My Blog

With our gorgeous weather here in the South Bay, hot tubs are on many people’s minds when building new construction or remodeling and existing home.  This option struck me as very with the Zeitgeist of the times, a back-to-nature option without all the jets and bells and whistles can be just the ticket for the zen-inspired space, if you will. And while you are there, consider signing up for the Luxe Interiors+Design Newsletter for design inspiration and ideas. At [...]

This August I took my first Virgin Voyages Cruise, a line I was looking forward to trying. Resilient Lady Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems August 2023. I love flying Virgin Atlantic and am enthusiastic about anything the Virgin brand does, had heard/read many positive reviews of VV but also that it's non-traditional and a "break the mold" format. I was very intrigued and liked the sound of that because when Sir Richard Branson breaks the mold he more often [...]

If you are interested in resources for seniors in California, the below links might have some helpful information for you. Independent living communities have become increasingly popular among seniors seeking a simpler, more connected life while preserving their independence. These communities offer affordability and a strong sense of community. To help seniors and their loved ones explore independent living, the organization Caring.com developed resources to offer in-depth information on available options in California. You can read more about their work [...]

Skiplagging your airline ticket might be legal, but here’s why this travel hack isn't worth it.  Learn about the breakdown of the potential repercussions if you’re caught by airlines doing it, and why it’s better to avoid it if you’re looking to save money traveling, from my favorite newsletter - The Points Guy. Happy Travels!

Many homeowners have anxiety when it comes to maintaining their home, a survey shows. Here’s a breakdown of the top projects. Seventy-eight percent of homeowners say they have buyer’s remorse over purchasing their home within the last 12 months, mostly because of unexpected repair costs, according to a survey from Hippo, a home insurance group. Proactive home maintenance, however, can help ward off many repair nightmares. After all, two-thirds of homeowners who experienced a repair issue admit the problem [...]

When Celia Quillian began planning her first trip since the pandemic in mid-March, she had a few criteria as she searched for the right destination— temperate weather in spring, not crowded with tourists, and within the U.S. With all that in mind, Quillian, who lives in Atlanta, G.A., decided to try something new and plugged her wish list into ChatGPT. “I asked it to give me ten recommendations, just to see what it could do,” Quillian said. The AI [...]

How to solo travel - and why you absolutely should This article from one of my favorite newsletters - TPG The Points Guy - and it really speaks to me. I love traveling solo and do so often. I am divorced and presently single and with rare exceptions, instead of going through the process of syncing up schedules and travel desires with family or friends - I just go. Never happier than my rollaboard in tow in an uber [...]

A meditation on a few top-of-mind topics these days: Kindness - The quality of being friendly, generous, considerate  Random Acts of Kindness Foundation quotes. Gratitude - The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Ever made a gratitude list?  Try it.  How to Practice Gratitude at mindful.org Acceptance - strive for excellence but move towards acceptance when things don’t work out as you would like. Letting go does not mean approval of an unpalatable situation, it [...]

Do you have a knack for connecting with people? Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and understand emotions — both your own and the emotions of others. Research has shown that this is a rare and valuable asset. Emotional intelligence can help you build and strengthen relationships, defuse conflict, and improve overall job satisfaction. Psychology experts say that if you use these 13 phrases every day without even thinking about it, you have higher emotional intelligence than most people: "Could you tell me more about [...]