The Alps: and a New Year's tale of speed and risk

I hired Yves, a Swiss ski instructor, to improve my intermediate skills for an hour or two. And so it was on a ski lift looking down that I saw them - the children on the black diamond slopes.

I turned to Yves. They've always amazed me -- so small but so fast, I said

Yves nodded his head in agreement.  Oh yes, children are much quicker learners than adults.  

Why is that, do you think? I asked.

Yves pushed his goggles up and replied, Unlike adults, children don't over analyze things.  Rather, they watch the instructor to get the general idea, and then they just ski intuitively -- they trust their instincts more. Also children are different than adults in that they don't worry about falling.  And when they do fall, they pick themselves up, and get on with it. They are fearless.

Hmmm....I think children might have the secret.  And it applies to more than just skiing, I said smiling.

Yves laughed.  Then he leaned towards me said conspiratorially, Yes, children do have the secret.  But shhhh.....let's tell it to all the grownups we know.  

It's a deal, I said.  And then, we were at the top of the mountain.

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Marrakech: and a tale of Christmas in Morocco or anywhere

My parents -- one from Iran and the other from New York -- weren't and aren't particularly religious. So when I was young, I didn't spend a lot of time in mosque or church. That said, growing up, Christmas was always an important holiday in my home.  My mother possesses a prodigious number of ornaments, and we loved trimming the tree. Christmas meals were always memorable and after gorging ourselves, my family and I sometimes headed to midnight mass at the Unitarian church down the street -- mostly to steep ourselves in the candle light and singing. 

It's easy to forget about Christmas in Marrakech, especially if one runs a little inn, like we do.  It's high season, after all, and travellers are flocking to the red city.  But -- although it makes lousy business sense -- we are closed at Peacock Pavilions. Because, after all, some things are more important than business.  

So I'm wishing you a very happy holiday season from France {and Switzerland}.  We're here with our best friends and our collective passle of children.  We'll be heading to Verbier to ski, drink too much egg nog, and generally make merry.  

It feels like Christmas.  

{And lest you think I have forgotten the Christmas spirit, Moroccan-style, I sourced hundreds of Moroccan lanterns for the holiday windows in all of Tory Burch's stores.  Pass by and take a peek, if there's a store near you. I think they look very festive:-)}

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Marrakech: and a tale of an Indian pop up dinner at the Four Seasons

It was an Indian pop up dinner at the Four Seasons in Marrakech....
Drama?  Yes.....

We walked under those majestic palms to arrive at windows all aglow.  
A personal gin & tonic bar awaited us.  Oh!

My drink was, well, perfect.

In the room next door was a scene that looked like a fantastical Bollywood film (with a Moroccan touch)....

Past the dancing girls we went, and we were seated.  For dinner.....

We ate and ate and ate....

......the shrimp, the curries, the biriyani, the nan, the chutneys..... It was all so very delicious.

Later, much later, the girls were still dancing when we left....

Perhaps that explained the smiling faces....

Not to be missed:  the pop up dinners at the Four Seasons Marrakech  Check availability because now you see them...

                        now you don't.....

Marrakech: and a tale of Raven & Lily -- gifts with heart

I looked in my closet for something to wear.  Something beautiful, something made by hand, something timeless. I chose a dress, almost a hundred years old, a symbol of care, of agelessness,  of attention to detail.  But more than that, a dress with a story.

I chose this dress to wear with my Raven & Lily jewelry because every Raven & Lily necklace or bracelet has a story, too.  A compelling story, a worthwhile story, a story of sadness and of hope.  

In September, Raven & Lily shot their Spring catalogue at my place in Marrakech, Peacock Pavilions.  Last month, they asked me to join a group of fantastic women in styling my favorite pieces of Raven & Lily jewelry.  And since I've been teaching my 13 year old son, Tristan, how to take pictures, I hired him (for a song!) for the shoot.  

The Eden bracelet and Amleset necklace are handmade from melted bullet casings by HIV-positive women in Ethiopia.

Because beauty, oh, beauty is lovely...
but goodness, yes, Goodness, is even better.  

Every Raven & Lily purchase you make gives directly back to these women.  See my favorite pieces RIGHT HERE. And for the next 2 weeks you can save 25% on all your purchases with the code RALMARYAM.  Just in the nick of time for Christmas!

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