A Sparkling Vintage Life

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. 

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

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

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

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

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  

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

Random musings on Thanksgivings past.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

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 soothingly as you watched the fireflies in the dusk.

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

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.

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.

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