Paradise

I love beautiful beaches and one of the most wonderful vacations I've spent near the beach was staying at Casa Chic in Tulum, Mexico. In fact, this villa was ON the beach. The backyard WAS the beach. Our own private beach!! My friends and I spent a glorious week at this 5 bedroom luxury villa located in a biosphere reserve. White sand, turquoise water, hammocks, beach beds, tequila, sunsets, and good friends...It was pure heaven.

Our queen size beach beds and umbrellas

Our view every day

Me chillin' on the hammock

Love

Time Keeper

I love watches. I’m fascinated with watches. That's one of my must-haves in life. Unfortunately, I hear that watches are now becoming obsolete because everyone uses their cell phones to check the time. That saddens me because I think watches symbolize life, the passage of time, history. I find comfort and beauty in seeing the hands of an analog watch sweeping over its face and hearing the tick tock of its movement keeping track of our moments and memories. Nowadays I always notice when someone wears a watch and it makes me strangely happy. I notice if it’s digital or analog, the shape and size, how it sits on their wrist. I wonder how/why they chose it, if it was a gift, or if it was a family heirloom.

Recently my mom gave me a watch that belonged to my father. It was passed down to him by his dad and hasn't been worn in over 40 years. As I wound it, I wondered if I could even get it to work. Lo and behold, it sprang to life and is still keeping time with absolute precision. Not only is it a beautifully crafted time keeping instrument but it's rich with family history. And that is something the cell phone can never replace.

Hello Kitty

I love Hello Kitty. I have a couple of Hello Kitty items, like a lunch box that I got as a present and some other little tchotchkes but no accessories or clothing. I mean, I'm way too old to be wearing Hello Kitty. It just looks silly on grown women, right? Even Charlize Theron dissed women who sport Hello Kitty apparel. But I have to admit that seeing a cute Hello Kitty shirt or  jewelry with that cute kitty face unleashes my 10 year old inner girl and I want it! I mean, Kimora Lee Simmons has her Hello Kitty line of fine jewelry and Swarovski launched a Hello Kitty collection so there is obviously an adult market for the goods. 

Recently I was in Taiwan where I discovered Hello Kitty mania.       


From Hello Kitty mascara at the drugstore

to Hello Kitty Cafe and Sweet shop

and a Hello Kitty Terminal at the airport with custom phone booth

Hello Kitty definitely reigns supreme in Taipei! She was all over my face that I broke down and bought a Hello Kitty sweatshirt. And I wore it. In public. Many times. It makes me happy and I love it. I've come to realize that there is no age limit to enjoying the things that bring you pleasure so I wear my shirt with pride and joy. I hope I run into Charlize when I do.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012! Happy Year of the Dragon! Happy New Moon! 
Every new beginning follows an ending. And today's sunset was a wonderful reminder of how beautiful endings can be. A new chapter begins!