September 2008

Ever wander down the cereal aisle in the grocery store and then… leave.  Overwhelmed?  An entire AISLE—both sides! of cereals with various health claims, similar ingredients, confusing marketing messages.  Most are junk in a box - just add milk.

This is kind of how I feel about (specifically) Lifestyle content, both on the web and in magazines, newspapers, guide books, coffee table books etc etc. Too much!  I notice frequently the same ’stuff’ covered amongst all of these sources, the same way! Lengthy, flowery descriptions that extol every virtue.  Who’d believe it?  Very infrequently does any place, service, product, thing rank a 10 out of 10 for any consumer.  And when it does, they don’t stop talking about it to friends and family; anyone who will listen really.  (Equally we all know how much we spread the word when something is surprisingly, well, bad.) Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll admit a funny eccentricity of which I’ve recently become more and more aware.  And I’m glad to know that there are many others who join me in my weirdness.  You’ve seen (and hopefully enjoyed) Suzanne’s Files….The files have been practically a life’s work of love  - 15+ years and continuously growing and editing/enhancing.

I can’t help but to keep lists and files of other things I love and which interest me; which, who knows, may turn into part of my files someday in an extended format that would be useful for others.

Of what you ask? OK… here goes:

• Books to read (recommended by friends, reviews I’ve read)
• Films to see (as above)
• Health tid-bits (good articles, practitioners, doctors, friends, elderly people)
• Fitness tips (articles, trainers, what I see at the gym that looks logical)
• Places I want to visit (bet this doesn’t surprise you!)
• Hobbies I want to improve at or take up (the day I find the time to fit others in, and by the way, includes singing)
• Experiences to savor (again, you’re not surprised)
• Restaurants in London to try (so many good ethnic classics and new streams of great ones open every season)

What do you keep running lists of?

I don’t know about you but I find it overwhelming and time consuming to keep up with all the tips, trends, latest research from nutritionists, practitioners, doctors.  One day Pomegrante is it - the ultimate high in anti-oxidant food like no other.  In walks… The Acai berry.  OK.  We hear about the Omegas 3-6-9, but contrary reports on which ones are good for women from an estrogen-specific viewpoint.  How about non-fat dairy products?  Guess what I learned last week?  The process of skimming a dairy product has an adverse effect on estrogen production - mainly affecting women, but also men if consumed too much.  HELP!

In this Part ONE focus, I thought I’d share with you the best of, top of the top, most basic learnings I’ve culled over the years from talented practitioners, reading and ‘interviewing’ friends who look and feel great and suffer from very few colds, bugs and flus! Read the rest of this entry »

…among many.  So many people I know around the world are in finance, law (related to finance), services industries etc. Clearly, even those who are highly affluent and beyond, are having to pay attention at least to their spending during this time  — or cutting back on what did seem the norm in their lives until about 6 months ago.  I have acquaintances who have had to move.  They were living way above their means and pushed to the limit.  How these people sleep at night, I’ll never know.

But, interestingly, I witnessed an amazing thing this weekend in London.  A gorgeous, sunny and crisp Autumn Saturday, and what were teams of people out and about doing?  Shopping at the luxury boutiques, Harvey Nichols and Harrods.  Nope, they were not browsing - I saw the large shopping bags! Saturday night a group of us were at the last Proms concert in Hyde Park and then dined at a chic Mayfair restaurant (La Petite Maison, which was very good and I recommend).  We spoke of the consumptive behavior of many whom we know and concluded that sadly, even those who are now pushed fiscally, the social pressures still remain to keep up with the Jones’.  Wearing the latest this, driving the newest that, eating at the hippest place, carrying the most luxurious bag, the list goes on and on and on … This is great news for the luxury sector, which may be suffering overall (I’m not up on the latest figures). Read the rest of this entry »

I just returned from a research trip to Puglia, Italy — a southern Italian somewhat wild/rugged area which has been tagged in the past year or so as the “New Tuscany”.  Hmmm. While I see there is plenty of potential, I have a hard time digesting the notion that it will reach the level of popularity and depth of culture and richness that Tuscany has well-earned.  I happen to like what I saw, very much! The area between Bari and Brindisi, around Fasano / Monopoli is the most developed for the chic set.  It is a natural area dotted with the most amazing amount of perfectly-imperfect olive trees, streaming bouganvilla, flowering cacti, an under-developed coastline aching to house beautiful villas, hotels and beach clubs/ stylish restaurants etc, etc. The architecture is neat.  A mix of moorish/andalucian, italianate and Marrakesh-reminiscent!

I’ll publish the hotel and restaurant files next week .. but until then, is it for you?  If you live in Europe or will be visiting, and are looking to get away for four days of true beach, breeze, blissful holiday - Puglia is for you.  The food is absolutely delish - fresh, simple, scrummy.  A stay at one of the hotels I’ll cover via the files (access via search on Spire.com) mixed with golf, tennis, sea sports, over-the-top eating, a day cooking class, biking…. super spot to enjoy and get to know.

Ahhh, La Dolce Vita!