Year: 2017

Not to sound like Oprah here but it truly is the ordinary things that make up for a big chunk of our happiness.  Simple and daily rituals are the ones that make a difference in our lives.  As I look forward to my morning espresso everyday… well I also look forward to my early afternoon one… I feel a sense of happiness and excitement.  It may or may not have to do with the fact that where I come from, an Island called DR, coffee is used as a social activity instead of a source of energy.  It’s not realistic to wish to enjoy every minute of our days because frankly who can be immune to the wrong things that affect us emotionally sometimes, but I think that learning to be grateful for the simple things it’s more than doable.  It can start with comparing our life today to our life five years ago.  Just recently I had a conversation with a very particular friend who was stacked repeating like a broken record that life doesn’t get better, until I asked him where were you five years ago?  What was your economical situation five years ago?  How was your family five years ago?… and so on.  His response was, well now that you say that, we are much better today, that’s true…. I’m sure that is the situation of many other people.  Life does get better every year in many ways and it helps to keep that in mind as often as we can.  Here is to the better next year, wishing you and your family many ordinary daily moments to look forward to.  From our Home to yours, Happy New Year!

Munich 2016

Munich and peekaboo on the lower right.

Munich 2016

Viktualienmarkt Munich

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One thing I love about innovative technology is the flexibility to stream shows at your own pace.  I watched the first season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and I can’t wait for the next one to be available.  According to The New York Times, the second season will happen since The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the first show that Amazon has renewed based on the strength of the pilot along.  The show is enchanting, dreaming and inspiring, not to mention hilarious.  Rachel Brosnahan is Miriam “Midge” Maisel in the comedy show that is based in 1950’s New York.  Midge is a privileged upper West Side housewife who has lived a sheltered life, wears couture clothes and is a perfectionist.  She measures her entire body regularly to make sure she is not gaining any weight, wakes up in the middle of the night to take off her makeup and wakes up before her husband to put it back on so he doesn’t see her without make up.  Crazy, ah…? That’s until her husband Joel (Michael Zegen), a frustrated stand up comedian leaves Midge for his secretary.  She is forced to give up her gorgeous 50’s period apartment and goes with her two children to live with her parents, who live in the same building.  Both apartments, hers and her parents’ are designed to die for, showing the best of the 50’s decorations.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The show starts with Midge giving the toast at her own wedding party, which is hilarious by the way.  She is a natural comedian, but the 50’s wasn’t suitable for women to have a voice of their own.  Not until she is left and heartbroken she realizes that she has a voice and decides to make it heard.  She finds an advocate in Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein) who becomes her manager.  I adore Susie’s character, her sarcastic personality is awakening.  Susie encourages Midge to start performing at a Greenwich Village club, the Gaslight Café.  Midge does her unprompted stand up shows while equally delighting and outraging the audience.  Let’s say that her type of comedy is very particular.  She makes fun of her own personal experiences instead of fabricating scenarios.  I can’t be more in love with Midge’s character.  She is gracious, lovely, energetic, positive and uber funny.  I just hope Amazon continues renewing it because the entire show is a delight to watch from the fashion to the interior decoration.  Oh, did I mention that Midge’s parents played by Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle are two amusing individuals who will make you laugh by just watching their demeanor… Below, snippets of the interiors in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

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Every woman loves to dazzle for at least one special occasion a year.  It’s hard to come up with a better time to do just that than New Year’s Eve.  Regardless of what your tradition to welcome the new year is, it’s always a good idea to look the parts.  Any of these smashing outfits will make your countdown to next year a lot more glamorous and fun.  Isn’t that what we all want…

Before we have to go and get all prettied-up for the new year, it’ll be Christmas first and it’s happening in two days so I want to wish you a very peaceful and Merry Christmas.

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Everyone has been over the moon since the engagement announcement between Megan Markle and Prince Harry.  Even cynics secretly rejoice at the sight of the gorgeous couple’s love and happiness and what it represents to many.  Their engagement photos were released yesterday looking like a dream.  Meghan looked like a princess herself and Harry looked as always super handsome.  I can’t wait to see their beautiful future children and watch them growing together as a couple and individuals.  The couple will spend Christmas at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate and will marry next year on May 19 in George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.  The photos were taken by Alexi Lubomirski.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meghan wore a Ralph and Russo couture dress.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry2

“It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got down on one knee,”… “As a matter of fact, ‘I could barely let you finish proposing. I said, Can I say yes now?’ ” Meghan Markle about how Prince Harry proposed.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry belle vivir

Prince Harry said in an interview about how his late mother, Princess Diana would feel about her love for Meghan… “over the moon”

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