A friend recently came across a small photo album that my daughter had made after a fun weekend.  How wonderful that she saved it!  My daughter had carefully captioned and embellished each page … simple yet so meaningful.  And to this day,   my daughter will still always put together little things to ‘make the moment special’…. whether its a photo album, place card, notes around the house, treasure hunts, birthday crowns, surprises,  etc.!    When I think about it,  each Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day,  Halloween & Christmas and even ‘made-up’ holidays such as half birthdays,  she has done something to make the day memorable!   It doesn’t take much (though my daughter never ceases to amaze me!)  and even a very small gestures can mean the world to someone. I am one of the luckiest mom’s in the world.

We have so many fun memories … of fireside ’shows’, strawberry picking, playing in the mud, getting out the hat box, etc. etc….

At the end of the day,   all we have are our memories.     And those memories are grounded in quality time,  laughter,  thoughtful gestures and love.     These are the precious moments that become our claim to immortality, the traditions and thoughtfulness that define who we are and the legacies that we pass on.  Enjoy each day and do a little something to make someone else’s day today.   That is a luxury for you as well as for someone else ~ costing nothing and priceless in value.   Luxuriously simple …   Life-changingly special.

Mother Teresa once said, “If you want peace in the world, go home and love your children”.    As I get older, her words ring truer and truer.  Love is patient, kind and necessary.   If we all were more loving,  there would be greater peace in this world.  And our children are our claim to eternity … our most valuable gift and our greatest luxury.   Their is no greater love than a love for a child.

Valentines Day is my favorite holiday.  I guess it’s the romantic in me …  I so love romance and loving surprises.   Yesterday I received from my daughter the most gorgeous Valentines Day gift…. It was a mousepad, with photos of the two of us as well photos of our small family of four, and written below was “Happy Valentines Day to the best Mom in the world!”.  How special.   This morning when I woke up on my phone was a text from my son which read,  ”Happy Valentines Day, Mom.  I love you”.    Ask me –  do I feel lucky?    Wow.   Yes.

Love comes in so many forms.   So often, we don’t take the time to tell those we love how much we love them.  So this Valentines Day ~ start your own tradition.   Be it with a gift, song, call, or text ~  love each one of your children today.   And put all of that love right at the front of your chest where you can show it to the world.    They say you ‘get what you give’ and that which is inside us, is reflected back to us.   So, this Valentine’s Day,  why not make it the most pure and genuine of loves.   Approach everyone you meet with a loving heart.  The minute you let love into your heart, then you can start, to make the world better….

The Olympics.  The best of the best.  Achieving Dreams.  Believing.   The power of now.

On the morning of the Opening Ceremonies,  I wake up with such a feeling of quiet excitement.  A beginning.  Dreams coming true.  Achieving the impossible.  Breaking records.  Personal Bests.   Becoming a Legacy.

There is no question that the Olympics represent excellence.  I love everything about the Olympics.  The goals, the hard work, the dreams, the global unity, the competition and the pride.   Here we go.   Embrace the Olympics for it’s search for excellence.  And then … in your own quiet way…  carry your own torch.   Here’s to the Olympics.  Here’s to breaking records.  Here’s to surpassing expectations.  Here’s to personal bests and here’s to achieving the unachievable.

I believe … do you?

I am sharing the attached which was circulated by a work colleague today.   We see each other on occasion at meetings,  share business ideas and talk shop …. but this was inspirational to receive.  How nice to share a ‘non-business’ idea amongst business colleagues!   THEREIN lies the luxury.   People who share business beliefs,  embrace other mutual beliefs.   How fulfulling and rewarding…  And how fun to know that the people you work with have the same – yet different – multiple layers that you do.

Not to mention the unquestionable luxury of getting lost in a good book!   So all you book club goers …. INDULGE!!!  And please SHARE!

Best_Books.html

But along with that comes other lessons in living  … those of ‘living well’.  Luxury living takes on many meanings.   This ‘code’ reflects many of my own principles.   Read and enjoy…

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:

1.       Drink plenty of water.

2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

4.       Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5.       Make time to pray.

6.       Play more games

7.       Read more books than you did in 2009 .

8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9.       Sleep for 7 hours.

10.    Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11.    Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12.    Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13.    Don’t overdo. Keep your limits.

14.    Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15.    Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.

16.    Dream more while you are awake

17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18.    Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.

20.    Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23.    Smile and laugh more.

24.    You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:

25.    Call your family often.

26.    Each day give something good to others.

27.    Forgive everyone for everything..

28.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of  6.

29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.

31.    Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32.    Do the right thing!

33.    Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

34.    GOD heals everything.

35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37.    The best is yet to come..

38.    When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39.    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40.    Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

1. Pack a healthy lunch, fill a Thermos of coffee, and spare the environment another plastic bottle by carrying water in a reusable container.   Roberta’s son Eric, now saves at least $5 per day out of his pocket. Take away a couple of dollars, max, for ingredients, and you are still dollars ahead.

2. Paste a sticker that says, 800-FREE-411 (or 800-373-3411) onto both your cell and home telephone. Instead of paying your telephone service up to $3.50 for a telephone number, why not listen to a 10-second commercial and get the number for free? Makes sense to me.

3. Save clothing and dry cleaning bills by applying makeup, hairs spray and fragrances prior to putting on clothing. All can stain and cause undue wear on fabrics that results from repeated cleaning. Also, try spot cleaning your jacket or slacks with a product like OxiClean Spray-Away — and you may be able to wear the garment another day or so. These steps can help save both your budget and the environment.   (Dryel is also a great product for at home dry cleaning!)

4. Start a recession garden. A vegetable garden has enormous harvesting potential and with tomatoes running up to $2.99 per pound, consider how much money could be saved with a few healthy plants (I love to plant basil nearby). A seed and planting budget of around $50 could provide a savings of up to $1,200 per year — along with hours of enjoyment, plus grateful neighbors and friends.

5. Start composting vegetable scraps, grass clippings, raked leaves, vacuum cleaner dust, dead plants, trimmings and leftover potting soil in a composting bin — or layer with soil in an area of your garden. You’ll attract earthworms and the resulting organic compost will do wonders for both your garden, landfills and the environment. You’ll also save substantially on soil amendments and fertilizers.

6. Switch to term life insurance. This could potentially save you hundreds or thousands of dollars each year. Except in rare circumstances, life insurance is not an investment — and you will be far ahead buying term insurance and investing or saving the difference in premiums. You can easily check term life insurance rates online.

7. Cancel memberships in clubs or gyms you do not use. You might also cancel automatically renewing subscriptions if you are not reading them or can find the same information online. Be sure to check cancellation fees first. Also consider canceling the cable or satellite channels you don’t watch. These steps alone could healthily plump up one’s monthly budget.

8. Clip coupons and tie them to grocery store weekly specials . More and more Americans are returning to this practice and find that they are saving substantially on their grocery bills. Just make sure you are purchasing products you will use–and that are not overpriced even when discounted. Keep coupons in your bag or in the car so they are on hand when you go shopping.

9. Get out of a cell phone plan early –or into one without making a two-year commitment. There are several services that allow you to do so, including CellSwapper. You may also be in a position to renegotiate your cell phone plan with your carrier if it no longer meets your needs. Become a squeaky wheel!

10. Go green and buy used if possible. You are giving a product a longer life, helping the environment, and can save substantial money as well. Check local garage sales, CraigsList, ebay or local papers to find what you are seeking. It also helps to share your wants and needs with friends, who can aid you in your search. And a final note: With a $1,000 deductible on our auto insurance, it makes sense for Eric to pay for the damage on his own. Given that he will be buying his own insurance policy in a year or so, the impact on his premiums with this claim could create an ultimate cost difference of more than $800.

And a few more suggestions from this author…

11.  Look online for ‘Promotional Codes and Coupons’:   When ordering online,  you will often see a space for a promotional code which reduces the purchase price.   If you check online before checking out, you can often find a special that enables you to add this promotional code before check out!  It adds up!!

12.  Drink Water:   When dining out,  order water.      It is good for both you and your wallet!   Be sure to ask for tap water,  which is much less expensive than the bottled kind!   Nine times out of ten, it is cold and delicious!

13.   RECYCLE!:  Check with your local recycling plant, but you will be amazed at how much can be recycled!   I have a neighbor who even recycles Splenda packets!   If you live in a  town where you have to pay per bag on trash collection, this will save you greatly and help the environment at the same time.

14.   Internet Greeting Cards and Invitations:    These days so much can be done through the internet.   Wonderful Evites and Singing Greeting Cards can be  fun and free!   Save on paper and postage!

15.   Skype:   What better way to say ‘I love you’ to those across the country or across the globe.    And once again…. it’s free ~

Would you pay more for this magnificent presentation?   In my view, presentation can truly enhance the taste and experience. Like a beautiful home or a beautiful person, appearances matter.  The art of the coffee stimulates conversation, enhances the taste and makes the coffee something admire, enjoy and savour.  

In my view,  coffee art is here to stay.

Bravo.

TheStyleGroup identifies what it believes to be the ‘top 10 Private Luxury Jets’.  Number One is the Boeing Business Jet.  With 91 sold today, this 807 sq foot interior aircraft can be decorated to look like a private home.   For your next birthday celebration?

The list:

1.  Boeing Business Jet

2.  Bombadier Challenger 604

3.  Gulfstream V

4.  Embraer Legacy

5.  Citation X

6.  LearJet 60

7.  Hawker 800 XP

8.  Citation V

9.  Beech Jet 400A

10.  LeerJet 31A/35

http://www.thestylegroup.com/top10_jets.htm

A night surrounded by Chocolate. Floor, walls, ceiling, table. Even renowned pieces of art have been recreated in chocolate — including Gustav Klimpt’s ‘The Kiss’ (above left) and a Nelson Pollack abstract (above right). That is what Godiva has created in the ‘ Godiva Decadence Suite’, recently mastered in Manhattan. Everything…and I mean everything…is made and inspired by chocolate. Chandeliers of chocolate crystal, candelabras of dark chocolate, novels  on the book shelves laced with milk chocolate truffles, a chocolate daybed on which to lounge while savoring the chocolate feast surrounding you. This promotional extravaganza has been created by Godiva for one lucky winner. Located in New York’s Bryant Hotel, the grand prize is a flight for two to New York City and a ‘delicious’ weekend for two in the sensational chocolate suite. Coupled with a private chocolate tasting at Godiva by Godiva’s chocolatier Thierry Muret, a chocolate spa experience and a private gourmet meal with elegant wine served bedside in the suite. Oh….and I can’t forget….a one-year supply of Chocolate delivered to your home following your departure, Godiva of course.

The frosting? The experience is truly ‘one of a kind’. Following the weekend, the room is deconstructed so that no one else can share in the same decadent extravaganza.

What will they do next year??? Stay tuned, chocolate lovers.

Photo above: Actress Ali Larter tastes a mantelpiece made of chocolate in the 2008 Godiva Decadence Suite (Courtesy of Brisbane Times.)

Hopping between Bordeaux, Cotes de Roussillon, Napa Valley, Piedmont and Mendoza in your Lalique crystal glass.   Your private sommalier uncorks a bottle of Krug Brut, Blanc de Blanc Champagne Klos de Mesnil to prime your palate for the elegant pairing of cuisine and wine which awaits you.  After dinner limited edition cigars are coupled with exquisite Pionneau 1969 cognac for an after-dinner digestif and warmth.   Spa service…stress-relieving massage, relaxing pedicure, soothing manicure or all-of-the-above -  when you please.  Known as the ‘perfect palate’. 

A perfect taste of paradise.

Utopia.