Need a Read?

When the sunlight starts to fade and the chilly nights begin, I can think of nothing more enjoyable than reading a great book while bundled up in blankets and sipping my favorite cinnamon tea. If you enjoy reading as much as I do, here are some book suggestions:

The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail - But Some Don't by Nate Silver
I love Nate's logic, writing style and his curiosity. If you were a fan of his election coverage on his FiveThirtyEight.com blog, then you will truly enjoy Nate's new book. For full disclosure, Nate is a dear friend and someone I greatly admire.

The Orphan Master's Son: A Novel by Adam Johnson

It's hard to explain this very interesting tale about an orphan's fantastical and ambiguous (in more ways than one) life in North Korea. It is very entertaining though may feel/seem uneven or unexplainable at times.

The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream by Patrick Radden Keefe
Fascinating, deeply entertaining and non-fiction! If you've ever been curious about Chinatown or human smuggling, this is a must read. 

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

If you're an Anglophile or enjoy an unusual love story, this book is for you. I absolutely adore this story and hope they turn this into a movie starring Sean Connery!

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert Masse
Robert Masse is one of my all-time favorite biographers and his biography on Catherine the Great does not disappoint. This is a wonderfully researched book and completely engrossing.

Then They Came for Me by Mazihar Bahari
A first-hand account of a journalist covering the Velvet Revolution and sent to prison in Iran. Very compelling and offers readers an unique view on how the Iranian government works.

Gabriella, Clove and Cinnamon by Jorge Amado
This is an oldie, but goodie. A wonderfully intoxicating and complex story that takes place in Bahia, Brazil. Simply sublime.

The Harafish by Naguib Mahfouz
This book introduced me to Naguib Mahfouz and to the amazing maze of Egyptian life and fantasy. It's a hidden gem among Mahfouz's collection of brilliant novels.

A Gadget Lover's Dream: Quirky.com

Ever wish you were James Bond and had your very own Q to create extremely unique, functional and stylish gadgets for your everyday needs? You probably don't need a tricked out Aston Martin, poison dart pens or frames with laser beams, but you may need a contraption to keep your cords neat and tangle free or a mouse pad that doubles as a writing pad or a flexible power strip. Well, Quirky.com has these cool gadgets and more!

And if they don't have your dream gadget, you can create one with them! Quirky.com allows you to submit ideas and then get all the development support you need! I am oversimplifying here, but that is the general idea. In summary, this site is a gadget lover's dream come true. And if you or your gadget loving friend are just bursting with ideas, you may want to consider becoming a Quirky Pro member...

If you're looking for a unique gift or want to become the next Q, check out Quirky.com. I already have a couple of products on my wish list and some ideas ready to submit....

Kapra Hiska, Part Deux

Did the last Kapra Hiska post raise your blood pressure or make your fashion antennae go a bit nuts?
Can't wait until your next trip to Paris or when Kapra Hiska launches their website? Email them at kaprahiska@gmail.com, and you'll be able to see images from their latest collection of AIR Scarves and sweaters. They did send their brochure, which I've put on this Kapra Hiska Brochure Page.

Until then.... Whet your appetite with an image from their Fall 2012 collection, which was inspired by the nomadic spirit and nature.

Madonna famously wore a t-shirt declaring "Italians Do It Better," but I have to disagree when it comes to featherweight cashmere scarves and sumptuous cashmere sweaters...

Kapra Hiska Does It Best! 

Kapra Hiska Fall 2012 AIR Scarves & Sweaters for men & women

Paris Shopping: Kapra Hiska

Fall is almost here, and it's time to break out your favorite cool weather accessories! Oh no, what is that you see? A hole in your stole? An unraveling knit? Cashmere pilling not worth shearing? What to do? Where to go? There are stores for restoring, but there are also stores for exploring... And I enjoy the latter. I love seeing the latest colors, textures, fabrics and styles the new season offers. One store I wish I could visit this very moment is Kapra Hiska located in my favorite area of Paris - Le Marais. 

What is Kapra Hiska? It's simply the best cashmere store I have ever visited. Their scarves are simply sublime -- light, airy and drenched in color. The first time I felt one of their scarves, I thought I was touching the rare (and illegal) shahtoosh (the ultra-fine cashmere once prized by Persian princes for its warmth and ability to slip through a ring). The owner promised me the cashmere was not shahtoosh, but a very refined cashmere from Mongolia!

Indescribable softness, gorgeous colors and light as air -- what more could you want from a cashmere scarf? How about a great price? Say half of the price of an iPhone 5! And when your iPhone bites the dust, this scarf will still be with you. A great investment and well worth a trip to Le Marais when you're in Paris.

P.S. I believe the store is relatively new (so new I could not find a website, just a Facebook page), so I am unsure of its capabilities of selling outside of the EU. However, email them to see if they can or where they may be sold outside of Paris. Their email is kaprahiska@gmail.com .

Kapra Hiska, 43 rue de Turenne, Le Marais, Paris

Here are some images from their 2012 Look Book:

 

Psy - The Perfect Blend of Humor and Music

If you haven't already seen or heard the music video "Gangnam Style" by the South Korean artist Psy, you must! With close to 200 million YouTube hits, appearances on Good Morning America, the Today Show and Saturday Night Live, Psy and his Gangnam Style song are an international hit and breaking music firsts left and right!

Gangnam Style is the perfect blend of humor and music, which proves that these two attributes are universal keys to connecting with others. The video is deliciously tongue-and-cheek (I'm a sucker for kids dancing, and that little man in his wife beater and red track pants is just amazing). The beat is infectious and the moves are just hilarious, which can be done by anyone anyone.

What does the song mean? Kinda irrelevant since the message of the music and video is to just have fun (at least to me) and to not take life too seriously (a reminder we need in today's turbulent world). However, if you really want to know what Psy is saying, here is a link to UpRoxx, which has the entire song translated. Too tired to know? Well, just sit back, watch, smile, nod your head, tap your feet or fingers, and ENJOY!!!!

Look Rich in Jewel Tones

Fall fashions are here, and I absolutely love the season's trend for gorgeous jewel tones. Why colors and not the interesting silhouettes, ornate brocades, metallic sheen, floral jeans etc? Well, with a color palette I don't have to spend a fortune on buying a new wardrobe. And in this economy I must maximize what I have in my closet without looking like a has-been or a dated doll. So, how do I do that? Accessorize!!!

With a classic wardrobe of neutral colors and simple silhouettes, all I need are some eye-catching accessories. So, here is my dream list of shoes and handbags that I believe can turn my ho-hum classics into luxe looks (I'm going to use Bloomingdale's as my one-stop shopping store since they have a wide selection of accessories at various price points).
     
Flats: I admit that I've slowly become a fan of the smoking shoe. There is something very chic about them (as long as they don't look like they only belong at someone's bedside).  These hunter green and gold darlings look absolutely divine! Via Spiga Smoking Flats

   
Pumps: Who hasn't dreamed of owning a pair of Ruby Red shoes a la Dorthy?  Cole Haan Chelsea Platforms


Boots: Corso Como makes incredibly comfortable shoes and their styles are always on trend without being overtly trendy. This boot can be worn with just about anything (even though it's not a jewel tone, you could wear colorful stockings for a bit of playfulness). Corso Como Doyle Wedge

Handbag: My favorite handbag style is the hobo, and Marc by Marc Jacobs owns this style. This peacock color is bright enough to beguile without screaming for attention. Marc by Marc Jacobs Hobo

Handbag: I love this gorgeous eggplant color with the gold accents. The versatility of the bag is wonderful, too. Lastly, how can you not love this designer? Classic, cool and fun!
Anya Hindmarch Crossbody

A New Beauty Blog

I admit that I have always been a bit crazy for cosmetics, and am constantly searching for the latest and greatest. Sometimes my beauty hunts have been very fatiguing and overwhelming...

So to cut down on my runaround time, I've turned to beauty blogs, which have definitely been helpful but not always very efficient . Since I have yet to find the perfect beauty blog for me - meaning that it's clean, clear and concise, I've decided to create my own. I don't have cute or how-to videos, color swatches on skin, cute images or smatterings of DIY tips. However, I do cover the latest beauty buzz, product launches and how well these products work on me... So, if you're interested in beauty products and looking for less clutter and more content, please check out www.pinchyourcheeks.com

Here is a picture of Paris' famed Galeries Lafayette department store's beauty section, which I enjoyed earlier this year (though I was spent after a few hours of smelling, testing and browsing).

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...

Wanted: Public Toilet Room Etiquette

How many times have you been disgusted when entering a public toilet room?  Pee on the seat... Pieces of excrement floating in the toilet... Traces of menstrual blood in stalls... Unflushed (is that even a word?) and used toilet bowls... The most god-awful smells and more...

According to the Daily Mail, one university is trying to train their young and foreign students how to properly use restrooms. I like how this university is trying to do damage control, but I fear they shouldn't just be targeting those used to squatting - they should be targeting every selfish and lazy person who doesn't care about their WC comrades...

Should there be some sort of international policy when it comes to using public facilities? Should we have  Pee Police Patrol? Well, it doesn't exist now, but maybe the world should take a cue from Singapore with at least posting how to keep the toilets clean:

Ummm.... Not Yummmm - Elephant Sashimi

The Associated Press just released a very disturbing and distressing article about elephant sashimi. Yup, elephant meat! Where can someone find elephant meat on the menu? Phuket, Thailand!!! Elephants are already an endangered species (according to the Asian Elephant Foundation, the Asian elephant population has declined 90 percent over the last century). I thought poachers killed elephants for their tusks, not their trunks and sex organs (as the article discusses). Little did I know...

And Thailand is not the only country combating pachyderm poaching. Indonesia may soon loose the Sumatran elephant. The World Wildlife Fund has moved the Sumatran elephant from the endangered list to the CRITICALLY ENDANGERED list! And throughout the African continent, elephant populations are still in danger.

If you care about keeping these gentle giants alive for another 100 years, check these websites out to see how you can support and protect elephants.

The Asian Elephant Foundation http://www.theasianelephantfoundation.org/
Save the Elephants http://www.savetheelephants.org/home.html
Wildlife Conservation Society http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/elephants/asian-elephant.aspx
World Wildlife Fund http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/elephants/elephants.html

We have revered the elephant for centuries, let's make sure we can continue to appreciate these wonderful mammals for years to come.

Locals of Ubud, Bali preparing for a festival at the Elephant Temple

What Will The Year of the Dragon Bring?

January 23rd is the beginning of the new year in the Chinese lunar calendar. And this Chinese New Year is all about the Dragon making things happen. According to Chinese lore, The Year of the Dragon is the year to conceive new life. And the Chinese are wasting no time in finding Hollywood partners to develop new projects (some directors, producers and writers call their entertainment endeavors their babies). So without further discussion, here is a great Financial Times article about Chinese investors in Hollywood.

I personally see a great future between Chinese and American production houses/investors moving into internet entertainment and producing some great shows and movies for internet channels like Hulu.

Oh, and if you were expecting an astrological chart or some background on this new year, here are some links to help you learn about Chinese New Year and this one in particular:


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/01/22/f-year-of-the-dragon.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16652555

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2012ChineseHoroscope.htm

And this is just cool... A double rainbow (which means good luck) in Singapore on the first day of the Dragon! http://www.asiaone.com/static/multimedia/gallery/120122_rainbow/

Do You Know About the Ballona Wetlands?

Turns out the Ballona Wetlands are in Southern California, and once included Marina Del Rey and Venice Beach! I didn't know that, and I spent part of my childhood in Southern California, and quite a bit of it at Marina Del Rey. I always thought most of SoCal was once desert before development. Perhaps I'm just ignorant. But if you didn't know this, too, and would like to learn more, take a look at this article from the Los Angeles Times about restoring the last vestiges of SoCal's wetlands.

Btw, I love the LA Times. They sometimes have great articles, and their in-depth reports and investigative series are wonderful. Here's a recent one about a new challenge facing Death Valley Students.

Be Silent, Or Pay Up

Think really hard to the year 1992... Remember anything different about dinners and dates? Can you hear it now? It's phone silence... Once upon a time we didn't worry about emails, text messages and phone calls during a night out. It just didn't happen. And if there was a phone call, it was most likely urgent. Fast forward 20 years, and everything seems urgent to us - especially when we're out to dinner and not in front of a TV or computer. Or perhaps we just have tech-induced ADD. Well, here's an article from the New York Daily News about one man's plan on how to reverse the trend. Let's get real - the 90s are cool again! :-)

Must Read - Latino Voters

I've been following this topic for some time, and I'm very interested how it will play out this election season. Here is an AP article about the Latino vote, which is really interesting.

Sunday Reading

Did you know the US is pulling out thousands of troops from Europe? Perhaps I'm very ill-informed, but I've only read about troop pullouts in the Middle East. Here's an interesting article from Der Speigel titled Thousands of US Soldiers Set to Leave Europe.


This is a great little Washington Post blog about Ann Romney, who may just be the next FLOTUS. Did you know that Mrs. Romney suffers from MS and is a breast cancer survivor?

Great New York Times article about the 1 percent today.

Do you love the great outdoors? I do, and I'm very sad to learn about potential state park closings in California. Check out this Patch.com article. 

And for all you Kindle lovers, here are a couple of links to help you either borrow e-books from Amazon Kindle (if you're a Prime member) and borrow e-books from your public library. And if you don't have a Kindle, but do have an e-reader, you can still borrow plenty of books from your local library!Just contact your local library to find out how to do it. Lastly, if you've ever wanted to print a page or more from your e-book, but don't know how to (or have hit the publisher's limit), check out this site that gives you software to convert your e-book into a PDF. I love e-books. And I love borrowing - cuts down on my reading spending as well as not turning my apt into a spinoff of the Collyer Brothers!

Motivation

Just watched an incredible documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. It was absolutely inspiring and very touching. I highly recommend watching it if you are interested in doing a juice cleanse or just want to see how two men changed their lives. And if you need motivation on eating right and taking care of yourself, this documentary will definitely do that. I am now determined to eat more veggies and fruit :-)

What Is Yoga?

Love this New York Times discussion on yoga. Did you know that helping someone else is considered yoga??? Very enlightening debate :-)

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

Yes, Ren & Stimpy made me laugh...

The good news today is everyone is jumping on the Good News bandwagon!
Here's a list of sites that cover (or soon will be) the positive side of life:

The Huffington Post 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/i-have-good-news_b_1200481.html

Happy News
http://www.happynews.com/index.aspx

Good News Network
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

Amazing News
http://amazingnews.org/

Optimist World
http://optimistworld.com/

Great News
http://greatnewsnetwork.org/

Gimundo
http://gimundo.com/


My two cents on these good news sites:
I love the idea of spreading hope and positive news to the masses. I even have aspirations to have my own site dedicated to people helping others.
However, it's quite clear that these well-intentioned sites have not made an impact on the mainstream media. Yes, all the networks dedicate at least a couple of minutes each week to highlight the latest cause celebre and/or a sweet story about someone on Main Street USA helping someone down in the gutter.  But why not more? Because being Good isn't Sexy! And sexy sells advertising, and keeps business afloat.
While working for a booking/story editor at a very famous television news magazine, I was continually told that if the story wasn't "sexy," it was not worth covering. So how do you make "good" sexy? One way is to have a gorgeous and/or famous person attached to the good deed. Another is to offer incentives like raffles and auctions that the media will want to cover. But there must be other ways to make good appealing. We need new ways to approach this old problem - how do you influence people to care about others and issues? Any thoughts?

Heavenly Hair Care from Thailand

Late last year I stayed at a the Shama Hollywood, a great service apartment in the heart of old Hong Kong island. A dear friend thought it would be the perfect place to explore and have all the amenities of a modern hotel without the hefty rates. She was right on all accounts, and it was fabulous. And it had wonderful toiletries from a Thai company called Thann. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to buy any regular-sized bottle of Thann shampoo and conditioner. And more unfortunately, Thann is not sold in the United States.
After trolling the web during one of my frequent bouts of insomnia, I found out Thann is sold in Canada and they will ship to the US. Right now they are having a sale (25% off of certain items when you use the code NEXTBIGTHINGMAG). This sale ends January 20th. I highly suggest you look at the site...
After I used their shampoo and conditioner, my thick coarse hair felt like imperial silk and it dried quickly even though Hong Kong was quite humid.
Their shampoo is no more expensive than some of the higher-end brands found in your local drugstore. However, their products are worthy of a five-star spa! I've tried the Aromatic Wood and Oriental Essence products - they smell amazing! Better yet - the products are all natural and bring the luxurious scents of a Southeast Asian rain forest into your urban boudoir!

Here's a picture of a lotus flower, which I saw at the Elephant Temple in Ubud, Bali:

Diner Deliciousness

Joyous news to my junk food ears! Daniel Boulud, the master chef who started the high-priced gourmet burger trend, loves Frito Pies! According to Food Republic's article, Boulud tweeted he had a Frito pie at a recent football game.
Living in Santa Fe, NM as a child, I salivated over Frito Pies ever time I went to the best five-and-dime store ever - Woolworth on the Plaza. I dreamed about Frito Pies. I begged my mother for Frito Pies. Unfortunately, my mother was a health nut and refused my constant requests for Woolworth's famous Frito Pie.
So, it wasn't until I was a rebellious teenager that I ever tasted one. And it was everything I had hoped it would be - salty, slightly sweet, crunchy, gooey, hot, spicy and greasy.  It was dime store deliciousness!
I hope Boulud brings the Frito Pie to new heights, but stays true to its roots. And I pray he won't price a classic Southwest diner dish as a Michelin-starred resto specialty. A girl can dream....

NYC Find

Ever wonder where to buy DIY closet necessities in NYC? Sure, our great city offers everything, but sometimes it's a little hard to know where that special something is. If you're into DIY projects or rather not spend too much money to make alterations to items in your closet, there's great place to go....

Manhattan Wardrobe Supply on West 29th Street near FIT.
They have everything you could imagine, and at great prices. It's where the tv/film/theater professionals go, and it's some place you'll definitely want to remember.

If you don't want to pay the steep NYC prices for repairing clothes and shoes, next time you're in Hong Kong you can have a man like the one below fix your clothes. And you'll find street cobblers, opticians, beauticians etc, too. I'm not saying this particular tailor or other street services are bad, but you might not like your clothes et al being mended en plein air...

Must Read Today

January 11, 2012

Lots to read today...But here's a few I've enjoyed so far:

If you want to learn about how reporters cover the campaigns, this article pretty much sums it up:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/journalists-campaign-trail-secrets-revealed/2012/01

This is very sad, but very real for families around the world... Parents abandoning their children because of economic circumstances. This story takes place in Greece:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085163/Children-dumped-streets-Greek-parents-afford-them.html

If you're tired of reading about tragedy, here is a wonderful article about hope and humanity. It's a cake crusade:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/136403943.html 


And here is just a funny picture I took many years ago in Kowloon, Hong Kong (I say anything that makes a smile or a laugh is a good thing). This made me laugh. I have no idea what is written and I can't tell exactly what this place is - a brothel, a Korean Spa where they thoroughly clean the lady bits, or a place for Happy Endings... Any thoughts?