IMAGE SOURCES (from left to right): zsazsabellagio.com | verge girl | swandive | soburgus.com | theculturetrip.com
"YOU CAN RECREATE YOURSELF AS MANY TIMES AS THERE ARE CITIES IN THE WORLD.
I THINK IT'S FOR THAT REASON WE ALL LOVE TO TRAVEL."
I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT'S NOVEMBER. WITH OUR THANKSGIVING MENU IN THE MAKING IT WON'T BE LONG UNTIL MARIAH CAREY WILL VOCAL HER ANNUAL "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS" AND I AM ONLY JUST COMING AROUND TO WRITING THE STORY REFLECTING ON OUR SUMMER VACATION...
IT HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND SINCE WE RETURNED THE END OF AUGUST. I TOOK ON A STEADY PART-TIME JOB TO SUPPORT MY BUSINESS, AT THE SAME TIME SEVERAL BIG PROJECTS CAME THROUGH FOR BOTH MR K AND I, AND OUR SOCIAL LIFE PICKED UP ITS LOVELY THOUGH SOMETIMES VERY DEMANDING PACE.
TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU, I AM FINDING ALL THIS QUITE CHALLENGING. BEING YOUR OWN BOSS IS GREAT, WITH THE FREEDOM AND LUXURY TO ORGANISE YOUR DAY ENTIRELY AS YOU WISH. AT THE SAME TIME, NOTHING IS CERTAIN. GETTING USED TO NOT KNOWING WHEN OR WHERE YOUR NEXT PROJECT (I.E. PAY CHECK) IS COMING FROM CAN BE VERY UNSETTLING AND - I IMAGINE - MANAGED BEST BY THOSE WITH A RELAXED ATTITUDE BY NATURE (NOT EXACTLY AS I WOULD DESCRIBE MYSELF). ALSO, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BEING GROUNDED, CONFIDENT AND FLEXIBLE IS A MUST. WHEN YOU THINK IT WILL BE A SLOW MONTH, THE UNIVERSE OFFERS UP MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE AND VICE VERSA. AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. SO I HAVE BEEN PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO FINDING MY WAY IN THIS, WHAT WORKS BEST FOR ME, FOR US. I FEEL THAT ONCE YOU HAVE FOUND A BALANCE, MAINTAINING IT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE. AND ALTHOUGH NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY I FIND I DO THIS BEST WHEN I CREATE A ROUTINE AND STICK TO IT. ONE OF THE THINGS I SET OUT TO DO WHEN I STARTED MY BUSINESS, WAS KEEP A BLOG, RESERVING AN X AMOUNT OF HOURS A WEEK TO DO SO. I SEE IT AS A WAY FOR YOU AND I TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND AS MY PERSONAL CREATIVE OUTLET. AND EVEN THOUGH I AM INEXCUSABLY LATE, I HAVE DECIDED TO GET BACK IN MY ROUTINE AND RATHER THAN SKIP, I AM CATCHING UP WITH MY STORY FROM OVER THE SUMMER...
IMAGE SOURCE: infashiondaily.com
WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES AND MANAGE TO STILL MY MIND I CAN STILL JUST ABOUT IMAGINE I AM LYING ON THAT BEACH BED, POSITIONED PERFECTLY BETWEEN THE SHORE AND THE LITTLE STRAW ROOFED BISTRO SERVING THE MOST DELICIOUS FRESHLY MADE MANGO & MINT SMOOTHIES...
AT THE BEACH: TURNING EVERY 1,5 HOUR FOLLOWING THE SUN, GETTING UP ONLY TO SUNSCREEN EACH OTHERS BACK OR COOL OFF IN THE SEA, WE SPENT OUR DAYS ON THE MOST CHARMING LITTLE BEACH JUST 40 MINS FROM BARCELONA, SPAIN, WHERE MR K'S FAMILY HAVE A SUMMER HOME. WITH ONLY 20 BEDS, ALL NEATLY NESTLED BETWEEN A STONE COVE, IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING FROM A DREAM. SECLUDED AND GLAMOROUS. OF COURSE AROUND THE BEDS, EVERY INCH OF SAND WAS OCCUPIED BY SUN ADMIRERS, BUT THAT ONLY ADDED TO ITS CHARM. THE PROCESS OF REACHING THIS GLAMOROUS STATE WAS MUCH LESS GLAMOROUS HOWEVER. INVOLVING A RIGOROUS ROUTINE OF ME SECURING OUR 2 BEDS AT A VERY EARLY HOUR AND GUARDING THE SECOND BED LIKE A MOTHER OF NEWBORN HYENAS AS MR K FOLLOWED MUCH LATER (!) AFTER HE HAD TIME TO WAKE UP, HAVE HIS COFFEE AND EITHER GO FOR A RUN OR DO HIS MORNING WORKOUT. eventually, PICKING UP OUR BREAKFAST FROM THE LITTLE FAMILY OWNED BAKER. EACH DAY HE WOULD CONFIRM THE CONFUSION AND HESITANCE THE BAKER HAD YET AGAIN EXPRESSED WHEN MR K ORDERED MY IBERICO SANDWICH WITHOUT THE FAMOUS CATALAN TOMATO PASTE. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE THERE FOR 13 DAYS AND ORDERED PRACTICALLY THE SAME SANDWICH EVERY DAY (YES I AM A CREATURE OF HABIT). AS IF IT WERE AN INSULT TO SPAIN!
IMAGE SOURCE: violet grey
THE PEOPLE ON THE BEACH WERE A WONDERFUL MIX OF OLD AND YOUNG, MEN AND WOMEN, FRIENDS AND LOVERS, PARENTS AND CHILDREN, SINGLES, COUPLES, GAY, STRAIGHT, IN THE NUDE AS WELL AS DRESSED. NOBODY REALLY TOOK ANY NOTICE, EVERYONE WAS FRIENDLY AND RESPECTFUL. MORE THAN ONCE MR K AND I SAID TO EACH OTHER THIS FELT LIKE A PERFECTLY BALANCED SOCIETY, AS IT SHOULD BE...
THE WOMEN AROUND ME WERE A FEAST OF INSPIRATION. THERE IS A SIMPLICITY TO THE STYLE OF WOMEN LIVING AND VACATIONING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THAT IS SO SOPHISTICATED. AFTER LONG AND CLOSE OBSERVATION, I FIND IT COMES DOWN TO THE FOLLOWING:
A CONFIDENT NONCHALANT ATTITUDE (WHICH I AM STILL INVESTIGATING AND DEEPLY ENVY)
THAT DEEP GOLDEN TANNED AND WELL MOISTURISED SKIN, THAT IN MY BOOK ALWAYS MAKES EVERYTHING LOOK BETTER.
finally, FEW BUT VERY WELL CHOSEN WARDROBE PIECES:
IMAGE SOURCES (clockwise): bonheurjewelry.com | mywedding.com | net-a-porter | flickr
BASICALLY, THESE LADIES COULD BE WEARING A BINBAG AND STILL LOOK LIKE A MILLION BUCKS...
IN THE EVENING, WE WOULD DRESS UP AND WALK THROUGH THE VILLAGE IN SEARCH OF A YET UNDISCOVERED GEM FOR DINNER. TO ME, DRESSING UP IS BOTH FOR YOURSELF, AND TO EYE THE WARDROBE OF YOUR FELLOW FEMALE VACATIONERS. ONE EVENING WHEN WE STOPPED FOR ICE CREAM ON OUR WAY BACK TO THE APPARTEMENT, I SPOTTED A WOMAN WEARING THE MOST COVETABLE SOFT BLUE SUMMER DRESS: A GENTLE A-LINE WITH THE HEMLINE JUST ABOVE THE KNEE AND 3/4 BELL SLEEVES! IT WAS THE PERFECT SUMMER DRESS. FLOATY AND FEMININE, BUT COOL AND EASY. I-WAS-IN-LOVE! ALREADY PICTURING THE ACCESSORIES I WOULD PAIR WITH IT... BUT, AS I WASN'T BRAVE ENOUGH TO GO UP TO HER AND ASK WHERE SHE HAD BOUGHT IT, I WAS GETTING READY TO ACCEPT IT WOULD REMAIN AN UNFULFILLED YEARNING...
LATER THAT WEEK, WE WENT TO BARCELONA FOR THE DAY. AND AS YOU DO, WE VISITED THE STORES WE ARE SURROUNDED BY IN THE CITIES WE LIVE IN. I KNOW, CRAZY... ANYWAY, WE WENT INTO ZARA. I WAS BROWSING, PICKING OUT SOME LOVELY PIECES HERE AND THERE AND THEN I SAW IT! ACROSS THE ROOM AS IF SUDDENLY BEING LIT BY A SPOTLIGHT (HONESTLY!) WAS THE SOFT BLUE DRESS WITH THE 3/4 BELL SLEEVES! OH-MY-GOD-OH-MY-GOD-OH-MY-GOD!! (IS IT NORMAL FOR YOUR HEART TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE SPEED WHEN SEEING A PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU DESIRE? LET'S SAY YES, I DON'T DO WELL WITH DOCTORS). IT WAS FROM ZARA! SUFFICIENT TO SAY, I GOT THE DRESS;-)
TO TOP IT ALL UP, I WAS LUCKY A SECOND TIME THAT DAY AS I FOUND THE PERFECT CRISP WHITE WEDGEHEEL ESPADRILLES THAT I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR FOR YEARS! YEARS I TELL YOU! YOU SEE, THAT "WELL CHOSEN" BIT OF SOPHISTICATED STYLE IS CRUCIAL, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE SETTLED FOR A PAIR THAT WERE "OK" YEARS AGO, BUT I NEVER WOULD HAVE FELT AS BEAUTIFUL AS I DO IN THESE WHICH SUIT ME PERFECTLY. FINDING THE RIGHT DESIGN AND MATERIAL CAN TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
OFF TO VIGO! AFTER 13 DAYS OF SUNBATHING, WE TRAVELED ON TO VIGO, IN GALICIA, WHERE FRIENDS OF OURS WERE GETTING MARRIED. HIM IRISH, HER SPANISH, BOTH LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS BUT THE WEDDING TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY SHE GREW UP IN. SO ROMANTIC!
IMAGE SOURCES (from left to right): personal album by Mr K | unknown | wanderer.com
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING, THEY PUT TOGETHER AN EVENT AT A CHARMING COCKTAILBAR SO EVERYONE COULD MEET AND CHAT BEFORE THE BIG DAY. WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FLYING IN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD (I THINK WE WERE 130 IN TOTAL) IT WAS QUITE AN AFFAIR. I WORE MY BLUE DRESS AND WHITE WEDGEHEEL ESPADRILLES AND FELT EVERY INCH THE MEDITERRANEAN BELLE;-)
THE WEDDING DAY! THE CHURCH CEREMONY WOULD BEGIN AT 5PM, SO WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO WANDER AROUND THE VILLAGE, DO SOME SHOPPING AND RETURN TO THE HOTEL AFTER LUNCH TO GET READY. THE DRESSCODE WAS "COCKTAIL CHIQUE". MR K BOUGHT A NAVY SUIT AND I WORE A LONG, V-NECK BLACK DRESS AND ADDED ACCESSORIES IN GOLD.
THE CEREMONY AT THE CHURCH GAVE A DEPTH AND AUTHENTICITY TO THE EVENT I THINK NONE OF US WERE QUITE PREPARED FOR. SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WALKED STRAIGHT OUT OF A VERA WANG CATALOGUE, ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. AND HE LOOKED UTTERLY HANDSOME. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
IMAGE SOURCE: personal album nicole alexandra
AFTER THE CEREMONY, WE WERE DRIVEN INTO THE MOUNTAINS TO WHERE THE RECEPTION WOULD TAKE PLACE. THE LOCATION WAS STUNNING: LOOKING OUT OVER THE SEA, SURROUNDED BY THE MOST AMAZING BOUGAINVILLE, STRETCHING INTO A COURTYARD FILLED WITH ORANGE TREES. THERE WERE CHEFS PREPARING FRESH FISH ON THE GRILL, CHAMPAGNE WAS FLOWING RICHLY, TABLES WERE COVERED WITH THE MOST DELICIOUS TAPAS AND WAITERS WERE SEEING THAT EVERYONE WAS CATERED TO.
IMAGE SOURCES: personal album nicole alexandra
FOLLOWING THE RECEPTION, WE MOVED INSIDE FOR A SIT DOWN DINNER FOLLOWED BY SPEECHES OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TELLING STORIES OF MEMORIES SHARED WITH THE BRIDE OR GROOM, WISHING THEM WELL IN THIS NEW CHAPTER OF THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. AFTER EVERYONE HAD SPOKEN AND TEARS OF EMOTION WERE THREATENING TO CAUSE SERIOUS MASCARA PROBLEMS, THE DJ HIT PLAY AND WE ALL DANCED OUR SOCKS OFF TILL THE EARLY MORNING!
SEVERAL DAYS LATER, WE RETURNED HOME. THE SUMMER DREAM IS OVER FOR NOW. IT'S WINTER. SOON WE'LL BE PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS TREES WHILE LISTENING TO BING CROSBY. DRINKING HOT COCO AND EXCHANGING GIFTS. WEARING SILLY JUMPERS AND COOKING DELICIOUS FEASTS! UNTIL THEN!
IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY WORK! AND FOR MY BEAUTY AND STYLE INSPIRATION FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM!
LOVE, NA