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Happy Memorial Day!

Submitted by admin on May 31, 2010 - 9:05 am

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Bonjour!

Just a quick note to say Happy Memorial Day to everyone and give a special shout-out to everyone serving in the military and their families. We’ve just found out last week that my baby brother serving in the Air Force will be deployed in August (instead of next May) to Afghanistan. Obviously some mixed feelings there. Well, no, I’m going to be honest – no mixed feelings – I don’t want him to go. But I suppose that’s what being in the military involves. I’m sure it’s terrifying for his wife and I hope she takes my up on my offer to come out and spend some time here in LA with me to take her mind off his being gone.

IN any event – very proud of him, he’s a human Labrador – great heart, great mind and just a sweet soul. Love his to pieces.

So a special thanks to everyone serving, or whose family members are, because quite honestly, it’s scary and it’s more than I could do.

I love you Matty!!!

xoxo Sissy

When Life Imitates Lemon

Submitted by admin on May 26, 2010 - 9:18 am

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Bonjour!

New Duchess Site is launching in less than two weeks – can’t wait to see how you all like it! Sorry if I’ve been neglecting the blog a little lately but there’s so much behind the scenes planning and work getting the new brand rolled out that my time is fully invested in that at the moment!

But hey, I still have a column to write and YOU to take care of – so here’s this week’s column. For any of you ’30 Rock’ Lovers – you’ll probably appreciate this question from the column – check it out!

http://singlemindedwomen.com/women-relationships/duchess-digest-when-life-gives-you-liz-lemon/

Enjoy your long weekend!

Mrs. Darcy

Submitted by admin on May 18, 2010 - 9:38 pm

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Bonjour!

Oh oh oh . . if ever I had a love it is Pride & Prejudice. The book, the BBC Series, the Keira Knightly movie, the soundtrack – I LOVE Elizabeth Bennett. Having been born a Miss Jill Elizabeth – I always fancied that I took after the great Elizabeth’s of the world. Queen Elizabeth (the Tudor kind not the modern, but her too I guess) Elizabeth Taylor but mostly, Elizabeth Bennett. I loved her. From the moment I met her I loved her. She read books. She loved her beautiful older sister. She loved her mother and was terribly close to and cherished by her father. I always felt as though I was a bit of this character. That I too loved literature, was born the somewhat witty (if not incredibly pretty) second oldest daughter. I could relate to her loving his big sis – who was always more beautiful. I could understand having a father that was her dear friend and beloved parent.

And then there was Darcy.

Oh Darcy.

When I was going through my divorce I very strongly remember it being the dead of winter in Park City. And my favorite thing to do was hike in my snowshoes with labrador to the top of the highest point on the hill behind our house. I would come prepared with my iPod in my pocket and would spend an hour tracking through the fresh fluffy snow to reach a lookout point. Then I’d stand up there in that spot and listen to ‘Liz on Top of the World’ or ‘Your Hands are Cold’ from the Pride & Prejudice Soundtrack on repeat for what seemed like hours. I don’t really know why. It just helped. Listening to that music, standing next to Betty and looking out over Park City, the snow, the hills and breathing in all the cold, clean air – it just felt like I would be able to survive into whatever happened next. I’d stay up there for so long. Sometimes I’d cry, sometimes I’d actually smile and laugh about how strange and great a thing life is – but that music and that book have been such an important part of my life. I don’t know how you can watch Mr. Darcy cross that field in the movie and not shed a tear or two. Who hasn’t wanted that with someone at some point in their life? It’s so beautiful and the music is amazing.

Apparently I am not the only one with a small obsession with P & P – in particular the mythical Mr. Darcy. My best friend, truly a soul mate if I ever had one, sent me a text this morning to say – if you haven’t seen the Design Sponge blog today – you have to look at it – it totally reminded me of you.

Now – nearly thirteen hours later – I finally have gone to look and would you believe Design Sponge is all about Mr. Darcy & Miss Bennett. It’s a beautiful sight to see – far better than my personal much adeau about nothing . . . so if you love P & P like I do – check out their amazing spread on Design Sponge.

Here’s to the Elizabeth in all of us – and the Mr. Darcy for all of us.

long may you reign in optimism and beauty.

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/05/living-in-pride-and-prejudice.html

Miss Guided.

Submitted by admin on May 16, 2010 - 9:24 am

Comments (5)»

Bonjour!!

Here is this week’s Single Minded Woman column . . . please to enjoy! Also if you’re looking for some of your dating questions answered, leave comments below and I will hook you up with some responses asap. I’d love to hear what dating enigmas you’re facing right now (I certainly have a few of my own!).

http://singlemindedwomen.com/women-relationships/duchess-digest-dating-donts/

All the Reasons I’m No Carrie!

Submitted by admin on May 4, 2010 - 1:01 am

Comments (1)»

Bonjour,

You heard me say last week that I’m not Carrie Bradshaw. But before I get Carried away with that idea (pun intended) I’m going to share with you my column this week for Single Minded Women. Maybe there’s a little Carrie in all of us. And maybe just like Carrie, my life and your life will turn out just find. If we focus on the landmarks of our journey and the things we do have, any intended outcome starts to fade away!

And I’ve been thinking about outcomes a lot this week because it’s my birthday Sunday and birthday’s tend to make you think about what is working well in your life and what isn’t!

So enjoy!

Come get Carried away (and see the trailer – it’s all happening in May!)

http://singlemindedwomen.com/women-relationships/duchess-digest-i-am-not-carrie-bradshaw/

Red Said – And I happily Listened!

Submitted by admin on May 3, 2010 - 1:01 am

Comments (2)»

Bonjour!

I spent the weekend with my mom again; she’s been in town from Denver. She has a passion for Renoir after reading Luncheon of the Boating Party, and wanted to see the Renoir exhibit at LACMA. Last summer she visited me in D.C. to see the original Luncheon of the Boating Party at the Phillips Gallery back there – this woman loves her Renoir! She’s devoted and I can appreciate that in a mom and an art lover!

The best part was that my mom is here with her hubby, and my aunt came up from Carlsbad and my cousin happened to be in town again from Sydney – so forces and worlds collided on LACMA as we got to all spend the day together getting cultured, enjoying the sun and having a leisurely lunch in Beverly Hills.

More on the weekend later, but I wanted to share with you my good friend and funny enough, basically my life twin, with Red in South Africa. Red and I stumbled across one another through a mutual friend’s blog in Paris and we have been fast friends since – sharing a pension for pasts peppered with men named Andy in D.C. and a love of Labradors – she’s amazing! And she’s joining us for our ‘Random Acts of Blogging Event’ in May/June – so I wanted you to get a chance to check her out. She’s another writer too! You’ll love her instantly, as I did – enjoy!!

http://redsaid.net/2010/04/why-ill-be-accosting-some-hapl.html