The Succulent Wife's Favorite Things

Sign the Petition by One.org to Stop the Hunger Crisis

Here's what the petition says, as a letter to the President:

Stop the Hunger Crisis

In just three years, the price of staple foods like wheat, corn and rice has almost doubled, and this week, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said that if left unchecked, global food shortages could set the world back seven years in the fight against extreme poverty and global disease. We must urge our leaders to take action.

Go ahead and sign the petition by going HERE.

One.org is a non-partisan organization that seeks to raise public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in developing countries. Tell a friend!!

Buy Handmade this Holiday Season -take the Pledge

Tired of all the mass-cutesy stuff with no personality? Join the movement!!! Buy handmade! Go ahead and sign the BUY HANDMADE PLEDGE.

Enough of the mass-produced stuff. Give something real! BTW, lots and lots of beautiful handmade things in our store, TheSucculentWife.com

Hey Big Brand, Wanna Know How Bad Your Ads are? Check out 3iying.tv

Leave it to 3iying, an all-girl strategic and creative think tank that helps mass-scale brands become more relevant to girls (aged 15 to 23).Today most of the marketing that targets young females is rooted in ideas that actually turn off the very audience they to which they are looking to appeal.  In their words:

"If we, as an industry, want to be professionally accountable to brands and their investors then we have an obligation to make a change. Over the past couple of years 3iying has watched countless girls be turned off by media that directly targets them. They flip past magazines pages, TV commercials, and promo websites because they are bored and annoyed. The quantity of rejected media frighteningly large, but equally alarming is how aware the girl consumer is of this problem. Underscoring the intensity of the situation - we often watched the industry give prestigious awards to the very media girls hated most.

There is a giant problem—the girl-cultural disconnect is too massive to ignore.To jump-start a solution 3iying decided to invite the industry to listen to the girl market. We need to raise the bar on relevance."

Here are some 3iying.tv examples of how young girls are finding ads offensive and/or irrelevant:

It's about time that someone (3iying founder Heidi Dangelmaier and her team of girls) makes a fuss and broadcasts the fact that today's intelligent consumers are not falling for ads and campaigns or even products that are not authentic and not believable. And, BTW, this same issue needs to be expanded to benefit female audiences of all age groups.  Thanks Heidi!!

Vivienne Westwood has got a point: "People must stop buying and buying"

via Telegraph.co.uk

Vivienne Westwood. I love her! Not just because she is still so sassy and provocative and sexy at age 66 years young, but also because - and this is so totally counter-intuitive to anyone who is in the high consumerist world of fashion - she has the courage to say what's right and what, incidentally, has been on my mind for some time.

"Dame Vivienne Westwood thinks we should all stop shopping for clothes. "If you ask me what I think people should be getting next season," she says in that softly bossy northern accent of hers. "I'll tell you what I'd like them to buy – nothing. I'd like people to stop buying and buying and buying."

In Britain, we're spending £38.4 billion a year on clothes. Pushing ourselves into debt and chucking our cast-offs into landfill, we'd be hard pushed to demonstrate that, as a result of this spending, we look any better".

Dove's Onslaught Campaign - Just Launched and Just in Time

I have a 10 year old daughter. I understand. And living in Las Vegas, where the "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" mentality is now pushing behavior and all visuals beyond the limit of what is acceptable, I get the importance of this campaign.

I do talk to my daughter on a regular basis, telling her that she should not think, for a single second, that she ever needs to look like those undressed-surgery-enhanced women that adorn billboards and the back of taxicabs here in Las Vegas.

Please talk to your daughters and pass this on to anyone who has a daughter. Oh, and feel free to use this space to discuss...

Oilily Clothing for Women and Children - For the Young and the Young at Heart

I have been wearing Oilily Clothing for almost ten years now. It wasn’t a new discovery even then as I remember my mom buying an ultra colorful winter coat for my younger sister years and years ago. But the store was new in

Costa Mesa, CA when I rediscovered the brand. And I remember being immediately attracted to the playfulness of the colors, the patterns, the details in the design. Like the petticoat under the skirt, laced with ribbons and other tactile details and which main function - since this part of the garment is not visible - is simply to delight the wearer. Of course, upon closer inspection, you discover even more enchantments, like the tiny patterns in the buttons, the interesting pockets, the layering of ribbons and findings at the collar or at the sleeve or at the hem.

There was a store here in Las Vegas until about 18 months ago. It was in a beautiful but ill-fated location and did not surmount the landlord’s fickleness....

Vocation Vacations - Try on your Dream Career

How brilliant! Don't we all have this yearning inside us, one of those unfulfilled "dreams" that go something like this... I always wanted to design couture shoes.  I'm dreaming of owning a cute little neighborhood cafe.  I think I could be a casting agent...

The VocationVacations concept was created by Brian Kurth, during one of his long daily commutes on Chicago's Kennedy Expressway. Numb from his lack of passion for what he did for a living and staring at brake lights, he wondered what it would be like to be a wine maker, a tour guide or a dog trainer. Brian wanted to explore his dream jobs through a company offering working adults short-term “internships” while on vacation. But with research, Brian realized such a company did not exist. A business idea was born.After first test-driving a dream job in the wine industry, he created his ultimate dream job by launching VocationVacations® in January, 2004.

My dad did that, the wine making thing, in Hungary. And after spending a gazillion dollars on his dream project, he ended up selling his post-communist-now-magnificently-renovated winery and chateau a few years later. He soon found out that the wine making business was cut throat, not the romantic imagery that he had succumbed to when he first bought acres of vineyards. A vocation vacation, had it existed at the time, might have helped him better assess the massive undertaking that awaited him. Nonetheless, as fthe  family members that got the privilege to visit the winery without having to operate it, we only have dreamy memories of our sejours in that enchanting environment. BTW, this was the place, the Szent Gaal Winery. An oasis. But, I digress...

In Vacation Vocation's own words: "VocationVacations is the only company of its kind. We offer our clients (“vocationers”) one- to- three day, hands-on, dream job immersion experiences under the tutelage of expert mentors. Our mentors are passionate about what they do and are committed to sharing their knowledge and experience with individuals who dream of walking in their shoes".  See the current offering of Dream Job Holidays right here.

Hummm, I'm might just try my hand at being a restaurant critic. I'm good at critiquing!

Is your mailbox a junk mail graveyard?

An excerpt from today's Ideal Bite... bite ( I love this daily newsletter):

MAILBOX OR MAUSOLEUM?

Unwanted mail crowds out invites and tax refunds, and uses up valuable natural resources like trees, water, and energy. Point, click, and put to rest credit-card offers and catalog clutter once and for all.

The Benefits
Keeps you out of the sanitarium. Each American receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail per year - more than enough to drive you crazy.

Saves energy. Junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars every year.

More trees. Annually, 100 million trees are used to make junk mail.

More free time. Americans waste about 8 hours per year dealing with junk mail.

Wanna Try
DirectMail.com - free, quick way to get your name off commercial mailing lists.

OptOutPrescreen.com - opt out of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers online or by phone: 1-888-5-OPTOUT.

EcoLogical Mail Coalition - helps businesses stop mail addressed to former employees.

Native Forest Network's Guide - five easy steps to stop junk mail.

I am soooooo opting out, right after I press Save for this article.

The Philip Johnson Glass House - Opening June 23, 2007

I have been come across this "story" in 3 different magazines just this past weekend. So, in case, this is news to you, here is the scoop about this now historic gem.

The Philip Johnson's Glass House, is one of 28 National Trust Historic Sites. It was a remarkable achievement when it was completed in 1949 and still looks stunning today and fills me with wonderment. Its exterior walls are of glass with no interior walls touching the exterior. The 47 acre estate in New Canaan, Connecticut includes 11 structures. Among them, the Guest House, Lake Pavilion, Painting Gallery, Sculpture Gallery, Ghost House, Studio, and Visitors Pavilion. And let’s not forget the sculpted gardens.

A visit to this site, or should I say a pilgrimage for some, would be the best way to appreciate this legendary Modernist architect's life work. Opens June 23 and already sold out through August 2007. Hurry, there are only 50 visitors allowed each day!

Glass House Tour
90-minute guided tour | $25 per person
The Philip Johnson Glass House
199 Elm Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
tel 203.594.9585
fax 203.594.9885
The official site: http://www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org

Great article about the getting the estate prepped for visitors here on www.businessweek.com

Great article about Philip Johnson’s life here on  www.nyc-architecture.com

My Favorite Quote Ever

From Marianne Williamson's book, "A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles".

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.   It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you NOT to be?  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.  As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates other.”

I continuously refer to this quote and was discussing it again with friends a couple of nights again, which reminded me to share it on this blog. Even if you've already read it a thousand times, you need to read it AGAIN!. It's still a great reminder that we can become as splendid as we choose to be. Thank you Marianne Williamson!

M.A.C Cosmetics Lipstick in Twig. Can't live without it

I have been wearing the M.A.C Twig lipstick  (s soft muted brownish pink in satin finish) for about 14 or 15 years. That's my low estimate. It's my perfect neutral lipstick that actually has color. Or the effect of color? Or the effect of neutral? Either way, I came to the clear realization this morning that I cannot live without this color. I have been resisting it in the last couple of years. You know, because I'm afraid of looking like the old lady walking around with the same pale blue eyeshadow that she has been wearing for 1972. No one tells her how outdated she looks, so she still wears it. Yes, you know the one. She also has crimped hair, dyed black, with curly cues. ..

Well, I am mortified at the idea of turning into one of those ladies, that forgets that time passes by and that things need to change. Usually, I love change. Even crave it. So, I thought it was wrong that I should be clinging to this same lipstick all this time. I tried so many other alternatives. All the brands that had a "neutal". Every single one. Even the Viva Glam colors, of which ALL sales proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Funds. No other did it. The Twig is matte, has staying power and goes with EVERYTHING. So, as I applied Twig -- again -- this morning, along with its perfect companion, the Spice lip liner, I surrendered. Completely. From this point on, I will be wearing my Twig MAC lipstick as often as I wish, without guilt or self-reproach. Hey, if they're still making it, must still be cool. Enough.

The Venice Biennale - A must if you can make it

I haven't checked to see if the Venice Biennale is on the list of "1000 Place to See Before You Die" book, but it should.

The 2007 exhibition is the 52nd of such to held in Venice every two years. The first one happened in 1895 and has been promoting contemporary and modern art ever since.

It is an inspiring exhibit that touched us to the core when we visited with the kids two years ago. Whether we loved what we saw, hated it, rolled our eyes or were in awe, this was an impactful experience for the kids (ok, for us too) who still talk about it regularly.

This 52nd International Art Exhibition will take place from June 10 to November 21, 2007 and will display the works of about 100 artists and groups. The theme, "Think with the Senses - Feel with the Mind", is predicated on the conviction that art is now, as it has always been, the means by which humans are made aware of the whole of their being.

The exhibition venues are held in the Italian Pavilion and the national  pavilions at the Giardini, as well as the Corderie, the Artiglierie and other venues at the Arsenale.Besides these main exhibit areas, Venice is dotted with impromptu venues. We fondly remember walking into a dark repurposed renaissance church, taking off our shoes and walking to the center of the building and then lie on colorful mattresses to watch the video display on the ceiling. Where else could we have done this?

Eco-Living Tips

I am a self-declared Daily Candy addict. I know that are a few of us out there since they have a 90% + open rate on their emails. Love my DailyCandy fix, but have stumbled upon this other fantastic daily newsletter from www.IdealBite.com. They offer daily tips about easy simple ways to live a more ecologically aware way. AS they say, small changes add up: "Small changes...Done by Many...Create Big Results."

I love the "educational" aspect the best. In just a couple weeks of subscription, I've learned - among other things- about Parabens, cold water washing and the immense amount of CO2 emitted every time you flush the toilet in an airplane. Who knew?

Readers are invited to contribute their tips and there is a blog where readers are invited to comment.

This is one newsletter that feels good to receive. Pass it on!

One Week of Art

Brilliant! Enjoy and get inspired at the infinite possibilities... Amazing to see how much can be created and how much can change in a week's time.