Internationally Chic

Product Review: Natural Mineral Makeup

2009-08-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting my blog but today I decided to rectify that. I thought I'd share my experience trying to find more natural mineral makeup. As you may have read in my last post, I sort of, alright I completely drank the coolaid in regards to going green. I've been checking all my cosmetics on costmeticsdatabase.com just make sure that I'm not using toxic chemicals when I acutally think that I purchase a "natural product". Here's the thing, if it's a great cosmetic, lipstick, whatever... but it doesn't contain any natural ingredients whatsoever, just say so. It's annoying as hell that cosmetics companies will claim that they have all natural ingredients when they throw in 1 thing natural but the rest are harsh chemicals.

Anyway... (as I step off my soap box) Surprisingly enough, Bare minerals (which I've worn for quite some time) is not all natural. I thought I'd try to find something with less fillers and chemical and more natural stuff in general. I read about 2 companies that provide 100% natural and also partial, if not completely, organic ingredients: Glam- Nation and Afterglow.

I first tried Glam Nation. I emailed the company (to their customer service email on their web site) and asked which shade and type of make up would be good for me. I provided my shade of bare minerals and fully expected a response. Well.... I didn't get one.

I ended up ordering some makeup anyway. I was pretty curious to see the coverage of the make up, especially considering they advertise to be "100% pure natural, organic skincare". I selected a shade and moved to the checkout page. For starters, they charge $7.50 for shipping, which is a little steep for just some makeup. I also checked the weight of the make up. It states on their web site that the makeup is .25 oz.

I received the product and it was so small that I literally thought it was a sample. I held it up again the bare minerals container and it looked half the size! I tried it and it did go on well, however during the day my skin felt irritated. I read on their web site that since they're "all natural" or something like that, that while your skin is in detox from such a natural product and that you may experience redness. Uhhh.... Detox for my skin? I didn't buy it.

I moved on to Afterglow. Their customer service people were super nice and friendly. There's a spot on their web page that says if you need help finding the right color that you should email them your current make up and shade and they'll help you out. Within 24 hours, I received
an email from customer service giving me the shade that would be comparable to my current make up as well as other recommendations that would go well with my skin tone.

I received the package and it was comparable in size to bare minerals. It's actually a bit bigger (.35 oz versus bare minerals at .3 oz). The great thing about this makeup is that it doesn't look like you're wearing make up! It's like your skin ... but better! And, I didn't get
any irritation or redness (or detox) from this product.

My one gripe with Afterglow cosmetics is that they sort of melt off your skin as the day goes on. If you love makeup like I do, then you might be more comfortable with something that gives you more coverage.

Next up: Zosimos Cosmetics... stay tuned

Girls weekend in Chicago

2009-06-05T07:29:00.001-07:00

Last weekend my friend Allison met me in Chicago for a girls weekend. We stayed downtown at the newly renovated Marriott Magnificent Mile downtown. It was the PERFECT local for a shopping/eating/drinking/altogether fun girls weekend.

We ate at some spectacular restaurants. Here are a few:

The Webber Grill Restaurant
http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/

Joe’s (specializing in steak and stone crab)
http://www.joes.net/chicago

Bice (pronounced Beach-ay) Italian Restaurant
http://chicago.bicegroup.com/11/index.html

Devon Seafood
http://www.devonseafood.com/

What's in there?

2009-05-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

I’ve come to the conclusion that I might be a tad bit overly paranoid about certain things. Running with scissors is bad. Drinking tap water makes me suspicious at times. I garden organically. But, I never thought that I would be paranoid about the cosmetics I use. I was reading an article the other day about what chemicals are used in cosmetics. Now, I remember reading something about how Cleopatra used some kind of flower to make her cheeks and lips rosy and that was way back in about 200 BC (I think that was the only thing I remembered from history class).

I was reading an article this week (I can not remember the web site for the life of me), but it happened to list www.cosmeticsdatabase.com as a resource to help you find out what exactly is in your cosmetics and if it’s hazardous. I checked out some of the stuff that I use, just see what’s in there. They have a green, yellow, red system to show you the level of hazardous chemicals in you cosmetics.

I buy 7^th generation and Aveda products, so I figured that I would be green all the way, right? WRONG! I was SHOCKED at how many chemicals are used in our cosmetics. This includes lotions and sunscreens, too. Now, if Cleopatra was using her own home made stuff back in the way in the day (assuming that it was made from plant products), why the hell in this day and age are we using so many chemicals in cosmetics?

Check out the cosmetics database site. You will be amazed! Here are some of the products that I use that rank green according to the cosmetics database:

California baby sunscreen – it’s organic and certain formulas contain natural bug repellant. I use it and it’s fabulous. I never burn when I use that stuff. It’s a bit gloppy but if you’re pasty white like me, the hubby and the kid, you want full coverage. www.californiababy.com

I use bare minerals makeup and, sadly, it ranks a yellow (as in medium health hazard), I found a company that has mineral makeup that ranks green – Glam Nation. I have yet to try it, but it’s next on my list. http://www.glam-nation.com/index.cfm

Other companies that rank as green include. Dancing dingo. They have shampoos, soaps, baby soaps and even dog shampoo. I think I need to try out the Dog De-funkier. Cava’s getting a little stinky.http://www.dancingdingo.com/

California Costal Creations also uses plant products in their cosmetics – they’re a big GREEN according to the cosmetics database. I ordered some of their lipstick and eye shadow – I’ll let you know what I think of it. http://www.coastalclassiccreations.com/index.html

So, check out the web site and see what’s in the stuff that you’re using. If you really don’t care and just like the way that your cheap eye shadow shimmers, never mind. I will warn you that if you’re slightly paranoid about stuff like this, that web site is SO addictive.

Food processor, how do I love thee.... Let me count the ways.

2009-04-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

For Christmas my husband bought me a food processor, but not just any food processor. It's the top of the line kitchen-aid food processor. In an effort to save money and actually use all of the food that we buy on a weekly basis, I've been putting the kitchen-aid to the test. I took old stale bread and made bread crumbs. The beauty with bread crumbs is that they freeze beautifully in an old sour cream container (or the like) and when you're ready to use they don't have to thaw - just sprinkle.

On Sunday, however, I experienced the piece de resistance. I was craving hash browns, the really good kind, the kind that are pan fried with just a little cheese. Suddenly, I had an epiphany. I took the fingerling potatoes that we had stashed in the pantry, put them through the grater attachment in the food processor and VOILA.... The world's best hash browns. And, the best part? We used up what we already had AND we didn't spend money on going out to breakfast.

My husband just bought me a vacuum sealer this past weekend. I've sealed everything I can get my grubby paws on. Then I thought! What about those hash browns? I can vacuum seal the grated potatoes, freeze them and use them whenever we feel like it.

It was a slightly liberating feeling to know that fingerling potato hash browns would be at my fingertips, 24/7. The possibilities are endless...

God Bless...

2009-04-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this funny tidbit.

I was driving along the highway, as they call it here (apparently, only those from the West Coast call it a “freeway”). I was minding my own business, getting down to a little Justin Timberlake, bringing my sexy back, when I notice someone in my rear view mirror. This woman (who BADLY needed one of those makeovers from “What not to wear”) was on the edge of her seat, leaning over the steering wheel and looked like she had a massive case of road rage.

Coming from the LA area, I’m used to this sort of behavior. I smiled slightly as took my foot off the gas. They would eventually go around. The woman swerved to the right and then cut off a semi. As she passed me I saw a sticker on her car that said “JESUS” in big gold type.

I just thought to myself “Well, God Bless, you too!”

Yea, spring is here… sort of

2009-03-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

Now I understand spring fever. After months of scurrying from the car to the building, and donning grandma and mom’s furs, it has finally started to warm up a bit. My new sister-in-law explained to me that here in the Midwest when spring arrives, people are more than enthusiastic (and frequently take the day off from work in celebration).

I decided to have my own spring celebration over the weekend. Scott put together a planter box for me out of lumber. We filled it with soil and planted spring veggies under the deck (so the mid day sun doesn’t wilt my lettuce). During the "growing up" years, I always remember my Mom having a garden. Not only is an economical way to get your fresh fruits and vegetables, but she would use her 2 day laborers (my brother and myself) to help maintain the garden. The garden also gave us an opportunity to learn how things grow and what different fruits and vegetables are called. She would hand me a pair of scissors and ask me to get a handful of parsley. I would dutifully walk back to the garden and promptly forget what parsley looked like. She would have to show me again before cutting her a handful.

What's amazing to me is in the age of video games and razor scooters, my step son is just as intrigued about the garden as I once was. This weekend he was more than happy to help with the yard work. He even insisted on using his own children's garden tools and gloves. I'll admit that I felt nostalgic when he asked me how it was that I knew how to plant lettuce. I just smiled and showed him, as my Mom showed me, exactly how to dig, plant, and cover up the tender baby lettuce. Now I just hope that it grows.

Great Wedding Day... and Great Hair

2009-02-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

Amazingly enough, I got married. I think it’s amazing, anyway. I never really thought about getting married or even finding someone who understands me, for that matter. I was busy. I was too busy. I went to graduate school, opened my own (failed) business, I had things to do.

BOOM! Then I met Scott and everything changed. We were getting married.

I had a few problems with the whole planning process; the first problem being my deceased mother. Every place I went to, some snotty sales girl asked about my mother. What would she be wearing, what does she think. It’s enough to drive you crazy. I knew she was absent. I went alone to pick out my wedding dress. I was aware of the void and didn’t need to be reminded of it. I just had no idea that a wedding was so much about a mother and daughter.

Regardless, I found a dress, a venue, a minister, blah, blah, blah. Everything was set. Two weeks before the wedding, I realized that I had no idea how I would wear my hair. Of course, my tried and true hair dresser had already been schedule but what the heck would we do for that day? Every bridal picture showed some girl with long flowing hair or up in a French twist. But, I have short hair! Should I be denied cute hair just because I’m a low maintenance hair girl? I finally, FINALLY found a picture online and we worked from there. For those of you who need a special hair do and have short hair like me, check this out. My hair stylist rocked and it looked incredible – even the back of my hair looked great! Everything went smoothly. The flowers were incredible, the food was great, and the venue was perfect. And… I had great hair.

For great wedding hair, or every day hair you can see Chelsea DeVere at Salon Pop in Long Beach. Call 562-987-9200 for an apt.

If you do get married in the Orange County area, I highly recommend using Lavender Hill as your florist. Dawn is great and the flowers were beautiful.
http://www.lavenderhilloc.com/

Also, our minister was AWESOME. Really, he helped me more on that day than the event coordinator from the hotel. I highly recommend Rev. Clint Hufft.
http://www.reverendclint.com/

Spa Day Turned Home Treatment

2009-01-15T19:32:00.000-08:00

Like many people, I spent the holidays sick in bed. I had several facial appointments previously scheduled so that I could look glowing and beautifully radiant for my late Jan wedding. The last two appointments that I made I just could not attend. When I called to cancel the last reservation, I received a rude response from some spa girl stating “well, I GUESS it’s alright”. I thought about telling her she two choices; she could graciously accept my cancellation or kissing my ***. I hung up instead.

After realizing that I have been paying $150 each visit to the spa just to deal with the rude spa bitch, I thought that there HAD to be an alternative.

I’ve always been a fan of Arbonne products. They all natural, yadda, yadda, yadda… and your skin looks great. I noticed online that they have an enzyme peel that you can do at home. What a brilliant thought! The peel is roughly 30 bucks and is applied the way you would apply a normal night cream. You wake up in the morning and wash your face. I’m not joking when I say that your skin looks fantastic.

https://arbonne.com/shop_online/showitem.asp?ProductId=6326&menuId=217&withLinks=1

Of course, you have to purchase Arbonne products through a rep. I’m sure if you go on their web site you can search for one.

I must admit that I do feel smart doing my own at home spa treatments. I know, it’s not as fun as going to the spa but, at least I have some cash left in my pocket. And, best of all, I can have a glass of wine while I pretend I'm at the spa... and I don't even have far to drive home.

Happy Spa-ing!

Great thrifty holiday gifts

2008-12-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

Let’s face it. It’s a shit time for the economy. There are some of us who maybe have dropped a bunch of money on something frivolous like shoes, clothes or an extravagant night are now sucking wind, saving money, paying off our credit cards. Others, like myself, are wondering when getting a home loan will not longer require a blood sample and my first born. Either way, everyone is thinking of the economy and their now nonexistent retirement accounts. Merry Christmas, right?

Well, here are a few ideas on how to get you through the holidays without excessively drinking egg nogg.

1) Make something. My mother always made almond brittle during the holiday season. It’s less common than peanut brittle and much tastier, if you ask me. You might need a little inspiration so here’s my mother’s recipe. I place several pieces in a decorative Chinese food to-go container or maybe a pretty tin.

Mom’s almond brittle

1 C. whole raw almonds (unsalted)
½ C. granulated sugar
2 tsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
Salt

Combine almonds, butter and sugar in a heavy 10 inch skillet. Cook, stirring fairly constantly, over medium heat until the almonds are toasted and the sugar is melted and golden brown (about 15 mins). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

Spread the nuts on a sheet of aluminum (make sure you have sprayed the foil with no stick cooking spray). Try to place the almonds in clusters of 2 or 3. Lightly sprinkle with salt.

2) Tone down the festivities
You do not need to serve a 5 course meal in order to enjoy time with family and friends. My friend Robert has a saying. It’s something like “my guests don’t have a better time if I spend 4 more hours on dinner”.

Sometimes just have hours d’ouvres is much more fun then just dinner. Some of my favorite parties have been those that I've asked my guests to bring their favorite appetizer.

3) Try unconventional gifts
One of my favorite gift suggestions this year has been Tastebook. www.tastebook.com is a web site where you can upload your recipes and have them bound in a binder that can be opened. The fabulous thing about Tastebook is that you can put a few recipes in the book and then add more later. They start at $20 so, you could can add your favorite recipe and give it to a friend to complete with their favorites.

4) Bring a hostess gift, not an enormous present
A hostess gift is just that. It’s not meant to be a present that will bust the bank. It’s a gesture to your host. Pick a nice bottle of wine. Places like Trader Joe’s and World Market have really good wines for around $10.

5) Just send cards
My family agreed this year to just send Christmas cards. Since all of us “kids” are grown, we’re not broken up about not getting a gift.

Regardless of your financial situation, simplifying the holidays always seems to make them less stressful, as well.

Christmas Chaos

2008-12-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

Growing up Christmas was always my favorite time of year. My mother dusted off her recipes for the seasonal family favorites. The house always looked like Santa threw up in it but, it was a magical time, none the less. For many this is a time of stress. Having to deal with unruly family members can make you feel like you’re in Christmas Vacation.

As much as I try to lead a stress free life, it doesn’t always turn out that way.

The tree is not finished. There are still presents to be purchased and the stores are mayhem (Did you hear about that Wal-Mart worker who got trampled the day after Thanksgiving? What the hell, people?)

What’s a girl to do with all this holiday stress? Just for you, my dear friends, I’m including my famous lemon drop martini recipe. Please feel free to change it and make it your own. CHEERS! And let’s not stress; the holidays are almost over.

Tart Lemon Drop Martini

This is a very tart martini. For those of you who will only drink sweet booze, I suggest you add sugar and maybe leave out some lemon. I know it's tart. It's supposed to be tart.

1 Meyer lemon (squeezed into the shaker)
Approx 6-8 ice cubes
1 Tbsp of sugar (not the hippie raw brown sugar – regular white sugar)
6 oz good vodka (don’t be cheap – there’s nothing worse than a bad hang over)

Put all of the ingredients into the cocktail shaker. If you’re a light weight (and you know who you are) add some water. Shake the cocktail shaker with your index finger on the lid. Shake until the cocktail shaker becomes too cold to hold (AKA: shake it ‘til it hurts).

And VOILA! Family? What family? What turkey? Oh, look I have a fabulous cocktail in front of me. Cheers.

A First Glace of Lisbon

2008-10-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

The drive from Tavira to Lisbon took about 3.5 hours. If you weren’t driving a POS 2.5 cylinder Ford Focus rental car, I’m sure it would take you less. The scenery on the way from the south of Portugal to Lisbon was a particularly interesting one. Cork oak trees lined the highway on both sides. Apparently, Portugal produces 50% of the world’s harvest of cork. The trees, which are stripped of their bark (which produces the cork) can be harvested every 10-12 years and has a life expectancy of 150-250 years. Please don’t try to cut down a cork tree when you’re in Portugal – it’s illegal. You don’t want to spend you vacation in jail, do you?

Lisbon was not at all what I had expected. I think I was expecting more of a cosmopolitan city, such as Madrid or Barcelona. In comparison, Lisbon is a tad … well, shabby. I know, I know… it’s politically incorrect. But, I think if you were there you might agree that the city was more shabby than shabby chic. Many of the buildings were tiled and many of the tiles cracked and dirtied from years of wear. Also, graffiti seemed to be everywhere, making me feel uneasy about the area in general.

If you want a cultural experience you can stay in charming little hotel that the locals just love. I like a Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons… something to that effect. If you, too, enjoy these high quality/luxury chains, do yourself a favor and do not stay in a charming little hotel. You will be beyond disappointed and a raving b!tch from lack of sleep. A traveling companion (who will remain nameless) likes these sort of out of the way, “charming” places. There were several to choose from… but they weren’t cheap. We settled on 180 Euro a night boutique that was labeled as a “good value” by a very reputable travel web site. (Note: I’ve figured out that a “good value” means that the sheets are clean and you don’t have to share a bathroom with the people down the hall.) Now for $250 bucks a night I would expect to stay in a nice hotel. It might not be the Ritz, but it should be nice.

After an hour of driving up and down the streets trying to find the hotel, we saw a tile sign above the doorway. It looked awful. When I say awful, I mean that I was ready to get back in the car and head to the nearest luxury hotel. One of my other travel buddies first mentioned “Is this neighborhood safe at night?” and then later said “well, they have your credit card info. We should go check the rooms.”

We walked up to the front of the hotel. Old, dilapidated tiles reading the name of the hotel were mounted to the top of the stucco door frame. A locked iron gate stood about 8 feet tall and a speaker box was on the side of the wall. We rang the bell and waited. The woman on the other end of the phone ushered us upstairs. We climbed one, then two flights of stairs. At the top was a large cobblestone courtyard. A large palm tree was the focal point for this garden, while other large trees and vines surrounded the courtyard, providing much needed shade from the hot day.

We asked to see the rooms before getting the key. The woman at the front desk looked shocked. The door man showed up to our rooms. They were clean, simple, not luxurious. I would say that was a 99 buck a night room by European standards, not a $250 a night room. We figured we would make do and stay at the hotel. Later that night I noticed a little dry rot in the floor of the bathroom. Scott had a good point. He said, “For $250 I would expect them to get rid of the dry rot.”

What to do
So, the first day in Lisbon started out shaky. For day #2 we decided to visit St George’s castle. Lisbon is quite hilly so, I was thrilled to take a cab there. Once inside we immediately noticed the enormity of the castle grounds. Now, I’ve been to castles. I’ve been to castles in Austria, the UK, Spain, Germany and other various places in Europe. St. George’s castle put them all to shame. The castle is huge. You could imagine how in its time the castle would be a city in itself.

The view of the Tagus river from the castle is amazing so, be sure to spend some time on the “patio” and take some pictures. When you venture in the castle, you will see that the walls are pretty well in tact. Many tourists walked up the narrow stair cases up to the top of several levels, overlooking the center of the (now open air) castle to one side and the city to the other.

Visiting the castle was a spectacular way to spend the day. I highly recommend it.

Tavira and Southern Portugal

2008-10-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Algarve is the region in the south of Portugal, facing Africa. It was not at all what I expected. We traveled by car from Marbella, in the south of Spain, to Tavira. The hot humid air of Spain was soon replaced by a sweltering dry heat. Also, along the car ride, I noticed that the soil in Portugal is of a red variety; sometimes it's coral, sometimes dark red.

We stayed in a Pousada. Pousadas are spread over Portugal. They are former convents, monasteries or castles that have been converted to hotels. After talking with the attendant at the front desk, I learned that the government does provide some sort of funding for restoration of these buildings but, they are managed by hotel management companies.

We stayed at the Pousada de Tavira – Convento de Graca. I must admit to you that I was a bit impressed by the restoration of the Pousada. It had been restored just a few years prior and looked incredible. The rooms were simple, yet classy, and had a soft (but just firm enough) bed with down pillows and comforter.

The first night after the long drive from Marbella to Tavira, we decided to have dinner at the hotel. The menu of the evening was Moroccan cuisine. We were pleasantly surprised by the food. Bream was the served in several ways throughout the 5 courses, consisting of fish with dates, dried nuts and fruits. (I later learned that Bream is a local Portuguese white fish. It actually tasted a lot like sea bass, though I understand they are different species of fish.) The dinner was excellent and the staff was quite nice.

We spent the following day exploring Tavira, a sea side town where you will find snorkeling, fishing and boating excursions available. I’m not much of a sun bunny, or a water person. Rather, the four of us preferred to wander the streets of Tavira, snapping photos and helping out the economy with purchases from yet another Zara.

On the way back to the Pousada, we took a detour and visited one of the golf resorts. The South of Portugal is littered with golf resorts where the weary Northern European traveler can sun themselves and golf. The massive golf resorts and hot weather provide a change from the other variable weather you might find in Europe (especially Northern Europe). The golf resorts are huge; many of them encompass miles of courses, condos, restaurants and hotels.

Once you get out of the resort, it’s noticeable. Portugal is a poorer country than Spain. I was honestly expecting that the countries would be similar. I think that would be saying California borders Arizona so, they are similar.

Return to Espana

2008-09-28T04:53:00.000-07:00

After an exciting year of getting engaged, starting a new job and moving 2,000 miles away, I finally went on vacation (thank God). I went back to a favorite haunt, the Marriott Playa Andalusia in southern Spain.

Getting Around
Driving in Spain is always a bit of religious experience - by that I mean that you say “oh God” a lot. The Spaniards, as do most other Europeans, drive like a bat out of hell in their 4 cylinder piece of shit car. Everyone there has a piece of shit car, unless you have tons of money or just want people to think so. They have the POS car because of the fact that parking can, at times, be like bumper cars and door dings are frequent. As usual, I drove. I get car sick, plane sick, train sick, sea sick; let’s just say it’s best if I drive.

My Dad’s girlfriend, Marilyn, told me that I “drive like a local”. I’m not too sure if that’s a compliment but, I’ll take what I can get. Many Americans like to drive within the lines (just like coloring) and can’t seem to grasp the concept that people will go when the light is red and drive in the middle of two lanes. This is why driving in Europe is not for the faint of heart. This is why a close family friend prefers tours. He said that he can’t handle the driving and would prefer that someone else would do it. I guess no one told him he could hire a driver for the day, too.

The Costa del Sol
The south of Spain is fondly referred to as the “Costa del sol”. This scenic area consisting of more condos and golf courses then you’ve even seen, is the home away from home and FAV vacation destination of many Brits, Germans and a few Americans, too. The weather is HOT in the summer. And when I say HOT, I mean it’s freaking’ HOT. The humidity can be surprising at times (varying from degrees of sticky to just plain unbearable); coupled with the high temperatures in July and August, it’s uncomfortable. We traveled in September and it was still on the warm side - temperatures ranging from 80 to 85 degrees.

Many Brits and Germans come to soak up the sun and the heat, escaping from the cold North. Being pasty white, I’ve never been one to sit by the pool. This doesn’t seem to stop the Brits. You can practically feel the heat radiating off of their bodies as the cook in the hot sun and maintain their sun burn for a constant week.

What to do
If you’re a golfer, you’re in heaven. The only problem is that many of the golf courses are expensive (about 150 Euros, or $210) and many of them require a handicap. Being a novice golfer, I was told by my father that those of us infrequent players would be out of luck without a handicap. Oh well…

There are many white cities in the south. The white cities of Spain are famous. Living in close proximity to your neighbors, in the hilly regions, the hills provided protection from invaders. Later, “White Villages” became convenient farming communities, allowing the farmers to live in a protected community. Today the white village, or pueblos blancos, remain. (You can find more information on the white villages of Spain by visiting http://www.andalucia.com/villages/malaga.htm.)

If you decide to venture to a white village, note that the parking can be treacherous. (We had a slight incident in Casares and nearly ended up in the Castle – long story.) Be aware of the giant blue “P”, for public parking, and you should be fine.

My fiancée, Scott was interested in checking out the wines of Spain. Finding a bottle shop in the Costa del Sol is few and far between. Many of the wine growing regions are in the North, not the South. Determined to drink good wine on our trip, we asked the concierge if there was a wine shop in the area.

He recommended a place called “The Museum of Wine” in Mijas. I’ve been to Mijas. It’s one of the white villages. It’s very picturesque. Parking is a bitch. If you visit Mijas, don’t be cheap - park in the parking garage. Trust me, it’s worth the money. After traveling along the A7 highway to and then up a steep grade to get to Mijas only to squeeze your POS 2.5 cylinder rental car into a parking spot the size of a shoe box, a glass of wine sounds like a fantastic idea.

The concierge gave me a map and noted where the “Museo de Vino” is located. White cities are elusive, though. They are deceiving in terms of size and also in terms of where each street is actually located. After a small debate about is it down this street or that, I spotted a cop. In Europe they’re happy to give you directions so feel free to ask. After all, there’s no crispy crème in Mijas; what else is the guy going to do?

We venture up another small narrow street (almost an ally) and there it was. This wine shop is much more then a wine shop. For 15 Euros you can get tapas and 3 wine tastings. Or for 25 Euros you can get 5 tastings and 5 tapas. There were 4 of us who had the wine tastings and, believe me, we didn’t starve or lack for wine.

The tapas started out as typical Spanish hours d’ouvres. Aged cheese, salty ham and spicy chorizo were starters. From there were had the ratatouille with tuna (amazing) and pork with a balsamic reduction sauce. ALL FOR 15 EUROS (including wine). The proprietor of the shop is a wine connoisseur without being a snob. All you have to do is tell him what types of wine you want and he’ll bring out customized tasting, just for you.

Scott and I actually came back a second day and enjoyed tapas and wine. We had nowhere to be all day so, we just talked with the shopkeepers about wine and watched the tour groups from the cruises go in and out of the store. We were asked several times how we got that glass of tempranillo or if we were going to get back on the bus. They were all shocked when we said that we drove our own car and were going to continue enjoying our wine throughout the afternoon.

Here’s the web site for the wine Museum. It’s all in Spanish but, it lists their phone number and address.
http://www.museovinomalaga.org/

More Food
If you didn’t eat enough during your wine tasting/tapas afternoon, you can head west to Estapona. One fabulous restaurant is Tikitano. It’s a challenge to find but, the food is incredible. This culinary gem is actually right on the sand making for scenic lunches and romantic sunset dinners.

My recommendation would be the risotto appetizer. They know how to make it. Being an Italian girl, I know if someone screws up the risotto. Theirs is top notch. Just about anything else on the menu would make your mouth water, as well. I had the sea bass and it melted in your mouth. If you feeling like a big shot, Louis XIII is available for a mere 225 Euros a shot.

Check out the web site for directions – trust me, you’ll need them. And you can make reservations on line.
http://tikitano.net/

More to come from Spain. These are just a few of my favorites and suggestions.

Shoe Alert!

2008-09-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

For those of my amigos who have a shoe obsession, I've found something wonderful to share with you. The web site http://www.6pm.com/ carries shoes that are last seasons or discontinued items from zappos.com. They have things like privo's for $25. You can't beat that with a stick. You can feed your shoe obsession AND maintain your budget. How FABULOUS is that?

Isn't this moving thing fun?

2008-08-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Until now, I have never moved across country. As a matter of fact, I’ve never moved anywhere that’s not within 100 miles of my family. After my Mom died I moved back in with my Dad and have spent the past 2 years enjoying our beautiful family home with spacious kitchen and 6 bedrooms. I love the backyard with grape vines, peaches and blackberries in the back yard. Somehow, I figured it would be just as easy to move down the street as it is to move across country. Now I like to think that my nativity comes from my artificially blond hair and I’m not just stupid. But little did I know what moving cross country would really involve.

First of all, I have a dog named Cava. She’s the best yellow lab in the world. (Yes, I’m one of those crazy dog people that feeds their dog holistic dog food.) My fiancée loves the dog. As a matter of fact he will call and ask how “my dog” is doing, I think just to get my goat a bit. My fiancée also has a cat named Boo Boo. Did I mention that the only thing in the world that Cava hates is cats?

Thank GAWD that my company gave me a relocation package, paying for the move (one less thing to pay for). There was just the issue of getting there. Cava had taken car trips with me before but never for hours on end. The funny thing about the dog is that I don’t think she knows she’s a dog. When we go for car rides she jumps into the front seat (if available) and sits there, looking out the front window. That’s right… she never rides with her head out the window.

One day I thought that if she just tried it, she would love it. We rolled down my street at a snails pace. I quietly, sneakily rolled down the window, acting as nonchalant as I possibly could. I quickly shoved Cava’s head out the window with my right hand, steering the car with the other. After about 2 seconds she shook loose and gave me a look like I had lost my mind. I ended the battle of the open window right there. Why bother? I just turn on the AC and she’s happy as a clam.

Despite Cava’s distain for cats, I thought that after a while, a slight period of adjustment perhaps, that Boo Boo and Cava would learn to love each other. In the meantime, I’ve kept Cava on a leash or the two of them in separate rooms.

Yesterday I was unpacking yet another box in the kitchen when I heard a faint “meow”. I just figured that since Cava was out that the cat was in the laundry room (conveniently behind closed doors). About 10 seconds passed and I heard a louder “MEOW”. At the same time, Cava and I rose to our feet, both realizing that the cat was out. Cava and I left the kitchen, her going one way, me going another. I stopped when I saw the cat, Boo Boo, sauntering up the stairs with a big fat “MEOWWWW”.

Two seconds later, it was on. Cava started with a growl. The cat ran under the kitchen table and Cava followed, snarling and barking the whole way while the chairs at the table wobbled and moved as they passed. I followed, trying to catch Cava, yelling “no, no, no”. But, they were too fast for me. First they were down the stairs and then back up in a flash, the whole time Boo Boo had an expression if to say “what the hell just happened” and Cava was practically foaming at the mouth.

I finally caught Cava on second pass up the stairs; Boo Boo found a hiding place. Cava finally calmed down and I sat down at the kitchen table to catch my breath. I guess this is all part of that “adjustment period” that people talk about when you move in with someone. I just keep telling myself, it’s just like the Brady Bunch but with sans Marsha and sans maid. Just another adventure…

Yet Another FAB Chicago Trip

2008-07-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

My fabulous fiancé, Scott, suggested that we attend the Frank Lloyd Wright house walk this year. Though I have done house walks before, I had not heard of the FLW house walk. As the name implies, you walk through restored turn of the century homes. What they might not tell you is that there’s a lot of standing, too.

Perhaps they sold too many tickets this year but, every home that we tried to enter had a huge line. I just tried to think of it this way: what else am I going to do on a beautiful Saturday? But, after a while, I got sick of standing and wondered if I had enough culture for the day.

My advice is to wear the most comfortable shoes and clothes that you can and stop for lunch. (Seriously, wear the Nike’s and forgo the cute wedges; you’ll thank me later.) Scott and I stopped at the café recommended in the FLW brochure. Though the café was crowded, there was no wait for a table.

If you feel like helping out the local economy, don’t forget to stop by the FLW home and studio. There are several vendors with the product out. You can buy stained glass kits or even art deco inspired jewelry.

The People
The people who attend such an event should not be classified as normal people. You will not be standing with the unwashed masses of the society, like you do at the DMV. Rather, you will meet the most interesting people at events such as these. They’re educated, they’re into architecture, and they have something to say.

Now, I don’t have any issues with chatting with new people. (As a matter of fact I even passed on kissing the blarney stone in Ireland, as I already possess the gift of gab.) But, for those of you who are shy, feel free to start up a conversation with the people in line next to you. They’re probably very nice and quite interesting.

The Weather
As I’m learning, the weather in the Midwest can be quite variable. We were extremely lucky to have a breezy 75 degree day for the house walk. As we finished up at the last house, dark ominous clouds rolled in. The weather man mentioned that there was a slight chance of rain that day, but I honestly wasn’t expecting it. According to the weather people there’s always a chance of rain, right?

We continued our 10 minute walk to the car and headed back to the hotel before changing for dinner. About a minute after we got to the car it was a torrential downpour. Being from Southern California, I’m not used the variability in the weather. In So Cal it's 75 degrees and sunny all year round. And if it does rain, you’ll see “Storm watch 2008” splattered across the TV screen, even for just 4 inches of rain.

Apparently, heavy rain isn’t abnormal weather for the Midwest (yet another thing I’ll have to get used to). I just keep telling myself that it’s a good thing and dealing with erratic changes in the weather teaches me to be flexible (and keep an umbrella in the car).

Food
As I have previously mentioned, you can get a really good meal in Chicago. There are just a million amazing places there. Scott chose the Chophouse for our first night’s dinner.

The Chophouse is located in the River North neighborhood in a quaint restored Victorian Brownstone. It’s the kind of place where you’d order scotch neat with your steak. There’s a piano bar downstairs where you can enjoy your Cosmo in the dimly lit and terribly busy restaurant. It’s perfect for people watching.

The steak was beyond amazing, however it they are massive. We ordered the creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Each steak is about a million ounces… well, maybe not, but they’re big. The smallest steak is the 10 ounce fillet. With all of the sides it’s impossible to finish it. My suggestion is to share with a friend or take it home for a little midnight snack.

As usual, I brought the camera so that the waitress could take our picture, because I do love impromptu pictures. The people at the table next to us asked if it were a special occasion. One large, burly man said “What? Are you two getting married or something?”

Although we hadn’t told many people about or engagement (as my ring was still being made), I enthusiastically responded “yes, we are getting married”. It was champagne all around and the nice gentlemen next to us treated us to champagne and a toast.

For more info on the chophouse visit their web site: http://www.chicagochophouse.com/

It was another fabulous weekend in Chicago. Scott and I plan to attend the house walk again next year. Maybe we’ll see you there.

New Restaurant In Orange County (AKA: the OC)

2008-07-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

First of all, I’d like to mention that I hate saying “the OC”. I’m not 16 and need to shorten it to think it’s cool. It’s just where I live. One thing that I truly hate about Orange County is that it’s become overrun with chain restaurants and mediocre high priced food. Where there were once charming neighborhood restaurants, yet another California Pizza Kitchen stands. With all of the same food, what’s a foodie to do?

Luckily, a new restaurant has opened in Newport Beach on PCH called Cucina Alessa. This gem of a restaurant features incredible Italian food. Alessandro, the restaurant’s proprietor, will charm you with his Italian accent and love of cuisine. And, you won’t believe this, they actually make their own noodles there – oh, so good. For those of you who have only had the dried, manufactured noodles, I’m sorry. You need to experience the fresh noodles.

I will warn you that parking is treacherous. Try parking on PCH – their parking lot only holds about 5 cars. It’s worth the trouble, though.

Check it out! http://www.cucinaalessa.com/

Happy Eating!

How to plan a wedding without loosing your mind (or hurting anyone)

2008-07-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

You know how the story goes… Boy meets Girl. They fall in love. They get married. Blah, Blah, Blah…Well, for me it was more like girl gets fed up with dating losers and wasting good makeup on emotionally screwed up men. Girl gets dog and they are all set to live happily ever after. Then, … BOOM… like being hit by a Mack truck, Girl finds the guy that she never thought would she find.

And that’s where this episode of “who the hell knew I’d get married” begins. Honestly, I’ve been surprised at how much planning I haven’t done pre-boyfriend, pre-proposal, pre-fiancé. Many of the wedding vendors they ask what I’ve imagined my dream wedding to be. My response of “uhhh…. I don’t know.”, always shocks them. Apparently, I’m supposed to be sleeping with a Modern Bride magazine under my pillow. To be honest, I had no idea of what I wanted with my wedding. After over a decade of dating the wrong guy and dumping them as if I were playing “hot potato”, it hadn’t occurred to me that I’d get married.

So, right off the bat here I've felt like I’m behind in my planning. The good news is that I can plan a party in my sleep. Food, music, drinks, etc…. Piece of cake (no pun intended). When I started planning the wedding I thought it would be the same scenario as planning a party. It sounds simple, right? WRONG. First of all, I have to say that the whole bridal industry is a scam. You but put bridal next to flowers, music, whatever… and it’s double the price. It’s also complicated. It makes planning for a simple, classy, AFFORDABLE wedding near impossible. But, it’s totally doable.

With the help of my wonderful fiancé, I planed the whole thing in a month. Now I’m happily resting upon my laurels and awaiting the big day. (What the hell is laurel anyway? Is that an old fashioned way of saying ass? I digress….) I’ve decided to share my wedding planning wisdom with all of you (yes, I know, I’m very generous).

Rules for Sanity
1) Recommendations
Without recommendations I would be dead in the water and slightly crazy right now. No joke. I’d be mumbling something about DJ, cake, photog, right now and rocking in my chair with crazy hair.

Start with people who had an awesome wedding. Let’s face it, once you reached a certain age you’ve been to more weddings then you’d like to admit. If you loved their pictures, or cake or whatever, ask them who they used and if they would recommend them to you. Most people are more than happy to make a recommendation and many times you’ll get a referral discount from your DJ, florist or whomever.

2) For the love God, make a list
I’m a planner and, as such, I love lists. I would be lost without making a list of everything I have to do with my day. From the grocery store to miscellaneous items like calling the bank about that weird $10 charge, it’s on the list. I love checking things off with a fervent sense of accomplishment. Now you may not be list-crazy like me, but trust me on this one. Make a list. Wedding web sites likes the www.weddingchannel.com and www.theknot.com have lists already made for you (how easy is that?), and you can personalize them to your needs so you don’t forget a thing.

3) Set a budget and then haggle
Everyone has a budget. Even if you’re having a $100,000 wedding (and yes, I’d like an invite) you have a budget. Know what you magic number is for each item (food, music, etc…) and then haggle (yes, it’s ok to haggle). To establish a budget, you can start with http://www.weddingchannel.com/ or http://www.theknot.com/ and use theirs, or you can make up your own.

The main elements are: location (wedding/reception), dress, food, booze, cake, music, photog/video, flowers, and officiant. Generally when you nail down the location they have a recommended vendors list that you can use (once again, using recommendations).

I’ve been pretty honest with people in terms of my budget. For example, I told the florist that I had a $1500 budget and asked what could we do with that. It ended up being more like $1800 but, she was able to work with me and with my price range.

If someone quaff’s or won’t work with your budget, leave immediately. I’ve heard horror stories about women being mistreated at dress boutiques. How horrible is that? Getting married and joining families is stressful enough. We don’t need to be mistreated. They obviously don’t need our hard earned money, do they?

4) Ask for what you want
People aren’t mind readers. If you want doves released, ask for it. Your event planner will figure out how’s it’s all going to work. If you don’t ask for exactly what you’d like, people will never be able to help you or live up to your expectations. And there’s nothing worse then not enjoying your own party.

5) Remember, those crazy women on Bridezillahs aren’t cute.
I’ve known one too many brides that starts screaming “this is MY day” or “you have to do what I want”. Come on, people! We are here to celebrate you and your new life, but that doesn’t mean that you have to behave like a brat. Planning and coordinating a wedding is stressful, but you are a big girl and you can handle yourself with grace. And let’s remember, all of that frowning just means more wrinkles in the long run. And I don’t know about you, but the thought of Botox (and that needle coming out at me) is pretty scary.

So, those are my words of wisdom for today. I hope this was helpful. It’s not easy to plan a wedding but it can be done in a sort period of time, and without medication. Happy planning!

The Rockies’… In 48 Hours

2008-05-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

After months of careful planning and strategic shopping for a skip tip to Colorado, I heard from my boss that my plans had changed. Rather than flying home to LA, I would need to take a flight from Denver to St Louis for training for a week, making efficient packing almost impossible (SIGH). I decided to power through, continue with my ski trip, and just leave early (quelle tragedy).

Here’s something to remember in Colorado. HYDRATE! Denver isn’t known as the mile high city for nothing… it’s literally 5280 ft above sea level! For those of us who reside at sea level, adjusting the altitude can be treacherous. If you’re drinking like a fish it will hit you like a ton of bricks. If you’re skiing, watch for signs of altitude sickness. There’s nothing worse than having the ski patrol escort you off the mountain in one of those cocoon things. (How embarrassing!)

My cohort and childhood friend, John, and I looked forward to our ski trip. Growing up, John and I frequently went on family trips to Mammoth. His family and mine would share a cabin and enjoy hot chocolate, good food and penny poker (my uncle and dad taught my brother and I how to play poker but we were only allowed to play for pennies). John and I had not been skiing since the Mammoth days and were anxious to get back on a mountain. After spending one full day getting acclimated to the climate, we headed to the hills for skiing.

Rather than spend 2 nights in a ski resort and then trying to get back to the airport (schlep, schlep, schlep) we chose to stay in downtown Denver and take the ski train. What, you may ask, is the ski train?

The ski train is the most fabulous thing ever for those of us city folk who love to ski. Many ski resorts offer little in terms of life après ski; very few restaurants, entertainment, etc… The ski train starts in downtown Denver and takes you to the foot of the slopes in Winter Park. It then picks you at the same place at the end of the day. Problem solved!

John reserved two tickets for us in the club car. Not only do you get fed on the way there and back but you also get drinks on the way back. (I was disappointed to find that they will not let you drink on the way up to the mountain. I did have my heart set on a mimosa, but also understood they don’t want people doing a Sonny Bono reenactment on the mountain.)

As always, keep in mind that you can rent gear on the mountain and don’t necessarily need to schlep your ski’s boots and poles circa 1985. They have new ones there that you can rent.

Check out more info on the ski train at: http://www.skitrain.com/winter.html

Oh, and keep in mind that the train does run during the summer, for those of you who are just a little bit crunchy and love hiking and such.

John and I stayed at the Marriott Downtown Denver. The rooms were quite nice and the restaurant was good. I must say, though, that the cosmo’s there were top notch – do try out the bar. The concierge at the hotel recommended “The Chop House” for dinner and made 8:30 reservations for us. After a full day of skiing and a 9 am flight the next morning, I decided that a good dinner (and getting to bed early) would be just the thing.

We arrived on time and were asked to have drinks in the bar while we waited (no more than 5 minutes) for our table. Once seated, John and I quickly decided on the seafood cocktail (consisting of crab and shrimp cocktail) and another drink.

After 45 minutes we wondered if someone had gone to the ocean to get our crab. Chatting with the manager resulted in scurrying about, extra cornbread and finally the delivery of our appetizer. Another hour passed (keep in mind it’s now 10PM) and there’s no steak to be found. Again, John and I had a discussion with the manager, people scurried about 10 minutes, and voila our steaks arrived.

It turns out that our entire meal was free of charge (including the drinks). Perhaps they were having a bad night. Regardless, the meal was just alright. On the way out we saw the entire name of the restaurant “The Denver Chophouse and Brewery”. I don’t know why, but that moment, I felt that we had just eaten at an upscale BJ’s.

Instead of the Chophouse, try the Palace Arms in the Brown Palace Hotel. This old world restaurant is a favorite of John’s. http://www.brownpalace.com/dining/palace_arms.cfm

The next morning I met John for a coffee and goodbye’s before he headed off to the slopes – and before I headed to the airport for training (dun, dun, dunnnn). I’m sure we’ll meet again for a Colorado ski trip. Next time, however, it will be longer than 48 hours.

Beautiful Santa Barbara

2008-04-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

I love Santa Barbara. I’m sure you all have figured out by now that I love the coast. The ocean is so calming, so peaceful. In Santa Barbara you can enjoy the peaceful, calm ocean… and great wine. No, it’s not as popular as Napa, but Santa Barbara has some fantastic wineries that are really worth checking out. If you’re cheap like me, you probably prefer a good $10 bottle for every day and maybe a $20 bottle for a special occasion. I just don’t believe in paying 50 bucks for a bottle of wine when there are $10 bottles that are perfectly good. (To answer your question: No, I’m not a full fledged wine snob… just a tad.)

In addition to the great wine, Santa Barbara is just damn beautiful. The city has always been a bit of a haven for the artsy type. Every weekend along the coast road (Cabrillo) vendors set up booths filled with hand made jewelry, art, photography and much more. My boyfriend, Scott, picked up a copper wind chime/swirrley thing. (It’s really interesting. You hang it outside and it swirrles around in the wind.) With the temperate weather, it’s so nice to just stroll along Cabrillo and perhaps pick up a lovely print to remind you of your fantastic weekend in Santa Barbara.

Keep in mind Santa Barbara is a college town. There will be (GASP) people partying. State Street is the main drag in terms of food, drink and shopping. There are some incredible places to eat in Santa Barbara. If the noise of State Street is too much for you, there are lots of other options.

Where to Eat
Most of the tourists head for Stearns Warf. There are lots of restaurants and kitschy shops that are more than happy to take your money. The locals don’t go there. The locals go to the second, smaller pier. If you walk north past the Warf, it’ll be about another 15 minutes by foot. (Not to fear! The weather is fabulous so you won’t mind the walk.)

Once you reach the smaller pier, I recommend stopping by Brophy Brothers for clam chowder and cocktails. Watch out for the restaurant, though. Literally you can blink and miss it. This small local’s spot is so popular that people literally start lining up before it opens.

Check out their web site for more info on their unpretentious atmosphere and FAB food:
http://brophybros.com/

Another place worth checking out is The Palace (located at 8 East Cota Street). I’ve eaten at the Palace several times; they’ve been around for years. Their Cajun cuisine is complimented well by their strong drinks (especially the martinis).

A wonderful option for first timers is their combination platters which include: chicken, coconut shrimp, blackened catfish, steak with Hollandaise sauce (uh… yum) and bread pudding with a whiskey cream sauce for dessert. (Warning: that’s a LOT of food.) Scott and I both ordered martinis and were shocked when they showed up in mason jars. (We were happy that the restaurant was within walking distance of the hotel. )

Their bread pudding and muffins were so fantastic that I bought the recipes for $5. Their menu is on line.For more info: http://www.palacegrill.com/

Where to Stay
There are endless teeny tiny hotels and B&B’s. I thought I’d be adventurous and book a room at a new B&B. Then I read a review. They allow dogs… and there’s no limit to the number of dogs. Enough said. The hotel web site may look fantastic but, keep in mind the wonderfulness of Photoshop. My advice is to read reviews and make sure the place will not be a dump. (For reviews, I start with http://www.concierge.com/. They list hotels by price and have everything from a cheapey hotel to the Ritz.) There’s nothing worse then having an awful trip because you haven’t slept in 4 nights.

After looking at other hotels and waffling about perhaps trying someplace new, I decided to stick with a place where I’ve stayed before. The Eagle Inn is located about 2 blocks from Cabrillo (a 10 minute walk to the beach) and 2 blocks north of State Street. This charming Spanish style Inn is located in a quiet residential area. This is good to note because hotels around State Street can get quite noisy.

The Oceana was another option. Yes, there’s a hotel in Santa Monica called the Oceana. It’s owned by the same company. This hotel is huge. The property must span an entire block. Though I haven’t stayed there, the room rates look reasonable for the area and the property looked very well taken care of.

Wine, Wine and More Wine
A few weeks before our trip to Santa Barbara, my boyfriend enthusiastically called to tell me that he arranged for a wine tour. He also mentioned the name of the tour company: Captain Jacks (no joke). As the story goes, the owner of the tour company lost his eye to cancer and his buddies started calling him “Captain Jack” (arrrr). Who knows if this story is true? Regardless I figured that any tour company called “Captain Jack’s” and has an eye patch as their logo has to be fun.

We decided on the 4 hour wine tour (for $50), fondly referred to as the “booze cruise”. Your tour guide picks you up at your hotel and drives you around to local tasting rooms. There could be worse ways to spend a Sunday.

We were the first couple to be picked up. The second couple looked to be in their early to mid 20’s. After we went around the car, introducing ourselves, we heard a voice from the back of the car. “I’m just letting you guys know, I’m here to get wasted.” At least he was honest.

As it turns out, Scott and I (in our early 30’s) were the old farts of the group. The two other couples were in the early 20’s. With three very diverse couples, it was a lively bunch.

The first two wineries were our favorites. Summerland is a charming little town just south of Santa Barbara. The Summerland winery tasting room is located on the main drag. I had never been there but, it might be interesting to visit Summerland. The wine was good. The Zin and Pinot are my favorites there. Like many wineries, Summerland has a wine club. You receive 2 bottles of wine every other month for about $45 a month (including shipping).

The second winery we attended was the Santa Barbara winery, which happens to be one of my favorites. The negrete is a fantastic wine, as well as the Syrah. They, too have a wine club for $60 every other month. I couldn’t resist. I signed up.

The tour ended with a trip to the Warf Vintners, located on Stearns Warf. It was a beautiful day for the fantastic location. The Warf Vintners is, as you can imagine, located on Stearns Warf and has many fantastic wines. Their wine tastings start at $10.

I would do a Captain Jacks tour again. The tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable about wines. And you certainly meet interesting people on a wine tour.
http://www.captainjackstours.com/index.html

Here are a few things you might want to keep in mind about Santa Barbara. During the summer it’s a mad house. There are lots of tourists there for the main reason that you or I would go there. It’s beautiful, relaxing, fun and there’s a ton of wine there! As with most places, the hotel rates increase in the summer time. Try off season, instead: Jan, Feb or even March is beautiful. It does get damp and foggy there. So, don’t forget a jacket, and try some fantastic wine just for me!

Meet Me in St Louis

2008-02-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

This costal “big city” girl ventured out to the Midwest in February, of all things. A very dear friend swayed me with the possibility of 4 days (sans work) full of adventure and lots of cocktails. Needless to say, I was leaving on a jet plane.

As always, I did the compulsory research on my new destination. I was a tad skeptical, given that I haven’t spent a lot of time in the Midwest. Sure, I’ve been to Chicago, but haven’t ventured out into the Midwest much more from there.

I did some reading up on my new found vacation spot, like a good little tourist. St Louis is actually known as the Gateway City because it represents the division between the Eastern and Western US. The history of the city is fascinating, and I won’t bore you with all of the historical details. (After all, you can Wikipedia “St Louis” yourself.) I will say, though, that I was pleasantly surprised to find such an interesting history. I’ve found that the history of the city lends to the vibe of it.

The first was the weather check; the HIGH of the day, the first day there, would be a balmy 38 degrees. (Yes, that’s Fahrenheit.) Of course, the first thought I had was that it would be a FAB excuse to wear my mother’s mink. After a few trips to llbean.com to make sure that I had appropriate attire and wouldn’t freeze my tush off, I was ready.

I honestly thought that there would be blizzards and snow piled up on the side of the road. But, that was not the case; the weather was really not that bad. Out of the four days I was there, I was only terribly cold one of them. The other few days I dealt with it and, wore warm clothes.

What To Do
We started out the trip by going to the St Louis Art Museum. The slogan “dedicated to art and free to all” describes the mentality of this museum. Unlike many museums (especially in big cities) the St Louis Art Museum is FREE. That’s right, kids, it’s free to the public. There’s a rotating exhibit where they do charge an entrance fee, however we didn’t venture in that exhibit.

I was pleasantly surprised by the art that was in the museum. There were several Monets, Van Goghs and I believe a Pissarro. With three floors of paintings, an Asian collection and a mummy exhibit, there’s plenty to see. The museum is located in Forest Park. The park itself is massive and houses not only the museum but the science center, the zoo and other fun places to see. You can find more info at: http://saintlouis.art.museum/

Given my love of flowers I just couldn’t miss the Orchid Show at the St Louis Botanical Gardens. I must admit, it does have a funky location. You drive through a residential neighborhood and BOOM, there’s the entrance to the botanical gardens. Though it doesn’t look that big from the outside, it’s actually quite massive.

We did attend the orchid show which was in a room smaller than I thought it would be, but absolutely packed with orchids. It was amazing to see how many plants were tucked away into small spaces. The orchids ranged in size from enormous to teeny tiny and they were just amazing. In addition to the orchid show we visited 2 hot houses. While the first was nice, the second was incredible.

If you go to the botanical gardens you must go visit the Climatron. I know, it sounds like something out of a science fiction novel. It actually simulates a rain forest. With really interesting things like blue and green neon poison frogs, unusual vegetation and waterfalls, you have to check this out for yourself.

The orchid show is running through April so, get your tush down and check out these amazing flowers! For more info see: https://www.mobot.org/default.asp

Where To Eat
Knowing my love of Italian food, my dear friend took me to Charlie Gitto’s “On the Hill”. As we drove through the neighborhood, Italian flags hung from the light posts. We passed several independent (and perhaps family owned) restaurants that looked incredible. Though it looks like a small café from the outside, the inside is actually quite large. With low lights and Sinatra playing softly in the background, I could tell this was my kind of place.

I ordered the fried ravioli as an appetizer; St Louis is actually known for their fried ravioli. I was quite surprised to find that it was mostly meat ravioli, which were very petite, served with a marinara sauce. It was different than those my grandmother used to make, but it was good.

I followed that up with the ciopino. It was fabulous with the tomato broth and baby scallops. Trust me, just give it a try. For more info on this charming restaurant go to their web site.

http://www.charliegittos.com/Default.aspx

After four fun filled days in St Louis, I was reminded that every city has its own culture, and experiences. The Midwest in the winter really isn’t bad (it was quite fun, actually), but I would have never known that if I hadn’t gone. The best part about travel is figuring out what interests you and when to go back.

Une Petite Cafe

2008-02-11T15:47:00.000-08:00

Friday night my cousin and I ventured to a quaint French café for our bi-weekly gab fest. We eat there quite often; it may have something to do with the garlic fries with Cajun aioli sauce.

As we enjoyed our salads, I noticed 3 guys setting up their instruments right next to us. I envisioned us screaming at each other for the rest of the night. (And yes, I do realize that even having that thought qualifies me as being "old".) C’est la vie!

We were both pleasantly surprised to find that the music was not only enjoyable but intoxicating. We sat there for several hours, while we listened to the music.

I finally asked Christine, “What IS this music?” It was very French, very Parisian café and enjoy your Bordeaux while wearing your beret. (Oui.) I wasn’t too sure if it was the wine but, I so enjoyed the music that I was bound and determined to find out what exactly it was.

After spending just a few minutes online, I found it. The music I heard is referred to as Jazz Manouche (or “gypsy jazz”). This type of instrumental jazz was said to be started by guitarist Django Reinhardt in Paris the 1930’s. A typical jazz manouche ensemble consists of a few basic elements: an upright bass, 2 guitars and perhaps a violin. The guitars are played with a particular technique called “la pompe”, which is the equivalent to staccato with a piano.

There’s a bit of dark connotation associated with jazz manouche. This could be the gypsy heritage of this music. Though I didn’t make the connection at the time, the style of guitar almost reminds me of a flamenco concert I attended in Granada… but not.

I quickly found that I was not the only one who appreciates gypsy jazz. The itunes store has a quite extensive collection of gypsy jazz. Check it out… and don’t forget to wear your beret. Oui, Oui…

I Left My Heart In San Francisco

2008-01-19T15:50:00.001-08:00

Tony Bennett wasn't the only one with a love for the city. San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world. I’m not alone. Everywhere I go I end up chatting with someone who loves the city. (Even itunes has an "I heart San Francisco" collection! Leave it to those smart Mac users to put a SF music collection together.)

With five star restaurants on every street and first class shopping, San Francisco is a fantastic weekend jaunt. If you're a "foodie" and you've never been to San Francisco, just go ahead right now and open another web browser to expedia.com and book your flight now. I’ll wait….

I was first exposed to San Francisco when one of my best friends moved there. As a true "city girl" and one from southern California, I didn't understand the question John posed to me when I inquired what I should wear. "Do you have any fleece?"

Do I have any WHAT? Will we be hiking? Would I be forced to (GASP) CAMP? What WAS he getting at?

"John, Honey, what do you mean?" I replied.

After a second of silence, he asked again if I had fleece. I laughed silently to myself and wondered if I would need to peruse the LL Bean catalog before I left for San Fran.

I just replied, "John, it's AUGUST".

We went back and forth for quite some time discussing my fleece, or lack thereof. I had apparently never heard the quote (allegedly) from Mark Twain "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco."

I went to San Francisco sans fleece and understood why he asked the question. The weather in San Francisco can be quite variable. It can be cold, rainy, foggy, just drippy, or absolutely gorgeous. What a lot of people don't realize is that one of the coldest times in SF can be late summer/early fall, when the fog rolls in. For those of us who find fog to be a fascinating natural phenomenon, you'll find lots of it in SF.

The attire in San Francisco is whatever you want it to be. There are those that are quite granola, quite geen and leaning to the left. There are also the elite from Pacific Heights that show off their classic duds. All groups congregate in peace on the 7 square mile city which is San Francisco.

Being a snooty-ish type of person, I do wear my fur to San Francisco. After all, we wouldn’t want to catch a nasty cold while on vacation. While some GASP at the fact that I wear fur to such a predominately liberal local, I can assure you that I’ve never had any issues. I received more dirty looks in Chicago than San Francisco in regards to the fur. I honestly believe that the San Franciscans really don’t give a hoot. They all just continue to do their thing. See, we all really can just get along!

Food and Shopping

In terms of food, SF is unsurpassed in the quality of the food. One of the fantastic things about SF is that anyone can just stumble down the street and come upon a true gem of a restaurant.

The only thing that I like better than good food and good wine is good shopping… well, good shopping before the good food and good wine (don’t do that in reverse). If you too enjoy this sport, I highly suggested the Ferry Building at the Embarcadero. This historic building was originally built in 1889 and used as a transportation hub for those arriving by train or by ferry to San Francisco.

After the opening of the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate bridge, the building was rarely used. In 2003, the Ferry Building was restored and became a center for high quality food and merchandise vendors. Where it once was a shabby run down building, it’s now a bustling trendy spot where once can leisurely stroll and check out all of the vendors. One of my favorites is the Cowgirl Creamery. If you like cheese, do yourself a favor and stop for just a little taste.

Another fun idea is to do a little wine tasting amongst your visit to fabulous places in the Ferry Building such as the Stonehouse Olive Oil Shop. The Ferry Building Wine Merchant carries most kinds of wine. One of my favorites is the Neauvou Bougelias. It’s seasonal, so you might be in luck and perhaps not. Regardless, give it a shot. You might be pleased. For more information on all of the shops and restaurants at the ferry building, check out their web site. http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

Another key shopping site is Union Square. If you’ve never been, it’s a must! With Macy’s, Nemans, a Levis Store and everything from Fresh to Sampsonite a few blocks away, this is shopping Mecca. After you’ve broken a sweat shopping at Union Square, venture over to the Neman’s café for a lobster club sandwich and a fabulous view of Union Square.

If you prefer a more out of the way restaurant, I have a few recommendations. Jeanne D’Arc is located in the Cornell Hotel-just a block up from Union Square. This petite restaurant, located in the basement of the hotel, is a little treasure with traditional French cuisine without the traditional French attitude. The Fix Prix menu is fabulous and for $30 a person worth every bite.

Another favorite of mine is the Nobb Hill Café at 1152 Taylor Street. If you’re on Hob Nobbing on Nobb Hill (as the saying goes) this charming café offers wonderful Italian food and wine at a surprisingly reasonable price for the quality food. Note: they do not take reservations so, plan on waiting for a table or simply eat early.

After enjoying a fabulous Italian meal at the Nobb Hill Café, walk 2 blocks up the hill to the Mark Hopkins. The Top of the Mark is a historic bar located on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. In 1939 the penthouse of the hotel was transformed into a cocktail lounge with a 360 degree view of the city.

You can enjoy cocktails, and breakfast, lunch or dinner throughout the week. They also have a martini menu with 100 martinis for choose from. With 100 martinis to choose from it has to be a fantastic place, don’t you think? Most nights of the week there is live entertainment. I will say that if you’re planning on going to the Top of the Mark during the weekend, I highly recommend a reservation. Waiting for a table can be treacherous.

For absolutely fantastic Italian Food, I highly recommend Farina. Located in the Mission District, this charming restaurant offers more than just ambience. The food is authentic Italian, and it's incredible. I've always been a pesto lover, however their pesto is SO incredible that I nearly asked for the recipe. Rather than being overly oily or lumpy, the pesto (served with fresh pasta) is almost a basil puree with a hint of pine nuts.

If pesto isn't your thing they also have traditional Italian "focaccia". You might be suprised that traditional Italian focaccia actually translates to a thin crust pizza with proscutto, especially in Northern Italy. I figured this out quite quickly when I ordered focaccia, while in Milan, and what looks like a pizza came to the table. The waiter insisted that it was focaccia. Who knew?

The fillet is also incredible with what seemed to be a balsamic reduction sauce, mashed potatoes and a thick sizzing pat of butter on the fillet itself. Bon Appetito!

These are just a few of my favorite things to in the city by the bay, but the possibilities are really quite endless. Now go ahead, book that flight and find favorite things of your own to do in San Francisco.

Fur Is Green

2007-12-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

I know that many people, some of which belong to PETA, will be quite upset when they hear that I love fur. I’m sorry if you think that I’m cruel and tourtering small animals. I’m sorry you feel that way. But, I think it’s luxurous, classic, classy, and WARM. I have always loved fur. I think it goes back to my roots. My Grandmothers both wore fur. And my mother also wore an incredible black mink.

Lucky me, I inherited these fabulous coats. I can not tell you how much I enjoy them. I know that someone will be offended when they hear this but, oh well, you can’t make everyone happy.

I was thrilled to see this web site from the Canadian Fur Council. FUR IS GREEN! So true. Fur is natural, won’t hurt the environment and can be recycled (yes, you can have your great Aunt Trudy’s fur refurbished to look more like you).

http://www.furcouncil.com/ecological.aspx

Here are some fun facts about fur.

First of all, the fur trading industry has been around for 400 years!

Most fur is farmed. And, actually, the fur is treated quite well (until death, that is). Fur farmers are interested in breeding healthy animals. The healthier the animal, the better the fur.

There are more than 6,000 fur farms in Europe.

Some celebrities who show off their fur include: Nicole Richie and Kimora Lee Simmons. So, get your Grandma’s fur out of those moth balls and strut down the street in your fur!

Is Anyone Else A Foodie?

2007-11-29T13:35:00.000-08:00

There's only one thing I love more than fashion, and that's food. The holidays are evidence that I'm not alone. From home baked cookies and pies to gifts of almond brittle and gingerbread, people love their food. Many people don't love to cook, though. I, however, seem to be in the minority. My mother's kitchen was always filled with fantastic smells. I never knew what culinary adventures awaited me when I walked through the door. Some of the ideas were fantastic, such as the home-made cheese ball made with several types of high quality cheese. Some ideas weren't; the deviled eggs with truffle oil will forever go down in history (with my dear friend John and myself) as the only bad thing to come out of the Romano kitchen.

While I may not be that inventive, I certainly do enjoy the process (and result) of cooking. I appreciate the food channel (maybe too much) simply because you get such incredible ideas from watching professionals. I recently took a cooking class. I will admit that I felt I had a leg up on some of my other classmates. I know how to simmer. I know how to chop. I was also surprised that the instructor was appalled that I apparently chopped oregano the wrong way. Honestly, it hadn't occurred to me to pluck each tender leaf off of the stem and then chop it. I was embarrassed by my ignorance and went back to watching the food channel where I could maintain the embarrassment to the privacy of my own home.

Comfort food has always been big with me. I love a good stew or a savory goulash. After suddenly craving cassoulet, I made a pot of it for my good friend Robert. The easy to make stew is made with chunks of chicken, sausage, white beans, stewed tomatoes, all percolating with chicken stock. We practically licked our plates when we were through.

As a self proclaimed "foodie", I must tell you all about a fantastic shop that a friend introduced to me. The Naples Gourmet Grocer is Located on 2nd Street in Naples (in the same center as the Rite Aid). I purchased some organic French lentils for a soup. It was beyond incredible; a product of using high quality products to start with. You'll find nestled in this quaint shop things like tomato paste in a tube (which is utter genius - you can use just at tad and put the resealable tube in the fridge rather throwing away the remainder of a can) and fig/almond paste to accompany brie. In addition to grocery items they also have gourmet sandwiches such as ham and brie on pretzel bread. If you need a gift for someone, they have a fantastic chocolate section filled with wonderful ideas for the chocolate lover.

You can find Naples Gourmet Grocer at 5650 E 2nd Street in Naples. Check out their web site for detailed directions. http://naplesgourmetgrocer.com/

Get Ready To Jet Set

2007-11-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a wonderful time to get together with family and friends. Many of us schlep through airports trying to get Thanksgiving dinner "back home". I thought I'd offer some of my tried and true travel tips, especially for those who haven't traveled lately.

First of all, I highly recommend checking the TSA web site before you travel. Yes, I'm a geek and I check out the site. http://www.tsa.gov/
Not only do they list what items you can and can not carry on the plane but, they also have helpful packing tips, as well.

I thought it was slightly comical that on the TSA web site some of the things that they ask you NOT to pack include gravy, wine (yes, they have a bar in the terminal) and snow globes. Anything that you feel you just can't live without and you refuse to check, please, for the love of God, send it FedEx to your destination. Take my advice on this one. Or, make Aunt Ethel's Jell-O mold when you get there. Seriously, no one will know the difference!

Sorry, I digress… the TSA web site has great packing tips. For example, DO NOT pack wrapped presents. They're going to make you unwrap it when you go through security, anyway. Also, keep in mind that TSA has the authority to riffle through your stuff - even if it's checked luggage. Yes, it's happened to me. They'll leave a lovely note in your suitcase stating that they looked through your stuff. (Another reason not to pack anything too embarrassing, if you know what I mean.)

The general rule for liquids is what TSA calls their 3-1-1 rule. Make sure any liquids that you want to carry on are less than 3 ounces. This does not mean pack the 5 ounce tube of toothpaste that's half used - make sure it's a 3 ounce container. (Just think of this as a great time to try out all of those sample sized moisturizers that you receive as a gift with purchase.) Put all of your liquids (this includes mascara, toothpaste, and moisturizer) in ONE quart sized plastic bag. One bag is allowed per passenger, that it.

Of course, as you know we all have to take off our shoes and schlep through the metal detector with our bare feet (what a way to mess up a pedicure). And for those of you who think that you're exempt from this rule, you're not. Just take the shoes off and put them in the bin, just like everyone else. Please don't try to walk through security with them on - you'll just slow down the line.

If you have a lap top, they WILL ask you to put it in the bin. I was recently on my way to Chicago when the guy in front of me in the security line didn't take off his shoes, or his lap top out of his bag, and just stood there like a bump on a log. Come on! We're all in this together! None of us want to spend an hour in line in security when we could be enjoying a pre-flight chardonnay and a little schmoozing at the bar. If you're a novice traveler, just remember to follow the person in line in front of you and READ the signs posted. They'll tell you what to do.

On a more personal note, I'd just like to say that I love my weekend jaunts. My Samsonite black label carry on and I have a good relationship - better than most that I've had with men. I do understand that flying coach (gasp!) is quite uncomfortable, especially for those of us who do get quite claustrophobic. But, Darlings, that's no reason to go around looking like a jackass! Please, leave your neck pillow in your bag where we can not see it. After all, one can not jet set with a bright red neck pillow hooked to our Samsonite like a life preserver.

Can't I Be Grace Kelly For A Day?

2007-11-13T22:27:00.001-08:00

When I grow up I want to be Grace Kelly.

One of the reasons I love cable TV is that I can watch AMC any time of the day or night. I simply love watching “old” movies. (I write that like “old”, as in “allegedly old”, because if my mother were around she would say that they’re “classics” not “old”.)

For me, these movies have such classic style that I never get sick of watching them. When I’m finished watching the movie, I always want to order champagne (in a wide rim champagne glass, of course) and listen to some Cole Porter.

Spending my night here watching Rear Window, for just a bit I’m absorbed in a time of classic pump heels and full a-line skirts. My question for the day is …. Is it too much to ask for Grace Kelly’s wardrobe? I have the blond hair; I might be able to pull it off. Well... maybe.

Let's Talk Social Responsibility

2007-11-11T13:19:00.001-08:00

I'm sure you've all figured out by now that I love to chat about shopping, fashion, traveling... basically, I keep things light with my blog. There's enough serious stuff on CNN to keep me up at night and enough problems that we all face, I feel that I don't need to bring it up any more than necessary.

But, my friends, today I feel the need to talk about social responsibility. I had the misfortune of signing up for a trunk show that had inadvertently been cancelled. I informed all of my loyal customers about my new chic products and received exciting feedback from all of you - you were happy to come. When I arrived at the event location, I found that the owner of the shop had cancelled the event and that the event promoter was nowhere to be found. (I tried my best to track down all of those who were scheduled to come but, alas, I could not find the phone numbers for all of you. If you showed up to Suddenly Slimmer, I deeply apologize. )

What I would like to know is when did it become socially acceptable to be flaky? I'm the type of person who does what they say, because I firmly believe that my word is worth something. If you've hosted a party with me, you know that I confirm the party 2 weeks before the event and then also the day before. Some people call that being anal retentive, some people call that being "type A", I call that being socially responsible. I think it's something that our society has forgotten, in many ways. This is the same reason why for any dinner party you might get 20 RSVP's and 50 people show up.

I would like to SHOW you how dedicated I am to my customers. Given the events of this weekend, if you would like to purchase a bag, for this weekend only I'm offering a FREE zip up bag and FREE shipping along with my sincerest apologies.

If you'd like to take advantage of my offer, check out my web page (http://www.europachic.com/) and call or email me which bag you would like to receive. I'll send you a confirmation email and then a tracking number for your package.

Again, I sincerely apologize regarding the event. I'll do my best to promote events in the future with those who are more responsible.

Chicago, Chicago....

2007-11-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

If you ever find yourself in the windy city you'll certainly never run out of things to do. I took the chance that my Southern California butt wouldn't freeze off in Chicago in November and went out for a few days to visit a friend. I surprised to find that not only was the weather perfect for fall but that I completely enjoyed the city, too.

Chicago has the big city vibe just like any other. Of course, I found some great shopping. As my mother once said about me "she can smell money being spent". At the intersection of Armitage and Halsted in Lincon Park there's a charming area where one can wander the streets, shop, eat or just enjoy the architecture.

Loris Shoes is a fantastic shoe store that is must see for any shoe addict. They offer fantastic unique designer shoes at prices that won't melt your credit card. You'll find boots, flats, pumps and every other shoe type under the sun at Loris. You'll also find a bevy of accessories such as large tote bags and clutches. Loris Shoes (The Sole of Chicago) is located at 824 W Armitage. If you're dying to visit the place but just can't get there, visit the web site www.lorisshoes.com.

In the same quaint neighborhood, you can get a good chocolate fix. Just venture west on Armitage and you'll find Ethel's Chocolate Lounge. This inviting chocolate shop offers every type of chocolate you can imagine. In addition to truffles in fun flavors (be sure to check out the cocktail collections), hot chocolate, coffee and fondue are also available to enjoy there at the lounge. Ethel's has several locations in Chicago and also in Las Vegas. Check out their web site for all the locations. http://www.ethelschocolate.com/

After an exhausting shopping excursion, my friend and I headed to the John Hancock Center for cocktails. The Signature Room is located on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center. This restaurant offers a brunch that will rival all others. If you're not in the mood for food but just a little cocktail, you might want to head to the 96th floor, to the Signature Lounge. Make sure you visit on a clear day so that you can fully enjoy the fantastic view of the city and perhaps a cocktail or two... or four. Surprisingly enough the ladies room on the 96th floor is known for the view. With a 180 degree view, don't forget to bring your camera to the ladies room… well, maybe not, but do enjoy the view.

Of course, the food in Chicago is incredible. For those that love seafood there's Devon Seafood Grill (39 E Chicago Ave). It's just a quick walk from Michigan Ave. After a day of sightseeing and helping out the local economy, Devon's is a fun place to people watch and enjoy good food and drinks. Right on the corner of Chicago Ave and Wabash Ave, Devon's bar offers a great local.

Another fun spot is the Landmark Grill (1633 N Halsted); they have a menu that will make you drool just a little bit. Try the scallops - they're fantastic. The Landmark Grill is quite near both the Steppenwolf Theatre and the Royal George Theatre; they accommodate theatre goers to make sure they get to their seats on time. Just next door to the Landmark Grill is the Royal George Theatre. If the grand-scale theatre productions (and their grand scale prices) aren't your thing perhaps you might find something that suits your taste at the intimate Royal George.

After a weekend of shopping and eating I felt as if I had truly accomplished a great deal. I only sampled a few of the fun things to do in this town. I can hardly wait until next trip to Chicago to see what I missed.

Let's Talk Italian Fashion!

2007-10-12T15:05:00.001-07:00

I was watching a business report on CNN where a woman was talking about a well known retail chain that just opened up stores in China. She commented that fashion is the same everywhere. As such, they will not have to adapt to the local culture. If that were the case we'd all look like the Will Smith from "Men in Black", sporting our basic black suits. Fashion is not the same everywhere. I spend much of my vacations noting fashion similarities, differences and how I can incorporate new, fun, smart ideas into my wardrobe.

In Italy, they're all about fashion. You don't have to walk far to see Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Prada, etc… While many Americans are all about the knockoffs and the discount retailers, Italians embrace the designer label and the price that comes with it.

For many Americans, "business casual" is not only a part of our vocabulary but also a part of our closet. We now have little need for a formal suit (be sure to remember that the next time you wear your navy blue suit for the secretive interview… I mean, "Doctor's appointment"). Italians don't really understand the concept of "business casual". For them, a suit is their work uniform. And I can understand why everyone loves the Italian style; a nice suit goes a long way.

Most of the suits were classic cut with classic colors (black or navy). The shoes, of course, were superior. There's something about the Italian shoes that compels me to get out my MasterCard. The pointy toe is alive and well in Italy. And, of course, the stiletto can be seen everywhere. While we're on the subject, I have to give the Italian women some credit. I have ultimate respect for any woman that can walk in 4 inch stilettos … on cobble stones… and not kill herself in the process. I twisted my ankle on one of those nasty misplaced cobblestones. I, on the other hand, was wearing flats.

I must admit that I went to Italy with a mission in mind: she who leaves with the most shoes wins. While I consider myself a black belt in shoe shopping, I was not prepared for the Italian price tag. Do not be surprised to see shoes in the price range of 150 Euros and up. Keep in mind that the Euro is 40% higher than the dollar right now. So, 150 Euros = $210. As far as I'm concerned, for over $200, there better be a designer label on those shoes. They better look stunning on me. Aw hell, for that price, they better come with date, too. My shoe bubble deflated as I ventured into shoe store after shoe store. Yes, the shoes were cute. Yes, they seemed to be well made. But, there were no cuter, and actually much more bland than those that I had purchased for 45 Euros in Spain last year.

One store where I did find luck was Bata (which probably translates to " 'Payless Shoe Source' for the dumb Americans who won't pay for the designers", in Italian). Their shoes were cute, surprisingly comfortable and, on average, under 100 Euros. AND they said "made in Italy" on the bottom. I found my Italian shoes!

Now I just needed a scarf. Italians, as many Europeans, wear scarves at every occasion. You can find cashmere pashmina scarves every place from open air markets to the accessories shops, dedicated to gloves and scarves. In southern California no one wears scarves, perhaps due to the fact that it doesn't get very cold in the winter. Regardless, I needed a scarf. With a stroke of luck, at an open air market in Siena I found a cashmere / silk blend scarf for 5 Euros.

Another noteworthy accessory that the Italian women LOVE is their boots. Everything from cowboy boots to the swash-blucking kind could be found at virtually every store. They wear boots when it's 85 degrees outside and they still look fantastic. I think it's that sort of confidence that makes the rest of us envy Italian women. How do you rock ankle boots in July, is my question? Well, you can't do it without the ultimate confidence that you look fantastic no matter what. I think that in that sense, we should all be a little more Italian.

Anyone for some Chianti?

2007-10-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

A fantastic introduction to Tuscany is a Chianti Wine Tour. There are many tour groups that offer tours of the Chianti region. Some tour groups are private - and range in price in between 200 to 250 Euros per person. I honestly didn't want to (a)spend $350 a person on a wine tour and (b) spend an entire day listening to a spiel about wine - there's only so much you canhear about wine in one day.

I chose the Cor Magis travel group because they would (a) pick us up/drop us off at the hotel and (b) it was 60 Euros per person for the tour. You reserve a tour and find other tours in Tuscany on their web site. http://www.cormagistravel.it/

The tour guide, Alberto, picked us up in a mini-van and gave us background on the region and the workings of the Chianti industry. For years, this wine could be found in a round bottle in a straw basket (and wasn't particularly known for its high quality). Over the years, the wine has improved and now rivals the rest of the good red wines you would find in a quality wine shop.

It turns out that making Chianti is serious business to the Italians. Wine named "Chianti Classico" can only be made in the Chianti region of Italy and must follow certain legal regulations. First and foremost, the wine must be made from about 70% sangiovese grapes. The rest of the wine is a blend from a local white (believe it or not) and another type of red. Chianti Classico Reserve represents the best Chianti out of several years. It's at the discretion of the wine maker if they choose to release a reserve that year.

Another interesting fact about Chianti is that you should always look for the thin pink label around the neck of the bottle. The ribbon is a certification that the wine is Chianti. Alberto explained that if the bottle says Chianti but doesn't have the pink label, it's not truly Chianti.

During the tour we visited 3 local villages (Radda, Castellina, Montalcino)and 2 wineries. The first winery I could have done without. The second, however, was a must-see.

Paggio Amorelli is a charming winery outside Catellina. Marco Mazzarrini was the wine maker and our host at this winery. Their friendly dog welcomed each visitor, one by one, hopeful for some affection in return. After about 2 seconds of talking with Marco, I could tell that wine-making is his passion. He explained that every day he checks the temperature of the wine as it ferments, sometimes every 5 hours each day. He also explained how to determine if a bottle of red wine is good or bad based upon things like color and clarity.

From there the wine tasting began. With prosciutto, parmesan, and home made bread as a snack, we tasted about 5 wines. Half way through, Marco also shared sliced tomatoes covered in olive oil. He said they were from his father in law's yard; the fresh ripe taste of the tomatoes tasted home grown.

The wine was good, to say the least and a selling point is that the shipping costs are included when you buy a bottle of wine. The Super Tuscan (certainly not a Chianti but a fantastic wine) is 45 Euros including shipping anywhere in the world, with a 6 bottle minimum.

The tour of the countryside and the wineries was a great way to spend a leisurely fall day in Tuscany.

Let us not stay at the Garden Hotel

2007-09-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hello My Friends,

I decided to let this be my first post from Italy. I enjoyed a rather long drive from Rome to the Tuscan city of Siena. It took about 5 hours in all, including stopping for mass in Assisi (well, Dad went to mass) and lunch. We made it finally to our hotel, the Garden Hotel. It looked lovely and could hardly wait to get my tush out of the car and into a big glass of wine.

We were told at the front desk that "there is a problem" and they moved us to another hotel on the other side of town. After an HOUR of trying to navigate a poor map to given to us by the hotel, and circling the city (no joke) we ended up back at the hotel. My father was furious and told them that they literally had to take us to the hotel. I was about to have an anurism and felt that it was best not to open my mouth for fear of teaching them some interesting explictives in English.

The hotel manager wanted to know exactly what was wrong with the map and finally got us a hotel and transportation to the right hotel.

I was very disappointed because I (a) made these reservations SIX months in advance and (b) confirmed the week before. So much for hospitality at the Garden Hotel.

Just for your info, the people at the Jolly Hotel have been fantastic! Stay there instead.

Granada and The Alhambra

2007-08-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

“Hello … My name is Marrrrrcccoo.” Standing before me, on our tour of the Alhambra, was the George Clooney of Spain – Marco. He wore large sunglasses, which matched with his jet black hair. While the rest of the tourists were sporting jeans or shorts (after all, it was September and all of the tourists were sweating their butts off), Marco wore a coral button down shirt and Dockers with a sweater tied around his neck. Very European. Needless to say, I was in love and hung on his every word, though now I can’t seem to remember the half of it. But, I digress. So there I was, at the Alhambra, in love with Marco… I mean, taking a tour.

The Alhambra is a fascinating place and a necessary visit if you go to Granada. Granada is the last city in Spain where Moslems and Jews were forced from the country by Isabel and Ferdinand in 1492. They were given a choice: convert to Christianity or leave. The Alhambra was the palace where the last Moslem monarchs of Spain resided. The last Moslem king was forced to flee Granada in order to avoid persecution by Ferdinand. As the story goes, he was leaving the city, watching Granada grow smaller in the distance, when his mother said something to the effect of “do not cry for something that you did not fight for”.

I highly recommend a tour of the Alhambra (maybe you can tour with Marco, too). There are so many details that one might not catch at first glance. A two hour tour might help to show all of the details. As the tour progressed, Marco continued to explain the intricate detail and architecture of everything from the walls to the ceilings and in between. There was one story that I found fascinating. Apparently, the Sultans used to wear all black from head to toe. As they walked past the windows of the palace, people from the outside of the palace would just see a black shadowy figure. (I guess that sends a message.)

I have to say that after an hour of sultans and history, I was ready for lunch. Luckily, the hotel was close. We stayed at the Alhambra Palace Hotel, just walking distance from the Alhambra. From the patio, you can see the entire city. I highly recommend staying at the hotel or at least sit on the patio and enjoy lunch and the view.

Spain ... Ole

2007-08-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Spain for me has always reserved romantic ideas of Don Quixote, Isabel and Ferdinand and, of course, Antonio Banderas. It has, in many ways, exceeded my expectations.

In late September, Spain is fantastic. Most of the tourists are gone and the
kids are back in school. Those of us who enjoy the warm weather, but prefer a more serene setting, know not to travel to Europe in August. The weather is temperate at that time; mid 70's during the day but chilly enough in the evenings for a light sweater.

The Spanish follow a siesta, closing shops from about 1PM to 4PM. I've found that if the time is nearing siesta and I'm browsing in a shop, it's helpful to ask the shopkeeper if they are taking a siesta that day. Those that I've talked to have appreciated my asking and will note when they're expecting to close.

Though it sounds great to take a nap from 1 to 4, I still have difficulty
grasping the Spanish timing. As a culture, they're night people. Don't expect to find a coffee shop open at 6AM or even 8AM. In my experience, I've found cafés do open at about 11-ish. You can get a coffee and a churro and that's about it. Speaking of coffee, I'll just point out now that Spanish coffee is strong - very strong. If you aren't a fan of a cappuccino from Starbucks you better not order one in Spain. Try a café au lait instead. If you're like me, and enjoy a little something for breakfast, I highly recommend heading to the Supermercado for some snacks/breakfast food.

Lunch is typically served starting at 1:00. If you're quite lucky you can find a place lunch open at noon, however I can guarantee that you'll be opening up the joint! For dinner, I prefer to call and make a reservation or simply ask what time the restaurant is open. Most restaurants in Spain don't open for dinner until 7PM at the earliest. Locals typically eat dinner around 9 or 10 PM.

While we're on the subject of food, Spanish food is fantastic. If you haven't tried it, you need to keep a few things in mind. As with many Mediterranean countries, the Spanish cook with olive oil. Not butter. Not lard. Olive oil. If you're a fan of Mexican food, remember that Spanish food is very different.

Here we go...

2007-08-08T12:06:00.001-07:00

Most people who know me know that travel is my passion. Visiting a new place continues to be an adventure. As such, I thought it's only fitting to share my adventures in travel. Perhaps someone will become inspired and come to enjoy traveling as much as I do.

Travel has been my inspiration for starting my own business. My company sells handbags based on European design and functionality (without the European price). View my entire collection at: http://www.europachic.com/