Happily Ever After

Mr. Frank: I think this could be the one, Doll.

Lilly Faye: Imagine us owning a country home in France!

Mr. Frank: I can picture us living here forever.

Lilly Faye: Me, too!

Lilly Faye: I've always dreamed of living in a place like this.

Mr. Frank: We've worked hard. We deserve it.

Mr. Frank: What do you say, Doll? Should we put in an offer?

Lilly Faye: What about your sister?

Mr. Frank: Ceecee said she'd come visit us at Christmas.

Mr. Frank: Are you worried about your blog staff?

Lilly Faye: They'll understand.

Mr. Frank: Let's take the plunge, Doll. There's nothing stopping us. Let's buy this place.

Lilly Faye: I'll write to Diz and explain everything.

Dizzie: Hey, Alfie! I got an email from The Boss! Listen to this...

Dear Dizzie,

Thanks again to you and Chad for our wedding gift of frequent flyer miles. Saving money on transatlantic plane tickets made it possible for us to sail around the South of France on our honeymoon. It was unbelievably romantic!

We used the money from my Canine Bride modeling job and Frank's walk-up restaurant profits to rent a tiny apartment in Paris for a month.

Frank is attending Le Cordon Bleu, and loving it. He hopes to become an instructor there one day. He busked with his tuba along the Seine in the evenings when we first arrived. As it turns out, the French are more fond of tuba solos than Americans, and Frank quickly became a sensation. He's now playing to standing-room-only audiences in neighborhood jazz clubs on the weekends. I'm so proud of him.

I got a job modeling for The House of Diog here in Paris. I missed modeling more than I realized. It feels good to be back on the runway again!

Frank and I are doing so well, we've decided to put down roots and buy our own French country home. We've found one that we've both fallen in love with. I'm including a few photos.

Frank asks that you look in on his sister Ceecee from time to time. Better yet, send Alfie around to visit her. Those two are so much alike, they really should get to know each other better. 

Alfie Cat: How dare she compare me to that she-devil! We're nothing alike!

Dizzie: Wait, there's more...

I could not have imagined a year ago that I would be married to the fellow I love, a musician and chef, no less, living in France, and modeling at a Paris fashion house at this point in my life! It's proof that you should never give up on your dreams. They can come true when you least expect it.

Be happy for me, Diz. 

Frank and I finally got our 'happily ever after.'

Love,

Lilly Faye

Dreaming of You

Mr. Frank: ZZZzzzzzzzz......oh, Doll!

Ceecee: Frank, wake up! You've got a whistle in your nose, and you're moaning in your sleep.

Mr. Frank: I was dreaming about Doll Face. I wonder if that means she's thinking about me? I'm gonna go next door and see what she's up to.

Ceecee: Oh, brother.

Meanwhile, next door...

Lilly Faye: I wonder how much a cathedral-length train weighs?

Lilly Faye: Maybe a tea-length gown would look better on me. I've got good ankles, I should show them off.

Lilly Faye: Hi, Frank! I'm glad you came over. I've got something to ask you.

Mr. Frank: Gulp!

Mr. Frank: Sorry, Doll, I can't stay. I think I left the stove on.

Lilly Faye: Frank, wait! Come back!

Lilly Faye: I only wanted to ask him what kind of cake he likes best.

June Mailbag, Summer Fun Edition

Dear Readers,

We've got a lot of mail to answer this month, so let's dive right in. 

Dear Lilly Faye,
I really suffer in the heat. How can I look stylish in this warm weather?
Signed, Ginger

Loose clothing is the answer, Ginger. You're in luck, '70s fashions are back in style. Peasant blouses, palazzo pants, and maxi dresses are all the rage. And of course, a pair of cute sandals goes with everything. 

Hmm, I wonder if I'm too short to wear floral print bell bottoms? 

Cali: Don't forget to drink plenty of water, use sunblock, and lay in the shade whenever possible, Ginger.

Lilly Faye: Thanks, Cali. 

Next, Ralph asks:

Do you have any safety tips for swimming at the beach?

Dizzie, my blog intern, is a Portuguese Water Dog, so I'll let him answer this one.

Dizzie: Hi, Ralph. Never swim alone, always obey the lifeguards, and if you get caught in a rip current, don't try to fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you are safely out of it's grip. Also, no matter how thirsty you are, don't drink the ocean water.

Lilly Faye: Thanks, Diz. The next letter says:

Dear Frank,
I'm a big fan. Do you have any suggestions for a healthy summer dessert?
Love, Lil Dot

Mr. Frank: I'm really into grilled fruit this summer, Lil Dot. 

Peel and core a fresh pineapple, and cut the fruit into one inch cubes. Wash a couple of handfuls of strawberries, remove the stems, and slice the larger ones in half. Leave the little berries whole.  

Melt a tablespoon of butter in a hot skillet. I prefer a cast iron skillet, myself. You can also make this in a pan on a hot grill outdoors. 

Toss the pineapple cubes in the pan, and stir once to spread the butter evenly and make sure every piece of pineapple is touching the bottom of the pan. Leave it alone for a few minutes while the pineapple caramelizes. Then toss in the strawberries and a handful of red seedless grapes, and give it all a good stir. Lightly sprinkle ground cinnamon over the fruit.

Let the fruit cook a few more minutes, stirring occasionally, until all sides of the pineapple are caramelized. It's done! Don't add any sugar or sweetener of any kind. The fruit will be very sweet on its own.

Lilly Faye: That sounds good, Frank. I hope you'll fix some for me.

Mr. Frank: Anything for you, Doll.

Lilly Faye: Our last letter is from our own Alfie Cat:

Now that summer is here, the endless days of hunting and fishing are growing monotonous, and all my favorite shows are in reruns. I could use some new ideas for summer entertainment.

Lilly Faye: I'm going to throw this one over to Ceecee.

Ceecee: There's no need for you to be lonely and bored, Alfie. Come on over and spend time with me.

Ceecee: I'll share my beach reads with you. We can form our own summer book club for two.

Lilly Faye: How about that, Alfie? Alfie? Alfie seems to have disappeared.

Well, that's all for this time, folks. Keep writing, and we'll keep answering your mail.

Love,

Lilly Faye

Fashion Week is Here!

Dear Readers,

This is the middle of New York Fashion Week, when designers are showing off their Fall and Winter 2014 collections. I've sent my blog intern Dizzie out in the field to find out what we'll be seeing on the store racks next winter.

Lilly Faye: Welcome, Diz.

Dizzie: Bonjour!

Lilly Faye: Oh, dear DAWG! What happened to you, Diz? You look like a French Poodle!

Dizzie: Oui. There was a small miscommunication with my groomer. I told her I would be reporting on Fashion Week, and asked her to spiff me up a bit. I guess she thought "Fashion" equalled "French."

Lilly Faye: Well, you do look high fashion.

Dizzie: Merci.

Lilly Faye: So let's get to it. What new trends are you seeing on the New York runways this week?

Dizzie: Lace. Plenty of fur, and leopard prints. A lot of red dresses, and plaids of all kinds.

Lilly Faye: Check, check, and check. From all appearances, the designers have been turning to fashion forward bloggers like myself for inspiration!

Dizzie: Looks like it.

Lilly Faye: Thanks for your report, Diz. Before you go, a word of advice. Do something about that haircut before we start blogging the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. I can't send you to cover the Portuguese Water Dog Breed competition on Tuesday looking like a French Poodle.

Dizzie: Will do, Boss.

That's it for now, folks. Don't forget, the 138th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is taking place Monday and Tuesday, the 10th and 11th. Check your local listings.

Love, 

Lilly Faye

Bikini Selfie

I've been trying to think of a way to attract more interest in my blog. 

I asked myself, "What would Kim and Miley do?" 

Then I dug around until I found Mommy's camera tripod in the back of her closet.

Welcome 2014!

It's only January 2, and I can already tell it is going to be a very good year. Pantone, the official arbiter of all things color, has declared Radiant Orchid the color of 2014. It's a little bit pink, a little bit purple, and a whole lot of gorgeous. And if it's not already obvious, it's also my color, a sure sign of good things to come!