Ballet Beautiful

~Mary Helen Bowers~

Creator of Ballet Beautiful ~ a very smart concept in exercise, specifically using ballet forms within an exercise format. Recently in the news for having perfected Natalie Portman's technique for her character in  Black Swan, she has come up with the idea of portable exercise. You become a member and for a very low price and that allows you access to her workouts on your computer, iphone, ipad, etc.  What a great idea!

Just look at her! The balance of strength and artistry as one publication wrote.

Some pretty amazing barre work here! Remember your terms? Pull up, back straight, shoulders down, pelvis under..remember the episode where Lucille Ball tries her hand at this...all the while her instructor tapping at her with a baton. Now first position, demi plie, releve...turn out...turn out...turn out...remember those instructors?? Rozanne Zimmerman anyone??

She danced with the New York City ballet for 10 years beginning at the age of 16. Then Mary Helen went on to get a degree in English Lit from Columbia University before striking out on this endeavour.

Speechless....

You can check out Ballet Beautiful out on the web. Sign up and take some classes to stay in tip top shape. We are always drawn to this graceful form, it has been a lifelong passion and cherished memories of seeing the last season of Dame Margo Fontayn and Rudolf Nureyev dance for the Royal Ballet or the American Ballet Theatre, last summer The Kirov from St. Petersburg...then the Turning Point and Baryshnikov...remember that movie?? If you haven't ~ rent it. The dance is beyond....in it. We're going to shake out our old leotards and get ready to brush up on some techniques...our bodies won't know what hit them!!! Please join us.

all photos from Ballet Beautiful

St Patrick's Day

We come by our Irish ancestory honestly. One part of our family descending from the Northern parts of Ireland~specifically County Fermanagh. When our mom told us stories about her childhood...about family get togethers...watching older family members dancing the jig...and of the stature of her grandfather who was born in Ireland...her eyes danced with the memory. We think of her today...her love of all things Irish...the rich heritage that molded one segment of our family tree.

St Patrick's day began as a religious Catholic observance...it still is, however as with other religious holidays there is an element of whimsy attached and such is with this celebration too. We think of corned beef and cabbage, soda bread and Irish butter, the shramrock, wearing green, green Irish beer and whiskey, parades and frivolty. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

La Fheile Padraig Sona Duit!

Pardon me for a moment...a little business for the family members who read here...you know who you are! 

As our mom remebered her grandfather's imprint on her life to us, so we remember ours as well. He is pictured with his rather large family above. (his father pictured above- our mom to the left) He was a man unlike many we have ever met. Strong, noble, on the quiet side, intelligent, and very handsome....he farmed, served on the school board and raised some pretty amazing kids who gained a bit of notoriety in their time. We did not  know him long...but the little we did still remains as an influence today. His life was more than the luck of the Irish!

Health in a Bowl

One of our favorite breakfast selections at Corner Bakery is their Swiss Oatmeal. After a satisfying bowl,   we don't feel bogged down, our mind is clear and most importantly we feel like we have consumed good, clean-food. Here is our copycat recipe:

For 2 servings

1 6 ounce container fat free vanilla yogurt (we used Cascade Farms fruit sweetened). 

1/2 cup quick cook Irish Oats

1/2 cup soy milk, plus extra to use before serving

1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract

2 tablespoons dried currants (or you could chop up raisins)

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds

2 tablespoons chopped green apple skin-on

2 tablespoons chopped banana

(you can make this what you want-we just stuck to the original CB recipe)

The night before:

In a medium bowl, add the vanilla yogurt, vanilla, dried currants, and 1/2 cup soy milk. Stir to combine - then add the oatmeal. Stir again, cover w/plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight. 

Before serving the next day add a couple of tablespoons soy milk to the oatmeal mixture and stir. It should look like thick pudding. Add the cranberries, banana, and apple. Mix in.

Place in 2 serving bowls. Top with toasted almonds. You may want to garnish as we did in the photo below. We like the natural sweetness of the fruit, but you may want to drizzle some honey on top if you like a lot of sweet. This recipe is served cold-uncooked.

You know we are crazy about taking the best care of ourselves that we can. We mix it up a little on the weekends, but we can afford to because our normal regime observes a healthy lifestyle.

Live a life that is well spent! Not tomorrow...today? Why not! Take care of your beautiful self!

This Swiss oatmeal is loosely based on Muesli, the popular European breakfast cereal. It's raw and chock full of whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits. The originator was a Swiss physician, Maximilian Bircher-Benner in 1900. He created it for his ailing patients with great success. Sound familiar? That's how our breakfast cereals came into being too. We've veered a little away from that concept though here in America. Muesli and Swiss oatmeal are full of complex carbs, fiber, fresh or dried fruit, yogurt/dairy, seeds and nuts, all having heart healthy benefits. It's a choice, your choice, choose wisely, eat wisely, my loves.

Spring..moving forward

New surroundings...spring tingling in our thoughts...buds bursting on trees...flowers poking through the warming soil...sprigs of green everywhere...birds singing a happy song...open your windows...let the soft cool breezes wash away the winter...be alive with newness...time to freshen...to renew...check out the options at Anthropologie. You can view their new catalog online at www.anthropologie.com.

Raw and refined

click on pictures to enlarge them

Home is most precious...where we surround ourselves with all that is good in this world..love, laughter, romance, peace like a warmth that encircles us when we walk through our door. We dress our homes, tweak them, dream about their possibilities, but whether rich or poor there are always options...just because we care enough to see beyond today...we always will.

all images from Anthropologie

AGOURA ANTIQUES

Agoura Hills, the gateway to Malibu, has a row of "charm fairy" antique stores. To say many of them exude imagination and creativity is an understatement. We found ourselves asking the question, "how do they think up this stuff?" Sitting right off the 101 in the Whizin Center you simply must go by if you are in the area.

picture from a beautiful mess

One of our BeckwithRoad readers was so taken with the establishment, "A Beautiful Mess" that she simply could not leave without a purchase or two even though her vehicle was brimming with weekend purchases from here and there!"

picture from a beautiful mess

One of the unusual chandeliers we saw at "A Beautiful Mess". It is an aged garden fence rolled into a cylinder and outfitted with a vintage-style Edison bulb. This well merchandised store is the most talented  Kymberley Fraser's concept. You may remember she was among, if not the first to design creations from vintage and antique grain sacks. Many other talented women are showcased in her store, among them: Karen Chambers, Marilyn Thompson, Victoria Stoehr, Leah Cox, Tina O'Flaherty and the Junk Girls. Their tag line is, "Where antiques, design and oddities meet pure and simple elegance." Well said!

You can read more about them on their website, abeautifulmessantiques.blogspot.com.

You may have seen the articles in the NY Times or Romantic Homes that featured this store. One item that caught our eye in the window was the brass fluted part of a gramophone outfitted with an Edison bulb and hung as a chandelier.

We loved the color and patina of this piece.

We remember having a bike just like this one...well it was in better condition... that is until it was not being used anymore and then it was stored behind the barn... it was very similar...too bad someone carted it off to the trash. They just didn't see the beauty in rusty objects! We saw things a little differently then. There are some industrial pieces in these stores that are eye-popping amazing, you know things you've seen twirling around on top of a building and now being used as lighting? A metal basket that used to be standard farm equipment is now turned upside down radiating light as a chandelier. You really must come visit then tell us what you think.

You can see how far down the stores go. Oriental rug for ambience on the sidewalk anyone?

An interesting collection...did you see the picture recently of the galvanized wash tub like this one pictured here mounted as a laundry room sink?...what a smashing look for just the right home.

To visit, take the 101 north or south depending on where you live to Agoura Hills, CA. Exit Kanan Road. Make a slight left on Roadside Drive. You will find the antique stores behind Wood Ranch Restaurant. Happy antique hunting!

Ralph's California Collection

Ralph Lauren's artistic genius for capturing the essence of a geographical area, its people and the type of lifestyle elements he visualizes are a never ending fantasy of creations.  His current home collection focuses on Santa Barbara. When we think of SB our minds conjure up images of easy living...a sense of rich history...gardening....wineries...Spanish Haciendas..surrounded by loveliness and the sound of crashing waves on the beach.

We could see ourselves living here!

The agey hued walls speak to eras past..but we want to live in it now!

How smart is this?

Dinner on the terrace anyone?

Details...

This is Santa Barbara at it's finest, laid back but dripping in goodness.

The craftsmanship is art in itself!

Click on this photo and look at the finish work on the edge of the seat, and the nailhead trim...simple yet it makes a solid statement!

This book caught our eye...amazing...perfect book to flip through while lounging on a Sunday afternoon. You can read about it on Ralph Lauren.com

all photos from Ralph Lauren

Jane Eyre

Aproximately 24 adaptations or so later along comes this current, 2011 version of "Jane Eyre"~one of our all time favorite movies! Charlotte Bronte, one of the 3 Bronte sisters of English literature fame wrote Jane Eyre. To date our favorite rendition is acted by Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds...they were amazing! So our fingers are crossed and hoping for equally stellar performances for this new version.

Mia Wasikouska and Michael Fassbender star in this Focus Film feature that is directed by Cary Fukunagas.

Haunting and enchanting! 

Jane as a young girl

There are some bumps in the road along the way!

We love british actress Sally Hawkins

who's perfectly cast along with Dame Judi Dench.

Counting the days, the hours, the minutes.....

The scenery is riveting...we'll be there just as soon as this film opens in our area. March 11, 2011 can't come soon enough!