AIRBRUSHING ...

Dear readers, this week ‘J’ IS FOR *J*UST LOOK: AIRBRUSHING!
Now, where was I? Oh yes! Airbrushing. There has been much comment in the UK press about airbrushed images and their effect particularly on the impressionable young. A survey found that half of 16 to 21-year-old girls consider having surgery to change the way they look and 42% of 11 to 16-year-olds admit to watching what they eat. What’s your view? Do celebrities, politicians etc have the right to have their ‘image’ retouched and set impossibly unreal standards? Here are some examples:
1.Kim Cattrall (above)
2. Twiggy - before and after her (later banned) Olay shoot

3. Keira Knightley – poster and less-busty reality4.Tina Fey – minus scar on chin 5. Filippa Hamilton received an apology from Ralph Lauren for digitally narrowing her waist
6. George Clooney 7. Angelina Jolie 8. Plus Size model IS IT OK FOR CELEBRITIES ETC. TO AIRBRUSH THEIR IMAGES? AND THE REST OF US? DO YOU RETOUCH YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHS?!
Do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock.
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented.
Enjoy,
XOXO LOLA:)

ICONS

Dear readers, this week ‘I’ IS FOR *I*CONS!
Everyone has different perceptions about what constitutes an icon. What do you rate?
Here are some to get us started:
1. Micky (above)
2. Tutankamun

3. Marilyn 4. Kids playing in a downpour, Cuba

5. Vietnam horror 6 & 7. A couple of Aircraft: Concorde and a Vickers Spitfire
And Logos: 8. The BBC (HQ) 9. Shell And, finally, a more recent icon:
10. Uggie & “his” 2012 Golden Globe award for The Artist! WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ICON FOR YOU – A PERSON, MONUMENT OR …?
Do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented. Have a great weekend!
Enjoy,
XOXO LOLA:)

SEASONAL SHOWCASES ...

Dear readers, I am participating in Ruby Tuesday2, Rednesday & Alphabe-Thursday with some of the *h*istoric display windows of the, er, (Oops!) past season which I couldn’t help posting! Here they are:
1. Au Printemps, Paris (above & below) 2. Browns, London 3. Butler & Wilson 4. D & G 5.Harvey Nicks 6. Hermès 7. Barney’s Lady Gaga’s Cove & Boudoir

8. Liberty

9. Links of London 10. Alexander McQueen 11. Selfridges 12. Sergio Rossi

13.Tiffany

14. Louis Vuitton 15. Agent Provocateur ANY OUTSTANDING SEASONAL DISPLAY WINDOWS WHERE YOU LIVE?
Do check out other Ruby Tuesday2, Rednesday & Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented. Have a great weekend!
Enjoy,
XOXO LOLA:)

OR: WHY CHRISTMAS TAKES PLACE 12 DAYS LATER HERE ...

Dear readers, here in Spain, it is traditional for children to receive their Christmas presents from the three "Reyes Magos" – *G*AZPAR, MELCHOR and BALTASAR (above) this Thursday, January 5 (Epiphany Eve) - as per the Biblical story (see my previous post on gold, frankincense and myrrh). Almost every Spanish city or town organises parades or cabalgatas (pictured above and below) in the evening when the Kings and their servants parade and throw sweets to the children (and parents). Astute children (and parents) open umbrellas to collect them!
The parade of the three kings in Alcoy, Valencia (pictured below) claims to be the oldest in the world, having started in 1886. After the parade, there is a large feast, eaten either out at a restaurant or in someone’s home. There are traditional foods like jamon (usually pata negra), polvorones, roscos navidaños (a traditional, ring-shaped sweet bread or cake), drinks and Spanish Christmas carols, like the zambomba, may be sung. While the families are out celebrating, the Kings are said to visit each house and leave presents under the tree or in children’s shoes (as per letters left earlier in eg.the letterbox at this shopping center, captured above).
On January 6th, the centrepiece of la fiesta de los Reyes Magos is the Three Kings’ Cake or Roscón de Reyes (pictured above) - a sweet, ring-shaped cake with a small gift (a small figurine of the baby Jesus or another surprise depending on the region) and an actual dry broad bean (don’t ask!) baked into the middle. The one who gets the gift is crowned king/queen for the day but whoever gets the bean has to pay the value of the cake to the person who originally bought it or provide the following year’s King’s cake. Presents are opened - like a typical Western Christmas Day only 12 days later!

As times change, many families in Spain, though, are beginning to acknowledge Santa Claus and giving gifts on Christmas Day. Some families even celebrate both!
ANY SPECIAL NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS WHERE YOU LIVE? OR HAVE SEEN?
Do check out other Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock, Ruby Tuesday2 and Rednesday @ suelovescherries.
Finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented. Have a great weekend!
Enjoy, and my very best wishes to you and yours for 2012!
XOXO LOLA:)