I had the pleasure yesterday of spending the afternoon with Tim Gunn.

For those of you that don’t know him, Tim Gunn appears on Project Runway as mentor to the designers and basically the glue that holds the show together. If you don’t know what Project Runway is….well, this post will mean nothing to you.

Yes, Tim Gunn is a celebrated and loved TV personality, but to me he is so much more. As many of you know, I graduated from F.I.T. with a degree in Fashion Design. Tim Gunn was an Associate Dean and Department Chair at our rival fashion school, Parson’s.

Having lived in New York City  and worked in the fashion industry for 13 years, I can tell you that Tim Gunn represents all the best of the rag trade (garment industry); Class, sophistication, knowledge, eloquence, grace and, most importantly, he can dish the dirt without getting his hands dirty.

I wish I could tell you it was a long conversation over tea or cocktails, but, alas, I had to share his company with a few hundred others at the Georgia State University Auditorium. However, Tim is so engaging, I did feel that it was a much more personal encounter.

In fact, I was the first one to pop out of my chair to ask a question at the end of his talk. You may have seen me on CNN. Not really, but it was that monumental to me.

I asked a simple technical question about whether the designers were allowed to use slopers (a very basic pattern or template for the shape of a sleeve or pant) or if they had to rely solely on their draping skills to provide patterns. His answer was no that the designers had to rely on their draping and innate pattern-making skills to construct their garment. He then elaborated on the process.

I don’t expect you to understand the relevance of this question or the answer. What I will tell you is that right after I asked my question, the mere fact that TIM GUNN was listening to me, said it was an excellent question and addressed me directly when answering..well what can I say, it was a rush. Yes, I’m a nerd. This fact has been previously established.

Since I left New York, there are times I feel a little lost and disconnected from the heart of my passion which is design. Design in and of itself. The creative process and being around those who are in the same world who can appreciate and share the headache, heartache and reward it brings. I thoroughly wallow in the rare moments  when it all comes rushing all back. Thanks Tim.

Although Tim was there to speak about his book, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Quality, Taste and Style, we also learned he has a new book coming out this fall called Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work.

If there’s one thing in life I hope I never learn it’s the amount of tortilla chips I’ve consumed.

After years of study around the world, I think I’ve found the perfect chip. Light, crispy, just the right amount of salt and oil, able to hold salsa and/or cheese dip easily. Ahhh.

This may sound like a description of any chip from Doritos to the best Mexican restaurant chip you’ve ever had. Semantically, yes, but to a true tortilla chip aficionado, these words have a much deeper meaning.

On a good day, the finest chips I’ve had are from Pappasito’s Cantina, who are also the purveyors of the finest Margaritas this side of the Rio Grande, but that’s another post.

Typically I have 2 favorite supermarket brands of chips, Mission and Santita.

- Missions are a “gourmet” -read expensive-  tortilla chip; medium-thick chip, can be heavy, good crunch, oil and salt, about $4.00 a bag.

- Santita are the best chip for the price; medium-thin crispy chip, slightly dry, slight salt, $2. per bag.

However, today my friends, I will share with you Holy Grail of tortilla chips. Restaurant taste and quality right in your supermarket.

Xochtil, Totopos de Maiz (white Corn Chip) by Salsa Xochitl.

Xochitl {so-cheel} was queen of Tollan, lived in the 11th century Mexico. She was the daughter of Papantzin, a noble in King Tepacaltzin’s court. Xochitl, whose name means “flower”, is credited with inventing pulque, the fermented juice of the agave plant, and and an early forerunner of tequila.

I was all set to buy my usual Santitas, when I saw the Xochitl. They were new to my Publix store since the new reset. Being the aforementioned “chip aficionado” I felt it my duty to check them out.

I opened them as soon as I got to the car. Manna from heaven. Just like my beloved Pappasito’s chips.

The downside is that they are not cheap. They are priced up there with the gourmet chip- $3.99- $4.25. But they are worth it.

Don’t waste them on amateurs. Save them for yourself, when you can enjoy every last snappy CRUNCH!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

If you’re like me and my BFF, you’re always looking for a nice bottle of wine to crack open and enjoy in the evening. Not for a special occasion, not for an evening with friends, not to enjoy with a special meal. No…. just because.

Having a glass of wine “just because’” really is about enjoying the Sweet Life. Something as small as this is a celebration in itself. The problem is, most of the time a decent bottle of wine is at least $18 – $25 a bottle. That’s not a lot when you’re out with friends at a restaurant, but when you’re at home, that’s not a casual price.

I’ve found the answer – how does $10.99 sound?
Yes, you can truly buy a nice bottle of wine for $10.99. To top that off, it comes with a delightfully charming name and label; Cupcake Vineyards.

Don’t just take my word for it, The Wine Spectator gives the Chardonnay 88 points.

I’ve tried the Chard and the Cab. Both are very good and I highly recommend them.

What’s even better is that you can give this as a nice host/hostess gift and it’s classy and reasonable.

Give it a try – what have you got to lose?

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

…..a thank-you note from your niece?

There’s a lot to be said for Old-Fashioned manners.

Love you, Dinky Diva!

I was going to send a portion of all sales to Haiti and give a special discount… the usual thing that comes to mind when a disaster hits and money needs to be raised.

But, I don’t want to profit at all. And you don’t need to buy lotion just so a portion goes to these poor desperate people.

Instead of shaking your head and sighing about the desolation Haiti has suffered, Send Money. If you have food on the table. Send Money. If you have a warm bed. Send Money. If you even have a glass of clean water to drink. Send Money.

You have more than what 80% of the Haitian people have who live in poverty. And now they have less than nothing.

I will be giving to the Red Cross. Won’t you join me?

Select the International Response Fund. Even one dollar is more than most of these people have in their pocket.

The Red Cross International Response Fund

UPDATE: I received this email letter from the American Red Cross…

Dear Jennifer,

Thank you so much for your generous donation to help the people of Haiti following Tuesday’s earthquake.

I wanted to share with you some photos we’ve received from our staffers in Haiti, documenting the situation on the ground. The photos help to bring home the magnitude of the tragedy, and the importance of our ongoing support of Haitians in this time of crisis.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

As I write this, teams of Red Cross volunteers, staffers, and disaster management specialists are assisting rescue and relief operations. Massive shipments of supplies including tarps, cooking sets, and hygiene items are en route.

Our work is just beginning. Thank you again for making it possible.

http://american.redcross.org/HaitiRelief

Thank You,

Gail McGovern
President and CEO
American Red Cross

1. Illegitimate son of an Italian notary and a peasant girl.
2. A vegetarian. He would purchase small birds at market and set them free.
3. Under secrecy, would enter the mortuary of churches to dissect and illustrate human bodies.

Answer: Leonardo Da Vinci

If you must shorten his name- call him Leonardo. Referring to him as Da Vinci simply means “from te town of Vinci.”

You are probably very familiar with Leonardo. His “face” is well-known..or is it? I was not aware that the above image has been under dispute as to it’s subject’s indentity.

I found the following video very interesting about the study and conclusion of what Leonardo actually looked like.

Lesson #1:
You or your boss do not have to know how or have the necessary skills required to operate a technical device or piece of software to achieve the results you demand.

One only has to know how to direct others to do so.

For example:

A) “No, No, Aunt Jenny, Don’t touch the remote!, I’m watching Kermit.”

B) “Press Pause, Aunt Jenny.”

C) “Turn on Pongo & Purdy” (101 Dalmatians.)

As depicted in the photograph, be sure you maintain control of the device at all times.

* It also helps to dress like a Diva!

I was looking for a special gift to give my sisters and mother this past Christmas. I decided to have some special watercolors commissioned by a famous cupcake artist. Okay- I know that’s a semantic stretch, but technically it’s true.

Jessie from CakeSpy will paint custom “cuppie” art for you. You have read about CakeSpy and Jessie earlier on this blog. She is a joy to deal with. I highly recommend commissioning your own art. Check out her CakeSpy Flickr page for more examples and ideas.

I gave this to my sister, Laurie. She and her family go to a fabulous local bakery every weekend for breakfast. Mommy and Dinky Diva are the “cuppies.” Daddy and the Dinky Dude are the “bacons.”

For my sister, Christine, I wanted something to commemorate our trip to Paris with my niece- the other Dinky Diva. This is a picture of her favorite place we visited ~ Monét’s house in Giverny.

And last, but not least, one for my Mom.  About 8 years ago we went to Italy. This is us in Firenze (Florence.)

At first, you may think it’s strange to commemorate a special moment with a cupcake…but I say, what better way is there? Nothing says love like a pink cupcake!

Sweet Divina has just returned from the spa and feels totally rejuvenated!

Well, maybe it took a bit more than a few spa treatments to get these results!

I felt it was time for an update. I love Divina but I’ve wanted her to evolve into a bit more of a glamorous look.

As you know, I went to Fashion Design school in New York. When I first came up with the Diva concept, I thought the fashion illustration look would be too unapproachable.

I drew the Diva head in the style I had developed from my years at school. When it came to the rest, I worked with an artist to create a more casual, free-spirited Diva.

As it turns out, I was always itching to glam her up.

Last summer I met up with my friend Patrick from F.I.T. (Fashion Institute of Technology), who I hadn’t seen in 20 years. After filling each other in on our lives, we shared our work. When I showed him the Diva, he asked, why didn’t you draw the body? She needs to be more Va-Va-Va-Voom! He was right. All my design school exuberance came back and I knew I had to do something.

So, I sat down and drew the new Diva. My skills were a bit rusty and it took several tries, but I finally came up with a new Diva that I think is savvy, sexy and full of savoir FLARE! I know it’s “faire” –but I’m trying to make a point.

I love her and really feel like she suits the brand. Thanks for the push Patrick!

There will be some more changes in the coming months….but just like Divina, it will be the same – only better!

If you’d like to see the before and after….

My sister, Christine, recently started a handcrafted jewelry line called Heartisan ~ Unique Bijoux Creations.

She is dipping her toes into the retail world by exhibiting at specialty craft fairs.

Being the proud older sister, I had to tell you about it. Unfortunately, “proud” does not translate into brilliant cinematographer…so please bear with me in the below video. I’m sure our dazzling personalities will overshadow my less that stellar camera operating skills.

To get a closer look at her beautiful pendants….

Each handcrafted artisan heart pendant is created with a thoughtfully selected assortment of crystals, beads, and gems.

All pendants include Swarovski crystals, Czech glass, and freshwater pearls.

Other treasures that you may notice on your heart are abalone and other shell beads, lapis lazuli, garnet, onyx, amethyst, moonstone, hematite, peridot, rose quartz, and turquoise.

Your sparkling one-of-a-kind bauble is suspended from a Greek leather cord, and fastened with an effortless copper hook-and-eye.

I will be sure to let you know when her online boutique is up! She has already enjoyed fabulous feedback and initial success with her product launch!

I know you join me in wishing her Good Luck!