Gucci Sandals for the NY Summer!

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I really need to stop going to stores during my lunch breaks!
Went to DSW to "browse" and guess what?
Major clearances...
And even Gucci was on sale! And what a sale!

Please excuse my destroyed feet... They are taking a beating in the transition between winter and summer shoes...

Anyway... This wonderful Gucci sandal's original price was $300. Too much for a leather flip flop, non?
It was marked down to $149 and then........... 50% OFF!!!!

For $75, I will have a new friend to take me walking during those hot NY summer days!

Ciao bella!!!

Empress Sissi!!!!

 
One of my dreams has come true... Actually TWO of my dreams did come true during my Austrian trip this year: one was to be in the very places that "The Sound of Music" were filmed (this will be a later post) and also to be in the places Sissi was, seeing her rooms, her personal objects, clothes, etc...

Sissi was a passion of mine since a very tender age mainly because of the 1950's trilogy of movies with Romy Schneider...

How can you NOT fall in love with her and her story. Of course the reality was different than the movie, but her allure continues for generations.
I could see the affection the Austrian people have for her.

Translating her fame to my American husband (who never saw the films or knew who she was) , was kind of easy: "She was the 19th century version of Lady Di". Both were very unhappy with the court life, were slaves of the cult of beauty (one being anorexic and the other probably bulimic) and had very sad ends.

I was very fortunate to be able to go to the Hofburg Palace, where they have the Sissi Museum with lots of her personal objects, even simple things like her long stockings... And I was also very happy to go to the Schloß Schönbrun, where she lived (for some time at least).

Of course, photos were forbidden, but if you know Lulu, this will not deter her!!!!

So here we have some sneaked shots from my beloved Sissi experience!

My dad and  going up to the Sissi Museum in the Hofburg Palace

Me and some important friends... LOL. Sissi is there top left.

Place she lived, Schloß Schönbrun

 Sissi's hubby Franz Joseph's room (where he died).

Sissi portrait in one of Schloß Schönbrun rooms. 

 

A mannequin representing Sissi and the amount of hair she insisted in not cutting! It took like 3 hours to have it combed and set in elaborated hairstyles. She went nuts if any of them fell. Well, I think she was kind of crazy anyway.

She would do well in Hollywood today: she was basically anorexic and weighted herself maniacally.
Could not believe that I did see her scale and managed to sneak a picture!

Me trying to take a break from the crazy rain that plagued us! Because of it, I wasn't able to see the grounds and gardens...
Oh, well, next time.

Then of course I did get a ton of Sissi souvenirs and a bio that I am aching to read!

So happy with the memories this trip is giving me!

My Austrian loot!!!!

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My Austrian trip was one of the best ever!
Yes, did just come back from a dream trip: Vienna and Salzburg... A post or many posts dedicated to this trip will come soon... But just wanted to do a quick one with my Austrian shopping...

Did not buy much in terms of clothing (NY is way cheaper), but went nuts buying souvenirs from my favorite Austrians!

And they are:

Sissi the Empress (their 19th Century version of Lady Di), a favorite of mine since childhood thanks to the Romy Schneider 1950's trilogy. I will write a specific post about her later. I did manage to go to her rooms, see her personal articles, including her weight scale and gym paraphernalia!
Bought a biography, a photo book, many tin boxes and earrings with a replica of her famous hair star pins.  I did indulge in getting playing cards with her, Franz Joseph and other Austrian royalty on them ;-)

And my room even had an ORIGINAL Klimt on it ! NOT, LOL!!!!!

Gustav Klimt - always loved his paintings. Now even more after seeing the beauties at the Schönbrunn Palace . Note the silk scarf, the book and the calendar...

Mozart - my purchases were limited to food and drink from this awesome composer... did buy some candy (LOL), AMAZING Mozartkugeln pistachio filled chocolate bonbons and a beer stein (not pictured)!. On the more cultural side, we did manage to visit his birth house in Salzburg (post to come later).

Sound of Music - my favorite movie ever! Did buy a souvenir book in the very Mirabell Gardens - one of the movie's locations. Did also the famous Sound of Music tour in Salzburg. A post will be dedicated to that beautiful day!

Will have to sit down with more time and share some of my pictures (took more than a thousand!) and impressions... Stay tuned...
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Little things that make life happier...

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A girl can never have enough watches/jewelry, right?

I did meet my friend/aunt Beth on my Austrian trip and she gave me a great gift: an Emporio Armani bangle watch!

Loved it!

This is me wearing it in Vienna with my beloved parents!

 And my mom is wearing the famous Ralph Lauren scarf, from the Ralph Lauren Extravaganza!!!

Thanks Bethinha! Loved the gift!!!!