Hello-Hello!

The insanity seems to be ebbing here at Princess InterPlanetary HQ, phew! Now we move on to one of our favorite wintertime sports: extreme baking. (The Consort will politely confirm this is no exaggeration. Simply step away from the computer and say a prayer of gratitude you aren’t a recipient of one of our cookie plates.)

But before that gets underway, a few morsels of info and lots of pictures to kick-start things before our Christmas break.  We begin with an early look at the Lilly Pulitzer for LeSportsac collection, compliments of the folks at M.I.S.S. & JuxtaPoz.

Courtesy Photo via M.I.S.S.

As previous posts described, the Collection pops with bright colors and the inimitable Lilly style.

Courtesy Photo via M.I.S.S.

Some readers may recall this line is part of the Lilly Loves Green initiative; some proceeds will go to the World Wildlife Federation.

Courtesy Photo via JuxtaPoz

Our favorite pattern is probably going to be the green and white Hip Hop Hooray (L), although we like the blue and coral in Purrr-fect Patch as well.

Purrr-fect Patch is slated to hit LeSportsac and Lilly stores in March, with She’s A Piston (shown below) scheduled for an April launch. This design is so fun we’re making it today’s Pretty in Pink.

Courtesy Photo via Nitrolicious

This is just one of the Lilly collaborations headed our way next year, the M.A.C. in Lillyland cosmetics are also on the way, scheduled to debut January 7.  The Cut blog offers the following on this line:

“But M.A.C. added a much-needed dose of coolness to the pink-and-green paisley label; the products are bright, fun, and of course, colorful (it is M.A.C. after all).”

Not to be forgotten, the spring collection of Lilly stationery and gifts are being readied – can you say plates and market totes?! (If you aren’t on the Lilly Stationery & Gifts mailing list, just click here to sign up for the latest on new offerings and special deals from the Princess.)

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Also donating funds to a good cause, Lacoste.

PHOTO: Elodie GrEgoire

The company plans to give $500,000 to help preserve the Gange gharial crocodile; above, Michael Lacoste is seen holding one of these.  As this story in WWD explains, the Gange gharial is known for “…its long, slender mouth with fully visible teeth.” Perfect for this brand!

Women’s Wear Daily also reported this week that Lacoste plans to expand its shoe offerings for childrens and juniors, including infants; good news, unless perhaps one is a parent responsible for putting said footwear on those little feet.

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We also have word of several more celebrity perfumes in the works. Because there are not enough on the market.

Courtesy Photo via Fashionista

• Eva by Eva Longoria Parker is scheduled for a spring launch
• Danica Patrick will debut Danica Patrick for Her in mid-March
• Beyonce’s perfume, Heat, goes on sale in February

Courtesy photo via Fashionista

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Holiday activities around the world are always fun to see, especially when they involve royalty. (The real kind.)  Below, Princess Caroline of Hanover and her daughter, Princess Alexandra, head to the annual Christmas tree lighting in Monaco.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Gifts are handed out to Monegasque children at the ceremony. The next photo features Princess Caroline of Hanover Prince Albert II, and Princess Stephanie.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

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We leave you a look at Montauk Light, also dressed to celebrate the season.

We hope everyone stays warm and safe, wreathed in smiles. (Silly Princess.)

EDITOR’S NOTE: In case you miss it, Kim at M.I.S.S. was good enough to leave a comment indicating Hip Hop Hooray  is not being produced. So much for our favorite pattern! And our thanks to Kim for the info!

What’s the one line guaranteed to humiliate men everywhere? “Hold my purse”. Trendy handbags are by far women’s favorite accessory. Handbags are very useful and personal, which explains why most women carry one with them. Christmas is approaching, and besides being the happiest time of the year, it’s also the gift season. Need an idea? Since they are so valued by women, handbags should at the very least be an option when shopping for gifts for women.

Women are very attached to their handbags, which they closely link to their personality. Whether they go for a hippie chic style or a more reserved brown leather, you can find a colour and style which will fit perfectly with any woman’s unique personality at a price that’s easy to take like the G by Guess Cassandra Satchel. With a vintage appeal and a soft glamorous look, it’s great for a night out.

Purchasing a handbag shows that you put thought and time into picking out a gift. There are a few things you should look out for when choosing a handbag for someone. Among handbag users, there are certain must haves.

Some women must have a handbag that zips closed at the top. Some don’t mind an open purse where everything can be easily accessed. Still others prefer a handbag that’s deep with separate inside pockets for organized storing. Slim and shallow handbags are the top pick for others.

If you plan to buy a handbag for a woman you care about, you should know her preferences. You can figure that out by paying attention to what she’s carrying now. If the colors are muted and the handbag small, then purchasing one that’s oversized with bright swirls probably wouldn’t be your best idea.

But with such a wide selection to choose from, you can find a handbag to please even the toughest connoisseur of handbags. Take the Lesportsac Deluxe Everyday Bag Shoulder Bag for example.

With the wide choices of designs and attractive colors, you’ll find something that will delight any woman. These handbags can go from Little League to an upscale French restaurant on the same day and fit right in. They’re gorgeous and built to last for many years to come.  You’ll also find that one of the handbags that make great Christmas gifts for women is the Lesportsac Classic Hobo.

Another hot handbag gift idea is the KATHY Van Zeeland Money Talks Belt Shopper. With this nod to great fashion, you can choose from a variety of colors to fit day or night wear and look good no matter what event is happening.

A word of warning, though. Buying this as a gift for someone else might create a such a desire for one you won’t want to give it up. Thanks to online shopping, you’ll be able to check hundreds of different handbags and find no end to the selection of handbags that make great Christmas gifts for women.

No matter how hard you try to ignore it, the Holiday Season is lurking right around the corner. Even those who don’t mark the day with religious observation find themselves caught in the web of the “true” meaning of Christmas, consumerism.

For decades, we have all heard the term “Black Friday” in relation to the first shopping day after Thanksgiving. Despite the holiday ads flooding the telly immediately after the conclusion of Halloween, this day marks the official beginning of the traditional holiday season. It also marks the day that retailers start showing profit for the year thus going from red to black ink on their records.

Because of the long rippling effects of the recession, holiday shoppers are now poised to get more for their holiday shopping budgets. If you are planning to take part of the frenzy (for better or for worse) there are some strategies you can take to not only complete your shopping list, but save some cash in the process.

Holiday Shopping Tips from Pear Shapely:

• Make Like Santa: That simply means make a list and check it twice. Unless you have already started stowing away holiday purchases, take this time to calculate a holiday spending budget as well as confirm who has been naughty or nice on your list.
• Get the 4-1-1-: Money is tight for everyone and just because you have exchanged gifts with friends or family in the past, does not mean that you have to this year. Have honest conversations with your posse and see if you can partake in a homemade gift exchange, cap the limit of gift value or even skip the process all together.
• Let your fingers do the walking: Everyone knows the value of the internet when it comes to comparison shopping. Checking out discount and money advice sites like Buxr.com, Retailmenot.com and Wisebread.com can help you score savings (such as discounts and shipping codes) from your favorite shopping sites
• Become a Groupie: If you have a Facebook page you need to know that your favorite retailers are on there. By becoming a “fan” you will be given V.I.P. treatment and promo discounts will be forthcoming. I’ve gotten great discount offers from my personal faves such Loehmann’s, Lucky Brand and LeSportsac and you can tweak your selections based on your tastes.
• Support Hand Made: Aside from my collection of Hurricane by Jane Jewelry on Etsy, there are literally millions of gift options to choose from.  Your purchase will go to supporting a living, breathing individual, not just a corporation and is an excellent way of sharing the wealth this season.
• Tempus Fugit: There is no time like the present to shop for presents. Regardless of their size, retailers are operating on leaner budgets this year meaning that they have less of a surplus in merchandise. Your best value and selection is right now, plus you will avoid much of the mayhem and chaos of the season.
• Become a Pack Rat: Well, at least with your receipts. Did you know that if you purchase an item and then it goes on sale within fourteen days of purchase, chances are you can go and get the difference back from the store? Bringing your documentation and a sunny disposition are the best ways to ensure a price adjustment in your favor.

Regardless if your holiday budget is $50 or $5000 you can make every penny count!

If you think Birkenstock was just a sandal from the sixties, think again. Ling has carried it with such composure and grace into our modern style together with…

Shirt from Lee
Short pants from Yohji Yamamoto
Bag from LeSportsac
Finally, shoes from Birkenstock. The shoe does it.

Lesportsac Classic Hobo Review

I’ve been carrying Le Sportsac bags for years – mainly because they’re sturdy and lightweight. Overpriced at retail – but I’ve been lucky enough to find them in “discount” type stores in the past (Ross, Marshalls, etc.) and occasionally a good buy at department store sales.Some stores manufacturers have copied them – the handle, fabric are not quite up to LeSport sac specs.
This black “patent” or shiny finish does double duty for travel – it holds everything – including my camera – and I can carry it all day and have no problem carrying it to an evening performance – concert or theatre. Since I travel abroad with only a 21 inch carryon – space and weight are paramount concerns. The purse fits into my shoulder tote – no problem worrying about scrunching it up and thus enables me to clear TSA check with the one bag and one personal item.
P.S. I never cease to be amazed at women who carry large handbags with hardware (buckles, trim) that weigh close to 5 or 6 pounds – this added to all the stuff inside!

Feature

• 12″ W x 9″ H x 5″ D
• Adjustable shoulder strap with 10″ drop
• Currently, LeSportsac products cannot be shipped to Hawaii or Guam.
• Interior features nylon lining; matching utility bag with zip closure; zip pocket
• Nylon

Overview
The classic hobo by LeSportsac is available in bold brights or printed with various motifs in a seasonal palette.

Nov 09, 2009 08:03:03

You might think my bad habit of shopping stops when I’m not inside the mall. NOPE! I’m not really proud of it but the convenience of having everything online isn’t helping me stop the urge to shop. I loooooove the agony of waiting for a package to arrive and the rush I get when my package finally gets to my doorstep. Happiness! Yup! That’s online shopping for me! A bad habit that’s really hard to break.

So what are the items inside my BIG BOX of LOOT?  They’re mostly personal stuff (which are gifts from my husband but hand picked by yours truly)

IN THE BOX

1. Noxzema Original Deep Cleansing Cream

 


I’m a Noxzema baby and I really love the minty scent it has. I practically grew up using Noxzema for my face until Celeteque and Cetaphil came into my life. After missing that refreshing feeling of mint, I’m now back to using Noxzema. I just love how soft it feels on my skin

2. Holga Soft Surround Color Filter Set and Holga Slip-on Filter Holder Adapter

Holga Soft Surround Filters

Holga Slip On Filter Adaptor

Another add-on for my Holga! I can’t wait to use them!

3. Taboo

Finally! Our own Taboo set!

4. Travel Tote

Another useful, light and spacious travel bag for me – too bad, it doesn’t have a zipper to keep my things from falling out (except for the tote that came with it).  I have to find a way to put in magnet closures

Come to think of it, I think my little Yorkie will fit in this tote

5. LeSportsac Tribeca Bag

I’ve always wanted this particular Lesportsac design, the Tribeca, but I never really liked the prints Rustan’s carried.  Good thing I saw it online and it even had embroidered scottish dogs on it! So perfect for a dog lover like me

6. Converse The Jack Purcell Triple V in Silver

 


I initially saw this pair in HK and totally fell in love with it! I dragged my husband to ALL the stores along Sneaker Street in Mong Kok (real name, Fa Yuen Street) but they didn’t have it in my size. I left HK disappointed. Luckily, they still had my size in Converse.com and it was even on sale (Thanks Pat for helping me find it!). What a great buy!

My brother-in-law calls them my FUNKY SPACE SHOES. Haha!

7. Roxy Cascade Black Boots

 Despite the hot weather here in Manila, I love wearing boots which equates to, I love shopping for boots Nothing beats flat suede boots plus mini skirt and a graphic shirt for that casual look.  I currently have a pair of these in so I just had to get it in black this time










8. Roxy Cascade Grey Boots

Ooops! Who said I can only get one pair? Haha! Gotta get it in Grey as well

For the other stuff in my BIG BOX of LOOT, I’ll post them after Christmas since they are gifts for my nieces and nephews.

It’s definitely total Happiness in OCTOBER!

PS. Thanks to my brother in law who shipped all the items to me

The right Le Sport Sac can be used by any shaped gal, and just because I love them so much, I thought I would share a discount code I found with my Pear Shapely brethren.

Tell me what you buy, I will be pear green with envy!

One of the most versatile, exciting gifts you can give a woman is a weekender bag. Weekender bags are great because you can use it as a gym bag, an oversized purse, as a (imagine!) weekend bag, or for short trips as a carry-on.

LeSportsac is one of the hottest brands in bags! They have really stylish designs and are made of very durable materials. Endless.com has some great deals on LeSportsac bags, and offer promotions like free overnight shipping.

Check out LeSportsac and get ready to impress your gift recipient!

After much thought I decided that a striped bag was simple enough travel well, but that the bold colors added the right amount of pizzazz. I also liked how the lines weren’t sharp but bled a little bit, almost like a watercolor painting. Alas, when I back to Endless.com to buy it, it was no longer available!  A few minutes of chaos ensued, until I realized I had a friend online who probably wouldn’t mind discussing prints with me at length.

1 (Cordoba) – I adore this print… but for a blouse, but not a bag. It feels too rich and busy to travel well.
2 (Voyage) – At the opposite end of the spectrum from Cordoba, the nautical feeling stripes would travel very well, but it didn’t feel snappy enough. (I also considered the Bicycle print bag for the same reason, but not for long.)
3 (Paprika) – I liked antique-y floral of the bag, especially compared to a more bubble-gum floral I looked at for a few minutes (Bouquet).  It could probably travel as well as the stripes but it wasn’t speaking to me. Nothing was.

But then I heard the call. It was faint at first. I thought – isn’t this just another floral? Then I thought: this print is too complicated. But when I took another look at what else I had been considering I realized it was perfect. The pattern is complicated but in an organic way that makes it easier on the eyes. It’s colorful enough to stand out, but more detail is apparent if you take a closer look. This bag was calling out to me to take it home.

*Photography by Gaby Peña

Traveling is one of the pleasures that people take for granted in life There is nothing better than going on an airplane or a ship and head to a destination other than home When you travel make sure you have the appropriate accessories, such as clothes, shoes and other things It is therefore very important to have the right kind of bag This article looks at the sack of the weekend LeSportsac

Consider the different types that are availableAmong the main reasons why it is so popularLesportsac was created in 1974 when his inspiration came from a bag canvas military parachute LeSportsac grants were designed to have a look fashionable while being very strong as the military equipment used in canvas bags A hand-sewn bag was created in a small factory in New York and the final product was an action is known as an American classic

The LeSportsac bag weekend is one of the most popular types of bagsThis fashion brand famous It is very popular in the last two decades, and this is largely attributed to his style, appearance and durability The style of the weekend has been created for fashion and people usually take anywhere because it is modern, fresh and elegant People are also drawn to the weekend LeSportsac because it is also very durable

The company creating the errors that were able to control wear and no weekendmany E ‘can handle the rigors of travel without fear apartThe LeSportsac Travel Bag Weekend is available in a wide range of styles, colors and materials There are three types of scholarships available, Medium, Large and Extra Large weekend Great is the most popular size is ideal for keeping clothing and shoes you need for a short trip or visit on weekends Not enough pockets, compartments and space to contain everything a woman needs for thisperiod of time The method is used for short journeys have less space is required and the extra large is used when there is more space requiredIf looking for a weekend

LeSportsac different regime, there are many different available You have floral motifs, such as paint, each offers something different, but that makes it unique These varieties of looks that these bags perfect for both young and old, because there is something for

LeSportsac everyoneTheSac weekend has been very popular in recent years because they are very stylish, durable and is the perfect travel bag These bags can be had, on average, large and extra large and are also available in many different styles of design This bag is highly recommended because it is perfect for travel, its scope and it looks great

Thanks to the book I’m currently reading (The House Dress: A Story of Eroticsm and Fashion) I’ve learned that using printed fabric used to be regarded as a lesser alternative to traditional clothing.  It’s much harder to notice seams and stitches beneath a print, so it could be used to disguise shoddy craftsmanship or an amateur sewing job. I’m not sure when things changed, but thankfully these days prints get just as much respect as solid color clothing. I’m hooked.

Right now I’m pretty over the moon for printed LeSportSac weekend bags. I don’t have one (yet), but I’ve wanted one since this one time I saw some at a Nordstrom’s Rack in Chicago and thought I’d come back for one – but never did. A few days ago I did a not-so-scientific online survey of weekend bags and determined that LeSportSac made the best ones. As luck (or planning) would have it I’m Euro-hopping in October, and have decided that carrying a LeSportSac weekend bag will be the best way to stay nimble while navigating through baggage restrictions and across old cobblestone streets.

I already spent a good 20 minutes discussing with a friend which print I should buy. There are so many to choose from I’m just delighted to have such a field of options. I present the top ones (from Endless.com), here:

Tough choice! There are even more options at Endless.com – 27, to be exact. You can click on any one of the pictures to see the full selection. You can also go to the LeSportSac website, this Macy’s search result, or this one, to see even more options. And just to be clear – I didn’t take any of these photos. I took screenshots of what I found on the web, and linked the pictures to their respective sites.

Last week a co-worker mentioned that she would be traveling soon, and asked me if I had any recommendations for a good weekend bag. I like the idea of a weekend bag because it’s much easier to carry them in crowded areas (rather than have a rolling suitcase and inevitably roll it over someone’s feet), and there are some travel situations where having a suitcase – however small – seems unnecessary and a bit too intense. Right off the bat I told her that she should go to Loehmann’s, Nordstrom’s Rack, or some other such store – most of my bags I’ve bought discounted. I also recommended LeSportSac. I’ve never owned one of those bags, but whenever I travel I see women carrying them – and I don’t think I’ve seen the same print twice.

I figured I should do some online research to make sure I had an accurate idea of the possibilities, so I visited the following websites:

Nordstroms
Macys
Shopstyle
Endless
Piperlime
Zappos
LL Bean
J. Crew
Kenneth Cole
Puma
Kate Spade
LeSportSac
Dooney & Bourke
Longchamp

Nordstroms/Macys: Not recommended if you want something interesting or fun. Weekend bags were found with the luggage, and basically seemed to be extensions of the luggage collections. Searching in handbags yielded prettier choices, but nothing large enough to actually use for a trip.

Shopstyle/Endless/Piperlime/Zappos: All of these sites aggregate offerings from other brands or websites so they’re really useful. Shopstyle and Endless have a great selection of bags, and it did not take more than a couple of clicks to get to them. The least expensive on Shopstyle was $55, a small bag found at Endless.com; the most expensive was $1695 and made by Balenciaga. There were a number of trendy looking designer bags in the $200-$400 range, and small bags that would really only be fit for an overnighter for under $100. LeSportSac, however, had weekend bags in different sizes and prints ranging from $80-$120.  The situation was similar at Piperlime and Zappos, except they had a smaller selection of bags, and most of what was surfaced in the search result was LeSportSac.

L.L. Bean/J. Crew: L.L. Bean had ugly duffel bags, and J. Crew had fancy luggage sets. Not useful.

Kenneth Cole/Puma/Kate Spade: I chose these stores because I think of all of them as brands that offer good bags. None of their websites yielded anything large enough to pack for a weekend or longer. Oddly enough, I did see a couple of Puma weekend bags on other websites – but only a couple, and nothing but duffel bags on the Puma site.

LeSportSac/Dooney & Bourke/Longchamp: FINALLY we’re cooking with gas! Dooney & Bourke and Longchamp are higher end, but I knew they’d have what I was looking for, and LeSportSac did too, obviously. These are large, roomy nylon bags with two handles and a long shoulder strap. Lightweight, durable, and stylish.

Note about the Department Stores: I figured out later on that you can find weekend bags *not* in the luggage section if you search by brand. But this means that you have to know which brand you want. I of course searched LeSportSac and found a number of bags, but only a few weekenders.

LeSportSac is definitely the bag/brand that I recommend. Travel bags come in an array of sizes and prints, they’re durable, and affordable. I’m traveling soon and plan to get a large weekender for my trip. Each website had at least a couple of unique prints so I suggest going to department store sites, Endless.com, and the LeSportSac website itself to compare. Note that the weekender comes in four sizes, and if you don’t buy it from the LeSportSac site directly, you may have to search a few sites to find it in small, medium, or extra-large.

Hello-Hello and Happy Wednesday!

We begin with a look at a style term we generally consider an oxymoron: sexy preppy.  Think back to those growing-up years, was appearing “sexy” something Mummy or Daddy aspired to? An achievement looked upon favorably, on a par with shooting in the low 70’s at this year’s club outing? A priority upon the fashion landscape at your palace?  We think not.  And it certainly was not a topic of conversation, heaven forbid.

Now, before we get our whiskers in a wad, be advised the Princess is not suggesting that those adhering to a preppish style aesthetic are not “sexy”.  Rather, we make a distinction in how one arrives at attaining such a look.  For preps this comes as a byproduct of pursuing classic lines in well-made garments; the result is an understated elegance. This far transcends any of-the-moment styles frequently revealing much-too-much and leaving nothing to the imagination.  The style is accented by a carefree touch of the whimsical, and it never takes itself too seriously.

Having now bored everyone to tears said all this, we were intrigued by a story in the Calgary Herald last week, “The Prepster“ with a subhead “Local Designer Embraces Preppiness And Makes It His Own With Edgy Designs”.

The story focuses on the KaaDiki menswear line, seen above and in the photo below.

The story describes the line this way:

“Featuring plenty of red, white and blue–he loves bright colours– his button-down shirts have preppy crests, zip-up sweaters are form-fitting and blazers are elegant yet funky.”

While the apparel exhibits preppish traits, we must be annoying and point out the phrase “preppy crests” belongs on our ever-lengthening list of fashion oxymorons. Honestly. The family crest is rarely (if ever) seen these days, far more a re-invention of designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, and most assuredly not seen on a woven shirt.

Designer Haithem Elkadiki describes his style in the story:

“I’m obsessed with the preppy thing, always. But preppy can be boring, so it’s taking the whole idea and mixing it with sex appeal.”

As mentioned, there is much to like in the line, and the young designer is more than appealing, passionate about his work. But we don’t think there is any peril The Consort will be seen sporting KaaDiki at Princess InterGalactic HQ.

Were you raised in a tradition favoring a  “sexy” look (ahem), or did the family favor things more like those found at LL Bean and Brooks Brothers?

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Our next little newsflash is almost a week old and most readers are probably already aware of the news, but you know what we used to say all those years we worked in TV: “If it’s news, it’s news to us!” (Heh-heh-heh.)

At any rate, we were tickled to learn via WWD that one of our favorite designers has announced a new collaborative effort: Lilly Pulitzer is partnering with LeSportsac on a line of bags for Spring 2010, whoo-hoo!

There are three different Lilly prints being used for the Sportsac pieces, including ‘Hip Hop Hooray,’ seen below.

According to the WWD story:

“The three prints — cobranded specifically for the collaboration — center on endangered species such as Florida panthers (other “animals of the Everglades” are also featured).”

Below, what we believe to be the ‘Purrrfect Patch‘ design:

The joint effort is nothing new for the company; previous collaborations have showcased designers like Stella McCartney, Diane von Furstenberg, and Jonathan Adler, among others. Next, more loveliness in the ‘She’s a Piston’ print.

This one is so luscious we are making it today’s Pretty in Pink. Our thanks to the always-on-top-of-things Nitrolicious for the photos, as well as information on the upcoming Lilly Loves Green campaign and the three LeSportsac prints:

“… a yearlong initiative generating support and awareness for all the green things Lilly loves (the ocean, the animals, and the planet) – the three co-branded prints center around endangered species, specifically Florida panthers, butterflies, and animals of the Everglades, generating environmental awareness in colorful fashionable style.”

We have had more than one LeSportsac on hand almost since the company’s inception thirty-five years ago and can’t wait to see these in person. There will clearly be more than one “must have” in the collection, they all look like loads of fun.

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We share a tidbit we think the lovely Muffy Martini will consider good news, word that Montblanc is expanding their footprint in Beverly Hills. Friday’s WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription req’d.) shares the interior of the firm’s larger star on Rodeo Drive.

One of our favorite topics of conversation often arises when discussions of one’s favorite writing instruments. Below, the Paso Doble pen from Montblanc.

We didn’t realize Montblanc was making eyewear – are we hopelessly behind the times with this realization?

Above, the Montblanc Amalfi sunglasses.

On this note we say G’bye until tomorrow, may your afternoon be fabulous!

We can’t forget about the ladies in our post so we’ll be throwing up threads to make sure you get the low on what’s high…on our radar. LeSportsac is running this season with vinyl bags made by Tomokazu Matsuyama. The colors are what caught my eye. I wish they had a better bag silhouette however. The bags range in price from $40-110 which is pretty reasonable.

via NylonMag

My favorite thing about a new school year is school supplies.  Not only does that include ball point pens, highlighters, and a moleskin but also a fun laptop case and gorgeous carry-all for those pesky textbooks.   Here are some bright ideas to combat the humdrum Longchamp & Vera Bradley bags all too common on campus.

Lesportsac carries the most creatively patterned laptop cases

one of my favorites:

There is something about seeing old friends from High School after many years that somehow brings life to a full circle. One of the many positive parts about returning to Guam even under the difficult circumstances was meeting up with my best friends from High School, Mel and Joe.

I have known Mel since Elementary School. In fact, his family was my second family. I would ride my bicycle to his home on weekends to spend the day there.  Mel loves to raise fish and has always had several aquariums and ponds. At one time he wanted be an Ichthyologist.

I met Joe through Mel in High School, after I transferred in from Catholic School. Joe and I are actually related; Joe was our comedy central and brought more laughs to our little triad of friendship.

In High School, we were inseparable.  We were involved in Student Government, AFJROTC, Junior Achievement, Chamorro Club, Youth Week, and the list went on and on.  We had so many adventures and we had our dramas.  We laughed together, we argued, we worked on projects together, and we also grew in our different ways.

Life happened after graduation.  We all moved on our different paths.  I left Guam for BYU and became a Mormon.  Mel and Joe followed divergent paths.

Joe was the first to come out.   Then a few years later Mel came out.  I was the straggler that finally came out last.  So we were all gay.  Duh?!!?  Anyone who knew us in High School would not be that surprised.

Mel directs the retail operations of the exclusive LeSportsac and Joe is an accomplished florist and event designer.

Mel

Now here we were in the Hyatt Hotel being hosted by Mel at the wonderful Niji Restaurant enjoying a great Japanese Brunch Buffet with all you can drink Champagne.  We talked for hours. It was like we were continuing our conversation so naturally from years ago, Yes we were older, Yes we have experienced so much of life. However, there was enough of those High School boys still left in us to still laugh and gab the hours away.

We even left for the local Haagen Dazs for coffee and the guys wanted some ice cream but it was mostly to continue to talk.

Time may aged the body but it only magnifies and matures the wonderful taste of great friendships.  It was nice spending time with you, Mel and Joe.

Last night I went along with my friend Liz to Mr. Mickey’s Sweet 16 party at LeSportSac on Greene St in SoHo to celebrate his 16 year anniversary at Paper Mag. Everyone had a great time sipping on champagne and eating mini cupcakes and candy. We had a little too much fun and took wayyy too many pictures, Click below to view some of the pics from the night.

hayyy Dj

Candy for the party guests!

Mini cupcakes! so cute and delicious!

Me and Liz(Kensie Girl)
6″ />
Cute dress!..and bunny ears!

This pair had great style.

George(Kensie Girl), Liz(Kensie Girl), and Memsor Kamarake(Vibe

Another cute dress!

Ym(Freshness Mag) in Jordan crackle! and Wendy(Nitrolicious)

Wendy(Nitrolicious) had on the Elizabeth and James ring I love! Im still on the look out for a cheaper copy of it.

Another cute dress girl! and Richie(Finn Jewelry)


George(Kensie Girl) trying to model my fringe bracelet for me! and me.

George(Kensie Girl), Kim(Marie Claire)and Liz(Kensie Girl) with more than enough champagne bottles!

Of course I have to model my body chain for you, etsy shop coming soon!

I sooo want balloons with my face on them. Someone needs to make this happen asap!

The party crowd.