DREAMING OF....CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR WITH A CELEBRITY COCKTAIL!

If that certain celebrity couldn't make it to your New Year's celebration (being either busy or dead), you can at least have a libation created in their honor!

The Mary Pickford

2 oz. of gold run (Cuban-style if you have it)
1 oz fresh pineapple juice
dash grenadine
dash maraschino liqueur

Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve.

This cocktail is quite like Little Mary - deceptively sweet with a real spike.

The Douglas Fairbanks

2 oz. of gin
1 oz. apricot brandy
3/4 oz. of lime juice
1/2 oz. of egg white

Shake with ice and strain into a flute (not the musical kind, please). Sounds as light and delightful as Doug!

The Greta Garbo

4 drops of Pernod
1 1/2 oz. white rum
1 teaspoon maraschino liqueur
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a red-stemmed cherry. Like it's namesake, this drink is complex, mysterious and may just make you feel as though you want to be alone.

The Charlie Chaplin

1 oz. apricot brandy
1 oz. sloe gin
1 oz. fresh lime juice
Lime peel for garnish

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lime peel. You might need a cane after this one!

The Jean Harlow

2 oz. light rum

2 oz. sweet vermouth

Lemon peel for garnish

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel.  A drink that is as elegant and sexy as Jean, herself!

The "Blood and Sand" - 

named for Rudolph Valentino

1 oz. Scotch Whiskey
1 oz. Cherry Heering liqueur
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. sweet vermouth

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with orange peel. This is sure to out you in a smoldering mood!

The Ginger Rogers

8 to 12 mint leaves
1/2 oz. ginger syrup
1 1/2 oz. gin
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Ginger ale

Put the mint in a Collins glass, cover with the syrup and muddle lightly until the mint begins to release its aroma. fill the glass with ice and add the gin and lime juice. Top with ginger ale. Using a bar spoon, stir the drink from the bottom up to mix. Garnish with a lime wedge. Shall we dance?

The Mae West

Mae in her own words always says it better than anyone else!

The Bradshaw - Named for Carrie Bradshaw 

of "Sex in the City" fame

One things these ladies know how to do is celebrate!

and, for the designated driver, 

the Shirley Temple

1/4 cup of lemon-lime carbonated beverage
1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine syrup
1 maraschino cherry

In a highball glass, over ice, combine soda and grenadine syrup. Garnish with maraschino cherry. Umbrella optional. As sweet and safe as little Shirley.

Wishing all a safe and healthy New Year!

DREAMING OF...THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER

Isn't this just the most perfect Christmas movie? It has it all - great cast, great story, great direction and charm to spare. However, I must admit that there is one aspect of the film that  repeatedly tiptoes into my dreams...

And that is that Jimmy Stewart is impossibly adorable and romantic here.

Now, Margaret Sullavan is pretty adorable herself (I just love her voice). But, if I were Klara, I would have snagged Jimmy on day one. one of that cat and mouse stuff for me.

If that didn't work, I would have been more than thrilled to have an impromptu Viennese dinner with him and would NOT have sat with my back to him!

I would have totally dressed for the occasion when he visited me in my sick bed (I'm thinking Harlow here, girls).

And I would NOT have even thought of getting him that music box as a gift!

But, thanks to Ernst Lubitsch, alls well that ends well. Klara finally gets her man.

But, in my dreams, this is how it would have started, not ended!

Merry Christmas and may all the stars, both movie and otherwise, shine brightly for you this season!

Dreaming of...Scarlett O'Hara's Closet!

Okay, I know all the character blemishes of Scarlett O'Hara, but still I admire the feisty little spitfire. Sure she can be a bit of a selfish bitch, but she certainly knew how to keep going in the face of adversity (and usually look damn good while doing so). Most of all, I really admire her closet. This gal (courtesy of Walter Plunkett) really knows how to dress!

A few of my favorites from Scarlett's walk-in:

White and virginal - I could pull it off (maybe....)

I'd have to be careful of the BBQ sauce

So fetching - how could anyone resist me?

I would be very comfy in this dressing gown - 
good for being carried up the stairs, too

This hat is from the back of the closet and 
didn't make it into the film - but I think it's sweet

There can't be too many stripes

A sexy antebellum look

This might be a bit too hot

I love this dress - so feminine!

Notice how nicely the ribbons match?
It's important to pay attention to accessories!

My absolute favorite - seen briefly in 
the New Orleans honeymoon scene

Ah do declare, I am one glamorous Southern Belle! (please hit the snooze button for a few moments more.....)

Dreaming of ... Dinner at Eight

I'm female, so I dream of being Harlow, especially in "Dinner at Eight." the splendor of icy white- hair, rugs, nightgowns, jewels, evening gowns. Art deco bracelets thrown to the floor, bob bons in bed, doctors who make house calls (and more). And the dress, ah, the dress. Dress me, Adrian, dress me! Your platinum goddess awaits.

Ssshh.... don't wake me yet.....


I just love my bedroom! 

I love my white telephone!

I can even wear a hat in bed!

Not so crazy about the maid, though....

However, I MUST change my husband - he simply will not do.

YUK!

How about this one?

Or this one?

Or even this one?

Don't you agree any one of them would have been better? He was so nasty!

You see, if I had any one of these husbands, I would not have to play doctor with the doctor.

Getting ready for my weekly check-up

And then, who cares if I get invited to fancy dinner parties? I'd love my bedroom even that much more!!

Hello, Information? Can you please 
connect me to a good divorce lawyer?

For more information about the Jean Harlow 100th Anniversary Collection giveaway (running through December 15, 2011), click here.