Glamorous online shopping [CHRISTMAS]

OUTER BEAUTY

Well today is what the Americans call Black Friday, when everyone goes mad shopping. However, as much as I love to spend time in real stores, I´m slightly obsessed with online shopping. Not only for its' convenience from the sofa, but also how easy it is to send a link with the exact details of what you want for Christmas e.g to your husband...

7 Habits of grateful people

It´s the little things...

INNER BEAUTY
Being grateful has many advantages. Even science show real proof how this affects our health. This is of course not done just over a day. Huffington Post have shared seven habits of grateful people to copy paste into your own life if you´re not already doing it. This list also got me reflecting over my own habits. What about you? And read the whole article in Huffington Post here.

1 Write a journal
Writing a gratitude journal is great, but rather time consuming. Instead I try to just think it through when going to sleep.

2 Don´t avoid the negative
This is very real and important. Our lives will always have some negative influences, and just being "positive" about everything isn´t always the answer. To get to the real positive side of life we sometimes have to go throw negative emotions and recognise them. (And when you´re done; pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together:)

A good morning quote [Thankful]

[Image via The things we say]

Set the table [and give THANKS]

Clean, stylish and a delicious smell of the season

OUTER BEAUTY

It´s soon time to give thanks, although we all know being grateful is something we should practice everyday...In Sweden we actually don´t celebrate Thanksgiving at all, like all you American readers do. But since being grateful for good friends being such a good reason per se to throw a dinner party, we´re doing it anyway.

A good morning quote

[Pinterest image via 2013yearoflettering.tumblr.com]

It´s all about hydration [KIEHLS' overnight masque REVIEW]

OUTER BEAUTY
I love the thought of having skincare working hard during night. When I was in Marbella in August I felt bad for getting too much sun and drying out my skin after a long hot summer. So I went shopping for something extremely hydrating to still my conscience a little bit. Having not tried out KIEHL'S, although I know beauty editors rave about the brand, I decided to give it a try with this Ultra facial overnight hydrating masque. Since then I use it at least once a week and really love it. The texture is a light colourless gel, feeling hydrating and luxurious. Another plus is that it's extremely lasting, since a little goes a long way I never seem to finish the jar. I´m totally hooked on overnight masques and this one really delivers the important hydration for healthy looking and glowing skin.

The Monday Pep Talk | [What she knows for sure]

INNER BEAUTY
The one-and-only Oprah has come up with her all time favourites of her own "What I know for sure", a monthly column in her O Magazine. Here are the top twenty that Oprah herself lives by, she clearly has thought this thru over the years. 

Take me back! [hotel HURRICANE Tarifa]

OUTER BEAUTY

Let´s go back to summer for a little while...Every summer while in Marbella we go to the little town Tarifa. With its mile long beaches it´s a surfers paradise that almost makes you believe you´re not in Europe anymore...Hurricane is one of the most well known hotels along the coast of Tarifa. It´s almost as if time had stood still here and a bit magical, not an ordinary luxury hotel but a cool hotel with style. This is vacation where you can do nothing but check out from the ordinary life and go with the flow...

Camel is always right [Carolyn Bessette Kennedy]

OUTER BEAUTY

The classic colour camel is always right, and a classic coat or cardigan is something to hold on to for many years. The style icon of camel will always be the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy who put the colour on the fashion radar, and it have stayed ever since. Did you know that Carolyns' fashion rule was "never to mix more than three colours" and main colours should be beige, black and white since they will always go together. 

Words to live by

INNER BEAUTY

I think this is such a great reminder for many of us. It´s all too easy to dream away and wishing to be somewhere else instead. This is actually only postponing happiness. I practice this thinking myself, and I can tell you that my daily happiness rate has definitely gone up with this thinking. See it as a purpose to be where you are right now. And if you don´t like it, work strategically for a change. 

[Image from Pinterest via shaylalilian.com]

Happiness quotes to change your thinking

INNER BEAUTY
Happiness is an inside job. Sometimes we´re just lucky to have it, true, but sometimes we need to work at it. The wildly popular Marc and Angel have put together a list of the 50 best happiness quotes to change they way we think. Here are some of my favourites from that list, and don´t miss to read the whole list here.

People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be. 

Happiness comes more easily when you feel good about yourself without feeling the need for anyone else’s approval.

Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.

It only takes one person to make you happy and change your life:  YOU

Kindness is not to be mistaken for weakness, nor forgiveness for acceptance.  It’s about knowing resentment of any kind is not on the path to happiness.

Happiness and success is all about spending your life in your own way.  Be yourself.  No one can ever tell you you’re doing it wrong.

Pay attention to the little things, because when you really miss “the good old days,” you miss the little things the most, like just laughing with someone special.

[Image from Pinterest no further source known]

A touch of...[FASHION]

OUTER BEAUTY

For being a person who doesn´t really do either camo or leopard in clothes, these two trousers have actually quickly become two of my favourites this season. You get the look but it´s not that obvious. I feel that I´ve evolved in this matter now...And they´re at bargain prices as well at ZARA. 

Blankets for winter [Cuddle up]

OUTER BEAUTY

With the upcoming winter season I´m thinking blankets. I´m currently searching for a blanket for my reading sofa a k a no sticky fingers sofa... 

To the movies [GRACE KELLY]

OUTER BEAUTY

Last night I put my feet up and read the latest TATLER, with one of its' most gorgeous covers ever for December. With the upcoming film about Grace Kelly and her married life as Princess of Monaco featuring Nicole Kidman, the old school beauty is once again in the spotlight. According to TATLER and the movies' script the Princess wasn´t that happy in her pink fairytale castle overlooking the Mediterranean...anyhow this movie is set to be beautiful with grand interiors and milieus. The movie is said to open early next year. 

BON Weekend! [Champagne in Copenhagen]

The view over Copenhagen from our hotel room

OUTER BEAUTY

Last weekend we had a fantastic party weekend in Copenhagen with dear friends. We were invited to a 40th birthday party with costume theme 1920's.

Home with the LSD

OUTER BEAUTY
Let´s start the Friday with Lauren Santo Domingo a k a LSD. If you´re curious about how this uber gorgeous it-girl lives, head over to keepitchic for a look of the photos from Spanish VOGUE.

A good morning BATH

OUTER BEAUTY

This bathroom caught my attention since I´m obsessed with drinking tea every night in one of my big Spode cups. Look at the gorgeous blue and white patterned tile! Could almost be Spode...

[Image from Pinterest via Design Chic originally from Architectural Digest]

Whip it! [Foundation REVIEW]

OUTER BEAUTY
Foundation is very important for the over all result when it comes to makeup. I picked up Max Factors Whipped Creme after reading that the makeup artist backstage at Valentino raved about it saying* "it makes you look like a more beautiful version of yourself". This in combination with an extremely good price made me curious if this could deliver, really. My verdict is that this is a really good buy, I´m even surprised that it´s that good. I love it for everyday wear. It goes on extremely easy, fast and blends in more than well. There are several colours to choose from, all gorgeous. This is quickly becoming a new favourite on my shelf.

[* source InStyle Magazine UK November 2013]

Office inspiration

OUTER BEAUTY
Such a chic gorgeous home office...

[Image from Pinterest viastylelogistics.tumblr.com]

The Monday Pep Talk | Career benefits

INNER BEAUTY
According to the author Nicholas Lore of the book "The Pathfinder", these are the obvious benefits of choosing a career that fits you:

You enjoy a better health, a longer life, more vitality

You have enhanced personal and professional relationships

You are more successful and productive

You have heightened self-esteem

You become a better role model for your children

You lead a life that counts

You look forward to life

You have a deeper, richer, more authentic sense of humour

So, let´s do it!

A Grand experience [BLISS at SPA]

So beautiful and peaceful 

OUTER BEAUTY

You know I love a good spa, and who doesn´t? I especially love a tranquil luxury spa in the middle of a busy city. This is exactly what the Nordic Spa & Fitness at Grand Hôtel Stockholm is. If you live in Stockholm I must say this is the perfect day spa, since this will really check you out from the daily life in both body and mind, and this exactly what I did last week. 

Beauty at home [AERIN]

OUTER BEAUTY
Aerin Lauder has just recently published a gorgeous coffee table book called Beauty at home. If you want to see more from the book and read an interview with Aerin Lauder where she talks about style, being the only female in her house and what she would do if she wasn´t part of the Lauder family (she would be a magazine editor then) head over to the blog of Mark D. Sikes.

Chic with faux fur

OUTER BEAUTY

This season it´s all about faux fur. I love it since it´s so easy to add some extra chicness and warmth to an outfit. You can find faux fur fashion everywhere, since every brand with respect do something in fake fur this winter. Ebay has a large selection and the high street stores have plenty to choose from this season. This is my latest find. 

Going for GOLD [glam up daily life]

My golden bike...

OUTER BEAUTY
What don´t you do to glam up your daily life? Since we bicycle a lot in our family, I now must admit it gives me more pleasure since I sprayed my bike in a golden colour. This is so easy and funny I can´t believe I didn´t do it earlier. All those years I have been cycling around on a my old boring bike...

Taking care of it [HAIR]

OUTER BEAUTY
Hair. It is a big thing. For most of us. Having long, thick hair takes some work though. Here are some ground rules:

Cut it more often
"The ends of long hair have been styled and colored so many times that they get dry and frizzy quickly." This I don´t tend to do, since I really want my hair to be long. Although I´ve recently started cutting it more often and it actually is a difference for the better.

Care for your scalp
"Massaging a serum that contains essential oils, such as avocado and coconut, into your roots a few times a week will "nourish the scalp, creating the right foundation for healthier, stronger hair with less breakage." Hmm...this I don´t do.

Cut it right
"The shape and layers keep thick hair from looking heavy on the bottom and add body to fine hair." Totally agree that the right cut makes a total difference. Identify your face shape and choose a proven cut for that shape. There are tons of tools online to decide from and try out.

Dry shampoo and dry conditioner
"Long hair is so heavy that it gets weighed down easily, and the dry shampoo will also add volume." I´m addicted to dry shampoo. One of the products that really works wonders every time. Coming up soon with a post about my favourite dry shampoo.

The Monday Pep Talk | What do you undervalue?

INNER BEAUTY

A very short, but actually very powerful pep talk for all of us from time to time. Think of it; what do you undervalue about yourself? (Pro tip for these kind of exercises is to think of it as how a close friend of yours would put it. What would she/he point out that you undervalue about yourself? You know it too:)

[Image via Pinterest via Tumblr no further source found]

BON Weekend [and how is a dinner prepared in real life at Downton Abbey?]

OUTER BEAUTY

It´s the weekend! Apart from spending time with my family, having lunch in the city with friends and going to a dinner party I´m planning on staying in watching the much anticipated season premier of Downton Abbey. Oh how you´ve been missed. And what a terrible end to last season.