Month: October 2017

09Oct

5 Favorites of Belle Vivir: October Edition

5 favorites, the story of us

Morgan Freeman’s voice is so powerful and full of knowledge that if he tells me I can live forever, I would say, yes sir.  I would believe anything he says without any hesitancy or question… so of course, I’m going to watch his new documentary The Story of Us, coming out on October 11th…on National Geographic.  In the documentary, Morgan Freeman travels the globe talking to regular fellows in an attempt to answer one fundamental question for humanity: what are the common forces that bind us together?  See the trailer here.

5 favorites, maison louis marie

I recently spent a weekend in Detroit, Michigan and while visiting one of the stores in the city I discovered Maison Louis Marie.  A fragrance line formulated in Downtown LA but with a history rooted in France.  Its founder, Marie du Petit Thouars is a descendant of the pioneering French botanist Louis Marie Aubert du Petit Thouars.  I’m glad the store had run out of the line’s best seller perfume because it pointed me to Maison Louis Marie No. 02. Le Long Fond- perfume oil.  It’s a roll-on perfume oil with the perfect fragrance, clean and organic…not sweet.  “This scent is a savory mixture of hinoki wood accord underlined by notes of cedar wood and patchouli with a strong amber character.”

5 favorites, RXBAR

RXBAR protein bar.  This may need some acquired taste unless you enjoy chewy stuff as I do.  I love this snack because it’s low in calorie and ingredients and very tasty.  The only-4-ingredients are listed right in the front package.  It’s perfect to keep it in your bag for when hunger dreads you.

5 favorites, pecan pumpkin butter I’m always looking for pecan or pumpkin-flavored-everything during this season, you know, for when Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is not enough.  So I was happy when I walked into Williams Sonoma a couple of weeks ago and found Pecan Pumpkin Butter.  The consistency is not really buttery, it is more like a jam, and I like to eat it like a dessert by itself rather than with bread.  I think I appreciate the flavor better like that.  But either way, this is so delicious you’ll be yearning for more.  Especially if you put it on ice cream…

belle vivir favorites zara multiposition knit scarf

Zara Multiposition Knit Scarf is a beautiful item to have now in fall.  They are still coming to the site, but you can sign up to get the date of its availability.  

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06Oct

Diana: A Style Icon: The People’s Princess

It may sound so trivial to call Princess Diana a Style Icon when you compare that to her most significant legacy, which in the opinion of many, was one of kindness, true love, compassion, tolerance and sacrifice.  Above all she was a great mother and her devotion and love for her children and personal suffering may have set the course for the more relaxed and down to earth royal family atmosphere today.  I remember my mom telling me how much she was criticized during Prince William’s Christening for comforting her son by letting him suckle her pinky finger.  Yes, the world can be that ridiculous sometimes… I still remember the shocking feeling the night Diana died and I how that year we lost so many luminary figures that were a source of great light, Mother Teresa, Gianni Versace, Willem De Kooning and others.  Some people believe that when great people die they become stars that shine upon this earth in difficult moments.  I just hope that is not the case because judging by these dark days, that would mean losing a lot of the good ones.  And we can’t afford that right now.

Princess diana a stile icon

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04Oct

Mid-Week Reflection

“I want any young men who buy a gun to be treated like young women who seek an abortion. Think about it: a mandatory 48-hours waiting period, written permission from a parent or a judge, a note from a doctor proving that he understands what he is about to do, time spent watching a video on individual and mass murders, traveling hundreds of miles at his own expense to the nearest gun shop, and walking through protestors holding photos of loved ones killed by guns, protestor who call him a murderer. After all, it makes more sense to do this for young men seeking guns than for young women seeking an abortion. No young woman needing reproductive freedom has ever murdered a roomful of strangers.” Gloria Steinen

 

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03Oct

The Glamorous Bathrooms of Steven Gambrel

If you think that bathroom renovation is an expensive task wait until you see the details of these glamorous bathrooms of Steven Gambrel.  You may or not know that Grambrel is a trained Architect and the founder of S.R Gambrel, so it’s understandable that the level of detail found in his Interior Design body is as exquisite as it can be.  His skilled eye for architectural enhancement is found in every one of his designs.  No DIY here.  Judging by these bathrooms everything in them is custom, unique and executed by professionals.  Steven’s interior design borders in the perfect line of masculinity and family living with some restraint and lots of elegance.  The same design elements are found in the bathrooms Gambrel designs.  Walls are wrapped in unique exotic marble; vanities are usually framed in the same marble, even moldings and crown moldings are custom designed in marble.  This latter especially is quite expensive to get done.  Not only are these bathrooms glamorous and elegant but they are also functional with a utilitarian layout, a good source of lighting and the right amount of storage.  In other words, these elegant bathrooms don’t sacrifice utility for pure vanity.  Of course one of the characteristics of Steven Gambrel’s design firm is his selection of color which are usually not cheesy but instead rather a palette that is tasteful and constrained.  You can see more of Gambrel’s beautiful restored homes in Sag Harbor, New York.  If you like me love Gambrel’s design, but you happen to have $9M to spare, you can buy Steven Gambrel’s West Village townhouse which just came on the market.

glamorous bathroom Steven Gambrel -shelves

As you can see in this bathroom, the selection of materials is unique and the construction of all the moldings in marble, including the niche with shelves is not only elegant but also succulent. Image via Elle Decor

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02Oct

Cultural Events: Fashion Exhibitions Around the World

I can’t believe October is here already and we are still experiencing warm days… Just last week we had days with temperatures in the 90’s… Although this weekend the fall weather is catching up with us.  I rather that to global warming… As it’s the norm in the cultural world, the colder the days the more museums exhibitions there are.  So this month is pretty booked with exhibitions especially Fashion ones.  Please read on…

Paris

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent  From Oct. 3rd – Sept. 9, 2018

yves saint laurent museum in paris

The Musse Yves Saint Laurent  Paris will open in an elegant 19th Century mansion in the city of light on October 3.  The Musse Yves Saint Laurent Marrakesh will follow soon this month…  The planning, design and execution of both museums took more than a decade.  The museum in Paris will exhibit Mr. Saint Laurent’s couture, including iconic pieces as the 1965 Mondrian dress and many other legendary pieces.  The fabulous Interior Designer Jacques Grange partnered the renowned exhibition-set designer Nathalie Crinière to refresh the decor of the galleries.  Jacques Grange had decorated the couture house in the 1980s.

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