Gloves for the Smart (Phones)

(Picture source: http://www.thenorthfacejackets.co.uk)

Temperatures are said to drop here staring today, so this seemed like the perfect occasion to present the following product.

To all my friends who use smartphones, especially those that have a touchscreen and those who have passed a winter owning such a device, you all know that it was never simple using your expensive gadget with your freezing fingers. I myself had to cut conversations short or just didn't respond to tome text messages because I could not type with my gloves on and without my gloves it would have been too cold for my fingers. But starting now, all that will change. The "guys" from The North Face have come up with a clever solution: Etip Gloves.

The stretch knit shell has a special coating on the index finger and the thumb, which allows the wearer to easily navigate on the touchscreens from all producers. Also, to provide a good phone/player support, fine nubs of silicone have been added to the gloves. It might seem funny to imagine it, but snowboarding and checking the newest app on snowboards/ski/slopes (or anything else) is now possible, thanks to these gloves. And they come at a cost of around 30 pound sterling...

(Picture Source: http://uk.thenorthface.com)

Gucci Gucci Goooo

I have recently become godmother and besides the blessed moment and the pleasure I get from the small bundle of life, the role as a godmother has brought me into stores for children (or better said, where adults buy stuff for children - oh - and there is SO MUCH to buy)!

One of the things I observed, and what might be the subject of another post, is that there is a whole industry producing for these tiny creatures and most of the items you wonder why they were not made in your size - because they are adorable. Less adorable are the prices, but few can help themselves from the "cute" and "lovely" clothes. So, I am leaving you with a "cute" selection of baby-wear from Gucci (my picture source is their facebook page) for your little fashionista at home: from quilted vest to ballerinas or sleeping bag - they can make your baby's cold season glamorous and warm.

Fancy a Great Coffee? Shanghai Tang for Nespresso - What Else???

(Picture source: http://www.instablogsimages.com/1/2011/10/21/shanghai_tang_nespresso_coffee_set_tmvod.jpg )

2012 is the year of the Dragon (more exactly 23rd of January 2012 to February 9th, 2013), according to Chinese Zodiac. Being the fifth of 12 signs, the Dragon always represented the emperor and power (also seen in other cultures, such as the Korean one). Nowadays however it is regarded as the ultimate auspicious sign and couples who are not yet married hurry to do that, yet other couples hurry to have their child born under the sign of the Dragon because it signifies success and happiness and it is supposed to bring good luck to everyone.

So what better timing than this one for the collaboration between luxury brand Shanghai Tang and Nespresso to create this limited edition of coffee machine (and accessories) ?!

(Picture Source: http://www.luxury-insider.com/uploads/news/2011/10/coffee-lovers-alert-shanghai-tang-for-nespresso-2.jpg)

The Nespresso Dragon collection is a mix of the highly appreciated capsule coffee with the the touch brought by Shanghai Tang, the brand that reinterprets in a modern way the Chinese heritage.

(Picture Source: http://www.luxury-insider.com/uploads/news/2011/10/coffee-lovers-alert-shanghai-tang-for-nespresso-3.jpg)

The collection includes the Nespresso CitiZ Dragon Coffee Machine, a Dragon Capsule Holder with carved stone inlay and Dragon Capsule Holder with silver metal inlay as well as a Ritual Cappuccino Dragon Cup Set.

A frind of mine is moving into her new crib next year and I know she is wishing for a special coffee machine. However, this edition is limited to only 3000 sets and will be available from the 1st of January 2012.

(Picture Source: http://www.luxury-insider.com/uploads/news/2011/10/coffee-lovers-alert-shanghai-tang-for-nespresso-4.jpg)

Asked about why coffee and not tea, Millicent Lai, the designer behind this set, answered the following: "Nowadays, I think the younger generation prefers drinking coffee to tea, especially among Asians. When I go to Beijing, I'm surprised to see so many little coffee shops that are able to do the perfect latte, it's amazing. You don't even see that in Hong Kong. I think nowadays because of technology, you don't really have any boundaries anymore. Coffee, Western food -- it's no longer like, "We're Chinese, we don't eat pasta."(Quote source: http://hk.lifestyleasia.com)

(Picture Source: http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgUdjNvMIGrjyAnMPxnxVmqxsd4ENNskLtWNgMb8Y95ZrV34j2)

So, are you all set for 2012 with the best lifestyle coffee? If not, you still have the time to plan it accordingly! Enjoy!

Karl WHO?

(Picture source: http://cdn.purseblog.com/images/2009/06/karl-lagerfeld-karl-who-bag.jpg)

Karl Lagerfeld, the German designer, artist, photographer etc. (multitasker as he has been called) based in Paris will be launching two lines of fashion in January next year for his omonymous brand, designed to relaunch the brand Karl Lagerfeld which has been on hold for a year. A 100 piece collection named Karl will surely be one of the attractions of the couture week in Paris - time when it will be presented - because the pricing will range between 60 and 300 Euros for an item. Karl Lagerfeld thinks this is the way for the future - affordable luxury - luxury for the masses.

The collection will be available on Net-a-Porter.

(Picture source: http://www.luxuo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/karl-lagerfeld-logo.jpg)

Save a Doctor!!! Help and Donations Needed!!!

Catalin Sandu is a 25 year old young doctor who recently graduated from the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. He is now facing one of his biggest exams in life: defeating cancer. Catalin has a very rare and aggressive (and painful) form of cancer, a unique case in Romania, and each day is crucial for him. He can find treatment in Freiburg, Germany, but for which he needs the sum of 200.000 Euro. A bit over the half of this sum has already been gathered, but in order to start the treatment, he needs YOUR active help. Please donate - see info here - or share this story on all the social media and to all the people you know. (Note that EU remittances are FREE of charge). Catalin is a young doctor my age and I hope all the people who know me or read my blog will take a moment to donate today what tomorrow might mean Catalin's life!!!

I am bringing you forward a case where "life" is a "luxury" for some of us and we realize maybe only in such cases how fortunate we are when we are healthy and can enjoy every minute of our lives and make new dreams.

For now, a big part of the youth in Romania has ONE dream: to save Catalin so that he can save many lives to come in the future. So please DONATE!!!

Autumn Fashion Colours

(Picture source: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/8824723.jpg)

Dear all,
just before the weekend begins here's a really colourful set of pictures/clothing for the new season. The warm weather seems to have left Bucharest last Friday and so it is time to engage in some nice, warm and comfy autumn fashion. However, don't go just brown or black! Take it from nature and be bold about what you choose. Take colour into your life and you'll see how much the outside can affect the inside.

And here are the great outfits from Net-a-Porter, my favourite set you can see in the first picture below. And which one is your favourite one? Let me know!
Have a wonderful and colourful weekend!

Red Bull The Art of Can Bucharest 2011

My Sunday afternoon (just before a nice, late lunch) was filled with some culture and not just that.

In the center of Bucharest, just next to the Hilton Hotel, there are two (?) buses which have been extended and transformed into an exhibition place for a slightly different way of Art: the Art of Can.

It is a small exhibition, but just enough for you to see what wonderful things can be done out of a can. It is in no way a mode of flashing the "Red Bull" logo, even if it is out there...everywhere... but if you watch the short clip which runs on a flat screen inside the exhibition, you will see that it is primarly about building awareness towards recycling - and what better way to do this in than by showing the practical outcome!


Once you enter the exhibition you can see this painting/collage of Obama, famous for the "Yes we CAN!" saying. And indeed, we CAN make a difference with only a CAN!!! Just go there and see how! Even if I have taken pictures of everything what was exhibited there, I have made just a selection, so that you can still enjoy surprises. Oh,..and one more thing, entrance is free - so there is really no excuse for you to miss this great exhibition in Bucharest!



















The copyright for the pictures above is mine,...but here are some movies below on the "Art of Can" and the Making Of... which I took from the redbull.ro website. Enjoy!