Back In

Well, it's been some time... I'm talking about 60 moons here, but I'm back in it. What else can I say? I got distracted.

I moved around, I took my time with things, I wrote for other purposes, in short, admittedly and shamefully, I strayed from my baby blog. You can thank my dog for putting me back in tune with the luxuries in my life. I mull over them as a human mother would - putting much more value on time alone, talking with adults, sharing your food, and having a more relaxed view on living.

My perspective on life's luxuries hasn't changed, it's widened to include valuing the little things. So, I guess this is a funny love letter to my pup, Dylan, he's almost one... and I'm seriously considering throwing a party for him. As for Lux Life, I'll fill you in on the highlights from my hiatus over the next week.

Gorgeously surviving the 5-year Time Warp -- Lux

Handbags: Gryson

When flipping through my Bergdorf Goodman catalog last fall, my heart stopped when my eyes fell on the handbag I had been searching for. Gryson, a Joy Gryson label, is to me what's next.

Former Marc Jacobs Design Director, Joy's Skye (left, in cerise) and Rachel (right, in tobacco) are by far my favorites from the Gryson collection.

Pairing functionality with luxurious materials, classic rock n' roll with a modern feel, how could any young-at-heart not be in love? I do mean love, not lust, for Gryson's designs are sure to be new classics.

Gorgeous-ly Classic --Lux

Culture: Lux Golden Globe Picks

Best Motion Picture - Drama
The Queen Granada; Miramax Films

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Kate Winslet – Little Children

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Forest Whitaker – The Last King Of Scotland

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Little Miss Sunshine Big Beach/Bona Fide Productions; Fox Searchlight Pictures

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Annette Bening – Running With Scissors

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett – Notes On A Scandal

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls

Best Animated Feature Film
Cars Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studio; Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Best Foreign Languge Film
Volver (Spain)El Deseo; Sony Pictures Classics

Best Director - Motion Picture
Martin Scorsese – The Departed

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Babel Written by Guillermo Arriaga

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
The Fountain (Mansell) Composed by Clint Mansell

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
"Never Gonna Break My Faith" – Bobby Music & Lyrics By: Bryan Adams, Eliot Kennedy and Andrea Remanda

Best Television Series - Drama
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)Touchstone Television; ABC

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Ellen Pompeo – Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
The Office (NBC)Deedle Dee Productions/Reveille/NBC Universal Television Studio; NBC

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
America Ferrera – Ugly Betty (ABC)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Elizabeth I (HBO)Company Pictures/channel 4/HBO Films; HBO

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Helen Mirren – Elizabeth I (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Ben Kingsley – Mrs. Harris (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Katherine Heigl – Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Masi Oka – Heroes (NBC)

Hopefully Gorgeous --Lux

Destinations: Connecticut Shoreline

"Long weekends, they pass so quickly. Goal: Attempt to relax. With so few areas left in the States where one can truly find some downtime, it's difficult to just take off for a few days without anticipating traffic, setbacks, and the stress that comes with packing for an overnight.

First piece of advice, keep a bag packed with toiletries, underwear, shoes, and pyjamas (if you wear 'em), so that when you decide to be spontaneous, you can spend 10 extra minutes thinking about what to wear. Second, if you live within 4 hours of Connecticut, hop a train or jump in a car, and head to The Shoreline.

I can't tell you how relaxing it is to just be in this area. Unpretentious and very pleasant. You can feel the pace slow as you exit I-95 or step out of your train at Mystic Station. Grab a croissant at Mystic Market on your way through town, and maybe a fresh sandwich or Camembert and crackers from their deli for later.

Forget the usual touristy stops: Groton's Submarine Base, Mystic's Seaport, and Old Lyme's Florence Griswold Museum. Check into the Inn at Stonington or Mystic's Daniel Packer Inn, and enjoy the quiet. In the Stonington Borough (Ariel view, left) have breakfast at Water Street Cafe', they have delicious Eggs Benedict and Banana Bread French Toast. Walk it off with a quick jaunt down to the Lighthouse where so many have wed, and breathe in the views.

In Mystic, walk down to the drawbridge and take a lap or two around the river. Afterwards, have an ice cream at the Mystic Drawbridge shop, make sure to indulge a waffle cone. Take your time in the various stores lining the main drag as you make your way back toward the water --never more than a stone's throw away, mind you.

Take it all in, take it all in, and just have a tranquil moment with yourself and one of the most beautiful areas in New England. You'll truly be able to say, I've experienced peace, a luxury so difficult to come by."

Gorgeous less the stress --Lux

Shoes: Those Red Soles

"Christian Louboutin has to be the kitschiest shoe designer since Mukuluks became a trend for the original hipsters in the early '90s. Luxurious, extravagant, yet a shoe wardrobe necessity. Those red soles, who can resist a design detail that actually emotes?

Most lift up their shoe, and we see a tag from an outlet store, or a pricetag of some embarrassing sort. With Louboutins we see the red, and we think "Oh, I love." Even if you aren't crazy about the style, you know who designed them and you agree it is a status symbol. Bergdorf's, Barneys NY, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and select Nordstroms carry the coveted soles. And if you search online, there are many-a-boutique that have hard-to-find styles in stock.

Summer 2006 I went to visit one of my closest friends in Tucson, Arizona, aka spa country if you didn't know. Did I take with me my Louboutins? Yes. Did I care if I had a chance to wear them? No. The mere fact I owned a pair (Hung Up $560 below, right) I thought sure to impress my long-time bestie. But no, I am absolutely sure she was not aware of how important my shoes were to the cult of my fashion personality. I was, I will admit, slightly hurt and disappointed that I didn't impress as planned, but then I realized: this is Tucson. The highlight of the downtown shops is Urban Outfitters, and in the hills, St. John. There's not a whole lot going on there in the way of couture.

Lesson learned, one that will ever strike me when I look at my red-soled shoes: there is a time and a place for them. It never crossed my mind when I made the purchase. So word to the wise: plan your use of your luxury shoes wisely, or you may fail to notice you've become "another one of those girls". Oh yes, it's true, you are not exempt. You can be "that girl". That girl who wears her Louboutins to the aquarium. Don't do it."

Be Gorgeous --Lux

Food: In the Raw

"The term raw doesn't conjure the most luxurious of mental imagery, but the cuisine concept, that I love so much, has genuinely changed the association. The term raw refers to keeping all ingredients in the dish under 118 degrees, preserving the food's enzymes, or life-force of the food. Food enzymes catalyze digestion, and are usually cooked out, making regular food much less desirable. Dairy, soy, refined sugars, and wheat, are not used in raw food preparation. Hello vegans and goodbye gluten allergens! Those bound to gluten-free foods will love the raw concept, as long as they don't have nut allergies.

And did I mention the food-euphoria? No, not the feeling from your allergic reaction. An actual natural high you'll experience from eating in the raw. Combine that with eating in the nude, and we've got something! Do meals usually make you tired? Well try eating raw and you'll be pleasantly upbeat, with your tastebuds revelling.

Pure Food and Wine (54 Irving Pl., NY, NY, below left), a Manhattan mainstay for raw enthusiasts, should make other veggie-friendly restaurants in the area lament --all organic, pure, and pesticide-free. I was one of the first customers at the establishment on a weekend trip to New York. Having heard of its opening beforehand, I researched raw cuisine but came up with very little. I didn't expect much from the dishes at Pure, thinking it would be good vegetarian, but not getting my hopes up. And even though the menu descriptions sounded exquisite, what can one think cheese made from nuts would taste like?! Undoubtedly, divine.

My first course, a salad (above, right), had an amazingly sweet-citrus dressing and plenty of flax and seeds, I cannot tell you how delicious. Each bite was a burst of flavor like I'd never had, and I've been to many an extravagant venue to dine. Flavor integration, and unique pairings of spices and textures is what makes the dishes so delectable.

Second course was a pasta made literally from squash and zucchini, with smooth cherry tomatoes and cheese made from pine nuts-- my second choice was beet ravioli (pictured above, left) again, same concept: pasta made from beets, cheese from nuts. Could it get better? Yes, next was dessert, a lavender ice cream sundae with blueberries so amazingly fresh, mint and a honey-like sauce drizzled over the top.

And, ice cream you ask? Definitely ice cream, in taste and texture, and lavender ice cream is divine by the way, but it is actually made from coconut meat. Every cream and meat is made from nuts and vegetables, a detailed process we'll leave to the Chef de Cuisine.

Pure's three-course menu is ever-luxe, and ever-changing, so eat often and enjoy always, your body will thank you. If you're short on time, their Takeaway spot is open late and offers many salads, quick bites, and snacks, plus smoothies and pints of ice cream."


Gorgeous-ly --Lux

Ensembles: Spotlight J.Crew Resort

"It's here, the delicate transition in the fashion world between winter and spring. Dubbed by the couture media as resort, this too-cool-for-cool enigma happens to be my favorite season. Why? I equate bold with luxurious, and that defines resort. The mere idea of a fourth season is bold, the colors are bold, and those who acknowledge it, nay celebrate it, want a little something extra out of life, and their wardrobes.

Couture-label resort collections and their palettes trickle down to a precious few specialty stores and up-market contemporary lines (eg. Dolce and Gabanna's D&G) that are now-enough to design a fourth collection. On the runways, we saw a striking mix of jeweltoned solids and printed pieces --from piped abstracts to modern florals --in resort-friendly fabrics (above left,**J.Crew Piazza sweater jacket $140). As resort tradition would hold, these bold colors were paired with bright shades of white and navy, which I would argue is a jewel all on its own.

Navy is black's long time rival as the staple shade in the "let's look slim today" side of the female wardrobe. I personally don't own much black, and though not a conscious choice in opposition, I am drawn to that deep blue hue. Everything from outerwear to belts; to me navy goes with everything--yes, even black. In fact, J.Crew's newest little black dress also comes in a little navy option: the Vanessa (right). This soft cotton dress with a stunning lace bustier, transcends time. It is, no question, a piece you'll be passing on to your granddaughter. Cover up on cloudy days with the Piazza sweater (above) and if heads don't turn, put on your sunglasses and check your teeth for spinach and lipstick.

So that being said, I welcome the contrasting colors of resort with open arms, donned with Kate Spade sunglasses and cashmere gloves. Color palettes that were once reserved for summer brighten up a winter's day. Sunflower, persimmon, pansy, emerald, and azure are a few of my favorites.

As for prints, let me first say, I love a good print, and baby, my jaw dropped with one look at J.Crew's San Remo vintage design (right). Inspired by 1960s Acapulco, Mr. Drexler and his team at J.Crew, in my opinion, struck gold with this pick. It's available in a silk shirtdress, swingy cotton blouse, merino sweater, canvas shorts, bikini, and ballet flats, as well as various small accessories. Price points from $25-$225. Let me know what you think."

In a word, gorgeous--Lux

**I once worked for J.Crew as a Client Specialist, and this being my premier Lux Life entry, today's Ensembles edition pays homage to a brand, and a team, I hold dear to my heart. My personal collection and eye for quality is much richer thanks to my exposure during my time at the company. Bisous, J.Crew.