1. Cypress Point Club – Pebble Beach, CA. This has some of the most spectacular views in the game, especially along the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes that line the Pacific Ocean. Near Monterrey, this is also a great place to come for a beach holiday.

Augusta Golf Club; Image source: sbnation.com

2. Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, GA. The yearly home of the Master’s Tournament, the course is known for its architecture as well as the amusing names of its holes. Each hole is named after the plant with which it is associated (something you can mention to your colleagues when you’re waiting to tee off).

3. Crystal Downs Country Club – Frankfort, MI. Crystal Downs is hands-down the best golf course in the Midwest. And it’s definitely worth the trip. The course itself is challenging and beautiful, and in Michigan–the under-appreciated tourist state! Those in the know, however, realize that it’s a great place to golf and to take part in outdoor activities of all kinds.

4. Pine Valley Golf Club – Pine Valley, NJ. Thanks to its deigner, George Arthur Crump (who was obsessed with the course’s layout), this is one of the most complex and rewarding courses to play in the world. Its understated clubhouse is the stuff golf lore is made of!

Try one or two, and remember: it’s not about winning or losing, but having bragging rights that you played one of these courses at all.

Business Travel; Image source: actonaccountingandbookkeeping.com

The two-day business trip. Typically seen as a necessary evil of the professional world. Don’t fret if your summer calendar is full of these. We at Sivani are here to try to help you get through the 48-hour travel grind, and, dare we say, to help you enjoy yourself. The three tips for a business trip below come from seasoned business travelers on the international and national level. Try them next time you’re out of town for 2 days.

1. Keep track of where you’ve stayed. It’s really handy to have a journal where you can jot down the hotels and restaurants you’ve been to on one of these trips. The internet is a great tool, but nothing will aide your memory like writing your thoughts down briefly for instant reference. This way, you’ll know what hotels have the most comfortable beds and which eateries cater to which kinds of clients.

2. Separate your liquids and electronics before you reach the airport. Nothing can get your trip off to a less-than-breezy start quite like the frustration of trying to get your stuff sorted while stripping out of your belt, sweater, and shoes in front of 200 complete strangers. Save yourself the hassle: get a good bag with external pockets and do the work before you get to security.

3. Make time to do one new thing. Even if it’s the local museum or a walk on the beach, try to take an hour or two for yourself. You only live once and the fact is you’re away from home. So make the most of it!

Remember that travel websites like Lonely Planet and Frommers are awesome resources for finding places to stay and things to do. Happy travels from Sivani!

Wine and Cheese Pairings; Image Source: blog.officelinks.com

Wine and cheese pairings might seem kind of fussy, but don’t go knocking it until you try it. With the help of your taste buds, you’ll soon find how sublime a great pairing can be. Here is Sivani’s crash course in putting together complementary pairs of wine and cheese:

1. Salty cheese? Choose a crisp or sweet wine. For instance, we suggest pairing a platter of olives and divine feta cheese with a Sauvignon Blanc, and you can’t do better for a Roquefort than to give it a glass of Port!

2. Sweet cheese? Your wine should be somewhat edgy. If you want to serve a Wensleydale cheese with embedded cranberry, reach for a Cabernet Sauvignon.

3. Also keep in mind that you want your wine and cheese to both be at the proper temperature for serving. This will ensure that you get the best possible result where taste is concerned. If you’re purchasing your delights in a deli or wine shop, ask at the counter for information on what the best way to serve is.

4. Try to pair wines and cheeses from the same country, and from the same region, if possible. This is the best shortcut to wonderful pairings, since natives have likely been pairing the wine and cheese you select for centuries.

Don’t be afraid to try combinations until you get it just right. If you have a luxury delicatessan in your area, chances are good that they’ll let you try out some sample. Feel free to experiment. There are no hard-and-fast rules. And after all, what could be so bad about testing delicious cheeses and luxurious wines? Absolutely nothing.

If you could do with some relaxation this summer (or any time of the year) why not try one of these top 3 surfing spots where you can not only enjoy catching some waves but also some of the most beautiful sceneries? This list includes selections especially tailored to intermediate and beginning surfers, since you would probably have already quit your day job and know about all the hot spots otherwise. Here we go:

Surfing at Kuta Bali Beach; Image source: diepoort.net

1. Kuta, Bali
For those with some extra cash they’d like to burn off, there’s almost nowhere we could think of that’s more beautiful than Bali. The beach at Kuta is the best place to start off; try the Odyssey Bali Surf School for a personalized or group lesson. Make sure to stick around after to enjoy the sandy strip of beach, restaurants, and palm-tree-laden views in the area.

2. Waikiki, Hawaii
This Sivani employee is incredibly biased toward Hawaii, but for good reason. It’s domestic, which means low hassle in terms of passport nonsense and currency exchanges, but is also simply one of the most enchanting places in the world. Honolulu’s downtown is a special place (think Chicago’s Gold Coast plucked from beside Lake Michigan and deposited next to the Pacific), and so is its signature beach. While you’re riding a wave in, try to stay up long enough to enjoy the views of the city.

3. Lagos, Portugal
For those looking to head to Europe, you couldn’t find a better place to surf than Lagos. It’s a mostly-undiscovered gem of the surfing world. Surf Experience Lagos is an excellent place to take lessons as a beginner. Part of the fun of surfing here is getting worn out so you can enjoy a heaping plate of delicious Portuguese food after in the town center.

And remember to please take your Sivani leather jewelry off before you get in the water!

Summer Suits; Image source: 9tailors.blogspot.com

As a woman, I can concede that getting dressed in the summertime is a breeze. Literally. Dresses and skirts are easy to wear because, let’s face it, they are structurally designed to allow for some airflow. And while we can wear open-toed shoes to the office, guys often don’t have the choice. So, without further ado: here are some suggestions on the best materials and places to buy great men’s warm weather suits.

While suffocating and/or sweating to death in the suits you wear during the rest of the year might help you lose some weight (we doubt it), it also probably doesn’t make you look any sharper in front of bosses, colleagues, potential clients, potential lady friends, or your existing lady friend. Not all fabrics are created equal, especially not in terms of how wearable or breathable they are in the summer. Investing in a summer suit will give people the (true) impression that you have money to spend on such things as a summer suit, but will also give you the cool confidence you need in the office, in a client meeting, or out on the town.

Linen, seersucker, tropical wools. Do yourself a favor and enter those three terms into your iPhone or Blackberry right now. They are your key to summer suiting success! Before you head out in search of the perfect suit, have a look at J. Crew’s offerings on their website. Remember that lighter colors are great for summer—besides, do you really need another navy jacket or black pair of trousers? Probably not. Also check out Esquire’s excellent feature page on summer suiting! If you follow their handy tips, you’ll be looking as smooth as Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby before you know it.

Barbecue Chicken; Image Source: marthastewart.com

Those summer beers that we discussed in last week’s post will no doubt go down easy with what we’re about to chat about this week — barbecue ideas for party. So once you’re sure you’ve got enough gas, coal, and brews, why don’t you invite some friends over for a backyard soiree? Here are some recipes and party ideas to start the summer off in style.

If it’s a laidback get-together of family and/or friends, hotdogs, brats, and burgers are always a good bet. Going to a good butcher makes all the difference in the world where taste is concerned, but if not, Archer Farms (at Target) and Trader Joe’s brand meats are superior to what else is hanging out in the meat aisle. Feel free to go cheap on things like pickles, sauerkraut, and ketchup, but heaven help you if you’re cheap on the tomatoes, onions, or cheese! For recipes of this type, we suggest consulting with Martha Stewart’s website. While you may not think of her as a grizzly grill master, she does know how to please a crowd.

For a more upscale gathering, fish or steaks might be the order of the evening. Make sure you stock up on red wine (Cabernet is especially nice) for red meet, and a white if it’s fish. If you’re not sure exactly what wine to choose, foodandwinepairing.org is a great food and wine pairing website, and very simple to use. As for the food, we again refer you to the local butcher or fishmonger—though No Name steaks are a delicious alternative to more expensive options.

If you’re in the mood to brush up on your grilling skills, we’d recommend ordering a copy of Weber’s Big Book of Grilling. And to those disenfranchised vegans out there, fear not: you too can enjoy this summer tradition, and Veganomican: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook can help.

If you’re not too burned out (pun intended), the barbecue lovers among you will adore chef Anthony Bourdain’s Kansas City episode – watch it on travelchannel.com!

Kayaking in Australia; Image Source: thewordaustralia.com.au

South Australia
For active pursuits, you could hardly pick a better place than the outback. While Australia offers activities such as four-wheeling on the beach, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, and other water sports, the real adventurer will surely be drawn to what we had in mind — the Oodnadatta Track. This is a 620-kilometer trail traditionally used to herd cattle, and you can be one of the riders mounted on horseback to do the down and dirty work. As a part of the team, you’ll camp under the stars in the outback by night and enjoy Australia’s rugged beauty by day, cowboy style. No prior riding experience is necessary, and six cattle drives take place per summer; check out cattledrive.com.au for more information.

Hawaii
Again, the option to lay on the beach and catch up on your tan is there. No judgment. But the islands offer a chance for some great thrills, too. For instance, why not try a helicopter ride on Kauai? There are tons of tours over the naturally stunning Na Pali coast, with its many sharp cliffs, waterfalls, and canyons. You’ll cut right through all of them with a high-adrenaline way of seeing the sights! If you’d prefer to stay out on the clear Pacific waters, try big game fishing on the Big Island’s Kona coast. There are tons of seasoned salty dogs (aka ‘registered charter boat captains’) who can help you bring in a load of marlin or other tropical fish. And of course surfing lessons abound throughout the islands, though the best place to surf is Oahu’s North Shore. Just remember to take some lessons and learn the ropes before you attempt anything too crazy.

Scotland
The summer weather here is welcoming to travelers who love the outdoors. The sun stays out until after 10pm in some parts of the Northern-lying country, and it’s never miserably hot. This makes bike trips a particularly popular means of seeing Scotland, especially the geographically varied Isle of Arran and Rob Roy’s former stomping grounds, the Trossachs. Scotland has an incredible Northwestern coastline: head to the Isle of Skye and the surrounding area for hiking through hills and mountains that appear to be out of this world. Do not forget the camera, you will seriously regret it. If you’re in for a little more of a refined way to be active and enjoy the scenery, you’ve got to head to St Andrews, Fife. Home of the Old Course (really, the Oldest Course, as it’s golf’s first and dates from the 14thc.) you can even walk the course on Sunday with a fantastic view of the beach and medieval town. Cheers!

Sports Attire; Image Spurce: gq.com

Fellas, transitioning from the corporate game to the baseball game shouldn’t be a hassle. You, city guys, know the drill for afternoon games – trading your suit and tie for a jersey, jeans, and your favorite Adidas shoes. What could be better than getting out of the florescent light and out into the sunshine? Here are the two most important ingredients to making your trip to the old ball game an enjoyable endeavor.

1. Hydration

This is key if it’s hot outside, or if you plan to partake in any adult beverages whilst taking in the action on the field. Load up on water if you’re at the office in the morning, and try to replace coffee with a couple of glasses of orange juice if you can. While you’re sitting in parking lot traffic or while waiting for your bus/train/ride to the game is also an excellent time to chug some Gatorade.

2. The Right Summer Sports Clothes

This depends largely on what you’re trying to get out of this ballgame experience. If you’re chilling with the big wigs in the corporate skybox, you’ll want to stick with your office getup or trade your dress shirt for a nice polo with your team’s logo. If it’s a man date with your buddies and some ballpark brews, it’s gotta be a t-shirt or jersey and jeans, along with, of course, a baseball hat. Shop.MLB.com has all the hookups. And for date night (coming from a lady, here) it’s always nice to ditch the sports apparel for a middle-of-the-road polo or sweater—though ladies have been known to love a guy in a worn-out baseball hat.

A final note: remember to always keep those precious tickets close, along with your cash, phone, and credit cards. Front pocket is always the safest place in a crowd, even if it’s a crowd of your fellow Sox/Cards/Yankees fans!

Summer Beers 2012; Photo credit: rheinlander.com

With summer on the horizon, it’s time to dig into the season of what we like to call the Big Three: baseball, the beach, and beer. Sivani’s blog is paying close attention to all three of these very important summer mainstays. Right now, we want to talk about the third and potentially most important of the three. And that, friends, is beer.

Summer is traditionally the season of Pilsner–a group of pale lagers with a taste that we will describe here as “fresh” instead of “light.” Because if it doesn’t taste like something, you didn’t spend enough money on it. Our favorite pilsners are Pilsner Urquell (THE original pilsner from the Czech Republic), Jever (of the German persuasion, and slightly more bitter than the Czech), Warsteiner (another prolifically delicious German pils), and Belgium’s Grolsch, which has a sweet ring to it that can be enhanced with a small slice of citrus.

For those of you who like the wares that smaller breweries have to offer, we’ve got a few suggestions to pair with whatever you’re serving up on the grill. If it’s an ale you’re after, reach for Ipswitch Ale Brewery’s Summer Ale—a nice, full blonde with a dash of citrus. Lagunita’s A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin is a silky wheat beer with quite a little bang for its buck at 7.5% abv. (don’t man the grill if you’ve had a few, y’hear?). For something a little heavier, grab a cold Russian River Supplication. It’s a darker summer ale that has been sent to age in wine barrels made of oak.

There are also a ton of beer festivals going on this summer if you’ve got a taste for it. Beerfestivals.org has a great selection of events organized by city. Some of the most epic fests include Portland’s Oregon Brewers Festival and the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Wherever you go and whatsoever you drink, remember to drink responsibly—so you can actually enjoy the festivities and remember them, too.

Little Floral Leather Bracelet

Sivani is synonymous with the summer. The uniqueness of Silvia Nikolov’s designs is the perfect complement to the wide range of scents, sights, and life events associated with this special time of the year. Weddings, when done right, reflect the values and personalities of those being joined together in marriage. So, if you’re a Sivani bride, groom, or guest, why not make our jewelry a part of the special celebration?

Leather Necklace Horseshoe Pendant

Sivani bracelets and necklaces make for fantastic reminders of friendship for both bridesmaids and groomsmen. These are gifts they will truly cherish – to have and to hold, as a matter of fact. For bridesmaids in a country wedding, we suggest our little sterling silver floral bracelet. This lovely piece is dainty and particularly striking in red. For a more urban celebration, the silver wrap bracelet with citrine is recommended. Your team of maids can even make it a long, fun necklace for once the
dancing starts!

The non-traditional groom might be well suited (no wedding pun intended) to the men’s leather necklace with horseshoe pendant. Horseshoes are a symbol of good luck—and what guy couldn’t use that on his wedding day, even as a protection against flubbing the vows? And wise indeed is the groom who hands out our leather bracelet with sterling silver anchor before the ceremony to symbolically thank his buddies for their constant support and friendship.

Mothers of the bride, cousins of the groom – there’s truly something for every wedding guest from Sivani Designs. Have a great time shopping our friendship bracelets and necklaces, and be sure to browse our
other posts for my style inspiration. Happy celebrating!