Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Myopia Hunt Club & Polo

Take a photo tour of the Myopia Hunt Club's Wine Tasitng and Trunk Show Event That I attended.

Polo games are every Sunday @ 3:00 pm - Routh 1A in S. Hamilton, MA.

Hampton Sun's Privet Bloom Parfum is Scentsational!


Ok, for those of you who follow my reviews, or know me personally, you know that I adore beautiful packaging and bottles. When I opened my gift of Hampton Son, I knew this fragrance would be one of my many favorites.

As I sample this liquid summer in a bottle, I appreciate that the the style of the packaging and white and green colors theme is well suited to the fragrance inside.

Privet Bloom features the aroma of privet hedges, found in the Hamptons, when in bloom... muguet, jasmine, linden blossom, gardenia, orangeflower, and dune rose are also part of this creation. Add a few finishing notes of driftwood and sun-warmed musk, and you have the scent of the Hamptons on a Summer day.

Privet Bloom is available in fine specialty retailers.

Available as a Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette in 1.7 oz bottles

Suggested retail prices $49.50 - $65.00



Just a little note about S&G Hampton Sun

S&G Hampton Sun is a privately-held company specializing in luxury sun and skin care products ranging from tanning oils, gels, and lotions, after-sun moisturizers, shimmer bronze creams and pearl cooling sprays, to everyday super-hydration face creams. Founded by Salvatore Piazzolla and Grant Wilfley, S&G Hampton Sun was created for consumers who wanted to minimize the hazardous effects of the sun while maximizing their time in the sun.

www.hamptonsuncare.com

It's Perfect!


With a name like Perfect Kiss, how can you not try it! Visions of soft lips and sexy nights are encapsulated in this one perfume.

Scents of blooming jasmine, honeysuckle, rosewood, followed by base notes of creamy vanilla and dark chocolate. Ladies, need I say more!

This line also includes fragrances called Perfect Veil, Perfect Gardenia, Perfect Nectar, Perfect Vanilla, and Perfect Bliss. I had the pleasure of trying the fragrances below.

Perfect Veil creates a soft smell against the skin. The scent almost has a soft powder fragrance. Very feminine, fresh, and clean. The top notes of lemon and bergamot are softened by a variety of musks, including Egyptian and Tunisian followed by notes of sandalwood and creamy vanilla.


Perfect Vanilla swept me away to a relaxed state of mind yet made me feel very sexy. With a collection of five different vanillas from around the world and hints of amber and blood orange keep it from being to sweet.

Perfect Bliss was inspired by a honeymoon on Tahiti. With tropical fruits, white gardenia, and vanilla it certainly does whisk my thoughts to my own tropical vacations.

Perfect Nectar is somewhat similar is style to Perfect Bliss, but instead of vanilla, a hint of oceanic musk has been added, creating an incredible juxtaposition of ocean and juicy fruit..


Beauty Comes From Within



In 2006, Sarah Horowitz-Thran was asked to develop a line a perfumes exclusively for Barney's and she called the line "What Comes From Within". With five fragrances to choose from, women can choose to wear the scent alone, or layer them to create their own personal creation.

Love Comes From Within was a hit with me as soon as I put it on. I love the scent of clove, and this fragrance has it, as well as...spicy carnation and rose (all scents I plant in my personal flower garden). There are warmer base notes of Tunisian amber, French vanilla, clean musk and Indian sandalwood. Simply stunning!

Joy Comes From Within prompts feelings of energy and life. Spicy nutmeg and hints of almond create the top note followed orange blossom then a base of creamy vanilla, tonka bean and musk.

Light Comes From Within is a crisp and floral scented perfume. With bergamot (another favorite of mine), freesia, honeysuckle and night blooming jasmine as the top and middle notes, you can't go wrong, but add fresh oceanic musk and sandalwood to the mix, and you have a deliciously sexy fragrance.

Peace From Within is a scent that can be worn by a mature woman as well as a teenager. It is has a clean and gentle quality to it. With a top note of bergamot (which is renowned for its ability to inspire mental clarity) is followed by a base note of fresh oceanic musk and sandlewood.

Beauty Comes From Within is my favorite choice of this particular line. At least it is today. I love to change fragrances with my moods and occasions. This is strong and sexy, but not overwhelming. Top notes of red plums and fresh cut grass capture vitality and sensuality. The middle notes of gardenia and pink peony add that little touch of femininity while the citrus rock rose gives a little zing. The base notes of watery musk, sandalwood, white amber, and hints of cedar convey a bit of mystery.

There are not enough O’s in smooth for this Scotch whisky!



Sorry the picture of the Scotch is blue. I don't know why that happened!

Years ago, as a pre-Scotch drinker, I thought that the Scotch being poured from its beautiful decanter into a crystal glass looked more like liquefied butterscotch than an alcoholic beverage. I couldn’t wait to try it! Well, to my disappointment, I found out that the Scotch whisky didn’t taste like butterscotch candy. Not looking for sweet anymore, but smooth without a bite, it took years for me to finally find a Scotch that came even close to my preconceived notion.

Recently, I tasted a 17 year old single malt Scotch whisky from Old Pulteney which I decided to try neat. When I poured it into my glass, the nose (aroma) gave off a soft hint of vanilla. After I tasted it and allowed the amber colored liquid to cover my tongue, it felt soft and silky. I even wondered if I tasted a hint of honey. The finish was light and smoky, and the lingering warmth it left was pleasant… not harsh. Ready to try it on the rocks, I added ice to my glass, took a sip, and I enjoyed my single malt Scotch whisky even more. Finally, I could drink a glass of Scotch whisky, along with my fellow tasters, with more appreciation.



Old Pulteny 17 year old has been recognized at the 2005 International Wine & Spirit Competition, and a double gold medal winner at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This might be due to the fact that Old Pulteny uses unusual copper stills for production, followed by maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.

The suggested retail price of $79.99 is well worth it.


Previously written for New England Fine Living.com on 6-29-2007

A Blue Lagoon in a Bottle!


Finally, a cocktail that I was able to serve without any additional work. I received the 100ml four pack tote that was all set to go! All I had to do was take martini glasses out of my cabinet... add some crushed ice... and pour my first selection into the glass. The hardest part of this tasting experience was deciding which flavor to try first. Hmmm.... would it be the Cosmopolitan, the Blue Lagoon, the Appletini, or the Lemon Drop? With such a dilemma, I decided to go with the scientific approach. I followed the color spectrum of the rainbow. Thinking back to elementary school I remembered my rainbow reminder... (ROY G BIV) Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. So our tasting went from the Cosmopolitan to the Lemon Drop, then the Appletini, to the Blue Lagoon. I thought for sure the Cosmopolitan was going to be my favorite, but the Blue Lagoon was awesome!



The four pack comes in a cute plastic carrying case with a ribbon and charm. Inside, the four bottles are neatly tucked into their own compartment, with matching straws placed in the center. If you don't have martini glasses and you still want a unique way to serve your cocktail, you can place the bottles in your freezer (just long enough to chill) and serve right out of the bottle with the color coordinated straws. This would be a great little surprise to pull out of your cooler at a party.



Cocktails by Jenn, a premium cocktail couturier, produces ready-to-drink, naturally flavored vodka martinis in both signature and limited edition flavors. The 100ml 4 pack (single flavor and variety pack) has a suggested retail price of $14.99 and the 750ml bottles sell for about $19.99. That's a bargain for me since I pay $7 - $9 for one martini.



Currently, you can find Cocktails By Jenn, in 43 states. and on the Internet at www.internetwines.com



Previously written in June 2007

This link has a great selection of cosmetics

Looking for just the right product? Let Beauty Bridge help you find it.


Mineral Makeup for Healthy Skin

Brooks Brothers for Women!

Did you think Brooks Brothers was just for men? Not So! They have some fabulous clothing for women. Check them out!




Add a little sizzle to your summer vacation!

Do you want to add a little more sizzle to your summer vacation? Check out Frederick's of Hollywood. Oh I won't tell a sole! I promise!


Frederick's of Hollywood, Inc.

This is a great spoof video on us New Englanders!

You can also view this video on our web site New England Fine Living.com

Southwest Airlines Offers Summer Travel Tips

Hot Day? Chill out! We've got you covered. Southwest Airlines has the coolest summer travel tips that will help you get on your way to those relaxing summer vacation spots. Traveling with the family can be stressful, and Southwest Airlines wants to help its Customers handle the busy travel season like a pro. Southwest Airlines' baggage policy allows Customers to check up to three bags (under 50 pounds each) absolutely free of charge. Southwest, knowing plans can change in the blink of an eye, also allows Customers to make changes to their itineraries without a change fee.

And if you haven't planned your vacation just yet, there's still time. Log on to www.southwest.com, where you can make reservations for flights, hotels, and rental cars. Southwest can get you where you wanna go, no sweat!

Travel tips to help you keep your cool this summer:

Early arrival is the key to survival.

You will enjoy a smoother travel experience if you get to the airport at least an hour ahead of your scheduled departure time. Check Southwest's web site, southwest.com, for updated travel information and suggested airport arrival times during peak travel periods. This summer will be a busy one, so allow plenty of time for parking and flight checkin.

The Internet is your friend.

southwest.com offers many features to help make traveling easier. You can check in online and print out boarding passes up to 24 hours before your flight. Many people set alarms to remind them to go online and check in early. Impress your friends by having that sound you hear on our commercials and download DING!, a desktop application that alerts subscribers of fare sales that are only available for a few hours at a time.

The 411 on the 3-1-1.The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently limiting liquids, gels, and/or aerosols in carryon baggage. Customers are presently allowed to bring with them one clear, transparent, resealable, one quart (1 liter) size, plastic bag containing liquids, gels, and/or aerosols in containers of three ounces (90ml) capacity or less per container. (Most "travel size" items found in grocery and convenience stores are 3 ounces or less.) The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably within and be completely closed/sealed.

Chilling at the gate.

While maybe not as fun as chilling at the beach, if children older than age five and under age 12 are traveling alone, parents must arrive at the gate an hour before departure to check their child in; and parents should not leave until their child's plane has taken off. Also, make sure to bring plenty of books, games, and snacks to keep children entertained during the flight.

"You have to wait 30 minutes after eating before you can go flying."

Just kidding. But now that we have your attention, it's a good idea to pick up your favorite meal before jumping on a Southwest flight. The carrier offers complimentary soft drinks, juices, and light snacks on all flights; however, Southwest does not serve inflight meals.

Remember the person behind you would like to use the bin, too.

As you are cramming your shopping bag, suit coat, straw hats, and newly purchased plastic flamingo into the overhead bin, remember to leave some space for other Customers. Customers are permitted to carry one bag, plus one smaller, personal item onboard. All carryon baggage must fit in a sizing box (16"x 10"x 24") and must be stowed in overhead bins or below the seat in front of the Customer. We suggest Customers only pack valuables, medications, eyeglasses, and other essential items in carryon luggage. Your fellow travelers will think you.

What are those Flight Attendants talking about?

You will learn many important tips in our preflight safety announcement. In all seriousness (yes, we can be serious), safety comes first at Southwest Airlines. Be sure to take a moment to familiarize yourself with all emergency procedures.


Something to pop a wheelie about!

Southwest Airlines will now check your bicycle for free. That's right…as long as the bicycle is packed in a hard-sided bicycle case and falls within the dimensions and weight limits for normal checked baggage, we will accept it as one of the three free pieces of checked luggage Southwest allows for each Customer.