Ralph Lauren and Polo have created their own distinct luxury brand. Clothing. Interior design. Lifestyle. When I received a box from there, I had a feeling it might be something beautiful. And it was. A candle, wrapped in its own plaid & gold-etched box and a thick red ribbon bow. I wrote Vic, who had…
I met Karen Mauskop when we were both members of the Parents’ Council at Rhode Island School of Design. Karen is a master networker, lives in New York, and knows EVERYBODY. After a few conversations, or “Jewish geography” as she calls it, we figured out I knew Wes Raffel from my Palo Alto High School…
After I met ‘typewriter artist’ Louise Marler, and cruised for every piece of stationery, canvas bag, t-shirt and art I could find, I settled down to compose a few Hanukkah notes. One was to my friend Vivian C., who could have been an artist herself — she’s got a tremendous sense of color and can…
When my father, my friend Donna and my sister Annie and I went to Hawaii — we had a wonderful greeter named Kuulei. I sent her an autographed cookbook of my father’s — “COOKING FOR VIN” when we got back to Los Angeles. This is the lovely note she sent. Please Share
I’m a latecomer to Judaism. I grew up with Christmas and converted before I married Josh. Although some people in my conversion class had a hard time giving up a Christmas tree, I had no such problem. When I married Vin, I got launched back into full-blown “Deck the Halls”. I call it “Vin’s…
I have a rule. I’m not very disciplined. Foods that begin with “CH” are fattening temptations that I consume every day. (Think “Cheese” and “Chocolate”). I don’t go to the gym on my own. I’m only admitting these embarrassing weaknesses so you can be impressed at the one area in which I have extreme self-discipline:…
Jackie and I met in Rhode Island at Rhode Island School of Design when we were both part of the Parents’ Council and our children Alex & Jamie were going to college. One year we planned a spontaneous trip to England — where we walked Jackie’s native city so rigorously that much to my horror,…
After a party, I try to get my notes out for the hostess gifts people brought as soon as I can. I usually keep the presents — whether they be tempting cookies, enticing bottles of wine or Champagne, or even pink & yellow almond-flavored soap — on my desk as an incentive to write something…
Sue B., my friend since 7th grade, and I took typing lessons together in summer school. We like to say “we invented e-mail” because one of us would type a letter to the other, while the recipient-to-be would eat snacks in the kitchen. Both of us developed enormous speed that summer, and we split our…
