I’m at ASU this week doing a speaking gig and I’m thoroughly enjoying two engrossing reads during my downtime: Then Again, Diane Keaton’s memoir, and Steve Jobs, the biography of the tech giant by Walter Isaacson.

And coincidentally, in the first few chapters of each, the subject turned to…fruit!

In Steve Jobs, we learn exactly how Apple Computer was named and we’re reminded how important names can be.

As the tale is told, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak had one day to decide on a name for their new company. Since Steve Jobs had just returned from a visit to All One Farm, where he used to prune and tend apple trees, and since he also happened to be on a fruitarian diet at the time, it seems he had apples on his mind and so Apple Computer was born.

And this disjunctive moniker was genius at boosting brand awareness. As Walter Isaacson explains:

“The word instantly signaled friendliness and simplicity. It managed to be both slightly off-beat and as normal as a slice of pie. There was a whiff of counterculture, back-to-nature earthiness to it, yet nothing could be more American.”

The men considered other names, of course, like Matrix, Executek and Personal Computers, Inc., but I can’t imagine any of these names inspiring a logo that would have become as iconic as the bitten apple we all recognize today.

In Diane Keaton’s story, the fruit under discussion was the lovely pomegranate. In Then Again, she writes:

“When I was nine, Dad taught me how to open a pomegranate. He took a knife, sliced around the circumference, laid his hands on either side, and popped it open. Inside was a chestful of garnets—my birthstone. I bit into the pomegranate. Fifty red gems came crashing into my mouth all at once. It was like biting into both heaven and earth.”

I know I’ll think of this lovely description, “biting into both heaven and earth,” every time I sprinkle glistening pomegranate seeds onto my salads, oatmeal or yogurt! If you are as intimidated by this fruit as I once was, here’s a link to easy play-by-play instructions for releasing the 600 seeds in the average pomegranate in minutes.

Of course, neither of these stories counts toward your recommended four servings of fruit per day. And neither does wearing a fun and fruity vintage 1980s romper like today’s VPOD.

But fruit-print clothing can certainly remind and encourage you to reach for apples, pomegranates, grapes and bananas over processed snacks filled with salt, sugar, additives and preservatives.

And this beauty definitely has plenty of style vitamins for a Vintage Crusader!

Available at Decades on Etsy.

(To receive the VPOD free via email with detailed size and price information, sign up for the growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear.

Actually I think it’s more accurate to say that a genuine smile is the prettiest thing you can wear!

In a study published in the Academy of Management Journal last year, scientists tracked bus drivers, who smile at a whole bunch of people every day. It turns out that when they were “fake smiling” their moods deteriorated, but when they thought about pleasant things and offered genuine smiles to their riders, their moods improved and their productivity increased. And the effect was even greater for women than for men.

But while it’s possible to control your own smile and thus affect your mood, how good are you at detecting fake smiles in others?

The BBC has a quick test to see just how good you are at detecting a fake smile from a real one. I scored a 19/20 but I already knew the trick. And I’ll share it with you after you click the pic below and take the test yourself.

How did you do?  Did you figure out the secret?

Paul Ekman, a recognized guru of facial expressions, says that a genuine smile involves two facial muscles, the zygomatic major and the outer part of the obicularis oculi. Fake smiles only involve the zygomatic major.

Since the obicularis oculi muscle contracts spontaneously and only when you’re actually enjoying yourself, there’s just no way to force the movement. As Duchenne de Boulogne, a French neurologist who pioneered work in this area back in the late 1800s put it, the obicularis oculi muscle is “only put into play by the sweet emotions of the soul.”

And since this obicularis oculi is the muscle that pulls down the eyebrows and pulls up the skin below the eye, it makes it easy to focus on someone’s eyes and detect if they are faking a smile. If you still find it challenging to notice the difference, try taking the test again and covering up all other parts of the face except the eyes.

This newfound ability to detect fake smiles can certainly give you an edge with your relationships and negotiations moving forward, but don’t forget that others may be looking at your eyes and judging your own authenticity, too!

Of course, as a vintage fashionista, differentiating fake smiles from genuine ones is actually easier than differentiating fake handbags these days. And while you could take a whole lot of time learning all the distinguishing characteristics of all the different designer brands, it’s far simpler to just make any purchases from trusted sources who do the authenticating for you.

Grab either of today’s VPODs, two fab vintage 1980s Chanel handbags in classic camel or navy, and they’re guaranteed to put a genuine smile on the face of a Vintage Crusader!

Available at Portero.

(Image Credit: Akbar Sim, Flickr | To receive the VPOD free via email with detailed size and price information, sign up for the growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

Going, Going, GONE!

CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO EBAY AUCTION

(Auctions all end within the next 4 days.)

Vintage 1940s Floral Dress (vintage_vixen_nyc) | Vintage Miriam Haskell Necklace (discountsportcards) | Vintage 1980s Knit Sweater (tinroofvintage) | Vintage 1950s Chiffon and Ribbon Cocktail Dress (holly_yama) | Vintage Christian Dior Necklace (urbantiques) | Vintage Little Black Dres (rosie27) | Vintage 1940s Nightgown (miso_vintage_supply) | Vintage Fringed Leather Poncho (windfallfarms) | Vintage 1960s Givenchy Caftan Top (maxamillionvintage) | Vintage Gucci Leather Jacket (thevintagezone1) | Vintage Modernist Brass and Turquoise Ring (space.dwe) | Antique Irish Crochet Gown (heartnsoul1) | Vintage 1960s I Magnin Blazer with Chain (pamh23) | Late 1990s Chanel Boucle Pencil Skirt (claireinc*) | Vintage 1960s Kimono (vintage_american) | Vintage 1960s Pucci Scarf (lmel1951) | Art Deco 18k Sapphire and Diamond Ring (clares1225) | Vintage Don Loper Llama and Alpaca Coat (robynosa) | Vintage 1970s Tooled Handbag (kristin_bolton) | Vintage 1970s Nipon Coat (luckyvintage) | Vintage Vollbrach for Sofere Pop Art Top (macade9) | Vintage Lucille Ostrich Handbag (christoper31) | Vintage 1960s Fox Collar Swing Coat (bustownmodern) | Vintage Whiting & Davis Mesh Top (jooana) | (Disclosure: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia without direct promotional consideration from Bay sellers. Zuburbia is an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network).

PLEASE NOTE that Zuburbia does not endorse the use of fur, feathers, leather or animal skins in fashion. These selections are offered only as more thoughtful and eco-friendly alternatives for contemporary fashionistas who have not yet eliminated animal products from their wardrobes.

(To receive Going, Going, GONE via email, sign up for the growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

GET READY, GET SET, BID!!!

CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO EBAY AUCTION

Vintage 1990s Chanel Silk Blouse (claireinc*) | Vintage YSL Bracelet (mrbmax) | Vintage Evening Dress and Coat Set (efind894) | Vintage 1970s Goddess Maxi Dress (sistersoftheblackmoon) | Vintage 1950s Satin Party Skirt (pmainstudio) | Vintage 1960s Adele Simpson Kilim Coat (promking59) | Vintage 1938 Geissman for Coro Brooch (kaysglitz) | Vintage Ossie Clark for Radley Maxi Dress (sunny1968_0) | Vintage 1960s Ann Barron Cocktail Dress (afro*chic) | Vintage 1970s Deerskin Embroidered Purse (indiecultvintage) | Vintage 1970s Plaid Coat (bustownmodern) | Vintage 14k Gold Mabe Pearl Ring (urbantiques) | Vintage 1960s Leather and Coyote Jacket (indiecultvintage) | Vintage 1960s Bohemian Suede Coat (redhousevintage) | Vintage Pauline Rader Ram Head Necklace (batmobile$) | Vintage Hermes Ostrich Clutch (lovesurf1) | Vintage Gucci Bangle Watch Set (jamie52282) | Vintage 1980s Colorblock Dress (orangesuitcasevintage) | Vintage Hermes Henri de Linares Scarf (jajezus) | Vintage 1970s Peacock Print Maxi Dress (sistersoftheblackmoon) | Vintage 1970s Roberta di Camerino Bamboo Print Dress (slini) | Vintage 1970s Pocket Boots (thriftwares) | Vintage North Beach Leather Jacket (sleepyheadvintage) | Vintage Alfred Philippe for Trifari Bracelet (trifari.com) | (Disclosure: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia without promotional consideration from Bay sellers but Zuburbia is an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network)

PLEASE NOTE that Zuburbia does not endorse the use of fur, feathers, leather or animal skins in fashion. These selections are offered only as more thoughtful and eco-friendly alternatives for contemporary fashionistas who have not yet eliminated animal products from their wardrobes.

(To receive the eBay Roundup via email, sign up for the growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

Going, Going, GONE!

CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO EBAY AUCTION

(Auctions all end within the next 5 days.)

Vintage Valentino Shoulder Bag (linda*s***stuff) | Vintage 1980s Polka Dot Dress (splendidthreads) | Vintage 1980s Cardigan Sweater (thriftwares) | Vintage 1960s Cape (edie2003) | Vintage 1960s Geoffrey Beene Coat (limejsb) | Vintage 1980s Versace Blazer (all*dressed*up*vintage) | Vintage Whiting & Davis Mesh Bag (zhancox) | Vintage 1930s Crepe Ruffle Dress (*rubytwoshoes) | Vintage 1960s Valentino Metallic Mini Dress (limejsb) | Vintage Hobe Necklace (oxfordjewel) | Vintage Missoni Sweater Coat (getreadygo2) | Vintage 1970s Suede Fringe Jacket (tinroofvintage) | Vintage Oscar de la Renta for Swirl Cape (algenstern) | Vintage 1960s Beaded Dress (vtgcaliforniaglam) | Vintage 1970s Roberta di Camerino Handbag (jfc218) | Vintage 1970s Mink Jacket (fiona6704) | Vintage 1970s Marimekko Dress (kalevikki) Vintage 1980s Burberry Trench Coat (thriftwares) | Vintage 1980s Beaded Dress (alphaqueen1) | Vintage 1950s Irene Beaded Sweater (pink_duchess) | Vintage Juliana Necklace (fantasyofjewels) | Vintage Courreges Coat (happychappie69) | Vintage 1980s Sasson Boots (sylvan_belle) | Vintage 1940s Claire McCardell Dress (hollywoodvintagecloths) | (Disclosure: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia without promotional consideration from Bay sellers. Zuburbia is an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network).

PLEASE NOTE that Zuburbia does not endorse the use of fur, feathers, leather or animal skins in fashion. These selections are offered only as more thoughtful and eco-friendly alternatives for contemporary fashionistas who have not yet eliminated animal products from their wardrobes.

(To receive Going, Going, GONE via email, sign up for the growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)