Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond

If you are a James Bond fan, then you would love Fleming: The Man Who Would be Bond, a BBC Mini-series that first aired January 29, 2014. The story is about Ian Fleming, the debonair, mysterious creator of James Bond whose real life was just as exciting and sexually charged as that of his famous creation. His world was full of WWII Admirals, sexy socialites, and femme fatales which makes it very easy to see just how he dreamed up that famous spy named Bond.

Dominic Cooper and Lara Pulver in their roles as Ian Fleming and Ann O'Neill

The series is an adaptation of biographies about Fleming's life, and shows how aspects of Fleming's history inspired his James Bond novels. In fact, in many ways Fleming was Bond in the flesh, even down to his real-life Bond girl, Ann O'Neill.

The show starts out in 1938 London where Fleming is a very naughty playboy. Soon, the war comes calling and he is turned into a very useful war weapon. Fleming’s ability to spin a tale makes him a perfect fit for espionage and quickly takes him from pushing paper to stealing secrets. You don't get to see Fleming involved in a lot of the action of the war, as he was better at dreaming up those sequences instead of living them, but he did ooze the charm and sex appeal that Bond/Fleming have become known for. And just so you know and are prepared for those scenes, Ann and Ian have a rather 'unconventional' sexual relationship.

The characters in the show give you a clear picture of how Fleming was inspired by those he knew and used them as inspirations for the characters in his books. You definitely get a sense of the Bond Girls, M, and Moneypenny.

Lara Pulver as Ann O'Neill and Annabelle Wallis as Muriel Wright

Samuel West as Rear Admiral John Godfrey

Anna Chancellor as Second Officer Monday

Without giving anything away, I can tell you that I loved this series and wished that it was longer than it was, although I did feel that four episodes was the perfect length for the mini-series, you got enough of the information you needed to fill in the blanks of Fleming's life and it was a fun look into the creator of one of the most fascinating characters in pop culture.  I definitely think it was worth watching.

Swooning over Dominic Cooper's portrayal of Ian Fleming

Everything Hearts

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you lovelies.  Here are some hearts to show you my love.

{{All images were found through Google search.}}

Pink Pinsperation

As stated by Audrey Hepburn, I believe in pink. 

Pink is the color of universal love for oneself and others. 

Pink is a quiet color that represents romance and charm. 

Lovers of beauty favor pink. 

A pink carnation means "I will never forget you". 

Pink provides feelings of caring, tenderness, self-worth and love, acceptance.

Pink represents friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, and approach-ability.

Being that this is the month of love, I was inspired by loads of pink on Pinterest. I think that God must love pink too, because he created so many things in nature with this truly lovely hue.

 

Valentine's Inspiration

I have put together some looks to inspire your Valentine's Day attire.  I was inspired by colors other than the traditional Valentine's Day red and hope you like what I've put together for you.  But, of course, I had to include a red outfit too!

I Believe In Pink 

Je T'aime

Sugar Plum 

Ooh Laa laa 

For the Love of Red 

I hope these help to inspire you!  I had such fun putting them together.  You can find any of these items by clicking on their links and it will take you to my Polyvore page.  And, while you're there, if you haven't done so already, why not follow me.

In The Kitchen - One Dish Chicken Dinner

Here's a very simple recipe for those nights when you don't have a lot of time and don't want to do a lot of cleanup because it all goes into one dish.

Ingredients:

4-6 Chicken Breasts

New Potatoes

Green Beans

1 stick butter (melted)

1 packet italian dressing mix

Arrange the chicken, potatoes, and green beans in a 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle with the italian dressing mix and then top with the melted butter.  Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

Love Letters

Source

The other day, while my Mom was going through some things, she came across some love letters that my Dad had written to her while they were dating back in 1961. The tenderness and love these letters conveyed was heartwarming and now that he is gone, it makes them so much more special.

Nowadays, in this world of technology, hand written love letters are almost unheard of. Love letters can now be emailed, faxed, and even sent overnight to lovers separated by oceans and continents.

The problem with an email is that it's not tangible. You can't pick it up and feel the weight of the paper, or smell it, or trace the curve of the handwriting. You can tell so much about a person from their handwriting. An electronic font will never replicate that.

Throughout history, the love letter has allowed us to reveal our true feelings, keep close when far away from home and rekindle the flame when love is no longer new. It's the glue in the book of romance.

The love letter has been composed and treasured for centuries and the earliest may perhaps be the Bible’s Song of Solomon.  But, as a literary form, the love letter probably began in the early Renaissance. The Age of Chivalry produced a series of discreet correspondences that were based on chaste compliments and excessive self-deprecation of courtly love.

In the early eighteenth century, love letters became much more personal, showing tenderness, charm, and even humor.

The nineteenth century spawned the great private love letters of Beethovan to his “Immortal Beloved”, as well as the literary romance of poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.

Clearly, the love letter has evolved through the ages, only to become more treasured and meaningful in the present day.

In this hurried, often thoughtless world, a love letter shows that someone cares enough to carve out time, to sit, be present with his or her thoughts and emotions, and then to commit those feelings to paper.

So, why don't you give it a try?  Put pen to paper and write your feelings down for your loved one.  I think it will be appreciated, and may even be reciprocated.  Then, in the years that follow, it will be a treasured remembrance of your great love.