Cover Up!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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!

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.