january favourites
CategoriesELEGANT BEAUTY, HOME DECOR, MANIFESTING LOVE & PLEASURE

Mes Petits Plaisirs – January Favourites | Neom, Oysho, TePe & L’Occitane Reviews

January is my birthday month so I gifted myself a few things I really want to share with you!

In this “January Favourites” post I will share 4 items that have truly gifted me pleasure…and made my dentist very happy with me! You’ll see why;) ENJOY! And who knows, maybe one of my January Favourites will end up being one of yours too!

Petit Plaisir No.1 – January Favourites

  1. L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil

l'occitane almond shower oil reviewA decadent body cleanser that is rich in almond oil and features a foaming oil-to-milk texture that leaves skin satiny-smooth.

I absolutely ADORE this shower oil! I have lived in a variety of countries and climates and each time tried to find a product that would give me smooth, silky, moisturised skin. Nothing really did the trick until this Almond Shower Oil.

I used to use high quality shower gels and then even higher quality (and higher priced) lotions and they worked a bit, but the next day my skin would be dry again.

This product lathers up slightly, just enough, and then, without leaving you feeling greasy, moisturises your skin.

Et voila! No need for any lotion, therefore saving you time and money!

Click HERE to easily purchase this product now. You’ll thank me, I promise:)

Petit Plaisir No. 2 – January Favourites

2. TePe Floss Sticks (found in most pharmacies)

tepe floss sticks review

Are you constantly told by your dentist that you need to floss better? I was too! The only problem was that I was flossing diligently everyday!

Finally, one dentist introduced me to these TePe Floss Sticks – I’ve not heard a word since about my plaque!

After brushing at night you simply insert the floss stick between each of your teeth and voila! That’s it! (You’ll be surprised at what comes out, even after you doing a brilliant job at brushing!)

Choose the width of your TePe Floss Sticks to match the space between your teeth. The orange, slim ones work best for me since I have very little space between my teeth, but if you have larger spaces, it’s best to purchase the wider ones.

TePe used to make their sticks out of wire and brushes but have now switched to these NEW, almost silicon material. I much prefer these NEW ones as I found the wire ones bent too easily and lost their shape, making each pick a one time use.

Petit Plaisir No.3 – January Favourites

3. NEOM Organic Candles  – Found on Amazon, Net-a-Porter, & Neomorganics.com                  

J’adore NEOM Candles! I could never find a natural, non toxic candles that didn’t give me a head ache…until I found NEOM candles that is:) I actually purchased 4 of them for my birthday earlier this month and I really am so pleased with them.happiness

The scents are labelled by how we desire to FEEL & what we desire to EXPERIENCE (in complete alignment with The Elegant Life Principles, right?)

Some of the names are: SLEEP, TRANQUILITY, HAPPINESS, DE-STRESS…

Their promise: 100% natural fragrances for the mind & body, made in Britain from ethically sourced, sustainable origins, only natural & organic ingredients, no petrochemical paraffin or mineral wax, no artificial perfume only pure essential oils and no harsh preservatives. My kind of company. Not to mention that the founder, Nicola, is a woman with a whole lot of Soul.

Petit Plaisir No. 4 – January Favourites

4. OYSHO Loungewear & Pyjamas 

elegant black satin pyjamas

OYSHO is a beautiful Spanish clothing retailer specialising in women’s homewear and undergarments.

I came across them in Abu Dhabi 5 years ago when we were there on vacation. I am still wearing the nightwear and loungewear I bought as I just love them so much!

So, when I saw the OYSHO store here in Dubai I jumped at the chance to purchase more! I purchased these black satin pyjamas (to see me model them, watch the video above at minute 7:50) and three other items as I realised I had gotten back into the rut of wearing old, worn out clothes around the house, calling them my “cozies”. Can you relate?

Well, this brand is seriously the best brand around. They are high in quality, fit the body perfectly (as perfectly as any high end item would) and the prices are shockingly reasonable! I still cannot believe the price tag of these high quality items!

Have a look for a store near you.  If you live in North America the only place I could find to purchase items was HERE. 

Et voila! Ce sont mes petits plaisirs pour le mois de janvier. (Here’s some French for those of you who requested to hear more French from me:)

I’m very excited about February because it’s the month of LOVE – and you know we’re all about that here at The Elegant Life;) So… I have a petit surprise for you!

See you next week!

Love,

 

CategoriesHOME DECOR, MANIFESTING INNER PEACE, MANIFESTING LOVE & PLEASURE

How to Use the * Konmari Method * to Become a Woman Who Lives Elegantly

Marie Kondo, creator of The Konmari Method, got it right when she said,

When you surround yourself with possessions that spark joy, you’ll create a life and home you love.

In Marie’s book, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, she teaches an elegant method that will help you get to know yourself better and create a life and home that truly represents you and the life you desire to live.

Want to have a little tour of my home?

Come inside and I’ll show you some things that spark JOY in me and how you can use my tips and Marie’s to fully become a Woman Who Lives Elegantly.

Now, if we relate the Konmari Method to The Elegant Life, which is a life filled with:

  • a knowing of who you really are
  • a knowing of how to move through life with ease & elegance
  • a knowing of inner peace
  • a knowing of your beauty & signature self
  • a knowing of what brings you JOY and continuously adding more of it to your life
  • a knowing of what your gifts and passions are and how to express them in the world
  • a knowing that you are part of Divine energy
  • and a knowing that Life is Beautiful!

We can see that The Konmari Method is a method that women can use to help them live The Elegant Life! Because, when we focus on JOY, as Marie Kondo suggests, we are in direct alignment with the essence of The Elegant Life.

When we ask the possessions in our home, “Do you spark JOY within me?” we are literally creating our Elegant Life by letting go of what isn’t us and isn’t serving us, and only keeping and letting in the things that represent who we are and the life we truly desire to live.

French Homes and the Konmari Method

There is something I have always adored about French homes and french decor.  When you visit someone’s home in France you really get a sense of who the owners are.

French homes are not always typically “beautiful” or put together like you’d see in a magazine, but they ooze individuality and presence.

They have a personality, an essence all unto themselves and you REALLY get to know more about whoever’s home you’re in.

It’s a pleasure to walk around and hear stories about the possessions they have on display.  

It’s so intriguing to witness the colour palettes they use.

And again, it’s not that the decor looks perfect, it’s how the person has used their home as another way to express their signature self.

Have a look at these Parisian Apartments featured on TheArchitectualDigest website.

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I have walked through many beautiful homes and felt no soul whatsoever, and I have walked through very modest homes and felt absolutely enamoured by them.

The difference?

The owner’s sense of self and a knowingness of who they are and what sparks JOY within them.

Take a moment right now and wander around your home, or simply spin around in your chair and look around the room you’re currently in… does it show who you are?  Does everything in it spark JOY within you?

If someone were to walk into your home, would they be able to know something about you without you even speaking?

A Parisian in My Home!

A few months back we had our friends over for dinner; Jean-Louis, the husband, is Parisian.

The moment Jean-Louis walked into my home he began wandering.  He looked at everything I had on my walls and the things I had on little tables and as he did this I could hear him saying, “Oh!” and “Mmmmm…”.

I have to admit that the francophile in me LOVED that he, the Parisian, found my home fascinating and interesting. 

The real feeling in me though, was one of happiness.  Because I could see him enjoying our home and learning more about us as a result.

One object intrigued him enough to ask a question and this opened up a whole beautiful discussion.

So I ask you again, hoping not to sound too redundant, “Does your home spark JOY in you?”

Do the clothes you own, the blankets that cover you, the photos and pictures on the walls, represent YOU?

What do they say about you?

If you don’t feel your home represents you, then I highly recommend you begin using the Konmari Method that Marie Kondo so beautifully teaches.

This month on the blog we have been focusing on knowing yourself, honouring yourself and loving yourself…

Has anything shifted for you in your life this month after reading the blog posts?  I’d be so curious to hear about it!

I’ve already heard from some women who say they have given themselves more permission this month to enjoy things they love.

Ça c’est merveilleux!

Next week we will end this month’s theme with a BIG CELEBRATION as the winner of the Self-Love Challenge will be announced!!!

Stay tuned for that!

With so much love,

signatt

 

 


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  elegant living

how to manifest
CategoriesELEGANT TRAVEL, HOME DECOR, MANIFESTING PROSPERITY

How the Divine Can Elegantly Manifest Things for You

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As requested by readers I will share the gorgeous story of how elegantly the Divine orchestrated the events necessary for us to manifest our dream of owning a home, on a certain plot of land, by the Sea. Wait until you read the STUNNING part near the end!

Here’s the background…

We owned a property in Turkey since 2007. My husband is orignally from Turkey and we just love going there every summer because of the exquisite healthy food, the amazing blue sea, the generosity of the people to bring you anything, literally ANYTHING you desire, and the beautiful weather.

Not to mention visiting his family;)

When we purchased our first home  in Turkey we renovated it and loved it, but it never truly felt like ours because my husband’s parents lived there more than we did, and therefore changed some of our decorating to suit their needs. You know, sheets on sofas…ahem…not my thing;)

The one thing that stayed the same was the sea…ahhhhh, the SEA…. It-is-stunning!

Every year we would swim in the sea and stare up at a piece of land just a hop, skip and a jump away from the beach, the restaurants, the walkway and nightlife.

The problem was that this land had been held up in the courts for one reason or another and couldn’t be released for development.

Every year we said, “Man, if that land ever came available we would SO want a house there.”

“Can you imagine?” we’d say to each other.

Visioning the Dream

At this time I didn’t fully understand how to manifest things in my life, but I’m a dreamer, so I did what felt natural and began picturing myself  living in a home on that land.

I envisioned myself eating on a balcony, staring at the blue sea and feeling so blissfully at peace and happy.

Years went by, six to be exact.

A different piece of land opened up that was right by the sea.  Whoah!!!  A superb, famous developer bought the land and created a prestigious community.

We toured these homes in awe of the luxurious lifestyle people were living.

The prices were very, very expensive and at that time we did not have enough to purchase one.

So, we continued to dream and follow The Art of Living Elegantly.

The next summer we saw some new, state of the art homes being built on the other side of the bay.  These were GORGEOUS!!! When we drove up to them, I felt, “This is ME. This is what I desire to live in and enjoy.”

The price tag?

€1, 300,000.  At this time we were doing much better financially since my business had really taken off.  We contemplated how we could make it work, but it was still going to be a stretch that we really didn’t want to take on.”

I stood in the show home and put my energy there.

My whole being said, “I WILL have a view of the sea like that and I WILL write my next book overlooking that view.”

What to Do While You Wait for the Universe

Summer holidays were over and when we returned home, I filmed a video telling my online community that I had just found my home and I was going to manifest it.  I posted a link to it and claimed to the Universe that it was mine.

My husband loved the house, but he kept saying, “It’s on the wrong side of the bay though.  It’s going to get direct sun all day making it so difficult to enjoy the balcony and outdoor area. Plus, you can’t walk to the sea, you have to drive.  That’s not what we want.”

I became a bit grumpy with him because I felt he was dimming my vision and being negative.

Periodically, I would watch the advertising video for the house.  I couldn’t get the image of me, writing my next book, with that view, out of my mind!

You Have to Surrender to Manifest

Anyway, I surrendered my desire to the Universe, knowing that it wasn’t up to me anymore and did what I know works….to carry on living my life with pleasure and beautiful experiences so my energetic vibration would be high.

The following summer we went to Turkey a bit earlier than usual.  My parents were visiting us in England and hadn’t yet been to our Turkey house.

We had never, ever gone in May, but this time we decided to go earlier with my parents.  What did we see?

The land of our dreams had diggers on it!

What was going on we wondered???

Then we saw a sign.  A sign of the prestigious company who had develped the expensive & luxurious development by the sea previously.

There was a sales office set up, so we went in to enquire.  They told us the land had FINALLY been released so they bought it.  They were going to be creating another luxury development on it.

AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

You can imagine our excitement, but wait… this story only gets better!

It turned out that the owner of this company was around…just by chance (yeah…right;)

They said we could speak with him. He was so down to earth and kind.

He told us that most of the plots had already gone to people who had bought other properties from him in the past, but he was very open to showing us the plots he had left.

We walked around the vacant plots of land and were squeezing each other’s hands constantly.  We could not believe what was happening.

Then, after choosing which plot we loved best, without even receiving any money from us, he called his personal secretary, told her to assign this plot to us and said, “Let me know in a month if you want it. We’d love to have you here.”

The rest of the trip we were absolutely giddy. We started planning how we could gather the funds.

Back in England…Taking Divine Inspired Action

Once we arrived back in England, we went to the bank, looked over our finances and although it was going to be a stretch, we knew that our Life Vision for the future was to live 6 months in Turkey and 6 months in London and around the world, so we’d make it work.

We immediately put our current home in Turkey up for sale, and within 3 1/2 weeks we sold the house! But… not for the exact amount we wanted, or needed.  Hmmm, this could be a problem…

Here comes the stunning part…

My husband decided to book a flight to Istanbul where the developer’s office was so that he could speak with the owner directly and ask to set up a special method of payment.

He arrived at the appointment and the guy wasn’t there.  His personal secretary told my hubby that her boss had been trying to finalize a deal for years and today was the final meeting… and it wasn’t going well, thus the lateness.

At this point my hubby called me and said, “The guy is not going to be in a good mood if that deal doesn’t go ahead. I’m not sure how to handle this.”

I told him that we needed to do our Elegant Clearing Process™ together until he arrived.  We had to have zero expectations and just clean, clean, clean to remove any obstacles that we may not be aware of that could hinder us getting the land.

Clean and clean we did, when all of a sudden the man appeared.

The Elegant Moment of Manifestation

With a huge smile on his face the man said, “I just made 2 million dollars and I’m in a GRRRREAT mood! Today’s your lucky day, sir. You tell me. What do you want to pay?”

My husband shared with me that at this point he was in shock.  What?  The man was asking what we wanted to pay for the land?  What do you say to that?

I think the man could see how stunned my husband was so he led him into his office and said, “Look, I give friends a price and I’d be willing to give it to you for this too.  How does $__________ sound?”

He took 300,000 off the price!!! Can you even believe it?

The end of this story is that we are now living in our home, in one of the most prestigious communities, on the plot of land we dreamed about for years.

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Again, you really could not dream up this scenario, could you?

Being in Bodrum, in May, exactly when the developer was there.

And, the developer finalizing a HUGE sale and gifting us 300,000 off the purchase price.

I mean…. if this doesn’t give you faith in the elegance and ease of how the Universe can manifest, I don’t know what will. (Well, I’ve got other incredible stories to share with you, but all in time;)

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So, again, the reason I share this story with you is not to show you how “wonderful” my life is, but to show what is possible for YOU and to inspire you to KNOW deep within yourself that the Divine wants the absolute best for you.

The Divine is MORE than willing to elegantly manifest that which you desire, if it’s in the highest good for you and everyone concerned.

Each time you set an intention, then clean and surrender to the outcome, beauty and elegance is bestowed upon you and your dreams will manifest.

Divine Timing

Now, remember, we have only some control over the timing.  My hubby and I dreamed of this land for years!  By the time we moved in last year, it had been almost 8 years since we first started dreaming of that land.

We often want things NOW, and that isn’t necessarily the best for us.  We’ll never understand why at the time, and if we let it bother us, we can get really, really bothered.  But, as I’ve said over and over again, the timing and the “how” is none of our business.

Don’t get me wrong, when you follow The Art of Living Elegantly, manifestations can be almost instant or within a day or two.  I’ve experienced countless quick miracles, but some take longer.

Sometimes we need to go through or experience certain things so that we can BECOME the woman who can fully receive that desire.  Our desire will not manifest until we are ready.

We think we’re ready, but when that desire actually manifests we see why it had to manifest now instead of earlier.

You may say, “Well, while I wait for my desire to manifest, what do I do, Erin?”

Ahhhh…. that’s the other beautiful part of the Elegant Life Formula….

If you desire to create a life you LOVE and become an Elegant Manifestor,  I would highly recommend you have a look at The Art of Living Elegantly.

Here’s to our desires!!!!  Here’s to miracles!!!!  Here’s to The Elegant Life!

“See” you next week!  I wish you an incredibly pleasurable rest of the week and weekend.

With love,

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