Be Inspired!

In Paris certain things – like sizes and smiles – are generally tiny. You have to fight for your place in the metro. With the suitable urban ‘ain’t gonna talk to ya’ face. Now that I am on the freer Canadian prairies, I have a sensation of breathing more easily. Even unknown folks smile at me, respond to my friendly face. I went ice-skating yesterday and made some contact with fellow skaters. Just by being positive-looking, and then going to chat to them.

I have always rebelled against the sulking face fashion modeling. Why would you have to look mean and wear black – I love it, but hey, all the time – to be respected. Yet this is what I often saw amongst fash’ folks in Paris at runway shows or store events. I claim vogue back to kind girls and boys. People with a sweet heart, along with a desire to enjoy lighter pleasures like glitzy clothes. Why couldn’t we be deep and not-that-much at the same time? Get our doctorate’s and know the latest hypes.

I got some useful career counsel yesterday. Now I have to adjust my resume, then start firing out applications. International relations and English teaching are what my mentor confirmed as my spots. If any writing opportunities should hop along the line, I wouldn’t refuse, but let’s keep first things first.

I got these faux fur boots. My first Canadian clothes’ crush. How cute is that. The vest just had to follow. The baby blue nails are reminding me to stay bubbly. Things do feel a lot bouncier than when I last posted. Your comments were just so heart-warming. I keep reading them over and over! Oh, and I do also have another crush… on Crush. It is like drinking down liquid marshmallows.

Have yourself a moment today – when you stop everything for a minute and just listen, feel and smell. Tell me how it made you feel!

Limité faux fur vest, Helsinki vintage top, Etam pants, Aldo shoes

Photos from the Old City, Quebec City

So here I am. I wanted this. Long planned for it. Yet it creeps on me a little by surprise. It is time to go to work. Yet I got none. So I have to stay confident. I have to hold back the tears. The doubts. The desire to restrict my eating – as in a quick mood fix. I have this battle going on inside of me. On the one face, I feel hopeful and embrace with bubbly excitement the new life that is opening up, on the other face, I would just want to go back to Paris, or somewhere, where I did have a role. And friends. Family not that far.

The two-foldedness of my reactions is very typical of me. There is this chick that pushes through thick and thin, and then another who starts asking all kinds of unnecessary questions. For most of us, waiting is painstaking. Everything and anything could happen, yet for the moment, you see nothing coming. The key is in reminding yourself of your true value. Stubbornly sticking to your decision to stay upbeat.

As I am writing this out, I am getting more stamina for the day. I will make it here in Canada. My professional place shall open up for me. I long for international relations, writing or art galleries… I will just do my best. That will be enough. The employer who truly sees my talents will hook me up. Marketing yourself when you are already feeling a bit brittle isn’t the easiest pieces of cake. But whoever said life was always going to whipped cream smooth.

My trick for the day – splash on a new nail polish. I’m contemplating bébé blue, in honor of the snowy Quebec City. Then work up an outfit from surprising elements. I need the shocker boost. Somehow in the process the sky seems rosier. This is how we roll. One glam step at a time. Little things adding up to a whole. From nail polish to work endeavors.

Do you fight the blues by these kinds of small strikes?

Art by Susu

I started blogging under Susu’s World in 2007 out of desire to share my Paris pictures and thoughts. In 2009, I needed a booster and changed my site into Susu Paris Chic, focusing on outfit posts. Now the 2-year cycle seems to prance on as upon my arrival in Canada, I wish to expand a dash. My blog shall be renamed to Be Inspired!

The new title domiciles my continued passion for fashion and frenzy to share my artwork, but I shall equally toss in themes like building healthy self-esteem and an eating disorder resistant body image (this chick is still recovering from anorexia), living a chic city life and finding your inspiration and happiness in the every day limbo.

I long to create a space where I can share things that help me to see this world from as much a positive place as possible. This starts with feeling good about myself. Then, the second step is in being able to exchange around these sweet and sometimes sorrowful things. Through leaving comments and visiting each others’ blogs we all grow and get precious mutual support.

We already have a cherished Kind-Chic-Friends-Club going on here. Faithful members include: Audrey, Ron, Kristin, LittleRus, Audrey Allure, Katz NYC, Cafe Fashionista, WendyB, Classiq, Ashley, Leesa, Aurelia, The Dandelion Girl, Dress Code: High Fashion, Zulema2, Ola, Sherin, SizzleandZoom,  Nera, Amy-jo Tatum/Bride Chic, Lily, Savvy Girl, Missy, Rita-Marie, Creativefashionglee, Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking, Margarita, Scott, Daisychain, Shin, Susie, Englishvers, Kira Fashion, StyleOnTheCouch… and lots of more sweet people that I cannot name all here! You all brighten up my days more than you maybe know. I read and reread your comments with utmost appreciation and thankfulness. I take nothing for granted.

Now I am inviting all new desiring to join, and bien sûr… of course, the old dear ones to stay! Be Inspired is a pink power inspirational booster. Finding and sharing whatever works so that we all, every single precious one, feel good in this life of ours. Spreading kindness. Creating a network of honesty and trust, sharing true life and true feelings.

The change on the blog will occur depending on Mr. French Right ‘s ability to give me a helping hand. (A hubs in the computer bizz does come in handy at times.)

I am cupcake-vanillamously-excited! Et toi… and you?