A Sparkling Vintage Life

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Celebrating the grace and charm of an earlier era and incorporating vintage "grace notes" into a 21st-century woman's life.

Jennifer Lamont Leo


    • Jan 17, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 17m AVG DURATION
    • 47 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from A Sparkling Vintage Life

    Five-Year Diary

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 30:50


    Join Jennifer as she discusses the keeping of a five-year diary, and also reads the opening chapter of her new historical cozy mystery, Murder on a High Note. 

    "Three Who Stole at Christmas Time"--a short story for Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 48:42


    Jennifer shares a favorite short story from 1925: "Three Who Stole at Christmas Time" by Temple Bailey.

    Thanksgiving in Old New England

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 33:35


    In this special Thanksgiving episode, Jennifer reads the story "How We Kept Thanksgiving in Oldtown" by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

    Timeless Elegance: Styling Vintage Accessories for a Modern Woman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 20:28


    As summer turns to fall, Jennifer suggests some ways to incorporate vintage jewelry, scarves, hats, and shoes into a modern wardrobe. 

    Fourth of July Fireworks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 11:13


    It's fireworks for everyone as Jennifer discusses the roots of American Independence Day.

    A Night at the Opera

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 12:55


    Jennifer discusses her latest novel, LOVE'S GRAND SWEET SONG, set in the world of grand opera in Chicago during World War I.  Love's Grand Sweet Song e-book Love's Grand Sweet Song softcover Love's Grand Sweet Song audio  

    "A Candle in the Forest" for Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 36:52


    Jennifer shares one of her favorite Sparkling Vintage Christmas short stories: "A Candle in the Forest" by Temple Bailey, published in 1925.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 12:17


    Random musings on Thanksgivings past.

    The Shock of Ocular Melanoma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 12:02


    In a departure from her usual vintage-oriented content, Jennifer shares her perspective and insights on her recent eye cancer diagnosis.

    It's Autumn!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 12:12


    Jennifer shares tips for enjoying autumn Sparkling Vintage-style! Visit http://www.sparklingvintagelife.com/podcast for show notes and other information.

    Queen Elizabeth II

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 23:00


    Visit http://www.sparklingvintagelife.com for show notes and other information.

    Catching Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 8:30


    Jennifer brings a mini-episode to catch up on what's been happening over the summer. Enjoy!

    6 Reasons I Love My Fine China

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2022 13:37


    Jennifer talks about a range of tantalizing topics, from fine china to bridal registries to teen magazines of yore. 

    Cruising, Vintage Style

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 19:02


    Jennifer takes a look back at the golden age of cruising in the 1920s, when those with the means to do so escaped winter in warm and sunny ports of call.

    Random Thoughts on Ripped Jeans

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 13:01


    Are ripped jeans just a trendy fashion statement, or a powerful commentary on our values? Join Jennifer as she tears into her least-favorite fashion trend.

    Where Do We Go From Here?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2020 12:14


    As 2020 draws to a close, Jennifer discusses what the new year holds for A Sparkling Vintage Life.

    The Great American Road Trip

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2020 19:47


    Summertime is when many families hit the road for vacation. Even in an age of social distancing, people are getting away for short day trips and jaunts in the countryside. In this episode Jennifer takes a nostalgic look back at the history of highway travel in America. 

    He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2020 14:16


    As workers scrub graffiti off the Lincoln Memorial in the wake of racially-motivated protests, Jennifer looks back at another historic moment that took place at the Lincoln Memorial memory--the groundbreaking 1939 concert by Marian Anderson.

    10 Top Tips for Working from Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 20:42


    As the COVID-19 virus continues to rage and many listeners find themselves working from home for the first time, Jennifer offers her 10 top tips for working from home successfully. Not to depart completely from the topic of vintage living, she includes advice from that doyenne of mid-20th-century manners, Amy Vanderbilt.

    12 Sparkling Vintage Ways to Tackle Tough Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 20:25


    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.

    Be My Valentine

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2020 12:27


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

    Boxing Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2019 11:23


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

    A Sparkling Short Story: The Christmas Robe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2019 24:04


    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.

    9 Ways to Ease the Holiday Blues

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2019 29:49


    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.

    Sparkling Vintage Football!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 14:13


    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. 

    7 Reasons I Love Downton Abbey

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019 16:05


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

    Here Come the Coeds! College Women of Yesteryear

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2019 32:04


    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.

    Heat Wave! 31 Vintage Ways to Beat the Heat

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2019 13:48


    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.

    Courtesy in a Violent World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2019 8:53


    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.

    Front Porch Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2019 13:26


    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 soothingly as you watched the fireflies in the dusk.

    An Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2019 15:06


    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! 

    Time for Tea!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2019 15:59


    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.

    Memorial Day

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2019 10:42


    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!

    Is Choral Singing the New Prozac?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2019 13:22


    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 as a group, and why we need to bring it back.

    Joy in the Morning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2019 15:40


    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. 

    Sparkling Vintage Motherhood

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2019 13:44


    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.

    The Well-Dressed Vintage Traveler

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2019 21:41


    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.

    Listener Q & A

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2019 15:32


    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.

    3 Favorite Vintage Beauty Products

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2019 11:18


    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.

    Spring Cleaning

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2019 12:26


    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.

    What the Heck is Home Ec?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2019 16:43


    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.

    For the Love of Antiques Shops

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2019 14:02


    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.

    What is Charm? part deux

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2019 22:03


    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.

    What is Charm?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2019 16:18


    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.

    Swearing - Yea or Nay?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2019 13:05


    Using foul language is increasingly popular these days. Some even say that swearing is a sign of superior intelligence. But does cussing add value to A Sparkling Vintage Life? We're guessing you know the answer.

    Introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2019 5:09


    This episode is an introduction to a new podcast called A Sparkling Vintage Life Host Jennifer Leo explains how she came to love all things vintage and sometimes feels as if she was meant to live in an earlier era. Through A Sparkling Vintage Life she'll be celebrating the best of the past and discussing ways to incorporate vintage elements into a 21-century woman's life. She welcomes kindred spirits to join her on the journey! (And, yes, the sound quality needs work. "She" is still learning... appreciate your patience!) The Sparkling Vintage Ladies' Reading Circle Jennifer's fiction: You're the Cream in My Coffee Ain't Misbehavin' Jennifer's blog

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