Part II: Strawberry Papaya or Pink Lady?

Girls' lunch at Bergdorf Goodman

Looking for "Strawberry Payapya" Part I? Click here.

Walking into Bergdorf Goodman after so many years was a girl’s fantasy come true. The beautifully appointed store was like an art gallery of all things fashion and beauty. In every department, the attention to detail in the displays, the merchandising, the svelte, perfectly groomed sales staff, spoke of quality and luxury.

In addition to the restaurant, the store’s top floor houses a children's department, housewares, antiques and estate jewelry. The elegant hostess invited us to have a drink of champagne at the bar or have a look around, as our table was not quite ready. We waltzed over to the estate jewelry. A handsome older customer pointed out a pair of vintage opalescent and rose-gold earrings priced at the equivalent of a new Mercedes and asked me, “Are these not the sweetest, most darling little earrings you’ve ever seen? Are you buying them?”

Part I: Strawberry Papaya or Pink Lady?

The Plaza New York

Growing up in Eastern Canada, I considered autumn one of the most beautiful times of the year. Trees with leaves turning shades of red, amber and gold lining the city streets. The crisp air and people walking at a slightly brisker pace, clad in shades of grey, camel and black, with cashmere scarves wrapped tightly around their necks. The food shops filled to the brim with displays of all things fall: pumpkins, gourds, pears, pomegranates and apples. The fond memory of climbing trees at our favorite orchard to pick MacIntosh apples to take home for baking pies.

Despite my love affair with the magical island of Maui, there are days when I miss those simple familiar fall rituals. When I lived in Canada, I used to start my day with a strong cup of coffee and a crisp apple cut into wedges. Since moving to Maui, I've made a steady diet of strawberry papaya for breakfast. Considered to be the sweetest, most flavorful of all papayas, this salmon-red fruit is a great source of vitamin C and A. But an unchanging diet, of anything, no matter how delicious, can become monotonous, and recently I have felt something lacking.

French & Vanilla on the Island of Taha’a

Taha'a fiord

Tahiti has always been my dream destination, my imagination sparked in my youth by the romance of James Michener's novel, Hawaii, and one of my all-time favourite movies, South Pacific. I have always planned to sail, fly or swim there, if necessary, but somehow the decades passed and I never got there—until I moved to Maui, putting Tahiti a mere five hours away by plane.

When I recently discovered that the Paul Gauguin luxury cruise line was offering special discounted fares for Hawaiian residents on its cruises to Tahiti, I knew my time had finally arrived! A couple of phone calls, some online research and the entire trip was booked—with plenty of time to identify “the best of” everything: the best hotels, the best restaurants, the best beaches … even the best stops for washroom breaks.

The Wedding Dress Message

An excerpt from my upcoming memoir

Lace is the quintessential romantic fabric. To my delight, Italian designers are celebrating lace in their new summer and fall collections. The girly side of me is thrilled to see this feminine nod to structural and classic jackets, sweaters and dresses. Even this season's lingerie has stepped it up to add lace upon lace.

Despite my love affair with fashion, living in Maui has limited my opportunities to wear all my beautiful clothes. Flip flops and a cotton sundress seem to work everywhere on the island. On occasion, I can't resist donning a real dress or a pair of European shoes and heading for Safeway—the place, as everyone knows, to proudly show off the latest fashions, especially in the freezer isle where a shearling or puffy winter jacket helps stave off hypothermia!

On my third day in Firenze, as I stroll the main piazza, I spot a familiar shop sporting a 60% to 70%-off sale sign in the window. Why not take a quick peek? I think, although finding something in my small size is a bit of a challenge in the land of pasta and pizza and all things that start with the letter "p."