September 30, 2013

The Horse Show


I love my horse. I really do. But, as in any other relationship, there are highs and lows –nipples and thorns, some dear friends of mine call them...

Last weekend, we went to a show jumping competition, and it couldn't have been any better. To be honest, I don't ride to win or to become an Olympian. I just ride because I love it! And, in a similar manner, I go to horse shows just to have some fun!

But when you're having issues with your horse, things aren't so great. The last time I had competed I got eliminated, basically because my horse and I just weren't speaking the same language. If you're not a horse rider, you might not understand it at all, but this is even worse than having communication problems with your human couple...

I remember my coach's words: What are we going to do with your horse?

To me, that sounded like giving up/selling the horse. What he probably didn't realise before I told him was there's no way I'm giving up on my horse. He's the love of my life –it's even better than having children, at least for now– and I'm pretty sure I still have lots to learn from him. I just needed to learn how to ride him again. And we needed some couple therapy!

After two intense weeks of trying to understand each other again, some tears –OK, maybe quite a lot of them–, fighting against my fears and beating the nerves... I think we're finally on the same side of the road again. This weekend was just amazing –and not exactly because I won the competition on the first day!


Remember how Avatars link with their horses? I had probably never felt that link as much as I did this weekend! My horse and I were finally one only creature, flying above the jumps in such harmony that it felt more like dancing than anything else. And from here on, I hope we can overcome –together– any other obstacles we must face. In the end, that's why we come to this world: to learn to always find a way to live happily and not get busted by any obstacle we might face!

Love,

September 25, 2013

In Love With Tweed

Portrait

I think I might be starting to get a little too obsessed with statement jackets. Remember the one from last week's post? Well, apparently that was only the start of a big affair with those beauties... The jacket is probably one of my all-time favourites. I've owned for several years, and every fall I wear it over and over again. It's just one of those amazing, timeless pieces of clothing that we all have in our wardrobes and we never get tired of wearing!

The story?

Back in the day, my just-become-fashion-conscious self decided to love Chanel. I think I still love it, but, back then, it was more like a cult! The design of my sweet sixteen––which is actually fifteen in Latin America––party dress was inspired on Chanel. I spent hours tearing up pictures of Chanel designs of magazines... Only to try and sketch them afterwards!––I should totally search for those drawings somewhere... I'm sure they weren't too bad!

So, when in New York with my mum during high school fall break, and I saw this amazing jacket, which is totally Chanel-inspired... I had to own it! Luckily, my mum loved it as well, so she bought it for me. And here I am, more than five years after that, still wearing it, and loving it!

Do you like it as much as I do? How would you wear it?

Love,

September 24, 2013

Beauty Sleep!

Portrait

This week I'm on a (well deserved) break from university. I've slept quite a lot and, although I usually try to get my beauty sleep, sometimes the workload from college doesn't let me have it. Even if it's only Tuesday, I can feel the benefits of sleeping well by now. The first symptom that I've been having a good nights sleep is my face: my natural cheeks usually disappear when I'm not sleeping well and I look like a walking phantom because my face turns yellow. But when I sleep well, my cheeks come back to life and my face turns kind of pink, which is way better than the phantom-look!

I am pretty sure that the health benefits of sleeping well go way beyond physical appearance... I actually was reading a book the other day –The Social Animal, by David Brooks–, where it said that:
during sleep the brain consolidates memories, organizes the things that have been learned that day, and reinforces the changes in the brain that have been ushered by the previous day's activities.

I decided to do some additional research, and here's what I found:
  1. A good night's sleep is associated with a longer life, although it is not clear if it is a cause or a result;
  2. It boosts your creativity, because it helps you reorganise your memories and thoughts in a way that you can create new, innovative ideas.
  3. It helps improve your physical performance, which is particularly good for people who practice sports regularly.
  4. It improves your concentration. In fact, lack of sleep in children usually results in symptoms related with ADHD.
  5. It helps you keep your figure. Research has shown that people who sleep well are more able to lose fat, whether those who are sleep-deprived lose muscle mass. Additionally, it is believed that a good night's sleep helps accelerate your metabolism.
  6. It reduces stress, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure.
  7. It improves your mood, since lack of sleep usually increases your irritability and makes your more judging.
  8. If you're a driver, it helps you avoid car accidents. Insufficient sleep can be almost as bad as alcohol when you're driving!
  9. It helps maintain a good immune system, as you are less vulnerable to get infections, such as colds and other, more severe, infections.
  10. It makes you happier! Lack of sleep makes you feel anxious and impatient, which might conduce, in the long run, to depression.

Apparently, my beauty sleep does much more than that for me. What are you waiting before going to bed?

Sweet dreams,








PS. I used this article (and this one) to write this post. The picture was taken in New York.

September 18, 2013

The Jacket

The Jacket

The Jacket

The Jacket

The Jacket

Although I'd love to be able to wear summer dresses all year long, sometimes wearing a beautiful jacket makes you realise there's nothing to complain about! I got this beauty in New York, after falling in love with it the moment I saw it hanging in the store. And every time I see it, I love it even more! I can tell I will explore with it all along the season.

Love,

September 11, 2013

Bye, Bye, Summer!

Bye bye, summer!

Bye bye, summer!

Bye bye, summer!

I don't know about you, but to me, summer has come to an end. And it's not exactly because I got bored of it or because I never liked it to begin with... It's just because it run away, without letting me grab it and making it stay for a while longer! I didn't quite realise this before I had to dress for the Derby last weekend. It was kind of sunny, but pretty chilly outside... I honestly didn't want to wear a coat––since I'll probably have an overdose of them later on––but I didn't want to freeze!

My purse––actually, my sister's––was bought in Paris. We loved it, so we got twins. Mine's tan, so it wouldn't match my outfit, and that's why I stole my sister's. In the end, that's why we have sisters for, don't we? To have a double outfit supply! As usual, bracelets were my go-to accessory, although I also wore a ver delicate –and horse-related– necklace that my best friend gave me as a gift a couple of years ago.

All in all, it was a simple outfit, perfect for a day full of horses and friends!

Love,

September 9, 2013

Horses, horses, horses!

Horses

Horses

There's probably no doubt that this was a great horse weekend. For those of you who love horses (and show jumping) as much as I do, I'm pretty sure you were following the Spruce Meadows masters. And, although I wasn't able to go, watching live broadcasts -while in class, but shh!- was probably the best option.

Gladly, we also had a big event in Colombia. It was time for an annual Derby that has been making my horse-loving obsession happy during the past few years. By few I mean over a decade... But it still makes me happy going there and spending an amazing weekend among horses and friends.

I honestly suck at taking pictures at these events. First, because I don't have the appropriate camera lens (I seriously need to go shopping) and, second, because I'm usually so concentrated in having fun with my friends, that I just forget about the whole picture-taking job!

Anyway, I managed to snap a few pics, just for you. Hope you like them!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

September 6, 2013

It's Tea Time!


You might already know this, but one of my most favorite things in the world is tea. And even better than drinking tea (which I do on a daily basis), is getting to have a proper tea afternoon.

Diego came back from New York last weekend, and I couldn't wait to take him to one of our favourite tea places in Bogota: the JW Marriott hotel. So on Monday, we went there to have a delicious soirée.

It started out with a cup of champagne, which was nothing but delicious. Plus... It was the perfect toast to welcome him back home! We then had some canapés (which, sadly, were gone before I realised I should have taken some photos of them), and tea was served. We both ordered Rooibos -one of my favorite herbal teas because it's really aromatic-. I chose cinnamon and orange. Diego just had the "grandma's choice" but had no idea what that meant!


We then ate crèpes, deliciously prepared in the moment we ordered them. I chose a vegetables mix with some cheese.


Finally, there was dessert. This is where real tea starts to me. I had a sugar overdose, but I just couldn't control myself and not wanting to eat every single piece of pastry they offered! Ok, well... I didn't have the chocolate croissant. But I had absolutely everything else!


I honestly love these tea afternoons... But I hate them because I become a three-year-old who doesn't have any sense of self control! Once I sit down, I can't stop eating! And that could be bad... The good thing is I don't have these tea evenings that often... And having some sort of sugar food overdose every once in a while isn't so bad, is it?

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio