Month: December 2012

 

May this new yar bring only the best for each and everyone of you.  I wish the sun never stop shining everyday of your life and that God may guide your steps.  Thank you for your visits and your your comments.  I can’t wait for 2013 to start and see all our dreams materialized.  Happy New Year my loved ones!

images via here, here and this blog last year.

 

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“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”  Charles Dickens

 

 

Merry Christmas to everyone.  I hope this year is the year you accomplish each and every one of your dreams and plans.  I’ve been traveling with the family for the past week and haven’t been able to pay proper attention to the blog.  We’ll be traveling next week as well but, after that we’ll be back on regular schedule. 🙂 Until then enjoy every minute of your days.
xoxo,
Julie
Images from Vogue.

 

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I miss listening to the US Christmas song radio stations.  Every year, starting on Thanksgiving day there was no other music other than Holiday music played in my car.  My hubby used to go a bit nutty about it.  Luckily we have a good collection of Christmas songs in my iPhone playlist that is compensating my thirst.  Both, my hubby and I miss our families very much so this year we won’t be spending Christmas home, instead we’ll be spending it in Buenos Aires.  Hopefully that way the absence of our loved ones will have less impact in our moods and our Christmas tree will come back home next year.  Enjoy!

 

 

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I did this post last year and since so many people loved it as much as I did, that gives me an excellent excuse to post it again today.  If you are a frequent visitor of Belle Vivir, you should know by now my obsession with Christmas. As a matter of fact my Facebook bio for more than 6 years reads “In love with my family and Christmas” and that hasn’t changed a bit.  Enjoy!

I’ve never spent Christmas in Europe, yet.  Undoubtedly Christmas is warm and inviting everywhere but there is a certain special warmth in Europe during this time that it’s not found anywhere else.  Perhaps it’s because Santa Clause is in Northern Europe somewhere? and so the feeling of Christmas is more palpable?  Or, maybe it’s because of the way the homes are built, of solid stone and stucco that make the ambiance of Christmas feel cozier.  I definitely would like to spend Christmas in Europe one day and these images just make my wish stronger.

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Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 A spectacular shot of Fasano Boa Vista Hotel lit at night.

Most of the people think of beaches, sun, pretty women wearing sexy bikinis when they think of vacationing in Brazil.  In other words Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro.  Little do they know what they’re missing when they choose the beach over the countryside.  Two weekends ago we spent a weekend at Fasano Boa Vista, a country estate at merely one hour and 15 minutes outside of Sao Paulo and my amazement can’t be put into words but, I’ll try.  It’s without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in Brazil.  The stunning architecture, which perfectly blends with its site, was accomplished by the very renowned Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld.  It covers 100 acres of secured and preserved forest with 15 lakes, groves and gardens, 18-hole golf courses, a polo field, stables, tennis and soccer courts and a kids activity center.  The hotel also offers real estate inside the property and a lot of wealthy proprietors owned second or third “French-looking” homes there.  You can see the families relaxing among adults while their babas (nanies) spend time at the kids club where there is usually a lot of fun happening.   There were instances that while we were biking around its beautiful century-old trees-lined-uphill-boulevards I thought I was in Provence.  And if you don’t believe me then believe Hermes.  Yes, “In 2012, Boa Vista hosted the Hermès Cup, in association with the centenary French saddlery, marking the first time the organization has given its approval to an equestrian event outside of France.” Fasano Website

Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog

The entrance to the reception of the Hotel is just beautiful.  Couldn’t help to take a picture.

Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 The veranda was one of my favorite spaces of this place.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
The infinity swimming pool.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 Love this place for breakfast in the mornings. Below, how it looks.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 The decor has a very Scandinavian influence.
 One of the restaurants.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 The decor is minimal but so cozy you feel home as soon as you walk in the rooms.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 The view from the room.  All of the rooms have a beautiful view out to the country side.
 My hubby biking with our little one.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 Our little one at the stables.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
The Hotel has a huge and great selection of design books.
Fasano Boa Vista Hotel review via belle vivir blog
 Adorable ponies.
The swimming pool restaurant. Below, two of the beautiful homes.

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Nothing better than when we get to peak in into the lifestyles of stylish people.  It proves once more than a great sense of fashion doesn’t stand too far from a good sense of living.  Leave it to the Herrera family to show us that.  In the December/January issue of Harper’s Bazaar, you can get a good sneak peek into Patricia Herrera Lansing’s New York apartment.  It’s beautiful and cozy as equally elegant. But that shouldn’t take anyone by surprise, Patricia’s parents are the legendary fashion designer Carolina Herrera and Vanity Fair contributing editor Reinaldo Herrera.

Patricia Herrera Lansing's New York apartment, bedroom

The apartment was Patricia’s husband bachelor pad.  They gutted it and reworked it doing the spaces by color, according to Patricia.  ” I did it by color-a blue room and a green room and so on”  The result is a family friendly home with lots of good art.  “I think you have to have a place where your children can run around freely,” she says, and I agree.

Patricia Herrera Lansing's New York apartment, kids bedroom
A beautiful children’s room with started wall and blue walls.
Patricia Herrera Lansing's New York apartment, library
Built-in bookcases in the cozy library.

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