How Much Would You Pay To Have Lunch With Warren Buffett?

Here's a unique mark of inflation, Warren Buffett's annual auctioned (on Ebay) lunch brought in more than three times the amount that it did last year. Last year, the lucky luncher bid $650,100 but this year, Chinese businessman Zhao Danyang offered $2.1 million to lunch with the famous investor at the Smith and Wollensky steakhouse in New York. Back in 2005, the winning bidder paid just $351,100 for the privlege.

The proceeds go to a non-profit foundation which fights poverty and homelessness. So far Buffett has raised over $4 million, but his biggest charitable move has been his declaration that he will give the bulk of his fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates charitable organization upon passing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7480923.stm

Green Initiative

This is much better looking than that yellow rubber "Livestrong" bracelet... (in any event, isn't it obvious that NO ONE is "for cancer"...but I digress) so, it is always nice to find a piece of "it" jewelry that is stylish and gives back to those who deserve it most.

The newest "do good" fashion statement is the Diamond Empowerment Fund's Green Bracelet. The D.E.F. Green Bracelet came about when Russell Simmons and his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons went to South Africa to learn more about the people in diamond-producing nations. After becoming enlightened by the experience they helped create and promote this $125 bracelet that gives back to the diamond industry in Africa. The bracelet has a one-carat raw diamond encased in a metallic basket attached to South African beads. This bracelet has already been seen on the wrists on Paris Hilton, Beyonce, Penelope Cruz, and Naomi Campbell.

The Green Bracelet is available to reserve for purchase at Simmonsjewelryco.com. Other pieces in the Green Initiative collection include the diamond-encrusted "Ohm" watch and pendant, as well as pendants, chains, bracelets and rings, priced from $250-$80,000.

http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/diamonds/e3i9410da3dd7ac1a5611124f1345e8b9c1?imw=Y

Think Pink!

I posted the Dior compact - but didn't even bother to explain that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month... some of our favorite designers have created (pink!) products specifically for the cause. Who doesn't want cute pink items for a good cause!

For the kitchen: Kitchen Aid has their most popular tools in pink for their Pink Cook for the Cure Collection. When you buy from the collection (which includes the stand mixer, measuring cups, spatulas and more) Kitchen Aid will donate 10% of the retail cost to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

For your body: Keeping fit is a great way to reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. Stay fit (or get fit) with Valeo's pink body ball and Valeo will donate part of proceeds to support breast cancer research.

For your face: Chances are you need new cosmetics, so why not buy cosmetics that support fighting breast cancer? Clinique, La Mer, Este Lauder, Go Smile, Tweezerman and more are supporting the fight.

For your closet: Lisa Kline, C&C California, Splendid and Christian Dior are a few of the names in the industry that have created fashions to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.