Lifestyle Blogs (2,469)

I usually do some online research before buying any products. That said, if I search for products that are available in store now, the search engine should actually show products that are... IN STORE NOW!
Not always the case, and many retailers rely on huge inventories that are shipped from remote warehouses and not all from one location. That's what I'm trying to avoid.

Many folks have become addicted to Amazon and their free delivery. I don't want to wait for many of the items I purchase. Give me something to touch and feel before I get out my debit card!

The memory foam mattress topper I wanted was not available in the local places I was shopping at and had to be ordered in. Three days shipped to my door. It was a little softer than I expected, but too much trouble to send back, wait for credit and order another.

Give me 'Brick & Mortar' before you give me debit!

Here in Denmark, we aren't big on luxury. For us, luxury is anything good! It can be sleeping in or getting a meal for free.

But, we do have luxurious hotels. Not Dubai-levels of luxury, but more of an old school kind of luxury. One such luxurious hotel is called d'Angleterre. It is one of the first deluxe hotels in the world, and it is located on Kongens Nytorv, in the heart of Copenhagen. The location is opposite Charlottenborg, the Royal Opera and Nyhavn. While its history dates back to 1755, a fire damaged it beyond repair. The current building was finished in 1795. From 1872 to 1875, the building was significantly extended and refurbished by the architects, Vilhelm Dahlerup and Georg E.W. Møller. The hotel has long been considered the most prestigious and elegant hotel in the city. Its name is French and means the "England Hotel".

The Hotel d'Angleterre re-opened in May 2013 following extensive restorations. The new d'Angleterre has 30 rooms and 60 suites. It also has a 1-star Michelin restaurant, "Marchal", led by executive chef, Andreas Bagh, a cocktail and champagne bar as well as a spa and health club.

Noteable guests, who have stayed in the hotel, are as follows: AC/DC, H.C. Andersen, Morten Andersen, Cecilia Bartoli, David Beckham, Dogukan Nas, Karen Blixen, Bono, Victor Borge, Mariah Carey, José Carreras, Helena Christensen, Sir Winston Churchill, John Cleese, Bill Clinton, Michael Davitt, Cameron Diaz, Walt Disney, Barbara Hendricks, Alfred Hitchcock, Whitney Houston, Henrik Ibsen, Julio Iglesias, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Juan Carlos I of Spain, Grace Kelly, Diana Krall, Madonna, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brigitte Nielsen, Connie Nielsen, Ozzy Osbourne, David Rockefeller, Rolling Stones, Claudia Schiffer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Justin Timberlake, U2, Lars Ulrich, Robbie Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Angus Young.

Condé Nast Traveler has included the Hotel D'Angleterre on its Gold List 2015 of the best hotels in the world.

The most expensive room is $2586 - per night! They also have a champagne bar, with champagne from 42 different houses. Price for that: Well.. You have to buy a bottle, since there is no menu as such. The cheapest bottle will set you back $115, while the most expensive one is an eye watering $7400.

The website for the hotel is:

But the thing I am doing, is attending one of their Sunday brunches. It's $96, and it is quite possibly the most lavish thing ever - it even includes oysters, caviar and a glass of champagne. If you want an extra glass of champagne, you're gonna have to pay $18 - per glass.

So I am just gonna stick with the brunch only. One glass of champagne on a Sunday afternoon is plenty!

In case you are wondering how it looks, have a look at this picture here:

At least, that is what we are told. Technically, that statement is correct. There are birds, trees, grass, air, ground, water....maybe even love too. Maybe....I suspect.

On my trip up to a pool tournament, my mind got thinking about money. And without money, one would not be able to do a whole lot. Virtually everything revolves around money. It is getting so you need to pay for water to drink...in some cases...you need to.

Now, what about that old saying, money cannot buy love.

Let me think about how love develops.

The clothes I wear cost money.
The comb I use cost money.
The soap I use cost money.
The shoes I wear cost money.
The razor I use cost money.
The car I drive cost money.
The insurance cost money.
The gas cost money.
The safe tires on it cost money.
The heat in my house cost money.
The electricity cost money.
The food I eat cost money.
The house itself cost money.
The full mouth of teeth cost money.
The haircut cost money.
The scissors cost money.

So....directly...yes...I agree....money don't buy love.

But it sure as hell facilitates in it developing.

YMMV is an abbreviation for Your Mileage May Vary. I first heard this on a car advertisement as drivers all have different habits and an aggressive driver would not get the same results as someone who wasn't.
My car has been lunging on first gear acceleration. That appears to be a common complaint as I've read it on many bulletin boards about this model. I asked my mechanic about it and he confirmed what others have said... It's part of the computer module that controls gas/air mixture and cannot be changed. It's design was to comply with government fuel consumption and pollution.
Asked if I could used additives, fuel injector cleaner or a different grade of gasoline, his response was no, leave the car alone.

On the way back from Miami yesterday, I filled with mid-grade gasoline and noticed the lunging was reduced. Not eliminated, but overall, the car ran smoother! I also noticed the mileage computer readings were higher than normal. I was getting better than the rated EPA 34 mpg that is stated for this vehicle. Traffic was moderate and I maintained the 65mph speed limit.
So it's true... your mileage may vary...

It's the start of the season. Trucks used to transport cars are offloading vehicles at many of the country club communities around here. Luxury cars they are!
Rather than driving for 2 days with mileage and hotel along the way, these snow birds choose to catch a jet while their cars get dropped off saving thousands of miles.
I'm seeking all kinds of cars... but BMW, Lexis and Mercedes seem to be their favorites.

Yes... They are coming to South Florida by the truckloads...

....have even seen it in my own neighborhood. When we got this tiny coastal home, some three decades ago, then as a summer home, our neighbors typically were self sufficient working class. Indeed, that was a big attraction to our proletarian sensibilities and backgrounds. But thanks to the rapid growth in wealth inequality, and an estate agent class willing to exploit such, our neighbors are now typically very well heeled, with attitudes to match. Long ago, folks here did much for themselves. House maintenance, sewing clothes, gardening and "putting up" food for winter,--- even their own roofing, plumbing and electrical work. Most newbies couldn't swing a hammer, or turn a wrench, if their lives depended on it, which incidentally may happen in our lifetimes. Often, the new arrivals hail from Manhattan, or Californicateya, bought a bungalow/rent control place after the War for peanuts, and sold it more recently for the obscenely big bucks, with which ocean property here can be had for much less. Added benefit, escape from the deterioration in quality of life in the old haunts, with recent democrat led demographic shifts. And it all sems to be a worldwide phenomenon, with local cultural nuanced differences, with realtors still very much in tow, but also abbetted by Air B'n B and Uber. Hopeless, but perhaps not serious.

if someone makes your life easier cherish this...!


ooo

...and are there definite downsides of such? Years ago, any mono millionaire here in the beloved USA, indeed anyone with $100 large clear, no debt, their own home, a car, and caring for the family needs---hopefully also having a charitable side---was often thought of as rich. But with books like the millionaire next door, things have changed. Earn more than this amount yearly, and living in a modest country home in Iowa, and you were likely to be thought of as a fat cat. Not so in Maanhattan, and many parts of CA and NJ, esp. today. Many grounded folks try to follow the concept of "enough" here. Present company included. And the downsides of great wealth? Many might see this as oxymoronic. But I know of many examples.

Of course if you believe in God.

With that aside, what do you think? Are some people just so special/influential/inspiring/moving...

I think some musicians are that.

I have been listening to a lot of Shakira's music lately...not even sure why...I cannot even understand the language most of her music is in...and it is just amazing.

Good Thursday/Friday all.

It's so quiet as though the rest of the international blogging community at CS has taken a vacation.

All things being equal, I worked from 10 to 10. Client meetings, placing orders and pricing a few new jobs.

Salmon dinner made me forget how much my feet hurt.