Sleep, Glorious Sleep!!!

I've always had sleeping issues (ok, it's a mild version of insomnia), but these last few months were absolutely unbearable. I couldn't stop tossing and turning and I hated feeling that subtle dip in my mattress. My uncomfortable bed was so bad that I actually fell out of it in my sleep! Guess, my body said enough is enough!

So since I couldn't sleep, I started surfing the net for the perfect mattress. I spent endless hours reading mattress reviews, comparing prices and even trying beds at stores like Sleepy's where I was coaxed into taking a mattress test and then trying a series of beds with a pillow (I was told I had to use one of their pillows to truly mimic sleeping) that I feared one too many people had used and had more germs than a port-a-potty!

Eventually, I narrowed it down to two relatively new mattress companies - Keetsa (prides themselves on being eco-friendly and affordable) and Saatva (prides themselves on making luxury mattresses at relatively affordable prices). The prices were similar for what I needed, but I could only try the Keetsa mattress (they have a store in SoHo). I spent a while at the store and really liked their mattresses and marketing campaign, but it wasn't true love. And, if I didn't like their mattress (after spending $1k), I had to wait a minimum of 30 days to return it and would have to pay a restocking fee (25% of the purchase price).

Saatva, on the other hand, only sells online but offers free shipping and a 100% refund if you want to return the mattress within the first 30 days... They also let people know that their beds are used and approved by the Healthbridge Sleep Clinic! I couldn't find a sleep expert's stamp of approval on the Keetsa site (that doesn't mean it doesn't exist - I just couldn't find it), but they did have plenty of reviews (mostly very good) on yelp!

After weighing the pros and cons, I bit the bullet and ordered a "luxury firm" mattress from Saatva. My rationale was if I didn't like it, I wouldn't loose a dime by returning it. And, I also wouldn't have to worry how I was going to get the mattress back to the store without spending more money.

One month into sleeping on my Saatva mattress, I know I made the right choice. I'm not falling out of my bed and my back doesn't hurt when I wake up. I also like so many other things about the company - it's commitment to being green, all mattresses are made in the USA and pride in great customer service!

If you want to sleep like a baby and not worry about making a massive dent in your wallet, check out Saatva. As for Keetsa, a friend owns one of their mattresses and he loves it..

Amazing Story! This Young Man Gives Me Hope for the Future

Boy, 9, stages own protest of Westboro Baptist protesters | The Augusta Chronicle


With his simple statement hastily written on notebook paper, this young man challenged a movement of hate... And I believe he won the battle!

A Little Birdy Told Me...

His plumes are all the rage these days...

Granted, I'm deathly scared of birds, but I do appreciate their feathers (pillows, comforters, yeti parkas et al) and love deviled eggs. So, I must admit the recent feather craze has me rethinking my relationship with birds. I mean how many species in this world offer you warmth, eggs, soft beds and amazing color combinations? So in honor of the bird, here are some lovely examples of plumage-inspired designs:

Wilfredo Rosado - I can only dream of one day owning this BLACK SWAN STUNNER... In the meantime I'll continue to drool. And for full disclosure, I looove this designer - everything about him is amazing. Total crush!

Deepa Gurani - This crystal feather headband strikes the perfect elegant balance between trendy and timeless. GOR-GE-OUS!!!

Heltmut Lang's black feather-embellished sheath dress. Soooo ELEGANT! Soooo SEXY! Sooo TIMELESS! I feel like Bruno from Dancing with the Stars when describing this dress. I just want to jump out of my seat and scream THANK YOU, HELMUT!!! This dress can be worn by almost anyone at nearly any age. DANKE, HL! And Thank You, Net-a-Porter for selling this knockout.

Spring for Color!!!

Spring is really here in NYC!!! The flowers are blooming... Everyone is wearing color (or at least a touch of it in a city known for its black-clad citizens)... And there are non-stop allergy woes!

So, here are a few recommendations to make you smile through your day of sneezing, sniffling, coughing, itching, etc:

C. Wonder's Smiley Mugs - I mentioned it in my last post, but I had to mention them again. It's always nice to see a smile and spread the wealth. Hence these Smiley Mugs that show a smile every time you bring your drink to your lips!

BLUES by kyky (for full disclosure I've been working with them on a freelance basis, but that doesn't make me bias when it comes to this super cute tote). I am always on the lookout for an affordable chic tote (other than ones from Longchamp or Herve Chapelier, which are great). I'm waiting for my next paycheck to buy one of these sweet shoulder bags...  I love the orange and green ones, and they are available in a ton of colors and prints. You can order them through BLUES' site .

Superga sneakers - Loooove these sneakers in so many fun colors. Been wearing them since the 1990s when I noticed every cool girl in Paris and Florence wearing these simple sneaks. I never could wear Converse Chuck Taylors (felt like I had clown feet), but these canvas numbers were perfect! Love the lemon color :-)

PRESH by Nicole Apostoli bracelets - These sparkly delights add a touch of toughness and sweetness to your day. I already have two of them, and hope to purchase more. There are many designers making similar bracelets, but I really like these because I find them more fun than flashy and not super-trashy.

The Anti-Socialite Delight!

If you live in New York City or follow the gossip columns, you've probably read about the very nasty parting of wealth and vows between Chris and Tory Burch. 

It is well known that Chris Burch helped his young and "perfectly perfect" wife build her incredible Tory Burch empire. But according to a recent NY Magazine article, while Chris was helping his wife, he was also nurturing his own brand of women's clothing and accessories called C. Wonder.

Well, I'm not a socialite and really don't care about labels, so I'm not going to worry about buying something anti-Tory. However I do love adorable things, which C. Wonder offers in a delightful array of colors and collections. C. Wonder is truly wonderful!!!

Now I shouldn't be giving this secret away (since I have yet to get my fill), but CWonder.com has an incredible sale going on (up to 50% off) and has some great offerings. I love the smiley mugs, bracelets and basics. I tend to shy away from anything with a monogram or loud label, so you won't find me buying "C" belts, tops or totes... But I am definitely going to snag me some colorful smiley mugs :-)

Happy Shopping!

Innocent and Damaged

I just came across this Associated Press article in today's New York Daily News. If you care about children, our society and our future, you will want to read this story. Here's the link and headline: Suburban House of Horrors; 11 children removed from sex offender's home after some were found tied to beds

I don't want to give too much away, but I will say I'm glad Child Protective Services exists (no matter how many problems plague these government departments, we should at least acknowledge that when they do their job, children can be saved). We hear the horrors CPS find, but rarely do we learn about how they rehabilitate and nurture grossly abused children. It's a question I constantly ask when I read stories like this one. Unfortunately, many media outlets only report on the immediate social issues/news, but rarely do they offer a series of follow-up reports on what happens next or offer suggestions on what we the people can do to help these innocent victims.

I say we need more follow-through stories! Any takers on this idea?


Here's an old picture of me dressed as a Vietnamese orphan for a TV-movie based on my orphanage. It's the most relatable image for this story that I could find (in my vast collection of photos)...

Promoting a Pet's Paradise in a Fast-Paced City

I've been a bit busy these past few weeks helping a friend create some web pages for her business. It's been fun, challenging (I'm new to web page development), and I hope will bring me some good pet karma! One reason why I think there is some good pet karma involved is because my friend's pet store does a lot of great things for pets. For instance, they sponsor a dog adoption day every Sunday; they offer training and educational seminars for pet parents; the proceeds from their park passes go to pet charities; and more (I can't keep up with all the stuff she does)... Ok, so where is this place?

My friend's business is based in Hong Kong and called Whiskers N Paws. It's a really cool store and offers more products, perks and personality than almost any pet store I have ever visited. And I'm not saying that because it's my friend's store. I'm saying it because it really has amazing pet toys, gadgets, food, and get this: A MASSIVE OUTDOOR DOG PARK on the 10th floor (it's called the Bark Park on 10)! It is just too cool and I wish we had one in NYC. Imagine being able to let your dog loose while you have a nice place to sit and relax. And since the store kindly enforces "Poop Pick-Up and Pee Mop policies," the place is always clean and you don't have to worry about all those horrible germs that lurk in dog parks (ask any pooch pro, and they'll tell you to stay far from dog parks).

So, if you are ever in Hong Kong and you want to see what a Dog Park in the Sky looks like, you definitely  should visit Whiskers N Paws. Check out the store's Facebook page to learn more and become a fan. You'll be able to see all the great cat and dog pics - definitely will make you smile.

And if you are visiting or living in Hong Kong and want to do some pet shopping, definitely head out to WNP at Horizon Plaza, which is also considered the best place for Designer Outlet Shopping in HK! Oh, and there's a Ferrari dealership there, too :-)

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WhiskersNPaws?sk=app_106171216118819
Website: http://www.wnp.com.hk/

P.S. Here are some pictures I took. Def, not professional, but you get the idea. I went to WNP while they were having a store blessing party - very cool. So if you wonder why it looks empty, it's because they were celebrating the store's expansion and sending good vibes to pet store gods...