The preppy beauty

Marina Rust wedding - facsimile from VOGUE Living Houses Gardens People

My copy at home - I actually never tire of it since it is such a classic book

OUTER BEAUTY
I have had the great coffee table book by VOGUE for years. I still love it, since it´s such a unique piece full of fantastic photos and interesting people. One of the women that seems to totally own the American classic preppy is Marina Rust Connor. A classic beauty, very natural makeup and all over sporty and fresh. Of course I was curious to read more about her when Mark D. Sikes interviewed her about style [apparently one can never have too many grey sweaters], family life and goals [being a decent mother and writer]. Read the first part here and see many gorgeous photos.

The mascara

OUTER BEAUTY

This my friends could easily be one of the best mascaras I´ve ever tried. Really. It´s that good. And I´m not that big on high-end mascaras since I honestly most often don´t think there´s a difference to let 's say e. g Max Factor's Masterpiece. But this YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll made me reconsider. It´s in the brush. It makes the eyelashes longer, a lot. But, don´t be fooled by the rather inappropriate name here, it´s everything but "baby doll". It just leaves you with long, sophisticated instead of clumpy, eyelashes. And I think the thing is it separates amazingly, which will give you a look of more lashes. For me I love it since it´s exactly what I want for a rather natural look,  but still great eyelashes, but do try to layer it for a fuller effect. 

7 Steps for creating the Life you want

INNER BEAUTY

The Monday Pep Talk today comes from NY Times bestselling Jack Canfield, a motivational speaker and author. 

He has motivated thousands of people, including myself and some of my friends who loved his book The Success principles. 

We all aspire to do, be and have great things. Yet most of us simply aren't creating the results we want. We complain that we don't have enough money, romance, success or joy in our lives. We point fingers and blame outside problems that "happen" to us and make life more difficult. But what we need to understand and keep at the forefront of our minds is that greatness exists in all of us. It is simply up to us to pull it out of ourselves. Regardless of personal circumstances, economic climates, and access to resources, it helps to maintain faith in the fact we each are more powerful than we think. We all have the ability to create the life we want. We just need to learn how to do it. Is there an exact "formula"? No, but there are certain common features that successful people exhibit and that anyone can practice. They are what can jumpstart your success and attract what you want in life. You'd be hard pressed to find any high achiever who doesn't live by the following 7 tips:

1. Take No Less than 100% Responsibility for Your Life

One of the greatest myths that is pervasive in our culture today is that you are entitled to a great life and that somehow, somewhere, someone is responsible for filling our lives with continual happiness, exciting career options, nurturing family time and blissful personal relationships simply because we exist. But the real truth is that there is only one person responsible for the quality of the life you live. That person is you. Everything about you is a result of your doing or not doing. Income. Debt. Relationships. Health. Fitness level. Attitudes and behaviors. That person who reflects back at you in the mirror is the chief conductor in your life. You are in complete control of the quality of your life.Successful people take full responsibility for the thoughts they think, the images they visualize, and the actions they take. They don't waste their time and energy blaming and complaining. They evaluate their experiences and decide if they need to change them or not. They face the uncomfortable and take risks in order to create the life they want to live.

2. Be Clear Why You're Here

I believe each of us is born with a life purpose. Identifying, acknowledging and honoring this purpose is perhaps the most important action successful people take. They take the time to understand what they're here to do, and then they pursue that with passion and enthusiasm. If you don't know what you're supposed to be doing, then just tune in to the signals around you. Looking toward others for help and guidance is helpful, but don't forget to stay tuned in to yourself—your behavior, attitude, likes and dislikes, and life experiences. Identify what's working and what isn't. If you need to, write it all down. You might be surprised by what you discover. 

Shiny days need sandals

Tory Burch Miller Sandal in the most perfect rose gold...

...or the ever classic gold...

Michael Kors Kayden Sandal in black, dark gold or...

...in the lovely nude colour

OUTER BEAUTY
Sunday. Lazy day. The sun is shining. And I´m dreaming of sandals. A fashion must this season. There are so many great sandals for summer out there right now I´m seriously having trouble choosing. Last week I bought the nude coloured Michael Kors sandal (pictured) and I can honestly say that these might be the most comfortable sandal/flip flops ever...these are also perfect at the beach or by the pool since they tolerate water. Love them and a great buy I think. However, I might need to buy another pair of sandals since I´m sort of in love with the rose gold coloured Miller sandal from Tory Burch...have a look at all colours from Tory Burch, I want them all, I have to stop myself.

Most popular pins of the year [by Achitectural Digest]

Is this out or in...fantasticly done. 

Loving the mix of creamy white with the top modern stainless steel. 

Very homey.

Summer nights at the terrace...

OUTER BEAUTY

Few magazines have more beautiful photos than Architectural Digest. The magazine recently put together a list of their most pinned photos during 2013. Since I love a good list I had to have a look...here are some of my favourites, although it was impossible to choose actually. So just skip over to Architectural Digest for the full list and have a look for yourself. 

5 Ways to get out of your mind [HAPPINESS]

INNER BEAUTY     

The fabulous Huffington Post recently shared five tips for how to get out your mind, and into happiness. Because this is really what it´s about, getting out of your mind for a while. As Zen teacher Alan Watts said; "We all need to go out of our minds at least once a day. By going out of our minds we quickly come to our senses." I totally agree with this. Here are five highly effective ways from Ed and Deb Shapiro to help you go out of your mind and in  to happiness, as told to Huffington Post where you can read the whole article: 

1. Pay attention By being mindful, you can witness the madness of your mind without identifying with or becoming it; you see that who you are is more than just your thoughts and feelings.

2. Make friends with fear Being fearful of fear keeps it an enemy, while befriending it turns it to fearlessness.

3. Forgive yourself It's natural to make mistakes; none of us get it right all the time. Forgiving yourself for being human enables you to let go and move on more quickly.

4. Turn shit into gold Transform difficult or dark times into rich experiences that generate greater insight and wisdom.

5. Meditate daily, even for five minutes It really will change you from being a victim of your own mind into a victor. 

Spring fever

OUTER BEAUTY

I adore cherry blossoms. The beauty is however painfully short every year. This is the cherry tree from a neighbour on our street that my husband photographed the other day, as he does every year.

"It's spring fever.  

That is what the name of it is.  

And when you've got it, you want 

- oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, 

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, 

you want it so!"  

~Mark Twain

Oh, happy Easter!

My florist friend Tina's beautiful Easter table arrangement

Another great way to show small flowers for Easter

For me, there´s no Easter without the fantastic silver eggs and chocolate from Summerbird in Copenhagen

I also always have to make this "Easter drink snacks cake" in lack of a better name...but it´s made of cream cheese, sour cream, onion, egg, Dijon mustard and roe, goes perfectly on crackers to bubbles...

I´m not for bright colours for the Easter feathers, but of course there´s got to be feathers in the house so these are the colours for this year (might stick to them next year as well:)

...and some thoughtful words for Easter.

 Have a wonderful Easter!

Words to live by

INNER BEAUTY

I think these words are very accurate and true. This year I have finally let go of a lot of things that were sort of just hanging on there, since a long time. It could for e g be a dream, or a prior goal, that I had been holding on to for too long, only to realise I actually don´t want that anymore, at all. Such a relief to realise that you can adjust your goals and dreams along the way, and that it is ok to do so. And a lot of this has to do with realising that you cannot change everything. "It is what it is" has been my mantra so far this year, and that my friends has been a huge relief in itself, to not fight so hard to change stuff. Just find your flow and go with it and let go of the other stuff, it is what it is, at least for a while. 

Long lasting eyeshadow [REVIEW By Terry]

Misty Rock #5 is the fourth from the left

OUTER BEAUTY

My latest find at the beauty counter; By Terry Ombre Blackstar cream eyeshadow in "universally-most-flattering-colour" Misty Rock #5 (that is according to the By Terry representative at the counter at NK in Stockholm). This eyeshadow has a creamy texture and is ultra-glossy, and said to be extremely long lasting. For me nothing stays on during a day infront of the computer, so a primer is a must first. But after that, I must admit this stays on well and is extremely easy to apply in the morning all over the lid. (Yes only this, with three children there´s no time for applying three different shades, although I do know it´s supposed to be more than one colour:) By Terry is a sought after and hard to find brand, at least in Scandinavia. For the moment only NK in Stockholm carries a smaller amount of products from the brand. Luckily this can be bought online here and here. 

Let´s get into Easter spirit

Image 1-3 via everythingfab.com

Image via wunderweib.de

Image via marthastewart.com

 Image from Martha Stewart

 Image from Martha Stewart

OUTER BEAUTY
I am starting to love Easter decoration. For Easter I try to set the table extra nice, to accompany lots of delicious food. The domestic goddess of all Martha Stewart has many great tips for the table. {And if you want more easter tablescrape decoration tips and missed it then, go to my earlier post with Gwyneth Paltrows easter table here}

The Monday Pep Talk

INNER BEAUTY

Go make some miracles today!

A handbag moment

OUTER BEAUTY

This is a bag I fell hard for yesterday. Instant love. What a perfect combination with neon pink to a neutral color. It comes at a fair price and can be bought here (although low in stock) if anyone likes it as much as I do...(yes, I´m slightly obsessed with handbags..)

Before and after [a grand restauration]

Such a fantastic ceiling! I love everything here (ok except for the pillars, not my thing)...but have a look how this room looked before the renovation...

A good start, but a bit plain compared to the new result

A modern kitchen, and this is the old one. Apparently the owners here wanted it a bit more...

...á la French country chic, very homey. 

OUTER BEAUTY
See more photos from this fantastic renovation project in an old apartment regained its rightful elegance in Architectural Digest.

[Images from Architechtural Digest. Photographer Luke White.]

Balcony living

With a view among the skyscrapes...anytime

Love how they´ve managed to incorporate the greenery here, you almost forget you´re in the middle of a busy city

This looks perfect for chilled white wine in the late afternoon...

Olive trees, such a perfect detail and also very sun hardy

Why not enjoy breakfast almost in bed outside...

Cosy and colourful

OUTER BEAUTY
City life is best lived on the balcony during spring/summer. I love decorations that transforms a dull balcony to an additional room.

A great start to the day [according to Diane von Furstenberg]

INNER BEAUTY

The beautiful and ever inspiring fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg told Elin Kling about the first thing she does every morning:

"- First I try to meditate but I am not very good at it. Then I like to send an email that helps someone other than myself. Sometimes it is introducing two people or just sending a nice compliment, but it should be something that has nothing to do with me."

Note to self; what a wonderful way to start the day!

The Monday Pep Talk | Sleep [Arianna Huffington]

INNER BEAUTY
Sleep is not only for beauty. Happiness and performance are closely linked to sleep as well. Hugely successful Arianna Huffington had an abrupt wake up during her success train realising how important sleep was for her success as well. So last year she gave her friends ordinary alarm clocks for Christmas gifts to give them better sleep habits, e g so they would´t charge their phone by their bed, which is highly common and especially among multitasking women (myself included). "Because I run a 24-7 media company, I´ve seen the dangers of burnout and addiction to instant access. The results of unplugging and recharging are just immeasurable" Arianna Huffington told Harpers Bazaar. Huffington even introduced nap rooms to the websites headquarters. Her personal tips for a restorative slumber includes hot baths (yes, already doing that and I agree it definitely helps promoting good sleep), a silk pajamas and limiting screen time before bed (the latter one I´m not so god at, but, definitely trying to and this made me think about it even more.) So, sleep for success!

[Image via pinterest via melissamercier.com]