Month: September 2021

We typically associate Venus as the Goddess born of the sea (Salacia is Amphitrite’s Roman name, as Venus’s equivalent in Greek is Aphrodite), however, Amphitrite, is technically the Goddess of the Sea and wife of Poseidon. Her title is also “Queen of the Sea” in classical mythology. Amphitrite was one of the sea nymphs, Nereids, having fifty sisters in total… Poseidon fell in love with her when he saw her dancing and singing with her sisters. The story that Poseidon chose Amphitrite for his wife is unique because she was initially not enticed to be taken as Poseidon’s wife. She only agreed when he sent a dolphin for her… According to Greek Mythology, she was initially considered a major figure as she was mentioned in the Homeric Hymn at the birth of Apollo.

Amphitrite was actually a minor figure, which is likely what created her lesser status in comparison to Venus. Also, it’s quite undeniable that artworks such as Bernini’s The Birth of Venus elevated Venus to a different level in our collective cultural psyche. Poseidon and Amphitrite had a son, Triton, who was a merman (in popular culture, you are probably familiar with “King Triton” as the father of The Little Mermaid). Whether or not the Queen of the Sea is considered a minor or major figure in Greek Mythology, it is certainly worth noting her existence as Venus dominates amongst the goddesses.

Amphitrite, in Greek mythology, the goddess of the sea, wife of the god Poseidon, and one of the 50 (or 100) daughters (the Nereids) of Nereus and Doris (the daughter of Oceanus). Poseidon chose Amphitrite from among her sisters as the Nereids performed a dance on the isle of Naxos. Refusing his offer of marriage, she fled to Atlas, from whom she was retrieved by a dolphin sent by Poseidon. Amphitrite then returned, becoming Poseidon’s wife; he rewarded the dolphin by making it a constellation. In works of art Amphitrite was represented either enthroned beside Poseidon or driving with him in a chariot drawn by sea horses or other fabulous sea creatures. In the famous François Vase (a 6th-century BC black-figure krater; see Kleitias), Poseidon and Amphitrite, along with Zeus and Hera, attend the wedding of Peleus and Thetis.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amphitrite-Greek-mythology

Ever since I can remember, I have been a proud American. I will always be a proud American. America provides endless opportunities for people, it is viewed as a land of freedom and opportunity for a reason. However, this land of ‘anything is possible’ comes at a price. Our service members sometimes give their lives to their country in dedication to our country’s mission and vision. We can never forget that kind of selfless dedication to country and we must also remember that now, more than ever, we must continue supporting veterans and current service members in our military. I have the utmost respect for those who serve in our military and support the USO’s mission.

According to the USO, since 1941, the USO has been the nation’s leading organization to serve the men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, throughout their time in uniform. From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO is always by their side.

Today’s USO continuously adapts to the needs of our men and women in uniform and their families, so they can focus on their very important mission. The USO operates centers at or near military installations across the United States and throughout the world, including in combat zones, and even un-staffed USO service sites in places too dangerous for anyone but combat troops to occupy. The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection.

Just prior to the onset of America’s involvement in World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to unite several service associations into one organization to lift the morale of our military and nourish support on the home front. Those entities – the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association, Young Women’s Christian Association, National Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board – became the United Service Organizations or, the USO.

USO Tours

A hallmark of the USO is its famous USO tours, bringing celebrities to entertain the troops. Perhaps most iconic was the dedication in which Bob Hope had to serving tours. Marilyn Monroe was also an iconic entertainer to sing to the troops in Korea in 1954. USO tours technically launched the career of Anita Ekberg, who had been invited to replace Marilyn by Bob Hope. This gave Anita the press needed to launch an entertainment career. While the USO serves troops, it has also launched careers!

Thank a military member you know and support your troops!

A distinct ‘lived in’ quality with a mantra of beauty, comfort, and function is what distinguishes the iconic brand Shabby Chic Couture by Rachel Ashwell. Celebrities like Jessica Simpson and Pamela Anderson have devoted entire homes in Los Angeles to this aesthetic and have allowed Ms. Ashwell to bring her design movement into their homes. Shabby Chic style has become an aesthetic movement. Most recently, it’s been punctuated by “Cottagecore” style, but shabby chic has been around for a long time, and it is Rachel Ashwell’s brand which has brought the joy of beauty and imperfection into the homes of so many since 1989.

Shabby Chic style is well worth studying because it brings us back to basics! Ms. Ashwell has written numerous books (below), most recently the adorable “Rachel Ashwell’s Painted Stories: Vintage, decorating, thoughts, and whimsy” released in April 2021. The images that she presents are a wonderful inspiration for how you can begin to think about where shabby chic style fits into your life. There are layers to this style and there are ways to personalize the aesthetic to lean into your favorite look! For example, I adore the color pink, so I would lean into shades of pink and anything that reminds me of ballet. Whereas, you could lean into pale blue instead if you prefer shades of pale blue to be the dominant color. In this way, you could add shells and have more of a nautical theme. You can also do this for different areas of your home or do themed rooms. Pinterest has unending ideas for DIY shabby chic decorations which can complement pieces you purchase.

There are no real rules to shabby chic, aside from the general vintage aesthetic melting well together. Something I find particularly appealing about the brand is the fact that it’s a merging together of proper British style with laidback California style. Ms. Ashwell’s upbringing is fascinating: her father was an antique books dealer and her mother was an antique doll seller. She grew up a Bohemian childhood in London. Her extensive experience with maneuvering flee markets was essential in recognizing value in certain pieces and moving quickly when you know that a piece is special or fits the aesthetic that you are building in your home. To me, shabby chic style is all about aesthetic appeal combined with functionality. First and foremost, you are living in your home! Make the most out of how it looks with a whimsical, fairytale appeal (even if you are on a budget) and maximize function at the same time.

Here is a list of some of my favorite items with whimsy that Shabby Chic is currently selling:

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Books by Rachel Ashwell

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Marie Taglioni, the Comtesse de Voisins, lived from 1804-1884. She was the first ballerina to truly dance en pointe. She was Swedish born and spent the majority of her life in the Austrian Empire and France, which were the origins of ballet (especially regarding ballet’s early Italian origins). Her father, Italian Filipo Taglioni, was a choreographer and her mother was a Swedish ballet dancer, Sophie Karsten. Her brother was also a dancer and choreographer. This family was dedicated to an incredible art form a very long time ago. Her father was the ballet master of the court opera in Vienna, where she began her dancing career. She spent four hours each day dancing ballet – two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.

When her father created the ballet, La Sylphide (1832), it was the first ballet to be danced en pointe and had integrated a range of arm motions, as well. She danced for numerous ballet companies (the early origins), including Her Majesty’s Theatre in London and the Paris Opera Ballet. Her personal life beyond her dancing career is fascinating. In 1835, she married Comte Auguste Gilbert de Voisins, but they separated in 1836. She later fell in love with a loyal fan who defended her honor in a duel. She gave birth the following year to a child with her fan, Eugene Desmares. The following year, he died in a hunting accident. By 1842, Taglioni gave birth to a second child. The father is unknown, though the birth certificate states her first husband as the father (out of formality). She retired from dancing in 1847 and she settled in Venice, Italy at the Palazzo Santa Sofia on the Grand Canal. She also spent time teaching dance in England – she resided in London from 1875-1876. In 1884, Taglioni passed away in Marseille the day before her 80th birthday. Local dancers left pointe shoes in her honor on Montmartre (where she is supposedly buried as it is speculated that may not be her burial site).

Marie played an integral role in the development of ballet. What would ballet be without pointe shoes?

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For 11 years growing up, I danced ballet. When I say I danced ballet, I danced ballet. Between the ages of 3 and 14, I was trained pre-professionally in a well respected school, attending classes up to five days a week for a few hours a day (when I was an advanced dancer and reached pointe shoes). I was on the precipice of taking my dancing to the ‘final level’ at my ballet school if I were to have auditioned to join the ‘company.’ I loved ballet and I still love ballet, but it’s a new kind of love. For a variety of reasons, that were ultimately for the best, I stopped dancing when I was 14. It was an emotional crossroads to be at, since so much of my life had been spent dancing. I danced seasonally in The Nutcracker, which was eight productions over the span of four days for five straight years each Christmas. My last role (and favorite role) was being one of the ‘party girls,’ dancing with a doll underneath the Christmas tree. I was constantly in rehearsals for it every Fall, and much of my life became very routine, but it was a routine that I lived for and I was lucky to have support for. My mother waited endless hours for me to finish ballet class. When I stopped, it was an awakening of sorts to shift gears and find new interests and passions that were outside of my studies in school. Since I had spent so much of my life dancing, I had excitement back then to find new passions. Ultimately, it was a good time for me to stop dancing at the pace I was dancing. The ways in which ballet shaped me by ingraining qualities of dedication, discipline, athleticism and also establishing a strong work ethic and openness to feedback and growth, have all been catalysts for the good in my life.

I recently started dancing again for myself (very lightly) and have found so much joy in this. I can’t pinpoint the exact thing that prompted me to, but I was reflecting to myself how dance was always a great form of exercise for me and also a way to destress as I focused my mind on improving positions and taking my technique to new levels. I still have so much of the basic framework of my ballet technique to this day and I am now an adult. I am proud that I have finally reached a point in my life where I can have a balanced relationship with ballet, where I am not pressuring myself to always go further and further in my technique, but to enjoy the movements and also gain back a lot of my ballet strength, flexibility and balance in the process. I often think about how George Balanchine’s method shaped me. Balanchine was one of the great ballet masters… I think that much of my experience pushing myself to improve in my dancing was shaped by the Balanchine method, which I highly recommend if you are interested in studying the various styles and methods. American ballet has been greatly shaped by him. His method is utilized at the New York City Ballet (opened 1948) and School of American Ballet (opened 1934), schools that he founded. He also influenced the San Francisco Ballet, which was the first ballet school in the country (opened in 1933).

The Balanchine style is characterized by the following qualities:

• extreme speed and very deep plié
• emphasis on line, with use of unconventional, asymmetrical, abstract arm and hand placement
• pirouettes en dehors taken from a lunge in fourth position rather than the conventional plié in fourth
• distinctive arabesque line with the hip open to the audience and the side arm pressed back
• athletic dance quality

Ballet dancers, on an existential level, all ‘serve a higher purpose.’ There is nothing more gratifying in this life than to find a deeper meaning than the shallow and egoistic traps that society sets forth for so many. I have found that was ultimately what kept driving me forward as a dancer in my adolescence, whether I was consciously aware of it or not. I certainly am now. I can take this awareness and enjoy dancing in its recreational form (without the hopes and dreams of dancers who, often like Olympians, live for a few short moments on stage which can be shattered by a slight shift in the body that did not allow the movement to reach aesthetic perfection or an injury that happened in the blink of an eye). Support the arts by attending a ballet if you can, the amount of passion and love that people share in ballet goes deep.