Blonde, Like Me

It’s safe to say that my hair has gone through many, many different incarnations over the last few decades. When I was very little it was as blonde as it could be, and my hair was short to accentuate my little curls.

But, alas, as time took its toll, my hair grew darker and my hairdresser became richer.

There was a period in my mid-twenties when I experimented with dark auburn, which I loved, but it was too far from my natural color, and I found myself having to pitch a tent in the hair salon. It looked pretty rockin’ with my chin-length bob, though.

Statistics say that women with naturally blonde hair are incredibly rare, and (as I think we’ve already established) it’s blondes like me who are keeping hairdressers in the red.

We can’t help it. Our subconscious identifies women with blonde hair are youthful and innocent. Contrary to popular belief, this perception wasn’t initiated with Disney and their string of yellow-haired heroines.

Because of this, Hitchcock was said to have consciously chosen to cast only blondes in his main roles, since they would be the least suspected of wrong-doings, but like thief on the run Janet Leigh in Psycho.

Still, we associate blonde as fun, kind, and, yes, at times – idiocy.

Early folklore forewarned that their yearning for precious golden locks, could cause malevolent fairies to steal light haired babies and children.

Let’s not forget about the girl with the most golden locks of all, and how her (blonde induced?) naïveté put her in some pretty precarious situations…

Maxfield Parrish’s “Sleep Beauty” is possibly one of the most gorgeous paintings of a fair-haired blonde ever created.

I love it when blonde is described as flaxen, and like to believe that Debussy was thinking of a girl like me when he wrote “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair”. (Click here to listen.)

Summer may seem like the best time to be blonde, but it’s pretty fantastic all year long.

Do blondes have more fun? That truly depends on the blonde, if you ask me. But possibly the most famous blonde in history found the transition brought her from anonymous cover girl…

To fair-haired icon.

You decide.

The Birthday Birds

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will notice two recurring themes: my friend Nicole, and my love for birds. Sometime in mid-June I went to pick up a deliciously belated birthday gift from the Milford post office, and when I opened I, a delectably girlish scent came wafting out….I would notice that scent absolutely anywhere. The temple of all women in New York City: Anthropologie.

Amongst the several gifts in the box was a book, but not just any ordinary book – this is How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird by Mordricai Gerstein.

It tells the story of a child who, upon waking, erects an easel, grabs his paint and brushes, and paints all things that make a bird happy, starting with the essentials – sunshine, the sound of the summer breeze, a strong perch.

Finally, the bird comes to sing, and all is right in the world.

The story is enough to grasp one’s heart, but the artwork is joyful, bright, and captivating.

The story is a fable so ultimately universal that it’s officially my favorite, on par with that heartwarming standby, The Giving Tree.

There’s something so warm and universal about the both of them. It’s the best gift for any child – even grown up children like myself.

That intoxicating smell that first came out of the box belonged to another bird-motif gift. Mozi date, fig & olive soap.

Fig is one of my all time favorite scents, and I’ve been known to burn this Votivo Moroccan fig candle down the last trace of wax.

How can something be so calming to your body, and so invigorating to your mind – all at the same time? That’s what everything mentioned here does for me.

I’m going to go read my book now…the sun is starting to finally come out…

La Noce di Cocco

Nothing smells like summer more than the wafting scent of coconut. Here I’d like to share some of my most beloved coconut products that keep me smelling (and dreaming of!) summer all year long.

It all starts, as most summers do, with Coppertone. Coppertone’s worked so hard to create a bazillion products without oil, and with ultimate UVA protection, but it’s the original with its strong coconut scent that I love so much. Just so long as you don’t leave the beach looking like this:


The first time I went to St. Martin (for Thanksgiving in 2006), I picked up this coconut deodorant at the local grocery store. On days when I don’t feel like wearing perfume, this deodorant gives off a subtle and soft scent that reminds me of the St. Martin sun, even in the chilliest days of winter.


I recently discovered this Organix coconut leave-in conditioner in the most genius spray. It does wonders for unruly hair like mine, and, again, leaves a lingering smell that forces everyone who hugs me to say, “You smell amazing! What is that?”

This Skin Trip coconut soap smells good enough to eat. I keep them in drawers all over my house to capture their authentic, intoxicating island scent.

To this day I’m not sure exactly how or why you’d ever put the lime in the coconut and mix it all up, but I do know that La Samanna in St. Martin makes the best pina colada I’ve ever had in my life.

If you’re not as lucky as me to be able to visit the Coconut Man in the market of Marigot, where he’ll split a coconut right in front you, and allow you to drink the juice with a straw…

Then perhaps try this pina colada recipe to get you through the dog days of summer (if dogs drank rum with pineapple). Enjoy!

Pina Colada recipe

Old-style recipe for this popular drink. The coconut cream needs to have the right consistancy, some find the alternative, coconut milk to be too thin, however you can add condensed milk to coconut milk to bring up it's thickness. Add pineapple juice if desired.

3 oz light rum3 tbsp coconut cream3 tbsp crushed pineapples

Put all ingredients into an electric blender with 2 cups of crushed ice. Blend at a high speed for a short length of time. Strain into a collins glass and serve with a straw.

She Sells Sea Shells

When I was very little, long before I’d ever set foot on a tropical island, I would lament the end of summer as though it were a dying friend, stealing even the coldest, rainiest days to run along the beach and brave the frigid Atlantic Ocean.

Not much has changed all these years later. I am still stealing every hour the beach has to offer, along with its greatest natural treasures.

The earliest hours are my favorites, and if I had my wares, I’d be up with the sun. This is my favorite time because it is often the calmest. The perfect opportunity for a private stroll, where I always stop to collect sea shells.




The shells themselves of course vary by indigenous location. Some of my favorites are these very perfect and tiny clam-like shells.

Shell jewelry is beyond a doubt the most perfect beach accessory. I have a strong of the most remarkable shells which, despite their varied sizes and shapes, create the ideal bikini co-conspirator.

For centuries, certain cultures believes that shells were gods and embodied mystical powers. I love shells of all colors, but these are the ideal iridescent white, and go with just about everything. Because they’re shell, I never worry about maintenance, sun exposure, perfume, or suntan lotion – nothing is going to penetrate these sturdy suckers! Sea or sand, my shells go where I go.

I recently fell in love with these olive, round shells which nearly, at first glance, look like freshwater pearls. While most shells often signify summer, these weather the seasons, and look as great in a business meeting as they do with a bright summer cocktail.

When I first arrived in NYC 12 years ago, a friend gave me the most beautifully perfect shell. It was a delicate, pure white conch-shaped shell, the kind which, when the mood struck, I could hold up to my ear and attempt to hear the ocean’s mysterious hum. At that time the shell was the most meaningful gift as throughout each and every city move (and there were a lot of them) I carefully packed the paper thin mollusk and carried it from place to place. Apropos, as shells have to make a similar weathered journey of survival before they land on shore.

For so long that shell made a valiant pilgrimage from box to bedside, borough to borough, until it met an untimely domestic demise 10 years after its purchase. While nothing can take its place, I continue to search for shells wherever there’s a water’s edge. And no matter how old I get, whenever I see a conch, I hold it up to my ear, close my eyes, and listen to the sounds of the sea.

Mountain Greenery

Yes, I have become that person that takes pictures of trees. After so many years of living in the city you forget that there is something called trees, this wonderful, natural creation which transforms seasonally. Every single morning I wake up and look out my window – and there they are. No matter the season, they always seem so happy to see me.

One of the main reasons I bought my little country house was because of the trees. When my real estate agent asked me what I wanted, I told him I wanted a chalet, and gloriously tall birch trees lining the driveway. The minute I saw the house I knew.

The entire house is surrounded by the most glorious firs you’ve ever seen – and then some. I didn’t know what to do with them at first. I’d never seen so many trees so close to someone’s home before! I had this overriding fear that one of them would spontaneously fall right into my roof, and brought someone over to consult me on having some of them taken down. “Don’t take them down,’ he said. “The trees are here to protect you.” Sure enough, that’s exactly how it feels.

I certainly hope they appreciate all the rain we’re getting these days. I think they look like they do. Don’t you?

There’s this great Rogers & Hart tune called Mountain Greenery which will have you humming for days on end. There’s a reason Mel Torme, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and The Supremes have taken on this zippy little tune. Listen in on Ella’s rendition of the song, and feel free to sing along. (You know you want to!)

On the first of May, it is moving day,

Spring is here, so blow your job,

Throw your job away!

Now's the time to trust,

To your wanderlust,

In the city's dust you wait, must you wait

Just you wait.......!

In a mountain greenery, Where God paints the scenery

Just two crazy people together.

While you love your lover,

Let blue skies, be your coverlet,

When it rains we'll laugh at the weather.

And if you're good, I'll search for wood,

So you can cook... while I stand looking

Beans could get no keener reception in a beanery

Bless our mountain greenery home!

Simple cooking means More than French Cuisines

I've a banquet planned which is

Sandwiches and beans

Coffee's just as grand

With a little sand

Eat and you'll grow fatter, boy

`smatter boy? Huh, huh! `Atta boy.

In a mountain greenery,

Where God paints the scenery

Just two crazy people together.

How-how-how-how-how we love sequestering

Where no pests are pestering

No dear momma holds us in tether

Mosquitoes here,

Won't bite you dear,

I'll let them sting, me on the finger!

Beans could get no keener reception in a beanery

Bless our mountain greenery,

Far from life's machinery

Bless our mountain greenery home!

La Libellula (The Dragonfly)

I’ve always loved the look of dragonflies, but had never really experienced them first hand until I moved out to the country and saw how truly magical they really are. Dragonflies come in the most luscious colors, brilliant blue, emerald green, bright scarlet and a whole array of shimmering shades.

Many, many moons ago, before scientists uncovered the benign agenda of this gorgeous creature, they were thought to have had magical and often sinister powers. Early-American children were forewarned that if they behaved badly, a dragonfly would sew their eyes and ears shut in their sleep. In Swedish folklore, dragonflies worked for the Devil himself, and had the power to weigh human souls – and pick out their eyes. Poor dragonflies! It would be centuries until they got the love and appreciation they deserved.

Asian cultures regard dragonflies as holy animals. In fact, the Emperor of Japan named his city “Akitsushima” which translates as “The Isles of the Dragonfly”. Today, Japan is the global leader in the study of dragonflies. However, in some parts of Asia – they love them…to death! And eat them as a delicacy. This is not that unusual. In Bali, dragonflies are fried with coconut oil and spices. In Thailand, their larvae are served roasted.

Let’s change the channel for a second, and have a think about a lovely drink called The Dragonfly. I may have to raise a glass in the real dragonfly’s reverence, as it is a symbol of victory, courage and happiness.

1 1/2 oz gin4 oz ginger ale1 lime wedge

In a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes, combine the gin and ginger ale. Stir well. Garnish with the lime wedge.

But dragonflies aren’t just a pretty face. They are bugs which establish a specific fight pattern to patrol their given area for food. The dragonfly, believe it or not, pre-dates the dinosaur, its needle-like body frightening onlookers. But dragonflies have no stinger, and really only want to go about their business – so if you see one, don’t kill it! It’s thought to bring about an entire string of unfortunate events. Merely observe and know how lucky you are that one of these gorgeous daredevils found you. In Zuni legend, they ar shamanistic with supernatural powers. If you’ve ever seen one in person, it’s hard not to believe this is true.

Star Light, Star Bright

I grew up on the South Shore of Boston, and my grandparents had a beachfront house on a small island off of Scituate Harbor called Humarock. We spent all of my summers there, and some of my happiest memories began the moment my parents’ car crossed that tiny little bridge and my lungs filled with fresh, salty air. I spent the first two decades of my life initiating summer this way, with long days under the sun, only to be called in by my mother’s insistence to eat or put on a hat (both actions, I assure you, were met with much resistance).

As with most beach towns, there was little to do besides explore, in and out of the water. To the right, was, eventually, the public beach and never of much interest. But to the left were “The Cliffs”, a desolate residential area where the houses braved atop gigantic boulders, and the sandy beach gave way to mossy rocks, and anything and everything the fierce Atlantic Ocean had forced ashore.

The greatest of all currency was sea glass (glass perfectly dulled by the ocean), which we would collect and trade, along with the most beautiful shells and rocks. If we were lucky, we would find a jellyfish, and attempt to save it by tossing it, lovingly, Frisbee-style into the water. And if we were very, very lucky, we would find a starfish.

Here is my lucky friend Christine on a recent trip to Jamaica!

A long, long time ago starfish were considered magical creatures. And with excellent reason. How many other living things possess the ability to regenerate pieces of themselves? It was believed that starfish possessed a connection to the stars in the sky, and the people thought to reside there.

I recently gave four of my favorite girls starfish earrings I made to commemorate the opening of our kids’ tour at The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. The starfish charms themselves are metal and the posts are 14K gold plate to protect sensitive ears like mine.

Shells, seahorses and starfish speak “summer” to me, and I can’t get enough of the three. I have a seahorse necklace that’s very popular, strung with white and aqua glass beads, so beautifully made that they look like real seaglass! This double strand necklace also has clear glass with light green and blue crystals. So pretty!!!

Summer jewelry is so much fun – the brighter the better! I use shells so often in my beadwork. Sometimes throwing them all together in multiple strands, like this glass and shell choker, and long strand shell charmer.

As I was searching for a recipe to include in this post, it came to my attention that there really is such a thing as starfish soup! It doesn’t seem like it would be my personal taste, so I decided, instead, to include this sweet, refreshing summer drink called The Starfish:

· 1 oz. Moët and Chandon White Star
· 1 oz. Lemoncello
· 1 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
· 1 oz. Un-sweet Iced Tea
· 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
· Muddle orange slice and mint leaf in Collins glass.

Rome has no shortage of stars in the sky, but I was lucky enough to stumble into a beautiful side street decorated with star-gazing lights. Just goes to show that there are cosmic connectors the world over, and found in the most unexpected places.