You can never go wrong with wearing classics. Things that look as good today as days gone by. Things like…
The LBD – Sophia wears a strapless like no other. But we can give it a try.
The Jean Jacket
For your viewing pleasure here are some of my all-time favorites along with the people wearing them.
The worn-in Leather JacketThe TuxedoThe White Shirt (Victoria Beckham)
Jennifer Hudson & Kate Hudson (no relation).
A single-breasted, belted wrap coat is a classic style that flatters curvy girls in all the right places (the belt defines your waist, the diagonal line of the lapels minimizes your bust and the A-line shape skims over your hips). Kate Hudson is far from voluptuous but shows that a classic long wool coat looks great on everyone. (If you’re petite, opt for a shorter version so it doesn’t overwhelm your frame). Plus, a good camel coat looks equally chic dressed up or worn with your favorite jeans.
The Cashmere ScarfThe Ballet Flat (they don’t necessarily have to be Chanel) but these are Très Chic
Perfect white T & JeansThe Moto JacketThe MilitaryThe LBJ. Of Course…Coco A twist on the Classics can’t be all bad. Love the bag & distressed boots – both Chanel, Texas style.A Classic wearing a Classic.….sexy classisism!
High up on my trippy wish list is Barcelona. Not only for fun but to pay a visit to the Fundació Joan Miró and be reminded that life is filled with colour and shape and that the small things in the world are worth noticing and celebrating.
Playful, joyful, energetic and colourful, Joan Miró’s paint language appears very simple – bird, star, sun, moon, figure, colour, surface, and so on. But like the best poets, the artist’s juggling of these elements is sophisticated and playful at the same time. The results are unique, immediately recognizable and vibrant – a delight to behold.
Miró was passionate about art from an early age and after a failed attempt by his family to get him into business, he was allowed to pursue his artistic studies. His early work was influenced by the Fauve painters and Cubism. He admired Picasso’s work and eventually left Barcelona to live in Paris where he spent six months of each year, working alongside other artists in relative poverty. The other half of the year he spent in Spain on the family farm.
BLUE I, II AND III
Like his fellow Catalan artist, Salvador Dali, Miró is most closely associated with the surrealist movement started by Andre Breton. While Dali embraced surrealism wholeheartedly, with Miró it is more accurate to say that surrealism embraced him.
Constantly experimenting in his work, he was careful never to align himself completely with any one art movement. His take on the world is quirky, humorous, child-like in its depiction of subject-matter yet extremely sophisticated in its ability to comment on life’s experiences.
Dali, flamboyant, attention-seeking, extreme, takes us to the edge with paintings that show us a world that is distorted and disturbing. Miró’s approach is calmer, more playful. Always his own person, never interested in playing to the gallery, his work feels focused, centred, stable. His view of the world is uplifting, fun, life-enhancing.
Available at Elan Fine Art Limited,Vancouver
Above all, Miró reminds us how important a sense of humour is in life and his brilliant paintings, sculptures, wall hangings and ceramics give us permission to stop taking ourselves so seriously.
Good relationships are not just found. They must be created.
Relationships – Where Fantasy meets Reality:
The following was written by *Brad King:
We’ve all heard the saying, “You need to love yourself before you can truly love another.” But what does that really mean? To love yourself is to respect yourself, which means you need to learn to respect the vehicle that allows you to love—your body and your mind.
When it comes to respecting your body and your mind, you need to understand that what goes into the vehicle, eventually dictates how efficient that vehicle will be able to perform. In other words, our ability to love with extreme passion is—to a large extent—subject to the way we feel from day to day, and science dictates that we can greatly enhance the way we feel by the way we move, by the way we think and by what we consume.
Regardless of why we feel love—love is… always has been… and always will be the force that drives us as humans. Everything we do in life is for one specific reason: to experience pleasure! And the ultimate pleasure is LOVE. You’ve fallen in love; maybe you’re getting married; now how do you keep your love alive?
Unfortunately as a relationship progresses, quite often the waist line expands. Couples tend to not try as hard, thereby allowing their exercise routine and healthy eating habits to go by the wayside.
As we age, our hormones start to wreck havoc within our bodies and with that comes a whole slew of complications, including: depression, moodiness, fat gain, difficulty sleeping, aching joints, low passion for life affect our love lives. So how do you become happy and healthy for life and maintain the incredible sex life you’ve always enjoyed? Following are my tips on how to feel, act and perform at your very best for life:
Have more fun and reduce stress
Consume smaller meals at regular intervals throughout the day (every 3-4 hours) to balance blood sugar and hormones
Eat organic foods whenever possible, as these foods contain more nutrition and less toxins
Smile more
Exercise (high intensity, short duration)
Dim the lights in the evening
Lose the belly
Avoid excess caffeine and alcohol, as both can exacerbate the stress response and interrupt sleep
Develop a healthy sleep routine: do the same things before you go to bed each night, it will train your body to get ready for sleep
Brad King
*Brad King, MS, MFS, a nutritional researcher and award winning formulator has been touted as one of the most influential health mentors of our time. He is the author of 10 books, including Fat Wars, Beer Belly Blues and Losing Fat for Life. Visit him on Facebook @ Transforming Health with Brad King or on his website at: http://www.AwakenYourBody.com. – See more at: http://www.bridalfantasy.com/brad-king/#sthash.9Fi1U61d.rVCrNDPE.dpuf
including: How to FEED YOUR METABOLISM TO BURN EXCESS BODY FAT
Some might argue, fashion saves the best for last – as in the final days of fashion month are upon us.
Chiara Ferragni with Louis Vuitton bagMiroslava Duma in Leopard coat.Miroslava Duma in Snakeskin Coat. The girl loves Animals.
Make your own assessments with my picks (choices I find more adaptable) from Diego Zukko’s 250 “best off the catwalks street shots” from Paris.
Prada Bag & Red Coat. It’s nice to put a Face to a Bag!Casual Cool with FringeJoanna Hillman – Fringed jacket.Joanna Hillman in Versace with Mark Cross Leopard bag.Michele ElieBar Rafaeli in Stella McCartney jumpsuitEmmanuelle Alt
Caroline de Maigret
MORE: Details on How to be a Parisian – please click on the link to the video below which is not only funny but sadly true to fact. Watch and Learn from the co- author of How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits.
I enjoy a really good Jerk chicken and have the perfect recipe for those who are daring enough to try it.
FIRST, a bit of history (you can always skip this part & cut right to the chase but I think it’s a good idea to let people know where the dish originated from).
It all started with survival (and if you really want to take it a step further I guess you can say that that’s how all food started). The beginning doesn’t sound too appetizing. Escaped slaves living in the Jamaican jungle interior had to develop many survival techniques – but none more impressive than the way they hunted wild pigs (cleaning them between run-ins with the law) and covering them with a mysterious spice paste and then cooking them over an aromatic wood fire. Now this spice mixture is so popular, inspiring commercial spice mixes, bottled marinades and the use of the word “jerk” around the world. What about the word used to describe this dish? Most Jamaicans offer the non-scholarly explanation that the word refers to the jerking motion either in turning the meat over the coals or in chopping off some for customers.
However…JERK….is the English form of a Spanish word of Indian origin. The original Indian word meant to prepare pork in the manner of the Quichua Indians. Now Jerk is prepared with chicken, fish, shrimp even lobster. Several of the best jerk purveyors are still on the beach at Boston Bay, Portland (not in Oregon) somewhat off the tourist track mostly frequented by Jamaicans, not tourists. But I was lucky enough to try some from a local stand (actually no more than a thatch-roof hut built over low-lying , smoldering fire) – and it’s never tasted better.
The jerk sellers tend to be characters with colorful nicknames and singsong sales pitches that tell you why their jerk is the best on the island. They’ll even pull out a glass jar of jerk paste with lethal scotch bonnet peppers and scoop out some for you to try. This definitely will require a *red stripe to cool down the flames. *Red Stripe is the beer of Jamaica. Oh my, I almost forgot I have a recipe.
Jerrific Jerk Chicken
This recipe is great served with rice and peas. It can be made more authentic by doubling all the dry spices – including the fiery chili flakes! You could also substitute a whole chicken cut into serving size pieces instead of chicken breasts with terrific results. At this time of year you can grill the chicken under the broiler instead of on the barbecue.
1 Tbsp. ground allspice
1Tbsp. dried thyme
1 ½ tsp. dried chili flakes
1 ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 ½ tsp. ground sage
¾ tsp. ground nutmeg
¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. brown, cane or coconut sugar
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
¾ cup vinegar (either regular white or apple cider)
½ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
Juice of one lime
1 fresh *scotch bonnet pepper, seeded & chopped
1 cup chopped onion
3 green onions, finely chopped
6 single chicken breasts, skin and bones removed.
Preparation:
In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Slowly whisk in oil, soy sauce, vinegar, orange and lime juices. Stir in scotch bonnet pepper and onions. Add chicken, cover and marinate at least 4 hours.
Preheat barbecue to medium (or oven to 350 degrees). Remove chicken from marinade; grill 6 minutes each side or until cooked through with no pink remaining. Baste with marinade while grilling or cooking. Bring remaining marinade to boil; spoon over chicken. Makes 4-6 servings.
*Scotch bonnet is a very hot chili pepper available at West and East Indian food shops and at some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute a fresh jalapeno or extra dried chili flakes to taste.
Recipe courtesy of Sugar Reef Caribbean Cooking (McGraw-Hill)
History & Photos courtesy of The Food of Jamaica – authentic recipes from the Jewel of the Caribbean.
The girl who would be King spent several years (off & on but mostly on) traveling all over this beautiful island sampling resorts, jerk, rum, coffee and…..whatever else.
Another recommendation – Blue Mountain Coffee preferably on the top of Strawberry Hill.
When you just want to RELAX with no outside interruptions – the very essence of a perfect vacation…you might want to go to Jake’s Treasure Beach, Jamaica.
Jamaica is a great place to unwind but when you think of places to travel in Jamaica what usually comes to mind? Is it fast paced and touristy Montego Bay, Ocho Rios for newlyweds and honeymooners or Negril for miles and miles of white sand beach and many all-inclusives?
When I travel I love to explore places off the beaten path and find little hidden treasures. If you drive for one hour outside Montego Bay you will find a beautiful tropical countryside with breathtaking views of fishing villages, beaches, centuries old great houses, natural waterfalls and wetlands. You’ll find the South Coast of Jamaica.
Stumbled upon this stylishly funky hotel/spa by accident while driving along the South Coast. It’s a world away from the island’s high-pressure resort towns. A welcome opposite of Ocho Rios while still maintaining tropical charm with a beautiful low-key seafront setting and lovely gardens. The brightly painted cottages stretch along the water’s edge, in the sleepy settlement of Treasure Beach in south-west Jamaica. Centred on a lovely open-air dining ‘room’, the pool and Dougie’s bar, Jakes has really lovely, raffish Jamaican charm.
The Bar
The PROS:
Friendly staffers who know every guest by name
On-site art classes for everyone, all ages
Daily yoga and Pilates workshops
One of Jamaica’s best spas
Excellent restaurant with fresh, locally produced Jamaican fare.
No nearby tourist attractions or nightlife
THE CONS: Remote location on the South Coast No nearby tourist attractions No nightlife Coarse black-sand beaches less desirable for swimming A hike – two hour drive ($120 by taxicab) from Montego Bay’s airport No in-room TV, phone, or Internet
In a NUTSHELL:
With just 30 hippy-chic cottages in secluded Treasure Beach, Jake’s is a member of Bespoke Hotels, a trendy, luxury hotel group. Guests come to unplug — there’s no phone, Internet, or TV in the cottages (but there are CD players and CD’s in each room with an extensive CD library). The black-sand beaches aren’t Jamaica’s most impressive, but the Driftwood Spa, on-site painting classes for all and yoga/pilates workshops, and excellent locally prepared food make this a particular favorite.And that is exactly why I recommend Jake’s.
And if you’re lucky there may be some other hidden treasures…but we can’t discuss them here. If you catch my drift wood.
wannabeItalian style is a natural attitude. It is about a life of good taste. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Simple but with good taste. Luxury is possible to buy. Good taste is not. – Diego Della Valle (President and CEO of the Italian leather goods company, Tod’s).
The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again. – George Miller
If your mother cooks Italian food, why would you go to a restaurant? – Martin Scorsese
First off, let me preface this by saying I LOVE SUSHI and tend to eat a lot of tuna especially.
General concern about the levels of mercury in our water and food are coming up more and more so you can imagine my interest to see the article about toxicity levels in my weekly Goop in-box edition .
Goop asked Dr. Alejandro Junger, a Cardiologist and detoxification expert (they claim to trust him with their lives & love his very easy-to-implement program, Clean), just how concerned we should be. And more importantly, they asked him how we can help our bodies unload toxic heavy metals.
IS MERCURY POISONING A REAL THREAT?
Mercury is an extremely toxic element and heavy metal that is increasingly affecting the health of millions of people. It’s a major problem today because our exposure to it is rising, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. One of the primary ways we are exposed to mercury is by eating large fish such as tuna, shark, and swordfish. The bottom line is that we want to reduce our exposure to mercury as much as possible.
One of the biggest challenges is that most practitioners and researchers are not aware of the latest science that shows elevated levels of mercury can take a serious toll on our health. Exposure to this heavy metal has been linked to increased incidents of chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune conditions, ADHD, autism, as well as memory loss, irritability and blurred vision. Even if you don’t have one of the ailments listed above, mercury exposure could still be having an effect on your health. When I see a lingering health issue that hasn’t been cleared after significant lifestyle, cleansing, and dietary changes, I look to see if mercury is one of the causes.
DOES MERCURY EXPOSURE JUST COME FROM FISH? WHAT ARE ALL THE SOURCES?
There are different types of mercury, but most of our immediate exposure comes from just a few major sources:
Fish that are high in methylmercury, also known as organic mercury. Typical examples are the big fish mentioned above, like tuna, swordfish, shark, etc.
Mercury amalgam—also known as inorganic mercury—dental fillings.
We can also be exposed to mercury through drinking water (especially private water systems like wells that are often untested and municipal systems), occupational exposures, and by coal heating in homes.Most of the mercury tht finds its way into the environment is from coal-fired power plants, artisanal gold mining, and processing plants that make plastics and chlorine. The mercury is sent into the air, then rained down on lakes, into soil, and carried off by rivers. It all eventually makes its way to our oceans where the organic compound is then accumulated into the fatty tissue of fish. Finally, it ends up on our plates.
When we eat high-mercury fish, the mercury is distributed throughout our body but primarily takes hold in the kidneys and brain. Once there, the mercury can cause slow havoc to a variety of organs especially the heart, brain, and gut.
In pregnant mothers, mercury is transferred to the fetus through the placenta causing increased risks of poor neurological performance, language skills, and verbal memory.
New cases of mercury poisoning have also been connected to certain skin lightening face creams. I recommend that people check if their products are free from toxic chemicals at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.
industrial or environmental mercury sources may require both industrial and governmental assistance to design ways to prevent exposure to forms of mercury.
Mercury Poisoning Prevention at Home
At home, there are a few mercury- containing items (for example, thermometers, medical devices, some disinfectants, fluorescent light bulbs) that potentially can be the source of mercury poisoning. People are advised to read the labels on products to see if they contain mercury, have warning labels about potential toxicity, or have directions about how to dispose of a broken or non-useable product.
Mercury Poisoning Prevention – Vaccines
Another source of concern by people is the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative used in vaccine preparations. Except for some influenza vaccines, it is not being used in most vaccines.
What a major drag it would be to not be able to eat my favourite sushi anymore. Let’s try to clean up our act ASAP! Anyone??
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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