“The biggest reason J.Lo’s nose is requested is that it is attached to her face” Plastic surgeon in Allure (tell that to extreme makeover).
“If you go bigger than your back can support than you may develop National Geographic breasts” Plastic Surgeon in Allure (tell that to Pamela A).
“My mother dresses me. I have no opinion.” Jessica Simpson on her stylist (no brain either).
“I wanna breast-feed so badly.” Alicia Silverstone (try having kids first).
“I have so many thoughts and feelings on it that I want to share with my friends but not the world,” Alicia Silverstone on marriage (Yes stick to breast feeding much safer).
“She is so infinitely resourceful, she will connect with the women in jail and emerge with a new, winning idea,” Tina Brown on Martha Stewart (It’s called a million $ book deal)
.“I’m free! I can wear anything I want now, and the first place I’m going is Gap for a lot of white T-shirts.” A quote from Martha in 5 years? Maybe. No Domenico’s wife about Gucci last show.
“Maybe that will be my next job. I’ll be an agent for fashion designers. I’ll negotiate their contracts” Tom Ford on being rich.
“I am very serious about wanting to make a movie. As a director. It’s true that I’ve signed with CAA’ Tom Ford on getting richer.
“Money had absolutely nothing to do with it.” Why Tom left Gucci (richer still).
“Beauty is not all about looks. In my experience, I have never met a model with a brain.” Olivier Martinez on speaking from experience.(Who needs a brain?)
“I ain’t into faggots. I don’t like gay people around me, but women who like women, that’s cool. I could actually get into that, Rapper 50 cent (and he’s not even a model)
“Never drink diet coke. Diet coke is for fat people” Paris Hilton (She is)

Don’t we all just love getting out into the great outdoors, embracing nature and breathing the sweet smell of grass and pretty fresh flowers? Mm Maybe. But can we do something about the great outdoors bit and just have the sweet smells? Yes your prayers have been answered! You can have your nature and smell it too with the gorgeous chic but chic perfumed green grass (or Rose) candles at Caravan Interiors. OK so they don’t come in a chic Diptique jar but what do want for just $5? But they do smell divine and are available in all different sizes: you can buy the long thin ones for your candelabra $8, the short fat ones $5 and the big fat ones are about $10.

Candles at Caravan 9365 0500

This week’s item du jour must be the red shoe. (There’s a movie in this). I first reported the crazy coloured shoe phenomena this time last year (sooo ahead) but it was very hard to find any under $1000. But the choices are out there now and you only want red. They are the perfect thing to razz up your boring black and white wardrobe (Yes yours) adding a little edge so you don’t have to wear colour from head to toe (just from toe). You’ll find a perfectly simple pair with a pointy toe and a good run-around heel in Scooter $109 and cheap but chic red patent ones at Shoebox for an incredible $49! Outrageously high ones at Nine West $109 but if you want quality you shall have it: head to the usual suspects Cosmo Shoes or Belinda and don’t look back… or at your credit limit.

It’s official. The new Becca creme blush is the best blusher ever. Soft and creamy it slides on like nobodies business and looks ever so natural and dewy. It comes in a cute little compact with a mirror and we all know you can never have enough mirrors in your bag. Plus it comes in the most amazing shades and I love the one called Amaryllis, a soft pink. Yes it is more expensive than squeezing and rubbing your cheeks or going for a run but if something can make you look gorgeously healthy just by sitting still than it’s worth it.

Becca Crème Blush $37 from Mecca Cosmetica or Becca Cosmetics.

The Gucci group has named Alessandra Facchinetti, Alfreda Giannini and John Ray to take over at Gucci, and Stefano Pilati at YSL. All 4 are Ford-trained.They need 3 people to replace Tom ( to give good quotes)
Michael Kors did his last show for Celine in Paris.
Terence Conran has opened a new restaurant, Plateau in London’s Canary Wharf.
According to Travel & Leisure the worlds best short stay hotel (read Brothel!)is Stiletto, a very groovy place designed by Hip Group who did Longitude 131 but where is this den of iniquity? Apparently in Camperdown…! (Well I never).
The Whitney Biennial is now showing in New York.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice has been renovated and now includes a sculpture court and temporary exhibition gallery.
A new groovy hotel has opened in Venice called DD724 (a play on its address) has 7 rooms, all different and it overlooks Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the exhibition showing at the Tate Britain and “Adam and Eve Exposed,” is Damien Hirst’s work of male and female bodies covered in sheets and gently breathing, with their private parts exposed by fig leaf cutouts (better than dead sheep).
The Greek Olympics will open on Friday 13th (spooky).
Johnstone & Murphy have designed shoes for men without metal so you don’t need to take them off at airport security (except if you have a bomb in them).
Pavorotti’s last ever stage production will be Tosca at the Met Opera in New York.
Marianne Faithfull is doing a live musical called ‘Black Rider.’” By William S. Burroughs and music by Tom Waits opening in New York.
The J.Paul Getty museum is showing ‘Photographers of Genius’ a show of 35 photographers including Diane Arbus, Alfred Steiglitz, and Walker Evans

www.marthastewart.com
OK so she’s guilty but try her website and then you’d see what she’ s guilty about. Obviously cleaning issues. Go into housekeeping (the closest I’ve ever been to it) and go to homekeeping 101.There’s a section on how to make a bed and dishwasher strategy. Fascinating reading. But there are good things here like the quick stain chart (handy in the cell) and everyday recipes from her food magazine of the same name (buy it in Borders it’s a small version of Donna Hay) Hours of fun here!

http://www.hbo.com/city/
Spoiler alert! If you don’t want to know the ending, don’t go here. Then you won’t see the 25 headshots of Sarah Jessica Parker with 25 hairdos and the note from Carrie handwritten saying ‘Thanks for everything xx’. But what I love about this site is that you can click on The Look and there it is: every outfit and where it’s from. Just click on a character (Not Samantha) and pick a season and voila! There is the gorgeous Balenciaga top from season 5, the cute Mickey Mouse T-shirt from Monday night and the navy vintage nurses cape from season 4 (I want it!).

There will not be a big screen version of SATC (SJP and Kim hate each other).
Sarah Jessica Parker has started writing a book “The basic story is about an over-the-hill TV actress who gets a shot at a comeback, but lies about everything from her age to her acting credentials.” (Must be science fiction).
As Kristin Davis finished filming her last ever scene of SATC some of the crew got together and sang a chorus of Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.(popular)
The band Busted threw a TV out of a hotel window “They thought it would be fun and rock’n'roll if they chucked a telly out of their window. They were only pretending and then it actually slipped off the windowsill and fell” (Pretending? Rock and Roll!)
Crosby, Stills and Nash David Crosby was arrested for possession drugs and guns. (Rock N Roll! Not bad he’s 62).
Stephen Sprouse, the fashion designer died at age 50 (too much Rock n Roll).
Diane Lane will marry Josh Brolin in Tasmania on April 31.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney were turned away from their Italian hotel when the doorman mistook them for a pair of tramps (I’m begging for more).
George Clooney will be paid $54M for Oceans Twelve (money can buy me love).
Claudia Schiffer spent her flight to Milan fashion week reading and making notes about the Ikea catalogue. (brainiac)
Heidi Klum is secretly dating Seal (so secret don’t tell anyone).
Beyonce has split from Jay Z (it’s a secret shhh).
Tom Arnold has three testicles but a low sperm count (some things are never secret).
Leonardo and Brad Pitt are set to co-star in a movie “Internal Affairs,” a hip story about gangsters in China by Martin Scorsese.
A waiter at Vanity Fair’s Oscar party said that Heath Ledger has an enormous head and Catherine Zeta Jones smokes like a chimney (it’s out. Heath has big head).

White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-century India
by William Dalrymple
This book has had rave reviews from here, there and everywhere! The Sunday Times said it was “A gorgeous, spellbinding and important book”. A story of history and romance set in eighteenth century India “it is an absolutely fascinating overview of the relationhips between British colonists and native Indians and a true story of the passionate love affair between Jaynes Kirkpatrick, British ambassador and officer of the East India Company, and a young Muslim princess. Defying convention, Kirkpatrick not only took her as his mistress, but he eventually converted to Islam and married her, initiating a scandal that rocked two cultures”. And don’t we just love a scandal? A big book full of fascinating details (not for models). Read it before they make the mini series.(with models)

Christmas List:
The Duchess of Devonshire’s Chatsworth Cookbook by The Duchess of Devonshire
She is the last surviving Mitford sister, model Stella Tennant grandmother and is a fascinating character who has been running the family seat of Chatsworth as a multi million-dollar business with farm shop for 50 years. And being a typical eccentric aristocratic Pom she has written a cookbook even though she hasn’t cooked for years. But she says she loves food and this book is filled with quirky recipes of soups, English suppers, glamorous dinners, breads cakes and jams. Each little chapter has a “personal introduction from the Duchess in which she mixes history, observation and wit in her own style” Lovely.

Economy
Sportsgirl: I must report the wrong price on the cute 50’s coat from last week (now in pink or red ) it is $199 not $299. Better.Checkout the tweed/mod straight skirt with black buttons $79 and remember it’s still the best place for some cheap but good jet earrings or diamante jewellery.
Portmans: I tried but it’s not talking to me. Jacqui E has a classic choc brown suede blazer jacket $199. Midas: have some really great shoes: Some Mui Mui style pointy ones rubber soles and kitten heels in orange $248, fab black and white spectator heels $268, some Gucci inspired moc croc heels $268, and lots of round toe 40’s styles ( I’m not so keen but models love: they’re weren’t born the last time round).Scooter: have some great inexpensive shoes: flat black square toe mod style ones (in red and white and pink) $109 (if you like that look), Sergio Rossi copy with a buckle across the toe pointy pumps $119 and some chic cream heels $120 and lots more..
Witchery: has done a cool small YSL style pleated leather bag $99 in camel or black and don’t forget the Mui Mui style heels with the jewelled brooches. Events: is looking quite good including the chic black leather zip jacket mentioned weeks ago $439, black fake fur zip vest is cool $149, and they have lots of simple double cuff and collar shirts $99,a nice stretch camel cord fitted blazer (good cut) $185, also in chocolate brown with skirts to match $89.

Business
Bettina Liano is having a moment as they say in fashion. mmm too much hot pink, bright yellow and black frou frou tuille. Stick to the groovy denim jeans and the pretty chiffon dresses $375, and satin camis $119.
Zimmerman: Check out the 50% off all swimwear and summer accessories.
Longchamps: This is another favourite because they have great quality at fabulous prices especially in the nylon totes and handbags. There is a new snazzy nylon hand bag in which has zips on the side so if there’s more in the bag you just undo the zip (the lining inside is a different colour.cool) $295. A great new selection of winter bags are in including a divine red bag with white stitching $899 and some leather drawstring ones $1365. Maria Findlay (Double Bay) has some Diane Von Furstenburg dresses for around $850 in soft chiffon green and wrap black and white print. Coach: They have such fabulous things (that’s why it’s doing so well when others in fashion in the US are not).Good quality at great prices. Checkout their fabulous canvas totes and handbags just arrived with patent trims in orange and green or red $715, they have cute stripe cotton bucket hats $200 and don’t forget their trench coats (macs) $730. The napa softest-leather-ever slouch bags are fabulous in every colour $835, and there is Gucci style Jaqui bag in gorgeous green suede $514. Zambelli Donna: has some really pretty chiffon print drawstring tops some reduced around $200, and some pretty chiffon dresses on sale $419 and $269 and their double cuff shirts are great in lots of colours from $130.

First Class
XSRE: Has the cutest little D&G camel leather bucket hat $365 with a matching belt $325, some new fabulous Costume Nationale sunglasses very Jaqui O around $500 and some chic Bouvier silver intricate cuffs $680.Check out the outrageous Desmo bags (Fox fur or sheepskin with crocodile strap) on sale now $600. Also they are getting lots of new things (hopefully today) of fabulous Luella bags, Chloe bags and accessories and some Paco Rabanne chain mail bags.
Ferragamo: Have such beautiful classic bags and shoes. If you want the cheap but chic scoop nick in here for the divine leather cuffs with a silver buckle in camel, black and white only $270 ( wider one $550).You also want the gorgeous leather slouch bag $1685, the beautiful calf skin bags with white stitching $1785, and the white, black or camel very structured handbags with a bit of sexy hardware from $1600.The shoes your mother has worn for years are right here and don’t they look so right ?( Marc Jacobs was obviously here last year) with a soft toe and grosgrain bow $475, and checkout the summer toe thongs brown and green and other colours $610.
Gucci: Their spring summer keeps coming in so checkout the ‘reins’( as in horse) collection of fab bags with white stitching and the G brass $1660, the canvas log and leather bags $1535 and you might want the gorgeous matching little coin purses $165 and key cases $265.There are some fabulous new huge scarves in a leaf print $455 and pop in there today as the more new things will be hitting the floor. Bring it on.

If you haven’t guessed already the secret ingredient in the FiFi kitchen is the magic taste of preserved lemons but why buy something when you can make it yourself?
Quick de la quick all it entails is basically cutting up lemons, rolling them in salt tossing them in a jar and covering them with lemon juice and spices. Then you leave them in the sun for about 4 weeks and Bingo! They’re ready to add to anything…As easy as making a gin and tonic that I insist you sip when you slice up those lemons.

Get a clean jar
10 to 20 lemons
2 cinnamon sticks
3 Bay leaves
10 black peppercorns
10 coriander seeds
5 cloves
A packet of rock salt

·Wash lemons
·Slice into quarters but leave some for juicing
·Sprinkle with rock salt covering the inside.
·Put into jar as you go and squish them down so that the juice is released.
·Alternate the lemons with adding the spices so that they are scattered through the jar.
·Squeeze enough lemon juice to cover the lemons in the jar right up to the top.
·Pop on the lid
·Don’t they look gorgeous?
·Sit the jar in the sun for about 4 weeks. Jill Dupleix says to turn them upside down every day when you remember to mix up the juice. And she is right.
·Top up with more lemon juice when it gets low but try to keep the jar sealed for as long as possible.
·Don’t be scared if you see yukky looking lemon at the top.It’s not mould. Well I don’t think it’s mould: Ok it’s never killed me or any friends. Yet.

After 4 weeks they should look all gooey and soft and ready to eat so I suggest you put them in the fridge. Just rinse them before you use them because they will be salty.You are supposed to use only the rind but I like the flesh too.

Use them anywhere you use lemons (except in the gin and tonic). I’ve even added them to pastry for a bit of zing. And adding a bit of zing is what life is all about.

Pieces of April.
I have been reading reviews about this for months: that Patricia Clarkson performance was fantastic, that it was shot in 16 days on video, that Katie Holmes was so great, that it was THE Indie film du jour. It’s a funny story as in funny ha ha and peculiar, about little miss edgy arty April who lives in a slum with her black boyfriend and wears crazy pigtails and kooky clothes and is the black sheep of the family. All of which is outrageous behavior if you live n the suburbs. But it gets worse. On Thanksgiving she invites her family for dinner. Then the oven breaks down and she asks all her neighbors from Asians to vegans to blacks and a poof to cook her turkey. The movie then shoots back and forth between April trying to cook and her family on their way to see her. Oh did we mention the mother is dying? (Not spoiling the story). But what’s the scoop? The Romantic Comedy Movie Club reviewers were mixed. Some liked it (me) others thought it was too contrived (ex friend) so maybe it’s best to see what others said from http://www.rottentomatoes.com
“It takes a village to cook a turkey. That’s the premise or at least the best idea of this delightful little miracle of a movie”
“What do you say about a movie that’s not really there?”
“A movie that’s a little too determined to find sweet forgiveness in sour attitudes.”
“It has minor silly violence and tantrumy blasts of strong language”. Mmm that sums it up

Travel & Leisure March: has the best top cities for less! Cheap but chic in New York, Paris And Tokyo. Read about furniture shopping in France and the best foodie shops in Rome, London and Paris or 50 affordable beach resorts.Perfect.
Allure March: Mario testino, Karl Lagerfeld and hair maestro Oribe spill their best beauty secrets (what is it with secrets? Go for high heels,moisturize) find out the certain foods act like drugs (you don’t say?) and Debra Messing on being pregnant and having breasts (my husband and I are enjoying them)
UK Conde Nast Traveler March; Any magazines with the words “House in Provence” gets me and they know it. Here are gorgeous shots of the best houses to rent in Provence (next month Tuscany). Not exactly cheap but divine! And read about the famous Jack’s camp in Africa and the very talented Alistair Hendy writes and shoots Vietnam .A very good issue.

“The website is brilliant. I’ve just printed off a recipe to cook tonight.thx”
“Those quote dela quotes are so funny.Thanks for the laugh on a friday!”
“If tom Fords next stop is Hollywood, I think u should play his co-star fifi in a fashion adventure a la indiana jones and the temple of gucci!”( true)
“What a pleasure to have a website without advertsing. Hate those ads popping up.It’s a fun read!”
“How do you find all that silly gossip before it gets in the weeklies? Keep it up.”
“I love all your hysterical comments in the gossip and getting a quick summary of global popular culture, its just what I’ve always wanted. Thanks Fifi!”