Chanel Captivates in Paris

Coco Chanel may have passed away in 1971, but her spirit survives. Fittingly, Audrey Tatou, who played the fashion designer in Coco Before Chanel, was on hand for Chanel's cocktail party in Paris on January 28th. The soiree honored Kirsten Dunst, who once graced the cover of Lula magazine in a Chanel frock. Hey, any excuse for party, right, especially if it includes Sofia Coppola (She directed Dunst in Marie Antoinette and The Virgin Suicides.), Karl Lagerfeld, Rachel Bilson, and Courtney Love, who were all there to toast this pre-Twilight bloodsucker (Remember Interview with a Vampire?).

Earlier in the week, Chanel dazzled the crowd at the Pavillon Cambon with its stunning Spring-Summer 2011 Haute Couture show. See for yourself here. Inspired by Coco's affection for Byzantine-type baubles, the Paris-Byzance show glittered with gems, and I'm not just referring to the bejeweled, but wearable, outfits on the runway. Kristen Dunst, Diane Kruger, Jerry Hall, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, and Johnny Depp's gal pal Vanessa Paradis all sparkled in the audience.

Oh, to savor the easy life in Paris. Tyson is giving away $5,000 in their Life Made Easy Sweepstakes, so you can do just that. Ease up and enter.

Voilà - the link to Tyson's Life Made Easy Sweepstakes:

http://www.fitpicks.com/tyson/

Entertaining Ile St. Louis

Entertaining the notion of a short-term flat rental in Paris, my first choice of arrondissements would be Ile St. Louis. Named for a popular king who read poetry to the animals of the island, this charming enclave was developed in the late 1500s and is still lined with 17th century townhouses. I bumped into Kenneth Branagh in a brasserie the last time I visited, but other celebs such as Joni Mitchell, Johnny Depp, and Ingrid Bergman have also resided here.

The first order of business is faire du lèche-vitrine, better known as window shopping. Plenty of establishments will assail your senses, including Berthillon, which sells the richest, creamiest ice cream in the city. You can duck out at La Petite Scierie, which serves all kinds of farm fresh ducky delicacies. Or, get cheesy at La Ferme Saint-Aubin. After night falls, kick back in a vaulted stone cellar better known as Franc Pinot and listen to some jazz. Now that's entertainment.

And speaking of entertainment, Fox Home Entertainment is giving away a prize a day in honor of their 75th anniversary. The biggest prize of all? $75,000, which will buy you some time on this enchanted island. Jazz up your life and enter.


Voilà - the link to the Fox Home Entertainment 75th Anniversary Sweepstakes:

http://fox.promo.eprize.com/75thanniversary/

Pitt Country

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been photographed on numerous vaporettos in Venice since she started shooting the new film, The Tourist, which co-stars, Johnny Depp. The steamy movie is reportedly about an American tourist (Depp), who escapes to Italy to mend a broken heart. Jolie, who plays an Interpol agent, draws Depp's character into a dangerous web of intrigue when she tries to find a criminal who was once her lover. If all those pix of the Pitt-Jolie clan have whet your appetite for Italian life, you'll be hungry to hear that Olive Garden is giving away 4 culinary tours of Italy. The grand prize includes roundtrip airfare for two to Italy, 7 nights in a hotel, all guided tours, 2 meals per day, all ground transportation in Italy, and excursions to Florence, Rome, San Gimignano, and Riserva di Fizzano, near Castellina in Chianti to visit Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany. Want to be more than a tourist? Bone up on Italy before you go by reading these enchanting memoirs: The Olive Farm, The Olive Tree, and The Olive Harvest. Give Italy the boot and head to Paris when you're done. O-live and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Olive Garden's Win a Culinary Tour of Italy sweepstakes:

http://www.olivegardensweeps.com/

Go Ask Alice

What do Cherry Blossom Ginseng, Passionfruit Guava, and Mocha Expresso have in common? They're all deliciously smelling Organix shampoos. Now this hair care company is teaming up with Delta Vactations to send you and a guest to London if you win their Alice in Wonderland sweepstakes. Okay, it's not Paris, but it's close. In case you haven't heard, this lush, 3-D, Johnny Depp extravaganza is opening March 5th. Tumble down the rabbit hole and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Alice in Wonderland Sweepstakes:

http://www.beautypureandsimple.com/LondonSweepstakes.asp