Maria Theresa

  There’s a kind of gratification and sense of accomplishment I feel after finishing one chapter in a book. Not the leisure-time book, but school books. I have bravely enrolled in a few classes online, knowing too well it will be a huge challenge managing my time doing homework, reading assignments, maintaining my blogs and fulfilling jewelry orders from my website and Etsy shops. But what drives me to keep learning is the desire to understand so many information that we are being bombarded with - not just the news, but many more claims regarding different aspects of life.  I took a class on Morals and Philosophy and a couple more in foundations of politics. Sure, this might be questionable to some people I know - I even deliberated on what some of my friends would think - because apparently, some philosophers question faith and religion. However, I believe expanding your knowledge and understanding never hurt. And I am sure anybody would tell me not to base my desire to learn...

  Everything I learned, I learned from my grandma. It’s quite safe to assume either you learn everything from school or not everything you need to know about life, you learn in school. Both theories are very true. That is why learning does not come from one place or two. It may be from a prominent person in your life. For me, my grandma was a great educational and life teacher. I learned by observation, by listening, by asking. She had every answer in the book of life. Her life. Which was very inspiring for me. I may never be as great or accomplished as her, but one of the most important things I learned from her is that you should always consider yourself successful on your own terms. Never compare yourself with anybody because not everyone is dealing with the exact same thing in the exact same time and in the exact same way. Exactly.  She grew up in the 1920’s and everything was not as easy like it is now. There was no advanced technology, no computers, no cell phones. That ...

It seems like happiness is a fleeting feeling or state of mind for a lot of us. There will always be more than enough of self-help books, happiness gurus, podcasts, social media and more telling you or “coaching “ you on how to be truly happy. The truth is, it should always start with YOU.  Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress-free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. How about starting today, we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go: 1. Give up your need to always be right   There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain...

  When you read luxury handbag, we all know which brands come to mind. Social status is what drives most of us to “invest” in the well-known, uber-marketed luxury brands. Luxury brands target a buyer’s emotions through a whole bunch of strategic scripts to get you to buy an incredibly pricey bag. They will guarantee quality, client services, the works but at a cost already added to the bag you’re purchasing. The truth is you are only paying for the guarantee that they will send out the item in the future with one of their stores shipping it for “free” - but there is an extra charge for the refresh and repair. So really, you’re “investing” in an item for which you have to pay for more in the future. You are really paying for the name. Why would you have to pay for the name? As a consumer, we really don’t have that personal connection with the brand. It’s a marketing tactic that’s developed by the brands so they can keep you hooked.  I remember what somebody reminded me and it r...

  Hey! Happy Friday! Here’s a look at my 5 faves that I have been reaching for and regularly used this week.  Share your favourites with me via email and I will feature them in my next my-fave post! DIOR PRESTIGE LA CRÈME MAINS DE ROSE This recently launched hand cream is described as the first Dior hand creme that combines the power of Rose de Granville micro-nutrients with rose fiber extract, rose wax and rose oil. Dior promises that this fluid balm envelops the hands and nails in the micro-nutritive and revitalizing power of the Rose de Granville. I just had to try it. When I tried this hand cream, I fell in love with the subtle floral scent. Not over powering but lingers nicely. My hands felt super soft and the dry winter skin immediately disappeared! After a couple of days, I saw improvement. My hands and nails were softer and silkier. We all have stubborn winter skin during the season and for me in particular, dry hands bother me. But this hand cream is worth to try and ...

  12 Benefits of Walking What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s easy on the joints. And there’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways.     (Link to my walking video on YouTube) The Benefits of Walking  1. Improve Circulation Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pac...

  Link via photo  This bag is my first Speedy from Louis Vuitton. I wanted to have a versatile luxury bag that is also a great investment piece. I was contemplating between this style and the Speedy 30 Bandouliere in Monogram. I chose this one because the Damier Ebene is a favourite design of mine and it can go with dressy and casual outfits.  The design of Louis Vuitton's Damier canvas was invented by Georges Vuitton in 1888.  The pattern was reintroduced as the Damier Ebène in 1998, and it has been one of the biggest successes of Louis Vuitton since. Damier is the French word for “checkered” which explains the design. Although Ebene means Ebony or any neutral brown colour in French, it is also a word that means “uncountable” which then explains the multiple checkered count.  Although it is a common misconception that the Monogram canvas is the first LV canvas design, it is actually Damier that is Louis Vuitton’s first-ever signature canvas.  Mistaken for ...