Archive for September, 2009

Take Time Out and Relax in a Pearl Bath

September 30th, 2009 by Simon

 

There’s nothing like a nice relaxing bath to calm you down after a long hard day in the office. Sink beneath the foaming bubbles into the soft cocooning shell, the smell of lavender fills the air, light a candle or two, absolute bliss.

 

But there are baths and there are Pearl Baths. A Pearl Bath is a bath unlike any other, specifically designed to form around the human body, you can just sit back and relax knowing no other bath is designed to cosset you quite like a Pearl Bath does.

 

One of the most important things to do when you’re trying to relax is to limit the amount of background noise. Something Pearl Baths understands as they have developed a virtually silent whirlpool system. Quieter than any other whirlpool on the market, this is worth buying one for alone.

 

But the best part of a Pearl Bath is their unique AromaScents system. Simply fill the receptacle with your favourite essential oil and turn it on with a special button and the air will be filled with beautiful relaxing aromas. No other bath has this fantastic feature and its worth its weight in gold.

 

Pearl Baths come in all different shapes and styles from traditional to ultra contemporary so you’re sure to find one that suits your taste.

 

So don’t be tempted to buy just any bath, invest in a Pearl Bath.

Category: Home Spas, Luxury Spas & Resorts | No Comments »

Cashmere Throws are the Ultimate in Luxury

September 29th, 2009 by Simon

 

Cashmere is the fibre of choice for Kings, Queens and Presidents. This soft warm fibre is rolled out for many a state occasion. Why? Because it’s the best, no man made fibre can match its softness and warmth. It’s quite simply the ultimate in luxury.

 

So why not bring this exotic and wonderful fibre into your home. As the winter nights draw in what could be finer than snuggling up under a sumptuously soft cashmere throw.

 

When choosing a throw the quality of the cashmere is all important, in some cheaper throws the cashmere fibre is mixed with wool giving it a much coarser feel, and even some 100% cashmere fibre throws use the cheaper short cashmere fibre which is much more fuzzy and prone to pill than the more expensive long fibre.

 

A cashmere throw is as much an investment as anything else and properly cared for it should last for years never showing signs of pilling.

 

For best results I recommend placing them over the end of your bed to keep your feet warm on those cold winter nights, or throw them casually over your sofa to snuggle into with a nice cup of cocoa.

 

So don’t wait until the cold weather starts, get one now while you can.

Category: Entertaining | No Comments »

Beaver Motorhomes Stand Apart From the Crowd

September 28th, 2009 by Simon

 

I’ve always had a dream to tour across America in a goliath of a motorhome. I can picture the scene, driving through Monument Valley AZ, the sun setting, the sky a wonderful Tropicana deep orange, Air Conditioning on, the road ahead is clear, just you and your machine.

 

But what a machine, a beautiful Beaver Marquis in black caviar over silver, its alloy wheels glinting in the fading sunlight. You know you’ve made it when you can tour the Mid West in Beaver Marquis.

 

Beavers are famous for their uncompromising luxury. Soft leather seats and burr walnut cabinets over soft pure wool carpets make for and absolutely stunning interior and your not short of home comforts either, with a built in microwave, LCD TV and power shower, this is touring on a grand scale.

 

You have a choice of layouts to suit your lifestyle and there’s the all important integrated barbecue. So as the sun sets over Monument Valley you can settle down to an evening of drinking the finest beer, eating the finest Kobe Steak and sleeping in the finest motorhome the Beaver Marquis.

Category: Adventure Travel, Luxury Travel | No Comments »

The Real Beauty of Silk Orchids

September 25th, 2009 by Simon

 

The Orchid has long been a favourite of flower lovers everywhere, its unusual and beautiful flower symbolises love, friendship, beauty and luxury. But the trouble is like with many rare and beautiful flowers, they soon shrivel up and die.

 

But there is a way to solve this problem, silk orchids. They’re a great way to get all the beauty without any of the pain. Today’s silk orchids are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing right down to the intricate stamen so no one will be able to tell.

 

Place them in a vase and position them on a table to add a beautiful accent to any room. And you’ll never have to worry about them dropping petals and dying on you.

 

With a little bit of care a good quality silk orchid can last for years. Just remember to keep them out of direct sunlight as it will quickly bleach the colour from the delicate petals, they’ll also need dusting periodically to keep them looking fresh.

 

A great tip for cleaning is to place some sugar in a bag then place the silk bouquet inside the bag, gently roll around then shake a little, the sugar granules will act as an abrasive removing the dust from the gentle petals, restoring them to perfection again.

 

So stop wasting money on the real thing and buy a beautiful bouquet of silk orchids that will grace your home for many years to come.

Silk Orchids

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There is so much more to Niagara Falls

September 24th, 2009 by Simon

 

I know what you’re thinking, been there done that. But stop, there’s more to Niagara Falls than millions of tons of water flowing over a cliff. No really there is, let me explain.

 

You see I thought just like you, once you’ve seen Niagara Falls once that’s it, never need to see it again. I’ve done the maid of the mist thing and that’s that.

 

But recently I went back, cant think why I did, but I did. This time though I did my research because I didn’t want to do the usual tourist thing. I decided I would try and fill my day without going near the Maid of the Mist. And guess what I found enough things to keep me busy for two days.

 

You’ll be amazed at the things you can do. I’ll go through a few of them here, they wont all be to your taste, but there’ll be something to excite you.

 

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to roll over Niagara Falls in a barrel, no neither have I, but you can experience it in IMAX. Go along to the IMAX theatre next to Falls View casino and watch this fascinating film about Niagara Falls and all the amazing things that have happened over the years, including going over the edge in a barrel.

 

Do you like birds? Well there’s an amazing Aviary rather imaginatively called Bird Kingdom. This four times winner of attraction of the year. (I’m not sure who awards it) is full of some of the worlds rarest and most beautiful birds, yes every supermodel you can think of. No seriously there are some really rare species to see here.

 

Ok now it’s time for lunch, there’s no finer place to eat in Niagara Falls than the Keg Steakhouse and Bar located on the 9th floor of the Embassy Suites Hotel, Fallsview, Niagara Falls. This restaurant offers amazing views of the falls while you enjoy your rib eye steak.

 

I’ve saved the best until last, the helicopter tour. For around $120 you can have a twenty minute flight over the falls. The view is amazing, ten times better than the maid of the mist and a hundred times more exciting. Its best to book before you go because it can get quite busy, especially during the school holidays.

 

I’ve only covered a few things here but there’s so much more to do. So go on you know you want to, visit Niagara Falls.

Category: Canada, Luxury Travel | No Comments »

Top 5 Tips for Home Accessories

September 23rd, 2009 by Simon

 

What is it that makes a beautiful interior? Well it could be a number of things, wall paper, furniture, curtains but more often than not it’s the home accessories that can make or break a room. A perfectly placed mirror or painting can brighten up even the drabest of interiors. With that in mind here are my top 5 tips to accessorize your home.

 

1. Pictures. A picture should be the feature of the wall but never overpower the room. So always paint your walls a monochromatic color and allow the art to dominate. It’s a good idea to use a nice dark colored frame to highlight the image.

 

2. Mirrors. If you have a room in your house that always seems a little dark, a great way to brighten it up is to add a mirror. Place the mirror on the darkest wall opposite a window and then try to find a low hung light or better still a chandelier to hang in front of it. This will allow the light to reflect off the mirror onto the crystals and reflect around the room.

 

3. Vases. Nothing adds more drama to a room than beautifully coloured vase. Try to find a vase that suits the character of the room. It should be in a contrasting colour to the rest of the room but that colour should be accentuated with other accessories like your cushions and curtains.

 

4. Cushions. Use them to brighten up an otherwise drab sofa. Make sure they’re good quality; you can always tell when someone has skimped on the cushions. Try to find a contrasting colour to the sofa but make sure you accentuate them with other accessories within the room.

 

5. Plants. A few plants here and there can add drama to a room, not to mention fragrance. But try not to go overboard; it is after all a room and not your garden. A few feature plants in beautiful vases is all you need. I love Lilly’s in a glass flute vase as the centrepiece of a table.

 

Category: Home Decor | No Comments »

Top 5 Travel Spots in Amsterdam

September 22nd, 2009 by Simon

 

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most culturally diverse cities, theirs no shortage of things to do here, from great shopping to some of the best art gallery’s in the world. So if you’re planning a whistle stop tour of this fabulous city here are my top 5 places to visit.

 

1. Canals, You can’t visit Amsterdam without seeing one of its most endearing features. To see the city at its best get your self on a boat and tour the cities canals. For an even more memorable trip, do it at night when all the beautiful townhouses are illuminated, its one of the most romantic and beautiful scenes anywhere in the world.

 

2. Visit the Zoo. Now I know zoos aren’t for everyone but this one is hard to miss. You don’t have to look at the animals, but I would recommend a visit to the botanical gardens and zoological museum. And if you ever wondered what kind of creatures live in those canals then take a look at the canal aquarium, it’s amazing to see what’s actually living down there.

 

3. Windmills. No trip to Amsterdam is complete without visiting one of its famous windmills. There are eight dotted around the city to choose from, you don’t have to visit them all but you must visit one.

 

4. Oude Kerk. This exquisite little church is rather inconveniently situated within Amsterdam’s Red Light District, but it really is worth a look, built in a Gothic Renaissance style its one of Amsterdam’s most distinctive buildings, and a little sanctuary of peace within the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

 

5. Van Gogh Museum. Quite possibly the most famous painter in the world, There’s nothing quite like seeing a Van Gogh in the flesh or oil so to speak. You can really see the violent brush strokes and vivid colours come to life. It’s even been know for people who absolutely detest his work to come out of here with new found respect for the man. It’s the largest collection of his work to be found anywhere in the world and a must for everyone.

Category: Germany, Luxury Travel | No Comments »

Behind-the-scenes fashion shoot for new Tod’s line

September 22nd, 2009 by edispu luxury

Category: Fashion & Style | No Comments »

Gucci Fall & Winter 2009-2010

September 22nd, 2009 by Simon



 

You can always rely on Gucci for a stunning fall collection, and 2009-2010 is no different.


Styled by Italian Frida Giannini she’s added some of her infamous edge for this season’s collection.

 

Last falls collection proved to be pretty revolutionary for Gucci so it was asking too much for this season to be as forward thinking. But it still has a certain amount of flair about it.

 

Gucci is all about classic lines and luxurious finishes, added to that this season we have leather, sequins and some absolutely gorgeous fabrics.

 

Famous as much for its ad campaigns as for its collections; this year’s campaign hardly disappoints, featuring the models Anja Rubik, Natasha Poly, the gorgeous Raquel Zimmermann, Myf Shepherd, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Jacquetta Wheeler, Dree Hemingway and Benoni Loos.

Category: Fashion & Style | No Comments »

Spice Up Your Room with a Beautiful Silk Floral Arrangement

September 18th, 2009 by Simon

 

Nothing makes a room more homey than a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. But let’s face it they can be more trouble than they’re worth. Petals dropping on the floor and they have a horrible habit of dying on you.

 

But there’s an answer, buy yourself a silk floral arrangement. A good quality silk floral arrangement has the same effect as a fresh arrangement, but there’s no cleaning up to do and they won’t drop dead on you.

 

There’s another advantage too, especially if you or a member of your family suffers from allergies like hay fever, because silk floral arrangements are hypoallergenic, they contain no allergens like pollen to get up your nose.

 

Although the initial cost is quite high compared to fresh flowers, they work out much cheaper in the long run. But the hassle they save you in time and effort far outweighs the initial cost anyway.

 

For the best results I recommend placing them as a feature in the hall. This way when you come through the front door after a hard day at work they make a nice warm welcoming feature.

 

A great tip is to buy a few arrangements and place them around the house, and then every so often change them all around to give a fresh look. If you keep the same arrangement in a room for a few months you’ll get used to them and they’ll lose that dramatic effect you were initially looking for.

Category: Home Decor | No Comments »