One of the greatest parts of any vacation is the extra time you have to yourself. For some it might be a beach-front massage, perhaps a shopping spree but for me it’s all about catching up on reading. Although I read a lot, mostly it is SEO and coding related books for the website. This week I finally had the time to finish Hal Vaughan’s Sleeping With The Enemy: Coco Chanel’s Secret War.

As an avid reader of Chanel biographies, this one is one of my favourite. The book is well written and meticulously researched. Sleeping With The Enemy focuses on the period 1941 to 1954. A time in Chanel’s life that has remained a myth for the longest time and one that is often overlooked by her biographers. Vaughan’s book discovers Chanel’s involvement with Hitler’s high-ranking officials during Paris’s occupation from 1940 to 1944.

Hello Darlings,

Just in time for sunny days and hot temperatures, I would like to kick off the pool party season with a special giveaway. When temperatures rise, sun and physical activity increases the risk of developing acne. This summer, WithLoveGabrielle.com and Clearasil want you to be acne-free all season long with a SUMMER READY PACKAGE valued at $100!

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Hello Darlings,

There are some soirees where a trusty little black dress simply won’t do. You know, one of those evenings where you want to make an impression. A few days ago there was one of those evenings in my life, attending a private party hosted by Elizabeth Arden to preview their Spring collection.

Aside from being a work related event, it was also a date night and what girl doesn’t want to dress to impress both her colleagues and her beau. Any woman can walk into a luxe designer boutique and walk out in a look from the latest collection. But when buying a new designer piece is not a realistic option, not to mention responsible...

Hello Darlings,

Blue skies, sunny days and warm waters for my Florida beach vacation! I am staying at a beach house near Tallahassee Florida for the next week.

The thing about vacations is that it is never as effortless to be chic on the beach as it looks. A girl might be wearing just a bikini and a cover-up but a lot of thought went into that ensemble. That’s the thing about effortless, it always takes effort.