lord have mercy...i havent blogged in forever..we are terrific...married and delicious

Porto Cervo Harrods's pop up shops...nice car

My favorite line from Downton this season was Lord Crawley saying this : " If I cried at every time a bot tried to kiss me at Eton, I would be hoarse".

Happy New Year may 2013 bring everyone peace,  and a new mojo! Cuz the world's mojo is lacking spirit and honesty. May God bless you all .
 

We intend to do much traveling and see friends with grand flair.  

Headin to Paris next week to enjoy company of friends and immerse myself to the hilt!!! My favorite city and I think it has been 3 years maybe 4 since last trip....quelle horreur! Carita, Angelina,Colette,Mugler,cafes,restos and walks!

Tony loved the Costa Brava and we visited Port Lligat and stayed at a little hotel..great views and right next to the Dali house...which was great fun to see. Each evening we walked the headlands to Cadaques for a meal at little retos..like La Sirena...very good. A few side trips to Figueres,France to Aix and then to an apartment in Barcelona...he liked it there but likes the drama and beauty of Madrid. Friends threw soiree for us for our 40th! and then we hit Ibiza and then back to Bcn for a crazy 2 day travel home. Don't as but we ended up at A LOft nr O'Hare and it was & am out time and 10 in Chicago..well we walked to a bar Gila ADobes or...anyway everyone was too similar to the Jersey Shore..welcome home...but the drinks and food were fine and the crowd wild over the D J.! Mn it was great to see the pets!

When I think how terrific it will be to show Tony the Costa Brava I get a smile on my face!We will be in Port Lligat for a few days...where Dali had a home in ths sleepy fishing village...then we can explore the area as well as run up to France...Collioure. As he loves the better places...we will only have to move on south to nicer digs and then a perfectly designed apartment in Barcelona... Now to pack only carryon luggage! I have already practiced and we should eb fine...limiting myself to 5 pairs of shoes!

Darlin Paulina...it's fun to to try this...mine is skimpy and i need to work it more... have fun....

Simply crazy when you argue with someone a la text!

When it comes to fragrance ..our bathroom counter looks like a fragrance boutique.
We have our favorites..Tony , Creed's Silver Mountain Water ,breath taking and Ice By Mugler, so sexy...mine is Black Aoud by Montale , luxury for sure and Prada's Infusion D'Iris, sublime.We also return to Cravache by Piguet...altho new formule is off, Eau Sauvage by Dior and Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver ..purchased in Madrid along with 1880 by Cerruti...It always makes my day when we greet each other in early evening and the fragrance still lingers in our hug...but today I applied Biagiotti's Roma on the back of my neck...goes well wit the new Etro floral shirt !

getting together information on a numberog fashion designers for a presentation i will give at the art institute here in tucson in september.i will present clothes from my family's collection of couture gowns,clothes and accessories.included will be a chanel taffeta and velvet gown,a helen rose vintage chiffon and crepe gown and a vintage halston beaded dress.more info to comeon this blog!

been awhile

hopefully we will get he same room in Madrid ..photo behind blog title...great place in centro...hotel del las letras on the gran via .
now making plans for the san sebastian journey..anyone konw much about this delightful place?we will be staying near la playa la concha in a villa...daytrips for sure along with beach time.
italian final...bouna fortuna!

bakeries in europe

Living abroad for many years i can admit the many atops at the local boulangerie in geneva,lausanne and paris...yummy treats and marvelous breads.the gouter, an afternoon snack for youngsters on up is a tradition.favoring dark chocolate and crsp french bread as a kid then moving towards pastries as i grew up the tastes and smells always drive me wild.
Imagine the goverment limiting what you could consume in europe?food for thought to those who want to propose limitations on school lunches,portions and such.it is up to parents to control the intake of food not a governing body!That said, those who live in glass houses with derrrieres speading like a monday wash should shut up!

the joys of pets continues to amaze us.with a houseful of four legged creaturethe days are filled with their antics and craziness. that fits in so well in our household.last night , one of the cats ,Sinbad, a black rescue about 3 years old...decided to scale the christmas tree and capture a bird ornament...so far 3 have been ripped to pieces.cannot wait to fill their stockings with toys and treats!

black friday why name it that?$$$$

i am off to pick up some framed protraits of us...to hang upstairs in hallway.tony moved all the Gruau's downstairs hallway.then do some shopping at Encantada,take a couole of the dogs to the Jeferson park then gym and meet tony for dinner at Kingfisher.
lucky us..Tony wants a turkey dinner so he can make sandwiches next week...so will pick one up and prep tomorrow and he can roast it!Guess the meal yesterday wasn't enuf...we joined friends at their restaurant and a good time was had by all.
WE saw"Burlesque" yesterday..real fun ...Cher belted a few songs,Christina was delicious,lots of dancing..gotta get the soundtrack asap...maybe I am crazy, but there is something so alluring about Stanley Tucci...always have liked himn but really noticed him in Midsummer Night's Dream with Rupert ,etc.Nore to self..find his other films on Netflix!

carnival cruise

best said ...we have always avoided a mexican riviera cruise...now i know why.one note on cruise ships: when first boarding avoid conversation with too many///they will hunt you down and you can't shake them!

quickly wanted to mention the wonderful character of the Italians...i found almost everyone terrific and reall nice...maybe the shop salespeople have issues but i usually win them over with a smile.my landlord,allessandro,(will use one of his larger apts.next trip) looks like my friend greg...anyway he met me on the street and took me up...helping with the heavy luggage..why i take so much???..and i was a small apt in the torre (tower) on via da benci..adequate as i move around a lot during the day and night in florence...i did mention i needed an duvet and t.v. which he brought over the next day.great guy.
plus the folks i met around town and i did win over the salesmen at dolce gabbanna...trying to find something to fit my chest and shoulders..heck i am not that big....they all looked cute in denim white shirts and black ties.made it to womenwear and saw the most beautiful woll coat with a floral pattern w grosgrain belt!

it's not just italians that can dress with style.

Oh i know the feeling of stepping out looking terrific.in Italy i swear there is someone organizing,pressing and folding clothes for the wearer...anyway..they do have a flair and definite style...but that doesn't men the americans or english don't have the style and substance.unfortunately...as said before we have lost that real sense of choosing good clothes that are flatering and have style.again the loss of formality to being comfortable.
in europe for example, they have a taste level that is continually inspired by new design and family values on presenting oneself in the best possible manner.they do not go out and buy oddles of clothes, they window shop,watch the styles in the magazines and on the street.even the frenchmen have not not given up to lacklustre clothes...suits are perfect fitted even on older gentlemen.the french women on the other hand could take a lesson from the italians.throw in some glamour,use a bit of makeup and for goodness sake get a manicure!
so america take a stand.educate your children in manners,style and putting your best foot forward.it all starts at home...hey have a family dinner once in awhile,don't ket your kids go out looking like sin and misery!

monsoons

finally some good rain with thunder and lightning...love that.of course the german shepherd wanted to play tag!when it rains like this your stuck, esp. when trying to get out if a car.
years ago i was taking my mother to lunch.she was wearing a dress and coat in yellow and white linen...needless to say she wasn't about to dash to the retaurant door...so i tore in and ordered and she sashayed in after the deluge...looking fabulous .son was drenched...it was so funny.

travel in style for goodness sake

it get more curious when you see the worst looking clothes that people decide to wear ...no style or finesse.a little effort can make the sometimes difficult airplane and train travel become a better experience.imagine a poorly dressed tourist trying to manuever around and european airport personnel aghast at the earth shoes ,grandpa's jeans and sweatshirt some people decide to wear.a better turnout in clothes gets one more respect for sure.

guess i am old fashioned but i like to arrive in style!