Supernatural Botanicals

Going Green goes far beyond recycling.  Lyocell is a fabric most know better by its brand name Tencel. It has a soft finish, packs light and is made from cellulose (vegetable matter), or wood pulp, typically a mix of hardwood trees like oak and birch. This makes it a natural fabric, and it is noted for its durability and strength, in addition to its eco-friendly manufacturing techniques.

Lyocell is made by chipping wood, breaking down the wood fibers with the non-toxic chemical amine oxide, and then placing the material in a spinneret. The spinneret produces long fibers, which are then dried and woven into cloth.  …What’s not to love about that?  Be cognizant of what you are buying.  Buy Green!

Links to some of my personal favorite blogs….check them out, you’ll see why!

Favorite Style Icon Blog:  http://ultimatecarolyn.blogspot.com/

Favorite Inspiration Blog:  http://nieniedialogues.com/

Favorite Bloggers Group:  http://www.CincinnatiWomenBloggers.com

Favorite Cincinnati Food Review Blog:  http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/

Favorite Cincinnati Downtown Living Blog:  http://5chw4r7z.blogspot.com/

Favorite Local Eco-Awareness Blog:    http://www.parkandvine.com/

Favorite Adult Swim Website:  http://www.dlisted.com 

Favorite Domestic Blog:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Favorite Green Blog:  http://www.treehugger.com

Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl, giving us his best Gordon Gekko impersonation.  I adore this look!  This over-the-top style is amazing…and so hot!  It screams sexy.  Love it!  I especially love the fact that the style continues on to another generation. 

The consensus on the newest trend, the maxi dress is…..He says, “no way!”   She says, “I love it!”  That seems to be the latest consensus from an unofficial poll I’ve been taking about the latest trend in women’s fashion, the long maxi dress.  From Rodeo Drive to your street, the maxi dress is making a fashion statement.  The question is, what is the statement?  Women seem to think the overall statement is cute and comfortable.  Men seem to think the overall statement is frumpy and unflattering.

A wildly popular trend now, the maxi dress is being worn by women who want to be cute and comfortable at the same time.  However, the negative input by the men may have you changing your mind….along with your dress.

Every male I had asked about this new trend gave a luke-warm response with, “it’s okay, but not form-fitting enough.”  Some even responded with “dresses like this need to be burned.”  Ironically, I couldn’t find one male response that said, “gorgeous, sexy, I love it.”

Women, on the other hand, simply loved the maxi dress.  Women find this dress to easily transition from casual to dressy.  The biggest response I received from women was “it looks so comfortable.”

What do you think about the maxi dress?  Love it or lose it?

Robin Feltner and Diane Keaton.

Smart Talk Connected Conversations brought the fabulous Diane Keaton to the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati last night.  What a night!  To my surprise, she didn’t wear her signature hat or gloves.  In fact, she said she’s over the gloves at this point.  She still likes them, but is outgrowing that look.

Physically, Diane Keaton is very tall and willowy.  In the picture above, I’m at least 5′ 9.5″ in peep toe pumps….and she’s taller than me.  She was wearing a black jacket with pearl necklace, a fabulous Prada floral skirt with leggings under the skirt.   Diane walks in the room, and the dynamics change.  There’s something about her that’s electric, it’s palpable.  Her very presence commands your attention.  She certainly possesses movie star quality.

Diane on her first love: You guessed it….Woody Allen.

Diane on her celeb crushes… “Al Pacino, although he didn’t feel the same way.”

Diane on being a cougar, and which is better to kiss, a younger or older man? Diane likes kissing them all!  She says she feels blessed to have kissed so many leading men in her career.   She thinks they are all great (and who can blame her?)  She admits she had a particular fondness for a very young Mel Gibson.

Diane on the toughest director she’s ever worked with: Without hesitation, Diane says “Warren Beatty!”  She dated Warren and felt it difficult to transition from boss to girlfriend with him.  She said he’s very demanding, and required multiple shots for every scene.

Diane on her favorite movie: Diane is not big on watching herself on the big screen.  She claims she doesn’t have a favorite movie, but appreciates what each one brings.  For instance, Something’s Gotta Give, with Jack Nicholson, is a rebel cry for older women and sexuality.  She loves that!

Diane on quotes on aging from her friends: Diane said Meryl Streep once said to her, “I’ve got to tell you something, honey, we both look like shit” in reference to aging.

Diane on her biggest failure:  “Hanging Up”, in which she directed.  (editorial note…I just couldn’t disagree more.  I loved this movie, and adored her style in this movie!)

Diane on her fashion style: Diane says her iconic fashion style is attributed to her sense of “never wanting to be ordinary.”

Diane on her hobbies: Diane is a preservationist and loves to rehab homes.  In fact, she has written a book on Spanish Colonial and Mission Style houses, called California Romantica.

Diane on her earliest influences: Doris Day.  Diane says Doris Day was her inspiration to be famous.  Diane broke into song when she learned that Doris Day actually grew up right here in Cincinnati.

Diane on colleagues she admires: The woman at the top of Diane’s list is Meryl Streep.  She say’s “Meryl has something magical going on, she’s amazing, just amazing.”

Diane on dressing for your age: Diane says, “When you are a certain age, cover up, cover it all up” joking about her love of turtle necks and long skirts.

My thanks to Diane Keaton and Smart Talk Connected Conversations for such a fantastic night!

On May 19, 2009, I’ve been extended the wonderful opportunity by Smart Talk Women’s series to meet the fabulous Diane Keaton in Cincinnati.  I’ll be asking Diane some questions….make sure and send me what you want to know, straight from DK herself!

To hear what people are saying about the Smart Talk Connected Conversations and to purchase tickets for the event, click here.

Diane is such an icon!  I relate to so many of her characters…especially JC in Baby Boom.  The Tiger Lady.  Who didn’t want to be her?  Every ambitious career girl can relate to JC.  Business world takes the Tiger Lady down.  Tiger Lady channels her own brilliance, and ends up turning the business world down in the end.

It was this movie where I developed my love for all things East Coast.  Ever since, I’ve wanted to uproot and move to my own 62 acre Vermont estate.  I still haven’t ruled that out, as a matter of fact.  Moving to Vermont and making organic baby food from the apples I grow would not be that far out of the realm of normal for me, after all.

In the end, JC wanted it all, and she got it all!  That’s why it’s always good to want it all. Break the glass ceiling.  I think that if you stay true to whatever it is you desire, if you want it all. you just might get it.  That’s why it’s good to keep wanting….wanting it all.

Watch JC in action.  She’s my hero!

Deal of the day!  Snag this super-cute sun dress from Victoria’s Secret for only $29.00 today.  I live all summer long in these dresses!  Very comfortable, very sexy, and very girly.  Bring on the summer!

Channel your inner girly-girl with this recessionista find.  You’ll be irresistible for whomever you are cooking for in this retro-inspired girly apron. 

One of the best gifts you can give to someone is to make them a table-full of their favorite delicious foods.   And who can resist a girl who meets her man at the door wearing this apron with a glass of homemade lemonade in hand, adorned with thin lemon wheel slices?  Seriously, who? 

Channel your femininity and shower it on someone today.  At only $23.75, this aligns with a recessionista’s budget.  Shop Etsy for more girly finds.   

   Nike is helping people get in touch with their inner shoe designer.  After all, we want to look stylish at all times, including our workouts.  One of my favorite forms of cardio is step aerobics, and for that reason, I adore Nike Shox.  They have built in shocks in the heel, making them perfect for stepping, jumping, dance, running, etc.  They provide maximum cushioning to the heel.  My favorite part about my Shox is that I can design them myself, choosing from color, design, material, embellishments…right down to the color of the shoosh.   Not only is Nike my favorite workout shoe for performance, but they also step up the fun by letting you design them yourself.  Go To NikeID now to design your own kicks!

A beautiful tribute to my ultmate style icon, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.  …..thanks for sending this, Grace.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzx4AnsSS3w