THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE AND RED LIPSTICK

Upbeat 70s Greek songs sang by a girl choir were never so good! 😉That was the girls choir for the Vasilidjia (Βασιλιτζιά, Greek Cypriot dialect for basil bush) cultural team participating at a book presentation! It was on Friday night, and the girls kindly photographed me. Both the girls and their teacher/ conductor were beautifully made up, and all wore red lipstick. Now how cool is that?

The book was about the Cypriot village of Kontea, currently in the occupied part of my home country (CYPRUS).

The venue was the Kontea Home, a nice small renovated house on the beachfront. It is a cultural center and meeting place. The original Kontea village was strategically located between three cities in the fertile plain of Mesaoria.

I very much enjoyed the evening and the book looks really good. This is a nice season in CYPRUS, sunny and warm but not too hot, cool in the evening. The sea right in front of us was calm and smooth like dark satin.

Have a great afternoon, always with beauty and a book!💄💋💖💝#redlipstick #books #cyprus #choir #greece

POP QUIZ

When you think hotels, do you think the chaotic but ultra glamorous and mysterious hotels described by Charlotte Bronte? Or the dreary hotels described by Dickens? (Nobody can forget the nightmare place Pip and Estella go for tea in Great Expectations). Personally, I think of the amazing Limassol hotels, and here I am at the lobby of the boutique hotel Alasia!

As a child, Jane in Jane Eyre finds herself in a cavernous and chaotic hotel, where she imagines kidnapers are sure to be lurking; Lucy Snowe is awed by a huge place in London. Hotel Crecy in Villette (fictional name for Brussels) is the venue for grand balls and looks splendid in red velvets and gilded mirrors.

The spaces of Alasia hotel are warm and beautiful, with both a sense of home and a sense of faraway glam! 💋#Alasiahotel #Limassol #Cyprus#Victorians #hotels #Dickens #Bronte #JaneEyre #Villette#GreatExpectations

SPRING BREAK

Nice spring day today at the office of a special friend! I guess you can spot a couple of Mediterranean cultural signs in the photos: the blue eye stone on the wall to ward off the evil eye, and the freshly squeezed orange juice. (As Stephen Greenblatt put it, objects carry with them cultural energy; a lovely book on this is A History of the World in 100 Objects). The painting with the crown and black feather decoration is original by my friend! 😀

Spring time is also time for some new tattoos! One I will design myself, the other I will look for on the Internet. Stay tuned for more!💋

FIFTY SHADES OF HAIR DYE

Do you know when I realized I had black hair? When I got into Facebook! Since then, I saw myself with a shade of chestnut hair. When others told me my hair was black, I told them they were wrong. When I saw my photos on FB I realized that the others were right, and I was wrong. My self image was lighter hair. Now I'm going from gold to platinum 😀 (See the difference in the pics) Certainly a drastic change from my natural black. But I think drastic change is good. Whenever I made a drastic change in life, I won. Whenever I compromised, which sadly was the most often- whenever I compromised, I lost.

As an endnote for tonight, have a look at the amazing confectionery selection at Gloria Jeans Kolonakiou in Limassol! Yum! This is my favorite Gloria Jeans ever. It's cozy, beautiful and at an amazing spot 💋

Have a good night, always with beauty and a book! 📕
#blonde #blondehair #hairdye #facebook #GloriaJeans #selfimage

ONLY COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES

Easter Day today, and I must mention something I read in a book about the birth customs in CYPRUS (Easter is about rebirth, so I guess this is not entirely irrelevant). In pre-industrial CYPRUS, midwives used to be armed! Yes! They would carry a shotgun over their shoulder, while going from village to village on horseback. "I carried the sshipetton (σιπέττον, shotgun) everywhere, because the roads were dangerous". An interviewed midwife said.

Midwives are now back in vogue: in the UK they work with doctors to great effect. Traditionally, midwives were both respected and feared. They were associated with the mysteries of new life, and with witchcraft. In the Ancient Greek religion the Goddesses Hera, Athena and Artemis are patrons of the midwife. The newborn Goddess Artemis famously helped her mortal mother Leto deliver Apollo (Artemis's twin bro).

So, what else is new? I adopted a most beautiful stray dog, and I'm wearing the most amazing pink blouse as you can see. Pink cotton with embroidered pearls 💋❤️👠🌹
#easter #pink #pinkblouse #pearls #midwives #midwifery #cyprus#ancientgreece #goddess

TO BE OR NOT TO BE (A PRINCESS)

Being a princess in style does not equal being weak. As Madonna once told women, what you need is a big strong hand/ to lead you to the higher throne 😀 Personally, I can't get enough of this beautiful princessy tulle skirt! I bought it from the sales at Debenhams, though I don't remember the brand.

It was a warm day today, and this skirt was absolutely perfect! I very much enjoy wearing it. It's very princessy, with a modern touch.

Although I am a committed feminist, there are things about the princess trend which I like, such as the emphasis on beauty and fashion. Yet, we must remain aware that beauty can be a personal thing, it doesn't mean the same standard for everyone. And, being sweet and good mannered (as princesses are supposed to be) doesn't mean that you can't stand up and assert yourself!

Have a good evening, always with beauty and a book! ❤️💋💄

PROBABLY THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL

When you are wearing a perfect outfit, what is the best place to be -- apart from the catwalk or the fashion house? The fashion section of a bookstore, of course!!! Here I am on Friday at the beautiful KP Kyriakou Bookshop in Limassol 💋👠💄

"I thought you were off for the catwalk," a friend remarked, for indeed my outfit was perfect. "No". I told him. "But I am going to an event". (My friend couldn't have made me a better compliment. I have already told you that, if life started anew, I would go to modeling school -I don't care if I am below the "right" height- and would also take design classes).

I bought some fantastic books on fashion on Friday, including a book on Prada, another on Chanel and a memoir from the editor of Vogue!!!

For me, there are few things better in life than fashion, Lipstick and books. That's why I created The Lipstick Papers, probably the world's most beautiful blog! 😉😎💋👠💄❤️😀
#fashion #kpkyriakou #books #beauty #lipstick #limassol #catwalk#fridayfeeling #friyay

UNIQUE (AND SOME ANCIENT GREEK DIET ADVICE)

Some time ago, I did a test from a diet bible, and it turned out I am addicted to food! It's true; not only that, I am hungry all the time (I need no test to tell me, of course). When I read that Elizabeth Gaskell, the Victorian writer, was also continuously hungry, I breathed a sigh of relief. I had thought that my condition was unique.

Still, I can't cook anything except pasta, and I greatly admire those who can. When I saw my friend Thekla (from Harry's Snack Bar) cook, I knew I had to picture her for The Lipstick Papers! She cooks all the food she serves herself, with the best ingredients, and at astonishing speed 😋

Being a food addict, I am careful with my eating patterns and habits. I never diet though. I eat everything full fat, I take sugar and eat what I like. However, I am careful with the portions. I never eat too much. There are two Ancient Greek maxims which are great for all weight watchers. Moderation in all things is the one. The other, that when you finish your meal, you must have enough room in your belly for another.

Add a bit of exercise to this, and you will always have a healthy and beautiful body 💋💋💋
P.S. Many thanks to Thekla for agreeing to appear on the page! 😀
#food #foodblogger #foodie #foodblog #cooking #breakfast #larnaca#cyprus #stlazaruschurch #elizabethgaskell #eating #nodiet