Am hm...

What do you know, I'm a guest blogger! LOL http://cheapoair.typepad.com/guest-travel-blog/2011/02/pernes-les-fontaines-the-pearl-of-comtat.html

Meanwhile, I'm suffering post-Oscar blues. It was... a bit boring. Quite expected, though. Colin Firth won which made my day. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law almost convinced me to give "Sherlock Holmes II" a chance. And that's basically all of it. :(

With rings on her fingers...

... and bells on her toes... You know it, I'm sure. I haven't started designing bells for toes yet but my jewellery drawing adventure goes on. Since last summer I've drawn quite a few sketches. I hadn't drawn anything since high school when I still thought I should become an artist. :)) I'm a little surprised how naturally it comes to me now... Or may be I should thank David Bisbal whose music makes me especially productive. :))) Anyways, what started as "Feelings" these days looks more like "Passions" already. I'm seriously considering naming it "The Passions of Saturn". :))))) Only my poor snake is still nameless, torn between "Temptation" and "Seduction". More like "Temptation" to me... Oh, I love bare back with a jewel, that's my favorite which probably explains why I hardly wear any jewellery - not enough for my back out there! LOL

*Please, be aware that these are copyrighted, so it's OK to share the link to the blog but not to copy the photos. Thanks. :)

I've been reading...

 ... this little book. As I've stated a number of times here, I don't believe in coincidences. Meaning, I believe everything happens for a reason. When I go to the bookstore, I let the right book call on me. This one did precisely that. In short, I recommend the book as it's written friendly, it's not theorizing, it's simple and meaningful. Here is what I got today from it:

"Unless you first commit to her,
you will not see her beauty.
Unless you first commit to him,
he cannot be the One."

In the last chapter I also found a challenging concept... "You are gift-wrapped". I chewed on it for a couple of days as I'm one of those who have been taught being a gift is like selling oneself. Extremely stupid, of course, one of those old "pieces of wisdom" I wish I had never heard, yet deeply rooted in my mind. I realize now when I give away gifts, I never sell them. I may have spent a fortune or a loonie on them but I have thought of the person, I have invested my emotion in the piece, I've co-created it with his maker once again, especially for the person to receive it. Therefore, I suggest you unwrap today and give yourself away. :) No worries, no fear, the worst possible scenario is to be a gift returned. But accepting the thought you are unique comes with the realization that, like most unique things, you cannot be liked by everyone. There is no point to be sad. It's only a question of time or timing to meet the expert in uniqueness. :))

Here is a song that complements my mood today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRgFeZa_I48 What can I say? Use somebody to be your gift receiver... Or use yourself to be someone's long expected gift... Risk it, play it, enjoy it. And be sure that the one who must, will notice. :))

Save a life

Here is something I'd like to share: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/spay_day/ . Today is Spay Day, we can all save a life participating in Humane Society's initiative. It's something very close to my heart, so I wish more people would get involved. Have yourself a warm and happy day! :)

Why did she do that?

Today one of my heroines decided to move to Maida Vale. In London, that is. No, not the Canadian one, the British one. And guess what? I've never, in my entire life, spend even one minute in Maida Vale, despite the time I've spent in London... Ouch...

Maida Vale residents anywhere around to shed some light on the neighbourhood? :))))))) I have headache. LOL

P.S. At least, she seems to have good taste, according to Google!

Immortal Beloved

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110116/ As you may (or may not) read, this is one of my all time favorite movies although I dare not to call it simply a "favorite" because it's digging too deep in my soul. I hadn't watched it for over ten years because I feared my own reaction. Of course, these are personal things, not all respond the same way to the same thing and it's all about our perceptions and memories. To me, this movie set the beginning of a five year love story which otherwise would have never happened at all. The man was unattractive according to my vision then, too shy, too introvert, too... not my type at all. Yet, he came one day and left the movie on my desk. Just like that. And was gone. I will forever remember that night as I went home after work and played the old VHS. And played it again. And again. Spent the night peering in the dark. On the next morning I had realized I had just received the most remarkable love letter I had ever received in my entire life.

I watched it again today. More than ten years later. I didn't fall in love with the past again. But I'm still in love with the story. It made me think of the cliche that love comes in all different shapes. Old but true. We tend to wish for love and wishing we somehow subconsciously feed the idea of this most beautiful, smart, caring, loving, successful person... Yet, love may sometimes come into our lives in dirty clothes, with wounded feet, shabby looking, rough and edgy, hurt, resentful even... Will we welcome it then as we would have welcomed the glossy image pampered by our mind? If I hadn't done so, I would have never known one of the most remarkable people I have ever met. It's not said anywhere you will be together forever (another one of those misperceptions of our imagination). It hasn't even been said you will be happy in the sense you'll live in a constant bliss. In fact, most big love stories rarely have a happy end. And I think the reason behind that is the raw power, the electrifying energy so difficult to handle. It's like touching fire, feeling the pain and still reaching for more. At the end, one or everyone, turns into ashes.

I'm a Plutonian girl. I know what "frozen flame" means. I know explosions. I know ashes too. And it all sums up in the simple phrase "I am love". Not how the other looks like, not how he entered my life, not if he met any requirements, not if he'd had one or eleven relationships before that, not if he were a saint or a devil... but how I felt. The feeling makes my world turn. Bitter or sweet. So be it!

P.S. The letters Bethoven wrote to his mysterious lover can be found and read here: http://home.swipnet.se/~w-15266/cultur/ludwig/beeim.htm At first, I didn't feel them. I somehow missed the atmosphere of the movie. But when I spent more time with them, I sensed that raw power... and the explosion came.

Fortune telling with a sense of humor

If you've never tried Gong Hee Fot Choy (what a name!) and you're not sure you have a high level of tolerance, don't try it. LOL I have a friend who swears by it and does it each week. She persuaded me and I had to make a wish. Naturally, I made a love wish. And guess what I got for a beginning! This:

"Someone is thinking of contacting you by phone, email, or letter. They may wish you would call them. Concentrate and see if that person who wants to contact you comes to mind."

Well... Thank you very much! LOL It's so clarifying. :)))) Now, I'll wait for the call. Because, apparently, I can't guess who of all out there in the world would like to contact me. I know whom I would like to contact but I don't have his number. Complicated, no? LOL Ring, ring. :)))))))

Aaah, this is an update. :)))) The Gong has been nicer today:

"Someone is thinking of giving you a present. They are planning and wondering what you would like. Hold a thought for something you want. They will pick up on your thought and fullfill your wish."

Well, how can I refuse? LOL I think the Dior jewellery I wished for around Christmas will do the job. :)))) Thank you in advance, secret Santa Claus! :)

On a more serious note, seems this Gong system relies quite a bit on positive thinking which is cool as long as the other person can catch the vibration. ;)

Dream a little dream of me...

First of all, I dream extremely rarely. Even worse, I don't remember what I've dreamed on 97% of those rare occasions. Imagine my shock when I woke up last morning with the clear thought (and image) in my mind that I had to jump out of bed and run to my Nice office (in South France!) to deal with the numerous tasks related to being Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's PR. Private, that is. They had called me about an hour earlier (dream time) and told me I was the one and there were no others. Oh, wow. I didn't reject it.


* Photo courtesy of http://faehavenstudios.com

The day went on in an even stranger mode. I received some spam about the Oscars and suddenly realized I had somehow missed the hysteria this year and they were just around the corner - February 27. Ashamed, I googled the 2011 ceremony and dived into the latest Hollywood gossip with remarkable energy. On the second page, instead of focusing on the presenters, I stared at the last (not so new) Jude Law / Sienna Miller split. Having been there, I want to share a couple of thoughts that rushed into my mind then.

Never go back.

At least not in these cases:
- if you fear loneliness
- if you think there are no men/women left on Earth to suit your needs
- if you find yourself ugly/overweight/wrinkled, etc.
- if you are nostalgic
- if you haven't been in another relationship since you broke up
- if you think you can't fall in love anymore
- if you feel tired
- if you think you wasted your time and keep doing it
- if you're not truly, deeply in love again, don't go back.

                                                                   
                                                                                                         *Photo courtesy of www.bischoffgalleries.com

I've personally tried it twice. With different people. It didn't work. It could not work and I knew it, which is the odd part. Despite knowing it, I still gave it a second try. Once out of pure contempt and the second time in search of security... or something I thought was security, safety or whatever I had on my mind but it looked like having a home and supper with someone. The truth is that once broken, the vase will forever remain cracked no matter what kind of magic glue you generously pour on it. I know, I know, there are people who even re-marry and say they are happy together. I agree, it's possible. All is possible in this life on this planet. However, if you want it to work out, make sure that this time you love yourself first, that you like yourself, that you like other men/women, that you're not scared/desperate/lonely and that you treasure your freedom.

(What's this about the prenup? Jeez, if I had had a little brain I would have signed not one but two!)

Back to the Oscars, I keep all my fingers and toes crossed Colin Firth is going to get this golden uncle! At last! The man is an all time emanation of Mr. Darcy, for God's sake! Give him some credit! :))))

What's in your suitcase?

There are two cities of those I know that scream "spring" to me! Paris and London. Don't ask me why. It may be the love I remember, it may be the cafe au lait or the red double deckers, or the parks and the lush green, or the castles where I could still hear the hoofs of a cavalier's horse rushing for a midnight date... Whatever it was or is, I go to both places as often as I can and I do it in spring. As a woman of style :)))) I tend to pay much attention to what goes in my suitcase. After all, it's Paris or London or both, one should respect the beauty of the place, right? Here is what I'm packing this spring. :)

My Paris choices:

The forever trench coat, make it a spring one, make it Parisian, make it pale pink! A Burberry smashing piece










Acne.com booties for a pinch of style

The ever lasting floral scarf - this one by H&M

Classic - Victoria's secret French white shirt

GAP casual pants in beige, light grey or white

The irreplaceable floral dress for those late afternoon Paris dates... by Azalea from http://www.justlastseason.co.uk/en/










My London choices:

Burberry, my love! LOL Trench in pale grey, so English!

Acne.com booties for those rainy, yet inspiring days

H&M bag, suitable for the travelling woman, neutral color, lots of space

GAP dress, as simple as it is beautiful!

Lili Rose scarfs, who said rainy London is dull? Brighten it up!

Lace... English style from Victoria's secret

And a romantic floral tunic, Victoria's secret again, to knock down those fine English gentlemen :)))











Wherever I go, I take these with me:

Boyfriend jeans, those by H&M

New Aura comfy eco booties for long walks and still stylish appearance

Estee Lauder DayWear SPF 15 tinted moisturizer - no make up needed, let your skin breathe the fresh spring air and glow!

Umbrellas, umbrellas... by Totes!

Coach New Poppy Newsboy hat - charming, eh?











Love your trip, ladies, what's in your suitcase? ;)

Last summer

Ah, those were the days, as the song has it. :) In fact, I wanted to recommend my all times favorite hotel in Bulgaria, on the Black Sea coast - http://www.grandhotelvarna.com/ Be aware that it's an old hotel and has nothing to do with the contemporary 5-star level. However, I simply adore the green, the zen feeling, the warm mineral water swimming pool (inside), the two beaches close by (one artificial to the south and one natural to the north) and... I may be a bit emotional about this place but it's such a serene spot. At night the only thing I could hear was the chill out music from the pool's bar. I was there with my 3-year old son and it's great for children as well - fenced, there are bouncing castles, kids club and kids pool. Enjoy!

P.S. Wireless access for free was not the last thing to appreciate! :)))

P.P.S. There are other hotels in the same complex - Rubin, Dolphin, Dolphin Marina and Lebed, but my recommendation is the Grand although it's the oldest.

Spring, spring, spring...

... and my heart sings! :))) Cold, cold, cold, and I'm not that bold... to go out. :)))) How are you doing these freezing days? I am doing precisely that - freezing. :) Yet, it's a new year. Meaning - new luck. New job. New love. New life. New miracles... The order may be different. :) Yesterday I found out I'm a Rabbit according to the Chinese astrology, therefore this is MY year. Congrats to all fellow Rabbits out there! And bunnies, cats, and all sorts of fluffy things. Buy a pair of fluffy slippers and celebrate comfy life!

Plans for this speacial year include: renovations, nice furniture, new home, seaside vacation on the Black Sea, European Volleyball Championship in Prague... friends, fun, love, laughter, kids, games, pastel colors, cotton pants, summer shimmer, cold white wine, Czech beer, a new novel, a new car, anti age treatment, Italy for lovers... What's on your list? :))

*Photo courtesy of  www.inthehoopdesigns.com