TO DO: The Bucket List

One month and 4 days away and Santa will (hopefully) come knocking on our doors again. I don't know about you guys, but I am already craving some Xmas cheer, food, decorations and now that I'm in the holiday mood, some presents as well!

Lately I find more pleasure in searching the right gift and offering it to people I care about than getting something for myself or receiving stuff from others.

 But my egoistic self (yes, it exists!)  is lurking just around the corner of my (oh SO) generous side and so when it comes to daydreaming of things I would like to own or do, I do it like no other! I'm a real BIG DREAMER and I like to DREAM BIG! Can I stress this enough? 

I suppose this doesn't make me more different than any other human being as DREAMING is 'THE THING'   keeping us alive (except for food, water, heat and stuff, all small details) in this very harsh and sometimes cruel world. 

 If you're wondering what this is, you'll soon find out that not even you already know the meaning of this word, but most importantly, you already have one yourself! I guess the bucket list trend started back in 2007 (or just became pretty popular) when a movie with the same title was released starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Even more, since all kind of natural disasters were taking place all around the world and  ancient populations were forecasting our 'not so bright looking' future aka the end of the world (thank you so much Maya's!) this phenomenon is increasing.

Cutting to the chase, a bucket list is a list of things you wish to do, accomplish, experience before you die, dreams you haven't fulfilled yet, plans that still need to become reality and all the highlights that design your entire life, in ADVANCE! 

Without this, our life would be just simple blur, with no heading to or going to, but just day-by-day time killing. 

So THINK BIG, whether it's about your career, health, social life, creativeness...it is YOUR HAPPINESS after all!

 So let me introduce you to my BUCKET LIST! 

• learn to speak a foreign language fluently --> Dutch
• visit all European capitals--> still 38 to go 
• adopt an Asian child, a Japanese if possible
• learn how to park a car
• learn to cook Asian food, except for soup, that I already know 
• wander through Australia for one year 
• finish college 
• learn to play the guitar and have a band of my own 
• do some volunteer work abroad 
• improve my Spanish and learn Japanese 
• move to another country than my home country 
• grow 5 cm (not gonna happen,but still hoping:D )
• take a trip on my own to a foreign country--> think Eat, Pray, Love -kinda experience 
• have a successful blog
• lose 4 kg's 
• fly a plane
• swim with dolphins 
• visit all Hard Rock Cafes + Hotels  in the world --> already seen 13 
• read the 100 best novels ever written
• learn to dive and actually go diving on a tropic location
• run a marathon and for this this maybe first, learn to run 
• dance during the Brazilian Carnival 
• attend Coachella festival one summer 
• have a ride on an elephant through the jungle 
• get to see at least 5 countries in Asia and 5 in Latin America
• get on stage with one of my favorite music groups during their concert and scream my lungs out 
• write a book 
• produce a movie 
• plant a tree 
• have at least 2 kids 
• make someone truly happy
• laugh each day

I still have a lot to accomplish and my list is getting bigger as we speak. 

So what about yours? Feel free to post it and let me know what you dream of!

Have a great week folks! 

L. 

Morocco: my essentials

Exactly 3 days from today I'll be heading to North Africa; destination: Morocco.
I would be lying if I said I really need this holiday as I've already had some vacation getaways this year so I was able to recharge my batteries, BUT I've been looking forward to this one from January, that freezing winter day that I booked this trip, 8 months later!
So this friday I'll start my trip through the sunny Kingdom of Morocco (darn, it sounds already soooo good) where I'll be staying for 14 days, 10 of them travelling around the country and the last 4 days just relaxing by the pool or at the beach in Agadir.

So this is my itinerary for the trip. I'll be starting in Marrakech, where I'm really hoping to see some snake charmers doing what they do best, as long as the snakes keep enough distance from my mom who has the biggest snake phobia and for whom seeing this would be like practicing the most extreme sport in the world.
The final destination (hopefully just the opposite of the movie plot) will be Agadir, where I'll definitely enjoy the hot weather and working at my tan and go for a splash in the Atlantic Ocean probably every 5 minutes.

Leaving for 2 weeks sure gives me a bit of  a stressy feeling, especially when I think about packing. Now,  I really love packing for holidays (especially if it's  for a sunny destination) but this time I have to take so many things in consideration, that it is driving me a bit crazy. After already visiting another Arab country (Cairo trip back in 2010)  you should think I'd know what to expect from this journey as well and still, I have my worries.
So this is my kind of survival kit (read the necessary outfit garment and beauty essentials) I'm planning to take on my trip, hopefully not forgetting anything. If you can think of something else, please let me know!

Already thinking about chilling by the pool or at the see side, these are my beach essentials: different bikinis, summery fedora's, a good book to read and some chill music in my mp3, sun wear (if you're this pale as I am, you need it, trust me!), my phone and my water goggles. I forgot to chose my sunnies, but I'll try not to when the actual packing will take place.

I you go to the beach, you'll need 'appropriate'  extra beach wear to get there (especially  when you won't be able to walk around in your half-naked in Morocco). So TA-DA!

Up next: I'll have cover up my legs while wandering through the cities and visiting places ( a bit old fashion, but what u gonna do?) so my solution: breezy summer pants.

When you get sick of your pants, you can always try maxi dresses. Even though I'm pretty 'petite' myself, I have to say, they DON'T make you look smaller, so why not?

How can you beat the hot weather while still wearing (mid)long sleeves? Well: tunics to your rescue! I would not be able to get a tan wearing this, but yeah...c'est la vie! And I must say, I really love styling tunics into nice outfits, so this should work, right?

Keep hydrated is the message if you're heading to a hot destination like Morocco, so: lips, face, body, you have to think of it all. Don't forget your fragrance (lightly sweet and fresh for me please: Escada Island Kiss) and some good deo to beat the heat.

Last but not least, I'll be needing a bag, not too small, not too big but good enough to fit all I'll need to carry with me every day while cruising through Morocco:  the essential bottle of H2O, my camera, sunscreen, money, sunnies and all other girly stuff. I chose this Parfois bag I got from my journey in Lisbon earlier this summer, big enough and just perfect for Morocco!

What are YOUR holiday essentials?

Call it addiction

One true fact I thought you guys should know about me brought to this new post: my NAIL POLISH obsession !

 Do I need to say more on this one?

What once started as a harmless purchase (read summer of 2007) turned out to become a truly addiction for me. You have to know: for me nail polish isn't just nail polish! It is my way to express my daily mood and why not to complete my outfits.

I am 'proud' to say that I now own 70 (nothing more, nothing less) different colours and shades (from transparent to black and back) and unlike my clothes, I DO use them all!

Make-up was never really my piece of cake. When I was a little girl this was the only think that did not appeal to me when I was spying upon my mom getting ready. The best evidence of that is me STILL not knowing what fits me (colours, textures and all that) nor HOW to use make-up. So when I found out I was good at putting on nail polish with no effort at all and I actually really loved doing it, this just kind of became MY BEAUTY THING!

My all time favorite brand is Catrice, very good quality, ridiculous low prices and if I forgot to mention: lots of GREAT colours and trends (and I'm talking more or less 50 colours in the permanent collection) Yes, I mean really trends as they follow the latest trends in 'fashionland' and come up with a limited edition every month, including lip gloss, lipsticks, eye shadows and more other stuff. Every four months they reinvent some of their colours or just change them with other brand new ones.

I surely would recommend you to take a look at their site and maybe you're lucky and get the change to try them out at least if they sell it in your country.

Some of my favorites are:

     My blues mood: I find it so much more elegant that the classic black

      My 'Treasures from the sea' shades and my ultimate favorite colour EVER 

   

    These colours call for a P.A.R.T.Y, don't u think so? 

    Nail varnish for an army look( used together or separately) 

    Pastel shades( very nice together as well) 
    
      

    Normally I'm not so crazy for glittery things, but this I like, wait, LOVE! 

     
     
     This is a  vintage leather suitcase my mother has bought a looooong time ago and offered me to use for my collection 

     Are you a nail polish user? And what is/are your favorite colour(s)?
   
    Peace,
     L

Day 1, post numero 1

OK folks, let we warn you: this is NOT a joke!


Let's make this story a bit shorter: I've challenged myself with this (probably) mission impossible of not buying a single clothing item, bag, shoes or other accessories for the NEXT 6 MONTHS! 


I'm hearing already some of you (just as obsessed) fashonista's thinking 'What is she doing to herself and most importantly, WHY??' And for the ones that know we (not even to much)I guess I can read your mind as well when you're thinking 'This is some pretty serious s**t, even for her!' 


YEAHH, you've heard me loud and clear, this is my official testimony that I'll be trying (my very best,I swear) to STAY CLEAN for the coming 6 months beginning from today July 22 2012. Declaring this during summer sale season is already killing me, but what the hell, I accept the challenge ;)


Now that we're already busy with making confessions, I feel obligated to make an other (tiny winy) one: after making this HUGE DECISION I just said to myself: 'U're allowed to SIN one more time.' So I DID! 
As I was craving some nice trainers for months now, I made my dream come true a bit earlier today and ordered a pair. More on that coming up soon :D


So now that you understand my situation a bit better, what to expect from this new blogger? 

• an online diary of my personal struggle in resisting my consumer behavior
• many daily outfits with NO NEW ITEMS at all
• tips ans tricks on how to combine, recycle and make your clothes look pretty and up-to-date without spending any dime
• my favorite stores and personal style and opinion on fashion 

So are you with me in my little experiment to help me reach my GOLD (=0€ spent on new items)? 
Stay tuned! 


P.S: a glimpse of my exploding closet and my outfit earlier today. Enjoy!