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WhatTF?

2010-10-29T23:13:00.001-07:00

I was thrilled earlier this year when I heard Tom Ford was releasing a private blend lipstick collection! But when I heard it was a limited release sold only at Bergdorf Goodman I was like WhatTF? (Ha, ha, a spin on Tom Ford). I frantically flipped thru my calendar to look for my next upcoming trip to NYC but realized Neiman Marcus now owns Bergdorf . Well it turns out they only carry a few colors and not the whole collection :-(

So a few months ago when I found a 30 min. break during a biz trip in the Big Apple, I hopped in a cab to head to the basement floor of Bergdorf, where all things makeup are so elegantly presented. Victory was had and I tried on 5 different colors, ended up loving "Pink Dusk" and "Blush Nude". Swooping up a total of 4 (some to use as gifts), I made it back to my conference in time. Talk about a shopping spree!! Now my "Pink Dusk" is an everyday fave and I can't express how smooth and luscious this lipstick feels. Not to mention the beautiful white/gold container it comes in. Coming to the West Coast sometime in Nov., these collections can finally be had in select Nordstrom stores too. Which color will you choose?

Standing Up

2010-10-24T23:55:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season to start worrying about how to keep your boots "up" this winter as must-have 2010 selections line the retail shoe floor. You know you're bound to get that pair you've had your eyes on cuz it's what a girl's gotta do :-)

I found this clever boot stand online and I must have it! Available only in Asia so I'll have to get this on my future trip.

Halloween is around the corner!

2010-10-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

I'm bummed I didn't grab this outfit earlier; it's 11 days till the 10/31 Spooktacular festivites and this outfit is sold out :-( So what's the plan now? Betty Draper of MadMen (ugh, don't have the figure) or focus on an awesome doggie outfit for my pup instead? Or maybe go as the Whitehouse party crasher D.C. Housewife? Check out Yandy.com for some crazy outfits.

The Ultimate Cooking Class!

2010-02-10T22:29:00.000-08:00

New York is the focal point of all things "foodie"; at least that's how I feel after enjoying over 3 years of lavish wining and dining in the Big Apple when I lived there. And oooo, how I miss those days where the moment I found a hot new restaurant, I'd be dialing on my phone a month ahead to try to get dinner reservations at these highly coveted locales. How many times was I disappointed to hear the busy tone forever and ever? From Bouley to Per Se, to WD-50, persistence paid off and I was eventually able to get a table, although it was sometimes just at the bar or for lunch. And I've gotta say, every meal was worth the effort!

So what's a foodie's passion these days? I do own a load of cookbooks from various chef's that I've followed but it's sometimes hard to translate the recipes in print and you wish the chef could show you a demo. Well I just came across a fantastic event in October that will allow you to have a hands-on cooking experience with the "Who's Who" of the NY restaurant scene. No kidding, the chef's list has names like Jean-George, Bouley, Morimoto, Portale, etc. It's called the New York Culinary Experience and surely an experience indeed! A 2 day course will get you in the kitchen with fellow amateur chefs and you get to cook with the chef of your choice (total of 4 chefs as classes run in AM and PM with a panel session for lunch.) It does come with a hefty ticket price of $1395 plus tax, but that's probably a total of what I would pay for 4-5 pricey dinners at the restaurants these chefs operate so maybe it's worth it if you get to mingle and have direct access to their techniques. If I can think of a good occasion to "gift" myself, I think this is one item I'd like to sign up for. Check our their website for the 2009 details and to reserve a spot for 2010 if you're the "affluent" kind :-) http://nymag.com/nyce/about.html

Show It Off!

2010-02-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

Are your family photos and kiddie artwork piled in a box somewhere? Well it's time to get them out and flaunt them on your walls! I recently came across Streck (http://kidsartdisplay.com/cart/index.php), a beautiful and unique bulletin board-style frame that you can order in 50 different fabrics. The ribbons that stretch will easily re-position along the board and hold your photos or artwork in place. It's soooo easy to use and you can even get personalized name or message cards made to match the frame. I had one created for my friend to match her blog and she just loved it! Sophistication at it's best.

Zazzle Dazzle

2010-01-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

I remember the days my mom would take me to local merchants in the area to get our towels embroidered with initials, or have customized mug cups printed with our kiddie pics for granny to have. Well, fast forward 20 years and the online world is full of merchandise customization and I have friends printing their own stamps and ordering customized dolls that look like their kids (a bit scary!).

On a personal note, I recently decided to print some contact cards and used Zazzle.com. I chose them for the variety of reasons: design, cost and speed. I ordered on Sunday evening and had my cards in hand by Tuesday afternoon! But what really caught my eye were the custom shoes you can order http://www.zazzle.com/shoes. How fun would it be if I could get my nephews to wear the shoe of their dreams! They have slip-ons and sneaker-type shoes that allows you to print anything you like. Looks like I'm going to get two huge smiles on their birthdays this year!!

Just Stand Up!

2010-01-20T22:13:00.000-08:00

What do I like about http://www.pandora.com (internet radio)? Aside from the fact that you can listen to a variety of music on multiple devices for free, I love their recommendation engine. You can create channels of artists that you like and Pandora will automatically deliver music that's close in style and taste to the artist that you're listening to like "Just Stand Up!", a collaboration by Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Sheryl Crow, and Fergie that just played on my station.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with their founder last year and his passion to shed light on unknown artists and give them a chance to shine is really at the core of their business model. There are literally more than 50 people in the room listening to CDs and analyzing the beat, tempo, tone, etc., slicing and dicing the music to make sure that they have a great recommendation engine. To combat the hefty unfair music licensing fees charged to them by music labels (it's ridiculously higher than regular radio station fees), they've successfully incorporated rich media ads that attract lots of brands that's helping bring great revenue. Great news as I sure don't want to see Pandora disappear! In addition to being able to purchase the music on Amazon, etc., you can also "gift" stations; just customize your fave artists or songs and package it up and send it by email for your friend. Such a clever way to acquire users.

If you aren't a Pandora user, what are you waiting for? Access and start jamming today!

Winter Luxury: The Ritz Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe

2010-01-01T22:29:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010! How did you ring in your New Years? I was fortunate to have an opportunity to join my wonderful friends for a quick trip to Lake Tahoe and had lots of fun in winter wonderland. On our way in, we drove by a new Ritz Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe that just opened a few weeks ago. While our destination was a beautiful lakeside home a few miles ahead, who can resist checking out the Ritz?
This majestic Ritz is a gorgeous property that makes you feel like you've suddenly jetted to a European ski chalet. We checked everything out from the restaurants that were decked with New Years eve celebration ballons, to the ski shop and the spa. Everything is very pristine, with a warm and modern decor, truly fitting for the grandiose Ritz. The hotel is situated mid-mountain on the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski area, and features a ski-in, ski-out access with a great gondola that connects the property to the village area. If you can afford winter luxury in this economy, this is the way to go! It's only about 3 hours+ from San Francisco if you don't hit bad weather.

Foot "Fur" Candy

2009-12-29T23:25:00.000-08:00

What's a girl gotta do when you need to trek through some snow all day and don't want to ruin your UGGs? With a sudden trip to Tahoe this week, I realized I hadn't had a snow boot in years! After hitting up about 6 sports shops this week, my sad verdict on snow boots was that I'm never going to find one that's economical, light, warm and of course, waterproof. Gee, can it be that hard??

I saw so many brands from North Face to Alpine, and it was an eye opener to learn that my size was mostly sold out in these stores. Wow, Californians, are you all in ski country this week? I eventually came to the conclusion that great brands are too pricey (duh, how about the UGG tall boot for $240!) and the cheap ones had soles and sides made of plastic you feel like a robot in them! I was dismayed that I'd never find "the one" and I'd end up having to sacrifice my poor light colored UGGs.

But alas, after dragging myself to Sports Authority in pouring rain, I finally met "it"!! A boot on sale for $59.99 and it's called the Kamik Brooklyn boot and the best thing is that it's very light, waterproof and cute. The design is similar to a North Face boot which was about $170. With very comfy fleece lining and a breathable membrane that lines the entire boot to keep it waterproof, this was a big winner!!!! I got one in black and it even came with extra baby pink shoe laces, so cute! You can buy this online at Sports Authority with no shipping fee this week (they only have brown online), but here's a better link that has a good photo of the exact one I got in black.

If you're headed to winter wonderland and need a cute winter boot, be sure to check the Kamik brands out.

My Secret Closet - Boutique On Fifty Seven (NYC)

2009-11-09T22:46:00.000-08:00

Before I caught my flight on Friday, I managed a very quick visit to Boutique on Fifty Seven, a small but gorgeous designer brand showroom/sample sale boutique that sits right across from Bergdorf Goodman. This boutique is only open to the public by appointment or during the once a month sale. It boasts a long list of celebrity clientele and helps stock wardrobes for movies and TV, which means great quality + good service. The owner (pictured here) is a gorgeous designer/fashionista herself, Kasia Bosne, who has a degree from the Fashion Institute and caters to savvy fashionistas.

The boutique has brand new items and samples; all about 70% off retail. Brand line-up is truly dazzling and selections are great; from Lacroix, Valentino, Blumarine, Missoni, Pucci, Chanel, Gucci, Chloe to Kasia's original design. She sources everything directly from Europe so there are lots of designs you can't get elsewhere. Kasia helped me sift through tons of gorgeous dresses, tops and coats, and I was bummed that the Chloe short boot I loved was a size 39 and too big for me. It was a steal for $390!

Well, what's a girl to choose in just 30 min. before dashing back to my hotel? The boutique is too damn fun to leave!! In the end I chose a very plush and soft black cardigan/jacket that's Kasia's original design, along with a necklace and earring set for the upcoming holidays. My secret is out, will you visit soon? Be sure to check her website (hyperlinked above) and make an appt. before you go!!

Heavenly Dinner at A Voce New York

2009-11-03T21:50:00.000-08:00

I'm back in NYC this week for work, yay! Growing up next door to a vibrant Italian family, I find myself never being able to compromise when it comes to selecting Italian restaurants. Here in NYC, Il Cantinori and the now closed L'Impero were on my go-to list, but last year I discovered A Voce, a contemporary and delish Italian restaurant located near the Flat Iron district on Madison Ave.

Well today I had the honor or dining at their newly opened location in the Time Warner Bldg. with amazing views of Columbus Circle!! My trick in getting last min. reservations at the most popular restaurants: call close to dinner time, make a late reservation (chances are, they've had last min. cancellations) and be prepared to kill some time at the bar. Yes, New Yorkers do go home, so chances are you'll get in like us if you're good to eat at 10 pm (7 pm my time in Calif., perfect!) ** This pic is not from tonight, thus the daytime photo.

Tomorrow evening I'm dining at Alto where the well acclaimed former chef of Fiamma and L'Impero, Michael White will work his magic. Stay tuned!

[My A Voce Dinner]
Wine: Glass of sangiovese, merlot, cabernet sauvignon blend - Le Volte, Omellaia, Tuscany 2006 (Super Tuscany style red wine, very soft and has all the great notes of a cherry, hint of oak, and strawberry. I loved it!)

Pasta: Mezzaluna taleggio filled pasta, butternut squash, brown butter, fried sage (Totally blown away by the delicate size, cheese filling and velvety sauce. I think A Voce has the best pasta dishes in the world.)

Dessert: Fig sorbet (you can order from a variety but I thought this was fitting for the season. The fig flavor is not so strong so this one was a bit disappointing but cleaned my palette very well.)

Shimmer like it's Summer!

2009-10-26T22:49:00.000-07:00

I can't believe almost a year has lapsed since my last blog. I give no excuse for my laziness but have tons to share so stay tuned!

This summer I discovered the GlowFusion® Micro-Tech™ Intuitive Active Bronzer at Sephora. I've received so many compliments I just have to share the secret. According to the manufacturer's (Fusion Beauty) write up, it's the first cosmeceutical brush-on glow treatment, engineered with Topical-Injectable™ technology to smooth, firm and protect skin. Featherweight formula sweeps on fresh sun-kissed radiance as it nourishes, softens imperfections and minimized fine line with potent age-inhibitors.

Believe me, this stuff works and my skin feels like it's really glowing! Comes in threee shades to match your skin so don't give up on the summer shine just yet and keep on glowing this winter with GlowFusion.

Cashmere is nice!

2008-12-17T23:30:00.000-08:00

Brrrr! It sure has been chilly these days, even in sunny Calif. These are the times I love to soak in nice long baths, and since December is my birthday month, I usually get gifted with things that keep me warm. This year my dear friends teamed up and presented me with a beautiful ivory cashmere robe and I can't tell you how much I've been cherishing this. Surprisingly, it's as warm as fleece without the bulkiness. Yes, it's a splurge but if you're thinking of making someone smile this Christmas, I bet it's an item that's sure to be cherished. Restoration Hardware is having a sale and they carry many colors to meet your taste; be sure to check it out and stay warm (or make someone warm)!!

Saving tips on Christmas Gifts

2008-12-12T22:37:00.000-08:00

With the bleak economy these days, aren't you sick of reading depressing stories in the media? But these stories do make you stop and think -- shouldn't I be saving more for my piggy bank? But yikes, 'tis the season to be shopping and the hoidays are right around the corner!! Doesn't look like Santa's been tuning into the news and Rudolph's already on his way out the gate.

Don't fret just yet, I think there are unique ways to cut corners this year and "something different" than the conventional shopping mall gift might make you look creative, and yet not really stingy. I think giving something pricier in a category where one might not spend as much for themselves is the trick. Like a really nice party platter at Crate & Barrel for $50 goes a long way than a $50 gift basket of olive oils, salami and crackers. Here's a really cute food idea from Dean & Deluca if you're looking for a hostess gift or a casual gift. The fine grocery purveyor from NYC really does a nice job in sourcing their stuff and I love their "Let it Snow Cookies" (regular price: $58 --> now for $29.50) or "Santa's Sugar Cookie Work Shop" (regular price: $68 --> now for $34) More ideas to come!

Smooth and Silky!

2008-11-26T00:14:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, '08 has been a year of "change" for me from the get-go. Even before our president-elect became president-elect. But my "change" has been more in the cosmetics category. Rare for me as I tend to stick to a particular brand for years. My recent favorite at the Neiman's counter is the Guerlain Parure Aqua liquid foundation. Comprised of elements like "ocean spring water" this foundation is the lightest I've ever encountered, yet still does the job of a nice "cover up" minus any thickness. It's amazing stuff and I'm pretty speechless. It seems to have mineral ingredients as well, which is probably why it's so nice for your skin. I usually use Bare Escentuals Mineral Powder for daily use and love the stuff, but with parties around the corner and the need to be "covered up" a tad more, the Guerlain Parure Aqua is a gem. I was in a PR meeting today and the PR agency founder mentioned our messaging "needs to be in a concise package that tells the compelling truth"; well put! I feel the Guerlain Parure Aqua really delivers on its promise and is exactly the representation of the quote above. Something many marketers like us fail to deliver, so refreshing!

Fashion Changes, Style Remains

2008-11-20T21:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the truth about my lapse in blogging is surely not due to "writers block" but merely a recent career switch in joining a busy start up company. Believe me, I'm far from a "writers block" and in fact, have been pounding away on massive volumes of marketing/brand messaging initiatives at work with no brain power left to sustain my blog. Excuses, excuses! Oh, and did I forget to mention I pulled off a huge trade show in NY on my second week at the new job? No, no, no more excuses!!!

Well now at work, we're seriously paving way with plans for a total website overhaul for '09, and yup, everyone is shouting "we need a blog!" Yeah, yeah, I hear ya' However, I'm reluctant to just slap one on our current site as we'll need to scope out an editorial calendar and really commit to this initiative; afterall, this ain't no diary, it's a company blog... And then I realized I hadn't blogged in a looooong time, my bad, so here we go, back to "writing" about things I'm personally passionate about.

While I've a boat load of "to-do's" at the office, lately I find myself in the city (San Francisco) a lot for off-site meetings and industry events/parties. When I was in NY, the mobile CHANEL exhibit was "visiting" Central Park, but unfortunately, the line was too long and I passed on the opportunity. But now at the De Young Museum in SF, they're showing an exhibit for Yves Saint Laurent and I betcha there's lots of elegance going on there - 125 outfits on display with sketches, photos and videos shows. Don't worry, you still have time. The exhibit is from 11.01.08 - 04.05.09. The city has been all about biz and I haven't had the chance to go yet, but am definitely looking forward to a visit soon. Be dazzled! De Young claims "Fashion Changes, Style Remains," big nod.

** The image is the cover of Vogue magazine when YSL was first featured as an aspiring designer. I wonder if Phllip Lim or Thakoon will one day make it to this level....

L'Occitane - stocking stuffers for kids and all

2008-10-31T00:24:00.000-07:00

As Sophia of L'Occitane commented on my last blog entry for the yummy hand cream, L'Occitane is certainly jingling along to Santa Clause lane with tons of great gift ideas for candy cane season. I always struggle for stocking stuffer ideas for kids as you've gotta be careful with finicky parents. This year L'Occitane has solved my problem as I've found a very cute Animal Soap Set for $8!! The limited edition contains 3 animal soaps and is sure to delight young children. Good bait to keep your kids clean too ;-) Enriched with Shea Butter, these pure vegetable soaps softly cleanse and protect children’s precious and delicate skin and are hypoallergenic.

For adults, don't forget to check out the Hand Cream Bouquet Sophia mentioned. The set is a great deal and includes all of the below for just $45:
• Verbena Hand Cream 1 fl. oz.
• Rose Hand Cream 1 fl. oz.
• Honey & Lemon Hand Cream 1 fl. oz.
• Shea Hand Cream 1 fl. oz.
• Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 1 fl. oz.
• Lavender Hand Cream 1 fl. oz.

You can also request a free sample with your purchase here.
L'Occitane rocks!

Yummy!

2008-10-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

Alright "limited version" fans! Here's some more stuff I recommend.

My dear colleague gave me a truly kind gift the other day. A mini-set of new travel sized L'Occitane goodies! I LOVE L'Occitane and there was a time when my BF almost bought the whole line of the Lavender series for me when he couldn't think of anything else for V day, sweet ;-) So when I received this thoughtful gift, I was so excited. It's totally perfect for my upcoming biz trip to NY. She said that the limited edition Honey & Lemon Hand Cream was supposed to be superb, and OH MY! I almost licked it off my hand, LOL. It smells absolutely yummy! Such a great gift as honey and lemon are my two favorite flavors and the hand cream is very rich with shea butter. According to L'Occitane, the honey is imported from Provence, ahhh, another French luxury! Other goodies were the "RIZ (Rice)" series and the foaming rice cleanser - it even comes in a pump-style fitting. Such an amazingly convenient design for a travel sized bottle, I can't wait to use these soon :-) Make sure to snatch some up if you're hitting the road!

Intelligence at it's best!

2008-10-06T23:23:00.000-07:00

Sephora cosmetic stores are addictive. Once I set foot in Sephora, why do I always end up spending so much time?

The answer is simple, good solid marketing. They know how to dazzle. New products have prominent placing and the store is easy to navigate. I love how you can compare similar products side-by-side without having to tour different cosmetic counters like a department store.

My friend and I spent a good 30 min. in Sephora this weekend, and of course I ended up with another product to add to my makeup bag.

Bare Minerals' "Mineral Veil On-The-Go", winner of "The Best of Sephora." This product is donned with a "Limited Edition Sephora 10 Year Anniversary" copy on the package and any limited edition is sure worth exploring. It's basically a small powder brush (retractable) filled with Mineral Veil powder that flows through the brush when you powder your face. It provides the ultimate translucent finishing touch to makeup, infusing skin with softness and light for airbrushed perfection. It gently absorbs oil and minimizes the appearance of lines and pores. I found it to be amazingly light and it really keeps my face fresh all day long! For a mere $28, this is a steal and now I don't have to carry a bulky brush and compact together :-) Intelligent design at it's best!

The Ambition

2008-09-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry... for the lapse in posting since my last feature. I had a wonderful relaxing week in Santa Fe minus my laptop. True bliss and liberating for sure! The only frustrating thing was that I usually carry a pen in my purse, but for some reason I forgot to throw one in and ended up borrowing a friend's pen when an important call came in. For a very long time, my sleek silver Tifany pen has been my fave, but now the particular model I like is discontinued :-( I haven't really met a perfect pen since. but I guess the wait was worth it!

Faber-Castell has finally figured out how to combine style (color) with fine instrument and the new colors for the "Ambition" pens by Faber-Castell will have you rolling your pen in a breeze! The shape is similar to the Tiffany pen but this is framed by high-gloss front and end pieces plated in a truly shiny chrome. It's sleek enough to fit in your purse or organizer and comes in subtle pastel colors like pink, mink and lavender. I do a lot of international traveling and always feel good when I fill in my customs paper with a nice smooth pen. Believe me, this one's worth the investment!

Viva Coco Chanel!

2008-09-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

If you're a Chanel fan be sure to set your TiVo to channel Lifetime's movie, "Coco Chanel" from 8- 11 pm EDT tomorrow (Sat. 9/13.) Shirley MacLaine stars in this movie and it opens up with scenes in Paris in 1954, when Chanel held her first show after a 15 year hiatus. While her new line tanked as critics thought nothing was really new, she eventually bounces back in the 50's with a second show that has models dripping with pearls and gold-chains over the signature Chanel suits.

What inspired the "little black dress" and why do Chanel suits have tiny chains sewn inside the bottom of the jacket?The movie promises to deliver answers and so much more! I'm particularly keen on learning what drove this little girl in an orphanage to establish such a successful fashion house and become an icon. Viva Chanel!

Some favorite Chanel quotes:

“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

“Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.”

“Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.”

“There have been several Duchesses of Westminster but there is only one Chanel!”

Well stated!

Gifts for your guy - Hermès

2008-09-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

What's a perfect gift for the perfect gentleman?? Of all the gifts I've given, I think this Hermès silver money clip was a home run since it was so practical and handsomely sleek. Yeah, my guy was totally excited, especially cuz he got tons of compliments each time he was paying for something. With Hermès, how can anyone go wrong? The money clip in silver currently comes in three varieties, but the dotted silver H money clip is my fave. Looking for a $290 - 300 gift for your guy? Look no further, I assure you this Hermès will dazzle him!

I'm in a Hermès phase today and blogged about the gorgeous Hermès dog collar and leash on my doggielicious site. Check it out if you have a dog!

License 2 Bling!

2008-09-07T23:20:00.000-07:00

Get in line with the A-lister celebs and order your Swarovski Crystal License Plate Frames today! Code: US15 gets you a 10% discount and they start from $39.99 & up. Nice! You can order them online at L2B.com (Licence2Bling dot com) and dazzle!

Updated (9/11) Sweet Escape

2008-09-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

Here we go Stefani fans, this is Gwen's Harajuku Lovers fragrance collection and the super cute bottles are all replicas of her actual backup dancers and herself! The line-up consist of five different fragrances: Love, Lil Angel, G, Music and Baby, verrrry Gwen! After spritzing a few samples at Bloomingdales today, I fell in love with Music and Baby and got both :-) Two sizes are available (1 oz, 0.33 oz) and range in prices between $25 - $45 at Sephora or Bloomingdales. I like the smaller size since it fits in my travel bag and I can take it with me. Gwen even has a dedicated site for her fragrance she's a great marketer! How about sporting a different scent a day? As Gwen states, "fatal attraction to cuteness" indeed :-)

Detailed description of each scent:

Love: Floral with top notes of sparkling bergamot, pink pomelo, peach and bamboo leaf mist.
Lil' Angel: Fruity floral with notes of raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and pineapple.

Music: Top notes of clementine and sparkling pear.
Baby: Top notes of freesia, bergamot and white rose.
G (named after Gwen): Top notes of crisp mandarin, fresh coconut and apple skin.

Absolute tranquility!

2008-09-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, never in my dreams did I imagine the Marriott could turn itself around and be better than the Four Seasons. Well, Aloha from the Marriott Wailea Maui, where I'm in total r&r mode in this fully renovated heaven. I've stayed in most of the major hotels in Maui, but am genuinely impressed by the wonderfully renovated Marriott Wailea. The three year renovation has totally transformed this place into a hotel that can compete with its neighbors like the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea. I feel their design is similar to a W hotel, but with nicer contemporary touches that include the use of warm dark wood in their interior. However, the most impressive part of the hotel is the beautiful pool. They have multiple pools on the property, but the infinity pool is insanely beautiful and you feel like you're connected to the ocean!! The pictures here tell it all!! No wonder I ended up lounging for seven hours here today, but you really have to see it to believe it. The famous Mandara Spa is also in-house, and our hotel promotion includes a full buffet breakfast in the ocean view restaurant. The only downside is the $14 Internet connection fee, but I'm not complaining as other elements of this hotel complements for all. It's right next to the Shops at Wailea (a mall that houses Louis V, Gucci, restaurants, etc.) So convenient and so dangerous for the wallet! Ahhh, one more day to go, I'll miss this place for sure :-)

Bare Essentials

2008-08-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

Out of occupational habit, I'm always sniffing around for Christmas gifts in the Summer. Why? Well in the world of printed media, deadlines for holiday magazine product features are around Aug. If your HOT product isn't ready as a prototype in Aug., you're doomed and you can forget being included in the "Holiday Gift Guide" for publications like Vogue, In-Style, MAXIM's, etc.

My recent find is the KORRES shower gel, a great gift for anyone and very uni-sex. At $12 a bottle with a choice of twelve fragrances like Cedar, Jasmine, Basil Lemon, you can mix-n'-match in a gift basket, or just pick one up for that holiday party. KORRES is a Greek company with a historical foot print as Athens' first homeopathic pharmacy. Natural, organic, safe and affordable! Who can ask for more??? My fave is the Jasmine scent and is perfect for the winter when I miss the Jasmine in my garden.

Curb Your Appetite!

2008-08-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

Isn't there be a diet where the Fairy God Mother just sprinkles some magic powder on your food and you're good?

Well, it looks like your dream is coming true!

SlimShots™is a revolutionary appetite controller that helps people to moderate their eating habits, reduce portion size and resist the temptation to graze or snack between meals. According to their site, published clinical studies show that SlimShots™ can:
- Reduce caloric intake by nearly 30%
- Reduce hunger for up to 8 hours
- Be effective form the very first day
Really?? I bet it tastes awful! But I dug more and they seem to have used artificial vanilla flavor and sweetener for taste, and the ingredient of this magic potion is just natural oat and palm oil.

Dare to try?? Go to their slimshots.com site and check it out! They're having a free 30 day trial promotion for $9.99 for just S&H.

Not So Green

2008-08-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

For the past week I've been on a cleaning spree, trying to re-organize my closets, recycle clothing and finally getting to the biggest nightmare of all... my files!! In the days of digital, I'm always amazed at the amount of paper I tend to keep and I am so not GREEN!! To my dismay, I've recently outgrown my current filing storage in my study.

Hence, a trip to IKEA to check out their filing cabinet line-up, I ended up getting this three-tier model called: ERIK for $99.99 in white. Not realizing this 60 lb. baby was going to take 3 hours to assemble, I finally finished close to midnight and crashed without having the energy to hang a single hanging folder. I was too frustrated to appreciate this economical investment, but filing away tonight as I shred so many outdated documents, I realized that this is a pretty neat cabinet that definitely holds a ton of files. The drawers are very smooth too so it's not a bad deal if you have the patience to assemble and you're totally out of space like me!

The Rock & Roll Tasting

2008-08-17T23:33:00.000-07:00

This is a Part 2 feature from my Thu. feature of the Hip Tastes wine tasting event. So Friday nite we trekked to the Mission and checked out the "Rock and Roll tasting" hosted by Courtney Cochran of Hip Tastes. The vino was flowing, Rock n' Roll spinning and the sushi rolls were quite tasty! She had a nice selection of lighter wines and here's the list:

- Hughes Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet, Langeudoc, France

- Elsa Torrontes, Mendoza, Argentina

- Tangent Winery "Ecclestone," Central Coast

- Raymond Vineyards Small Lot White Wine, Napa Valley

- Cali 251 Rosé, Napa Valley

- Raymond Vineyards Rosé of Merlot, Napa Valley

- Chateau Lassègue Pink Criquet, Bordeaux, France

It was a great way to get acquainted with rosé's and I particulary liked the Raymond Vineyard wines. Nice way to kick off the gorgeous weekend!

Are you hip?

2008-08-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hiptastes is an uber stylish wine event hosted in the S.F. Bay area by Courtney Cochran, wine sommelier and consultant. She is also the author of Hip Tastes - The French Guide to Wine, a great book that covers tastings, wine storage to BYOB & restaurant etiquette. Coincidentally, I recently found out that she's a buddy and classmate of my dear friend Ms. L, wow lucky me! Courtney's wine event is very different from your local neighborhood tasting room events. They all have a unique theme with intriguing names: The Salty and Sweet Tasting, Young Guns (featuring winemakers under age 35), The Green Tasting (enviro-friendly vino), and I hear her wine recommendations are eclectic, spanning from all over the globe and not just Napa or France. Tomorrow (8/15) she is hosting the Rock & Roll Tasting at the Mission’s vintage cool venue, Pink. I'm attending her event for the first time and she promises remixes of the likes of Poison, AC/DC, Van Halen, Def Leppard (as in Pour Some Sugar On Me, woop!) and more. Her wines and sushi rolls are sure to fly and flow with some fun dancing starting at 10 pm. Sorry, this event is sold out but be sure to bookmark her site for the next one - she promises one more this fall! A report on the wines from the event to come later, stay tuned :-)

Therapist Select™ Shiatsu+ Massaging Cushion with Heat

2008-08-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'm telling you, this is the next best thing to an expensive massage at the Four Seasons! In fact, it's cheaper than one session there. I've sat on many massage chairs courtesy of friends and Sharper Image demos, but this Homedics Shiatsu massage cushion is the best for a minimal investment (msrp $129.99.) You can choose between Shiatsu and Rolling movements, areas of massage and get a warmer massage by turning the heat on. I'm sitting on this as I type away and it is mucho heavenly!! If you have a 20% off coupon at Bed, Bath and Beyond, this is what you need to get! No tip required :-)

Leggings - for babies!

2008-08-07T23:56:00.001-07:00

Leggings were very Vogue earlier this year so why reserve this benefit just for adults? A Canadian online baby gear store called Pinky and Company carries an adorable line of BabyLegs that will go with any wardrobe and keep your baby warm. It can be worn under a skirt, pants, with onsies, etc. and is so stylish! Worn with a diaper, this will definitely make diaper change a much simpler task. If you don't have a baby to dress, mix and match as your next baby shower gift!

Good Hair Day!

2008-08-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

Most of the luxury spas I've visited in Asia supply "Ionic Hair Dryers" and I'd been skeptical for a very long time thinking, what the heck it minus-ion??? When I accidentally blew up my hair dryer in Singapore last year on a biz trip (I totally forgot to use the transformer, duh!) I knew it was time to try to venture for an Ionic hair dryer. Minus ions, called negative ions in the West, occur naturally in forests and streams, anywhere the water runs pure and the air is clean. Despite being unsupported by definitive medical evidence, the very presence of minus ions is widely believed to reduce stress and bring about positive feelings of well-being. The particles can be reproduced artificially by passing air over a strong electric current or through the breakdown of crystals like tourmaline, thus the birth of Ionic hair dryers! Ive been using the dryer from Panasonic (sorry, only available in Japan) and this is AMAZING. Your hair dries quicker, but still retains the moisture... I dunno how to explain but it feels like I stuck my head in some expensive hair treatment and this effect from a dryer!! Here in the U.S., Brookstone carries a nice version for $40 and is less than half of what I paid in Japan. If you wanna take care of your locks, try this and you'll thank me!

Cover Up!

2008-07-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I've been frustrated that the only electrical cord covers I could find were the typical snake-like vinyl tubes that are cut on the side to slide your cords into.

But wait no more! Here's an elegant solution to hiding your lamp cords and bundled cords out of sight! Cord Coverups are made of silk dupioni and come in various colors to blend with your wall, drapes, or lampshades. Used mainly to cover chandelier cords, this is a wrap-around fabric with velcro and snugly attaches around whatever cord you need to hide. For under $30, this Martha Stewart style solution is so easy and no sewing required. Give your home a nice finishing touch!!

Bottle Shock Uncorked!

2008-07-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

Did you see the movie Sideways and venture out to Santa Barbara? Well now you'll have to see Bottle Shock and venture out to Napa!

Nestled in St. Helena (north Napa) there lies a beautiful small winery called Chateau Montelena. After many ownership changes, their chardonnay competed in the '76 French 'Judgment of Paris' blind tasting and was crowned first prize! A true "bottle shock" as wine in Cally was still considered a bit of a joke in the 70's. This sensational incident has now been transformed into a movie and will be uncorked on August 6!!! I'm already smelling hints of humor, tears and joy in this glass. Furthermore, it's PG13 so you don't have to be 18+ to "taste" ;-)

When I went to Chateau Montelena last winter, we got first dibs that they'd just finished shooting the movie there. Knowing that the winery would boom after the release, I immediately joined the charter membership which allows me to secure my estate wines a year ahead and close to wholesale $$. The key is, this winery is owned and operated by Jim and Bo Barrett, and Bo is Heidi Barrett's husband (Heidi is the powerful winemaker for many cult wines, including former Screaming Eagles.) Of course their quality is top notch! While their chardonnay was crowned for the '76 tastings, their estate cab is my favorite. Click here for the movie trailer and get uncorked!

Firefly

2008-07-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

As I've blogged before, I'm a little bit selective on candles in my home. Some are aromatic and some in the dining room are scent-less. But the universal tool I use to light my candles are the cheap dollar fifty plastic lighters. Well this weekend I came across Firefly, a sleek and beautifully designed stainless steel lighter that stands on its own!! Manufactured by Ambienti Gift & Home (www. ambientihome.com), this totally belongs in the New York Museum of Modern Art!!! The candle lighter comes in a long 11" version that stands, and a shorter length of 7" (this one doesn't stand.) I bought the taller one and it prominently stands right next to my favorite candle in my living room side table :-) The lighter is simple to refill with butane gas there's a perk! The store that I purchased this at said lifetime refill is guaranteed anytime I take it in and they can do it for me. Now I won't have to buy the plastic lighters in bulk!

Well Aged!

2008-07-25T23:23:00.000-07:00

When the thermostat climbs to 92F like today, I definitely prefer a scoop of Wine Cellar Sorbet than a glass of wine. This decadant sorbet contains 5% wine and you'll be surprised at how well the character of the wine is preserved. The manufacturer works with vinters from around the world to source wines that go into this delicious sorbet. Just like real wine, the sorbet is limited quantity that elevates its value. I've only had the Pinot Noir, but the Sangria Rojo and Riesling are definitely catching my eye! $6.99/pint will sure be a better investment than a cheap glass of house wine. It's only available in stores on the East Coast but you can order online and it'll be shipped in dry ice via 2nd day air. Here's a toast to a very well executed sorbet! Oh, and make sure you're over 21 cuz it contains real alcohol!

Non-Hollywood Facelift

2008-07-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

This is not another W Hotel... it is a fast-food franchise in Europe and a mega-Americano brand at that, a.k.a. McDonalds!!! News is, they've done so well with this Euro-contemporary-bistro design which was spearheaded by the head of McD in France, it may soon make its way to our continent. I guess Ronald McD realized 99 cent Big Macs were no longer the solution to "beef up" their traffic. Menus like made-to-order pasta in Italy's McD sounds like someone's really doing their homework! It feels like Ronald went to boarding school in Europe and graduated with honors! As far as space design goes, this brand is no longer "made in U.S.A.'!!! Now if only they'll import the French McD smaller sized burgers on ciabatta with the Dijon mustard, I think I may consider setting foot in one of these joints. Nice face lift for a job done outside Hollywood!

Ring Bearer

2008-07-24T00:09:00.000-07:00

Do you take your ring off when you do the dishes? If so, this might be the perfect addition to your sink. Casabella, a brand that creates stylish and affordable home cleaning products has cleverly combined a ring holder and a sponge dish called Sink Sider™ Sponge and Ring Caddy.

The all-in-one combo can hold your rings and a sponge or soap. Why didn't anyone think of this before!!! You can get it at Bed, Bath and Beyond or online for a mere $9.99. It's a steal!

Watch Out!

2008-07-22T22:56:00.000-07:00

Bummer, bummer, bummer! My Bvlgari watch stopped out of the bloooo and I was sure it was the battery. Well the verdict was "I'm afraid your watch needs a whole movement replacement" and I ended up getting a $590 repair estimate from a over-priced Jewelery shop in the Stanford Mall!!!! Furthermore, they said Bvlgari no longer has parts so $590 is just for a random movement by a no-name!!! Are you kidding? I can buy Louis V sunglasses. I instantly took the watch to Menlo Clock Works and got it done for $370 instead! From all of this, I learned that you have to "watch out" for battery leaks and replace the battery every 12 months. Don't wait till it stops! Leaks usually happen after 12 months of wear with a new battery, and is the most popular reason for wrist watch repair (aside from dropping the watch in water.) I highly recommend we listen to the pros. I learned the hard way and will make sure to spend $30 a year to avoid such situations in the future. Sigh.

New Doggie Blog - by Me!

2008-07-21T01:04:00.000-07:00

I'm so consumed with investigating various dog supply items and dog-related info, I've decided to launch a new blog dedicated to the process of my dog ownership and call it: Doggielicious.

http://doggielicious.blogspot.com/

Here you will find a suite of info I collect as I pursue my quest for my Coton de Tulear.Please pass the URL along to your fellow dog owners and dog fans!! Thank you!

Stylish basics Italiano-style!

2008-07-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for cool designs and my favorite house ware & kitchen line is Italy's ALESSI. Every room in my home has something from ALESSI, be it an alarm clock, coffee spoon, paper towel holder, cat dish, etc., etc. ALESSI contracts famous designers from all over the world and churns out amazing sleek contemporary products of utmost quality and cute designs. The best fact is they're all quite affordable and make nice gifts. For years I've been adding a few items here antd there and my collection is still growing! Lucky me, there's an ALESSI store in San Francisco @ Union Square that showcases mosst of their main and new products. It's a very nice store a.k.a. showroom, worthy of a visit for sure!

Here are two of the many basic items in my kitchen, coincidentally designed by the same designer, Stefano Giovannoni.

1) Bunny & Carrot Paper Towel Holder (left image)

Just slide your paper towel center over the carrot and adjust the bunny against the paper towel. It totally adds a whimsical look to my sleek granite counter top and is easy to clean as it's made out of plastic. I smile every time I tear off my paper towel! You can get it online at hivemodern.com.

2) Mami Series Pans (right image)

Sure I've splurged on a full-line of All-Clad pots and pans, but of all the pans I've used, the Mami series I stumbled on last year is the king has thef best design and size variety. The ergonomically well-designed handle is round, hollow and easy to hold. The small pan I got for my birthday serves well for omelette's, and I recently bought the wok-style deep pan for my everyday sautéeing. You can purchase separate lids for these pans and will surely not regret this investment!

Do you want a cool kitchen? Just start by collecting these items and you'll be sure to impress your friends. Cooking skills unnecessary!

Affordable Pop Art

2008-07-17T23:25:00.000-07:00

Has art and fragrance ever mixed so well?? Nope, I'm not talking about a contemporary aroma exhibit you might find at the MoMA where a painting of a coffee cup might smell like real coffee beans. I'm talkin' Andy Warhol and owning something for $100+!!

Bond No.9 is a fragrance line developed by Laurice Rahme, who decided after 9/11 that NYC was in much dire need to smell better, and deserved to! This is a true story that led her to develop and establish her line of creative fragrance, Bond No.9. Each release is inspired by NYC neighborhoods and has been named: New Harlem, Broadway, Central Park, etc. I personally find the "Andy Warhol Union Square" line to be the cutest and clever artist collaboration ever! Twelve fragrances, under agreement with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, will be released and "Union Square" was named after the location of Andy's original art studio. The fragrance sports the famous Warhol flower artwork and the 1.7 oz. bottle can be yours for $135 at Saks Fifth Ave. For the avid Warhol collectors that have $$$ to stretch, get the 10 bottle portfolio set for $1500! Here's a chance to own a special Warhol.

The seductive scent of lily of the valley combined with blue freesia, golden amber, and animal musk is sure to please any Warhol-fanatic. Cute, classy and well designed, this scores high on my wish list!

Flippty Flop

2008-07-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

Summer is definitely here! Every weekend I'm pitter-patting all over the place with a few of my favorite flip flops I acquired this year. Since I've been getting soooooo many compliments, here are the flip flops of 2008 that I highly recommend. C'mon these aren't just for the beach or post-pedicures anymore, they're totally qualified for town and will go well with your cute shorts or cool jeans or sweats. Flip flops have now gradutated the beach and are dominating my shoe rack.

Tory Burch Patent Breely Thong

I jumped into the Tory Burch NY flagship store in SoHo one afternoon, when a sudden downpour of thunder, lightning and heavy rain spoiled our shopping spree. Soaked in wet feet, I bumped into the last pair of this gorgeous patent leather flip flop, with a camelia flower motif and a gold Tory button in my size. Lucky me, they were on sale too! $175 -> $105. Every time I wear them, EVERYONE loves them and will stop me to ask where I got them. On Tory's online store, they're still on sale in many colors so get yours while they last!!!

Havaianas Heart Flip Flop

I didn't realize those rubber, everyday flip flops was a "branded" item till I read about it on In-Style Magazine. I still can't pronounce the name correctly but it is spelled "Havaianas." Did you bite your tongue??? When Cameron Diaz said these were the only flip flops she cherishes, I was sold! In NY, I came across a solid yellow color on sale for $8!!!! Of course I snatched it and this was the start of my Havaianas collection circa 2008. So recently, when I encountered the Heart motif flip flops, I HAD to have it and got them for a mere $15 on sale! I wear my yellow to go fetch stuff in my mail box, and I wear my hearts in the yard. Yes! My Havaianas each have a specific role just like your kitchen tools. Now to find one for my gym and another for my pedicures....The heart Havaianas are pretty much sold out but you can still get it at sleepyheads.com. It seems to have been featured in Oprah so no wonder these are hard to come by! Lucky me!

Doggie Play Date & Sirus Doggie Training

2008-07-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Today was my debut at a Coton De Tulear Doggie play date! While I still don't own a Coton just yet, the owners who came with their Cotons were very friendly and nice. Here are pics from the 10 am play date at Crissy Fields in San Francisco. The dogs were unleashed and 25+ Cotons romped around in the sand like crazy, and they were sooooooo adorable! Someone was remarking that this is the first breed they've ever seen where the dogs are so friendly with each other and don't bark like crazy. Totally agree!

There are many doggie training classes available, but according to Gloria, the breeder who kindly invited me today, the Sirus method seems to be the best. They have 19 training locations in the bay area and it's taught by Dr. Dunbar who taught the world's very first puppy class, so that his Alaskan Malamute puppy could attend school. In those days, puppies had to be 6 months or older, but in reality, puppies need to be trained much earlier. Sounds like humans! Click here for the Sirus Dog Training site.

I will be sure to enroll my doggie in this class and look forward to more tips and education from Gloria, she is too nice!!!!

Cute overload!

2008-07-11T23:21:00.000-07:00

The Savvy Auntie site I recommended was a hit. Not having my own kid leaves me with more free time and a reason to spoil other distant munchkins, but I just got a note from my HOA that the next board mtg. is set for 9/15... which means they may finally approve the permission to own small dogs under 25 lbs.! Whatever dog I adopt will be MY munchkin for sure!

So while I patiently wait for them to give the green light, I'm definitely doing my homework these days. Surfing dog sites, joining Yahoo! dog groups, and connecting with Coton De Tulear breeders and owners. While I was digging around, I almost fell off my chair when I found some sites that sell "puppy announcement" cards. Wow, I would've never guessed! This is too fun!!!! Hey, maybe I can have a puppy shower so that my furry companion will be all ready for his/her home. Do I sound vain?? I know my future fellow dog owner buddies won't think so, or at least I hope.

I've been invited to a Coton Play Date on Sunday at Crissy Fields in the city. It'll be a great chance to check out the breed and mingle with other owners, I am excited!

Don't be surprised if you get one of these cards from me to celebrate the arrival of my furry friend.

After S.A.T.C., P.A.N.K. is in!

2008-07-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, the world still needs another acronym and it's quite clever: P.A.N.K. = Professional Aunt, No Kids. How many of you fit this category? Well, most of my gal pals do and so do I! Thanks to Melanie Notkin who founded SavvyAuntie dot com, we now have a site to turn to for "aunt-ing." It's a parenting site for non-parents, I love the concept! Whether you're looking to spoil your niece rotten and need to find a b'day gift or just wanna mingle with fellow aunties, it seems like SavvyAuntie.com should be your destination! Don't you love the cute badge they made?

Here's an excerpt from their feature on Tech Crunch.

"Women account for 80% of the economy. Mothers spend about $1.7 trillion dollars on consumer products each year. But that’s only about 50% of women. What about the other 50%?
SavvyAuntie is a site geared toward the other 50% of women who don’t have kids, but know some. Melanie Notkin, the founder of SavvyAuntie, refers to these women as P.A.N.K.s (Professional Aunt, No Kids). Chances are you know some women who don’t have kids, but are either ABRs (Aunts by Relation) or ABC (Aunts by Choice). These women typically spend money on children in some way or another, but where do they turn to learn what to buy? SavvyAuntie is basically a parenting site for non-parents.

SavvyAuntie is comprised of a social network, and resources like user blogs, expert blogs, activity guides and gift suggestions. Users register and fill in information about their nieces and nephews to get customized gift and activity suggestions, and information about themselves so that they can meet other aunts (and uncles)."

Cut the crap!

2008-07-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time ten years ago, I had my own lovely office with a door in a famous NYC landmark skyscraper on the 33rd floor of 550 Madison Ave, a.k.a. the Sony Music Bldg. What came with the office was a fab Sony A/V player and I had the leisure of playing music all day long with the free CDs that were supplied monthly, courtesy of Sony Music! Man do I miss New York! Well, lately in my open-air Silicon V-style cube; where even our founders sit in similar cubes; it's nothing but distraction as I have no office door to close and a bunch of sales folks in the next aisle on the phone chit chatting away. Grrrrr! I can't concentrate and neither can my colleagues. The remedy? Noise-cancellation headphones are now a must-have on our team.

So here's the Steal, Splendid and Splurge recommendation for things that work like magic when you just want to shut out the world.

STEAL: Silicone Ear Plugs - if you don't want a headphone, just get this.
I've blogged about this before so check out my post titled "Zzzzzz" in the archive on May 30, 2008.
For ten bucks, this will do a decent job.

SPLENDID: Sharper Image Noise Cancellation Headsets - ON SALE around $49.99
Poor Sharper Image is no longer sharp but bankrupt. The brand will live and products will be carried as a B2B wholesale biz, but since they're closing the retail chains, every Sharper Image store is having a BLOWOUT closing sale. I came across their noise cancellation headsets this weekend and for the price it's going, this is a fantastic product. The online store is closed so get to the store before they sell out!

SPLURGE: BOSE QuietComfort® 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones $299
BOSE = Quality... what more can I say? The brand speaks for itself and this compact, well designed piece is the master of all headphones. It's comfy, portable and does the job well! You just have to pay the price ;-) The re-chargable battery will last 25 hrs. so it's definitely the Rolls Royce of all and well worth the investment.

Happy noise-cutting!

Which is your new flame?

2008-07-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Candle time!

Whether it's for your dinner party, your bed side or a gift, I think candles are a luxury one should always have in their home. So here's the Steal, Splendid and Splurge for the special candles I recommend. If you have any other faves, be sure to comment and share

STEAL (affordable): IKEA GLIMMA tea votive

When you need to light up your home for those special parties, I always have a stash of IKEA candles. My secret? I own a variety of cool tea votive holders and can use them separately or bunch them together, catering to any occasion I can think of. So the IKEA GLIMMA tea votives have always been a must-have and are a steal since you get 100 for $3.99! Go stock up!!

SPLENDID (nice-price point): Voluspa Victoria Candle

No corners cut, this is a pure, fragrant and quality candle that's sure to please. They have various selections but my fave is the Voluspa Victoria series that come in cute triangular glass holders. They're available in cute tins too, nice for traveling! I think "Pink Fatale" is my favorite and I wonder which ones Scarlett Johansson and Halle Berry got.

SPLURGE ($$$$$): Dayna Decker Couture Candle

When you hear "couture" candle, how can I resist? The sensual, provocative, beautiful black box tied with a black satin bow encompasses the most gorgeous candle of all. Dayna's candle uses a patented EcoWood Wick (TM) that actually crackles when the candle burns. For the very special occasion, it's gotta be a Dayna! My fave fragrance is Pink Couture. Oh, and did I mention they come in 3oz., 6 oz., 16 oz. sizes?

Jammy, yummy hostess gift

2008-07-02T23:15:00.000-07:00

How many parties have you been invited to for the Fourth? I bet they're all BBQs right? While I still have to figure out how to juggle my schedule, one party I can't miss is a very cute "Tea Party." My Barefoot Contessa a.k.a. Ina Garden-esque friend is a HUGE tea connoisseur and just returned from India with lots of tea. Of course the Fourth is all about the macho BBQ all over town and she knows she can't compete as she lives in a condo. So cleverly, she's designed a cute tea party for people to swing by between BBQs. So smart! I'll bring a bottle or wine or a pack of beer for the BBQs, but what do you bring to a "Tea Party"????? Ah, I have the perfect gift in mind!

One hostess gift that's always been a hit is the Fauchon Strawberry Jam. C'mon, it's a Fauchon jam, not some ordinary jelly that sits in Safeway. This is the most sophisticated flavor I've ever tasted in any jam and you won't disappoint! Perfect with scones, waffles, yogurt or anything that needs jam or pairs well with Srawberry. For sure you'll be swarmed with questions on where you got this item and feel like a Queen. To spill the secret, it's available in the U.S. at Neiman Marcus stores for about $12. Yup, very affordable! If you're ever at loss on a nice hostess gift, just remember this one as any house needs a jar of jam, right?

SATC therapy!

2008-06-29T14:51:00.001-07:00

I really recommend you see Sex and the City - the movie twice. Why? Cuz the first time you're just too excited to see how the story will play out, and there's so much fashion going on it's like you're tripping on a triple dose of tequila as the colorful wardrobe, gowns, fur, shoes, and purses fly around the screen before your eyes.

This Sat., we devoted our afternoon to some more SATC therapy, kicking it off with a small brunch like Carrie & Co. and heading to the theater to laugh and feel happy all over again. Amazingly, the count of ten women who showed up for the second round was even more than the first viewing on the day of release, and the level of excitement was quite the same (or even more as there were some first timers.) At dinner, one person scored 98% on the SATC trivia quiz and won the prize I got from my recent NYC trip. Coincidentally the store where I got the prize (SCOOP) appears in the movie in the background of the DVF store. Nice job!

Now more about the movie & fashion... I saw Sarah J talking about how a vintage belt was used repeatedly on many of her garments throughout the movie, which was fun to observe during the second viewing (pictured here w/her green dress.) I also had room to take in the various purses this time, from Carrie's sportier Chanel to Charlotte's lovely silk Prada clutch, which I've had my eye on for some time. Speaking of Prada, did you get a chance to check out their "Fairy Bag" this season (pictured here)? A special collaboration with James Jean and Prada, this is totally sold out thanks to so many celebs snatching up the limited edition.

But if you're not ready to splurge $2500 on a Fairy Bag, then you might try what Carrie's assistant Louise (played by Jen Hudson) did. Rent your euro-bags online at: http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/ They're having a one week free rental special to celebrate SATC; nice deal! The "Love" key chain Louise carries that's "key" to the storyline is custom made for the movie in 18 ct. yellow gold by H. Stern on Fifth Ave., a $6000 piece! There are a few people cashing in on knock-offs already, but hey, you can't blame them, it sure is cute!

Silicone is in!! But not for your boobs....

2008-06-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my Cordon Bleu trained cooking mentor Mrs. K, I got into cooking when I was in NYC. Since then, I've had some hit and misses and am pretty picky on cooking utensils these days. For the last few years, silicone (non-stick) is no longer the object of affection for women who want to "bust" (yeah, literally.) They've actually made their way into our kitchens in many shapes and forms!

So here are a few I've found useful, and there's a mutual common element with silicone: they're soft, come in various sizes, nice-to-touch and totally get the job done!

I got most of my tools at Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma and Marshalls in the U.S., but you can get them on Amazon or other online stores. Refresh your kitchen tools and dazzle your guests

1. Tong (Orka brand)
I use this the most, almost every time I cook. Flippin' stuff on the grill, stirring my pasta... but the best use is tossing delicate salad leaves! These come in different lengths so I own a short and long one.

2. Basting Brush (Orka brand)

Good for pastry, basting, etc., this is the BEST brush I've ever owned. They come in various lengths so I have one for the kitchen and one for my BBQ grill. Soooo easy to clean it's unbelievable!

3. Pot Clip Utensil Holder (Trudeau brand)

Just clip them on the side of your pot and you've got an instant utensil holder! The picture says it all... it's so smart!

Mingle!

2008-06-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

My friends are so social, I luv em'. Last night I was introduced to a fun global "social" site where folks can register to various groups of interest and attend social meetups.

meetup.com is the name (duh!) and they've got tons of interest groups all over the world. I used to use socialdomain.com for local events, but this has some basic profiles, etc. and is kinda like Y! Groups with physical meetup events. I checked the event calendars of various groups and can say that a lot of them are quite active with many attendees. You can search for groups in your area based on keywords, or click on folks that are members of other groups to see what they've joined.

I joined the Palo Alto Wine Meetup and the Third Thursday: Social Media in Marketing & PR. Like I said, they're global so there are many groups in Tokyo, Europe, etc There's even a Vampire group (what the heck??) Go mingle!

Women Who Rock!

2008-06-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Pretty girl Anne Hathaway's (actress in Devil wears Prada) 29 yr. old financier beau made it on the front page of Wall Street Journal today. Only catch is, he's been charged with funding a lavish lifestyle by using $$$ from a fund that was supposed to redevelop surplus Catholic Church properties. Shame on you, Raffaello Follieri!!! We're really happy there is news that cute Anne has split and that your bail was set at $21 MM. Money can be better spent and here's one example.

I only knew a handful of people when I moved to the bay area and wanted more local gal pals. Where can I find them...? I learned about the Jr. League volunteer organization and there they were! The most intelligent, caring and warm hearted women who rock! Thanks to the experiences I've had and the great friends I've made, I can't endorse volunteering and social contribution enough. Hey I'm no socialite and can't throw $$$$$ fund raisers but there are many ways to show you care by contributing time and effort. Last year I was on a committee that teams up with the Bring-me-a-book Foundation and we taught lower income family parents how important it is to read to your child. I loved the efforts and learned alot so I am continuing on this same committee again this year.

The underlying criteria to be a member is that you're a positive-minded person and you care. Oh, and we can't forget... you have to be female ...sorry guys! We donate time, effort and money to various causes, just cuz because we can and it feels so good :-) Well, the League (more than a hundred years old) is soliciting new members for this year (the year starts in Aug.) If you're interested and want to make a difference, go click the link and apply! For our mid-Peninsula & Palo Alto org., we have several fun Open Houses from June-Aug. (6/25, 7/12, 8/14) for potential new members. Join us or donate and feel like Angelia Joilie!

Aside from our regular activities, in private we shop, dine, smile and hug.
Yes, it's that kind of quality organization full of women who rock!!!

http://www.thejuniorleague.org/paloalto/npo.jsp?pg=home

Can I touch this?

2008-06-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

In NYC and can't decide which museum to visit this summer? Make sure you check out the Jeff Koonz exhibit @the MET. The MET has a rooftop garden that's open to the public during the warm season (May - fall) and they're exhibiting three absolutely CUTE and HUGE Jeff Koonz objects!! Some of you may know this American talent as he's famous for his silver bunny object and pieces that look like gigantic inflated balloons, twisted into animals... or hearts in this case. Here are some pics from my recent visit. When I shared this with a friend, she asked "What's this golden thing?? I wanna touch it!!" Very cute! And did I mention the rooftop garden has a small food bar where you can even order a Mojito? It was sizzling hot in NY when I was there so I was sippin' Mojitos from 11 am, LOL!

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/koons_roof/more.asp

My cotton candy!

2008-06-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

I just found out that my condo may change the "one cat" policy to a "one cat or one dog" policy and am just ecstatic!! I haven't had a pet since my beloved kitty passed away last Oct., and while I love him dearly and miss him much, I think it's time to look for a new companion. I was told that the dog policy will likely have many restrictions and naturally limit the size of the dog, probably just small sized breeds will be allowed. That's okay! I don't need an Alaskan Huskie since I don't own a sled.

So I started my due diligence to see what darling breeds I might consider, and came across this adorable Coton de Tulear breed. Don't you think they look like teddy bears??? How cute are they! The breed seems to be very friendly, funny and they're used to traveling. Ooooo, my heart is pretty set on this little munchkin and I can't wait to hear if the HOA is going to approve the policy... stay tuned!

Yum, yum, yum!

2008-06-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

As I'm no longer a resident of NYC, it's hard to plan my visits these days. Why? Cuz there's just too many new restaurants I want to try and not enough time! Noticing so many cool places sprouting downtown, I chose the new Duane St. Hotel in Tribeca this time, just a block away from Bouley. The hotel is modern & cute with good service so a total thumbs up start!

While we munched on Bouley bakery pastries in the morning, I've gotta say that the best bite in town this time was our 5-course tasting menu at the raved Degustation restaurant (East Village.) For $50+/person, the dishes are well constructed, creative and tasty! The fun part is watching the dishes prepared right front of your eyes. They only have counter seating that wraps around a tight spaced "mini-kitchen" where the chef and his team efficiently grill, whip and assemble. It was amazing to see how the talented 26 yr. old chef, Wesley Genovart, a Spaniard who worked at Perry St., whip up the marvelous and delicate dishes. Wesley kindly gave us advice on where to head for drinks in the neighborhood, which definitely topped off our memorable evening. The image is of the appetizer we had there. Bon appetit!

Lolitas in training

2008-06-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

My tropical vacation in Puerto Rico continued on to vacation Part 2 in NYC, my fave town! Having lived there for 3 yrs. with an office down the block from Tiffany and Barneys NY, I thought I was the one that got to live the high life in total luxury. Agh, was I sooooo wrong!!

In NYC for some, luxury seems to start much earlier in life. While my friend and I were enjoying a late lunch around 3 pm at Fred's inside Barneys NY, I noticed some of the other tables were filled with teenagers in their uniform sporting Chanel sunglasses, Pucci hair bands, Louis bags. Hmmm.... We hit the shoe floor where racks of summer sales with Pradas, Louboutins and Manolos were piled up and what do we witness? Another group of teenage gals in uniforms trying out boxes and boxes of shoes galore, skipping around in those delicate heels rejoicing in delight. To top it off, a couple of Barneys shoe fitters are totally waiting on them. I seriously couldn't believe my eyes and never realized Barneys was an extended cafeteria and playground for the nearby private schools. Alas, I finally understood why Tiffany sells silver pacifiers and $100+ baby dishes!! I wouldn't be surprised if AMEX came out with a Paris Hilton AMEX card soon; the mini-black AMEX for teenage spending sprees... wish I had one!

Recommendations on NYC restaurants coming in tomorrow's blog!

Go Bronze!

2008-06-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

This is the evening sky in Puerto Rico where I lounged all day, sipped on piña coladas and didn't touch a PC for days. It can be done!!!

And thanks to some great tips from Cameron Diaz courtesy of InStyle magazine, I'm sporting a spectacular bronze tan and am dying to share this new bronzing technique. This is a truly fool-proof, no peeling, no burning, smooth bronzing technique that worked like magic. The trick is very simple, just layer sun defense and sun tan lotion in the following order and you'll soon be ready to wear your summer wardrobe and dazzle!

1) Before you go out, slather on an SPF 30 (or as low as 20) sun defense lotion over your birthday suit (a.k.a. naked body.)
2) Stay in your birthday suit for at least 20 min. or so and try not to even sit down (...that's what Ms. Diaz says!)
3) Now slather your low SPF tanning lotion (2 or 4) all over your birthday suit.
4) Wait a few min. and finally put on your bathing suit.
5) Go hit the sun!
6) Make sure you use lots of after-sun lotion to preserve the tan and provide moisture to your skin.
7) Repeat this procedure daily, increasing your sun exposure gradually so you don't burn.

It takes about 20 min. for the human body to absorb the lotion so keep this in mind and be sure to slather more lotion after you swim or are in the sun for more than an hour.

My fave lotions are from NATURA BISSÉ (manufactured in Barcelona and used in Spas there.)

You can buy these @Neiman Marcus or online.

Here's the NATURA BISSÉ product combo I used.

- Sun Defense Fluid SPF 30

- Sun Defense Active Bronze Cream SPF 2
- Sun Defense Sun Radiance Lotion (after-sun tan accelerator w/Aloe and Vitamin E.)

Happy tanning!

Spin the Sugar!

2008-06-06T20:29:00.001-07:00

I'm heading out to Puerto Rico and NYC for a long-awaited vacation! I can't wait to sip the cocktails at this mega-gorgeous resort and party on! So here's a pre-vacation blog till I return on 6/15. Yeah! I'm going totally leaving my laptop behind!

So I know I'm contradicting myself when I just blogged about a diet-aid pill but this is too sweet to pass! When I met my colleague in London, he kindly gave me a box of sweets called "Dragon Beard Candy" that he brought with him from Hong Kong. Dragon what?? I was pretty clueless on what to expect. Opening the box and popping one in my mouth, OMG, this is the most delicate candy I've ever had and sooooo decadent! The candy is in a form of hand spun malt sugar that's traditional in China, and wrapped around yummy chopped roasted peanuts, sesame and coconut. Ha! I caught you drooling already. The Chinese invented this for the emperor about 2,000 years ago, good taste! Very fine strands of sugar give the appearance of a fine beard – hence its name. You're thinking, "Hmmm, you never offered me one to try." Sorry, it was gone way before I unpacked my suitcase. But have no fear, I found a site in the U.S. where you can order. Quantities are limited so hurry and get yours!
http://www.yuzumura.com/pc

Who inspires you?

2008-06-05T00:04:00.000-07:00

Since I'm heading out for a fffabulous Puerto Rico & NYC vacation next week, I'm in a Manhattan mode! When I lived there before moving to the West Coast, my best memories weren't about the revolving door of men who "didn't" show up. Yes ladies, SATC is a drama not a biography!! Nor was it the Zagat top-ranked restaurant dinners that filled my schedule at least half the week - yes this part, I feel like Carrie Bradshaw!

My treasured memory is my encounter with black and white photography.

After work I took classes at the NY Center of Photography for almost two years. I developed negatives in my teeny Manhattan sized closet that had some designer clothes, but not as many Manolos as Carrie. All because I stumbled on a beautiful photo by the famed Harper's Bazaar photographer, Lillian Bassman. Born 1917, she revolutionized the fashion industry in the 40's & 50's with her most elegant, experimental and romantic prints. I had to meet her but was she alive? Luckily, one day she was holding a lecture at the NY Center of Photography. Aren't these pictures breathtaking? I treasure the book she autographed for me that day and only hope I'll age with as much elegance as her.

http://www.nytimes.com/specials/ts/home/bass.html
http://www.staleywise.com/collection/bassman/bassman_exhibition.html

Cut it out!

2008-06-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

My friend in London is an e-commerce guru. She finds so many things online and surprisingly, most items are from the U.S. One item on her list is Alli, a new over-the-counter diet aid pill and she's digging around for reviews. Seems like it prevents the absorption of fats from the diet, thus reducing caloric intake. The fact is, it's a half-dose of an existing diet pill by GlaxoSmithKline called Xenical, which is prescribed to the obese. This half-dose blocks about 25% of the usual fat-intake; good marketing! Side effects sound pretty minimal and Alli has its own site.

I'm not endorsing this product or anything, but do give comments on this if you've heard of it, or anything else that may have worked for you (besides excercise.) We all want to cut out the calories but still enjoy the dessert don't we?

http://myalli.com/

Watch out Williams Sonoma!

2008-06-03T00:13:00.000-07:00

My fffabulous friend reminded me I hadn't blogged about this wonderful store we came acroos, so here it is! Italian star chef Michael Chiarello, former owner of Tra Vigne in Napa, has embraced Los Gatos, yeah! But it's not a restaurant he opened, it's the retail store that showcases his line of cooking utensils, custom spices and wonderful cooking/home related items he imports from Italy and beyond. I came across his second cookbook before he got his show on Food Network and some of my fave Italian recipes are from his book. He's a firm believer of grey salt (vs. kosher) and you can now buy this at his store vs. paying s&h fees for an online order. My patio furniture is also from his catalog of years back and is still in great condition. I've had the pleasure of meeting the chef in person when my company hosted his recipe for lunch in our cafeteria (yeah, we're spoiled!) I can tell you this is a great place to shop if you're tired of the typical Williams Sonoma.

Now, if only they would serve a glass of his wine while we shop.

Napa Style Los Gatos
32 North Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos, CA 95030 (408) 354-1119
Monday thru Saturday: 10am - 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 6pm

Poetic Songs

2008-06-02T00:04:00.001-07:00

I'm no country music buff but I occasionally come across tunes on the radio with lyrics that just make me freeze. Sometimes I wonder why this singer knows how I'm feeling. One day I was driving and heard a song called I Hope You Dance. It's about giving life and everything another chance and not sitting out. I totally forgot about it for months and recently heard a reprise on the radio and hunted it down. Lee Ann Womack's I Hope You Dance. Play it when you feel you've lost confidence or need to re-charge. I have some Faith Hill faves too, but Lee Ann ain't bad and this one's more about the lyrics. It can be a feel good song at the right moment.

Plz don't stop the music, Rihanna style!

2008-06-01T19:41:00.001-07:00

In hindsight, I admit the Sex And The City movie was just a prelude to a super fun weekend, but boy did we kick it up a notch! On Sat. after splurging at Neimans on some new shoes from Loeffler Randall (I still can't prononce the first name) I was invited to tag along to a very nice "European" dinner party with lots of great guests, home made paella, gaspacho and sangria in the city. Post party we hopped over to Azul and danced the nite away till the lights came on at 2 a.m. Guess the D.J. ignored Rihanna's plea of Please Don't Stop the Music. Bummer! We could've been there forever. While I improvised my-own-style salsa at times (a.k.a. just swing with the beat) I'm envious of my friends who were born to Salsa and darned I never took it seriously! My upcoming vacation to Puerto Rico calls for some serious practice. Knowing my avid Salsa dancer friends would rather sleep on the dance floor, I realize I've a lot of catching up to do. So I'm looking forward to my Tue. Salsa lesson to make sure I don't step on the toes of my new amigos in Puerto Rico. Shall we dance?

http://www.albertos.com/salsa.html

Sex And The City - The Movie

2008-05-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

On Friday evening our little troop of nine came armed with sandwiches, snacks and pop corn. Oh we are so well prepared! No spoilers here, but we're all in sync that Carrie, Miranda, Sam and Charlotte deliverd 200% and didn't let us down. We all got "Carried-away" (this is a line in the movie) and toasted to Carrie & Co. with Cosmopolitan cocktails after the movie, such a fitting and wonderful evening that we've decided to create a movie group for periodical screenings together!

Chips Ahoy!

2008-05-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

Ever realize that the bag of chips you intended to buy had never made it to your shopping cart but the guacamole and salsa did? Have no fear, here's a yummy emergency remedy that's sure to please your taste buds: home made pita chips! I always freeze real pita bread and whip out a few in situations like this, it's soooo simple. Here's the "how-to" courtesy of my gourmet friend who let me help her party prep.

1. Take the pita bread, cut along rim and separate the top and bottom surface as if you were making a burger bun.

2. Lightly brush both the smooth side of the bread with olive oil.

3. Sprinkle lightly with salt.

4. Cut the bread into tenths (so you end up with 10 little triangles that really look like pita chips) and lay on baking sheet.

5. Bake in oven lightly (about 300F) for a few min. till they lightly toast. Turn chips over and bake the other side (total bake time is less than 4-5 min, so don't take your eyes off!)

Munch!

Black Orchid

2008-05-30T14:19:00.000-07:00

I rarely buy new fragrances and tend to stick to my Bvlgari collection. But one day I was introduced to this new, rich and potent Black Orchid perfume by Tom Ford at Neiman's. On first whiff, I almost fainted. It was the most elegant, modern and sexy scent I've ever been exposed to! As if the naming and packaging wasn't sexy enough, I was sooooooo sold on the spot and have been sporting this on special evening outings. A real orchid flower needs only to be watered once a week. This is so hypnotizing, you'd better make sure you wear it when you really want to sprinkle the magic, say.... once a week. But for those like me who have been waiting for Mr. Ford to produce a "day" scent, I am happy to announce he's gifted us with his lighter new Black Orchid Voile De Fleur (veil of flowers) eau de toilette. It's much lighter and perfect for everyday wear. Go hypnotize!

Beans

2008-05-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

Oak, berry, pineapple... these are words for wine tasting. But have you ever heard anyone commenting how flowery, buttery and bright their coffee was? I recently learned that the three fundamental tasting terms for coffee are flavor, body and acidity. Now what, a coffee sommelier certification test??? I'm a tea aficionado and not much of a coffee connoisseur, but I love to entertain at home. While I'm still figuring out how to work my old espresso machine, I at least have a stash of decent coffee beans to finish off my dinners when the coffee connoisseurs are over. In Napa I came across a Bouchon blend at their bakery. It's a med.-dark roast and while I didn't taste it, I knew if this had the stamp of Thomas Keller so I couldn't go wrong (owner chef of the French Laundry and Bouchon, among many others.) I'm also fond of their decadent French Laundry blend too. Conveniently you can order online at Equator Estate Coffee too so you don't have to hike to Napa: http://www.equatorcoffees.com/home.html To my delight, they now have a good selection of the "Chef Blends" category that this blend rightfully belongs to. Did you get your caffeine boost today?

Zzzzzz

2008-05-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

I can never sleep in the plane but my long hauls to Asia and Europe these days are killin' me. Downing glasses of champagne and wine still doesn't help. Recently, I was saved by an item I found at an airport shop; the Silicon Ear Plug! This isn't the same exact one I now own, but looks similar enough and I highly recommend this if you're a jet setter. I still couldn't fall asleep completely, but I sure did doze off a bit this time and it made a huge difference (they're less than 10 bucks.) Bon voyage!

Pass the butter plz

2008-05-30T01:33:00.000-07:00

On my biz trip in London I was sharing rooms with my colleague from Japan. You'd think it's stressful to have to reveal yourself 24/7, but she was a very pleasant roomie and one evening I smelled something flowery, fragrant and delish! Sniff, sniff... she was rubbing on the "Moringa Body Butter" from... of all places, The Body Shop! I instantly fell in love with the fragrance and she let me try some on. Ladies, if you're looking for a nourishing and lovely cream, look no further it's right under our nose. The butter comes in all sorts of fragrances and has won the Allure magazine award. The irony is that The Body Shop is a UK based company but with the dollar so weak, it's cheaper to buy in the U.S. For $20 bucks, this is a steal!

Vino!

2008-05-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

I think it's totally cool that my friend is taking an authentic Sommelier certification class. She's the classiest woman I know, and what I don't know is how further to rank her if she gets this certification... she is ten stars! Inspired by her passion, I dug around for some fun wine classes in the bay area. I don't want to sit in a stuffy classroom with the know-it-all's and I really don't feel I have enough vino vocab in my brain to keep up with the sommeliers-to-be. So I think I'll opt for this class in the fall: http://brucecasswinelab.com/ "World-class wine education, down-to-earth style." Sounds what I'm lookng for and they have a "Fundamentals of taste & smell" class so I'm sold.

SATC the movie is here!!!

2008-05-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

I know you don't need me to blog about this. Enough teasers and trailers! Sex and The City - The Movie is here! Don't tell me you don't have tix for tomorrow's Friday opening screening. Ditch the boyfriend and get your butt out with your gal pals to toast to the fab four. Our show is at 7:15 pm and movie tix in some select theaters are still available so don't give up. I think I'm a New Yorker at heart...

My new sports car... I wish!

2008-05-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

I had an Audi A4 for 7 years and when it got all cranky and I ended up spending an insane amount of $$$ on repairs and maintenance, I parted with my old flame and leased an A6. I still have two years left on the lease which puts me in a dilemma of not being able to really drive the car I have a crush on, blush. Yep, it's the sexy Audi A5 and it meets everything I'm looking for in a car. Cool design, ergo-friendly features and nice trunk space. Trying to stay optimistic here about the wait ... I still have two years to decide the color I want.

Afternoon Tea

2008-05-29T23:44:00.000-07:00

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." I invented a new saying for myself: "When in London, do as the Brits do." A champagne afternoon tea in an English-proper trad hotel costs as much as a full course dinner in S.F. But you know me... I just can't resist anything yummy and when I was told this particular menu was a limited edition to commemorate the Chelsea Flower Show, how could I resist the invitation? Cutting our late afternoon mtg. short, my colleague and I jumped in a cab to scurry over to the lovely Claridges Hotel in St. James to meet up with the facilitator of this divine afternoon. I am lucky to have friends who are so sophisticated and know the best dining locations (love you Ms. Y.T.!) I think the pics tell the story at how beautiful the treats were. Of course the champagne was flowing and I can't remember how many seconds of the sandwiches we had, let alone keep track of the different kinds of tea we were able to try. I hate that the dollar is so weak against the pound but this was one splurge well spent!

R-Rated Muppets

2008-05-29T23:14:00.000-07:00

My biz trip to London was full of serious mtgs, but all stress was blown away when we were treated to this super funny musical, Avenue Q. It's muppets gone wild and R-rated (almost X-rated in some scenes!) and a perfect alternative to a movie date. Coincidentally the theater was just across the street from our flashy Phillippe Starck hotel, St. Martins Lane. When I heard our conference agenda had a "Tuesday evening event" I was skeptical at first and debated if I should come up with an excuse to go dining with my local friend. But the muppet posters I've been walking by everyday had piqued my interest and heck, it was free! Without much anticipation I joined the outing and was blown away by the hilarious dialogue and musical scores. I didn't know muppets could be so funny! Not to give away too much, of course the muppets are cleverly controlled by humans on stage, but they live in Brooklyn and are fired, broke but care-free and have their own dilemmas despite being little monsters. If you're in the mood for a fun night out, I highly recommend this Tony award winning show. Sure if you live in London or Manhattan, they're playing daily but they're touring the U.S. this year so you may be in luck!

My Fair Lady

2008-05-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

I was recently in London for biz. It'd been 8 years since my last visit and I'd been yearning to go back to Fortnum & Mason, the mega-tea emporium in Piccadilly that's transformed itself into anything but just tea. Oh, my the multi-story mini department store has everything from tea, caviar, furniture to clothing! Among all the treasures this store "stores" (yeah, literally!) was a rare fragrant black tea called "Violet Pouchong" that really smells like violets, smile. I thought violets were limited to French candy or cologne, but I was proved wrong. This is definitely English-tea-meets- Fragonard and is quite unique and beautiful. It's a gorgeous tea I reserve to drink, only when I want to feel gorgeous! F&M is also celebrating it's tercentenary and released a "Tercentenary" blend (pictured here) for that as well. I received this as a gift from my fashionista friend last Christmas and was blown away by the delicate mix of Assam and Yuunan and the beautiful can. Sure Fortnum & Mason is a high-end brand, but they haven't been around since 1707 for nothin' (giggle!) No worries, you can order online outside of UK so you don't have to fly there each time. They make nice gifts too so stack up!