15. Akris Punto Leather Belt

Price: $198,00 at Saks

If you would like something that has a lot of fashion sense with it, then this Akris Punto Leather Belt would be the way to go. It will be sure to give you that sophisticated look with that outfit you have been wanting to wear. It has a single notch closure, double loops and is made in Switzerland. This is also a great price for such a good belt. I found it very unique.

1. The Italian Riviera …

Wow, this is such a gorgeous place. The Cinque Terre is a gorgeous national park, which connects five quaint villages. Walking routes connect the villages and follow the coastline, as well as offering hikes through gorgeous hills. The villages remain unaffected by tourism, but still boast gorgeous Italian restaurants and hotels. They are also within easy reach of Pisa, Tuscany and Genoa. I cannot wait to visit here. Italians are so friendly, and the scenery looks divine!

1. A walk in romantic Paris …

Think Romance. Think Paris! Whether single or a couple, you can go soak up the sun at Le Paris Plage beach or just shop till you drop at one of the high end fashion stores!

2. Dancing in Rome …

Let your hair down and dance the night away at the Estate Romana Festival! Right from dance and music to theater and art galleries – there is a lot you can indulge in!

3. Enjoy Haute Couture in Milan …

We all love shopping don’t we? And feeling like a million bucks! Milan boasts of some of the best shopping stores in the whole of Europe.

Top 10 Places to Travel to in the US…

4. Pamper yourself with chocolates in Switzerland …

If you love everything chocolate and feel great just looking at it, then go to Ticino in Switzerland! Stir up a cup of nice hot chocolate and dig into a bar of bitter chocolate while savoring the beauty of the icy mountains! Hmm…sounds heavenly doesn’t it?

5. Meet the rich and famous in Amsterdam …

If you dream of meeting all the celebrities, then you can do so – in wax! Yes, we’re talking about Madame Tussaud’s in Amsterdam!

Traveling Abroad Guide – Tips and Tricks!

“Taking all things together, would you say you are: very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all happy?” and “All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?”

These are the two questions which researchers asked majority of the population from different countries in the world. Despite the fact that poverty, inflation, political tension and economic problems abound -the world is actually getting happier!

“It’s a surprising finding,” said University of Michigan political scientist Ronald Inglehart, who headed up the survey. “It’s widely believed that it’s almost impossible to raise an entire country’s happiness level.”

-Neat O Rama

The figures are based on the World Values Survey conducted by the United States National Science Foundation.

Denmark topped the list as the happiest nation, while Zimbabwe ranked as the least happy nation in the world. The survey was based from a study conducted in 97 countries.

Next to the Danes, Puerto Rico and Colombia make the top 3 happiest nations in the world. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe ranked as the most glum, with Russia and Iraq following suit. The United States took the 16^th spot, right behind Switzerland, Canada and Sweden.

The most interesting finding from the survey is that prosperity contributes to happiness -but it is not the most important factor -personal freedom is even more important.

If you were the one who was asked these 2 questions, how would you answer? Do you think that you would be happier if you lived in a different country?

Aspen, Colorado, United States

It may be home to the rich and famous but you can pick up speed on these slops whether you are an amateur or a professional. Aspen’s bumps and steeps offer you excellent intermediate runs. Spread across hundreds of acres this location is beauty at a price!

Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

Celebrate life at Tremblant in grand style. This resort was renovated with an investment of $13 billion. Having been in existence from 1939, this resort has a legacy of quality. Just an hour away from the city lights of Montreal, this location is frequently visited by those who just want to get away.

Stowe, Vermont, United States

Stowe has New England charm as it is set in a picturesque location. You can take your pick between Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield. This area also has the biggest vertical drop so it’s perfect for the adventurous. The beauty of this resort is that it has a lift link to a different resort. If you’re heart is not out on the slopes you could shop at the 90 outlets available or dine at the 60 restaurants.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France

Did you know that this was the venue for the first Olympic Games? That was way back in 1924. Lying at below Mont Blanc, it is the highest peak in the Alpine region and the second highest in all of Europe. It can boast lift served vertical drop and one of the longest runs (13.7) in the world.

Zermatt, Switzerland

Although Gstaad and St. Moritz are quite famous, Zermatt still remains one of the preferred skiing resorts in the world. With an abundance of snowfall and a big lift served vertical drop, this peaceful locale attracts skiers from around the globe. Snow makers are used for the lower slopes to keep them full for your skiing pleasure.

Kitzbuhel, Austria

Often called the ‘Pearl of the Alps’ this resort located in the Austrian Tyrol offered skiing right from 1892. This village dates back to over 700 years back and charms tourists with its beautiful slopes.

Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia

Whistler’s village has everything from cafes to restaurants and international stores. Often voted the world’s greatest resort, they do justice to their name. The Japanese are particularly fond of this destination.

Fabulous picture by DanMan77

The dessert itself is a mix of cocoa and milk, frozen to a slush-like drink. Five grams of 24-carat gold is mixed in and then it’s topped with more gold and garnished with a $250 chocolate truffle that is flown in from France.

The dessert has just gone on sale and actually needs a two week lead time (they also fly the gold in from Switzerland). So far they haven’t sold any, but I’m sure that’s just a matter of time.

Source

Jed at The London Traveler blogs about this wonderful city and its environs.  From the typical, to the not-so-typical, he’ll convince you to put this city at the top of your must-see list.

Geoff at The Switzerland Traveler blogs about beauty and serenity of the country, that we’ve come to expect, but reminds us that there’s more to Switzerland than just mountains and lakes.

Heather at The Las Vegas Adventurer blogs about happenings on, and off, the Strip.  It’s more than glitz and glam, and if you’re heading to BlogWorld Expo, better check this out before you go.

These are great friends, and I hope you take the opportunity to get to know them!

________________________________________________

Technorati Tags: b5media, Flyaway Café, flight attendants, travel, vacation, travel information, travel tips, travel blogs, The London Traveler, The Switzerland Traveler, The Las Vegas Adventurer, destination blogs, city blogs

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Inventor Spot alerted me to these luxurious ear pieces made in Switzerland by the Phonak Group which come in many styles and colors. They’re not cheap, but they’re barely visible, which for some, might justify the $1500-$3500 price tag.  As far as actual sound quality, Boomer Babe says, "The Phonak designs also amplify the high-pitched sounds, like consonants and rustling paper, that are more difficult to hear — facilitating conversation and enjoyment of the sounds of nature. The PCA’s also promise to deliver more clarity, even in situations where there is considerable background noise, like concerts or conferences."

Jive recording artist Justin Timberlake adds special guests to his 2007 FutureSex/LoveShow. Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, and Kenna have been chosen to open on specific European dates of the wildly popular and critically well received 2007 FutureSex/LoveShow, which kicked off April 24 in Belfast, Ireland.

The 2007 FutureSex/LoveShow, which already includes an exceptional performance by mega-producer Timbaland, adds Kenna as the first of three special guests on May 8th in Birmingham. Kenna who arrived on the music scene with the highly praised album, New Sacred Cow, will open for Justin for six dates and finish his part of the tour on May 19th in Nottingham. Kenna is scheduled to release his latest effort, Make Sure They See My Face, later this summer. Natasha Bedingfield, who to date has sold over 6.1 million units worldwide of her #1 UK debut album Unwritten, takes over where Kenna left off and hits the stage for 21 dates. She will open up for Justin in Paris on May 22nd and will end her leg of the tour in Antwerp, Belgium on July 27th. Natasha’s sophomore album N.B. was recently released in the UK. Rounding off the trio of hit making special guests is 3-time Grammy award winner and multi-platinum artist Fergie. Fergie’s solo debut, The Dutchess, has spawned three #1 singles “Fergalicious”, “London Bridge” and “Glamorous.” Starting on July 1st in Dublin Fergie will take over opening duties for the tour and conclude on the final date of the 2007 FutureSex/LoveShow on July 10th in London.

Justin Timberlake has returned to perform in arenas in the UK and Europe. Justin Timberlake accompanied by a 14 piece band and back up dancers is performing in the round, bringing the intimate mood of his acclaimed Live Listening Sessions into the arena setting and essentially making every seat a great seat and creating the ultimate 360° multi-media viewing experience. All the latest tour information can be found at www.JustinTimberlakeFanClub.com.

Confirmed shows and dates are as follows:

May 3-5 Glasgow, Scotland SECC

May 8-9 & 11 Birmingham, England NIA

May 14-15 Manchester, England MEN

May 19 Nottingham, England Nottingham Arena

May 22-23 Paris, France Bercy

May 25 Stuttgart, Germany Schleyerhalle

May 26 Munich, Germany Olympiahalle

May 28 Frankfurt, Germany Festhalle

May 29 Mannheim, Germany Sap Arena

June 1 Milan, Italy Forum

June 2 Zurich, Switzerland Hallenstadion

June 4 Vienna, Austria Stadthalle

June 6 Berlin, Germany Max Schmelling

June 7 Leipzig, Germany Arena

June 9 Hamburg, Germany Colorline Arena

June 10 Koln, Germany Arena

June 12 Lyon, France Tony Garnier

June 13 Dortmund, Germany Westfallenhalle

June 16 Amsterdam, the Netherlands Arena

June 19 Stockholm, Germany Globen

June 21 Oslo, Norway Spektrum

June 23 Copenhagen, Denmark Parken

June 25 Gothenberg, Sweden Scandinavian

June 27 Antwerp, Belfast Sports Palais

June 30 Dublin, Ireland RDS

July 1 Dublin, Ireland RDS

July 4-5, 7-8, 10 London, England The O2 Arena

*All dates are subject to change.

The 6 million worldwide selling album, FutureSex/LoveSounds co-written and co-produced by Justin Timberlake, hit #1 on the Billboard charts in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Singapore, Korea, and Malaysia and broke all digital album sales records. The fourth single, LoveStoned, is set to go to radio later this summer. Additional producers on the album include JAWBreakers, Timbaland and Rick Rubin.

(courtesy of Sony BMG)

Gabriella became my roommate. Gabriella became my party friend. Gabriella became my link to the EUROTRASH and SOCIALITE WORLD.

(Wikipedia definition of Eurotrash: Applied to European visitors to North America who are thought to make self aggrandizing claims of wealth, status, or nobility.)

These were new groups I had not yet explored. Most of my friends were creative media types, actors and investment bankers so this was all exciting for me!

Apparently, Gabriella’s contacts in New York City were mostly ex-college friends from Switzerland who were mostly trust fund babies. We hung out especially with her two friends, Laura and Katherine. Laura was a nice Jewish American Princess. She was very proud to announce that she was a JAP. Her grandmother had something to do with NYU Medical Center. I think she owned part of the building or something. When I first met Laura, she showed up at our door wearing her Prada knapsack and holding two Tosca dresses that her grandmother had bought for her. She preferred eating out at chic restaurants on the Upper East Side.

Then there was Katherine. I wasn’t sure about her accent but it sounded like she tried to sound British. Her family home was in South Hampton and she lived in a small studio apartment in Trump Tower. You know how some people just look like horseback riders? Well she was one of them. You can just imagine her galloping around in a Calvin Klein ad.

During the daytime when I was at my job at Warner Brothers, Gabriella babysat for a local three-year-old. Her main job was to take the kid to and from the Montessori school across the street and teach her to swim in the penthouse pool. Now that I look back, she was really a nanny but paid babysitter wages.

After a long work week I looked forward to Friday nights. When I’d get home, we’d scarf down our dinners, and dress up to go party. The flavor one summer was Aubar, considered a Eurotrash club. One Wednesday night, bored out of our minds we decided to hit Aubar’s. There weren’t many people in the club, just a swarm of people on the dance floor. Gabriella and I were standing near the bar when we were approached by a group of Eurotrash guys. Shouting through the “Macarena” song I found out they were pretty young, like maybe nineteen or twenty. One wanted to buy me a drink and so he took out a wad of fifties. We’ll call him Pablo, the kind teen. When it was time to go home, Pablo insisted on paying for a limo to take us home. We only were a ten minute drive away but hey, it was a free limo ride so what the hell. He gave the driver a fifty and waved goodbye as Gabriella and I drank champagne inside the plush interior. I remember her turning to me and beaming, “See? This is what I’m used to!”

I nodded and drank my glass. I was thinking, “This is what it must feel like to be a call girl.”

When we were out with Katherine, we always went to Frederick’s. The girl practically lived there because we had a reserved table waiting for us all the time. Once people were sitting at the table and the waiters shoo’ed them off. I didn’t even feel bad. Screw you suckers, I’m with the Socialite gang. I soon got used to this VIP treatment a couple of years later when I never again had to pay to get into clubs and I was given my own reserved tables. Until you experience this, you won’t know. VIP treatment is like an addiction. Once you taste it, you can’t go back.

Eventually, I got sick of Gabriella constantly fawning over her Socialite friends. They were nice and all but the girl needed some perspective. She so wanted to be a trust fund baby but her parents weren’t rich enough. I remember she once spent two week’s salary to buy a Moschino wallet. Now every time I see the label Moschino I think of her.

(Comments off because I’m leafing through the Sunday NY Times wedding section to see if I know anyone who got hitched.)

tags technorati : Socialites Eurotrash New York clubs nightlife

Gabriella became my roommate. Gabriella became my party friend. Gabriella became my link to the EUROTRASH and SOCIALITE WORLD.

(Wikipedia definition of Eurotrash: Applied to European visitors to North America who are thought to make self aggrandizing claims of wealth, status, or nobility.)

These were new groups I had not yet explored. Most of my friends were creative media types, actors and investment bankers so this was all exciting for me!

Apparently, Gabriella’s contacts in New York City were mostly ex-college friends from Switzerland who were mostly trust fund babies. We hung out especially with her two friends, Laura and Katherine. Laura was a nice Jewish American Princess. She was very proud to announce that she was a JAP. Her grandmother had something to do with NYU Medical Center. I think she owned part of the building or something. When I first met Laura, she showed up at our door wearing her Prada knapsack and holding two Tosca dresses that her grandmother had bought for her. She preferred eating out at chic restaurants on the Upper East Side.

Then there was Katherine. I wasn’t sure about her accent but it sounded like she tried to sound British. Her family home was in South Hampton and she lived in a small studio apartment in Trump Tower. You know how some people just look like horseback riders? Well she was one of them. You can just imagine her galloping around in a Calvin Klein ad.

During the daytime when I was at my job at Warner Brothers, Gabriella babysat for a local three-year-old. Her main job was to take the kid to and from the Montessori school across the street and teach her to swim in the penthouse pool. Now that I look back, she was really a nanny but paid babysitter wages.

After a long work week I looked forward to Friday nights. When I’d get home, we’d scarf down our dinners, and dress up to go party. The flavor one summer was Aubar, considered a Eurotrash club. One Wednesday night, bored out of our minds we decided to hit Aubar’s. There weren’t many people in the club, just a swarm of people on the dance floor. Gabriella and I were standing near the bar when we were approached by a group of Eurotrash guys. Shouting through the “Macarena” song I found out they were pretty young, like maybe nineteen or twenty. One wanted to buy me a drink and so he took out a wad of fifties. We’ll call him Pablo, the kind teen. When it was time to go home, Pablo insisted on paying for a limo to take us home. We only were a ten minute drive away but hey, it was a free limo ride so what the hell. He gave the driver a fifty and waved goodbye as Gabriella and I drank champagne inside the plush interior. I remember her turning to me and beaming, “See? This is what I’m used to!”

I nodded and drank my glass. I was thinking, “This is what it must feel like to be a call girl.”

When we were out with Katherine, we always went to Frederick’s. The girl practically lived there because we had a reserved table waiting for us all the time. Once people were sitting at the table and the waiters shoo’ed them off. I didn’t even feel bad. Screw you suckers, I’m with the Socialite gang. I soon got used to this VIP treatment a couple of years later when I never again had to pay to get into clubs and I was given my own reserved tables. Until you experience this, you won’t know. VIP treatment is like an addiction. Once you taste it, you can’t go back.

Eventually, I got sick of Gabriella constantly fawning over her Socialite friends. They were nice and all but the girl needed some perspective. She so wanted to be a trust fund baby but her parents weren’t rich enough. I remember she once spent two week’s salary to buy a Moschino wallet. Now every time I see the label Moschino I think of her.

(Comments off because I’m leafing through the Sunday NY Times wedding section to see if I know anyone who got hitched.)

tags technorati : Socialites Eurotrash New York clubs nightlife

Gabriella became my roommate. Gabriella became my party friend. Gabriella became my link to the EUROTRASH and SOCIALITE WORLD.

(Wikipedia definition of Eurotrash: Applied to European visitors to North America who are thought to make self aggrandizing claims of wealth, status, or nobility.)

These were new groups I had not yet explored. Most of my friends were creative media types, actors and investment bankers so this was all exciting for me!

Apparently, Gabriella’s contacts in New York City were mostly ex-college friends from Switzerland who were mostly trust fund babies. We hung out especially with her two friends, Laura and Katherine. Laura was a nice Jewish American Princess. She was very proud to announce that she was a JAP. Her grandmother had something to do with NYU Medical Center. I think she owned part of the building or something. When I first met Laura, she showed up at our door wearing her Prada knapsack and holding two Tosca dresses that her grandmother had bought for her. She preferred eating out at chic restaurants on the Upper East Side.

Then there was Katherine. I wasn’t sure about her accent but it sounded like she tried to sound British. Her family home was in South Hampton and she lived in a small studio apartment in Trump Tower. You know how some people just look like horseback riders? Well she was one of them. You can just imagine her galloping around in a Calvin Klein ad.

During the daytime when I was at my job at Warner Brothers, Gabriella babysat for a local three-year-old. Her main job was to take the kid to and from the Montessori school across the street and teach her to swim in the penthouse pool. Now that I look back, she was really a nanny but paid babysitter wages.

After a long work week I looked forward to Friday nights. When I’d get home, we’d scarf down our dinners, and dress up to go party. The flavor one summer was Aubar, considered a Eurotrash club. One Wednesday night, bored out of our minds we decided to hit Aubar’s. There weren’t many people in the club, just a swarm of people on the dance floor. Gabriella and I were standing near the bar when we were approached by a group of Eurotrash guys. Shouting through the “Macarena” song I found out they were pretty young, like maybe nineteen or twenty. One wanted to buy me a drink and so he took out a wad of fifties. We’ll call him Pablo, the kind teen. When it was time to go home, Pablo insisted on paying for a limo to take us home. We only were a ten minute drive away but hey, it was a free limo ride so what the hell. He gave the driver a fifty and waved goodbye as Gabriella and I drank champagne inside the plush interior. I remember her turning to me and beaming, “See? This is what I’m used to!”

I nodded and drank my glass. I was thinking, “This is what it must feel like to be a call girl.”

When we were out with Katherine, we always went to Frederick’s. The girl practically lived there because we had a reserved table waiting for us all the time. Once people were sitting at the table and the waiters shoo’ed them off. I didn’t even feel bad. Screw you suckers, I’m with the Socialite gang. I soon got used to this VIP treatment a couple of years later when I never again had to pay to get into clubs and I was given my own reserved tables. Until you experience this, you won’t know. VIP treatment is like an addiction. Once you taste it, you can’t go back.

Eventually, I got sick of Gabriella constantly fawning over her Socialite friends. They were nice and all but the girl needed some perspective. She so wanted to be a trust fund baby but her parents weren’t rich enough. I remember she once spent two week’s salary to buy a Moschino wallet. Now every time I see the label Moschino I think of her.

(Comments off because I’m leafing through the Sunday NY Times wedding section to see if I know anyone who got hitched.)

tags technorati : Socialites Eurotrash New York clubs nightlife

Gabriella became my roommate. Gabriella became my party friend. Gabriella became my link to the EUROTRASH and SOCIALITE WORLD.

(Wikipedia definition of Eurotrash: Applied to European visitors to North America who are thought to make self aggrandizing claims of wealth, status, or nobility.)

These were new groups I had not yet explored. Most of my friends were creative media types, actors and investment bankers so this was all exciting for me!

Apparently, Gabriella’s contacts in New York City were mostly ex-college friends from Switzerland who were mostly trust fund babies. We hung out especially with her two friends, Laura and Katherine. Laura was a nice Jewish American Princess. She was very proud to announce that she was a JAP. Her grandmother had something to do with NYU Medical Center. I think she owned part of the building or something. When I first met Laura, she showed up at our door wearing her Prada knapsack and holding two Tosca dresses that her grandmother had bought for her. She preferred eating out at chic restaurants on the Upper East Side.

Then there was Katherine. I wasn’t sure about her accent but it sounded like she tried to sound British. Her family home was in South Hampton and she lived in a small studio apartment in Trump Tower. You know how some people just look like horseback riders? Well she was one of them. You can just imagine her galloping around in a Calvin Klein ad.

During the daytime when I was at my job at Warner Brothers, Gabriella babysat for a local three-year-old. Her main job was to take the kid to and from the Montessori school across the street and teach her to swim in the penthouse pool. Now that I look back, she was really a nanny but paid babysitter wages.

After a long work week I looked forward to Friday nights. When I’d get home, we’d scarf down our dinners, and dress up to go party. The flavor one summer was Aubar, considered a Eurotrash club. One Wednesday night, bored out of our minds we decided to hit Aubar’s. There weren’t many people in the club, just a swarm of people on the dance floor. Gabriella and I were standing near the bar when we were approached by a group of Eurotrash guys. Shouting through the “Macarena” song I found out they were pretty young, like maybe nineteen or twenty. One wanted to buy me a drink and so he took out a wad of fifties. We’ll call him Pablo, the kind teen. When it was time to go home, Pablo insisted on paying for a limo to take us home. We only were a ten minute drive away but hey, it was a free limo ride so what the hell. He gave the driver a fifty and waved goodbye as Gabriella and I drank champagne inside the plush interior. I remember her turning to me and beaming, “See? This is what I’m used to!”

I nodded and drank my glass. I was thinking, “This is what it must feel like to be a call girl.”

When we were out with Katherine, we always went to Frederick’s. The girl practically lived there because we had a reserved table waiting for us all the time. Once people were sitting at the table and the waiters shoo’ed them off. I didn’t even feel bad. Screw you suckers, I’m with the Socialite gang. I soon got used to this VIP treatment a couple of years later when I never again had to pay to get into clubs and I was given my own reserved tables. Until you experience this, you won’t know. VIP treatment is like an addiction. Once you taste it, you can’t go back.

Eventually, I got sick of Gabriella constantly fawning over her Socialite friends. They were nice and all but the girl needed some perspective. She so wanted to be a trust fund baby but her parents weren’t rich enough. I remember she once spent two week’s salary to buy a Moschino wallet. Now every time I see the label Moschino I think of her.

(Comments off because I’m leafing through the Sunday NY Times wedding section to see if I know anyone who got hitched.)

tags technorati : Socialites Eurotrash New York clubs nightlife

Gabriella became my roommate. Gabriella became my party friend. Gabriella became my link to the EUROTRASH and SOCIALITE WORLD.

(Wikipedia definition of Eurotrash: Applied to European visitors to North America who are thought to make self aggrandizing claims of wealth, status, or nobility.)

These were new groups I had not yet explored. Most of my friends were creative media types, actors and investment bankers so this was all exciting for me!

Apparently, Gabriella’s contacts in New York City were mostly ex-college friends from Switzerland who were mostly trust fund babies. We hung out especially with her two friends, Laura and Katherine. Laura was a nice Jewish American Princess. She was very proud to announce that she was a JAP. Her grandmother had something to do with NYU Medical Center. I think she owned part of the building or something. When I first met Laura, she showed up at our door wearing her Prada knapsack and holding two Tosca dresses that her grandmother had bought for her. She preferred eating out at chic restaurants on the Upper East Side.

Then there was Katherine. I wasn’t sure about her accent but it sounded like she tried to sound British. Her family home was in South Hampton and she lived in a small studio apartment in Trump Tower. You know how some people just look like horseback riders? Well she was one of them. You can just imagine her galloping around in a Calvin Klein ad.

During the daytime when I was at my job at Warner Brothers, Gabriella babysat for a local three-year-old. Her main job was to take the kid to and from the Montessori school across the street and teach her to swim in the penthouse pool. Now that I look back, she was really a nanny but paid babysitter wages.

After a long work week I looked forward to Friday nights. When I’d get home, we’d scarf down our dinners, and dress up to go party. The flavor one summer was Aubar, considered a Eurotrash club. One Wednesday night, bored out of our minds we decided to hit Aubar’s. There weren’t many people in the club, just a swarm of people on the dance floor. Gabriella and I were standing near the bar when we were approached by a group of Eurotrash guys. Shouting through the “Macarena” song I found out they were pretty young, like maybe nineteen or twenty. One wanted to buy me a drink and so he took out a wad of fifties. We’ll call him Pablo, the kind teen. When it was time to go home, Pablo insisted on paying for a limo to take us home. We only were a ten minute drive away but hey, it was a free limo ride so what the hell. He gave the driver a fifty and waved goodbye as Gabriella and I drank champagne inside the plush interior. I remember her turning to me and beaming, “See? This is what I’m used to!”

I nodded and drank my glass. I was thinking, “This is what it must feel like to be a call girl.”

When we were out with Katherine, we always went to Frederick’s. The girl practically lived there because we had a reserved table waiting for us all the time. Once people were sitting at the table and the waiters shoo’ed them off. I didn’t even feel bad. Screw you suckers, I’m with the Socialite gang. I soon got used to this VIP treatment a couple of years later when I never again had to pay to get into clubs and I was given my own reserved tables. Until you experience this, you won’t know. VIP treatment is like an addiction. Once you taste it, you can’t go back.

Eventually, I got sick of Gabriella constantly fawning over her Socialite friends. They were nice and all but the girl needed some perspective. She so wanted to be a trust fund baby but her parents weren’t rich enough. I remember she once spent two week’s salary to buy a Moschino wallet. Now every time I see the label Moschino I think of her.

(Comments off because I’m leafing through the Sunday NY Times wedding section to see if I know anyone who got hitched.)

tags technorati : Socialites Eurotrash New York clubs nightlife

Gabriella became my roommate. Gabriella became my party friend. Gabriella became my link to the EUROTRASH and SOCIALITE WORLD.

(Wikipedia definition of Eurotrash: Applied to European visitors to North America who are thought to make self aggrandizing claims of wealth, status, or nobility.)

These were new groups I had not yet explored. Most of my friends were creative media types, actors and investment bankers so this was all exciting for me!

Apparently, Gabriella’s contacts in New York City were mostly ex-college friends from Switzerland who were mostly trust fund babies. We hung out especially with her two friends, Laura and Katherine. Laura was a nice Jewish American Princess. She was very proud to announce that she was a JAP. Her grandmother had something to do with NYU Medical Center. I think she owned part of the building or something. When I first met Laura, she showed up at our door wearing her Prada knapsack and holding two Tosca dresses that her grandmother had bought for her. She preferred eating out at chic restaurants on the Upper East Side.

Then there was Katherine. I wasn’t sure about her accent but it sounded like she tried to sound British. Her family home was in South Hampton and she lived in a small studio apartment in Trump Tower. You know how some people just look like horseback riders? Well she was one of them. You can just imagine her galloping around in a Calvin Klein ad.

During the daytime when I was at my job at Warner Brothers, Gabriella babysat for a local three-year-old. Her main job was to take the kid to and from the Montessori school across the street and teach her to swim in the penthouse pool. Now that I look back, she was really a nanny but paid babysitter wages.

After a long work week I looked forward to Friday nights. When I’d get home, we’d scarf down our dinners, and dress up to go party. The flavor one summer was Aubar, considered a Eurotrash club. One Wednesday night, bored out of our minds we decided to hit Aubar’s. There weren’t many people in the club, just a swarm of people on the dance floor. Gabriella and I were standing near the bar when we were approached by a group of Eurotrash guys. Shouting through the “Macarena” song I found out they were pretty young, like maybe nineteen or twenty. One wanted to buy me a drink and so he took out a wad of fifties. We’ll call him Pablo, the kind teen. When it was time to go home, Pablo insisted on paying for a limo to take us home. We only were a ten minute drive away but hey, it was a free limo ride so what the hell. He gave the driver a fifty and waved goodbye as Gabriella and I drank champagne inside the plush interior. I remember her turning to me and beaming, “See? This is what I’m used to!”

I nodded and drank my glass. I was thinking, “This is what it must feel like to be a call girl.”

When we were out with Katherine, we always went to Frederick’s. The girl practically lived there because we had a reserved table waiting for us all the time. Once people were sitting at the table and the waiters shoo’ed them off. I didn’t even feel bad. Screw you suckers, I’m with the Socialite gang. I soon got used to this VIP treatment a couple of years later when I never again had to pay to get into clubs and I was given my own reserved tables. Until you experience this, you won’t know. VIP treatment is like an addiction. Once you taste it, you can’t go back.

Eventually, I got sick of Gabriella constantly fawning over her Socialite friends. They were nice and all but the girl needed some perspective. She so wanted to be a trust fund baby but her parents weren’t rich enough. I remember she once spent two week’s salary to buy a Moschino wallet. Now every time I see the label Moschino I think of her.

(Comments off because I’m leafing through the Sunday NY Times wedding section to see if I know anyone who got hitched.)

tags technorati : Socialites Eurotrash New York clubs nightlife

Gabriella became my roommate. Gabriella became my party friend. Gabriella became my link to the EUROTRASH and SOCIALITE WORLD.

(Wikipedia definition of Eurotrash: Applied to European visitors to North America who are thought to make self aggrandizing claims of wealth, status, or nobility.)

These were new groups I had not yet explored. Most of my friends were creative media types, actors and investment bankers so this was all exciting for me!

Apparently, Gabriella’s contacts in New York City were mostly ex-college friends from Switzerland who were mostly trust fund babies. We hung out especially with her two friends, Laura and Katherine. Laura was a nice Jewish American Princess. She was very proud to announce that she was a JAP. Her grandmother had something to do with NYU Medical Center. I think she owned part of the building or something. When I first met Laura, she showed up at our door wearing her Prada knapsack and holding two Tosca dresses that her grandmother had bought for her. She preferred eating out at chic restaurants on the Upper East Side.

Then there was Katherine. I wasn’t sure about her accent but it sounded like she tried to sound British. Her family home was in South Hampton and she lived in a small studio apartment in Trump Tower. You know how some people just look like horseback riders? Well she was one of them. You can just imagine her galloping around in a Calvin Klein ad.

During the daytime when I was at my job at Warner Brothers, Gabriella babysat for a local three-year-old. Her main job was to take the kid to and from the Montessori school across the street and teach her to swim in the penthouse pool. Now that I look back, she was really a nanny but paid babysitter wages.

After a long work week I looked forward to Friday nights. When I’d get home, we’d scarf down our dinners, and dress up to go party. The flavor one summer was Aubar, considered a Eurotrash club. One Wednesday night, bored out of our minds we decided to hit Aubar’s. There weren’t many people in the club, just a swarm of people on the dance floor. Gabriella and I were standing near the bar when we were approached by a group of Eurotrash guys. Shouting through the “Macarena” song I found out they were pretty young, like maybe nineteen or twenty. One wanted to buy me a drink and so he took out a wad of fifties. We’ll call him Pablo, the kind teen. When it was time to go home, Pablo insisted on paying for a limo to take us home. We only were a ten minute drive away but hey, it was a free limo ride so what the hell. He gave the driver a fifty and waved goodbye as Gabriella and I drank champagne inside the plush interior. I remember her turning to me and beaming, “See? This is what I’m used to!”

I nodded and drank my glass. I was thinking, “This is what it must feel like to be a call girl.”

When we were out with Katherine, we always went to Frederick’s. The girl practically lived there because we had a reserved table waiting for us all the time. Once people were sitting at the table and the waiters shoo’ed them off. I didn’t even feel bad. Screw you suckers, I’m with the Socialite gang. I soon got used to this VIP treatment a couple of years later when I never again had to pay to get into clubs and I was given my own reserved tables. Until you experience this, you won’t know. VIP treatment is like an addiction. Once you taste it, you can’t go back.

Eventually, I got sick of Gabriella constantly fawning over her Socialite friends. They were nice and all but the girl needed some perspective. She so wanted to be a trust fund baby but her parents weren’t rich enough. I remember she once spent two week’s salary to buy a Moschino wallet. Now every time I see the label Moschino I think of her.

(Comments off because I’m leafing through the Sunday NY Times wedding section to see if I know anyone who got hitched.)

tags technorati : Socialites Eurotrash New York clubs nightlife

Before she moved to England at the age of 19 (see pic above of her on Brighton beach) my mum still looked very innocent and probably remained so until my dad stopped her on the Uxbridge Road and asked her out for a drink. She gets all her looks from my grandfather of Iranian origin, and in her youth looked much like a pre-surgery Cher. At their wedding my mum wore a tiered dress and gloves, while my dad wore a jumper and jeans… I don’t they’ve ever really been ones for tradition. My mum has always been stylish, but she was at her most glamourous in the eighties with permed hair, red lipstick and statement jewellery. Not for the timid a russet silk jumpsuit! Bubble skirts, loud shirts, you name it she wore it. She still has a jacket from Elton John’s annual clear out years ago that has to be seen to be believed, all pink and purple silk with patches and tassels. As soon as I was old enough my mum let me wear whatever I wanted bar the odd matching outfit for me and my sister. We used to pore over my mum’s ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ books trying to decide whether we were a ‘Spring’ or an ‘Autumn’ while laughing at the women with frosted lipstick and 6 different colours on their eyes.

When the 90’s arrived in came the short miniskirts, which she could get away being a size 6 or some other stupidly slim size. I remember her meeting me for lunch when I was at university a few years ago and my coursemates thinking this Punkyfish-clad, Puma-wearing woman was one of my friends; she certainly seems to dress a lot better than most people’s mums. Seeing as charity shops are my main inspiration I don’t there’s that much room left for anyone to influence me, but we both share an idiosyncratic way of dressing and aren’t slaves to the high street. I wear many of her old clothes, like her t-shirt from Spain, her fitted black minidress (very now!) and mourn the disappearance of her Fair Isle cardie in the picture above.
As she’s a hard-working Japanese student (one of her many languages) I’ll wish her happy mother’s day in Babelfish’s version of Japanese: ??????!