The Joy of Blogging

When I started on this blogging escapade, I had no idea where it would take me. I didn’t think beyond the idea of reviewing books, movies and lipsticks. To be honest, I didn’t know if I could write well enough to engage readers. I’d spent my life painting and drawing. So facing a blank computer screen was daunting. But a writer friend said, “If you write. You’re a writer.” Was it that easy? I decided to go for it.

I was rather astounded when my readers responded enthusiastically to my stories about kissing wolves in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, sailing on a yacht off St, Tropez with Albert Finney and shaking hands with Steve Jobs during lunch at Apple! (I hadn’t even told some of these stories to my children.)

Beyond the gratification of reaching people was the delight in making friends everywhere. I had not anticipated the friendships that would develop with my fellow bloggers in Paris, Provence, Canada, Europe, all over the world. It’s incredible how close many of us have become. We all support one another and share in each other’s joys and sorrows. Some friends are ill, very ill. Some are new parents or grandparents.We support each other in any way we can.

I’d recently made a new blogging buddy quite by accident. I was reading a post in a blog link up (one blogger hosts a link up where everyone writes on the same topic selected usually by the host) when I saw this elegant woman feeding chickens in Tuileries Garden. Her name is Elizabeth Kirkpatrick but she goes by the name of La Contessa. I call her Auntie Mame. Her site is The Vintage Contessa.

Her writing style is eclectic to say the least. She writes in capital letters and exclamation points! I was intrigued because that’s the way I SPEAK! I went to her home page and saw her not only feeding chickens but wearing a magnificent, scarlet opera coat. Well, of course I had to meet her, and she wanted to meet me so we had lunch at The Ivy during one of her trips to Los Angeles.

We never stopped talking, laughing and connecting. We’ve become great friends and we’ve had dinner with her and her husband, Giampiero at their incredibly creative home in Northern California. You must read her posts and look through the photographs of La Contessa and her husband whom she calls, “The Italian.” Definitely a story you cannot miss!

Recently, I traveled to San Francisco to visit our family.  I made sure to have an extra day  so that I could meet La Contessa and three other bloggers I’d admired online and with whom I’d become friendly. We met at The Waterfront Restaurant at the Embarcadero. Look at how color coordinated we are. Shows you that we’re all on the same wavelength although our blogs are very different. We’re a whole posse of bright, fun, creative and energetic women. I asked each of them for a post that they would like to include here.
Lisa Carnochon, Sandra Sallin, Jennifer Connoly, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Beth Djalali

I had followed Lisa Cornochan’s blog Amid Privilege for a long time. In the beginning, she wrote about growing up on the East Coast in a family of privilege. She segued into writing about style, clothing,home and garden with a souçon of grandeur sprinkled about. Before I started blogging, I had met with Lisa in Menlo Park and asked her what was it like being a blogger? She invited me to lunch and was very supportive, encouraging me to just go for it.

When I asked her to choose a post that she would ike featured, she suggested Fierce at 50 Where You are 20 or 30. I also asked if I could include the post about her second marriage ceremony which I though was so beautiful. She combines simplicity with elegance and panache.

Enjoy the exquisite photos of her City Hall Wedding. This is the way to do it: San Francisco City Hall Wedding

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life is an image and style consultant.  She writes about beauty, family, entertaining, and health issues. And of course she does everything with great style! I’d been reading her blog, following her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and wanted to get to know her. I asked her for one blog that she would like me to feature here. She sent me four. They were all wonderful,but I selected two:
There’s No Place Like Home
Priceless Gift Giving From the Heart
Once you read them, I think you’ll want to read others as well.

This is Beth Djalali of Style at a Certain Age. I’m fascinated by her. How does she do it? She posts every day in new and inventive outfits, always creative and original in the way she dresses. I ask her how she does her hair, what products she uses, what color lipstick and on and on and on. I love the way she poses. You just try posing the way she does. No one does it better. I’ve tried and I look like a flamingo who had a bad night. So here she is in all her glory with a funny story to boot! Going To The Chapel

Surround yourself with
People who push you
Who challenge you
Who make you laugh
Who make you better
Who make you happy.