London's Secret Garden

With all of that city chaos and noise that we surround ourselves with daily, it's important to find a moment of peace and quiet somewhere in our busy schedules.  Personally, I find that when I get caught up in the moment of working, planning, organizing and living my life, I forget to breathe and I choke. So I step out of the zone. Yoga and pilates help, sure. But then again, in order to even participate in these so-called "meditative activities," I am constantly planning ahead too. What with booking everything in the diary and ensuring that nothing overlaps, even those relaxing moments of my day require a minimum of organization. It's a mind game of fake relaxation. Your brain tricks you into believing that you are taking time off. But actually, it's all a big fat lie. Sometimes, I must admit, I can't catch a break. I am living too fast.

For all of you who suffer from the fast life and the syndromes of fake relaxation, it's time to step out of the zone and find yourself a secret garden. I have mine. While it is no hidden gem to most Londoners, it definitely is a secret garden of sorts. Kensington Gardens is, by way of being perfectly groomed and elegant, the epitome of English gardens. And because I am accustomed to French gardens, which are notoriously messy, I kind of like myself a haven of pure perfection and serenity - English style. So just plop yourself down on a bench and take in the tranquility of nature, flowers dancing in the wind and birds chirping summer tunes. Take a deep breath and forget about the forsaken diary. It's just paper dictating your life. Now think about where the paper comes from. Trees, nature. That is what you cannot live without. Think about that.

Then, because you've done enough sitting and staring at grass grow, head over to the Orangery for a cuppa tea and scones. Take a seat outside on the terrasse under a parasol and sip slow. Eat slow. Maybe one day, you'll learn to live slow too.

The Travel Cookie - the Best Way to Start Your Holiday

I was raised in a home, where cooking and food were a big part of our lives. And we ate meals together. We enjoyed our meals as a family around the dinner table. Much of these food traditions meant that we also were encouraged, growing up, to discuss a topic of a certain level of importance around the dinner table. So that's what we did. We ate and we discussed. And we laughed some. We filled the air with serious and not so serious conversations - about school, politics, philosophy, art. I have fond memories of these family meals. They stuck with me somehow. Sometimes the smell of freshly cooked langoustines dipped in mayonnaise wafts right beneath my nose and I can see myself chatting about De Gaulle and WW2 in my little summer dress ate age 15, my legs propped up on the chair. However, while I truly enjoyed these precious family moments, my favourite moments were spent sitting on top of the kitchen island, baking CCCs with my mother. Chocolate Chip Cookies were the weekend treat for all of us. But baking them was quality time for my mom and me. So yes, I have to admit, my standards for CCC baking are unexpectedly high. When I think CCC, I think Magic.

Moving on slightly from the family topic, but still very much on the cookie topic, I tried a CCC yesterday that would make your little mouths water from jealousy and glutony. I call it the Travel Cookie. They're actually called Millies Cookies and you'll find the bake shop at most train stations.

And while I rarely take the train, there is one time when I do - when I am off to Paddington and Victoria en route to Gatwick and Heathrow. Final destination: ding ding ding...holiday, baby. So, may I introduce to you, one of the best cookies I have bit into and chewed on since my arrival in London. The fantastic, the mouth-watering, the delicious Millies Chocolate Chip Cookie. And for those who are feeling adventurous, the chip flavours vary from lemon meringue and raspberry to caramel and butterscotch. Too much, too good. But a great way to start the holiday.

Millies Cookies
Available at most London Train Stations
Including Victoria, Paddington, Waterloo, London Bridge, Liverpool Street
and also sold nationwide

A Little Bit of Paris Zest

Paris is just as amazing as everyone says. After returning from a mini break in the city of Love, I can confidently make the claim that Paris is the most magical city in the world. Don't get me wrong, London is my new home and I have embraced it as the new city of my heart. But Paris oozes class and elegance. It is the hub of all that is fashion, art and food. There is no point in denying it. Paris is simply put, the one and only capital of cool. And the more I return, the more I play around with the idea that I might eventually move there to live. I'm consistently charmed by Paris. Overwhelmed by all of its quirks, weirdnesses and character flaws. And because Paris is so full of flaws, I love it. Because Paris is so full of flaws, and I accept myself as a flawed French American girl, I can't help but daydream about a future life within its beautiful city walls. This is why, after much thought and consideration, I have decided to put a list together that would summarize, in a typically London Zest Top 10 fashion, my favourite zesty activities and spots in the future city of my heart, Paris.

1. For an all around fantastic shopping experience: Le Bon Marche has everything to offer, from cosmetics and menswear, to high end designers and a fantastic selection of ladies pret a porter. Vanessa Bruno, APC, Maje, Sandro and Tsumori Chisato, the racks of this 19th century monument offer an exciting array of contemporary fashion.

Le Bon Marche, Rue de Sevres, 6eme Arrondissement

 

2. For some fancy food shopping: if you're a bourgeois lady heading to the shops to prepare for a dinner party in your Haussman style palace apartment, then you'll probably love to come to La Grande Epicerie inside Le Bon Marche, for your foie gras and epicerie items. It truly is Alibaba's cave when it comes to the delicacies a gourmet supermarket can offer.

La Grande Epicerie, Rue de Sevres, 6eme Arrondissement

3. For some uber-cool neighborhood boutique shopping: visit le Marais, 3e arrondissement. As usual it started all with the gays. It turns out, it is now the hippest shopping neighborhood in Paris. You'll find the upmarket labels like Isabel Marant (my fave!) and you'll also spot some reasonably priced quirky shoe boutiques like Mellow Yellow.

Isabel Marant, Rue Debelleyme, 3eme Arrondissement

4. For the best rose and people watching: La Palette is the epitome of Parisien bobo (bourgeois boheme) style, elegance and nostalgia, where The APC-clad youngsters and hipsters circle and dot this perfectly sectioned terrasse of the super hip 6eme arrondissement.

 La Palette, Rue de Seine, 6eme Arrondissment

5. For a scrumpscious "burgers and hipsters" combo: also located in Le Marais 3eme arrondissement, Cafe Charlot houses the best burgers in town if you're feeling like being kooky in the homeland of Coq au Vin and Poulet Frites. Order it with a side of freaking good looking people, dressed to impress the crowds of this delightful little cafe.

 Cafe Charlot, Rue de Bretagne, 3eme Arrondissment

6. For the best new hip restaurant to be and be seen: Le Derriere has "Cool New Hot Spot" written all over it. Industrially chic and fantastifally fashionable, this place loosely translated into "The Bottom (or behind)" is not only a fun people-watching venue but it also guarantees an ecclectic variety of fusion French dishes mixed with traditional fare. Un vrai delice is all I can say. Also, while you're there, don't forget to check outt he room behind the closet upstairs. Secrets are coveted in this mysterious little fumoir area.

Le Derriere, Rue des Gravilliers,  3eme Arrondissement

7. For some Paris by night: Le Curio Parlor is reminiscent of New York's Lower East Side Freeman's restaurant and bar. Taxidermy is not the only strange element you'll find in the curious parlour-type venue. Aside from stuffed foxes and pheasants hanging from the walls, you'll relish on some eccentric cocktails recipes and eye-poppingly gorgeous locals.

Curio Parlor, Rue des Bernardins, 5eme Arrondissment

8. For the best cheap eats: Situated smack in the middle of the Jewish quarter of Le Marais, L'As du Falafel has been a go-to favourite cheap-eats location of mine for years and I always recommend it to Paris visitors, looking for a bit of exotic food in their Parisien diet. This is by far the best falafel I've ever tasted. Try the Shwarma as well. While your breath will suffer for hours on end, the moment you bite into this little package of paradise, your mind will draw a blank as to where you even live.

L'As du Falafel, Rue des Rosiers, 3eme Arrondissement

9. For some tea and macaroons Parisien style: La Duree in Saint Germain des Pres, has been on my Top 10 list for a while. I'm a caramel macaroon fan and La Duree is the only answer to my sweet afternoon cravings.

La Duree, Rue Jacob, 6eme Arrondissement

10. For an afternoon nap in the sun: La Places des Vosges is in my mind, the most beautifully quaint slice of Parisien paradise. Lay yourself down with a novel in hand and doze off into a deep sleep under the warm Spring sun.

Place des Vosges, 3eme Arrondissement

Beauty is Pain

Sometime ago, a good friend of mine swore to me that there was this type of exercise, which would miraculously make all of my wobbly bits disappear. I didn't believe her. This is how the conversation went:

Friend: "Have you heard of the reformer?"

Me: "No, I haven't seen it, but I hear Megan Fox is hot in it."

Friend: "No, not Transformers...the reformer machine, the thing you do pilates on."

Me: "Oh!...no, what is it?"

Friend: "It's a torture machine..."

Me: "Say no more. Going to the gym is painful enough for me as it is. I'm not torturing myself anymore than I already am."

Friend: "Silly girl. It's the good kind of torture. The good kind of pain. You'll love it, you'll see. All of your wobbly bits will disappear."

Me: "Alright, alright. I'll do it. Wanna go have a burger?"

My friend is now a reformer addict. She swears by it. Says it's the only way to exercise. Months later, I finally mustered up the courage to sign up for a free class at Heartcore Pilates in Notting Hill (Kensington & Hampstead).

 Heartcore Pilates, Notting Hill

My friend led the way to the studio, as I dragged my feet, walking snail-slow, not looking forward to an hour on the said torture machine. Heartcore is a bright and airy space, with red bricks, white walls and large windows. The sun shines right in through the glass and warms your face gently. By the time we got there, my friend was already in reformer-mode and she lost me at "It's great, right?" She grinned at me, mouth wide open, sweat trickling down her temples. Meanwhile I was fuming, cursing at every plank, notch, hook and bar on that machine. My feet wouldn't go anywhere, I was so confused by all of it, not knowing what went where. But only minutes after I settled in, and much to my surprise, Keri from Heartcore was already standing right by my side, assuring me that I wasn't going to hurt myself. She told me that I was safe and then before I knew it, I was smooth-sailing on the reformer and enjoying the class. I was grinning and sweating too. Whaddaya know. Pilates is a tough sport. You've gotta know what you're doing if you're gonna be doing it right. The reformer helps you get into place and supports you every step of the way.

You'll be in heaps of pain the next day, and the day after that and the day after that. And the cost is a tad cringe-worthy as well (£25 for a single class, £20 for a 10-class package). But it's worth it. You'll see the results almost immediately. Hey, beauty is pain, right?

Kelly Graces London

The V&A is one of my all-time favourite museums in London. Firstly because, knowing myself, I think I could spend hours just gazing it. Architecturally, it carries within it that impressive London regal status that only a few other monuments have in London, and it catches my eye every time I pass by it. And secondly, because when I enter the grand doors of the museum, I can't help but think about and be moved by the fantastic love story that took place between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the love they both fostered for art and beautiful objects. I think, yes, I'm in the presence of true love. Last Saturday, I strolled down the long corridors of the true love V&A to catch the 4pm viewing of the Grace Kelly show- a selection of Grace Kelly's most beautiful and desirable gowns and accessories, accompanied by a snippet of her life story as Hollywood actress turned Princess of Monaco.

Not only was I mesmerized by the her fabulous 1960's Haute Couture designer wardrobe, but I also realized how forward-thinking she was - in her dresses, her accessories, in her choice of outfits, in her hair, in her jewelry. I couldn't help but think: "hey, I could wear this!" Or maybe more appropriately, "hey, I would wear this if I could afford it! This Chanel suit is timeless. I think I might just be able to pull it off at my next client meeting."

But there is nothing I could ever do to measure up to this gorgeous woman. What an elegant lady Grace was. As she ducked out of her vintage Rolls Royce, as she floated down the aisle arm in arm with Prince Rainier, and as she gently waved hello to her thousands of adoring fans, she always carried herself like a true Princess. She stood tall next to Jackie O. She could pull her weight for sure. Her sense of old Hollywood glamour mixed with regal floor-length gowns made the conservative touch of Jackie's New England pencil skirts and twinsets nothing but conservative non-fashion.

And there was nothing more beautiful than her glowing smile and golden locks combed backwards and perked sideways beneath her bejeweled ears. She truly was a style icon wrapped up in the tiny yet voluptuous body of a blond siren, of a Grecian Goddess.

I fell in Love with Grace that day. I fell in love with her Chanel Couture, her Balenciaga gowns, her Hermes bag and her dreamy diamonds. I fell in love with her life as a Hollywood actress turned Princess. And I fell in love with her gorgeous smile. But I could not have imagined a more horrible end than dying so young in a tragic accident at the wheel of a car. But her legend still lives as she graces the walls of the Victoria and Albert monumental museum.

Book online (in advance!)
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
SW7 2RL

Let the Bling Bling Make a Bing Bang

After months of searching and digging around London; after days of surfing the web for their London-based shop, I finally found my all-time most favourite jewelry designer, and believe it or not, they're smack in the middle of Liberty's! I discovered Iosseliani back in NYC at my friend Ashley's store Honey in the Rough (though they hail straight from Rome). Her lovely boutique featured a broad range of pieces, which always seemed way out of my league and more importantly way out of my price range. In fact they were so out of my range that I dragged my mum down there one time just so I could vicariously live through her, and watch her as she purchased one of the most unbelievable pair of earrings I've seen under the £300 price mark. 

I stole from her jewelry box often, the days in NYC when I came uptown to do my laundry. My god what a devilish child I was! I would dig through her jewelry box like I always did when the drying cycle was in full throttle and the noise of my clothes banging against the walls of the dryer would make more noise than my fingers rummaging through her jewelry box. There they were. These beauties were calling my name and it was a sudden love affair between myself and those gorgeous diamante objects. The reason I said that they were out of my league is that I never considered myself to be a diamante-wearing kind of a gal. I've always preferred the simple studs or button-size pearls over the bling-bling and the watermelon-sized jewels. I'm more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of a gal. But come on now, you can't help but notice how smashing a pair of stunning earrings can look as they frame a woman's face so gracefully. Even it's with a pair of jeans. Or accessorizing an evening dress. It's a sight for sore eyes.

Speaking of bling, Iosselliani is also a pro when it comes to rings. Their rock n' roll rings represent chic and modern glamour and will accessorize any outfit, from the day wear to the evening wear. You'll turn heads and toes around. Women will salivate for these, and men will be hypnotized by these monster diamonds, when they see you reaching for your champagne glass! Wear them together or wear them single-banded, both options are appropriate and both stand out in the middle of the crowd.

Needless to say, I'm a little obsessed with the bling. But let me assure you that this is not any bling. It's the bling you steal from your mum's jewelry box and it's the bling you love to wear for years on end. And the fact that Liberty's features a few of Iosselliani's most beautiful pieces, earrings, bracelets and necklaces, makes me slightly uncomfortable. And for the quality and shine of these tiny pieces of art, you're making quite a bargain , and a long-term investment at that. So don't under do it. Over do it. Iosselliani wants you too.

Fashion Can Save the Children - And So Can You

Grazia's famous celebrity Editor-in-Chief Mary Portas has opened her very own clothing boutique on Westbroune Grove. Mary's Living & Giving shop for Save the Children is the latest addition to Notting Hill's hip and posh shopping street, and The Queen Be of the UK's fashion publishing world is heading it up. And she's not in it just for the fashion. No, she's in it for the children. Ain't nothin wrong with a bit of pro-social fashion, is there? Hey, I like fashion. And I like children. Put your hands together for a double whammy of win-wins all around. 

I'm a big believer in using one's name for charitable causes. Bill and Melinda Gates are doing it with their foundation. Bono and Oprah are doing it. Reese and George have also tattooed their names onto big and significant charitable organizations. Angie Jolie has been the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for years. Call it a marketing stunt. Call it a big fat lie. Call it whatever you want. I think it's brilliant. Why the hell not use your celebrity status to raise awareness for a cause when you know you have the clout to pull it through? Mary Portas is no international celebrity, but she is definitely well known in the UK especially when it comes to her incredible fashion sense and her generous sense of charity. And let's not forget, her awesomely fun fashion/tabloid mag Grazia has graced my nightstand a few too many times. And I'm sure it has yours. So for that alone, she deserves your attention today.

This is the drill: you visit the shop and if you're lucky, you'll find some impressive items on sale, like these gorgeous pieces below.

Louboutin sneakers, £190 (instead of £545)

Antonio Berardi Dress, £300 (instead of £860)

Alexa Mulberry bag, £300 (instead of £895)

And if you're a Grazia reader, you can even be one of the first ones to visit the shop on May 22nd from 10-11am. You'll meet the brains behind the whole operation and get the chance to get first dibs on a bunch of smashing deals! You can sign up on rsvp@savethechildren.com for an invitation to the very special event and earn yourself a free manicure and cupcakes in exchange for a fashion donation of your own, designer or high street. As I said before, it's win-win! You give away your things, and you leave with something nice for yourself. Oh, and you save the children. Wouldn't you say that's win-win-win? I most certainly would.

Mary's Living & Giving Shop for Save the Children

177 Westbourne Grove

London, W11 2SB