A Simple Act of Elegance
Life and Style
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While many today feel a spoken thank you will do - I can tell
you that nothing does it like a note. Notes say I care, you wowed
me. Funny so many people who write by rote for business - never
think to write to a friend or loved one. Notes are a simple elegant
gesture in these days when “style” often vacillates
between careless neglect and wretched excess and when money and
power may be mistaken for taste and manners.
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Image: Karin Pacione
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Historically, all the best people have
written thank you notes. Jackie O was
known for hers. Grace Kelly wrote charming
notes. Marilyn had a habit of scribbling
hers on 8x10 glossies. Real royalty always pens a thank you - many
in their hand. Even celebrities have to say thank you. We hear Oprah
even has her notes customed designed.
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Email has forever changed how we write thank you notes. It’s
not a bad thing. While purists shudder I believe there is something
to be said for the immediacy of the e-medium.
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There is a certain charm to having bought a lunch or done a deed
and returning home to find a thoughtful email heaping with heartfelt
emotion.
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Or think of an email whizzing across the continent in response to
precious gifts just arrived via fedex or hand-carried in an acquaintance's
suitcase from faraway loved ones.
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An email can be charming. Digital photos and elegant fonts can elevate
an electronic “note” to ascetic heights beyond a commercial
greeting.
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I do, however, adore my pens and paper. A Mont Blanc pen, emerald
ink, boxes Smythsons or Cranes correspondence cards and even a bit
of sealing wax - and I am in heaven. Beautiful art cards and reproductions
work for me too. It’s all about sending something fabulous
- emotionally and visually.
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Image: Karin Pacione
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For special occasions or holidays I like to print or affix a special
photo directly to a creamy correspondence card. Our own Karin Pacione
is a master of this art. Fun and easy - it makes for a very personal
keepsake of the occasion or gift.
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You can find everything you need at www.bulkcardsandenvelopes.com
and www.spaark.com.
Some copy shops carry this type of product - but the quality and
pricing of these products are superior.
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Image: www.spaark.com
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The content of thank you notes should be thoughtful, thankful, and
detailed. If it’s for a gift say what is and why it’s
special. Notes for a party or a dinner should mention details that
you noticed and adored.
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I’m sure there was something - after all aren’t your
friends and family wonderful, unique, and special? Can you ever tell
them too often? I don’t think so. The best thank you notes are
written hot - in the heat of the moment. Keep your supplies ready
and just do it. Send one today - you must be thankful to someone in
your life! If you have children teach them to do it too. It’s
an act of elegance and authenticity in an increasingly fragile and
careless world.
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No Flail Mediterranean
Fish Bake
Food & Health
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Because cooking and eating at home will nourish your soul as well
as your body and help keep you slim and healthy here is another DolceDolce
too easy-not-to-make recipe.
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Tip: Buy a mister for your Olive Oil or buy a good quality pure
oil olive spray. Olive Oil is “healthy oil” but you still
need to watch the quantities you consume. 1Tbsp = 100 calories. Don’t
get rid of it measure it and spritz it.
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Serves two. For four double everything and use a bigger pan.
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Place in a glass baking pan big enough to just hold the ingredients
(about 9 inches).
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4-5 ounces of salmon fillet cut into chunks (about 1 ½ inches).
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1 spicy Italian sausage cut in similar size pieces (maybe pork,
turkey, or soy).
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1 large or two small well-washed potatoes (Yukon gold are nice,
but any type will do) cut in same size pieces as the fish and meat.
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1 clove of elephant garlic (type of large garlic quite mild) or
regular garlic or 2 tsp. garlic powder (if you must). Grate or sprinkle
the garlic over the fish and sausage.
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One red pepper seeded and cut into same size pieces.
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You may prepare to this point the night before or in the morning!
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To bake: preheat the oven to 375f/200c
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Spray or drizzle olive oil. Be sure to coat everything lightly in
oil. Season with salt and pepper. Top with 5 sliced stuffed green
olives -if you loathe olives-please omit them.
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Bake about 35 minutes. Check after 30 minutes as ovens vary. The
potatoes should be crisp and fork tender. This dish is quite tasty
and dead easy. Steam some green beans or wash some cherry tomatoes.
This meal takes about 7 minutes to make and clean up. Again my darling
DolceDolce readers I am sure you are laughing.
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Image:Karin Pacione
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How to Shop a
Sale Now!
Fashion
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Pre-holiday sales have become so good that post-holiday shopping
has become anticlimactic. But with so many of fall’s hot looks
carrying over to spring ,
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a savvy shopper will still be on the look-out for key pieces.
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Skinny pants are here to stay for a while so if you spy a pair in
your size in an evening fabric or white consider them.
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Dresses will continue to be a huge look too. Think easy, jersey
knits in a variety of styles - Diane Von Furstenberg,
RK, and Laundry
all have fabulous, wearable styles. Chanel
showed a fresh take on the classic shirt-waist -- clean beautiful
“forever clothes”. Many designers showed short, empire
style frocks with decided retro feel.
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Image: RK www.RKstores.com
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Patent leather shoes and bags still are hot so if you can grab a
pair on a sale go for it. The sexiest and most luxe this year are
from Jimmy Choo. For value and style try
Aldo and Jessica Simpson
- not pricey and very au courant.
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The mood for spring is still very retro so if you have a yen for
big round 60’s shades or 70’s aviators now is the time
to buy. If you want to tie a Pucci - print your hair or go wild in
80’s animal print - let your inner diva snap-up those January
finds. Scout out big plastic bangles, tortoise shell necklaces, shiny
head-bands, and anything Lucite. Metallic shoes and bags will also
carry over into spring too.
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The return of “hot pants” is official. Even longer shorts
are deriguere office ware when paired with a jacket. Keep your eyes
peeled for deals now that boots are on clearance. You won’t
want mukluks but high boots in patent ala Chanel
are perfect. Look for thigh-hi stockings or tights - maybe even textured-knee
socks. The trick is to cover up your legs to avoid looking like a
working girl. Even in warm weather going bare in short-shorts is too
Daisy Duke for urban chic fashionistas.
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2007 All about
Tresses and Dresses
Fashion and Beauty
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| Image: Karin Pacione
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As retro minis, slinky skinny pants, and sport skirt dresses continue
to rule runways it’s not a surprise that trend in hair styles
are long and sexy. Models wore their hair long and sleeked back or
parted on the side hanging down smooth and sophisicated. Chignons
were in evidence providing cool urban chic. Curly hair flowed soft
and wild from tight little heads.
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The looks were polished showing off softly sculpted and bronze faces
- with defined lips and eyes. Some designers such as Michael
Kors showed pales lips, but for the most part there
was colour. More on spring beauty trends and tips in future
issues.
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Long straight styles - sleek chignons, pony tails, and soft curls
all require healthy hair. Having the right hair products can make
all the difference between luxe and lame. The revamped Herbal
Essences line is fabulous. It has products to prevent
breakage, makes frizzy hair curl, give limp hair more volume - you
get the idea. What really is fabulous - the line even has a few leave
in conditioners. It’s hard to find a good leave in conditioner
in a well-priced line. Value, performance, and they still smell divine.
What more could even Rapunzel ask?
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Curly hair can be a challenge. But designer Betsey Johnson’s
models made it look so cute - all fluffed out in big
ponytails. Tame your coarse curls into baby soft ringlets with ISO
Bouncy Crème and Spray. Every curly-headed little NYC fashionista
I know is raving about this stuff. I have handed it out to DolceDolce’s
ringleted staff and it’s a hit. Try it.
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Is your hair so fried that all it does is break? You may want to
try Tawaka. It’s is rich in natural
plant oils and antioxidants from the Amazon rain forest that work
to protect and restore even colour treated and processed hair. So
gentle it can even be used to remove make-up. Not inexpensive but
effective.
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www.ojonhaircare.com
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Hormones, Herpes,
oh Hell!
Health
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There are some issues that just won’t go away
menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of them. Recently
a 7 percent decline in the rate of breast cancer detected and reported
in the US in 2003 was made public. Great news but what does it mean?
The drop followed the 2002 report by the Women’s Health Initiative
that caused many women to discontinue HRT and many doctors to reduce
or stop prescribing HRT.
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While the doctors who presented this data were by their
own declaration “cautious” about drawing conclusions without
further analysis, it has been known for many years that many breast
cancers are reactive to estrogen. Therefore it came as no surprise
when once again there was a strong media reaction to the information
released and the dangers of HRT.
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DR. Caroline Huh
and DR. Liz Hartley
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The trouble with such reports is the broad brush approach
often used to cover the subject. Many reports failed to mention that
most women effected (over 50) would have stopped taking oral hormone
replacement medications such as those that were used in the 2002 study.
This is significant as many of the doctors who now specialize in the
treatment of menopause favour transdermal hormones. Transdermal medications
are applied through the skin and are entirely different medications
that are thought to be much safer. While HRT may pose dangers to some
women and needs to be approached in an educated manor it is certainly
not the cause of all breast cancer. It’s just never that simple.
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Dr. Caroline Huh an expert (www.menopausehealthclinic.com)
in the treatment of menopause puts her emphasis on options, “The
message still has to be that we have to work on other modifiable risk
factors such as weight, diet, and, exercise to give women more choice
in using hormone therapy as a safe alternative.
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“There is a huge study out of Finland where they
looked at 100,000 women most on transdermal estradiol gels, patches
etc. What it showed was no increase in breast cancer for 5 years and
then an extra 2 to 3 cases per 1,000 women for 10 years of follow
up. In women over this time period there are about 40 cases of breast
cancer per 1000 women per 10 years in women not on hormone therapy.
This is likely the bottom line. Women will have to decide if they
can cope with this small but real increase in breast cancer diagnosis
in exchange for less heart disease, better bones, sex, sleeping, and
other benefits and until we have something better to offer.”
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The important thing about Dr. Huh and others similar
in approach is that they present sound medical alternatives. HRT is
still a good alternative for many women for lots of reasons and not
a good choice for others. The same could be said about most medical
procedures and treatments.
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The point is not to buy into media-fueled hysteria.
Don’t get your medical information from a newspaper, Television
- or heaven forefend an unverified internet sources. Find an expert
physician who will present you with all the facts and help you make
a smart choice, a personal choice - the one that’s right for
you.
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Please remember the most important thing you can do
for your health is get good regular screening for all cancers and
other risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol at the recommended
intervals, if your doctor does not discuss these issues with you speak
to her - or him about it soon. Also remember weight, diet, and stress
are important factors in preventing serious disease. Not glamorous
or exciting but so important.
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According to top dermatologist Dr. Kucy
Pon there a new study that shows that shedding of the
cold sore virus (herpes simplex virus-I or HSV-I) can occur during
sub clinical and clinical stages. To minimize the risk of spreading
the virus during the sub clinical stage it is best to start treatment
as soon as you notice any burning/tingling know as prodrome.
Target the tingle! To avoid spread in the infection during prodrome
and especially when clinical lesions are present avoid kissing/skin
contact with others, avoid sharing utensils and towels, keep your
hands clean and wash them frequently, especially after touching the
affected area. It is best to treat recurrent cold sore outbreaks as
soon as possible - target the tingle. At the first sign of the prodrome
start treatment right away.
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According to Dr. Pon, “Doctors often prescribe
anti-viral pills such as Valtrex. Valtrex
will shorten the duration of the outbreak and sometimes may abort
the outbreak altogether if the pills are started early enough.”
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Dr. Pon also recommends Abreva
an over-the-counter treatment when you can’t see your doctor
quickly. “Abreva, that contains Docosanol
10%. Use it as you feel a cold sore coming on. Docosanol
has been clinically shown to reduce the duration of pain, burning,
itching and tingling, by shortening the healing period of a cold sore
and blocking the infection from spreading to surrounding cells.”
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Botox mistaken as a poison by the ill-informed and damned
as a dangerous drug for the vain. So unfair for a drug that started
out life almost thirty years ago uncrossing little children’s
eyes, treating palsy and now used to help victims of stroke and Parkinson’s.
But for those of us who think it’s just great for its beautifying
properties the good news is it has long-term benefits. Allergen released
a thirteen year study of twins that shows Botox if used regularly
- three times a year in this particular study - will actually keep
some wrinkles from developing.
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Don’t get me wrong it’s not the Fountain
of Youth but it’s nice to know regular use will have its rewards
and you may get away with a few less pricey pinpricks. Botox gives
great beauty bang for the buck - a few harmless injections and bye-bye
worry lines. It’s not for everyone – but it’s another
matter of choice.
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Please remember my daring DolceDolce
readers you are never too old or too young - look after your health
and well being. So make smart choices, ask questions, laugh, have
meal with friends, and save a few minutes for DolceDolce
every week because life should be sweet. And as always please sign–up
and share the sweetness with a friend. Have a wonderful DolceDolce
week!
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