I glanced at Twitter last night while out with friends eating bugs (yes, really) and saw that my feed was exploding with comments about some “amazing”, “epic”, “gorgeous” Cartier commercial. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s all that and so much more.

When I was in college, all I wanted in the world–other than Pearl Jam tickets–was a Cartier Tank Francaise watch. When I published my first book, my parents presented me with one in that iconic red box and I nearly fainted from excitement. I lost the watch in England a year later and still can barely find the words to express how gutted I was–I loved that watch more than any other possession, ever. But alas! They’re just things, you can’t take it with you, etc, etc, right?

Wherever you are, darling, I hope somebody is keeping you safe and warm. :sobs:

Still. A Cartier watch! Lost! It hurts as much today and it did then.

Someday, my Precious, we shall meet again.

What have we here?! Three of my personal favorites–Cartier, polo and Charlotte Casiraghi–together in one place? Yes, please.

Charlotte jetted to Dubai to present the trophies for the 7th Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge at Desert Palm Resort and Polo Club. Charlotte’s presence isn’t really surprising, since she’s such a horsey person that Gucci even custom-makes her show jumping kit.

I don’t cover polo as much as I used to, for obvious reasons: I’m no longer field-side on a near daily basis! I’m not sure if some of my readers were aware, but back in ‘06 and ‘07, when I was living in Palm Beach and England and working for the polo player Carlos Gracida, I literally spent about 5 hours a week on a polo field, often with my computer and working on my book Beauty Confidential! Sigh. Those were the days.

The game of Kings is still near and dear to my heart, and so it’s always exciting for me to see it (and the gorgeous Charlotte!) receive the attention it deserves.

Jen still looks great, although I must admit that I prefer her hair longer (WireImage/John Shearer)

I’ve been going through a retro I Love Lucy phase recently, watching an hour or two every afternoon while working and writing. Despite the fact that I’ve literally seen every single episode–it was my favorite show as a kid, and to this day remains in the top 3 alongside Friends and Arrested Development– I still find myself cackling like a moron as Lucy gets into one scrape after another.

I really do.

The Lucy episodes currently airing on LA daytime TV feature the amazing California season, where Ricky goes to LA to make it as an actor, and Lucy manages to alienate John Wayne, William Holden, Van Johnson, and half of old Hollywood. My personal favorite I Love Lucy of all time is the “LA at Last” episode, when Lucy meets her idol William Holden (who was like the Brad Pitt of his day). It still makes me cry with laughter (still!) and is tangible proof that they just don’t make ‘em like Lucille Ball anymore.

Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood (WireImage/John Shearer)

When I saw these pics of Jennifer Aniston outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater getting her hands and feet in cement, like any good Lucy fan I immediately thought of the episodes when she steals John Wayne’s Grauman Chinese hand-and-footprints. What makes these Jeni Ani pics so much better is the fact that Rachel Green is next to George Bluth (with Chelsea Handler along for the ride), outside a place I’ll always associate with Mrs. Ricardo. Lucy/Friends/AD trifecta for the win!

And in case you haven’t seen much I Love Lucy, here are 2 clips (above and below) from my favorite episode “LA at Last.”

I am way behind on this news, but: Tom Ford is launching more beauty products!

If you like musky scents and haven’t had the pleasure of smelling his divine fragrances, get thee to the department store immediately. (I talk here and here about how obsessed I am with Tom Ford Black Orchid in particular.)

Last year, he came out with the most glamorous lip collection ever: 12 superpigmented shades costing $45 a pop. At first, everybody was sort of bewildered (“$45 for lipstick?!”), but once tested, most people were hooked.

And now, this fall, we get a full color collection, plus skincare: 130 products in total! Eye shadows, blush, primer, powder, perfume, serums…I’m dizzy with anticipation. The collection will be available in 35 stores, each with a dedicated beauty counter designed by Ford.

Dying. It’s rare for me to spend my own money on beauty products, as we recently discussed, but I would spend it all on Tom Ford. I really can’t remember the last time I was so excited over a beauty launch.

Flat Kate visited the Tower of London, but luckily she kept her head. (However, her torso is a different story.)

I’m now back in Los Angeles, but I have a slew of England-related posts for you guys, so I hope you don’t mind if I continue to sprinkle them in here and there! With Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding only a week away–and media saturation at an all-time high–I’m finally experiencing a bit of fatigue regarding all things British. Yet still I soldier on…

The famous Tower of London! I'm obsessed with it. It was a royal residence and fortress, but is most famous as the place where hundreds of people lost their heads, including three Queens of England.

Right after I arrived in London, some friends and I spent two hours walking through East London. It’s an area that’s largely undiscovered by tourists, yet contains amazing bars, restaurants and pubs and is full of character. Walking along the Thames from Rotherhithe, Tower Bridge looms before you in all its glory.

Tower Bridge at dusk. Isn't it beautiful? I took about 75 pictures - you're just getting the good ones, trust!

On my fifth day in England, I spent 3 hours touring the Tower of London itself. The Tower, as you might know, is most famous as the royal prison where Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I (Bloody Mary!) executed hundreds of people–including, of course, three Queens of England: Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard and Jane Grey. Before she became Queen Elizabeth I, the young Princess Elizabeth was also held in the Tower by her sister Mary for 2 months on suspicion of trying to seize the crown for herself. No real proof of Elizabeth’s involvement in various plots could be found, she was eventually released into house custody and, less than 4 years later, she became Queen. (I’ve been a little obsessed with Elizabeth I for the better part of 15 years. She was an absolute badass.)

To the left, a memorial installed by Queen Victoria commemorating the spot where Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Katherine Howard were executed; to the right, the royal apartments were Anne Boleyn and, later, her daughter Princess Elizabeth were held

The Tower is a fascinating place oozing with history. I learned on my tour that it’s still a residence–nay, a village! The Yeoman Warders (otherwise known as the Beefeaters) live there with their families, and there’s a post office, a doctor’s office, a church and even a pub. The church, by the way, is where Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Katherine Howard are all buried.

Walking over Tower Bridge as the sun sets

What else is in The Tower? The Crown Jewels! I wanted so desperately to take photos, but the eagle-eyed guards forbade it. They’re stunning up close, and if you haven’t paid a visit, I highly recommend the next time you’re in London. I also learned that Queen Consorts are crowned alongside their husbands during the Coronation Ceremonies…so, one day, Kate Middleton will literally be crowned Queen of England with a freaking amazing piece of jewelry!

And, finally, Tower Bridge at night. My friend KSned's flat is just a 5 minute walk away, so I was able to walk by the Tower and Tower Bridge on a daily basis. Love!

The area where I stayed for a good chunk of my trip is called Wapping. It’s a less-known area of London that is mostly famous for Execution Dock, where pirates–including the notorious Captain Kidd–were hanged back in the day while onlookers watched and cheered. (Weird.) Now, Wapping is home to multi-million pound apartments, cobblestone streets, a sportscenter, adorable Thames-front pubs, and an avant-garde bar/restaurant/art center called The Wapping Project that I visited on my second-to-last day in London.

The outdoor installation at the Wapping Project features doors, chairs and ladders set in trees and made me think of Alice in Wonderland!

Now that I’m finally back home in good ol’ Southern California, I have to admit that I do miss London a tiny bit. It’ll always feel like I’m returning to visit an old friend–and, considering that I’m lucky enough to have several awesome lifelong friends there (love you gals!), that’s both literally and figuratively true!

Black comedy at its finest - very British. This sign, featuring a droll quote from famous diarist Samuel Pepys, hangs outside a pub just across from Tower Hill, where the public executions took place.

More from my England trip to come soon, including my visit to the awesome Butterfly Boutique, a Bare Escentuals press breakfast for the new Pretty Amazing lipsticks, and some videos I took outside Westminster Abbey on my last day!