Call me Contessa

Birthdays are good. Another year older? Yeah, so?

(48, if you're asking.)

Another year ahead to make more friends, laugh loads, and play dress up. Nothing wrong with that!

I gave you a sneak preview of my gift from my buddy Sue, but I thought you might appreciate seeing it in all its glory.

It's a 1960s Contesa nightie and peignoir set. It's gorgeous!

It was crying out to be worn with my Sassy Vamps headress. 

I usually feel a bit washed out in soft pastel shades, but for some reason this lovely lilac is fine. Desiree, clever woman that she is, said she made chose the headband because she thought the colour would work with my hair. And I think she may be spot on!

Now I've been calling this set Contessa (as in Italian Countess). But when I thought about it, the spelling is different. So being nerdy (but not having any Italian) I looked up contesa, and found that it means a quarrel, argument or dispute.

Did the lingerie/nightwear brand anticipate bedroom dramas in their frothy bri-nylon creations?

Surely not! It was probably just a 1960s spelling mistake...

According to the Urban Dictionary, a contessa is a supreme goddess, and wonderful woman. I'll take that.

I mean you wouldn't argue with anyone wearing this, would you?

Especially if she's offering you a drink!

I'm not sure what it says about me that I was given 4 bottles of Champagne/Cava/Prosecco by various friends. Actually, it's perfectly clear what it says...

And though I wasn't going to do a look what I got for my birthday kind of post, I had to show you these. Top Honey Joanne gave me a mint still-got-the-stickers-on set of groovy 1970s German glasses, still in their original box . Well, I'm assuming they are German by the text on the box, but I guess they could be Swiss or Austrian. Anyone know?

Wherever they originated, I love them muchly.

So come on over for an contesa with the Barefoot Contessa. As long as we only argue over whose drinking out of which glass, it'll be fine.

(The Urban Dictionary again - there are alternative meanings for Barefoot Contessa here. 

There was me, merely thinking of the Ava Gardner film, and now I realise there is so much I don't know, and only the next 48 years to fill in the gaps!

Now that's what I call good wrapping!

Cheers! 

xxx