It's obvious that Ms. Stoddard has never actually spent a day without money (or family money), no matter what her claims to the contrary. Her idea of beauty appears to be buying things to make your house more beautiful. I was looking for simple things I could do to uplift my hopelessly depressing surroundings, and got "ideas" like buying fountain pens and expensive European writing papers for jotting down notes because they feel nice to write with. Um... with WHAT money?
It's also obvious that she has no small children in the house, because many of her non-purchase ideas are things like "relax with a book," "relax with a cup of broth," "relax by writing a letter," and so on. As mother of a 6-year old boy, I have long since left "relaxation" in the dust.
Here are a selection of her ideas which, if you actually had some of these things already on hand, might work for you... or not:
Put on an attractive apron and unwind by freshening up the house. (Of course, she suggests Laura Ashley aprons)
Dust and clean your books regularly, changing their jackets to match the season. (I don't even know what this means)
Have a family picture taken once a year and have it framed. (Maybe I can get a cheap frame at Ross and just leave the beautiful people in it?)
Serve simple foods like fresh asparagus or creamy, perfect Brie with French bread hot from the oven. (Simply expensive)
Garnishes can be a part of the recipe -- arrange sliced veal on a bed of braised spinach with thin slices of lemon tucked between the overlapping slices. (Veal is gotten from tortured calves and expensive)
If you love beautiful bed pillows, as I do, stack them two or three deep against the headboard. (Even if you made them yourself this would be about $10-15 per pillow, x 11 pillows (how many she has) = $110 minimum just for BED PILLOWS.)
...even when discussing simple things like not letting the telephone bother you in the evening she manages to slip in the tidbit that "our favorite vacation spot is on a tropical island where the rooms have no phones". While discussing back pain she makes sure to give all the luxurious details about her custom-made Canadian maple four poster with Lattoflex supports. There is a paragraph in the bath chapter discussing how her father was vice president of Elizabeth Arden and how their cabinets were "filled with Blue Grass and all the Arden creams, lotions and powders." Is she trying to impress someone, or does she really think everyone has access to these things?
The kicker for me was this: I wrote her a letter explaining our unfortunate circumstances and my desire to bring more calm and beauty to our home. She was pleasant enough in her response, saying that she hoped things would be better for us soon and to just do what we could for the time being.... but then she said... "Perhaps you are just jealous of those who have more?"
I put the book away and have not looked at it since... well, until tonight in order to write this review. In opening it up and skimming through it again, I see that my memories of the book as being "The Rich Woman's Guide to Happiness" are indeed correct. I have never forgotten what Ms. Stoddard said to me, and I cannot forgive the disconnect it shows between her own life and the majority of the world.
So again, if you have cash to spend on Laura Ashley aprons and no children to be bothered with while having a bubble bath with imported French soaps, then this book is for you.