INTERMISSION:   Made By Hand- Martinez Cigars NYC

Back at The Ranch

Howdy!

The Double RL Ranch outside of Tulleride Colorado is not your average ranch, No Sir it is not.

One of the many homes of Ralph & Ricky Lauren the ranch is set in a mere 16,000 acres of beautiful land. With a barn that's over 200 years old, Tepees hand painted by Native Indians, with Cabins named Little Bear & Elkmeadow and a 1960's Silver airstream trailer, the choice of accommodations is vast and charming.The Spirit of the Old West Americana that Ralph Lauren does so well, for me the Lauren Family got this so spot on.

Last August the Double RL Ranch was the perfect backdrop for the wedding of David Lauren and his bride Lauren Bush who transported everyone in time with the fantastic  traditional Old West/Meets Little House in the Prairie theme in Lauren style and yes of course the wedding dress was designed by Ralph.

Ralph and Ricky can you be my in-laws too?? xo

Photos Via Architectural Digest and Vogue

Swimming Pools II

California Bernard Trainor Architect

Ibiza Antonio & Ignacio Saorin

Morocco Jaouad Kadiri

Washington DC Thomas Pheasant

Napa Valley Pool Pavillion Tom Leader Studio

Mexico Michael Schaieble

Nantucket Karin Blake

Formentera Jordi Canosa

Florianopolis Carlos Miele

Trancoso Daniela Oliviera

Hamptons Tim Whealon

Jamaica Ralph & Ricky Lauren

Formentera II Jordi Canosa

Tropical Island Simon Upton

Venezuela Fernando Arriaga

Lebanon Pool of Elie Saab Design by Chakib Richani

Summertime is here and what is more beautiful than having a great pool to spend it in. I can only dream that one day I will have  my own house with a gorgeous garden and pool.

In the meantime I can only sit and look at these and get inspiration until the real thing.

Dream Away xo

Photos sourced via,

www.elledecor.com

www.architecturaldigest.com

www.jordicanosa.com

America Inedependence Day

Photo via Jasper Johns

Photo via Pam Glew

Photo Via Restoration Hardware

Photo via O Magazine

Photo via Marie Claire Magazine

Photo via Country Living

Photo via Country Living

Photo Unknown

Photo via Martha Stewart

Photo via Urban Outfitters

Photo via Martha Stewart

Photo Via Juan Jose Martinez

Photo via Habitually  Chic

Photo via Home Sweet Home Decor

Photo Via Flickr Beverly & Pack's

Photo via Cottage960

Photo via Reuters

Photo via Catherine Malandrino

Photo via Habitually Chic

Photo via Disney

Happy Fourth of July ! xo

Food is Art III

Quails Egg | Egg

Sweet Jelly | Limoncello

Chocolate | Cheese with Pears

Pumpkin Soup | Soup

Chiacchiere | Cherries

Sea Bass | Sushi

Mullet | Tripe

Octopus | Meatballs

Steak | Bonbons

Asparagus | Basmati Rice

Bread | Pepper

Sea Urchin | Spiedini

Yoghurt with Figs | Foots

Eye | Oysters

Snails | Muricidae

The Dark side of Food Photography. Silvia Badalotti's striking compositions are are a little disturbing and intense to look at but the light, background and contrasts makes them mesmerizing. Taken from the forthcoming Black Food Book, cannot wait to see the rest of these images.

All images via,

www.finedininglovers.com

www.silviabadalotti.it

The Splendor of Motu Tane

" Never before had I seen waters the color of the rainbow or like fireworks, springing right out of some maddened imagination, or from Gaugin's own palette. Waters the color of bronze, of copper, gold, silver, mother-of-pearl, pearl, jade, emeralds, moonlight or the aurora borealis. The stars themselves seemed to have fallen to the sea, scintillating brilliantly on the lagoon's surface, in bright sunlight, who could find the right words,what poet images,what painter even colors , to describe the scene? I give up."

Paul Emile Victor, a French Explorer's impression on seeing Bora Bora for the first time from the cockpit of an airplane in 1958. He retired to Bora Bora and lived in Motu Tane.

Motu Tane island lies across the channel from Bora Bora, owned by renowned french make-up artist François Nars with interiors by Christian Liagre. This stunning island can accommodate up to 20 guests and is rented to only one party of guests at a time.

The island has all that you would expect, a chef to cook divine and fresh meals, in the garden under hundreds of coconut tress, beach barbeque's, torch-lit dinners and Tahitian feasts with those incredible dance groups. Snorkeling the crystal clear waters to discover the phenomenal array of colors, local massages with the unforgettable fragrance of Monoi oil, paddle board, windsurf and even for those who can't bear to live without there is a gym and flat screen tv's in the rooms.

From the pictures you can just use your imagination on how unforgettable this place would be. I would just stare at the the beauty all day long, swim,eat, sleep and have a big perma smile all day and night. One on my list of places to see, still have not done Polynesia and this would be just perfect, anyone interested in renting it? The only shock is the price but understandably, its a trip of a lifetime, see the website for more info.

Bon Voyage xo

Resources,

www.motutaneisland.com

www.narscosmetics.com

www.vogue.com

The Light Aquatic

Aqua Creations Lighting & Furniture Atelier was founded in 1994 by designer-artist Ayala Serfaty who completed her degrees in Fine Arts at the Bezalel Academy of art in Design in Jerusalem and then at Middlesex Polytechic in London. Well known for her art creations Ayala and her husband Photographer Albi Sefaty collaborated to evolve their talents to develop Aqua Creations a Lighting & Furniture Atelier.

Based out of Tel Aviv where their pieces are all handmade by their team of skilled artisans who use their craft to create such unique pieces. They create, manufacture and design all out of these headquarters.

I am especially fascinated by the Light designs, there is something so modern but yet so soft to each piece, for some reason I see them as creatures from the universe both below in the depths of our oceans and above in our galaxies. They make me dream and escape into these worlds.. These magnetic pieces can be commissioned for a home, apartment, hotel, restaurant  I imagine they would blend in well with any type of lanscape sea, mountain, desert or snow. Fun to play around with and use your imagination with various colour and shape choices you will be surely transported to their world. 

I am floating xo

To commission a piece, Aqua Creations can be contacted in their offices in Tel Aviv or their Showroom in New york City,

Aqua Creations Head Offices

29 Ben Zvi road, Tel Aviv 68103, Israel

Telephone. +972 3 5151 222

Fax. +972 3 5151 223

Aqua Creations USA

200 Lexington Avenue, Suite #427

New York, NY 10016, USA

Telephone. +1 212 219 9922

Fax. +1 212 219 4042

All images via 

Aqua Gallery

The Need for Speed

Confederate X123 Hellcat Combat photo by Jerry Garns

Salt Flats Photo by Simon Davidson

1952 Buick Super Riviera photo by Gunther Maier

JCB Dieselmax 'Streamliner"

Indian Motorcycle photo by Jerry Garns

1952 Buick Bombshell

Sunset over the Salt Flats by Dirk Ehrentraut

Spectre Speedliner

Looks like a rocket bike photo by Simon Davidson

Love this Buick photo by John Michael Cooper

A little shade needed photo by Jerry Garns

Technical Support photo by Simon Davidson.

Bonneville Salt Flats Utah photo by Yawara on Flickr.

If you like Speed and the magical desert, and am not talking about Burning Man, this for you! Welcome to the Annual Bonneville Speedweek.

This famous race has been around since the early 1930's. There are some cars and bikes here that I have never seen in my life and they are here in the majestic Salt Flats of Utah to beat world speed records. There are over 500 entries for this race and speeds going over 400MHP. That is crazy, but these wonderful pictures caught my eye and I became fascinated. 

This ain't Driving Miss Daisy! xo

If you want to see how fast these people go, here are some amazing videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGGzdG7RAuA

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/confederate-x132-hellcat-combay-bonneville-lsr/#more-35506

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonneville_Speedway

Food is Art

Pictures via Daft Punk, Fulvio Bonavia and Trendland

Wear it , Eat it , Smell it , Enjoy it xo

Looks like My Soul x

DI∆MOND ST∆R

Le Smoking

YSL AD

YSL Cigarettes

Classic S T Dupont Lighter

Michael Caine via Like a Doll

Vintage St. Moritz Cigarettes

Delfina Delettrez Apartment via Harper's Bazaar

YSL Smoking via Helmut Newton

Love this photo but can't find the credit!

Carmen Kass via Vogue Espagna

Continental via Vintage Cigarettes

Jean-loup Sieff

YSL Vintage Cigarettes

Pierre Cardin Smoking set via Talisman

Josh Brolin by Hedi Slimane

Black and Gold S T Dupont Lighter

Nat Sherman Cigarillos

Paul Newman

Jennifer Connelly

Cartier 18Carat Gold Cigarette Case via Christies

Marlon Brando via Getty Images

The Stork Club 1950's Smoking , Elegance and fun allowed.

www.christies.com

www.ysl.com

www.helmutnewton.com