By majhonlenel Posted on

Toasting My Tiffany’s During Women’s History Month

Although it’s certainly not the best film of all time, there is a certain je ne sais quoi with Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn’s character plays a woman who is strong and charismatic, yet fragile and broken. She refuses to be saved, but needs to be rescued. Although riddled with chauvinistic and racist sentiments throughout the screenplay that need to be addressed, the storyline has always captivated me.

I, too, have felt the “mean reds.” Holly Golightly says they are not like the blues, “The blues are because you’re getting fat and maybe it’s been raining too long, you’re just sad that’s all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you’re afraid and you don’t know what you’re afraid of.”

Sometimes I’m afraid and I don’t know why… Sometimes, I don’t know who I am… And, there are many times when the song “Moon River” has brought me to tears as I struggled through a day in this world with so much to see (and so much to fix).

On International Women’s Day, and during Women’s History Month, I’m reminded of Holly Golightly. I know that in our modern world, women are supposed to be always fiercely independent, competent, smart, outgoing, and fully-together feminist badasses. And, trust me…Most of us are exactly that.

But, I think that most of us also feel that unpopular feeling of insecurity, fear, and restlessness. I think we struggle with the mean reds, crafting our identity, fighting against the “lane” that society has chosen for us, and forcing the world to see us for our successes instead of our bodies.

During these times, just like Holly Golightly, we need to go someplace that sparkles (metaphorically or literally – you do you!) and makes us feel safe. When the mean reds strike, Holly says to, “jump in a cab and go to Tiffany’s. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there.”

So, when I’m feeling those unpopular (and unspoken) reds, these are my “Tiffany’s.” Happy International Women’s Day – and have a beautiful Women’s History Month! 2021 is a big year for all of us!

Parks and Gardens

“My special cause, the one that alerts my interest and quickens the pace of my life, is to preserve the wildflowers and native plants that define the regions of our land-to encourage and promote their use in appropriate areas and thus help pass on to generations in waiting the quiet joys and satisfactions I have known.”

Lady Bird Johnson

Sometimes a literal breath of fresh air can reset my mind and mood. When traveling, the local parks are gardens are always an important stop for us. We are fortunate to live near Central Park, Bryant Park, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. In the past, we had Henry Coe State Park and even the Trail of Tears near us. Parks are a needed respite to remind me how nature prevails and can make every situation beautiful. For more on my favorite parks and gardens, check out the following posts.

Waterfront

“A drop of water, if it could write out its own history, would explain the universe to us.”

Lucy Larcom

You know that shimmer that comes off of the water when the sun hits it directly? I call those tiny ripples and shimmers my “sparkles.” Noah always laughs at how mesmerized I can become just looking at the sparkly water. It’s best on a boat, but you can see it almost anywhere – a bubbling brook, a harbor, a pier, a cliffside, a beach…. I’m a completely equal opportunity water lover when it comes to sparkling and shimmering. I need it to calm my soul. Sometimes those mean reds feel like fire, and water is the only thing that will extinguish them. Where do you find your soul best hydrated? The beach? The mountains? The harbor? The river? The lake? The pond in your own backyard? Where does the water sparkle brightest for you?

Sparkly Service

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

Holly Golightly loved Tiffany’s, alongside all of the sparkling jewelry and luxury products, I would argue, that it was the service and kindness she received that made it her favorite place. Shopping in Manhattan can do that. The service from stores on Fifth and Madison Avenues, as well as in Soho and Hudson Yards can’t be beat. You’ll make a best friend, spend a few bills, and leave feeling much better about yourself. Retail therapy is certainly one option… However, you don’t have to be luxury shopping in Manhattan to find that attention to detail. Some of my favorite places to receive amazing service are from artisan shops, wineries/breweries/distilleries, and neighborhood restaurants and pubs. If you show a genuine interest in someone’s work, they will open up their entire world – inviting you into their lives. And sometimes, to escape your own mean reds, that’s exactly what the doctor orders.

Home

two black dumbbells and brown glass bottle
chocolate truffles
white ceramic mug with sliced lemon beside white ceramic mug on brown wooden table
love romantic bath candlelight
woman doing push ups
selective focus photography of candles

“Home is any four walls that enclose the right person.”

Helen Rowland

Then there are those times when finding your way anywhere can be too much of a challenge. Those moments when you just “can’t” anymore. What do you do then? After you find your way out of dwelling on something or eating a pint of ice cream alone while binging Netflix, what can you do that’s good for you? Here are some of my favorites:

Happy Women’s History Month!

Keep Shattering Those Glass Ceilings and All Your Mean Reds!

How are you celebrating the amazing women in your life this month? Let us know! And cheers to you and yours!

As always, don’t forget to Toast The Moon to all of your international travels by visiting our store, and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and the ‘gram to catch all of our latest posts and adventures!

Stay in your region this year, stay safe, stay distant, and be like the NYC statues – wear your masks! We’ll see you on the other side.

Other At-Home (or Near Home) Ideas!!!

Here’s to a year of a better and healthier you!

Cheers,

Noah and Majhon

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