OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELD

Secret Sea Cove, Half Moon Bay, California

Today I'm inspired by the Outstanding in the field initiative. This initiative started to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. Outstanding in the Field is a roving culinary adventure – literally a restaurant without walls. Since 1999 OITF sets the long table at farms or gardens, on mountain tops or in sea caves, on islands or at ranches. Occasionally the table is set indoors: a beautiful refurbished barn, a cool greenhouse or a stately museum. Wherever the location, the consistent theme of each dinner is to honor the people whose good work brings nourishment to the table.Ingredients for the meal are almost all local (sometimes sourced within inches of your seat at the table!) and generally prepared by a celebrated chef of the region.
Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE?

Munson Farm Boulder Colorado

For more incredible images, please check out the Outstanding in the field blog here.

images via Notcot

GUEST POST FROM GYPSY*DIARIES

Hey you all! Here's Gabby from Gypsy*Diaries. Lise asked me to entertain you while she’s enjoying the sunny side with chilled cocktails, delicious tapas and latin nights and I’m really excited to be guest blogging at Urban Style Vibes*!

My best friend Sophie sent me an email the other day with her itinerary for her around the world tour. She’s been saving up for a few years and now she is finally making her dream come true. I can’t say I’m not (SUPER!!!) jealous but her itinerary made me think of my possible world tour as well. Where would I go? What would I do have I been granted the time and money?

1.     New York – because I’m dying to go for ages!

2.     Mexico – because I wanna swim with dolphins and dive with sharks

3.     Rio de Janiero – because everyone needs to see the real carnival at least once

4.     Buenos Aires – because I wanna dance tango in a late night shack

5.     Sydney – because I wanna learn how to surf

6.     Bali – Because I can already smell the flowers (And yeah… I loved Eat Pray Love! J)

7.     Singapore – because this is where east meets west, culture meets technology

8.     Japan – because I wanna sing karaoke at the source

9.     Dubai – because I wanna see what man can make out of sand dunes

10.  India – because after all these travelling I will need to relax and reflect on my life

How about you? Fancy a trip around the world? Where would you go? J

Safe travels Lise! 


Visit Gabby's lovely blog here:

www.gypsy-diaries.blogspot.com

BLOG-CATION

My dear 'huns'. I'm taking a little break, a so called 'Blog-cation'. Today I'm traveling with my Mr. to Malaga in Spain. We will enjoy a relaxed weekend with friends who have moved to this sunny place. I'm so looking forward to this because I'm really tired after a pretty busy week. Anyway I won't leave you alone in the meantime. I'll be back early next week and in between I will have a lovely guest post for you. And of course I will give you and extensive update on my travels when I return. I wish you all a wonderful weekend. I hope you will enjoy it to the max! XO Lise M.

PS. Thank you so much for all your sweet comments and e-mails! I love to hear from you!

MEXICO BOUND

If you don't mind I take you on a trip to Mexico today. This is the Be Tulum Hotel.While being a haven of relaxation, the resort is the place to be for the region’s creative scene. Establishing a community of locals and guests is very important to Argentinean-born Sas brothers – the co-owners of the Be Hotel group. Their reputation as Cordoba’s preeminent event organizers becomes evident in the hotel’s celebrated restaurant and in the rooftop bar where like-minded people come together to enjoy the laid-back ambiance.


Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE? 

Be Tulum’s twenty spacious suites are housed in five buildings sharing a contemporary, minimalist design mix of local limestone, warm Brazilian wood and bold Bisazza mosaic tiles. Ground floor suites are equipped with a private pool and terrace, while upper floors offer free-standing Jacuzzi tubs and balconies.  


Q. DO YOU LIKE THIS DESIGN STYLE?

via: Design Hotels

2 GIVE-AWAYS!!

Good Morning my friends. Happy new week! How are you? Today I'd like to kick-off your new week with 2 give-aways. These give-aways are from Blogcouture, the lovely new webshop from Gabby who will do a guest post next week here on Urban Style Vibes* while I'm traveling to Malaga, Spain.

What can you win?

Today you can choose between 2 give-aways: 1. The I heart my blog tote bag(image above) or the Modern blog T-shirt size M (image below).

How to apply for this give-aways:

1. Leave a comment below and tell which give-away you would like to win

2. Follow Urban Style Vibes* (who will be follower #100???)

The winner will be anounced on 1 November 2010

And the winner is...

The winner of the last book give-away is Jessica. Please send me an e-mail with your contact details and you will receive the book asap.

images via: Blogcouture

BECOME A GUEST EDITOR

My sweethearts, how are you today? I'll be off by the end of next week for a travel break to Malaga! Later this week I will tell you more about my travel plans for the coming weeks. Would you like to do a guest post on Urban Style Vibes* next week? Please send me an e-mail @ urbanstylevibes at hotmail dot com. or leave a comment below. Thank you so much!!!

BOOK SMART:5 FALL FAVOURITES

And finally here's the weekend. What a week. Do you have any plans? I would love to stay at home in bed to read, read, read. We will visit my family today but tomorrow I will be at home to relax and read. Below I've listed my fall favourites that I just bought via Amazon. I think this is just the essential reading list for the coming months but there are so many cool interior design books. I'd love to read them all but so many books, so little time.... Do you know that feeling?
Q. WHAT DO YOU READ AT THIS MOMENT? ANY SUGESTIONS TO COMPLETE MY READING LIST?
PS. I love the kids room above. So stylish with that world map wall.
1. Room for Children: Stylish Spaces for Sleep and Play

2. Interiors Now! (International Showdown)Apartment 

3. ApartmentTherapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces

4. The Nest Home Design Handbook: Simple ways to decorate, organize, and personalize your place

5. Pattern

 

You can order these books on Amazon if you’d like. I’m an Amazon affiliate and earn 6% on all books sold.

MOLESKINE FOR IPHONE

Today I'd like to treat you with some big news from Moleskine. You know I'm addicted to their notebooks. I use it every day and I can't do one day without it in my work in the corporate world. But guess what, they just launched Moleskine Folio iPhone Cover. These covers are in the classic Moleskine notebook style with sleek rounded corners, a strong elastic band, and the legendary smooth black cover. Inside there is a protective suede lining and a notebook with plain pages. I think I will pre-order one for my Samsung Galaxy phone.
Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS IDEA?

ALOFT HOTELS

Aloft Hotel Dallas

Hi sweeties, how are you? Any plans for a new trip? Maybe you should try the Aloft Hotels. This hotel chain has been termed the 'Ipod' of hotels and I must admit it's charm will not dissapoint. The Aloft is the sister of the famous and gorgeous W hotels. These hotels are a real treat for the eye and I just discovered that Wallpaper magazine rated this hotel as one of the best business hotels 2010. They have hotels located in the USA, Asia and in Europe so wherever you go this might be your next destination:-)

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS HOTEL CHAIN?

Aloft Beijing

images: Aloft

PIET BOON VILLA'S BONAIRE

Although I'm dreaming of summer it's getting chilly cold here in Holland. Wouldn't this be a perfect day to take a plane to the sunny island of Bonaire? Dutch Designer Piet Boon reconstructed 8 private villa's on this lovely island. You can rent them for a week. Each villa has room for 6-8 persons so this could be a lovely place to spent a week with your family and friends. Click here for more info and prices.
Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STYLE?

A dining room with a view:-)

I just love this kithchen with the natural colors and stunning grey shutters!

I would love to lay down on one of these gorgeous beach beds. What do you think?

via: Piet Boon Bonaire