Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What makes you feel chic? and I've been tagged!

I have almost finished reading Madame Chic.


Please don't forget to tell me what makes you feel chic to enter the giveaway...
details are in the previous post.



materfamilias has tagged me in a meme
and I am rising to the challenge by sharing some things about myself.

11 random things about me are;

Spiders scare me...lovely daughter was bitten by a brown recluse spider and it was a horrific experience, her bite took nearly a year to heal and has left her with a scar on her leg the size of a toonie.

I do not like to fly...I have flown several times but have been anxious the entire flight.

I have never pumped my own gas...and I am not particularly proud of this fact.

Very few family and friends know that I have a blog. It's my secret hobby!

I have considered getting my nose pierced with a very small and sparkly diamond stud.

Several years ago I ate an entire pumpkin pie over the course of an afternoon. Incredibly shameful but true!

Metric measurements still challenge me as I was educated when the Imperial system was in use.

I have a crush on Colin Firth.

Potatoes are my favourite food, I love them mashed, scalloped, baked, fried and even potato salad.
It must be my Irish heritage coming through.

While my house may be dusty on any given day it is usually tidy as I cannot stand to live in chaos as it stresses me no end.

I carry a handbag/purse everywhere I go. I get teased about this quirk!

Now to answer mater's questions...

1. What was your favourite film last year and why?
Midnight in Paris was my favourite film last year. I liked it for the cinematography, the costumes, the sets, and the fact that it was set in Paris, a city I long to visit. I saw Midnight in Paris very soon after reading The Paris Wife, which was about Paris in the 20's and the bohemian lives that so many arty types were living. I love Woody Allen's quirkiness when it comes to film and thought that he chose a fine cast of characters to star in his film. I've viewed it twice.


2. If money were no object, where would you spend your next vacation? and why?
I'd go to Paris and the south of France. I have always wanted to go there...I'd love to spend a year in the south of France as dear friends John and Cheryl rave about the warm and friendly people, the beautiful countryside and the lifestyle.  I'd love going to market days and poking through the brocantes.


3. Describe the earliest meal you can remember enjoying.
Soft boiled eggs and toast fingers (which we called soldiers)
I remember dipping the soldiers into the runny yellow yolks. It was almost like playing with my food and Mother allowed me to do this. I remember feeling very grown-up.


4. If you were dividing domestic chores with a new roommate, which ones would you try to claim?
The cooking and the kitchen...and the decorating!


5. Do you play a musical instrument? If so, which one?
I played the flute in school but I have given it up now.


6. When you're bothered by prolonged muscle or joint soreness that's interfering with your workout plans, do you visit a General Physician, a Chiropractor, a Physiotherapist, or a Massage Therapist?
My G.P. and I love massage so I'd hasten to book a few sessions at the spa.


7. What activities do you hope will sustain you throughout your 80s and 90s?
Walking, Yoga and perhaps swimming.


8. What was the first important car in your life?
My first one! It symbolized my independence...it was a vintage Zephyr. White with black accents fins at the rear, red leather seats inside, quite posh but so retro in the 1970's!


9. What was the most significant course you ever took?
Oh I have taken so many courses over the years I really cannot choose just one!
Maybe Lamaze preparing for natural childbirth.


10. If you had the resources, which elementary or high school classmate would you try to track down, and why?
Louise Kahn. She and I enjoyed and played music together. She was very pretty and creative and so interesting. Her father was a professor and they lived in a large arts and crafts home that was furnished eclectically and had vast stacks of books strewn everywhere. They moved to New York when her father was transferred to another university and we lost touch. I have always wondered what happened to her.


11. Which chef would you like to have come to your house to prepare a meal for your guests -- or, alternatively, give you a cooking lesson in that chef's professional kitchen?
Jamie Oliver! I'd like to go to his home to meet his lovely family before sitting in his kitchen, watching him make me a tasty meal.



The rules are:
1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them



Part of my participation requires that I tag a few bloggers who would kindly post and answer the 11 questions that I pose to them. 
I understand that not everyone likes to, or has the time to play along....but if you were to join in here are my 11 questions.


1. What name would you choose for yourself if you could pick your own name?
2. Who would you most like to meet and spend an evening getting to know?
3. What are your pet peeves?
4. If you could change one thing about your life what would it be?
5. If money were no object where would you like to live?
6. How would you describe your fashion style?
7. Who influenced your life the most?
8. What is your favourite book?
9. What have you discovered about yourself that surprised you?
10. What is your favourite blog?
11. What 5 beauty products would you take if you were to go to a desert island?


OK now this is where it gets tricky....
I now need to ask you to if you'll participate...
If you are too busy I will undertsand completely...


Lisa, the author of the privilege blog has just returned to work after spending 2 years as a lady of leisure. She hails from a High Wasp background and has grown up in style. Her blog was the first I discovered and remains one of my all time favourites.


Duchesse has recently moved to Montreal. She has a great sense of style, loves pearls and I'd like to know more about her. She writes the blog passage de perles.


Adrienne lives in wine country and is a volunteer coordinator with a flair for fashion. I hope that she'll share with us some tidbits about herself. You can visit her at the blog A Rich Life on a Budget.  She's very friendly and has impeccable manners.


Today felt like any other day except that I broke my tooth eating a cracker today at lunch...
and I swallowed the part that broke off!
I'll be supping on soft foods and soups until I see my dentist for a crown.

My mouth feels so odd,
thankfully there is no pain...
and I hope there won't be any.

I am not a fan of the dentist, drills and drilling.
On a positive note
my dentist has the most beautiful baby blue eyes...

How's your week going?

34 comments:

Blue Jeans Girl said...

No wonder you're afraid of spiders, you have a much better reason than Ron Weasely. I pump my own gas but only when I have to. I try to get hubby to do it for me by offering for him to drive my car which gets better gas mileage (sneaky huh). Funny, I tagged Adrienne too for the same meme! Thanks for sharing these tidbits about yourself. I adore your blog.

Susan B said...

What fun tidbits about you, hostess! I'm so sorry about your tooth, hope you remain pain-free until it can be fixed.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I am not familiar with Ron Weasley...I am going to google him. Perhaps Adrienne can link to both our blogs and save herself some time and effort! I am heading over to visit your blog now.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Fingers crossed there's little pain, I am such a sissy!

Lacey R said...

I just got back from the dentist, I have to get two new fillings as my sealants have broken off....yippee...

I've never pumped my own gas either!! lol

Bonnie said...

So sorry about your tooth. I know from experience how fun this can be. I love reading the snippets about you. It is a lovely way of getting to know someone. Spiders are not particular favorites of mine, but I do try to remember there are good spiders and they eat bad bugs. I do want them where I can see them. Brown recluse do not play fair and are basically bad news. I, too, played the flute. I pick it up occasionally, but can play little more than scales and March Grandioso (quite sure it has another name).

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

It's hard to get excited about spending money at the dentist or at the gas pumps for that matter...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I see that you blog on a MAC, I do as well and feel very comfortable with mine.

Anonymous said...

I pump my own gas, and if I'm driving with my husband, I pump his too. I find it a very satisfying chore. I loved reading the tidbits about you, and I believe I could down a whole pumpkin pie in an afternoon also. Your first car sounds very cool too. Sorry about your tooth.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Oh dear...sorry about the tooth, that's not any fun.

Enjoyed reading all of the interesting things about you. I don't mind spiders but I have never been bitten by one and that might change my opinion.

Oh! What makes me feel chic...when my hair looks good and new frilly lingerie.

Anonymous said...

Wow I have never been around spiders that can bite - that's awful
Oh the humble potato,barely a day goes by when I don't eat one in some form or another. Mash is so comforting.

Pondside said...

This made me smile - we certainly have more than a few things in common. Like you, I fear spiders. Five years ago I was bitten and the bite took the better part of a year to heal. I am quite paranoid now, about vacuuming, shaking out clothes before I put them on and pulling back the blankets before getting into bed. Spiders are a fact of life on the coast, but I don't want to be bitten again.
I agree that walking is a wonder, travel is to be pursued, potatoes are delicious and that Colin Firth is a dream (he is godfather to an acquaintance of Lillypad - we could lurk!

Suburban Princess said...

It must be broken tooth week...my husband had a cap pop off - for the second time!

I think we all have a crush on Colin Firth!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Kathy the stations around town that offer full service are disappearing so i am going to have to learn sometime soon. Although walking to work has really cut down on my gas consumption and a tank lasts me over a month.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Ah yes lingerie does the trick!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Her bite was horrific...just google brown recluse spider bites and you will be stunned by the images...better not, just take my word for it. Pass the mash please!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Let me know when he's about town and I'll lurk with you...I know he has been seen on the beach of one of our walking routes looking ever so gorgeous...sadly I was not on my walk that day :(

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Hope that your husband is able to get in to have it fixed pronto...
I could use a Colin Firth movie marathon, perhaps this weekend :)

Lorrie said...

Great post, Hostess. Except for the part about your tooth. Like you, I dislike visiting the dentist. No, make that "hate visiting the dentist." Might as well call a spade a spade.
I used to play the flute as well, but gave it up long ago. And spiders are not my favorite creatures but I abhor snakes even more.
Fun to learn more about you.

Anonymous said...

You've made me LOL, and cringe all in the same post... YIKES! With a capital Y....

Anonymous said...

No need to be ashamed of eating an entire pumpkin pie in an afternoon. Sometimes we need to do crazy things like that!

Gretchen said...

My dear hostess, I could (and have) eat an entire pie in short work, especially if it were a pumpkin pie. Or strawberry rhubarb. Or an apple pie. A lemon meringue would take me a bit longer...say, perhaps, almost a day. I understand your dislike of dentistry, yet must stand up for dentists, for my own oral history with multiple surgeries as a child and a root canal when my youngest was 5mos old made me realize that a GOOD dentist was my best friend!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I remember getting a sparkly ring at the dentist when I was a young girl. Right after my last crown 2 years ago, I asked my dentist if they still did that and he had his assistant bring out the tray and offered me a choice. I declined as I am only interested in real gems now.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Was it the pie and the spider?

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The funny part is I made 2 pies for a dinner party that evening along with a meal worthy of guests and I could only push my food around on my plate when we sat down to dine! Yes crazy is the word!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I do have a great dentist and am not maligning him in any way shape or form. I respect his expertise and trust him explicitly, I am rather a nervous Nelly when it comes to the drills and the drilling sounds
but I'll get over it. It's the same when I go under a general for surgery, I am a bundle of nerves.

materfamilias said...

Thanks for participating, Lesley -- fun to find out more about you this way! Your Zephyr would have been a good match for my little Sunbeam Imp.
Good luck with the dental adventure -- I remember having a tooth break off in much the same way, altho' I didn't swallow mine -- still, it's a shocking feeling, especially since you know it means some serious work ahead. Oddly, though, it was that incident and the ensuing root canal which taught me not to fear dentists anymore. . .

Annie ~ Red Roses and Crystal said...

Absolutely wonderful answers Hostess which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
May I just say I giggled loudly upon learning you have never pumped petrol (gas). If you moved down here a mighty quick adjustment would be in order as full service is virtually non-existent at petrol stations, it's self-serve. Plus we pump air into our own tyres. Gone are the days of being waited on mores the pity.
How awful about your daughter's spider bite, that must have been a worrying episode.
xx

Anonymous said...

as a potato lover, you may enjoy this technique-
i call this french fried mashed potatoes-
take leftover fries- yes there are such things- lol-
chop and toss into blender-
and chop grind puree with some liquid- chicken stock- veg stock even water or milk-
depending on amount of leftover fries you either eat as is or add to traditionally made mashed potatoes

john in nc

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Sunbeams were very popular when I was a teen...do you remember those amphibicars?

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh I can see you gals from down under are a sturdy bunch! I'll get someone to give me a lesson as i do not want to appear to be a damsel in distress.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

How interesting...I have never heard of this before. I usually dispose of leftover fries.

LPC said...

Hostess - Thank you. I so appreciate your company in the blogosphere, ever since we had that first email exchange. Remember how surprised I was by your sleuthing skills? I'm not sure if I am going to find time in my now annoyingly busy days to do the tag, and I apologize in advance if I cannot, but I so appreciate the thought.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

LPC- you have given us so much and continue to do so...
no apologies are necessary. I am forever in your debt.
If I ever get back to SF, I hope that we can meet up for coffee or a martini!