By Ines Subashka, personal trainer and certified nutritionist:
1. No excuses!
People in business know that when you look for opportunities, you find them. To be successful, you have to stop thinking why you can’t or have no time.
2. Schedule your exact days and times to take exercise
Take it as an hour’s work and don’t arrange any appointments during this time.
3. Start with breakfast - prepare yourself something healthy at home, for example a healthy pancake, oatmeal with yoghurt, nuts and fruit; or eggs with avocado and vegetables.
4. Moving includes more than just training - climb the stairs and every two hours if you are sitting, straighten and move - stretch, do a few lunges and a few squats.
5. Do not miss out an afternoon snack. It will give you energy and will help you not to starve. Take a box of cottage cheese, fruit and some nuts; a protein shake, or a spoon of tahana and blueberries.
6. Do not stay too late on the computer - spend the last hour before bedtime away from the screen. This will help you fall asleep and it has a positive effect on the release of hormones.
7. Park 10-15 minutes from where you need to be and walk the rest.
8. Use your lunch break to get out in the sunlight, do not spend the whole day in the office.
9. When you eat out choose non processed foods where possible.
10. Train your whole body, not muscle groups - you will get a better hormonal response and you will have a great return in a short time.
Look out for more healthy living tips from Ines in the next issue of ‘Elysium’
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"At the age of 27 he became the most popular person in Bulgaria. Now he is 75 but he continues to be that same person! As we walked through his memories, I wondered how such popularity was retained. What has happened over the years with this beloved artist, a liked man, a consistent politician and a generous professor? Standing face to face with your memories is a privilege of the brave. To arrange the puzzle of meetings, feelings, worries, success, disappointments ... and loneliness is an effort. It’s an effort of the heart and the soul. I envy Stefan Danailov for the ease with which he passes through the vulnerability of time. This book is a confession of love for the audience. It is the novel of his life!"
This is how the journalist and producer Georgi Toshev presents his work as a co-author of the long-awaited biography of the great Bulgarian actor Stefan Danailov. The book came out on the Bulgarian book market on the eve of its 75th anniversary.
We doubt that there is a Bulgarian who does not know Stefan Danailov - the beautiful charismatic Bulgarian actor. On December 9, 2017, over 800 people applauded the birthday artist in the big hall of the National Theater "Ivan Vazov". Among the guests in the audience were Presidents Rumen Radev, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Yordanka Fandakova - Mayor of Sofia, Tsvetka Karayancheva - President of Parliament, countless representatives of state power, colleagues, admirers. A pleiad of actors was the first to congratulate the Mr.Danailov. His students exploded in joyous choir singing of "Happy Birthday, Master!", which made the actor stand up as a sign of appreciation. For the first time at his jubilee, Stefan Danailov preferred to not be on the stage but to sit in the audience, which, as he explains, always supported and loved him. Decorating the event were the alternating video sequences with scenes from films such as "Ah, these women", "Traces remain", "Ivan Kondarev" and others that reminded of the amazing career of the actor, and various excerpts from the book "The novel of my life", which were read by Marian Marinov, Bashar Rahal, Ivan Bernev and Vladislav Karamfilov-Vurgala and others. At the end, a special greeting was the song by Tom Jones Sex Bomb performed by Darin Angelov and Deyan Angelov - a kind of hymn to all Danailov's graduates, who, during the years of training, were motivated by his teacher to be successful and self-confident on the stage.
Minister Banov awarded Professor Stefan Danailov with the ‘’Order of the Golden Age’’ of the Ministry of Culture for a full contribution in the field of cinema, theater and culture.
The last word in the emotional show, of course, was of the the man of the night Stefan Danailov:
"I've always treated with love the people who have applauded me on stagе, who have applauded me at a rally. I have done it from my heart and not because someone has made me do it. Thank you! "(...)" Most of all, thanks to all of you who contributed to my life so he can be what Is it today when I am 75 years old, although I say I am 750. Hey people, I have lived a lot! I've seen a lot! I've eaten a lot, I've drunk a lot."
"And as New Year arrives, I want to wish you to be well, healthy and smiling! Smile, people, is very important."
It is almost sure that the most popular and beloved actor Stefan Danailov wasn’t able to open all of his presents, but he certainly made the most appropriate reverance to his audience by offering the people in the theatre the beautiful edition of ‘’The novel of my life’’, co-authored with Georgi Toshev.
The end of the spectacle in the National theatre Ivan Vazov can be seen here.
Photo credit: Asen Tonev
This is how the journalist and producer Georgi Toshev presents his work as a co-author of the long-awaited biography of the great Bulgarian actor Stefan Danailov. The book came out on the Bulgarian book market on the eve of its 75th anniversary.
We doubt that there is a Bulgarian who does not know Stefan Danailov - the beautiful charismatic Bulgarian actor. On December 9, 2017, over 800 people applauded the birthday artist in the big hall of the National Theater "Ivan Vazov". Among the guests in the audience were Presidents Rumen Radev, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Yordanka Fandakova - Mayor of Sofia, Tsvetka Karayancheva - President of Parliament, countless representatives of state power, colleagues, admirers. A pleiad of actors was the first to congratulate the Mr.Danailov. His students exploded in joyous choir singing of "Happy Birthday, Master!", which made the actor stand up as a sign of appreciation. For the first time at his jubilee, Stefan Danailov preferred to not be on the stage but to sit in the audience, which, as he explains, always supported and loved him. Decorating the event were the alternating video sequences with scenes from films such as "Ah, these women", "Traces remain", "Ivan Kondarev" and others that reminded of the amazing career of the actor, and various excerpts from the book "The novel of my life", which were read by Marian Marinov, Bashar Rahal, Ivan Bernev and Vladislav Karamfilov-Vurgala and others. At the end, a special greeting was the song by Tom Jones Sex Bomb performed by Darin Angelov and Deyan Angelov - a kind of hymn to all Danailov's graduates, who, during the years of training, were motivated by his teacher to be successful and self-confident on the stage.
Minister Banov awarded Professor Stefan Danailov with the ‘’Order of the Golden Age’’ of the Ministry of Culture for a full contribution in the field of cinema, theater and culture.
The last word in the emotional show, of course, was of the the man of the night Stefan Danailov:
"I've always treated with love the people who have applauded me on stagе, who have applauded me at a rally. I have done it from my heart and not because someone has made me do it. Thank you! "(...)" Most of all, thanks to all of you who contributed to my life so he can be what Is it today when I am 75 years old, although I say I am 750. Hey people, I have lived a lot! I've seen a lot! I've eaten a lot, I've drunk a lot."
"And as New Year arrives, I want to wish you to be well, healthy and smiling! Smile, people, is very important."
It is almost sure that the most popular and beloved actor Stefan Danailov wasn’t able to open all of his presents, but he certainly made the most appropriate reverance to his audience by offering the people in the theatre the beautiful edition of ‘’The novel of my life’’, co-authored with Georgi Toshev.
The end of the spectacle in the National theatre Ivan Vazov can be seen here.
Photo credit: Asen Tonev
In 1745 the Irish ship captain Richard Hennessy, a fleet officer of the French king Louis V, discovered the region of Charente and the city of Cognac during battle. Enchanted by the beautiful French countryside, he chose this spot to create Hennessy 20 years later. He was known to have shared that it was only thanks to his family's acquaintances and to the contacts he has made during his travels around the world, that the Hennessy cognac could reached hundreds of points worldwide so fast.
This is the power and importance of the network of contacts - as rated 3 centuries ago.
[gallery ids="378,424" type="rectangular"]
The facts speak for themselves. Hennessy became a supplier of cognac to aristocratic and royal homes in Europe, including the French King, the Russian King Alexander I, the English King George IV, and so on. The first quantities of cognac for the United States left in 1794, after which the drink reached shores of India, Russia, South America, Australia, China and Japan. By 1860, a quarter of all cognacs in the world bore the name of Hennessy. By 1865 Richard Hennessy's cognac had reached all continents.
In 1813, Richard's son James gave the company the name it still bears today: Jas Hennessy & Co. Since 1765 and to this day, eight generations of the family have maintained and developed the brand, unsurpassable quality and prestige of the alcoholic beverage. To ensure its sustainability, in 1971 Hennessy united with Moët & Chandon, setting up the Moët Hennessy group. This led to a massive development and a doubling of sales over the next 15 years. In 1987, the brand joined in alliance with Louis Vuitton, launching LVMH - the most significant French luxury group.
Behind this story are hidden many years of tradition, the life work of entire families, and a passion for maintaining the highest quality of drink. This can be traced "live" if you visit the Hennessy headquarters in Cognac - the only place in the world where cognac is made. Visits are organised to the cellars and the Hennessy Space. Located in the company's oldest cellars, where wood-beamed ceilings and blackened walls testify to long years of existence, this space offers an interactive walk through the company’s history, as well as information about the whole process of the creation of the fragrant amber drink. Hennessy’s guests also have the chance to visit a small contemporary art gallery, as well as an elegant boutique. The visit of Hennessy ends with a professional tasting that completes the magic of a world where traditions dominate for more than three centuries ... And no doubt - finding out all its intricate details may leave you in dismay.
The cognac goes a long way from the vine to the consumer. Only white grapes of the variety Ugni Blanc - aromatic and especially adapted for distillation - are used for its production. In order to ensure the exclusivity of its flavours, Hennessy grows grapes in 4 protected and controlled regions: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies et Fins Bois, spread over 600 hectares of vineyards and more than 2,500 vine growers. Following double distillation in copper vessels, largely identical to the first ones of three centuries ago, the cognac is stored in oak barrels. To date, they are still made by hand and their master is one of the most revered workers in the company. He himself comes from the family who has been responsible for this task for over a hundred years. The master personally selects the most suitable among the two-eyed oaks - mostly in the French forest Tronçais, sown for the needs of the Louis XIV fleet. Of course, the company plants new trees for each one they cut down. The planks of these oaks are then dried for three years. Then the boards are split and tightened with metallic hoops by hand. The whole process hasn't changed for centuries. No machines, no modern technology. Ropes of special fabric wrap the barrels - if there are parasites that can attack the barrels, they will first appear on those ropes. In the barrels, the smell of cognac is enough to leave you dazzled - you do not even need to drink.
[gallery ids="382,383" type="rectangular"]
Over 300,000 barrels of brandy are kept in Hennessy's reserves. Each year, from April to September, every day at exactly 11 am, a committee of seven tasters tests each vintage that matures in the oak barrels and decides how to sort every one of them. Those which are ripening go to glass-faced decanters (dames-jeannes), dressed in a knit wicker, so that no light can penetrate and damage the drink. The oldest ones have kept cognac since 1800. This is Hennessy's gold, it's kept under lock.
[gallery ids="387,388" type="rectangular"]
Masters of the tasting group are Hennessy`s successor (currently a seventh generation Hennessy, who will hand over the baton to his nephew - the 8th generation, in June 2018) and Maître Yann Fillioux - responsible for the development and ageing of the drink. Six generations of the family, since 1802, have had the most responsible task, the one of preserving the style, taste and quality of production. These are the people who make the 'assemblage' (blends). In time, the crops change in taste. The unique task is to combine different age beverages, to always achieve the same taste and quality of each blend: VS (Very Special), XO (eXtra Old), Hennessy Paradis in the famous bottle-carafe X. Oh, Paradis Impérial (19th-century cognac assemblage), Richard Hennessy, named after its creator. It has gathered 250 years of knowledge and it’s placed in crystal decanters, each with its own number and a price tag of over EUR 3000.
[gallery ids="420,421,419,393" type="square" columns="2"]
An absolute leader in cognac trade, today Hennessy is sold in over 130 countries around the world. Annually, more than 50 million bottles reach different corners of the planet and enchant with the flavour the precious drink. According to the company's statistics, due to the specifics of the product and its production, almost 6 million bottles of cognac evaporate every year. What a loss for the connoisseurs of this amber treasure! But, as traditions dictate, this is the risk of preserving quality.
Text and photos by Aneta Nedyalkova
Cover photo by Yulia Belousova
This is the power and importance of the network of contacts - as rated 3 centuries ago.
[gallery ids="378,424" type="rectangular"]
The facts speak for themselves. Hennessy became a supplier of cognac to aristocratic and royal homes in Europe, including the French King, the Russian King Alexander I, the English King George IV, and so on. The first quantities of cognac for the United States left in 1794, after which the drink reached shores of India, Russia, South America, Australia, China and Japan. By 1860, a quarter of all cognacs in the world bore the name of Hennessy. By 1865 Richard Hennessy's cognac had reached all continents.
In 1813, Richard's son James gave the company the name it still bears today: Jas Hennessy & Co. Since 1765 and to this day, eight generations of the family have maintained and developed the brand, unsurpassable quality and prestige of the alcoholic beverage. To ensure its sustainability, in 1971 Hennessy united with Moët & Chandon, setting up the Moët Hennessy group. This led to a massive development and a doubling of sales over the next 15 years. In 1987, the brand joined in alliance with Louis Vuitton, launching LVMH - the most significant French luxury group.
Behind this story are hidden many years of tradition, the life work of entire families, and a passion for maintaining the highest quality of drink. This can be traced "live" if you visit the Hennessy headquarters in Cognac - the only place in the world where cognac is made. Visits are organised to the cellars and the Hennessy Space. Located in the company's oldest cellars, where wood-beamed ceilings and blackened walls testify to long years of existence, this space offers an interactive walk through the company’s history, as well as information about the whole process of the creation of the fragrant amber drink. Hennessy’s guests also have the chance to visit a small contemporary art gallery, as well as an elegant boutique. The visit of Hennessy ends with a professional tasting that completes the magic of a world where traditions dominate for more than three centuries ... And no doubt - finding out all its intricate details may leave you in dismay.
Photo credit: Dmitrij Rodionov
The cognac goes a long way from the vine to the consumer. Only white grapes of the variety Ugni Blanc - aromatic and especially adapted for distillation - are used for its production. In order to ensure the exclusivity of its flavours, Hennessy grows grapes in 4 protected and controlled regions: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies et Fins Bois, spread over 600 hectares of vineyards and more than 2,500 vine growers. Following double distillation in copper vessels, largely identical to the first ones of three centuries ago, the cognac is stored in oak barrels. To date, they are still made by hand and their master is one of the most revered workers in the company. He himself comes from the family who has been responsible for this task for over a hundred years. The master personally selects the most suitable among the two-eyed oaks - mostly in the French forest Tronçais, sown for the needs of the Louis XIV fleet. Of course, the company plants new trees for each one they cut down. The planks of these oaks are then dried for three years. Then the boards are split and tightened with metallic hoops by hand. The whole process hasn't changed for centuries. No machines, no modern technology. Ropes of special fabric wrap the barrels - if there are parasites that can attack the barrels, they will first appear on those ropes. In the barrels, the smell of cognac is enough to leave you dazzled - you do not even need to drink.
[gallery ids="382,383" type="rectangular"]
Over 300,000 barrels of brandy are kept in Hennessy's reserves. Each year, from April to September, every day at exactly 11 am, a committee of seven tasters tests each vintage that matures in the oak barrels and decides how to sort every one of them. Those which are ripening go to glass-faced decanters (dames-jeannes), dressed in a knit wicker, so that no light can penetrate and damage the drink. The oldest ones have kept cognac since 1800. This is Hennessy's gold, it's kept under lock.
[gallery ids="387,388" type="rectangular"]
Masters of the tasting group are Hennessy`s successor (currently a seventh generation Hennessy, who will hand over the baton to his nephew - the 8th generation, in June 2018) and Maître Yann Fillioux - responsible for the development and ageing of the drink. Six generations of the family, since 1802, have had the most responsible task, the one of preserving the style, taste and quality of production. These are the people who make the 'assemblage' (blends). In time, the crops change in taste. The unique task is to combine different age beverages, to always achieve the same taste and quality of each blend: VS (Very Special), XO (eXtra Old), Hennessy Paradis in the famous bottle-carafe X. Oh, Paradis Impérial (19th-century cognac assemblage), Richard Hennessy, named after its creator. It has gathered 250 years of knowledge and it’s placed in crystal decanters, each with its own number and a price tag of over EUR 3000.
[gallery ids="420,421,419,393" type="square" columns="2"]
An absolute leader in cognac trade, today Hennessy is sold in over 130 countries around the world. Annually, more than 50 million bottles reach different corners of the planet and enchant with the flavour the precious drink. According to the company's statistics, due to the specifics of the product and its production, almost 6 million bottles of cognac evaporate every year. What a loss for the connoisseurs of this amber treasure! But, as traditions dictate, this is the risk of preserving quality.
Text and photos by Aneta Nedyalkova
Cover photo by Yulia Belousova
Today we present you with this delightfully delicious interview with our lovely friend and beauty blogger Yael Beck Nada.
Yael is: Married and a mother of two . Beauty obsessed . Norwegian born . Lives in Israel…
Please, tell us a bit more about yourself, Yael.
I was born and grew up in Norway, but moved to Israel by myself at age eighteen, straight after finishing high school. I have lived here in Israel more or less ever since, with the exception of studying for my master degree in Norway and working in Miami, Florida for a while.
What role does beauty play in your life?
I suppose I was a bit of a tomboy as a young girl and didn’t really take much interest in how I looked. Today, however, I am quite beauty obsessed. I thoroughly enjoy my beauty rituals, simple as they may be. They allow me to rewind and, as a mother of two small toddlers, these are often the only times in the day that I manage to relax completely and and tune into my own needs. It frames my day, in a sense, as it is one of the first things that I do when I wake up and one of the last things that I do before I go to bed (when things go according to plan, that is!).
I love testing new products both within skincare and cosmetics and tend to switch things up quite a bit. However, with limited time for self care it is always good to have an idea of what works well for one’s skin and to what products can always be trusted to deliver. A major plus in my book is if they are also easy to get hold of.
Do you have any childhood beauty memories that stand out?
I remember vividly watching my mother in the bathroom as she was leaning towards the mirror, applying her typical ‘80s light blue, frosted eyeshadow. Those were times when all I cared about in this world was playing football outside with my brothers and our friends. I don’t think I had much of a concept of how I looked those days at all. I remember wrinkling my nose as I asked her why she was putting that stuff on her face. She said she did it because she liked it. When I still wasn’t convinced about the soundness of that, she said that some day I would understand. Words of truth, these days I think I must drive her nuts at times, with all my beauty talk!
I also remember how my journalist father would bring my mother and me Ahava moisturizers back whenever he went to Israel to report back home about the situation in the Middle East. I thought those creams were sooo good. However, I got the ultimate proof of having entered womanhood (at least in my own eyes) when he at some point bought me what I think must have been quite an expensive “adult” Oriflame cream and [drum whirl…] my first lipstick! I was in heaven. In retrospect, that dark, brownish red lipstick must have been way too intense on my young innocent self, but that didn’t matter as it made me feel like a real lady while I was wearing it up in my room. I remember daydreaming that the guy I was into would see my like that in real life and 💖 (how could he possibly help himself?) 💖 fall head over heels in love with me...
What are your skincare routines these days?
In the morning, I usually just splash some cold water in my face and apply a few squirts of a calming and moisturizing SebaCalm serum for sensitive skin. It seems to soothe my skin (I tell myself that it reduces the appearance of zits as well, because why not?) and I like the feel of it. After that, I put on whatever moisturizer I have at hand (usually the same night cream that I applied the evening before), a rosehip seed oil if I have one at hand and then I finish up with a solid SPF. As a born and bred Scandinavian living in sunny Israel, sun protection is key. Once a week or so I try to use an exfoliator and then follow up with some moisturizing face mask.
Do you think having grown up in Norway has affected your approach to beauty and perhaps also your fashion style in some way?
When I grew up in Norway, girls and women would usually take most of their self care into their own hands. I am talking about things such as manicures, hair removal, eyebrows, facials, hair coloring, etc. I am not sure to what degree this is still the case in Norway these days, but in Israel today I think it is quite common for girls and women to have cosmeticians who perform at least some of these services. I still like to take care of stuff on my own, with the occasional exception before special events, such as my wedding. Often, Israelis seem surprised when they hear this.
I also think Norwegians in general have a very healthy and active lifestyle, with lots of outdoors activities. Hence, I often think of a healthy and strong body and natural, glowy look as a beautiful one and talks of diets, calories and thinness are less appealing to me. I am also into the Scandinavian fashion sense (minimalist, comfortable and effortless, functional, high quality fabrics…), although I also need it to be feminine, and sexy (which I think Israeli women are quite good at). I guess I want the best of both worlds?
Are there any beauty products that you miss from Norway?
Not really. If there’s the occasional Oil of Olay product or something that I’d like then I can always buy it online. What I do wish we had in Israel, and which I enjoyed very much while I was in Miami, was chains such as Sephora, CVS, Ulta and Whole Foods [long sigh!].
What is currently on your beauty wish list?
That list is terribly long and might be enough for a few good years of shopping! But a few things in particular come to mind. Skin care wise, I would like to get my hands on a good vitamin C serum, which might help to brighten some dark spots that I got blessed with during my pregnancies. I would also like to try The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid; some reputed Kiehl’s products, such as their Midnight Recovery Concentrate and the list just honestly goes on and on. I am still breastfeeding, so I am careful with what I put on my skin these days. When I first got pregnant, I learnt to appreciate focusing on active ingredients (specifically, those not harmful to the fetus) when choosing my skin care products and worry less about brands, packaging, etc. It is the inside that counts for me when it comes to skincare (although I do appreciate tasteful and delicate packaging, but that’s merely a bonus)!
When it comes to makeup, there’s MAC’s Hot Tahiti which I think is the most flattering - as well as the most sheer (and hence effortless) - red lipstick for me and their strobe cream; the epic Dior Addict Lip Glow; the whole range of the Glossier products [I am eagerly awaiting the day when they will start doing international shipping]; I would like to try Chanel’s Illusion D’Ombre and I’d really like to try out Bobbi Brown’s foundation stick (any stick product speaks to me, as I like things to be effortless and quick!).
What do you do with your hair?
I am very low maintenance when it comes to my hair. I basically wash it with whatever shampoo I am using at that moment, maybe twice a week, and then use Batiste dry shampoo according to need. I do not own a conditioner. I am crap with styling (or rather, I do not know how to style hair whatsoever), which is luckily a non-issue now that my hair is short. With all the hair loss that followed the pregnancies, it just felt good to “start over”, with healthy and short hair. Now, I just let it air dry and brush it when it’s almost dry. Beyond this, I tend to get highlights and cut, maybe once or twice a year and that’s it for hair care.
What’s in your makeup bag?
There’s my Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara (in black), because I am allergic to most mascaras and Clinique works well in that sense. Then there’s Maybelline’s Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow in “Creamy Beige” (not sure if this is the same one as the “Tough as Taupe” one on the website?), which is a great neutral just-smear-it-all-over-my-lids (and, in the case of my hooded eyes, also a bit above!) shade. I also have MAC’s pro-longwear paint pot in “Painterly” which I often use as an eyeshadow base, or just on its own - and it double duties as a concealer whenever I wish to cover something up. I prefer to wear warm brown colors on my eyes, as they usually make my eye color pop the most. I use MAC’s “Coquette” eyeshadow to fill in my brows (that’s what you get for growing up in the ‘90s when the use of pinsette was rivaled only by the toothbrush … - if there’s one beauty advice I’d like to pass on to my daugther, it would be not to touch her eyebrows...) and set them with Maybelline’s “BROWdrama” in the shade Dark Blond. For my lips, I have a lip liner by a German natural cosmetics company called “Alverde” in the shade “Pretty Mauve”, which I use both as a liner and to fill in with after applying some lip balm. One my cheeks these days I wear MAC’s Mineralize Blush in “New Romance”, a Lumi Magique highlighting pen from L’Oreal (I am not into contouring, but love experimenting with highlighting) and a Physicians Formula Nude Wear Touch of Glow Foundation in the light shade, which I am very happy with but hardly wear at all (I think I need a stick foundation if I am to be bothered with wearing foundation on the regular).
What makeup do you wear when you go out?
This question makes me want to both cry and laugh at the same time. Let’s just say that the chances of running into me at some bar anywhere these days are rather slim. If I do go out go to a special event, I tend to wear pretty much the same makeup as usual, perhaps with the addition of some eyeliner (kohl and never liquid, as I don’t like any harsh lines) or perhaps instead a bright shade of lipstick (I tend to gravitate towards plum shades, but also like pinks and reds). I love lipsticks in general, they make such a difference and just thinking of them make me happy! I usually choose my lipstick colors according to the season and/or my outfit.
What’s on your nails?
Right now, I am wearing a really nice petrol blue shade called “Denim Dream” by an Israeli cosmetics company called GA-DE. I also love their “Black Cherry” polish. I do love more classic shades as well, however, and in particular I tend to go back to Essie’s “Mademoiselle” (a light pink hue) and this beautiful red shade called “Aperitif”. I love to experiment with colors on my nails and if I have a special occasion then I choose the color according to my outfit, but in general I choose them according to my mood and I always try to pick colors that compliment my fair complexion.
Body skincare regimen?
I try to put on a mild body lotion (I love baby lotions!) or maybe an almond oil when I get out of the shower.
What about perfume?
I am not wearing any perfume these days because I have very small children and I am still breastfeeding. But in general I like a combination of sweet vanilla and musk scents and sexier/darker/spicy fragrances and now and then I do miss wearing perfume.
Define your style with five words?
Classic. Feminine. Comfortable. Sexy. Colorful.
*Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement. These recommendations are coming to you straight from Yael's beauty bag of wonders :)
Photography - Ekaterina Georgieva -
Today we’re wishing you a happy spring with this uplifting collection of images by Ekaterina Georgieva, a Bulgarian photographer who has lived in Japan for the last 12 years.
Here’s what she told us about the symbolism of the exquisite displays of cherry blossoms known as sakura.
‘The Japanese view the blossoming of the Sakura as a new beginning, which they eagerly await. On the other hand, they find their fragility and impertinence enchanting and believe it teaches about the transient nature of life. A graceful and ever so slightly wistful reminder to live in the moment’
Discover more of Ekaterina's beautiful images here.
Author - Elisaveta Belobradova -
Image - Malika Sqalli -
Today is not the day of the mother, nor is it the day of hyacinth. It's so much better than that. Today we celebrate the fact that there are societies in which women have equal rights with men.
I’m lucky to live in such a society, regardless of any of its other caveats.
Freedom, Sancho ... It’s best thing. The freedom to learn, to graduate from university, to work until you’re faint, while your husband looks after the kids. The freedom to drive a car (as well as I can, in my case), to get drunk in a bar or to become a porn star if you will, because your body is your own. The freedom not to get married or not to have children, the freedom to choose. To chose… To be literate, to defend oneself in a court of justice or to be a judge, or an entrepreneur; to go make-up free and to be able to say it when you get your period; to give birth while your husband holds your hand. To fall in love with another woman, to have an abortion, to earn a living or to drive a Mercedes because you’ve got a rich lover; to chose to be a surgeon or an archaeologist …
Freedom is not to like the 8 March, because you remember communism, the hyacinths and how society rip your mother apart with work, while at home the family’s patriarch carelessly threw his socks on the floor that she relentlessly cleaned.
If you are celebrating, pour yourselves a glass of wine to mark being normal people, with rights and with obligations. Because only a 1000 kilometres away from here things are quite different.
Credits:
Text by Elisaveta Belobradova, founder of Maiko Mila, a Bulgarian parenting website
Artwork by Malika Sqalli, Optimism Series
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