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Summer Sangria

August 10, 2011 in Cuisine with Comments Off

As the summer months continue the weather only seems to be getting hotter. The sky- rocketing thermometer seems to be telling us something: cool down and chill out witha great summer sangria!!!

Sangria contains fruit , so I personally think it’s a great way to get a serving of fruit into your day!

To make a classic batch of sangria, red wine is usually used but for all of you who prefer white wine….

There are some great recipes online for white sangria!

Whether you choose to make red or white sangria this summer, there is no doubt that it will taste great and look beautiful! Cheers!

P.S. If you don’t have time to make your own Sangria, try Bethenny Frankel’s new Skinny Girl Sangria! I love her Skinny Girl Margarita and I can’t wait to try the new addition to her Skinny Girl Cocktails! Check out Bethenny looking pretty in pink at the launch party for her new Skinny Sangria! All of us at Globally Gorgeous think Ms. Frankel is a fierce business person. She is woman, hear her roar!

Aman-Fabulous in Montenegro at Sveti Stefan

August 7, 2011 in Air & Sea, Architecture, Cuisine, Design, Luxury Travel with 5 Comments

The Aman Group, the Singaporean hotelier long known for their low key and uber-private brand of luxury is in the finishing stages of opening up what may become the most glamorous and private resort on the Mediterranean. The Aman Sveti Stefan. (Saint Stefan)

It happens to be located in the small country of Montenegro, a sweet spot on the Dalmatian coast tucked between Croatia and Albania. With its towering limestone cliffs and blue green sea, Montenegro looks more like an exotic James Bond locale than one of the oldest medieval countries of the region. Castles, fortress walls, and quaint fishing villages, tucked between orchards and the sea make for a very picturesque spot.

John and I with our two friends were invited to enjoy a private al fresco lunch amid the olive and pine trees on the small island’s tiny piazza which the Aman Resort has transformed into an enchanted dining terrace.

As for the Aman, well, they scored. They took over a medieval walled fishing village on a small island connected by a spit of land, and converted a tired old ‘converted’ hotel into a succession of limestone cottages dotted over the rocks. Overlooking the sea, pavilions and piazzas are intertwined with private swimming pools where food can be served by award-winning chefs and an extremely well trained international staff. It is no wonder that European and Hollywood elite, such as the likes of Sophia Loren and Queen Elizabeth, have favored this little- known coast and this impossibly picturesque isle. This ‘secret enclave’ is a respite on the sea like no other, and it won’t be long till Montenegro is no longer a ‘secret.’ Book now as the hotel is in its pre-opening phase, and rates are already slated to go way up by next season!

Ahhhh….Mannnn.

Oh How Sweet It Is: Agave Nectar

August 2, 2011 in Beauty, Cuisine, Health with Comments Off

Agave nectar is an interesting juice. It’s derived from the agave plant, which is a relative of a cactus native to Mexico. The nectar is reduced to a syrup that can be used as a sugar substitute for just about anything that needs a hint of natural sweetness.

A beautiful shot of an agave plant. Look at those colors!

The nectar has a much lower glycemic index than other sweeteners, such as sugar. A lower glycemic index number means that it does not cause the body’s blood sugar to rise as fast, or as high, after eating — which makes it suitable for diabetics, dieters and anyone concerned about their sugar intake.

Photo Courtesy: David Lansling Travel Blog

A jimador is a type of Mexican farmer who harvests agave plants, which have been traditionally harvested primarily for the production of mezcal and tequila.

Agave nectar can be found at your local health foods store. It works as a great honey replacement and can be used in baking, as a sweetener and in cocktails.

A fun way to try out agave is by trying new products that use it, such as OOgave which is a much healthier alternative to mainstream sodas.

A Black Girls Guide to Weight Loss is a very cool blog, yet it has some opposing information to say about this sweet agave in disguise.

Enjoy!

Do You Know What Your City is Doing Tonight?

July 27, 2011 in Art, Cuisine, Fashion, Luxury Travel with Comments Off

You know that friend– we all have one– who knows all the trendiest and hippest things to do in your city? Well it’s time for you to be that friend! Thanks to some great new websites, you can now be 50 steps ahead of even your coolest friend and will impress everyone in your office come Monday morning when people ask you what you did over the weekend.

http://www.tower23hotel.com/

I suggest checking out these sites for great nightlife ideas, cultural events and just all around good times to be had!

Another way to stay up on things happening in your city is to grab a copy of your local newspaper. Local newspapers always have great ideas that are specific to your city. You should love wherey you live , and if you feel that your town is boring you aren’t digging deep enough!

Summer: Most Desirable Destinations

May 31, 2011 in Cuisine, Design, Luxury Travel, Media with Comments Off

Whether you like to mix and mingle with the crowds or escape into serenity, you may want to know the top five summer travel destinations. Yahoo!, the premier digital media company, has meticulously aggregated searches from all over APAC and the results are: Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

Your Singapore is a beautiful site that will help you with your travel to, as well as around, Singapore– including the Asian Fashion Exchange, Jewelry, River, and Sun Festivals.

In Hong Kong, there is a great 7 night trip to see the Giant Buddha / Po Lin Monastery / The Wisdom Path. For options, Discover Hong Kong, is a great site with information on what to do and see, whether your focus is Architecture, Shopping, Disneyland or the Great Outdoors.

From floating markets to Ko-Samui… Travel in Thailand is the site for everything.

Maybe the Kintai Bridge in Japan is your dream…

or visit a Green Tree Farm in Taiwan…

See here for more information about what types of travel and accommodations are the most popular for each destination.

There are many helpful apps, and these are a few of my favorites:

1. P ostman 2. FlightTrack – Live Flight Status Tracker 3. TripIt -Travel Organizer 4. Currency 5. Lonley Planet Spanish Phrasebook 6. Zagat

Top Chinese: Food & Fashion

May 11, 2011 in Cuisine, Design with Comments Off

Our top recommendation for fashion with a Chinese flair is Shanghai Tang. The line is elegant, chic and unique with lines for men, women and children. And, for delicious Chinese food, we suggest heading over to the popular blog of an old friend of mine: The Red Cook.

Shanghai Tang’s latest line, Metamorphosis, transforms the traditional costumes of the Miao into contemporary luxury collections that anyone would love. I love Shanghai Tang’s manifesto for the Mandarin Collar Society. It highlights some of the many reasons to abolish the necktie. You may also enjoy the post on the Polo Shirt line and their Mongolian Polo team( here).

I have found that good Chinese food is hard to find in the US. If you agree, or if you just love to cook, you will want to check out The Red Cook. With delicious recipies from Won Tons to Steamed Sea Bass and a variety of vegetarian dishes, we like this mouth-watering and refreshing cold dish: Garlic Chive Blossoms and Daikon Salad. The vegetarian may also enjoy an upcoming Chinese Buddhist Vegetarian cooking class offered through the Culinary Herb Center that I also found on The Red Cook’s site.