Anthropologie goes Cirque!

I was so excited to go to my mailbox today and find the February Anthropologie catalog. Always a treat! I'm going crazy over it since it's a circus theme. I recently blogged about the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas "Cirque" decor, now here it is in Anthropologie, but with apparel. What a brilliant team of people at Anthro. Always in for a surprise and never disappoints!

the catalog cover -- LOVE it!

Looks like stripes are back, and ruffles are here to stay for awhile with these fun tops...


Whimsical shoes with names like, 'Intermission Heels', 'Acrobatic Wedges', and 'Come One Come All', it's sounding like a circus!

Love the "Santa Clara Clutch." Painted ponies spin 'round and 'round atop this slim leather purse, inviting you to store tickets stubs and circus peanuts in its confines.



So stop clowning around and go visit The Greatest Show on Earth at Anthropologie! See the entire line of new arrivals and even flip through the catalog!

photos from Anthropologie

Thank you and Dungeness Crab...

It's been one of those dreary days outside, putting me into one of those "deep thinking" modes. I think you can relate to this kind of day. The kind when something is just gnawing at you.

I was pondering...what is happening to the Art of Gratitude? The lost art of letter writing? If a gift is given, or a kind act is bestowed, isn't it important to recognize the thoughtfulness of the giver with a short note of appreciation, or at the very least, a phone call or email?


One of my favorite stories is about a family friend, (let's call her "Mildred"), sending fresh Dungeness crab every year to some members of my family back east (let's call them "the Smiths"). Every year it was the same, Mildred sent the box of fresh crab and never received a thank you or acknowledgment from the Smiths. Year after year Mildred wondered if the Smiths had received the crab. When finally asked by another family member, Mrs. Smith replied, "If someone gives something with the expectation of a thank you, they shouldn't give it. I just don't have the time to reply. We have such a busy life." Well, I hope you know how the story ends. Mildred never sent the crab again.

Perhaps I'm from an older generation that were taught since childhood to send thank you notes for gifts we received, or call someone to thank them for the dinner party we attended the previous night. I still think it's the right thing to do. It only takes a moment. And, how many times do we get disappointed when someone doesn't acknowledge something we've done, even though we're not doing it to get something back in return?

Okay, I'll get off of my soap box now. Promise. Let me sign off by giving you a BIG THANK YOU for reading my blog, leaving comments when I may not have time to reciprocate (I hope I'm not sounding like Mrs. Smith), and sharing your stories. I'm already starting to feel brighter!

Have a great weekend!

photo credit 1. Darwin Bell, 2. Taste SF

VFM platform Leonard chose SLH manage and distribute images of over 500 hotels-hotel

VFM platform Leonard chose SLH manage and distribute images of over 500 hotels, whose name is also the exclusive provider of rich media distribution services for a hotel SLH.-hotel



VFM Leonardo, the leader in online distribution of visual content for hotels, today announced that Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) VScape adopted (R) digital asset management system. SLH, a brand more than 500 hotels in over 70 countries, the Enterprise version VScape used to manage photos for distribution to hotels and VNetwork (TM), formats and delivery methods are needed.
VNetwork is the largest distribution network of Internet content to the Visual travel industry and includes all four GDS and Pegasus and thousands of third-party sites and channels, including Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, TripAdvisor, and, as such, Images Hotel SLH reach as many sites related to travel buyers, in light of a single hotel with a site on a site that offers affordable prices.
"SLH visual and an important part of customer experience, allowing users to see what makes this hotel unique, based on experience of luxury that offer more than this book. VFM Leonardo will help us make our hotels offer images are still available and updated using the Web sites of clients in the choice of hotel, "said Paul Kerr, CEO of Small Luxury Hotels of the world.
SLH also selected and approved by VFM Leonardo, the exclusive provider of rich media to their property. Various properties of SLH to solve their presence on the travel sites to distribute their photos and multimedia display multimedia VNetwork VFM Leonard VBrochure online merchandising system that is fully integrated into the West VScape strengthened.
"We call on the hotels on the video and virtual tours of goods, using their best online hotel discount. VFM Leonard VBrochure on-line merchandising system allows us to distinguish between customers and travel to the hotel with a stimulating effect visual, "says Kerr. "We are pleased to SLH contributed to improving the online visual representation of the hotel. In the era of digital technology, but consumers do their shopping at several places in the hotels that stand out, and report on a stimulating experience. We believe that greater exposure to online content SLH VR at home and lead to more revenue can be used, "said Paolo Boni, President & CEO, VFM Leonardo.
About Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (TM) (SLH) brand is a unique portfolio of some of the best in the world of small, independent hotels. With more than 500 hotels in over 70 countries, the diversity of individual hotels, and the experience they offer is exceptional. From the modern design hotel for the houses, the palaces of the 17th century, the temples of the city of islands, historic home in the idyllic resort offers a Small Luxury Hotels of the world for the better. Reservations can be made at any Small Luxury Hotels of the World in property www.slh.com. Travel agents need only luxury GDS code LX.

About VFM Leonardo
VFM Leonardo is the leader in content management and Internet transmission of audio-visual aids. VScape VFM Leonardo da Vinci (R) and VBrochure (TM), uses the distribution possibilities VNetwork (TM), generally accepted as the largest network of online distribution of visual content for the global travel industry, including all four Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and Pegasus-travel-related channels, including online travel agencies, research and websites of travel suppliers, search portals and travel agencies more important. VFM Leonardo Hotel offers systems industry more efficient management of digital resources and merchandise are now available online and provides more efficient 1000000 (photos photos, virtual tours and videos) are more than 30,000 channels of travel websites including which VNetwork Amadeus Galileo, Saber, Worldspan, Pegasus, Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, TripAdvisor, Yahoo! Travel, kayak, Google and more than 90,000 hotels around the world. Visit for more information on Leonardo www.vfmleonardo.com VFM . Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com / VFMLeonardo.

Media Contact:
Julie Vieth
Toll free: 1-877-593-6634
Phone: 416-263-5446
Fax: 416-593-7572
E-mail: press@vfmleonardo.com

The Most Beautiful Jewelry Store in the World

I just love vintage postcards. Especially the brilliant old linen ones. There's nothing like the old color and detail of these cards.

I recently purchased this postcard at the Vintage Paper Faire in San Francisco. It was from "A. Andrews' Diamond Palace" in San Francisco, a shop that existed turn of the 19th century. As far as postcards go, it was sort of on the costly side, but it's just beautiful.

From here. "Like the fine diamonds and beautiful pocket watches he sold, his store was no less spectacular. Located at 50 Kearny Street, a landmark was built. Beautiful paintings adorned the tall ceilings supported by marvelous pillars. Mirrors were everywhere, reflecting the elegance of the display cases that were filled with only the finest articles of adornment that had been procured form the four corners of the world."

Wish there was a diamond palace like this now!

The Perfect Fried Rice

I have finally perfected my quest for the perfect home cooked fried rice! Okay, before all you Asian's start comparing my fried rice with your grandma's recipe from the Ming Dynasty - this is my version - and in my humble opinion, a pretty darn good one. I usually make my fried rice by sauteing day-old white rice with garlic and onions and then incorporating all the colorful ingredients like carrots, spring onions and anything else I have in the fridge that looks good.

A French chef, Jean Georges Vongerichten, of all people, inspired this bowl of Asian goodness. Chef Jean Georges' version is so pure in it's simplicity, adding anything else to the leeks, crispy garlic and ginger is pretty close to committing a culinary mortal sin - unless of course, you're Asian - and the temptation of adding one (or two) more ingredients to help bring back one's childhood days - is a temptation too good to pass up. So here it is, the Perfect Fried Rice according to Jean Georges and George.

Saute the garlic and ginger until crisp and brown. Pat dry with a paper towel and set aside.

On a separate pan, saute the leeks until soft.

Add the day-old rice to the leeks. Add soy sauce, sesame oil and salt to taste. Done! Place the rice in a bowl and top with the crispy garlic and ginger. And don't forget the fried egg to top off the dish. This is the Jean Georges' way.

For Chinese style, add some sauteed Chinese sausage which is absolutely a delicious ingredient.

Or for Filipino style, shred your left over chicken adobo (chicken cooked in garlic, bay leaves, soy sauce and vinegar) pieces and fry until crisp. The adobo flakes add a different dimension and texture to the fried rice plus it looks great on the plate.

So here is the evolution of the perfect fried rice. Let me know which one you like the best:

The Classic Jean Georges

The Filipino Fried Rice with Adobo Flakes

The French, Filipino & Chinese Fusion Fried Rice

 And the Classic George Fried Rice with all of the above and a perfectly cooked fried egg.

American Pickers

I just finished watching "American Pickers" on the History Channel. I missed the premiere last week. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, a duo of antiques dealers and treasure hunters, are on a labor of love mission to recycle America's past. They dig through junk piles, abandoned barns and basements for hidden memorabilia. Kind of like the antiques roadshow, but a much funkier travel version.

I'm not quite sure if I like the show or not. Perhaps I need to see some more episodes. Has anyone seen it yet? What do you think?

I appreciate the History Channel's new “National Treasures” programming genre in which relics belonging to everyday people tell a history of America.

American Pickers airs Monday evenings on the History Channel. Check your local station (if in the US) for times, and let me know what you think!

A Perfect Weekend Meal - Korean BBQ

My family finished off our week of home cooked meals with Korean bulgogi. With a portable burner and an Asian hot plate in the middle of the table, we all participated in the fun sport of table side barbecuing. It is so much fun to see your food cook in front of you - and trust me when I tell you that your kids will cherish these kind of meals at home.

I also made some lumpiang Shanghai (thin egg rolls), sauteed Korean-spiced okra, green beans and garlic rice. We engaged in discussion about the kids' childhood memories which concluded with our movie night of old family movies and a million shared laughs about the joys of being a family.

Pretties...

Ha Ha! Surprise! I'm dating myself, but did any of you use to paint rocks in the 19**'s? I stumbled upon these going through my grandmother's house, and I can honestly say that art was not, and is still not one of my strong suits!

Look at this pretty rock (above) that my cousin painted. Now there's some talent.

So... no more lady bugs, feet or finger rock painting for me. That career is way over!

photo credit: me. If you must, feel free to share on any site you'd like.

Friday Dinner: Vietnamese Pho

There's nothing better than a bowl of pho and my family will attest to that. The aroma of star anise, cinnamon, ginger, lime and home made stock is extremely satisfying. I made the chicken stock the night before to allow the fat to rise to the top and solidify inside the refrigerator. Then last evening, I simply separated the fat and reheated the stock with the aforementioned ingredients. In less than an hour, I have this gorgeous soup. I added cooked rice noodles, bean sprouts, shredded chicken (from chicken used to cook the stock), cilantro and a squeeze of lime. My wife said that it was the best pho I've ever made because of its nice balance of flavors. Enough said.

Check my previous blog entry for the recipe.

Hotel Montana news update-Battle in Hotel Montana-hotel

hotel montana Haiti Port-au-Prince, on tv

Hotel Montana news update-Battle in Hotel Montana-hotel

Today our journey took us to the famous Hotel Montana, once considered one of the best hotels in the world. Only ten minutes from downtown Port-au-Prince, on the busy streets of the Haitian capital, hundreds thought dead in his crumpled walls. When we approached the hill, the smell of death hung in the air. There was no protection for the smell of corpses buried under the rubble. Family members gathered at the steel door, tall with barbed wire. UN troops conducted door to the compound, as if it were a prison, rather than the rent and face. We have said from the stage of a commander Rodrigo Vazquez UN personnel, which allows our cameras to give the first in a week, the hotel was freezing contacts with the media after the earthquake. E 'became clear that relief efforts had been slow in the absence of heavy equipment for search and rescue assistance. Crane has been placed in a hotel on private charity available. This morning, the wife of Chilean General of the United Nations pulls the lifeless body of rubble. The American observer, who came to oversee the operations of search and rescue, the family, not enough has been done for their loved ones is quoted said that the Chilean armed forces are not focusing on the priorities save all lives. He said the armed forces of the United States only to save the life of education of women is concerned. The only thing that was obvious to this observer that the workers are tired and do everything possible to find survivors. However, with 6 floors and is located at the top of each other and with another copy of this morning, only garbage seal Crushed In addition, hope is fading at the Hotel Montana.

Are you adding a note or a person?

Hotel Montana Haiti, Port-au-Prince Google Earth
Copie écran 20h France2

ดูแผนที่ขนาดใหญ่ขึ้น

Happy Weekend!

From my city to yours!

photo from here

Thursday Dinner - Eggplant Lasagna

My wife comes from a family of fantastic Italian cooks. Her grandma, Celia, made the best sauteed sweet peppers in the world. Her father, Domenic, has such good instincts for cooking that everything he makes just taste impeccably perfect. From his leg of lamb every Thanksgiving to his green beans smothered in his homemade tomato sauce. Because of my wife's family affiliation, I have learned to hold up my end of the bargain with my Italian dishes. I must say that I make a pretty mean arrabiata sauce.

I made an eggplant lasagna this evening which my family truly enjoyed. My eldest daughter, Margaux, actually had second helpings. I started the dish by making a ragu of beef with celery, onions, peppers, garlic, carrots, red pepper flakes, basil, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. I layered the sliced eggplant, ragu and mozzarella in a baking dish and baked it for about 30 minutes. The end result is a pleasant, hearty meal for a cold winter's night.

Wednesday Dinner - Lettuce Wraps

A wonderful alternative to the fried egg roll is the lettuce wrap. My kids love the interactive nature of scooping the meat, placing it in the pocket of the lettuce and dropping this bulb of goodness in their little mouths. I love to use ground turkey for my stuffing because turkey soaks up all the flavors of the accompanying ingredients such as ginger, garlic, onion, soy sauce, sweet chili and cilantro. It's so easy to prepare and makes for a perfect and easy dish on a busy activity night for the kids.

Insanely Fun Pillows!

So... I'm reading The Bedlam of Beefy's blog (aka Uncle Beefy), and I stumble upon these whimsical pillows from Bonjour Mon Coussin. Stopped me in my tracks! Leave it to the French to create something so fun. Wish I had a spot for one.


You have the "yummy theme" series...
The "type theme" series...
The "vintage theme" series...
And so much more! Check out their site here for all of their designs...

photos from Bonjour Mon Coussin