fashion, unless you are in the industry or a designer, one never knows what to expect on the Red Carpet during award shows.  Who could have imagined one hundred years ago that the rise of a woman's skirt would be such that skin would show, let alone the garconne trend, made popular by Coco Chanel, where women would one day wear pants! Over the years, different fashions come and go, but the looks that are popular today date back further than many realize.  Let's take a look at some of this year's fashion options and their historic inspirations.

Most often, fashion and the social/economic climate often go hand-in-hand.  For example, the elaborate long dresses were reintroduced to fashion in 1930, much like we saw on the carpet this year, despite the economic, and social, hardships of the Great Depression.  Is this symbolic of our own economy today?

Natalie Portman: 

Pregnant and glowing, Natalie Portman choose a pale pink, silk Empire silhouette dress, draped with a red rose across the bodice.  While popularized in the Greco-Roman Era, it actually refers to the period of the First French Empire. With a high-waist gathered near or just under the bust with a long, loose skirt, this style is popular for disguising the stomach and lengthening the frame.

Early examples are seen on women depicted in Greco-Roman art, while wearing loose fitting tunics known as Peplos or the Chiton which the wearer belted under the bust.  The style resurfaced towards the end of the 18th century in Paris where it helped to make the fashions less confining and cumbersome
than clothes of the rest of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Olivia Wilde: 
Olivia Wilde was a knock-out in her glittery, sequined Marchesa.  One of the first to arrive on the Red Carpet, her dress of shining gold at the top and fading into black, resembled those dating back to the Crinoline Era, first appearing in 1830 and working it's way out of the fashion system by 1860.  The crinoline was a cylinder shaped stiff petticoat or skirt that went underneath a woman's dress, succeeded the farthingale and panniers, dating back to the 15th century, but serving relatively the same purpose of supporting the woman's dress into the required shape.

By 1860, the crinoline had grown to it's maximum diameter of 6 feet, and began it's decline.  Women were unable to fit through doorways, struggled to sit, which ultimately let to them taking it off and out from under their dress and placing it next to them, and on more than one occasion, knocked an object, like a candle, off a table.  Hence, the bustle was born.  While having the same issue with having a seat, women could now fit through doors with ease, with the gathering of fabric secured neatly in the rear.

Kim Kardashian: 
While not attending the Awards show, Kim was present for the post party at the Beverly Hilton,  pictured here at InStyle.  Her black Nina Ricci emulates the Princess dress, created in honor of Alexandra, Princess of Wales (later the Queen of England) in 1880.  The dress, having no horizontal waist seam, used horizontal tucks to emphasize the hips and the bust, fitting close to the waist.

Spanx:
Many a lady, both on the red carpet and off, swore (and swear) by Spanx.  While the material is different, the concept dates back to the late 16th Century, where in 1580, women wore iron corsets to present their best body possible.  This dated piece was made up of two separate pieces, one front and one back, not unlike a suit of armor, that opened at center-back.

Through the late 1800's, women (and often men) wore corsets as an undergarment to hold the body in a desired shape.  In addition, petticoats were worn from 

the waist downwards to slenderize and streamline the 

lower portion of the body.

From year to year, we never know what we're going to see walking down the runway or in this case, the red carpet.  One thing is certain, we do know that we will see it again, reincarnated in a few years, in a different color, made from a different fabric,  and on a different body.  The dress is the first thing to spark one's interest, by sight alone, but the story behind it and the history from which it was created are what keeps us coming back for more! 

Recipe: Fun, Fabulous Football Food. A homemade pizza

Football, football, football! What a weekend for games, huh? Being a Ravens fan, I was not happy with the  results, but what can I say.  You win some, you lose some, and as much as I wish that I did, I have no control over the outcomes.  When I'm watching the games from home, the format is usually an alliteration of "N"s - NFL, nachos and nap.   But this weekend, I went with something new - Pizza!

While a frozen pizza or a pizza shell seemed like the easiest option, I have a silent internal struggle when I read the ingredients, many of which I cannot pronounce.  Strolling through the baking aisle, my gaze stopped on a packet for pizza yeast.  On the back of the 3-packet link were the ingredients needed to make pizza dough: flour, one packet of yeast, sugar, salt, oil and warm water.  It was a no brainer, I was making a homemade pizza!

I attached the dough hook to my mixer and started adding the ingredients.  By mistake, I forgot to add the 3 tablespoons of oil, but the dough turned out delicious enough without it.  To prevent sticking, I did put a little vegetable oil on the baking sheet.  I garnished the top of the pizza with sauce, green peppers, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.  After taking it out of the oven, I grated some fresh Parmesan cheese on top.

To my surprise, and delight, the pizza dough was tasty and it took no more time than if I unwrapped a frozen pizza and put it into the oven. When it was all said and done, dough to table, the pizza took about 30 minutes and it was easy.  The next time I make the pizza, which will be often, I'm planning to try the recipe with Whole Wheat flour instead.  Making it at home is a great way to control fat, salt, sugar and ensure your ingredients are the freshest possible.

Recipe for the pizza dough 
(also available on the back of the yeast):

• 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 envelope Fleischmann's Pizza yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup very warm tap water (120-130 degrees)
• 3 tablespoons oil
• Pizza sauce and toppings of your choice!

I used a cookie sheet, and made a squarish pizza, as I didn't have a round pizza stone or pizza baking sheet, which worked just fine.

Motivational Monday: The memory of MLK

For the past few weeks, I've done a motivational piece on Monday mornings, and today I want to do a dedicated piece on a man who motivated many, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Baptist minister, a civil rights activist and named Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 1963, Dr. King taught people to fight for what is in their hearts.  He was arrested, assaulted and belittled, yet he continued his fight to gain equality for all.

Incorporating verbiage from the U.S. Constitution, passages from the Bible, and pieces from the Gettysburg Address, Dr. King delivered his "I have a Dream" speech over 5 decades ago, to 250, 000 listeners on the Mall here in Washington, DC. Using words like dream, hope, faith and change, Mr. King spoke passionately and without hesitation delivering rhetoric that was a defining moment in the Civil Right Movement. A visionary in his day, and a man who always looked to the future, we celebrate him today, the observance day for what would have been Dr. King's 82 birthday.

Here, in Washington, DC, a 30-foot-8 inch statue is in the works, housed among the Cherry Blossoms near the Tidal Basin titled "Stone of Hope."  Made from several pieces of granite and put together like large blocks, the pieces made their way from China, on a boat through the port in Baltimore.  Surprisingly, the artist is neither black nor American, but was carefully selected from over 900 applicants, and seen as the best man for the job.  Quite appropriate, given Dr. King's mission of equality for all.

The sculpture is based on a photo of Dr. King that was taken in 1966, arms crossed, dressed in a suit and standing in his office, with a photo of Mohandas Gandhi displayed in the background.  The team initiaited the project from a reversed negative photo, showing a pen in Dr. King's left hand, when he was right handed. While too far along on the project to start over, the pen was turned into a scroll.  Through the snow and cold months, the team forges ahead to work towards the unveiling of the statue on August 28, 2011 - the 48th anniversary of "I Have a Dream" speech.

While many offices are closed, and it is a Federal Holiday, it's important to reflect on the importance of today.  Dr. King saw inequality, and through jail, assaults, verbal attacks and adversity, he forged ahead, always keeping in his mind the reasons he was out in front, fighting the fight.  It was for him and it was for his family, but it was for the greater good of mankind, teaching us the lessons of kindness, forgiveness and ultimately human equality.  

Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Oat Squares

Oddly, the grocery store is very cathartic to me.  Whether I'm stressed or just need a moment alone, I enjoy walking up and down the aisles, especially in Whole Foods, Wegmans or specialty purveyors, where I find unique ingredients and gourmet foods.  At a recent trip to Whole Foods, I picked up an in-store newsletter, always full of money saving tips, coupons and recipes.  Post shopping trip, I sat down at my desk and began thumbing through the pages, where towards the end of the circular I saw a recipe that looked healthy and delicious - Apple-Cinnamon Oat Squares.  With no added sugar and something that was easy to make and a perfect "grab-and-go" in the mornings, I thought it was worth a try.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups 365 Everyday Value Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1 1/2 cups Everyday Value Organic Steel Cut Oats
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup ground flax seeds
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 (about 1 lb.) Pink Lady apples, cored and grated

Steps:  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl
3. Transfer to a parchment paper or foil lined 9in baking pan, pressing down and smoothing out the top
4. Bake until firm and golden brown, about 1 hour
5. After it's cooled, cut into squares to serve warm or at room temperature

*The recipe lists the Whole Foods brand, which I used, but I assume a comparable product would serve the same purpose in the recipe.  

What I learned: 

• I used one Braeburn apple (as it was what I had in the house) in place of the 2 Pink Lady apples, as noted above and it worked just as well. 
• Be careful when grating the apple - I grated my thumb a few times!
• Substituting the Almond milk for another kind of milk (dairy, soy, rice) would work well, but I recommend sticking to the steel cut oats over Quick oats
• I like my oatmeal relatively bland in the morning - plain oatmeal, made with water and a few frozen blueberries thrown in- and I thought this recipe was bland.  This is not a sweet, oatmeal raisin cookie type recipe, but literally tastes like a bowl of oatmeal formed into a bar.  If you enjoy your oatmeal on the sweet side, than I would drizzle some honey on top of the bars after they have come out of the oven. 
• I keep mine in the refrigerator, heated in the microwave if you would prefer them warm. 

Enjoy!

 

LVMH and the Man Behind the Curtain- Part 3 (Final)

I've spent the last few days taking a deep dive into the most well-known international luxury goods group, looking at the ways in which the companies were acquired, reading about LVMH puts their stamp on emerging markets and briefly reviewing the diversity of the companies, which many have criticized.  For the third, and final, installment of the Man Behind the Curtain, I want to take a closer look at the lesser known, most recently acquired and everything in between; the companies that make up the conglomerate.  Below, each company's name is linked to its corresponding website, which provides for hours of eye candy and spectacular reading opportunities on this Fabulous Friday!

Fashion/Leather:
While Loewe (clothing, shoes and bags) is the oldest company in this group, founded in 1846, Nowness (a fashion website) is the newest, acquired in 2009.  I highly recommend visiting the website, as it's a collection of daily interactive pieces of all things cool- fashion, gastronomy, film.  Everything in between includes: Louis Vuitton (clothing, shoes, bags); Berlutti (shoes); Fendi (clothing, shoes, bags); Rossimoda (shoes); Celine (clothing, shoes, bags); Emilio Pucci (clothing, shoes, bags); Dior (clothing, shoes, bags); Givenchy (clothing, shoes, bags); Kenzo (clothing, shoes, bags); Donna Karan (clothing, shoes, bags); Marc Jacobs (clothing, shoes, bags); Thomas Pink (clothing, accessories); and Stefanobi (shoes).

Watches/Jewelry:
Chaumet, with watches and jewelry is the oldest company, acquired in 1780 contrasted with the newest, Hublot watches, purchased in 1980.  TAG Heuer, Zenith and Dior have watches and Fred interjects some beautiful jewelry into the company line.  Interestingly, Zenith was the first company to have the automatic chronograph movement produced in the world.

Wine/Spirits:
Hosting the oldest company in the conglomerate, Wenjun, a wine producer, has been in operation since 1575.  The newest in this group is 10 Cane (rum), from 2005.  Twenty-three companies (the most of any of the six groups) make up the wine and spirits leg.  A few of the others include: Ruinart (champagne); Hennessy (cognac); Ardbeg (whisky); Krug (champagne); Moet & Chandon (champagne); Newton Vineyards (wine); Chopin and Belvedere (vodka); and Chevel des Andes (wine).

Perfumes/Cosmetics:
The oldest company in this line, which produces both perfume and skincare is Guerlain, 1828.  Other fragrance lines in this group include: Acqua di Parma; Parfums Christian Dior; Parfums Givenchy; Fendi Perfumes; Parfums Kenzo; Parfums Loewe; Sacks (which also has skin care) and the newest company, Emilio Pucci Parfums, acquired in 2005.

Selective Retailing: 
French department store Le Bon Marche, which was included in Mr. Arnault's purchase of Boussac in 1984, is the oldest store in this category, dating back to 1852.  The newest, and one of my all time favorite stores, is Sephora from 1969.  Other French department stores include La Samaritaine and Frank et Fils.  Have you seen the Duty Free shops (DFS) in most airports? That is one of the retailing operations under the LVMH brand, as well as the Miami Cruiseline Service.

Other Business: 
Superyachts company, Royal Van Lent has been in this group the longest, dating back to 1849 with eLuxury Website being the most recently added in 2000.  Connaissance des Arts and Investir are two magazines within this group, as well as the newspaper Les Echos.  Rounding out the media coverage in radio is Radio Classique.

I enjoyed looking through the different websites and gaining a deeper understanding of the diversity of the companies included in this luxury conglomerate.  Take some time.  Saunter through the websites.  They are equally as informative, as they are visually appealing.  But, would you expect anything less from LVMH?  Enjoy!

LVMH and the Man Behind the Curtain- Part Two

To understand the formation of LVMH and their subsequent acquisitions of some of the most fabled fashion houses in history, one must first take a look at the man behind the curtain: visionary Frenchman Bernard Arnault.

Mr. Arnault, born and raised in France and formally educated in Engineering at Ecole Polytechnique, started his career with the family construction business and property firm, Ferret-Savinel.  Within 5 years, at the age of 25, he was assigned the role of Chairman and took the company reins from his father.

In the early 80's, Mr. Arnault brought his family to the United States, where he developed a U.S. branch of his family's company and took a liking to the way Americans did things - if you want something done, then do it yourself! While the business venture didn't fare well, he took this "can do" attitude back to France, where he invested $15 million of the family assets (Lazard Freres invested an additional $80 million) into a defunct textiles company, Boussac, which included a disposable diaper company, department store Le Bon Marche and the house of Christan Dior. This was Mr. Arnault's foray into the world of fashion. That's right, diapers and Dior.

Though primarily purchased for Dior, Mr. Arnault also acquired the fashion house of Christian Lacroix and Celine and unloaded the disposable diaper business. Monies from the sale provided a way into the LVMH Group, purchasing $1.8 billion in shares that gave him 24% of the group.  At the time of purchase, LVMH was split into two primary companies (unlike the 5 areas that exist within the company today), under one umbrella: Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy.  

In 1989, Mr. Arnault joined forces with Henry Racamier--who was the number two man at LVMH as well as the chairman of Louis Vuitton--to oust the Moet side of the company.  Mr. Arnault purchased more stock, giving him majority ownership of the company, and after brutal legal battles, he ousted Mr. Racamier, ultimately taking charge of the mega conglomerate, LVMH.



Building a Giant: 
Immediately after seizing control of the group, Mr. Arnault hired John Galliano, a neophyte in the fashion world who had a flare for the unusual and eccentric, to help revamp Dior.  Unlike many CEO's, he could actually relate to many of the artists he brought in, as Arnault himself was an amateur piano player--an artist in his own right.  To his mind, "A company must have managers who love and understand artists.  They are consistently late, think differently than those in business and are often seen as erratic."

Soon thereafter, wine and spirits were added to the group, while Louis Vuitton luggage, Fendi and Thomas Pink followed close in suit. The acquisitions didn't stop there.

Like a giant star spinning out of control, imploding in on itself, LVMH was becoming a metaphorical black hole: an unexplainable force in the universe so immovably powerful, that all objects within it's reach fall victim to its inescapable gravitational pull. Would-be Stephen Hawking's aside, LVMH was growing more and more powerful and pulling any orbiting fashion brands into its growing aura. Drawn into the LVMH void were Givenchy clothes and perfume, TAG Heuer watches, retail chain Sephora and cosmetic line Fresh. And the LVMH star continued to spin faster and faster...

Despite the meteoric rise of the group, and the inescapable grasp of its powerful orbit, there is no such thing as a perfect world, nor will one find a company without it's mistakes.  In 1999, Mr. Arnault paid $97 million for Phillips, the number three ranked auction house, after being unable to secure the purchase of Sotheby's.  It was dumped just three short years later, after the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  Additionally, his attempts to create a brand in Christian Lacroix failed and was soon dropped from the conglomerate in 2005 (Christian Lacriox filed for bankruptcy last year).  Most disappointing, however, was Arnault's failed insider acquisition of Gucci. At the time, he tried to turn his minority share in the company into something much larger, but ultimately lost the battle to French billionaire Mr. Francois Pinault, head of luxury goods conglomerate Pinault-Primtemps-Redoute.  

For all his relative successes and failures, Arnault's plan is simple, yet brilliant.

First, he places a premium on maintaining the group's financial integrity, continual growth, and brand diversity of the companies under the LVMH umbrella.  For example, if one leg, such a watches and jewelry falls in revenue, it's likely that another leg such as wine and spirits or leather goods will be on the upswing,  balancing out the profit margin.  In a sense, it's kind of like the post-Titanic compartmentalization of a ships hull; the Titanic hit an iceberg and the entire hull filled with water insuring that the mega-liner tore apart under the pressure and sunk to the deepest part of the ocean. Under the compartmentalization approach, if a tear or hole occurs, only one section fills up with water, while the others remain insulated from the hole and the subsequent intake of water. The ship stays afloat because the damage is isolated. Metaphorically speaking, Arnault has compartmentalized LVMH, so that if one sector hits the proverbial iceberg, the damage to the overall "ship" will be isolated and cannot sink the rest of the brands.

Second, Arnault is a devout believer in the "power of the first mover." A central tenet to supply-side economics, there's always a premium in being the first person in on an idea, a market, or a consumer base. Arnault believes just that and consequently, he focuses on emerging markets and corners the profit in areas where no luxury good outposts formerly existed. Setting up a retail shop in areas, like Mongolia, drives up the demand for luxury goods, but has a low overhead and operating costs, which increases the revenue for the conglomerate.  The Louis Vuitton retail store in Mongolia, set up just last year, is already turning a profit. This is incredible for two reasons: 1) turning a profit in a high-end luxury goods market in one year is unthinkable, and 2) it was in Mongolia!

Preserve the past by Ensuring the future...

Currently, two of Mr. Arnault's children work for the company, but both started at the bottom and worked their way up to an executive position.  Early on, Antoine and Daphine were introduced to the company, when their father would take them to retail stores and discuss with the children what was taking place within the confines of the company.

Antoine, now head of communications for Louis Vuitton, earned his MBA at Instead and spent two years on an internet venture before joining LVMH.  He started off working as a sales associate at Louis Vuitton in Paris and eventually taking a management position overseeing 13 retail stores.  Dalphine, Mr. Arnault's daughter, studied at the London School of Economics, and worked elsewhere for a few years before joining LVMH as a perfume girl for Dior.  She is now third in charge at the Dior label.

Mr. Arnault has three younger boys, all of whom he hopes will also join the family business, though he vows to never force such a role onto any of them.  Even Helene Mercier, Mr. Arnault's wife, will weigh in from time to time, when a new bag or perfume is in the works, and asked for her more "feminine opinion." It truly is a family affair.

On the surface, the bags are gorgeous, the perfumes are lavish and the watches are exquisite, but peeling back the curtain reveals a man who had an idea, made a few mistakes and yet continues to grow.  A story of heritage and a story of hard work.  A man who is in high demand on the French social scene, but who prefers to stay at home and help his children with their homework.  A book where the inside story fits the beautifully crafted exterior cover.

LVMH and the Man Behind the Curtain- Part One

The Louis Vuitton Monogram

The fashion industry is largely defined by an underlying paradox: it purports to define what is the style of the moment, and yet the most famous and financially viable entities in the industry, are those with the richest heritage. Predicting the future, while living in the past.

As I continue to learn more about the 'business behind the business' I have seen that the true fashion industry is an artful mix of pie charts and pressed garments, of supply chains and supple fabrics, and is as much margin of return as it is hem of a skirt. The truth is that for all the artful pomp and circumstance that goes into the monthly spread in Vogue or the season runway show, the reality is that the industry is consistently expanding and contracting as aging fashion houses are priced or managed out of the industry, while other firms succumb to outside management--quite often by Wall Street brokerage firms who focus more on the bottom line, than the A-line cut. In short, an industry of artistic expression has become an industry of dollars and cents. Yet despite the hedge fund take-over of mainstream fashion, one man stands poised to defy the Wall Street-minded take-over of high fashion operations. Bernard Arnault is the driving force behind the mega-conglomerate LVMH. To many, he is the many working the machine behind the curtain that is the great Oz of European fashion labels. Mr. Arnault is as fascinating as he is simplistic, as advanced as he is traditional, and in that sense, is an excellent topic for further exploration. That said, this will be the first in a three-part series analyzing the overarching umbrella of the LVMH group and its various brands; the story behind Mr. Arnault's ascendance to the fashion thrown; and the fascinating way in which he has integrated tradition and heritage of his own lineage in the future management of these fabled three hundred year old fashion houses.

When I saw the letters LVMH, I knew not what the company stood for, but only what words each of the letters represented. Assuming that any highly successful company had a person at the helm who ran the company with an iron fist and others who listened and took direction.  One only knows what they know, and upon looking a little deeper and reading a little more, I discovered that I not only like the company on the outside by way of the many products it produces, but I really like the concept and heart behind the curtain on which the company is ran.  

LVMH, or Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, was founded in 1987 as a result of the merger between Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton, which became the world leader for luxury goods. The conglomerate has five distinct groups covering many aspects of the luxury market: wine & spirits; fashion & leather goods; perfume & cosmetics; watches & jewelry; and selective retailing, with the oldest of the   now 60 companies dating back to 1743.   

The mission statement and group values are simple: be creative, aim high, have passion in what you do and strive to be the best.  Woven into these core values is an interest to maintain the heritage of each individual brand and company as a whole, but to also progressively prevent a stagnant product.  They balance the dichotomy of tradition and innovation impeccably.

What I found most interesting is that the company lives their product.  By this, I mean that many of their textile groups create products such as bags, jewelry and watches that can be handed down from generation to generation, creating heritage.  What an incredible gift, for a boy to receive a TAG Heuer watch from his father on his wedding day or for a girl to receive a Louis Vuitton or Dior leather bag that has seen the world on her mother's shoulder upon her graduation from a University? Interestingly enough, the company runs on heritage, through Bernard Arnault, his six confidants and his children.

LVMH owns Dior clothing, shoes and bags

Mr. Arnault gained control of the LVMH in 1989 when his children were young, 12 and 14 respectively.  Throughout the process, Mr. Arnault would explain the steps to his children, verbally educating them on the business of the brand.  Later, he would spend Saturday mornings taking them into the retail shops owned by LVMH, furthering their education by showing them how business was done.  Neither were pressured into working for the company, but both were interested and heard from their father "If you want to work for me, you have to work harder than the others and do well in school." Both children, Antoine and Delphine, earned jobs within the company by starting in a retail store, working their way up and ultimately being promoted to an executive position.

The Fresh line of products falls under the
Perfumes/Cosmetics line of LVMH

Even in the tough economy, the LVMH has continued to grow financially, open in more markets internationally and acquire more brands, most recently a 20.21% stake in Hermes.  This is a significant as purchase as Hermes is family run and remains one of the last stand alone luxury brands not owned by a larger group.    Why have they continued to grow? Because the strategy is brilliant: put an outpost in places like Vietnam, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Abu Dhabi, where the luxury market is non-existent.  Be the first kid on the block, where the overhead is low and demand is high, which makes for an excellent profit margin.

The company will continue its growth and people all over the world, in remote villages and metropolis' alike will find themselves coveting a product from the well-known brand.  LVMH, like any company, marks its success on the overall revenue at the end of the fiscal year, but what stands out in my mind, is that it prides itself on the making behind and the maintenance of its heritage.

Back at it

I try to practice what I preach, and having an active and healthy lifestyle has always been an important piece of my life.  As many of you know, I completed my first Ironman triathlon in July in Lake Placid, New York.  The race consisted of a 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike and a 26.2 mile run, in total 140.6 miles.  Having never done event an Olympic distance triathlon, I took on a lot while training for the Ironman.  So, after 9 months of training and 14 hours of race time, I took some time off.  A lot of time off.  And haven't been back on a regular workout schedule since July, until yesterday when I began a 25-day regimen to jump start my workout schedule.

For me, it helps to have everything workout wise for the week typed up and printed out.  That way,  I know how much time I need to dedicate to the workout and what clothes I need to lay out the night before.  Also in the plan this week is drinking lots and lots of water.  First reason is to stay hydrated and secondly, water helps to flush out the lactic acid build-up in my muscles (which contributes to muscle soreness).  On the schedule this week is calisthenics, yoga, the trainer (a contraption that holds my bike in place, allowing me to "ride" indoors) and a day of active recovery, which for me is a nice, relaxing walk.  I feel better mentally, emotionally and physically when I work out so I'm looking forward to the challenge!

The first 7 days will be the most difficult, but I'm determined to push through the pain and discomfort, to get back on track.  Plus, with Christmas dinner, southern eating, the New Years cheesecake and countless cookies and other sweets, my clothes are a little to snug liking! I have a feeling that everything, save my fingers, will hurt consistently over the next few days.  The upside? I'll sleep really, really well!

Motivational Monday: The Power of Forgiveness

I've been thinking lately about forgiveness in different contexts; both the power it takes to truly forgive someone and the energy that is wasted when holding onto anger or hurt and not forgiving someone.  As irony would have it, I was flipping through the channels recently and came across a documentary called "The Power of Forgiveness."

A few ideas really stood out from the piece that I want to share.  The first, is an educational component that schools are using with their kindergarten aged children in Ireland.  For example, Kelly shares with the class that her sister pushed her the night before during Forgiveness time.  The teacher hands Kelly a pair of sunglasses and asks her to name one positive trait that her sister possesses.  The idea, is to show Kelly, and the other children who are listening, that the anger they have towards the person is caused by an action, rather than being angry at who the person is at their core.  In essence, it allows the child to see the event through different eyes, by way of a pair of inexpensive sunglasses.    

The second piece was the flowchart pattern sequence of how one forgives.  Our memory controls us, as we only know what we know through experiences of the past.  When we relive these moments over and over in our mind, we allow these experiences to live on in our minds and inflict emotional pain over and over again.  In this sense, there is no forgiveness, but emotionally flogging for something that is perhaps out of our control, if we have been hurt by another person.  Anger turns to sadness which eventually turns into forgiveness.  I'm not telling you to forget about the event (forgetting does not equal forgiveness and forgiveness does not mean forgetting), but letting go of the pain associated with the event, now that is forgiveness. Personally, the hardest part in the forgiveness sequence is that there is no timeline.  For example, not unlike a doctor giving a prognosis, I want someone to say to me "You're going to have some anger for a week, followed by sadness for 4 days, but then you will forgive."  Wishful thinking.

One thing I know holds true is that one can't put conditions on forgiveness.  You either forgive or you don't.  It's not a barter and trade system where one can say to the person "if you do this, than I'll forgive you." Having compassion in your heart allows you to forgive, and forgiving another alleviates the other person of their guilt.

As humans, we all want the same things: safety and happiness, but we have the element of human error that factors into living life.  Everyone has adversities and speed bumps in life, but it's what one does with those that define one's character.  When it's all said and done, nothing good comes from holding onto anger.  However, having compassion in your heart and kindness in your actions brings a quiet mind, puts a smile on your face and brings peace to your soul.

Pretty Things: Coffee cups

Some mornings, I'm not totally convinced that I'm not part bear.  I not only understand the hibernation thing of eat more, sleep more, but can feel it in my bones and crave it.  The sun goes down, and I want to sleep until the sun comes up the next morning.  It's shocking to me that for half of my life, I was able to roll out of bed when the alarm went off and jump into a cold pool for a workout every morning!

My first thought these days (after wondering "what day is today") is coffee! Some mornings, I just want a big mug of java.  But, on others, and I'm finding this to be the norm lately, I want my coffee in a dainty, pretty cup with a saucer.  It gives me the pause that I need before I start my day, and makes the morning feel a bit special, whether it's a Tuesday or a Friday.  I find that using the "special" dishes on a "normal" day adds a little elegance to the day just because and there's no rule that says we must use our everyday tableware Monday through Friday, and save the special ware for our weekend guests.

Doug, knowing my affinity for all things pretty and feminine, gave me beautiful antique coffee cups with matching saucers this year for Christmas.  I adore them and have enjoyed them thoroughly the past few weeks.  While I take special care of them, storing them high on a shelf and hand washing them gently, I allow them to provide me with that special feeling each and every time I've used them.  WE make the special moments, and they are a small gift that we can give ourselves each day.

So, I ask you: What is your special moment and what gifts to you give yourself each day as a celebration of YOU?

Cups & Mugs by Anthropologie
Cups & Mugs by Raynaud

Recipe: Sopressata & cheese in a puff pastry

I adore everything Ina Garten, what she cooks, how she cooks, how easy she makes everything look and just her overall sense of happiness that comes through in photos and on her Food Network show, The Barefoot Contessa.  For Christmas, I was gifted her cookbook "How Easy is That?" and dove right in to find a recipe one night for dinner.  I choose the Sopressata & Cheese, and while the finished product looks time consuming, it was a simple and delicious recipe, one that is great for weeknight dinner, even with kids!

You will need: 

• 1 package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry (I used Pepperidge Farms puff pastry sheets) defrosted
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 12 thin slices sopressata salami 
• 6 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated 
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for the egg wash 

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan.

Lay one sheet of puff pastry on a floured board and lightly roll into a 10-inch square.  Place it on the sheet pan and brush the pastry with the 2 tablespoons of mustard, leaving a one inch border.  Arrange soppressata with overlapping layers on the mustard and sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the soppressata, avoiding the border,  Brush the border with the egg wash.

Lightly roll the second sheet of puff pastry into a 10-inch square.  Lay the pastry directly onto of the first square, lining up the edges.  Brush the top with the egg wash, cut three large slits in the top of the pastry, for steam to escape while in the oven.  Chill for 15 minutes.

With the second sheet of puff pastry and
egg wash, about to chill in the fridge for

One layer of puff pastry, sopressata
and cheese, with the one-inch border

When the pastry is cold, trim the edges with a very sharp knife to make a clean edge.  Bake the pastry in the center of the oven for 20-25 minutes, turning once while baking, until puffed and brown.  Allow to cool a few minutes, cut in squares and serve hot or warm.

What I learned:
1) You can use Swiss cheese in place of Gruyere cheese.  It's a comparable cheese in taste for this recipe and will cost less than Gruyere, if you're looking to safe money.
2) I always use parchment paper, as it helps to prevent burning and makes clean-up easy.
3) This dish can be served an appetizer or the main course.  We ate it as a main course, with a small green salad and it was delicious!
4) The next time I make the dish, I will use 1 1/2 tablespoons of mustard instead of the 2 tablespoons.
5) This is a great substitute for grilled cheese!

*This recipe is from Ina Garten's cookbook, "How Easy is That"

The finished product, which I left
in the oven 2 minutes too long. But,
was still delicious! 

Why resolutions revolve around the New Year?

Every New Year's Eve, at the stroke of midnight, people resolve to be better in the coming year.  Upon doing a quick search online, I found the general top-10 New Years Resolutions, that ironically don't change much from year to year.  They are:


1. Stop Smoking/Drinking
2. Get into a Habit of being Fit
3. Lose Weight
4. Enjoy Life
5. Travel
6. Get Organized
7. Learn Something New
8. Get out of Debt/Save More money
9. Spend More Time With Family
10. Help People.

So, the question I pose, is why wait until the New Year to make the effort to change? Why not today (granted, it is still the New Year, but you get my point, right?)  I see New Year's resolutions as being akin to only being nice to your significant other on Valentine's Day, your assistant on Administrative Day or your brother on his birthday.

While no one will get it perfect everyday, it's the intention behind which the action was demonstrated.  Maybe I can't get in the 90-minute yoga class that I wanted to today, but I do have time for a 30 minute run.  Or, maybe you can't pay off all of your debt today, but you can take steps towards eliminating it, such as not using your credit card today.  There are small actions each of us can take towards being better everyday!

I think Jay Z put it best when he said "May the best of your today's, be the worst of your tomorrow's." Here's to making each day the best you can!

The September Issue

If you're like me, you look forward to the September issue of any and all fashion magazines: Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Elle, and In Style every year.  Even in my younger years, I would hover over the pages of Seventeen magazine each September.  I can still see the red plaid skirts and berets in the late 80's-early 90's before me! They are always a monster of a magazine, heavy in weight and substantial in content by way of editorials, photos and advertisements for designers new lines.  Eye catching pieces and thought provoking layouts, I could spend at least a day on each magazine.

Why is this relevant now, in the cold winter month of January? Because this is the time of year when the glossy magazines begin selecting the clothes, shooting the photos and courting advertisers, when the creators begin constructing of the creation.  How do I know? I watched the documentary entitled "The September Issue" by Lionsgate, detailing the process and following the Editor in Chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, as she traveled to fashion shows, met with retailers, approved clothes before each shoot, cut out an entire spread shortly after it was shot and finalize the then largest September issue to date in 2007 at a whopping 840-pages, 727 of which were ads.

Pulling back the metaphorical curtain to see how it all comes together often gives me a greater appreciation of the end product, and watching Ms. Wintour work to create this yearly fashion "must have" is no different.  Did you know Vogue was the first magazine to use celebrities on its cover, replacing the then only used Super Model? If you have an interest in the business side of fashion, I highly suggest you watch the documentary.  The September Issue premiered in summer of 2009, but was recently released on DVD and is available on OnDemand.

Motivational Monday- Great minds!

"Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people..."

How true! It takes a small mind to inflict judgement on  someone or express their opinion of others, but a truly great mind to wrap it's way around a new idea or discussion of an evolving theory.  Be a great mind and see where it takes you today!

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing you a very Happy, Healthy and wondrous 2011...

Today, I'm going to spend sometime reflecting on the positive elements of 2010 and making a few notes on the places that could use come TLC, through changes, in 2011.

Spending time with family, friends and loved ones later this afternoon will start the year off right.

All the best to you on the first day, of the new year!