Happy Birthday, M!

As much as I love being in New York, I can't deny that I miss my family and friends sometimes. And these past few days I've been missing them more than ever!

Today is my best friend's birthday and, although I did have lots of fun having dinner and going out with my girls in New York, I couldn't stop thinking about not being with her. Last year we started brainstorming what we should do to celebrate her birthday––and our ideas were so good we should have started a party planning business right there––and had the best time ever. And this year I'm miles away and with no chance of seeing her today.

But I did spend some time looking at old pictures in my laptop. Most of them were absolutely horrible––we weren't particularly good-looking during our teens––but they made me laugh––and cry a little––from all the great memories they brought back. I really wish I could be with her right now... But I know that not even the distance will tear us apart.

I'm really, really glad that I have shared the past two decades of my life with this girl––and I'm sure she doesn't need me to party hard and have a blast today on her birthday!

Love you baby, Happy Birthday!

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

PS. I'm including a couple extra photos from a few years ago below. They were the only decent ones I found in my laptop, and unfortunately I don't have access to all our childhood photos, which are at my parents' house in Colombia.

More Radical Self Love

As I told you about a week ago, I am taking part on Gala Darling's Radical Self Love July challenge this month. I've really enjoyed the experience, although I just noticed I skipped a day––oops!

Anyway... Days 11 through 20 included lots and lots of love––of course––and fun things to do. I particularly liked the fact that most of my pictures were taken outdoors –except for the first two, maybe. I also loved all the different colours that the pictures in my challenge have been showing.

Day 11. The Bible



Day 12. In my bag



Day 13. No-makeup selfie



Day 14. Get physical!



Day 16. Favourite quote



Day 17. My city––ok, not yet, but almost!



Day 18. Inspiring friends



Day 19. Great outdoors––at the stables, obviously!



Day 20. RSL Totem

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Celebrate Valentine's Day -- Single

Valentine's Day tends to be rejected by anyone who's single. For some reason, if you don't have a beloved sweetheart, all the hearts in the air might seem a little disgusting. But this doesn't mean you can't  have a great time celebrating love. You can love yourself, your friends, and your family. Who needs a man (or a girl, whichever you like) to feel happy and fulfilled?

1. Have A Romantic Date With Yourself

My first idea for Valentine's Day celebration is having a romantic date with yourself. This is something I really enjoy to do every once in a while when I'm tired and don't want to go out on a Friday night.

You'll only need your favourite PJs, some old movies you enjoy (my personal favourites tend to be chick flicks I enjoyed as a teenager –say, What A Girl Wants, 500 Days of Summer, and all that stuff). Get a box of chocolates, and order your favourite food. A good glass of wine is optional.

Get inside your bed, and have the best time you could have ever asked for. When you wake up on Saturday, you'll only be able to smile for the great time you had with yourself on Valentine's Day.

2. Go Out With Your Friends

Yes. Friends are the best things that could ever happen to us. They love us unconditionally, and we love them back. So what better than celebrating endless love with one of your best friends? I bet at least one of them is single. Or if (s)he isn't, (s)he still might be willing to celebrate Valentine's Day with you.

You can have a tea party at home, go out to your favourite restaurant to have dinner, or go to the movies. And if you're more creative than I am––which you probably are––I bet you can come up with a thousand more ideas. Maybe you could even do something you haven't done in a long time. If I were to do this, I would bring my friend Felipe, who now lives in Canada, and drink mojitos at home.

3. Enjoy A Spa Evening

This one is probably my favourite idea. And you don't even have to go to a real spa––although I sincerely recommend you do it if you prefer that!

If you'd rather stay at home, you can just pick your favourite beauty products––I strongly recommend any type of products that has a smell you enjoy––, light some candles, and love yourself. Depending on what you enjoy more, you can have a bubble bath, soak yourself in Cocoa Butter, or use some hair treatment and get your nails done. Whatever you choose, make sure it makes you feel like you're being loved and spoiled!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!

I must confess I have mixed feelings about Christmas. I really love all the lights and parties and seeing old friends... But at the same time I hate all the stress, gift wrapping and shopping––this is only cool when you're doing it for fun!

The same kind of mixed feelings I have with respect to Christmas songs. I bet you all know it's Christmas time when you wake up with a ridiculous Christmas song in your mind. And even if you pretend you hate it, you can't help but smiling when you listen to your first Christmas song of the season, don't you?

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Time To Thank...

Although we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Colombia, I believe this is probably the most wonderful holiday in North America. We're all blessed with thousands of things, but how many times do we actually thank for them?

There are many things to be thankful for. I my case, they're usually linked to my family, my friends, some kind of academic achievement, or my beloved horse Coco. I'm always aware of what I have. Of course, I have an unlimited wish list, and I would sometimes like to be better... But I could say I'm thankful for who I am...

God––or genetics, whichever you prefer––made me beautiful. Or so I think. If I don't see my own beauty, who will? And the fact that I can see it makes me even more special than what anyone can think. I'm also healthy and happy. I've got lots of friends, I can travel, I speak different languages and I can read the best creations of humanity. I love fashion and, although I still don't own that beautiful Céline bag, I'm able to wear different –clean– clothes everyday...

I can give and help those around me... And even those who are a bit more distant.

I have a beautiful, loving mother, and a super-hero sister, who inspires me to be my best self every day of my life. I have a father who has supported my crazy academic desires ever since I was born, and a boyfriend who's always there for me, no matter what. I have a cousin that takes care of all of us from heaven, two little baby cousins that remind me how beautiful life is, and yet another one, who's my soul twin.

I have a wonderful enterprise that reproduces my dreams in the form of jewellery. I have this blog, that lets me write my feelings and all the things I love every time I want to.

But, more than anything else, I have myself. I am my best friend, my support, my biggest love. I am me, and I'm really thankful for it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Proudest Sister On Earth

As you might have noticed by now, I won't get over my sister's graduation from High School... Or maybe I will! This is the last post I'll write about it, I promise!

But how can I not write about such an amazing achievement? Something I've learnt from my baby sis is that whenever we really want something and we work with all our energies to achieve it, we will! That's exactly what she did to achieve her graduation: work hard towards an objective she was looking forward for the past four years! And she finally did it! I'm so happy and proud!!!

I honestly hope I can apply her teachings in every single aspect of my life!

Love,







Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Graduation Tea Party

My super best friend Maria (who is the loveliest person on Earth) decided to host a tea party to celebrate my beautiful sister's graduation from high school last Tuesday. It was an amazing evening, surrounded by our dearest friends (or, should I say family?)

We drank tea (duh, it was a tea party!), ate lots and lots of pudding, and had lots of fun! But what's most important, my baby definitely had the time of her life! She was the happiest person in the world, I could say!

Don't you just adore tea parties? And... Isn't Maria the best (although I can't say any of my other friends is any worse than her...)? I'm so, so glad to be surrounded by all these amazing people! I honestly wish our friendship will stay like this forever!

Love,







Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Hello, Summer!

After a very long time spent studying, I can finally say I'm free! And you can't imagine how good that feels! Summer's one of my favourite seasons, and the main reason for that is probably because I get to travel and wear dresses... What else can I ask for?

I can also say that, thankfully, summer has always been quite a great time for me... I've spent the season in Paris, Summer Camp and New York, to list a few amazing experiences. But, no matter where in the world I spend the Summer, what I love the most about it is having time to do whatever I feel like doing. This includes reading a good book, letting my mind fly away of this world and come up with new incredible ideas or just take a nap. I also usually spend more hours at the stable than usual, sharing amazing moments with Coco, my beloved horse (I introduced him to you on this post).

This summer will be no different than those I've lived in the past, for sure! Last night, after my last final, I started reading a book Diego recommended: Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami. And I got so absorbed, I'll have to get another one soon. (Any suggestions out there?) Today, I spent the morning riding under a blue, sunny sky! Diego just came home and we're going out in a while for some dessert. The sun's still up, so I hope we can go for a promenade, another of my favourite things about summer!

Travel will also be a big thing this season. Just to give you something to look forward to (since you'll be reading my posts about it), I'll be going to Europe for three weeks. I'm not telling whereabouts yet, because I love surprises and I want to give one to you! Diego will spend the summer in lovely New York, where I'll also spend a couple of weeks this summer, meeting him. There's no place in the world I love more than The City, and I just can't wait to go back!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

PS. I took the photo in this post back in Summer 2011, when I worked as a riding instructor at a Summer Camp. It was one of the best experiences in my life, and I'll never forget it. The Camp was in Maine, where landscapes are the most beautiful ever... Which you can see from this amazing sunrise!