Dorit Kemsley’s Embellished Cup Talking to PK

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 12 Episode 12 Fashion

To quote Dorit Kemsley herself.. this embellished cup is so chic. She has been coming in clutch with the embellished things lately. What’s next wind chimes?? This cup is great if you struggle with keeping hydrated because having a ~fun~ cup like this full of water would make it easy since it’s like an accessory to have at all times. Just be sure that if you happen to put an adult type beverage in it you are safe and drink responsibly…

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Bling Cup on eBay

Click Here to Shop it in White/Gold

Click Here to Shop Her Louis Vuitton Joggers

Originally posted at: Dorit Kemsley’s Embellished Cup

Lisa Rinna’s Pink Satin Shoulder Pad Shirt on RHOBH

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 12 Episode 12 Fashion

On this week’s episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Lisa Rinna apparently has a convo with Erika Jayne about her recent behaviour while wearing this pink satin shoulder pad shirt. And while antidepressants and alcohol may not mix well together, I think we can all agree that ’80s-style fashion and RHOBH most certainly does.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Also Seen on Erika Jayne:

Click Here to See Her The Attico Shirt

Originally posted at: Lisa Rinna’s Pink Satin Shoulder Pad Shirt

We had cruised on countless large ocean vessels, but never embarked on a small ship. River cruising was on our bucket list, and we were anxiously anticipating our Emerald 14-day Danube River Cruise itinerary going from Budapest to Amsterdam.

Travel was just resuming from the hiatus caused by the global pandemic, so we did not know what to expect. I was notified an hour before flying to the UK, where we were spending time visiting with our family before our cruise, that embarkation dates were being amalgamated and was subsequently offered the same itinerary on a ship that would be leaving three dates later than previously booked.

As both the travel agent and passenger, I had booked several cabins, so I was left frantic with coordinating and rescheduling hotels and flights and negotiating some extra cruise perks for my group. It was a blessing that my entire group were all able to juggle our schedules and embark on an experience of a lifetime. I would like to share with you my discovery of seven breathtaking ports from our cruise.

Budapest, Hungary

I was so thankful for the extra three nights we had in Budapest because I thoroughly enjoyed it. The vibrant city is divided into two distinct geographical areas that are separated by the Danube River: Buda and Pest. Several bridges transport folks from one to another.

Buda’s main attraction is Buda Hill where you will be rewarded from the top with the most magnificent views of the city and river. We ended up climbing Buda Hill twice because it was so incredible.

We stayed on the Pest side where you can walk for miles down quaint cobblestone streets to cafes and restaurants and explore Kossuth Lajos Square, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Castle Hill and all the other stunning attractions. We were pleased to discover that food and drinks are reasonably priced in the older Pest district, and we enjoyed sampling all the beer, wine, and Hungarian specialties.

Bratislava, Slovakia

We took a walking tour in the historic Old Town where stone streets connect walkers to the most stunning palaces, buildings, and structures, such as Bratislava Castle, St. Martin’s Cathedral and Old Town Hall.

There is also a fountain in the middle of the Town Square that served as a meeting place after wandering the Town. Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and it borders both Austria and Hungary. The pastries are simply divine.

Vienna, Austria

We hopped on a bus and enjoyed a panoramic city ride before stopping for our guided walk in Vienna City Centre. Vienna is inundated with the most architecturally impressive buildings. Horse drawn carriages transport tourists around the town centre where you feel you are living in a past century.

Our highlight in Vienna was attending a private Viennese Evening Concert at Palais Lobkowitz. The musicians were superb and demonstrated the time and commitment that it takes to be the best in the world.

Durnstein, Austria

We explored the small town of Durnstein on our own. The focal point is the hill-top castle that tourists can walk to. The town is surrounded by lovely vineyards and is well-known for wine growing.

Locals were predominantly dressed in old fashioned attire and shops sold all of their local specialties. We purchased apricot jam as apricots are plentiful in that area. I found Durnstein to be the loveliest and quaintest small town and one of my favorite cruise ports.

Bamberg, Germany

We enjoyed a guided tour of Bamberg with a local who recanted the most interesting stories. She advised us that the most expensive and impressive homes line the river Regnitz in Bamberg and are almost impossible to rent/buy, as those homes are passed down in families and never sold.

Lots of tiny bridges connecting the colourful buildings to one another are abundant in this beautiful town. Since 1993, old town Bamberg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rose Garden at the New Residenz is a top tourist attraction with gorgeous multi-coloured roses.

There are also 11 breweries and many of these quaint German towns are known for their smoked beer. We sampled homemade German sausages and pretzels that were most delicious.

Rudesheim, Germany

We ventured off on our own and first rode the chairlift that took us above all of the lovely vineyards to the top of a hill to the spectacular temple and Niederwald monument. Riesling wine is the top varietal made in this fabulous winemaking town of Rudesheim, and I was most excited to try it. I liked it so much that I bought a bottle to take home with me.

We then ventured off to the brandy factory where my husband purchased the Asbach Uralt brandy that Rudesheim is well known for. The town is simply breathtaking, whether walking along the cobbled streets, riding the chairlift, or looking down from the top of the hill at the monument, and I did not want to leave it.

Amsterdam, Netherlands  

We completed our River cruise in the lovely city of Amsterdam. We embarked on a private guided canal tour that showcased all the focal points of the city and its interesting history. I loved having modern conveniences once again, but still feeling all of the old-world charm. We spent our last day walking along the many canals and enjoying the outdoor cafes and amazing sights.

River cruising was an experience of a lifetime that fed my mind, body, and soul, and an adventure that I will be talking about for many years to come.

What adventure is at the top of your bucket list? Why have you placed it there? When are you planning to take it?

A lucid dream is one in which the dreamer is aware of dreaming. Humans have been conscious of this phenomenon since time immemorial.

Lucid Dreaming in History

In Hinduism, this ancient practice is called Yoga Nidra, and it was practised by early Buddhists.

The early Greeks wrote about it. Aristotle (384–322 BCE) says that often when asleep and dreaming he would realise that he was not awake. The Greek physician Galen of Pergamon (129–216 CE) used it as therapy.

Samuel Pepys, in his diary entry for August 15, 1665, says, “I had my Lady Castlemayne in my arms and was admitted to use all the dalliance I desired with her, and then dreamt that this could not be awake, but that it was only a dream.”

In 1913, Frederik van Eeden, a Dutch psychiatrist, published an article titled “Study of Dreams,” in which he coined the term “lucid dream.” Celia Green, an English philosopher and psychologist, conducted scientific research into the concept. In 1968, she published Lucid Dreams, further developing the field of study.

In the early 1980s, the American psychophysiologist Stephen LaBerge was doing research into lucid dreaming and popularised the phenomenon among the general public.

Experiencing a Lucid Dream

That included me. I had bought a book on the subject, and decided to give it a try. Following the instructions in the book, I made the suggestion to my subconscious that I have a lucid dream, and I fell asleep convinced that it would happen. It did, and it felt very strange.

My situation at that time was not a totally happy one. I was living in a small mining community in the Canadian north. The economic recession of 1982 affected the mining industry badly, and the mine would be closed in early 1984.

The future seemed rather bleak, because the mining world was collapsing as the price of minerals fell. This was the background to my experimenting with lucid dreaming.

I dreamed that I was in a dark and dreary house that was in need of renovation. In my dream, which was in black and white at that stage, I knew I was dreaming. It felt horrible. I began to make improvements inside the house, and as I did so, my dream changed into vivid colours.

I woke up knowing what I needed to do. The house was representative of my life. I had to change my own attitude, knowing that I would be able to do what was necessary, and that the future would be brighter than it appeared at that time.

My subconscious mind was giving me a strong message. This is what lucid dreaming can give us. It’s not frightening or scary. It’s a natural process we can use. It can be highly beneficial, as it was in my case.

Using Lucid Dreams to Change Real Circumstances

The dreamer is able to exert some degree of control over the dream, and their control will become stronger with practice. The object can be to change dreams from losing to winning. I was losing out in my life, a fact depicted by the house’s initial appearance. I began to win as I changed its state into one full of colour and improvement.

Nowadays, lucid dreaming is used in cognitive behavioural therapy. Therapists recognise that there are many benefits to lucid dreaming, including:

• Stress can be lessened when the dreamer experiences controlling a stressful situation.
• Lucid dreaming has been used to lessen post-traumatic stress among military veterans.
• It can also be used to improve motor skills after injury.

Nightmares can be controlled if the dreamer recognises that what they are experiencing is only a dream. The positive outcome of the dream can transfer into reality.

Athletes can improve their performance by rehearsing in their dreams. Many creative people can use lucid dreaming to help solve a creative problem, or even create an original piece, by accessing their subconscious minds and calling on knowledge they didn’t know they had.

If you’d like to learn more about the subject, an excellent book is Are You Dreaming? Exploring Lucid Dreams, by Daniel Love (2013).

Worth a Try

When you go to bed, you can use your rational mind to tell your subconscious mind that you want to have a lucid dream. Don’t let this interfere with your sleep, but let it happen naturally if it will.

Not everyone is predisposed to have lucid dreams. If you aren’t, don’t let it worry you. Even without dreaming, at bedtime you can still program your subconscious mind with strong suggestions and images which will affect your reality. Perhaps you might like to try it!

If you’re looking to find a book on practicing mindfulness in a group, I am writing one. Sign up for the waitlist here.

Have you experienced lucid dreaming? What was the experience like for you? Do you think you can will yourself to lucid dream?

Covid finally caught up with me – in Sheboygan, WI on a ladies’ trip. Five of us tested positive after returning home. No, we didn’t mask; a mistake in hindsight. But for three weeks, I did nothing but read and binge television.

A Libertarian Walks into a Bear by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling

Loved this book! Hongoltz-Hetling is a reporter, and he tells this story without taking sides. Being pejorative about any of the protagonists would be so easy. They are all at fault. Who knew all of these fascinating things about New Hampshire? Highly recommended.

About Your Father and Other Celebrities I Have Known by Peggy Rowe

Peggy Rowe is so much fun. Read this book! She was 80 when it was published. You will love her dry wit and joie de vivre.

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

A new riff on Agatha Christy’s And Then There Were None. I keep being suckered into reading new mysteries, hoping there will be a breakthrough in the formula. There isn’t. This is a quick, fun read that follows the Christy pattern to a T.

The Second Empress by Michell Moran

I listened to this book when I couldn’t get out of bed, but couldn’t sleep either. A good read, told from the points of view of various members of the court of Napoleon and the Hapsburg court.

We’re all familiar with Josephine, first wife of Napoleon. She was divorced because she bore no heirs. Since Napoleon was at the height of his power, he negotiated a marriage with Hapsburg princess Marie-Louise. Chapters are devoted to the point of view of different members of the entourage. Enjoyable and educational.

Ring by André Alexis

André Alexis is a fascinating award-winning Canadian writer. Ring is the last of his Quincunx Series: five books, each one on a different theme: faith, place, love, power, hatred. I’ve read them all.

By far the most outstanding is Fifteen Dogs, a must-read for literature lovers, but not if you are disturbed by dog death. Ring was ok. It’s hard not to love Canadians. As a country, they are far more sensible than the U.S., but rather predictable.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

Fun, psychological thriller. Quick read but be careful because you cannot be quite sure who the protagonist is. When I finished the book, I reread the first four chapters to unravel my confusion about who was speaking to the reader. Recommended.

The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante

Ferrante’s rambling first-person narrative eventually gets old in this female coming of age book set in Naples. Lying Life lacks the complex characters of the Neapolitan Quartet. I almost gave up because the end was so predictable, but I labored onward. Save yourself the trouble.

The Carlucci Betrayal by Robert B. Wilkins

Blood and guts in New Orleans during Prohibition. Gangsters try to outsmart each other for money and for love. A good yarn.

Cartographers by Peng Shepard

Interesting dip into the world of those who make maps. Especially printed maps and how a cartographer protects their proprietary interests. A bit paranormal, but at an acceptable level. Recommended.

I’m Not Ready for This by Anna Lind Thomas

Second book by this rising young comedy writer. Good, easy read. Perhaps not as engaging as her first book, We’ll Laugh About This Someday. Got the feeling she had to rush this one to print.

The Dive from Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer

A laundry room book: we have a free book exchange. Pickings range from lots of Harlin Coben and romance novels to textbooks from 1960. Occasionally, I strike a great one, like Hidden Valley Road.

This one was not so great because the story was rather boring and predictable. Teenagers fall in love, become engaged in their early 20s. Female begins to have doubts, then her fiancé has an accident and is paralyzed. The rest of his life will be in a wheelchair. They end as friends.

How do you spend your time when you are sick? What movies and books help you recover?