Ralph Lauren Pet Polo

If you do not know or have not noticed already, I have a pet cat.  He is a seven-year-old American Short-Hair tabby, adopted from a ranch ("Don't breed or buy while other animals die!") - chosen from the litter by my mum for his white neck, paws, and feet!  I named him Maki for to the M-shape on his forehead and his mackerel tabby coat.

Words cannot describe how much I adore him or what he means to me.  I believe WE are the lucky ones to have him, although I must admit he lives a pretty good and spoiled life: Fancy Feast Medley canned food, strictly filtered water, unlimited supply of Greenies - his favorite treat, daily massages, a queen-sized W Hotel pillow-top bed, and unconditional love from the family!  I also believe that Maki, or animals and pets in general, deserve the very best.  Pets enrich people's lives and should be for life!

So besides food, treats, toys, good litter, what else do I get my precious Maki?  Fashionable clothing and accessories, of course!  He has bow ties, t-shirts, and costumes, but the most recent item I purchased for him: a Ralph Lauren Big Pony Pet Polo Shirt!

Always remember to gift box purchases from RL!

Yes, it is personalized with embroidery ... Yes, he is wearing pink ... and
Yes, he is too ADORABLE in this Ralph Lauren Big Pony polo shirt (not only for dogs)!

Maki is wearing RL's pet polo in Bright Neon Pink in size medium,
embroidery color and font is Oasis Green and Legacy, respectively.

The perfect model CATizen!

You Have My Whole Heart
For My Whole Life

Mum's the Word

For the ladies in my life:
Grandmum, Mum, and Godmum...

Two phalaenopsis heart-shaped orchids and a gardenia bonsai tree

Motherhood:
All love begins and ends here.
~ Robert Browning

Deal of the Day: Motif Investing

"Stop picking stocks.  Start picking ideas."

It may seem that this is an unusual post coming from me, but actually, I find this company and its latest headline news very interesting.  Let me first briefly introduce this idea of investing by motifs:

Based in San Mateo, California, Motif Investing was established by Tariq Hilaly and Hardeep Walia in 2010.  Backed by Foundation Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, Ignition Partners, and Goldman Sachs, Motif Investing escapes the conventional method of investing in the stock market.  Their online brokerage platform lets you invest in a collection of companies grouped together as an idea, called Motifs.  Examples of Professional Motifs include 3D Printing (one year return ↑ 5.8%), Biotech Breakthroughs (↑ 29.1%), Black Gold (↑ 10.7%), Chinese Solar (↑ 95.8%), Cleantech Everywhere (↑ 41.4%), Modern Warfare (↑ 49.9%), Online Gaming World (↑ 40.3%), and even Seven Deadly Sins (↑ 22.1% - because "Even In A Weak Economy, Bad Habits Remain").  There is also the freedom of building a new or customizing a current Motif to try and beat the benchmark.  If that is too much of a numbers game, there is yet another option of choosing Community Created Motifs.  So what is the price of investing in a portfolio of up to 30 stocks?  $250 minimum per Motif plus $9.95 commission.

Since their founding four years ago, Motif Investing has caught the attention of major media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal., Bloomberg Television, CNBC, The Motley Fool, and Forbes.  Yesterday, they made another headline news.  Motif Investing has raised $35 million in their Series D funding from Wicklow Capital, Balderton Capital, and the nation's largest bank: JPMorgan Chase, totaling seven prominent backers and $86 million in four funding rounds.

What this means for Motif Investing:

1. A huge vote of confidence and boost in credibility
2. Exposure to Chase's enormous client base
3. Technological advancement into a wealth management platform
4. Beginning of global expansion (keep reading)

Board of directors include former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt and Sallie Krawcheck, former CEO of Merrill Lynch (Bank of America) and Smith Barney (Citigroup).  With the new venture capital funding to include UK-based Balderton Capital, general partner Tim Bunting will help Motif Investing to expand its operations to the United Kingdom and Europe.  Bunting has also been added as a board advisor.

Furthermore, the funding will aid in the launch of a new wealth management product for its retail investors and advisors.  The Motif Advisor Platform will allow financial advisors to manage the accounts of their clients under one interface for a flat-rate of $20 to $50, dependent on asset sizes.

There is no better time to begin diversifying your stock portfolio and chase that next big idea with Motif Investing.  Get $100 instantly when you open a new account and place a motif trade.  Simply sign up using my personalized link, plus you will be helping me earn $100 too!

Online stocks broker: Motif Investing

Hardeep Walia announcing latest funding found on CNBC:

ExciTED!

Ray Kelvin, founder of Ted Baker

For Ted Baker London that is!  One would easily assume at first that Ted Baker is a self-named clothing company, as with most designer labels.  However, the founder of Ted Baker is really a private man, perhaps even publicly shy?  Reference his humble photo to the right.

Raymond (Ray) Stuart Kelvin opened his first store in Glasgow in 1988.  Initially, Ted Baker specialized in men's contemporary shirts.  With an unwavering emphasis on design, product quality, attention to detail, and Kelvin's quirky sense of humor, the company has become a leading lifestyle brand with 362 stores worldwide.

Adopting the slogan, "No Ordinary Designer Label" from the start, Ted Baker clearly demonstrates originality and wit in its designs.  All products of this fashion house has a Ted Baker quote concealed somewhere inside.

For instance, the men's wallet I gifted to a friend recently contained a Ted Baker coin depicting a compass with the bold statement, "East, West, Ted is the Best."  Inside a women's wallet, there is a friendly advice that says, "The more you give, the more you get!"  The coat label of the Ted Baker Wrenn Wool Peplum Jacket I purchased last April is embroidered with, "Beautiful, inside and out."  Actually, many of Ted Baker's women's clothing have this phrase, which accurately embodies their superior craftsmanship.

Ted Baker Wrenn Wool Peplum Jacket - $398

Beautiful inside and out, it truly is!
See the floral-print lining?  Pretty as a silk scarf!

Amazing quality and attention to detail!

I  may have purchased the coat at full-price, but for two days, Ted Baker is offering 20% off all items!  Valid online only today with code 20TED, then both online and in-stores tomorrow.

Since the beginning of this season, I have coveTED this Ted Baker dress below, and finally purchased it today (this type of discount does not come often from Ted).  I cannot wait for it to arrive and see it in person!

Ted Baker Remma dress from their Tux Collection - $775

Photo credits: Ted Baker London

For the ladies, won't you pick up a new Spring frock as well?  For the gents, perhaps a new British suit, but be certain it has a ticket pocket to ensure true English spirit, such as the Bukjak Wool Jacket from the Endurance Collection!

Photos within this post belongs to Ted Baker, unless otherwise stated.

Met Gala 2014

Last night was the 43rd annual Met Ball, a fundraising gala benefiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.  It is considered to be one of New York City's biggest and most exclusive social events - for good reason; last year's gala reportedly raised nine million dollars!  This high fashion powered event also serves as an opening ceremony for the institute's fashion exhibit.  This year's theme: "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" (May through August 2014).

Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual fashion exhibit, also the theme of this year's Met Gala

Photo credit: Met Museum

Anna Wintour

© Timothy G. Sanders

Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, is irrefutably fashion's most famous, important, and powerful figure.  Since 1995, she has been the chairperson of this event.  With the help of her magazine staff, Anna oversees the benefit committee and guest list, which includes notable personalities from art, fashion, and entertainment circles.

Earlier that day was also the grand opening of the Anna Wintour Costume Center, a wing inside the Met Museum where the Charles James exhibit will be held.  Grand it was because First Lady Michelle Obama cut the ribbon to inaugurate the brand new center!

From left to right:
Thomas P. Campbell, Director of the Metropolitan Museum; First Lady Michelle Obama;
Anna Wintour, Artistic Director of Condé Nast and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue;
and Emily K. Rafferty, President of the Metropolitan Museum

Photo credit: Met Museum

The Met will be opening up the world of fashion like never before.
They’ll learn that fashion isn’t just about what we wear, but that fashion is also a business, it is an art.  It’s a career that involves science, engineering, accounting, marketing, and so much more.  Maybe they’ll learn about the math behind Charles James’ designs…
~ First Lady Michelle Obama

Vogue's André Leon Talley speaking with designer Tom Ford pre-gala:

Some notable attendees:

"It" girl Alexa Chung in a Nina Ricci dress and Christopher Kane bag

Bee Shaffer in an Alexander McQueen dress and Fred Leighton jewelry
(Bee is Anna Wintour's daughter.)

Blake Lively in Gucci Première and Ryan Reynolds in Gucci

Cara Delevingne in a Stella McCartney top, pants, and shoes, and Cartier jewelry
Kudos to the model for wearing pants!

David Beckham in a Ralph Lauren Black Label suit and Christian Louboutin shoes
and Victoria Beckham in Victoria Beckham

Dita Von Teese in a Zac Posen dress, Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, and Roger Vivier bag
(See Zac behind her on the left?)

Elizabeth Cordry in a Rochas dress and Sidney Garber brooches
with fiancé Charlie Shaffer in Ralph Lauren Black Label
(Charlie is Anna Wintour's son)

Florence Welch in Valentino Couture

Gisele Bündchen in a Balenciaga dress and Fred Leighton jewelry and Tom Brady

Jessica Lange in Marc Jacobs and Marc Jacobs in Saint Laurent

Johnny Depp in Ralph Lauren Black Label and Amber Heard
in a Giambattista Valli Haute Couture dress and Fred Leighton jewelry

Karolina Kurkova in a Marchesa dress and Harry Winston jewelry

Kim Kardashian in a Lanvin dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
with fiancé Kanye West in Lanvin

Rihanna in a Stella McCartney dress, Jacob & Co. necklace,
Cartier rings, and Dionea Orcini rings

Sarah Jessica Parker in an Oscar de la Renta and Fred Leighton jewelry

Tabitha Simmons in Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda

Photo credits unless otherwise stated: Getty Images / Vogue Archives

In case you are curious as to the price of high society...  This year's event ticket costs $25,000, that is $10,000 more than 2013's price!  Should we anticipate 2015's ticket price to inflate to $35,000?