Thursday 29 September 2016

Turtlenecks


Sweater weather. 
A cartoon by Jason Adam Katzenstein.\


Tuesday 27 September 2016

Natural Air Filters: Top 10 Houseplants to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution


Did you know that indoor air is generally more polluted than outdoor air? That’s right. Indoor air has a higher concentration of gases and particulates, due to inadequate ventilation and a variety of pollution sources inside the home like cleaning products and pressed wood furniture. Since people typically spend at least 80% of their time indoors, this is being recognized as a serious threat to people’s health.
The best way to combat indoor air pollution is to open windows and doors when possible and to minimize products that emit toxic pollutants. Another way is to bring nature inside for some help. Besides being beautiful and relaxing, houseplants are effective at removing ozone and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which make up a large portion of indoor air pollution.

Here are 10 easy-care houseplants 

to help you live a healthier life.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii). Removes formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. Native to the rainforests of central and south American, this plant needs a shady spot.

Golden pothos (Scindapsus aures). Removes formaldehyde. A very tough vine that grows to massive proportions in its native habitat. In the home it prefers bright, indirect light and moist soil.


English ivy (Hedera helix). Removes formaldehyde. This pretty vine is a bit more difficult to grow, preferring cool, moist and humid conditions which are not typical of a home.
 Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Removes benzene and formaldehyde. Can produce colorful flowers when placed in direct sunlight.

Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii). Removes benzene and trichloroethylene. Like the chrysanthemum, it needs direct sunlight to produce its pretty flowers.


Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’). Removes formaldehyde. A striking, low-maintenance plants that thrives in low light and more humid conditions.
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii). Removes benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. This popular houseplant thrives in low light but cannot withstand overwatering.


Azalea (Rhododendron simsii). Removes formaldehyde. This dwarf azalea does best in a cooler setting out of direct sunlight and will reward you with beautiful flowers.

Red-edge dracaena (Dracaena marginata). Removes xylene, benzene and trichloroethylene. This plant can reach the ceiling of your home and the red edges bring a splash of color.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum). Removes benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene. A very low maintenance plant with rich foliage and tiny while flowers.

Images: Wikimedia Commons


Oh it's a bangle Christmas!



With my light brown eyes,
 the colour of first quality Greek honey, 
I covet this morning this beautiful bangle. 
Santa, baby, will you write it on the list
Pleeease?

From here

xoxo

The 5-Step French Girl Workout With Model Caroline de Maigret



In Paris, there is no better gym than the street, no better sport than life itself. And though the French girl “workout” includes all of the same criteria as its American counterparts, it comes with a few minor adjustments, as demonstrated by stylist and model Caroline de Maigret.
The adorable video from here xoxo Irene

Monday 26 September 2016

Olympic tablescape





I always am on the lookout for trully innovative, inspirational, driven by good taste 
products for the home. 
As the French say:
"Le bon goĂ»t donne meilleur goĂ»t"
So I covet these plates inspired by Greek Antiquity.
Not your usual "souvenir" and a pride to use in any setting, modern or classical!
A future classic from
Sophia-Enjoy Thinking 
I found it on line at UK based
 BORN

Enjoy your momment of Olympic Glory,
xoxo

Monday Visualization: You are driving me Wild

Bridal Musings


My garden wants to be...

Anna Spiro

House of Valentina

Halcyon House

Pipshining

Get Wild
Get Free
Life is too short not to be YOU!

xoxo

Irene


Where does your cash go? (FREE tools!)

“Where Attention goes Energy flows;
Where Intention goes Energy flows!”
― James Redfield


Where does my cash go?

With a teen boy at home and two girls in College, I am on a quest to make every euro count and possibly even stretch
to meet my personal needs!

Plus,
with a demanding job where image counts, I need to look AND  feel pulled together. 
This term, I know I won't be renewing my Gym subscription (it didn't work enough to justfy the spending of my hard earned cash)
Walking daily will have to do, 
plus 
I am looking to start dancing again! It's a kind of exercise I enjoy (and do not loath!)
Massages will have to be programmed to one-per-month to help me destress 
and feel good in my skin.

But
I am investing in a good face line, by LANCOME,
probably towards Xmas
(more to come on my quest for cosmetics to fit my 40something skin)

So,

Where do YOUR cash go?

Reading this article
"How to track your income to create more abundance",
by self-made millionaire Denise Duffield-Thomas made me think. Alot.

I understood that I had to THINK differently and ACT differently.
 Denise offers all the tools 

FREE 

So,
to help you put those valuable FREE resources into good use
and come back and leave a comment to share your progress.
 I will!

xoxo

Irene




Monday 19 September 2016

Monday Visualization: White spaces








I am in that space in between summer and winter. 
Last week I bought some orange and gold pillows that I'm going to show to you soon.
But for now, 
I am dreaming of clean and orderly,
comfort and creativity.

What does your summer/winter transit look like?

xoxo

Friday 16 September 2016

30 Day Journal Project -Day 10


Your life is the ultimate work of art.

Today’s Journal Prompts:

I live my life creatively by… taking art dates, writing, experimenting, taking my work forward, challenging myself.
Living my life creatively is brave because… it faces resistance from those who are afraid of me changing, developping, going forward
The creative place that is unique to my experience… is time alone, being in touch with my body, acknowledging my feminine side
I’ve never seen or heard of anyone… regretting living life authentically

(From here)



30 Day Journal Project -Day 9



I believe one has to stop holding back for fear of alienating some imaginary reader or real relative or friend, and come out with personal truth
Lunches are just not good. They take the heart out of the day and the spaciousness from the morning’s work.
I often feel exhausted, but it is not my work that tires (work is a rest); it is the effort of pushing away the lives and needs of others before I can come to the work with any freshness and zest.
May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude

Keeping a journal that is just for you is a sacred act. It creates a sacred place where you can begin telling the truth about what makes you happy, what you love, what turns you on, what you want more of, less of.

Today’s Journal Prompts:

If I dared to be myself, I’m afraid… I might end up lonely, poor, unloved
If I dared to be myself, I’m excited… that I may be happy, fulfilled, accomplished, successful
When I dare to be myself, it’s strange… how others learn to accept me, appreciate and love me
When I dare to be myself, this kind of genius emerges… that propells me forward, finding who i am, who i really am, who i have always been, who i want to be.


From here

Tuesday 13 September 2016

30 Day Journal Project -Day 8


"Start where you are...". 
Though I have subscribed some time ago, this is my first entry to Lisa Sonora's  30 Day Journal Project
This is challenging to me because I have decided to do it publicly. And public does make me feel nervous. But it is a commitment that I am willing to make. 
If you feel like joining, you may do so here.

So today's prompt is about Dare To Live Your Dreams 

Today’s Journal Prompts:

One of my biggest dreams is…
to live a financially independent life in a place by the sea, writing books and emptying my overflowing heart to heal and to help women in the journey of life
A dream I’ve never sharing with anyone is…
to become a leader in changing people's lives to the better
It would be daring to dream of…
moving to a greek village where i can finally live with yoghurt and flowers and daily swims, and writing under the moon
A dream for myself I’d like to rekindle is…
dancing and making a living of it
Share:
What is a dream you have dreamed for yourself? How is it daring?
 living my life with the one who makes me feel safe and cherished, with my loved one and our children forming an extended nest, where love happens and our dreams bloom into a beautiful reality

Monday 12 September 2016

Monday Visualisation: Happiness in the sprouting



Mimi 
will be out in October




Because it's time to harvest and feast on love, to be together, to grow, to bloom


Happy Monday Visualisation: Woman







Tuesday 6 September 2016

Style is not a number


Costanza Paskolato, 73 

The older I get, the freer I feel to express my creative side, to choose my artistic days and my classic chic days, to accept my body and play around to its best potential.

I have been following for years the work of Ari Seth Cohen, author of Advanced Style : Older and Wiser   and today I'm sharing some of my favorite photos.
Some women are urban and chic, some happily boho and others, just themselves but in a very well curated way.










The Iris Apfel who celebrated her 95th birthday at the end of August
(You may also want to read this post about Ms.Apfel)













All images by the very intelligent Ari Seth Cohen.






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