This Little Light of Mine

Tomorrow I am heading back to D.C. It's bitter sweet. While I look forward to getting back to work and seeing my people, I really have enjoyed having time off and away from an active life in D.C. Dear post lunch nap, how you will be missed. Day time sailing, attending the 9 am Yoga class instead off the crowded 6 am class, you will also be missed.  Hours of cooking and quality time with loved ones. Leisure evenings on the porch, curled up in a blanket, a glass of red in one hand, a good book in the other.  You all will be missed. 

Cameo Candle ($35 at http://amzn.to/L3LxxX)

I'll bring back good memories and leaving stress behind. But don't worry. It won't be long till I'm back. 

Cameo by Seda France produce beautiful fragrances. With hints of Bergamont (the same ingredient that is found in Earl Grey tea) and a warm home, their L'Ambre candle makes for nice companionship when the rain is falling down and evenings on the porch are getting cooler.

The Wing Man

You know how most people dread the girlfriend/boyfriend chair? I'm an exception to the rule. I'm a great wingman when it comes to shopping. I love shopping for others, and I think many of my peeps will testify to this. Helping others find a great combination, may it be for leisure or work, is up there with having your bid on a Alexander Wang Bucket bag on eBay accepted for half the value. If you are a friend of mine, odds are you have been the recipient a message along the lines off  "Hey buddy, I found a few lovely things for you at [fill in blank]. They are on hold till tomorrow. Don't forget to swing by and take a look..."

The same goes with finding the perfect gift. From dinner parties to birthdays or weddings, finding that special little thing that makes the recipient feeling "how did I get by before?". Love, love, love it. If I could, I would bottle it up and sip it all day long. As a dear friend would say "I want to be in the making people happy business". 

Speaking of happiness. Check out these pretty sea shell earrings from H&M that I found. For a mere $6, they can be yours. So skip that fancy coffee drink and seek out the nearest H&M.

It's a Wrap

A good wrap-dress to me is what a Porsche Cayenne Turbo is to MSO*. Whether it's time for work or fun with friends, a wrap is functional as the Swiss-army knife. Customize it with your favorite boot, flats or stilettos pending on season then add a piece of statement jewelry or why not your mama’s finest pearls. Take a second to admire yourself in the mirror. Good to go. 

In addition to versatility and allure, I am yet to meet the women, may they carry their curves with saz or petiteness with grace, who do not wear the wrap with style, comfort, and wa-zam. It's a golden nugget that understands a women’s need. While it hugs where appreciated it forgives where needed (I'll have the truffle fries please).

When in a pinch, reach for the wrap.  And if you do find yourself in need of a new one, please feel free to indulge in some lovely option below.

Straight from work to a night out, summer has never looked hotter.

From left: Printed Dresshirt ($285) available for sale here; Striped Dress ($295 $177) buy it here; "Burning Torch" Dress ($305) available for sale here; "Julian" Wrap Dress ($365) buy it here  

*My Significant Other

Lavender Blue(s)

Recently I am loving blue mixed with a hint of lavender. I find this particular hue to be delicate and graceful yet flirtatious with a "sparkle in the eye" effect. Color me blind but I think it's what Audrey Hepburn would be like, was she a hue.

Being taken by the color [and flower] lavender started some, and then some years ago. Around the same time my parents made the decision to reallocate to the South Pacific. Upon their departure, my mother gave me a [potted] lavender which, beyond odds, survived the full year.

While on the subject of flowers I would like to give a special shout-out to fresh cut flowers. From "Monday blues" to "Won't have time to clean before the in-laws arrives", fresh cut flowers is da bomb in every pinch. Where there is a saying that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach, it may very well be that a short cut [besides new shoes, be it hiking or stilettos] to a woman's attention and affection spells "fresh-cut-flowers."

To the gents out there. If you only knew how much you could get away with, simply by getting your significant other flowers unexpectedly on a regular basis. Remarkable. While I can't promise that you will get away with forgetting anniversaries or conveniently having to "skip out from town" when mother-in-law is expected, you most likely will get that extra love and attention...as being in less trouble for "forgetting" to pick up yours beloved at the airport or spending Sunday afternoon playing "Demon Souls". Ladies-- can I have an amen!?

If not so inclined to potted or fresh cut stems requiring nurturing, these scrumptious two-bite sized delicacies may just be the perfect solution come summer rain blues or "sorry I shrunk your cashmere sweater." 

Enjoy!

Summer where art thou?!

Waking up to grey skies and rain = dedicated time for online shopping and consumption of apple pie. Also on today's schedule, bikram yoga, as well as an serious effort to up my Spanish skills. Oy va!

Being temporary unemployed agrees well with me.

All I Want For Christmas is You....& You.....& You

Was checking out Svenskt Tenn's new collection and found this amicable piece of art. Since I think my love, rightfully, probably had something less extraordinary in mind and given that I can't really afford it myself I opted for these gorgeous brass candle stick holders instead.

Also on my fantasy Christmas list. Darling chairs in walnut, gold rimmed whiskey glasses, and a very stylish weekend bag like this one from Swaine Adeny Brigg.

What's on your list?

Meet me by [...] Safeway

For those of you who may not know, Safeway is a national wide American grocery store. This post is dedicated to the story behind this very grocery store became a point of reference in D.C.

Conversation with friend 

Friend: Meet at Safeway?

Me:  Soviet-Safeway?

Friend: Swedka-no-more-Safeway.

Me: Wait. Isn't Soviet-Safeway the same as Swedka-no-more-Safeway?

Friend: Is it?   

Me: Thinking about it. Secret-Safeway might be closer to where we are going. 

Friend; So is  UnSafeway, but you know we aint meeting there. 

In addition to UnSafeway, Swedka-no-more-Safeway (also known as No-wine-Safeway) & Soviet-Safeway (also known as Rationed-Safeway) there is a long list of [fill in blank] Safeway's including Sexy-Safeway, Spanish-Safeway & Social-Safeway. 

I feel obliged to add a note to the Sexy-Safeway's. Don't be deceived. Showing up wearing your finest Saturday Night Live outfit thinking that you will get lucky -- not likely going to happen. The Sexiness is a tribute to the exterior: a steel and glass modernist design that looks hot next to some of its blocky brick neighbors. 

Whoever you are that came up with first [fill in blank] Safeway. 

S(t)hank you!