Hula and happiness

WE'RE GETTING MAUIED: It's a week of fun in the sun for me, so I'm taking a much-needed break. But catch us back in two weeks for more from your favorite blog!

Scent of a woman

I'm a sucker for perfume. I can't leave the house without it or else I feel naked. But my needs are very specific, not just any perfume will do. It has to smell like something naturally occurring in nature, and it can't be too strong. These don't sound like tough standards, but you'd be surprised. It's very hard to find a scent that doesn't seem synthetic. That's why i'm in love with Marc Jacobs' new perfumes that come in three scents: grapefruit, basil and pear. And being three of my favorite scents ever, I can't resist. The heart goes where the nose knows.

No Mexicali Blues here

ENDLESS SUMMER: I know, another trip! After only a few blogs. It's just that time of year I suppose, though it'll be a summer chock full of blog entries, so stay tuned. Isla Mujeres is the destination, and surf, sun and snorkeling are the attractions. Quintana Roo is famous for hammocks, so wish us good hammock hunting!

Gone, but not forgotten

On the road again

OUT TO LUNCH: It's not summer yet, but I'm off on a road trip up north. Ain't no time like the present to get a new perspective on life, and of course to do some shopping in someone else's neighborhood.

What dreams may come

One of my favorite movies ever is the early '90s flick "Until the End of the World." Directed by Wim Wenders and starring William Hurt and Sam Neill, the movie is a worldwide trek that ends in the Australian Outback with an invention that allows people to watch their own dreams, which is dangerously intoxicating for all involved. It's such a beautiful film words don't do it justice. Also brilliant is the soundtrack, which is one of the Top 10 film soundtracks ever. Check it out for great R.E.M and Talking Heads, and for the standout title track by U2. The best track though is Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "I Love You Until the End of the World." Who else can write a lyric about a blind pencil seller shouting for his dog that lay dead on the side of the road?

It's in the bag

IT'S EASY BEING GREEN: Plastic bags may be convenient and cheap, but they're going to be around a lot longer than the groceries you put in them, and will outlive you as well. Starting April 22, Earth Day, Whole Foods is going to stop offering the bags to shoppers, and many other retailers are curbing their addiction to the Earth-unfriendly bags as well. So now is the perfect time to pick up some canvas bags that are strong enough for your groceries yet stylish enough to tote around town. Keep one in your car and one folded up in your purse and you're good to go, and everyone else will be green with envy.

Get on the bus

THE TIME OF THE SEASON: I've always loved these old VW buses. If only my parents had one so I could've inherited it and drove it until it died, I would've been thrilled! But I have another chance, as Volkswagen is releasing a new bus later this year. At just $20,000, it's not exactly cheap, but totally reasonable for an amazing slice of the past.

Eastern promise

My favorite store in New York City, and there are a lot of great ones to choose from, is Pearl River Mart. It is an Asian-goods emporium, with everything from silk pajamas to tea pots to paper lanterns. Everything is super affordable too, much less than you'd pay for comparable items at other stores. Check out their Web site whether you're furnishing your home or your closet. Our favorites are the wall fans and the embroidered tops. And you don't even have to fly to Hong Kong to snag them.

Favorite flicks

I LOVE THIS MOVIE: It's just so good it's almost beyond explanation. It nestles in, attaches itself and sticks with you well after it's over. Wes Anderson has such a distinctive aesthetic, his movies are always visually amazing. But this one also has a beautifully-acted story. The soundtrack is a mix of Bollywood classics and the Kinks, and, of course, who couldn't love a film with custom-made Louis Vuitton luggage?

Kate is great

GOLD STANDARD: This December 2000 British Vogue has got to have the best magazine cover ever. It's amazingly simple yet compelling, plain yet polished. It takes a lot of daring to do a cover like this, with no tease lines, with no photo of a model smiling at the camera. But look at the reward! Something bold, memorable and fabulous. It's also inspiring: Dare to be different!

Bon voyage

Rest is good for the soul, and visiting foreign places is good for the closet. So I'm off to do both. Back in two weeks!

Michelle, la belle

Sometimes it's nice to keep things simple, as evidence by Michelle Phillips, the beauty from The Mamas and The Papas. Phillips kept her hair and makeup almost as simple as it could be. She had straight hair, worn with its natural wave, parted down the middle. Her makeup was also clean and natural, she wore black eyeliner but kept the rest minimal. So once in awhile it's OK to forego the lipstick, eyeshadow and highligher. And it'll cut your cosmetics costs.