Straw anyone?

When my friend Sami and I were heading out to the beach this morning, we realized that we collectively had enough straw accessories to source a small Summer boutique.

With love from Paraggi

Good morning! Just wanted to send you a quick hello. School's out for my most beloved creature/almost three-year-old, and thus, our summer journey of bite size proportion is underway. Our first stop this season is Paraggi to visit our very dear friends. We arrived yesterday afternoon, hit the beach right away, indulged in tons of focaccia, and stayed up really late (9:30p.m.) giggling. What love! Well my time's up, as the biggest little eyes have just opened and the brightest smile is beaming from across our room. Bite size kisses for everyone.

The Ocean Club- Paradise Island, Bahamas

I have finally dug myself from under the pile of work that I left behind this past April when my family and I went on holiday. Here are the images that I promised to share with you. Hey! Pipe down, better late than never!
This year we chose the One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. We chose the Ocean Club for three main reasons. First, most of our friends had already been there and highly recommended that we visit. Second, last year we stayed at its sister resort, the Reethi Rah in the Maldives, and were extremely satisfied with the experience. And finally, we were encouraged by the myriad of activities for children, including the aquarium at nearby hotel, the Atlantis.

A very early morning view from Dune, a restaurant by Jean-George Vongerichten. If anyone is a fan, the cuisine is similar to an all-time-favorite Jean-George restaurant of mine, Mercer Kitchen- but flavored with Bahamian delights.

Here a shadow of my son sitting on my husband's shoulders. One of their favorite ways to stroll. And one of the reasons my husband has several back-related issues. Gosh, how we love that little boy.

The gardens



At the aquarium at the Atlantis



The view from our room.



Shadows of palm trees captured for my son.



A skip at the playground. I love to skip!

Blue Seas

Hello there. Sorry I've been away. My terrible two-year old (his birthday was yesterday; we munched on meatballs and rosemary-roasted potatoes and he blew out candles atop a home-made brownie cake) spent the past week in Paraggi, a seaside town located just over a mile from Portofino. One would think that I would have shot tons of pictures, but when your travel companion is a two- year old, travels with more clothes and gadgets than Madonna on tour-I'll explain later, you're lucky if you put on your bathing suit right-side out. Which I failed to do one day. I did, however, manage to take a couple shots of the picturesque surroundings from my dear friend Sami's garden.

Back to my Madonna comment. A couple of my friends and I attended her Sticky and Sweet performance here in Milan two weeks ago. AMAZING. SHE'S 50. I'LL BE 33 on Thursday. She can perform for three hours in nosebleed-high heels while my collection of vertiginous babies are relegated to the cab ride and dinner table! Anyway, as we were leaving the stadium, we walked past a sea of pink trunks with the inital M stamped top and center and the words WARDROBE tumbling after. I was forced (scared that security would apprehend me, but none-the-less forced) to hug one. And while I was hugging, I read the words ambiance. The trunk was as big as my worktable, almost 3 x 7 feet. Those are a lot of candles. And her highness deserves every one of them!!!!!!!

Ok, this photo is totally gratuitous for those who love boats. This is the Maltese Falcon, a mega-sailing yacht created for venture capitalist Tom Perkins back in 2006. It was anchored in Paraggi Bay for about two days. I would run to the garden every morning to check if it was still there. Dreams of sunbathing on deck in my favorite Etro kaftans and bikinis. I know, I am totally delusional, but what's wrong with a totally extravagant daydream every now and then? Especially now that I am back home in Milan, armed with my camera, and headed outside to confront the 90.5 degrees of street style that await me.