Author: MS

lisbon on my way to a book promo tour

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  I will explain the book promo tour later. But for now, let’s talk about Lisbon. I started out with planning a trip to promote my books, mostly at the BEA- Book Expo America happening the end of May. I figured if I was going to take a trip to the East Coast, I may as well cross the pond and promote my novels in a few places in Europe also, ending up at the BEA. The tour got creative just like anything else I do. I went from a simple tour for work, and ended up including a few days to play here and there. First stop, Portugal. I’ve never been. Not sure why, I asked myself all the way to catch my flight, and then I arrived in Lisbon, thinking – what took me so long: I’ve realized the older I get the more I want someone else to worry about travel details. I mean past the planning, organizing and getting to a destination. I just don’t want to struggle with airport transfers …

decor: chandelier talks

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While growing up, my entire extended family, from aunts and uncles to cousins of my parents and family friends close enough to be referred to as family, had chandeliers in their homes. At the time, I hated them, don’t know why. Maybe, as a child I considered modern lighting to be the best in lighting. In my twenties, I began to venture into the world, traveling mostly to learn about decor, fashion, style, and even a little about history. With that, my appreciation for chandeliers flourished: {source: Veranda online}

designing lunch get-together in a home with outdoor space

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I live in San Francisco, and the weather as we all know it, is very unpredictable especially since I live by the ocean. Planning to do anything outdoors weeks or days in advance doesn’t really work for our type of weather. But I have to say, I envy those who can plan such an event, and for that here are some wonderful ideas from Veranda Magazine – one of my favorite sources for style:

travel: interesting finds online

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Travel has been on my mind for months, and with that, all I want to do is talk travel. Click on photos to be redirected to some of my finds this week: Couple of years ago, I was in Milan and was very disappointed to see the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II under construction. I couldn’t get a single photo of the magnificent space without some sort of scaffolding, or sign or any indication that it was under renovation. So good news is, it is now complete. The sad news is this year I am not going to Italy. Every chance I get, I walk into a bookstore at home and while travelling. I guess that’s the author in me. The sad thing is, in San Francisco we are left with a handful of mom-and-pop bookstores, and that makes me feel sad. On the positive, Architectural Digest has compiled a list of bookstores around the world worth seeing. My favorite from the list being the one in Santorini, Greece. Iceland has been on my list …

fashion: looking younger, feeling classy

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I watch the show Younger on television, the show naturally targeted to the 40 something’s. Each episode is better than the next, funny, very relatable and downright on point about a 40 something trying to fit in after her husband (surprise) leaves her. She transitions into a 20 something year old to be able to get a job, and be accepted in general. Lucky for her, her only daughter is away in College or traveling through Asia, and isn’t around to judge. 😉 The fashion is mostly what caught my attention with the creators of the show dressing the main character Eliza tastefully to communicate perfect her youthfulness, without compromising elegance or class, something most women over 40 needs to consider.  With that said, I have to share with you what I consider fashion to looking younger, yet feeling classy: