THINK BIG: Books on my Nightstand

As we were casually walking down the lanes of Chania island, my sister asked me if I liked the latest book of Alki Zei, "With a Faber Pencil Number Two".

 

Youth, passionate love, wars, ideals, artistic concerns, a well sharpened Faber No2 pencil, friends like Dido Sotiriou, Georges Sari, Andreas Empirikos, Marios Ploritis, Manos Hadjidakis and Karolos Koun, in Athens, in the early 1940s, compose compelling stories from Alki Zei’s life, given by the writer’s distinctive writing voice and so familiar to us from her other books like "Wildcat under Glass",  "Achilles’ Fiancée", "Petro’s War", as well as many more books that have been on our childhood nightstand. We both – sisters - agreed on the simplicity of the narrative. Events from the occupation of Greece unfold with a cinematic vividness, like the stories we heard from our own grandmother. 

Of course I liked  Alki Zei’s latest book, "With a Faber Pencil Number Two". Who would not want to live such an exciting life! I look back with great nostalgia at my parents’ library to reread my well loved book "Wildcat under Glass" and I am thinking how much I miss my own grandmother….

Have a good read and a wonderful weekend!

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Στο κομοδίνο μου

Καθώς περπατάμε ανέμελα στα σοκάκια των Χανίων, η αδερφή μου με ρωτά αν μου άρεσε το τελευταίο βιβλίο της Άλκη Ζέη, "Με Μολύβι Φάμπερ Νούμερο Δύο". 

Νιάτα, παθιασμένοι έρωτες, πόλεμοι, ιδανικά, καλλιτεχνικές ανησυχίες, ένα καλά ξυσμένο μολύβι Φάμπερ Νο2,  φίλοι, όπως η Διδώ Σωτηρίου, η Ζωρζ Σαρρή, ο Ανδρέας Εμπειρίκος, ο Μάριος Πλωρίτης, ο Μάνος Χατζιδάκις και ο Κάρολος Κουν , στην Αθήνα του 40, συνθέτουν συναρπαστικές ιστορίες από τη ζωή της Άλκη Ζέη, δοσμένες με τη δική της τόσο γνώριμη γραφή, τόσο από το "Καπλάνι της Βιτρίνας", την "Αρραβωνιαστικιά του Αχιλλέα", "O Μεγάλος Περίπατος του Πέτρου", αλλά και πολλά ακόμα βιβλία της συγγραφέα, που πέρασαν πριν αρκετό καιρό από το κομοδίνο του νεανικού μας δωματίου.  Και οι δυο – αδερφές - συμφωνούμε στην απλότητα της αφήγησης, που όμως με κινηματογραφική ζωντάνια ξετυλίγει γεγονότα από την Κατοχή, σαν να τα ακούμε τα χείλη της δικιάς μας γιαγιάς. Όπως η ίδια, η Άλκη Ζέη, λέει: "Ακόμα και σήμερα τα εγγόνια μου, ο Αντουάν κι η Άννα -22 και 26 ετών-, με βάζουν να τους λέω την ιστορία με το Κουτοκούλι που ήθελε από τα δέκα του χρόνια να γίνει συγγραφέας, κι άρχισε γράφοντας γράμματα στις υπηρετριούλες της πολυκατοικίας για τους αγαπημένους τους με μολύβι φάμπερ νούμερο δύο, πάνω στο μαρμάρινο τραπέζι της κουζίνας." (σελ. 386)

Φυσικά και μου άρεσε το τελευταίο βιβλίο της Άλκη Ζέη , "Με Μολύβι Φάμπερ Νούμερο Δύο", άλλωστε ποιός δε θα ήθελε να ζήσει μία τόσο συναρπαστική ζωή! Μάλιστα, με μεγάλη νοσταλγία ανατρέχω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πατρικού μου για να ξαναδιαβάσω το αγαπημένο "Καπλάνι της Βιτρίνας" και σκέφτομαι πόσο μου λείπει η δικιά μου γιαγιά….

Καλή Ανάγνωση και Καλό Σαββατοκύριακο!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

THINK PINK: Delicious Beauty

It’s not a dark, big secret that I have a sweet tooth. Yes, I LOVE sweets and it seems that I have recently tried and tested my fair share of sweet aroma infused lip care to start developing a sweet lips addiction….

 

Strawberry Parfait, Éclair, Peaches and Cream, Crème Brulee butter gloss…. I am at NYX beauty counter*, but it feels like a cake shop and I cannot decide if I want to wear them or eat them. And the winner is the NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel! Its buttery soft, silky smooth texture and its delicious sugar cookie aroma added to the bargain price of 8€ makes it instantly a sweet drugstore darling!

OMG! I get a Vanilla and Macadamia fix by Liposan Lip Butter. It’s cute and it’s cult in its slim, old school tin case. It’s heavenly smooth, nourishing and a delicious smelling butter for my lips!

Adding the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector by CLARINS to my beauty regimen always gives me  a sweet sugar cookies thrill. It’s lightweight with amazing moisturizing powers and low maintenance, giving my lips just the right amount of pigment to make them look naturally flashed and glamorous. Just the perfect balm-like shine!

Embracing the delicious world of dessert beauty gives me great (mouthwatering) joy!

* We are lucky to have a NYX store in Thessaloniki, Greece @Ermou 65 St.

** Τhe above photo was taken for personal use. Please just make sure to link back to my blog, if you use the above image.

WISH LIST: Chain Reaction

Hey it’s fall and I am back! There is always something bittersweet about the first days of September. My summer holidays are officially over, which is kind of sad, but at the same time I am quite excited for transitioning into whatever fall will bring….

A pair of ankle booties jazzed-up by polished gold hardware and accompanied by a leather purse or a fedora hat, a thick menswear leather belt with a bit of added edge by chain-link embellishments, or even multilayered chain necklaces and chunky bracelets making anything old feel new again, are the perfect pieces to transition my summer outfits into autumnal ensembles. Happy September everyone!

 SHOP THE POST

1. TED BAKER_CARINA Felt Fedora Hat  / 2. Jules Smith_Leather and Chain Bracelet/ 3. ZARA_Crock City Bag with Chain /4. LOVE MOSHINO_Heart Clutch with Barcelet Chain Strap / 5. ASOS_ Chain Link Purse / 6. Sam Edelman_Chester Ankle Boots / 7. MANGO_Chain Mixed Belt

THINK BIG: Hot Weather Superheroes!

I hate to admit, but I look like a hot mess lately. My hair fail to hold due to humidity, my shocked skin refuses to stay acne free and my make-up is melting off my sweaty face. In other words,  the recent heat wave has been my beauty headache. With two weddings to attend and lots of travelling ahead of me, I decided to put together a heat-proof, budget friendly make-up survival kit.

A few dabs of my All-in-One Instablur blur cream by THE BODY SHOP smoothed with my fingertips on my face brings radiance to my skin, while at the same time creates the prefect canvas for my summer make-up. Instablur feels lovely and light, reducing the appearance of my pores, lines and uneven skin, while giving a matt, no shine, smooth finished appearance throughout the day and into the evening. It is really Instagram for my face giving me flawless photo-perfect skin in an instant!

Talking about primary base make-up, I swear to the non-gimmicky, long- lasting staying power of Maybelline’s 24hr Color Tattoo (on SALE here) and RIMMEL’s Scandal Eyes (on SALE here) creamy eye shadows that have been to the test in this heat wave. Their wonderfully creamy formula melts seamlessly on my oily lids and stays put offering a lasting presence of rich, highly pigmented color without creasing and smudging or it can work as an eyelid primer for my powder eye shadows. I find Maybelline’s Color Tattoo in (65) Pink Gold the perfect base for MAC’s Da Bling Veluxe Pearl powder eye shadow and RIMMEL Scandal Eyes in (003) Bad Girl Bronze (full review here) the perfect base for MAC’s All that Glitters to get the maximum color pay off.

When daytime fun leads to sweet summer nights, I promise that I can master a seriously long-lasting smoky eye on-the-go with KORRES Volcanic Minerals creamy metallic twist eye shadow along the lids and inner corners of my eyes. All I need is the pad of my finger!

Are you ready to beat the heat keeping your beauty cool?

* Τhe above photo was taken for personal use. Please just make sure to link back to my blog, if you use the above image.