Beyond Words

I recently purchased something from Annie’s Blue Ribbon Store in Brooklyn (blueribbongeneralstore.com) and love that the store’s motto is “Selection of the Best Life Has to Offer.”  I also love that, with my order, came a postcard titled “Ten Essential Steps for Having a Blue Ribbon Day.”  I thought I’d share them with you:

1.  Follow your dreams and listen to your heart.
2. Appreciate your loved ones and show them you love them.
3. Be kind to strangers and smile!
4. Take risks and accept that life is not always about being comfortable.
5. Be present in your home, at your workplace, with your family, in your community.
6. Grow something (and enjoy nature!)
7. Make a child laugh.
8. Celebrate every day.
9. Take time to relax and unwind.
10. Discover someplace or something new.

I hope all of you have a Blue Ribbon Day!

I just got off the phone with my daughter Kristen who called to say she only has one more mid-term exam before she and her friends head off for Spring Break.  She is ecstatic and I’m ecstatic because I will see them all on Friday.  Ten of them are headed to South Padre Island thanks to Kristen’s most generous Godfather Lester, who is once again letting her and her friends enjoy some sun and surf for a week at his beachside condo.  They are driving to Austin on Friday and leaving bright and early Saturday morning.  I can’t wait to see them all, even if just for a brief moment.

It all takes me back to my days at OU and the Spring Break five of my girlfriends and I took to South Padre.  I don’t remember how we arranged for the rental house on the beach and am still amazed and grateful I could even afford it, but I do remember us piling into my friend Lynn’s dad’s long Cadillac and heading south.  Carlos and Charlie’s?  We were there.  Sunburnt and slept in?  We did both.

Now, I’m old and Kristen’s the one headed to the beach.  I’m on my Spring Break this week, and what exciting things am I doing?  Well, let’s see.  Today I did some returns and went to the grocery store.  I plan to do some organizing and painting this week, and I am going to get in some golf and hopefully a pedi.  Boy how times have changed!

It’s tough to let your “little ones” go, but go and grow they must.  Many have a hard time doing so and constantly hover over their kids.  These so-called “helicopter parents” take it upon themselves to do everything for their Suzy and Billy and put themselves smack dab in the middle of every aspect of their lives.  This is not a new phenomenon and many say “helicoptering” is at an epidemic stage.   A recent study to The University of Texas found that 40-60 percent of parents qualify as helicopter moms and dads, even into the fourth year of college!

This terrifying trend is not of benefit to anyone, with the following resulting:

• Kids grown up unable to make their own decisions or solve their own problems, and they also have inflated senses of themselves, are self-centered, frequently feel entitled, and are often immature and take longer to “grow up.”
• Employers are reporting that these kids are less equipped to hold their own in the workplace and many end up moving back in with mom and dad or relying on them financially…and not because of the economy!
• Moms and dads view their son or daughter as just another accomplishment in their lives, rather than people with their own thoughts and feelings.
• Parents who base their own self-worth on their kids’ accomplishments actually have worse mental health than those who base it on other factors.  They also have less joy and contentment in their lives.
• Over-parenting simply sucks the fun out of family life.

Why then, is helicopter parenting so prevalent?  Today’s competitive world of toddler athletic teams, high school grades, and college applications has somewhat lead parents, so afraid of their childrens’ failures, to take their kids’ lives into their own hands, leaving no room for them to fail and learn from those failures.  In addition, some studies show the guilt of working moms can push them into helicoptering whenever they have the chance, as does society’s distrust in school systems and media outlets.  It’s also a sad testament to society in that parents are often judged by how many school events they chair, how many teams they coach, and how many friends their children have.

It was not always easy for me to not hover, and it’s still hard.  Remember, Kristen is my one and only!  Just yesterday Smitty informed me we need Kristen’s W2 form from her summer job last year for tax purposes and to call the business and get it.  Yes, I could have, but I immediately told him it was her responsibility to do so, which I let her know in a text.  Do I talk to my daughter almost daily?  Yes, but at least half of the time she’s calling me!   I still use the “everybody but you” quote I’ve borrowed again and again from her cousin Michael whenever she pulls the “everybody is…” or “everybody has…” plea on me, and I am forever grateful that her elementary school did not allow parents to request teachers.  I firmly believe kids get the teacher they are supposed to get and besides, what if the teacher I requested didn’t work out?  I’d feel horrible.  If a certain teacher wasn’t her favorite, so be it.  I hope it made her stronger and better prepared for the real world.  I can’t request her college professors and she won’t be able to choose her future bosses!

It’s sad, because most overinvolved parents have good intentions but their preoccupation with every aspect of a child’s life is nothing but detrimental.  At some point, that child needs to be responsible for making sure he or she has all their equipment and clothing needed for an activity, they need to set their alarm and get themselves up in the morning, and they need to turn in their homework.   The older they get, the more they need to be responsible for.

So, is there a chance you are doing too much for you kiddos?  First of all, do you say “we” when talking about them?  “We” have practice tonight, “we” have a test tomorrow, “we” are applying to Vanderbilt?  If so, you probably need to reevaluate your involvement.   I’ve always liked the “Parenting with Love & Logic” book and formula of allowing your child to fail as long as it’s not a life or death situation.  If they insist on not wearing a coat and it’s cold outside, then don’t make them wear a coat.  They’ll learn to deterine when they need a coat on their own if they indeed get cold.  It will only take one freezing morning at the bus stop or car pool line to teach them!   Let them make “minor” decisions like what to wear to school when they’re little so they learn to feel confident in their decision making abilities then later, when decisions involve drugs, alcohol, or sex, they will have the tools to feel confident they can make the right choices.  Kristen has made some bad choices in her life, but I know in my heart of hearts that she learned from them and would never repeat them.  It’s okay to protect your children, but keep in mind sometimes they also need to fight their own battles and stand up for themselves, again, unless true danger is involved.

This is not to say parents don’t need to be involved.  Today’s adolescents have more alone time, are more isolated, and are more unsupervised than any generation before them.  In society after society, kids learn how to deal with life by watching the grown-ups in their lives but today, that generational connection is broken.  Kids now turn to their peers and, even worse, social media and TV, to get their doses of reality and morals.  It’s paramount for parents to stay involved in their kids’ schooling, activities, and friendships.  Drive them where they need to go, encourage their friends to hang out at your house (under supervision), and eat meals together at home.  Even The Mediterranean Diet that I recently wrote about encourages eating as a family…it’s not only smart, it’s healthy!

Most kids genuinely want parents in their lives.  They don’t want to disappoint us and want to make you proud.  We need to be firm but fair.  “Because I said so” just doesn’t fly anymore.  We also need to be good examples, as our kids learn how to handle things by how we handle things and by how we treat others.  Our kids, regardless of what they say or do, generally still want us to be there for them, to love them, and to guide them.  Kids need mentors and those who do are significantly less likely to engage in violent or risky behaviors.   They also want independence and they want your trust.

Trust is earned though and they need to learn that early on.  Start with baby steps.  The more trust your child earns, the more freedom you’ll give her.  Feeling like you have faith in them builds their confidence so, unless you have a specific reason for not trusting your child, experts generally say you shouldn’t snoop through their backpacks, purses, phones, or computers.  I know this is hard and I always say “go with your gut,” but if they discover you’ve done so and found nothing incriminating, your credibility could be significantly damaged.   Your kids will never open up to you if they think for one second you are judging them and they won’t come to you for help if they feel you don’t respect them.  Like trust, though, respect is earned.    Sometimes all you need to do is be there and listen.  Acknowledge what they say with an “I understand, but…” or “Good idea, but what if…” rather than deriding them.  Asking their opinion also goes a long way.  In the car is the perfect spot.  You drive.  They talk.

Think about this too:  your kids need to see that you have separate and interesting lives outside of your interaction with them.  This will allow them to not only develop their own interests and ideas, it will enable them to grow up without feeling guilty about leaving you behind with nothing but an empty bedroom and a shelf full of soccer and dance trophies.

Our focus as parents should be that our children are learning, are working hard, and are developing skills that will enable them to be valuable contributions to society.  Having fun is important too!  Teaching them to be responsible and compassionate people should be our goals, not that they make every team and every A.  As Michele Borba, author of “The Big Book of Parenting Solutions” says, “In 25 years will your kids be talking about how many miles of carpool you drove every day?”

I have not been a perfect mom; far from it.  But, I can honestly say Kristen grew up learning how to fend for herself.  Since elementary school she had a down-pat answer if someone asked about weak left side.  And, as much as many of you probably think I was instrumental in her being accepted to OU, I wasn’t, unless they counted me being an alum.  Nope, it was her grades and her tenacity.  Growing impatient and worried, she called the Dean of Admissions (without me knowing it!) and asked what it was going to take to get accepted.  Next thing I knew, she had an appointment with him and was on her way.  Is she perfect?  No way!  But, I’m happy to say she’s the perfect combination of grace and grit.  Now let’s hope both are evident on the beaches of South Padre!

I experienced a big dose of Texas this week and I definitely “felt the love.”  It was “Texas Day” (and basically “Texas Week”) in my preschool , which included everything from branding activities to a sing-along to a “chow down.”  What is it about the Lone Star State that is so adored and cherished by its natives?  Um, in a word, everything!

For those of you in parts elsewhere, Texans take their Texan-ness seriously!  I’ve known this for years, but it really struck me as we celebrated all things Texas with my little three-year-olds.  These youngins were taught everything from why the Texas flag looks like it does, what the state flower and tree are, and they all dressed like little Texans for Texas Day activities.  May I remind you that they are 3…well okay, some are 4???!!!!  It all coincides every year with Texas Independence Day, which is observed annually on March 2.  How do I know this?  Because Texans post it on their Facebook pages!  I’m serious!

As I taught my class that Texas is a state in the country called the U.S.A. and that its flag is also red, white and blue, I asked my co-worker Janet whether she remembers learning so much so young about Iowa, the state where she grew up.  Nope.  Growing up in New Mexico, I do remember having the state flower and flag on my bedroom wall at one point, but I don’t remember being particularly proud to be a New Mexican.  I had more pride in my hometown Santa Fe than I did of the state as a whole.   I was first and foremost Santa Fean, then a New Mexican.

I truly believe Texans stand tall and stand alone in their boundless level of state pride.  I’ve always found it interesting that, if a Texan is overseas and someone asks “where are you from,” a Texan will almost always say “Texas!”  On the other hand, someone from, say Delaware or Idaho will most likely say “the U.S.”    Sure, New Yorkers are proud, as are Coloradans and many from the south.  But, how often do you see someone sporting New York-shaped earrings, a Colorado-shaped necklace, or an Oregon-shaped tattoo?  In Texas it’s also not uncommon to see bumper stickers boasting “and on the 8^th day God created Texas” or “I wasn’t born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could.”

I know it’s all a little crazy, but I will somewhat enviously admit that those born and raised in Texas automatically have a sense of self-pride and self-worth that they take with them everywhere.  You can be the biggest loser or goober in many aspects, but the fact that you are a Texan gives you something to be very, very proud of.   My daughter has it and will never lose it, even living in Norman, Oklahoma!  It’s a birthright like no other birthright, short of perhaps royalty.   As they say, “American by birth, Texan by the grace of God.”

Texas officially became a republic On March 2, 1836 when the Texas Declaration of Independence was adopted.  With the document, settlers became independent from Mexico, creating the Republic of Texas.  Today, March 2 is an official state holiday and to this day, Texas is the only U.S. state to have previously been its own independent sovereign nation, something native Texans love to boast about.   April 21 is also cause for annual celebrations in Texas, as San Jacinto Day is commemorated with popular reenactments of the Battle of San Jacinto, the final battle of the Texas Revolution and where Texas officially won its independence from Mexico.  The San Jacinto Monument, located near Houston, is the world’s tallest monumental column at 570 feet tall; even taller than the Washington Monument’s 555 feet.

Texas was eventually annexed by the United States and ultimately became a state on December 29, 1845, but December 29 is not an official state holiday, although the date significantly impacted our entire nation.   By inheriting Texas’ border dispute with Mexico, the U.S. battled the Mexican-American War and captured additional territory that extending our nation’s borders all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

There’s no arguing that Texans love their Texas, and from the looks of recent headlines, apparently the rest of the country is in love with the Lone Star State too.  For the third year a row, Forbes magazine has declared Austin the fastest growing city in America, while Site Selection magazine just recently reported that Texas leads the country in business relocations and expansions.  The 2011 Census also proves this, with Texas having 3 of the 10 largest cities in the nation.  Houston comes in at #4, San Antonio is 7, and Dallas (only Dallas, the ranking doesn’t even include Ft. Worth) ranks #9.  Amazingly, Austin is ranked 13, higher than San Francisco; while El Paso’s 19^th ranking puts it above celebrated cities like Boston, Seattle, and Denver.

Texas is a great place to live.  The cost of living is somewhat low, the food (bar-b-cue, steaks, Tex-Mex, etc.) is great, the music is fabulous, there is no state income tax, high school football is a religion, and the people are friendly.  Signs on Texas highways even encourage drivers to “Drive Friendly.”  As someone who has lived in Austin for 27 years though, I’d love the gates at the edges of the city to close.  With all its growth, Austin has lost much of the charm that made it famous, even somewhat infamous.  It’s still a nice place to live, but it’s now very crowded and commercialized.

I do love Texas (although I’ll never even like those Texas Longhorns!) and I am proud of my little native Texan daughter.  She may not have been Sooner born, but she was Sooner bred with a whole lot of Texas mixed in!   Yeehaw!

Surprising and Fun Facts About Texas:

Beaumont is closer (770 miles) to Chicago then it is to El Paso (742 miles).

El Paso is closer to California than it is to Dallas.

King Ranch in South Texas is larger than the state of Rhode Island.

D/FW Airport encompasses more area than the island of Manhattan.

The dome on the state capitol building in Austin is 302.64 feet high, making it approximately 14 feet taller than the national capitol in Washington, D.C.

The first word spoken from the moon was “Houston.”

The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman, Rice University’s first full-time coach.

Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America.

Volvo Trumps Rivals in Safety Test

Are you in the market for an extremely safe car that’s not as expensive as you might think?  Then look no further than the 2013 Volvo S60, which was recently the only European luxury car to win a top rating in a study by The Insurance Institute Highway Safety.  Structurally the Volvo performed best in incidents replicating the vehicle colliding with another vehicle or a large object.  While the Volvo S60, the Swedish company’s mid-size sedan, earned the Institute’s “Top Safety Pick” award, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS 250/350, Audi A4, and Lexus ES 350 all earned the lowest rating available.  Shocking yes.  Starling, maybe even more so.

I will qualify all this gushing over an auto industry study by admitting I am a big fan of Volvos.  Our family has owned seven of them and Kristen’s little S40 has literally saved her life on two occasions.  What may surprise many of you is the price of a Volvo, which is often times much less than several of the above-mentioned cars that scored considerably lower in the safety test.  Pre-owned is a smart route to consider, one that we’ve taken several times, as Volvo’s hold up so well over the years and their warranties are very competitive.

Shopping for a smart, new, safe and good-looking car?  Think about the 2013 Volvo S60.  Questions?  Ask The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

I always knew I loved those fun-loving and crazy Spaniards and Italians and now, thanks to a new study, it’s apparent our hearts love them too!  The findings, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that nearly 30 percent of heart attacks, strokes and even deaths of high-risk people could be prevented if they eat like those who commonly live along the Mediterranean Sea. Sounds good to me…literally!

The Spanish study reports that a diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with optional red wine, can reduce the risk of heart disease…even more so than a traditional low-fat diet.  The results were so overwhelming that even those conducting it and other experts were themselves amazed.  This heart-healthy option reportedly may lower the level of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is the “bad” cholesterol that can clog up your arteries.  So, oil and nuts, is that really the secret?

Nope, there’s more to it than just that.  The Mediterranean Diet, as it’s being dubbed, incorporates standard healthy items but they are prepared in the traditional style found in cities and towns all over Spain, Italy, Greece and other neighboring locales.   The plan consists of lots of fruits and vegetables and pasta and rice…whole grain pasta and rice.

In short, the Mediterranean Diet includes:

Eating primarily “plant-based” foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts

Eating red meat no more than a few times a month

Eating fish and poultry at least twice a month

Replacing butter with olive and/or canola oil

Flavoring food with natural herbs and spices rather than salt

Drinking red wine in moderation if desired

Avoiding processed foods

Getting plenty of exercise

The diet also encourages the eating and enjoyment of eating meals with family and friends in a leisurely, relaxed manner.   What a concept America!

It’s also important to note that, although exercise is encouraged, the Mediterranean Diet isn’t intended to be a weight loss answer.  But, anytime you remove process foods and the likes from your diet, you very well could see the pounds come off.

As with any nutritional diet, everything is done in moderation.  Nuts are high in calories so no more than a handful a day is suggested, and avoid candied, honey-roasted, or heavily salted varieties.  In addition, bread may be a staple on Mediterranean tables, but it is served with olive oil and herbs, not butter or margarines.  In addition, if you’re going to add nuts to a now “no nut” diet, you need to take something out of your diet to make up for the extra calories you’ll be adding to your salads, snacks, and yogurts with the nuts.   When you do eat red meat, choose the leanest cut you can.  A New York Strip is probably healthier than a Rib-eye and meats from pasture-raised natural fed cows will be leaner than those from corn-fed cows.  Keep in mind that the only animals that are naturally “fatty” are whales, seals, and salmon.  I love me some salmon but I don’t think whale or seal is on anyone’s “to eat” list, much less mine!

All of this supports much of what the American Heart Association has long trumped and the study’s results have been reported on WebMD, the Mayo Clinic’s website, and various national news organizations.   Still, there are skeptics.  Dr. Dean Ornish says that after he carefully read the report he concluded that “a significant reduction in stroke in those consuming a Mediterranean diet high in omega-3 fatty acids when compared to those who were not making significant changes in their diet,”  occurred, leaving the low-fat vs. Mediterranean argument up for grabs.  Simply change your current eating habits to more healthy ones and, one would assume, your chances of having a heart attack or stroke lessen.

I figure it’s worth a shot though, and since I’m definitely a “systematic make a list and cross it off” kinda gal, following the Spanish, Italian and Greek “do’s and don’ts” makes sense to me.  When in Rome, or even Texas, do like the Romans, right?  Cin cin!

Sharing this from my friend Mary’s FB page.  It’s just too funny to pass up and I hope it makes your Friday funny!

I had planned for the subject of this blog to consist of my favorite and least favorite Academy Awards Red Carpet gowns from Monday night, but since none of the dresses really wowed me, I’m doing a full 360.  I’m not writing more about diamonds and designers, but rather on the true meaning of beauty.

How, you might ask, can the same woman who wrote about loving glamour and glitz really be sincere about appreciating more what’s on the inside than what’s on the outside?  Well, for starters, that woman, me, has always loved clothes but my fashion role models tend to be those who I, perhaps hopelessly, believe are as pretty on the inside as they are on the outside:  Princess Di, Audrey Hepburn, Queen Latifah, Sela Ward, Angie Harmon, and Robin Roberts, just to name a few.  Yes, I think Angelina Jolie and Beyonce are gorgeous, but I’m not sold on their genuineness and I don’t really like their style.  Jennifer Aniston has, in my opinion, impeccable style but can seem a bit flakey.  On the otherhand, I think Helen Mirren is stunning and is a fashion inspiration to all, young or old.

So, what or who do you regard as the epitome of beauty?  Blonde?  Brunette?  Tall?  Thin? Foreign?  Smart?  Funny?  None of the above?  All of the above?  Is someone beautiful because they’ve had “work done” to make them beautiful?  Would you consider Adele even prettier if she was thinner?  (I think she is prettier than many a thin woman!)  All good questions.  As for me, I think many of my co-workers like Ana, Melissa, and Rosemary are beautiful.  I consider Mother Teresa beautiful, as well as my mom and my husband’s Aunt Teresa.  Are any of them filthy rich and fabulously famous, forever thin and always glamorous?  No, they are simply beautiful inside and out.  Maybe Audrey Hepburn said it best:

I agree.  A pretty face doesn’t mean a pretty heart and an ugly personality can instantly destroy a pretty face.  I’ve known many a gorgeous woman who are unfriendly or arrogant and guess what, they are not half as pretty as those whose faces light up and whose personalities light up a room.  Take Halle Barry for instance.  Gorgeous, yes, but her eyes don’t project true joy.  She always appears a little sad to me.

Still, as long as you’re famous you are sometimes considered prettier than if you weren’t famous.  Meryl Streep comes to mind.  In some cases, like say with Jessica Alba, your God-given beauty makes you more famous than your so-called talents.  Still others become rich and famous regardless of their morals or values.  I immediately think of Kim Kardashian, who I think is drop-dead gorgeous but who I don’t believe deserves the fame and wealth she’s been awarded thanks mainly to a pornographic sex tape.

This is the society we live in though, and sadly it’s a society my college-aged daughter and your elementary, middle, and high-school aged daughters are exposed to on a daily basis.  Your sons are also witnesses to it all, which is equally alarming.  It’s nothing new however, even the legendary Marilyn Monroe had it figured out way back when.

I also like what designer Alexander Wang said, “Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”  Indeed Mr. Wang, indeed.

In my days off you’ll find me in yoga pants, TOMS, and wearing little or no make-up.  I love those days!  But, I also think it’s important to clean up and dress up.  How you feel externally can often dictate how you feel internally.  Overweight or a size 2, 5’2″ or 5’10”, when one puts on something pretty they feel pretty.

And then there’s the Bible, the most trusted source of right and wrong.    1 Peter 3:3 says, “It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry or fine clothes that should make you beautiful.  No, your beauty should come from within you – the beauty of a quiet spirit.  This beauty will never disappear and it is worth very much to God.”

I live to impress God, but am also guilty of guilty pleasure purchases bearing some logo or representing some trend and I have way too many shoes!   But, I love my Target sweat pants as much as I love my Tods loafers.   I also love the saying “always wear your invisible crown,” but maybe in hindsight I like this one even better:

Harry Winston!  What?  Harry’s not an actor or director and he sure hasn’t written a screenplay.  Nope, you’re right, he hasn’t, but what Mr. Winston has done is produce some of the most memorable Academy Awards moments ever.  You see, Harry Winston is “jeweler to the stars” and we are all sure to see many of his dazzling works of art during tonight’s telecast.

I have long been a big movie fan, but in recent years I have been disappointed in Hollywood’s lack of imagination, diversity, and creativity.  It seems Hollywood has run out of new ideas and it definitely has become way too political.  Shut up and act, please.  Still, I saw “Argo” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” loved them both, and will be watching Red Carpet arrivals today and into the night.  Even though I may not love or admire those involved, I enjoy and appreciate a serious dose of glamour and fashion.

So, instead of today’s blog being on who I want to win the Oscar or who should win the Oscar, I’m writing about those beautiful jewels you’ll see on everyone from Jennifer Lawrence to Jennifer Lopez.  I’m devoting my blog to Harry Winston and Tiffany and must admit I got the idea watching one of my favorite TV shows today, CBS’s “Sunday Morning.”  I adore that show and this morning it included a feature on Harry Winston Jewelers, which I found fascinating.

So, just who is Harry Winston?  Actually, Harry Winston died in 1978, but his legend lives on.  Winston’s dad started a small jewelry business after he and Harry’s mom moved to the U.S. from Ukraine.  Young Harry worked in his dad’s store and supposedly bought a two-carat emerald stone in a pawn shop for 25 cents and sold it two days later for $800.  He was well on his way.  After acquiring and redesigning many a famous jewel, Winston opened the doors to his now famous New York City Store in 1932.  Since then, he has held or owned more of the world’s famous jewels than anyone, with the exception of those of the British crown.

It’s only appropriate that Hollywood was extremely instrumental in creating the Harry Winston legend, as he revolutionized the annual Red Carpet spectacle when he loaned Best Actress winner Jennifer Jones some of his famous stones for the 1943 Oscars.  In 1953’s “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” movie, Marilyn Monroe – decked out in that famous hot pink taffeta dress and dripping in diamonds – sings “Talk to me Harry Winston, tell me all about it” in her signature song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.”  Halle Barry and Gwynneth Paltrow were both wearing Winstons when they won their Oscars.  Literally, and I mean literally, Harry Winston is everywhere, as was demonstrated in 2008, when Lauren Weisberger’s chick-lit book “Chasing Harry Winston” became a bestseller.

Harry Winston is even somewhat connected to the top-grossing and Oscar winning “Titanic.”  As you may remember, the “Heart of the Ocean” fictional blue diamond is featured prominently in the film.  For the 1998 Academy Awards, Winston incorporated a 15-carat blue diamond into a $20 million necklace worn by nominee Gloria Stuart, who played Rose in the movie.

Two other Hollywood heavyweights, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, also helped put Harry Winston on the movie star map with their Taylor-Burton diamond.  Weighing a whopping 241 carats when discovered in South Africa in 1966, the stone was purchased by actor Richard Burton for his wife Elizabeth Taylor in 1969.  Winston created a 69.42 pear-shaped necklace out of it, which Taylor wore to the 1970 Oscars.   It had been previously purchased by Cartier’s Robert Kenmore for a then record $1,050,000, making it the first ever million-dollar diamond.  Burton is said to have purchased it for $1.1 million and following the couple’s infamous divorce, Taylor auctioned it off in 1978 for $5 million and used the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana.  Its estimated value today is unknown…or maybe just incalculable!

Winston is perhaps most famous, however, for the legendary Hope Diamond.  The blue, 45.52 carat stone was acquired by Winston in 1949.  It was reportedly previously owned by none other than Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette.  Winston donated it to the Smithsonian Institute – sending it in the U.S. Mail! – and today it is the most visited exhibit at the Washington, D.C. museum.

So that’s Harry Winston.  What about his NYC neighbor Tiffany, another star favorite?   Tiffany is considered America’s first great jeweler and its flagship Fifth Avenue store is not only a place to buy all things beautiful, but a tourist attraction too.

My daughter at Tiffany on Fifth Avenue

Celebrating its 175^th anniversary last year, Tiffany is also closely connected to Hollywood.  Who doesn’t associate Audrey Hepburn/Holly Golightly with the NYC Art Deco building and sought-after jeweler?  In fact, the store’s main floor has played a pivotal role in, yes, the 1961 “Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but also 1993’s “Sleepless in Seattle” starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, and Reese Witherspoon’s charming “Sweet Home Alabama” in 2002.  But, it wasn’t diamonds or emeralds that put Tiffany on the map, but rather, silver.

Charles Lewis Tiffany and John Young opened a stationery and home goods store in 1837 in New York City.  They called it “Tiffany & Co.” and later earned international recognition when they won the grand prize for silver craftsmanship at the 1867 Paris World Fair.  It was the first time Americans had done so, resulting in the Tiffany & Co. Silver Studio, America’s first ever school of design.

In 1878 the company acquired one of the world’s largest diamonds and has never looked back.  Named the “Tiffany Diamond,” it was originally cut from 287.42 carats into 128.54 carats.  While promoting her famous film, Audrey Hepburn wore the priceless gem often.  In honor of Tiffany’s 175^th anniversary, the diamond was reset and now holds a permanent place of honor on the main floor of the Fifth Avenue store.

Equally famous is the “Tiffany Setting,” considered by many as the standard in engagement rings.  Introduced by Tiffany in 1886, it was designed to lift the stone off the band to highlight it in a way the then popular bezel settings did not.  Today, it is perhaps the most sought after symbol of love the world over.

Historically, no jeweler ranks above Tiffany.  Vanderbilts and Astors wore Tiffany.  Abraham Lincoln bought his wife Mary Todd a Tiffany pearl necklace and FDR bought a Tiffany engagement ring in 1904.  In addition, ceremonial swords for Civil War generals were commissioned from Tiffany, as was the 1885 redesign of the Great Seal of the United States, which appears on the $1 bill.  Congressional Medals of Honor are still today created by Tiffany as is the NFL’s Vince Lombardi Trophy, presented each year to the Super Bowl winning team.  Even artist Pablo Picasso’s daughter Paloma is part of it all, currently serving as one of Tiffany’s most celebrated jewelry designers.

And last, but certainly not least, what about that beloved “Tiffany Blue?”  The color was originally selected by founder Charles Lewis Tiffany for the cover of the famous annual “Blue Book.”  Originally published in 1845, the book was the first ever catalog per se and included the store’s annual collection of silver and gems.  Today, every Tiffany purchase comes in a signature blue box and “Tiffany Blue” and “Tiffany Blue Box” are actually trademarked by the company.

So there you have it.  A little history on the gems you may see on tonight’s Academy Awards (also trademarked!) ceremony.  I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes about diamonds:  “Should we get you a diamond?” Big asks Carrie Bradshaw, to which Carrie replies,  “no, just buy me a really big closet!”   Tomorrow, I’ll discuss something right up Carrie’s West Village alley:  Oscar fashion.  Oh what fun!

Whiskey River take my mind
Don’t let her mem’re torture me
Whiskey River don’t run dry
You’re all I’ve got, take care of me

Words from Willie Nelson’s famous rendition of “Whiskey River.”  We’ve all heard the song and we all love it.  Many of you may also love whiskey, but do you really know what whiskey is?  I didn’t, but after a fun and informative “Whiskey and Cheese” class in New York City recently, I’m a little bit more, shall we say, whiskey wise.

My girlfriends and I weren’t sure what I signed them up for with the class, but it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.  It was set up much like a wine tasting, with several glasses of whiskey positioned in front of us along with perfectly paired cheeses.  The class was held at Murray’s Cheese in the West Village and was brilliantly led by Jon Lundbom and Jordan Zimmerman, a whiskey and cheese connoisseur, respectively.

The whiskeys we sampled were:

Hudson New York Corn Whiskey – which is surprisingly clear and looked more like vodka than whiskey.  It is a true American spirit distilled one batch at a time, is soft to the taste, and no sugar is added.

Glenmorangie The Original – floral and fruity Scottish barley-based Scotch

Weller Special Reserve – wheated and very smooth Bourbon and my personal favorite

Whistle Pig Rye Whiskey – straight rye 100 proof whiskey hand bottled on a former dairy farm in Vermont.  This dark amber drink is big flavored with a vanilla and caramel touch that is creamy and “huge.”

Burichladdich Rocks – single malt rye Scotch considered “challenging” by many but respected the world over.

Elijah Craig 12-Year – straight Kentucky bourbon whiskey considered the “Father of Bourbon.”  Firm, malty with a long, smoky vanilla finish.

When one thinks of “whiskey,” one probably doesn’t think of southern-style Bourbon or the oh-so refined Scotch.  But, when truth be told, they are both whiskeys!  So, what’s the difference between them and single and double malt?  Wheat or rye?  Barley or corn?  Whiskey or Whisky?  So many questions; so much to learn.

It can all get very confusing, but Jon was very good at making it somewhat simple.  In a nutshell, whiskey is a term for a type of alcoholic spirit distilled from a mash of fermented grains.  (Our class was actually cleverly named “Do the Mash,” which at first reading I thought was maybe a typo!)  Corn, rye, and barley are all involved and guess what, moonshine is a form of corn whiskey!  Scotch, Rye, and Bourbon all fall into the whiskey category and the production of each one is very regimented and in some cases, historical.   In fact, the manufacture of each of these is regulated by the government of their country of origin.   Don’t mess with whiskey!

Flavor-wise, the various types of whiskey differ because of many things.  Scotch is often considered more on the sweet side, Bourbon almost always tastes smoky, and Rye is frequently described as spicy.  Jon also informed us that if you see “glen” in the name of a Scottish whisky, it will probably be smooth and sweet.

Which brings me to, what is it, “whiskey” or “whisky.”  It all depends on where the stuff came from and sometimes even where you’re buying it.  In the U.S. and Ireland, it’s “whiskey,” but in Scotland, Canada and Japan, it’s “whisky.”  Don’t ask, just go with it.

As with everything there are exceptions.  Bourbon is a “whiskey” because it’s from the U.S., although Maker’s Mark spells its name “whisky” because it uses a process similar to that of Scotch.  Bourbon, however, must be aged in new white oak barrels that have never been used before.  Surprisingly, Jon told us that many of the used barrels are often sent to the Caribbean to be used in the manufacturing of Rum!  So, you might ask then, why is Jack Daniels not considered Bourbon?  Because it’s filtered through maple wood charcoal before being aged in oak barrels, which is an extra step that isn’t included in making Bourbon.  Jack’s friend Jim Beam, on the other hand, is true Bourbon.

Totally confused yet?  Try learning all of this while drinking them!  When all else fails, simply remember this:

Scotch is barley based and from Scotland
Rye is rye based and from the U.S.
Bourbon is corn based and from the U.S.
Irish is barley based and from Ireland                                                                                                                                                                                                 Moonshine is Whiskey (okay, maybe this one isn’t so important to remember!)

Bourbon is actually the United States’ only true native spirit, while Scotch is a distinctive product of Scotland.  “Irish whiskey” is whiskey that is produced and manufactured in either the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland, and “Canadian whisky” is a product of Canada.

Now let’s look at single malt and blended whiskey.  Single malts are usually produced by blending whiskies from different barrels produced within a single distillery while “blends” are typically a mix of malt and grain whiskeys, though there are exceptions.

On top of that, there are two definitions of “blend” when talking whiskeys:   a mixture of two or more whiskeys bottled and sold as one whiskey, and a blended whiskey product that contains a mix of barrel-aged malt and grain whiskeys.  Keep in mind that just because a certain whiskey is labeled “single malt” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the product of a single batch or barrel.  In fact, most single malts are blends in that they’re a mixture of several whiskeys.  Bottom line:  a “single malt whiskey” is not the product of a single batch or a single barrel, but of a single distillery.

Many people also believe that a single-malt Scotch is not a blended whisky, but it is. Single-malt scotch is indeed a blend, but it’s a very specific type of blend.   Take for instance the wonderful single-malt Lagavulin Scotch.  It contains whiskys from many barrels but they are all whiskys produced at the company’s famous distillery.  Truth be told, nearly all whiskeys on the market today – bourbons, ryes, scotches, etc. – are blends.

Looking back on what I’ve written, I hope I got all this straight.  I may have taken a whiskey class but am by no means a “whiskey sommelier.”  If any of you whiskey drinkers out there read this and find some errors, please let me know!  There’s a lot to remember, but as Mark Twain once said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”