As someone who’s a fan of Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli and DVF, it’s hard to get excited about shopping in Port Stanley. Each time a cruise ship docks, the population of Port Stanley instantly doubles, which means most of the shops are geared towards cruising day trippers, so if you’re looking for anything wool or penguin related, you have come to the right island. But as my sworn duty to you, I suck it up and duck into one of the larger souvenir shops on the main strip, with rooms and isles of everything penguin you can possibily imagine.

I’ve never consciously wanted anything penguin related before, but I am standing here justifying a penguin spatula to myself. All of a sudden I can’t imagine baking without it. I also find myself wishing I had a little girl so I could buy her some of these cute pink penguin pajamas.

I manage to get to the till with only one penguin related souvenir from Stanley. As I’m paying for my spatula, I notice it was made in the USA. Still, I now feel that I can’t live without it, so I hand over my ten dollars and leave before justifying clothing purchases for my non-existent daughter.

After touring all the souvenir shops I could find, I’ve come to realize that while there are many different marketing things you can do with penguins, they don’t really differ from store to store. So if you are lucky enough to find yourself in Port Stanley, head into one of the tourist shops, buy what you can’t live without and then spend the rest of the time touring the island. Once you’ve seen one shop, you’ve seen them all and there’s so much more to the Falklands than souvenirs and shopping.

After note: The one thing I really regret not buying is their native berry jam, the diddle-dee. Worth trying and worth buying. Legend has it if you eat it while you’re there, then you will return. I’m sure every time I look at my American made penguin spatula, I will miss the taste of diddle-dee berry jam. And if you too feel your kitchen needs a penguin spatula, head to the Harbour View Gift Shop on Ross Road (or Texas – mine says it’s from Houston).

Okay, I know this is like telling you that Tiffany has nice diamonds, but if you love jewelry, and I mean the kind of jewelry that Audrey Hepburn lusted after in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, then you have to go to H Stern while you’re in Rio.  Most hotels can set you up with a museum tour, which includes a free ride there and back (necessary in Rio for safety reasons).  

H Stern Sapphire Watch

The museum tour is a short self-guided tour through the basement where you learn everything from the mining to design process.  Then you’re led into the private show room and treated like a goddess while H Stern employees bring you jewelry and drinks until you say stop.  One of the women I was with bought this watch from the Sapphire collection.  I’m not really a watch person, but this is one of the most stunning accessories I’ve ever seen – like having the ocean on your wrist.  My favorites were the amethyst diamond earrings from the Elegance collection, worthy of a walk down the red carpet, but the $6000 price tag forced me to say goodbye at the counter.  However, even if you don’t have several grand to drop on earrings, it’s a worthwhile experience for anyone who has a love for Breakfast at Tiffany’s or beautiful jewelry.  And at the very end, there’s a gift shop where you can still purchase a small piece of H Stern without maxing out your credit card.

If you’re not going to Brazil in the near future, H Stern is in other lucky cities, or you can lust online.  Enjoy!

I’ve tried a lot of lip  plumpers  and this is the only  one I’ve  tried where other  people have  noticed a difference on me.  And even  though it’s clear, it  leaves a  really nice berry color  on my  lips.  If you’re looking  for a lip plumper that will do  what it’s supposed to, this is  the one.  I feel a little closer to  Angelina!

Check it out at Freeze 24/7

Rue 33 Santa Clara, just off Copacabana beach, is the name and address of a multi-level collection of boutique-ish outlets, probably one of Rio’s best kept shopping secrets.  A tour guide told us of this little treasure, and thank God she did because you would never guess it’s there.  It really looks like nothing when you approach, or when you get inside, but take the elevator to the top floor and just work your way down the eight floors of fabulous shops and you will see the draw. Packed with locals, it’s pretty much a tourist free zone and the clothing is designer quality at Wal-Mart prices.  

For bikini shopping, this is the best place to go.  We bought twenty sequined kids bathing suits, worthy of mini glitterati, for under one hundred dollars total.  My favorite things were the custom Havaianas – no two pairs alike and you won’t find them like this anywhere else on the planet.

If you’re going to Rio, you’ve probably read of its bohemian neighborhood Santa Teresa. Rio has a lot of heart, so it’s hard to say any area is really the ‘heart of the city’, but with the small art shops, cafes, cable car and samba music, Santa Teresa definitely captures the city’s spirit.  And if you want to bring home a real piece of Brazil instead of a cheesy souvenir, this is the place to go shopping.

Handcrafts, art, clothing and shoes, this neighborhood has it all for reasonable prices and you won’t find the unique things it carries in any of the touristy areas like Ipanema or Copacabana.  Santa Teresa is a real gem.

This eyeliner is another one I tested out while trekking through the jungle in Brazil and it stayed on my eyelid the whole time. Because it’s gel-based, it goes on smooth and gives a dramatic effect. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is the arched liner brush #21. The bristles bent out of shape within a month and I am VERY careful with my brushes. Go with MAC #266 instead. I’ve had it for years and it’s still in perfect condition.

I swear this is the super hero of mascaras.  It layers so well, gives crazy volume and doesn’t smudge.  I even went trekking in Patagonia and through the jungle in Brazil and this mascara stayed perfect the entire time!
(I don’t actually put my make-up through this kind of testing on a regular basis – I just happened to buy this when I was on holidays and now I’m in love.)
You can check out the details at Smashbox