National Dance Day…

Well, on my site it’s more like National Dance Week. When I heard that NDD is this Saturday, I adopted the theme. Each day this week, I’ll find a way to incorporate dance. So regardless of where you live, come the weekend, I hope you’ll be ready to get your groove on! Today, for Meeting Men Monday, I’m sharing a …

From Nothing to Luxury Knits

That would describe Marie Gray, creator of St. John Knits. When I was growing up, her designs were my mom’s favorite, so naturally when she made an appearance in our hometown, I really wanted to meet her. What impressed me most was that even though I was only ten, and clearly not a customer, she stayed late just to chat …

Beth’s Café

Buddy up to Beth if you’re making a stop in Seattle this summer. Her funky eatery has been a hub since the 50s and her legendary breakfasts are served 24/7, so there’s no time when Beth’s Café can’t cure your craving. Besides comfort food, this place is known for organic art. While waiting for your meal, you can draw something …

Healthy Cookie Smoothie & Cute DIY Boxes

Anyone who’s ever met me knows I’m a dessert lover. There’s hardly a sweet treat that I can pass up. So I try to make healthy meals taste like pastry time. And trust me, it’s possible! Today, I’m sharing a high-protein smoothie recipe that both your body and your taste buds will love. But first, I can’t contain my excitement …

Headband Haute

Today, we have a little headband history. As I was racing through Nordstrom to pick up something before dinner, I was stopped by – not just one but two – displays jam-packed with headbands. Some say that this fashion began when wreaths were placed on the heads of winning athletes at the first Olympic Games. This summer, headbands are again …

Everlasting Love

On this Meeting Men Monday, I’m sharing my friend’s secrets to lasting love. She is in her thirties and has been with her husband for 17 years. Before getting married, they were high school and college sweethearts. So her Prince Charming is one of the first guys she ever dated. And what is magical about this Happily Ever After is …

Summer and Sundresses

When the sun makes a command performance, I always get the urge to take a ferry to a beautiful island. Can a girl get more sun-appropriate attire for such an outing than a SUNdress? Today, for Fashion Friday, I’m featuring Forever 21 maxis and bangles. What I love about these dresses is that they can be used either for a …

Crestfallen Over Crumbs

Crumbs Bake Shop abruptly closed all its stores last Monday, July 7, and I’m in mourning. I’ve had an intense love for those cupcakes ever since I began traveling to LA for work. The over-sized treats were pure paradise. Never mind the fact that just one could top a whopping 600 calories. If that number had been doubled, I still …

A Little Flower Fun

Lately I’ve been a working machine, so yesterday I decided to take a break and hop on over to the nursery. This time of year, it has a bounty of blooms! How can a girl possibly select which ones to plant in balcony pots when there are so many choices? As you can see, while pondering this dilemma I met …

Summer Makeup Splash

Fuchsia is such a summer color, what with its namesake flowers blooming in gardens, popping out of pots, and appearing on apparel. This hue has even migrated into makeup. On the eyes, it can look either rock star-ish or refreshing. I like to go for the latter, so I teamed up with Tricia – the globetrotting Bobbi Brown babe – …

Love Advice from the Gypsy

Last spring, I introduced you to Cristin, a girl who became a fast friend after she read The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men, and reached out to me. She needed a change, and was inspired to travel by the true stories of the women in my book. You can read what I’ve written about her worldly adventures, but …

Happy Fourth of July!

As you can see, I’m on my way to a patriotic picnic. I love this holiday! But I love even more the meaning behind it. I never tire of hearing how the leaders of thirteen modest colonies, with no organized military, had the audacity to meet in secret and pass a resolution to obtain their freedom from the mighty Kingdom …

Sailboats and Great Seattle Food

This was the stunning view on my dinner date! Every Thursday evening during Seattle’s boating season Six Seven, the restaurant at the Edgewater hotel, is the scene of a sailboat regatta. That, plus its mouthwatering food, makes for a landmark night. Two of my favorite dishes were the duck and salmon. But really, you couldn’t go wrong by ordering anything …

Strawberry Sensation

We’re in the midst of a global strawberry craze! Wimbledon, which has served this fresh dessert since it began in 1877, is breaking records. Its berries are the juiciest ever and, according to the All England Club, tournament-goers are on-track to consume 61,000 pounds of them along with 1,800 gallons of cream! I didn’t get a chance to attend Wimbledon …

The Hottest Catwalk Trend

Sydney, from Aveda Corporate, showed me how to pull off this “sexy ponytail,” and I’m passing the trade secret on to you. First, backcomb your hair to a degree that seems crazily excessive. This will give you the sexy lift. Second, gently smooth that hair and clip up the top half. Sydney just used the end of a rattail comb. …