Emerald love

I almost bought an Emerald ring once. The store was Schlager Antiques in Melbourne and still being a student at Melbourne Uni, I was not exactly flush with cash.

Mackay Emerald

At the time it was a little over $3,000 AUD. A big east west rectangle shape, set in thick gold. It was simply magnificent. Very square and old looking, it had been recovered from a shipwreck. Having a major in History that aspect made the piece all the more enticing.

The friend I was with at the time kept saying that Emeralds are brittle and not worth it...blah blah blah. If only I had told that redheaded nag to shut up. There always seem to be people around who have to throw in the negative point of view don't there? Why oh why didn't I put it on layby?

Emerald prices are just out of control now. Lately I have been drooling over Emeralds and remembering the time the opportunity arose to own one with a history!

The ring was similar to the one pictured above, but it was less square and more rectangle. The one pictured is also a find from a shipwreck and is selling for $75,000 USD...oh my. What an awful mistake I made all those years ago.

Angelina Jolie's 2.5 million USD Emerald earrings are just the most covetable things ever.

Emeralds are far more precious than diamonds and a lot prettier I think.

Chopard

Van Cleef de Arpels

Ground control to Major Tom.

.
Friday night the Space Shuttle took off from Cape Canaveral after being delayed for several days.

Such an adventure to witness something so significant. As a primary school student, a trip to the Melbourne Museum is vividly remembered where we were shown a model of the shuttle. What crazy futuristic stuff it was. The teacher told us that it would fly in our lifetimes. It was all too much and to be honest I didn't believe it could happen.

Now those things are always coming and going from Kennedy Space Centre, how fast things can happen, it quite takes one's breath away.

It was a midnight take off and from our house in Tampa we could see the brightly illuminated vessel tearing up into the night sky and off into Space. It is astounding to watch the bright little orb that is the shuttle, knowing that inside a group of people are on their way to having a very surprising adventure indeed.

Image via Flickr

With a pair of binoculars I was able to get an incredible view of the shuttle, and the fuel burning behind it. No pictures, it was 12 midnight after all, and I had scampered out the front in my nightie and fluffy slippers for the sight. The neighbours were all out too. Wish I had thought to put on a robe first. Ohhh dear.
.

Carol Brodie rocks my socks off!

I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can't possess radiance, you can only admire it.

.

Elizabeth Taylor.

For some reason those emails which inform one of comments to blog posts has ceased to work for me. It's very annoying. Having nothing much to do today I was perusing my blog posts to see if I had missed any comments. A few were found including this absolute gem from Carol Brodie herself,

cbg6930 said...
My Dear Countess ChiChi,You were always my BFF... I am so glad that you love Rarities... at the end of the day, I created this collection for women who love jewelry. I try and have gorgeous pieces in all styles and price ranges... I want every woman who covets a Rarity to be able to own one... or two, or three, or ten or twenty. The September collection is DIVINE! I am so excited to share it with everyone. Thank you for tuning in, sharing your enthusiasm (most of the time) and for taking such a great interest in Rarities Fine Jewelry and me. With warm regards,Carol Brodie

Oh my I am having an attack of the vapours and feel very faint. I just found out that my younger sister has had a photo of herself published in OK magazine with Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes, big whoop, I am very much more fortunate to have received some attention from the lovely Ms Brodie. What a happy camper I am.

I cannot express enough how gorgeous and desireable her collection is. It looks luscious on TV and in pictures, but to see it at home, the pieces are truly out of this world. In fact, I have become a Rarities internet stalker, checking the Hsn.com page everyday looking for a new addition. To wait for the September show is excruciating. I did find this lovely ring added new to the site and I want it, now! Talk about HOT.

Blue chalcedony, what a lovely colour, what a darling ring. If that is an appetiser, imagine what the main course will be when the collection airs in September? That ring would look best on my finger, perhaps one on each hand. :)

My Carol Brodie wish list

Sadly, the turquiose Sun Goddess earrings are long gone and there is no picture, I missed out on those beauties and sincerely regret it.

“Rich and rare were the gems she wore,

And a bright gold ring on her hand she bore."

Thomas Moore

All pictures from hsn.com.

Fancy threads.

.
Finally, a range of clothing available here in the USA that is exactly my style. On HSN yesterday there was a new line called M Wynne. I was frothing at the mouth looking at all the wonderful pieces.

Since moving to the USA it has been a complaint of mine that one cannot find the arty, European look that I love. The M Wynne collection is just that. OOOH La La.

I am lusting over the Origami Vest, Sweater Shrug, which can be worn as a skirt and a poncho also, the flip cardy...heck the whole lot. If only one had not been driven to near penury by the Carol Brodie collection, perhaps these fabulous garments would be in my grubby little hands.

Does one take solace in the fact that finally the fancy outfits of my desire are available (without the cost of International shipping) or, be distraught that having spent too much dosh on Carol Brodie's extravagant baubles one is now too skint to buy them?

In the words of Freddie Mercury, " I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now."

.

Pictures taken from HSN.COM

Food Glorious Food

.

The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook."

.

Julia Child

.

Last night we visited Charley's Steakhouse in Tampa. It's a part of a group of restaurants called the 'Talk of the town'. That was a little off putting to me, as Talk of the Town is the name of a notorious Melbourne brothel. No connection fortunately, but one could argue that in both venues love is for sale. Indeed, it was love at first sight when I set my eyes on that 12 oz Fillet Mignon.

The waiter bought out a tray of raw meat to display what they had to offer. Again, an odd resemblance to the Melbourne establishment of the same name I am sure. How very unusual but one tried to act unfazed, as though one were a part of the crowd that regularly eats at quality establishments.

Instead of acting with cool aplomb, I laughed like a fresh country bumpkin at the raw meat wrapped in 'glad' wrap. How embarrassing. In my defense I had ordered a grasshopper cocktail, my absolute favourite and it had been delivered in a soft drink sized glass. That's a whole lot of cocktail for someone like me, a confirmed 2 pot screamer.

The waiter proceeded to hold up the bits of steak, using a torch to light up and highlight the fat in each piece. Most of his speech was lost on me due to being a tad tipsy and overwhelmed by the fact that he was holding up plastic wrapped pieces of raw meat and talking about them like a butcher. Surreal indeed. What happens to that meat? After being carried around all evening does it get cooked and served to some unlucky beggar who orders their meal late in the evening?

When asked if I wanted the house salad my mouth began flapping yet again and I asked if the salad was a part of the meal. What possessed me to say out loud that I don't believe in paying extra for salad when one could get it for free by scrounging around at the side of the road. It's a fair point though, besides, do I look like someone who likes salad? Let's not beat around the bush, I'm not a rabbit and have no desire to be fed like one.

When the salad arrived the waiter began using the black pepper shaker over the plate. My head was swimming by this time with a stupid grin plastered on my face, thanks to the abundance of grasshopper, but after quite a while I became aware of a 'stillness' around the table. Was everybody sitting looking at me? At this point I became cognizant of the fact that indeed they were and blurted out, 'Are you waiting for me to tell you to stop?'.
.
Apparently he was and had continued to add the pepper waiting for a signal to stop. Everyone fell about laughing, at me, not with me, and my salad looked as though Mount Stromboli had erupted and emptied her entire pit of black ash on my plate. Fortunately, despite this mishap being a result of my stupidity, the now offensive salad was taken from me.

An evening spent with top shelf company, many laughs, the odd ribald joke, from me of course, and plenty of mirth. Could not have asked for a better evening.

The fillet mignon was so scrumptious. The bathrooms had chandeliers and wing backed chairs, what luxury. I was able to pocket 6 of the free mints in the bathroom, oh they were lovely. How could one rate Charley's at anything but 5 stars???

.
The grasshopper is the only alcoholic beverage I ever indulge in. It's simply too delicious, but no one here bothers to put the chocolate shavings on the top which makes me feel very ripped off.

Grasshopper

Ingredients:
3/4 oz cream
3/4 oz creme de cacao, white
3/4 oz creme de menthe, green
Preparation:
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

.

Joke : A Grasshopper walks into a bar, the barman says, "Hey we have a drink named after you,"

The Grasshopper says, "What Fred?"

.

The International Breakfast Club

.

“He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart"

C.S. Lewis.

This morning Gaby, Brenda and The Countess trotted off to another lovely venue in Tampa for breakfast, The Renaissance Hotel. Our little breakfast club is a nice opportunity to dress up all fancy and have a posh old time.

We were joined by Gaby's sister in law and her mother, both of British Guyanan heritage, with Sara being raised in Puerto Rico. It just gets more and more exotic. Everyone at the table had an accent. Even baby Mattias's cooings and infant sounds had a decided French lilt to them, I am convinced!

The Renaissance hotel near International Plaza was a fabulous venue, so lush and with a Mediterranian feel that made it even more adorable. Much nicer than the Harbour Island Westin we went to last time.

The Pelagia Trattoria was a lovely place to meet with friends before having to endure the humdrum minutiae of everyday life.

Even the bathrooms were charming and one cannot emphasise enough just how important that is.

Fancy bathroom for fancy ladies.

The Pelagia Trattoria at the Renaissance hotel gets a 5 star rating from me.

“I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best'

Oscar Wilde

My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go ~Thoreau.

.

Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll. Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain. Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore.”

Lord Byron

Being Australian, growing up always surrounded by water and summer time trips to the beach while spending summers at the quaint old town of Queenscliff, one cannot help but always love the sight of sand and the gentle sound of waves lapping the shores. One is always in awe of the impressive majesty of the vast expanse of blue jewel-toned water

.

The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.
Jacques Cousteau

No matter where I am in the world, being at the beach makes me feel at home.

With my wonderful friends Gaby, Brenda and Brenda's two simply scrumptious children, I went to a lovely place called Treasure Island today. Sounds very exotic. The name conjures up images of treasures chests, pirates' booty and the odd drunken pirate in my mind. Sadly there was none of that, but plenty of treasure of other sorts to be found. Sun, sand, surf, good food, good people and great company to be exact!

Brenda with chubby bubby Mattias

Gaby and Mattias. What a good looking family!

Caddy's by the beach is an informal little place, literally on the beach. We sat at outdoor tables, with our feet in the sand, while the children played next to us rolling around and getting completely filthy, that is what it's all about, what fun is there in life if one can't messy? Personally I maintained a lady like decorum at all times, yet still managed to wind up with sand in my grundies. Amazing.

The food was great, the service was wonderful. This little place just exudes the whole informal beachy attitude. People of all shapes and sizes sit on the deck chairs and soak up the sun. Not the Countess of course. A large and might I say, fancy hat added a touch of whimsy to my ensemble and helped to keep those wretched UV rays off my face.

There are so many beach front mansions along the street next to Caddy's, such luxury in an idllyic location. Lucky!

Mansion on Treasure Island

I wore my Carol Brodie that has been the focus of my bitter complaining for a week now. Gaby and Brenda both complimented it and those ladies have good taste. This makes me much more inclined to stop all the whining and appreciate the ring for what it , whimsical. I'm sorry Carol Brodie, do you want to be BFF's now?

Brenda goes back to Martinique next Friday. Come back soon Brenda, with your adorable children!

All the ladies at Caddy's loved Mattias, just wait until he talks in
French. Can cute get cuter?? YES.

Chloe speaks in beautiful French. How adorable.

Caddy's on the beach in Treasure Island, Florida is a winner! It gets five stars from this Countess!

.