Archive for the ‘Holidays and Ho Ho Ho’ Category

Focusing on the good in a beyond-tumultuous year, my heart is soooo touched by unexpected kindness displayed during the Buffalo Blizzard. When humans step up in ways that save lives, the gift is priceless. Surely there are more stories out there about unlikely heroes, but here are three stories highlighted in the news —

HEROES OF KINDNESS —

On Christmas Eve Alexander and Andrea Campagna became “accidental innkeepers” to nine South Korean tourists whose van was stuck in a ditch in the early days of the blizzard. In true Christmas spirit, The Campagnas sheltered worried tourists, resulting in an unexpected slumber party, a unique bond and a yummy Korean Christmas dinner that none of them will ever forget.

photo by Sweet Buffalo Facebook

Sha’Kyra Aughtry was home during the blizzard when she heard screams early Christmas Eve. Out the window she could see a man calling for help. After Aughtry’s boyfriend carried the freezing, developmentally disabled man, Joe White (64) inside their home. Although Aughtry was unable to get Emergency help, the fast-thinker used a blow dryer to melt ice off Joe White’s red blistered hands. She used  a grass cutter to remove White’s rings while Aughtry live-streamed her calls for help and emotional concerns for his fading condition. Refusing to let him die, she cared for him — encouraging him to keep the faith —  when thankfully one of her Facebook followers got through with a car. They took Joe White to the hospital and saved his life. Aughtry’s compassion and feisty personality led to a Merry Christmas for Joe White and his very-worried family.

photo by CBS News.com

QUICK OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING…

Jay Withey Jr, a 27-year-old Kenmore mechanic saved 10-24  lives after breaking into Pine Hill Primary Center school because his  truck  got stuck and he was trying to stay alive.  Before that he’d knocked on the door of 15 homes where the residents were too scared to let a stranger in. So Withey broke into the school, discovered shelter, and became Super Snowman searching for and saving others stuck in ditches. Before he left, he wrote a note to the school:

“To Whomever It May Concern: I’m terribly sorry about breaking the school window and for breaking in the kitchen. Got stuck at 8 p.m. Friday and slept in my truck with two strangers. Just trying not to die. There were 7 elderly people also stuck and out of fuel. I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom. Merry Christmas. Jay.

Hope these stories warm your heart as much as they did mine and that we’ll all come to the rescue of strangers-in-need when the occasion arises. (I’m really into heroes, wherever and whenever they pop up.)  xx/Evie

2021 will be better… it must!

Since this year is different from all other years (except maybe 1918) here are 5 superstitious ways to welcome in 2021.

1. OPEN YOUR PANTI DRAWER —

Normally there are many considerations as you select your 12/31 panties. Even though red is for passion and pink is for love, tonight BLUE is the clear choice.

BLUE panties bring GOOD HEALTH, and that’s the #1 need for ourselves, our loved ones, our country and our world. So get out your blue panties to parrr-ty — alone, or with someone in your bubble. (I know, I know, it feels depressing, but guys — next year will be better.)

2. GRAB A SUITCASE —

After we get through the contagiousness of Covid, we’ll all need to get away. Tonight at midnight, lug a piece of luggage around the block. Make sure it’s packed with your needs for a dream vacay. (Let’s plan it! Woo-hoo!) Read the rest of this entry »

At the end of each year I post a list of Good Luck Superstitions. This coming year we not only need good luck, we need to fix what is broken, so I’ve added a few Good Luck Superstitions of my own.

GOOD LUCK SUPERSTITIONS —

LUG YOUR LUGGAGE around the block – (Packed with the the things you’ll need on your “Dream Vacay”.)

Go on a HOUSE CLEANSE on the 31st (Mop up the old mess so you can make room for the new mess.) 

GRAB THE GRAPES — (In-between midnight hugs and kisses eat 12 of them, making a wish with each of the 12 months to come.)

CARRY CASH at midnight – (For prosperity in the New Year… and while we’re on that subject…)

Put a GOLD RING in your Glass for the promise of riches — (But be sure you don’t swallow it, because that’ll insure a trip to the ER instead — which is so not where you’ll want to be on New Year’s Eve, trust me)!

Light COLORFUL CANDLES to create different outcomes — (Light a green one for good health, a yellow to improve your finances, an orange one for wisdom and a blue one for peace. Oh, and don’t forget the red one for the promise of PASSION!)

On the 31st open the front door and SWEEP OUT NEGATIVITY but open the windows to LET POSITIVITY IN – (But don’t sweep anything out on the 1st, especially a HANDSOME MAN bearing gifts : )

MAKE A LIST of all of the many things you want to forget in 2019– (Then light it on fire!)

LIGHT FIREWORKS (Scare away Evil Spirits!)

JUMP UP-AND-DOWN at Midnight – (Go as high as you can to encourage physical and mental growth.)

If your UNDIES are INSIDE-OUT or BACKWARDS — and you switch things around the first few minutes in the New Year, it either means the RED CANDLE worked and you started out the year with PASSION or you’re going to get all New Clothes (Something I can get very passionate about, ha!)

Oh, and if you’re wearing RED UNDERWEAR when you light the RED CANDLE, and move in for the MIDNIGHT SMOOCH and whatever it leads to — you need to know… RED UNDERWEAR signifies FERTILITY in Italy. (So if you’re Italian or in Rome when all of this happens or your RED underwear is backwards shortly after midnight — you might be expecting more than GOOD LUCK in the coming year.) Uh-oh!

AND A FEW OF MY OWN FOR GOOD MEASURE —

Subscribe to different NEWS-VIEWS on screens and in print to EXPAND YOUR MIND in 2020. 

Do SOMETHING KIND for someone else each and every day for GOOD KARMA in 2020.

SMILES are contagious, so be sure to spread them around for a HEALTHY WAY TO LIVE in the new decade.

Happy New Year —
xo/Evie

Wishing you a MERRY everything and

a HAPPY always…

xo/evie

No one ever would’ve called me political before. I didn’t worry about our world, it seemed like it was going well enough. But well enough seems like a long long time ago… Now I feel like I’ve got to pay attention or the whole world might go POOF!

So on this solemn eve of the historic impeachment public hearings, the only way I can counteract my anxiety is to think about a joyous eve… the one that happens every December 24^th.

Counteract Doomy-Gloomy with Festive & Bright!

Interestingly, this morning my bff Rachel,  knowing me as well as she does, texted me a link on this very subject. A sign? Maybe – I was planning to write this post for awhile…

24 LITTLE GIFTS EXTEND THE HOLIDAY SEASON

There are so many AMAZING ADVENT CALENDARS available this season — I’ve listed a few below. You’ll have fun researching them too. With a little help from Google, you’ll find Sock Advent Calendars, Wine Advent Calendars, Beauty Advent Calendars… If you can think of it, there’s probably an Advent Calendar out there. SUGARFINA has a super-cute one, but they’re sold-out online. SUGARFINA stores will get them, so if you’re in their neighborhood watch for them.

Hotel Chocolate UK has Advent Calendars in every Chocolate Flavor: White, Milk, Dark and more. Prices start at L12.50. Delivery is fast and reliable.

Meri Meri products put me in a good mood, even when I don’t get a callback. Their little house of hair accessories will get any little party animal into the holiday spirit. Priced at $42. (less if you’re a MOMA member.)

Check out the OPI Hello Kitty Nail Polish Collection @$49.90 — Purr-Fect!

What about the TEA LOVERS on your list? They can sip a cuppa something different every day in December. $32.00 from Palais Des Thes PARIS.

And the pièce de ré·sis·tance… DIPTIQUE PARIS has the most luxurious Advent Calendar of all, featuring candles, fragrances and skincare products with a lucky charm theme this year. I know I’d feel lucky to get this gift, hint-hint! Pricey at $425.00 but there’s a lot of product in this special gift. (Dream on, Evie…)

Happy Holidays a la Dover Street Market

Japan style is SUPER COOL, SUPER STYLISH, UNIQUE AND A.MAZ.ING!

I’ve always dreamed of going to Japan, but the next best thing is discovering websites where I can bring a little Japanese Style home for the holidays.

Christmas and Hanukkah bring out the sleuth in me. I love, love, love finding finds no one I know knows about. Like searching for shells, you hunt and hunt and suddenly you discover a treasure! And there are so may treasures to find in these international shopping sites.

Here are my favorite 2018 JAPANESE WEBSITE FINDS for gift-giving, wish-listing or self-treating. Priced from less than $10 to more than $100, you’ll find a little something for everyone and every budget.

Gifts-By-The-Month

KiraKiraCrate — (A monthly surprise of awesome beauty products like masks, make-up, lotions and sponges, along with beauty tools you never knew you needed, in colorful packaging.)

MyFacestory –(Korean masks galore from chocolate to champagne — order 4 per box or 7 per box with a 6-month or 12-month subscription.)

Accessories and Handbags

KiwandaKiwanda — (Check out Kiki’s world of glitter socks, sheer socks, motif socks, sparkle socks for women and men + they have shoes, clothing, umbrellas and more.)

SouSou — (you’ll say sou-sou “yes yes” to a wide range of fun, well-priced accessories for men and women and the home. Check out the Eco Bags and Totes.

Sou-Sou’s Origami Tote @$43.90 in solids and prints

Tembea – (Beautifully constructed totes  — every type you can think of: book totes, school totes, baguette totes — pricey but worth it.)

Merippa  –(Cheery, snuggly reversible slippers in size S-M-L for kids and adults. Wear one inside in and one inside out for a good morning surprise statement. )

Hot Fashion Japan-Style

Uniqlo – (You’ll get a bang for your buck, especially if you buy puffy jackets — they come in every color for every age — best value ever!)

Dover Street Market – (Comme des Garcons’ department store in Tokyo, London, NYC and a new one in L.A. — in every city a Fashionista Must!)

Blue Roses Boredom Tee by Ed Meadham from Dover Street Ginza

(There are so many fab finds in these websites that I’d love for myself. I just hope my Dad and my friends read this post, hint, hint!)