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Rating: 
Summary: I think its an attitude thing
Review: I read this book in l995 before there were so many decorating
shows on TV. This worked for me so well because I came out
of a home where these kinds of things were not taught. It
was a primer for "gracious living". I'm not saying I learned
to do everything in the book...but it set a tone, a pattern
that has helped me along.
Perhaps the most important thing was to help set a homey
feel in my life. I'd been single for more than 18 years and
didn't know how to properly nurture myself, much less another.
Using some of these tips, I began the process. Was it just
a miracle that I met my husband-to-be within 2 months? I don't
know..but we're starting our 10th year together. I see
Alexandra as part of that home healing path for me. Not everyone
needs this book, but for those who do, I think she does
a great job.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely the BEST of her books
Review: "Living A Beautiful Life" provides simple do-able touches for making your life a little more special. Alexandra Stoddard's ideas do not involve complicated projects using special ingredients or materials that you can only acquire in New York City and Beverly Hills--or for a ridiculously outrageous price from her own store. I discovered her book when I a broke writer and continued to incorporate her ideas when I was a broke grad student. "Beautiful Life" is arranged with special ideas for the main rooms in your home--living room, bedroom, kitchen, bath. Ms. Stoddard's conversational style makes it an easy read, and each chapter includes "grace notes"--simple things that you can do without spending a fortune. In a sense, she encourages ordinary people to experience the zen of decorating--doing something special for yourself, doing some tiny extra to make things a little more attractive. Her ideas are as simple as putting your apples or lemons in a glass bowl in your refrigerator instead of hidden away in the vegetable drawer. Writing with a fountain pen or picking up a seal and sealing wax for a special addition to personal notes really do make thank-yous feel like less a chore. She provides great ideas for getting organized without making it feel like work. Much better than anything I've seen from Martha Stewart!
Rating:
Summary: A Martha Stewart who lives in the REAL world
Review: "Living A Beautiful Life" provides simple do-able touches for making your life a little more special. Alexandra Stoddard's ideas do not involve complicated projects using special ingredients or materials that you can only acquire in New York City and Beverly Hills--or for a ridiculously outrageous price from her own store. I discovered her book when I a broke writer and continued to incorporate her ideas when I was a broke grad student. "Beautiful Life" is arranged with special ideas for the main rooms in your home--living room, bedroom, kitchen, bath. Ms. Stoddard's conversational style makes it an easy read, and each chapter includes "grace notes"--simple things that you can do without spending a fortune. In a sense, she encourages ordinary people to experience the zen of decorating--doing something special for yourself, doing some tiny extra to make things a little more attractive. Her ideas are as simple as putting your apples or lemons in a glass bowl in your refrigerator instead of hidden away in the vegetable drawer. Writing with a fountain pen or picking up a seal and sealing wax for a special addition to personal notes really do make thank-yous feel like less a chore. She provides great ideas for getting organized without making it feel like work. Much better than anything I've seen from Martha Stewart!
Rating: 
Summary: Organzation for beauty freaks.
Review: Alexandra Stoddard refers to a time when she was a starving student, but from her description, she has never gone hungry due to not being able to afford food. If you don't have some spare cash left over at the end of each month, or aren't willing to stretch things a bit, this book may not be for you. However, considering that I once *did* go hungry for a brief period of time, earned pathetic paychecks and still cared enough about my surroundings to make tough (perhaps even stupid) decisions for the sake of my sanity, I simply roll my eyes at some of her claims and read between the lines. Suggestions in this book include considering decorative hat boxes for day-to-day storage, investing in a fountain pen rather than another few packages of disposables, treating yourself to flowers when you can, going into sumptous stores to get ideas (which I tend to use in more pedestrian stores when I actually start buying stuff :). And that's just what I can remember. "Living a Beautiful Life" gave me the foundation to really start thinking about my environment, what I wanted and what I didn't. Organization could lead not just to efficiency, but to beauty. I have friends who are slightly more destitute than I am. I have a friend who is a millionaire. I have friends who are inbetween and they all look at my home and marvel at the fact that they couldn't imagine me living anywhere else. And I don't think that I would have been able to do it without Stoddard's repeated encouragement, which seemed to be telling me that whatever it was I could do for myself, I was more than worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Organzation for beauty freaks.
Review: Alexandra Stoddard refers to a time when she was a starving student, but from her description, she has never gone hungry due to not being able to afford food. If you don't have some spare cash left over at the end of each month, or aren't willing to stretch things a bit, this book may not be for you. However, considering that I once *did* go hungry for a brief period of time, earned pathetic paychecks and still cared enough about my surroundings to make tough (perhaps even stupid) decisions for the sake of my sanity, I simply roll my eyes at some of her claims and read between the lines. Suggestions in this book include considering decorative hat boxes for day-to-day storage, investing in a fountain pen rather than another few packages of disposables, treating yourself to flowers when you can, going into sumptous stores to get ideas (which I tend to use in more pedestrian stores when I actually start buying stuff :). And that's just what I can remember. "Living a Beautiful Life" gave me the foundation to really start thinking about my environment, what I wanted and what I didn't. Organization could lead not just to efficiency, but to beauty. I have friends who are slightly more destitute than I am. I have a friend who is a millionaire. I have friends who are inbetween and they all look at my home and marvel at the fact that they couldn't imagine me living anywhere else. And I don't think that I would have been able to do it without Stoddard's repeated encouragement, which seemed to be telling me that whatever it was I could do for myself, I was more than worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't buy this unless you have cash to burn. Lots of it.
Review: I got this book second hand from my sister during some extremely hard times for our family. I wanted a life filled with more grace, some beauty to inject into the tragedy of basically becoming homeless with a 6-month-old baby in tow. I did find a bit of inspiration in the pages, and I'm guessing that if I were to try and read it again today, now that our circumstances are much better, I could use some of the informaton and ideas. But at the time it all seemed so frivilous, expensive, and hopelessly out of step with Real Life. It's obvious that Ms. Stoddard has never actually spent a day without money (or family money), no matter what her claims to the contrary. Her idea of beauty appears to be buying things to make your house more beautiful. I was looking for simple things I could do to uplift my hopelessly depressing surroundings, and got "ideas" like buying fountain pens and expensive European writing papers for jotting down notes because they feel nice to write with. Um... with WHAT money? It's also obvious that she has no small children in the house, because many of her non-purchase ideas are things like "relax with a book," "relax with a cup of broth," "relax by writing a letter," and so on. As mother of a 6-year old boy, I have long since left "relaxation" in the dust. Here are a selection of her ideas which, if you actually had some of these things already on hand, might work for you... or not: Put on an attractive apron and unwind by freshening up the house. (Of course, she suggests Laura Ashley aprons) Dust and clean your books regularly, changing their jackets to match the season. (I don't even know what this means) Have a family picture taken once a year and have it framed. (Maybe I can get a cheap frame at Ross and just leave the beautiful people in it?) Serve simple foods like fresh asparagus or creamy, perfect Brie with French bread hot from the oven. (Simply expensive) Garnishes can be a part of the recipe -- arrange sliced veal on a bed of braised spinach with thin slices of lemon tucked between the overlapping slices. (Veal is gotten from tortured calves and expensive) If you love beautiful bed pillows, as I do, stack them two or three deep against the headboard. (Even if you made them yourself this would be about $10-15 per pillow, x 11 pillows (how many she has) = $110 minimum just for BED PILLOWS.) ...even when discussing simple things like not letting the telephone bother you in the evening she manages to slip in the tidbit that "our favorite vacation spot is on a tropical island where the rooms have no phones". While discussing back pain she makes sure to give all the luxurious details about her custom-made Canadian maple four poster with Lattoflex supports. There is a paragraph in the bath chapter discussing how her father was vice president of Elizabeth Arden and how their cabinets were "filled with Blue Grass and all the Arden creams, lotions and powders." Is she trying to impress someone, or does she really think everyone has access to these things? The kicker for me was this: I wrote her a letter explaining our unfortunate circumstances and my desire to bring more calm and beauty to our home. She was pleasant enough in her response, saying that she hoped things would be better for us soon and to just do what we could for the time being.... but then she said... "Perhaps you are just jealous of those who have more?" I put the book away and have not looked at it since... well, until tonight in order to write this review. In opening it up and skimming through it again, I see that my memories of the book as being "The Rich Woman's Guide to Happiness" are indeed correct. I have never forgotten what Ms. Stoddard said to me, and I cannot forgive the disconnect it shows between her own life and the majority of the world. So again, if you have cash to spend on Laura Ashley aprons and no children to be bothered with while having a bubble bath with imported French soaps, then this book is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I thought it would be....
Review: I thought this book was going to include style tips and more how to's than it did. It had some how to's but not for interior design. (Incidentally, there are no photographs in this book, just some simple drawings. How can you write a book on interior design without including any pictures?) The book was also chock full of Emily Post style tips on writing letters, making time for yourself without feeling guilty, what kind of foods to prepare when, and tons of other little feel-good snippets. If you want great tips on interior design, find a better book than this one.
Rating:
Summary: About the Book- Publisher and Editorial Review
Review: Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty & Joy to Every Day of Your Life
ANNOTATION
Offers more that 500 techniques for transforming the way we spend our lives.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
With the publication of Living a Beautiful Life, Alexandra Stoddard originated the idea of creating an atmosphre of beauty and tranquillity with simple touches that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. As a world-famous interior decorator, she has worked her magic on interiors large and small, from mansions and embassies to cottages and studio apartments. Through her writing and lectures, she has encouraged millions to brighten their lives and their homes by turning mundane tasks into small pleasurable rituals that add beauty and joy to everything they do. Alexandra Stoddard's secrets of Living a Beautiful Life are yours.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publisher's Weekly
Interior designer Stoddard (Style for Living, etc.t believes that ``only by paying careful attention to the simple details of daily tasks and to our immediate surroundings can we live vitally and beautifully all the days of our lives.'' Her syrupy, repetitious prescription for gaining control over life and uplifting the ordinary into restorative events is mostly commonsensical: i.e., making morning lists, using perfumed stationery, special china and bedding, finger bowls, massages, fresh produce, good lighting. But some readers will balk at bathing with citrus fruit slices, opening mail with a silver George III meat skewer or making the inside of the refrigerator ``a feast for the eye'' with flowers, and may be at a loss as to where they can purchase a ``Fragrance on the Line'' plastic disc of pure extract of perfume for insertion into a telephone mouthpiece. Unimaginative drawings are included. First serial to McCall's; BOMC alternate. (October 10)
Library Journal
Stoddard, interior decorator, author, and expert on beauty and design, now has numerous suggestions for making every day a special day. Inspiration for creative and colorful living is not only limited to ideas for the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Each of the six chapters ends with ``grace notes'' which are yet more ideas to make some of the small things in one's life enjoyable, whether it be letterwriting, weeding a garden, entertaining, or doing something special for a homebound person. As in her other two titles, Style for Living ( LJ 7/74) and A Child's Place ( LJ 9/15/77), individuality and personality are highly regarded. Recommended for public libraries. Mary Ann Wa
sick, West Allis P.L . , Wis.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Luxurious, beauty-filled rituals give one a marvelous sense of well-being... sprinkle lemon juice in your bath water... throw orange peels on a burning log. Create a still-life of vegetables on your table... let your ceiling sparkle with prisms of light from crystal candlesticks. Add color and flavor to everything you can. The little things in your life speak specially to you and it's amazing how outside pressures and disappointments loosen their hold. Intimate, necessary details add up to one's private life. Select them with care because they are your life.
- Alexandra Stoddard
Rating:
Summary: Living a Beautiful Life
Review: Stepford Wives' handbook. Take me to your leader.
Rating:
Summary: Better for a good laugh than anything.....
Review: Thankfully, I found this book at a secondhand store so I didn't pay much for it. It is not worth the money. Granted, there are a few good tips included but the really ridiculous, BAD tips FAR outweigh the good ones. For example:
-1- Budget for fresh flowers. *Okay, not everyone can do this. Some people have bills that need to be paid instead.*
-2- Put a small refrigerator in your bedroom for chilled glasses and strawberries. *If your house is too big to pop into the kitchen for these items, then you need a maid to BRING you chilled glasses. Besides, honestly, who wants a refrigerator in the bedroom? NOT ME!*
-3- She mentions that one of her friends leaves beef tips simmering on the stove in her apartment whilst she is at work. *HELLO! Fire hazard!*
-4- When she was sick with a "mild case of the flu" she got an armload of magazines and called the florist to have a hyacinth sent over. *Must not have been very sick. Forgive me for saying it but really, I have NEVER had a hyacinth sent over when I was sick and doubt that I ever will."
-5- Mark on your calendars to have your knives professionally sharpened twice a year. *I'm doing good if I can remember to schedule to have my teeth cleaned twice a year. Knives? I don't think so!*
On top of these and myriad other laughable "tips", she name-drops throughout. "When I was so-and-so, in the luxurious hotel so-and-so, with Peter for relaxation and beauty" or "my actress friend, Mrs. X does so-and-so..." I don't care where she has been or who her friends are. I wanted nice, sensible tips for daily living that commoners (which I'm sure I would be in her eyes) could relate to. I didn't find that here.
She also goes onto a tangent about obesity in America in the bathroom section. I have no idea where it came from but it really took up a lot of my reading time. It was unnecessary and had NOTHING to do with how a bathroom could contribute to a beautiful life. She really gets off course a lot.
So, I won't be reading mine over or trying to sell it to anyone else. I figure my copy will go straight to the trash, which, incidentally, is not a white wicker basket.
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