FROM BETTY'S LIBRARY

Secrets of Poise, Personality and Model Beauty

By John Robert Powers

 I love vintage books on how to carry yourself like a lady with poise and style. These books are practically non-existent nowadays.  There are books on the market today that somewhat cover charm school like principles, but are mostly geared towards young girls with a few make-up tips and some additional tips on modeling, but in my humble opinion it is mostly fluff and contribute very little to assist a young woman in developing her personality and character. They train girls to be a pretty package with no contents.

In 1923, John Robert Powers, a former actor  founded a modeling agency; The John Robert Powers Agency represented and  trained  many models who went on to successful careers in Hollywood ; among the success  stories included Raquel Welch, Betty Bloomer who became the First Lady of the United States and Grace Kelly who went on to become an Academy Award winning actress and later the princess of Monaco. The training these women  received under his instruction was to teach them to be more than just a pretty face; they were trained how to walk, sit stand, converse and exude personality; training that would prove useful throughout their lives.Although Powers' clientele was overwhelmingly female and to be identified as  a "Powers Girl" was a much sought-after position, the agency also represented several men who went on to fame in the movies such as Henry Fonda, Cary Grant, Clayton Moore, and Tyrone Power.

His book, Secrets of, Poise, Personality, and Model Beauty is a great book to have in your library; it is chuck full of the training and insight that John used to train his models and some of the principles are still utilized at his agency today. Reading through this book, I enjoyed the fact that the very same things I was studying, John probably told Princess Grace in her early days as she trained to be a model and actress. If the training was good enough for Princess Grace, it is good enough for me.

The book  was printed in the early 1960's, this version is out of print, but they have copies listed at Amazon and Alibris ranging from 15 dollars and up. I got mine for a steal  (1 dollar) Don't hate, but get a copy before it's too late!

Simply Beautiful Beauty Treatment #14

Tressonaise

A great hair conditioner from Stephanie Tourles

1Whole Egg  Plus 1 yolk (room temperature)

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice

1 Cup of unrefined oilive, avocado, or sesame oil

Break eggs into a blender, add lemon juice

and blend on medium of about 5 seconds. drizzle oil in a slow stream

and blend until the mixture is has thickened.

Pour mixture into a glass jar and refrigeate.

Apply to the damaged parts of  your hair,

cover with a plastic bag of shower cap, then wrap with a warm towel.

Let it remain on your hair for an hour before shampooing to

remove the mixture from your hair.

Yields 1 treatment for long hair, 2 treatments

for shoulder legnth hair and 3 treatments for short hair.

I would kiss you but I just washed my hair- Bettie Davis

Giggle Water Recipie

PINK POODLE

It is rumoured that Jayne Mansfield used to

Dye her poodles fur pink. Maybe she got

the inspiration after drinking one of these.

Ingredients

Pink Coconut 

 ( 3 tablespoons of dried coconut mixed with

1 tablespoon of powdered pink food coloring)

3 cups of cracked Ice (12 ice cubes)

1 1/4 Cup of Dark Rum

1 Cup of Cream of Coconut

2 Cups of Half and Half

3 Oz of Grenadine

1 Tablespoon Of Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Rim 6 Cocktail glasses with Pink Coconut

and chill glasses till you are ready to serve

In a blender combine half of the remaining ingredients,

Blend until Ice chunks are smooth.

 Divide evenly among 3 of the chilled glasses

Repeat the process with the remaining 

ingredients and pour into remaining glasses.

Serves 6

Div'Icon (Diva Icon) Of the Month

Eartha Kitt

She was one of a kind. A classy lady with lots of sex appeal. She was the one and only Eartha Kitt. Born in 1927, her career spanned more than 60 years. She performed with  the Katherine Durham Dance company before she branched out on her own as a solo entertainer. Her sultry voice and her command of the french language made every song she sang a 4 or 5 minute seduction. Her rendition of "Santa Baby"  remains a favorite holiday classic. Orson Wells called her the most exciting woman he had ever seen. She set the tone for sexiness and I am sure showed Julie Newmar the way it was done as catwoman on the cult classic 1960's t.v. show Batman.  In her convictions, she was fearless;  in 1968 at a White House luncheon when questioned by Lady Bird Johnson about the Vietnam War, her response was, "You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot." her bold response cost her dearly, she was blackballed as an entertainer in the United States for many years and had to concentrate her efforts on performing in Europe and Asia to keep her career alive which she was successfully able to do. Eventually she was able to resume her career in the United States and continued to perform here and abroad for the rest of her life.  Sadly we lost Ms Kitt to colon cancer on December 25, 2008. She was classy, outspoken, outstanding and she is my Div'Icon of the month! 

Mr Hubba Hubba Of the Month

Errol Flynn

In his lifetime, Errol Flynn received no recognition from his peers at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He never attended a ceremony in his honor and was not nominated. Could be that his screen persona, the swashbuckler, the rake, stuck to him too well? Yet in his career he defined a male archetype and forever set his mark on movie maleness, in fact, created a constellation of manly virtues that even today is the stuff of dreams. It's time to bring the black sheep home. Long regarded as the prodigal son of Hollywood, with his real-life adventures, scrapes and insubordination, Errol Flynn lived every man's dream of a full life and found himself typecast.

-Rory Flynn, Daughter of Errol Flynn

Errol Flynn was born in Australia in 1909, he began his acting career in the 1930's. After his breakout role in Captain Blood in 1935, he found himself typecast as he Swashbuckling hero and his role in The Adventures of Robin Hood, became his most famous role. Shortly after the United States entered WWII, Errol became an American Citizen and wanted to enlist in the military to serve his newly adopted country, but a heart condition and other health problems rendered him ineligible. Trying to keep his health condition from becoming public knowledge, the studio did nothing to defend him from the harsh criticism of the public who thought he was trying to shirk his duty to enlist and serve his country. Although he continued to act,by the 1950's Errol's heavy drinking problem coupled with the addiction to the medications he had to take to treat his health problems, Errol rapidly aged as his health deteriorated; by the end of the decade, we lost this wonderful actor who never really received the honor and respect for his talent that he rightfully deserved. He was dashing, handsome, and all too human as we all are and  he is my Hubba Hubba of  the month.

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL BEAUTY TREATMENT #13

Coo-Coo For Cocoa

Chocolate Dip

I Love Chocolate (Godiva being one of my favorites with a Good Glass of Champagne). Little did I know that Chocolate could be good for your skin as well as your cravings.  Chocolate is rich in anti-oxidants and has been said to be helpful in protecting the skin against the sun! This delightful bath soak, will treat your skin and senses to a delightful cocoa escape!

1/8 cup of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1/8 Cup of Powdered Milk

1/4 Cup Of Epsom Salts

1 Tablespoon of Baking Soda

1 Tablespoon Of Corn Starch

1 Body Bush or Loofah (if needed)

Combine ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Pour the mixture under the warm running water as the tub fills. Soak for at least 20 minutes letting your skin often and exfoliate. If you find any chocolate residue on your skin, use the body brush or loofah to gently scrub off any traces of the chocolate mixture and rinse under the shower. Use a light moisturizer so that the sweet smell of the chocolate can remain on your skin.

Fashion Flicks- Movies you watch just for the clothes

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

This little gem of a movie also showcased one of the most famous costumes in hollywood history; the pink strapless gown that Marylin Monroe wore in the "Diamonds are a girls best friend" number.

Ok, the movie has a cute plot  (Two female entertainers, one looking for love and the other looking for money; with both getting more than they bargain for!) but the clothes are to live for! I watch it over and over just for the clothes and I am sure I am not alone.  And you can  pick up some great tips for making diamonds your best friend too ladies! (Wink!)