We all have our shopping quirks, and with only days till Christmas I'll share some of mine. I'll never brave another frantic, last-minute Best Buy crowd, but who can forget the money shot at Lord & Taylor of my boy on Santa's lap? Amidst this Yuletide bedlam, one of my...

My Monday morning started off like any other: checking my weekly forecast on Numerologist/Astrologer Cheryl Lee Terry's website. Senators, CEOs, editors, congressmen and publishers wait with bated breath for her Numerological/Astrological analysis on personal and professional matters. "Watching my former private clients debating bills on TV makes me queasy,"...

It's a name I know well: Eric Ruhalter. My husband attended Dickinson College over 20 years ago, and since then, Eric's remained a regular, witty and quirky fixture in our lives. He's that 'college friend' every spouse knows all too well -- the guy whose wild college antics are fondly...

Once in a blue moon, even the most Zen among us become panic-stricken during this economic climate. Case in point: yours truly. There are those rare days when a prolonged headstand or meditation just won't ease those pesky tensions reverberating through my body and across my mind.

A trusted...

The Obama's dinner date at Blue Hill reminded me of my own romantic night there with my husband a few weeks ago. I enjoyed my meal at this cozy, slow-food eatery -- but not my exit. My dainty Prada ankle boot heel lodged in a drain just outside the front...

When it comes to quality of life I love to swap intelligence with like-minded individuals. Fashion stylist Lulu Chen recently enticed me from my uptown digs to Organic Avenue's Lower East Side store. This particular establishment made headlines last year when health conscious Gwyneth Paltrow requested their...

I was in heaven over the weekend watching PBS's broadcast of The Powder & The Glory, a riveting program about Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein. These archrivals, whom apparently never met, spent decades one-upping each other while masterminding their respective beauty empires and lifestyle credos. What struck me is that...

As Hollywood puts the finishing touches on the Academy Awards show this Sunday, I spoke with Andrew Saffir, Founder of Cinema Society, for his take on a few of the nominees -- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk and The Wrestler.

I met...

The soothsaying Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this week, calling for six more of winter. Alas, it wasn't the news I was hoping for this Groundhog's Day.

While I relish the plush clothes and accessories of winter, it's the freezing and damp conditions I could live without. Indoors or out,...

As Obama moves into the White House, artist and yogini Sarah Tomlinson recommends a Sun yantra painting placed on the East wall of the Oval Office to cultivate success during his presidency.

"Obama is presenting the country with a wave of courage and confidence much needed by the...

Like many guilty gourmets at this time of year, my disciplined Ayurvedic diet veered drastically off course. Tempted by the sweet and savory flavors of chocolate, cheese and charcuterie, a deep inhale was in order to button my size 26 J. Brand skinny jeans. I prefer my skinny jeans to...

Though I stand only 5' 4", the near and dear know all about my affinity for high heels. Of course, I'd prefer to be taller, but my petiteness provides a perfect perch to express my femininity. And weather permitting, I'm strutting the streets of New York in my heels --...

I've heard Upper East Side ladies bemoan their dwindling cosmetic beauty enhancement budgets, while facing increased worry lines over the recession. Raven Pelan --a fiery East Village redhead can save faces, bodies and even their souls.

"I offer...

Before embarking on a Thanksgiving yoga retreat to the sacred Ananda Ashram in Monroe, New York, I spoke with fellow yogi and jewelry designer Carlos Souza about the sharp downturn in the high-end luxury market.

...