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(Fashion) Photographer: Kat Irlin

Tuesday 27 December 2016
Fashion photography is really coded. When we think about it we immediately see Demarchelier's work, Peter Lindberg's images, Inez and Vinhood, but fashion photography is not always about clean photographs. It is not always about beautifying the garment, it can also be about beautifying the model in order to bring the outfit to life. Quite recently I've discovered Kat Irlin, fashion photographer from Russia, living in New York. When I stumbled upon her Instagram account I thought she was one of those photographer portraying people on the street. I didn't have a clue that those aesthetic and sexy pictures were took for fashion brands or magazines. Her work is different. She is not afraid to bring the sexy back, to show much more skin in a really sensual way, to be sassy, to show real life people being wild and sexy. This is for sure the best word to describe her work. It is all about mysterious beauty wearing lace lingerie, couple kissing in the street, the girl wearing nothing under her trench coat... In a word, Kat Irlin tells story that we never thought could be part of what we call fashion photography. In her world apart she brings back sensuality and senses, she awakes within us our will to see beauty. 





Credit for all photographs: Kat Irlin's website

xo

Amy



Merry Christmas

Monday 26 December 2016


Dear readers, I would like to wish you a merry Christmas. I hope you enjoyed this moment and had a wonderful time with your loved ones. Love you all, Amy


Christmas sugar cookies

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Christmas and food are impossible to set apart. It is the time to drink hot chocolate with wrap cream and cookies! Today I share with you my favorite Christmas cookies recipe, set, ready, bake!

Ingredients
1 cup of soften butter
1 cup and a half of sugar
2 large eggs
1 tea spoon of vanilla extract
3 cups of flour
1 and a half tea spoon of baking powder
1 pinch of salt
In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In separate large bowl, with mower at low speed, beat butter and sugar until blended. Increase speed to high; beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low; beat in eggs and vanilla until mixed, then beat in flour mixture just until blended, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces; flatten each piece into a disk. Wrap each disk with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. 


Preheat oven to 170°C. Remove 1 piece of dough from refrigerator. On lightly floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll dough until slightly less than 1/4 inch thick. With floured 3-inch to 4-inch cookie cutters, cut dough into as many cookies as possible; reserve trimmings. Place cookies, 1 inch apart, on two uncreased large cookie sheets. 

Bake until edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes, rotating cooke sheets between upper and lower oven racks halfway trough. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough.

For ornemental frosting
1 package confectioners' sugar
3 table spin of meringue powder
1/3 cup of warm water 

When cookies are cool, prepare ornamental frosting. 
In bowl, with mower on medium speed, beat sugar, meringue powder, and water until blended and mixture is very stiff, about 5 minutes.
Tint frosting with food colorings as desired; keep surface covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying out. With small spatula or decorating bags with small writing its, decorate cookies with frosting. 

Use along with sugars and candles to decorate cookies. Set cookies aside to allow frosting to dry completely, about 1 hour. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature!

Happy holidays! 

xo

Amy


Recipes: Cookies
Frosting

Christmassy homes

Monday 19 December 2016

Here we are! At the end of the week Christmas will be there! And so in order to get even more in the Christmas spirit I've decided, this week, to publish only about Christmas. Today, Christmas homes. Thanks to Tumblr and Pinterest we cannot get enough of inspirations, and we are able to dream about the perfect Christmas house. Christmas is almost here my dears!

Decorations are for every corner of the house, it is not only about the Christmas tree!

Traditional, classic, can it get more Christmassy than this?

Christmas bedroom by Ikea. Simple but still festive!

For those dreaming of a white Christmas...

Cosy and Christmassy!

xo

Amy





Making it through the end of the semester

Friday 16 December 2016
Christmas is almost here, but for many students it is hard to peacefully think about the most wonderful time of the year at the moment. The reason. Those bloody exams, right? Essays, presentation, sit-down exams, whatever it is the struggle is real and December isn't that lovely anymore. As all of you, I struggle. Harder to get up in the morning, harder to drag myself to the library, harder to focus, harder to feel good, university is popping all of my energy. As you might have noticed by now I love to give tips and tricks about university and how to deal with it. I wanted to write an article about the end of the semester for some days, but since I didn't know myself how to deal with it, I've waited a little before starting my article. All of the tips I'm about to list here are actually a combination of experiences, tips given by the teachers, conversation with friends and advices from my wise boyfriend. I hope this will help you to go through the end of the semester with grace and to be ready to relax properly on Christmas time!

As always, the first tip is the same: get bloody organized. This is the first step to take in order to feel better, less stressed, but also to do well with your assignment. Make a list of all the things you need to get done, check the deadlines, and write down a schedule of all that you have to do, for every day. Keep the deadlines in mind while doing this in order to don't have any bad surprise at the end of the week, establish your priorities the right way. But also, don't try to do too much. Stay realistic and don't push yourself too much, this will just lead to unproductive work. 
In order to make the most of your day, wake up early. I know this is not that easy at this time of the year, when it is cold when you leave your blanket and dark outside, but go to sleep early and get yourself 8 hours of sleep every night. An early wake up will make you feel good about yourself but also allow you to find time to do something else than working. Because yes, you still have a life during exams/essays period. So take some time for yourself, go out, see your friends, go shopping, have a lazy afternoon watching The Holiday, take a nap. Anything that would make you feel more chill, more calm, better in your body and in your head. Because when stress takes over, productivity and efficient go away.
Food also have a lot to do with the quality of your work. Avoid all those sugary treats and candies, try to stay healthy, carrots and humous for a snack are perfect for instance. Set your meals of the day, try to eat at regular moments and enough! Stupidly, stress sometimes make us forget to take care of ourselves, so don't forget to have all of your meals. And of course, drink a lot of water! This way you'll avoid the headache and feel more awake! Coffee is good, but find a balance. 
Finally, guys, it is December the 15th. Allow yourself to be Christmassy and chill, allow yourself to go crazy on Christmas candies for one afternoon, treat yourself with a pretty present, because well, as a student, you clearly deserve it. Good luck!

xo

Amy

December Christmassy Playlist

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Christmas season is officially here! December is there and it is finally ok to wear deer onesies and to eat too many chocolates. But what would be the Christmas season without its so wonderful soundtrack? Whether you go for the old ones or a more recent playlist, it doesn't matter, just bring the Christmas spirit in! I've listed you here some of my favorite Christmas songs, some older, some newer, but whatever it will be Christmassy!

Wham, Last Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

Mariah Carey, All I want for Christmas is you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

Elvis, Peace in the Valley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMD8d7oUjxw

Michael Bublé, Jingle Bells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf1_KykYpYs

Dean Martin, Let it snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2uvtl-1V70

Frank Sinatra, Have yourself a merry little Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtUK4AyHeTw

Elvis, I'll be home on Christmas day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqhPXVDvHcM

Eartha Kitt, Santa Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE

Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer, Baby it's cold outside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7jzsKd6Cf8

xo

Amy

December favorite: Antigona, Givenchy

Sunday 11 December 2016
New month, new bag! For December I've decided to talk about a brand I don't know much about, Givenchy. To be honest, I've never really been into this brand, not really my style, a bit to grunge to me maybe, however I stumbled upon this bag on Tumblr and just fell in live with it. It is a little bit less casual than the ones I'm used to talk about, however its elegance and sophistication did catch my eye. The shape is very classy, simple but effective. It is maybe one of the most popular bag at the moment actually, at the arm of Kylie Jenner or Kate Bosworth, it seems like every celebrity have one. Why? Simply because it is a bag so easy to match with everything, and that will for sure give to any of your outfit an elegant side, the perfect accessory to upgrade your look!

It is a little bit less casual than the ones I'm used to talk about, however its elegance and sophistication did catch my eye. The shape is very classy, simple but effective. 

Now the hardest will be to pick up a color! 

xo

Amy

Travel diary: Amsterdam

Friday 9 December 2016
Traveling to Amsterdam is nothing really original. I mean, just go to Kalverstraat - the street where all the shops are - on a Tuesday and you'll see that tourists are, well, everywhere. However, who can blame them? With its museums, shops, its nightlife and the beautiful architecture of the city, everybody wants to see it at least once. I went as a tourist a couple of years ago, and I just loved it here. But now, as a local, things are slightly different, and I start to discover new spots, new activities,   to see Amsterdam with another look. Nonetheless, what would be Amsterdam without its stereotypical spots? So I've decided to tell you about some well-known places, but also about some others a bit more secret, a bit more about locals than tourists. Welcome to Amsterdam!


The Van Gogh Museum
Go visit the master's artworks in his homeland, in this magical museum, a piece of art itself. You will see some of the most emblematic paintings of the Dutch artist, while wandering around this modern building built for the collection of the Van Gogh family. Along the journey, you will follow the evolution of his art, discovering first of all his first pieces, and going along the years, being able to see by yourself some of his most amazing - sometimes quite unknown - canvas. Don't miss it!

Canal boat
If you do not take a boat tour on the canals you just miss the main Amsterdam activity. This is cliché, this is a tourist trap, but well, if you want to live the Amsterdam experience you'll have to do it. It is for sure the best way to discover the city and to see the beautiful houses. Calmer than the pedestrians streets, way more chill than by bike, the boat tour is a must. 

Vondel Park
Amsterdam is a really busy city, with small streets and a lot of pavement, but you can take a break from this if you go to the Vondel Park, one of the biggest public park of the city. You can discover it by bike in order to see it all without having your feet bleeding, take a look at the water spots, and look around the beautiful houses hidden behind the magnificent old trees. The perfect place for some fresh air. 


Katten Kabinet
You are a cat lovers? So is the director of this museum dedicated to cats! A lot of objects, figurines and sculptures representing cats are exposed in this old Amsterdam house, along the canal, but also paintings, posters and intriguing objects. But most of all, real cats. Real cats around the house, sleeping on a chair and only waiting for your cuddles. I told you, the perfect cultural activity for cat lovers. 

Shopping in Amsterdam
The city is full of original shop and concept stores, and the only way to find them is to get lost in those little streets along the canal near the Westerkerk. But if you are looking for a proper street to go shopping, I would recommend Leidsestraat for its original shops but also its nice brands and tourists shops. Anyway, all Amsterdam is good for shopping, so get your wallet ready to suffer. 

De Koffieschenkerij
It's ok, you don't have to pronounce it. But don't miss it! After a long morning of shopping, go to this café and get yourself a slice of the best apple pie in town. This lovely café is situated in the Oudekerk, the oldest church of Amsterdam, it is a must see and a must eat! Enjoy!



xo

Amy

A day in poetry VI

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Us is all I have.

Us is all I have

You stay here until I calm down, you hold my hand
And let me cry. 


Us is all I have.

You cary me when nothing's right, 
You forgive me when you know I wasn't right, 
But only mad.


Us is all I have.

We sleep one against another, 
Body against body like we are one, like you are mine. 


Us is all I have. 

We always fight, we always cry, 
We always say our thoughts out loud, 
But never we tear apart. 


Us is all I have. 

I don't remember you doing things wrong, not even once. 
I can't remember a single bad memory, 
I don't want to erase anything, not even the hard times with you. 


Us is all I have. 

I always lived within you. I was under your ribs, 
In a safe place. 
I was inside your mind, living in a safe dream.


Us was all I had. 

But in the end no place is safe. In the end all dreams become nightmares.
I would never have thought that you'll be my past, I only saw you as my future.
Us was all I had.
I can't live under your  ribs anymore, breathe the same air as you do anymore, 
But you'll always live under my skin. 
Us is all I want. 


xo

Amy

Fancy panty

Saturday 3 December 2016

Even though you do not show your underwear to everybody in town, I do believe that it is important to wear nice ones. Just for you, just for you to feel at least a little bit sexy and nice when you come back home at night and take of your jeans. A nice panty is always a good thing for the mood. And to feel sexy, sassy, but also cosy, you can rely on Stella McCartney's panties of the week, a dream for the body but also for the eyes. Comfy and sexy, they all come in different color for each day of the week and with a different floral embroidery. Undies to die for. 

Florals of the week

Special ones for the weekend

xo

Amy



Chagall

Thursday 1 December 2016

I do believe that to love visual art is something to learn. You cannot stand in front of a surrealist painting and just love it at first glance. You have to learn about it, you have to learn about art itself, you have to educate your taste in order to fall in love with artworks. When I first started studying art history, I hated the Contemporary Art period. It was complete hell to me to look at Picasso when I've been studying Vermeer paintings the last couple of hours in my Modern Art period class. And Chagall, dear Lord, I hated his work. It was too colorful, almost childish, almost nonsense. I couldn't appreciate it for a second, I would just criticize and criticize again, never finding a good point about it. I passed my Contemporary Art exam with a 5 on 6. I did learn my lessons, but never learnt to appreciate this art. The following year to was time for the Medieval Art period. Well, I found something that I disliked even more than Chagall, however it is not that which made me change my mind. 

For a year I had to learn about cubism, surrealism, and one day I went to a museum and saw a Chagall painting. It wasn't this one, but it already did strike me. For the first time in my life I valued it. Days after that I started to do some researches on Chagall artworks, and stumbled upon this "Married couple with the Eiffel Tower". I knew that a year before I would have hated it. But now I was able to find interest in it by myself, I had enough background to know what I was looking at, but also a mind enough critical to put the right words on it. Now I was moved, it did something to me, I liked it. However I cannot explain it. It was just an aesthetic experience, a loved who needed to be educated, a love that did start with hate, but that will for sure stay forever.

xo

Amy