Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days o' lang syne.

Have a sparkling 

new years eve!

The Monday Pep Talk | Happiness 2014

INNER BEAUTY
This is one of my favourite quotes on happiness that I think needs to be repeated from time to time. I think it´s so true. 

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it." 

Elizabeth Gilbert author of Eat, Pray, Love

[Image from Pinterest]

New Years eve party makeup [dare to be sparkling]

OUTER BEAUTY
Is this the perfect New Years eve party makeup? I think it´s gorgeous, sparkling and very party-esque. The makeup is done for RED Magazine on model Olga Maliouk by makeup artist Violette. If you want to recreate this at home, these are the products...

What to watch?

OUTER BEAUTY

We see a lot of films and series this time of year. If you only see one film during the holidays...Love actually. I cry every time. Every time, every year. And The Holiday must be mentioned here as well, qualifying as a very Christmassy feel good movie.

Snap of the holidays

OUTER BEAUTY

Three days later, I´m still full...after having (fantastic) sit down lunches and dinners, and a lot in between, I think I´m actually finished with Christmas for this time. Move over for New Years eve and other festivities!

Words to live by

Happy Christmas!

OUTER BEAUTY

It´s the most wonderful time of the year...What are you up to? We are celebrating Christmas with family and relatives, staying at my in-laws house for a couple of days. It´s a great house for Christmas right by the ocean so I´m looking forward to simply enjoy the long, lazy days and late nights with too much food, chocolate, champagne, good movies, books and a bunch of happy kids. 

Snap of the day

Shopping in Copenhagen today: The beautiful hotel d'Angleterre decorated for Christmas

The Monday Pep Talk | Good enough!

INNER BEAUTY
I´m a much happier person since I´ve stopped (well almost) striving for perfection in everything. It doesn't happen over night, it actually took me years, but just being aware of this behaviour makes it easier and you become more forgiving. I recently read an article in RED magazine on the topic where Gwyneth Paltrow said; "Striving to achieve a sense of perfection has been a misguided belief in my life, often leading me down the wrong path. It has made me not listen to my true self for fear I would somehow fail in another's eyes."

The psychologist Dr Susan McNary says some important words to remember; "No one is harder on the perfectionist than the perfectionist herself, who lives with a constant inner critic."

Here are three steps to practice to realise that good is good enough:

1. Practice acceptance and serenity 
Don´t be a perfectionist. Strive for completeness rather than faultlessness. Listen to your inner critic with compassion.

2. Stop and reflect
Ask yourself a simple question like does this really matter?

3. Strive just enough
Striving can be good. It´s only when we chase the perfection that we get the tunnel vision that drains our life force. Strive for excellence, not perfection.

[Text source RED magazine Dec 2013. Image via Pinterest via crushculdesac.tumblr.com]

Christmas trees around the world

Russia

OUTER BEAUTY

Is there anything more Christmassy than a tree? Especially those grand ones outside. From every corner of the world. 

Snaps of yesterday

Those were the days...in this beautiful building I studied political science

OUTER BEAUTY

Yesterday I had a business meeting in my old university town Lund. While walking by the old university buildings I could´t stop smiling at all the fantastic memories and friends from that time. I also noticed an irresistible macaroon shop..

The party jacket for the holidays [FASHION FIND]

OUTER BEAUTY

For the holidays all upcoming festive events, this is a great jacket at a fantastic price. The jacket is in satin with 3/4 sleeves (a detail which I´m personally obsessed about). This jacket could be worn to almost anything, easy to dress up and down. A fashion bargain at H&M. 

Snap of yesterday

OUTER BEAUTY
Last night me and a bunch of girlfriends headed out for a traditional Swedish Christmas buffet. It was a lovely evening, with great food and laughter. This was maybe the table we circulated around more than once though, the dessert table...it´s Christmas after all...

Words of wisdom [HAPPINESS]

Under the tree...[luxury sheets]

OUTER BEAUTY

The bedroom. The room of sanctuary and serenity. There is a certain luxury to climb into a bed with newly washed crisp sheets. In search of Christmas present this time of year I just remembered that a set of nice bed linen could be a great Christmas present to almost everyone from children, husband, mom to aunt. I know I would sleep very well on this gorgeous set of beddings from Harrods in dusty pink and white...

Take me there! [Gorgeous hotel]

OUTER BEAUTY
This could do as an alternative Christmas...The fantastic Le Crans Hotel & Spa in Crans Montana in Switzerland...

[press photos from LHW]

Snap of the day

Signs of Christmas today - and who said Christmas has to be red? 

Under the tree...[HANDBAG]

Loving this perfectly updated classic model in a colour with a metallic twist
Decadent big shopper in bronze 430 EUR

Obsessed with this pink for spring
Tory Burch Thea tote in Porcelain pink §495

OUTER BEAUTY
There is always room for a new handbag. Especially under the tree...Here is a selection of gorgeous handbags to have and to hold for everyday life. (And still time to wish for...)

Successful smell [AERIN]

OUTER BEAUTY

"Amber Musk is a warm, inviting scent you want to wrap yourself in – like a soft cozy blanket on a cold snowy night." The perfume du jour according to beauty editors world wide is the new perfume Amber Musk from Aerin Lauder. She recently added five different perfumes to her beauty range, and while they all seem lovely this has gotten the most of attention. Also the packaging is beautiful. Too bad they´re not shipping internationally yet, but I will sniff this at the first chance. Apparently I´m not the only one who wants this, Saks.com says about this fragrance on its website: "DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, A CUSTOMER MAY ORDER NO MORE THAN 6 UNITS OF THIS ITEM EVERY THIRTY DAYS." Well, it must be very good...

[Image from Pinterest]

The Monday Pep Talk | Cultivate your inner star quality

INNER BEAUTY
There are many ways to bring out your own inner star quality. Here are 30 ways to help cultivate it. Some of them we may already do regularly, some needs to be reminded of and some may be new...

Snap of the weekend

This beautiful setting in a glass pavilion turned into an amazingly fun and lively Saturday evening...

Words for the weekend

 

[Images from Pinterest]

BON weekend!

OUTER BEAUTY
Finally it´s Friday and the weekend. Hope you´ve had a good week. I did, but it was an intense one and I´m so looking forward to the weekend. Although it´s also a rather intense one with not much time to rest, starting tonight with early Christmas celebrations with relatives followed tomorrow by a birthday drink and then on to another dinner party. And in between you know there´s the usual stuff of getting Christmas presents, getting kids to soccer practice and all that other stuff we call life. I do hope you have a good weekend!

[Image 2 from stilinspiration]

Signs of Christmas [the Dorchester]

OUTER BEAUTY

I know what I would do today...if I lived in London that is...Then I would have afternoon tea at the Dorchester hotel. Not only is this a legendary hotel with a popular afternoon tea. In times of Christmas they also have a choir singing Christmas carols while indulging in Champagne and tea and scones with clotted cream. O come, all ye faithful!

[Images from Pinterest via 1paperblog.com 2 The Dorchester dorchestercollection.com 3 kidspot.com.au]