Just 30 minutes up the canyon from Salt Lake City, Deer Valley is a skier’s paradise.  Perfectly groomed trails, limited crowds, delicious food, lots of amenities and an excellent ski school, it’s a great place to splurge on a family ski trip.

Their Children’s Ski School is top notch and their private lesson staff is an added bonus. Note that Deer Valley does not allow snowboarders, which some may appreciate or dislike.  Personally we love this.

There are lots of lodging options from hotel rooms and lodge rooms to condos and mountain homes.  Best lodging option is a mountain home rental with ski-in and ski-out access, but you have to be comfortable with the steep prices ($3K+/night).  But there are certainly more economical options.

And certainly if you are a double black diamond skiier, you might want to avoid this resort and save 30%, but for families with a range of skills, this is perfect.

Indulge in the plush luxury of Angela Adams’ Wool Rug Collections.

Traditional hand-tufted wool rugs with a modern twist. Made with 100% New Zealand wool. Angela Adams’ rugs are RUGMARK certified. RUGMARK is an international nonprofit organization devoted to building schools, programs and opportunities that give children back their childhoods by ending child labor in the handmade carpet industry in South Asia. The RUGMARK label is your best assurance that no illegal child labor was employed to manufacture a carpet or rug.

Angela Adams also makes a great collection of trays, which we love of course.

Evolving from its beginnings as Earth Organic Baby Basics, Kate Quinn Organics was launched in July 2006. Featuring stylish apparel made from the finest 100% certified organic fabrics, Kate Quinn Organics strives to care for the earth and its community. Their pieces are fun and stylish and most importantly uber-comfty. 

We love their jumpsuits. Their Long Sleeved Kimono Jump Suit  and Organic Baby Bunting so soft and warm.

The ancient civilizations of Central and South America with their man-made wonders such as Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza provide fascinating glimpses into the pre-Columbian past.  We love Yampu Latin America Tours who are a great resource to guide you to these and other historic sites.

The experienced tour operator (formerly known as Kontiki) has mapped out several new itineraries for 2009. Its Three New Wonders of the World trip, a 14-day journey, features explorations of Chichen Itza, the former Mayan capital in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula; the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu (above) in Peru; and the Christ the Redeemer Statue that looms over Rio de Janeiro.

We love their Culinary Tour of Peru, a gastronomic traveller’s delight. The nine-day adventure includes visits to a remote potato-growing village in the Andes; the salt pans, or salineras, of Maras; and a private cooking lesson in novoandino, a fusion of Peruvian and international cuisine.

They also offer an 8 day Jungle Survival trip, filled with swimming with pink dolphins, visiting native villages and canoeing along tranquil rivers or isolating into the wilderness and finding your own sources of food, water, shelter as well as learning how to construct transport means, weapons and fire. Fun for your Survivor fans.

Graeme Black’s sophisticated Spring 2009 collection graced the London catwalk to a soundtrack of seagulls and breaking waves.  The collection’s inspiration came directly from la mer (think Scottish coast not Malibu sand) - rope coiled on old fishing boats, mercury seas, sculptural rock stacks.

Black seemed to love the silhouette of a blouse over pencil skirt that cropped up a few times. So did doubled gowns, where a sail of fabric floated over a body-hugging column.

A truly beautiful collection -  the essence of modern luxury.

The former Ferragamo designer has an unmistakable level of craftsmanship.  The stiffness in his clothing is apparant, even with a white ruffle on a jacket pocket or cascading around the back of a blouse. He manages to create moveable and soft structure that is still wearable.

Photos: Style

I am officially in love with Scottsdale based Babycakes.

These elegant and practical gifts for mother-to-be and baby are exquisitely made.

Included in each cake are a variety of baby garments, blankets, playtime toys and mementos for Mom. Heirloom treasures - Tiffany spoon, Jay Strongwater booties, Limoge box or cuddly bear top off the cakes.

Founder, Hilary Rubin, entrepreneur, real estate developer and mother of two boys has lovely taste.

Available in 3, 2 and 1 tiered cakes and shipped everywhere.

Thank goodness they’re not edible, or we’d all need to detox.