lavender is ruled by mercury, and is hence a virgoan plant. this is true because of its feathery quality of leaf, and for the effect this flower has on our central nervous system. it calms us, and slows us down mentally. a recent study showed that when students sniffed pleasant scents before taking exams, their test scores were increased. that is with the exception of lavender… when students inhaled this scent, their scores was lower. here is proof positive that this little purple bud can effectively calm the monsters in our mind.

because the sacred virgin is a zodiacal worry-wart, she might benefit from prescribing herself a nightly (or lunchly, if needed) LAVENDEEP. her agile mind will become less frought with troublesome thoughts, allowing her to focus on what she does best: making money! yes it’s true dear virgo, you recently pushed pisces out of the #1 millionaire spot. more than money, what virgo seeks is perfection of craft, the lucrativity of which just happens to be a nice perk. not convinced? read on…

to prepare for my trunk show at HENRI BENDEL, i researched famous fashion designers and their zodiac signs. i could not believe how many top level virgo fashionistas there were… more than ANY OTHER SIGN! (Stephen meisel, Tom ford, Claudia Schiffer, Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, Michael kors, Anna sui, Hugo boss). these hypercritical angels are actually workaholic nazis… they possess a clarity of vision that can’t be tainted, a determination of will that can’t be swayed, and a heart of loving steel that can’t easily be won.

so, count your lucky stars if are loved by a virgo, after you pat yourself on the back first. because penciling into her agenda, or entering into her iphone, will be the following task: “mold love life into throbbing lump of steamy perfection.” so, bring on the white scarves, the four poster bed, and be careful of that halo. a trail of lavender syrup from the belly button to the pubic area would do wonders in warming this angel up. (because virgo rules this part of the body, it is a highly sensitive area to them). i can fondly tell you first hand, that in bed, virgo is no angel.

LAVENDEEP
1 oz lavender bud-infused vodka
1 oz lavender bud syrup
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
lavender water spray or rinse
lavender soda

shake all ingredients over ice and strain into champagne flute. top with lavender soda.

combine lavender bud-infused vodka, lavender bud syrup, lemon juice and shake over ice. prepare champagne flute with rinse of lavender water, or mist inside of glass with lavender water spray. strain into lavender-misted / lavender-rinsed flute and top with fair amount of lavender soda. stir briefly and serve. garnish with sprig of lavender or purple flower if available.

lavender vodka:
infuse 750 ml vodka with 3 cups dried lavender buds (available at health food stores or online) allow to sit for several days and strain.

lavender syrup:
bring to boil 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup dried lavender buds and remove from heat. allow to infuse for 1/2 hour and strain. add splash vodka to act as preservative and store in fridge. note that using white sugar over raw will give a prettier pink color, while the latter will make for a darker hue.

lavender water:
available at health food stores or online. for greater control and speed, i prefer misting over rinsing of glass. transfer lavender water into small spray bottle that is dark in color and store in fridge.

i wish i saved my champagne cork so that i could participate in the DESIGN WITHIN REACH eco challenge. build a chair out of your old cork and win a chair built out of recycled materials. how awesome is that? see details below:

“Chairs will be judged by a panel of industry experts and the winning chairs will embark on a nation-wide tour. Plus, three winners will receive a Morgans Chair, from our partners at Emeco, the Pennsylvania-based furniture manufacturer. This chair, a DWR exclusive introduction, was designed by Andrée Putnam for the Morgans Hotel in New York. (The chair will be available in January.)

In the spirit of the Morgans Chair (which is made from 80% recycled materials), and in an effort to minimize the mountains of packaging waste that the contest has generated in the past, submissions must be made digitally. Submission deadline is 5pm (PT) on Friday, January 9, 2009, so start assembling your materials now. Cheers!

All entries must be received, via email, by 5pm (PT) on Friday, January 9, 2009.

Judging criteria:
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

* Craftsmanship
* Creativity
* Character
* Innovative use of materials

Prizes:

* Judge’s Pick: One Judge’s Pick winner will receive a Morgans Chair in polished aluminum (retail price: $1,330).
* Popular Vote: One Popular Vote winner will receive a Morgans Chair white powder coat (retail price: $765). Winner of this award will be selected by an online poll.
* DWR Staff Pick: One Staff Favorite winner will be selected by DWR employees and will receive a Morgans Chair in brushed aluminum (retail price: $665).
* Fifty (50) chairs will be included in a traveling exhibition showcased in DWR Studios across the country, starting with San Francisco’s Fillmore Studio on Saturday, February 7. More details to follow.”