I Love Lucy

Tasty Tuesday–The Hollywood Brown Derby

Although we sampled a lot of food at Disney World, we only enjoyed one full sit-down meal while we were there. It was a really good one, though…we went to The Hollywood Brown Derby!

I really wanted to play I Love Lucy by visiting the “local watering hole.” Actually, I’ve eaten at the Disney World Hollywood Brown Derby before, back when Disney’s Hollywood Studios was called Disney-MGM Studios…so, a pretty long time ago! My memories of eating there were all mixed up with the I Love Lucy episode, so it was exciting to see it again in person!

The entrance is bright, and as soon as you walk in, you see the caricatures on the wall that the original restaurant was famous for.

The restaurant really does look like it did on TV, including the round booths and more caricatures (our favorite of those, seeing as there was no two-frame-picture of Jimmy Durante and his Schnozzola, was a pair of Bob Hopes on either side of Bing Crosby!).

On to the food. We shared a 50th anniversary “EARidescent Sip-a-bration,” which was a lemonade fruit punch with an adorable little Pluto perched on the side that you dropped into the drink to add a little Disney magic. And we got to keep the cup!

We also shared an appetizer, the Charcuterie Board, which was excellent. Several members of our family had the Famous Cobb Salad (which is named after Bob, yes I said Bob, Cobb), but as far as I know, it wasn’t “tossed in a derby.” Turkey ordered the Filet Mignon with Walt Disney’s Roast Beef Hash, and I really wish I had photographed it after he cut into it so you could see how beautifully rare it was!

I may be biased, but I’m pretty sure my meal, the Shrimp and Scallops Newberg, was the best. It was served with a sherry cream sauce, and the waiter (who was fantastic!), brought me a spoon and told me to make sure I finished all the sauce…so I did! It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had!

We shared two desserts, the 50th Celebration Baked Alaska and the Crème Brûlée. Both were absolutely amazing, and look how pretty!

Did I mentioned the wall lamps shaped like derby hats?

We made it out of the restaurant without flinging pie on anyone, so I’m not sure how successful we were at playing I Love Lucy, but we had a great time!

The Top Five–TV Shows (Revised)

My “Top Five” lists are never met to be set in stone, and in the six years since I first came up with a list of my five favorite TV shows, my favorites have changed a bit.

  • I Love Lucy–This has been my favorite TV show for a long time. I’ve watched every episode more times than I can count, and yet I never get sick of it. Are there elements of the show that haven’t aged well? Sure. But there are also funny jokes, moments of great physical comedy, fantastic guest stars, and outstanding fashion and interior design!
  • M*A*S*H—Scrubs used to appear on this list, but I basically swapped one medical show with another. The boys and I watch a few episodes every night before bed, and when we get to the end, we just start all over again, and we never grow tired of it. It’s a funny show, but it was also way ahead of its time in how it addressed social and political issues, and I’ve really come to appreciate that.
  • Downton Abbey–The glamour and intrigue of this show never grows old. I love watching the lives of those who live upstairs and those who live downstairs, and how those lives intersect. Plus, did I mention the glamour?
  • Rick Steves’ Europe–After planning an entire summer school around this show, I guess it should be no shock that it’s one of my favorites. I love asking “where should we go today?” and then turning on an episode. I always feel like I’m learning something when I watch, too, so it’s not just mindless TV!
  • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic–The show is a bit of a wild card, but Bunny, Chickadee, and I are just finishing watching through the run of the show, and I find that I really love it. It’s so relatable, and each one of us has a pony whom we particularly identify with. It may be a children’s show, but it’s a lot of fun for me as an adult to watch, and I think I’ll look back and cherish this time that my youngest daughter, oldest daughter, and I had so much fun together!

I thought I’d feel bad about kicking Friends off the list, but while I do still enjoy watching it from time to time, I’m not as into it as I once was. I do feel a little guilty about removing Deep Space Nine, though…it is still my favorite Star Trek show, however!

Sartorial Saturday–Love, Lucy

Back in early March, I had my first cosmetics-themed Sartorial Saturday. The world sure has changed a lot since then, hasn’t it? But my interest in fashion and beauty hasn’t changed, so I’m back with another cosmetics review, this time of the Bésame Cosmetics “Love, Lucy” collection!

My love of I Love Lucy is well-documented. I thought things couldn’t get better than the Unique Vintage I Love Lucy collaboration, and then Bésame announced that the first star of their new “Iconic Women Series” was going to be none other than Lucille Ball herself! I didn’t order the whole collection, but I did pick three things that I thought that I would get the most use out of, and also screamed I Love Lucy to me!

This is only the second time I’ve ordered cosmetics from Bésame…I was very impressed with how lovely the packaging is! The artwork on the eyeshadow palette is particularly stunning, and is based on Havana tourism art from the 1950s.

There were two lipsticks available. I know, you’re probably thinking, “why didn’t she go with Lucy’s classic red?” But after trying many, many, MANY shades, I still hate the way all red lipsticks look on me, so I picked the “What a Peach” shade that represents Lucille Ball’s style in the 60s. It’s a beautiful shade, and I look forward to a day when I no longer need to wear a mask and can show it off!

Showing off eye makeup is no problem, though! The shades in the Club Babalu palette are pretty classic, with a few surprises. You can go for a vintage 1950s look, or a more mod 1960s style, or really anything else you want! I really like large mirror inside, too…it’s helpful in checking the details of your makeup!

And finally, my favorite item, a powder compact with a beautiful silhouette of Lucy studded with crystals on the front. I will say that I wish that the compact had been made out of metal to give it more weight, but it’s still a beautiful piece, and something I will keep even once the powder (which is great for setting your makeup!) is gone.

This is a fully licensed line, and Lucie Arnaz worked with Bésame to make sure the details were right. This makeup collection is a dream come true for those who love Lucy or just loving having a new, vintage look!

Sartorial Saturday–I Love Gingham

If you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of I Love Lucy. I watch and enjoy a lot of classic TV, but I Love Lucy is my very favorite…I never get tired of it! You can imagine how excited I was, then, when I found out Unique Vintage was producing an I Love Lucy capsule collection in collaboration with ViacomCBS and Desilu!

There were a lot of fun options, but in the end, I chose the Ethel Swing Dress in black and white gingham…it’s such a classic look, and can be styled so many ways!

Did I mention that it’s designed after a dress Lucy actually wore on the show?

For this look, I decided to go with classic black and white accessories, in keeping with the theme. Midcentury starburst Duchess bangles from Splendette were an easy choice, as was a black and mirror sunburst brooch from Erstwilder. I also added my Elizabeth Claire Taylor hoops earrings (very similar to ones Lucy wore on the show!), a three-strand pearl necklace, and gloves, of course!

And just for fun, a picture in black and white:

I love this collection, and I certainly wouldn’t complain if Unique Vintage came out with a second one in the future!

Sartorial Saturday–The Delores Dress

I’ve had this lovely Unique Vintage Delores dress since before Easter, but I’ve been so busy, I kept forgetting to share it until now! Other than one skirt, I really hadn’t ordered from Unique Vintage before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, how the dress would fit, or if I would even like it, but I decided to go ahead and get it, mostly because I felt like I really needed a basic blue dress in my wardrobe (also, it was on sale at the time). I’m glad I did, because it fits great, and it’s so pretty and versatile…plus, Chickadee calls it my I Love Lucy dress, which makes me exceptionally happy!

Since it’s known as an I Love Lucy dress around here, I decided to style it in just that way, with hat, gloves, and appropriate jewelry. Ignore the worried look…I just hate when it’s sunny out!

This dress isn’t 100% cotton, which is one of the things I was worried about. But it has a nice weight, and hangs really well, so there was no need for concern.

Just for fun, a look at the dress in black and white, I Love Lucy style!

The Delores dress is a Unique Vintage staple, and is regularly available in different colors/patterns. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to add another version of this dress to my wardrobe eventually!

Inspired by “I Love Lucy”

I’ve shared pictures of this skirt from Pinup Girl Clothing before, and even commented on how wearing it with an off-the-shoulder top made me feel like I belonged in the grape-stomping episode of I Love Lucy. But I changed the outfit up a bit, adding a peasant top and an amazing pair of Elizabeth Claire Taylor Legacy Work earrings (that look very similar to ones worn by Lucille Ball in many episodes of I Love Lucy), and now I really feel like Lucy Ricardo, especially when I look at black and white versions of the photos!

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Going all-in on the look is also no problem…just add a hair scarf, and kick off the shoes, and the look transfers from everyday outfit to costume party ready!

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I wonder what vintage TV show or movie will inspire me next!

The Top Five–TV Shows

I’m actually not too picky about TV…I’ll watch lots of different things. But, for the interest of this “Top Five” list, I’m going with the shows that I can watch over and over, and never get tired of. Shows that make me feel like I’m with friends when I watch them. Shows that I turn to when I’m sick or sad, because I know they’ll bring a smile to my face.

  • Friends–I couldn’t even guess how many times I’ve watched through the whole run of this show, and yet, I never get tired of it. As ridiculous as it sounds, they actually feel like my friends! I have sentimental attachments to certain episodes, too, like “The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding,” which aired the night before my wedding, and every Thanksgiving episode, which have become part of Ryan’s and my yearly Thanksgiving traditions. This show has also become part of Ryan’s and my speech…it’s without a doubt the most-quoted show in our house. I don’t think we can make through a day (sometimes through an hour) without one of making a Friends reference!
  • Downton Abbey–I started watching because, as an Anglophile, I had to give it a chance. I kept watching it because I had to know what was going to happen to the characters, because it has such a beautiful setting, and because the costuming is so elaborate and beautifully well done! Oh, and to see what fantastic one-liner is going to come out of Maggie Smith’s mouth next! I’m just sad that this is the last series…
  • Scrubs–I’ve always liked hospital shows, but this one is lighter than most…but not always, which makes it seem even more real. The episodes that have made me cry have made me appreciate the many episodes that make me laugh even more.
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine–While The Next Generation was my first exposure to Star Trek, it’s Deep Space Nine that I want to watch over and over again. The casting for the show was perfect, and I love watching the characters interact. Plus, Jeffrey Combs appears in so many roles, and I love to hate him in them all!
  • I Love Lucy–Sure, I have my favorite episodes, but the great thing about this classic is that there are no bad episodes. No matter which disc I pop in, I’m guaranteed to laugh, and it’s also totally child-appropriate, which makes it a show we frequently watch as a family!

The Anniversary Waltz

“Tell me I may always dance
The Anniversary Waltz with you.
Tell me this is real romance,
An anniversary dream come true.
Let this be the anthem
To our future years,
To millions of smiles
And a few little tears.
Tell me I may always dance
The Anniversary Waltz with you.”

A Blessed Event

The children and I are continuing to watch I Love Lucy together in the afternoons. The following clip is one of my favorite TV moments ever. I’ve never seen such raw, real emotions between two actors as Desi and Lucy exhibit in this scene. Their love is so evident here that it makes it all the sadder that they couldn’t make their marriage work. I also discovered recently that Desi actually wrote the words to the song–how sweet!