‘Want to give you a little insight into the origin of the Ageless Glamour Girl lifestyle brand, its name, and its purpose. Growing up, my mother called me “Glamour Girl.” I thought it was really cool. You see, I was the firstborn daughter, and the pressure was on. I remember as a child, my Mother often wore red lipstick. (Of course, as “proper” women did, she switched to a lighter lipstick in the spring and summer.) But naturally, I, too, grew up loving red lipstick. I still love red lips, and to this day, to me – red is a neutral color. It was also my mother’s favorite color. She often said it was lucky.
Like many moms, she had big plans for me and my baby sister. Did you know that Sears used to have a Charm School? Yeah – Mom sent us there. My only memories are walking the classroom with the charm schoolbook propped on my head and learning about setting a proper table. And oh yeah, the main treat: hot chocolate and donuts after class. Yummy! Perhaps that was my real motivation for getting up early on Saturday morning to head to Sears.
Still, on her mission of making me XXXX, in anticipation of eventually living her life vicariously through mine (like many moms), in my early 20s, she gave me an interesting book: “The Allure Book: Be Irresistible in 21 days.” Really, Mom? (More on this, in a future blog post.) Years later, Hubby Jerry had no idea what he was getting into when we met. Thanks, Mom!
My Mother was also a Cover Girl. She was an impeccable dresser, and once graced the cover of a St. Louis magazine, a few years after she and Dad were married. But aesthetics aside, she knew — and stressed to us to “use your brain, and always be a lady.” She taught us that beauty is skin-deep — that it starts from the heart.
Love was always at the center of everything in our lives. One of her favorite sayings was the hugely popular “beauty is as beauty does.” I’ve always loved that, and live by that, today. She also stressed the importance of having common sense.
My Mother attended business college and began her career as a secretary, before later securing a job as a Computer Analyst with the federal government, from which she retired, after winning several awards. She was a math whiz. And like her mother, she also loved to sew. As a seamstress, she often made outfits for my sister and me, when we were kids – matching patterns, but different colors. She continued to sew outfits for me through my early twenties.
Additionally, she sewed most of the suits she wore to her job. She was a sharp dresser. She was also an immaculate housekeeper and an amazing cook. I recall while working in NYC, during one of Mom’s early visits from home, she made a cheesecake for my colleagues. Why yes, of course, it was a hit. I remember a colleague begging Mom to meet with his friend who owned a restaurant in Harlem. But she didn’t bite. We could have been rich! But I digress.
This career go-getter, Wife, and Mother of three had a full plate and was a true, Super Mom. My Hero. Hats off to Mom and Dad—and the pinch hitter, my grandmother. It takes a village, indeed. #blessingsgalore
