I express my gratitude......

The ones who know me for a longer time also know that in this day I always try to write something, no matter how I feel.

Because today is a very important day for me. It’s the anniversary of one of my turning points and for all the reasons I must be grateful.

Just knowing that Spirituality’s good can come from life's bad is one of the most liberating concepts in the entire Universe.

After that I learned that Spirituality didn't require me to strictly follow the rules of a particular "religion" acting out all sorts of rituals and traditional religious rites of passage... sure those things are wonderful, when they have meaning to the individual acting them out... but what Spirituality really wanted from me was a "Relationship"... wanted ME, what was in MY heart! Wanted to change me from the inside out, create within me the ability to grow into a better person…

“Do not worry about what the world wants of you. Worry about what makes you come alive because what the world needs is people who are more alive.”

~ Lawrence LeShan

Namasté!

Très Chic Style Bits #13 | pink statement coat....

Our Link Up Party “Très Chic Style Bits” is growing slowly, but is growing and I'm so happy about that!!

So a big Thank You to all the stylish bloggers who took the time to visit and link up with us!!!!

So, if you're new here, join us and add your link at the bottom of this post.

At last the pink coat I was expecting and that I mentioned to you when I talked about statement coats, arrived.

I'm full of memories and dreams

typography......

mustard and black...... my quilted pleather jacket.... what do our clothes say about who we are...

There’s a fabulous line early on in "The Devil Wears Prada":

“Fashion is not about utility. An accessory is merely a piece of iconography used to express individual identity.”

What do our clothes say about who we are or who we think we are? How does the way we dress communicate messages about our identity? Is the desire to be "in fashion" universal, or is it unique to Western culture? How do fashions change?

Much of what we assume to be individual preference really reflects deeper social and cultural forces. Ours is an ambivalent social world, characterized by tensions over gender roles, social status, and the expression of sexuality.

What we wear and how we look is our only way to communicate who we are to people without dialogue. Clothes are indicators of our personalities, likes, values and subcultures we may be a part of. We are in a constant stage of reflecting our identity and the only way we can do that in the physical world is through our bodies. Our bodies are physical representations for defining how we choose to be perceived as individuals.

A quotation that I find interesting and related:

"Long before we're old enough to do anything on our own, we're old enough to dress ourselves. When we stand bewildered in a closet or a department store dressing room, what we're confronting is one of life's fundamental questions: Is this me? And: Would I like this to be me? Under what stretch of the imagination might this possibly be me? And finally: Who am I? ... Clothes are a constant act of self-definition ..."

 ~ Nora Ephron, Elle Magazine guest editor, October 2009

black booties - local store

mustard pants - Yessica

black with white stripes shirt - H&M

black pleather jacket (quilted parts) - Vero Moda

mustard scarf - H&M

rubi brooch - gift from Hubby

cat eyes sunnies - Mango

I´m linking up with My Thrifty Chic´s Love It, Link It, Shanna’s Random Wednesdays and Style Elixir´s Style Sessions.

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To all my dear readers and blogging friends who are celebrating it, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

falling for plaid..... the tartan pants.....

Computers and the Internet were supposed to make life easier; instead, people are busier than ever.

Overworked overachievers suffer from a worrying sense of anxiety.

We mess our minds with vague promises about what we should do, what we could do. But there is always more to do than there is time to do it.

But most of the stress that people feel comes from not keeping agreements they've made with themselves.

When we tell ourselves we have to do something and then don't do it, we experience self-doubt and frustration. We can fool all of the people some of the time, but we can't fool ourselves for a second.

There's usually an inverse relationship between how much something is on our mind and how much we're actually doing about it.

We are our own perfect victims and enemies.

When we came back home from our trip to Paris, last September, we had to stop for a night in Lisbon. Luckily I had some time to go to do some shopping.

One of the pieces I bought then was these tartan pants. Despite I know they weren’t the best for my body shape, I wanted so much some tartan pants, because tartan is back in a big way this season.

So when I saw these pants with just a subtle pattern (not screaming and calling for attention), I knew I had to give them a try.

In the end I like them very much and I think it’s a way for me to wear the trend without compromising much the look.

I also like this top a lot. I’m a big fan of lace, another trend, and the details of lace it has, combined with its colour (for the ones who just know me recently, I’m a big fan of colour), makes it a winner.

The pictures were taken in my office building (a palace) garden, last Monday.

black booties - Seaside
tartan pants - H&M
mustard top - local store
green blazer - Najma
necklace - mainland store

I´m linking up with My Thrifty Chic´s Love It, Link It, Shanna’s Random Wednesdays, Style Elixir´s Style Sessions and Long Distance Loving’s Friday’s Fancies.
This post is also submitted to the IFB Blazer Project.

Time......

Where has time gone? What happened to my life that allowed me one or two blog posts a day?

is there an age to stop wearing red lipstick......?

According to an article at Yahoo Shine, Nurture Replenish Skincare carried a research among 2000 45+ women and asked their opinion on what’s "age appropriate" or not.

That article already attracted more than 7700 comments! Many from women that were outraged by some of the article’s statements.

And why is that? Well because among other things the results stated that 59 seems to be the age that these women felt you should dress more "age-appropriately".

At that age, many felt you should ditch: high heels, red lipstick, tight clothes, false nails, fake tan, leather pants, knee high boots, heavy eyeliner, tight tops, and go for a more natural look.

Bella's, from The Citizen Rosebud, feedback it's so good in this article on the topic that I highly recommend you to read it!!!!

picture from Bella's article

I'm grateful..... I express my gratitude and rejoice....

The ones who know me for a longer time also know that every year on this day I make a post.

And why.... because today is a very important day for me.

It’s the anniversary of one of my turning points which I always celebrate.

For all the reasons I must be grateful. Sometimes life makes me forget that… but the Universe always brings me back to REJOICE. 

So from the heart, with feelings, I express my gratitude:

for my life...
for the present moment...
for the alters ever going forward...
for my thoughts that let me to produce…
for my inner discovering how to be alive...
for my career, and for the confidence I find in myself while working…
for sitting in meditation and paying attention to my breath...
for my prayers although my personal accepting...
for my time in quiet and in move all over space...
for the smell of incense burning...
for my current blessings…
for receiving many more…
for today...
for the sleep...
for the water...
for the air…
for the wind bursting through time...
for the colours...
for the flowers...
for the blue open sky...
for the beautiful, tall, green trees…
for the sound of rain...
for the clouds and how they are never similar...
for the oceans…
for the beautiful waves, and the sandy beaches…
for the sunshine…
for the star light and the moon light…
for my new life...
for my smile...
for keeping the ability to walk…
for keeping my hands...
for my friends...
for my blog, that has offered for me a way to make friends, make my self confidence, discover about myself and others…
for my family circle, always supporting and being behind me…
for my love, always besides me...

and of course, forever for the laugh.............

Namasté! 

random thoughts about the “new” Fashion Blogland….. personal style and my new challenges….

My dear readers and blogging friends, so much time has passed since I last wrote that it feels a bit weird and I really don’t know where to start. But let’s just the mind flow…

I have been thinking daily of my blog and weekly I think of two or three topics that I could write about and then don’t. The longer I don’t write the more I feel a lot of pressure which then stops me from posting.

During my absence some “important” events have happened. I had my Birthday, now I’m a FOF – Fabulous over Fifty, can you imagine that….?

I have been very busy at work with three trips to other islands, each one of a week and also felling very tired and also have been sick.

Meanwhile I made “a journey through the desert” thinking about Fashion Blogland, how it was when I started blogging and how it is now, if I really wanted to stop blogging or if this somehow forced break was “just” a break.

Something is off now, I can feel it. People no longer blog because they have the desire to share their unique perspectives with the world. Every single fashion blog is starting to look the same. The most famous and visited are young fashionistas and big brands sponsored. And why is that?

It pains me to say this, but the vast majority of fashion blogs have become little more than glorified advertisements for online shops and products. Some bloggers are out there chasing sponsors, treating their blogs like a full-time job.

Me, well these days, I must admit, I never solicit advertising, but whenever I get an e-mail and feel like having a little extra cash in my pocket I don’t refuse. But it kind of distresses me that I have not learned to compete in this market.

However I don’t know if I care about it. I am not an entrepreneur, just a regular person with a savant-like fascination with fashion, who will never be able to afford some brands and that’s totally okay. But I can’t compete with that because it’s just not my field. The looks I create are for everyday, for a woman of my age that works and despite not having a strict dress code I have to look presentable. But I would like to diversify and step outside of my comfort zone. Because when I started to align with the mainstream I fell in a fashion route.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still interested in sharing my writing, my style and ultimately myself with the world. I’m still searching for my personal style. But I don’t want it to be just another Fashion Blog.

Because your personal style is your identity. As you create it, as you discover the things that enhance your view of the world and figure out how to bring them into your life, your personal style transforms into a autograph, something distinguishable as belonging to no one else but fabulous you. It’s your personal style amplified, flourished and complete.

Taking personal style into the signature territory is about a lot of things. Analyzing your life and understanding the many elements of it – from how you behave to what you wear, read, watch and eat – can give you more insight into who you are and what best describes your style. Do you have a signature scent? A signature lipstick? A signature film? Things that not only your friends recognize as being very “you”, but things that you instantly recognize as being favorites; deeply-important-to-you favorites.

As I’m challenging myself to cultivate my signature style, I’m also trying to change my posts form, keeping the content and I’ll invite you to make this path with me.

Hope to see you soon….

Namasté

last Friday outfit......

This is what I wore last Friday...... it was so windy but I kept my hat on my head ;)
As I said in a previous post I'm feeling braver to wear my hats and I feel good.

 

I'm made of dreams and memories.......

karma........

in the urban jungle…....

Over half of the world's population now lives in the urban jungle. One environment that's been made by us for us - the city it refers to its streets, alleys, subway system, inner-city neighbourhoods, playgrounds and schools. Usually a metropolis characterized by densely packed residential buildings, businesses and a decaying industrial sector.
In the 1970's, the urban jungle was referred to as "the street". Also known as "the concrete jungle", the city is built to keep wild nature out - but nature can't be pushed away. People are starting to realise that nature is key to our continued survival. The human planet is starting to realise that we'll only survive if we protect nature.
So I wore my black and white animal print to camouflage myself in this jungle……

Talking about something different have you noticed that I changed my motto?????

black pumps
red pants
white embroider shirt
white belt
black and white aminal printed blazer
mixed jewellery

some of my thoughts about Forgiveness…..

I already told you that because of some sort of things that have been happening in my life I have been thinking much about Forgiveness. So I thought it was a good time to explore some thought.
(Sorry for the long post)

Every day I live and I learn from life, the more it reinforces me the understanding that forgiveness goes well beyond an attitude localized and isolated, it approaches an exercise. It is a set of attitudes that we take and re-evaluate, building new interpretations of life, discovering and choosing new angles. Forgiveness is part of a series of internal and external actions and needs time to settle.

Once I read a phrase that made me thinking about the deeper meaning of forgiveness: "True forgiveness is to give up hope that the past was different."
So it's not open the door of my house and my life for those who did me wrong? Not to forget the past? Well, the forgiveness that opens the heart is one that recognizes that the past is over and that nothing can change it. Only the well lived present can insert new tracks on this road. Forgiveness includes the need to recognize that we also did what could be done, we realized what to do, within the possibilities we glimpsed: self-forgiveness. Recognizing we are humans, susceptible to error and correct them in trying to learn.

The hurts of the past hold us and make us fear the future, removing the power of the present and the opening to live it. They take place in our closed hearts, making it difficult for other emotions, other stories, other life experiences can flourish. A heart so full like this is a heart that approaches reality only by half. Then we become bitter, not only by the experiences of grief, but also by the closure created that causes our emotional life wither, and together our joy, our willingness, our creative impulse.

This is not about sweeping the dust under the carpet. Forgive is not Forget. It is actually an exercise to see and feel this dust of the past, identify where it comes from and where it is. And then start to clean it if necessary to seek help for it to use all available resources to clean the house and open it to the fresh breeze of new times. A heart that opens to recognize and address their grievances is a free heart to beat again in the rhythm of the emotions that arise here and now.


I’ve said that we must acknowledge our scars as combat marks, but without heaviness and pain.
But why do I still feel that about some things I’m not yet ready to forgive????

Namasté!

have you ever had the feeling….

…that you have been used and then got dumped?

please help me….

I’m really confused and have been thinking about the issue that is the information that I, as a fashion blogger, usually publish about the clothes of an outfit, naming the brands and having no compensation for that.

Should I continue doing that because it might open some doors and it is information or should I stop doing it, since I’m not rewarded for that?????

I'm on the edge..... and this can be a turning on my blog....

I’ve made a pool on the Facebook page, so please go there to vote and leave your insight there or even here.

Thank you so much for your help!!!!!

Rejoicing!!!!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4-7

Today is a very important day for me. It’s the anniversary of one of my turning points which I’ve also celebrated here, here and here, For all the reasons I must rejoice. Sometimes life makes me forget that… but the Universe always brings me back to REJOICE.

Namasté

yay or nay, free advertising… and we’re growing on Facebook…..

Hello my dear readers and blogging friends, are you all getting ready for spring???

Is the weather on your place a spring-y one? If so you’re very lucky… here it’s raining and still cold.

These last few days I’ve been thinking about this issue that is the information that Fashion bloggers publish about the clothes of an outfit, naming the brands and having no compensation for that, if it is “Free Advertising”. I mean when I put that I bought that piece on Mango, Zara, H&M…. and many others they don’t know I’m doing that but also don’t care.

The big majority of fashion bloggers have no clothes by courtesy of any brand. Is this “Free Advertising”? Should we give that information? Yay or Nay??? Insights are very welcome!!!

On another note I’m very happy with the fact that we’re growing as a niche in Facebook. We now are more than 1000 and I’m sure we will continue to grow. Thank you so much to all that showed some love by clicking “like” on our page. But we can’t stop now… have you already done it????

Now I’ll leave you with some pictures took on Monday, a day we thought it will be hope about spring coming…..

It’s supposed for you to come today….. where are you????

March equinox will take place today at 23:21, meaning in the Northern Hemisphere the begging of springtime.

But, with a weather like this, where are you, Spring?????