Women on Top

No better "throwback" moment to our Lady Liberty visit than 

International Women's Day.

The Reader

About a year ago I got back to reading novels for fun. Like when I was a child and first started to read at the age of six the bookworm in me came to life again after a "disappearance" that had lasted for about ten years. Where I loved to go to the library as a child, Fnac now became my favourite spot in town. Yet again books is what kept me awake at night, out of curiosity and the inability to stop reading because you want to know what’s going to happen next. (Simple explanation for my inner-reader's departure: I used to read for fun but in college an enormous amount of obligatory literature had to be dealt with and there was no time left for the books of my choice.)

As I had forgotten what last year’s books were about (mainly confusing stories) I decided to get myself a Moleskine Book Journal. The perfect tool to abstract the stories with a briefly worded personal opinion on the „reading stuff”. 

Another practicality when it comes to this „recycled” hobby of mine is a reading nook. For now a seat with a small table and a reading light will do. But I’m a dreamer and I dream B.I.G. so maybe once, I will have a place for me and my books that looks like the ones below.

OldHouseDreams

tmmagazine-nytimes

lushome

sortrature

ruemag

LoVely Day

Today is the most lovely day of the year. We celebrate Saint Valentine and that means love is everywhere: in the air, in the shopping streets, in the restaurants and even here, on my blog (as in many other places on the www).

LabelLOV offers a great variety in second hand designer pieces.

For about nine years my (funny) Valentine has been the same. This year, however, something is different. The truth is I’m kind of cheating on Le Boyfriend as I’m totally in love with this vintage Louis Vuitton backpack. Another truth, it’s not just a crush. One could say it’s an example of unrequited love with a happy ending. You see, I’ve been dreaming about the beautiful Montsouris ever since I was twelve years old and only now (I’m almost 29 so you can do the math) I’ve managed to conquer one. It took me some time because Vuitton doesn’t produce this model anymore which makes it hard to find and true vintage. Anyway, the Toile Monogram backpack was one of the first items on my „bag-bucket-list” and now that it’s finally mine Le Boyfriend will have to accept the fact, and understand, that he has to share my love and devotion with my new LoVe this Valentine’s Day.

I bet you’re curious about the rest of that list too, aren’t you? Well, to bagaholics completing a bag-bucket-list is a true achievement and buying an item you’ve always wanted is like a milestone. (To them it’s what graduation, having a baby, getting married, etc. mean to „normal” people.)  Other items on my list that are - as we say in Dutch - „in de sjakos” (literally meaning: in the purse): LV Alma, Papillon, Soho backpack and Delvaux Le Pin. Quite some accomplishments, right? Still I wonder if the list will ever be finished because as I grow older it seems to get longer, with new (vintage) bags stealing my heart every now and then. 

P.S. Let’s hope Cupid is not coming after me today to hit me with another bag-arrow.

Januarious

January. I love the sound of it: soft, sweet, mellow and filled with hope. By the end of the first month of the year, however, the blues are rising high and the January love affair is usually over. No more Christmas Trees, no more dinner parties (as half of the Belgian population is on a diet) and it’s dark and cold outside. To prevent the winter depression I decided to call the family together again, about four weeks after Christmas, for a „light” dinner party. Not too many snacks at apero time and only main course and dessert were served. 

A simple menu so all I had to think about was a Januarious tablescape that would kill the blues. Paradoxical if you use shades of blue to do so, right? Anyhow the candles represent the softness, sweetness and mellowness; the pinecones winter that’s still reigning. In the end it’s the nice thank-you-for-the-invite presents that will definitely ward off the winter blues (as if the guests had read my mind): spring garden home fragrance sticks and tulips. Could a home be more springlike in January?

P.S. How do you like January?

Wonderwalls PII

Wall art is to be found in Brussels as well. Comic scenes, famous bands, poetry: the wonderwalls have it all. 

P.S. Want to see more? Visit the capital of Brave Little Belgium, stroll to the city and you'll discover much more of these paintings.

Wonderwall

In NYC artists turn walls into true pieces of art. It creates amazing street views and to tourists the walls are the ideal setting for funny pictures.

Luke's Lobster near Brooklyn Bridge

 Lady Liberty in Little Italy (Soho)

Butterfly on the wall @ Soho by Kelsey Montague Art

Audrey Hepburn in Little Italy (Soho)

P.S. Unfortunately I forgot to write down the exact addresses where these pictures were taken when in NYC (summer 2014).

About 2016

All I want for Christmas and the year to come is a joyful, peaceful world. In other words: