TRAVEL: WEEKENDER II

MORE RANDOM SHOTS FROM NYC LAST WEEKEND. TAKE A WALK AROUND YOUR CITY/TOWN, CATCH A FLICK, VISIT A MUSEUM, BUY FRESH FLOWERS OR PRODUCE FROM THE LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET, READ A BOOK, LISTEN TO SOME GREAT MUSIC, OR JUST BE THIS WEEKEND! ENJOY

FASHION: TREND WATCH

TREND: PEACOCK
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED PEACOCK DESIGNS ARE POPPING UP ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING; T-SHIRTS, DRESSES, HATS, PILLOWS, SKIRTS, BELTS, AND SHOES. IF YOU'RE NOT TO SURE ABOUT THIS TREND OPT FOR A PAIR OF EARRINGS LIKE THE ONES PICTURED ABOVE. RIGHT: SPLURGE $97 (RA CREATIONS @ SHOPBOP.COM) LEFT: STEAL $3.80 FROM FOREVER21.COM.

CULTURE: CAUTION

PRINTED SCARVES ARE BEING WORN BY MEN & WOMEN AS A FASHION STATEMENT, BUT YOU MAY OPT NOT TO WEAR ONE AGAIN. IT'S BEING REPORTED THAT THE SCARVES(kiffiyeh) ARE OFTEN WORN BY EXTREME TERRORISTS WHEN COMMITTING ACTS OF VIOLENCE. READ THE ARTICLE REGARDING A TELEVISION AD THAT WAS PULLED FEATURING RACHEL RAY DUE TO THE SCARF SHE WORE. HERE'S THE LINK: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24860437/?GT1=43001 WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LATEST CONTROVERSY? SHOULD EVERYONE STOP WEARING THE SCARVES? (image from msnbc.com)

TRAVEL: WEEKENDER

RANDOM SHOTS FROM MY WEEKEND TRIP TO NEW YORK.

FASHION: GENTLE SOLES

KENNETH COLE HAS A COLLECTION OF SHOES CALLED GENTLE SHOES, MADE WITH A FLAXSEED MEMORY PILLOW, MAKING THE SHOES A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE. HERE IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PAIR, THE IDOLIZE LEATHER PUMP ($265), IT COMES IN LIGHT GREY & BLACK. *BLACK PUMPS ARE A HUGE TREND FOR FALL*

CULTURE: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

THERE ARE ONLY A FEW MORE WEEKS TO SEE THIS PLAY, IF YOU'RE IN NEW YORK PICK UP A TICKET OR TWO & WATCH THIS STELLAR CAST PERFORM. HAVE A SAFE & WONDERFUL HOLIDAY WEEKEND!(image from cat2008onbroadway.com)

FASHION/CULTURE: STATEMENT

GAP HAS AN EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION OF T-SHIRTS ($28) DESIGNED BY ARTISTS FROM THE WHITNEY MUSEUM OF ART. I FOUND THIS ONE TO BE QUITE THOUGHT PROVOKING & THE LITTLE GIRL IS SO PRECIOUS. DESIGNED BY ARTIST KERRY JAMES MARSHALL. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARSHALL VISIT: http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/marshall/index.html# VISIT:

http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=40760 TO PURCHASE THIS T-SHIRT OR TO VIEW THE OTHER T-SHIRTS.

DECOR: PRETTY IN PINK

HERE ARE SOME CUTE & QUIRKY ITEMS IN VARIOUS SHADES OF PINK FROM URBAN OUTFITTERS. COTTON CANDY SLIPPER CHAIR $325, VINTAGE PRINT POSTER $78, FALINE LAMP BASE $36.

LIFESTYLE: FLORAL FEVER

LEARN HOW TO MAKE A FRENCH SPIRAL BOUQUET FROM DOMINOMAG.COM. CLICK ON THE LINK: http://www.dominomag.com/howtos/gardens/video/2007/03/howtospiralbouquet TO SEE HOW. CREATING FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS IS A GREAT SKILL TO HAVE & WILL COME IN HANDY WHEN YOU START PLANNING THOSE SUMMER PARTIES. FRESH FLOWERS MAKE GREAT CENTERPIECES! (image from dominomag.com)

FASHION: PRE FALL PICKS

I JUST FINISHED BROWSING NEIMANMARCUS.COM & I RAN ACROSS TWO ITEMS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE. THE PRE-FALL MERCHANDISE IS ARRIVING & AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER. HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO HAVE IN MY WARDROBE THIS FALL: 3.1 PHILLIP LIM GRECIAN DRESS $450, IT'S SO SIMPLE BUT IT SAYS SO MUCH, & A PAIR OF THESE TORY BURCH FRANNIE SUEDE PATENT LEATHER PUMPS $350. I MUST ADMIT I'M NOT A FAN OF THE TORY BURCH BALLET FLATS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY KNOCK-OFFS, BUT THIS PAIR JUST SPEAKS TO ME!

TRAVEL: WELCOME

HELLO KITTY WAS NAMED THE GOODWILL TOURISM AMBASSADOR FOR JAPAN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A FICTIONAL CHARACTER HAS EVER BEEN APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION. THERE IS A HUGE FOLLOWING IN CHINA AND JAPAN SO I'M SURE EVERYONE WILL BE THRILLED WITH THE CHOICE. HELLO KITTY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1974 & I THINK SHE WILL BE AROUND FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. HELLO KITTY IS A GREAT CHOICE & WILL DO A PHENOMENAL JOB! I HEART HELLO KITTY... TO READ THE ARTICLE CLICK ON THE LINK: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2008-05-19-hello-kitty_N.htm TO PURCHASE HELLO KITTY PRODUCTS VISIT: http://www.sanrio.com/ (image from usatoday.com)

TRAVEL/FASHION: GO TO DRESS

SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE & SOME OF US ARE PLANNING TRIPS. HERE'S 1 KEY PIECE TO PACK FOR YOUR TRIP: CAP-SLEEVE T-SHIRT DRESS. IT CAN BE WORN CASUALLY WITH GLADIATOR SANDALS OR CUTE BALLET FLATS. DRESS IT UP WITH A CHUNKY NECKLACE & STRAPPY SANDALS. THROW A LIGHT GRANDPA CARDIGAN (LONGER LENGTH) OVER IT WITH YOUR OWN BELT FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LOOK. THIS DRESS WILL LOOK GREAT ON ANY BODY TYPE & IT HAS A BIT OF SPANDEX FOR A LITTLE EXTRA GIVE. GRAB ONE FROM BANANAREPUBLIC.COM FOR $58.

SAMPLE THIS

HERE'S ANOTHER REASON TO VISIT NYC THIS WEEKEND...AFTER CHECKING OUT THE MURAKAMI EXHIBIT AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM, MAKE YOUR WAY OVER TO THE REBECCA MINKOFF SAMPLE SALE & PICK UP A FABULOUS LEATHER HANDBAG (MAYBE THE MORNING AFTER BAG...IT'S HOT!!!)

NEW ONLINE FIND

PIXIEMARKET.COM IS A ONLINE STORE THAT I RAN ACROSS WHILE READING RANDOM BLOGS. THEY HAVE REALLY UNIQUE MERCHANDISE BY VARIOUS "INDIE" DESIGNERS. CHECK THEM OUT FOR YOURSELF @ http://WWW.PIXIEMARKET.COM IMAGE FROM PIXIE MARKET.

CULTURE: I HEART MURAKAMI

IF YOU'RE PLANNING A TRIP TO THE "CITY" MAKE A STOP IN BROOKLYN & CHECK OUT THIS EXHIBIT. VISIT HTTP://BROOKLYNMUSEUM.ORG TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION!

DECOR: WASH UP

I LOVE THIS SHOWER CURTAIN! I FOUND IT URBN.COM FOR $40. I LOVE THE BROWN & WHITE COMBINATION...YELLOW, ORANGE, BLUE, OR GREEN ACCENTS WOULD GO PERFECTLY WITH THIS SHOWER CURTAIN.

TRAVEL: FILL ME UP

JCREW HAS A LUGGAGE COLLECTION THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! ALL THE PIECES ARE HANDCRAFTED IN ITALY BY DELL'GA. THE LUGANO LEATHER SUITCASE IS MY PERSONAL FAVORITE ($1800). THIS BAG WOULD DEFINITELY STAND OUT AMONG THE MILLIONS OF BLACK SUITCASES GOING AROUND THE CAROUSEL, EVEN THOUGH I WOULDN'T CHECK THIS ONE. IT'S A DEFINITE CARRY ON PIECE, WOULDN'T WANT IT TO BE LOST, STOLEN, OR DAMAGED!

FASHION: JOE WHO? JOE WHAT?

JOE'S HANDBAGS AS IN JOE'S JEANS? YES, THEY ARE DESIGNING HANDBAGS. I FOUND THE PERFECT GREEN HANDBAG ON KARMALOOP $395 BY JOE'S...TAKE A PEEK! VISIT http://KARMALOOP.COM FOR ALL KINDS OF FRESHNESS!

LIFESTYLE: SELF-PUBLISHING

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WRITING YOUR OWN BOOK & ACTUALLY PUBLISHING IT? WAIT NO MORE...MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND TURNED ME ON TO THIS HOT SITE CALLED BLURB.COM...YOU CAN CREATE YOUR BOOK FROM START TO FINISH @ BLURB.COM PRICES START AT $12.95 & YOU CAN EVEN SELL YOUR BOOK ON THE WEBSITE. TURN YOUR DREAM INTO A REALITY INSTANTLY BY VISITING http://www.blurb.com/! HERE ARE A FEW OF THE BOOKS THEY OFFER FOR SALE:

FASHION: NOOKA

IT'S TIME TO DISCOVER NOOKA WATCHES. THE NOOKA BRAND HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1997 & WAS ORIGINALLY LICENSED TO SEIKO. THEY ARE NO LONGER ASSOCIATED WITH SEIKO. THE DESIGNER, MATTHEW WALDMAN, IS ABLE TO CREATE THE DESIGNS HE TRULY DESIRES. WHAT'S SO NEAT ABOUT NOOKA WATCHES IS THE WAY THE TIME IS DISPLAYED, IT'S LINEAR & GRAPHIC, A TRULY UNIQUE CONCEPT. NOOKA = SLEEK IN HAWAIIAN. NOT ONLY IS WALDMAN A DESIGNER, HE'S ALSO AN ARTIST & EDUCATOR AT THE PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN & THE NEW YORK SCHOOL UNIVERSITY. DISCOVER NOOKA BY VISITING http://www.nooka.com/, CHECK OUT THE BLOG, & SEE ALL THE AMAZING DESIGNS & COLORS!

CULTURE: CINCO de MAYO

Cinco de Mayo (5th day of May) is a regional holiday in Mexico. It is not a obligatory federal holiday. The holiday commemorates a victory of Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla (May 5, 1862). Cinco de Mayo is observed in the U.S. and in other countries as a celebration of heritage and pride. Cinco de Mayo IS NOT Mexico's independence day as most believe...Mexico's independence day is September 16th....the most important national patriotic day in Mexico. Join in the celebration by clicking on link below for some fabulous Mexican dishes.

http://www.ajc.com/eveningedge/content/eveningedge/stories/cinco_de_mayo_recipes.html

FASHION: OLD IS NEW

AMERICAN APPAREL HAS A NEW WAY FOR YOU TO ACQUIRE VINTAGE FINDS. CALIFORNIA SELECT IS UNIQUE CONCEPT CREATED BY AMERICAN APPAREL. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE STORES OPEN IN LA, NYC, BERLIN, CALGARY, & MEXICO CITY WITH MORE STORES TO COME. IF YOU WANT TO BID ON OR VIEW SOME OF THE VINTAGE PIECES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD VISIT THEIR EBAY STORE @ http://stores.ebay.com/California-Select & BID ON YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OR PIECES. HAPPY BIDDING. (image from california select ebay store website)

FASHION: HIGH & LOW

TARGET IS AT IT AGAIN...ROGAN IS THE NEXT FEATURED DESIGNER. TAKE A LOOK AT AN INTERVIEW DONE BY BARNEYS SIMON DOONAN... http://www.barneys.com/b/browse/category.s?categoryId=485824&CMP=EMC-WS1600780658

CULTURE: MOTHER'S DAY

MOTHER'S DAY IS MAY 11TH, UNSURE WHAT TO GET MOM? I SNAPPED SOME SHOTS OF THE PERFECT MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS. FOR THE FASHIONISTA SELECT; THE GAP COVERED SNAP BUTTON CARDIGAN $59.50, CAPARICA PRINT J CREW T-SHIRT $36.50, YELLOW THICK BRAIDED BELT $34.99 BANANA REPUBLIC OUTLET, BEADED FLAT SANDALS $19.50 OLDNAVY, WOODEN HANDLE CLUTCH $19.50 OLDNAVY, OR THE BEADED DROP EARRINGS $18.00 ANTROPOLOGIE. DO YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE MOM? THEN PICK UP A IPOD SHUFFLE $48, IN HER FAVORITE COLOR. FOR THE MOM WHO WOULD LOVE ANYTHING YOU GIVE HER OPT FOR THE; BIRD STATIONARY $10 ANTHROPOLOGIE, LETTER SET $10 BORDERS, JOURNAL $3 MARSHALLS, CAN OF TEA $5 TJMAXX, MUG W/NOTEPAD & PEN $8 TJMAXX, SOY CANISTER CANDLE $6 URBAN OUTFITTERS, OR THE BEAUTIFUL DAMASK FRAME $26 ANTHROPOLGIE. ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE IN STORES NOW, SO HURRY BEFORE THEY'RE GONE! (CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR A CLOSER & BIGGER IMAGE)