Birthday Femme Fatale on Friday: Nastia Liukin

 Born in Moscow Russia, Nastia Liukin would become an American Sweetheart in Gymnastics, today she turns 31. 🎉🏆💝

Liukin began studying gymnastics at only 3, both her parents were coaches and she was, "always hanging around the gym" both literally and figuratively.

Even though she missed qualifying for the 2004 Olympics by being 10 months too young, her career in both Junior and Senior competition is nothing short of legendary.

She earned 15 Gold Medals, 14 Silver and 3 Bronze, throughout the Olympics, Pan-Am Games, Pan-Rim Games and Nationals.

Even after a possible career ending ankle injury in 2007, she still competed and won gold for several years.

Liukin has become an analyst for Gymnastics broadcasts starting in 2012 for NBC Sports.

In 2009 she began the Nastia Liukin Fund, that aids gymnastics programs across the United States in conjunction with the, USA Gymnastics and since 2010, ALL net proceeds from their programs go to the fund.

In 2010 she began the Nastia Liukin Cup, an annual competition for gymnasts up to Level 10, for both Junior and Senior competitors.  The competition always takes place on the Friday prior to the AT&T American Cup.

In 2015 she published her autobiography titled, Finding My Shine.

Liukin has tested the waters of film and television as well as being featured on the 2015 season of, Dancing With the Stars, where she made it to the semi-finals.

The incredible talent and heart of this young woman has inspired little girls to grow, strive and achieve.  Her grace and beauty has amazed and won the hearts of fans across the world.

Happy Birthday, Nastia 💘

Ashley Mattingly, lost too soon

 💔 She would have been 35 today, another beautiful angel gone too soon after bouts with alcohol and depression, she took her own life at only 33. 💔

Ashley Mattingly was born in Dallas Texas on September 10th 1986, and in 2011 was Playmate of the Month, also gracing the cover of that issue.

Her troubles became public in 2012 when her ex-boyfriend was convicted of domestic battery.  She fell into problems with substance abuse.  In early 2016 she was charged with DUI when she wrecked a golf cart into several parked cars.

She was living in Austin at the time she died, trying to get her life back on track.  Ashley had adopted a 9 month old golden retriever names, Miss Jean, to help with her loneliness and the "shelter in place" did more harm than good for her.  She posted a video to instagram just a couple of days before taking her life by gunshot.  Benzodiazepine and opiates were found in her system.

The bigger tragedy in our world is that we only seem to hear about things like this afterward, and only when it happens to someone famous.

This beautiful angel was lost too soon for many reasons, nobody is to blame but it shows that we need to be more mindful of our loved ones, pay attention to what they say and don't say, see through the "I'm fine" when we know that's not where they are in life, especially when they are on medications or might be taking something on their own.

I never met Ashley, wasn't even going to post about her, until I read her story, what happened to her and know how horrible loneliness is, especially when battling alcohol and drugs, it breaks my heart that she felt so alone.  People shouldn't feel alone, not anymore, especially in today's society when there are SO many ways to reach out to them.

If you or someone you know is having issues with depression and/or substance abuse, TALK TO SOMEONE, don't keep it all to yourself, family and friends are supposed to be there in times of need and few are as more in need than times of real loneliness.

Femme Fatale Friday - Dita Von Teese

 Yes, could have waited until closer to her birthday (Sept 28th, just incase you were wondering) but couldn't wait, can you blame me? 😍

The woman who not only brought back Burlesque but also became its reigning Queen, she reformed this great artform for a new age and took it over the top, yet always maintaining a level of class and dignity that no other comes close to.  Her performances around the world are regular sellouts in any city from Las Vegas to Paris to Tokyo, she has the world wrapped around her silk gloved finger.

Von Teese grew up in Rochester Michigan with the last name, Sweet, which to me seems very appropriate. 😉 Spending

afternoons at the movies with her mother watching some of the greats who inspired her like Betty Grable, Mae West, Carmen Miranda, Marlene Dietrich.  Peaks at her father's Playboy magazines also inspired her, especially the lacey lingerie that the legendary Playmates would wear.

While in college in California she studied historic costuming and trained as a costume designer, even then, she would produce and copyrighting her fashion shoots herself.

Von Teese began work in a California strip club at age 19 but was not impressed with her fellow performers lack of imagination and originality, often working classical looks into her performances.

Her stage name Dita, was a tribute to silent film star Dita Parlo and her famous "beauty mark" is actually at tattoo even though she wears it better than anyone with a natural one.

Dita was later featured in Playboy in 1999, 2001 & 2002, where she also graced the cover.  She has published books on burlesque and fetish while giving birth to a new age of burlesque.

I will confess, I fell for this beauty the first time I ever saw her picture, which I mistook for a vintage shot from the 30's or 40's, but was delighted to find out she was here and now. 💘

Today, she continues to design and sell her lingerie as well as book and many other items, including the vase she holds in the picture at the top of the page, please check out her website and social media who share some LOVE 💖

Femme Fatale Friday - Elizabeth Hurley

Femme-Fatale Friday

💖Elizabeth Hurley💖

At 53 she is still one of the classiest, most beautiful and sexiest women on the planet.

She turned heads in the remake for, Bedazzled, in her devilishly sexy outfits.

Showed her comedic side in, Austin Powers International Man of Mystery.

The 5'8" former Super Model (do any of them really ever stop being super?  Not so far as I've seen) was married from 2007 to 2011 and has a 16 year old son.

From the pictures she's shared in 2018 on social media, it looks as if the British born beauty is enjoying life more than ever!💖