Author Archives: Susu

Jan. 13.

Spring Lace Self Love

By Susu | Posted in Art, Bubbly Mind, Fashion Champagne |
Comments (16)

This spring is about black and white sweetly in lace! Look at Valentino – take snow soft and licorice yummy! Or Vuitton… I heart this trend for its chic and timeless elegance.

Moving to another country and starting a new job has had me ponder upon self love. Why do I question myself so rapidly? Low lone love.

Shallow self-esteem is largely about a mental habit. The way I view myself. Heavy baggage gathered along the road when things didn’t go that rosily. I remember and I remind myself. I am my worst critic. I gather information supporting the negative feelings I macerate. I fear embarrassment. Failure. Not being perfect. I feel tense and anxious. Do you recognize this? Hope not, but I don’t think I am not alone.

So what I need to do is to start checking and replacing my negative habits with healthier ones.  I long to live free. Get a realistic perspective about myself.

The first goal of this year: Try to imagine how you would like to think about yourself, and act accordingly.

Lace up for the weekend… or treat yourself to something sweet and soft! Drop me a line if ever feeling like chatting more. I am here and I desire to be a supporting sister.

With snow tender love from Quebec.

Art by Susa

Camaieu dress, Riviera vintage bolero, Naf Naf bag, Andiamo pumps, C&A earrings

Photo by night: Castle of Fontenac, Quebec City, Canada

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Jan. 06.

What Is Your Scent Color?

By Susu | Posted in Art, Bubbly Mind, Fashion Champagne |
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Did you know that scents have color codes? Purple and pink – my school – have a spicy, yet lightly floral feel to them. Beige perfume stands for musk and round tones, yellowish and orangey odors are definitely fruity. Once this realized, I gave in – I am a pink-purple perfumed girl.

I have gone from Very Irresistible from Givenchy to Insolance  from Guerlain, equally lingered around Lolita Lempicka. What speaks to my soul in these odors is the fine touch of vanilla, licorice or musk, which is then rendered sweeter and lighter by flowery hints like lilies or the good old rose. I find that rosy scents never get old-fashioned if they are reasonably dozed.

The latest addition, my Christmas present from the hubs – Bath & Body Works body cream Be Enchanted – frosty flowers, inspired by all that glitters. I think the Sweets ended up following the color cues by accident!

Scents give me the tune for the day. They add that little luxurious extra I long for. Sometimes it happens that I squirt a tiny bit on before heading out for my morning run – just because I love sensing that slight odor every now and then.

My work at the art gallery has started out pretty well. This weekend I shall be working non-stop. I am learning a lot and taking in the gorgeous surrounding painting details. Evolving in the space makes me want to paint so badly! I just need to go procure some colors and canvasses – I had to leave all that in France. Right now life feels quite pink and purple. Things are advancing, and as I learn new things, I am also gaining in self-confidence.

What is your color and where are you with self-esteem at the wake of this new year?

Art by Susa

Helsinki vintage cardigan, Riviera vintage blouse, Sophistix skirt, Riviera shoes

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Jan. 02.

Mint Glitter Self-Love Booster

By Susu | Posted in Bubbly Mind, Fashion Champagne, General |
Comments (15)

Fashion helps me to feel special. When the day is dark, I am prone to spotting somber colors. I feel heavy in spirit. Nobody. Insignificant. Wasting my life. Foolish negative self-talk, I know.  So in prance an action plan. Step one, fight back with fashion. I consciously make a booster effort and pull out some classier elements like satin, faux fur and sequins.

Secondly, I let it out. Maybe talk to a trusted person. Write in my journal. Read and comment others’ blogs. Often while commenting, as I formulate my messages, I find clarity and new openings for me, too. The worst is bundling up all the negativity in me, thinking that I’ll bother other people with my heart-burning, energy-robbing  issues. Think about your life, when you’ve wanted to confide in a reliable person, how often have they been touched by your move, how frequently annoyed? See…

Thirdly, I find some time, even if just a tiny moment, to do things that I really enjoy. For me going out in fresh air, walking and being alone with my thoughts, with or without music – depending on my mood.

I allure the good vibes out by starting from the outer, moving into the inner, then finish up with giving myself some inspiring action. This helps more or less -  depending on the seriousness of the bluesy state. Today I feel serene and deeply contented. Nevertheless, my feeling of well-being is even deeper, because I know that when the dark moment eventually comes, I can solidly handle it. I can enjoy happiness right now, and trust in myself even beyond.

I am excited to start a new year in your company! I would love to hear from you, in abundance. Be there for you if ever you wanted a chic-fascinated, soul-peace searching, always honestly-life-event-telling, artist-fashion-city chick mentor from Quebec City! How do you define yourself… just like that, spontaneously?

Riviera vintage blouse, Limité faux fur vest, H&M mini skirt, Devernois handbag, Andiamo pumps

Photos from Montreal and Quebec City

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Dec. 30.

Raising Cosmos!

By Susu | Posted in Art, Bubbly Mind, Fashion Champagne |
Comments (22)

Raising Cosmos! Dressing up for the end of the year. Such a sweet occasion. This gorgeous Florida Satin Dress is a gift from Sophistix (pssst… they are having a lovely end of the year clearance sale!).

I have a goal for next year. I wish to learn to live more freely. I have done some heavy duty soul-searching and realized that I often advance in fear. I am afraid of being humiliated. That people see my weaknesses and then either leave me or make fun of me.  That I find myself in the horrible place when your cheeks are burning out of embarrassment, and you just want to run away. Later on you beat yourself up for the cowardly behavior – recent years by refusing my body from adequate amount of food, before that by overeating. And then feeling yet more humiliated.

I want to be free from fear. I see the only way out by forcing myself to expose the very things that make me afraid. To talk them out so that they get into a right, smaller proportion. I’d love to be perfect, but I am not. I was given some limitations by nature, and that is not my fault or choice – nor is there anything I can do about it. Just learn to accept and live with. As my courage will grow stronger, I will be sharing about “my demons” that have eaten me up. Or contributed in me falling into anorexia. I will to this to get clarity to myself but also in hoping to help others. I believe that a true free life starts when we dare and can be open about our real life issues.

Art by Susa

Sophistix dress, Riviera vintage faux fur bolero, André pumps

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Dec. 26.

‘Tis Is the Total

By Susu | Posted in Bubbly Mind, Fashion Champagne, Paris |
Comments (16)

My Xmas chic… sweetheart sushi dinner and kisses in abundance!

Are you contented with your year gone by? I am. It has been a period of profound changes. Early 2011, I traveled to Finland. Practiced being free around food again with cream and jam filled brioche.

My journeys choo-chooed along as I hopped on the Eurostar and whisked to London. Staying at my cousin and lovely Kate’s was an absolute treat. Hubs back home in Paris. This chick free to indulge in art and Camden vintage shopping. Yoga in the park.

Plus these chic bloggers … Sherin and Susie, in the atmosphere of the Tate Modern looking over us! Later, Stardust coffee with the vogue-cultivated Sabine. Fash’ friends forever.

Equally, I met Rita in Paris – my Aussie La Clinica organic cosmetics Business Bee and a role model – for some pink cake and beauty talk – inside out, you know me by now.

Then this fairy was off to her maman-in-law’s on the French Riviera. Some inter-generational bonding around a glass of champagne. Nicely counterbalances the sniffy saddy times that I skilfully whip myself into alike.

Meet Marie-Claire the chic sweet belle-maman of mine. I love her dearly, and have learned so much from her about Simone de Beauvoir and French bra burnings. The wedding band I proudly carry is inherited from Marie-Claire. To me it symbolizes a Frenchwoman accepting me into the circle of real life. A la française. What an absolute honneur!

Summer went enjoying Paris, knowing that soon our home would be elsewhere. Had brunches with my gals -  the crème de la strawberry crème of my Paris decade – Leesa, Sarah, Sarah and Aurelia. My sweethearts. Forever silver-tattooed on my soul.

Waved au revoirs to Paris… “am I really leaving the city now?” would ask myself for days. Stopped over in the Alps, then waited for visas on the Riviera.

Chic-hopped to Italy for some Bacardi and turquoise dress shopping.

And now… Canada! Entered the new wide open on December 1. Such a clean, clear start.

I sense a feather blown onto fresh fields. My inner world settling down. Me being able to take things with increased serenity. I have battled cramps and chest sentiments – crisping, hurting, bone aching, fist-striking sensations in the diaphragm for two and a half years now. Presently, I feel that those feelings have lessened, and I am able to better distinguish real physical sensations from somatic, panic-fed sores.

Life is swinging back into me. It never left but got teeny-tiny with me eating less and less. Controlling out of fear of being fat – meaning failure. But flesh around us is continuity. Soft curves symbolize gentleness.

My challenge for the new year: to let my imperfections come out as well. So that I no longer have to beat myself up on them so intensely. Beauty is in real, honest life. Speaking in true terms. If I open up, I believe that I can inspire others to do the same. W e can be wondrous and humanly blemished at the same time, non?

 

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Dec. 23.

Sweet Chanel-Luxe-Bubble Bath Xmas

By Susu | Posted in Bubbly Mind, Expat Life, Fashion Champagne |
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Three weeks passed in my new homeland Canada. The Sweetie and I are spending the holidays just the two of us. The first of a kind! The plan is to get foods we each fancy, watch a movie and cuddle. On Christmas Day morning I will head to an English-speaking church I recently found. After all the relocation ruffles, some quiet time seems superb. I am going for sushi - interestingly here they call sushi what in Europe is referred to as maki. I desire the non-seaweed-wrapped kind. The papery texture of seaweed isn’t a big love of mine. Along with my Nippon treats, I will savor some red wine – a bottle that would cost 5 dollars in France is tripled here. Maybe my wine affection will have to slow down a tad. New country means different pleasures. Maple syrup cookies are excellent.

Chanel will be on the menu, too. In the form of a lipstick. Tiny treats are as delicious as big ones. I shall redden my lips to feel glam girly. Hop in the bubble bath. Read the Canadian Elle. One has to get accustomed, non?

I took the pictures around Quebec City. The holiday magic sure is jazzing. It makes me want to stand still, outside, and breathe un bon coup – a deep one. Life is here and now. I am blessed to prance through every day. Not always rosy, but real and fully felt.

My fashion choices for the Christmas weekend shall twirl around glittery things. I find nothing more luxurious and festive. Golden sprinkled high heels. A silver dusted dress.

Remember, take your time this festive pause! If so inclined, meditate on the very beginning of Christmas. Let the message softly speak to you. Wherever, whenever. It doesn’t have to be in a church. Treat yourself to a non-food pleasure, too. Be careful about eating mindfully. Indulge, but just to the point where you still feel nicely full. If you are like most, and do overeat. Take it easy. Go out for a walk and wait as long as it takes for your hunger to step back in.

Sweet kind glamorous hugs to every lovely a cupcake! You shall be a part of my doings… dearly in my thoughts.

 

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