Volvo C30 Makes Me Want to Go-Go

This past weekend I had to rent a car, and had two choices - a Jeep or a Volvo. Having never driven a Volvo, I thought I would try it out and I am soooo happy I did. This sweet Volvo C30 hatchback was the best rental car I've ever used!

The suspension was a dream while driving over NYC potholes. Maneuvering was magnificent in traffic. Seating comfort? Simply sublime. And the ergonomics were the epitome of chic and practical. This car is built like a tank, but performs like a cheetah - fast, powerful and graceful. I thoroughly enjoyed ever moment spent in this car and decided that if I had to have a city car, this would be it.

Now some might think this sporty hatchback would be super expensive since it's a European import, but considering how well it felt and performed I believe it is priced appropriately. MSRP starts at $25,500 and its great 30 MPG makes this very economical.

So, if you need a car, try this little dream and see if it fits your style. And if you are in need of a rental car in NYC, definitely try to book this one. I don't need to buy or rent a car at the moment, but I would love to do either because the Volvo C30 is such a pleasure to drive. Volvo Makes Me Want to Go-Go! (my new tagline for this often overlooked brand)

Delightful Scarves for Spring

Looking to drape your neck in elegant paisleys? Want something whimsical and bright to represent your disposition? Crave something that says you're cool and polished? Or just need something to keep you warm on those cool spring evenings? Johnny Was silk scarves are the answer to all of the above.

And if you're into the Boho chic look (thank you Talitha Getty), all of these printed scarves have beguiling tassels that whisper a carefree attitude with a taste for the exotic. Think of them as American versions of the much adored and admired European Epice scarves, but at a more attainable price point (under $100) when you buy them from the Johnny Was website. I have seen these same scarves sold at NYC boutiques for $125, so definitely go the online route if you want to save some $$$.

Here are some scarves from their blog (though I think they have even more impressive prints available at their online store):

The Ultimate Beauty Defender

Now that spring is here, it's time to get your beauty routine ready for the rays, and I've found the "Holy Grail" of sunscreens... Yes, there are numerous great sun blockers available at just about every price point, but there are few that have truly made me want to continuously slather this stuff on my face throughout the day (and everyone needs to apply sunscreen a few times a day if they plan on spending hours outside).

What is this addictive sunscreen? Well, it's a magical French concoction from the amazing La Roche-Posay line, and is available around the world in drugstores and online.

What makes it my new favorite sunscreen? Doesn't smell like sunscreen. Feels like a velvet souffle and makes my skin silky smooth. Blurs the blotches. Repels the rays. Doesn't make me look like a ghost or that I just sneezed into a pot of powder. And most importantly, it doesn't break me out!

What is this incredible product? It's called Anthelios 50, Anti-Aging Primer with Sunscreen, but for those who are not concerned with fine lines and wrinkles, I would rename it the Beauty Defender - hindering the daily onslaught of UV rays, heat-inducing oil slicks, pollution, and gigantic pores.

Get it while you can since it seems to be flying off the shelves at my local CVS as well as at big online retailers like Drugstore.com!

Plastic Surgery Central: Gangnam, Seoul

Photo: CC/InsightWAVE

This article came out a few weeks ago, and it is absolutely fascinating!

Did you know that the Gangnam district of Seoul is not only a shopping and fashion mecca in Asia, but also the place for plastic surgery? According to the Global Post article, there are at least 400 plastic surgery hospitals in Gangnam! 400 in one section of a city!!! Needless to say, Gangnam is the new medical tourism hot spot in Asia, but I still think that if you are desperate to get a surgery deal and then heal, Thailand sounds more enticing (Thais are very good at plastic surgery and their beaches and hospitality are lengendary).

Anyhow, the story quotes one university student saying people who don't get cosmetic surgery are considered weird. Weird to be normal... Good title for a story, but it's not a story, it is the truth for the beauty obsessed in South Korea.

My favorite part of the article is the section on the plastic surgery stigma and how older Korean men are not fans of the cosmetic surgery craze:

"South Korean men — especially older ones — revile the idea of dating or marrying a "sung-gui," slang for “plastic surgery monster.” The lewd term refers to a person who has lost natural beauty to inappropriate botox injections and surgical treatments, giving off a fake and sometimes bloated appearance."
-Global Post

Here is a plastic surgery hospital in Gangnam that has an English language website. I have to admit I am just in awe of what they can do to a face! They have several pages to view their work (Real Story, Before and After, and Becoming Cinderella). Here is the link to "Becoming Cinderella" which has videos of the process:

BK Plastic Surgery Hospital "Becoming Cinderella" (BK stands for Beauty Korea)

Estate of Grace

My friend and I recently produced Estate of Grace, a short video about a Greek Orthodox group home for children in New York State. It's a beautiful place that does its best to help children in need. If you are interested in learning about alternatives to foster care, seeing a grand estate once owned by New York Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, meeting some exception people and just appreciating the human spirit, please take a look at this site.

View of the Hudson River from the grounds of Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, NY

The Best Culture Watching - Hulu & Netflix

Cold days and long nights entice me to hibernate. So what to do in my little Chelsea cave? Well, cook and watch some great TV shows from around the world. Hulu & Netflix are my new travel/culture buddies. Offering an incredible amount of television series and movies from across the globe, these video streaming sites give me a chance to see what's popular in other countries, visually visit new places, learn some key phrases in other languages, get a taste of the law in faraway lands, and just appreciate what other cultures find entertaining. I've watched some great Korean soap operas, Bollywood movies, Thai trilogies, Vietnamese action films and more.

Right now I'm obsessed with Spiral (aka, Engrenages in France) - a French police series that is very entertaining and well, very French. I've picked up some new words like "flic" - slang for the police or po-po. I've noticed that the characters like to "tsk" quite a bit, but not in a condescending way. And well, the cast is phenomenal.  Gregory Fitoussi definitely stands out in the series and he is bound to become a household name here once the new PBS series "Mr. Selfridge" takes off. So, check out Spiral on Hulu and Netflix!

Another Great Cashmere Collection from Kapra Hiska!

You must think I'm being paid by Kapra Hiska due to all the posts I've written on them. Well, I am not but I do believe in supporting small businesses with great products, and Kapra Hiska is definitely one of them. So, without further ado, here pictures from Kapra Hiska's latest line. Enjoy and get a tissue to catch your drool as you marvel at the refined luxury of this colorful collection!