Seriously …. what a cool, informed, savvy group of people!  Our International Collective is my way of being able to do my ‘job’ well —to keep all of reader/ subscribers abreast of those things around the world that are WORTH IT!  They are the audience we speak to, they live the good life, but are not bling.  Having input from so many discerning people all over the world translates to you, the reader, being in the know (and they make me look good!)

Meet some of this group - http://www.spire.com/international-collective - and do let us know if you are a candidate.  We’re always expanding on our current mix of aproximately 300 people worldwide!  Thanks in advance.

Today is my mommy’s birthday.  She would like everyone to say/ think she is turning 55… (and she looks it!)

Happy Birthday mom!  She may not even read this (clearly I’ve sent her a gift, and card and will call her as we don’t live in the same place)

What I thought I’d take the opportunity to write is how incredibly fortunate I feel to have the mother I do and how much I attribute who I am and the qualities others find unique in me to her.  As we all get to know ourselves better year in and year out, it’s a neat feeling to look to those who inspired us, those from whom we modeled ourselves as kids.  You can read every self help book in the world, but nothing would come close to being honest with ourselves about who our parents are and who we became and why as a result!

My mother is incredibly warm, caring, loving & affectionate, concerned about other’s happiness, a stellar cook, generous with her time, pretty & feminine, funny, has good people intuition and never fears stating her limits or when she doesn’t know something.  She also has a mean forehand shot in tennis that no one in my family has success returning and can get any one of us to do just about anything if she just asks!

Some of the greatest gifts cost nothing - or next to nothing! People appreciate when one takes their precious time to “create” a gift or even just to conceptualize it.

Here are some of my ideas - I’d really love to hear yours.

• Create music compilations on blank CDs - the recipient can add it to their ipod for forever enjoyment
• Go thru your photos relevant to the person and create a snapfish booklet
• Compile and give in whatever format your favorite recipes
• Make a list of all of the things you want to experience with this person (from the normal to the sublime) and wrap it beautifully in a box - as it’s a box of memories waiting to happen
• Collect leaves with your kids, make a collage and paint with clear gloss, put in a lucite or boz frame.  Truly pretty.
• Go through your wardrobe.  Donate everything you can give.  Name it in this person’s name
• Donate a tree to be planted in their name (www.tree-nation.com)
• Write a list of this person’s best qualities and laminate it.  They can look t it anytime they feel down.
• Tell the person (gently) the one thing you wish they would change about themselves that’s getting in the way of being the best he-she can be (tread carefully!)
• Bake their favorite something or cook their favorite meal

What else?  Your ideas…?

While I don’t offer this up often, I’m offering now!  I’m going on a 3 week trip in South Africa and Namibia mid December.  Starting in Kruger Park at two game lodges, then onto Capetown, then to The Garden Route (Plettenberg), ending in Namibia.

Anywhere you’d expressly like me to check out?  Email me. inquiries@spire.com

I’ve been to South Africa a couple of times before and it’s one of my favorite destinations for winter sun.  Active/Sporty, Great food & wine, very scenic, lovely people, excellent service and a lot of variation.  My kind of place.  Look for the many files published when I return in January.

Renting a villa (serviced or not) is one of the lovliest, most relaxing ways to spend time off. Also - it’s a great way to conserve some cash, being that with a group it is a cost savings for sure.  There are plenty of beautiful options that could end up costing per person under $1500 for a week. That is far less than a top-tier hotel. And, with your own living room, pool, kitchen, and staff in many cases…how can one go wrong?  Personally, I love a good hotel, but adore a great villa! It’s just more relaxing - sitting back in a cushy living room reading a book, making a light breakfast in a crisp white kitchen, napping on a hammock poolside.

The problem is… via which agency to find and rent the perfect villa? I was frustrated by how many providers there are and how few people had anything good to say…so, years ago  I started in my quest for the best, to source and vet worldwide topnotch villa rental providers. What did I find?  There are only maximum a couple of service providers per market who a) have great villas on their books and b) provide stellar service.  (I and many friends have experienced in years prior renting a villa that looked NOTHING like it did in the photos we were shown while in research phase.  BEWARE of Dolce Vita Villas - with whom I had this experience with my family in Sicily. The owner was not even willing to refund part of the fee paid after he acknowledged it was a different level than he had pitched)

Where floats your boat? Caribean, Mediterranean, South America, Sri Lanka, Mexico….? A chalet in the Swiss Alps or Aspen?…  you name it - we know the best provider. See this file about Brazilian Villas as an example…simply gorgeous, accessible, many beachfront.

Interested to rent a villa, castle or chalet? Email: inquiries@spire.com.

Share your villa rental stories with others by responding here.

My dear friend Sindhu, the founder of DeviDoll www.devidoll.com

has built quite an impressive website around ethical fashion.  She curates like me! picking carefully from all of the worldwide vendors of eco-clothing.  Stylish Sindhu wears much of these finds, looking gorgeous while being a good citizen.

I was not surprised last week to hear from her last week that the pool of her potential clients (females aged 30-50 mostly) were seemingly more concerned with the “look” of the fashions on offer than the make, roots, story, fabrics…When there is more and more ethical fashion to purchase, one doesn’t need to choose between the two!

Do you buy anything “eco” to wear?  From where if so ?

Side by side, in the middle of the action, being able to tap the bartender for the latest gossip and a little taste from a cool looking bottle.  I adore sitting at a bar at the right restaurants.  Much more than at a table.  One of the reasons is that I can’t stand having to speak loudly.  At the bar, you are next to one another rather than across the table. Another, it takes less time and, often, at the end of a work day, I prefer a shorter meal to a longer one.  Also, one can get away with eating less than at the table and having a glass of wine rather than a bottle—waiters frown on the one dish order (in Europe especially)  at the bar, one can have bites, small plates to share.
Two of my favorites, one in London, the other in NYC.  Both Italian, both two of my favorite, sexy atmospheres with delicious, simple food and a great scene.

Bar Milano in NYC  http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/gramercy-flatiron/14463/bar-milano
Cecconis in London  http://www.cecconis.co.uk/restaurants.php?r=CEC#1***1

Buon Apetito!

What are your favorite bars to eat at worldwide?  Write us: spireadvisor@spire.com

“If we don’t change our direction, we’re likely to end up where we are headed”

Top of Tom’s website.  FULL DISCLOSURE: Tom is one of my best friends in the world.
His business is not one I’d fit into he categories we cover in Suzanne’s Files - and, I just had to tell you about it.

I’ve been working with one of Tom’s top coaches for months.  It’s one of the smartest decisions I’ve made, to do so.  The process is fulfilling, challenging, super insightful and one of the best gifts you can give yourself.  You tweak yourself.  I find that with the many moving parts of my life and how my business intertwines with my life, it is a process I’d be irresponsible to myself and those whom I love and have any type of relationship with—not to do.

Company Execs, Entrepreneurs, wealthy individuals who need some holistic coaching… Take a look.  If you don’t live in Europe or Asia (where Tom and his colleagues are based) I’m sure you could write them to ask who they recommend elsewhere.

www.thomaspreston.co.uk

I was at at a dinner party in stunning, impressive home of a well known actor the other night in London.  The canape were ‘perfect’, the champagne chilled ‘just right’, the music on ‘exactly the right playlist’…you get the picture.  What I found was also perfect were his 100+ photos scattered around the various salons and entry ways.  I’m not referencing his magazine or press photos; rather, his family and with friends photos.  Everyone looked: Amazing.  Don’t ask how, but I decided just to ask him: ” Do you have all of your personal photos airbrushed and touched-up?”  To which he responded a very sure: “Yes, I do and how cool that you noticed, cooler that you asked. I see no reason why everyone shouldn’t have the memory that they looked even better than they already do!  Even my kids.”  Yikes, I thought (while I smirked and said, “sure, yup, got that.”

Then I thought about it the next day and really—why not?  Rather clever, in a shallow but fun way!

Do you?  Will you now?

Recently, a somewhat new girlfriend asked me to spill the beans.  She religiously refers to Suzanne’s Files (which I find super flattering), and says her favorites are the beauty files and the well being practitioner files.  See two of her faves here:

• Los Angeles Beauty Experts, Salons and Spas
• London’s Leading Nutritionists

“BUT, she said, just tell me what you do - what are the basics? You look 6-8 years younger than you are!” (Now, any gal knows that if you lead in with this, I’d answer any and everything!  Thank you!!)

My tips are not so different than what you’d read in any good and truthful article on the subject.
Here goes, if you care!

• Sleep 8 hours a night and 9-10 when you can.  Yup, it’s really the top thing to do.
• If you smoke… and are not planning on quitting, no need to read on. Period.  Ages like nothing else.
• Have your teeth whitened (and if needed straightened or capped).  I go to Dr. Mark Hughes, who runs a very professional and caring studio on Harley Street in London. 
• Make sure your haircut, color and style are fresh, right for your face and what you can style with little effort (search our beauty files for great salons near you or where you’ll be traveling)
• Drink 1.5 litres of water daily. Period. It helps.
• Limit coffee, alcohol and sugar to the least you can while not being a bore, and still enjoying life.
• Dry brush your skin daily all over.  Stimulates circulation and makes your epidermis glow!
• Exercise. Walk everywhere you can. Dance. Play sports.
• Have a top-notch facial once every 6-8 weeks. (search our beauty files for great salons near you or where you’ll be traveling)
• Have sex. Good sex.
• Wear the right shades of make-up and not too much to look like your granny.
• Stand tall. (If you need postural help, take up pilates and/or the Alexander Technique.  Yoga great too. ( (search our fitness files for great options near you or where you’ll be traveling)
• Smile. Smile. Smile.