A Sparkling Vintage Life

Whether it's the COVID-19 virus, a major storm or natural disaster, or some other unwelcome development, sometimes we find ourselves forced to grapple with a situation we didn't expect. Join Jennifer as she discusses twelve "vintage" ways our grandparents and great-grandparents survived, and even thrived, during upsetting times in their lives.

Join Jennifer Lamont Leo as she looks back on the legends surrounding Valentine's Day and suggests some Sparkling Vintage ways to celebrate.

Join Jennifer as she talks about "olden days" Boxing Day and muses about New Years resolutions.

As a special gift to listeners, Jennifer Leo reads aloud her acclaimed short story "The Christmas Robe." Grab a warm beverage and your favorite blanket and prepare to be charmed by this bit of vintage Christmas cheer.

Jennifer speaks from the heart to those spending the holidays alone, or experiencing the "holiday blues" for whatever reason. If you're feeling alone--well, you're not alone in feeling that way! Here are some practical ways to keep the holiday season from bringing you down.

It's football season! Listen in as Jennifer discusses vintage football etiquette for the fans in the stands, what the well-dressed football fan wore in 1943, and more. 

To celebrate the release of the Downton Abbey movie, Jennifer shares the top 7 reasons she loves Downton Abbey. 

As we celebrate back-to-school time, join Jennifer Leo as she looks back at the life and times of college women in decades past, including Literary Snippets from Lucy Maud Montgomery and more.

If you're wilting in the hot summer weather, here are some time-tested ways to keep your cool. Visit http://www.sparklingvintagelife.com/podcast for show notes and other information.

Common courtesy is so much more than using the right salad fork. If we're ever going to solve the problem of hatred and violence in our world, we've got to start with treating each other with basic respect, kindness, and dignity.

Sitting on the front porch, visiting with family and friends or just catching a cooling breeze, used to be a regular part of summertime life, before air conditioning and television sent us all scooting back indoors. Come and sit awhile and reminisce with Jennifer about the front porches of yesteryear. Maybe you'll even be inspired to dust off that old wicker rocker--the one that creaked so soothin...

It's June in North America, which means the thermometer's rising and strawberries are in season. Bring on the ice cream and join us at that most vintage celebration of summer, the ice cream social! 

Afternoon tea and conversation...the perfect combination! Come sit down, pour yourself a cuppa, and let's dish about the delight that is afternoon tea.

A special remembrance episode for all who've given their lives in the service of their country, including a reading of "In Flanders Fields."  We will not forget!

From formal concert choirs to belting out tunes around a campfire with friends and family, research shows that singing as a group is good for us! So why does it seem to have gone out of style? Why do families no longer gather around the piano, or friends break into drinking songs down at the local pub? Jennifer discusses new research into the physical, mental, and psychological benefits of singing...

From Miracle Morning to Before Breakfast , morning rituals and routines are a hot topic these days. Join Jennifer as she discusses her own preference for mornings and looks at the daily rituals of some notable people of the past. 

In honor of mothers everywhere, Jennifer honors one particular mother of the early 20th century. What was the old-fashioned "secret" of her success in raising a world-famous, influential son? Tune in for some good, old-fashioned talk about vintage parenting.

Join Jennifer Leo as she considers the elegant dress and deportment of the traveler of yesteryear, while contemplating her own upcoming encounter with the blood sport that is modern air travel.

Nostalgia--what's the point? Isn't the present better than the past? What about dressing vintage? Jennifer answers listeners' questions. Plus a special 1920s-inspired giveaway just in time for Mother's Day.

Take a peek into Jennifer's medicine cabinet as she shares her three favorite old-time beauty products: items that have been around for decades: cold cream, cake mascara, and castile soap.

In the northern hemisphere, as the days grow longer and the sunshine grows brighter, the dust and cobwebs come out of hiding. Join Jennifer as she discusses that vintage, old-fashioned ritual: spring cleaning. Whether you choose to tackle the seasonal housework head on or pretend the grime doesn't exist, this week's episode will inspire you to come clean.

According to several reliable sources, home economics classes are being added back into the curriculum at a number of schools. What is home economics, where did it go, and why is it now coming back? Tune in as Jennifer waxes nostalgic (or not) about her own middle-school home ec class, and lists five reasons why home economics matters.

Do you enjoy browsing antique and vintage shops? Join Jennifer as she thinks about what draws her to surround herself with old things, and also hear her review of the Amazon Originals series Vanity Fair .

In this follow-up episode to "What is Charm?", Jennifer shares a list of twenty "shortcuts to charm" written by actress Arlene Francis in 1960. Surprisingly, these tips are as relevant today as they were almost sixty years ago, focusing on kindness, respect, and courtesy.

She's charming. He's a charmer. Prince Charming. When you hear someone described as "charming," what images does it bring to mind? Listen in as Jennifer tries to dissect what writers of the past have said about the quality of charm, and what it means for us today.