The Perfect Percentage

What's your perfect percentage? For a fun little party game or after-dinner activity, set out chocolate from lowest to highest concentration of cocoa. You may want to start lower than we did here -- we're in Switzerland and eat our chocolate dark. The night we did this, there were three of us, two Americans and a guy from Cameroon. He said in Cameroon most people like milk chocolate, like in the US.
We liked different percentages. The 74% bar became his, 72% was my favorite and Amy liked a tiny little bit less, I think. I find 69% - 72% is my acceptable level, unless there are add-ins like good toasted hazelnuts, chopped coffee beans or cocoa nibs. Then I'm a little more flexible. Good luck finding your own perfect percentage! Have fun!

Cool stuff from Kodak Gallery

What do you get for people who have everything? Something with a picture on it!

I'm hooked on Kodak Gallery -- the prices are affordable, the quality of their products consistently high and I've even had a fantastic customer service experience.

That last point is remarkable because for me a fantastic customer service experience sounds like this, "We'd be happy to process that refund for you. It'll just take (a few minutes to a few days acceptable here) to post to your credit card account. Thank you for your business; we hope you'll be back again."

These are playing cards with a photo of my Mom breaking spontaneously into her Julie Andrews routine in Wengen, Switzerland. They're very thick, heavy cards and the photo is crystal clear -- I was pleasantly surprised when I visited her this summer and saw them for the first time. As you can imagine, I am not a frequently pleasantly surprised consumer, so when I say they're good, they're good. Of course, she loved the photo!

They were around $20, but they also double as a great souvenir! Kodak Gallery always has free shipping or 20 - 30% off specials going on, too.

Travel for Free

Lately all the sudden I'm getting offered free travel. FREE TRAVEL. This makes me so happy I could jump up and down and cry at the same time. I don't. Instead, I consider my options and choose the trips I really want to go on. Here are some of the ways this has happened, in the form of my

TOP FIVE RECENT WAYS I'VE BEEN OFFERED TRAVEL

1. volunteer for your alma mater I conduct admissions intrviews for my alma mater in the US and they've asked if I'd go for a few hours to a college fair over near Geneva, all expenses paid. You bet I will! I loooove the school, the area over on the lake and hotel rooms. I'm there.

2. volunteer to work on peoples' web sites I surf the Web a lot and ran across two brothers who need help updating their site. In exchange, they'll offer a week-long stay in a villa in Tuscany. They're Brits who live there. I didn't make that up and I'm not telling you the site til after I go.

3. request training Many companies would love for their employees to develop or hone their skills and knowledge. Many trainings are held out of town. Ask or offer to go. Even find trainings that would be useful for your department or position.

4. find work in other cities This may seem routine if you're already a business traveller, the trick then may be to keep it fun. If you work as a contractor or freelancer, nothing is keeping you in your little locale. Large corporate clients are so used to paying business travel expenses, if you're good this is not even a stretch. Make sure you're good, though, so you'll get invited back.

5. offer to help a friend Whatever you're good at, whether it's throwing parties or designing store displayes or IT support... offer to help a friend in exchange for room, board, transportation, whatever.

Oh, the places you'll go!

A day at Lavey-les-Bains

Near the famous waters of Evian, France you can probably afford three (24 Swiss francs) or four hours at Lavey-les Bains. Locals say the words lovingly, as in, "Ooooooooooooh, you're going to Lavey-les-Bains? Today? Maybe I'll drop everything and come along..." Remarkably, it wasn't crowded when my friend Amy and I were there in the middle of the day in July.

I don't normally like pools, especially where lots of people go. They kind of creep me out. Not Lavey-les-Bains. This was fine, and I mean like a fine thing, fine. There are several pools, jets in a row shooting out of the pool wall at different heights... there's a system... people walk along in a row to get the full massage effect. There are turkish baths and nordic saunas all included in the price. Massages are separate, and I didn't feel I needed one. Our muscles were loose and limp like spaghetti afterward and all we wanted to do was sleep.

a drink at the Principe Leopoldo overlooking Lake Lugano

I write this Web site because I've been working part-time 32 weeks a year on a teacher's salary and living like a Queen. Ok, not really like a Queen, but I go places and see things and meet people as if I am very, very rich. So often I think to myself, "Life is good." or "Wow! It is so beautiful here!" or "This is so good!" I just have to share. London, Mykonos, Paris, Lugano, Zurich, Boulder, the beaches of Florida, all over Italy... anyone could do this, definitely including you.

Here's a perfect example. Tonight I called my friend, Alesia, to see if she wanted to grab dinner. She said first she wanted to have a drink at the Principe Leopoldo (I think she did this because she knows I want to sing in the piano bar there. I noticed she only had water.). By the way, the top photo above is the promotional photo from the hotel; this is the shot I snapped while seated in my chair!

Now, the Principe Leopoldo is just down the street from our houses, but it is such a fine hotel that only very rich people know about it. It is beautiful. There are no words for this, really, but "luxury" and "understated elegance" come to mind.

We sat at the table just in front of that fountain (above); it's designed so it looks like it's spilling into Lake Lugano far below.

Now, you wouldn't want to pay for dinner there, perhaps, but anyone can afford the glass of prosecco and bottle of water we had. It even comes with free bar snacks! The view and ambience alone were worth what we paid -- 25 Swiss francs, about $20 US, including the far too large tip I left because it was the only coin I had. Plus, I was feeling flush.

We headed down the hill to the BP gas station, one of Lugano's best kept secrets, for dinner.

Next week's tips and tricks: 5 ways to get free travel

Cheeseburger in Paradise

In 1978 Jimmy Buffett's Son of a Son of a sailor album featured a song called Cheeseburger in Paradise. He says it's about a place in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands... I've heard it's about a great place I've been on Cabbage Key, Florida. No matter. The point is this: all up and down the Florida coast there are still these little untouched, old, wooden-shack burger joints. You can drive your boat up to most of them and get some of the best fried fish sandwhiches or made-to-order burgers you've ever had. You may have to fight off the seagulls, but if you sing the song loudly enough between bites you shouldn't have too much of a problem.

My Mom and Dad, Stefan and I made an afternoon of it recently, lunching at the New Pass Grill... and then visiting the Mote Marine Aquarium. You know how cops always know the best local places to eat? A group in uniform pulled their boat up to the dock while we were there.



This guy hung around nearby for a while then got up the nerve to walk right through all the picnic tables to pick through the garbage can. He was gettin' himself a little Cheeseburger in Paradise,too!

Mote isn't fancy like Sea World -- it's the real thing. Adults - $15, Children 4 - 12 - $10 Stefan got beautiful photos:


The two dolphins were rescued after they'd beached themselves -- separately, not together. One was younger and wanting to play soooooooo badly. She finally gave up on getting him to play and swam across the pool and brought back right in front of all the visitors a hula hoop. Then she swam around knocking it up in the air and hitting it on every fin she had. She was having a grand time.

For a fine, cheap day in Sarasota spend the morning at Mote, lunch on Cheeseburgers in Paradise at the New Pass Grill then head back out onto the water or the beach!

On the subject of radio...

Should you find yourself in Boulder, Colorado another Fine Thing You Can Probably Afford is a taping of the radio show, ETown. ETown is an old-style variety show, featuring some of today's best musical artists alongside recipient's of the weekly E-Chievement awards, honoring listener-nominated people who are making a difference in communities coast-to-coast and worldwide.

Show tapings are only $15 and offer two hours of uplifting entertainment in downtown Boulder's historic art deco Boulder Theater. Here's a schedule of upcoming events, including some shows taped in other venues around the U.S.

Great Radio Shows

Story Corps is a great idea. It's a set of mobile recording studios that travel around the country recording the stories of people from all walks of life. There's also a StoryBooth in Grand Central Station in New York City. Stories of love, inspiration, hardship, grief, gratitude -- it's all there. Sometimes they're funny, sometimes tragic, always moving and motivational. It's the best oral history project I've ever seen.

Based on a 1950s radio show, NPR's This I Believe features essays from all sorts of people. They write about their most precious values and philosophies. Anybody can send in an essay; they're just a few miutes long.

I receive the weekly podcasts for This I Believe and StoryCorps automatically and for free. You can hear this week's recordings and lots of past readings by clicking on the links (the names of the programs) above.

Listening to them always makes me think, "What story would I tell in a StoryCorps booth? What do I believe?" How about you? What stories would you tell? What do you believe?

Add this to the 10 Best List

I got this book, The 10 Best of Everything, for my fabulous German beau, Stefan, for his birthday. We're on a quest, he and I, to see just how good life can get. I thought this would be a superb guide, and it is. I recommend it. Reading this book I realize I should clarify what I mean by "Fine Things" here on this blog.

Some things that qualify as fine are downright stuffy and snobby. Some are overrated and expensive. For me, that ruins the experience. So some of my "Fine Things" may be snubbed by other connoisseurs as déclassé. So be it. I have lived in some of the most beautiful places in the world, grew up with parents who loved fine hotels and food and wine and took me to the best. But they are also great fun and down to earth and hardworking folks who appreciate sales and good values, so this list will not feature things that are fine because they are out of reach. We went to the Broadmoor but we also camped on the beach. Wild boar drank our water one night; another morning we woke with waves lapping into the tent. They're different kinds of fun.

To that end, there are a few things I'd add to the Top Ten lists in this lovely little guidebook to the best of the best. If you find yourself in the general vicinity of any of these places, I highly recommend them:

Destination and Speciality Restaurants: The Bubble Room Captiva, Florida
This place is bubble gum pink and chock full of Americana, from toy trains running through the dining room to the juke box tunes to millions of pieces of memorabilia. There are paint-by-number sets, Coca Cola ads and Christmas decorations that must be seen to be believed. Servers wear Scouting uniforms. The food is good, too. It's been years since I've visited, but I still think about the Bubble Bread.

Ice Cream: I firmly believe that Il Doge gelato in Campo Santa Margherita, Venice, Italy is much better than the world-famous Vivoli in Florence. I've tried them both numerous times over two decades just to make sure.

Also, it's just wrong to put a chain (Cold Stone Creamery) in the book for mix-ins in the ice cream when one guy invented the concept and perfected it in Massachusetts. Instead the authors should have included Herrell's Ice Cream, Northhampton, Massachusetts. When I lived in the Pioneer Valley there I loved the Chocolate Pudding ice cream with all sorts of things (especially Oreos, M&Ms get too hard when cold, in my opinion) mixed in on the cold marble slab. Yum.

I'll think of more of the best of the best as I read, I'm sure. I'll make a category here for them: Add this to the 10 best.

Happy connoisseuring! What are the best affordable things you know of?

A Day on the Castle Grounds

If you should find yourself in or around London or down south a bit in Brighton, you might want to take a brief detour and spend a day on the grounds of Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. There are cafes and a bookshop, rowboats on the lake (for an extra fee), a hedge and a water maze, a playground for the kids. It's beautiful, and the family ticket (prices listed in the brochures on the Web site linked above) makes it a great deal if you have children. I was there with friends one magnificent day in April.

Our Very Own Not-So-Antique Roadshow

Have you ever seen the show on BBC or PBS where people bring in to appraisers stuff they find in their homes and sometimes they find they've got dusty old stuff up in the attic that's worth a bloody fortune?

Well, something sort-of similar happened last night as Stefan and I discussed his move. He was going to give his dining room chairs away. I said, "At least sell them on eBay. Are they anything special?" "Yes," he said, and looked under one chair for any information he could find. He shot me an email and I started Googling, "Frederica Designed by Nanna Ditzel."

Turns out Stefan's set of six dining room chairs are Trinidad armchairs designed by Denmark's first great female designer. They won the 1995 ID prize. She died in 2005 and though the chairs are still being produced, to have a set of six armchairs in great condition is worth something. A lot, actually. Thousands of dollars. They are not going to a charity shop on Friday.

I am sorry to say my main thought about them before was, "They're sleek and pretty but don't look very comfortable." Actually, they are deceptive that way.

You may not be able to afford these fine things... but look around your place, what could stuff you no longer want pay for? One garage sale Saturday about two years ago I made $1400 off random household items.

I'm just sayin'. You never know...

Addendum: Maybe just because I was a Ms. Smartypants and posted this online, I paid a little karmic dues... I made an executive decision on Moving Day, while S was at work, to leave behind a chair that looked old and kind-of beat up. Then I saw it in Nate Berkus's new Manhattan apartment featured in O at home magazine! Turns out Stefan inheritad an original mid-century modern Bertoia chair... WHOOPS! The good news for you is that you can buy new chairs just like Nate's quite affordably. I found a couple on eBay for less than $100.

Bufalini ed espressi

Fine things are where you find them, and sometimes I find mine on the autostrada (highway). This is another fine thing I was led to by a Galloni, but Stefan reminded me of it a few years later.

Whenever we're on the autostrada in Italy, we stop into an Autogrill for a grilled Bufalino sandwich (I like the Gran Provolo, too) and espressi. Some of these roadside stops also have fine pasta and salad bars. On the way from Torino to Milano last year I had a great three-pasta plate with different hot sauces made while I waited.

Oh, and these you can definitely afford! 3 Euros 70, I think, for a Bufalino. Two weeks ago Stefan and I got big, crusty croissants filled with crema (vanilla custard) straight out of the oven.

Fine, fine things all...

Residenze l'Ulivo

I think maybe I shouldn't tell you what I'm about to because you might all rush the place and it will no longer be free when I am ready to visit again. Our family friend, Mrs. Galloni, told my mother who told me about the apartments behind the Villa Serbelloni, one of the loveliest fine hotels I've visited. I am fortunate to have grown up with parents who love fine hotels. They've taken me to The Breakers, The Broadmoor, The Sherry Netherland. In my opinion, none compare to the Villa Serbelloni. The secret fine thing you can probably afford, though, is what makes the Villa even better: they have these apartments over the fitness center... complete with kitchenettes and all the amenities of the hotel... for a fraction of the cost!

They're called the Residenze l'Ulivo and come in three sizes 40, 45 or 65 metres square. The Web site says they rent only for week-long stays, but if you ask very, very nicely you can usually get a shorter booking. The lowest rate I've seen for a small unit is 130 Euros per night, making this a fantastic travel value. All of the appartments I've seen have bedrooms and then sofa beds in the living rooms, too. They're air conditioned, a rare commodity in these parts. Some have lovely views of Lake Como. They are not at all fancy, but you in your spa robe lounging by the pool or in the ornate breakfast room of the Villa hotel will be!

Honkin' diamonds are not completely out of reach

If you live near their stores, you may find their ubiquitous radio ads terribly annoying, but I love the Shane Company. That statement is remarkable for several reasons:
1. I am secretly a hippie chick. I always thought I wouldn't want diamonds; I wasn't at all into jewelry when I was younger. But when I hit 30 something happened and rows of sparkly diamonds and rubies and sapphires seem like a very good idea.
2. Even still, affinity for a chain diamond store isn't really my style.

Here's why I love The Shane Company, though, and why it made this list early: the trade-in policy.

You can take anything you bought there back for a 100% credit if you trade up -- and you only have to spend $1 more. I've done this several times and now have a fun little collection. I cannot tell you how fabulous it was to take my wedding ring in and get a bunch of new necklaces, diamond earrings... I spent hours. It was a lot of fun and didn't cost me very much money.

So get the ring you can afford now, and every year celebrate your anniversary by trading up until you never want to take that ring off your finger again! Reaffirm your commitment... every year make an investment symbolizing the relationship. Then start on the bracelets and pendants. There are great restaurants near the Westminster location -- make it a tradition! You can afford fine things!

The Chocolate Standard

I have often said that I'm not an addictive personality -- but don't dare take my chocolate and coffee! My love, affection and perhaps reliance on chocolate is so profound that when S and I had just started dating he confessed to me that one of his only concerns was that I talked about chocolate so much I would get very, very fat. Why I wouldn't have done so in the preceding 36 years I'm not sure.
I have recently tasted a chocolate bar that made me feel rich. Chocolate has done many things for me in the past, but this bar was so fine it was a whole different experience. It was a small taste of a DoMori Barrique bar. I was standing at the bottom of the stairs in my entry hall, an inauspicious place for encountering an entirely new yardstick for the quality of chocolate.

As both a chocoholic and cook, I immediately tried to guess what combination of flavors was in my mouth -- it wasn't just dark, rich (75%, as it turns out) chocolate. I tasted cinnamon. It was buttressed and enhanced by other spices, including pepper, but they were so scarce that they just made it richer; they weren't distinct flavors for me.

This particular DoMori bar came from the Manor grocery in downtown Lugano (a fine place); it sells for 6.80 Swiss francs there. That's about $5.50 for a 50g bar. I've seen them online for 2.45 GBP. For me, chocolate will never be the same.

Who needs Provence?

Can't get to Provence this summer for the lavender harvest? Grow your own! This variety grew thick along the length of my house in Moscow, Idaho. A different variety is huge in the garden of my Lugano home. You can dry it for bouquets, crush it for scented baths, put it in bottles of fine oils for gifts, make soaps or potpourri sachets. It's beautiful and will make your yard smell just like the south of France or a l'Occitane store.

Mint is also super-easy to grow, but put it in a pot away from other plants or it will grow wild like a weed and take over your yard. I have a pot on my patio with thyme and basil combined. The thyme is growing fast and I'm having to think of ways to use the basil so I can cut it before it flowers and turns bitter. Fresh herbs produce strong flavors when you cook with them right after you cut them. It feels luxurious to use them. Your dinner guests will be impressed!

Here's one idea for growing fresh herbs -- these make great gifts, too!

Cascina Grassi

It's not so secret that Stefan and I talk about, as a long term goal, refurbishing and living in a place, maybe in Italy, that's a retreat center for workshops, artists, etc. Well, his sister-in-law Bettina recently stayed in this one opened by a German couple with the same idea. It's in the Piedmont, an area renowned for its wine and food. You can rent small apartments or the whole place (up to 20 people). I'm not sure, but I bet if you rent the whole place it's pretty darned affordable -- plus it has a big kitchen so she said her group cooked big communal meals every night. With kids, they were well over 20 people and all fit. A good time was reportedly had by all!