Amid all the ugliness last week, I did get some glimpses of sunshine; and I’m not talking about the 
weather. Twice, I spent time with people I haven’t seen in years, and I do mean years, reminiscing about all the good times we shared.
The last several years I lived in Montreal I was doing advertising and PR in the fashion industry; and, after a couple of years at a tiny agency that specialized in the fur industry, I ended up working for a manufacturer and Continue reading
Are you familiar with the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? It was written by Robert Louis Stephenson
in 1886. Essentially it’s about the two personalities that live within Dr. Jekyll — one being good, the other evil.
Could have been written about Donald Trump.
I met him once, you know. It was a very long time ago. Not long after he married his first wife, Ivanna. She was a model, one of Montreal’s most sought after. I was working in the fashion industry at the time, for the designer, Leo Chevalier. She was one of our favourites and we booked her constantly.
What I remember vividly is how, after she got married and moved to New York, she never abandoned all the models she’d Continue reading
How objective can you be about yourself? I often ‘stand outside of myself’ and observe. It’s something I really like to do and I can be very honest 
with myself, about myself. So, needless to say, I loved the WordPress Daily Prompt from January 8: “Describe your personal style, however you’d like to interpret that — your clothing style, your communication style, your hair style, your eating style, anything.”
My ‘look’ has evolved and changed hundreds of times during my lifetime. I’d be bored to tears if I always looked the same. Wouldn’t you?
Apparently I was always determined to create my own style — even as far back as when I was a toddler. My mother used to tell me she’d pick out an outfit and I’d shake my head “no”; and insist Continue reading
Years ago, when I was working with the Canadian fashion designer, Leo Chevalier, one of Canada’s better known broadcast icons (at the time) showed up at 
our offices one day. She wanted to know if we’d consider ‘dressing’ her, in exchange for on-air credits. Providing her with a wardrobe, in other words.
I can’t remember exactly what we were talking about — once the business portion of our meeting was over — but I do remember my response: “I cry as easily as I laugh.”
It happened so long ago I’d forgotten all about it. Or so I thought. Guess it was just buried in my sub-conscious; and all it took to bring it back to the surface was a recent WordPress Daily Prompt: “Describe the last time you were moved to tears by something beautiful.”
Actually, I can’t recall a time when something beautiful made me cry.
Not the sight of a dew-moistened rose, at the point in its short life when it’s at its best, and most perfect. Despite knowing it can’t last. Not standing in the Vatican, staring up, with awe and wonder, at the glory of that ceiling. Pinching Continue reading
When it comes to social media I think most of us are the same. We seem to have a love/hate relationship with it, especially with Facebook. But as frustrated 
as I may get, I still end up in the same place: Loving how social media keeps us connected.
Those of you who have been reading my blog since the beginning know I spent some time working in the fashion industry, where I handled all the advertising and P.R. for Leo Chevalier, one of Canada’s leading fashion designers. While it was the manufacturer of his collection of women’s dresses and sportswear I actually worked for, and while I did do some work for other lines they carried, he was the focus of most of my attention.
My office was in Leo’s design studio, on a different floor than the rest of the company. We had great space. Leo, his wife and his design assistant shared a HUGE office/studio. In addition to my office, there was another one, as well. Originally it was for the gal who ran his perfume company. But when he closed that down, his fabric buyer moved in. We also had an enormous stock room in the back, which was perfect for all our accessories, samples, Continue reading
My friend, Marilyn, is probably the only person, outside of myself, who knows what I’m about to tell you. Not that there’s any reason for it to be a deep, dark secret.
It’s just something I’ve never talked about, before.
Have no idea why, either.
And the only reason I’m mentioning it now is, because of a recent WordPress Daily Prompt: “If one experience or life change results from you writing your blog, what would you like it to be?”
I don’t even have to think about it.
You all know I’ve spent my career in advertising. As a copywriter and creative director. It’s what I always wanted to do, from the time I was a very young girl. I’ve worked for some of the largest agencies in the world, on some of the best brands. And I’ve had a fabulous career.
No complaints.
But outside of the industry, I’ve not been taken seriously, as a writer. None of us are. It’s not really a reflection Continue reading
Yesterday’s WordPress Daily Prompt, about getting lost in simple activities and what’s it’s like to be in “the zone“, took me back a lot of years. As soon as I read it, I was instantly transported back to Montreal, to the days I worked with 
the Canadian fashion designer, Leo Chevalier.
He and his wife had a country house; and, not long after they bought it, they invited me to go for a weekend. We had known each other for many years. Long before I handled his advertising and P.R., and we’d become good friends.
It was a lovely house, in a valley, about an hour and a half from the city. It wasn’t big, but it was extremely well designed. While it was very cozy and well-appointed, it was not a luxurious country manor. It was simple and comfortable.
The main floor was all open concept, with huge windows and an enormous fireplace in the centre of the room. Upstairs there were three bedrooms and an absolutely fabulous bathroom with a huge soaking tub. I’ve never seen a tub quite that deep before. It literally took twenty minutes to fill. There was a very large skylight right over it, and I loved to bathe in the tub at night and look at the moon and the stars.
If it hadn’t been the only bathroom in the place, I would have stayed in there for hours.
On this particular weekend, it was just the three of us who were there. We arrived at around 5:00; and while Leo was Continue reading
I can’t take credit for coming up with the idea for today’s story. I was inspired by a comment made by Cupcake Travels on my post yesterday. She was referencing a 
public speaking course she’d taken years ago, to help her overcome her fear of public speaking.
Which reminded me of how much I’ve always dreaded standing up in front of a group — large or small — and speaking. Or even presenting work. Which can be very challenging for a writer, working in advertising. We have to stand up and present our work on a daily basis.
Yikes!!
As a child I was terminally shy. Over the years I’ve really worked very hard to overcome it. Some days are better than others, even now. But most people who know me, would be surprised to hear I’m shy, by nature. Guess Continue reading
For a while in Montreal I did advertising and PR in the fashion industry. First, for a fashion trade magazine, where I did all the ads for 
advertisers who were not working with ad agencies. Which was all of them. Then for a very small agency that specialized in the fur industry, of all things.
And then for a manufacturer of high-priced women’s clothing; and specifically, for one of their designers, Leo Chevalier. He was one of the country’s best, Canada’s answer to Bill Blass or Geoffrey Beene. For the record, this is not one of his sketches.
I loved all three of the jobs because they combined two loves of mine: Advertising and fashion. I also loved them because I got to do so many different things. I wrote press releases, produced fashion shows, fashion videos and TV commercials. Co-ordinated and styled fashion shoots. I travelled with designers, and on my own, to do fashion shows across the country.
What was totally bizarre was when I became a ‘celebrity’ in Saskatoon after I’d been interviewed on the local morning TV show. People were stopping me on the street, asking for my autograph. That was just a hoot! Totally shocked me because I knew just how not famous I was! I also wrote and Continue reading
“Two things make the woman unforgettable, their tears and their perfume.” Sacha Guitry
No, I’m not crying. And I don’t have a cold. But thanks for asking. It’s much worse, actually. I’m afraid I’m about to have to search for a new 
perfume, again. Which can be very traumatic, especially if you’re trying to replace a ‘signature’ fragrance, like I am.
My love affair with perfume began long ago when, as a very little girl, I’d spray myself with my mother’s. All of them at the same time, usually. Liberally. Too liberally. So liberally, it would take more than several scrubbings before I stopped reeking. At sixteen I discovered Miss Dior. Its light, citrus, floral scent was perfect for a young woman.
At eighteen I fell in love with Caleche, by Hermes. Although it had many of the same qualities as Miss Dior it was more sophisticated, more womanly, more worldy. It was the first fragrance that I considered ‘mine’, and I wore it for years.
It was so important to me, that when my purse was stolen while I was visiting a friend in New York one weekend, the only thing I replaced was the bottle of perfume that had been in it. Never mind about the cash and the credit cards and even the make-up. Or my I.D., which I needed to get back across the border to Canada. Or the handbag, itself, for that matter. All I wanted was my ‘parfum‘.
That’s what made ‘me‘, feel like ‘me‘. Even to myself, let alone to others.
I remained loyal until many years later, when a fashion designer I worked with, Leo Chevalier, created a fragrance. I still remember the day I Continue reading
365 And Counting 