Happy Friday!!!

I hope you enjoyed a fantastic week. It's grey outside today, perfect for running some errands and completing tasks I've been putting off forever!

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend with yoga, reading, sleeping in and seeing some friends on Sunday.

I've started reading Rules of Civility by Amor Towles and it's wonderful.

If you're having some people over for a meal, take a look at this lovely tip by French parfumeur extraordinaire, Francis Kurkdijan.

" In the summer when you host a dinner, spray perfume on the guest's napkins with 'eau de rose' and some lemon to give your dinner table a fresh scent."

Have a fantastic weekend!

(Image via FGR)

The 7 Virtues Perfume Collection

I was invited to a very special event this week: to sample the upcoming fragrance from The 7 Virtues: The Middle East Peace Eau De Parfum. I was intrigued by the company founder, Barbara Stegemann, who appeared on CBC's Dragon Den and obtained financing as a result.

I was also interested in taking a peek at the Yoko Ono & John Lennon Suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. What I wasn't expecting however was to be bowled over by the company's inspiring message, and Barb's impressive story and contagious energy.

The perfume is a mix of sweet grapefruit from Israël and lime and basil from Iran, fair trade ingredients made to encourage world peace. It will be officially launched next September. This isn't her first fragrance: The Noble Rose of Afghanistan, Afghanistan Orange Blossom as well as the Vetiver of Haiti are available at The Bay.

"Beyond economic freedom, the legal crops give farmers their dignity." She says, about sourcing from these countries. She plans to launch in other countries and is currently in discussions to bring her gorgeous scents and inspiring message internationally.

I encourage you to give these scents a try. They are free from parabens and phthalates and made with natural essential oils. In doing so, you'll also be giving peace a chance.

J'adore the holidays giveaway!!! (with Shopbop and DVF)

This is it! The J'Adore The Holidays Giveaway! Win a $100 Shopbob gift certificate and a bottle of J'adore by Dior by participating in the giveaway below.

Looking for stylish gifts for the fashionista in your life? Or looking to treat yourself after a busy and productive year? You can select from wonderful picks, including  DVF blouses & tops, stunning  DVF clutches,  gorgeous pieces from the Diane Von Furstenberg Sale, and take a peek at the Shopbop blog!

In order to participate, become a follower of this blog, leave a comment and for extra entries share the contest on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

For a quadruple entry and greater chance of winning, pick up a copy of my novel J'adore New York, either in paper or Kindle format and send me the amazon confirmation! ( It will also make a great gift!!)

The contest will be open for ten days. Good luck mes amies!!

(Images via Amanda Pearl, Brocante Home and Crush Cul de sac)

Woman of the week on womanity.com

Back from a fantastic four day weekend by the ocean! It was simply amazing. The weather was gorgeous, the sea food delicious, and I feel totally reenergized! The winner of the book giveway will be announced tomorrow..

I also have amazing news to share, I have been selected Woman of the Week for the Womanity.com project created by fashion designer Thierry Mugler!

 Months before the worldwide launch of his new perfume, Thierry Mugler opened the womanity.com interactive platform to create an invisible bond between women and engage with women all around the world through their personal videos, words and images, with the stories of inspiration and iconic women and global news affecting Womanity today.

Here is an excerpt of my interview on Facebook:

When did you start your work as a writer?

I started writing after leaving New York City in 2003. I signed up for some creative writing classes at a local university and received some positive feedback from my classmates which gave me the courage and confidence to write the first draft of J'adore New York. I must also confess to having a life altering encounter with a psychic on the streets of Manhattan who told me that I was missing my calling as writer. It took me some time to take this advice seriously, but now that J'adore New York is being published in several countries, I realize this was absolutely true and I haven't looked back since.


To read more, click here.

Lola by Marc Jacobs

Lola by Marc Jacobs

I am loving the bottle for this Marc Jacobs perfume! Looking forward to getting a whiff to find out what it smells like!

Etat Libre d'Orange Perfume

Etat Libre d'Orange

I just discovered these new French perfumes ( thanks to my friend Caroline, shopper extraordinaire!). Again, I was taken by the naughty marketing strategy ( check out the perfume names...) and packaging...Their fragrances are a mix of original scents including, marshmallow, leather and tobacco. I picked up a bottle of the Divin Enfant this week on sale at Holt Renfrew.. Woo-hoo!