 Youhouhhhh!! Finally, here it is 2021, a new decade begins, with new expectations, hopes, dreams and interaction to come ... I wish you all a magical, bright & wonderful year!! I hope you had a great holiday season. I spent NYE with my parents, and last time was in 2015. They came to see me in Australia, and we were outside the Sydney Opera House for the gigantic fireworks. An absolutely unforgettable memory. I put the full video of this year's Sydney fireworks at the end of the article 😊 What a year 2020! We’ve been through a lot, definitely a very interesting and demanding period. It drove us into a corner and pushed us to question ourselves about the meaning of our lives. In my articles Happy New Year 2020 and 2019 to 2020, I said, among other things: My resolutions for 2020: to sustain my momentum, not to plan anything and to live driven by opportunities, new people, and of course to continue to realise old dreams and create new ones.  I definitely had a good intuition by not planning anything, I was unable to travel abroad in 2020, but I took you with me on my previous adventures: However, in 2020, I had a wonderful Honeymoon 2 in the most beautiful city in the world: And I still have a lot to tell you ... In 2020, I talked a lot about myself again lol: My quarantine articles obviously:
I hope you’ll keep some good habits like dancing every day!!  I did my best to inspire you more this year:
I couldn't attend any new ballet, but I did watch some on the internet! This period definitely made me more interested in the options available online, then I met incredible people and attended some amazing world conferences ... My Resolutions for 2021: Recently a friend told me why stop something that is working? So, let's continue: the blog, the videos, my social media... And if there’s anything you want me to talk about or improve, please tell me: here. Obviously, publishing my book My Solo Wedding in Santorini, or How It Saved My Life is still relevant today, but I'm also working on the next one: After… My Solo Wedding in Santorini, or How My Healing Became A Mission… I promise to tell you more soon ... However, this year, I intend to travel, find where to put my bags for good and may be even find love ... 😊 “I was born to inspire people to be themselves! "L.  And thank you again for your support & unconditional love, I wouldn't have so much fun creating and writing without you! No article next week, I'll be busy writing my greetings cards & meditating to charge my energy for the New Year. Take the opportunity to catch up with the articles you haven't read 😉 And don't worry, I’ll stay active on social media: Happy New Year again, I believe in you and your magic, and as I said on my photo at the beginning: leave sparkles wherever you go ... Be confident, be yourself and shine like a thousand fireworks! Love & Joy, L.
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Last week I told you about Gratitude and how it’s a great exercise to be happy, this week I want to be grateful for the month of December because this is my favourite & for shoes!! For those who follow me for a long time, you know how addicted I am to luxury shoes, with more than 130 pairs in my closet, you can also re-read my previous articles full of photos:
You also know that my shoes for My Solo Wedding in Santorini were Louboutins!  During my 2nd Honeymoon in Paris, I had the chance to visit his exhibition at the Palais de la Porte Dorée: L’Exhibition [niste]. It’ll be accessible again from December 15, 2020 to January 3, 2021, online reservation is of course mandatory: LINK. All the following photos of the exhibition are mine, as always in each of my articles :D Follow me to discover 30 years of creation and inspiration ... A designer is above all an artist, and Christian Louboutin has his own universe. From the 80s, in his tiny room, he explored genres, whimsical and funny, made of waste material and a lot of DIY ... Some meetings were decisive like with Roger Vivier, and in 1991, he created his own brand. The stained glass windows were designed by the designer and made by the Maison du Vitrail in Paris, they refer to the world of Christian Louboutin such as travel, theatre, couture, art, craft, Parisian women, innovation and sexuality. Obviously, when we think of Louboutin we think of luxury and magic. Precious materials, original, timeless and inimitable designs ... My favourites, the fuchsia obviously in crepe de chine, satin and cock feathers! Exceptional and meticulous work, some models have Swarovski crystals which are placed one by one by hand... To respect the model's arch, each shoe size has its own heel height to maintain the same silhouette. There’s also a workshop for "special orders", custom-made, and many personalities use it: Mika, Victoria Beckham, Kylie Minogue, Dita Von Teese ... And celebrities who loved his creations from his debut such as Madonna, Princess Caroline, or Anna Wintour who published an article in Vogue at the very beginning. More recently, we can’t forget Beyoncé for the 2018 Super Bowl or Blake Lively, stunning on the red carpet of the 2018 MET ball, alongside Christian Louboutin who had made for her an exclusive model for the occasion! But these stars also inspire him since some models are called: Mika, Dita ... Obviously dance and music have always been great sources of inspiration for him. My favourites are the fringed boots inspired by Tina Turner called For Evertina, and the So Baker, for Josephine Baker (remember, she’s mentioned in my article Proud to be a woman). Louboutin, it’s also an erotic and fetishistic universe, dear to the creator. The invention of nude in 2009, a revolution ... Designed to adapt to any type of skin tone, it’s about further lengthening the silhouette by making the shoe disappear. Today there are 8 shades of nude. His inspiration is endless and comes from multiple worlds, which he was kind enough to share in this exhibition. You will no doubt recognise Andy Warhol's painting Flowers (rediscover my article Andy Warhol), which inspired Louboutin's very identifiable Pensée model. His calling happened when he was a child, because of a sign that prohibited heels to preserve the mosaic floor of the Palais de la Porte Dorée, everything starts with a drawing and any drawing is the source of a creation ... As a kid from the neighbourhood, he often came here, this is the reason why he chose to exhibit in this building. Thank you very much Mr. Christian Louboutin for inviting us into your world, your life, your creation ... But the Louboutin brand is also perfume, lipstick and nail polish, I even got some as a gift for My Solo Wedding in Santorini! Every day until Christmas, I put in my stories on Instagram, dreamy things to give you gift ideas, also take the opportunity to reread my article from last year Letter to Santa. (Photo Credit: Alexander Hadji) In the meantime, I’ll do as Jennifer Lopez in the song at the end of the article, I’ll throw on my Louboutins and write to Santa! By the way, the Palais de la Porte Dorée is absolutely magnificent, an Art Deco building built in 1931 (but I'll talk more about it another time, don't worry). My favourite period, I'm sure I lived at that time in another life: I drink whiskey, smoke cigars, love parties, art and short hair, I dance Argentine tango, foxtrot, quickstep, and I love pearls! Pearls that will be in the spotlight on December 9 and 10 at the School of Jewelry Art (Van Cleef and Arpels), during their free online conference "Pearl merchants: the forgotten history of a trade between the Gulf and France ”. I highly recommend you to register, it only lasts an hour and it’s always absolutely fascinating!! Link Till then, I’ll do as Jennifer Lopez in the song at the end of the article, I’ll throw on my Louboutins and write to Santa!  Have a great week!! Love & Joy, L.  Back to France this week, I hope you enjoyed our getaway last week with Rainy Day in London. In Honeymoon 2 I told you about all the amazing things I did during my stay in Paris and I started to give you details of my visits: Today the Eiffel Tower, admittedly this is not the first time I mention our pretty iron lady: But this time I take you to the top for the sunset! 1st floor at 190 ft high ... 2nd floor at 380 ft ... The first elevator reaches the first 2 floors, then you must take a very small elevator to reach the last level. The ascent only takes a minute and a half, but you quickly gain height, reaching 905 ft high! We thus arrive on a sheltered and fully glazed floor, then a metal staircase brings us to the external platform located at 915 ft and protected only by wire mesh. The view is breathtaking, Paris below us, luminous and majestic ... And for those who know this city, have fun spotting the Sacré-Cœur, the Pantheon, the Montparnasse Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris, the Grand Palais, etc. Gustave Eiffel its creator had installed an office on this floor, it’s certain that with such a view, one can’t lack inspiration ... As a reminder, it was built in 2 years and inaugurated in 1889 for the World Fair. It is 1,063 ft high, the base of its pillars forms a 410 ft square and its metal frame weighs 7,300 tons. It’s served by 5 elevators, already present in 1889, a real technical feat for the time, and 2 of them are still in use today. If you want to know more about how they work, click on the link below: https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/lifts A magnificent park has been built under the tower with a few ponds, which makes it even more romantic and peaceful. With the restrictions related to Covid, you must take your tickets online on a specific day and time, so there’s no longer a line, a huge advantage. Link: https://www.toureiffel.paris/en And here is the sun setting ... The night ends up enveloping us, the Eiffel Tower shines with a thousand lights and nourishes us with its gentle and quiet strength ... Paris is truly magical and captivating, I keep discovering it on each of my visits. Read previous articles:
By the way for those who love jewellery and gems, I strongly recommend that you register for the Diamond, Art and Science seminar: link. It's organised by the Ecole des Arts Joailliers with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels. October 14, & 15 free and online.  I've been making my dreams come true since my Solo Wedding in Santorini, and I feel so proud and fulfilled every time I realise one. Just pure happiness. Try! It’s really worth it ... Have a great week!! Love & Joy, L.  After a rainy week secluded in my cave as I like to call my sanctuary where I write and work, inevitably I started to think of London! First, because last year at this time I was living there, second, for those who follow me on Instagram, I’ve widely shared my stories about the rainy days in London. In fact, I also talked about it in one of my videos, I put it at the end of the article. I needed the perfect outfit to be able to go out there and my favourite store: Burberry on Regent Street. The building is period, built in 1820 for the Prince Regent (hence Regent Street), later King George IV. I've discovered this place in 2017, during my hen's trip, one month before my Solo Wedding in Santorini. The building was completely restored by the brand and its then Creative Director, Christopher Bailey. It took 2 years of renovation before it opened in 2012, this is the brand's largest store with 44,000 sq. ft of space, no less than 8 elevators and 26 stairs! This magnificent boutique is worth a visit on its own, especially if you like architecture. Well, I admit the welcome is so charming and personalised that I took up residence lol, and depending on the time of day, I am offered a coffee, a tea or champagne… One tip from me, leave before emptying your entire bank account, everything is so beautiful here ... Well covered up, I’m not afraid to explore the city on foot, even in the greyness there’s a lot to discover in the streets of London ... Just in time for the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace! Another very touristy place, the Tower of London. The place is already quite austere in normal times (medieval style dictates), but on a rainy day we can perfectly imagine Anne Boleyn locked in the dungeon several weeks before her execution… You know, the 2nd wife of King Henry VIII; accused of adultery and high treason, she was beheaded. Fortunately, at the Tower of London, there are also the crown jewels to admire (unfortunately photos prohibited), and then we understand better why Anne loved being queen so much ... By the way, thanks to The Tudors series, I don't think I’d have remembered British history so much without watching Henry Cavill in panthoses, it was surely a good practice for him before Superman! And the animal statues are there to remind us that in the past this fortress housed a menagerie (on the other hand the crow is real). Nothing better than to take refuge in the many museums of the city for shelter like the British Museum my favourite, you can also go to see a musical or a ballet: reread Happy New Year 2020. Check again: All these visits make me hungry: scones or cupcakes, so hard to choose (Read Article I love December). But it’s already 6 p.m., dinner time here, if we opted for a specialty:
It was a good day, for those who really don't like the rain, there’s always the option to watch it fall and the squirrels pass by, or to wait for spring to return to go back to the magnificent parks and gardens of the city, like in my Article my Birthday in London. Have a great weekend everyone! Love & Joy, L.  I couldn't wait any longer to unveil this wonderful palace to you, because in fact I was so amazed that I absolutely wanted to share this discovery. And for those who have visited it before, I hope you will enjoy seeing it again from all angles. You are familiar with my interest in architecture and art, just remember some of my previous articles:
As I told you in my last article Honeymoon 2, visiting the Garnier Opera house was one of my dreams. I’ve already visited magnificent opera houses such as Sydney, Madrid, or the Royal Opera House in London, which I told you about in my article Happy New Year 2020, but the Palais Garnier opens the doors to Parisian splendour and French elegance ... Have you deciphered the words hidden on the ceiling medallion (photo above)? “JEAN LOUIS CHARLES GARNIER ARCHITECT 1861-1875”. And yes, he’s the one who gave his name to this building. It was completed in 1875 following a competition organised by Napoleon III, after the old opera house Le Peletier was destroyed in a fire. Garnier Palace is one of the emblematic monuments of Paris. After passing the Rotonde des abonnés and the Bassin de la Pythie, let us be enchanted by the grandiose and luxurious atmosphere of the Grand staircase. With a little imagination, we can easily imagine ourselves in a ceremonial outfit, we’re transported to the 19th century ... An eclectic architecture that combines modern techniques and classic decoration. The whole structure, frames and beams are in metal, which is camouflaged with a lot of stucco, plaster, stone, paintings, gilding, onyx, copper, and marble! No less than 3 different marbles for this majestic staircase. So many corridors, we don't always know where they lead to, but we gladly wander, and we often stop to admire the little details ... Meeting with the other spectators before the performance, in the Avant-foyer, enhanced with multiple ceramics and gilded chandeliers. Then, we finally find our loge, and we discover the auditorium located in the very heart of the palace. Admittedly, this is no longer the original ceiling painted by Lenepveu, Napoleon III's favourite painter, but a creation by Marc Chagall designed in 1964 at the request of André Malraux, Minister of Cultural Affairs at the time. It represents the history of the arts of opera and dance. The first painting, however, is safely stored underneath. The chandelier is 16 feet high with a diameter of 13ft and weighs 6.5 tons. It reminds me of the magnificent chandelier in the Radio City Hall in New York. An impressive room 102 feet wide, 105 ft deep and 66ft high to accommodate nearly 2,000 seats. We cannot remain indifferent to such a creation ... But this is the intermission, let's stop for a few moments to say hello to our friends in the splendid Grand foyer and its adjoining salons, it feels like being in Versailles, surrounded by gold and mirrors ... Let's get my glass of champagne in the Rotonde du Glacier before the show restarts, does anyone want something else: coffee, orangeade, pastries? It's hard to imagine that above this magnificent painted ceiling hides a dance studio, and yet... Let's finish with the palace library and museum, 600,000 preserved documents, scores, photos, sketches, letters and no less than 100,000 books. But also 8,500 objects including paintings, set models and stage jewels... From inside to out, Charles Garnier meticulously designed and planned everything. He chose all the craftsmen himself: painters, mosaicists, and sculptors. An eclectic and very rich decoration for an opulent but nevertheless elegant result. If you use the multimedia guide for the visit, he'll explain himself all the mysteries of his work. This interactive tablet is really complete, you sometimes seem weird pointing your tablet at the ceiling, but it's definitely worth a look. You'll thus discover certain places that are not accessible to the public, such as the dance studio above the Rotonde du Glacier, the Foyer de la Danse which is behind the stage, or the costume room where the tutus are stored ! I didn’t buy anything at the gift shop even though several dancers wanted to be adopted ... So cute! Next time I’ll go to see the magnificent Paris Opera Ballet, there’s no doubt I’ll feel the presence of the architect all around me! “A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others. " Salvador Dali Love & Joy, L. As I told you in the previous episode Honeymoon in Santorini, I chose to spend some time in Paris this year, after my birthday. Alone, or with my friends, I had decided to make some of my dreams come true, you know how much this is part of my personality, read again: A special year for me, my 40th birthday, which I couldn’t celebrate as I imagined it & my 3 years of marriage. And yes, My solo wedding in Santorini was in 2017 ... So, what a better idea than to spend a second Honeymoon in the most romantic city in the world. A magnificent gift to myself that will remain etched in my memory.  Although I often go to Paris, I never get tired of this city, there’s so much to discover here. You’ve already followed me in my articles: I must admit that even in July, I had never seen Paris so deserted, that's what encouraged me to stay and visit places normally crowded with tourists ... I'm a dreamer, and what I love most of all is creating new dreams over and over again. This is probably what drives me to achieve them. I don't just make a wish list and leave it in a drawer, they're in my head all the time, and I was going to dust off one that had been waiting for over 20 years ... The last time I visited this famous museum, I stood in line for hours, and I couldn't get a photo with the star of the place. So, it was my dream to be able to come back and this time I really immortalised the moment! Of course I’m talking about the Louvre, but in addition to having had my photo alone with Mona Lisa, I was able to admire from all sides the Venus de Milo, to take photos of the painting "Liberty leading the people" by Eugene Delacroix, or "the Raft of the Medusa" by Théodore Géricault. Strolling all day in this sumptuous building with sometimes no one in the same room, was a huge privilege. Let's continue with one of the most visited attractions in France, after the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles. I’ve visited it several times in my life, I talked about it in my article Christmas in Paris, but I had never been able to go to the top, to the 3rd level. Obviously, for my Honeymoon 2, I couldn't say no to myself, and even more extraordinary to be there for the sunset, this wonderful dream came true with exaltation. Imagine I was the only Asian!! I'm not even sure this ever happened in story’s Eiffel Tower… You know my passion for dance and ballet, remember in my article Happy New Year 2020, I wondered which company I was going to see this year. Well, in the meantime, I went to visit a place that has been on my list for a very, very long time: the Garnier Palace. Again, only a few visitors, I was able to admire this beautiful construction from all angles and be inspired by its luxury and prestige. To tell the truth the building and its history are simply fascinating, and I’m very happy to have made this dream come true, especially as the architect Charles Garnier himself played the guide ... There are always great exhibitions in Paris, and this one was on my list: L'Exhibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin, the famous shoemaker that I’m not presenting anymore, I’ve already talked about him with my wedding shoes, in Shoes Forever. This incredible exhibition takes place until January 3, 2021 at the Palais de la Porte Dorée in Paris, it tells the story and the journey of Christian Louboutin, obviously with countless pairs of shoes on display. I encourage you to visit it if you like art and shoes. Don't worry, I’ll come back in detail on this incredible exhibition and the magnificent monuments mentioned above. You can review my previous articles in the meantime: Obviously, you are now used to my culinary escapades, especially if you follow my Stories on Instagram, so yes, I also took the opportunity to treat myself during my stay. No pastry like in Christmas in Paris, I try to follow my Healthy Routine, but that didn't stop me from going to Ladurée for a very elegant avocado toast. Okay, I sometimes fell for a few desserts ... But it's so good!! Add a coffee on the terrace, a drink on the quays, and you get the perfect cocktail for a second honeymoon full of wonderful memories… I was going to forget, Paris by night is just as exceptional and enchanting ... I still have so much to tell you about this beautiful city, stay tuned ... Next Article September 12! Love & Joy, L. We’ve just celebrated Bastille Day, National Day in France, unfortunately this year with the Covid restrictions, the fireworks of the Eiffel Tower took place but without spectators. You can celebrate anyway watching the replay at the end of the article, or by reading again my article from last year: My Bday in Paris Or the one from 2018: Superwomen And yes, again in Paris in July to celebrate my birthday among other things. I’m very grateful to be in Paris, some people dream of it all their life as in the film The Extraordinary journey of the Fakir, mentioned in my article Summary (in which besides I reminded you of my articles on incredible constructions.) The atmosphere of this magical city inspired my last video: However, on this very special day for the French, I wanted to tell you about a monument that honours our patriotism, and all the people who have contributed to it: The Pantheon in Paris. But before that, it was a Christian basilica, built in 507 by King Clovis. It became the Church of Sainte-Geneviève, named after the patron saint of Paris, because she had protected the city and its inhabitants from the barbarians with Attila at its head. A large mural depicts the life of Saint Geneviève, as well as her apotheosis under the dome. These are the oldest paintings dating from the First Empire. In 1755, Louis XV commissioned Jacques-Germain Soufflot to build a prestigious basilica in honour of Sainte-Geneviève, to whom the King credits his recovery from a serious illness. The architecture is Greek and Gothic, the dome is inspired by Saint Paul's Cathedral in London and the Invalides in Paris, the monumental peristyle is inspired by the Pantheon of Agrippa in Rome. Soufflot wanted to compete with Saint-Pierre de Rome, he died before the end, his building was completed in 1790 by his collaborator Rondelet. At its centre, there’s also the Foucault pendulum invented in 1851, in order to prove the rotation of Earth. Finally, in 1791, the basilica was converted into the National Pantheon, however it changed twice into a religious building during the 19th century. From 1874, paintings were added to the monument recounting the key moments of the Christian and monarchical origins of France, Clovis, Joan of Arc, Saint-Louis, Charlemagne are notably represented. Obviously, we can’t miss the masterful representation of the French Revolution "The National Convention" embodying Marianne surrounded by soldiers and revolutionary deputies. The original text of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen as well as the Constitution of the 5th Republic can be found in the Pantheon. There are also many statues and inscriptions to pay homage to various personalities. I can’t speak of the Pantheon without mentioning the crypt of course, many illustrious personalities who contributed to the glory of this country are buried there: Voltaire, Rousseau, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Louis Braille, Jean Monnet, Pierre & Marie Curie, Simone Veil to name a few ... We emerge humble and moved by this beautiful monument, not to mention that we remember a part of the history of France. A visit that I highly recommend if you’ve never been before. Follow me on Instagram (@blogaboutl) to see more of my adventures! Next Post: Saturday August 1st. Love & Freedom, L. We’re going to celebrate Mother’s Day in France tomorrow, which made me think of pottery, because let's be honest who never offered one for Mother’s Day, or even made one at school? To tell the truth, I already thought of writing this article previously, but it had been replaced by Single and Superwomen 4. Especially on this Saturday June 6, I celebrate something very special to my heart: the freezing of my eggs in Madrid! I’ve mentioned it last week in my article Happy Anniversary. Maybe one day I will have the chance to have a pottery too... But for the moment, let's go back to Crete, great place of this craft, still very popular today. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum (one of the most important in Greece) is a great place for pottery, from the Neolithic period to the Roman period, and obviously from the Minoan period too. At first, pottery was ornamental, representing human forms, and sometimes animals or objects. They were used for rituals, magic, or as amulets or toys. Then, widely developed as funerary objects, they filled the graves and tombs of the deceased, before finally becoming utensils for everyday life. You will notice the colours, shapes and patterns which are sometimes very elaborate. Cretan pottery is one of the most beautiful pottery I’ve ever seen. As a reminder, the pottery is made from terracotta. These objects were found in various places of the island, in the tombs and the ruins of the palaces, including Knossos, remember I’ve talked about it in my article Crete Episode 1. They cover more than 5,500 years of history! I’ve rarely seen a collection so rich and so well preserved; this museum opened in 1883. Also, the tiny Archaeological Museum of Chania (city that we visited in my article Crete Episode 4) displays a small but very nice collection. Above all, some artefacts date from the Roman period, or they're from workshops in Corinth and Athens (I’ll tell you more about it in a future post). We can see toys, perfume bottles and very pretty figurines too… And for those who love history and artefacts, my previous articles: Obviously, I went to visit a pottery and ceramic workshop, on the Lassithi plateau (place mentioned in Crete episode 3), to see what it looks like. They still use a potter's wheel and all the objects are painted by hand. I’m sure you won’t see pottery the same way now… And at the end of the article, the trailer of an animated film highlighting a Super mum! Have a great week everyone! Love & Joy, L. I love this city and I’ve already talked about it a lot, in my article Christmas in New York. There’s so much to discover, and this time without all the Christmas lights, but under a spring sun. Last week, I explained 2 incredible constructions, the Thames Barrier in London & the Channel Tunnel. To tell the truth, I’m also very interested in architecture, and New York is pretty incredible for that, then today, I’m going to present you The Rockefeller Center. The construction of the Rockefeller Center is an idea of John D. Rockefeller Jr., the same one who sponsored the reconstruction of the framework of the Reims Cathedral, in reinforced concrete (read Article). This huge 7 million square feet complex, includes 1.5 million square feet of shops and dining, 19 commercial buildings, including 14 built during the Mr. Rockefeller era, which represents more than 40,000 people employed during the Great Depression.  Some buildings are as impressive inside as outside. Art is at the heart of them, Art Deco obviously, since construction started in 1931 and ended in 1939. John D. Rockefeller Jr. considered art as an act of good citizenship. As an aside, his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, was also fond of art, she created in 1929 with two of her friends, the very famous MoMa (Museum of Modern Art). Sculptures, paintings, mosaic, each artwork is explained in detail on the Rockefeller Center website: link. For example, ATLAS (1937) by Lee Lawrie and Rene Paul Chambellan. You can enter the buildings and admire all of these beautiful artworks for free, but guided tours are also organised, and if you're lucky like I was, you may come across a member of the Rockefeller family. After so much culture, let's take a walk outside, in The Channel Gardens, a path that separates 2 twin towers, the Maison Française on one side and the British Empire Building on the other. In the surroundings, we find: • The NBC studios, you should see some celebrities, in my case: Sofia Vergara, from the Modern Family series, so beautiful. • But also, Magnolia Bakery for a delicious cupcake. • Or Christies, auction mood today? • And of course, Radio City Hall! But if you remember, we visited it in my article Christmas in New York, before the Show of the Rockettes. Besides, during the Covid-19 confinement, it’s important to exercise, I’ve mentioned it already before: Quarantine Friendship Personally, I’ve decided to follow the free Rockettes lessons on Instagram: Link. You have the choice between the workout program or a dance choreography from the famous Christmas show.  I saved the best for last, the Top of the Rock observatory, in the heart of the Rockefeller Center. Located on the 70th floor, with 3 interior and exterior levels to enjoy a 360-degree panorama. The view is breathtaking as soon as you go up ... A video at the end of the article with original footage of the construction of the Rockefeller Center. Have a wonderful week! Love & Construction, L. How not to speak of this woman who created my obsession for this word: empire! A few years ago, when I was developing a personal business project, it was Helena's journey that inspired me and made me want more. The executive summary of my business started with this introduction: Helena Rubinstein moved from Poland to Australia in 1896, with no money and little English. Today, thanks to the magnificent exhibition "The Adventure of Beauty" which took place in Paris in 2019 at the MAJH, I’ll make you discover her story and why she's a great source of inspiration for me. Believe me Helena Rubinstein is a woman to know… A complex and determined woman, she’s undoubtedly one of the pioneers of feminism. Born Chaja Rubinstein in Cracow (Poland) in 1872 in a modest Jewish family, she refused an arranged marriage and the life they wanted to impose on her. In 1896, at the age of 24, she took the boat alone for Australia. In 1902, she created her first Valaze face cream, and a year later opened her first beauty salon in Melbourne (Australia). Passionate about fashion, she dressed in Chanel, Poiret, Worth, Dior, Balanciaga, Rodriguez, essential according to her as an ambassador of a beauty brand. Collecting art from 1908, she was friends with the greatest artists: Chagall, Dali, Picasso, Marcoussis… An exhibition with her collection of African art is currently in Paris at the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac till June 28, 2020. I put a video at the end of the article for you (sorry it's in French but you can enjoy the images). She also contributed to many museums and was also the model of many works of art. In 1914, she left Europe to open her first beauty salon in New York. She therefore collaborated with the greatest architects, interior designers and artists. All her life, art was an important part of her creativity. Famous names were in charge of her salons, shops, adverts but also of her residences. With great attention to detail and innovative, she never stopped inventing, among other things, she’s responsible for the classification of skin (dry, normal and oily), sunscreen, mascara in a tube and beauty salons... Between 1915 and 1918, her business expanded in the United States with the opening of a factory and the first school of beauticians. In 1939, thanks to the collaboration with the inventor of the first waterproof mascara, Helena created the event by organising a nautical ballet to introduce the product. Huge success. A year later, this is the opening of a male beauty salon in New York! For Helena, beauty was a weapon in the fight to make women equal to men. By feeling beautiful in her body, a woman gains self-confidence, she feels bold and becomes emancipated. "Beauty is nothing without taking care of the body." Helena Rubinstein Taking care of the body, so obvious for her, not only facials, but also massages, dietetics, breathing and physical exercise. She even created her own gym class “Rubinstein Rhythmics”. Science serving beauty, essential to innovate, be credible and listened to, she visited her factories in white coat. Above all, she understood how to use the image in the service of business: marketing! But Helena was also a philanthropist, in addition to Art, in 1953, she created a foundation for the education of disadvantaged girls. She loved beautiful things, fashion, jewellery, art and science. She travelled a lot, set up her salons and left her legacy in Melbourne, Sydney, Vienna, Paris, New York, London, Tel Aviv ... A citizen of the world, a superwoman. Married, mother of two, divorced and remarried to a man 23 years younger, she didn’t forget to be a woman behind the business woman. She died in New York at the age of 93. The Helena Rubinstein brand was officially created in 1920. 100 years old this year! Had the young Chaja ever imagined such an adventure and such a heritage? We can only respect her audacity, her decadence and her perseverance! Read again my other articles from the Superwomen Series. I don't have an empire yet, but I'm working on it more than ever, and My Solo Wedding in Santorini will certainly leave my mark in the memory of many people. Good week everyone, take care of yourself! Love & Beauty, L. Last week in the article Happy New Year 2020, I told you that I’ll continue to tell you about my adventures of 2019 as well as my new dreams ... I spent half the year 2019 in Greece and more particularly in Crete, you know how attached I am to this country, I largely shared my discoveries with you: Crete, Episode 1 to 4, and a new episode coming soon. Rainy Day in Athens First TV interview: Behind the Scenes Santorini  Athens Not to mention that I’m always happy to give you more details about my solo wedding: Wine in Santorini 2 Years Anniversary My Wedding Dress Once upon a time Why a book Blog Guide  In May 2019, I celebrated my 2nd Wedding Anniversary while my book My Solo Wedding in Santorini was just finished. May 27, 2017, Santorini, Aegean island (Greece). I am about to go down the magnificent stone stairs holding my father's arm, to participate in the wedding I have been waiting for, and preparing for a year and a half. The guests are seated. The weather is capricious. However, this ceremony is special, the groom is not here. He left the marital ship three months before, and I took the decision to marry without him, to marry myself! L. Hopefully 2020 will see the publication of this book 😊  In February 2019, I went to see my favourite Greek singer in concert, believe me that I was really looking forward to this. His name: Nikos Vertis. He’s a very popular singer in Greece, he was born in the Netherlands and grew up between there and Greece. He sings in Greek (mostly love songs) accompanied by some traditional instruments. Thank you to my friends who made this dream come true!! I love you! And Nikos too!! In 2020, I plan to continue to learn Greek language, by the way I often work in music with Nikos. On my bedside table: my wife, my boyfriend and my husband hahaha!! If I celebrated my Birthday in Paris in 2019 with my friends, I also dreamed of seeing the fireworks in front of the Eiffel Tower, it was done on July 14, 2019 during the national day. A great moment of excitement and happiness.
But I celebrated my Birthday a second time in London, I told you a lot about this city in my previous articles and all the great things I’ve experienced: My Birthday in London The Royal Mews Kensington Palace Madame Tussauds I love December The Design Museum I visited friends I hadn't seen in 2 years, and I made incredible new friends!  I also introduced you to new destinations in 2019: Montreal & the Barbie Museum Las Palmas Madagascar Brussels Epernay Sunset In the air Exhibitions: Jean-Paul Gaultier and Balmain Manolo Blahnik Tutankhamun Bird Paradise My lifestyle and my interests: My Favourite Animals Chocolate, Sweetheart Halloween 2019 Childhood Music Single Saturday Superwomen 4 And I’d like to highlight, my articles on positive psychology: Be Positive Thank you More than 40 blog posts in 2019, and 2020 will see videos on YouTube and Instagram. Thank you for all your messages and comments on the blog and social media, having you in my life is the most beautiful thing I could imagine. Don't worry, in 2020, I’ll continue to give you the keys to open your mind, to help you reach happiness and to have the courage to be who you are!!  New Year’s fireworks around the world at the end of the article :) Have a good week and continue to believe in your dreams! Love & 2020, L.  I wish you all a wonderful year 2020! May it bring you joy, love (and self-love), happiness, health, self-discovery, personal development, inner peace, and above all the realisation of your dreams!! I hope your holiday season went well, that you enjoyed your family, your friends and yourself ... In my article Single, I mentioned the many things that I do alone, certainly, 2019 was not as busy as 2018 (read article Happy New Year 2019) but I’m still proud, and I continued to chase my dreams, some of which I’ve been waiting for since my childhood!! And to start this new year, I’d like to pursue with the London Series, a city which has been a truly enchanting place and conducive to many achievements: Fame, 30 years I was waiting for this! Some dreams take time to come true, which makes them even more magical and unforgettable. Film created in 1980 then adapted to the screen with a series that I followed assiduously, then the musical in 1988. This is the story of young artists who wish to live from their art and become famous, thus they enter the prestigious New York Art School. School created in 1936, renamed in 1984 Fiorello H. Lagardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (named after its founder) and which has seen many talents, Al Pacino and Nicky Minaj for example. For those who haven't seen it, it's still possible in London until January 10, 2020 at the Wembley Park Theatre, and it’ll be at the Casino de Paris from January 10 to February 2. Certainly, this show made me want people to Remember my name (famous song of this show). Still in the world of entertainment and glitter, I’ve had the immense pleasure of seeing the Royal Ballet of London, at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, in its production Manon choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan. The original theatre was built in 1732, and the first ballet was performed in 1734. The building has been rebuilt several times after fires. The facade, foyer and auditorium date from 1858, but the rest of the building was extensively renovated in the 1990s. The Royal Ballet was created in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, and only took permanent residence at the Royal Opera House in 1946. Today Kevin O’hare has been its Director since 2012. For the record, the films the 5th Element and Billy Elliot filmed in this theatre. I keep adding ballet companies to my list: the Queensland Ballet, the Australian Ballet, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, the Bolshoi ballet, the New York City Ballet, the Cuban National Ballet, the National Ballet of China, the Hamburg Ballet. I hope 2020 will add another one! Paris? Marseille? The English National Ballet? And for those who love ballet, a video at the end of the article – Extract of Sleeping Beauty by the Royal Ballet. I'm not sure since when I wanted to have a Paddington bear; you know him by the famous books written by Michael Bond since 1958, but also by the adaptation in cartoons and movies. I'm a fan, and I remain childlike by collecting teddy bears, so obviously this one was essential to my little family and to be even more symbolic and emotional, I bought it in Paddington in London! Because it was in this train station that this little bear was adopted by the Brown human family, with whom he continued to grow (and to do silly things!). This bear is so emblematic that in 1994, the British tunnellers chose to pass through this soft toy, when they joined the French during the construction of the Channel Tunnel. You know I’m passionate about Ancient Egypt, you liked my article Tutankhamun very much, so it's not surprising that I dreamed of visiting one of the most famous museums in the world for its collection of Egyptian artefacts: the British Museum! This museum is the very first national public museum in the world, and it’s free!! It was opened in 1759 and has more than 8 million objects from around the world over many periods of history, which 6 million people visit every year. Above all, we find in this museum the Rosetta Stone, taken from the French after their defeat against the British during Napoleon's campaign in Egypt. It has been exhibited in this museum since 1802. The Egyptian collection covers 3 millennia, with objects of all kinds… I’ll tell you more about this fantastic museum and its other collections from around the world in another article. My resolutions for 2020: sustain my momentum, do not program anything and live driven by opportunities, new people, and obviously continue to realise old dreams and create new ones. My Solo Wedding in Santorini - which was in magazines in February and May 2019 (see Media) - continues to inspire people and I never could have imagined how much my story could help. Many people in 2019 told me that my experience has profoundly changed their lives, this is my greatest reward. Next week, I'll continue to reveal the dreams that came true in 2019 and those to come ... Feel free to tell me what your dreams are 😊. Great week everyone and happy new year again! Love & Dreams, L. After my scary article last week Halloween, let's stay in this mysterious atmosphere to discover one of the most famous Pharaohs in the history of Ancient Egypt: Tutankhamun. Remember, I already mentioned the wonderful exhibition The Treasure of the Pharaoh in my article My Birthday in Paris. This is the most visited exhibition in France with no less than 1.4 million visitors! Today, let's see more, put on an archaeologist’s hat, without dust here ... Tutankhamun, born in 1345 BC, son of Pharaoh Akhenaton, ascends the throne at a very young age (8 years old) but dies prematurely at the age of 19 of malaria. His reign was short, 10 years over millennia, and yet everyone knows his name, thanks to Howard Carter. Howard Carter, an English archaeologist, convinced that the tomb of this Pharaoh was hidden in the Valley of the Kings, spent 7 years looking for it with the financial support of Lord Carnarvon. The first world war interrupted some time the searches but in 1922, he discovered the biggest treasure of Egypt. As you can see in the previous photo, Tutankhamun's tomb was composed of four separate rooms filled with objects of all kinds: furniture, art, statues, jewellery, fabrics, as well as sarcophagi and his mummy. The Egyptians believed in the afterlife, so they were buried with everything necessary or a representation of it, to have a comfortable next life. It will take Howard Carter 10 years to fully excavate the grave and list the 5,398 objects, representing 1.5 tons of gold, an invaluable treasure. All these magnificent creations shows the exceptional mastery of the arts and crafts of this period. For this world tour, 150 objects presented exclusively, 50 of which left Egypt for the first time. An area of 2,000 square metres, for a set insured for a billion dollars. All these objects will then return to Egypt in a new museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum, near the pyramids, which should open in 2021. For those who missed this magnificent exhibition, it’s currently in London until May 3, 2020 at the Saatchi Gallery. Another European city that I make you discover over time: click here London. Besides, I’m preparing a new article on the British Museum, where a large space is devoted to Ancient Egypt. A video at the end of the article if you want to know more about Tutankhamun and this wonderful exhibition. Have a wonderful week! Love & Discovery, L. This blog was created in February 2018, a year after my ex-fiancé left me during our wedding’s preparation. My name is Laëtitia, that's why the blog is called "Blog About L.". I am French mixed Vietnamese, but I lived in many countries abroad, for the past two years I travel in search of my new homeland, and almost all the photos of the blog are mine. To discover or rediscover why I created this blog, click here. With nearly 70 posts in a year and a half - I usually publish a new article every Saturday - and new readers every week, I thought a little guide to explain more would be useful. At the top right, you have access to the different pages: home, blog, media, about me, contact and French.  Blog page This is the page you are currently on. All posts are saved here, in chronological order from most recent to oldest. In the Archives on the right you can also search by monthly publication, category or keyword. At the end of each article, you can like on Facebook and Twitter, and leave a comment, just click on comment and a form appears. Media page A collection of TV and press interviews from around the world. Yes, my story went viral everywhere ... About Me page Find out who I am ... Contact page You can send me a message, ask me questions, leave me comments, everything you think about! I answer in a few days, but I always reply. Français Page This is the access to the blog in French, I write all posts in French and English myself. Home page Here, you have the last article posted online, just click on the Read More button and you are automatically redirected to the blog page.  You then find a search box that allows you to seek by keyword.  Featured Categories My Solo Wedding All the details of my wedding are explained, from the dress to the shoes, through the ceremony and the dinner, or the wines.  Beauty (and fashion) When, how and why I want to be beautiful? But also, the designers and brands that inspire me. Lifestyle My lifestyle and the ones of others because open-mindedness leads to more tolerance ... Travel All my adventures on our beautiful planet! Art The World of Art and Design of yesterday and today.  My favourite articles 1st Anniversary: my first wedding anniversary. Gift from Science: and how in June 2018, 10 of my oocytes were frozen in Madrid. 1st TV Interview – Behind the scenes: it's been just a year since I participated in my first TV show in Greece.  Then comes the form for the Newsletter, and for those who have not subscribed yet, go for it! I send you an email for each new post. Don’t forget to follow me on social media, links at the bottom of every page.  As a reminder I’ve also created some series that I’ll continue to complete: Superwomen London Crete Christmas Happiness Rainy day Here the Articles with extracts from my book My Solo Wedding in Santorini (not yet published): Once upon a time My Wedding Gown Music Some of your favourite posts: Single Coffee Addict In the air Versailles Many thanks to all the people who accompany me in this adventure, your support is immensely valuable. Have a nice weekend and happy Halloween! Love & Blog, L. Let's continue this series on London after: My Birthday in London Kensington Palace Madame Tussauds The Design Museum Today, I make you discover one of the most beautiful stables still in activity and especially the magnificent carriages and coaches that the British royal family still largely uses during official ceremonies. Semi-State Landau With the hoods that open or close, it was the favourite of Queen Victoria who liked the fresh air. Irish State Coach Purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1853. In 1876, a frieze is added to the top to honour the Empress of India. Queen Alexandra's State Coach Built in 1865 but converted with windows in 1893, it was used by Queen Alexandra until 1925. Since then, it is often used to carry the royal crown. Glass Coach It was used by Queen Elizabeth II for her wedding as her mother for hers, and many others ... Scottish State Coach A transparent roof that brings lots of light inside. On the top is a model of the crown of Scotland. Gold State Coach Delivered in 1762 for King George III, this carriage is the most impressive of all. 7.3m long, 2.5m high and 3.9m wide. It was obviously used for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Diamond Jubilee State Coach Although it looks like the previous coaches, this one is perfectly modern and was created in Australia for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It weighs nearly 3 tons and is equipped with 6 hydraulic stabilisers to avoid swaying. However, craftsmanship is still very present with, for example, lamps handmade by Edinburgh crystal, or door handles encrusted with diamonds and sapphires. A collection of various carriages is also open to the public, including a sleigh offered by Canada to Queen Victoria or a mini carriage for children. Obviously, all this wouldn’t work without horses and all men associated with it. Much less glamorous but nevertheless indispensable, the royal family also travels by car. I too had a nice car for my Solo Wedding in Santorini, a black Mercedes ... Have a good week! Love & Coach, L. Let’s continue with my adventures in London, my previous articles: My Birthday in London Kensington Palace Madame Tussauds Access to the permanent collection of this museum is free, only temporary exhibitions are not. Today a new museum that will make you travel through time!! But first we talk a lot about plastic waste these days, and many of us are aware of the importance of reducing it daily. I fly more often than I take the bus, this campaign presented by PriestmanGoode "Reduce, Reuse, Rethink" (Reduce, reuse, rethink) made me think. Aircraft cabin waste accounted for 5.7 million tonnes in 2017, 33% was plastic. Only 17.3% are made of recyclable materials.
Designers are looking for solutions, whether in materials, or organisation ... Inventions and fabrications endlessly. Whether in the field of medicine, everyday life, architecture or fashion, a creativity that changes our lives ... The syringe for example was invented at the end of the 19th century and its design has remained almost unchanged since then. We use no fewer than 35 billion a year. Or the fitted kitchen created by a woman in 1926, Margarete Shütte-Lihotzky (Austrian) to make it practical and logical. Objects that constantly evolve over time: phone, radio, television, computer, camera, calculator, the game consoles and so on. As far as I am concerned, the Minitel – a French invention developed by the French Post Office before internet appeared - is what marked my childhood! And no, I won’t tell you my age hahaha! For some it’ll bring back memories, and for the youngest, ask your parents or grandparents for more information!! And which object are you most grateful for? Answer in the comments below! I admit that the umbrella and the raincoat are convenient, especially in London! If you want to discover more, a video at the end of the article. Have a nice weekend! Love & Design, L.  In my previous article, Once Upon a Time, I told you that I was in London for a while, so nothing more normal than sharing my adventures and discoveries here. A very different world today but I obviously couldn’t miss this world-famous museum. There are several around the world: Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna, Blackpool, Istanbul, Las Vegas, New York, Washington, Hollywood, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney and of course London, the first one! It was initially opened in 1836 on Baker Street in London, and yes, the same street where lived Sherlock Holmes (Article Birthday in London), but was transferred on Marylebone Road, very close, in 1884. But do you know that Madame Tussauds was ... French!! Born in Strasbourg in 1761, she made her first figures (Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin) from 1777. Then in 1802, she left for England where she stayed and died in 1850, aged 88. Queen Victoria, I talked at lot in my article Kensington Palace, was aware of the popularity of the museum, and had her wax figure as well ... With the impressive number of visitors to this wax figures temple, believe me if I tell you that taking photos was an impossible mission, but I did my best to share a part of this incredible work. You’ll undoubtedly recognise these celebrities. Artists: Or these influential people: But also characters, including Sherlock Holmes of course. What would we do without Superheroes? My favourite part of the museum. Star Wars with a video at the end of the article on the realisation of the characters, don’t miss it!! But also, a little ride to discover London's history in a London cab… Many things to discover at Madame Tussauds; I couldn't unfortunately share everything with you. Feel free to visit its incredible museums. Have a great week! Love & Discovery, L.  For those who follow me on Instagram, you know I was back in London, so an article on one of their beautiful monuments. Last year I went to the Palace of Versailles and shared with you its opulence and grandeur. This time this English residence is its opposite, no gilding profusion or extravagance, its royal occupants wanted it warm, big enough but not huge, and through the ages this palace has been improved. This castle has been inhabited since 1689, it is now separated into two parts, one where the Princes William and Harry reside with their families, and the other open to the public. A video of the Royal homes at the end of this article. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was born, raised and lived in this residence until her coronation in 1838. But this is also where she met her beloved Albert (Prince Albert of Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha) whom she cherished all her life. And for fans of romantic stories, I recommend the Victoria series with Jenna Coleman in the role of the queen. Click At the age of 18 she became Queen, a heavy role for her frail shoulders and yet she was going to demonstrate to the world that she was destined to reign for a long time (63 years, 7 months and 2 days). She then moved to Buckingham Palace and became the first sovereign to reside there.here to edit. Royalty means jewels of course, it reminds me my Solo Wedding in Santorini. By the way, I hope you liked my last article Birds Paradise, magnificent exhibition of brooches. The ones Victoria wore were second to none, including the 105,602 carats Koh-i Nor Diamond (displayed at the Tower of London), a symbol of British power in India, because we must not forget that Queen Victoria was also Empress of India. In this respect, she had a real attachment to this country, from which she learned the language and the culture. She even befriended Abdul Karim, an Indian servant. Friendship that cinema has brought to the screen in the film Victoria and Abdul (with Dame Judith Olivia Dench). The family was very important to Victoria, she shared her reign with her role as mother and grandmother. She will never recover from the death of her husband and mourned the rest of her life by adopting black as colour. She even kept the room in which he died and came often to reflect. 20,000 new laws under 24 different governments. Her era saw the invention of the steam train, steamboat, bicycle, car, telegraph and telephone. At her Diamond Jubilee, 3 million people came to see her. Without a doubt a Queen that everybody will remember ... It is hard to talk about Kensington Palace without thinking of Lady Di where she lived, even after her divorce until her tragic death in 1997. A gallery is dedicated to the outfits created by David Sassoon, her favourite fashion designer. You will notice on some sketches the annotations of the princess. Next article next Saturday. Have a good week! Love & History, L. Let's keep dreaming, after my article last week on Madagascar, today a topic that will delight lovers of art and beautiful things. I mentioned this wonderful exhibition in my article My Birthday in Paris, here is today an article which is entirely devoted to it.  You know my taste for luxury and especially jewellery, my Solo Wedding in Santorini is the proof, either by my Wedding Dress or my Wedding Ring, so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to nourish my soul and my spirit. Coming from two private collections and some of the Van Cleef & Arpels' heritage funds, "Paradis D'oiseaux" (Bird Paradise) is an exhibition celebrating the art of jeweller’s craft through bird brooches created between 1850 and 1960. Everything begins with inspiration, with art for example and especially painting but also the work of naturalists, and documents of all kinds that awaken the creativity of the jeweller who first creates sketches ... The majestic and exotic peacock is one of the most represented birds in the art, so it’s not surprising that we find it in this exhibition. Exceptional materials to make these unique pieces: diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, feather, shell, onyx, coral, enamel, turquoise, pearl, amethyst, topaz, aquamarine, garnet, gold, platinum ... Birds of all kinds including the swan. And if you remember, I was wearing a tiara with two swans for my Solo Wedding in Santorini! After the exhibition, I’ve visited the Ecole des Arts Joailliers (School of Jewelry Arts), supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, a sublime space with several workshops and salons to learn but also to discover the history of Van Cleef & Arpels. This school is accessible to all, it doesn’t provide a qualification but makes the public discover (including children and teenagers) the art of jewellery with its 10 crafts: draftsman, model maker, gems expert, jeweller, foundry, setting, lapidary, engraver / sculptor and case. I invite you to discover their courses for yourself or to offer, an original experience that will take you to the heart of one of the finest French craft: the haute-joaillerie. For those who would like to learn more, at the end of this article a video about feathers and jewels. No article next week because I have my new passport and I'll be travelling, I'm so happy!! Follow me on Instagram @blogaboutl to know more ;) Next article: 21st of September. Good week to you all! Love & Jewellery, L. This is another year, time flies, not so long ago I was just a little girl looking for fun and discovery ... In fact, I haven’t changed! Last year I happily celebrated my birthday in Santorini and talked about the stressful journey I had just experienced to freeze my eggs (Read again Article Gift of Science). I am a July’s baby, so summer and the beach are necessarily my elements. However, this year I chose two European capitals to blow my candles with dignity: Paris and London! Why twice? And why not?? Who said that it was necessary to stick to a single party, I celebrate my birthday as many times as my friends wish to celebrate, and I have lots of amazing friends!!  So, for this new unforgettable evening, my friends have chosen a fancy place, beautiful and terribly romantic: the Bubble Bar with its terrace on the roof of the famous Moulin Rouge! By the way, remember I already told you about it in my article Christmas in Paris. Ambiance guaranteed, the perfect place to quench your thirst and dream in good company. Well, the day after a party is usually painful, and in these conditions I need comfort and my favourite address is: Ytime Paris (55 rue des Archives in the Marais). With its big teddy bear and Californian (or Australian) atmosphere, I take a bath of tenderness and light, and I revive myself with matcha latte and cookies. We owe this beautiful place to Yazid Ichemrahen (Teddy's Dad), a talented pastry chef with an international reputation. And don’t be fooled by his handsome fashionable look, he’s a sensitive and fierce man. Originally from Epernay in Marne (yes this is the region I talked about in my article Champagne), he grew up in foster care, experienced loneliness and violence, but it’s also at that time that he discovers his passion for pastry, a dream that led him to the light. By the strength of his courage and determination, he worked with the greatest chefs and in 2014, he became World Champion of Frozen Desserts. Since he’s a consultant, created his brand Ycone, and has just opened his second Ytime boutique in Paris (12 rue du Poteau in the 18th), and others to follow very quickly. This concept store is his identity, passionate about surfing and escape. Cookies and brownies remind him of his childhood with his aunt and uncle. Ytime for the generation Y, his generation (he’s 27) and thus a healthy selection of salads, poke bowls, smoothies to consume on the spot or take away. And because it's summer, take advantage of this beautiful sun to relax with a picnic on the banks of the Seine, happiness ... The search for excellence always, fresh products, top quality, and no less than 200 tests to find the cookies to his liking. He still has so many dreams in mind, he doesn’t wait for success, he runs after! Thank you Yazid for this beautiful meeting, you are the perfect example that we must fight for our dreams, and you are a great source of inspiration for me and for so many others ... The best is yet to come for you, good luck!  When I'm in Paris, I like to walk around aimlessly and enjoy the magic and romantic atmosphere that only exists here. There are always incredible exhibitions in Paris, and there are 3 at the moment that I liked a lot: • Tutankhamun - The Pharaoh's Treasure, until September 15, 2019 at the Grande Halle de la Villette • Helena Rubinstein - The Adventure of Beauty, until August 25, 2019 at MAHJ • Maison Van Cleef & Arpels - Bird Paradise at the Ecole des Arts Joailliers Don’t worry I’ll talk about it more in future articles ... Tomorrow July 14 will be the French national day, and my article last year paid tribute to the firefighters and especially to the firewomen (Read Article Superwomen). There will be many fireworks organised everywhere in France, and I love that, so I give you at the end of the article the Paris fireworks 2018. No article next week, during the summer holidays, I publish only twice a month, but believe me I'm preparing a very exciting article with my birthday in London! Next article: Saturday, July 27 Love & Freedom, L. I’ve already discussed with you the benefits of music on me in my article Freedom with a beautiful performance by Joshua Edelman at the end (listen absolutely!) I talk a lot about ways to reduce anxiety in recent weeks: Thank you! , Be Positive, Happiness!. Well, I have to admit that writing a book is stressful, especially telling a story about a drama of my past. Music is essential in my life and it has been even more so in the last two years. So, you noticed that many of my articles end with a song. This week, I would like to go deeper into the subject and talk about its incredible healing power. It’s now proven that listening to music influences our brain and therefore our mood. Its benefits are multiple: antidepressant effects, reduces pain, reduces stress, activates memory, helps concentration, acts on motivation, and generally makes us more positive and happier. So, do it!  My Solo Wedding. Dancing with my Best man... I promised you some excerpts from my book, so here's the first one: I could not have gone through all this without music and its tremendous healing power. I did not know how to express my sorrow and get it out of my body. When you are devastated and think that you will never see the light again, your voice is extinguished. These are the words of others, of all these fabulous lyricists and artists, who extract this evil little by little, note after note. When finally, the voice of someone else seems to speak for us, and comes to describe our pain, our malaise, our emotions, we are already half healed. Like a magic spell that would cancel a curse, or as Stendhal said: "Good music is not mistaken and go straight to the bottom of the soul to seek the sorrow that devours us."  James Bay, I'm absolutely obsessed with this artist right now and I probably listen to him 20 hours a day, the rest of the time, I'm trying to sleep ... This 28 years-old English singer, songwriter and guitarist, with two albums to his credit, hasn’t stopped since 2014 to demonstrate his talent, and received many awards. By the way, if you took the time to listen to the song last week - Us - it was a duet with him and Alicia Keys. His latest song Peer pressure, a duet with Julia Michaels, is addictive! James inspired me a text with his song titles (you can click to listen to them): Craving to Slide into your arms, no Peer pressure, Just for tonight, with our Scars and Best fake smile, Hold back the river, Running, Need the sun to break, For clocks go forward, because I believe in Us! Have a very good week! Love & Music, L. It was the International Day of Happiness on March 20th, so I hope you are happy! And for those who seek some advice, read again my article happiness.html. Me, if there is anything that fills me with joy, it’s shoes hahaha. I already told you about my passion for shoes, and the ones I wore for my solo wedding in Santorini in my article shoes-forever.html. So, you aren’t surprised that today I’ll tell you about one of the most renowned designers: Manolo Blahnik. His shoes are all handmade in Italy and require 50 different steps. Manuel Blahnik Rodríguez, a 76 years old Spanish stylist, was born and raised in the Canary Islands, in Santa Cruz de la Palma, before studying in Switzerland and Paris, then settling in England . The Art of Shoes (El arte del zapato) in association with Vogue Spain, at the Museum of Decorative Arts of Madrid, traced its career, its major creations and its various collaborations, with 212 shoes and 80 original drawings from the personal collection from Manolo Blahnik. I attended a lot of exhibitions in Madrid last year, as I already mentioned several times on the blog: • andy-warhol.html • sorolla.html This exhibition is without a doubt one of my favourites because it highlights all the genius and inspiration of this designer with unparalleled imagination. Whether materials, textures, shapes or colours, everything invites to travel and a universe without limit ... He’s also very inspired by nature, corals, flowers, fruits. The model Ivy drew attention in 1973, green sandals created for the fashion show of the English designer Ossie Clark. Shortly after, Manolo Blahnik opened his first store in London. There’s a word that transpires in all these creations, this is elegance. No wonder he's one of my favourite designers. And when shoes become jewels ... It’s therefore not surprising that he collaborated with Sofia Coppola for her movie Marie Antoinette. And yes, the beautiful shoes of the Queen, it's him! You’ll find the video at the end of the article. Feel free to change shoes to get off to a good start! 😉 Have a good week! Love & Shoes, L. Haute Couture fashion week has just ended in Paris, I was obviously very inspired for this new article. Last week, I spoke about Jean-Paul Gaultier's exhibition Love is Love, a retrospective of these bridal outfits (Link Article fashion-exhibitions.html) which started in Montreal (Canada). Montreal which is full of fantastic museums, a city that I’ll show you soon. However, for today, back to childhood, something that everybody knows but with a little twist. I would like to dedicate this article to my youngest follower, Olivia, who will turn 10 years old this year. This is the largest permanent Barbie Haute Couture collection, more than 1,000 dolls dressed by the greatest designers in the world: Barbie Expo, in the heart of Montréal. And let's start with the brides, who knows maybe my solo wedding in Santorini will inspire Barbie one day (Article my-solo-wedding-behind-the-scenes.html) ... Barbie will be celebrating her 60th birthday in March, I would like to age as well as she does. And yes since 1959, the famous doll inspired millions of children. She also inspired brands, Barbie, 11½-inch tall is surely the smallest fashion model in the world. But also, movies, shows and celebrities inspired her. Many designers have created unique outfits for her, including me and not always to her advantage hahaha. This great exhibition reminds us of history and geography too: Barbie is all about a magical world where imagination has no limit ... Note that this exhibition is completely free and that all donations are donated to the Association Make a Wish Quebec. And to discover more, here is the website of Barbie expo: expobarbie.ca/en/ Short story: a girlfriend offered me my first Barbie for my 6th birthday, and a very special one, Barbie Dream Glow, whose stars on her dress shine in the dark. One of my best memories. It's as if today my friends offered me a pair of Louboutin! The lesson that I learnt then, choose well your friends! Lesson I have obviously forgotten on the way, since no one offered me some Louboutin hahaha.  No article next week, I'll be travelling to find other interesting topics for you. And for those who are not fashion fans, I promise, the next article will be on a very mouthwatering topic! But I don't tell you more ... Have a lovely week end! Love & Joy, L. Change of scenery this week, after making you travelled (Last Article crete-episode-2.html ), I’m going to amaze you with the exceptional haute couture creations of two great French names please, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Balmain. The French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier collaborated again in 2017 with the Montreal Museum of Fine Art, to create a remarkable exhibition, which I had the chance to attend in Montreal (Canada). This is a retrospective of Jean-Paul Gaultier's incredible wedding outfits from 1990 to 2017, 36 dresses and wedding clothes spread over and around a gigantic wedding cake. My solo wedding in Santorini had already taken place (Article my-solo-wedding.html) when I discovered this exhibition, but it definitely gives me some inspiration for a possible next time, who knows? This exhibition called LOVE IS LOVE, inspired by the speech of Barak Obama of June 26, 2015 during the legalisation of same-sex marriage in all the American States, is a new demonstration of the commitment of Jean-Paul Gaultier in favour of marriage for all. Commitment that I share, read or reread my article on marriage and parenting for all superwomen-3.html. In this continuity, in 2018, the Centro Cultural Kirchner of Buenos Aires (Argentina) had the chance to display this exhibition. Argentina was the first country in Latin America to recognise same-sex marriage in 2010. Hope that in a near future this exhibition will be in your country ... In the meantime, you will notice all the incredible details of these sartorial wonders. For those who want to know more about Jean-Paul Gaultier, don’t miss Fashion Freak Show at the Folies Bergères in Paris, show imagined by the fashion designer and which traces his life. Note the exceptional participation of Dita Von Teese from 22 to 27 January 2019. After making women dream, another exhibition that should be more interesting to these gentlemen. The Victoria's Secret exhibition of the 2017 Punk Angel show with the collaboration of Olivier Rousteing, Artistic Director of Balmain since 2011. To feel really good about yourself, a comfortable or a sexy lingerie (even both), is essential. And when all this is highlighted by a renowned fashion designer, we feel like an angel ... Here again a lot of details in the accessories. One wonders where these creators find so much inspiration ... I hope you liked this fashion article, Good weekend to all! Love & Joy, L Autumn is here in Europe, rain is back. Which gave me the idea of a new series of articles that will make you travel this time. And for this first article, I chose Madrid. Remember, I've already talked about this city in a previous article gift-from-science-part-2.html , logical continuation after my solo wedding. I admit that when it rains, I like to stay in pyjamas all day to gorge on TV series and sweets of all kinds. But sometimes, I take my courage in my hands or rather with an umbrella and a raincoat, and I go for a wander ... So, follow me today, you will see that life can also be beautiful with wet feet! Obviously, a hearty breakfast is required before any walk and there are plenty of places in Madrid. There is something for every taste and every budget. Most cafes and restaurants are indoors, which suits us with this weather. Will I choose a traditional brunch with serrano ham, tomato puree, and Spanish tortilla, or churros (addictive donuts), or other European sweets? Hard to decide ... In the up and down streets of Madrid, I pass buildings I already know and yet with a grey sky, everything is different, my eyes linger on other details, I rediscover these so familiar streets. The rain is relaxing, it makes the problems flow, the sound is calming, and we can discover things differently, including the beautiful rose garden situated inside the 118 hectares of the majestic El Retiro Park. The rose garden is beautiful in full sunlight but in the rain it's dreamlike. I’ve strolled for hours in these alleys, all these delicate petals covered with drops. Obviously, only a few people have ventured with this weather, which amplifies the tranquillity of the place and gives me plenty of time to wander and dream ... After several hours spent in the rain, coffee break is required, and there is no hesitation, you will find me at Motteau! This is my sweet break of the day, especially when I'm homesick because here you taste French pastries. Not to mention that the setting is charming and very welcoming, I always feel like having coffee with friends, which is so, Juan the boss and Tamara are so friendly. When I stay in a foreign city for a long time, creating a routine and habits is fundamental. And even if I like solitude, having familiar faces around is essential. Thank you, Tamara and Juan for your kindness and your delicious cakes! And since I'm not far, let's go to the Caixa Forum, there are always incredible exhibitions. This place reminds you something, and you're right, because that's where Andy Warhol's exhibit was, to read or reread andy-warhol.html Today, I’m interested in Adolf Loos’ work, an Austrian architect of the early 20th century, this exhibition inspires me a nice article (coming soon). In the same district, you will also find the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, where I shared with you the article about Sorolla and the fashion sorolla.html But let’s go to the Prado Museum, a few steps away. Two hours before the museum closes, access to the permanent collection is free. Great classical paintings to contemplate, from Greco to Goya via Velazquez, Rubens and many others, perfect for ending the day. Another tough choice of the day, dinner. Paella, calamari sandwich - typical of Madrid, ham, or not at all Spanish but so comforting, a pizza. What is good with big cities is that you can find world cuisine. Which is very nice when you stay several weeks at the same place. And no, I don’t have pleasure eating, you know it's just food hahaha. Night has fallen, and everything looks different, what a beautiful sight to relax before going to bed. I'm going to have sweet dreams, no doubt. Who said when it rains it’s boring?? 😉 |
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