Wow - factor!!.....Accessories.

                              

My secret weapons for spring/summer 2012....... :-))

Donna.........


Do you ever wonder why certain girls get called "Fashionista" and they always seem to look good no matter what they wear? They might even have really simple outfits on...say a plain white T-shirt and blue jeans but yet it still comes off so stylish!! Well, well, you might think being a " Fashionista" has to do with having a large bank account that enables you to have an unlimited closet size or dressing up in the latest designer brand with a personal stylist at your disposal (like Paris Hilton or Kim Kardiasian). Well, then you are wrong dear  because in every woman lies a potential "Fashionista" just waiting to be awaken :-)).
You don´t need a closet full of designer items. Even in the most basic outfits you can also look a million dollar.  It is actually quite easy to be a well-dressed and stylish woman. The secret behind all these fabulous and stylish "Fashionista" lies in the art of accessorizing.  Yes, all you need to do is master this art :-)) The art of accessorizing is knowing how to take that cute but plain dress from nice to wow!!! Once you master the accessorizing game, you can say bye! bye to boring and plain Jane and welcome Miss Fashionista 2012 :-))

How to Accessorize....

Accessories are that touch of oomph every outfit needs. They are one of the secret weapons of a stylish woman :-) There are lots and lots of accessories out there....jewelry, belts ,hats, headbands, hair ornaments, scarves, handbags, sunglasses, shoes etc...

take that plain dress and transform it from Day time to.......

Accessorizing does help stretch your wardrobe and save you money too. You can easily wear one outfit (such as a dress) in a multitude of different ways and for a variety of occassions, by simply changing up a few accessories. When you are accessorizing an outfit you will want to pick out one or two main pieces that stand out. For example a chunky necklace and a matching cocktail ring or an oversize clutch with matching high heels.
The key to accessorizing is finding the right accesories that suit your lifestyle and most importantly your personality. Go for pieces you feel good wearing and remember don´t over do it...style is all about finding what works best for you and not what is necessarily in trend.

to Night time......one dress, many possibilities.

My favorite spring/summer accessories

When it comes to staying stylish there are two types of people, the Trendsetters and the Style sheep. I would say Trendsetters are unique, creative and not afraid to go against the norms in the fashion world. They feel comfortable being different from main stream and as a result a new trend is born... and a Style sheep is happy and comfortable with just following main stream fashion. I see myself in the first category :-)) I love being different from the rest :-))
Style for me is not about the price tag on an item or about the designer label attached to it. Stylish for me is about finding items one loves, mix-matching them and creating something unique that represents ones personality. A stylish woman for me is a unique woman with a distinct personality. I personally choose accessories that represent my life style and my personality. Every item in my collection has a story to tell....and my most valued accessories are those with the most personal stories behind them.
My favorite accessories for spring/summer are:

Jewelry: This is the most basic of the accessories and also the most common way that women accessorize....earrings, necklaces, bangles, bracelets, etc
I love large earrings.  They are a great way to add more life to a plain outfit and also draw attention to your face :-) To have an overview of my favorite earrings, i created a DIY earring-holder from a simple net fabric and i have it hanging inside my closet door. This way i dont always have to go through drawers and drawers of earrings just to find the perfect colour for the day :-))

my DIY earring holder

I adore chunky and long necklaces too.  I have a long neck so i love accessorizing with layered necklaces. I used to throw my necklaces in a drawer and they would get all tangled up(annoying!!!)....so i came up with the idea to use a cloth hanger and drape them on there. It works ok but i read somewhere a men´s tie hangar works better (i will look into that)

my fav necklaces for spring/summer

I like bracelets, my favorite bracelets are my charm bracelets. I also have a few cuff like bracelets.... but i love my bangles more and i love them layed too. I like them bold, vibrant and colourful and i also love the natural wooden bangles.

i luv to layer bangles.

i luv charm bracelets too :-))

I also love statement rings....colourful, oversized cocktail rings, etc :-)

my DIY ring holder :-))

I have 3 signature jewelry pieces that I always wear. They are like my second skin, without them i feel kind of naked :-)) i never leave the house without them....my wedding ring, my promise ring and the wedding ring of my beloved mother. (These are my lucky charms)....Whenever I accessorize, I grab this 3 items first and then i make sure everythingelse is flattering together.

My most valued accessories....behind each piece is a great story.  My lucky charms :-))

Scarves:Scarves belong to my all time favorites.  They are great all year round. If it's winter or fall go for the thick ones but for spring/summer choose a thin one. If you would like to wear multiple scarves, choose long thin ones because they would look better together than chunky ones. you can even tie one onto your handbag strap to add a fresh summery look or even use them as belts.

i luv scarves

i cannot do without these 2.....the animal in me :-)) Guess who got them for me????.....yep!!! Lucy :-)))

Sunglasses: they are a must-have for every fashionista :-)) They are not only pretty cool but also very helpful in protecting your eyes. I am not so much into sunglasses but i must say, they are a life saver especially for those mornings you have no time for a quick makeup :-))

Belts: belts are a cute way of accessorizing yourself. They can give the illusion of a slimmer silhouette. Play around with different sizes and colours.

Handbags and Clutches: An eye-catching handbag or clutch can transform any plain, boring outfit into an absolute statement outfit in just a minute :-)) For spring/summer i love candy coloured bags.  Bright and vibrant coloured bags give an outfit (especially neutral outfits like black, white..)  an immediate pop of colour. Clutches are a great alternative to handbags especially if you don´t want a bulky bag during the day. Clutches are a must for those formal evenings out. It is good to have a few handbags and clutches you can pick from for different occasions.

i love my candy coloured bags :-))

Accessorizing is great and fun too but you have to keep in mind that sometimes wearing precisely the WRONG accessory can destroy your outfit. Wearing something tacky and childish or overdoing it will only make your outfit look awful, rather than dressing it up and giving it that extra touch of sophistication we all long for. So don't get TOO excited with accessorizing. Keep everything in moderation. While at it remember the best accessory any woman should possess is definately self confidence… no matter how many chunky necklaces you pile on or how many rings you put on, you won’t look good until you believe you do look good… :-)) Also remember it´s all about your personality and not your clothes. Shine on and have fun!!!!

Uniquely You!

From the very beginning you are being told to compare yourself with others. This is the greatest disease; it is like a cancer that goes on destroying your very soul because each individual is unique, and comparison is not possible. I am just myself and you are just yourself. There is nobody else in the world you can be compared with.

~ Osho

Stay cool as always until we meet again........

from "Deutschland" with luv,

Nakutana

The Child in me..... :-))

"PuK".... The Museum of Puppet Culture in Bad Kreuznach

 The Museum of Puppet Theatre - "PuK" in Bad Kreuznach

Lucy..........

This past weekend we decided to spring about in the not so warm and rainy spring. Out we sprung to the museum of puppet culture in Bad Kreuznach, a modern museum with a theatre and puppet workshop on the former manor of Bangert.

arrival in Bad Kreuznach....i was so excited like a little girl :-))

Bad Kreuznach has set up a new, modern museum with a theatre and puppet workshop on the 1500 m² former manor of Bangert. The Museum of puppet theater in Bad Kreuznach, also called "PuK" invites parents and children to explore. About 660 square meters of exhibition space are available to explore. Familes can explore and enjoy Puppet Theater Culture from around the world.  Visitors can not only admire the artistic puppet theatre ensemble, they can also experience it live at festivals and regular puppet shows. This art form in its own right has something to offer to every age group: both the depth of the literary material and the design of the puppets, not to mention the virtuosity of the puppetry, hold audiences at the museum of puppet theatre spellbound.
This unique exhibition brings the history of puppet theatre to life. Over 2500 beautifully crafted figures make up the impressive collection, which aims to give visitors an insight into the art of puppetry with groups of puppets, scenery and motifs. It also provides a wealth of information on the artists behind the theatre: the puppet makers, pupeteers and theatre makers.

 human size puppets acting as Pupeteers

 
The exhibition ranges from the travelling theatres of the 19^th century to established puppet theatres and the television stars of the German puppet world Robbi, Tobbi, Bernd das Brot and Herr von Bödefeld. Visitors will discover a wealth of genres, characters and material for all ages. Alongside the permanent exhibition, the museum also has a series of temporary exhibitions for which it is now renowned.(source:Bad kreuznach tourism)

stars of the german puppet world ......

Robbi, Tobbi  und das Fliewatüt

Bernd das Brot (Bernd the bread)

During our visit there was a puppet show for children but our little one is too young to understand anything so we only stayed in the exhibition area. I must say though, seeing all these puppets and the playful atmosphere made me feel like i was a child all over again. It was a good feeling though to forget about the world outside for a while and just enjoy this fantasy world.:-))

The first puppets we saw at the entrance were the puppets for the L’opera dei Pupi (Sicilian Puppet theater) warriors.

 

and then the czech puppets

From then on it only got better, there is a range of travelling theatre puppets of the 19^th & 20^th century. We were also able to see how the Puppet theatre evolved from popular entertainment to the independent theatre genre as well as TV puppet theatre.

Below are some of the exhibits we saw .....

“Die Listige Barbara”- German marrionets 

Aladin

Aladin’s cave

my personal highlight was this lady in blue....a true afro beauty don´t you think? :-))

There is also a private theater ,for those who like it private.

TV star Captain Blue Bear

encounter with a charming witch :-)

the child in me did come alive :-))

After our tour of the museum , we took a walk in the park .. the "Schloß Park" right next door to the museum. Unfortunately for us the weather was just not condusive for a walk...

All the same it was worth our while.

going for a walk in the "Schloß Park"......castle park.

Hope you did have fun with me and this also brought out the child in you :-) Stay cool as always until we meet again.

click here for more photos of our adventures

from "Deutschland" with luv,

Nakutana

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Are you shoes (high heels) crazy ??

“A pair of shoes can change your life. Just ask Cinderella.” -Anonymous

Donna........


Women and shoes : a harmless obsession or a serious addiction?

What is it about us women and shoes (especially high heels)?It  must be genetically programmed from birth because i don´t have any other plausible explanation for this magnetic and irresistable attraction between me and a beautiful pair of heels :-)))

As far back as i can remember shoes(especially high heels) have always fascinated me. As a little girl (maybe 8 or 9 years old) i loved playing "dressing up" with items from my mama´s closet and the highlight was always trying on her shoes :-)) I still remember how thrilled and excited i was each time i sneaked myself into her shoe closet......i would secretly try on her high heels and dance infront of the mirrior...pretending to be a show girl in Las Vegas or a supermodel on a catwalk (Naomi being my favorite role) :-))) I still remember the details like it was yesterday. The most amazing part of it all is, i still remember clearly the first high heels i ever wore.....they were a snake-skin leather, forest green stilletos. A very classic design. They were my mama´s favorite and she wore them mostly on sunday for church :-) I even remember the name of the designer because she had quite a number of his shoes and accessories. It was the french designer Charles Jourdan. My mama loved his shoes :-)) Amazing, how each time i have these memories i still feel the thrill and excitement of wearing those heels for the very first time :-)) I believe on this day my obession for high heels began.

my first experience was with quite a similar heel :-))

Why are we so fascinated and captivated by them?? Why can´t i stop dreaming of that sexy pair i spotted on display during my last shopping tour? I have even bought shoes i know do not fit. Why? well let´s just say it was so hard for me to walk away without them:-)  Crazy i know but the love for shoes makes one does crazy things. I bet we women don´t have any problem telling lies when it comes to shoes.....i don´t know about you but i certainly have :-)) I have hidden new shoes and held off wearing them until months go by, then when i finally do and hubby goes like "new shoes??"...then i go nooooo, i have had them for months now, you just did not notice... yeah right:-)) I have peeled off price tags, flattened down shoe boxes or even left shoe boxes behind at the shop just to hide proof of a new purchase.

A girl can never have too many shoes!! :-)))

my favorite pairs of high heels.....:-))

my favorite spring/summer flats...as a mother of an energetic young man one needs a pair of flats for daily activities :-))

My most craziest and expensive buy(and hell no i won´t tell how much) was back in 2000 when i got my first job after college. I used up my first pay check for this pair of leopard print(pony hair) knee high boots. The crazy thing about this buy was, i could not even wear these boots because it never gets that cold in Cameroon(central africa) for boots :-)) hey, i just could not walk away after i saw them. So they were just sitting in my closet and waiting for the day they finally get their chance. In 2002, i moved to europe and they made the trip with me and finally got their chance to shine in my first winter ever :-))  I still love them today just like the first day i saw them. It was love at first sight :-)) Most of my shoes do have a story to tell and they also portray aspects of my personality.
There is some kind of bonding between women when it comes to shoes. On my last trip to africa, i felt immediately welcomed onboard and knew it was going to be a nice flight when the first thing the flight attendant said to me was "I love your shoes"....:-))  Sometimes i am in awe of these feelings a pair of shoes can achieve :-)

  "Shoes are like friends, they can support you, or take you down. "

 top on the list of my favorites :-).....it is not only bold and vibrant like i luv but very comfy due to a hidden platform . I can walk in these all day long if i want to:-))

at the airport on my last trip to africa......spot what i am wearing :-)))

it was luv at first sight :-))

Today, i cannot say for sure if my shoe habit is just a harmless obsession or already an addiction...there is a thin line between the two :-)) Well, last month was my birthday so i did allow myself a "little gift" to celebrate a new year and also a little motivation for my new challenge ahead (more to the challenge later on :-)). One of the thrills about buying new shoes(especially online), is that excitement you get when the post man rings the bell and he hands over your package..... opening the box and you meet your "new friend" for the very first time....ecstatic!!!  The shoe shop "Zalando" does have an advert that describes this feeling to perfection :-)))

 one of the thrills about buying new shoes is opening that box and meeting your "new friends":-))

a little something for the birthday girl... :-))

this was love at first sight. There is something about leopard prints i cannot resist. Maybe it´s just the animal in me :-))

My new love :-))

"Age shouldn't affect you. It's just like the size of your shoes - they don't determine how you live your life! You're either marvellous or you're boring, regardless of your age".
Steven Morrissey

i luv the classic and masculine nature of oxord shoes. They are my new all time favorite flat shoes :-))

If you ask my hubby what he thinks about my habit, he will definately say...already an addiction. He just can´t understand what else to call having more than 40 pairs of shoes :-)) Ok, i must be honest though, i think he is right. Nobody actually needs 40 pairs of shoes. The crazy part of it is, i do not wear all the shoes I buy and I even have a few pairs that never make it out of the box. I sometimes buy shoes on a whim.....i know some of you are thinking this is so vain and it´s all vanity.....do you think i don´t know this?? Of course i know it is vain and senseless to possess so many shoes than one truely needs. But i must admit though the pleasure of looking at a closet full of shoes is so thrilling and i wouldn´t want to give up this feeling completely....maybe someday but not now :-)) I have to do something about it though.

So lately i decided to clean up my act and face my " harmless obsession" or should i say my "addiction" before it gets completely out of control. I got busy in my closet and i cut down my collection to 30 pairs. It wasn´t an easy task letting go but i had to proof it to myself i am still in control. So i did let go of all the pairs i haven´t worn in 12 months. It was hard to say goodbye but it also felt good afterwards :-) So, today i am so proud to look at my resized shoe collection and the pieces that made it to my top 30 :-)))

 resized my shoe collection

my favorites for spring/summer.

I made a promise from now on never to go above 30 pairs of shoes. For every new pair, i must let go of an old one to keep this balance. Also i have given myself a "shoe shopping" ban for the next 6 months. Yes, this is the new challenge i mentioned at the beginning of this post. Officially my ban started on the 1st of April 2012. To motivate myself, in march i did my last shoe shopping for the spring/summer season 2012. As from this month, no new shoes until autumn/winter 2012.
I can admire them, try them on, fantazise about them but no taking them home to my closet!!!  This is a test to proof to myself i am in control. Lord help me!!! i don´t want to end up in shoe rehab......i have to pass this test. I am going to pass this test. :-))

Well with that said and done, i will just sit back, relax and just admire all the beauties that will be coming up this spring/summer season. Remember, i can admire, try them on and fantazise about owning them.....not bad after all :-).

"If loving shoes is wrong, I don’t want to be right". 

Do you know what the shoe trends are this spring/summer 2012???  Any shoe plans on your agenda?? What will you be wearing ??  Why don´t you join me next week to find out more on.... "finding the perfect heels and the trends for spring/summer 2012".

So what about you?? Is your shoe habit just a harmless obsession or aleady an addiction. Do you still have things under control or is it time to stop and reconsider. I would love to hear your own shoes story. Why not join me in our "ladies corner" for a confession session :-))

the most important shoe in my collection...."My wedding shoes"

i love the story they tell :-))

For our female readers and friends, we have created a ladies corner "Meet and Chat" on facebook. Click here to read more about this. Stay cool as always until we meet again.



click here for more photos....

from "Deutschland" with luv,

Nakutana