Countess Joycelyn Engle

My dear friend Countess Joycelyn Engle Di Palma is beautiful inside and out! Her kind spirit and love for her family is paramount as we often discuss our lives and all that is happening in them.

Joycelyn received the title of Countess when she married Count Joseph Di Palma, a direct descendant of Norman Adventurer Rainulf Drengot, the first Count of Aversa, who emigrated from Scandinavia and Normandy France in the 11th century. It is wonderful to see the love that Joycelyn and Joseph have for one another after 35 years of marriage.
Read on »

If line and design could talk, its very threads would mention the fashion collection of Layana Aguilar. She is the featured Project Runway talent who brings new artistry to the scene. Fluid edit was prominent during Ms. Aguilar’s Fall 2015 informal Fashion Show followed with a Trunk Show. She featured twelve bold modern abstract patchwork designs mainly utilizing elegant shades, prints and reinventions of future forward fabrics for high fashion evening looks. Elegant couture styled models (Major Models) floated through the main living room of legendary Artist Ron Ferri and International Decorator Jean Pierre Borg while invited A-listers murmured that it reminded them of the classy Salons of Paris. Each unique runway look magically related, yet uniquely different through this young designer’s vision and inspiration. Read on »

Teen Philanthropist Zach Bonner

One is never to young or inexperienced to start making a difference in the world….and Zach Bonner is clearly demonstrating this. As an advocate for homeless youth, Bonner created The Little Red Wagon Foundation, a non-profit charity that raises money and collects supplies for needy children.

He began this non-profit charity when he was seven years old with his Mother and has raised thousands of dollars as well as pulling his little red wagon to neighboring households collecting supplies.

Teaching children the principles of giving is so very important. Give what you have, whether it is money, items or time. Involving children in volunteering will create strong morals and will make a difference in the community.

www.lrwf.org

Dear Moms and Dads, Here is an update on what’s trending in luxury real estate. Villa La Fiorentina, located in the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula in the south of France is just divine. It has a 30,000 sq meter park over looking the French riviera  and two swimming pools. According to Alexandra Lloyd Properties, “La Fiorentina was built in 1917 by the countess Therese de Beauchamp on a vast piece of land which occupies the extreme end of the Saint Hospice point of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula.

The daughter of the Count Giorigi Vitali who had 40 years earlier modified the Villa Fiorentina in Cannes, the Countess Beauchamp addressed the architects Aaron and Gaston Messiah who designed a large rectangular building surrounded by two large belvedere turrets.

The exterior of the building which forms the grand reception rooms, is made up of a large loggia of arcades with views stretching to Italy.

As they were accustomed, the Messiah brothers worked in collaboration with Harold Peto who authorized a part of the park which was made up of 22 hectares of pine trees which had been damaged by the wind. He designed notably the large staircase from the villa leading to the waters edge, along with the large ponds and orange tree areas.

ca. 1967, St.-Jean Cap Ferrat, France — Actors Richard Burton (wearing white turtleneck and slacks) and Elizabeth Taylor (wearing caftan from Givenchy boutique), seated and lounging and playing gin while on vacation at La Fiorentina, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. — Image by © CondÈ Nast Archive/CORBIS

Master Artist Eduardo Salazar is a world renowned portrait painter, art teacher and connoisseur. His works are held in both private and public collections and I have had a professional relationship with him for the last eighteen years.

His talent is extraordinary and his ability to capture the artistic representation of his subject on canvas remarkable.

There is no better way to document history in the making than with a piece of art that can be handed down from generation to generation and preserving memories.

Michelle-Marie Heinemann	Hudson Cornelius Heinemann
Hudson Cornelius Heinemann	Jon and Michelle-Marie Heinemann
Jon and Michelle-Marie Heinemann	Jon and Michelle-Marie Heinemann

There is no better way to document history in the making than with a piece of art that can be handed down from generation to generation and preserving memories.

Mother and Daughter

 

I encourage everyone to have their portrait painted at least once in their lifetime as the experience is extremely rewarding and leaves a wonderful legacy.

Brought up in the heart of French aristocracy, Stephanie Staub spent her entire childhood surrounded by elegance and good taste.

Since she was very young, she has been devoting her time to scouring exhibitions and studying paintings, because she was so inspired and impassioned by art.
At a tender age she used to watch her mother, with fascination, as she designed and created her own clothes, and then, on her tenth birthday, Stephanie made her own first steps in sewing, which culminated in her making her own party dresses as an adult, as well as all of the flower girls’ dresses and page boys’ outfits for her wedding…

After she had then taken some time out to complete her business studies diploma, she naturally came back once again, to her first love of sewing, but this time as a business venture!

And so, Little Eglantine was born, focusing exclusively on dresses and outfits for children, for all special occasions, with particular a focus on wedding designs!

Beautiful Fabrics to choose from… Exquisite.

www.littleeglantine.com – website
+44 (0) 2032870648 – telephone

The Legacy of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

Throughout her life, Jacqueline Kennedy sought to preserve and protect America’s cultural heritage. The results of her work are still visible in Lafayette Square, across from the White House in Washington, D.C. While she was first lady, she helped to stop the destruction of historic buildings along the square, including the Renwick Building, now part of the Smithsonian Institution. In New York City, she led a campaign to save and renovate Grand Central Station. Today, more than 500,000 people pass through each day and enjoy its restored beauty, thanks to her efforts.

Jacqueline Kennedy captivated the nation and the rest of the world with her intelligence, beauty, and grace. With a deep sense of devotion to her family and country, she dedicated herself to raising her children and to making the world a better place through art, literature, and a respect for history and public service….she was a wonderful cook and below is a favorite recipe.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ Baked Beans
4 cups dry navy beans
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 pound salt pork, diced
3/4 cup brown sugar or molasses
1/2 cup catsup
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup boiling water
1/4 pound salt pork, cut into strips

Cover beans with water in a saucepan. Bring slowly to a boil or soak overnight.

Drain beans. Cover with fresh water and simmer slowly. When skins of beans start to burst, the beans are sufficiently cooked. Drain and add onion, salt pork, sugar, catsup, mustard, salt, Worcestershire and boiling water.

Place in greased casserole and top with salt pork strips. Bake covered in a 200 degree F oven for 6 to 8 hours. Uncover for last hour of cooking. Add additional water or stock, if beans become dry.

Michael Travin is the co-founder of Resident Publications, Manhattan’s largest weekly community newspaper and Magazine….a must read for savvy New Yorkers who crave luxury travel coverage, reviews of top dining destinations, exclusive interviews, and the latest on Art and Culture.

He is also the Co-Founder of Encompass Media Group, one of the leading companies for non-traditional out of home advertising. He is actively involved in the day to day operations and still finds time to be a devoted Father to his three children.

Over a delicious lunch at Sirio, I listened with enthusiasm as Michael spoke about the importance of being actively involved in your children’s lives. He has coached baseball, basketball, and football and has managed and organized entire sports programs. Keeping his family close and spending quality time together is essential. The family loves traveling together and are preparing for an upcoming excursion.

Michael is wonderfully charming and has a gracious relaxed manner that exudes confidence in his beliefs. One of them being, that traditional values are the cornerstone for todays generation of youth. He serves on the board of several privately held companies and leads by example.

How nice it was to spend time with a true family man that is successful in both his private and public lives and adores his family!

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Michael Travin as our 4th Celebrity Father!

1. How would you describe yourself?

I’m a hard worker but fun guy who puts his family first. My family is my priority and we actually all really enjoy spending time together!

2. Can you tell us about your children?

My oldest child Chelsey has now graduated last spring from Syracuse… Go Cuse’ and has a fantastic job with Horizon, a digital media company. So far she’s really enjoying working there and all the perks.

My middle child, Courtney is at the college of Charleston and she’s really loving every minute of living in Charleston and college life in general. She’s living it up right now!

Brandon our youngest, is getting ready for moving up to high school next year. He loves sports; basketball is a main sport. I’ve coached all his sports teams and take him to his travel basketball games every weekend. We have a lot of fun either playing sports together, or just hanging out watching our favorite teams together.

3. What is a typical day for you?

My typical day is anything but typical. Because I run a company with many people there are always challenges and things going on that vary from day to day. No one day is the same. Right now I’m concentrating on building my social media with The Resident and bringing the magazine completely upscale which means networking at all the social events that are on going in the city. We hit every major party that is important for us to be a part of.

4. Parents need to be active participants in the lives of their children, I know you have been very involved. Please tell us about some of the activities you have been involved with?

I think it’s crucial not just to be involved with my children during certain events, but to be involved in their lives on a daily basis. Just knowing what’s going on with them and staying connected by listening and being there for them everyday.

5. What family vacations to you have planned this summer?

We all love traveling and that is big part of our lives together as a family. Now that everyone is older and goes in different directions, the family vacation is so important. We are planning on going to Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand this summer. We are very excited about this trip!

6. A large part of our job as parents is to teach our children…. what is the greatest lesson you have taught your children?

I pride myself on being the dad who taught them independence and self reliance. So far all three of my kids are incredibly independent… They don’t need us anymore (sadly)!

Resident Magazine

Glamorous Tanja Dreiding Wallace, the granddaughter of legendary Boris Dreiding – the founder of the luxury skin care and parfumerie located in Zurich, Switzerland called Osswald, has carried the family name to New York City.

How fortunate we are to have this magnificent boutique here! Tanja opened the doors of Osswald in 2012 in Soho and has had major success ever since. Due to the highly selective brands they carry, clients travel all over the world for Osswald events. Some of the skin care brands include: Alpeur, BelleFontaine, Cell Premium, Cle de Peau Beaute, Med Beauty Swiss and Valmont.

I love the fact that the boutique offers men’s grooming accessories as well. Edwin Jagger is a favorite. Beautifully hand made shaving brushes and premium shaving creams are just a few of the treasures one will find at Osswald.

Tanja is an expert on beauty….and on her family! She delights in telling stories of how she loves to gather the family around the table and cook a sumptuous meal consisting of fresh ingredients and her imagination. Her family adores her cooking and her daughter is especially fond of her desserts.

Having the ability to run a family empire and spend quality time with her children is top priority. She is modest with a fierce dry wit and fashionable turned out at all times. Tanja is a true example of a working mom doing it all!

I will be spending all of June in Switzerland with my family and can not wait to see Tanja and her family there, in her native land!

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Tanja Dreiding Wallace as our eighth Celebrity Mother!

1. How would you describe yourself?

I’m a mother at heart but I also love my business and I feel responsible for furthering the family heritage. This, of course, is also for my children. I enjoy being challenged and working hard – I’m lucky that I work in the wonderful world of beauty and fragrance! I love connecting with people, which is key for my job.

2. Please tell us about your children?

Georgia (Estelle Wallace) is almost 6 years old and in kindergarten. She’s super loving, smart, energetic, funny, emotional, loves sweets endlessly and is very interested in fashion and anything girly – she’s past the classic princess age though and identifies with female and male characters like Hermione from Harry Potter and Hiro from Big Hero 6.

Charlie (Charles Ralph Wallace III) is 17 months and the cutest thing I could have ever dreamed of. He’s very charming, flirting with ladies left and right – this is his favorite activity besides throwing balls, eating and sleeping. He’s also very energetic, funny, and super expressive with sounds despite not talking yet.

3. What plans do you have with your family this summer?

First we’re going to Sarasota, FL to visit Grandma Wallace and to take a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando. For Georgia’s Birthday we’re taking her to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Then we will go to Zurich, Switzerland to visit Grossmami Dreiding and Osswald in Zurich – I’m trying to be there at least every 2 months. Lastly we will take a trip to Italy for the Pitti Fragranze perfume expo in Florence which I need to attend – we’re going to spend a few days in Capri and the Amalfi Coast first then the whole family will join me for the expo.

4. What is a typical day for you?

We usually get up at 6:45am, my husband Charles makes me coffee and brings me a cup, I go to Georgia and Charlie’s room and wake her up. Usually Charlie continues sleeping. After breakfast, my husband walks Georgia to school and I get on the computer and on the phone with my store in Switzerland. After the babysitter arrives we get ready and leave for the city. Often I come home at 8PM when the children have eaten with the babysitter already and they immediately demand all my attention. If she’s not done yet, I do homework with Georgia and at the same time play ball with Charlie. Then at 9PM my husband and I together put them to sleep, each reading books with one of them. On weekend days I cook dinner and we all eat together at the table. That’s when the children get to stay up longer and they always love to, then they sleep later the next day….

5. Please tell us your favorite family restaurants, museums, and playgrounds?

It’s a bit challenging going to a restaurant with little Charlie at this time – Georgia is very well behaved because we’ve always taken her but Charlie is not able to sit still yet. So we always go to restaurants in our immediate neighborhood because a lot of them are very family-friendly without being actual family restaurants. Georgia’s favorite place is called The Runner which has a very sophisticated menu of local, artisanal, and organic dishes as well as a wonderful wine and special cocktail list – so as adults we enjoy that restaurant too!
We often go to the American Museum of Natural History which is Georgia’s favorite and can be combined with a walk in Central Park afterwards. Also we love going to the Bronx Zoo, which is a beautiful park in summer. As far as playgrounds go the children will enjoy themselves wherever they are but Georgia’s favorite is the one close to our house which has a water park and several different parts to it, and of course this is where she has her social scene going on.
One thing I’m hoping to be able to organize for the near future is that Georgia and I can go horseback riding together. This was my passion when I was a little girl; when I was living in Switzerland I owned a horse and found that horseback riding was the perfect activity to help balance work and life. It brings nature into an otherwise quite urban life and we get to experience seasons much more intensely. I think Georgia would enjoy this too and it’s something we could share. I’m not so sure about Charlie…. (my husband took horseback riding lessons for our wedding so we could ride off on black Friesian stallions together – we got married on Blairquhan Castle in Scotland, very much a fantasy wedding – but it’s not his passion as much as mine and the little boy seems to take a lot after him!).

6. Traditions are so important, please tell us about your family traditions?

My father was Jewish (he passed away in 1992) and my mother is Russian Orthodox so growing up we celebrated traditions from both religions and mixed them with Swiss traditions. My husband is from an American Catholic family so now we mix even more traditions. The biggest celebrations for us is Christmas – we get a large tree and decorate it extensively with bulbs and ornaments which some of them have been passed through generations. In Switzerland we use real candles on the tree but in America we use the electric garlands. This is a whole family effort. On Christmas Eve I cook a celebratory meal – usually Beef Wellington – and serve the best smoked salmon and caviar with Russian blinis for appetizer. We bring out the family silver, white tablecloth and light candles. After the main course we sing American and Swiss Christmas songs and then the children get to open about half of their presents. This is because in Switzerland this is all there is to Christmas, it all happens on the evening of December 24 and children get all their presents that night. To keep the American tradition we tell the children that the second half of presents are from Santa and they get to open those the next morning.
The second most important celebrations for us is Thanksgiving. I always make a Turkey with all the classic sides (every year I try new recipes trying to outdo last years’) and Pumpkin Pie for dessert. On Thanksgiving we always invite friends.
The third most important is Halloween. We live in a neighborhood with blocks and blocks of old brownstone houses which are super decorated and are bustling with dressed up children and their dressed up parents on Halloween night. There are several street performances happening and trick-or-treating turns into an actual block party. We decorate our house elaborately with creepy skeletons, spider webs and orange lights and we all love to dress up very much (well, I don’t know about little Charlie yet but I assume he will too). Then we go trick-or-treating for a couple of hours then go home to pass out treats ourselves.
From the Russian tradition we celebrate Easter – there is always an egg hunt and if I have the time I make a Pascha – a Russian traditional dessert similar to cheesecake in taste but made from farmer’s cheese which is strained several times then mixed with eggs yolks, butter, cream, sugar and vanilla, then strained again in a special wooden pyramid pan and served with Kulitsch – a yeast cake similar to Italian Panetone. My mother always makes sure the children each get an “Easter Nest” filled with Swiss chocolate eggs and bunnies.
Last but not least are the birthday celebrations for the children – I think it is very important to make “their” day special and give them each a cake with the according amount of candles every year and a few special presents. We will have to keep this tradition especially alive for little Charlie as his birthday is December 20…

Osswald NYC
www.osswaldnyc.com
311 W. Broadway
NY NY 10013
212-625-3111
Zurich, Switzerland location: www.osswald.ch/

Created in 1983 by owner Carole French, Magic Windows has grown into a fixture on Manhattan’s upper east side. It is located on Madison Ave between east 86th and 87th streets where it has been for over 30 years.

“I love this store! They always have beautifully made dresses and darling boys clothes on hand. Very traditional and well made. My daughter and I were recently there and purchased some precious little jumpers for a friend of hers that has an upcoming birthday. Gift Wrap is available which is always a bonus.”

This charming store has the largest and finest collection of classic children’s clothing and accessories for boys and girls, newborn to teen. Warm and welcoming, Magic Windows’ friendly staff is always happy to help you.

Looks for Boys

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