Isn't it crazy how time "flies when you're busy?"

Wow.  It's been nearly 3 months since my last post.  I've been thinking about getting back here to my blogging perch for so long and yet nothing happened.  I have no idea why it was so difficult for me to find my way back here - bending spoons with my mind seemed like an easier feat.  

I've been so busy with work - which is such a poor excuse.  I found myself thrust head first into an unbelievably amazing new project.  You see, I've been a fashion girl for as long as I can remember.  I've been obsessed with trends, runways, garments, accessories, designing, styling and all things fashion for most of my professional career.  I'm now knee deep in a whole new design stratosphere....drum roll.  It did appear obvious I was headed in that direction.  It seemed, at least at first blush, it would be such an easy transition.  I have the intuitive skill set for design and aesthetics  so what's the big deal, right?  Well, I'm so far from even dreaming about furnishings and plush textiles.  Let us first just wade through the daunting world of  building codes, lighting, HVAC, plumbing, AV, toilets, walls, wood, green sustainable design, stone, plaster and the list goes on.  My desk is so cluttered with building decisions at that moment, it would make the fearless Bob Villa blush.  There are times when this process gets so seemingly convoluted, I feel like I'm building Hearst Castle.

So wish me luck with this first new venture of this brave new design world and I promise to stay firmly committed as well to my first love, FASHION.

Adieu

Spring has definitely sprung

beautiful tulips at NYU

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I heard a really interesting tidbit today on a morning show and so easy to remember...

Secrets for a successful healthy life (the segment on the show was about coping with change in one's life and how the first 30 days of life changes are the most critical) The author advised this easy way to remember that which we need most in life to thrive especially at the most trying times...

S leep
E at
E xercise
D rink (lots of water)

Simple, easy yet sooooo true

WATCH YOUR STEP

FURNITURE SALE!!! OOH LA LA!!!

Design Within Reach is having their annual Knoll Classic sale May 2-11.
The sale includes designs by Mies van der Rohe, Platner, Saarinen, and Risom amongst others.

The incredible chair above is Harry Bertoia's Diamond Lounge chair. It remains a fascinating study in bent metal and a fixture of mid-century design.


If you're a mid century modern design junkie like I am, here's your chance to pick up some amazing pieces and get free shipping too. I think the free shipping only applies for orders placed by May 5.

Good luck - start shopping :)

Green Power Top 25 list

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Top 25 list compiles the top companies, organizations, and government institutions that voluntarily purchased the most renewable energy.

The EPA defines green power as electricity generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact biomass and hydro resources. This type of power accounts for almost 2 percent of the country’s electrical supply.

Annual Green Power Usage (kWh)	GP % of Total Electricity Use*	Organization Type	Providers	Green Power Resources
1. Intel Corporation
1,302,040,000	46%	Information Technology	Austin Energy, PNM, Sterling Planet	Biomass, Geothermal, Solar, Wind
2. PepsiCo
1,105,045,154	100%	Food & Beverage	Sterling Planet	Various
3. U.S. Air Force
899,143,000	9%	Govt. (Federal)	3Degrees, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bonneville Power Administration, Colorado Springs Utilities, Georgia Power, Minnkota Power Cooperative, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Rocky Mountain Generation Cooperative, Sterling Planet, TransAlta Energy Marketing	Biogas, Biomass, Geothermal, Solar, Wind
4. Wells Fargo & Company
550,000,000	42%	Banking & Fin. Srvcs.	3Degrees	Wind
5. Whole Foods Market
509,104,786	100%	Retail	Austin Energy, Community Energy, On-site Generation, PNM, Renewable Choice Energy	Biogas, Solar, Wind
6. The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc.
457,851,838	100%	Food & Beverage	Sterling Planet	Various
7. Johnson & Johnson
400,702,978	39%	Health Care	3Degrees, On-site Generation, Sempra Energy	Biomass, Small-hydro, Solar, Wind
8. Cisco Systems, Inc.
373,500,000	51%	Information Technology	Sterling Planet	Biogas, Biomass, Solar, Wind
9. City of Dallas, TX
333,659,840	40%	Govt. (Local, Municipal)	Gexa Energy, Reliant Energy, Suez Energy Resources NA	Wind
10. HSBC North America
300,000,000	93%	Banking & Fin. Srvcs.	FPL Energy	Wind
11. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
299,331,375	100%	Govt. (Federal)	Various	Biogas, Biomass, Geothermal, Wind
12. City of Houston, TX
262,800,000	20%	Govt. (Local, Municipal)	Reliant Energy	Wind
13. Kohl's Department Stores
236,017,000	20%	Retail	City of Dover, Neuwing Energy Ventures, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Sterling Planet, WM Renewable Energy	Various
14. Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
196,003,000	57%	Govt. (Local, Municipal)	On-site Generation	Biogas
15. Starbucks
185,000,000	20%	Restaurants & Food Srvcs.	3Degrees	Wind
16. DuPont Company
180,063,500	4%	Chemical	3Degrees	Biomass, Solar, Wind
17. U.S. Department of Energy
157,964,000	3%	Govt. (Federal)	Calpine, ConEdison Solutions, Mainstay Energy, Other, Pacificorp, Sterling Planet	Biogas, Biomass, Geothermal, Small-hydro, Wind
18. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
157,200,000	16%	Govt. (State)	Community Energy	Wind
19. PepsiAmericas, Inc.
157,062,875	100%	Food & Beverage	Sterling Planet	Various
20. Vail Resorts, Inc.
152,000,000	100%	Travel & Leisure	Renewable Choice Energy	Wind
21. New York University
132,000,000	100%	Education (Higher)	FPL Energy	Wind
22. NatureWorks LLC
130,000,000	100%	Consumer Products	Sterling Planet	Wind
23. Staples
121,800,000	20%	Retail	3Degrees, Avista Utilities, On-site Generation, Pacificorp, PECO/Community Energy, Portland General Electric, Tennessee Valley Authority	Biomass, Solar, Wind
24. The World Bank Group
114,735,000	100%	Non-Profit (NGO)	WindCurrent	Wind
25. University of Pennsylvania
112,000,000	29%	Education (Higher)	Community Energy	Wind

BEAUTIFUL

AS DEFINED BY Merriam-Webster's dictionary

beautiful

Main Entry:

beau·ti·ful

Pronunciation:

\ˈbyü-ti-fəl\

Function:

adjective

Date:

15th century

1 : having qualities of beauty : exciting aesthetic pleasure 2 : generally pleasing : excellent

— beau·ti·ful·ly \-f(ə-)lē\ adverb

— beau·ti·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun

synonyms beautiful, lovely, handsome, pretty, comely, fair mean exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure. beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses <beautiful mountain scenery>. lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite lovely melody>. handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance handsome Georgian mansion>. pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness pretty scenes>. comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to comely grace of a dancer>. fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness <fair of face>.

Spring/Summer fashion musings

I have spent quite a bit of time on Robertson Blvd and surrounding environs this week. I'm looking forward to sharing all of my fashion epiphanies and discoveries with my friends.

I'm surprisingly inspired and enchanted by Spring fashion 2008. Designers - both old favorites and new names are churning out some exciting, fresh and new ideas. It's truly rather refreshing.

It's about time. Baby doll silhouettes were getting so old.

Footwear and deliciously flat and comfy or daringly and devastatingly sky high. Yummy!

Fabrics are gossamer with gorgeous hues and prints. I have observed hemlines both daringly "up to there" as well as sophisticated and easy ankle grazing styles.

" What about accessories" you ask... well, I've seen huge bright statement making pieces as well as breath taking whimsical feminine designs. I've even seen the two trends comely betwixt on a number of beautiful mannequins strutting up and down the boulevard.

Feng Shui for the day

According to ancient Chinese wisdom, there are 3 (three) types of luck that influence each one of our lives:

1. "Human Luck" (free will)
2. "Heaven Luck" (destiny)
3. "Earth Luck" (feng shui)

quote of the day...

"The course of true love never did run smooth."

-William Shakespeare

I love this article I found on Yahoo today

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthieryou/2211/why-sleeping-is-almost-more-important-than-breathing/

It's all so valid.

Advice of the day...

Spill it out and put it away

Tips from the Emily Post Institute...

5 Ways to Combat Rudeness

1. Don’t take it personally. Perhaps the offender is having a bad day.
2. Size up your annoyances. Is it worth it to make a fuss over something small, or is it a waste of your emotional time?
3. Set a good example. Rudeness begets rudeness. If you speak sharply to the bank teller, don’t be surprised if you get the same treatment in return.
4. Count to ten. When someone’s behavior makes you angry, take a few deep breaths and ask yourself, “Is it really worth blowing my stack over this?”
5. Laugh it off. If you can’t come up with a friendly joke, just chuckle and change the subject.

How cute is this?

Just found this plate in an email from NY Mag. That was easy!

Technorati Profile

OMG!!!! My personal Spring footwear obsession

STELLA MCCARTNEY FLORAL PLATFORM SANDALS
$695.00 USD

I saw them at Intermix in Soho last night...OMG! I'm Obsessed!

Just when you got comfortable in your favorite bra....

A woman's bust size changes 6-7 times over her lifetime.

It could be helpful to update your "bra wardrobe" every season while you are working on hunting down your new season's fashion obsessions... Reassess fit and function.

I find salespeople in most lingerie stores to be more than happy to "lend a hand" in helping you fit a new bra.

Rock out that new Spring wardrobe with your best natural accessories.

“If you want to get a good idea of whether I’d make a good employee, drop by my house and take a look around.”

-- Malcolm Gladwell

http://widget-74.slide.com/fsnapshot/1152921504621684596/1/290/230/0/0/0/FFFFFF/image.jpg

Spring Fashion tidbits

For Spring 2008, Diane von Furstenberg introduces 'Under the Volcano,' a collection inspired by 'the fantasy of escaping to exotic islands and the wilder shores of love.' Tropical prints, tribal embroideries and vibrant colors accent the season's newest silhouettes. To shop the latest collection of ready-to-wear and accessories, visit DVF.com.

FALL ACCESSORIES REPORT

http://www.style.com/trends/accessoryreport/F2008RTW?mbid=sn

Just in case you are curious.... that was Hindi posted on 25 March.

Back in the Big Apple this week. Smile...breathe...live.

थिस सर्विस इस सो कूल

http://theboxbutler.com/

HAPPY EASTER!

if you don't have any exciting plans today.....don't fret....it's THE most perfect day for SPRING CLEANING!!!! :)


Open your windows.... put on some cozy clothes...crank up some rockin' tunes...

recommended listening:
Killers
Paul Oakenfold
Lady Sovereign
Amy Winehouse
Smashing Pumpkins
(Whatever gets you going, friend!)

... take a deep breath...... open your drawers and closets and rock it out!!!!

I've already exfoliated 2 trash bags full of miscellaneous today.

Make a donation to your nearest Housing Works or Salvation Army Thrift shop and get a receipt you can use towards a tax deduction for 2008. Recycling is the "new black."

And don't forget...
One man's garbage is another man's gold.

Men and their toys

Shortly before Valentine's Day, a study was released claiming that forty-seven percent of men in Britain would give up sex in return for a big-screen plasma television.

LADIES.....It's all about the bra!

...padded, push ups, minimizers, halters......
Your bust is your best fashion accessory! Thank you mom :)

If you dare to bare....that's always the best way to go.
Just make sure your shape looks natural and feminine.

REVAMP YOUR WARDROBE WITH YOUR NATURAL ACCESSORIES WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME!!!!

THE SPIDER SITUATION

DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!!!!!

How to clean jewelry

You may have heard that you can clean fine jewelry with toothpaste, but the Jewelry Information Center warns that could be too abrasive for softer metals and gemstones. The best way is to soak jewelry (other than porous stones, like pearls and opals) for 10 minutes in warm water with a nondetergent soap, such as Woolite or Dr. Bronner’s.

Diamonds deserve special treatment: Before putting them in the soap soak, dip them briefly in rubbing alcohol or vodka to dissolve any greasy buildup.

Worship at the Spring footwear fashion altar

Burberry pumps .....Spring collection 2008

I love L.A.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

FENG SHUI THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY...

If you are in Los Angeles this week this could be worth checking out....

You think your life is strange???

IF YOU HAVE A CRANKED UP WAITRESS...

YOU MUST PLACATE HER AT ALL COSTS!!!

sunshine and blue skies

Back to NYC!

Tomorrow I'll be making the trek back to NYC...just when it started to get sunny and warm out here. A jet setter can never get too comfortable, huh? :)

Here comes the sun

The sun is finally out. It's time to get outdoors.
Hike at Runyon Canyon? Brisk walk down Robertson...bob and weave around the Paparazzi?
Do a loop at the Grove. Sprint around your neighborhood. Bike ride.

SAG AWARDS

Sorry guys... but at least you scored big time with the Golden Globes and the Emmy's.

THE WINNERS

TELEVISION

MALE ACTOR IN A TELEFILM OR MINISERIES
Kevin Kline, As You Like It

FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEFILM OR MINISERIES
Queen Latifah, Life Support

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Edie Falco, The Sopranos

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey, 30 Rock

DRAMA ENSEMBLE
The Sopranos

COMEDY ENSEMBLE
The Office

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A STUNT ENSEMBLE IN A TELEVISION SERIES
24

MOVIES

MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Julie Christie, Away From Her

SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men

SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR
Ruby Dee, American Gangster

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Charles Durning

Dessert delivery service

that's what we're missing. Would someone please get on that?

?

Casey Affleck was chewing gum nervously while his category was being announced at the SAG awards tonight.
:(
I am definitely a fan of his but my mother always told me it was impolite to chew gum. It was, in her opinion, unfathomable to chew gum at work or at a social gathering.

MAKE A HOMEMADE PIZZA!!!

It's raining...again!!! You're stuck inside...again!!!
Turn that frown upside down :)
Why not make a homemade pizza?

Last night Valerie and I found a Boboli whole wheat pizza crust deep in the densely packed caverns of my freezer.

SIDE NOTE:
In my family it is somewhat customary practice to wrap up and freeze food that isn't going to be eaten immediately. This way, there's always something around for a rainy day or for an impromptu gathering. This tradition is most commonly practiced with bagels, holiday foods, cakes, cookies, brownies or pretty much anything sweet or containing chocolate. My cousins and I like to joke that if you stand around too long in my aunt and uncle's kitchen, you might very well end up packaged in the freezer.

We unwrapped the crust and thawed it out a bit before we began to coat it with a delicious bottled organic marinara sauce from Trader Joe's. Next we layered slices of TJ's rice cheese which has an uncanny resemblance in both taste and texture to mozzarella cheese.

Next we sprinkled some low fat feta cheese in between each slice of soy cheese. Feta has a wonderful taste when it's melted into the tomato sauce and pizza crust.

We added sliced fresh white mushrooms, freshly sliced Roma tomatoes, fresh spinach and minced fresh garlic.

In my fridge I also had some Trader Joe's chicken pepper sausage which I usually use for omlettes. We sliced one up and placed it on top of just one last layer of cheese. (ok, I know it was more like a pizza lasagna).

We added oregano, basil, hot pepper flakes, garlic, onion powder and a dash of salt for seasoning before we set it in the oven to bake.

Before you begin, I have found it's a good idea to prep the pan before building the pie by spraying some cooking oil or spreading a little olive oil with a paper towel and then lightly dusting it with a little bit of flour. This will help the pizza from sticking to the pan and making a mess to cut it and clean the pan.

We baked our visual masterpiece at 425 F on the top shelf of the oven for about 40 minutes.
We continually checked it after 30 minutes to make certain that it didn't burn.

We quickly found that it not only looked like a masterpiece but tasted like one too.
Scott was delighted by the leftovers this morning.

LOOK OUT MOZZA!!!!

G O A T

Okay...in case you're a bit confused....

I'd like to introduce my Special Europeenne Correspondent, Valerie Benichou.

"l'etat, c'est moi"

...Louis XIV, Le Roi Soleil

as quoted by Valerie B.

Now that's quite a purse!

SUNSHINE :)

AHHHH!

LIFE STYLE MAKEOVER.....THE PODCAST...

Look out..... it's coming soon....the podcast.

Hopefully these incredible rain storms have inspired you to:
1. Stay in and snuggle up
2. Have a glass of good wine
3. Read a book
4. Watch a film
5. Get an early start on your Spring cleaning. It's never a bad time to exfoliate.

ex·fo·li·ate (ks-fl-t)

v. ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing, ex·fo·li·ates

v.tr.

1. To remove (a layer of bark or skin, for example) in flakes or scales; peel.

2. To cast off in scales, flakes, or splinters.

v.intr.

To come off or separate into flakes, scales, or layers.

---

[Latin exfolire, exfolit-, to strip of leaves : ex-, ex- + folium, leaf; see bhel-³ in Indo-European roots.]

---

ex·foli·ation n.

ex·foli·ative adj.

ex·foli·ator n.

February 15th is just weeks away. That's the day the department stores and boutiques start receiving and selling their brand new Spring 2008 collections.
My rule of thumb...if you're going to add new pieces to your wardrobe or home be sure to rotate out an old item to make room for the new one(s). Resell your cool pieces at a vintage shop like Wasteland or Crossroads here in L.A. Couture or designer garments can go to hip consignment shops like L.A.'s Entre Nous (be sure to tell Regina that I sent you) on 3rd Street near the Beverly Center or INA in Soho, NYC.

Then again, there's always ebay, if you've read the "for dummies" manual and can navigate your way around that site. Anything you don't sell be sure to "pay it forward" to friends or family. You can also donate to your local Salvation Army or Housing works thrift shops. They'll take pretty much anything you've got to give and it goes to a good cause.

This will help to keep your clutter under control, recycle and/or clothe someone in need.

As my father always used to say...."One man's garbage is another man's gold."


REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Podcast

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Podcasting)

Jump to: navigation, search

A podcast is a collection of digital media files which is distributed over the Internet, often using syndication feeds, for playback on portable media players and personal computers. The term, like "radio", can refer either to the content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also termed podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster.

The term "podcast" is a portmanteau of the acronym "Pod" – standing for "Portable on Demand" – and "broadcast". The iPod name was coined with Pod, prefixed with the "i" commonly used by Apple for its products and services. The first podcasting scripts were developed for the iPod (see history of podcasting). These scripts allow podcasts to be automatically transferred to a mobile device after they are downloaded.^[1]

Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added, using an aggregator or feed reader capable of reading feed formats such as RSS or Atom.

Contents

[hide]

• 1 Mechanics
• 2 Receiving and using podcasts
• 3 Other uses
• 4 Trademarks
• 5 Other
• 6 See also
  • 6.1 Syndication protocols
• 7 References
• 8 External links

spring cleaning

It's Friday January 25th 2008. The ground hog is on the way 'round the corner.

I smell spring cleaning!!!!!!!

YUP, IT'S THAT EASY!!!!!!!!!!!

It took me all of 45 seconds to get this blog up and runnin'....