Tiddley-Bits tea

Tiddley-Bits tea

Thursday 25 October 2012

{quotable thursdays}

Well, hello there!
*blink*
{via what we should call art history}

A little bit of advice for today...
"Peace comes when we have learned to accept, not so much with resignation as with a dutiful response to reality, the evil we confront as part of our nature. We no longer hate ourselves for being what we are; we no longer blaspheme because we have been created just so and not otherwise; we are no longer in revolt, with an insolent egoism, against our own imperfection. We are content, in a word, to be men and not God"
              -VICTOR GOLLANCZ (1893-1967)

This comes from a little book of quotes my sister, Christina, bought me when I was in undergrad. There's a quote for everyday of the year, and I read it religiously right before I go to bed.
There's loads of food for thought here... Here's what I took from it:
For one, it gives us liberty not to seek to be perfect, but to find our human best. That's not to say that we should aim for mediocre but rather, that we should not be discouraged when we don't reach divine perfection, but merely mortal excellence.
Secondly, if I've learned anything in my 30 years, it's that we must prioritize. Think of the things you want to excel at, and make sure you try hard & seek perfection there. Then, the things that matter less, try to do them always with your very best, but don't worry if they don't meet all your expectations. We can't be perfect at everything, and there's not enough time in the day to do everything always 100%. I wish I could host lovely dinner parties with individual place names, hand-written or printed invites, with everything home made down to the bread, rather than sending out an email or evite, cobbling together mismatched chairs and utensils etc...but my job isn't being a socialite but an academic. I find it hard enough to balance teaching & writing/researching...but then should I not have a social life because I can't host a *perfect* dinner party? If it's an occasion that counts, I will make it as wonderful as I can...but settling for good enough isn't always a terrible thing. Especially if you are exceeding expectations in other aspects of your life.
Thirdly, just because you're not very good at something doesn't mean you shouldn't try to be better at it. Or if you find it difficult, it's not a sign to give up. we should learn "to accept, not so much with resignation as with a dutiful response to reality", in Gollancz' words. There's a balance to life: realising we're not perfect at something and accepting it, is not the same thing as just giving up when we don't meet expectations. Practice does make perfect, most of the time.
In an example by Austen from Pride & Prejudice :
"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."
"My fingers," said Elizabeth [at the pianoforte], "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault because I would not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my  fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution."
{via the period movie review}

So do try to do your best, but don't expect everything to be perfect in your life. and certainly you should expect mess-ups along the way. Our failures are the things we learn from...and sometimes mistakes bring us down a new path...one that might just be a better path than the one we had planned on.
Happy Thursday,
xo
L

Wednesday 24 October 2012

{upstairs, downstairs}

Well, I'm certainly in Downton Abbey withdrawal, so I've been watching Upstairs, Downstairs. Originally a telly series in the 1970s, a new edition has come out, and is available on pbs here in the US.
{via behind the curtain}
So, actually not a copy of Downton Abbey,but a precursor... It's pretty good, but I'm finding that it skips between episodes a bit--so that you feel like you've missed something from episode to episode. The fashion & interiors are exceptionally good though...
{via the guardian}
{lovely exterior, typical of a  London home via the tattler}

{via little Augury}

{via austen prose}
Upstairs Downstairs (2012) Season 2: Claire Foy as Lady Persie Towyn
{I can't stand her character, but I do love her hair}
Upstairs Downstairs (2012) Season 2: Laura Haddock as Beryl Ballard
{this & the one above, from austen prose}
upstairs downstairs 2010
{elegant drinks}



{via the guardian}















So some upstairs, downstairs inspiration: 
1955 Vogue
{via my modern met}
ZsaZsa Bellagio: Earthy Hues, Sweet Views
{elegant dining}
ZsaZsa Bellagio: Vintage, French, Shabby- CHARMING!
{via zsa zsa bellagio}

chateau
{light green walls}
armoire bar
{martinis & drinks are often being consumed on the show}
love this ceiling
{via d*s}
ZsaZsa Bellagio: Dark Elegance
{long silhouettes}
gorgeous!!
{some glitter}
The Terrier and Lobster: "The Mundane is to be Cherished": Milla Jovovich with Jenny Holzer Art by Peter Lindbergh for the Vogue Italia Couture Supplement
{shimmer}
goldy-gold
{& glamour}


ZsaZsa Bellagio: A Whole lot of Wonderful
{via zsazsa bellagio}

Thursday 18 October 2012

{quotable thursdays}



Shakespeare quote And though she be little
{via Decorator's Notebook}

My nickname is Tinza, a derivative of another one of my nicknames, Tiny, as I'm the 5th of 5 girls. I may be tiny, but I'm fierce. Make no mistake:)

{via amazon}

ZsaZsa Bellagio: Pretty Stuff
{via ZsaZsa Bellagio}
jump for joy!
{jump! via la maison boheme}

how cute!
{via the sweetest occasion}


Little girl halo
{cute little girl}
{me, as a tiny one with my sis & Mum}
{me, my sis & our little kitty}

very very busy week, but I had a fantastic time in New Orleans--more on that soon!
xo
L

Thursday 11 October 2012

{quotable thursdays}

gorgeous autumn from sweetest occasion
{gorgeous leaves, by the sweetest occasion}
"The falling leaves
Drift by the window
The autumn leaves 
All red and gold...
C'est une chanson qui nous ressemble,
Toi tu m'aimais, moi je t'aimais
Et nous vivions, tous deux ensemble,
Toi qui m'aimais, moi qui t'aimais.
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment,
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants désunis."
                                                                                    -Autumn Leaves/Les feuilles mortes

I love this song. One of my favourites to play on the piano...with autumn in the air...& my trip to New Orleans today, I thought a jazzy song about falling leaves was just the thing.
off I go...
leaves
{falling leaves...}

The Perfect Palette: {Fall Favorites}: These are a Few of My Favorite Fall Things! Part 2
{via the perfect palette}

packing
{bags packed...}
#travelcolorfully airplane
{off on the plane...}

more on New Orleans when I return...
xo,
L


Thursday 4 October 2012

{quotable thursdays}

Autumn
{via etsy}


Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.                 -George Eliot                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Happy autumn! & for my fellow Canadians, Happy Thanksgiving this weekend!!!

Autumn bird feeder
{via martha stewart}
gorgeous
{via Rosemary Milner}
shoes and tights
{autumn leaves via it's friday I'm in love}
pumpkin2
{toile pumpkins via reverie}
Whisky + chambray | Fall color palette from The Sweetest Occasion
{autumnal table via sweetest occasion}
Marcus Design: {hello september ...}
{autumn comforts, marcus design}

The Terrier and Lobster: "Full of Fall" by Han Jong Chule for Vogue Korea
{fall apples, via terrier & lobster}


xo
L

Monday 1 October 2012

{downton-inspired hair}


I love the hairstyles on Downton Abbey. I love the elegance & the way the hair is pulled up to show off the bone structure of a face.
Here are some Downton-inspired hairstyles...
ZsaZsa Bellagio: Très Magnifique!
{gorgeous via zsa zsa bellagio}
The Terrier and Lobster: "The Great Spring" by Hong Jang Hyun for Vogue Korea
{via terrier & lobster}
vintage
{via terrier & lobster}
love the hair
{huge fan of this hair via zsa zsa bellagio}
{My work version of the hair}
{me at Downton Abbey/Highclere castle in a subdued version of the hair}

love everything!
{via terrier & lobster}
The Terrier and Lobster: "Chic Encounter": Victoria & Wes on 40s Long Island by Arthur Elgort for Glamour UK
{via terrier & lobster}

I watched Upstairs, Downstairs last night on pbs. Equally charming are the hairstyles & clothing. I'm thinking this Hallowe'en might call for a Downton-inspired dress?
Happy Monday!
L