My Mac went into the shop a week ago due to what I'll describe as 'the power cord incident of 2008.' While he's back to his former glory (aside for a dent in his otherwise pristine silhouette), his power cord suffered an untimely death. As I wait for the new one to arrive (tomorrow, hopefully!) I feel as though I'm in limbo. And so I wait. And wait.

Sure, I can surf on our backup PC. But what fun is that? Things just look better through the pixels on a Mac. Yes, I'm biased. Our office is fully stocked with Macs...but it's my beloved laptop (my computer) that I miss so much. You know the phrase... once you go Mac, you never go back. And it's true. I adore my Apple. And (try as it might) this little backup PC we have just isn't the same (not to mention its glaring software deficiencies, tiny screen, funky keys...). But I digress...

So rather than see the downside, I'm looking at this as a brief period to disconnect. That power cord will be here soon enough. But in the meantime I'll just have to kick back and relax. Sounds like time to curl up with a good book after a bubble bath.

Catch you  soon, everyone!

Prior to finding out 'our news' we were planning a big trip. It was either Paris, London or South America for the holidays. It was going to be our last big excursion of 2007. But read any medical advice and they caution you against taking more than a 2 hour flight while expecting. Normally, I ignore rules ... but I had no choice but to heed warnings like those.

Had I had more time to plan, I'd have shuttled us off to Miramonte Resort & Spa in Palm Springs. It's a delicious resort I keep running across online. I thought of it today because they just sent me an email loaded with pictures and repeated claims of relaxation, escape, romance... you get the drift.

Sure, maybe I'm a sucker for stucco, bougainvillea, poolside cabanas and a private balcony...but who isn't? So if you are in one of the many (many) states suffering near (or sub) sero temps this week, you may want to seriously consider their Spa for Two package (my personal fave). You get two 60 minute treatments per night. Yes. You read that right... TWO treatments per night you stay. Yowza! Count me in, baby.

If you've read for any length of time, you know I don't like imaginary (or real) boundaries, silly rules or small mindedness. I actually do believe all things are possible. So when I saw this post on Beach Bungalow 8, I knew I had to share the love. These bold-faced words are letter pressed by hand on antique maps by (trailblazing) Doug Wilson. Simple, yet fabulous. So go now and make your own path.

Brilliant Asylum always offers such memorable posts. But something about this image from last Friday's post stayed with me. While the post centers on the photography work of Tina Barney, I just keep thinking how fabulous this woman looked in her Pucci (or at least Pucci-esque) jersey knit dress.

This says a lot about Barney's work. As Brilliant describes it:

Each photograph is a little mystery, and fans of Barney's work spend hours trying to unravel the story provided by clues in the details. Faces may be tense or indifferent--challenging the notion that material wealth yields smiling happiness.

Sure, there's something undeniably WASPy about the photo itself, but the fit chicness of the woman was so memorable. Is she the attentive mother or controlling? Her look is so modern, why does the father's hair appear to be reminiscent of the 70's. Is that the father? If so, are those high-waisted hot pink pants? Is the family split into coordinating teams? Pink and white for those in front, baby blue for the back row? So many questions.

Oddly, none of those details matter to me. I just want to know where the dress can be purchased and what other wonders lie in wait in this woman's wardrobe. And can I move in and share said wardrobe (and personal trainer) with her? Those are the questions that plague me. Deep, burning questions. ;)

It's fair to say we're all fascinated with personalized stationery and monogrammed you-name-its at the moment. But both require premeditation and careful planning to pull off with aplomb. So I'm smitten with the flexibility offered by these gorgeous monogram stamps that were featured in this month's InStyle mag.I just love this idea!

You see, I love the idea of bespoke stationery and have gone so far as to design it and almost order it. The challenge is that my style shifts from season to season... and no one wants to see 100 copies of 'last month's preference' sitting around in a box. So the idea of a stamp (or... to be far... a few stamps) at my fingertips seems like a gorgeous solution. The options are limitless when you factor in the variety of inks available. (They even sell cute little paper goods to  go with the stamp kits and embossers.)

I found this brand all over the web. The best of the sites seemed to be The Paper Cafe, which featured enlarged images and the best variety I'd seen online (even beating out the maker's own site). So go ahead... start stamping.

A coworker once nicknamed me "stilts" due to my penchant for towering footwear. That was ten years ago. They'd be happy to know I show no signs of slowing down when it comes to my commitment to high heels. But rather than a choice, it has simply become who I am. I don't even think about it as an option. If I'm not headed to the gym in my Nikes, I'm slipping into heels. To me, they are extremely comfortable (so long as you know how to shop). And nothing makes an outfit sing like a great pair of kicks.

But yesterday in Nordstrom a woman stopped me and asked how long I planned to continue wearing them. After seeing the puzzled look on my face she pointed to my knee-high boots with 4" heels. My answer was simple, "Until I can't." I should add that I'm at my six month mark this week, so I suppose a pregnant woman in tall stiletto leather boots may not be the norm. But so far it hasn't been an issue (I thank yoga for that). I should also add that those particular boots (a recent acquisition) are the most comfortable shoes I own by far. Style doesn't have to mean suffering. 

And since I'm sure I'm not alone in my passion, I ask: Is there something you wear or consistently do that has become a signature style for you?

(Image via Coco Ribbon)

Don't you just love it when you discover a new blog and instantly feel like you've met a kindred spirit? Jen at Folie à Deux dropped by and left a comment today. Naturally, I checked our her blog immediately. Hello, fabulous!! Jen and I seem to be cultural twins separated at birth. She loves travel, design, haute cuisine, fashion... just as much as I do. Yet it's her original spin on everything that drew me into her blog immediately.

Take her thoughts on Athens, I city I recently visited:

Athens has gotten itself a bad reputation. A reputation that speaks of the unbearable pollution, dirt, and commuter chaos so apparent in the capital city of Greece. It is no surprise that many travellers either skip Athens altogether or merely pass through it on their way to the islands, without a second thought. People seem to forget that Athens was once the epicentre of a society that dominated the Mediterranean basin....

There might still be hints of dirt, grime, and pollution in the city, but Athens is now a different place and it continues to evolve. Apathy may still be common among its citizens, but there is a strong sense of national pride. So the next time you are passing through Athens, remember to look around. It's a city far from perfect, hidden in a cave of shadows (might Plato agree?). But you can find Beauty, if you look beyond the surface and stare at the light. Will you be compelled to tell the truth? The gritty truth about Athens.

She's so right. We were overwhelmed by the Beirut-like view of the city from the Parthenon. Like most tourists, we left the ancient center of Greek culture disenchanted. But we knew we hadn't discovered the real pulse of the city. Those sweet spots far away from the tour buses and souvenir shops. But given our brief time there, we only had exposure to the "dirt, grime and pollution" mentioned above. (Although we did enjoy our fair share of souvlaki and  Greek coffee!).

Jen... thanks for showing me the softer side of the legendary city!

As you all know in fashion, one day you're in... the next, you're out. (Channeling my inner Heidi 'ever pregnant' Klum)

And thanks to the powers that be at Pantone we can always expect a change in season to bring about a change in color palettes. This spring it's all about femininity. Shimmery golds, a variety of pinks bearing names such as Pink Mist and Rococo Red and even the incongruous Snorkel Blue. Yes, spring promises to be light and lively.

Fortunately designers are always privy to this information ahead of time and are here to rescue us with the season's latest hues in everything from silk chiffon to body skimming metallics. Let's take a look at the offerings, shall we?

3.1 Philip Lim invites us to wear the LGD (little gold dress) as easily as we normally don our LBD. And he's not alone. Valentino and other top designers are jumping on the shimmering bandwagon. I have to admit, I love it. Not very long ago I admired dresses from afar but was hesitant to wear them. Now I'm hooked. I wear dresses every day I can - even more so in winter. Amazing what a great pair of boots can do for warmth.

But the most exciting look this spring comes in the form of the LPD (that's Little Pink Dress). Max Studio carries a billowy chiffon number that magically blends nearly every color on the spring 'it' palette into one fantastic creation. I'd rock this with a pair of gold metallic platform wedges with thin ankle straps, a simple pair of gold hoops and one of the season's oversize clutches. Yum.

If you haven't guessed, I'm ready for spring. If these dresses are any indication of what's in store, you'd better start wearing your blacks now. Come April they'll be relegated to the back of the closet.

I've long been impressed with the Sugar empire. PopSugar, CasaSugar, FitSugar... you name it. Each of the communities is a star in its own right. But now they're offering a new realm for us interactive babes... SavvySugar. While it's too early to tell, it sounds as though this just might be the blog a capitalist like myself will enjoy. Here's how the team describes the new blog:

"Bringing you everything from career advice to practical finance tips and guides, this is the place for all of your money and professional matters. Whether you started saving for your first home or retirement with lemonade stand money, or you've been avoiding the word "savings" altogether, SavvySugar will guide you through the ins and outs of personal finance."

Proving, once again, that sexiness and smarts don't have to be mutually exclusive, SavvySugar could quite possibly offer me that unusual mix of strategy and style. I like it.

And I neglected to mention... they're giving away a MacBook each week for the first four weeks of the launch. Those girls really know how to dole out party favors, don't they?

I do have one critique, however...and this is quite major for an aesthete like myself: that hideous pig icon they've chosen to go with. Wow. Looks like the creative geniuses in the art department let that one slip out the door without enough examination. I can think of a half dozen icons off the top of my head that would have worked. The pink sow (even if it is a piggy bank) just isn't fabulous enough. But I do have high hopes that insightful content will more than make up for the design oversight.

Of course, if you happen to be model-thin, they could double as rather fetching bracelets as well. ;) Happy shopping.

I have to thank Leah for this one. She discovered this hot (and haute) solution for dividing an open floorplan or simply accenting an existing wall.

This X-Wall from Italian company Naxox is so versatile: The ceramic blocks can be configured any way you want, and serve as beautiful and functional architectural elements, space dividers, and storage.

Check 'em out right here.

Sadly, I was unable to find pricing on the Naxox site. But something tells me I'd be floored by the conversion from Euros to USD. Regardless of cost, these are a sleek and glamorous solution to every loft owner's dilemma. And (as  fate would have it) I would absolutely love to incorporate these into our office space.

But let's get back to Leah and her lovely blog, More Ways to Waste Time.  Get started by reading her thoughts on 2008 and how she plans to make a difference this year. It's not so much a list as a collection of aspirations. As the moniker implies, you'll end up spending a good deal of quality time on her site once you visit. But she's worth it.