SATC therapy!

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....

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!

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!

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?

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!

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!

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!