My boy

Ollie

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Horses

This weekend my friend Amy Finer is coming to visit me in Farnham. yay!
She does horseriding. I would love to do it, horses are amazing.

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Happy birthday!

This my mum. when she was my age (19), then about 25. isn't she pretty? It's her birthday today, she's now 47.
I love her very much :)

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Small Back Room

I have been working for one month in a branding/design agency in London called Small Back Room. They are a small-ish company in Waterloo with clients such as Shakespeare's Globe, BP, Shop West End, British Museum etc, and they do branding/3D design/exhibitions and events...
its all pretty cool stuff. I have learnt a lot from this experience, as they actually give me live briefs to work on - right now I'm doing a scrapbook/journal for the client that is coming tomorrow. Exciting times! And they've asked me to stay again, for the second time, although unfortunately i can't because I need to work (as in, money work) before the summer. I might work in the Four Seasons Hotel again.

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Lion King

It's Ollie and mine's one year anniversary this Friday, and I REALLYYY want to go and see Lion King! I went to Leicester Sq yesterday to try and get tickets and it's really hard because the only discounted tickets they have are going to come out Friday at 10am (but im working), and people actually queue up in front of the door to get them! not sure i can miss work for that, so i'll leave it.. but i've seen this show before about 3 yrs ago and it's amazinggggg. I remember the set and the costumes were fantastic too.
when i was small I dressed up as Simba and my granma made my suit. It's so nice being a kid!

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Summer Plans

Going camping with my friends in Vila Nova de Mil Fontes, a cute town in Portugal. I love love love love love love the sea. x

Friends 2

Friends 1

Some people I love. Good times!

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London Nights

Since I've been working in London I've been loving the city even more. London. Such an easy name to say, such a beautiful place to visit. I would adore living in London, especially somewhere along the River or in Notting Hill (when I'm rich?).

Me and ollie went to a show at the Shakespeare's Globe (i've always loved theatre, and also I needed to go to do some research for my agency) so we had a nice little night out.

Saw Henry VIII, nice but tiring to stand for three hours, amazing actors though. I would love to be the one on the stage.

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Lunch

Went to giraffe on the South Bank for my work lunch break. It's a cool restaurant - really colourful and friendly, i like it. i LOVE their logo, "love eat live ", i am considering changing this blog to that. cos really, that's what we all do - love, eat, LIVE.
The meal: i had tiger shrimp with this yum sauce, a pasta veggie dish and a beer. Ollie had the shrimp too, a burger (typical guy) and beer. Delicious.

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Life essential

All we need is Love! cheesy but true. I've been really lucky so far with my love life, and I have an amazing boyfriend that I will show you later. life is great. x

Other house essentials

I have always wanted to have my own dog. I have a chocolate labrador in Portugal (lives with my dad) and a cat in Brussels (mom) who recently died :(.

I want to have a husky / german shepherd / cocker spaniel. This one kinda looks like me too which is funny. I would hug and kiss him so much! and he could be on my lap whilst watching movies in the sofa!
besides... don't you think he would go well with the furniture? :)


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Future House? Yes please

I have been spending a lot of time in London - every day, from 9 to 5, to be more exact. As I said, I'm interning with this branding agency called Small Back Room, and really really enjoying it. I've learnt so much! I could definetely see myself working here, or someplace like this, a small agency in london. aa so much i wanna do with my life. I also want to have a flat in London - a cosy, sweet little appartment that will be mine and I can decorate it however I want. I have always really liked interior design and decorating, I considered doing it as a course but then ended up in the big advertising world. If I had a flat in London, it would have to be quite light (as there is almost no sun in England), very cosy, lots of cushions and I would put candles and black and white photography everywhere. These images are some examples... Laura Ashley and Ikea. I don't care what people think of it - i love Ikea! they are affordable and simple yet nice. Just the way I like it.

ps. i've ALWAYS wanted a bed that, on top of a wardrobe thing.my stepdad told me he would build me one but, surprise surprise, he never did.Poo.


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Reportage

One of my favourite styles of photography. J'adore! I would have enjoyed doing a photography course but I guess I can always pursue it part-time. Reportage photography usually goes hand in hand with Journalism, another interesting career option. More pictures up soon! x

I love Photography

First up: Polaroid cameras. love love love. I had bought one online a year ago but sadly it never came so my bf offered me one in the summer. I have only used it a couple of times though, the films are soo expensive and as you know student's don't really have that much spare cash.
Never the less, love the type of pictures the cameras take, such as these examples.
Will post some of my own pics soon, I used them to make a book...
The colours are amazing

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ps. http://www.poladroid.net/

Summer Plans

I can't waaaait for this summer to come! Uni has pretty much finished, doing workplacement now in an agency in London (more on that later), and only 2 final things to give in next week and then I will be free until september! Summer Plans: 3 holidays with friends, one with my boyfriend to croatia, and one to the Big City with my mum. I'm very excited about the last one and will take lots of pictures x

Food makes me happy

The title of my blog is Joie de Vivre, which means Love for life. And one of the things that makes me happy is fooooood. Cheese and chocolate are one of the two things I adore.

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Mmmm

Where I'm from you have amazing food - portuguese cakes & stews & especially fresh fish, crab, seafood... mmmm I am so hungry and it's almost lunch time. Besides portuguese food, my other favourite type of food is THAI, I absolutely love it, I could eat it everyday. My boyfriend sometimes cooks for me and he makes an amazing thai green curry with chicken and veggies. BUT, the best Thai food I've ever had, hands down, is from Thailand Number One. Went to Lincoln with one of my best friends and she introduced me to it. We had shrimp starters, curreys and wine, simply delicious. If u have a chance go to it - it's annoying there's only three in England though :( x

Home Sweet Home

Ah Portugal, I miss you... Since I'm feeling a little bit homesick I thought I'd tell you where I'm from. The top images are Lisbon, where I was born. It's a wonderful city full of charm, little coffee places on pretty squares and a marina near the river that crosses the city:Tagus. In Portugal people live simple lives, they don't get a lot of money and they don't need it. Families are happy, people are often outdoors and the sun is usually out. The two bottom images are Cascais, where I live in Portugal. its about 30min away from Lisbon, near the sea. Pretty, isnt it? x

Bonjour!

Hellooo wow this is exciting! Ok, my name is Salome Van Leuven and I am Dutch/Portuguese.

5 little facts about me:

- I'm doing an Advertising&Branding degree in Farnham

- My home country is Portugal although I grew up in Belgium

- I speak 4 languages

- chocolate & cheese are my favourites

- I love my life

So, I created this blog because I want to keep a journal of what I like: inspirations, aspirations, and all the other little things that make me smile.

Have fun!

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