“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but looking outward together in the same direction” Antoine De Saint-Expery
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It’s Smoochie Smoochie Time again…no, Silly, not The Grammys-I’m talking about kissing on the LIPS!
Valentine’s Day Tomorrow!!
What Lips My Lips Have Kissed
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why, I have forgotten, and what arms have lain Under my head till morning; but the rain Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh Upon the glass and listen for reply; And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain For unremembered lads that not again Will turn to me at midnight with a cry. Thus in the winter stands a lonely tree, Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one, Yet know its boughs more silent than before: I cannot say what loves have come and gone; I only know that summer sang in me A little while, that in me sings no more.
Sigh.
Let’s stroll down a romantic path together, shall we?
What’s your favourite romantic restaurant ? What foods spell ‘Sensuous’ to you?
Your most treasured romantic novel?
Mine is;
“To him she seemed so beautiful, so seductive, so different from ordinary people, that he could not understand why no one was as disturbed as he by the clicking of her heels on the paving stones, why no one else’s heart was wild with the breeze stirred by the sighs of her veils, why everyone did not go mad with the movements of her braid, the flight of her hands, the gold of her laughter. He had not missed a single one of her gestures, not one of the indications of her character, but he did not dare approach her for fear of destroying the spell.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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What about a film, flower or song?
Where’s the most romantic place you’ve ever been, or dream of going?!
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Herewith, a few images and some of my picks;
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Oak Alley, Louisiana- that’s Romance for me.
One of my favourite songs about LOVE (And played at our wedding )
Let’s Stay Together
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Romantic Roses in my garden
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“Sofia” is a nice, light, inexpensive Rose’ in a very pretty bottle
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“LOVE” by Kilian.
A seductive blend of neroli, orange blossom, jasmine, rose & vanilla
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My friends Dani & Bill Hahn’s magical rose farm in Carpinteria, CA; ROSE STORY FARM
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Rose Story Farm
(spot the kitty- distant kin of our cat )
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Fun reference book by Diane Ackerman- I love her books
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Beautiful little arrangements for a Father & Daughter event created by TOAST, Santa Barbara
And for sensuous food…pretty much anything that involves white truffles gets a big pungent thumbs up from moi. Quite honestly- just bury me with a good bottle of fresh white truffle salt (but make sure it’s pure, no “Essence of” stuff- Could there be anything worse than heading off into The Afterlife with an aftertaste? You have to think of these things…)
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Ultra long stemmed red roses from Toast, Santa Barbara
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One of The most Romantic Gardens I’ve ever been to, NINFA, outside of Rome
In a shaker filled with ice .. 2 parts Capt Morgan Spiced Rum 2 splashes Rose Le Sirop de Monin 1 part of fresh pear juice Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled champagne glass. Fill the glass to the top with rose petals .. which are completely edible and quite simply .. gorgeous. enjoy
(Recipe courtesy of Lola’s)
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‘Le Sirop Monin’ mixed with champagne, yesterday afternoon… For the sake of THE BLOG, People
PS. So I cheated and used a camellia petal because I didn’t have pear juice or roses in bloom right now- not poisonous, right?
It’s been almost 24 hours now…
So far, I’m feeling OK.
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This Cherry Bomb cupcake from Whodidly Cupcakes, Montecito, CA. made me feel even better
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Wishing you a LOVEly Valentine’s Day and if you’re up for a Grammy Good Luck !!
Did you participate in Black Friday?! The whole concept of the crowds and parking madness makes me shudder. I saw that some stores opened at 4 a.m. ! I saw commercials of women exercising…getting prepped for the event- might have been for “Target”, I’m not sure. Not that I don’t love a good Target run as much as the next savvy shopper. It comes second only to Costco in providing me with the most things I never realized I needed until the moment I see them. I think there might be a “tense” problem in that last sentence, but I’m so tired and I’m dashing to get this posted before Sunday or I’ll have to change the entire premise. In any case, this Thanksgiving weekend marks yet another year I didn’t get all (any) of my Christmas shopping done before December 1st as I promised myself I would. For those of you that have finished already- I am GREEN with envy! I might have to go pour myself some Absynthe just to drown my sorrows…
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Kees Van Dongen
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Isabella Blow
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Giorgio Armani Fall 2010
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Dita Von Teese for Perrier
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Giorgio Armani
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Jo Malone for Farrow & Ball
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Adorable “lace” baskets for bikes available at Fjorn
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Cecconis
Diamond & black onyx bead tribal Deco earrings by Shaunleane.com
GORGEOUS!
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Bottega Veneta clutch
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Steven Webster
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Jacquelyn Jablonski
I’m inspired to pull out my green leather gloves now
As predicted, by yours truly, the heat wave broke pretty much the moment I arrived in NY. If you are starting to perceive me as one who takes the weather personally… well, we really are getting to know each other, aren’t we?! I was bound and determined to stay away from Fall focused posts for a couple of more weeks, but under dark skies and rain, my hand has been forced. It’s a challenge to get great NY photos in the rain- umbrella reflections in the shop windows are wreaking havoc with my genius. So I leave you with this classic combination of Red, Black & and a hint of White, which appears to be a strong contender for one of the most winning marriages, or should I say Menages A Trois’ for Fall!.
Enjoy
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Bianca Balti, Harper’s Bazaar, Spain
Doesn’t this model remind you of Carol Alt? ( I mean when you look at your MOM’S fashion magazines from the 70′s )
In one of my three most regrettable fashion faux pas ever- I sold the black Hermes belt with gold hardware in the photo above on Ebay because it only fit on the loosest notch at my hips. I bought it in the early 90′s and for some reason (Scarlet Fever, perhaps?) I never foresaw wearing a belt at the waist again. It felt matronly to me- akin to wearing Mom Jeans. I know, right? Ohhh- it’s making me feverish just thinking about it. I stay far, far away from EBAY now, but somewhere in Australia there is a very, very happy young woman (Do you want to hear the worst/best part? she wrote me afterwards to say she was so thrilled, then added it was her present to herself for having JUST HAD A BABY ) Hey, Australian Girl- if you are reading this, I changed my mind! Call me!
Needless to say, I am no longer allowed near the vicinity of the E-Word.
And no, I will not share the other two faux pas… yet. You’d lose all respect for me..
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RUPERT SANDERSONFall 2010
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.LULU GUINNESS PURSE
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Snapped this photo of a wild “Licorice Rope Vase“ at MOSS, in Soho, today.
Wouldn’t you be tempted to fill it with black Twizzlers?
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The timeless, and apparently ageless appeal of Kate Moss- She breaks the all time record for British Vogue covers this September- 30!!
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Shiny, Happy bag from PRADA Fall 2010
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GIORGIO ARMANI Fall 2010
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PRADA
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PRADA
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Photo from VOGUE Magazine
JILL SANDERS JACKET, DIOR NECKLACE
Chicness!
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Oh, oh…Let’s say Valentino?? Anybody??
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Photo Japanese Vogue
STELLA MCCARTNEY DRESS, CAVALLI SHRUG, KENNETH JAY LANE JEWELRY
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CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Men’s “lounging slippers”
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Window shopping our first couple of days in New York
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Photo Mert & Marcus
In my opinion, the winner for the most gorgeous ad campaign for Red, Black and a touch of White this season; GIORGIO ARMANI Fall 2010
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Diamond & black onyx bead tribal Deco earrings by 
Tom Dixon
Photo Cote Sud
Photo from VOGUE Magazine
