by the time i got to hong kong, it seemed like every other big city…with it’s branded trollycars…and skyscrapers…st.johns cathedral…(not really typical)….the contrast of developing and developed…makes you think differently…see differently…dream differently…isn’t it worth the trip?

they have everything you can imagine and are particularly known for their  gemstones. if you’re on a budget, never fear. the budget table has bargains galore! i picked up several packages of glass beads for a few dollars. the selection of little vials of beads in every color imaginable is within reach…

the best i can possibly do is to share the excitement and let you decide for yourself! the added bonus (and the reason i know about alexander’s is because the owners daughter, andrea savar (shown on the left and the store manager on the right), is a very talented, gifted and inspired jewelry designer.) you can see andrea’s collection at the store  (pictured here in the glass case.)

now, enjoy the rest of the show and when you’re nice and frothy, head on over and jump into the jewelry bin!

now, a blast of photos to titillate the senses. self explanatory…i couldn’t possibly write words that would better express what i saw in person. enjoy!

i had the pleasure of tasting them all last Thursday. the new online business that sells the burger with all of the toppings already inside!

builtburger.com .  i had to pace myself (alternating bites of burger  with watermelon and cherries…)and it was almost impossible not to finish every bite!! .juicy, salty, the ulitmate defintion of a bbq burger is superb trio. it’s sublime!

the chicken burger, utopia chicken,  is filled with herbs and lime juice…check it out! if you think that sounds great, order thrill. all natural grilled pork plus pulled pork! omg!!!!

something about the pinnacle stopped me in my tracks. light, flavorful…smoked  bacon, carmelized onion, mild bleu cheese.

after tasting 12 sliders, there were only scraps left and in fact i was so excited, i forgot to take a photo of the 2nd sampling tray before eating…which included luxe, 

 trailblazer  

and

magnificent. 

go order yourself some burgers so when the craving hits you, you’re ready. as for me, i already have my burgers in the freezer. i was the lucky beneficiary of the press kit and my very own personal supply of builtburgers. i can hardly wait!

and a very special thank you to shannon kelly who included me in the launch event. the tastiest launch event ever!

1.  costco roasted chicken: for $6.99 you can have 3 meals: dinner (that’s a freebie…you could have guessed it); soup (yup, the carcus gets boiled for hours on the stove) and fried rice (cooked in left over chicken broth). btw: they sell 30MM a year. (yup, that’s million)

2. dig up plants: no more high priced nurseries. walk around the neighborhood. admire your neighbor’s plants. (it doesn’t say anything about coveting thy neighbor’s garden) and start up a conversation. this may be my favorite and most exciting tip. just this weekend, i got a sapling of a golden chain tree!!! in a few years, it will look like this!

3. another tip for getting your garden in shape without spending a penny. transplant. this rhodedendron (apparently rhodies and azaleas are VERY easy to transplant…shallow root systems) was near my driveway blocked by 2 massive evergreens. it’s now in what was the empty spot at the front of the house. looks like it’s always been there. blooms a beautiful apricot color. cannot wait until next spring.

4. get invited to dinner. nuf said. bring a little something from the pantry.

5. buy no more cut flowers. use what’s in the garden. rearragne the decorative accessories you already have. desperate for some greenery? herbs make fantastic fresh arrangements and last forever. isn’t this dandy? just tuck it into one of your favorite vases.

6. recycle glass jars. use them for everything. i made jam (remember?) bring cut herbs to a dinner party (only if they’re already growing in your garden!) collect change and start a college account. (you’d be surprised how fast it accumulates)

7. under no circumstances….go to the mall. don’t park there. don’t glance in the mall’s direction. don’t pretend that you’re just going to return something. nope. been there. bad. bad. bad. drive past the mall or better yet, walk past the mall and just keep going.

8. get our your binoculars and observe nature. we have a bald eagle nest in the neighborhood. it’s mesmerizing. watching the babies being fed. they squawk. they were flapping up a storm last night getting ready to test out their wings. totally free and totally cool.

9. recycle birthday gifts. how many do your kids have? how many do they need? how many have they never used? (we’ve all overdone at least one party and we swore we wouldn’t ever do it again) how many little treasure have you bought that you don’t need? it’s time to share the love. move along something you’ve enjoyed to someone else.

10. write.

OK…there are more…

11. no more smorgaasbords: bring your own food. when people call you this summer to spontaneously have a picnic for which you are volunteered to bring lots of food to share…suggest that you keep it simple and everyone brings food for their own family. why, you ask? it’s hard to keep track of groceries and meal planning when all of a sudden your entire fruit and vegetable drawer is cleaned out. it costs more time and gas when you have to go to the store for just produce.

12. really sort our closet. give away what’s worn and tired. have an indoor garage salewith friends and friends of friends for little worn items and things you haven’t worn or don’t use. it takes more time but you can accumulate enough cash to go to the movies and have some popcorn.

so i reviewed my list yesterday…..(a year plus after i wrote it) i wanted to read it again and see whether i had managed to continue along the practically free path…good and bad news: no cut flowers (pretty good progress report here) the mall (not as good…finding snow gear just about the first day in our new house…new job…just went back to school shopping) costco chicken still holds…and i just told my new neighbor, sue, about transplanting rhodies…and my neighbor, frannie, in seattle, gives me progress reports on the transplanted rhodie…still blooming!)

i got into the city, finally, and it was beautiful…sunny and breezy and i decided to take a walk past the american museum of natural history. ever been behind the museum? there’s a hidden little gem of a park. and beautiful building facades glistening in the sun. i met my friend, pat, out front and we walked down columbus to comida and had a most delicious mexican dinner. halibut and flank steak. very yummy. 
the next morning, i trotted over to  abc carpet & home. the windows are always inspiring and this was no exception. filled with dritfwood, clean white decorative accessories all in a water themed environment .and each window featured inspiring quotes in hot pink which provided an unusual and impactful contrast.

after a quick spin around the ground floor ( a must!) and after admiring some lovely whiteware…as well as some sophisticated black and white ceramics… i headed to the mezzanine. which was entirely on sale.  i wanted 2 things in particular: this chair 

and this fab u lous chaise. fortunately, the sale price was enough to choke a horse,

so i proceeded to look at little girls’ dream bedrooms: they were natural and lovely and sophisticated and subtle and all around dreamy. and i wanted to move right in. and then there were the hedgehogs……….any bed with hedgehogs gets my vote.

by now, i was hungry and looking for some yummy, cheap food. right around the corner is shake shack, in madison square park.  maybe not. take a look at this line that went completely around the park. (go on their website when you have a minute…they have a minicam so you can see how long the line is…)

frozen custard was  not in the cards. so, i headed out of the park, past lincoln (the statue), toward 5th avenue with city bakery in mind.  as i crossed the street i did a double take. what are those people doing in the middle of the street? below the flatiron building…under blue umbrellas.

see ‘em? they’re sitting in the middle of the street. eating in the middle of the street!!! when did all this happen?

 still craving city bakery, i walked to 18th st. and met stephanie and enjoyed a most delightful meal, at a window table table looking at the street.

a delightful setting (worth stepping into for an inspired look around)

from the menu to the meal (who can resist root fries?) we gobbled every delectable bite.

these stuffed mushroom were delicately flavored with curry. corn, peas and carrots (pretty much anything with corn makes me happy and this was no exception)… and we sampled the chicken satay and the thai beef salad. all yummy.

then on to some shopping. practically next door is velouria. the inside is as charming as the outside purports.n’est pas?

a great variety of artwork (the featured artist changes…this work is by yellena james…and it is stunning)

some of my favorite jewelry are these bracelets in brights by orangepoppy (fitting don’t you think?) the shelves and tables are stocked full of clothes, accessories, wallets, home fragrance, lotions, stationery product…see?

is this the cutest squeak toy by save grady? if you buy one, you will be helping pay the bills for grady the chihuahua.

do you need a top that makes you feel regal? how about this silky number? buying it will make the sun come.  so, take your time, don’t miss a thing…and maybe this little orange hand bag will bring you some spring luck!

if you like to find something you’ve never seen before and can’t get anywhere else (without flying around the universe,) head to pulp. where limited edition reigns. from these t-shirts designed by jesse kamm to these limited edition prints by sage vaughn the product changes frequently…so, if you admire these bracelets…time’s a wastin’ the store design is graphic and clean and easy to navigate.

be sure to check out the loft. see for yourself! i can’t do all the work for you (except that these beauties are an 8 1/2 and can’t stay here forever!) no guarantees that any of this will be there much longer so when you’re having those may day thoughts (may day! may day!) grab what’s left in your wallet and go to pulp.

my neighbor’s magnolia is an event. it seems ready for weeks and weeks. waiting for just the right spring day to burst forth. the tree borders my yard…so every time i open the front door, i check its progress.

and it’s out.

every time, i open the back door, i am greeted by squirrels. my husband feeds them peanuts all winter and they can smell a sucker a mile away. so, they’re always perched on the tree, by the fence. waiting.

same for the blue jay. it hovers on the edge of the garage roof waiting for the peanuts (or anything.)

and a little chickadee caught in flight was nibbling on the moss of this tree just budding.

the sideyard is just beginning. pink, purple, blue and white. they keep me satisfied while i wait patiently for the wisteria and the lilacs.

forsythia. the ultimate spring branch. the best fragrance. gorgeous sprigs you can bring inside. they’ll even bud out the subtlest spring green after a few days indoors.

like cotton candy? pink from a flowering plum. my neighbor’s entire tree bursting with new subtle pink blossoms and tea tiny pale brown leaves.

a branch detail is worthy of framing.

bright white flowering pear.

pale pink azalea.

peach hyacinth.

eastern white magnolia (or some variety of magnolia.)

so, we’re hoping for a little sun, now. maybe later in the week. to sustain us until july 5th when the sun will likely come out again.

if you need to experience spring right now…and if you’re lucky enough to venture south to san diego in the next few weeks. be sure to visit the ranunculus fields.

it’s worth it, don’t you think?

and you might also see how different the light is…

and how vibrant the colors are…

and how delicate the new spring green is…

and be happy that it’s spring!