Friday 22 August 2014

Dubrovnik


Had such a great day in Dubrovinik! For some, this is also known as "King's Landing" from the HBO series GAME OF THRONES. Initially, my friend Felipe and I wanted to do the Game of Thrones Tour, where they show you the different scenes that were filmed here, but we were too late and the tour had already started. Instead we did our own tour and explored the city ourselves, casual as usual. I wore my ripped denim shorts and a low back halter, both from Aritzia; it seemed fitting because it was extremely hot. If I could, I would have worn nothing; the less material I had on, the better. 

 We started with the wall, walking through the whole perimeter, and my god, it took us about 2 hours from start to finish. With the sun's rays shining down on us, we had to at least take 3 water breaks! But it was so worth it. It was exciting because I was able to see where they filmed the series and trying to remember which season and what scene it was. This definitely made me want to watch all 4 seasons again from the beginning.  Walking around the city walls made feel like I was part of the show. Only wish I saw Mr. Jon Snow!  

Can you spot some ofthe locations they filmed?











See you soon!
xo Stephanie


Sunday 17 August 2014

Drizzled in Class with a Touch of Sass.


During my trip home one of my favourite events was Kathleen’s classy, decadent and fun tea party that she held in her new and humble abode. She did the most wonderful job decorating the table and giving a lovely presentation to the food. She prepared an amazing gluten free menu, served tapas style, and made a great Prosecco grapefruit cocktail for us to enjoy! It was so nice to see all the girls I grew up with: sharing our stories and catching up on the past year since last we were together. It is such a special group of friends, since no matter how far apart we may be, and no matter how long we haven’t spoken to each other, we just know that we can pick up right where we left off. The desserts were also delicious: home made marshmallows (which is the only way you should eat a marshmallow) and crème brulé, not to mention macaroons and lemon tarts -everything was just so delectable and yummy. I decided to pay homage to this lovely themed party in the cocktail dress I had designed and sewn in school, which I love wearing because it is retro in style with a twist of contemporary elegance.






 



Amazing afternoon with great friends, the hostess with the mostess, and delicious treats.

Ta Ta for now

xo Nicola


Sunday 3 August 2014

Moment By Moment We Create Our Life Adventures

Going to Cuba, I initially had low expectations after hearing people’s general comments about the island. I was therefore pleasantly surprised: staying in the beautiful 5 star hotel Iberostar, eating the yummy food at the buffet and lying by the warm, crystal clear ocean. Between the old-timer cars, the music that consumes you, and the laid-back charisma, the island had me at Mojito! Here are some more pics from my other island adventures...
  
We spent an afternoon visiting a Cuban farm, enjoying the warm family hospitality, eating fresh fruit off the trees, learning to make Mojitos, and dancing Salsa in the lush Cuban countryside... 

 Can you tell what type of tree this is ? 






Being of German heritage I could not miss out on the World Cup 2014! What a fun, boisterous and bonding experience it was to enjoy the games in the hotel sport’s bar with my family and a happy group of fans. We cheered on our team and celebrated their win when they became World Champions!! Deutschland!!






The beach was beautiful, sipping Mojitos by the ocean and tanning only as much as a German girl can... 


   
                                                                                    

These are the books I dove into while on vacation: something for every mood - Girl Boss when I was feeling ambitious, White Girl Problems for a light fun read, Cuba whilst exploring and reading up on its history, and The Great Gatsby for a delectable taste of the classics. 


Well, that was it from Cuba! I hope you enjoyed my posts that summarized this lovely 2 week discovery...

 See you back in Toronto... 
xo Nicola

Saturday 2 August 2014

"Live the full life of the mind,exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by the romance of the unusual" - Ernest Hemingway




Havana, Havana, oh what a magical place you are! On the Friday of our first week in Cuba, we decided to do the extra special supreme private tour of Havana. So at 8 am the van arrived to pick us up, and drive us the 2 and a half hours to Havana. Our tour guide Ernesto spoke perfect German and was very informative. We had two stops, both with amazing views: the first at the valley of the palm trees and the second overlooking Havana. Since I felt oh so inspired by the 50’s footprint everywhere, I could not help but dress the part. I decided to go for what I imagined Lucille Ball would wear on a walking tour of Havana, since she did meet her husband in Cuba. I feel I can relate so much to the show I love Lucy, since I am engaged to a man from Italy with a thick accent, who always shakes his head at one of my many crazy ideas. SO, channeling my inner Lucy, I went for a vintage day dress in cream with a turquoise bow, a white headscarf and of course large pearl earrings. And yes, even on a 12 hour day tour I always wear heels.




We walked through old Havana, saw the Capitol and all of Hemingway’s old hang outs, had a typical Cuban lunch and mojito, a daiquiri at Floridita and a pina colada across from the Hemingway hotel. We also visited the Havana Club museum, saw how cigars are made, took part in a so called Cuban marriage, and bought many, many cigars, because I had to get my love some Cohibas !! We then drove through the newer part of Havana and stopped at the Havana Libre hotel to change for dinner and the world famous Tropicana, where many people, celebrities, and Mafiosi have been before us.

                                                        
                                                     




How to enjoy a Cuban Marriage:
First you light your cigar, not by puffing on it, but by lighting and then twirling it in the air. Then you drink a strong Cuban espresso, take a sip of dark Cuban rum, swirling it in your mouth like mouthwash, before taking that first puff of your cigar, just as the rum slides or should I say burns down your throat. And that sensation is what they call a Cuban marriage: a recommendation to all, and even though I don’t smoke, it was very enjoyable.
           

   

It was a truly long, exciting, magical day, which allowed us a glimpse back in time with a hint of 2014. Experiencing this adventure with the whole family made this Havana adventure extra special! 
More cuban adventures to come... 

xo Nicola 



Fashion Is Instant Language - Prada