Sure, flying private isn’t getting any cheaper, but now Virgin Travel (another venture from Richard Branson) makes this luxurious manner of flying much more accessible than it used to be.  Virgin Travel helps you seamlessly request, compare, book, and buy charter flights online.  If you really want a good deal (a good deal for flying private, that is), check out the empty legs.  These are flights that are already booked one way and have to fly the other way with or without passengers. 

Happy Flying!

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It may cost $399, but the SoundDock portable digital music system from Bose is totally worth every penny if you like listening to your iPod at home, and that’s why it is my luxury pick for a LuSHHus Father’s Day gift.  (Note: I don’t have it but I do want it and I have seen it in action at my sister’s who does have it!)  The features of this little unit are unparalleled:

• it runs on a rechargeable battery or plugs into the wall
• it is quite small and has a built-in handle
• it possesses awesome sound quality
• it charges your iPod while it plays your music
• it comes with a remote
• it comes with a free travel bag when you purchase it here by June 28, 2008

For a little more ($490), you can also choose the Bose portable music package which includes the SoundDock, in-ear headphones, and a travel bag that carries your SoundDock safely and conveniently. 

I’ll add this to my LuSHHus Father’s Day Gift Guide:

Cheers!

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If you long to wear fine jewels but don’t want to pay the price, you should visit Bling Yourself.  This website rents real jewelry, watches, and other accessories (for men and women) so you can keep up with the latest trends without breaking the bank.  Bling Yourself is also a good resource for those who like to change their statement pieces often but cannot afford to own dozens and dozens of quality jewelry items. 

You will find pieces from some of the top names in jewelry at Bling Yourself; and if you really buy into this process, get a Premium Membership which entitles you to discounts and to bonus bling points.

Cheers!

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Today’s installment of LuSSHus Luxury is actually a very affordable and useful luxury and it is Collectorz.com which is a site that automatically catalogs all the books you have.  If you have more books that you count, this site is for you.  All you have to do is type or scan the ISBN into the program which then returns search results from national libraries as well as Amazon.  You select the right book and add it to your database.  As I just mentioned, scanning your books is an option and you can get a scanner at Collectorz.com.  Additional features include keeping up with loaned books, sorting and searching tools, printing book lists and more.

Check out Collectorz.com where you can catalog your books as well as your music, movies, MP3s, games, and more.

Cheers!

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For a little luxury treatment at home, try this Calming Cocoon Facial Kit from Darphin.  This set, which consists of the products used in a Darphin Spa facial and which includes enough of each product for five home facials, is available for $120.  A white leather bag holds five products and a Darphin headband.  This facial kit is the next best thing to an actual Darphin facial!

Cheers!

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The Vivre catalogue came in the mail today and in it I found today’s luxury item.  This gorgeous butterfly minaudiere is a stylish and luxurious way to carry your must-have items while you’re out on the town.  At $1140, this bag is certainly a luxury! 

Cheers!

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Welcome to a new feature here at LuSHHus.  Each season, you will find lists of five components in the categories of luxury, style, happiness, and health that will enhance your life and make it more LuSHHus than ever.  Sure these things may be over the top, but…the very next week you will find four more lists with elements of luxury, style, happiness, and health that are within reach and that will make your life equally LuSHHus.  We’ll begin this tradition with the LuSHHus Top 5 List in Luxury.  Enjoy, and, as always, your comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome and encouraged! 

This first luxury item was picked with my dear brother-in-law, UD, in mind.  When he married my twin sister, he brought to the marriage (among lots of other things!) a humongous pool table that sat right in the middle of the Living Room for quite some time (it’s gone now but don’t mention it to UD because I don’t know if he’s recovered from the loss yet.)  Well, this luxury item might have been just the answer to the what-to-do-with-the-pool-table question…it’s a pool table and dining room table in one.  And the entire line is gorgeous.  The tables convert from dining table to pool table and back again in seconds so you’ll be enjoying an after-dinner game of billiards with your digestifs in no time.  Check them out here. 

Luxury travel is, of course, a luxury.  But wouldn’t it be even more fabulously luxurious if you could plan it with relative ease and with a knowledgeable source on your side?  Well, I think you can do just that with Luxury Link.  This site, which features the finest hotels and destinations around the world, offers several ways to book trips: bid at an auction, buy the trip now, or book your vacation a la carte.  You will undoubtedly find a trip to tempt your inner traveler so head on over to Luxury Link.

Credit cards that offer frequent-flier miles or cash-back bonuses are great, but here is another reward card that is worth considering: Sotheby’s MasterCard.  If you qualify for the invitation only Sotheby’s World Elite MasterCard, you will receive free admission to top museums around the world, invitations to private events at Sotheby’s, gratis 24/7 concierge/travel consultation, and upgrades on international travel among other perks.  This sounds like quite a LuSHHus card indeed.

I have had a fascination with RV’s and the RVing lifestyle for years.  Perhaps this stems from the fact that I do not like to fly.  I do fly, though, primarily so that I can see my family as often as possible, but I admit I would rather see their smiling faces after stepping off one of these incredibly luxurious Newell Coaches than after deplaning at DFW or AUS.  These mobile mansions had to make my first LuSHHus Top 5 List in Luxury, especially in this day and age of travel that is often more a hassle than it is a pleasure.

I am completely taken with the Ivanka Trump Collection of fine jewelry.  The pieces are beautiful.  They’re timeless but far from ordinary.  Check them out here and be sure to view the photographs of her boutique in NYC.  What an elegant yet fun and modern store!

Stay tuned for the upcoming LuSHHus Top 5 Lists in Style, Happiness, and Health for Spring 2008!

Cheers,

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I want this, and, dare I say, I need it!  It’s a small, stylish, compartmentalized purse with room for your money, your coins, your business cards, your passport, AND your BlackBerry or iPhone.  I’d never have to ask my husband to hold my BB again (since none of my fun, going-out bags are big enough for my phone) if only I had this purse!  I first read about this item here at coolhunter.net.  Then I did some research and went straight to the source.  Check out this purse and other beautiful accessories here. 

Cheers, Ashley

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Just think how beautiful our dining tables would be this Spring with these finely crafted Gold Finch Napkin Rings.  There are actually four different types of bird napkin rings available at Bliss Linens.  I admit I probably want the Cardinal Napkin Rings since my husband is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan!  A set of four of any of these napkin rings costs $160. 

Cheers, Ashley

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What if you never had to pack a suitcase again?  Can you imagine the time you’d gain, the stress you’d release, and the pleasure you’d feel?  I can!  As soon as I heard about the new service called Flylite I knew I had to share it with you immediately.  This is how Flylite operates:

• The company sends you a suitcase which you fill with items you normally pack
• A courier comes to pick up your packed suitcase
• Flylite catalogs your items and creates an online closet
• You log on to your closet and choose the items you want to pack for your upcoming trip
• Flylite delivers your packed suitcase (with freshly cleaned and pressed clothes) to your hotel
• Upon your hotel checkout, Flylite picks up your suitcase, cleans your clothes, and restocks your online closet

This service costs $500 upfront which covers the cost of sending and picking up the suitcase and cataloging your clothing and other items.  Each trip thereafter incurs a fee of $100 or $200, depending on your destination.  It’s really a small price to pay for not ever packing, unpacking, carrying, checking, lugging, waiting, zipping, etc.! 

Check it out.  And Happy Luggage-Free Traveling, Ashley

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Sea Island, Georgia is where my family and I spent many summers throughout my childhood, and we had the chance to return this past weekend as part of a celebration for my mom’s 60th birthday.  A major recent renovation at The Cloister reworked the interiors and exteriors of the Main Building, Beach Club, and other locations on the island.  Despite the changes, we were able to relive many memories and cherish another special time together at Sea Island.  Everything about Sea Island is luxurious and elegant, and I think there is hardly another place I’d rather spend a vacation.

Below is a picture of my family at Sea Island.  The photo was taken this past weekend and includes husbands and sons who were making their first (but hopefully not last) trip to Sea Island. 

Sea Island is a wonderful place to create lasting memories, and, for me, these memories are one of the most important aspects of a LuSHHus life.

Cheers, Ashley

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Sure it is not necessary and it is awfully luxurious, but that is what Tuesdays are all about here at LuSHHus…luxury.  So why not treat yourself or someone you love to beautifully monogrammed pillowcases.  How fun to see your name or your initials stitched onto your bed linens.  If not for you, then this might be a fitting gift for newlyweds or even for children in order to help them keep their belongings close at hand.  No matter who is on the receiving end of the embroidered pillowcases, make sure to visit my favorite embroiderer’s website here.  Embroidery by Valerie will fabulously embroider your pillowcases and anything else!

Have a Luxurious Tuesday, Ashley

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