Surrender to Shopping!

I headed South on 101 to Los Angeles just to have a peek at the fall fashions on Wilshire Boulevard....just a peek! I parked my car and headed into my favorite store and low and behold (actually, high and behold!) there she was! My first star sighting of the day! What might Mary Poppins have to do with shopping? Everything! She can arrange a bird's eye view of all the fashions on any floor with a pop of her umbrella and she can pull any trick out of her satchel to seal the deal! Plus, she is just plain chic. I couldn't stop smiling at her-- she didn't return the smile but she gave me the feeling that it was going to be great day! A little Mary Poppins magic and the economy just might lift!

So, with all the girls lined up, we began our fall fashion moment!
Now, I almost lost my head a few times; so many gorgeous garments and accessories... I kept reminding myself that inspiration was the best deal of the day and much less expensive than anything that Alber Elbaz had to offer!
So, I set my head straight and began again. We stuck to our shopping agenda, had lunch at our favorite Brighton Cafe and dished on all the fake ____________________( you fill in the blank) we saw walking around.
When we resumed our looking, we were delighted to see a real pair of ____________amongst the many delightful pairs of shoes! It must have been that Mary again--performing her magic!
As the day came to a finish, we plopped down in the shoe department of Barney's and felt victorious that we had made it out with so few "injuries". Just when I thought I had won the shopping battle, I spied a fabulous pair of Dries pumps and tried them on just to see if they were comfortable.... Well, they were quite comfortable and in that moment I knew that surrender was imminent! Victory? It's all in the packaging!

Paradise Found

As a young girl, her culinary journey began in the dining room of restaurant Sent Sovi in Saratoga and in the hands of Chef David Kinch. Over the years, David has filled her plate and her mind with imaginative morsels that have led her down the road of no return! For her 21st birthday, Camille chose David and his restaurant Manresa in Los Gatos to celebrate. Weeks ahead, he asked her for a list of her favorite foods---a request that would be anyone's dream!

She carefully chose her list and then eagerly awaited the arrival of July 23rd.

The bubbles in the champagne Ruinart began their rise to the top of our glasses, moving us to sit on the edge of our chairs--the show about to begin. Each dish arrived in perfect arrangement and with impeccable timing. Like a magician pulling rabbits out of his hat and creating the extraordinary from the "ordinary", David continued on for 4 hours dazzling us with his gifts: The "garden of Eden" salad, the pigeon --claw in tact, the poached salmon, the chicken confit, the gazpacho--perfectly balanced and chilled, a cheese platter that transported us to Paris, and the dessert trilogy to bring the evening home....just a flash of our experience.

What more could a young lady want when she has found paradise on a plate?

Princess on a Pillow

Oh Sabrina fair

With your swirly curls and wiggle,

You sat with me at dinnertime

and always made me giggle.

Dear Sabrina fair

Your fur like wispy willow

You came to us with champagne taste

our princess on a pillow.

Our Sabrina fair

Your love, your cuddles, your kiss,

You've left us in the Summer

Oh how you will be missed.

Sabrina fair....always in our hearts!

Dean

Talk about fabulous! He stepped off the escalator accompanied by one of his very well-dressed clients and I swooned! She was wearing a one-of-a-kind Chanel jewel encrusted leather jacket and was carrying a pink crocodile Hermes handbag embellished with diamonds. Yes, diamonds. My friend said, "I want to be her!" I said, "I want to be him!" Dean works for Chanel in New York. His black sequined blazer worn with black jeans and a crisp white shirt was stunning and I absolutely loved the Camellia "jabot". But beyond all that, Dean is a gentleman. He knows his product inside and out and he makes his customer feel beautiful even if she is no where near able to fit into the sample size garments he is selling. If the sleeves are too tight, he says that Chanel isn't very kind about the fitting of its sleeves. He explains in his soft manner, that all the seams have a 2 inch allowance--that they are begging to be tailored to fit each woman's body and her needs. There is nothing to feel badly about when you are with Dean, there is only beauty and charm and the potential of a dream Chanel wardrobe.

I didn't walk away with any clothes, but I did walk away truly inspired.

Beauty in Imperfection

I was invited to attend the opening of Van Cleef and Arpels in San Francisco this past week.  The jewels were glittering in every corner of the room but for some reason my eye kept going to the run in this woman's stocking! I found a certain charm about it!  Beauty in imperfection. 
My eyes finally moved off the stockings and over to this man's sleek hair, black rimmed glasses and fabulous orange coat.  The pink flowers on the side added the perfect touch.  

And since I was there to see the jewels, I should add that they didn't disappoint!

The Drive South

If you can't be shopping the Paris Flea Market, then Summerland Antique Collective is a great choice.  Who says all the treasures are in France? Head to Southern California on 101 and take the Summerland exit.  There is only one main street in the town (Lillie Avenue) but an incredible selection of antique shops to choose from. Have a coffee and cinnamon scone at Tre Lune and begin your hunt!
Leave the shopping and come with me on my drive through the Santa Ynez vineyards on Foxen Canyon Road.  Mozart is playing, the raptors are flying and the grapes are divine.
Not many cars on the road....just peace and quiet.
Juxtaposed to the vineyards are the grazing cattle and the cowboys mounted on horseback--all in white hats.  Not a black cowboy hat to be found in the Valley. The energy is good!
Stop and chat with the locals and find some wonderful single vineyard wines.  My pick this round? Bell Glos' Clark and Telephone Pinot Noir 2006.  Rich, fruity and great for the soul.

90210

A trip to L.A., Beverly Hills to be exact.  Life is transparent here....no old-fashioned, hidden charms but maybe a few hidden agendas.  It's all black and white with a dash of color.  What you see is what you get....maybe. 

And the shopping?  Crazy shoe sale at Saks.  Shoes were falling from the sky and money dripping from all the designer handbags.  Louboutins exhausted, laying on their sides.
So many shoes on display....and people too.  One never knows who one might see......