With Pierres Caraïbes, you can borrow luxuries fit for French kings: one, two or even five bedroom villas on the oceanfront; pools cascading into your view of the ocean; architecture uniquely sprawled over acres of lush beachfront lands; cathedral interiors tastefully decorated and furnished; sublime and spectacular vistas ready for print on postcards.

There’s no other way to see the beauty of the world’s only island to be split between two nations – St. Martin being the French side and St. Maarten the Dutch. With over 30 spectacular beaches, this tinyand friendly Caribbean island can become your personal playground when Pierres Caraïbes introduces you its perfection. www.pierrescaraibes.com

1. Mariah Carey wearing a vintage Le Vian ‘Through the Centuries’ bracelet to the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA.
2. Portia de Rossi wearing an Amrapali cuff and Alwand Vahan earrings to the Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Hyatt Center Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on March 13, 2010.
3. Hillary Scott, the three-time ACM Award-winning singer from Lady Antebellum, wearing Sutra Jewels to the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.
4. Jada Pinkett-Smith wearing Amrapali gold earrings to the Annual Red Cross of Santa Monica’s Annual ‘Red Tie Affair’ at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel on April 17, 2010 in Santa Monica, CA.
5. Actress Perry Reeves wearing Le Vian earrings to Oscar after-parties.
6. Malin Akerman wearing Yvel pearl earrings to Oscar after-parties.
7. Rihanna wearing a Sutra Jewels diamond ring to the Nickelodeon’s 23rd Annual Kids’ Choice Awards, held at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA.
8. ‘Glee’ actress Jessica Gilsig wearing Alwand Vahan earrings, bracelets and ring to the 12th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 25, 2010 in Beverly Hills, CA.
9. Katy Perry wearing a Carrera y Carrera peacock ring to the Nickelodeon’s 23rd Annual Kids’ Choice Awards, held at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA.
10. Kim Kardashian wearing an Amrapali gold tiger bangle with diamonds, an Amrapali gold snake bracelet with rubies and rose cut bangles to the debut of her new signature scent at Sephora on February 4, 2010 in Miami Beach, FL.
11. Actress Kristen Bell wearing Mimi So peach sapphire earrings in 18k yellow gold to the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.
12. Access Hollywood’s Maria Menounos wearing Sutra earrings to Oscar after-parties.
13. Actress Kate Beckinsale wearing Amrapali diamond starburst earrings to the Tod’s Beverly Hills Reopening to Benefit MOCA at Tod’s Boutique on April 15, 2010 in Beverly Hills, CA.
14. Actress Kristin Davis wearing an Amrapali cuff to the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation to promote her new film, ‘Sex and the City 2’ at the Paris Las Vegas during ShoWest on March 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.
15. Singer/TV personality Melanie Brown wearing Sutra earrings to Oscar after-parties.

About Sutra
Fine jewelry by Sutra is a fresh take on classic designs, inspired by the luxurious motifs of the Edwardian era and infused with the contemporary, electric edge of the Art Deco period. Sutra pieces are stunning and artistic, an instant favourite of the effortlessly chic modern woman.

About Le Vian
The Le Vian Company is a modern jewelry house with a history dating back 500 years. Founded by A. Le Vian in 1950, the New York-based company continues the tradition of exemplary craftsmanship that the Le Vian family has been feted for since the 15th Century. For hundreds of years, generations of Persian nobility have looked to the Le Vian family to craft jewelry worthy of their titles. Today, the Le Vian Company is committed to continuing this legacy by crafting exceptional fine jewelry of the very highest quality.

Above, left: Guests watch the Giller awards ceremony. Above, right: Courtney Glen (Navigator Ltd.) and host Lainey Lui (etalk News).

Genovese is also readying the medium-to-high-goal polo team that he founded 15 years ago to compete in Toronto’s annual Polo for Heart tournament – a tradition he began a decade ago to raise funds for heart-and-stroke-related charities.

“We’re looking forward to a triumphant season,” says Genovese of his business and polo pursuits. BG Capital Group’s roster of winners includes the Neptune Society, M & M Engineering, Tamarack North Ltd., American DataSource, Bari Builders and Nautic Distributors, among others.

Genovese is also developing a second season for the U.S. cable reality television show Bobby G: Adventure Capitalist, which chronicles the Bahamian resident’s head-turning deals and lavish lifestyle.

But when he’s not scoring goals or making deals, Genovese is devoted to philanthropic endeavours, particularly those devoted to children. Among them is the Vancouver, B.C.-based Face The World Foundation, which has raised millions for non-profit organizations throughout Canada’s Lower Mainland. “Giving to others is something that I have done throughout my life. It is both a responsibility and a great privilege,” says Genovese. www.bobbygenovese.com, www.bgcapitalgroup.com

Above, left: Bobby Genovese divides his time between BG Capital Group’s home office in the Bahamas, where he indulges his love of water sports, polo and tropical living, and satellite offices in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver.

Above, right: Team Genovese in the Polo for Heart winner’s circle.

Hydrating Tint SPF 20
Great for a weekend getaway, this chemical-free hydrating tint not only provides a weightless, antioxidant-rich glow to the skin, but blocks out harmful UV rays. www.kimikobeauty.com $43

Laszlo Blue Firmarine SPF 30 Face Cream
Strengthen, hydrate and nourish your skin with Laszlo Blue’s breakthrough skincare treatment, containing 70 essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. www.ernolaszlo.com $195

Active pHelityl Soap
This pH balancing soap is rich in essential plant oils and ensures your skin is clean without being stripped from its nutrients. www.ernolaszlo.com $39

African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser
Good for all skin types, wash away impurities and enrich your skin with anti-aging botanical extracts, red tea and vitamin C. www.olehenriksen.com $30

Tocca Stella Esfoliante da Corpo – Blood Orange Rich Body Polish
Exfoliate dry skin and unravel a new you with the healing and softening contents of Italian olive oil, safflower oil and grape seed. www.tocca.com $54

Vera Wang: Glam Princess
Don’t wait around for Prince Charming. Exude royalty with Vera Wang’s version of feminine modernity in a bottle. www.verawangprincess.com $98

Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt
Containing Monoi Oil – traditionally used by Polynesian women to treat dry skin and hair – Moisture Melt will nourish your skin and leave it satiny smooth. www.timetospa.com $48

Lifting Puff Blush
Sweet and simple, the Puff Blush lifts and firms skin while at the same time softly giving your cheeks a sun-kissed glow. www.kimikobeauty.com $43

Marc Jacobs: Limited Edition, Daisy
Experience the signature notes of a delicate flower while proudly displaying the limited-time-only packaging of Daisy on your commode. www.daisymarcjacobs.com $75

Love can happen anywhere and at any time. Throughout history, true love has proven to break the confines of culture, class, religion, race and age. Those who have experienced love know that the cliché of butterflies fluttering in their stomachs is as real as the air they breathe. They know that contrary to popular beliefs, feelings described in Harlequin romances actually hold insurmountable truths. They believe that while life is not always a fairytale, happy endings do exist. These people also know that you do not get to choose whom you fall for or where you meet – it sort of just happens. For Sonny Kohli and Rachel Ross, it took place under the fluorescent lights of a hospital cafeteria three years ago.

While there’s no mentioning of an illustrious glass slipper in this story, Rachel’s blond hair and piercing blue eyes play a striking resemblance to a familiar fairytale heroin. “I was carrying a tray of food and as I walked down the ramp my napkin flew off. As I turned around, Sonny was down on one knee picking it up for me,” says the 31-year-old nurse. As an accomplished physician, Sonny was on his first day of a two-week rotation at the hospital. “There was an instant connection. I couldn’t stop smiling and I just remember her brand-new white running shoes,” laughs 36-year-old Sonny, who at the time was also an astronaut recruit for the Canadian Space Agency. They parted ways. It was only after some coaxing from a co-worker that Sonny gained the confidence to visit Rachel’s floor on his last day to ask her out. She said yes.

When Rachel reached the destination for their first date, she placed one foot out of the car and said, “I have a three-year-old daughter named Rylee and we’re a package deal! If you don’t want to go out, I understand.” Sonny was blown away. “I just love that she’s a mom first,” he says. Needless to say, the date took place.

As a single-mom living in a cramped space, Rachel often sought solace in a photograph of a tree she had bought years ago. On her second date with Sonny she told him that she dreamed of finding it one day. Two years later, Sonny contacted the photographer, located the tree in New York’s Central Park and took Rachel on a surprise trip. It was beneath its symbolic branches that Sonny dropped a napkin that read, “Will you marry me?” “I just kept yelling “yes!” she beams, adding that they both burst into tears moments after.

Sonny and Rachel had two weddings: an intimate ceremony atop a mountain in Banff, Alberta, and a lavish Indian wedding in July 2009. Over 250 guests watched as they danced to “Lullaby” by the Dixie Chicks with their daughter. “Now Rylee’s fully my daughter. I can’t fathom her not being in my life,” says Sonny. The song’s lyrics, “Is forever enough?” could not have been more fitting. “I’m dying with Rachel and that’s it. It may not always be pretty, but we’re going to make it work,” he says softly as he reaches for Rachel’s hand.

Oftentimes, people are so caught up in the idea of fairytales that they do not give someone a try if they don’t fit into the tight mould of what they were looking for. “I broke Sonny’s entire checklist. I was a different culture, race and I already had a daughter. We always tell people never to close doors,” says Rachel with an inspiring tone of hope. “Continue doing the things you love,” says Sonny, “because those things define you.”

Do you believe in love?

Having portrayed Meena Paroom on the children’s television show Cory in the House, Walsh is emerging from a Disney discipline more like Hilary Duff than Lindsay Lohan. “I really am not into the club scene. I would rather just hang out with a group of friends who know me and just be complete goofballs,” explains Walsh. “That’s more fun to me than trying to look super-hot and going to the coolest clubs.”

Born to an American father and Brazilian mother, 21-year-old Walsh was born in Seattle, and spent some of her formative years residing in Brazil. “It’s funny because America’s my home, but once I step off the airplane in Brazil I have that feeling of ‘oh, I’m home now!’” When the Walsh family relocated from Seattle to California, Walsh enrolled in acting classes and scored an agent. “My parents weren’t ecstatic about me pursuing the career of an actress. Both of my parents are very much into education – both have a master’s degree – and they were worried that I would just throw that off to the side. But once they realized how passionate I was about it and once I actually started booking roles, they’ve been supportive ever since.” Shortly after moving to California, Walsh landed roles on the popular Nikelodeon television series Unfabulous and in the film Lullabye Before I Wake. At 18, she was cast in Cory in the House, a gig that she says taught her a lot about the industry. “I think I learned comedic timing, what it’s like to work with a large group of people and creating that family atmosphere,” muses Walsh.

Already a celebrity amongst tweens, parents are now becoming familiar with Walsh, courtesy of her role as Ana Solis, the rebellious and scheming niece of Eva Longoria’s character, Gaby, on Desperate Housewives. Walsh’s role as an angst-ridden teen is quite different from her mellow and composed real-life persona. “I love playing characters that are so different from me because that’s part of acting,” says Walsh. “She [Ana] would be the last person I’d want to be friends with. She’d probably be someone that I’d want to get through to and talk to about her issues.” On set, Walsh and Longoria discuss literature. “It’s kind of a little nerdy thing that Eva and I do. We’ll read in-between takes and then we’ll tell each other about what we’ve read. We get so excited and so into it!”

When not immersed in a script or filming scenes, the young actor works on her emerging music career. “I’m still finding my sound right now. But I don’t want my music to be just one thing, I want it to kind of bridge different areas of music,” she explains. “I’m slowly learning how to play the piano, but I’m pretty terrible. It is only because I don’t practise enough,” she admits.

Walsh has also used her voice for good, dedicating her time to charities and causes she believes in. This past March she co-hosted Girl Prep, a youth conference sponsored by the In a Perfect World foundation and founded by the Young Women’s Empowerment Network. Workshops targeting self-esteem, leadership and youth activism were set up and 250 girls between the ages of 10 and 13 participated in the event. As a young woman working in image-driven Hollywood, Walsh identified with the girls. “I think self-esteem is important for everyone,” she says. “But I feel like the youth is so influenced right now by the media and the culture around them that they kind of forget what I think is important, which is valuing yourself and not needing to fit into this one image that most people can’t fit. They shouldn’t have to.”

Walsh endearingly labels herself a dork, a claim that is difficult to believe considering her charmed lifestyle. “I love learning. I love science. I can talk about biology or the brain for like hours and just be happy!” With a starring role in The Prankster, a coming-of-age teen comedy that will soon be released, this self-proclaimed nerd certainly has a big career ahead of her. “This is a career that I want to pursue for the rest of my life. I also want to go to college and get a degree in psychology. But I think that’s something I can do while still pursuing acting.” www.maiara-walsh.com

TOP ROW: The Rally for Kids with Cancer winners Olive Bock, left, CEO Solutions 2 Go and actor Adam Rodriguez, of CSI: Miami; Rhonda Lipson & Michael “Pinball” Clemons; Suzana Bulhoes, Community Investment manager & captain David Legge, senior VP of Operations, both with Air Canada. SECOND ROW: Heather Broll, VP of the Hospital for Sick Children with Rene Gerber, Asst. marketing manager Serengeti Eyewear; Celebrity navigators. THIRD ROW: Actor James Kyson Lee (Heroes) and Jim Williams, president & CEO of Williams Telecommunications; Joel Hock, president & CEO of Solutions with Impact and his wife, Lisa; Warren Irwin, president & chief investment officer, Rosseau Asset Management Ltd., and Jessie Camacho, host of Descontrol on Telemundo.  FOURTH ROW: Actress Shantel VanSanten (Final Destination), with a SickKids child ambassador; Damon Allen CFL alumni, Rachel Smith, Miss USA, Shantel VanSanten, actor Robert Buckley (Lipstick Jungle), actress Bai Ling (Star Wars “Revenge of the Sith”), actress Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris) and actor Adam Gregory (90210).

Lauded as one of Canada’s youngest and most influential homebuilders, Ferris Rafauli has homeowners fawning for his inspired eye and transcendent taste. Despite his youthfulness and boyish charisma, Rafauli has been on the design front for over a decade. While most 18-year-olds were still learning how to use a hammer, Rafauli had just driven the last nail into his first luxury home. “My passion for design stemmed at a young age. To me design is one of those things that you either have or you don’t, it comes naturally. It’s not something that is only studied, there’s a bit of innateness to it,” he says. While his father didn’t directly foreshadow his interest in the trade, he was still a great inspiration. “My father wasn’t a builder per say, but he always taught my brother and I to pick a career in life that we could be passionate about,” says the luxury builder.

It wasn’t long until Rafauli began laying the foundation for his current empire of success, Grandeur Luxury Homes Inc., a design-build company that customizes their clients’ dream homes, putting the art of perfection on a pedestal. “What we try to do is provide our clients with that seamless integration of architecture and ultra luxury interior design. So not only do we do luxurious floor plans, but we tie all that in with luxury interior design,” says the entrepreneur behind one of the busiest design-build companies in Ontario. While Rafauli respectfully refuses to play the name game, some of the best in the biz have sought his talents. “It’s an honour when people ask you to design their home. I’m flattered that they put their trust in me,” he says.

It is as clear as crystal hanging from a chandelier that passion is at the forefront of his success. “This may sound funny but I’m extremely passionate about the linear shape of things. There’s something about the symmetry of design, colour schemes, extreme detail, the shapes of rooms, plan layouts and materials that just excites me,” says Rafauli, his enthusiasm increasing. “It’s not difficult to work hard at something you are passionate about, but it’s painful to work hard at something you’re not,” he adds.

When he’s not building homes, he’s busy building a stronger community. Throughout the year Rafauli donates regularly and attends charitable events like the Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup that supports the SickKids Foundation. “I believe we all have the responsibility to do that, particularly people who have the means to do so,” says Rafauli, who’s brave enough to admit that he also occasionally enjoys a good chick-flick.

Though his life has an abundance of depth, Rafauli imparts wisdom that is simple, at least on the surface. “Try to seek out what it is you enjoy in life and do it,” says the man who’s living his sky-high dreams. “I’m so lucky that I didn’t have to learn that lesson through a mistake.”
www.grandeur.ca 905.639.6280

As an elaborate and opulent space, wine cellars are growing in popularity and can be added to homes without spending a huge amount of time.

Perhaps you have always dreamed of your own stylish wine cellar, complete with oak casing and mood lighting. Or maybe you just want somewhere practical yet classy to store your growing wine collection. With the Holidays approaching, imagine how nice it would be to walk into your own wine cellar and select the perfect bottle to match a special meal.

Unless you are an expert in both wine storage and home renovation, it is not a good idea to just jump into creating the cellar yourself, as there is often a fair amount of preparatory work that needs to be done. The best first step is to contact a specialist in wine cellars and displays. They can advise you on the ideal atmospheric conditions for your wine, including temperature and lighting. For example, the presence of vibrations is an aspect that amateurs often overlook, and this can affect the quality of the wine over a period of time. Remember: the primary purpose of the wine cellar is to store your wine in an ideal environment.

One company that knows all about the ins and outs of wine storage is Tuscan Cellars in Toronto. It specializes in converting existing rooms into elegant wine cellars, which, despite the word ‘cellar,’ are not always located in the basement of a house. The process starts with a consultation with a designer, who will use your specific situation – the room you wish to convert, the number of bottles, the material you wish to use – to propose a stylish and sophisticated wine storage solution. They will then take care of all the construction and installation, down to the last detail.

So, while you may still have to visit Athens to experience the famous Hotel Grande Bretagne wine cellar, you can have a unique room in your own house that you will be proud of and will keep your wine in top condition.

www.grandebretagne.gr
www.taggroup.ca