izzi blog

The official izzibag blog

I look back and think just what have I been doing for the passed two months? time flies when you are having fun doesn’t it? well here we go, so get a cuppa tea, hold tight and here we go…

You may have read on my twitter feed that I have been dieting with Izzet? well we have been doing the DUKAN diet from France, basically it is eating all proteins with additional vegetables, but no carbs… log on to their site and check it out. Now I am not one of these faddy dieters extraordinaire, believe me but I have to say that this diet has changed my world. I have lost more than 41lbs and I feel great. Take a look for yourself….Here I am getting ready to go to the Christies Green Auction with my Fav restaurant of all time Rouge Tomate.

Going to the Christies Green Auction

The body con dress by Valentino was the best purchase I ever made!

I had to leave my lovely apartment in New York and come to London this last few weeks because my mother in law passed away. This has been really an unhappy journey for us as it was not so long ago that Izzet’s dad died and so we are all feeling a little sad as you can expect.

On a lighter note, it was my sister’s birthday and she was the magical 60… she will not forgive me for writing that but it’s true LOL and we had a wonderful time at her birthday bash. All our family got together for a night of drinking, eating and laughter. Here I am with my brother, sister, mum and dad awwww…

Au Famille

My sister is wearing Valentino as well copycat, but I do love her.

Sister's are doing it for themselves

Izzet and I had the best night ever and it made us appreciate what we have. Sometimes in life I think we all forget what is precious to us and take everything and everyone for granted. We have to really pull ourselves up short and remember to savour the moments we have together.

The love of my life..Izzet

So now we have moved into London and ready for our journey to Istanbul tomorrow. I am going to tape my radio show which is on UKHDRadio ’A view from my view’ in Istanbul won’t that be fun? I do hope you get time to listen to some of my show, it goes out on a Friday drive time London 7-9pm and US 2-4pm. I cannot believe we are already 15 shows in and I am having such fun with it, so far I have had two bloggers, John Simon and Jonathan Valdez in New York as guests, Debbie a great friend from Cyprus and a guy that has a fish spa! If you would like to be a guest on my show just drop me a tweet and let me know.

I met my dear friend Stylisa yesterday for a quick glass of wine and it was so great to catch up with her and all her adventures and she bought me a rather special bear as a pressie and here he is.

Wiles in his famous Green Bag

As soon as Wiles gets out of his Harrods Green Bag and finds his passport we will be off to Istanbul and enjoying a piece of Borek or two. So join us on our journey across the world and back.

I have found the most amazing Michelin star rated restaurant in New York called Rouge Tomate and to be honest it has become almost a second home as I am eating there so often. I am holding my lunch meetings and cocktail hour catch ups with my girlfriends there, due to the fact that their food not only tastes fantastic but is also very healthily put together. I mentioned to the manager that I have been dieting and therefore have more than the usual interest in what goes into my mouth, he asked if I would like to have lunch with  Natalia Hancock, who has an unusual professional title. She’s Rouge Tomate’s culinary nutritionist, which means she responsible for analyzing the nutritional value of Executive Chef Jeremy Bearman’s cuisine. (She makes sure that no butter or cream slips into the dishes.) Natalia told me that Rouge Tomate follows the principles of S.P.E (Sanitas Per Escam) a culinary and nutritional charter based on a genuine respect for ingredients and on the crafting of balanced dishes that naturally marry thoughtfully executed cuisine with authentic nutrition. I guess this all means that Rouge Tomate believe that a truly superior meal should not only taste better but is actually better for you.

Seasonal Toasts are so lovely

I was really interested to hear what she had to say on my chosen diet and how I could make sure that I did not avoid eating the essential nutrients. At home she told me that she’s no less of a dietary drill sergeant. “I don’t let my husband eat cold cuts—too many preservatives. ” At this point I really sat up to listen, I eat a lot of cold cuts due to the fact I am following a no-carb diet and was really taken aback when Natalia told me that there is a lot of sodium (Salt) in prepacked meats.  When I went shopping yesterday with Izzi I was looking at the packaging to check the sodium content of everything and was flawed at how high it is in some things I picked up. Natalia also pointed out to me that I should check the contents of my refrigerator before I go shopping and she very kindly sent me a picture of hers!

Natalia's refrigerator contents!

On that note I know this is a strange question to ask you, but what is in your refrigerator and moreover do you care? well I took on board all the points and hints that Natalia had given me and here is now a picture of mine!

Anne's refrigerator

I am going to make sure I always include red vegetables because they contain the nutrients that have been shown to lower blood pressure and we all know that I need to do that! Green vegetables help boost your immune system and normalize digestion time, yellow or orange vegetables encourage alkaline balance whilst working to build healthy bones. On that note Natalia, I hope you are proud of my purchases be sure I will keep everyone up to date on how my healthy living diet goes.

This week has been manic, I did my radio show on HDUK on Friday which has been real fun to do, I love reading all the newspapers in New York and reading all the funny or scary bits out on air. I hope you can find time to listen, please let me know via twitter what you think, we would love to include your thoughts and suggestions. The show airs between 7 – 9pm if you are in the UK and 2-4pm in the US. If you live in New York and would like to be a guest on the show just get in touch.

I also went to watch the Dr OZ show being taped which was immense fun with my good friend Dr Gerry Curatola who was appearing on the show, which will be aired on 11th March so please check it out as it is a fascinating story. Gerry, by the way he is giving me a makeover, but that is a story for another day so please come back to read more on that. As Dr Oz is from Turkey I managed to put my rusty Turkish to some use and we chatted for a couple of minutes at the end of the show.

Anne & Dr Oz

Another busy week ahead so come back and read further adventures of izzi bag in New York, now pass me a glass of Sancerre, shush …..

As fashion week moves on I have to say that I have not been that impressed with the shows, the same old, same old comes to mind but there have been some high lights and here are but a few. For the start I was asked to pose for the front cover of the DAILY and my mum is now parading this around the quiet village of Dymock in the UK and telling all her friends how her daughter is famous!

izzi bag hits the Front Cover of The Daily

The only comment izzi made was ‘Are you getting to keep the Mercedes?’ typical man, how about ‘crikey that is my wife on the front cover of the most famous fashion magazine?’

I have been to some amazing shows this week and I loved, loved, loved the Jenny Packman show, the quotation on the front page of her press release was very fitting for Valentine’s Day ‘ Men cluster to me, Like Moths around a flame and if their wings burn, I know I am not to blame!’ (Marlene Dietrich) Anyway going back to the show, there was a lot of silk chiffon with beaded tulle and sequins combined with Moth wings. I so loved this collection the most feminine of all I have seen this week. I like Jenny if not for anything else other than the fact that she is a fellow Brit. Her presence in some of the world’s premier and most discerning stores from Harrods to Bergdorf Goodman reinforces her international appeal and demand. She has fast become one of the UK’s most regarded designers with not only her creative talent, but commercial success, I applaud her.

Jenny Packham 2011 Fall

Perry Ellis caught my eye but that might be as all the guys were ermmm ‘Hot Totty’. I should keep that thought to myself right? but as it’s Valentines day, a girl is allowed to window shop right? Actually I can see my lovely izzi wearing this fall collection so I will be taking advantage of the offer Perry Ellis very kindly gave me that I can purchase 10 of the styles for the next four days, which is six months before they hit the shops. By clicking on this link Perry Ellis you too can be one of the lucky ones. The fall collection is full of Lambswool Turtlenecks, Alpaca Herringbone Country Trench, Twill Blazers and Washed Cord Tux Trousers.

Hot Totty at Perry Ellis

I moved onto designer  CUSTO, now their actual press release says ‘ A clean slate was the starting point of this collection, pure lines and neutral colors reflect the idea’ Well I guess that got thrown out of the window before it hit the cat walk. I have no idea how they could write that and end up with this. Just saying….

Wool is the Hero Fabric

I will redeem them by saying there were a few pieces I could see in my wardrobe, not as staple pieces but as one off’s, so the fact that they went on to say “wool is the hero fabric and all it’s textures are represented (Yeah really), felted wool, fringes, wool based graphic jacquards and open distressed weaves are used to create an effect of light organza’! OK well I was not sure I wanted to see that all in one outfit but I am sure that we will see CUSTO in the shops by Christmas!

My Fav piece of CUSTO

Well I was by this time a little bleary eyed but feeling grateful that it was lunchtime and I was going to have lunch with super model Kara Young at the Plaza Hotel. We were attending the Rush Hearts Education Luncheon, which benefits the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Programs. Izzi and I met up with the Hair Rules team at the benefit and here we all are at the step and repeat, although I was told not to go out in my hearts Hosiery I did, it was after all Valentine’s Day!

The Hair Rules Crew

A huge thank you to the host of the Hair Rules table Kara Young who was joined by the Hair Rules crew Monique, Dailey, Jasmine, Katiria, Kristy also the  lovely Nick Gruber, Izzet and I.

Nick Gruber, Anne Agoren, Kara Young & Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons stopped by to say hello and thank us all for attending, he looks so different without his baseball cap on, but always the gentleman. Izzet and I  had a wonderful luncheon at the Plaza hotel, the food was superb, the company a real pleasure to be with and the cause we were all there to support was truly a great one.

Beautiful Cupcakes!

I am now looking at my gym kit and thinking I ought to hit more than the step and repeat today, the running machine perhaps? On that note the cup cakes they gave us when we left sadly had to go to the doorman of my building… Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.