Charlotte Gainsbourg x Beck collaboration from their album IRM which is French for MRI. this is like multiplying darling times brilliant and getting FREAKING AMAZING.

+ release date: January 2010

recently, Apartment Therapy broad-handedly chronicled the evolution of dinner parties from the early 1800’s to present day. pictured above is Jackie O, the first lady of all dinner parties, preparing for one in a most gorgeous fashion.

when i first moved into my very own alcove studio apartment on Little West 12th and Washington Street, i had grand ideas for weekly dinner parties. i have so many different people in my life that fascinate me and make me feel rich, and every Wednesday evening, i wanted to bring together a group that represented my most beloved fashion friends & colleagues, bankers, academics, musicians, maitre d’s, artists, philanthropists - a different assortment each week, of course. i wanted each dinner to be joyous, enlightening, funny, delicious, and our lips to be stained with red wine by the end; exhausted smiles screening our faces.

but alas, i ended up moving out of that apartment and moving in with my boyfriend at the time and we hosted a few dinner parties together, but mostly for the people in his world. i still fantasize about these evenings with my favorites, and i am hoping to pick up where i left off when i move into my new place in December.

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the COL Guide for orchestrating a successful dinner party:

decide the theme/occasion: it’s always nice to have something to celebrate, whether it’s welcoming a new season, a long overdue reunion, or to create a meet-and-greet forum of people in your life where they can share their stories and ideas. this will set the tone and become the invisible thread through all of the cogs of the dinner party machine - invitations, menu, table settings, decorations, etc.

save the date: most likely, if you are ambitious enough to curate a dinner party, you have already envisioned yourself sitting at the head of the table looking around at the faces of your beloved guests. but what does this have to do with locking down a date? well, you probably want to find an evening that works for these people. nowadays there are so many ways to invite someone to an event: evite, facebook, email, a letter in the post. personally, my favorite method is to send out a “feeler” email to your prospective guests, get a general consensus, and send a handwritten invitation via the post as a sentimental gesture.

plan the menu: consider your theme/occasion when you plan your festive and cohesive meal. the most important things to keep in mind are:

• be realistic about your cooking skills or be sure to do a test-run of the recipe(s) before the big night
• if at all possible, prepare appetizers and dessert in advance so you can focus on your main dish
• be aware of any food allergies of guests
• stay away from any recipes that require constant attention (ie. stirring, searing, anything that can be overcooked, etc)
• map out your timeline backwards starting from the moment your food is placed before your guests

set the table the night before: this sounds trivial, but anything that you can accomplish beforehand - do it! set that table, cut those lime wedges for the water and stick them in the fridge, buy your favorite Molton Brown hand soap, all of these little tasks add up and you will be relieved that you had taken care of them the night before when you have an oven mitt in one hand, a guest’s coat in the other arm, and suddenly you can’t get your ipod player to work. *the key to being an extraordinary host is to do extensive contingency planning.

pepper in some extras: invent a memorable signature cocktail, put your guests’ names on their place settings, create a ambiance-enhancing playlist - people always respond to that extra touch.

finish strong: leave time for coffee, tea, maybe aperitifs, and digestion. use this denouement as an opportunity to focus on your guests and wrap up those lingering conversations. however, be careful not to write past your ending. i hate those nights that end with yawns and “well, that was nice”s. also, resist the urge start clearing the table or loading up your dishwasher as a cue for your guests to make their exit. a simple “thank you for coming” is tasteful, and i guarantee they will get it.

look sensational: last but not least - in order to fully take ownership of the evening, take it upon yourself to dress for the part. you are the starring role in this play, so to speak, and it is your responsibility to step into that spotlight and give them a performance they will never forget.

good luck and bon appetit!

i am a Pisces so i have an innate predilection for all things related to water/the sea - whales, mermaids, sushi, scuba diving, i am obsessed with being hydrated, and i like baths. i wish i could say surfing but that would just be a lie. also, i love sharks but i guess who doesn’t.

thus, you can probably understand why my heart skipped a beat when i stumbled upon THE POSEIDON MYSTERY ISLAND while i was googling Greek mythology to win a bet against my friend Peter (if you must know, i won myself a free dinner at Lovely Day, haha!).

Poseiden Mystery Island is a resort 40 feet underwater off the island of Fiji that is projected to open in 2010. The Poseidon was conceived by American submarine engineer Bruce Jones, who was deeply inspired by French science-fiction writer Jules Verne and the legendary marine explorer Captain Jacqueas Cousteau.

+ the video pretty much speaks for itself. also i’m feeling a little lazy because it’s friday and this morning i accidentally used toothpaste to moisturize my hands.

so get this: each guest will have a personal Triton SUBMARINE at their disposal for exploring within the lagoon. the resort will also offer tours on a 16-passenger luxury submarine out in the depths of the sea. a standard 550 sq foot suite will cost $1500 a night.. orrr you can reserve the entire island for a measly $3 mil.

totally up to you.

someone like me could ruin your life. i’m not kidding. you’re not supposed to feel the feelings you feel when you’re around me. i make you feel, and we all know you don’t want that. i have good intentions but love is only for real people and to you, i’m not so real.

so when you look up and you see a glimpse of something real in me. that’s when the damage begins. that’s when i start to ruin your life.

if you only had one phone call…

• who would you call
• what would you say
• why are you waiting?

i need (x10) to get one of these vintage lambskin Balenciaga bracelets.

they retail for $185 and come in pomegranate, anthracite, pebble, chestnut, palm tree, storm, raisin, & black. a great commodity fashion item in any color.

THIS JUST IN: Kirna Zabete just got them in fun multi-color combos (pictured above.) i already called dibs on the red, yellow, white one which is on its way to me.. right.. now!!