Jet Setter

Snuggle Up with Italian Designer Kontatto

A Contatto - it's Italian for "against the skin" and the inspiration for Italian design house Kontatto, whose specialty is knitwear.  Italian street style tends to be tailored and striking. It's great when a designer can maintain that elegance and make easy-to-wear pieces that will just work casually or for more dressy occasions. It's time to snuggle up.

- Denise

Website

Kontatto

 

Marc Jacobs is a Sweet Heart

I know it's way past Valentine's day, but this is sweet and loud. Don't know what I'd wear it with. Marc Jacobs rocks! It's the Love Story series. It does come in more neutral colors. Agh...I'll keep thinking about it this Labor Day weekend. You know how window shopping goes.

-Happy Labor Day!

Website

Marc Jacobs

Laid-back California Style - Designer Candice Held

  

The end of summer is a fun time to go bargain shopping.  One of my favorite LA designers is Candice Held. Candice creates one-of-a-kind vintage dresses. She's having a sale at the Abbot Kinney Flea Market in Venice Beach this Saturday, August 29th, 10:30 to 6:30.

"Fabulous cotton printed sundresses, $5 and $10 vintage scarves and sunshine."

If you can't make it to LA, check out her store online.

- Denise

Website

Candice Held

 

Santa Barbara Weekend Getaway

Staycations suck!  Just saw this ad and have to agree. And with Labor Day weekend right around the corner, it's time for another trip.  If you don't have plans, it might be a little too late now, but Santa Barbara is a perfect Fall destination to put on your to-go list.

I love SoCal (Southern California) better than northern California (aka San Francisco).  Yes, the rivalry between North and South has always been there. And although northern California has that moody gorgeousity, I HAVE to have the sun. No competition there. SoCal wins. And Santa Barbara..well, here's a 4-day weekend itinerary that includes a spa day, wine tasting and art hopping.

Tango Fusion - Interview with South American band Bajofondo

On the lookout for some new music? Well if you haven't already discovered Bajofondo, you'll want to listen to their latest album, "Mar Dulce."  They try to make "contemporary music of the Rio de la Plata (the river that forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay).." They call it music born out of "the cosmic universal tango vibe." 

"Mar Dulce" is about half instrumentals, half songs. And the album features guest performances by Elvis Costello, Nelly Furtado, Gustavo Cerati and more.  This interview is taken from 2008, when they performed live for KCRW's Morning Eclectic show.  They will be doing a few concerts this fall primarily on the West Coast and East Coast.  Be sure to check them out!

Also, music social networking site, last.fm is a great place to scope out new music.

- Denise

Websites

Bajofondo Officlal Myspace

Last.FM - Internet Radio

Jetsetter: Stopover at Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica

The end of summer makes me long for the beginning of summer.  I haven't quite switched back to Fall mode, maybe because in Dallas it's still over 100 degrees.  But the best times to travel to Costa Rica are the winter months when all the snowbirds escape the cold. And a chic hotel on my radar is Hotel Costa Verde, specifically the 727 Fuselage suite.  

Yes. You are looking at a plane in a jungle tree top.  It's a refurbished vintage 1965 727 airframe, perched on a 50-foot pedestal.

The view - voila!

Hotel Costa Verde has bungalows as well as regular style hotel rooms.  What's the appeal of staying in an airplane, in the jungle? An awesome adventure.  You're up in the trees (2 bedroom suite) with monkeys and whatever else lives up there.  

Hotel Costa Verde is on the outskirts of the Manuel Antonio National Park. It is one of Costa Rica's famous parks known for its lush rain forests, beautiful beaches and amazing wildlife.

It's easy to reach by train or by bus from San Jose. The flight takes 20 minutes, the drive 3 1/2 hours or more depending on traffic.

- Denise

Websites

Manuel Antonio Park Costa Rica

Hotel Costa Verde

Trip Advisor

The Provence Cookbook by Patricia Wells

 

I spent three months in Paris this year and one wonderful week in Nice taking some fantastic cooking classes. And one of the things I was trying to get a handle on was how in our very fast-paced world can we balance eating healthy and creating delicious meals? Anyone who has traveled for work extensively knows how difficult it is to cook your own meals when you're in a hotel most nights. And when you get home, well you're so tired.

It was very easy in Paris to head to the local markets for fresh food because that's what everybody did but not so easy in Dallas where it's just more convenient to eat out alot. I fell in love with "The Provence Cookbook" by Patricia Wells. Patricia makes it easy to translate Provencal cooking into American cooking - where to find some ingredients and good substitutes for what we don't have here.  She has some menus at the back of the book that are easy to put together. Makes me feel like a "real" chef. I've also taken the time to check out local farmers markets here and well the ingredients make a big difference. 

Includes recipes such as Raspberry Sorbert, Summer Truffle Salad, Chilled Tomato soup and more.

Here's to Happy Cooking!

- Denise

Website

Patricia Wells - www.patriciawells.com

Photo Credits: Nice, Agency Dreamstime

Afro Bohemian Chic - Nigerian Fashion Designer Nkwo Onwuka

After watching "Osuofia in London" wanted to have a look at the Nigerian fashion scene.  One of their rising stars is U.K. based, Nkwo Onwuka who just put out a new collection of evening dresses called "Ego Trip."

She calls her style "Afro Bohemian Chic" - strong African influences that are eye catching and make a statement.

- Denise

Photo Credits: Bella Naija 

Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood? - Cool Foreign Films

Hollywood, Bollywood - Nollywood?  In the search for some entertainment outside of Hollywood's pop summer fare, a friend recommended checking out Nollywood soaps and movies. What is Nollywood you may ask? Well, just as Bollywood is India's film industry, Nollywood is Nigeria's.

Apparently, Nollywood is the third largest film industry in the world.  "Not only is it a viable industry, it is the second biggest employer in Nigeria after agriculture."  The movies offer slices of modern life in Nigeria and "are watched almost everywhere in Africa."

Being ever curious, I started with "Osuofia in London." It's the story of a man from an African village who moves to London.  "Osuofia in London" is the highest grossing Nigerian movie.  Watch it! It's hilarious.

- Denise

August Playlist - Music We're Lovin'

Here's to the end of summer!  We added a couple of salsa-flavored tracks. Really love the "Bach in Havana" album by Tiempo Libre.

Enjoy!

1.  Stuck with Each Other (feat. Akon). by Shontelle

2.  I Will Be Here (Wolfgang Gartner Radio Edit) by Tiesto & Sneaky Sound System

3.  L'Amour by French Affair

4.  I Like It Like That by Tito Nieves

5.  Olas de Yemaya (Bata) [Based on the C Major Prelude, the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1) by Tiempo Libre

6.  Thin Line by  Jurassic 5 & Nelly Furtado

7.  Slippery Sidewalks (feat. Nelly Furtado) by Bajofondo

8.  LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Tiesto Remix) by Justin Timberlake

9.  Move for Me (Radio Edit) by Kaskade & Deadmau5

Click Here to Listen!