Good morning Thrill-seekers,
I’ve wrapped the best of the London posts into a photo essay! For all Anglophiles and those of who are swift of feet and may head there soon! Tips and tricks to do London on the cheap, included. Check it out. Let me know what you think.
Good afternoon Style casters,
I’m having an Almodovar moment today. If you have not seen All About my Mother, do it. The director Pedro Almodovar is a one-off. He’s unlike anyone else I’ve ever watched. One of the best things about his movies is his unabashed use of bold colors. See Penelope Cruz in Volver as an example.
Pedro Almodovar’s characters are also colorful, beautiful, unusual people. My favorite character is La Agrado from All About My Mother. {Her name literally means “I make her (or it) feel good.” It could also be translated as “The Pleasure”} Don’t think about it too much. If you the movie and you’ll understand ;) La Agrado says,
One is truly authentic when he resembles what he dreamed of himself. – La Agrado
This ensemble is basically what I am, what I dreamed of myself. It’s a mess but it’s an authentic, beautiful mess. And, I like that.
Effortless elegance that does not overwhelm comfort. This outfit sums up my reference for fashion. I have no other words to describe it. I just feel comfortable. I love the colors and the patterns. I like the unusual play of stripes and florals – an idea I stole from Elaine. This fabulous bag c/o HandBag Heaven is reminiscent of the traditional lawyer’s briefcase but the orange and rough woven texture make it more exciting, less formal.
As the cool air floats into town, I’m starting to get more wear out of these Camper shoes. I’m still amazed at how comfortable they are. The Camper family are masterful sole-makers. I was struck with admiration at first wear.
If you’re wondering about the Anthropologie skirt, see more of it in Passage to India. The simple top is from Zara. And the rings? One is made out of sea shells and bought off a street vendor in Havana and the other is a wooden token from a Tibetan shop in Adams Morgan, DC. Namaste. Stay messy! Stay foolish!
We are the strivingest people who have ever lived. We are ambitious, time-starved, competitive, distracted. We move at full velocity, yet constantly fear we are not doing enough. Though we live longer than any humans before us, our lives feel shorter, restless, breathless…Dear ones, EASE UP. Pump the brakes. Take a step back. Seriously. Take two steps back. – Elizabeth Gilbert, Author of Eat, Pray, Love
There are people who like to rush just for the feel of it. They call the rushing productivity. Even if they are not producing anything except a breeze. And a breeze is not a wind so it can’t even power my little hand-held fan. It’s hot useless distracting air. Such people make me sweat. Yes, I mean that literally. Even in the winter. Sometimes I get whirled into their frenzy and my heart starts to thump as if it were going to beat out time itself.
But, I feel that rushing is not the same as progress. Rushing is just flushing my energy down the drain. Where am I going?
All the progress is in the direction. No matter how slow I go, if I’m going in the right direction, I’ll get there. But if I’m galloping at break-neck speed for the sport of seeming productive, I’ll probably just break my neck…
The obvious result of a permanent state of rushing is burn-out. Burnout has become such a hot topic in society that it has become a universal term. Le burn-out, I read in the French magazine, Psychologies. In Spain, you can actually talk to your therapist about el síndrome del burn-out. I have a long playlist I use to slow down and lull my mind into quietude. Here are some of my favorites:
Hang on Little Tomato by Pink Martini
Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor
Drifting by Sarah McLachlan
Be Ok (Acoustic) by Ingrid Michaelson
You Belong to Me by Carla Bruni
Shoot the Moon by Norah Jones
Narrow Daylight by Diana Krall
Home by Michael Bublé
Asignatura Pendiente (MTV Unplugged) by Ricky Martin
Color Esperanza by Diego Torres
I Don’t Really Want to Know by Marlango
This End of the Telescope by Jakob Dylan
What do you guys do to slow down? Any great tunes that set the mood for chill-out? Shout them out in the Comments below!
This time I did it for April and Maya over at So Yeah…So. I wrote, or rather showed, my favorite things about Fall.
April and Maya are a mother-daughter duo who blog about lifestyle and fashion. Check out their Beautiful Mess feature on Oisercage. They are nifty crafters! April is also an awesomely generous person — something that comes across even though I’ve never met her in real life.
It was a total pleasure visiting you, ladies!
