Starting bid: $3,500.00

This vintage ring from the 1960′s is made of rounded geometric shaped dark wood and has a large emerald cut pink sapphire that is set in a gold frame.

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Invite Curiosity For those of you who are super organized,  your neatly stacked scrapbooks of family vacations (events) on that side table in the living room is still a great conversation starter.  Guests are bound to notice and ask, “What’s in there?” You will have no choice but to bring them out and start storytelling.

For more information on LIVING WITH WHAT YOU LOVE and all the decorating tips that made it in the book, click here.

[Photography by Steven Randazzo]

Certain foods in America have as much of a stronghold on our country and culture as does the iPhone and reality TV. One such food is the sandwich. When hunger strikes, the easiest solution most often lies between two slabs of bread. It’s too simple a formula to pass up. Don’t think chef Tom Colicchio has. In fact, Bravo’s “Top Chef” head judge has discovered a way to improve upon the classic American recipe at his delicious sandwich chain, ‘wichcraft.

As part of Colicchio’s celebrated Craft Restaurant empire, ‘wichcraft approaches the construction of the classic sandwich with the finest ingredients, keeping in line with his renowned culinary integrity, which has earned him the 2010 title of the nation’s top chef from the prestigious James Beard Foundation. With 12 locations in Manhattan alone, ‘wichcraft has become the obsession of every rush-to-lunch New Yorker. You can also find the shop in San Francisco and Las Vegas.

The simple sandwich transforms into a sensation at ‘wichcraft, where a grilled cheese, a PB & J, or a Woody Allen mainstay like pastrami on rye become plush products of Colicchio’s impressive gastronomic vision. In his book Think Like a Chef, Colicchio emphasizes great ingredients and their ability to set culinary creativity into motion. He learned this from his first job at an open-air food market in the Italian neighborhood of Elizabeth, New Jersey. There, they were selling what he calls “pretty mundane stuff” to Italian immigrants, who, using all five senses, took incredible care in their selection process.

And Colicchio himself is living proof of how far classic ingredients can go or how far one can take a sandwich. And really, why have American cheese slapped on white bread when grilled gruyere and caramelized onions on rye is perhaps waiting for you down the street? Pastrami on rye becomes obsolete when sauerkraut, gourmet Swiss and whole grain Dijon are slathered on top. The gauntlet’s been thrown down to anyone looking down on proteins smooshed between carbohydrates; they should pack their knives and go.

For more information, visit ‘witchcraft.

[Photography courtesy of Wikimedia and Facebook]

Generally-speaking, men don’t appreciate accessories as much as women do. Harry Connick Jr., on the other hand, is not like most men.

The famous New Orleans native doesn’t just have an ear and voice for music (as proven by his three Grammys and an Emmy) and a heart for acting (he’s played opposite mega-stars Sandra Bullock and Will Smith), but also an eye for fashion. Style-conscious and sentimental, Connick is rumored to still own the same jacket and shirt he wore for the cover of his first album at age 19.

“The Kid”—as the late Frank Sinatra used to call the crooner—is also an avid collector of cufflinks. However, similar to singer Beyonce Knowles with some vintage Chanel pieces, Connick likes to admire his collection from afar.

“I never, never, wear them,” Connick once told InStyle magazine. “I don’t know why I collect them. My Aunt Lil in California sent me some that were my uncle’s. They’re costume jewelry. I have a case my wife gave me that sits on my dresser; it’s full of unused cufflinks.”

Seems like a shame, especially when you consider how many amazing high-end suits Connick must own that would go perfectly with this old world gentlemanly accessory. Perhaps one day the smooth singer will change his mind and show up on the red carpet with his decorative buttons?

[Photography courtesy of Facebook]

On the most basic level, brooches are simply ornamental clasps. They were introduced in the Bronze Age when functional pins made from sharpened animal bones were used to secure loose clothing. During the Byzantine Empire, these functional devices were decorated with colorful enamel and the brooch (a 10th century one is picture right), as we know it today, was born.

Throughout history, various cultures have interpreted the brooch in unique ways as both functional tools and decorative works of art. Jan Katz, curator of the Center for Southern Craft and Design at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, recently told Nola.com, “Brooches are a small sculpture, a small canvas but a big statement.” In the U.S., these charming pins caught on during the Great Depression as a versatile costume accessory that could transform plain clothes into stylish attire.

No one has done more for the brooch movement than a handful of powerful and political women. Queen Elizabeth II, for example, often wears pins and is the proud owner of a large sapphire brooch with twelve diamonds called the “Prince Albert Brooch.” She also has a 23.6-carat pink diamond showstopper named the “Williamson’s Diamond Brooch.”

Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wore a Jean Schlumberger brooch of two strawberries made from rubies with diamond leaves and stems. The “berry brooch,” as she came to call this iconic work of art, was a gift from her presidential husband on their first Christmas at the White House.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright brought her brooches to D.C. and around the world. She is rarely photographed without a brooch, or three. Her collection is so vast that she wrote a book about it called Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box, which hit bookstores late last year.

In the memoir, Albright recounts peaceful meetings in which she conveyed her optimistic mood with cheerful ladybugs and soaring doves. Alternatively, she communicated her frustration with turtles to symbolize slow proceedings and crabs to depict her irritable mood. Who knew diplomacy could be so playful?

Today, First Lady Michele Obama (pictured above) modernizes the traditional brooch in her carefully curated ensembles. She is often pictured accenting her haute couture with custom designed floral brooches and her ready-to-wear outfits with thrift store finds.

With designs in every shape, size, material, and price point imaginable, we can all please tradition and trend with a single brooch.

GET THE LOOK

Splurge 18k Gold, Diamond and Ruby Eagle Brooch,  $1,200

Save Oscar de la Renta Clear Crystal Brooch, $180

Steal Antiqued Silver Tone Austrian Crystal Circle Pin,  $68

[Photography courtesy of Wikimedia and Facebook]

Inspire a Collection I have this wonderful client who was so passionate about collecting that she wanted her kids to appreciate it as well. So she started a collection of china for her daughter, Chelsea. The china was also called Chelsea. To this day, Chelsea still collects this fine dishware that she is connected to by both a name and her mother.

For more information on LIVING WITH WHAT YOU LOVE and all the decorating tips that made it in the book, click here.

[Photography by Steven Randazzo]

When you look at the current fashion scene, certain brands follow the trends while others continue to do what they do best. A perfect example of the latter is Lanvin.

The French label, founded by Jeanne Lanvin who dressed affluent women in the 1920s, has been putting out lavish, intricately-decorated dresses and jewelry for more than 100 years. As valuable and special as the company’s creations are today, in just a few years, these will be as sought-after as vintage Alaia or Yves Saint Laurent.

Though Lanvin is one of the oldest labels in operation today according to New York magazine, it managed to fly under the radar for most of the 20th century. Unlike her famous rival and contemporary, Coco Chanel, Lanvin (pictured left) lacked a public image. The label finally gained global recognition under the leadership of the equally-exceptional designer Alber Elbaz, who has served as the head designer since 2002.

Inspired by Lanvin’s signature techniques, Elbaz has created detailed feminine pieces worthy of its A-list clients, including Nicole Kidman, Kate Moss and Jennifer Aniston. His jewelry, in particular, has become somewhat of a phenomenon as he combines various materials—lace, ribbon, pearls, beads, macramé, and metal—to design one-of-a-kind accessories that can completely transform a simple outfit into an extraordinary, elegant, effeminate ensemble.

When it comes to building a fresh collection, Lanvin jewelry is a prime choice. The recent resurgence of the brand coupled with its long, humble history means that in a few years’ time, your collection will surely increase in value, both on a financial and fashionable level.

Check out Lanvin’s summer 2010 collection here.

[Photography courtesy of Facebook]

Summer spells s’mores. Warm weather and starry nights beg red-blooded Americans to build a campfire and start roasting marshmallows while swapping stories with family and friends. As if the nostalgic experience weren’t enough, then you get to eat the delicious toasted white balls squeezed between gram crackers with a piece of chocolate. Aptly named “s’more”—as in “I want some more”—this tasty treat invites adults and kids alike to test the limit of just how many one can handle in an evening.

Though the origin of these summer sweets is not clear, the three-ingredient recipe for “Some More” first appeared in the Girl Scout of the USA’s Tramping and Trailing book in 1927, according to the National Historic Preservation Center. In 1940, the recipe was renamed “S’mores” in the official Girl Scout Handbook. Popular belief says campers were also responsible for spreading the word about this sugary delight.

Today, there are so many variations of this simple recipe, include substituting the chocolate by adding fruit, such as apple slices or peanut butter, creating banana s’mores, and even making ice cream ones. There is an Allrecipes.com version that has received more than 2,000 rave reviews using butter along with the other ingredients and baking the mixture in the oven. Choco-giant Hershey also has a video displaying the ultimate s’mores where you can create your own virtual version of the gooey goodness, though it’s not as fun as making the real thing.

Get outside, while it’s still beautiful, and starting roasting. If you don’t have access to a backyard or campsite, get your fix at ones of these top six local s’more shops, according to the Huffington Post. Or swing by one of the 100 Cosi chain restaurants in 16 states that also offer a unique tableside s’more experience. Bet you can’t eat just one!

[Photography by The Long Experience on Flickr]

LISTEN TO THE ORIGINAL PERFORMED BY Beastie Boys, first recorded in 1986

HEAR THE NEW VERSION PERFORMED BY Coldplay

Tell us which is your favorite!

[Photography courtesy of Facebook]

For me, coffee is a timeless tradition with a rich history. Part of my excitement in being a part of that tradition is traveling to the great coffee growing areas around the world where one can find the best possible product.

My most recent trip was to the Indonesian Island of Sumatra.

Indonesia produces a lot of coffee, and most of it comes from Sumatra. This was my first visit to the island and I flew into the capital of Medan and immediately was on the road to the mountains above Lake Toba – I believe it is the largest volcanic lake in the world.

Once there, I witnessed a method of processing I had never seen, or fully understood before. Semi washing, a method of coffee preparation that removes the skin surrounding the seeds (which are the coffee beans).  Most coffee is either ‘fully washed’ or ‘dry prep’.  The method affects the flavor of the coffee in the cup.  Fully washed tends to be bright. Dry tends to be earthy, and semi-washed can be a bit of both. It is just one of the things making Sumatra coffee unique in the cup.

I also found varietals of coffee I had never seen growing commercially – for example Catimor – a hybrid coffee that seems to be almost 50% of the Arabica bean production in Sumatra. Seeing the variety of Coffee from region to region in Sumatra allowed me to learn geographically what I had been tasting in the coffee cup all these years – that the coffee from one (Lintong) area has a certain flavor distinctly different than the coffee from another (Lake Tawar) and another and another. So literally a coffee tasting of different varieties is like an overland expedition of regional discovery.

In effect, as you consider the beans and blend in your morning coffee, enjoy the geography and journeys that coffee growers have been making for decades to create traditions that have endured the test of time.

Oren Bloostein is one of the leading experts in the specialty coffee industry and has appeared on NBC and FOX NEWS. He is also the owner and roast master of Oren’s daily roast which received a 24 score from zagat with the following quote.” this worthy local franchise pours flavorful coffee that’s freshly roasted at their jersey facility and impeccably brewed.” For more information visit orensdailyroast.com.