My New Favorite Brand

I just got two new pairs of pants, with a very special label in the back: Made by Mor.

My mum has always been somewhat of a sewing-whizz and this summer she took her talents to a new high and have sewn pants, jump-suits, tops, dresses and the likes with an unstoppable enthusiasm.

When I saw her in one of her recent creations - a trés chic patterned loose-fitting jump-suit - I was sold and asked where she had got it. She told me, whit just a hint of pride, that she had made it her self and then I was immediately off to the nearest textile shop, found two kinds of fabric for her to have fun with.

Last week she presented me with the results: to amazingly well-fitting pairs of loose pants with just the right amount of slack. They are perfect both as casual wear and for a night out, mixed with high heels. I have literally not been out of them since I got them. 

And the best part? For sure, the surprise label in the back, which I am proud to show off to everyone: Made by Mor.

If you want to try making your own, most textile shops sell patterns, and you just fit it to your size.
The fabrics are not too expensive. I bought a super-thin black cotton kind and a slightly thicker shiny grey/black/white variation and paid less than 200 kr.
You only need to by the length of your legs + a buffer for seams. C'est ca! 

Peas Out! Summer Super Foods

I simply just love cooking in the summer time. Everything is fresh, flavourful, green, clean and light.

The past years I have become more aware of buying organic, local-ish and most importantly: seasonal. This way I can (to some extend) limit the preservatives in the food I eat as well as keeping the greens as true to nature as possible, having not been artificially grown and matured.

The best thing is to pick the freshies up yourself directly from the garden or a farm in the country side!

In my parents summer garden we grow peas, apples, gooseberries, redberries, rhubarbs and a thousand different herbs - always ripe for the pick. Yum!

Right now, Denmark is experiencing a peak of peas. This post is dedicated to the little round and sweet green lump of delight and its versatile ways (combined with a few other seasonal favorites of mine).

I'll give you four self-invented and composed recipes involving peas and other seasonal summer super foods. 

1. Strawberry and fennel salad - with PEAS
2. Avocado and melon salad - with PEAS
3. Asian inspired pea purée
4. Pea soup a la R&V 

Enjoy!

Strawberry and fennel salad with peas

• 2 lumps of fennel
• 500 g fresh strawberries (Danish, preferably) 
• 500 g fresh green peas (with pods)
• a few handfulls of field salad leaves
• 2 organic lime
• a handfull fresh mint leaves or sage
• a drop of honey
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• fresh ground pepper 

How to:

• Grate the zest of the limes and mix with the lime juice, honey, olive oil, vinegar and pepper.
• Rinse the fennel and cut into large slices. Marinate in the lime dressing for a few hours in the fridge.
• Rinse and slice the strawberries, de-pod the peas, tear the mint leaves and the salad. Mix with the marinated fennel. 
• Serve

Melon and avocado salad with peas

• 2 avocados
• 1 melon (cantaloupe/honey or half/half)
• 500 g green peas (in pods)
• 250 g field salad
• fresh herbs of your preference (I've used either mint or a mix of rosemary/thyme/basil, depending on what I am serving the salad with)
• 50 g roasted pine nuts
• 1 organic lemon + zest
• oilve oil
• salt and pepper

How to:

• Roast the pine nuts lightly on a dry pan and let them cool.
• Cut avocado and melon into cubes and mix with de-podded peas. 
• Mix a dressing of lemon juice and -zest, olive oil, salt and pepper and pour it over the avocado-melon-pea-mix.
• Rinse and tear the salad and herbs and serve with a sprinkle of pine nuts.

Asian inspired pea purée

This is another recent self-composed favorite of mine. Imagine sushi-flavoured humus (in the best possible way)

• As many peas as you want (frozen works too, as do edamame beans)
• Lime juice and zest (organic)
• Wasabi paste
• 1-2 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp fish sauce

How to:

• Put all ingredients in a blender and blend to an even mass
• Taste and cool
• Serve as a garnish for or fish/chicken, as a dipping for fresh Vietnamese spring rolls or for asian inspired snacks

The fresh spring rolls are filled with lime-marinated tofu, spinach, fresh mint, cilantro, jullienned carrot and cucumber and mango. 

Pea soup a la R&V

The last recipe I wan to share with you is a favorite among me and my sister. I don't know why pea soup has always held an intern joke and reference for us, but for some reason or the other it's the bomb. The formular is now perfected. Here goes:

• 500 g de-podded green peas
• 1 parsnip
• 1 shallot
• 1 clove of garlic
• Coconut oil
• 3/4 l water
• 1 lemon + zest (organic)
• 1 tsp boullion/broth 
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• pepper
• a few leaves of fresh mint
• mint, lemon juice, pea sprouts and pine nuts for topping

How to:

• Chop the onion, garlic and parsnip and fry it in the coconut oil. When the onion is see-through, add water, broth, fish sauce, lemon juice and -zest and boil for a few minutes.
• Add peas and boil for another few minutes. The peas must still be al-dente.
• Add the fresh mint leaves and blend the soup with a hand blender. Taste and add pepper.
• Serve warm topped with sprouts and a few drops of lemon (is good the day after, too, served cold)

Jungle Fever

The past few weeks I have acquired quite a few new items, sweetening my ensemble été.

I already shared my wonderfully bright-coloured shorts from asos as well as the chic little number of snakeprint cross-body bag, also from asos.

However individually pretty, two newbies does not a summer closet fill, which is why I have made a few additions to the collection. It seems I must truly long for something exotic, since all items are colourful or somehow bear reference to faraway and tropical areas.

First in is this ideal summer sweatshirt. It is very light in the material and perfect for chilly summer mornings and evenings - especially because of the beach reference. It is from only. Get it here. 

The strappy sandals in pillar box red sued are equally perfect for dressing up a pair of jeans or a casual summer dress. Plus they make the legs look mile long and tanned. These are from New Look.

I found the most versatile day dress a few weeks ago in Vero Moda. It is knee length jersey and in a graphic jungle print. Buy it here. 

Moving on to sale in Zara, one of the absolute highlight of the year. Lately, I have become increasingly more fond of printed bottoms and have long been looking for a cool pair of pants to jazz up my legs. 

The thing about wearing printed bottoms is, that I feel less like a circus clown than when I have the print close to my face. Paired with a neutral top, the a wild print south of the navel can actually become a rather stylish affair.

The newfound love for colours, also resulted in a musthave, brocade-inspired skirt on the Zara sale, too.
It is highwaisted an slightly sculptured, enhancing the narrow waist beautifully. I fell very Marie Antoinette-ish when wearing it, though i figure she would never pair it with a printed tee as I did just the other day.

The amazing, yes almost exotic weather which have blessed (and cursed) Denmark the past few weeks, have also led to a few beach-inspired looks for my part. I am especially fond of this one: A H&M swim suit with Hawaii-flower and tiger print, paired with turquoise hotpants (Selected Femme, 2012) and RayBans. A tied, see-thorugh and sleeveless shirt, and consider me off to the beach!

Last note: Even my snacks have been inspired by my jungle-fever: Fresh red berries and salt-free popcorn with a drop of agave sirup, raw cocoa powder and vanilla seeds. Yummi-delight! 

Testing! Testing! PB2 powdered peanut butter

I am a genuine peanut butter addict, and I am not ashamed to admit the fact that I have been caught spoon-in-jar on several occasions.

Peanut butter (and we are talking the natural kind, with no artificialness, added sugar or trans-fats) is healthy. Especially, for a close-to-vegan like myself, where good fats and nut-proteins are vital.

The fat peanut butter contains is of the good and healthy kind, protecting your veins from atherosclerosis. Fat-frightened people might be scared of by its high calorie-count (180-210 per serving), but there is no need to worry: It is rich on fiber and protein as well, which helps you feel full, so you actually quickly eat less of other things and fell full longer. So, there is nothing wrong in indulging in licking peanut butter off a spoon. Lucky me.

That aside, I was very intrigued when I head about PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter from Bell Plantation. On the website it says: "PB2 has the same consistency as full fat peanut butter with all of the natural roasted peanut flavor, but with nearly 85% less fat calories. PB2 is made with high quality peanuts that are slow-roasted to our specifications and pressed to remove the oil. All natural with no artificial flavors or sweeteners, and no preservatives."

Even though I am normally not hooked on faux-food (or fabrics!), and despite my praise above for the wonders of the peanut butter fat, I thought an addict like me simply had to try this PB2-madness.

I went to iherb.com - an american nutrition and health site, which ships to Denmark and purchased two test jars. They were shipped within a week to my door step. 

I was exited to try it out and am happy to share the experience here.

It was easy to mix the powder and it is nice to be able to control the consistency, depending on how much water you add. 

It tastes like peanut butter, however, not the all-natural organic kind i like. I do not think the description on the website is all true, as there is clearly sweetener in the powder. 

It will never become a replacement for the real thing, but it works well mixed with genuine, unsweetned cocoa powder.

Try for yourself and purchase on here on iherb.com. It is only about $5 + shipping. 

Dream Safari

Finding (and decorating) the perfect home is not only time-consuming. It is tough.
Yet, it is an exiting time, filled with dreams of how your life might turn out if you lived in this place or that.

In my opinion, your home says so much about who you are. It is the one place where you should feel completely comfortable and yourself - like an extended skin concealing the true you.
A home is like your body. You care for how you appear and dress in certain ways to reflect your personality. Hence, when inviting people into your home, its wholesome has to represent you, too. If the eyes are are the mirror of the soul, then your front door is the gateway to your spirit. 

I think this point of view has affected my attitude to finding a place to live. To put it mildly, I am currently in between places, but would rather be stuck in this residential limbo for now, opposed to moving into something on a half-hearted compromise. I am not saying that every last detail has to be absolutely spot on when I move in. Actually, I would love the room for improvements and nursing projects. I gather, just as you treat yourself to a day in the spa, a mani-pedi or a new pair of wonderfully expensive shoes once in a blue moon, you should do the same for your home. Decorate the insides of a built-in closet with wall-paper or invest in statement designer pieces, which will last for a lifetime.

Speaking of interiors, I happen to have quite a few very specific ideas and dreams about the decor of my future home. One of the most prominent desires is to buy a Safari Chair in nature coloured canvas, black oak legs and leather strips - a hunting trophy, where I can peacefully sit, rest and enjoy my beautiful home once this wild hunt for a home is brought down.

The Safari Chair was designed by Kaare Klint in 1933. He was inspired by old pictures from an African travel guide, where a British officer and his wife has similar chairs outside their safari tent. 

The chair has become a genuine design icon, with its simple and minimalistic lines, and subtle, yet global expression. Within the last years, the interest for the chair has risen after it was re-launched by the acclaimed Danish furniture manufacturer Carl Hansen & Son, who has a wide array of timeless design classics in their portfolio. The price for this modern piece of history ranges from DKK 5.995

See more at www.carlhansen.dk  

Bag it!

I just made the best steal at asos.com - a cute little green and white snakeskin cross-body bag.

The green snakeskin and white flap actually goes surprisingly well with most summer outfits as well as giving them an unexpected twist. It is sure to be my favourite summer accessory!

I've already used it with my Balenciaga/Florabotanica-inspired psychedelic flower-print dress (brought last year in Paris), making the look casual and summerish with flat sandals (Sigerson Morrison), 60'ties inspired cat-eye sunnies (Erbs & Bjerke), bright orange nails (Depend no. 124) and my great-grandmothers ruby and brilliant ring. 

In fact, the snakeskin is a good mix with all prints, it seem. My new black-and-white-printed knee-lenght dress from Vero Moda (159,95 DKK - buy it here), got a bit more jazz with the naughty reptile print and a pink necklace (H&M). 

I also can wait to flash it with my neon shorts. 

Don't hesitate to bring out your wild fashion animal this summer! Get the bag here for 231,46 DKK

Paris Guide: Mon Marais Manifique

One year ago I moved to Paris to study. Luckily, the city of lights is so much more than the Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysées. This is a guide to Marais.

Besides my struggles to juggle the irregular French verbs (which I never really learned to effectuate au façon intuitive) and taking courses in Fashion & Luxury Goods Markting and French Civilization, I had  seven wonderful months to reconnoitre my hood-nuveau: Le Marais.

With the summer-season dwelling upon us, I find it only natural to share some inside tips to mon Marais manifique, should you happen to have this destination printed on your boarding pass this summer. 

Marais is like a little village of its own, situated in the middle of Paris, in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. It is compact and charming, with narrow pedestrian streets, speciality and and delicatessen emplettes as well as niche, high-end boutiques.

In the 18th century Marais housed the Parisian aristocracy and the traditional old mansions still sets the scene. However, after the fall of the royalties and the French Revolution the area was deserted and became a dirty, neglected neighbourhood (hence the name: Marais = swamp). 

The nobility moved the the left bank area of Saint Germain and around year 1900 a Jewish community began forming in the heart of Marais, around one of my favourite streets, Rue des Roisers. It is very easy to walk right past it without even noticing, as the street is so narrow you wouldn't want to pass a car here. Despite this fact, the street is still today bursting with life and Jewish traditions. The bakeries and eateries are all kosher, you can find the most beautiful menorahs in several outlets and all kinds of orthodox headgear is sported as if it was the latest scream from Paris. In Rue des Roisers you'll also find the most hyped falafel-place in town: A teeny place with a green facade, which could also easily be overseen, were it not for the ever-present queue of a chick-pea-ball-hungry crowd. It is rumoured to be the top-pick of several superstars, including Lenny Cravitz. 

After the Jews habituated the area came the gays. Especially the lower part of Rue des Archieves holds a notorious reputation of being particularly gay-friendly. My little rented studio apartment was located in the upper part of the street. I remember my first days after I arrived and walked down the street as a single girl, I was thinking to myself: "Hey! I surely landed in the perfect area - Look at all the guys!". However, my testosterone thrill only lasted mere seconds, until I realised something smelt funny. The guys paid absolutely no interest in my long legs or blonde hair, which usually are fool-proof spells south of the Danish border. On the other hand, they seemed a little too smitten with starring into the eyes of their male companions. Darn. That said, it was wonderfully lively to share street-premises with the gay crowd as 1) they are always out and about 2) they never hit on or harm you. 

Inevitably, with the gays comes the fashion crowd, which now makes Le Marais the magnificent constellation of contrasts it is today: The dignified 18th-century architecture framing the melting pot of orthodox Jews, complete with top hats, long beard, ringlets and black coats; outrageous homos dressed in spanx, latex and leashes; BCBG families with well-behaved and immaculately dressed children (how do they keep them so neat?!); and the fashion crowd (which is sometimes a bit hard to distinguish from both the orthodox Jews, the gays and stylish families, depending on the latest fashion fads). 

With this (not so brief) introduction to what I consider one of the best areas in Paris, I'll now list some concrete recs:

Faire les courses (Shop)

• The main shopping in Le Marais is centralized about the streets Rue Vielle du Temple & Rue du Francs Bourgeois. The two Rues cross each other in the midst of the neighbourghood in a little square, housing among others, brands such as Maje (j'adore!), Repetto, Sandro, Paul&Joe and Manoush. On Sundays all streets within the radius of Temple and Bourgeois are closed from traffic and are filled with a wonderful mix of Parisian trendsetters, Jews on their way to the synagogue and tourists taking it all in.  

• Rue Charlot, running between Rue de Bretagne in haute Marais to Rue des 4 Fils houses art galleries, vintage shops, showrooms and, peculiarily, three or four shops dedicated to Scandinavian and Danish art and design. Find brands such as Normann CPH, Gajol, PH, Arne Jacobsen and Børge Mogensen. 
• No trip to Paris, without a visit to the concept store Merci, on 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais. It is a dream come true of contemporary fashion, design, interior, stationary - you name it, and love it!  Maison Martin Margiella, Piet Hein, Liberty - what are you waiting for? (They have a well-assorted webshop, you can compensate with, if a trip to Paris is not in the cards for you in the foreseeable future)

Savourer et manger (Eat)

Petit dejourner

• Rose Bakery on 30 Rue Debelleyme was one of my preferred breakfast-spots. Not only was the name it self a high draw-factor for me, but it was literally just 2 seconds away from my door step. On top of that they serve the best soya cappucino in town (pretty hard to find in Paris, I dare-say). The organic bakery makes everything from the bottom and serve hearty and nourishing, vegetarian dishes for breakfast and lunch as well as always tempting with a 1000 home made baked goods, which you can cleverly smell blocks away. Sadly, their cakes are not dairy free, but I've been told they are worth their high calories. Their salads and fresh squeezed juices are out of this world!     
• Le Pain Quotidien. It hardly needs an introduction anymore, since it is the number-one breakfast/brunch/lunch pick for most international fashion editors during fashion week. And it is understandable. Their breakfast menu is lavish. The interior is rustic and homey. And the food is always good. All bread is organic and freshly baked. You can get fresh seasonal fruit. Eggs. Granola. But most importantly, Le Pain Quotidien is famous for their jams, marmalades and spreads which accompany any breakfast choice ad libitum. Their Speculoos-spread is cinnamon-celestial. So is the rhubarb jam. And yes, you can buy jars of it in the boutique, as well as delicious olive oils, tapenads, pestos etc. Try for yourself at 18-20 Rue des Archieves.

Dîner et les cocktails

• Derriere means behind. It kind of makes sense, as you have to navigate into a back street and through a small gate to find this hidden oasis. Reservations are an absolute must, as the restaurant is the lieu préféré among the chicest of the chicest. Understandable. In the courtyard you are invited by Marroccan-inspired al fresco seating arrangements - perfect for enjoying a pre- or post dinner drink. Inside the interior is very avant garde and hipster-ish: A constellation of old, new, modern, kitsch, grand, playful, sexy... The idea is that it should resemble a home with areas reminding of dining room, living room, den, boudoir. It's adorable. The crowd is hip and the food rustic, contemporary with international inspiration. I have wet dreams about their tuna tartar. Derriere, 69 Rue des Gravilliers 

• Just south of Marais, on the bank of the river is an actual little village situated: complete with a church, market, gate and all that jazz. It is trés charmant and called Village St. Paul. Well hidden away from nosey, by-passing glances you'll find the most amazing gourmet raw-food inspired restaurant. Fittingly, it is named Cru - directly translating into raw. However, it is not raw-food in the obsessive-health-nature-beansprouts-and-wheat grass-sense (which I actually happen to be fond of, too). No, it is a holistic gourmet-style eatery, which just so happen to favour the green, seasonal elements on the plate and occasionally pairing them with delicious carpaccio/tartar/seared tuna and the likes. I went there with my mum once and it was amazing and extremely presentable and decorative. Read more here.

              

• I simply adore good wine. As a result wine bars or restaurants paring the wine with food as opposed to the other (conventional) way round, gets thumbs up from me. In my favourite street in Marais, Rue Vielle du Temple, a little further up than the heath of the shopping buzz (and just across from Café la Perle, where Galliano made snide comments a few years ago and was accordingly shown the door at Dior), is a tiny place I have returned to many a time, during my stay in Paris. The place is called Glou and the style is very New York: raw brick walls, heavy wooden tables and an a la carte menu with solid, no-fuzz, simple choices such as fish of the day (always superb), burger and veggie options. Also there are seasonal variations and tapas style elements. And then there are the wines - also served by the glass, allowing you to try a few different kinds, as well as getting the ideal match for your food. The waiters are attentive and knowing and always helpful in guiding you through the wine list. Perfect for a semi-casual night out with friends. The owners have another place in Marais called JaJa. The style and atmosphere are much alike - JaJa's plus, however, is the courtyard with al fresco dining in the warmer months. Glou, 101 Rue Vielle du Temple - JaJa, 3 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie. 

Joire de Vivre (Enjoy)

• Paris is known for its markets. They are all like Alladin's cave, temping with tastes, smells and colours from every corner of the world. Marais is no exception when it comes to markets and actually holds the oldest covered market in Paris, open six days a week (Mondays are closed) all year round. The market, Les Enfants Rouges, is hidden and wonderfully local. Come here on Sundays around noon and the relatively small market with stalls selling couscous, gallettes, bread, fresh fish, fruit, veggies, falafel, prosciutto, olives, cheese, flowers and everything in between, is crammed with families shopping for the week to come and making an excursion of the chores and magically transforming it into quality time. It is wonderful to witness how everybody seems to know one another and greetings, orders and jokes are lively flying across the stalls between shoppers and sellers, old and young - everybody on familiar terms. People come here both to grocery shop and to eat. There are tables in the end of the market where you can eat your delicatessen. The big scoop seems to be the Marroccan couscous stall, selling bath-tub-sized bowls of exotically smelling couscous topped with lamb, veggies and a generous spectre of very alien spices. It is clear, that supermarkets in France and Paris are merely for plastic-wrapped basics such as toilet paper and the occasional carton of milk. Everything fresh is brought freshly from the market. Marche Les Enfants Rouges, Rue de Bretagne. 

• In Paris, life happens at the sidewalk cafés. One of my preferred places to drop in for a cafe espress, people watch, meet with friends, have a casual meal, a drink in the sun be it before or after noon, is Cafe Charlot. With its ideal location on the ever sun-lit corner of Rue de Bretagne and Rue Charlot the place has its natural draw. The waiters are as Parisian and rude as they come (but they warm up to you upon realising a) you speak French b) you live in the area and are becoming quite the regular c) you tip generously (which didn't happen until my last visit where i visited with my dad, who always over-tip - never has my snotty, male, pony-tailed, non-English-speaking, regular, +50 year old waiter smiled so much. In fact, it was the only time I ever saw him smile, coming to think of it). Anyway, the place just has the perfect vibe. The decor is unpretentious, yet charming, the food is edible, which is a high standard compared to the general level Parisian café food can burst of, and most importantly, the place is always full no matter the time or the day. Café Charlot, 38 Rue de Bretagne

• Whenever the sun is out (which is far more than in Copenhagen) it is quite common to just lie down flat on your back in what-ever park is nearest. I normally wouldn't recommend Place des Vosges for this purpose, but have included the green square in this guide anyway, as it is the major draw in le Marais. The square is rectangular and flanked by four massive maisons - in one of which the author Victor Hugo resided while writing some of his most famous works - including The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  In the middle of the square is a green spot, fountains, tons of people eating falaffels they have bought in the nearby Rue des Roisiers and variations of live music. Around the park, under the balustrade of the mansions there are restaurants and art galleries. I wouldn't recommend eating here though, as you are sure to be ripped off in a tourist trap serving mediocre food. But I wouldn't know as I have always kept well away.  That said, the square it self is pretty and worth a sight. 

I could go on and on - and this guide only covers a fraction of Paris - but those places you'll have to discover on your own. Or, I might be tempted to do one more Paris feature. 

Au revoir, et bon été!

EGO friendly

I'm quite smitten with the Danish design brand EGO Together.

Their designs fits perfectly into the Scandinavian minimalist style, which I oh-so adore. Moreover, they are functional as well as eco-friendly.

I have for a while now longingly gazed at the Keep Cool/ Stay Hot serving board:

Just imagine how perfect it would be for serving some Nordic-inspired sushi! (Soon I'll post a recipe for sushi with apple and pomegranate wrapped in cabbage). The insert of African sandstone is pretty cool and goes in the dishwasher. Also, it can be heated in the oven up to 150 degress Celsius or cooled to -20 degrees. However, at fancy stone like this black beauty is a wee bit over my budget these days, so it will have to wait. That said, they are actually not super expensive. Get them at the EGO Together webshop here for 800 DKK. 

The philosophy behind EGO Together is to design objects that enhance the togetherness around the table and are ideally suited for slowfood, which you enjoy at an easy-going pace in good company - just how I like it! 

Perhaps this is why I felt such a need for purchasing this little beauty yesterday:

My current living circumstances are not ideal for lavish dinner parties, and I am longing to invite friends over to an evening of home-made hygge in surroundings that reflect my personality and taste. I can think of many situations where this little tasting board in organic bamboo with three small bowls will come in handy. Tapas - si! Snacks - but of course! And did I mention sweets? Anyway, with this item at hand, I felt one step closer to host dinner parties with my name all over.

Until then, I'll keep dreaming... 

Read more about EGO Together and the fabulous products at their website here

Neon shorts

I've always been the girl in black. Period. Occasionally, when feeling particularly daring and outrageous I've explored the colour palette of my (dominantly black) closet and slipped into the boldness of whites and greys. Daring, indeed.
However recently, I've become increasingly more fascinated with outspoken patterns and very bright colours such as animal prints, exotic flowers and orange. And what is more, I've even purchased some items of this fashion.

The latest addition to feed my hunger for colours is the cutest pair of high-waisted shorts from ASOS. They are in a kind of batik/paisley-inspired purple print with a neon-orange trim. One would have thought that a species with my natural translucently pale complexion would downright disappear in this vibrant dye. But lo and behold, I look more tanned than ever!

I can't wait to sport them around town with a basic white tee and some cute sneaks. And moreover, they are the perfect match for the Grace Coddington memoir I'm currently reading. (Read my blog post about Grace Coddington here)

The shorts are available on here and costs €33 (DKK 231)

"Grace" - A Memoir by Grace Coddington

This summer I have one week off, and I plan spending it in the sun reading GRACE - A Memoir by Vogue's own Grace Coddington. Hopefully, I wont get quite as orange as the cover (or Grace's hair for that matter) after spending hours tanning in the sun.

"For decades, Grace Coddington's personal touch has steered widely imaginative fashion spreads in Vogue magazine. Then came The September Issue, the behind-the-scenes documentary that turned the spotlight on a woman with a no-nonsense attitude and an unerring visual instinct. Overnight, the flame-haired Grace became a heroine for fashion insiders and the general public alike." 

Personally, I watched The September Issue completely in awe of and spellbound by Grace and can't wait to spend my summer inside her orange head.

I'll promise to post a review when I finish reading. Stay tuned!

Easy, breasy non-greasy Pancakes

How do you like the sound of pancakes taking less than 10 minutes to prepare, are completely guilt freee, taste like heaven and only require two basic ingredients? If you think that's too good to be true, I suggest you read on:

Ingredients:

1 banana

1 egg

A handful of blueberries (cut in halves) -optional

A drop of coconut oil for the pan

How to:

Blend the egg and banana with a hand blender until the mixture is lump free.

Fry as you would regular pancakes. Sprinkel a few half blueberries on the pancake on the unfried side before flipping the pancake.

Serve:

Breakfast-style: Try with a few drops of good honey and loads of fresh berries. Try blending some frozen raspberries with some pure vanilla powder (real vanilla - not the sugary stuff) to a healthy jam.

Lunch-style: Serve with fresh spinach and avocado. Healthy lunch choice with a good mix of iron, good fats and proteins.

Health options:

If you want to cut down on cholesterol, leave out the egg yolk and use two egg whites instead. This way you still get some good proteins, but spare both calories and cholesterol from the yolk. 

Is the Hype of Trends a Fad? - Guest Post @lifestylereligion.dk

Two weeks ago, I was guest-blogger at http://lifestylereligion.dk/  

This is the post:

IS THE HYPE OF TRENDS A FAD?

ROSEMARIA BOELSMANDMONDAY17.06.1315:20

Itseems one of the major trends today, is the obsession with, well, trends. Trend forecasters predict our next mania years in advance, while professionals from fashion editors to designers and opinion leaders around the world declare complete devotion to a handful of prevailing tendencies each new season. Are these trends superficial whims with no actual impact on important societal matters or are they rooted somewhere beyond fashion fads?

The term “trend” is intangible and a matter of subjective interpretation, but is defined in good-old Oxford English as: Trend [trɛnd] (noun) 1. a general direction or course of development.

If Oxford’s definition is universal, there is a good chance the following concepts are familiar to you: Sinners & Saints. Neo Modernism. Urban Farming. Blue Lagoon. Kitchen Cool. According to the Swedish trend expert Stefan Nilsson, who was in Denmark a few weeks ago to talk about trends, at least one of these abovementioned constellations of words are the mega-trends shaping your life right now.

Trends are new and engaging and create dynamics. However, 2013 is a time of change. Not in terms of new major trends, but the perception and durability of the trend concept. Before the recession, each season was clearly defined by a sting of new it-trends, replacing the contrasting crazes of the last. Now consciousness and responsibility seems like the new black, and trends are left to evolve across seasons and years. It is impossible to say whether the trend of letting trends last is an effect of the recession, or if they have arisen to bring us through the tough time and into a new phase.

The last couple of years, we have been constantly reminded of tight budgets, national debts and a Euro-crisis that exclude us from big spending. As a result, we see immaterial values rise in popularity. Year 2013 is an including year welcoming humor, warmth and skirts in every lengths. It is also a year, where we are realizing how important the transfer of knowledge is. We share everything in various media and channels and hereby enhancing the togetherness between our family, friends and jobs. We are excited to use our hands, bake bread or knit a shirt and thrive in the offline moments of pure craftsmanship, only to Instagram the fruits of the labor mere seconds after we are done.

The insta-mania surely is a hype, but it is directly linked to the concept of deeper trends: By posting photos on Instagram people have a chance to frame themselves the way they find favorable, just as following a mega-trend creates an illusion of being a certain character. For instance, the major trend Urban Farming is all about being ecological and natural while living in the city. City-dwellers migrate in droves to the New York City Farmers’ Market and fill their recycled cotton shopping nets with organic rye seed and potato plants to grow in their 16^th floor windowsill. Urban farmers signal a significant mental energy and human empathy. Literally, being in touch with the earth and roots is an indication of caring for the environment, human rights and a greater good. The trend of going back-to-basics, so to say, may have risen in an attempt to actively safe something on the planet when the economy is in free-fall. Hence, earth colors, fair trade and organic cotton may very well be in vogue, but it is fair to say the fashion is more than a superficial statement.

Reflecting another aspect of the recession is the mega-trend: Sinners & Saints. It is loosely shackled to the lascivious pop culture universe of a certain Mr. Gray. However, the plethora of leather, lace and fetish symbols challenging traditional conventions is more than just a rebellious out lash created by lustful designers and desperate housewives. Brands need to sell, which can be a challenge during a recession. To attract customers they enhance their sex appeal to make people invest in their products. The brands create an illusion of being strong and solid in unstable times. Others climb the stairway to heaven and emphasize their genuine history and humane kindness. Celebrities embrace the saint-trend by bringing family members along on the red carpet instead of dates. They signal valuation of lasting bonds over passing flings.

So, is the obsession with trends a fleeting phenomenon? The answer would be no. Trends are much more than prediction and dictation in the world of design and fashion. Neo modernismplayfully flirts with the original shapes and colors, and bring positivity into The Great Depression anno 2013, whereas Blue Lagoon broadens our horizons and enthralls us with exotic patterns and tastes from the rising economies such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. Trends are images of underlying societal developments guiding us through changing times, as well as they may work as catalysts for new transitions. The forecasting of trends inspires industries as well as lifestyles and has a greater impact on little everyday private actions than we might just think.

And as for the durability of Stefan’s five megatrends? Word is they will last throughout the recession.