In our farm and Buenos Aires..

Hi everyone.

Some months back my family and I made the decision to spend almost a year in Buenos Aires and in our estancia in Venado Tuerto, Santa Fé. It has been an incredible cultural experience. I am calling it my "creative sabbatical". I do miss writing in my blog and I miss sharing with you. I am waiting until I come back to Key Biscayne to get my blog up and running again. I have exciting writing plans for the near future, and I plan to reconnect with my artistic interests. In the meantime, here is a look at my present homes, all about which I will share when I arrive back in Miami at the beginning of August.

Stay tuned!

Hola a todos.

Hace unos meses, con mi familia decidimos pasar casi un año en Buenos Aires y en nuestro campo en Venado Tuerto, Santa Fé. Es mi "sabático creativo". Ha sido una experiencia cultural increible. Extraño escribir en mi blog y extraño compartir con ustedes. Estoy esperando a llegar a Key Biscayne para retomar el blog. Tengo proyectos de escribir y, más que nada, planeo reconectarme con mis intereses artísticos. Mientras tanto, les mando fotos de donde resido actualmente, lo que les voy a compartir cuando llegue a Miami al principios de Agosto. 

¡Quédense conmigo!

 My daughters, posing in the front of our house...
Love their fur-trimmed boots!!!

 Sari at the back of our house in Santa Maria de Tigre, Tigre

A view from the garden

Azul, her puppy, Miel, and the pool pet dolphin..

Kicking in style!

Azul, the tree climber. 

One of the beautiful tree lined entrances to the "casco" of the farm

 Under those leaves hide my favorite flowers: Violets!!!

 Autumn leaves, always fun

 A gorgeous sunset every afternoon

Horseback riding, and the recently incorporated motorcycle

Herds of cows... ¡Vaquitas lindas!

Riding semi - indian style 

Salvita takes tennis lessons. Future Federer.. 

Hello, Palm Beach and Key Biscayne !!

Polo - Sport of Kings in Palm Beach

During polo season, we were invited to International Polo Club Palm Beach to see a match.  Our friend Cesar Lopardo-Grana had very VIP box seats.

Friends Cesar and Pato', at our field side box 

My three children, the ponies, the players

Crossing a field, with the beautiful English-colony style cottage in the background

Afterwards, we get to feed the ponies!!

Fashion's Night In

Three girls, one gorgeous boat house in Key Biscayne, and a lot of fashion talk. What could be more perfect? Caro Murciano told us all about her trendy and original Pajama pants line Lala, which look adorable on her, and Clara Lago updated us on her already internationally successful, up-and-coming brand, Pitusa, which I LOVE to wear.

Beautiful british-born Clara Lago, owner of fashion brand Pitusa, sporting one of her one-of-a-kind "trackies", the coolest ones I've ever seen. How to look casual and feminine? By wearing them with pink suede ballet flats and matching rose in hair. Love!

My comfy, warm, sophisticated Pitusa shawl, with the cool neon "Peace" embroidery in arabic. The feel of the pure alpaca from Peru is superior to that of cashemere and pashmina. 

Too warm and humid to be actually wearing it! I pose and look at the exotic plant hangings on the tree, do you see? 

"How cool is Caro's poncho?", says Clara. I think it's by Marni or Etro...

A very chic birthday party

Giada Baselice celebrated her birthday at her restaurant, Puntino Key Biscayne.

Giada, gracious host. Kiss kiss to the birthday girl!

Margherita, a charming and very stylish Italian. She is a ceramicist and Giada's sister-in-law. This picture reminded me of...

...a picture of my idol, german princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis

Macarena Zubiria tries on the hair piece

Caro Murciano and Mica descend from their golf cart - Key Biscayne's mobility of choice. Killer boots, Caro!!

www.internationalpoloclub.com

www.puntinokb.com

www.pitusa.uk.co

Lala pants: facebook/junkshion

Hello Miami Beach!! Panerai Presents Watch Collection at Soho House

Luxe and the Beach

Invited to a Panerai press event last Wednesday, I enjoyed the opportunity to look and try on a selection of the most distinguished, masculinely appealing models of watches in the world. The almost snobbish exclusivity Panerai ownership evokes, the vintage aesthetic of the watches, and the marine heritage of the brand, were up to par with the venue of choice: a charmingly gorgeous and woody conference room with turquoise sea views at the members-only Soho House Miami Beach. 

I am wearing an Oscar de la Renta gold necklace, an Anthropologie eyelet blouse, a white pair of skinny jeans by my friend Mariana Macias, and Diane von Furstenberg gold platform sandals, a gift from someone I admire tons... will try to have a more descriptive picture next time! 

This powerful yet spartan watch is worn by Gladiator's Russel Crowe, Victoria's Secret Heidi Klum, James Bond's Pierce Brosnam, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger...

Getting to the conference room was a challenge. The suave manager's instructions once past the lobby were "Go straight ahead and make a right..." 

This was a surprise decorated corner niche

"..Then walk to the end of the hallway..."

Looove limestone tile floors!!! 

"..Take that elevator to the second floor, then take the other elevator to the eight floor..." 

Pale blue leather upholstered paneling? Nice

The pool terrace...? Oops! Wrong floor..

Enjoying the view while finding my way back... 

"Hello there!! We were expecting you..."

Having been properly introduced to the Panerai collection, lunch was called in...

Shall we set lunch in the sitting area to the right...?

... or in the area to the left of the terrace? Equally inviting views

Well-behaved little boys get ice-cream !

Dessert, elegant and simple - like Panerai watches

Posing in front of the display of watches, which cost between $4,000 and $42,000 depending of course on the materials and craftmanship of the pieces.

Love,

sd

Luxe Road Trip with the Jaguar XJ, in Miami

Is this one for me? Ready to test drive the XJ Supersport.

I am wearing a Spring 2011 printed silk Marni blouse, black crepe J.Crew pants and Italian shoes.

 Elegance is.. The powerful and exclusive 510 horsepower Jaguar XJ Supersport

I was happy to be invited to a test drive of the new Jaguar XJ. On the last Saturday of March, at eleven a.m., I arrive at ONE Bal Harbor Resort and Spa, to be struck by Jaguar's unmistakable elegance - a lineup of ten XJs, each in a different color and model. Once greeted by one of the organizors, I was introduced to the new, sleek, sexy and modern XJ Supersport. As soon as I climbed in, it was love at first sight... I was taken by its  gorgeousness... the interior is breathtakingly beautiful, with perfect design and exquisite workmanship. 

Breakfast was served on the beautiful sea terrace, where Harrison and Shriftman girls - all clad in Prada and Chloe, I enviously note - advised me on a pair of Ray Bans courtesy of The Optical Shop of Aspen. Provided with Flip video cameras, we got into our assigned cars and onto the road.

The ten Jaguar XJs journeyed in procession northbound on I-95. All power and striking design, it was a splendid sight to see. Julian was the handsome driver (a US national soccer team member until he was injured recently, he told us), and Doug, a professional race car driver, was our guide. He pointed out the features of the car via walkie talkie. Leisurely accommodated in the back seat, which is lovely and spacious, what did I like the most? The tortoiseshell tray, and the gorgeous dashboard, which is inspired by the traditional Italian Riva boats that I like, evident in the sleek lines and wood craftmanship. 

The course led us to Boca Raton Resort and Club, where we had a seven course sushi  lunch at Morimoto and desserts at Serendipity. The best was yet to come... to drive a gold Jaguar XJ back to Miami. What can I say of the drive? I felt elegant and regal, being carried by a motor so smooth and powerful. Loved it... too much!! 

On our return, celebrity Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szohr was ready and waiting - it was her turn to have the privilege of test driving the new Jaguar XJ sedan. 

Luxury - it's in the details

 Julian, drove on our way there...

Guest scene at Boca Raton Resort and Spa's lobby

Serendipity's ice cream with chocolate fudge. Yum!

Looking relaxed as the car seat massaged my back the entire trip back from Boca, but trying to pull off an incredibly concentrated responsible-driver look. 

Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr, at Jaguar XJ's event in Miami

Be fashion inspired: Pretty or Punk?

These are the looks that are inspiring me this season, one pretty, by Isabel Marant, one a little punk, by Balmain.

Isabel Marant 

            

Balmain

So, which will it be, pretty, punk, or a little bit of both?