All posts filed under: anniversary gift ideas

boutique hotel pick – Hôtel La Résidence De La Pinède -St. Tropez, France

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St. Tropez is a destination I include in  every trip to France. Although it is  very difficult and time consuming to get to the small fishing village from most anywhere in the world, it is truly a wonderful place to experience when daydreaming about the high life. I normally stay in Nice and take a train to Saint Raphael and then a bus to St. Tropez, totalling approximlately 2-3 hour travel time. It is the most ecnomical way to get there but also the longest, especially if there is traffic during the high season (May-Sept/Oct). There are also ferrys leaving from Nice and Cannes and Saint Rapael, but I have found those to be an inconvinience due to their unpredictable schedules (plus I cannot deal with motion sickness very well) There is also driving along the Riviera in a rental car and without traffic you can reach St. Tropez within an hour and half from Cannes. Of course having your very own personal yatch also helps, but that is a story for another day.   The most …

boutique hotel pick – hotel yountville – napa valley, california

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I realize that most hotels I picked in the past  are ones I want to escape to outside of the US, but I had forgotten about the ones I don’t mind escaping to even for the weekend and those I want to recommend to my foreign followers. I don’t need to sell Napa valley to anyone visiting the great state of California, but I do want to remind those not familiar with the region, Yountville is the place to consider when choosing a hotel to stay in,  while visiting one of my favorite wine regions in the world – Napa Valley. Lucky for me it’s in my back yard.  The hotel is called   Hotel Yountville, and is ideally located almost in the center of Napa Valley. There are several restaurants to choose from for your dining pleasure and plenty of shops and boutiques and an outlet to keep you busy. There is also a golf course directly across the freeway from Yountville for those not interested in indulging in our California wines. While in Yountville, be sure to dine at my favorite …

interior decor: in-home office space for the creative writer

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I crave for an in-home office space of my own just so  I could lock the outside world out while I work on my novel and postings for my blogs. I never realized how important the space was until I sold my home a few years back. Nonetheless, while I strive towards having my very own in-home office (again), I have begun to compile photos of  my favorites to incorporate into my very own style. I  do believe that a creative writers space should be warm, inviting, colorful, comfortable, inspiring and as unique and different from the rest of the house as possible. The room should give you a sense of escape from the uniformity of every day life and traditional office spaces both in the home and at work and should be one, which can only be used by you.

italy vacation hot spot – lake como

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I love to travel and could probably do so, ten or so months out of the year. But what I love the most about travel is discovering new places or frequenting ones which have left an unforgetable impression. One place in particular which I could actually travel too as much as George Clooney does, is Lake Como. I have grown to appreciate the region not only for it’s beauty, but also for it’s peacefulness and tranquility. Lake Como is an ideal place to hide from the world while trying to get the much needed rest and relaxation from everyday life.  There is no pressure to play tourist and the most stress I experienced was having to leave the place. There are many ways to get to Lake Como which are detailed here, and many things to see which are also detailed here. Just remember to bring a good pair of walking shoes, a camera and the desire to experience one of the most memorable and romantic vacation spots in your lifetime.

interior decor and design: kitchen extraordinaire

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Although I am a fan of simply white kitchens, I must admit I have grown to love this unique and extraordinaire kitchen. The only downfall is, if I had a kitchen such as this one, I would probably order take out food every day to avoid messing it up.  What do you think, is this your dream kitchen or simply a museum masterpiece?

boutique hotel pick – le meurice – paris, france

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There is a certain charm  to Paris which most  woman understand and appreciate and  although we learn of this at a young age, some take almost a lifetime to figure out.  Those who understand, once Paris is mentioned in conversation,  immediately come alive while exchanging  thoughts of the allure of the city. For those woman who have not yet had the opportunity to truly understand Paris as it should be, convince your travel partner to stay at Le Meurice hotel, even if for a night and I can guarantee, the ambiance will surely set the stage for an experience you will never forget. {Recommended classic reads to understanding Paris – click on photo}

boutique hotel pick – hotel brunelleschi – florence, italy

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Every city around the world has it’s own unique charm appeal and although most travellers may agree Paris is probably the most charming and romantic,  parts of Italy are right up there on the list.  Florence, is of course, one of the cities in Italy I frequent and find to be a great romantic getaway.  So, in case you are contemplating an escape to Florence (a.k.a. Firenze), I recommend Hotel Brunelleschi for your stay.

interior decor: five things i want this summer

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I know I’ve said this before, but after moving back to the city (being San Francisco) from suburbia, I decided to dwell in a small studio until I figure out what neighborhood I want to truly call home.  Actually this particular decision has inspired me to no end to finish my novel. So, while I contemplate flats or apartments, the Richmond district or Nob Hill,  view of the ocean or the rolling hills of San Francisco, I dream of making the following changes to my studio apartment:

mother’s day gift idea 2012: wrap her in scarf

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The French woman’s staple piece to any outfit is a scarf and no matter the season, I am almost certain French women over 40 have a silk scarf tucked away in their bags, just in case the weather gets chilly. For places like San Francisco, where I am from, there is definitely a need for scarves during  every season of the year. So, it’s no surprise that I would most certainly recommend the gift idea.  The fact I think I was a Parisian in a past life is also a major factor in suggesting the gift. Here are some of my favorites: