Sassy Sophia

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Time Lapse

Have you ever found yourself opening your eyes only to realise that you are in the right place with the right person, that you are completely happy but somehow you don't remember having drawn up a master plan to get to that point in life?

That is precisely what I felt this last 28th of June. Without understanding exactly how, I found myself in the grounds of a Baroque palace on the outskirts of Oxford, with Ludovico Einaudi sliding his fingers across a piano in a mesmerising harmony, and with the electrifying presence of the love of my life, holding my hand in his.

I could clearly remember images of the distant past and recent memories, but I struggled to understand how life had woven the time lapses between those images into a dream-like tapestry to take me to that precise moment. That perfect moment.

¿Te ha sucedido alguna vez, que de pronto abres los ojos y te das cuenta de que estás en el lugar perfecto, con la persona adecuada, de que eres plenamente feliz y ni siquiera recuerdas haber trazado un plan maestro para haber llegado a ese instante?

Eso es precisamente lo que sentí el pasado día 28 de Junio. Sin comprender muy bien cómo, me encontré a mí misma en los jardines de un palacio barroco a las afueras de Oxford, con Ludovico Einaudi deslizando los dedos sobre su piano mágico y con la presencia electrizante del amor de mi vida, sosteniendo mi mano entre las suyas.

Recordaba imágenes del pasado lejano y del pasado reciente, pero me era difícil comprender cómo la vida había tejido los lapsos de tiempo entre esas imágenes, confeccionando un tapiz de ensueño y llevándome a aquel instante. A un instante perfecto.

Without a doubt, life has taught me valuable lessons in recent months. I've learned that things hardly ever happen as expected and that no spreadsheet, list or Gantt chart will ever be able to encapsulate all the nuances, ironies and surprises that the future holds. My life is nothing like I imagined it would be years ago. For some reason I still can't comprehend, it is infinitely better.

Sin duda alguna, la vida me ha dado muchas lecciones estos últimos meses. He aprendido que las cosas no siempre suceden como uno espera y que ninguna hoja de calculo, lista o diagrama de Gantt es capaz de encapsular todos los matices, ironías y sorpresas que el futuro nos depara. Mi vida no es en absoluto como hace años imaginaba que sería. Sin saber muy bien cómo ni por qué, estoy viviendo una vida infinitamente mejor.

And finally, I leave you with the musical piece that has inspired the title of this post and perhaps the one that overwhelmed me the most, the afternoon of June 28 at Blenheim Palace.

Y para terminar, os dejo con el tema que ha inspirado el título de este post y uno de los que más logró sobrecogerme la tarde del 28 de junio, en Blenheim Palace.

LOVE, casual & colourful

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Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures...
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

In one of my previous posts I mentioned that my life had been going through a time of change. I experienced ups and downs and faced the biggest revelation I've had in my life: my best friend and all time platonic love was in love with me too! I know it is a well-known cliche, but I could never imagine this happening to me... to us...

He did not hesitate to go all-in on our relationship, leaving his job, his house and our homeland behind, to start a new life in rainy UK with me. I am still startled that he has done all of this. For me.

These last few weekends we have commited to making the most of the british summer and to discovering new places!

En uno de mis últimos posts mencioné que mi vida estaba atravesando una época de cambios. He tenido muchos altibajos a nivel personal, aunque no todo ha sido negativo. De hecho, la vida me ha regalado una sorpresa preciosa: mi mejor amigo y amor platónico, me confesó que también tenía sentimientos por mí desde hacía tiempo! Sé que es algo muy típico, muy de peli, pero con total honestidad, jamás imaginé que algo entre nosotros fuera posible!

Superando todas mis expectativas, dejó su trabajo, su casa y nuestra tierra natal para seguirme hasta la siempre gris y lluviosa Inglaterra. Todavía hay días en los que me despierto y me cuesta creer que esto esté pasando!

Aprovechando que la lluvia parece habernos dado una pequeña tregua últimamente, estos últimos findes hemos aprovechado para coger el coche y descubrir lugares nuevos por la geografía británica!

JEANS: NEW LOOK | JUMPER: BLANCO | PLIMSOLLS: KEDS| BAG: NEW LOOK| NECKLACE: NEXT (Similar here)

These pictures are from our latest trip to Southampton, the city that witnessed the departure of both the Titanic and the Mayflower. I chose a very comfy and girly outfit, and relied on my Keds to explore the hidden gems of Southampton's Old Town! Probably not the most popular city in terms of turisitic attractions, but full of surprises and definitely worth a visit! :-)

Estas fotos son de nuestra última visita a Southampton, de cuyo puerto zarparon nada menos que el Titanic y el Mayflower! Aquel día elegí un outfit muy cómodo y girly, y no dudé en recurrir a mis Keds para explorar los secretos del casco antiguo de Southampton, una ciudad que aunque no es especialmente conocida por sus atracciones turisticas, es de visita obligada! :-)

Rediscovering Bakewell

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Hidden amid the endless grasslands and vivid-coloured landscapes of the Peak District lies one of my favourite places in England: Bakewell.

At first it may seem nothing more but humble little village, with narrow streets and stone houses. But as we walk into it and discover its ancient and charming shops, it is impossible not to fall completely in love with it.

Escondido entre las praderas infinitas y salpicadas de flores del Peak District se encuentra uno de mis lugares preferidos de Inglaterra: Bakewell.

A primera vista no parece más que un pueblecito pequeño y humilde, de calles angostas y casitas de piedra. Pero a medida que nos adentramos en él y descubrimos sus comercios centenarios y llenos de encanto, es imposible no enamorarse por completo de Bakewell.

I visited Bakewell for the first time last summer, and made the mistake of leaving without tasting the Bakewell Pudding, a kind of sweet quiche, stuffed with mashed almonds and cherry jam, served with hot custard.

On this occasion we made a short stop at "The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop". I must admit that I have a savory tooth, but Bakewell pudding is simply delicious. So if you make a trip to the English Midlands, make sure to stop at Bakewell and taste its delicious pudding!

Visité Bakewell por primera vez el verano del año pasado, y cometí el error de marcharme sin probar el archiconocido Pudin de Bakewell, una especie de quiche dulce, relleno de puré de almendras y mermelada de cerezas, que se sirve con una crema ligeramente avainillada y caliente, llamada custard.

En esta visita hicimos una pequeña parada en “The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop” una pastelería que, como su propio nombre indica, lleva años cocinando este curioso pastel. Reconozco que soy más de salado que de dulce, pero el Púdin de Bakewell es sencillamente delicioso. Así que si hacéis una escapada a las Midlands Inglesas, no dudéis en visitar Bakewell y endulzar vuestro día!

My red jacket

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Have you ever been given a Christmas present which, at the moment didn't seem that amazing, but that it has grown into you through the years?

That is exactly what happened to me with this red jacket. My auntie Rosa gave it to me as a gift a few years ago, and back then I thought it was perhaps too classic for me. But I believe that's precisely why it has become one of my winter wardrobe staples. And trust me sassy readers, no matter how many wardrobe cleaning adventures I embark on, this baby is here to stay!

I absolutely adore the vibrance that this jacket adds to a very basic duo-chrome outfit. I wanted to emphasise that effect by adding some matte red lipliner to my lips. I used Mac lipliner in Redd, which I reviewed last week, along with other red lipsticks, in this post.

Do you have any garment that was given to you as a present, and that you didn't quite love at the time, but now you adore?

Finding the right balance

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This might be a revelation to some of you, but the truth is that during my university years, I used to dress in black head to toe, for five years steady, to the dismay of my parents. Back then, it made absolute sense to me, and one day, if the post theme allows, I will provide a less vague explanation.

As I walked faster and deeper into adulthood, many things changed in my life. And my wardrobe became a reflection of such changes, transitioning from black to a wide selection of bright colours. I felt that, for such a long time, I had set shackles to my own creativity. I wanted a life of purple, and pink, and orange, and yellow.

And only now, in my very late twenties, I have discovered that fashion, and life, are both all about finding the right balance. About embracing the depth and sophistication of black, about delighting oneself in the joyfulness of spring colours and about understanding the warmth and beauty of the pleasant monotony of neutrals.

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.
Thomas Merton

Autumn Colours

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One of the things that mesmerises me the most about the UK, is how vibrant the change of colours through the seasons is. I have the feeling that in this country, if I slept for an indefinite period of time, and suddenly woke up and looked outside the window, I could easily guess what time of the year it is.

Plaid shirts are my absolute Autumn staple. I love to pair them up with jeans and boots, for a relaxed outfit, or to given them a chic edge with black jeggings and heels. And when it comes to shopping plaid shirts, Hollister is always my go-to shop!

SHIRT: HOLLISTER | JEANS: HOLLISTER | BIKER BOOTS: NEW LOOK (Similar here)| BAG: NEW LOOK| NECKLACE: ACCESSORIZE (Similar here)

What are your Autumn Staples? Are you a plaid shirt fan as well?

My Christmas Wishlist

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Historically, my Christmas wishlists have always been a good few pages long. But I have come to a point in life where my only wish is to spend the Christmas Holidays with my loved ones.

As a result of living in excess of 1000 km away from my Homeland, I have learned to cherish every single moment I spend with my moderately big and noisy and deeply loving family.

However, I have had a few people asking if I could give them some guidance regarding Christmas presents, so over the last few weeks, whilst I was trying to recover from the worst flu ever (seriously, it has lasted a whole month!) I have come with a selection of my favourite items for this Christmas.

Enjoy! ;-)

MY FAVOURITES:

River Island Metallized T-Shirt - I love the fit and the metallic sheen of this t-shirt. Perfect for a night out, or to pair with jeans for a relaxed but still chic outfit!
Daisy Eau de Toilette by Marc Jacobs - My all time favourite scent. Boots also offers this amazing gift set
Stila 'In the light' Eyeshadow Palette - I remember that Matt's cousin Emily got this last Xmas and when I saw it, it was #instantlove.
Babyliss Curl Secret - I have been fantasising with this one for ages, especially after watching a bunch of youtube videos.
New Look Dark Brown Satchel - I really want this one, to go with my new dark brown boots.
Accessorize Bunny Slipper Socks - For cosy nights in!

Zoe Hart Inspired Outfit

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If I had to make a list of my fashion influences, Zoe Hart would be number 1 on that list.

For those of you who have never heard of Zoe Hart, she is the main character in the comedy series Hart of Dixie, played by the lovely Rachel Bilson. The show revolves around a New Yorker in her late twenties who moves to the remote and slightly redneck town of Bluebell, Alabama, to work as a GP after her career aspirations of becoming a cardiac surgeon in NYC fell apart.

It is by no means the typical medical TV drama, with highly technical terms which are almost unpronounceable for us mere mortals. Hart of Dixie is light-hearted and fun, and it centers on the personal development of a sassy and strong minded female, who struggles to adapt her urbanite lifestyle to the less sophisticated way of living in the South.

In a similar way as Gossip Girl or Sex and the City did a few years ago, Hart of Dixie has become a yardstick for fashion. Each of the characters has a very well defined and elaborated dressing sense, and I personally love most of the outfits featured in the show!

As you probably might have guessed by now, Zoe's Hart style is my absolute favourite. It usually features red items, animal print, pretty shoes and edgy jackets, always with a high degree of sophistication. So I tried to combine each of these elements and came with this outfit, which I find perfect for a night out.

Not being a massive fan of miniskirts or crazy cleavages, I always resort to jeggings, cute tops and pretty shoes.

What TV shows inspire your fashion style?

TOP: F&F AW14 | JEGGINGS: PULL&BEAR AW12| SHOES: F&F AW14| BAG: RIVER ISLAND AW14|

The Perfect Handbag

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Earlier this year, I fell in love with Celine's Nano Bag. I read this post in Media Marmalade, and it was instant obsession. However, after finding out about the price tag (circa £1500 GBP, I kid you not) the obsession pretty much washed away and turned into a "see you later, alligator".

I don't think I could ever afford it. I mean, if I starved for a whole month, and walked 50 miles round trip to work every day, and cancelled spotify, and grazebox and pretty much cancelled everything, then maybe. And even if my starvation plan worked, I don't think I could ever have a clear conscience after purchasing a bag that costs more than three times my rent. Don't know, that's just me.

Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely passionate about fashion, but I guess that the engineer in me induces a certain amount of rationale in my lifestyle. So instead of sticking to a choking saving plan to acquire the noble bag, I decided to have a walk around the High Street and see if I could find a petite and cute bag with a budget-friendly price tag.

The winner was this little gem, from River Island. It's a mini structured tote, with the absolute perfect size. I can fit my wallet, my glasses, keys, makeup... Everything! And it is still the right size for a night outfit.

A slightly bigger version of this bag is available, and I think I might buy it next month and use it as my work-bag. I find mini totes perfect for absolutely everything, except the business environment. Hey! I need space for my notebooks and diagrams!

What do you think about mini totes? A must or a miss?

Urban Explorer

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One of the things I miss the most about living in Spain is exploring Madrid during Autumn time.

I grew up in a small town, in the outskirts of the city. It is remote enough to find deers and boars in the middle of the road on any given day, whilst still only a 30 min drive away from the capital.

As a kid, I used to contemplate Madrid's skyline and fantasise with the idea of getting immersed in its vibrant atmosphere, with discovering new places and new people, with getting lost a million times, only to find all of the answers to my questions. So I was absolutely thrilled when I got accepted in ICAI, one of the most prestigious schools of engineering in Spain, located right in the city centre.

I remember having butterflies in my stomach every morning in the bus to the city, as the buildings grew taller and the lights became more defined, calling my name, drawing me in.

And I remember September and October in Madrid, when the air is still mildly warm, but the leaves have started to change colour, to fall and vanish. I recall the blinding lights of Gran Via, the little shops in Fuencarral street, the chocolate with churros in San Ginés, the neverending walks in Retiro and the geeky shops in Malasaña.

It's been two years since I left Madrid behind but I still wake up with that dizzy feeling that you only experience when you mourn over a long-lost lover. And I can only quench my thirst of urban discovery by putting my trainers on and heading to the small towns nearby. It's not quite the same. But it's enough. For now.

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I am wearing a super comfy outfit, that revolves around my current favourite pair of jeans, an awesome contrast leather-look jacket that I love and a bag that I have owned for five years now! My mother bought it for me as a present when I got my internship in L'Oreal, in one of those cute little shops of Fuencarral street that I have mentioned before.

What do you like to wear to discover new cities?

Una de las cosas que más echo de menos de vivir en España es perderme en Madrid, en Otoño.

Me crié en un pueblecito de la sierra, lo suficientemente alejado de la vida urbana como para encontrarse con ciervos y jabalíes no fuera para nada extraño, pero tan sólo a 30 minutos del centro de la ciudad.

De niña solía contemplar las luces de Madrid en la lejanía, mientras fantaseaba con la idea de sumergirme en su atomósfera vibrante, con descrubir nuevos lugares y conocer a gente nueva, con perderme entre sus calles un millar de veces, sólo para encontrarme a mí misma. Así que me puse como loca cuando me comunicaron que me habían aceptado en ICAI, una de las mejores escuelas de ingeniería en España, con sede está en el centro de la ciudad.

Recuerdo cómo cada mañana, de camino a clase, sentía mariposas en el estómago al contemplar cómo los edificios se hacían más grandes y las luces menos dispersas, a medida que me acercaba a la ciudad.

Y recuerdo Septiembre y Octubre en Madrid, cuando el aire es aún cálido, pero las hojas han empezado a cambiar de color, a caer y desvanecerse. Me acuerdo de las luces cegadoras de Gran Vía, de las tiendecitas de la calle Fuencarral, del chocolate con churros de San Ginés, de los paseos interminables por el Retiro y de las tiendas frikis de Malasaña.

Hace dos años que dejé Madrid atrás, pero a menudo me despierto con esa sensación de vacío en el estómago, que sólo experimentamos cuando nos acordamos de algún amante pasado. Y sólo puedo calmar ese vacío poniéndome unas zapatillas de deporte y escapando a descubrir nuevas urbes, nuevos lugares. Jamás me hacen sentir lo mismo que Madrid. Pero por ahora es suficiente. Por ahora.

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El look del hoy es ante todo, ¡muy cómodo! Llevo los que se han convertido en mis vaqueros favoritos, una chaqueta de punto con mangas de polipiel y un bolso que tengo desde hace casi cinco años, pero eso una de esas cosas de las que no me quiero deshacer. Mi madre me lo compró cuando me cogieron de becaria en L'Oreal, y recuerdo que me lo compró en una de esas tiendas tan monas de Fuencarral que antes he mencionado.

Qué os gusta poneros para hacer turismo urbano?

CONTRAST JACKET: NEW LOOK AW14 | T-SHIRT: H&M AW14| TRAINERS: MATALAN AW12 | JEANS: HOLLISTER AW14 | NECKLACE: NEXT AW14

The Golden Hour

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I am becoming a fan of shooting in the Golden Hour. That is, the time right after sunrise or before sunset, when the light is considerably warmer and softer, and which often gives photographs an ethereal atmosphere.

I must confess that this is something that I was completely unaware of a few months ago, but after getting my Canon 1100D and becoming immersed in the world of blogging, I have started to do a fair bit of research into photography and the Golden Hour has been an amazing discovery.

I use an app in my phone called Exsate Hour, which provides you the time window for the Golden Hour wherever you are, as well as Dusk and Dawn time, among others!

In this post I have decided to use the benefits of the golden hour to enhance the colours of Autumn and this very seasonal outfit, introducing a faux fur vest, which seem to be everywhere this year!

Mine is a couple of years old. My mother bought it for me as a present when I was still living in sunny Spain, and I don't think I wore it much back then. This season, however, I am very certain that it is going to become an absolute favourite of mine!

What do you think about fur vests for this season?

Me estoy volviendo muy fande hacer fotografías en la denominada Golden Hour, que significa hora dorada. Esto es, el momento del día justo después del amanecer o justo antes de que anochezca, cuando la luz tiene unos tonos muy cálidos y suaves, que hacen que las fotografías tengan un halo etéreo, casi mágico.

Si os soy sincera, hasta hace algunos meses no tenía ni la menor idea de lo que era la Golden Hour, pero tras adquirir mi Canon 1100D y sumirgirme en el mundo del blogging, he empezado a investigar y experimentar muchísimo con la fotografía. Y la hora dorada ha sido todo un descubrimiento.

Yo utilizo una app en mi móvil que se llama Exsate Hour, y que predice las horas entre las que la Golden Hour tendrá lugar, allá donde te encuentres. También ofrece información sobre la hora del amanecer y atardecer, y un montón de cositas más.

En el post de hoy he decidido usar el potencial que ofrecen la luz dorada y los colores del Otoño, para presentaros un look muy de temporada, y que gira en torno a una prenda que este año está en todas partes: un chaleco de pelo.

El mío tiene un par de años. Creo que me lo regaló mi madre cuando todavía vivía en España y la verdad es que nunca me lo llegué a poner demasiado. Sin embargo creo que esta temporada se va a convertir en uno de mis favoritos.

Y vosotros? Vais a apostar por un chaleco de pelo esta temporada?

Leather & Animal Print

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I love the start of Autumn, the golden hues of the leaves, the cooler mornings, the darker nights, watching movies under fluffy blankets and drinking chai latte in the evenings.

And I especially enjoy opening drawers that have not been opened for months to rediscover my Autumn clothing.

Today's outfit revolves around two favourites from last year: a pleated leather-look skirt and a grey, black & blue animal print sweater. I am always very wary of animal print, because I think it can easily lead your outfit down the tacky route. So I have decided to give it a glam touch by putting my hair up in a messy bun and using a statement necklace that I bought a couple of years ago in a random shop in NYC.

I can't emphasise enough how happy I am with how my sombrè looks. For those not familiar with the term, it stands for “subtle ombrè”, and in my opinion, it is a more wearable and work-place friendly version of the hair colour trend. I have such dark roots that I was afraid it would not look subtle enough on me, but Emma & Nicole from Nicola Smyth did a brilliant job!

What do you think of the look? Which old favourites do you plan to reutilise this season?

Me encanta el comienzo del otoño, el color dorado de los árboles, las mañanas fresquitas, las noches oscuras, ver películas tapada con una mantita y beber chai latte por las tardes.

Y algo que especialmente me fascina es abrir los cajones de mi armario y redescubrir ropa de Otoño de la que me había olvidado.

Los protagonistas del outfit de hoy son dos de mis prendas favoritas del año pasado: una falda de tablas de polipiel y un jersey finito con print animal en negro, gris y azul. He de reconocer que siempre he sido un poco cauta con el print animal, porque creo que si se combina de forma errónea, puede quedar un poquito vulgar. Para darle un toque glam he decidido recogerme el pelo y usar este collar ‘statement’ que me compré en una tienda de Nueva York hace un par de años.

No me canso de repetir lo contenta que estoy con mi sombrè. Para los que no conocéis el término, es básicamente una versión sutil del ombrè que, en mi opinión, es mucho más facil de llevar, especialemente en la oficina. En mi caso, como tengo el pelo super oscuro, me daba miedo que me quedara demasiado llamativo, pero Emma & Nicole de Nicola Smyth me dejaron un tono perfecto!

¿Qué pensais del look? ¿Qué prendas del año pasado pensais rescatar para esta temporada?

TOP: LEFTIES AW13 | SKIRT: H&M AW13 | SHOES: BHS AW14 | BAG: F&F SS14

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