This season the models at the Dior fashion show exemplified the luxury of the Paris woman and her lips.  Big cosmetic names invariably make much about lips.  They have spoken -  and the bright coral lips and retro berry lips are Parisian women’s favorites.  Daytime and running around time you'll find American and Parisian women and brides love the "Au natural" look -  pale make up and faint pink lips.   For a wedding -  brides are choosing bright colors in the beginning of the fall and winter.  They are craving berried lipsticks and clear reds -the color is a standout - it makes one's teeth and skin more white, luminescent, translucent and natural.  French women wear very little makeup and what they do wear is applied to appear as a very natural unmade up look. Too much makeup, according to French women, makes you seem older and less refined.

From what I have learned women in Paris pay more attention to the exquisiteness of their lips  - and to such a degree that  - well they spend at least 20 minutes every day drawing a perfect lip line. (but did I tell you that it lasts all day)

One French makeup artist has been quoted as saying that Parisian women will use several lipsticks at the same time, and will not leave home until she makes her lips plump and solid.

Pay special attention to red lipsticks - not all reds are equal - for a great evening out and of course for a wedding, nothing draws more attention to a beautiful face than equisite skin and an unforgettable mouth. 

In Her Words – Mom’s Recipe for Holiday Eggnog!

Below is my Mother’s eggnog recipe (finally found it) as she wrote it - verbatim. I would look forward to this beverage every Christmas growing up in Arcadia together with my family. Years later as I entertained I would sometimes skip Mom’s handmade ‘nog and purchase Knudsen's own eggnog from the Gelson's cold case and then attempt to recall Mom's version as I poured whatever was plentiful from the cupboards into the Eggnog Pitcher.  Not this year – I plan to have on hand this Christmas Eve a big punchbowl full of Mom’s Recipe for Eggnog.  Here it is….

Beat separately the yolks and whites of six “fresh eggs”. Add ½ cup of sugar to yolks while beating and ¼ cup of sugar to whites after they have been beaten very stiff. Mix egg yolks with egg whites.

Stir in one pint of rich cream and one pint of really good Irish whiskey (Jameson) and 1 oz. of yummy Jamaican rum (Appleton Rum Estate VX Jamaican)  Stir thoroughly. Chill. Serve very cold with grated nutmeg on each cup.

This recipe makes five pints of eggnog or 2/ ½ quarts.  And of course don't forget the hand whipped cream on top.

Here are other found recipes Mom brought with her from Canada...

Mincemeat Pie

Canadian Shortbread Cookies

Plum Pudding and Hard Sauce &

Dad's Tom and Jerry Brew

More later….  Joanna