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,

In Love With Tweed

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,

Beauty Sleep!

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.