Life and Style

Who’s Crazy in Crazy Love – How We Judge
There is a new documentary now in wide release called Crazy Love. It tells the bizarre and mesmerizing, tragic yet hopeful story of Burt and Linda Pugach. You may have caught the couple recently on Larry King or The View, but it all started in the 1950s and has been making news ever since. The movie is so strange that had it been fiction no one would have green-lighted it.


Burt Pugach was a brash, flamboyant and married young lawyer obsessed with Linda Riss, a beautiful young woman from the Bronx. He was abused by his dominating mother, and grew up to be a highly successful ambulance chaser. He also dabbled in show business and night clubs. He owned a plane and was a shameless womanizer. Burt was what they called a “wrong number”. Linda was a Bronx beauty who grew up without a father in a house of women. According to her adoring friends, she never had it easy, but she was a “good kid” as they used to say in the days of egg creams and convertibles.
He courted her, dazzled her, and promised to marry her. She found out he was married and dumped him. He went mad with jealousy – and, he claims, despair. Then he hired thugs to blind her with acid.
Burt went to jail while Linda had a long and painful recovery. She was very brave and even thrived.
This was the early 1960’s and there wasn’t a lot help for people like Linda. The movie doesn’t go into it, but some doctors must have come forward. She had months of surgery and the result was amazing, but she was still maimed for life.
She moved out on her own, worked and made a life for herself. She wore dark glasses and wigs. The photos and home movies project a glamorous woman. She learned to paint. She was talented. She was adventurous. Alone except for her friends, she dated but she knew that men couldn’t handle her scars when she took off her big glasses. She wound up alone and poor, as her failing eyesight prevented her from working.


Burt, meantime, thrived in prison. There is no doubt as twisted as he was, he was smart and resourceful. He remained obsessed and in love with “his Linda”. As he approached his parole date, he sent her money, and she took it. After all, she needed it.
Skipping ahead, they are together now. Go and see this wonderful film to find out why. Does she love him? She won’t say. Is it any of our business? I say no. Is he crazy? Absolutely. But she is taken care of and they are back in the spotlight. The tabloids and the chat shows can’t believe this story and no one can get enough of it.
Should she have run like hell from him years ago? You bet, and she did. But it seems people forget that when they talk to her. She left him and was engaged to some else. Burt never left her alone, but she had no way of knowing how crazy he was, no way at all.
If you have never been the object of obsession, you’ll never know how innocently it begins. I remember a friend in high school who had a boyfriend who wouldn’t let go. It went on for months. He was everywhere we went. It was creepy. She was frightened and glad to get away for the summer. I have seen other cases that didn't end so easily or so well.
I won’t judge Linda Pugach. She is over the top and not the fashion these days, with her Bronx voice and downtown moxie. She has big wigs, big glasses, and an even a bigger spirit. If she married to have a partner after being alone all these years, or for security, or for whatever – well, as the old song goes; "Ain’t nobody’s business but her her own."
Linda made a life for herself; this half-blind woman in a time of no insurance. She worked and traveled and she did it all on her own. She is resilient, a survivor. If that is crazy, then I hope I can be half as crazy when it comes to facing the truly horrific and what to her was truly horrible.
Linda may be brash and Bronx, but she is brave. And the secrets of her heart and why she chose to live as she does are her own.
Filmmaker Dan Klores performed a remarkable job of storytelling in Crazy Love and you will be riveted. It’s remarkable what the human heart is capable of. The mind boggles and the heart smiles.
Studio Shan
Photo by: Karin Pacione
Fashion

How to Beat the Shopping for a Bathing suit Blues
If you haven’t bought a bathing suit by now it is because probably because the experience can be hell. Department stores say they want to help, but it is pitiful how far off the mark most fall.
Bathing suits are usually not located where they should be. They should be in the lingerie department or the better dress department, where the dressing rooms are large and have the best light. This is also usually where the most knowledgeable sales people usually work. But in many stores, bathing suits are in Siberia, in the chintzy sportswear departments, or worse.
My advice is rebel. If you have a sales person you know and like, grab her. Enlist her help in locating the suits. Or grab the suits from wherever and relocate them to the right dressing area. In a better department store this should not cause problems.
If you are going to buy a really good suit and perhaps a cover-up, consider using a personal shopper. Go for it. She will not have to stay in the room while you try on the suits. If she does linger, politely ask for some privacy. Personal shoppers will have all the suits in your size and a good dressing room waiting for you.
Wear a tiny thong for hygienic purposes. Buy one if you don’t have one. This is essential. You cannot “imagine” the suit over panties or hose. Panties are bumpy and hose are too forgiving.
Also, consider your bathing suit footwear. If you can and do wear heels, casual mules can do wonders for your legs and make you look slimmer. If you have them, bring with you when you shop for a new suit.
All bathing suit footwear have to be non-slip. See a cobbler for rubber bottoms on your mules if need be. This is not a joke; you can kill yourself on wet surfaces. Also some pools don’t allow anything else.
If you spray-tan or self-tan, do so before you shop. It makes a huge difference even in the most hellacious light.
If you have a bad vein somewhere conspicuous, you can have it injected. It will be gone in month. This won’t work for all veins, but if something bothers you, it is worth seeing a doctor and finding out what can be done. Spray-tanning, self-tanners, and bronzers also work very well to hide this sort of thing.
Forget about dieting. Buy a suit for you now. Buy your correct size. If it doesn’t fit then it is the wrong cut for you. I swear by Gottex suits for a full-figured woman. They are not cheap, but they work if you are round, busty, hippy, or just plain curvy. They are gorgeous and they support. They do not look like your grandmother's suit, but instead feature beautiful construction and European chic. I choose this suit every time. I usually buy Gottex at fine department stores and lingerie stores that sell swimwear. www.gottex.com. The advantage of buying from a good lingerie store is that they will be experts in fit, so if that is your issue, it’s a good bet.
Bikinis are fabulous. We love Canadian-made Shan Studio suits and so do celebrities. Women love bikinis, but choose wisely to look really hot.
Studio Shan
Photo by: Karin Pacione
Be honest about your bosom. Do you need support? Even small-busted girls with less firm breasts need support. So look at your breasts. If they are not where they should be, then buy a top to give your breasts some firm support -- and maybe has a little soft shaping.
This is not about padding out your size, but getting a little lift. Your breasts will thank you! See www.victoriassecret.com for lots of fab options.
To really rock, a two-piece has to flatter your tummy. Check your profile in a mirror. Do you hang over your bikini panties? Well, in an itsy bitsy bikini it will be even worse. If your heart is set on a two-piece then find the one that works for you. Are you better in a higher hip hugger or even a tankini? The mirror never lies.
Go shopping soon, or the stores will have no suits left. But never shop when you are tired. I have not given advice on exact styles for big hips or small tops. I don’t believe it works for most women. There are so many different styles. You will spot the suits that are "no-go" at a glance. As for the rest, try, try, try! Try on your correct size. It’s usually the same as your dress or pant size. Choose suits that have support and coverage where you need it. That is the only style advice you can work with until you see actual suits. Also I feel we are way too focused on the flaws, the sum of the parts is greater than a single little flaw. It’s how it all hangs together in the end, darling!
Don’t trash yourself. You can look fabulous. We all have good points and not so great areas. Play up your good points and the hell with the rest!
Shop online and try, try, try. You can return anything you buy online, so no excuses!
Life should be sweet even on the beach!

Need to Shape up Fast!
You know I’ll say to join a gym near your house and go regularly. I really prefer an all-women’s gym. I say this after trying a co-ed gym, again. But suit yourself. In Toronto, I recommend Christine’s, www.Christinesfitness.com. She has three locations. and I think it’s heaven! Let me know your recommendations. Let’s encourage each other.


If you have no time for a gym, try Jari Love’s Get Ripped 1000. This DVD is your ticket to a revved up metabolism with workouts designed to burn 1000 calories per session. She combines cardio, free weights, and step for a wow workout. We like her style.
 
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Fashion

Summer Fashion Solution
Finally from Hanes, the perfect bra for all your summer dresses and tops. The BarelyThere Convertible bra. It has softly molded cups, no tags, pretty satin trim, and convertible straps. You can even wear it strapless, as it has a no-slip band. In nude, black, and white. We tried under lots of revealing summer dresses--it was beautifully invisible. It’s well-priced and there are websites that ship to all over Canada and the U.S. This is the one bra for all your summer barely-there dresses. And it gives your breasts a lovely lift and shape too! How fabulous is that?
Food

Asian Chicken Lettuce cups
This is the type of summer recipe I adore. It took me as long to type it as it does to make it. You toss it together with BBQ chicken and bagged slaw mix from the shop. Once you make it, you’ll be hooked. It’s perfect for low-carb diets, as it has no rolls or bread. Just go easy on the sweet chili. Play with the dressing, make it your make it your own, or don’t change a thing. Double it and you can make a sandwich with leftovers or toss it with cold soba noodles.
Dressing:
2 tbsp. fish sauce
1 tsp. brown sugar or palm sugar
Juice one lime and grate the rind
2 tbsp. Sushi rice vinegar or “seasoned “ rice vinegar
2 tsp. of Thai chili sauce
Mix all ingredients together to make a dressing.
 
Mix together as a salad:
2 Barbecued chicken breasts shredded. Discard skin and bones.
2-3 large carrots peeled and grated or you can use ½ to ¾ cup of prepared cole slaw mix with lots of carrot from bagged salad department.
3-4 spring onions chopped. Fewer, if they are strong
Chiffonade (roll up tightly and slice thinly in to little slivers) a bunch of Thai or European basil.
Chop a handful of fresh cilantro.
½ cup of good salted cashews (optional)
Wash and separate into “cups” a head of Boston lettuce. You can prepare all conponets,except fresh herbs in advance. Right before serving, mix the dressing into salad, toss, add herbs and nuts if used and then mound salad into the lettuce cups. Do not make them too full. You should be able to pick up the cup and roll it around the filling and eat. So delicious, savory, sweet, and exotic. Perfect for lunch or cocktails. It goes really well with any of our tasty Vodka Tinis. I also like it with cold Prosecco. Darling, spoil someone special with this little treat soon and have a sweet interlude.
There we are; another week gone. I hope you will see Crazy Love if you have a chance. I like to believe we can see and appreciate beauty and spirit in all shapes, colours, and sizes, even under really big wigs if that is where we find it. But darlings, you make up your own minds. If you haven’t got a new bathing suit yet, I hope I helped.
Please sign-up if you haven’t already – DolceDolce is free. And forward t us on to your friends. I hope this is a sweet week for you with lots good times with family and friends.
 
Gracey Hitchcock
Editor
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