Tag Archives: Donna Reed

Donna Reed Style Note – Jeff vs. Mary

13 Oct

outdoor furniture

It is a gorgeous day in San Francisco and I find myself wishing I had a private space to sit and sip an iced tea in, like the Stone’s backyard.

My fantasy outdoor space would look like this:

Shown here:

  • Sofa – Metro Retro Furniture – $1500
  • Chairs – CB2 – $149 each
  • Table – Ikea – $189
  • Umbrella – World Market – $99.99
  • Placemats – Williams-Sonoma – $36 for 2
  • Plates – Crate and Barrel – $8.95 each
  • Side Table – Green Home – $95
  • Glasses – Angela Adams – $32 each
  • Flatware – Macy’s – $55 for 5 piece setting
  • Pillow – Pier 1 – $23.96
  • Pitcher – Sur la Table – $12.95

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Season 1: Episode 19 – Jeff vs. Mary

13 Oct

Screen shot 2010-10-13 at 11.08.17 AM

Synopsis

Episode opens as a repairman is completing the installation of a home intercom system at the Stone’s residence. The intercom allows easy communication between the kitchen and Alex’s office. Mary decides she wants to be the one to test it so Donna goes to Alex’s office so they can receive the first communication. When Donna gets there she is surprised to find Alex talking with his friend, Dr. Beau, who has been away. The friends are getting caught up and don’t notice how long it is taking Mary to try the intercom. Finally, Donna presses the listen button on the intercom and overhears Jeff and Mary who are in the midst of a heated argument. Alex and Donna go to break up the squabble.

Jeff is not happy with the outcome of the parental intervention. He feels his parents always side with Mary and that Mary is the favorite child. He goes outside to sulk and is met by his buddy, Nick, who is also a younger sibling. They commiserate about the older child always getting the privileges and love.

Meanwhile, Alex and Donna are planning a party for Beau. Mary asks if she can stay up and play piano. Though it is an adult party, they agree she may stay to play one song. Jeff asks if he can do some magic tricks, but they say he is too young for an adult party. Jeff feels slighted again.

The night of the party Mary is playing piano and Jeff heads up to bed. Nick is outside his window and they again discuss how mistreated they are. When Mary’s performance receives echoing applause, Jeff decides to sneak out with Nick to get a chocolate soda.

The party ends and Donna heads up to tuck Jeff in. She is alarmed to find he is not there. She leaves to get Alex and Jeff sneaks back in and into bed. She returns with Alex and is confused to find Jeff “asleep”. She lifts the covers and sees Jeff is still fully clothed. Jeff confesses to sneaking out.

The next morning Jeff is sad and angry. Donna and Alex are baffled.

Jeff goes to see Dr. Beau and confesses his feelings. He is hurt and feels like he is second best. He leaves and Beau goes to Donna and Alex with Jeff’s confession.

Donna wants to find a subtle way to tell Jeff he is loved. He comes home and gets some ice cream. As Donna leaves the kitchen she switches on the speaker of the intercom. Nick comes over and Jeff runs up to get something in his room. It is just Nick in the kitchen when Alex and Donna start discussing how much Jeff is loved. Nick is very moved.

Nick switches off the intercom as Jeff returns. Nick lays into Jeff about what a jerk he is for not realizing how much his parents love him. Nick leaves.

Donna and Alex return to the kitchen and Jeff asks Donna to confirm things that Nick said. Donna and Alex confirm that Jeff is and always will be adored by them. Jeff is appeased and again feels like a valued member of the Stone clan.

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Season 1: Episode 18 – It’s The Principle Of The Thing

12 Oct

Screen shot 2010-10-12 at 10.10.22 AM

Synopsis

Episode opens with Donna vacuuming the blinds. The doorbell rings and she goes to the door. A man and his son are standing there. The man introduces himself as Mr. Popkin and inquires as to Alex’s credentials. Donna lists them and the man seems unimpressed.

Mr. Popkin and son go in to meet with Alex. Alex examines the boy and prescribes a course of treatment. Mr. Popkin cannot afford the treatment. Alex offers several solutions: a payment plan, delayed payment, and no payment. Mr. Popkin finds each of these solutions abhorrent and makes long speeches about servitude. He decides to postpone treatment for his son until he can pay in full.

Donna feels bad for the son and inquires as to what Mr. Popkin does for a living. He is an inventor. Donna assumes this to mean he is handy, so she hires him to do some work around the house. The table he was to fix still wobbles and his attempts to fix the wiring end in his electrocution. Alex forbids him from doing anymore work around the house and he leaves dejected.

Donna goes to visit his workshop. It is filled with his many inventions, most of them useless. One however, an adorable, animated toy rabbit catches her eye. She asks if she can take it to see if the toy store would like to sell it. Mr. Popkin hems and haws and finally relents.

Donna brings the rabbit home and shares it with the family. Jeff in particular is quite taken with it. He sets up a booth downtown to try to sell the rabbits. He is quite a salesman, he even has Mary pose as an enthusiastic customer. A cop comes and tells him to move on as he does not have a permit to sell there. Mr. Popkin comes by and hassles the cop. The cop brings Jeff and Mary to the station. Mr. Popkin calls Alex and tells him to go get his kids out of jail.

Meanwhile, Donna is charming the owner of the local toy store into taking the rabbits. He agrees and places a rabbit in the shop window, along with other toys. Mr. Popkin comes by and is offended; he feels his rabbit is not the focus of the display. He and the shop owner have an altercation.

Back at home Alex has had enough with trying to help Mr. Popkin. He lays down the law and says he is immediately treating the son for free. Then there is a knock on the door. In come the cop and the owner of the toy store. The whole town wants the toy rabbits. The toy store owner presents Mr. Popkin with a contract. Mr. Popkin fumes about the unfairness of the contract and then decides to accept it.

Mr. Popkin visits the Stones with his new invention, a portable barbecue. Donna agrees to try it and it blows up in her face.

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Season 1: Episode 17 – Nothing But The Truth

11 Oct

Screen shot 2010-10-11 at 9.44.37 AM

Synopsis

The episode begins with a ringing phone on a Friday afternoon. Donna answers and it is David, the boys who spent Thanksgiving with them. He is calling to let Donna know it is his birthday and he has no plans. Donna, of course, invites him to spend the weekend and invites his friend, Mousy, to come over on Saturday for a party. Donna arranges for Alex pick up David after work. When they hang up, David turns to his friend and remarks that it really isn’t his birthday.

Donna and Mary are setting the dinner table and Donna expresses frustration with Jeff. It is clear he has done something to upset her. Alex and David arrive home and David is milking the birthday angle. Jeff arrives home and Donna sends David and Mary upstairs so she can talk to Jeff and Alex. She tells them that she received a call from Mrs. Wilgus, the nosy neighbor, saying that Jeff and some friends were shooting at her window with an air rifle.

Donna and Alex press Jeff on this and he takes a long time to confess. Finally, he gives in and says he was actually shooting at her weathervane but hit the window accidentally. Donna and Alex lecture Jeff on the importance of telling the truth. Mary and David come down as the conversation is ending and Mary tells Jeff he will not go to heaven if he lies. David looks nervous.

The family sits down to dinner, but David excuses himself saying that he has a bellyache. He goes upstairs to rest. Donna and Alex go up later to tuck David and Jeff into bed. After the lights go out David asks Jeff he believes that you don’t go to heaven if you lie. Jeff says he doesn’t know. David confesses to Jeff that he lied about his birthday. Jeff tells him to keep lying.

The next morning Jeff coaches David to maintain the ruse. They go down to breakfast but David’s belly is still upset and he can’t eat. Mary brings out a pile of presents for David. He begins to open them and then flees to the backyard; he is overcome with guilt.

Donna goes to check on him and he confesses. It is not his birthday. An older boy excluded him and Mousy, his friend, from his birthday party so David told him he was having a better party, that’s when David called Donna. David’s birthday is really three whole weeks away. Donna comforts David and says they are still having a party.

Donna prepares food as Alex goes to pick up Mousy. He returns with a car full of boys. A real party is had. Jeff is allowed to bring out is air rifle and he sets up target practice for the younger boys. It is a wonderful party.

At the end of the party, Donna and Alex remind Jeff and David of the importance of telling the truth. The boys get it. They leave the room and the phone rings. Donna answers. It is Mrs. Wilgus inviting Alex and Donna to play bridge. They clearly don’t want to go. Donna tells Mrs. Wilgus they must decline because Alex is going out of town. They hang up and are faced with the boys who overheard the conversation. They ask if Alex is really going out of town. Donna confesses that he is not. She tries to explain the very subtle difference between good lies and bad lies. David promises to pray for her.

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Season 1: Episode 16 – Jeff’s Double Life

8 Oct

Screen shot 2010-10-07 at 12.12.45 PM

Synopsis

The episode opens with Alex and Donna returning from a dinner party. As they prepare to enter the house Donna gets a feeling that something is wrong. They no sooner enter the house when they hear footsteps coming up the walk. Donna predicts it is their busybody neighbor, Mrs. Wilgus. Indeed, it is Mrs. Wilgus who informs Alex and Donna that the kids had a loud party while they were out. She nearly called the cops. She tells Alex repeatedly that such behavior is especially unbefitting the children of a doctor.

Mary and Jeff come down and confess that they did have people over and it got a little out of hand. Alex lays into them and stresses the importance of maintaining his excellent reputation within the community.

The next day is Sunday and Alex, Donna, and Mary are having lunch. Jeff is nowhere to be found. Donna has another bad feeling, but Alex tells her he is probably just out playing. Meanwhile Jeff is hiding outside the house listening. He keeps rubbing his arm. It is clear he is injured. Alex and Donna leave to run errands and Jeff comes in. He is clearly distraught and confesses to Mary what happened. He accepted a ride from an unlicensed driver, a friend of Mary’s, there was an accident and he ran from the cops. The kids decide not to say anything because they don’t want to hurt Alex’s reputation. Mary gives Jeff money to go see Dr. Berry, the new doctor in town who doesn’t know the Stones.

Jeff goes to the doctor and gives a false name. The doctor is suspicious. During the exam Jeff shows an unusual knowledge of anatomy which piques the doctor’s interest. Jeff has a sprained elbow. When Jeff turns to grab his coat the doctor peeks at Jeff’s name in his school book.

Donna is waiting for Jeff outside Dr. Berry’s office. Mary told her everything. Donna talks with Jeff about his bad decisions. She feels bad that he felt the need to protect her and Alex.

Alex gets a phone call from Dr. Berry about his patient, Jeff. Alex is hurt that Jeff had a medical issue and didn’t come to him.

Back at home Alex and Donna talk about appearances and nosy neighbors. They realize that they are being asked to uphold unreasonable expectations because Alex is a doctor. They just want to be like everyone else. They talk to the kids and tell them that they can talk to them about anything and it’s OK to make mistakes.

Mrs. Wilgus returns to gossip about the accident and Jeff’s role in it. Donna and Alex politely tell her to go fly a kite.

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Donna Reed Style Note – Mary’s Double Date

7 Oct

Modern Outfit

In this episode Mary has the loveliest prom dress. It is achingly romantic and who can’t use a little a romance in their life?

While I’d love to live in a world where this dress could be worn everyday, it just doesn’t seem practical. However, using this dress as inspiration we can put together a wearable ensemble that maintains the romantic appeal.

Shown Here:

  • Earrings – Tiffany & Co. – $325
  • Cardigan – Piperlime – $98
  • Blouse – Anthropologie – $98
  • Bag – Sundance Catalog – $198
  • Skirt – Boden USA – $58
  • Leggings – Gap – $12.50
  • Boots – John Fluevog – $285

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Season 1: Episode 15 – Mary’s Double Date

7 Oct

Screen shot 2010-10-06 at 12.55.59 PM

Synopsis

Episode opens with Mary primping before the hallway mirror. She joins the rest of the family at breakfast. She has a dilemma. The junior prom is two days away and the boy she really want to go with, Ernie, has a girlfriend but their relationship is on the rocks. His friend, Phil, really wants to go with Mary, but she doesn’t want to say yes to him if there is a chance for her to go with Ernie. As she is explaining this to her family the doorbell rings. It is Charlie, a third boy who is head-over-heels for Mary, who has come to walk Mary to school. Mary tells Charlie she can’t walk with him and then gives him a list of errands to run. He happily agrees. They both leave.

Alex is shocked at how Mary is treating these boys and he discusses this with Donna.

At school Charlie continues to dote on Mary. She talks to Ernie about his rocky relationship and flirts with both he and Phil. Both boys seem on the cusp of asking Mary to the dance.

Mary returns home and tells Donna she is expecting calls from both Ernie and Phil. She hopes Ernie calls first because she does not want to prematurely accept Phil if she has a chance with Ernie. Donna can’t keep the two boys straight. Charlie approaches and Mary escapes to next door. Donna greats Charlie and they have a heart-to-heart. Charlie confesses that he is in love with Mary. Donna tells him that to get a girl he can’t be such a pushover. He has to learn to say no if he wants Mary to respect him. They role-play saying no.

Charlie leaves and the phone rings. It is Phil calling to ask Mary to the prom. Donna, still confused as to the whole Phil/Ernie thing, says that Mary will go with him. Mary comes back elated because she ran into Ernie and he asked her to prom. Donna confesses her error and now Mary has two dates. Mary vows to cancel plans with Phil.

The evening of the prom Alex and Donna are horrified to discover that Mary still has not cancelled plans with Phil. It is clear Mary is enjoying the attention from both boys. The phone rings and it’s Phil. He cancels plans with Mary. Then Ernie gets on the phone, he is at Phil’s house, and also cancels his date with Mary. Mary is crestfallen. Donna tells Mary she has been playing a dangerous game and must now face the consequences. Mary decides to call Charlie and go with him.

Mary comes down dressed for prom but still distraught. She can’t reach Charlie. She runs upstairs to try another number and there is a knock on the door. It is Charlie. Donna and Alex pull him aside and convince him to play it cool. Then he listens as Mary confesses her bad behavior and appreciation of Charlie to her parents. Charlie comes in and is no longer the pushover. He and Mary go the dance.

At the dance Mary is enamored with Charlie. She now appreciates him.

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I read each and every one of these posts and love them!

5 Oct

I read each and every one of these posts and love them!

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Season 1: Episode 14– A Very Merry Christmas

5 Oct

Screen shot 2010-10-05 at 9.05.37 AM

Synopsis

Episode opens with a shot of the Stone family Christmas tree. We see the living room in the midst of holiday preparation. Donna is on a ladder hanging holiday cards on a ribbon above the fireplace (more on this later). As Donna is making final adjustments the phone rings. She goes to answer it and her creation falls apart.

Mary and Jeff enter and are full of concerns about gift exchanges with their friends. Their concerns seem to focus around who got gifts for whom and how much was spent. Donna is frustrated by their materialism.

The paper boy comes by and is clearly expecting a tip or gift. Donna gives him a fruitcake and he leaves unimpressed.

Alex comes in and asks Donna where the gift for his head nurse is. Donna confesses that she forgot and will pick something up later. Alex leaves with a box of other gifts Donna assembled for his colleagues.

The laundryman stops by and lingers expectantly. Donna gives him a fruitcake and his face registers displeasure.

Donna is clearly feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the holiday. The mailman comes by and scowls at his fruitcake.

Donna goes to the store to get the last minute gift for Alex. The store is packed and people are pushing and shoving. It is clear people don’t care what they buy as long as they buy something.

She goes to the hospital to drop off the gift for Alex. She describes the scene at the store to him. She is disgusted by the state of Christmas. Charlie, the hospital custodian, comes in and laments that Christmas has been taken from the children. Donna hears the ring of truth in that statement.

She goes to the children’s wing to wish the kids there a Merry Christmas. She finds the wing void of any holiday adornments. She asks the nurse if anything is being done for the children. The nurse doesn’t know. Donna goes through the entire hospital hierarchy to try and figure out who usually does something for the children. It is finally revealed that it is the custodian, Charlie, who has arranged the holiday celebration for more than 30 years. He confesses that though he has had help in past years, no one has stepped forward to help him this year. Donna offers to step in.

Back home Mary and Jeff are upset that Donna will spending Christmas Eve at the hospital and they will have to wait until morning to open their presents.

At the the hospital Donna is all smiles as she decorates a tree and makes things nice for the kids. Charlie comes in and plays Santa and the kids are thrilled. Alex, Mary, and Jeff surprise Donna by joining the festivities and bringing some of their own gifts to share with the sick children. The Stones give Santa a present. Alex begins singing Silent Night and everyone joins in. Donna looks happy. Christmas makes sense again.

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It does seem like more & more women our age are looking back at “the good ol’ days” with a little bit of wistfulness.

2 Oct

It does seem like more & more women our age are looking back at “the good ol’ days” with a little bit of wistfulness.

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