 I hope you had a good holiday season, despite the pandemic situation, some of you told me that you had to change your plan or even worse to be isolated. For my part, I was in bed on December 24 and part of the 25th, following the 3rd dose of the vaccine. However, I made up for it afterwards and made the most of my family and friends. In my last article of the year Merry Christmas, I mentioned my childhood dreams, including the fact that in 2022 I wanted to restart ballroom dancing. So, for this first post of the year, I've decided to tell you more about my intentions and wishes, and maybe you'll feel inspired!  For those unfamiliar with vision boards, this is a blank canvas or large piece of paper on which you add pictures of things you’d like to have or accomplish. In short, you put your dreams and aspirations on it. And you look at it every day. For my part and since I travel a lot, I have a digital version on my tablet. It has been shown that this exercise not only allows us to manifest our desires but above all to do it more quickly. This is called the "Law of Attraction". For those who are sceptical or are not interested in the laws of the universe, this visualisation tool is nonetheless effective, you can imagine that seeing every day, several hours a day the photo of a dog makes you want to have one! And precisely, while I’ve just updated my vision board, next to a professional dancer, I added a photo of a beach because for those who follow me for a long time, you know how much I love the sea. No wonder then that in 2022, I want to return to new shores, exotic if possible ... While waiting to be there, here’s a photo I took last week, in my native region, at the beautiful Lac du Bourget. I'm getting closer to my goal ...  Photo Credit: Aix-les-Bains - Dec 2021 I Laëtitia Nguyen My friend Mari Curteanu, Wellbeing Coach and Founder of Bodysome, in one of her precious Instagram posts, made us wonder what we wanted to keep from 2021. I loved taking a moment to think about it, because too often we follow habits without really congratulating ourselves or questioning their interest. What I’ll pursue in 2022:
 My other friend Fadela Hilali, Life Coach - whom I already told you about in my article Christmas Gifts - recommends focusing on the emotions you want to feel in 2022, rather than talking about resolutions. A fantastic advice that I've immediately adopted! And this gives, among other things:
I find it to be a great exercise and instead of focusing on the outside elements that very often don't depend on us, we set an inner goal. "A flower blossoms for its own joy." - Oscar Wilde  Photo Credit: Paris - Sept 2021 I Laëtitia Nguyen So here is my recipe for 2022’s intentions, a good quantity of gratitude and perseverance, added to positive and well-balanced emotions, all sprinkled with visualisation! And voila! A first manifestation that arrives very quickly, whereas I wished many people to travel in 2022, well last-minute trip, I’ll be in Paris tomorrow to take care of my godchildren 😊 In the meantime, check my previous articles & videos: Once again, I wish you all a very happy new year 2022! May it be rich in love, health, adventure and miracles! Love & Joy, L. 
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(A special message from Dr. Dravon James at the end) And here is yet another Christmas for creating new memories and magical moments. On that side, you know I'm the Queen, especially with my Solo Wedding in Santorini! Because as far back as I can remember, I've always been able to enchant my world, and I'm not just talking about Christmas Gifts, which I talked about extensively last week. The magic of Christmas is believing in an old man who crosses the planet overnight, with flying reindeers, to distribute happiness to children.  This magical atmosphere reveals the best of us and makes us dream of the impossible! The story of my life… Which made me thought about my childhood wishes, let’s see if any of them had come true: Astronaut I must have been 5 or 6 years old so, I used to go the planetarium every week to take astronomy lessons, I was so fascinated by the stars and space and I definitely left my head up there!! But I told you about it in my article In the Air 2 and my wish to go to the planet Mars. And my guests have already received their invitation for my birthday on Mars in 2070 😉 Dancer As soon as I could walk, I started waddling, as can be seen from the photos below, when I was 14 months old and dancing with my teddy bear! Although, I only took dance lessons when I was 30, this passion never really left me and grew within me, eventually leading me to compete in ballroom dancing for 2 years. I haven't danced with a partner for 4 years, but I continue to train in my bedroom and I hope 2022 will bring me back to the dance floor ... Beautiful and famous Nothing very original, and yet it took me a lot of effort and time to have the confidence that I have today, to accept myself with all my flaws. Check my video below “Let’s grow together” to know more. Above all I discovered self-love with my Solo Wedding in Santorini. As for fame, enough has been said about me in the Media to satisfy me. And of course, the best for last: Writer I've been writing with passion since I was 8 years old, and there isn't a day that I don't have some text running through my head. I think about it when I wake up, in the shower, when I do my gym, when I eat, I sleep… well, all the time. And since my Solo Wedding in Santorini, it has become my main activity with this blog and with my book, and those to come ... Reread my previous Christmas articles:
Dreams that continue, that evolve, and always this craziness that pushes me to want the moon and the stars around ... No wonder my creativity is increased tenfold at this time of year! My Christmas videos:
Thank you all for your fabulous photos! I enjoy so much receiving your pics every year...  Courtesy of Dr. Dravon James And I've even received a photo and a special message to share with you, from Dr. Dravon James, Author and Founder of Every Day Peace, whom I told you about in my last article Christmas Gifts. Thank you very much Dr. Dravon James! Let's continue to believe in Christmas magic to end this year with stars in our eyes, and allow us to dream big in 2022. We just have to wait for Santa now and see what he brings us this year ... No article next week, I’ll enjoy the holidays, and meditate to have a fabulous energy to start the New Year… Next article: January 8, 2022! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Love & Joy, L.  You know how much I adore this time of year, there is no lack of articles on this topic and I have to admit that I’ve been lucky enough to satisfy my curiosity on numerous occasions:
Not to mention everything I post on my social media: And precisely at this time when the pleasure of giving and helping others is increased tenfold, let's talk about Christmas gifts ... “Give to receive. " L. I'm sure some of you still have some last-minute gifts to buy, so I thought sharing my experience was welcome. Certainly, I’ve already talked about it in:
Although I love luxurious and extraordinary gifts, sometimes even imaginary ones, I have the right to dream!! This time around, I'm showing you how to create Christmas magic! “Give meaning to your gifts. " L. This year, I chose to create the gifts myself, I can't say more here but I'm sure there are plenty of things you can do yourself: personalised calendars with photos, knitting a scarf, painting, cooking chocolate truffles ... Or quite simply, have a photo printed on a t-shirt, a mug, a teddy bear, there are plenty of easy-to-use websites to help you achieve them, and the ideas are endless! And if you find that it takes too long or is still too complicated, my solution: PERSONAL VOUCHERS Last year I gave my family and friends special vouchers like cooking a dish of their choice, babysitting, catsitting, organising a birthday party, a hug ... All those things that people often are too shy to ask. In short, I offered my talents and services to those around me to help them during the year. For example, my brother-in-law claimed chocolate mousse which I do very well, and my sister opted for me to decorate their Christmas tree this year (shopping included). HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES, FREELANCES, But you can also help your entrepreneur friends by buying your gifts from their businesses, or maybe some are gym teachers or coaches, offer sessions to your family & friends. Maybe they even wrote a book, and precisely speaking of that, here are 3 books that I highly recommend (only available in English for now): Stuffed by Fadela Hilali Fadela is an incredible woman, life coach, who chose to write a book to tell about a special experience in her life: her emotional connection with food and how she overcame it. Just like me with my book “My Solo Wedding in Santorini”, she knows that sharing this intimate moment can help so many people. This book is truly inspirational, offer it to someone, or better yet to yourself! Find her on her website: fadelahilali.com and on Instagram: @fadelahilali Transformed by Remi Adeleke Remi Adeleke is a character all by himself, a former Navy Seal, who has become a writer, actor and movie director! I discovered this book by chance and I loved it. This is a wonderful life lesson, which shows that determination, discipline and self-confidence make you overcome adversity and realise your wildest dreams. Not to mention the energy of Remi that shines through his writing and brings you a lot of serenity and courage. And if you want an even more special gift, contact him on Instagram / Twitter (@remiadeleke) to request a signed book! Freedom is your birthright by Dr. Dravon James Okay I'll be honest here, I haven't read this book yet, I asked Santa for it, but what I can tell you is that I love Dr. Dravon James, and more specifically her Everyday Peace podcast, weekly on Unity Online Radio in the United States. Here again, her journey is incredible, pharmacist, she became an actress and now she’s a life coach. How not to be inspired? And by the way, she invited me to participate in her podcast, so stay tuned to find out more! Visit her website: drdravonjames.com
 Be sure to watch my video at the end of this article which sums up everything I just told you but on top of that, my gorgeous smile and Christmas energy! Don't forget to send me your Christmas decoration photos, they’ll be published in the next article. Let's create some magic this week! Love & Joy, L. “Art is my Lifestyle and Vice Versa!” L. You know how important Art is in my life, how much it inspires and nourishes me, just as I love endlessly creating and revisiting my way of life over and over again. While we’ve already reviewed the travel category in my previous article Travel Memories, this week I’m choosing to check the other articles: Art & Lifestyle.  I certainly spoiled you in 2021 with lavish exhibitions, amazing museums and majestic churches: I haven't failed to share my life with you this year, and all the amazing things I do and care about: Your favourite article this year was: Happy Pride! In fact, one of the photos in this article is actually in your Top 3 on my Instagram. Not to mention the most important event of the year for me: the Renewal of my Wedding Vows! In fact, many of you watched the video, I put it back at the end of the article.  Without a doubt, 2021 has been a year rich in discoveries and surprises of all kinds. So grateful for all these adventures and the people who came with them. Don't forget to send me your Christmas tree photos to be published in 2 weeks!! Have a brilliant week everyone! Love & Joy, L.  I hope you enjoyed my last article Travel Memories to get some air and dream of far-off horizons. This week, I look back on a special December in my life, while I was writing my book "My Solo Wedding in Santorini"! I am therefore taking you to Crete, which I’ve talked about a lot previously - reread the Crete Series - to share with you an intimate and personal moment of my life. And if you were already following me on my social media back then, this article will bring back some memories.  I arrived in October 2018, when my story was going viral in the international press & on the internet, and when I was invited on TV - check out Media. I had already spent several months on this island at the beginning of summer, and I thought it was the perfect place to write my book, in the solitude and quiet of winter, when most of the businesses and hotels were closed. A friend of mine introduced me to the owner of the building where he lived. A flat was available for the winter season, that was ideal! So, for 7 months, I lived in a very small flat in Kokkini Hani, not far from the capital Heraklion: The furniture was traditional but charming and functional. Simple fixtures, just a stovetop, mini fridge, no oven or microwave, no TV, little shower pressure, and random and temperamental hot water / internet / electricity. Despite that, it was my home, and after spending over a year in hotel rooms or on a sofa (reread Spring in Madrid), I was happy to be able to unpack my bags for a while. Even more so to fulfil one of my dreams and do what I love most in the world: writing. Obviously, as a talented interior designer (yes, another of my gifts), I bought some linen, decoration, rearranged the space to feel in perfect harmony, my little haven of peace ... So, this environment was perfect for my artistic creativity, I wrote my book in 6 months, continued to feed my blog every week. When the internet was unavailable, I was going to a café 5 minutes walk from my house, some of my favourite posts were created there: I also grew my Instagram presence around this time and started thinking about what videos I could create. Above all, I did a lot of artistic photos which I share with you from time to time, on my social media & on the blog, as in the article: The 4 Elements. What I liked in December was being able to admire from my window, the snow on the peaks (the island is mountainous) and the New Year's fireworks! It rained a lot that winter, more than usual apparently, I kept telling myself that this was the perfect time to stay home and write ... Well, I only had the heater for a few hours a day, so I wrote a lot under my duvet, fortunately I had bought a heated mattress topper, a blessing! I spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve on my own by choice, I wanted the experience of loneliness to the end, and I loved it! It is only when you come face to face with yourself that you realise how great company you can be ... No Christmas tree but a little bit of decoration though, no crèche this time but I had a sheep 😊 My family and friends had sent me lots of gifts, including a unicorn (reread my article Unicorns to find out my passion for this animal). I prepared a feast with lots of local and French specialties. And even too good since I lost a tooth, which led me to find an emergency dentist on December 26th. What can you do? I like challenges! My café/bar had also transformed for the occasion, and I even took a short trip to Heraklion to really get in the mood. Christmas 2018 is really an excellent memory 😊 You’ll find even more details about what I just said in my second book now in writing. The first book "My Solo Wedding in Santorini" is still pending publication, but I have a feeling that 2022 will be its year 😉! Read excerpts from my book: HERE  Reread my previous Christmas articles:  Start sending me your Christmas decoration photos, like every year, I’ll publish them in my article on December 25!! Have a brilliant week! Love & Joy, L. And here we are in October, after the start of the school year, I always find it interesting to take stock of the current year so that I can concentrate and refocus on this last quarter! I’ve just returned from Paris where I had a wonderful stay again, I can't wait to tell you about my discoveries but in the meantime, here are my tips for happiness to end the year in style, perfectly aligned with your mood, your desires, and your energy. And to help me for this article, I’ve chosen to use 3 of my videos. "Sometimes to act is to do nothing" L. 1 / Everything comes in time My experience taught me to be patient and not to envy people. There’s no need to rush anything, appreciate what you have already. Dreams demand time & resilience, if you really desire them, they’ll come true… "Don’t be jealous and above all don’t compare yourself to others." L. 2 / The Red Ball At the end of the year, we want to achieve all the goals we set for ourselves, we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves and stress for nothing. Not to mention the season changed, and our body must readjust as well. There’s no point in forcing things, on the contrary, take more care of yourself, relax and stay open to opportunities. Don't miss life because of the Red Ball... "Each flower blooms in its own way, we are not that different." L. 3 / Let's grow together I made this video in early 2021 and I'm so excited to continue to share my experiences with you. Like flowers and nature, keep growing at your own pace and keep blooming! "Celebrate every victory, big and small!" L. Let’s keep going with the flow, let’s have an open, positive and compassionate attitude, towards others but especially towards ourselves. And let's not forget to be grateful, for everything, big and small things, all the people in our lives, big and small victories ... Enjoy what you have, enjoy the moment. I am so grateful for all the love and support I had this year, both personally and professionally. I met incredible new people and had access to amazing opportunities, not to mention some ongoing collaborations that I’ll tell you about very soon. That’s why there’ll be no article next week, I have a few imperatives with my Solo Wedding in Santorini, regarding some exciting projects to come. In the meantime, reread my previous articles:
Watch all my videos here: LINK (also available on YouTube and IGTV) Discover my new page: My Solo Wedding  The Medici Fountain - Jardin du Luxembourg Paris - Oct 21 I Laëtitia Nguyen "Reflect… Meditate… Dream..." L. In this last quarter of the year, let's take some time ... Don’t focus on what you haven’t accomplished yet, realise everything you’ve already done, including all the unexpected things that turned into amazing opportunities. Even more than usual, I take care of myself, my body, my mind, I cherish & nourish them beautifully. Is there something you really want to achieve this year? Yes. So, keep the faith and don't give up. Celebrate your growth, your resilience, your patience, your self-discipline. Fill your heart with love, compassion, hope and courage. You are a wonderful being, capable of the very best. Have faith, you’re going to finish this year in awe! Have a great week! Next article: October 16, 2021 Love & Joy, L. Many of you asked me what I did during my last trip in Paris, and although I shared a lot on my social media, I don't blame you for being curious! So, here it is, I’ve chosen to give you a glimpse and of course many of my visits and experiences will be the topic of specific articles ... To be honest, I never tire of talking and commenting on this magnificent French capital which amazes me every time.  Here’s a summary I made in Paris: And yes, I wore a Chaumet tiara, well let's be more specific, a metal replica, it’s still magnificent and obviously I couldn’t resist the temptation to try on a few diamonds (Chaumet)… You know how much I love jewellery, reread My Wedding Ring. For those who are familiar with the place, you recognised La Samaritaine in the background, after 15 years of closure and an incredible renovation, this department store has reopened its doors to the public and I had the immense privilege of discover it in a unique way. Of course, an article will be dedicated to it ... Museums... Here are the ones I visited this time:
And also churches... I also had the opportunity to see 2 magnificent exhibitions organised in collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels:
In addition, I went to admire the incredible Van Cleef & Arpels Private Collection, Place Vendôme (photos not allowed). I’d like to warmly thank Van Cleef & Arpels for their hospitality and kindness, and I look forward to seeing you again! I also let myself go with the wind, walking through the streets and parks of Paris ... Besides seeing my friends, I made many new ones. Especially Thibaut, an incredible artist who did my portrait based on the photos of My Solo Wedding in Santorini!  Because Paris is all of that, luxury, art, architecture, history, beauty & new friendships ... And also, some pleasure! 😊 After my article on art with the Louvre, I wanted to choose another universe that I love, you know how much I love theme parks! Reread: Last year, family & fiends took me to Gallic territory to celebrate my birthday and I had a great time despite the cool and capricious weather for a month of July ...  From the height of his 7m (23ft), weighing no less than 4 tons, Asterix observes the arrival of visitors, perched at a height of 30m (98ft)! It was one of his dads, Albert Uderzo, who had the idea of a theme park in 1981. However, it will take 8 years of reflection, preparation including 2 years of construction, before his dream was born in 1989. Since 2002, the park belongs to the Compagnie des Alpes, a French company that manages several ski resorts including Méribel, where I grew up, but also other tourist attractions such as Futuroscope, Walibi and the Grévin Museum. Today, Parc Astérix is in 3rd place (number of visitors) in France, behind Disneyland Paris, the Disney Studios and ahead of Futuroscope. Rich in sumptuous decor and full of humour, you immediately feel immersed in Gaulish country and in a good mood ... Obviously, none of this would exist without the boundless imagination of the French comic book creators, René Goscinny, screenwriter and Albert Uderzo, designer. Friends for many years, they chose to create historical characters, Asterix, Obelix and all the indomitable Gauls were born in 1959. Gauls who resist the Roman Empire thanks to a magic potion made by their druid Getafix. Albert Uderzo continues the series alone after the death of his friend in 1977, then since 2013 Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad are in charge of perpetuating this great adventure. Albert Uderzo died in 2020 at the age of 92. And a fabulous story with 38 books, translated into 111 languages and dialects! And nothing is funnier than looking for all these characters across the park ... Look, it looks like Queen Laeti is visiting. Asterix and Cleopatra is one of my favourite books and here it is widely represented with a whole universe dedicated to it: But my favourite area, Greece of course! Since my Solo Wedding in Santorini, you know I’m kind of half-Greek now 😊 Of course, what I also like about this park are the rollercoasters! And knowing that I tested many of them around the world, I can tell you with certainty that this park is full of great surprises. Oz Iris at 40m (131ft) high and more than 90km/h, the Tonnerre de Zeus, certainly one of the most impressive that I’ve seen because it’s an entirely wooden construction, 84km/h and above all a vertiginous drop of 29m (95ft). And I've heard that the Tonnerre 2 Zeus is currently in progress ... Goudurix, my favourite, 7 times upside down at 92km/h and up to 36m (118ft) in height, or 12 floors of a building! But also, the Trace du Hourra, the Cheval de Troie and the last one, Pegase Express, rich in new technology, it combines thrills with great fear… but I won't tell you more… Be prepared to be thrilled! But we also have the right to do more relaxing rides ... And after such a day, the souvenir shop is essential ... Anyway, wonderful memories and an unforgettable Gallic adventure! As a reminder, during the summer vacation (July-August), I only publish 2 articles per month. But find my daily photos of Paris on Instagram ... Next Article: August 14, 2021! Love & Joy, L. If you follow me on my social media you know I celebrated my birthday with style, and even royally! This is always a celebration that I particularly honour, and since my Solo Wedding in Santorini I must say that I've certainly followed this rule (re-read Time Travel). And after Santorini, London and Paris, I was planning to celebrate it in Milan, however with the current situation, I preferred to stay in France and do it with my family in the Alps where I grew up. However, being born in July, a summer baby, I chose an aquatic atmosphere ...  After the cancellation of Milan, the mermaid theme immediately came to my mind, yet I'm not a particular fan, you know I love Unicorns (read my article Unicorns). And in Disney's Little Mermaid, I much prefer Ursula, the wicked octopus. I admit I like the vilains a lot: Cruella (101 Dalmatians), Maleficent, the Evil Queen (Snow White). My shrink would definitely have something to say about it if I had one. In short, while this decoration is normally easy to find in specialised stores, it turns out that the main suppliers for this theme are American and weren’t able to supply the shops with the Covid ... So, I had to be creative to satisfy my marine desires. Siren comes from ancient Greek, and in Greek mythology this is a half-woman, half-bird creature (hence my wings at the beginning of the article), while in the Scandinavian culture she’s half fish (as in The Little Mermaid, the tale of Hans Christian Andersen). While it’s true that on ancient Greek pottery they’re clearly distinguished as birds, in my recollections in Homer's Odyssey they are described as naked women by the water ... In French, the same word is used “sirène”, while in English, "siren" is used for Greek sirens, and "mermaid" for others. In both cases, they’re associated with the sea, and the myths, tales and stories about them are still fascinating. I decided not to discriminate anyone, I’m the Queen of all, sirens & mermaids 😊
I love organising events and decorating is my thing. So, I was able to please my heart & the result reached my expectations:
"Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail." For those who know me, well you never get bored with me ... Then, polaroid photoshoot with accessories, nothing better to relax and have some good laughs. The guestbook required a little effort from my guests, they had to paint a picture of their choice and add a note. And the Under the Ocean Game, blindfolded, we had to stick a unicorn in the place chosen by the other participants (back of the turtle, fish, seabed…). Everyone loved it, young and old alike! And my mum won!! Ocean Water to rehydrate and Seaweed Juice to refresh (love the colourings!). (Fake) crabs, octopus, stars and real Greek dishes (Greek salad, pita, spanakopita) to remind us of Ulysses and the Odyssey. Obviously, the cake, well the cakes ... My pastry chef, my sister! Mermaid tail, bikini and rubber ring, everything you need for a mermaid at the beach despite a rainy day ... I had never had a themed birthday party like this before, there is no age for having fun ... Thank you to my family and friends for a wonderful birthday party, yet another unforgettable year, looking forward to what next year has in store for me!! My previous articles: And I’d like to end this article with the caption I posted on my social media on my birthday: Happy Birthday to me!!  Have a fantastic week! Love & Joy, L. PS: Luca is a wonderful movie ;) Today, there’s the LGBTQIA+ pride in Paris, as a fervent ally of this community I wanted to honour them this week! Long called gay pride, today we only say pride, to bring together everyone and no longer just homosexuals. And for those unfamiliar with the term LGBTQIA+, it means: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and more, as the acronym can have even more categories, in its full form: LBTQQIAAP One of the A's stands for Ally, like me, for all those who support equal rights. But if you only remember the first one, that's great! (The photos in this article were taken in Paris in June 2019)  While many cities around the world have already celebrated it, more will take place in the summer, an event always eagerly awaited and even more so this year as many were cancelled last year. The first march took place in June 1970 in the United States, to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York. Indeed, on June 28, 1969, a police raid took place at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village (NYC). A bar frequented by gay and transgender people. Recall that at that time in New York, it was forbidden to serve alcohol to homosexuals, as well as to cross-dress. Only this time, the police face a rebellion. Five days of riots followed. 2,000 participants and 400 policemen were reported during the first night. This event undoubtedly gave birth to the LGBT movement in the United States and around the world.  This is why June is considered Pride Month in many countries, and every year since 1970 more and more cities around the world have joined the movement. You probably noticed this month, small multicoloured flags on the internet, social media, some store windows ... This is the flag of the LGBTQIA + community. It was created by an American, Gilbert Baker in 1978. The first 2 flags were hand-stitched & dyed by the artist and used in the march of San Francisco on June 25, 1978. Each colour represents a particular word: Red LIFE Orange HEALING Yellow SUNLIGHT Green NATURE Blue HARMONY Violet SPIRIT Originally the flag had 8 stripes, the pink (sex) and turquoise (magic) have been removed to facilitate mass-production. However, the colour brown (inclusivity) and black (diversity) were added in 2017 for more inclusion towards people of colour. The video below tells the story of this flag very well: In my article Superwomen 3, I talked extensively about same-sex marriage around the world, as well as the right to parenthood, and all the inequalities that still exist. I recalled in my article Superwomen 5 that lesbians in France are not allowed to freeze their eggs or to have IVF (in-vitro fertilization). In recent weeks, there has been a lot of talk about donating blood, because in most countries in the world, homosexuals and bisexuals are not allowed to donate blood or under certain conditions such as several months of abstinence before blood donation. (Australia, United States, France…). The UK made a change to their law about ten days ago, allowing people in a monogamous relationship for more than 3 months to donate blood without restriction. France is expected to allow anyone over the age of 18 to be an unrestricted donor next year. Still too many laws are unequal and inadequate today, it is up to everyone to support equal rights for all.  Today is also the birthday of my godchildren, Hannah and Noam, the twins of 2 amazing dads! I witnessed the difficult journey for them to become a family, the laws, the disappointments, the failures and finally these 2 miracles. Love has no gender, colour, religion, border. Love is Love. So today, I'm not just celebrating their birth, but also determination, courage and love ... I am proud of you, I love you!!  Reread my articles from the Superwomen Series here: LINK. But also, all the articles of My Solo Wedding in Santorini: LINK. No article next week, it's my birthday on the 1st of July!! I'm going to celebrate for a few days... Next Post: Saturday July 10 Happy Pride!! Love & Joy, L. Since last week I spoke again about my egg freezing in Madrid, I thought an update on this very personal topic was a good idea. As a reminder, I received this Gift from Science one year after my Solo Wedding in Santorini. And for this article, I’ve chosen to use my photos of clouds, all the photos are mine, like for my article Meditation. The sky is a great source of artistic inspiration and to me it represents hope. Hope I wish to radiate and spread in this patriarchal world ...  First of all, I’d like to point out that in June 2021, France is still one of the 3 countries in Europe (Austria and Malta) that don’t allow egg freezing for singles and lesbians! In 2019, a law was passed to allow all women to use this procedure, unfortunately this law was rejected by the Senate recently, and right now we have absolutely no idea when it’ll be possible one day ... As we celebrate Pride Month for the LGBTQ + community of which I’m an unconditional ally, it seemed important to me to recall this system anomaly. At the present time it seems unthinkable that single women and lesbian women can’t freeze their oocytes and use IVF!  However, women who rebel, like Teresa Xu, a 31-year-old single woman who went to Chinese court in 2019 - another country that bans freezing for single women - to demand equal rights. Unfortunately, again, no hope was obtained. An injustice even more outrageous since Chinese men can freeze their sperm, which is not the case in France, no gender discrimination on that side (good or bad, the debate is open!). After 40 years of IVF (in-vitro fertilization) and 30 years of freezing technique, we’re moving too slowly. And more and more women who travel to foreign countries (myself included) to have this type of procedure, which is sadly reminiscent of the case of abortion. Not to mention that the cost of treatment and travel is not accessible to everyone.  Incredible women who never stop fighting for our happiness, Australian Dr. Debra Gook opened the world's first egg bank in 1994 at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne (Australia). After 5 years of intense research, she’s the one who discovered the technique of freezing oocytes. Despite this great advance, the medical world was reluctant, yet the practice of freezing sperm dates from the 1970s ... Then another woman, Dr. Eleonora Porcu, Italian, decided to follow in her footsteps, followed by Dr. Nicole Noyes in the United States. Thank you to all these women, and the men who support them, who support us, for making a difference and offering future generations the freedom to choose!  Reread my previous articles: And I’d like to highlight my Superwomen series: Keep your head in the clouds, the only place you see the sun, stars, and rainbows! Love & Joy, L. While I’ve just renewed my vows and celebrated the 4th Anniversary of my Solo Wedding in Santorini (read the Article again), here I am celebrating another anniversary, just as unique and special: the freezing of my eggs 3 years ago!! I’ve explained extensively why and how it all happened in my Article ‘Gift from Science’, I invite you to re-read it: And for those who follow me for a long time, you know that I made this wish come true in the magnificent Spanish capital: Madrid. That’s the reason why I’ve chosen to show you more this city that I adore, and where I lived for several months for the success of my cryopreservation.  If there's one place I've spent a lot of time, it's the Retiro Park, located in the heart of Madrid and very popular with locals, especially on sunny days. First with its large rectangular ornemental lake adorned with an imposing bronze equestrian statue from 1904, the place is romantic and relaxing for a rowboat ride. Or the many gardens, perennials, French flowerbeds or the rose garden that I told you all about in my article: Rainy Day in Madrid. In the first heat, taking refuge under the 15,000 trees in the park is a real breath of fresh air. Moreover, built between 1630 and 1640, it was for a long time the royal secondary residence. Today there are 2 palaces, the Crystal Palace built for the colonial exhibition of 1887 and the Velazquez Palace, both rich in know-how and architecture that serve as an exhibition hall. And with the many fountains and statues present in this park, it’s a really pleasant and peaceful place. Another area where I walked daily, the Royal Palace. In its surroundings, you’ll obviously find the Almudena Cathedral, to which I devoted an entire article, many gardens including the Plaza de Oriente located between the Palace and the Royal Theatre. Old or modern buildings, strolling through Madrid is always fascinating and you sometimes come across architectural surprises such as the Temple of Amun. Temple built in Debod in Egypt and dating from the 2nd century. It was donated by Egypt to Spain in 1960, as part of the safeguard of the monuments, which were to be flooded by the waters of the Aswan dam. Another very famous place, the Plaza Mayor, which is always crowded. From 1590 to 1854, it changed and transformed many times to finally retain the style that we know today, with an equestrian statue of Philip III dating from the 17th century. This square measures 423ft (129m) by 308ft (94m) and is pedestrian only, which is in fact a privileged place for meetings, it’s also surrounded by many restaurants. Strolling the surrounding streets immerses you in the historic atmosphere of this vibrant capital! And at the end of the day, nothing better than going for a few tapas at the San Miguel Market. In these sumptuous covered market from 1916, a heritage of Spanish know-how for iron architecture (like the Crystal Palace), you can taste all kinds of specialties and delicate meals prepared by the greatest Spanish chefs, but also international and Michelin-starred chefs. For more than a decade, this space has been considered the first gastronomic market in Madrid. No wonder then to find caviar as much as traditional paella ... Bon appétit ! This city with its many famous museums is exciting for lovers of history and art. I’ve already introduced several of them with some very fascinating exhibitions: I hope you enjoyed this walk as much as I enjoyed sharing my memories with you ... Have an amazing week everyone! Love & Joy, L.  One more year has passed, I just celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary! You know I always prepare a special post for the occasion, but this time I did so much more, I felt the need to renew my vows, and I wanted to share this magical moment with you today. Obviously, I couldn't celebrate an event like this without being perfectly myself, which means, designer dress, makeup and accessories! And as a nod, I chose to wear the nail polish, lipstick, earrings and shoes from my Solo Wedding in Santorini...(Check again my previous articles Shoes Forever & Solo Wedding-Behind the Scenes). Shoes: Louboutin - Dress: Anne Fontaine - Bone Cuff: Elsa Peretti for Tiffany - Bracelet: Adolfo Dominguez - Earrings: Cassandra Lynn Bridal - Crown: Forever New - Beauty: Chanel, Dior, M.A.C. “Love yourself to change the world. " L. I loved this moment alone to take some time for myself and prepare. However, I was nervous, I had decided this time to share this intimate experience of my life, I was going to take my vows on the Internet… If you follow me on my social media, you must have seen my video, to watch or watch again so: It's funny, I still remember every detail of my wedding, the memories are still so fresh, yet I had forgotten how empowering it was to take my vows, so full of meaning and transformation. I feel rejuvenated, revived, and even more protected and guided by the Universe. Once again, I have just filled my heart and soul with love, peace and joy, convinced that the best is yet to come ... Very sensitive in nature, I couldn't help but shed a few tears right after. And after so much emotion, I obviously needed a little comfort. No churros to celebrate my birthday this year, but I made myself a chocolate cake for the occasion! I also received some pretty flowers from my family, and since in France, 4 years it’s the Wax Anniversary, I lit a beautiful candle as a sign of new life ... (Apparently flowers in the US & silk in the UK). When I put my ring on my finger 4 years ago, I said these words: "This ring is the symbol of my rebirth, a promise that I will understand myself more in order to become a better person." And what a rebirth ... So many amazing things have happened in my life since:
I’m so thankful for my family, friends and all the people who have supported me since my Solo Wedding in Santorini. I never would have believed such an adventure was possible. Reread my Articles:
And all my wedding posts available here: LINK. "Open your heart to open your mind!" L. And at the end of this article, the song that accompanied me to the altar on May 27, 2017 ... Have a wonderful week everyone! Love & Joy, L. While some are starting to reschedule trips, me for example! I thought that a summary of my articles on the subject would be welcome. Indeed, in 3 years, I’ve already shared many of my magnificent travels. Maybe this gives you some ideas for your next vacation 😉 Obviously, I start with my country of heart, Greece, which witnessed my self-marriage, but also the birth of my book My Solo Wedding in Santorini: Santorini Pyrgos (Santorini) Honeymoon (Santorini) Rainy day in Athens Series Crete For lovers of cities, museums and architecture: But also: The other country that is dear to me because I lived there for 7 wonderful years, Australia: Australia Melbourne Cup Christmas in Brisbane Moreton Island Palm Cove North Stradbroke Island In the Air 3 (Sydney) And then the exotic destinations, you know how much I love the sea and the ocean: Las Palmas (Canaries) Madagascar Fiji Other amazing places: And at the end of the article, my last video: Go with the Flow. Where I explain that I lived in 7 different countries in the world and that none of them was part of a plan ... Because that's how I see my life, seize the moment, live the moment and let the universe guide me to discover all the beauty and magic of our beautiful planet! Don't forget to think of me on May 27, it’ll be the 4th anniversary of my solo wedding 😉 Have a wonderful week everyone! Love & Joy, L. Some of you may have detoxified your body in January, after the holiday season. And as spring approaches, no doubt you plan to clean up and declutter your house. In my case, I have a much more holistic approach that I practice every month, right after the new moon, which is a good time for regeneration and renewal. After My Solo Wedding in Santorini, I chose to harmonise myself with the moon cycle to benefit from her energetic influence. Very judicious since my zodiac sign is Cancer and the Moon is my planet ... (I took the photo below from France – Blue Moon - October 31, 2020)  Your body To feel good, nothing better than taking care of your body. For the occasion, a full body and face scrub, manicure, pedicure, we cleanse ourselves from head to toe, and for those who can, a bath to relax, a sauna or hammam even better ... With the sanitary restrictions, not everyone has the opportunity to go in nature, but of course being able to walk in a park, a forest or on the beach is extremely beneficial. A tip I use, I watch relaxation videos with the sounds of nature, and more specifically of the ocean, with a little imagination, we can feel good easily! (Video later in the article). A specific exercise is a plus, before I’d have told you swimming, with the pools closed, today I prefer dancing, first of all because that's my passion, then because my whole body works and it helps eliminate water retention. And to detoxify from the inside, vary your food for a few days, avoid fatty and sugary food, consume beetroot which is an excellent cleanser, and drink a lemon squeezed in lukewarm water as soon as you wake up. If your eating habits are hard to change, try having a smoothie a day, it's easier to add new food than to take them out, and at least you'll get plenty of fruits and veggies without realising it. And obviously sangria doesn’t count hahaha. My favourite detox: spinach leaves, beetroot, kiwi. Variation: salad, cucumber, lemon, honey. Above all, drink a lot of water to help eliminate toxins. Obviously, you can apply all this several times a month, listen to your body. Your Environment Once a month, check your cupboards, or even alternate, a different one every month: clothes, medicine, freezer, children's toys ... Tidy up, clean, recycle, resell or give away, lots of websites, apps and organisations, give new life to your objects, you’re doing a good deed for our world and for the planet! To benefit even more from the positive effects of energies, you can apply Feng Shui. Marie Diamond is the high priestess of this practice, she looked after the house of Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates etc. and on her website you can get a free personalised report, full of information: link. And if we added a plant here, we removed this broken lamp we’ll never repair, maybe some curtains, really it's not that complicated ... Watch again my video to enhance your place: Your Mind I keep telling you about the benefits of meditation, and yes again, this is a great opportunity to clear your head & to prepare it to receive more. Any form of relaxation to calm your mind and get rid of the superfluous is welcome. For my part, I use:
Detoxifying your mind also means not using your phone, the internet or TV for a day! And why not going to the beach, remember my video: Your Life Precisely, sorting out your everyday life, like cleaning your phone! Save your photos of the month, erase those that are unnecessary, for example all the screenshots that are no longer useful... Do the same with apps and emails. Don’t forget to unsubscribe from ads and promos you never check. Delete all unnecessary cookies. Think to cancel subscriptions you no longer need. And exit toxic people from your contact list and/or social media. When you do this once a month, it doesn't take too long, and you quickly get used to doing it without it being a chore. If necessary, set yourself a reminder, for example every first Saturday of the month. I invite you to watch my video on recharging your energy: My last tip: You pick a task from your to-do list - you know the one that keeps growing with lots of stuff you postpone - and you stick to it. You’ll feel so liberated afterwards that your energy will be boosted for several days. And very often, doing this task is much less painful than you think. Previous Articles: Access to all my Videos: Link.  After my last article Women in Space, I told myself that a little tour of the moon would be nice (video at the end) ... Happy regeneration and a Happy New Moon! Have a very good week! Love & Joy, L. It took me a long time to find the title of this article, I knew I wanted to talk about this particular month of the year but I had a hard time defining it, unlike for example I love December! February is a month that always forces me to question myself, after the good energy of the new year (reread Happy New Year 2021), there are always events that shake my schedule and make me reconsider my decisions and even my whole life! Strangely, a lot of my actions took place during this period, not because of an overflowing creativity, but because the universe is pushing me each time, leading me out of my comfort zone and bringing out the fighter that is within me, the warrior who never gives up on my dreams ...  "The worst brings out the best in me ..." L. 2017 Here I am, several days after the sudden and dramatic announcement of the breakup by my ex-fiancé and the cancellation of our wedding, I choose to marry myself in Santorini. As I sell my apartment, get rid of all my furniture, and carefully pack my wedding dress in my hand luggage, I prepare to leave Australia, the country that was my home for 7 wonderful years. I'm not quite sure what I'm doing right now, overwhelmed by pain and fear of the future, yet I'm sure my Solo Wedding is the right decision. 2018 First failure in the process of freezing my eggs, I was then in the Spanish capital, Madrid. I'm in a store when my doctor calls me to tell me the bad news, always upbeat and positive, I'm not prepared for it, a stab in my heart, another disappointment and the fear of never succeeding that inhabits me now... This is the moment I’ve chosen to launch Blog About L. with the first article on Valentine's Day to honour love: My Solo Wedding in Santorini. Like a spell that I cast to bring positive vibes into my life.  2019 Some financial issue befell me while I’m in Crete, writing my first book My Solo Wedding in Santorini. No way to give up now, I just can't accept that. And a second magazine cover that confirms my project, a sign from the universe. After a round trip to Athens at the Australian Embassy, the support of my parents and the precious help of one of my friends, I can breathe again, I can finish what I started… 2020 I plan to spend time with my best friend in Paris, then go back to Greece, I stop for a few days at my sister's in Reims on the way, but the lockdown is announced, I stay in France (and I haven’t taken the plane since…). Several months you’re asking for videos, I start then, and once again post my first video on YouTube and Instagram on Valentine's Day. I must admit that I was very nervous at this idea, yet today I take great pleasure in sharing these moments with you, you’re always helping me to grow ... And making videos in public spaces is even more intimidating, but I'm doing pretty well I guess😊 ...
2021 Then again, not everything was as pink as in my last article Pink my Love Colour, but this time I refused to see the negative side, what must happen, happens, and every disappointment is an open door to a greater possibility. Yes, I was expecting a lot from this collaboration with a famous agent from New York, who believed in my project, one option that evaporates in nature, but how many more that appear without knowing it? Like a gardener, I plant seeds, but I can't see yet what is germinating. Having faith and keeping my inner peace is what matters most to me now. Hence, a lot of coaching, mentoring to develop myself on a personal and spiritual level. Constantly growing in order to flourish ...  So yes, happy February because despite hardships, I stretched the limits of my consciousness to better see the infinite possibilities of happiness. I found peace. A blog which has become a website with videos and excerpts from my book (not yet published). An adventure that never ceases to take me to unknown and exciting territories. My joy of life that I share daily on my social media. And this interaction that I have with you, which carries me and makes me want to give you more. Three years that I share with you my life, my dreams, my inspiration ... Happy February, Happy Blog Anniversary!  "Chasing your dreams is the biggest fight of your life. "L Previous articles:
And Happy Birthday to all Pisces, including my mum! Have a good week, Love & Joy, L.  For many people love and passion are associated with the colour red, but for me, pink is my big love story ... By the way, as a child, the first doll that made me dream, Barbie Dream Glow with a beautiful pink crinoline dress of course, I’ve talked about her in my article Barbie Exhibition. This is also the colour I chose for my Solo Wedding in Santorini: In French, roses, the flowers gave the name to the colour “rose”, because they are the most common. In English however, we say "pink" nothing to do with roses, but here too its origin comes from the name of a flower: the garden pink or wild pink. And for information, when you offer pink roses, you declare a tender and romantic love, and darker is the pink, the more it refers to gratitude and sensuality ...   A colour I also use in my photos, I like to see “la vie en rose” (life in pink): Colour I’ve decided to adopt for this Valentine's Day! And also for work lol, just love it hahaha! No date, and to be honest I don't even remember my last Valentine's date. By the way, that's what I say in this video, but not only, I'm talking mostly about self-love: Whatever you’re doing today, choose to celebrate yourself and accept all the love you have for yourself and for others. “There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” George Sand Read my previous articles: Happy Valentine’s day! Love & Joy, L.  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.  Hope you all had a Merry Christmas, I thought about you and even told you in my last video! (I'll add it at the very end of this article) This year, no crazy New Year’s Eve party, we are all in the same boat, no matter where we are in the world, so I decided to share with you my favourite musicals, to have something to do… Yes, after the Disney Princesses and Ballet, this is another of my passions. By the way, I've already talked a bit about it last year: Happy New Year 2020.
 Let’s be precise, I’m talking about the musicals I’ve watched in theatres. I’d like to take advantage of this article, to pay tribute to all the entertainment people who unfortunately were unable to produce their art this year, and many of whom found themselves in precarious and difficult situations. Making people dream is a wonderful talent. Let’s be grateful for all these artists and technicians, and for their incredible magic! What's the musical that comes to your mind spontaneously? Maybe even your favourite, you can reply in the comments below 😉 I start here with classics, some of which I love the cinema versions, and relevant during the festive season:
Another musical from composers Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein.
I obviously give you a legendary passage: Here, musicals have been adapted long after cinema. The first was premiered in 1951 with the incredible music of George & Ira Gershwin!! Then, in theatre from 2015.
Video to watch absolutely!!
You know I love her, I wrote about her in my Article Thank You. Not easy to create the magic of this character without special effects, and yet nothing is impossible for Mary Poppins, including flying above the audience... I still have goose bumps! Two other musicals that are dear to my heart and I saw in the fabulous Théâtre Mogador in Paris:
A musical I found great & extremely funny: The Addams Family. I'm a fan and for 1h30 I really thought I was in Morticia and Gomez's house, a bit more time and I invited myself to dinner, I think I had a thing for Cousin Itt ... 
This musical was created in 2005 and adapted for the cinema in 2012, it uses the iconic songs from the 80s, you just sing and dance all along ... And then so many others, all so extraordinary. Well, I admit that depending on the country, some casts are better than others, but the magic is always there. There’s something intimate and wonderful about theatre you can’t have in cinema. Almost as if we knew the actors: Cabaret, Grease, West Side Story, Wicked, A Chorus line, Dirty dancing, Jersey Boys, Spiderman, Billy Elliot… There are still a lot of musicals I’d like to see and fill my basket of dreams 😊 Maybe one day My Solo Wedding in Santorini will be told in music!! And it's not strictly a musical, but the Rockettes performance at the Radio City Hall in New York is a must-see once in a lifetime! Reread: Christmas in New York Rockefeller Center  If you are bored during these holidays, you can always re-read my previous articles, full of fun & magic: I received pictures of beautiful Xmas trees again this week, thank you all! As for me, on New Year's Eve, I’ll spend it with my parents, in my pyjamas, eating foie gras, oysters and cakes. Very good program in perspective: D At the end of the article, I put more videos + the musical I absolutely want to see, hopefully in 2021!!! Of course: Frozen! Chills guaranteed!! See you next year, happy New Year's Eve! Remember to be happy, you can do it!! Love & Joy, L.  Last week I took you to Dubai, the perfect place where luxury meets adventure. And like in a Thousand and One Nights tale, if there's one important thing it's the princess! I have no problem playing divas and queens, my Solo Wedding in Santorini is the perfect example. However, if there’s one time of the year when this aspect of my personality stands out most, it's Christmas!! And yes, in some photos I have navy blue hair (reread Navy Hair), and often a glass in my hand, which it's explained in my article Champagne ... So today, I’ve chosen to take you to a universe that everyone knows, which continues to make me dream even adult, and which even drives my 36-year-old little sister completely crazy: Disney Princesses! Stories have evolved a lot since 1923, when the Walt Disney Company was founded ... The first Disney princess was Snow White in 1937, followed by Cinderella in 1950 then Sleeping Beauty in 1959. But Snow White remains my favourite, I discovered her when I was 4 years old, at the same time as I went to the cinema for the first time, a very small one where I grew up in a ski resort in the French Alps (read Childhood)…  Well, I admit that now I rather prefer the evil Queen of the American series Once Upon a Time, a series that lasted 7 seasons, and which masterfully takes up all the fairy tales in a fantastic scenario with incredible details, costumes and actors. But let’s check the Princesses who inspire me today: Moana The adventurous princess who rescues her island! Story that takes place in Polynesia, where I’ve never been, but where some of my friends lived and whom I think about a lot during this period of the year! Mulan The warrior princess posing as a man! Merida The Princess who doesn’t want to get married ... Disney constantly makes us travel, thanks to the diversity of countries and cultures picked, which makes me think of: Pocahontas If you watched the second movie, well she has two lovers! So modern!! hahaha This reminds me of my articles: I’m a fan of this song and find it more relevant than ever: And then, the one that surpasses them all, obviously Queen Elsa, you know I'm a fan!! Queen, no man (well in the first film) and a magical superpower… We look so similar: D I will spare you here the ultra-famous song from this movie, but I give you a song from Frozen 2. Please tell me who your favourite princess is in the comments below! Reread my previous articles:  And during this holiday season, regardless of our age, we all become children again, little elves, princes and princesses. Whether you are with your parents, children, grandparents, uncles and aunts or friends. We all are someone's precious little thing. Many of you will not be able to celebrate it as usual; create your own moment, invent a new tradition for yourself. Don't let the current situation take away the magic of Christmas. I’ve lived abroad for over 10 years without being able to celebrate it with my family, no matter where I was, I’ve always had a lot of joy and wonderful times, alone or with friends. And when we were reunited with my family, we took the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and birthdays, all in once, whether in March or July... This year has shown us more than ever that we don't know what tomorrow will bring, so live the moment! This is the tip in my last video: And for this reason, every year I ask your photos of trees and decorations, to have you with me and always in my heart!! Thanks again to everyone for sending me your photos, they are beautiful, you rock! If there's one Disney movie that I recommend for the whole family, young and old people: Ralph breaks the internet. Released in 2018, it’s completely topical, covering the internet, social media and it's full of winks! A very beautiful film, funny and with a very good moral. And since it's the Christmas holidays, I add more videos from movies at the end of this article. I wish you all a Wonderful & Merry Christmas! Love & Joy, L. After my article Louboutin last week, let's stay in luxury and creativity, I promised you an article on Dubai, here it is, and at Christmas of course! Change of scenery guaranteed and even more decadent than in my previous articles:  I know you’re already dreaming! The beach and the skyscrapers probably remind you of Christmas in Brisbane with South Bank Beach in the middle of the city. I love it! And for those wondering, yes, we wear bikinis at the beach, Dubai is a very cosmopolitan city that is home to many nationalities and cultures. It’s quite confusing at first, but you quickly get used to the mix and it’s quite fun & inspiring. You’ll surely recognise the Burj Al Arab hotel, the highest in the world and 7 Stars please, with among others a heliport and a restaurant at 200m above sea level (Video at the end of the article). A real aesthetic and technical feat, built on stilts (250 pillars of 1.50m in diameter!) And able to withstand storms and frequent earthquakes in the region. I couldn't visit it, but it made a perfect background for my selfie! And yes, my hair was a bit longer at that time, read or reread my article Titanium Heart to know everything about my haircuts ... In my article Desert, mentioning the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, I said that everything was possible in this city, the proof again here with the different activities that you can find in the gigantic shopping centres out of sand: luxury shops, art, cinemas, aquariums, and even an ice rink and ski slopes, this is Christmas anyway! No chance to be bored in Dubai ... And cuz it’s Christmas, window displays and decorations are in the spotlight. Oh Louboutin, did you read my last article? However, I strongly advise to wear sneakers to visit these immense galleries, I sprained my ankle walking these endless alleys ... Of course, we think of luxury and extravagance, I won't lie, I’ve experienced them a lot: caviar buffet, champagne, luxury shopping, restaurants, bars ... It reminds me my Solo Wedding in Santorini somehow. I also took the opportunity to wear my jewellery and designer dresses: Outfit 1 – Dress Anne Fontaine, Bracelet Tiffany & Co, Ring Chanel, Earrings Swarovski, Chanel beauty, Shoes Stuart Weitzman, cigarillos Romeo y Julieta Outfit 2 – Dress Zimmerman, Earrings Coach, Chanel beauty You think I'm exaggerating, so what are you going to think of the air-conditioned bus stops and police driving Ferraris ... Let's continue in the spectacular with the fountains ballet like in Las Vegas, with the famous Burj Khalifa tower illuminated in the background. With a height of 828 metres (2,717 ft), 163 floors, it’s the tallest tower in the world since 2009. However, the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia is expected to overtake it by 2024 by reaching 1000m (3,281 ft). The Burj Khalifa tower is nonetheless an incredible construction, like many others in Dubai. And just another building that many have seen before, the 5 Star Atlantis hotel. Huge complex with 1,539 rooms including 2 underwater suites, a water park, an aquarium, 17 restaurants and bars ... There’s even a skytrain to access it. The Atlantis was recently (October 2020) the backdrop for the new largest fountain in the world called The Palm Fountain, because located on the Palm Jumeirah island (Video at the end of the article). Dubai can also be visited by sea, by yacht to blend in perfectly with the scenery, although mine was almost invisible compared to the size of the others ... Sea Trip Outfit - Dress Hermès, Sunglasses Prada, Belt Salvatore Ferragamo But by air it's even better, by seaplane please. You know I like flying (read the article In the Air). We then realise the immensity of the work that has been required, and all the construction in progress. Let’s not forget that it was only in the early 90s that it all started ... Have fun recognising the buildings and places mentioned above 😉 There’s a photo, however, that must have seemed strange to you ... And yes, the old town is not so far with its traditional boats still in use, but also the spice market and especially the gold market! I've never seen anything like it, and yet you know I've travelled a lot in my life. I also highly recommend visiting The Dubai Museum, it’s absolutely beautiful, housed in the old Al Fahidi Fort. Rich in number of artefacts from the region but also from around the world, thanks to trade, it also exhibits local life before the oil era. Besides, do you know what was Dubai's main wealth? They were mainly pearl fishermen; actually Paris was the pearl capital of the world at the end of the 19th century and had strong trade links with the countries of the Persian Gulf. Dubai is the perfect embodiment of the past and the future, perfect at the end of the year when we reflect on what we have accomplished while setting new goals ...  To keep you busy while waiting for Santa, several videos at the end of the article that highlight what I told you in this article. Don't forget to send me your photos of Christmas decorations, they’ll be published in my next article: Contact Have great Christmas preparations!! Love & Joy, L. I’ve talked many times about gratitude on this blog and in my videos, for me it’s the ultimate tool in the pursuit of happiness. So today, I'm going to dwell on it and tell you how it works for me!  First, this is an exercise I do twice a day. And yes, I say exercise, because it’s by practicing it regularly that it becomes a habit. By the way, remember in my article Be Positive, I taught you the 21-day method, time to form a new habit, and after 90 days we even talk about lifestyle! But do it at your own pace, once a week, on weekends for example, then once a day, at the end of the day remember 3 things that you were grateful for. It’ll become automatic and without realising it you’ll naturally do it several times a day. For my part, I do it in the morning just after my first meditation, it helps me charge my positive energies and put me in a good mood, like getting a shield to protect myself from the bad vibes that will hit throughout the day (like the news on TV for example!). Then I do it again in my bed just before to fall asleep, this time to release the pressure of the day, congratulate myself on what I’ve accomplished and just to feel happy. And if there’s one thing that I’m very grateful for today, this is the internet! I couldn't share my experience without it. It was actually my video on social media last week: There are 2 methods that work for me. If I feel perfectly balanced, well connected with my inner self, I just say things out loud, but it's important to express it clearly & audibly to increase the frequency of our vibrations and to be heard by the universe. On the other hand, if I’m feeling a little confused, frustrated, sad, or depressed, I write all the things I'm grateful for on a piece of paper, and read it several times a day. Start by looking around and jotting down the obvious, simple things like electricity, tap water, a roof over your head, clean clothes, food in the fridge. Lots of other things will naturally come to your mind and you’ll eventually mention more important topics like love from your children, support from your friends, nature ... And I add here my first video on gratitude: A video summarising this article will be on social media in a few days: This year, I’m grateful for being confined, it allowed me to participate in world events I couldn’t have been to otherwise, like seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama live! Being stuck at home doesn’t mean being disconnected from the world, quite the opposite ... And you, what are you grateful for this year? Take a few minutes to answer it.  And of course, in my life, I am extremely grateful for My Solo Wedding in Santorini, it opened the doors to infinite possibilities and made me discover my tremendous self-love. Obviously, I was going to forget, especially be grateful for what you are, this is how I begin my exercise of gratitude. Listing your qualities to enhance yourself is essential, we too often forget how strong and full of potential we are. It's good to remember that. Express yourself, unleash your true you, and shine gold like Paloma in the song at the end of the article! Read or reread my previous articles: Have a great week ! Christmas is coming… Love & Joy, L. As I said in my article last week Greenwich Meridian, many of us are confined again. Besides, I’d very much like to use time travel if it existed, to be able to relive some of my trips, and why not even redo My Solo Wedding in Santorini!!  At that time in 2018, I was in Crete writing my first book, an extraordinary and very emotional journey, I was realising a childhood dream while healing my love wounds. I've shared a lot about this beautiful Greek island:  Then, in 2019, I was in London, I was working on the English version of my Book, and I took the opportunity to show you around this city that I particularly love: No idea where I’ll be in 2021, but who knows today with the uncertainty around us. Nevertheless, I posted a video on my social media last week, to keep our physical and mental health! When the news broke of a new lockdown, many of you confided in me, expressing your worry and anxiety. The idea is that moving your body with music is a great benefit to your health (body and mind), so I ask everyone to choose a song every day and to dance on it, anytime during the day. It’s simple, easy and I promise it makes you smile every time!! And on my Instagram, every day I remind people to dance, those who wish can even make a little video, tag me and I'll repost it. Many people have embraced this idea and are spreading it around them in addition to practicing it, which makes me extremely proud and happy. Happiness comes from small things and I keep telling you it on this blog: And in my videos:
All videos: here  However, this time and unlike the first Quarantine, I intend to continue to follow my Healthy Routine! Reread therefore:  If you need to occupy yourself, don't hesitate to sign up for the free webinars of the School of Jewelry Arts (Van Cleef & Arpels), I've already mentioned this school in my article Bird Paradise. These live talks (in French & English) hosted by specialists and teachers from the School are extremely interesting and last only an hour and a half. Coming up : New York Architecture & Art Deco Jewelry - November 18 & 19, 2020 Flora in Jewelry Arts - November 24 & 25, 2020 From the Gulf to France, the Forgotten History of Pearl Merchants- December 9 & 10, 2020 Register online for details: Link.  Have a lovely week everyone and don't forget to dance!! Love & Joy, L.  Happy Halloween everyone!! We must admit that this year we don’t really need to scare ourselves, Covid 19 is largely taking care of it. In addition, many cities and countries around the world don’t allow house tours to celebrate Halloween properly, such as in France where we are confined again since yesterday! But don't let that prevent you from eating sweets or watching horror movies, or even disguising yourself while keeping your slippers on ... You can also read my previous Halloween articles: Or re-read my article from last week Respect with excerpts from my book My Solo Wedding in Santorini. In short, as I repeat on this blog and in my videos, there are always many ways to smile and to be happy, you just have to be creative and keep an open mind, moreover, I put one of my videos below:  I lived in Australia for 7 years, I can tell you that nature makes you shiver every day, and if you ever find yourself lacking in thrills you can always go to the beach! And today, I'm going to tell you about one of my favourite spots, Palm Cove. Located on the east coast, in the north Queensland, not far from Cairns, this adorable little town of 2,000 inhabitants owes its name "Palm Cove" from the row of trees along its white sandy beach. I love palm trees; it reminds me of my article Las Palmas on Gran Canaria Island. Dreamy beaches ... You don't understand why it’s scary, yet I've covered it before in: And yes! Among jellyfishes, crocodiles and hydrocution, you must choose hahaha. Don't worry, you can swim in the large nets set up by lifeguards. It’s strange the first time, but you quickly forget about the net and feel perfectly safe. And on unsupervised beaches, there are bottles of vinegar available, for your information it's to relieve jellyfish burns, not to season your salad! In addition, Palm Cove is very popular with anglers looking for mackerels, giant trevallies and sharks ... Along the beach there’s a lovely promenade with shops, restaurants and cafés, which makes it a very pleasant place to wander and relax. For those who don't like the ocean & its inhabitants, they can always choose a nice residence to stay in, like mine which had several beautiful swimming pools. In addition, Palm Cove is located near the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, 2 natural sites not to be missed if you visit Australia. Have a great week! Love & Thrill, L.  I’ve meditated a lot last week to find today's topic, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the benefits of my article Meditation. Today, I’d like to share with you new excerpts from my book "My Solo Wedding in Santorini" (not yet published), these extracts are from a very important chapter for me: Men’s opinion. I have to admit that when I started sharing my story in February 2018 on my blog, I thought I was primarily speaking to women, but surprisingly, men showed me the most support and affection. It was obvious to me then that I talk about them in my book, this chapter was written in November 2018, at the very beginning of writing. I’m also extremely proud to say that I reach perfect parity between my female & male readers! "Courage is when we are afraid, but we go anyway". Unknown author  Excerpt from “My Solo Wedding in Santorini”: “I am myself and proud, I live my life and make my own decisions accordingly, without worrying about what people can think. Yet this does not mean that critics do not affect me, I am human like everyone else. We learn to accept, to listen to them when the remarks are constructive and to let them go when they are unpleasant. Of course, some people do not understand what I did, especially those who only read the articles in newspapers or online. When you meet me, many more things make sense, my personality and my smile can lift mountains, and convince the most refractory person.  Discover or rediscover my articles on the respect I have for myself:  Just 2 years ago, on October 23, 2018, my story and my testimony were broadcast on the largest Greek television channel (see TV Interview). Another important step in my healing and reconstruction, and above all the acceptance of my new mission on Earth: to inspire you to be happy! Excerpt “My Solo Wedding in Santorini”: “I have surpassed fears that many would like to overcome. Especially, I have shown the way. It cannot be so scary now; I hope others will follow my example to keep on hoping and being happy. I do not necessarily mean a solo wedding, everyone can create their own beneficial event, something that speaks to them and has a symbolic meaning. The respect I have for myself has determined my courage many times in my life. To love, respect, listen, accept who you are and pursue your dreams is for me the combination of courage. I did something extraordinary in an ordinary world to cope with a universal drama. All this in a magical place.” L.  Being yourself is the greatest form of respect you can give yourself, so don't be afraid, follow your heart and listen to your soul. More excerpts from my book: here. "Step outside of the box and you’ll find love, hope, wisdom and happiness ..." L. Have a great week! Love & Joy, L. |
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