Happy New Year!

Miss Gene Marshall, circa 1930's.
Courtesy Monolithic Studios.

Merry Christmas!

Miss Gene Marshall

Season's Greetings

Miss Gene Marshall

May the gifts of the season bring you joy.

Perfectly Suited for the Holidays

A cocktail party with friends or an intimate dinner for two suggests an elegant suit ensemble as the perfect choice.  Barbie chooses a one-of-a-kind, fur-trimmed suit of rich burgundy and black moire silk with matching handbag from Hunter-Goldblatt Designs.  The floral-trimmed, black headband from Ashton Drake's "Little Black Dress" set is fashioned into a chic pillbox.

Barbara Millicent Roberts

Credits:

Walking Suit Silkstone Barbie is from Mattel.

Styling from The Couture Touch.

Gene Marshall Shares a Recipe

We've all been there.  You are invited to a Holiday soiree and the hostess asks if you could bring a dessert.  You'll be the hit of the party with my mom's recipe for "Quick Caramel Oat Bars".

Here's what you will need:

• 1-1/2 Cups rolled oats
• 3/4 Cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 5 T unsalted melted butter
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

15 minutes before baking, place rack in center of oven and preheat to 400 degrees.  Grease a 9" x 13" pan (To reduce fat use a non-stick pan or vegetable cooking spray).  In a large bowl mix the oats, sugar, butter, and baking powder until all the oats are moistened with butter and there are no lumps of sugar.  Press into the pan in a thin, even layer.  Bake 10 - 12 minutes until golden (7 - 10 minutes if using a non-stick pan).  Cool at least 10 minutes and cut into 2" squares.  Carefully transfer the squares to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Yield:  24 - 2" squares

Preparation time:  15 minutes

Baking time:  10-12 minutes (7-10 minutes using a non-stick pan)

Variations

1. Press above mixture into pan in a thin, even layer.  Sprinkle with 1 small package of semisweet chocolate chips.  Bake as directed above.
2. Remove from oven, immediately sprinkle with finely, chopped nuts.  Let cool thoroughly before cutting into squares.

Photo Credits:

Cocoa Rose Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.
Apron borrowed from Mattel's Holiday Hostess Barbie.
Dress from The Couture Touch.
Brooch from Integrity.

Say It with Pearls

Who wouldn't love a gift of an elegant strand of genuine cultured pearls.  However faux pearls have long been popular as an affordable alternative.  One of the premier manufacturers of faux pearls during the early part of the Twentieth Century was Richelieu.

From the October 1942 issue of Harper's Bazaar, this Richelieu ad shows three chic choker styles referred to as a duchess collar.  And by the way....LOVE the hats!

Film star Gene Marshall endorses the look with a twist on the stylish duchess collar.  Two separate pearl necklaces are combined to create her 4-strand choker perfect for the jewel neckline of the top from A Lady Knows, all from Ashton Drake.  Hat, gloves, cabochon pearl earrings, and fur muff are from The Couture Touch.  White Orchid Gene Marshall is from JamieShow.

Let's Talk Turkey

Photo courtesy Paint The Gown Red

Happy Thanksgiving!