Facebook is the NEW and improved MySpace. I love it!!! It connects people from all over the world, with the option of sharing videos, photos and all kinds of preferences one wishes to share with the rest of the Facebook world. Did I mention that I LOVE IT!?! Indeed, just like YouTube became my favorite toy for August, Facebook will be my passion in the coming months. I am not saying that YouTube will be any less in my book, it’ll just have to share me with my new love as well… To sign up, visit www.facebook.com.

Treat yourself to a trip. It doesn’t have to be a journey across the world, but even an adventure somewhere around the corner can be refreshing, not to mention it can make you feel thankful of what you do have at home. If you are lucky enough to go far, don’t over-pack. One simple carry-on with two outfit changes is just plenty, as the whole idea of a vacation is to take a break from everything, even thinking about what outfit to wear! And - if you’ll be getting on an airplane to and from anywhere in the western world - don’t forget to pack your liquids in a quart-size CLOSED ziplock bag, see-through of course, and containing no bottles bigger than three ounces each inside.

Get some Emergen-C 1,000 mg Vitamin C packets, from Whole Foods. They sell them the cheapest, at $15 for two boxes of 48. I live by the stuff in the winter, to keep colds away, but in the summer they serve another purpose, to refresh and replenish all the minerals that we loose through perspiration. Dissolve one packet in an 8 oz glass of water and drink it like a soda. It comes in many flavors, I love both Orange and Tangerine, but even Cranberry rocks!

Make the most of your local Farmers’ Market in the summer. Pretty soon, the cold weather will be here again, and the good farmers will be gone. Unless you are lucky enough to live in California, of course! But tomatoes, basil and hot peppers are at their best right now. So, cook up something fun, or rather don’t cook anything and enjoy it all raw and delicious, as nature intended it. Look for my tomato carpaccio recipe thing coming week.

By no means someone I can claim as a friend of mine but a wonderful spiritual leader whom we all really should listen to more often. I needed to have his loving message somewhere on this blog. Read on and use it in your everyday life. For more on the man and his works, go to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s official website.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

By His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama

Maroon-colored dried hibiscus flowers from Jamaica are available at Caribbean and Mexican groceries. They make a fragrant and intense ruby-red drink that Mexicans serve very sweet. I first tried this in LA, at the Farmers’ Market food court of the Grove. Love the taste, the color and the fragrance of this drink. Try it and you’ll be hooked too!

4 ounces dried hibiscus flowers
2 1/2 quarts cold water
1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar
Crushed ice and orange slices

In a large saucepan, combine the hibiscus flowers and water and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat for 30 minutes. Strain and let cool, then stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Refrigerate until very cold. Serve the tea over ice and garnish with orange slices.

Makes 2 quarts

So, last week I took you on a culinary tour of Vegas, finding good food at both ends of the spending spectrum. Let me try to do the same with shopping.

WHERE TO SHOP

The title of this paragraph should really read “Where NOT to Shop” since there isn’t a place anywhere in Vegas that won’t be happy to take your money. From the smallest sundries shop in the lesser known casinos, to the souvenir shops selling Elvis memorabilia next to Tom Jones’, to the little carts at the Fashion Show Mall, Vegas has it for sale! I usually start out by visiting the Fashion Show Mall and checking out the departments stores I don’t get to visit in NYC, like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus (AKA Needless Mark-up). Nordstrom has the best shoe floor of any store I know and Neiman’s is a good place to check out trends and drool over those things that you might have to sell your soul for in order to own. This time, right outside of Nordstrom’s, I found a little sunglass cart selling really good copies of Prada, Armani and Ralph Lauren glasses, for $15 each - or two for $25 - with the added bonus of being completely devoid of any designer name. I love Miuccia and Giorgio as much as the next girl, but if I am going to be advertising their name, right on my face, I would like to get paid. So, the stylish aviators I chose get lots of compliments and don’t make me feel like a walking billboard. Another cute cart, directly across from Macy’s, sells sterling silver pieces at really low prices, while yet another stand near Starbucks sells fake hairpieces to match any color. From the fashionable braids worn around the heads of celebrities the likes of Sienna Miller and Scarlett Johanson, to funky little ponytails to pin into one’s own hair and create the illusion of fullness, this cart is truly a ‘Must Visit’. Click on Fashion Show Mall website for a store directory and much, much more.

The other shopping mecca in Vegas are the Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace. There I found a great deal on the little t-shirt dress I had been looking for, at Banana Republic, for $21. This little bright red short dress was $48 in Manhattan, but less than half the price in Vegas. Go figure! I also visited all their upscale boutiques like Juicy Couture and Burberry, even if I did not find anything that just had to come home with me. But the place is awesome, as you can see from the photos I have posted on my Flickr account, and the shops are quite empty, especially if you visit them at night. Truly, a magical experience. Go to Forum Shops link for more info.

One last shopping suggestion is going to keep in tune with what I published in The List a few weeks ago. If you visit Vegas, I urge you to start a t-shirt collection. I had started mine already in Detroit, but in Vegas I added a Barry Manilow black number with his silhouette in silver foil, which I bought from the official “Fanilow” shop at the Las Vegas Hilton and which I plan to wear with stylish black pants to a very Bollywood affair, of course! It is a fun and inexpensive way to bring the journey home with you and to enjoy something different from the rest. The Manilow T cost me $26 with tax, which is totally affordable for something that fun. So, happy Vegas shopping and remember, $20 on the nickel slots is all you really should be playing anyway…

This summer, it’s all about natural, I feel. Anyway, first and foremost, protect your skin with a good SPF of 30 and above. My favorite is Clinique Sun Care - UV Response for Face. It’s around $2o for 50 ml and terrific. At all major department stores. For feet, and other over-exposed and under-protected areas, use Trader Joe’s SPF 30, which is only $3.99 for a tube. See more info on Trader Joe’s website.

Pull your hair back, tie it with a soft rubber band, and go! Enjoy the ‘no make-up’ freedom that the summer usually allows. Use a little gel, anything cheap and light from the drugstore is fine, and use a no-tug hair elastic, like Blax snag-free ones, to secure. Available at your local drugstore or see www.smoothiesbyintuition.com.

Nothing goes better with pulled back hair and smooth summer skin, than a good pair of aviator sunglasses. I got mine at the cheap stand in Las Vegas’ Fashion Show Mall, but Liz Claiborne has a great pair for sale at Macy’s for around $30.

If you wish to be a little more polished in the evenings, try Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer, SFP 20, in a shade slightly darker than your own skin. I use Sand, even in the winter, even if I should go lighter. But the consistency is so light that it does not ever look too cakey or made up. For your own tube, which runs about $42, go to Sephora’s website.

And finally, eat lots of fresh carrots. I thought it was a myth, but it really is true that they add a summer glow to everyone’s complection. And you avoid risking that rubbery, cardboard complexion one tends to get from tanning too often. Anyway, in Italy they even sell Beta Carotene tablets to prepare the skin for exposure to the sun. Just eat a couple of nice, fresh carrots each day, and you don’t have a thing to worry about.

Enjoy the summer sun, pretty soon we’ll all be complaining that it’s winter again!

This past weekend I took a little side trip to Detroit. OK, so I never even made into the city limits, but I did fly into Detroit’s beautiful, spotless and fancy looking airport. This was on my way to Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. I was inspired by the exhibit “Hot House: Expanding the Field of Fiber at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, 1970-2007″ at the Cranbrook Art Museum. If you remember, from one of my past “The List”, friends of mine have a piece in the show and I decided that seeing it online just wasn’t enough for me. I was right. In the process, I discovered some pleasant places, a great museum filled with a collection of inspiring art work and had a wonderful time sharing it all with my friend Virginia.

HOW TO GET THERE
There are several airlines which fly to Detroit, including discount carrier Spirit, but the cheapest fare turned out to be on Northwest, since Detroit Metro is one of their hubs. Round trip, leaving Saturday early morning and coming back Sunday afternoon, the airfare was $290 through Orbitz, all taxes included. Northwest’s website is www.nwa.com, for Orbitz go to www.orbitz.com. The flight is about 2 hours long and once in Detroit, there is no other way to move around but by car, so I suggest getting one on Hotwire, which I did for about $20 per day. The rental came from Budget, which has a shuttle to and from the airport to the car lot. When I checked in to get my car, I was told that the class I had rented wasn’t available but I could upgrade for an extra $5 a day. I declined, and soon after a compact was miraculously found on the lot. Be aware that even if your second day is only a couple of hours, you will be charged for two days. That’s how it works in Michigan. For the trip up to Bloomfield Hills, look up your directions on Mapquest, as I found Yahoo maps to be really imprecise and sloppy. The trip from Detroit Metro Airport to Bloomfield Hills is about 45 minutes, on a surface road, probably quicker on the highways, but the second option requires quick skills and fast thinking as the exits aren’t well labeled. As a whole, have directions printed and on hand for every trip you make through the area, as the road in those parts tend to be a bit tricky and the distances farther than they appear. For Hotwire, go to www.hotwire.com.

WHERE TO STAY
Virginia did most of the bookings for this trip, checked out a couple of options and ended up deciding that the Radisson Hotel in Bloomfield Hills was the best, for location and quality. But instead of booking it on Orbitz, where rooms were around $160 per night, she went to Hotwire, went through the process (first looking up the amenities of the Radisson) and because the area has relatively few options, she figured out that the hotel she was getting on Hotwire, at $90 per night including all taxes, was the same one that cost nearly double on other sites. Bottom line, do your online research and you can probably get the Radisson for 90 bucks a night too, on Hotwire. The rooms were quiet, very spacious and very clean. An added bonus, their famous “Sleep Number Bed” was dreamy and so comfy, I wish I could have stayed at the Radisson all summer… Anyway, the hotel also has a pool, a free business center where guest have unlimited access to a computer and printer, and a wonderful coffee shop where we had breakfast in the morning. Free water and coffee in the room, all included as well.

WHERE TO EAT
Birmingham is definitely the place to go, when staying in nearby Bloomfield Hills. It is a pretty town, all designed around two main arteries, Maple and Old Woodward. On Old Woodward, we found a wonderful bakery, Charlie’s, which had the biggest cupcakes I have ever seen, at $2 each. I just had to buy two chocolate ones, with rose shaped butter frosting, which I shared with Virginia. Another speciality from Charlie’s are pink - and other assorted pastel colored - meringue “bowls” which are meant to be filled with ice cream and eaten. YUM! Anyway, for a real meal, we headed over to try brunch at the Townsend Hotel, but did not really like the vibe of the Rugby Grille and ended up eating Middle Eastern food at Elie’s, across the street, at 263 Pierce. The Townsend is the fanciest place in town, with rooms around $400, but they do offer some weekend specials on Orbitz. We just weren’t in the mood for fancy, so Elie’s Lamb Shawarma and Baked Chicken were just fine. Our meal was less than $20 for both. Be sure to try the lemonade there, as it is infused with orange blossom water. And make sure to bring lots of quarters when heading to Birmingham, as meters are expensive there and they don’t take cash, Visa or American Express!
Another fabulous place to eat is The Deli, inside the Radisson Hotel. The breakfast there was divine, my eggs just perfect and Virginia tried the Turkey Mash, which inspired this week’s Recipe. And again, the low price was just the icing on the cake. On Saturday evening, we ate in nearby Novi, at the Town Center Mall, where we went to watch a fun new Hindi film titled “Partner”. See more about that in “The List”.

WHAT TO SEE
First and foremost, visit Cranbrook. A large, green, beautiful campus which houses the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Cranbrook Museum and Saarinen House, among others. The museum has a large collection of ethnic fabrics on the lower level and the show on the main floor is amazing. If in doubt, click on Hot House and check out the online exhibition. I have included a couple of photos of my favorite items on my Flickr account, which you can access from my Homepage. What really struck me is how labor intensive each piece is. These days, art can be just about anything some person decides to call that. But on top of being great ideas and brilliant concepts, the works displayed at Cranbrook are also created with skill and knowledge of the individuals’ crafts. Truly a magical experience. Look out for Kinnari and John Panikar’s “Lotus in Clouds”, as well as works from Gerhardt Knodel and Bhakti Ziek.
We were quite tired after a couple of hours spent looking at the Hot House show and wandering the extensive gardens, but not to be missed is a guided tour to Saarinen House. Designed by Eliel Saarinen to be his own personal home and completed in 1930, this edifice is considered by many a masterpiece of Art Deco design. The two-story house features elaborate tile work, furnishings, rugs and an elegant garden. Open for tours during the summer months. Click here Saarinen House for more info and to make an appointment.
In the evening, a great thing to do is to hit the movie theater at the Mall in Novi and check out the newest Hindi film, with - of course! - English subtitles. On the Saturday night we went, there were three different ones playing, so you can’t really ever be disappointed. In NYC in a good week, we get two on opposite sides of town, so this was a treat. The theater is a bit of a drive from Bloomfield Hills, so make sure you travel with accurate - i.e. Mapquest - directions, a good sense of directions, fun music and a pleasant travel companion. I did, and had a blast. For more info on the movie theater, go to www.novitowncenter8. But make sure to get your own directions and not the theater’s or, as we learned the hard way, you’ll end up circling around for half an hour.
Finally, it was really fun to have Virginia as a “partner in crime” for this adventure, but if you aren’t as lucky as I was to find someone who is game enough to want to travel with you, this is one trip where it’s really OK to be on one’s own. Michigan drivers are polite and unaggressive, the roads are clear and wide, all the eating establishments are friendly and unassuming and the hotel very quiet witt helpful staff. So, pack a light bag, your sense of adventure and go!

Maybe I am being lazy this week, but I only have a few suggestions for the list. One is to buy Teen Vogue. If you are like me, you kinda enjoy reading a fashion magazine, but get stuck when everything on the pages is in the thousands of dollars. I mean, it’s fashion people, get over it! It’s gonna be out next year, next season even, why spend so much on a handbag, a silly pair of jeans or even a t-shirt. If you think these same thoughts while fingering through the pages of Vogue and Bazaar, then check out Teen Vogue. Way cooler ads, much better fashion and never the doubt of looking like a stiff, uncool chick! Check out the Teen Vogue website and don’t forget to look at their “Made in China” editorial.

Read up on Rumi. The true romantic hero of ancient poetry, he wrote some of the most beautiful and meaningful poems ever written. Check out his “Like This” poem and feel all warm and fuzzy inside… I promise. I mean, I am single but it’s not like I plan on never finding a wonderful man! And when I do, you betcha I’ll be reading that poem to him! Go to Amazon.com to purchase one of his many poetry books.

Have you been inside a Nine West store lately? If not in the last three months, then check it out. The new creative director for the line is Fred Allard and the shoes look amazing! Very chic, very now, not your old Nine West, that’s for sure. So, go in, try some on, and walk in style. Check out the Nine West website for a taste.

OK, it’s very unlike me, but I am all out of ideas. I can only think of telling you all to drink lots of water, in this horrific heat, and wash out your A/C filter, as it can harbor lots of nasty bacteria, which will eventually make you sick! And exercise early in the morning, or inside the air conditioned comfort of a gym.

This might be a little lazy of me, but this week I am giving you a link, instead of my own recipe. It is to the a great Indian food site, and specifically to the page concentrating on Gujarat. I must admit that I have fallen in love with Ahmedabad, the people and the food… It is a fantastic place that has stayed within my dreams for the past year and a half, since my trip to Kite Festival. I had the most gracious of hosts there and enjoyed the festive chaos of the streets and the roofs. So here it is, my single, solitary link to a greatly colorful and flavorful world.

Food India website on Gujarati Food

OK, so I’ve been to Vegas way too many times to actually enjoy it. Shoe convention related, for Nine West shoes, you can check my “About” page if you are curious for details. Anyway, every time I go, I have to admit that I discover new, first quality eating establishments, and the shopping is second to none, if you don’t mind the constant ringing of the slot machines. Following are some of my “discoveries”. Alright, so anywhere I go I know millions have gone before me, but still, it always feels like an adventure, being out in the middle of Nevada, surrounded by picturesque mountains, in a true desert town.

GETTING THERE

I am loyal to Continental Airlines but there are many ways to fly to Vegas and they’ll all get you there, probably cheaper than my beloved. Jet Blue has a fun service there, filled with way cuter men than all other airlines. American, Spirit, Delta and US Airways all go there, but make a stop from NY airports.

WHERE TO STAY

Check out the websites for the usual suspects - Orbitz, Expedia and even Hotwire, if you don’t mind not knowing for sure where you will be ending up. I have stayed at a few different hotels on the Strip and they are all basically the same. The Luxor, Mandalay Bay, THE Hotel, Treasure Island, Las Vegas Hilton, the Paris and even the Excalibur. All have a bed - or two - a TV, a bathroom, are clean, with a supply of fresh towels and usually don’t smell of puke, although most rooms magically miss any premium TV program like HBO. This is to make guests less comfortable in the room and more willing to spend all their time, and money, in the casinos. Anyway, all room rates go up on weekends, and on special occasions - like the Super Bowl or for a rocking boxing match - and can range from $69 to $400, tax not included. Service is quite consistent, although a couple of times I have stumbled upon some hotel employee who went above and beyond the call of duty. The main thing is to bring your patience and sense of humor to Vegas. You’ll need it, as well as some of your hard earned money. Money for shopping, SILLY, since food and fun aren’t expensive. Just stay away from gambling. Well, that said I hope I don’t find a dead fish wrapped in newspaper on my doorstep, compliments of the Vegas mafia… If you MUST gamble - it is fun to experience the underdressed and overly made up waitresses and the ambiance - try the nickel slots, where a $20 bill will last you all night. Truly the only way to go.

WHERE TO EAT

There are a variety of cuisines in Vegas, and even quite decent seafood for a city that is completely landlocked and so deep into the Nevada desert, but don’t expect to find any quality fresh vegetables on any menu. Salad usually means the infamous Caesar’s - romaine lettuce with too many croutons and slathered in dressing - or half a head of Iceberg, with meats and cheese thrown in. Spinach is always frozen, and the only other veggie on the menu is usually some variety of potato - french fried, mashed or, in the fancier establishments, au gratin. But that said, I have had some really good meals in Sin City.
In the Las Vegas Hilton, try the 888 Noodle Bar. Open until 8 p.m., it is a traditional Asian noodle shop, complete with Chinese cooks and a waitress from Singapore. Sitting in this atmospheric, small restaurant, while the cooks stirred away on the woks in the open kitchen, and the pretend fireworks were going off above the pretend bridge over the pretend bay, it did feel like we were having dinner in Hong Kong, at a little street join just behind the Mandarin Hotel. Dinner for one will run you about $30, with a glass of wine. Order the Singapore noodles, they are delicious. Click here for the Las Vegas Hilton website. For a more expensive French meal, go to Daniel’s Brasserie, in the Wynn. The Vegas counterpart of the famous NYC eatery Daniel, it is truly magnificent. If going in the summer, ask for a table outside. It is worth being in the somewhat refreshing dry heat - after hours spent inside freezing cold environments - just to be able to see their “show” up-close. A mixture of Cirque de Soleil, Saturday morning cartoons and pop art, it is a great accompaniment to a tasty, if pricey, meal. With wine, three courses for one person will run you about $80. For more info click on The Wynn Las Vegas. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there are a few places to try that cost nearly nothing at all. IN-n-OUT Burger is a must for deliciously juicy, freshly made patties, eaten plain or with cheese, “animal-style” - meaning with grilled onions, with or without fresh and crunchy fries. I am not a big hamburger fan, but this was amazing and cheap, at $1.99 for a cheeseburger, and a dollar more for fries. Click here for the In ‘n Out Burger website. For great, easy Mexican food, try the Pink Taco in the Hard Rock Hotel. A local favorite, informal and cheap to boot. Right outside the Fashion Show Mall, the Burger Strip has great shakes and it’s a good place to take a moment to regroup after many hours of shopping around this extensive shopping center. The mall has six department stores and hundreds of little carts selling merchandise from sterling silver copies of Juicy Couture jewelry, to multicolored hairpieces and even cheap knockoffs of Prada and Armani sunglasses. But we’ll get to the shopping in next week’s column. Vegas is a place which needs more than one entry…
OK, back to the food. In the walkway between Luxor and Mandalay Bay, I have two favorites - Giorgio and Burger Bar. Giorgio has decent Italian food, is not too pricey and the service there is warm and friendly. A meal will run you around $30 with wine. Burger Bar is just what the name says. Great burgers made with all kinds of meat- turkey and veggie also - done any way, topped with anything, with or without a bun of your choice and accompanied by regular fries, onion rings or small, tasty sweet potato fries. A meal there will run you about $20 per person. For more info go to Mandalay Bay food info.
In the walkway leading to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the Border Grill is another favorite of mine. The fish tacos there are dreamy, and their tortilla soup is a meal in itself, with crispy, freshly fried tortilla chips sprinkled on top. A meal there is about $30, beer included (who wants wine with Mexican food?!)
And to finish off, two more places to try, one great for drinks, the second a must for magnificent northern Italian food. Mix is a bar/restaurant on top of THE Hotel, inside the Mandalay Bay complex. The restaurant part is for boring groups who want to feel like they are living it up in a classy joint. I refuse to eat there. But the bar has magnificent views of the Strip which are nearly 360 degrees. I mean, there are windows INSIDE the bathroom stalls! A martini there will run you about $15 but do have a seat, look out into the pretty lights, enjoy the atmosphere and groove to the music from the live DJ. Click here for info on Mix at The Hotel info. Last but not least, there’s Osteria del Circo, inside the Bellagio Hotel. The hotel is an experience in itself, with the large Dale Chihuly ceiling of blown glass flowers in the reception area and the pricey boutiques, but Circo is a restaurant like no other in Vegas. Great Tuscan food, classy wait staff, an excellent wine selection, beautiful centerpieces and a lovely water show just outside the large glass windows. Our meal there was $100 per person, but it did include two Kir Royal, fish entrees and a starter of risotto with shaved, fresh truffle. For more on the artist Chihuly, go to his website at www.chihuly.com.

So, this is the end of Part 1 of my Vegas Adventure. Meet me next week, same time, same place for Part 2 on all my shopping in Sin City.

Something for all of us to remember, from my dear friend Toshi, a fabulous woman!

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don’t take “no” for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have the compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.