The Ambition

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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 :-)