Year: 2011

inspiration: dreamy bedroom decor

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Everyone needs a bit of inspiration, mental therapy I call it,  to keep going,  Being stuck in a rut is sometimes depressing and no matter how much you think you have it under control, life dictates otherwise. So for those challenging moments and agravating days I have decided to include (on a weekly basis) some inspirational  photos which help me feel good when I am having a bad day. Mind you this doens’t replace my daily walks and medidation, it is just a quick pick me up when I feel ****. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the photos and no matter what find time for yourself every weekend and do whatever it takes to make you feel good about yourself. Have a great weekend!

healthy eating: chili with lentil

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I found this amazing chili recipe here and wanted to share it with my readers. Most busy women appreciate making food in bulk in order to feed their family and have a little bit left over for lunch the next day.  But even if that isn’t the case in your household, you will appreciate the chili with lentil recipe below. Just in case you are curious about the health benefits of lentil: It is a member of the legume family, which is highly recommended in healthy eating. Not only do lentils lower cholesterol, they  also manage blood-sugar disorders due to its high fiber content. Lentils also contain six important minerals, two B-vitamins, protein with virtually no fat. So, next time you are in the mood for chili, consider my favorite legume, lentil instead of the usual beans chili is made with. Serves 8 This simple vegetarian chili recipe uses lentils instead of beans. Brown lentils work best as they will hold their shape even when tender after cooking. Serve with our Health Starts Here hearth …

designer kate spade and the woman over 40

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I love walking into a Kate Spade boutique. It is a happy place in my opinion, one filled with color, beauty, order and just pure elegance. What I also love about it the designer’s consideration of fashion  appropriate for most woman at any age. In light of my excitement over Kate Spade’s Spring 2011 collection, I have included some of  my favorite pieces from here. Enjoy: 1. CobbleHill Leslie $425 2. Nera $298 3. The Journal Medium Flat Pouch $65 4. Karolina $298.00 5. The Journal Bon Shopper $145 6. Black Eyed Susan Necklace $195 7. CobbleHill Small Cynthia $345 8. Year of Color January Ring $75 9. Dot to Dot Necklace $95 10. English Tweeded Jacket $475 11. Solid Grace Top $195

fashion: my favorite spring 2011 handbags

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One of my weaknesses is handbags, the other are shoes but handbags I tend to shop for every chance I get more so than shoes or maybe equal, can’t keep up anymore. That doesn’t mean I own a hundred of them, I just like shopping for them. But this year, it seems the bags are even more “dreamer” (for lack of a better word) than the years past.  Or maybe the color red is enticing me, again I can’t keep up. Can you sense the excitement in my tone? Anyway, I have included below my top ten picks for Spring/Summer 2011 (believe me there are more but I had to stop somewhere). Let me know what you think?

boutique hotel pick – il sogno di giulietta – verona, italy

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Keeping in line with the  Valentine’s Day theme and also with my Italy obsession  for 2011, I decided to include a boutique luxury hotel, (which I recommend by the way),  located in the heart of Verona, Italy. In case there are a handful of people who are wondering  what Verona has to do with Valentine’s Day theme, well I am here to tell you that Verona is not only one of the most romantic cities in the world, but it is also the hometown of Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet  (just in case I wasn’t clear enough). Of course their story goes without saying, but just in case I need to clarify, it is the most famous love story ever told  by William Shakespeare and many tourist go to Verona just to pay homage to that fact. What’s so interesting is that this particular property shares a courtyard with Juliet’s  house. In fact, it has a view of  the famous balcony where Romeo expressed his undying love and devotion to Juliet. The hotel is called  Il …

valentine’s day romance – suggestion 4 – dinner and a movie

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Now, I saved the best for last, well at least from where I am sitting. Dinner and a movie suggestion for a romantic evening at home is ideal in every sense of the word, if done right. This suggestions would be best if, those with children, are able to find a sitter away from home and if one partner can surprise the other with it. Rent a couple of the movies I have suggested above or others that you think are in line with a love story/romantic theme. Contact your local purveyor of fine foods or a restaurant to order a steak or seafood dinner for two.  I prefer  Dean and DeLuca’s Valentine’s Day Meal  from their menu here . They also carry a large selection of champagne as well as  sparkling wine or wines in general so it makes the planning easier. Organize the living room or family room (wherever the television is) for the setting. Setting up the center coffee table with candles, flowers and fine china is ideal place to eat, while …

valentine’s day romance – suggestion 3 – spa day

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Cliche you might say, but couples over 40 tend to mostly dream or talk about a spa day, more so than actually do something about it. Either because, they are too busy or just, don’t consider to include it in their budget. So don’t laugh when I suggest a couples spa day as a  Valentine’s Day gift for one another. Either the weekend before or on the actual day – again depending on work and kids. For example, just outside of San Francisco, in Napa and Sonoma county we have dozens of spas ranging in price and techniques to consider.  And although we  have them all over the bay area,  for some reason I feel on this special occasion, it is more romantic to go to the wine country and have a spa day then just around the corner from where I live. However, planning for this day takes alot of work. A partner has to be willing to take the time to research and organize it in order to surprise their loved ones properly. …

valentines day romance – suggestion 2 – date day

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Most people in their 40s have children or teenagers and since February 14th falls on a school and a work day, the fun of celebrating the holiday usually takes a back seat to soccer practice and piano lessons and work. So, I suggest celebrating it on Saturday or Sunday the 12th or the 13th instead just to get the most out of the holiday. Again, these suggestions can be considered for birthdays and anniversaries as well. First:  Make arrangements for a reliable sitter on either day you want to surprise your spouse or loved one with children. Second: Clear your partner’s calendar for the day – make sure you pick the day with the least pre-arranged appointments for the children and their school events. Third: Organize a slew of events or activities for the two of you to do for the entire day – this could be an entire day spent in the country or a metropolitan city, depending on where you reside – do the opposite. For example for those living in the bay …

valentine’s day romance suggestion 1 – flowers

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I really feel bad for everyone who gets caught up in the Valentine’s day madness. I mean, in my opinion, the true sense of romance should be ongoing and sometimes even when a person least expects it. That’s what makes it special and more personal. I guess that is why I appreciate birthdays and wedding anniversaries more. But for all those people who get a kick out of planning for Valentine’s Day, I have decided to dedicate this entire week for some of my  suggestions to take into account, while frantically searching for gifts and “interesting” things to do for/or with your loved one. Take note, these suggestions also work for birthday and anniversary celebrations as well. So here we go with suggestion 1. Every one loves getting flowers, unless of course they are allergic to them, but whether you believe it or not, most woman “over 40” are okay with just getting flowers on Valentine’s Day. So, this year instead of giving the usual boring bouquet of over priced red roses (yawn) why don’t …