I’m a big fan (and friend!) of both Rachel Roy and Deepak Chopra, so I was thrilled to get a sneak peak at their new jewelry collection. The 10-piece collaboration—which includes rings, necklaces, bracelets and body jewelry plated in white, yellow and rose gold—is absolutely gorgeous, designed by Rachel and inspired by Deepak’s blend of western science and eastern philosophies. I especially liked the sword necklaces and stacked rings, as well as the pendants inscribed with inspirational Chopra quotes like “Love without action is meaningless and action without love is irrelevant.” Fittingly, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Urban Yogi initiative, which aids disadvantaged inner city residents. 

I happen to love a good cup of tea and I’m a big fan of Crate & Barrel, which is why I’m crazy about these super-chic teapots designed by 12 contemporary artists to commemorate the store’s 50^th anniversary. Each month beginning Dec. 1, Crate and Barrel will feature a new design on limited-edition teapots—I particularly love the whimsical red fish on the September pot by architect Paola Navone and the colorful cityscape on Brooklyn based-illustrator Julia Rothman’s pot for November. Only 200 of each teapot will be produced, making it a great gift for the tea lovers in your life (or yourself!).

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Photo: George Burns

Love this table setting where Oprah chooses some of her Favorite Things for 2012? It was created by Tammy Carmona, owner of fine porcelain dishware company Carmona New York & Co, and veteran caterer and event planner. (And for all you Twihards out there, she also designed the set—down to the flowers and the dishes—for Edward and Bella’s wedding scene in Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1.) Here, she reveals her secrets for creating a beautiful table—and throwing a great holiday party.

Holiday entertaining can be stressful. What do I need to know before I begin?

Know your theme, food selection, amount of people attending and other items you want to have on display such as flowers or candles. If it’s a holiday like Christmas and the red and green theme doesn’t work, have no fear—go with an elegant brushed gold and white instead.

What sort of dishware should I use?

Look at your menu as a starting point. Our dinnerware styles range from traditional to modern and funky; our challenge is to match each food with the best dish by size, shape and placement. Remember: You want the presentation to create excitement.

How do I make sure I don’t get stuck in the kitchen while my guests are mingling?

Keep it simple by limiting the number of dishes, so guests don’t get overwhelmed. Be prepared by placing good-sized portions on your serving dishes. When it comes to sweets, go for mini-desserts, which look less messy.

Any other tips?

Use flowers and candles to add to the ambiance—the lighting adds to a festive look. Also, consider personalized napkins, which are a beautiful finishing touch. 

Happy Friday! Here's some of the things that made our week:

This beautiful time-lapse and animation video of New York

Beluga whale tries to teach himself to speak [via BBC]

Fascinating study on why children hide by covering their eyes [via BPS Research Digest]

Dad makes Halloween costume for wheelchair bound son [via The Huffington Post]