Key to my Heart

I happened to catch a segment of the Ellen DeGeneres show featuring Sarah Hyland from Modern Family yesterday.  Modern Family has been a fabulous addition to my already packed TV line-up.  What's one more?!


Sarah Hyland was wearing this adorable key necklace.

Which reminded me of the many times that Blair Waldorf has one worn one lately:

Prompting my own finds:

1. Fleur De Lis Key Pendant Tiffany & Co. ($275)
2. Crislu Mini Key Necklace Bloomingdales ($98)
3. Mini Gold Key Etsy ($150)
4. Oval Key Pendant Eve's Addiction ($32)

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Notes On China

I am going to have to do a few China recaps, since I couldn't get onto blogger, I didnt really post too much. However, today I am short of time, so I will leave you with a few random facts about China.

- % of population under the poverty line (US$1/day) in 1979: 64%

-% of population under the poverty line in 2007: 10%

-Average annual income in Shanghai 2007: US$3090

- Average annual income in urban areas 2007: $1819

- Average annual income in rural areas 2007: $545

And my favorite:

Number of fingers lost in factory accidents in the Pearl River Delta in 2004: 40,000

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Serena and Lily Bazaar & Victor Di Gesu

Serena and Lily's Bazaar recently opened, and I was browsing through their art when I saw Victor Di Gesu's paintings and fell in love.  I am forever drawn to impressionism and his style reminds me of the classics.

Here is his biography as listed on Serena & Lily's website:


Victor Di Gesu (1916 - 2000) met his wife, Janet Ament at the Chouinard and Jepson Art Institutes in Los Angeles. They moved to Europe in the 1940's and studied with numerous prominent painters in various schools across France, Spain and Italy. His work has received worldwide recognition with exhibitions at major galleries and museums in Europe and the US, including the Louvre, The Grand Palais in the Salon d'Automne, San Francisco Museum of Art, and Los Angeles County Museum.


You can see more of his work and get more information here.


Most of the original paintings listed at Serena and Lily's Bazaar have been purchased, but as of this writing, there are few left for sale.

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Monday Escapes: Oprah Style

In honor of Oprah's Australian Adventure.  I am taking you to Australia this week:

Image via Travelmoon
(Whitsunday Islands/Whitehaven Beach)

Actually, let's leave this to the pros: I will let Australian photographer extraordinaire Peter Lik (also see here) take you to on a whirlwind tour of some of the country's most famous landmarks:

Speaking of Oprah's trip, one of our great family friends actually got picked as an Ultimate Viewer and heard this live: (cue the Oprah voice)...
"WE'RE GOING TO AUSTRALLLLIIIIIIAAAAA!!!!!"  But even better then just hearing those words, she got to actually experience the journey, along with being interviewed by Oprah herself, which aired on the first taping!


And blogging was part of the reason they got chosen: check out Style Substance Soul for the behind-the-scenes and read about their exciting Ultimate Adventure!


P.S. Oprah got to do this: hover in a helicopter over the heart shaped island on the Great Barrier Reef!  Has anyone else experienced this?

Images via Peter Lik

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JABAAR PATTERSON 01/02

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Unknown Spanish amateur bodybuilder posing

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Seven Reasons Why Stay At Pearl Farm Resort

Pearl Farm is probably the most famous beach resort in the Island Garden City of Samal. It is located in Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal and a former cultivation of pearls (that's why it is called Pearl Farm). The place is perfect for any important events because of its tranquillity and breath taking views of nature.

Here are seven reasons why should you visit Pearl Farm if you are here in Davao:

• The Pearl Farm Resort is your number one place in the southern part when you seek for an exquisite holiday vacation surrounded with natural attractions and prosperous fauna and flora.
• All high-quality accommodations are here. The resort has sixteen standard rooms (Balay House), nineteen superior rooms (Samal House), twenty deluxe rooms (Mandaya House), six executive suites (Samal Suite), one sunset suite and seven villas (Malipano).
• The facilities and services in Pearl Farm Resort are a top-notch. One entire day is not enough to run through the series of fun activities in water and on land. The activities can truly satisfy your innermost cravings. You can rent speed and outrigger boats for skiing, surfing and scuba diving. Fun does not end in water. On land, there are sport centers in which you can play tennis, badminton and basketball, play and socialize with other people inside their game rooms, bars and function halls, satisfy your taste buds at their restaurant which serves Filipino & International Cuisines or shop local handicrafts at their souvenir shop (Butik).
• Indulge yourself in their array of health beauty and treatment services. Take some time to experience the various types of body massage (Asmara Royal, Warm Herbal Oil, East-West, Swedish, Shiatsu) foot scrub (reflexology, lemongrass deodorizing polish, peppermint refreshment), skin shaving, wraps, facial rubdown and their other salon services.
• You can choose several holidays packages whether it’s only an island escapade, a night tour rate, a dream holiday, a bread and breakfast occupancy, or dream honeymoon. Any booking request is entertained all the time but the earlier you book, the better package you can get.
• It is the finest and relaxing place to celebrate special events in the calendar such as Easter Sunday, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.
• Any foreign tourist can truly be grateful during their stay at Pearl Farm Resort. Price and rates are within their means.

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View our article on get paid to http://ping.fm/XUOjC

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MARC MALONEY (Marc Vallint) 02/02

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