Riding High In The New Year!

January 31st was the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Wood Horse. The Chinese New Year is usually represented by an animal and one of the five elements of metal,water, wood, fire and earth. The Wood Horse symbolises loyalty, independence, determination and unexpected adventures. This New Year celebration will be full of parades, eating and fireworks. Many will be celebrating the arrival of the New Year with a huge and delicious feast of Chinese food with family and friends then end with a fantastic fireworks. 

Holt Renfrew's tribute to the Horse with style. 

Hermès has a long tradition with designing with horses. 

 When we were in Manila last October, we dined at the Summer Palace  Chinese Restaurant at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel. The Chinese consider red and anything circular as lucky and prosperous.

This is called the Birthday Noodle Dish. It is an egg noodle with a variety of seafood and vegetables. For the Chinese, Seafood plays a large role in festive celebrations. For instance, shrimps represent liveliness, happiness and well-being. Abalone represents abundance and good fortune, scallops represents a new start or the opening of new horizons and fish represents both wish and abundance. The noodle dish also have some Chicken which is considered healthy and symbolises prosperity and completeness. The noodles and green leafy vegetables represent a long life.(Source: Mandarin Oriental Manila Chinese New Year)

This was our meal with my friends at Modern Shanghai, Makati, Philippines. The restaurant's speciality is the Xiao Long Bao which is the round dimsum  in the basket as shown above filled with ground beef and soup inside. Eating anything rounded in shape symbolises money, profit and good fortune. Lastly, rice is served at the end of the meal to signify fertility, luck and abundance in wealth. Anything golden in colour like the fried rice we had above represents abundance in wealth. (Source: Mandarin Oriental Manila Chinese New Year) 

With the symbolism of the Chinese Feast above, I wish you all a blessing in abundance, prosperity, health, happiness and for sure a delicious feast with family and friends.

The Chinese Zodiac is different from the Western Horoscope. The Chinese Zodiac uses different Animal Signs. Your animal sign is determined by the Year of your birth. Discover your good fortune and predictions for the 2014 Year Of The Wood Horse.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Happy Chinese New Year!

Check out Mary Jo's designs of Bags and accessories sale at her Shop.

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Luxury Home Style

Hermes Avalon Blanket in Charcoal Gray I photographed here at our home inspired by the Hermes Equestrian tradition.

With the sudden change of mood this week here in the Eastern North American hemisphere due to the Hurricane Sandy, this is the perfect weather to snuggle inside our homes with a comfortable blanket and maybe drink some hot chocolate to keep warm. One of the blankets that I discovered to be so comfortable and soft was the Hermes Avalon Blanket. To commemorate Hermes' 175th Anniversary, I would like to share here my Hermes Avalon Blanket and some inspiring interiors from the Canadian House and Home Magazine.

Hermes products are renowned for their contemporary artisan craftsmanship. The Avalon wool/cashmere blankets material are sourced out in Scotland where the Elgin mills supply wool and cashmere to Hermes. Avalon blankets are highly coveted for their signature H pattern and luxurious warm feel. It is a super soft and snuggly blanket. It comes in different colours like the charcoal gray, red, traditional Hermes orange, Navy Blue, Brown, Beige and Green. When I purchased my blanket, I was surprised to learn that every Hermes store only receives in stock, two blankets in every colour. I initially planned to purchase the Brown or the Red Avalon Blankets but the Hermes Toronto store was sold out in those colours. So I purchased the Charcoal gray instead which is a classic and will match with most of our furniture in our home.  

Coming out of the signature Hermes Orange box.

Avalon Wool and Cashmere Blanket and matching cushion.

In the Living Rooms...

In the Bedrooms...

Hermes Home accessories and Furniture will truly add a timeless elegance to your home and lifestyle.

Photo credits: Canadian House and Home Magazine and Hermes. 

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Summer Yellows

 

 Joe Fresh Summer 2012.

Photo credit: Joe Fresh

This Labour Day long weekend is the last long weekend of the summer. So sad that summer is almost ending. I am feeling it in my heart. Fall is coming then the dreaded Winter! But to cheer us all up, I am presenting here a tribute to Summer Yellows that I came cross during this summer season. Some of them I saw in magazines or the web. Some were photographed during my travels this year and some here at home. Most of them I  photographed by surprise as I never thought I will encounter them during my adventures. As the saying goes, " Always expect the unexpected!"  

 Street Style.

 Photo Credit: Vanessa Jackman.

 Photo credit: Vogue UK.

Chanel Yellow dress and Billy's Bakery cupcakes NYC.

Photo credit: Vogue.com

 Yellow wallpaper in the Powder Room and Yellow desk in the Den. 

Photo Credit: Canadian House & Home Magazine. 

 I came across this Yellow Vespa parked on Bloor St,Toronto.

 A Banana Boat and Yellow Muskoka chair in Lake Muskoka.

Bags and Shoes.

 Hermes Kelly bag.

Photo credit: Phil Oh, Vogue.com

I love this Celine Box Bag. Available at Holt Renfrew, Toronto.

  

 Jimmy Choo bag. Available at Holt Renfrew, Toronto.

Louis Vuitton Alma Bag. This is a window display I photographed in New York City. 

Louis Vuitton collaboration with Kusama.

Photo credit: Louis Vuitton.

Mulberry's Yellow Bayswater bag on display in Mulberry Store, Brompton Rd.London.

A Mulberry postcard given to me by Mulberry during my trip to London. Can't never get enough of Yellow!

 Roger Vivier Sandals. Available at Holt Renfrew, Toronto.

Flowers...

Our birdhouse and some yellow flowers from our garden.

Silk tulips from a shop in Niagara On The Lake, Ontario.

Sunflowers to brighten up your day from St. Jacob's Market,Waterloo,Ontario

Back home in Toronto, a painted Street Mural.

Photo credit: Etsy.com

 Enjoy the Labour Day long weekend!

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Hermes Time

Hermes Watches.

Time flies by so fast. The London 2012 Summer Olympics is finished after two weeks of intense sport competition among Nations. Did you watch the Closing Ceremony? Did you like it?  I thoroughly enjoyed it as I was happy to listen again to the British songs and bands like Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, One Direction, the Spice Girls and even the video songs of Freddy Mercury from the Band Queen. The performances of John Lennon and Freddy Mercury on video were so touching! Then I was also amazed that they even included the British supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Stella Tennant, Karen Elson and Lily Cole. Then in the end, I loved the dance presentation of the Royal Ballet with Principal Dancer Darcey Bussell.  The Closing Ceremony was truly a show of the Best of the British not only in song but also in Fashion and the Arts.

I am now presenting here the Hermes Watches which were on display here at Hermes Toronto. They are so stylish, classic and well made. These watches will last a lifetime. I like their presentation here with the dove carrying the watches. As the dove is a symbol of peace. The theme here represents Peace and Time with some Luxury.. Hermes Luxury!

The Cape Cod.

According to Hermes: "Dreaming of the anchor-shaped peninsula of Cape Cod, with its sandy beaches stretching out towards the ocean, Henri D'Origny created this namesake watch in 1991. Its shape is inspired by the solitary anchor chain link."

The Arceau

According to Hermes: "The timeless Arceau watch embories French elegance and the very essence of the 'Hermes style.' Designed in 1978 by Henri d'Origny, it is distinguished by its upper horseshoe-shaped attachment and the slanting numerals across the dial." 

Which watch would you like to wear to keep track of time? 


As the week goes on, take your time,  remember to spread Peace around you and have a fantastic week ahead of you!



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Travel with Hermes

This week is the start of Paris Fashion Week for the Fall 2012 Collections. How would you like to travel to Paris or anywhere around the world with Hermes? Here are some Hermes bags and shoes for travelling in luxury, style  and comfort. These are the bags, shoes and accessories on display in the windows of Hermes Toronto store.

FOR HER.

Travelling with the extra large Hermes Birkin bag in light Brown with the chic red Hermes boots. Then add a Red Belt to your outfit to complete the look.  So fashionable!

Then top off your outfit with the famous Hermes scarf.

FOR HIM.

 Extra Large Hermes Bolide bag in Blue and matching blue suede moccasin for him. A Shawl will keep him warm and comfortable during the flight.

Travelling is one of the pleasures of life. Might as well travel in style and comfort  with  the luxurious Hermes.  Are you ready? Let us go to Paris now!

Have a great weekend!

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