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Since the beginning of time, women have suffered in the name of beauty. In this article, I will share the beauty secrets of some of the most famous women through history. Elizabeth I washed her hair in lye and cleaned her teeth with a cloth of linen. She used a bright white make-up, a concoction of lead, egg whites, and poppy seeds, to hide her flawed complexion. She was a thin woman and wore many layers to give the appearance of bulk. She kept her figure by engaging in hearty walks, riding horses, and dancing. She wore fine clothes and decorated her person with jewels and flowers. Cleopatra has long been considered the beauty of antiquity. She worked hard to achieve this reputation, though. Cleopatra wore a lot of make-up, and even wrote a volume on cosmetics. She sat for hours as paints were applied to her face. She wore exotic perfumes, bathed in donkey's milk, rubbed her skin with aloe vera, and put oil of cinnamon in her hair. Old Cleo knew that being a beauty meant looki

Dear Faithful Follower of On Life, Love and Accidental Adventures : The sea sparkles like an emerald in the blistering summer sun, while the infrequent breeze gently rustles palm fronds.  The cicadas drone.  The days shuffle along slowly, if they too are weighed down by the heat and humidity.  Hammocks swing lazily.  Summer has arrived, which means it is time for me to wander restlessly in search of life, love and accidental adventures. I will be traveling for the next few weeks, but when I return, I hoped to have a suitcase full of stories to share. In the meantime, I hope you will find these links to some of my favorite past blog posts pleasantly diverting: Perpetual Virgin Crazy Dog People The Kiss And when you have finished reading past posts, I hope you will visit my other blog Titillating Tidbits About the Life and Times of Marie Antoinette . Or my best friend's blog, Madly Europe . Wishing you pleasant summer breezes and tangy lemonade! Leah Marie Brown

I am thrilled to bring you a very special posting today!!  Noted French Photographer, Stephanie Gaveau Mounts , has graciously allowed Titillating Tidbits to publish several of her stunning photographs from her Versailles Portfolio.   In the article below, Mounts shares the inspiration behind the photographs ( SGM ) and journalist Leah Marie Brown explains the historical significance of the places featured( LMB ).  Mounts also shares the technical details of each photograph so budding photographers can attempt to reproduce similar images. The Dauphin's Chamber SGM :   "This room attracted me for several reasons:  the vibrant shade of green on the walls, the way the scarlet bed curtains contrast yet complement the walls, the way the light came through the massive windows.  It was an inviting and cozy space in spite of its large size." Technical Details:   Nikon D90, f/3.5 at 1/25 sec, 27mm focal length, no flash.  I processed this photo using the “bleach Bypas

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "A woman is like a teabag; the hotter the water she finds herself in, the stronger she becomes ." Perhaps I am biased, but I think women are the most remarkable creatures on the planet. We have been queens and slaves, mothers and teachers. If every woman in the world was gathered together in a grand cafe and instructed to hold a gab session, I am sure we would discover that no two were completely alike. The life of each woman would be singularly interesting. From Eve frolicking and tempting in the Garden of Eden, to Eleanor Roosevelt spouting of words of incredible wisdom (while wearing sensible shoes to boot!), famous women have lead fascinating lives and kept shocking secrets. Here are some shocking facts about some of the world's most remarkable women. The Virgin Queen Most people know Elizabeth I inherited her father's flame-red hair and his fiery temper, but they are usually surprised to learn her explosive nature once prompted her to

(This article was first published in Writers Digest, August 2005) So you have become obsessed with the idea of writing a novel about a daring spy in Revolutionary Paris? Or maybe you have decided to plot the perfect murder by writing a cozy set in a crumbling old manor home located somewhere in the Scottish borders? No? Perhaps you are working on a time-travel romance wherein your modern-day heroine takes a hike, falls through a fairy hillock, and finds herself in medieval Ireland? You have given birth to the characters and toiled over the plot, all that is missing now are setting details. The small particulars that make your story really come alive. Whatever the plot, wherever the setting, you will need those details to add authenticity to your story. How would your daring spy have moved about Paris undetected? What food would one find in the refrigerator of a crumbling Scottish manor home? Do the Irish still believe in the mystical powers of the fairy hillocks? Do fairy hillocks

Musee Carnavalet, once the private residence of the famous letter writer, Madame de Sevigne , is my favorite museum in Paris. The building has changed very little since Madame de Sevigne was in residence and it is a delight to retrace her steps. As I strolled through the large hallways, walked down the wide circular staircase, and explored the grand rooms, I could very well imagine life in the era of Louis XIV. The Museum also houses one of the most impressive collections of Revolutionary artifacts. Pamphlets, flags, furniture, sketches and paintings from that turbulent time are on display. One room, within the labyrinth of rooms that make up this museum, stands out among the rest: The Marie Antoinette Room . This is where I first saw a lock of hair that once graced the head of my idol, Marie Antoinette. A mélange of emotions washed over me as I saw that tiny, curl of hair, a very tangible piece of evidence that she once lived. The lighting in the museum was dim and flash photograph

George Washington’s Wood With Independence Day looming, it seems only fitting that I dedicate this Friday’s Fabulous Find to one of our Fabulous Founding Fathers. I found a rather curious object at a lovely chateau in northern France. George Washington’s wood has been polished and lovingly preserved at Château de Boucéel in Normandy. Wood in the very literal, not the metaphorical or slang sense (cheeky monkey). On a clear, crisp evening in March, the Comte de Roquefeuil invited me into his study and told me the story of our founding father’s wood and how it came to be at Château de Boucéel. Apparently, one of the Comte’s ancestors lent his support for our great cause. In return, George Washington sent him several tulip poplar trees from his Mount Vernon gardens. The trees grew on the grounds of Chateau de Boucéel until the devastating 1999 blizzard when heavy winds and thick snow took down the last original tree. Today, there are saplings growing on the grounds of the estate