What to see: The Princess Diaries
What to rent: Vatel (w/ Uma Thurman)
What not to rent: The Mexican
What to wear: Pearl encrusted dickies
What to hair: Long highlighted bangs
What to make-up: Sagebrush eyeshadow
What to read: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
by Michael Chabon
What to listen to: Tranceport by Paul Oakenfold
What to nail: Poshe top coat (makes manicures
last 2 extra weeks!)
What to make: Chocolate chip banana bread
Color of the moment: Soft Plum

"I use to blow my money on decadent dinners but now I put those funds towards working out with a personal trainer. I spend a lot less and look a hell of a lot better!"

Candace Q., Hoboken, NJ

What is this world coming to? The U.N. has asked Angelina Jolie to be a Goodwill Ambassador thus joining the ranks of other celebrities who have been given this honor (like ex-Spice girl Geri Halliwell). Uggh.

Jennifer Lopez is rumored to be engaged to her back-up dancer and now Julia Roberts is entagled with a married cameraman. Perhaps these superstars like to be solo in the spotlight?

Offer good through September 1, 2001
ZENDO URBAN RETREAT IN SF: 415-901-1052

Get two or more spa or salon services and ZENDO will throw in one additional service of your choice*, per party ABSOLUTELY FREE.* Some restrictions may apply. Mention Splendora when booking and bring in a copy of this email and present upon check-in.

** BEYOND THE VELVET ROPE **

I have a confession to make: I like to shake my groove thing, shake my groove thing, yeah yeah. Unfortunately the venues suited to this behavior are packed with bright-eyed 19 yr-old hardbodies (kryptonite to a thirtysomething couch potato like myself). I am a grown up, which means I no longer have the energy to indiscriminately guzzle down mixed drinks all night, every night. I do not engage in flirty banter with a doorman in order to gain access into the latest nightspot. I am civilized. I am sophisticated. I belong to a book club.

I have replaced the 'Cabbage Patch' with heated discussions about Fielding, as well as Faulkner, and I have drunk enough wine in the process to support a small village in the Rhone Valley. It is said that one's perception is shaped by one's interests (actually, I just made that up) so it came as a welcome surprise that as soon as I joined a book club I started noticing that most of my girlfriends belong to book clubs too. Being the theorizer that I am, I hurriedly jumped the conclusion that this book club thing is a new trend. I shared this brilliance with a friend who laughed in my face and accused me of constantly turning whatever I'm involved in into the next trend (case in point: guess what color eyeshadow I'm wearing today?).

Please, please help me prove him wrong and let me know if YOU or anyone you know is in a book club. Like most people, I love to gloat. I have a special 'I told you' so dance that I'm working on.