Happy Living – Style Simply

Girls, let’s honestly confess that every time we get ready for a big night out or for a special evening with a handsome guy, we spend too much time in front of our wardrobe, with onset of panic that there’s nothing appropriate for the occasion to wear. To make it worst we spend the whole evening thinking which outfit would suit best for the occasion and then we squander at least couple of hours more in making all the possible combinations with the skirts, shirts, dresses and accessories that our overloaded closet is stuffed with. And the result! A stressful evening, wastage of precious time, upset mood, confusion, panic, which often leads us to a boutique store where our already over charged credit card gets charged even more.

As I believe that simplicity is the key to happiness in every field of my life I applied it into style too.

 Here are some basic tips which can make our life simpler yet be stylish and fabulous at the same time.

Before you rush out with your overcharged credit card to the next boutique store, please take a deep breath, don’t panic and stand in front of your closet, and separate all clothes which you haven't worn for the last two years. Give these clothes away immediately to those who really need them. You don’t, or you would have used them. This has twin benefits: creates space for you and you help the needy. Emptying your closet and life of things that you don’t really need is therapeutic. This action alone will make you feel light and blissful.

To look smart and classy and stylish yet simple all you need are these 5 pieces of clothing: a nice white shirt, a little black dress (LBD), a nice pair of jeans, a pencil skirt, and a plain blouse. All these should be of good quality. In case you don’t have one or some of these then get them and you are on your way. With these 5 pieces you can look classy, elegant and fresh from morning to night.

The next step is to get rid of all the extra clothes, which are similar in color, looks, design, texture and material. Give these away to charity.  

Now, let’s go shopping! Aha, I can see that catty smile on your face now. Let's go for a dress. In order to look stylish under any circumstances, buy one dress of really good quality, in classic style which would last for many years and would never go out of fashion. If you are not sure about the style, trust designer labels like Giorgio Armani or Salvatore Ferragamo. They know us better much better and they want us to look sexy and elegant at the same time. If you think designer labels are too expensive, buy them during sales. Many big outlets and super stores have sales up to 80% off. Even if this price is few times more than a cheap dress of lower quality, it is still a better bargain since it lasts much longer and of much superior quality.

When a man looks at a woman dressed in a sexy, elegant dress, he doesn’t really care if it’s new or has been worn before. Men don’t even think such things.  All that matters to him is the woman inside the dress. So my friends invest in one classic dress of great quality without cutting costs. Instead of several cheap dresses of low quality buy one expensive dress of top quality. In the long run the latter delivers more value for money.

Now let’s look within us and find the simplicity rule of style and elegance that lies inside.

Last evening I was invited to an elegant party of rich and classy people and for a while I pondered what would suit the occasion best! To begin with my closet doesn’t have that many dresses anyway. I had less to choose from so it should be simple. Fewer the options in life we have, simpler our lives will be. And soon enough it hit me that I could actually put on anything that I felt comfortable in, which makes me look good and showed my character and body to their best advantage. It wasn’t so much about the dress or the accessories, it was more about me and how I felt from within.

If I felt sexy, that’s how I would look, no matter even if I cover every inch of my skin. If I felt confident, any classy dress would make me look confident. What’s most important is to first be who we really are and who we want to be for the occasion and then dress accordingly. Rather than wear a dress and try to fit your persona into it. A confident and classy woman can carry away anything with elegance, charm and savoir faire. So more than my outfit I groom my inner beauty and my love for living. It is cheaper, healthier and life transforming. 

I am who I am and I love myself exactly the way it is. I have accepted myself and I feel limitless. Things for me are so easy now since not many choices are left to enmesh me. Love yourself, love your imperfections and soon your enchanting beauty will entice people.  

 

 And never forget that beauty grows deep within us. Let it emerge and bloom like a flower. No matter what you wear, if you don't feel beautiful, you will never look elegant. Put on your biggest, sincere smile and let your grace captivate men.

So always remember: simplicity leads to perfection.

A friend of mine, who is one of the happiest people on earth, once told me: People should keep just three outfits; two in their closet and the third one in the store. The first one to wear and the second one to use when the first one needs washing. The third one in the store is to replace the first one when it gets too old. This way you don’t clutter your closet or mind and you never go out of style. Don’t turn your closet into a store. In that way you never put yourself under stress, wondering what should you wear since there are no other choices; the third one will be lying in the store waiting for you to buy it when time will come. Not before that. So in that way life becomes really simple and easy.           

Ok, I am not telling you to throw away all your clothes today! Just try from now on to be simpler and think twice before you go out shopping.

 My life has changed dramatically since I started following the above simple tips and believe me I feel happy and content every day, since now I find beauty in every single thing, no matter how simple or small it is.

Kalimera (hello) to Good Life

Kalimera my friends, welcome to my home; a world of Good Living.

For breakfast I will serve you the knowledge I gained through my quests for good living combined with the exotic fragrances and taste my homeland offers so generously. Beneath the sparkling blue Greek sky I will illustrate how easy life can be, luxurious in its simplicity, yet sexy just by surrendering your senses to its rhythm. I will reveal nature’s secrets, through stories of simple village people whose wisdom has passed through generations, carefully nurtured like Mother Nature would do for her "children".

As you glean more about the organic products my land offers, you would begin to appreciate why ancient Greeks, the creators of "golden ages" chose wisely to integrate them within their daily diet. Even Homer in his very first epic wrote so poetically about these treasures during Achilles journey to Troy.

     

Lunch would be an introduction to a stylish and relaxed way of living, easily applied, giving you a new perspective to your life just by taking the correct decisions. Greek hospitality and traditions for good living are legendary. We love to fine dine and party every day and everything is so easily set up. You may read about the Greek crisis in the media but we have retained our taste for good living. Imagine yourself stepping into my house, redolent with essence of freshly chopped thyme  flirting with the elegance of gold virgin olive oil on top of red juicy tomatoes reclining on white, like snow, feta cheese, accompanying a glass of red wine; recipes that originate from time immemorial.

   

Before we sit down for dinner, where more spicy experiences would be shared, during evening snack I will serve my time tested tips and proposals for the body and the outdoors, since a combination of a healthy mind and body is needed for ‘good’ living. Just by making small changes in your life today, you can change your tomorrow and awesome things can be happen.

By now I am sure you are curious to know about your gourmet chef; which is me Kiki. I will reveal more about myself and my dreams as we journey along but for now I will share one of my deepest childhood desires that I have never shared before.

Ever since I was a young girl, my biggest dream was to travel around the world, explore new places, learn about new cultures and meet new people. I visualized little Kiki, wearing short polka dot pink skirts, travel around the world, just with one backpack on her back,  from one country to another from one continent to another riding  a horse, sometimes a camel, even an elephant and of course with lots of footwork. I always loved walking and hiking. Sometimes I feel I was born to walk. I could walk all around the world, without ever complaining.

All my life I admired people who  followed their passion, their inner need to explore the world; who dared to dream and believed in them and stopped at nothing to achieve their goals and I realized that most often such people began their journey with very meager resources, often discouraged and ridiculed by the society. Such people became my role model though I must confess that after backpacking around the world with very low budget I would love to immerse myself in the warmth of a luxury hotel and Jacuzzi.

Then one day I realized that little Kiki had grown up without having completed her journey around the world, in the way she had dreamed of, since it never really began. The imaginary back-pack was still resting on a store shelf. However, during all these years, my inner need to experience new things pushed me into places and situations that made me feel happy and free, since either in reality or within my mind I did travel, met new friends, explored new places, listened to stories from people who shared their experiences and wisdom and I understood how happiness, harmony and the meaning of life, or in another words “good living” could be acquired just by making the right choices.

   

During one of my last trips some friends asked me to share all the knowledge I have gained through these years that has transformed my life from ordinary to amazing since I live a healthy lifestyle and believe that anyone can lead a good life just by making the right choices and leading a balanced life by combining healthy eating, healthy habits and healthy mind.

I was lucky to be born in Greece, a place so rich and abundant in history and culture, with fragrances and tastes of rare beauty. I had the privilege of meeting wise people who taught me the secrets of good living; how to love myself, how to find happiness in simplicity, how to encourage my free spirit, and they showed me that out there exists a wonderful world where you can live awesome.

This is my world, my house of good living. I will keep the doors wide open because you are all invited to join me and share your experiences and thoughts. Only by sharing our knowledge and caring about each other can we prosper and exist. We all are entitled to Good Living, the only state of life worth living. So come along for this wild adventure; I promise you will enjoy every moment of the ride.

   

Did I mention that the last present I recently received was a back-pack and a tent!