the glamour of perfume trays

Perfume trays remind me of the Victorian Era, although I am sure, the trays existed before the time period. Forgive me for my ignorance.

Anyway, as I child I grew up in a place where every woman had a perfume tray on their dresser with several bottles of French Perfume, a few lipsticks and of course a silver handled hairbrush. I used to rank  the women in my extended family members based on how great their perfumes smelled. and admired them according to how they incorporated the novelty into their bedroom decor.

Since I am feeling a bit nestalgic these days, I though I would share some of my favorite perfume trays and ask if any of you out there currently have a perfume tray on your  dresser or is it a thing of the past.

eiffel tower in home decor

Oh what I would give to have a place with a view of the real Eiffel Tower (above photo) but since I haven’t figured out a way to do just that, I decided to include photos of  decorating ideas which may just help.  Let me know what you think?

inspiration: cafe de flore – paris, france

After a long week, I needed some inspirational photos to help escape “mentally” at least from the every day norms. My favorite place to hang out - Cafe De Flore in Paris (of course), France.

I have a strange appreciation for cafe photos and here are some of my favorites Cafe de Flore to share with you. Have a great weekend and remember think happy thoughts no matter how hard life can be.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

{photos: courtesy google search cafe de flore – various artists}

boutique hotel pick – il sogno di giulietta – verona, italy

Keeping in line with the  Valentine’s Day theme and also with my Italy obsession  for 2011, I decided to include a boutique luxury hotel, (which I recommend by the way),  located in the heart of Verona, Italy.

In case there are a handful of people who are wondering  what Verona has to do with Valentine’s Day theme, well I am here to tell you that Verona is not only one of the most romantic cities in the world, but it is also the hometown of Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet  (just in case I wasn’t clear enough). Of course their story goes without saying, but just in case I need to clarify, it is the most famous love story ever told  by William Shakespeare and many tourist go to Verona just to pay homage to that fact.

What’s so interesting is that this particular property shares a courtyard with Juliet’s  house. In fact, it has a view of  the famous balcony where Romeo expressed his undying love and devotion to Juliet.

The hotel is called  Il Sogno Di Giulietta. ( Juliet’s Dream) and although the courtyard  is a tourist trap during the day, at night  the gates are closed to the public so that the guests could have their privacy. So if you appreciate the renaissance period as much as I do and want to give your partner  the ultimate romantic vacation, surprise her this Valentine’s Day  with a travel dossier containing a week’s trip to Verona, Italy and a stay at Il Sogno De Giulietta, I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.  Have a great weekend!

new years eve decoration suggestions

A few things  to remember while hosting  a New Years Eve party are of course,  champagne,  party favors, an array of (silver and gold) decorations, at least for my taste (you can choose your own color theme as you wish)  around the living room and several funky clocks strategically  placed  at the buffet table and fireplace mantle alarmed and ready to go off at midnight.

In light of the New Years Eve decoration suggestions, I have included some photos to share. Have fun planning!!!

 

fireplace mantel holiday decor

I don’t think I need to remind anyone celebrating Christmas, how significant a fireplace mantel is during the holiday season.  It is a place where stockings are hung, Christmas cards are displayed and/or festively decorated  with holiday trim by those, like me, who do not really care for the stocking scene.

In light of this subject, I found some wonderful photos of various fireplace mantel decor which I think are truly “delightful” (did I really say that) and not over the top.

a few of my favorite holiday decor

I love the fact holiday decor or decorating ideas  have come a long way throughout the years. The suggestion to use  shades of blue and silver or whites throughout the home is most amazing and in a way  esthetically pleasing to the eyes.

Seriously, in my opinion, there is nothing better than to come home from the craziness of the outdoors to a lighthearted and airy Christmas decor throughout a home.

So, although I may be too late in the month for this entry, nonetheless, I have included a few photos of my favorite holiday decor, which I plan to incorporate throughout my temporary housing  this year . Let me know what you think?

a nostalgic holiday experience in san francisco

I am a sucker for nostalgia and usually get very sentimental during the holiday season, like (I am sure) most people do. I miss the past and long for when life seemed a little simpler and less demanding, when families where closer and holidays really meant something and  Christmas shopping was truly a creative and rewarding experience rather than a search for the trends and holiday sales.

In light of this topic, I can honestly say that although I cannot change what has happened to family and tradition, I can suggest  finding a piece of a reminder from the past and escaping there, if only for a day.

I personally do this by taking a day  in San Francisco to go downtown and walk only through historic ( iconic)  retail stores  encompassing Union Square,  so that I can detox myself from the demands of modern-day shopping frenzy through  a “Westfield Mall”.

I walk through Macy (no 4) and then cross the street over to Neiman Marcus (no 6) . Afterwards,  I cut through Union Square towards Saks Fifth Avenue (no 7), in order to avoid anything modern and new along the way.

For lunch I  dine at  Scala’s Bistro on Powell Street (near no 7) and then walk down Post Street towards  Gump’s Department Store (no  9) to continue my escape into the past.   Avoiding Juicy Couture and Nike Department Stores along the way.

This is the place I always purchase small traditional gifts  for the most meaningful people in my life and head back towards  Union Square, while walking in and out of several small local boutiques from the past.  Again avoiding Juicy Couture at all cost.

Before heading home, I go into the  Westin St. Francis Hotel (no 2) and have myself a “traditional” cup of coffee with a seasonal dessert, while I watch the passers-bys hurrying about Union Square.

Believe it or not, this (insignificant to some)  escape from the modern-day holiday shopping craze, is  not only rewarding but also therapeutic in my opinion and should be considered by most anyone,longing to reconnect with the past.

christmas gift idea for her – romantic getaway

I can honestly say, by the time a woman reaches  her 40s, it becomes  less and less  important to get a gift for her kitchen as it is to get a gift for herself. Sometimes, some women  are even willing to forgo a pair of diamond earrings for a week’s  getaway from their daily lives.

So, just in case you have exhausted all your “gift idea” resources, consider surprising her with a romantic getaway (within your budget) to most anywhere in the world.

As you know or may not, off-season travel (depending on destination) is  more likely affordable than during the high season . However, planning a vacation “gift” within a budget is often times  very challenging.  Calling a travel agent to arrange such a trip is priceless.

The reason I suggest working with a travel agent to plan a “gift” vacation is so that you can actually put the plan on hold with a small deposit, while you surprise your significant other with a gift certificate and deal with the reaction. Should she not be happy with the destination , at least there is some $$$ recourse. If she loves the idea and approves the suggested dates of travel, then you simply proceed with full payment.

Now, planning the right destination is  very important. Going to Las Vegas to gamble and frequent nudy bars may not necessarily be her idea of vacation, unless she is into that sort of thing. The point is that you need to plan the vacation with her in mind. The destination should be romantic, the hotel ideal and at least one night of special dining a must. The focus should be her and only her in order for the gift to be worth while.

Another benefit of giving the “gift of travel” for Christmas is that you can actually suggest to take the trip around Valentine’s Day, her birthday or even an  anniversary celebration – all to off-season romantic destinations. That way it is even more meaningful.

Now, what is the best travel agency to work with. Well, if you don’t happen to have one you can count on, consider contacting my favorite travel agency here and ask to be transferred to the office capable of putting your special trip together. For example for the U.S. I have indicated below the offices which handle specific travel planning.

All Offices – Specialize in (soft) Adventure Travel, Budget vacations, airfare and European Rail travel.

San Diego office – Specializes in Cruises and Romantic getaways

Myself: I can help with Romantic getaways, so please feel free to contact me if you wish to brain storm about suggestions based on your budget.

Happy Planning

holiday 2010 gift ideas for her – designer scarf

Part of making an impression  while giving a woman a holiday gift is the box it comes in. Although gifts from some department stores are expected and pretty predictable from a woman’s point of view, there is nothing like catching her off guard with a box  from a store she would never consider shopping at, much less buy from, especially for herself.

One sure way to show the care taken in selecting  a well thought out gift,  (outside of jewelry)  is giving her a designer scarf.

Most women tend to buy the most practical and durable  scarf for themselves while they run about town handling business.,  but they will surely appreciate a more glamorous one while on a date night or a  special occasion.

So, gentlemen and ladies alike, consider some suggestions I have included below when shopping for a scarf and remember, where you purchase the designer scarf is as important as choosing just  the right one.