four more smoothies

And the next four smoothies have been - 

apple, banana, gojiberries, cardamom, fresh ginger and oat milk.

Pomegranate, kale, kiwi, mango, raspberries, coconutwater and agave.

Spinach, broccoli, kale, banana, dates, fresh ginger and hazelnut milk. This time the hazelnut milk worked really well and gave the smoothie a hint of chocolate flavour.

Banana, carrot, peach, fresh ginger and oat milk. De-lovely!

two green smoothies

I felt it was time for a really green smoothie. Or two.

Since I've never really warmed to the texture of cooked and prepared kale I thought it would be an excellent idea to use it in smoothies instead. So I bought a big bag and put in in the freezer. ANd for one smoothie I usually use one big leaf.

Green smoothie 1 is made of bananas, avocado (frozen avocado is THE new black!), kale and a big splosh of oat or almond milk.

Even greener smoothie 2 is made of bananas, avocado, baby spinach and a big splosh or oat or almond milk.

Both are definitely instant perk-me-ups! And I adore the colour green in a glass.

PS. Even if you don't really have to match your nailpolish with the smoothie for a great experience, it does add a bit of magic. OPI My Gecko Does Tricks was my green choice of polish du jour. DS

cool cats wear green houndstooth

One of my personal goals for 2016 (on the plus-list) was to (cleanse cupboards, wardrobes and) give at least one big bag to charity (which by the way is a word I loathe, help is a much better) per month. 

So far I've done 10 bags and 1 big box. I'm on a roll! And obviously I'm doing a much needed wardrobe cleansing. So much stuff (clothes) I've kept for sentimental reasons. Partly stuff that's really not my cup of wear tea anymore, partly things that unfortunately don't fit anymore. 

So (high) time to make room, and not for more but for air and change. To be even more mindful of what I decide to buy.

A gazillion (slightly exaggeration) have left the building. And these two delightful wearables have moved in. The houndstooth sweater is a quirky, comfortable piece in organic cotton. Its companion, the green kimono, is made of viscose. I've never thought of a kimono as an interesting and useful garment, but really it's rather flattering and uncomplicated to wear over a long sleeved t-shirt or a dress instead of a jacket. Which is a garment I don't find very comfortable and useful anymore.

Looking forward to pair the two of them with existing pieces.

And fill more bags with things that don't fit into my life anymore. But will most likely make other people happy.

Both pieces from on of my favourite shops Bric-a-Brac Stockholm, on sale. You know, the place were I won the Instagram-competition a while back.

the grüner smoothie

A few years back I kick-started the new year in what I thought was a brilliant way: a long, brisk winter walk (at Djurgården). Turned out that we miscalculated the distance and bridges so what was suppose to be one hour turned into three hours. My muscles were so sore the rest of the week and to be quite honest it rather put me off the idea of regular, brisk walks routine.

This year I started in a kinder, tastier way: a feast on a green smoothie I picked up at Unverpackt in Berlin last summer. Kale, mango and spinach. I've also stocked up  on kale and other greens and I plan to get back on the regular smoothie-and-juice-track. 

And be a better, diligent yoga practioner that doesn't overdo her brisk walkings.

lohas christmas gifts all the way, baby

This Christmas I went all LOHAS with the few gifts I gave away - organic, sustainable, high quality, durable, vegan and animal rights-ish. It felt good to give away extra thought through, kind gifts for a better world and I do believe the gift recievers appreciated them lots too.

Fjällräven Kånken backpack - isn't the colour gorgeous?! - and a membership in the fantastic Swedish animal rights organization Djurens Rätt (of which I've been a member since pre-school ie forever).

Planting trees on Borneo via Save the Orangutang-organization and a cutting board from Djurens Rätt.

Organic cotton, fairtrade shopping bag with a cute animal print from Djurens Rätt.

Favourite socks from Braintree Clothing in bamboo and organic cotton. I think they are fantastic, so much airier, softer and comfier than any other socks I've ever had. Lots of sweet colours and patterns, onesize for men and onesize for women. Plus really affordable. Ie great gifts for anyone.

How was you LOHAS giving/receiving this Christmas?

beautiful brussel sprouts

This Christmas I'll make a vegan creamy brussel sprouts gratin with saffron, saw the recipe last year but never got around trying it. Sounds delicious so I just have to this year!

What's your favourite brussel sprouts recipe?

the maypole soap from lush

A beautiful soap in my favourite colour combo pink and green, obviously screamed my name. It smells wonderful in a bubblegum way too. A happy soap named Maypole from Lush.

on the importance of colour coordinated shopping

My preferred things to souvenir-y shop these days seem to be

a) tea

b) nailpolish

And most of all, lovely tea in pretty tins make be really very happy. Did it in Berlin, now done it in Copenhagen.

This time I bought tea from the Danish tea merchant A.C Perch - adore the design of the tins! They come in many colours and I would have loved to have them all, but of course that would have been silly so I opted for the two must haves; pastel pink and green. Filled them with green rooibos pear ginger and rooibos rhubarb. Both very nice, if not as flavour packed as Løv tea. Lovely old tea shop, which also have a tea room that serves afternoon tea (next time).

The three OPI polishes are Suzi has a Swede tooth (pink), Berlin there done that (grey/beige, obviously I wanted to get this one in Berlin, but I didn't find it) and My gecko does tricks. The reason for splashing out on three bottles was that it was a 2 for 3 deal, with an additional discount for tourists. Ie impossible to say no to obviously,

The tiny, adorable cup with a wee dormouse is from Danish design house Bloomingville.

All items have been paw approved.

And I think circus nails in all three colours turned out rather nice in a fun yet polished (no pun intended) way.

the green turquoise heart ring

Bought a greenish turquoise ring today. Out of the blue (no pun intended) and in the shape of a heart. It's only in plastic and it didn't cost much, but I think both colour and the heartshape is delightful and fun.

Just one of those confirmations that blue - turquoise is my unintentional colour of choice this year. From shoes, shoes and shoes, to dress, nailpolish and bobbaloos. Not to mention recycling wardrobe. This year that colour especially tugs at my heart strings it seems. And is all around. 

My very first buy for August is a heart. How sweet is that.

tasty brew tea timer

I've never really thought about an hour glass for brewing tea properly. Or actually, I've never seen it in a Swedish tea shop. So when I spotted them in tea shops in Berlin I first thought they were cute but a bit silly.

I then changed my mind and got one at the löv tea shop and I find it incredibly useful. Especially great for when we drink different teas that calls for different brewing times (green, black and herbal/red). Have used it every day since I got it, so it has obviously already earnt its cost. Which was about 12 euro I think.

what is your great carrot?

You don't have to suffer from the carrot defect or be a carrot lover - although what strange person isn't?? - to need a good carrot in life. Because carrot is one of those nifty words that carry double weight and meaning.

So what is your great carrot in life?
What motivates you to carry on and
strive for better things,
a better you and
a better world?

the peacock island in berlin

I firmly believe that every holiday and/or trip should hold at least one visit to a world heritage site. It's usually a good reminder in this bleak world that the humankind can accomplish beautiful and keep-worthy things too.



This time in Berlin we visited the lovely nature reserve Pfaueninsel (Peacock island), which is a 67 hectares island peacefully situated in the Havel river in the outskirts of the city. It's an absolute idyll which can be reached with a tiny ferry only. On the island you're only allowed to walk, so no vars or bikes allowed. Bliss!



This time of the year the whole island smelled gorgeously of mock orange and there were a very limited amount of visitors so the whole experience was very serene without one feeling alone. Yes there are free roaming peacocks on the island, but fewer than I expected. And also other birds, sheep and horses. There were signs for buffalos, but we didn't see any alas.



There are also a sweet, little (wooden) castle and other castle-like buildings for different purposes on the island, as well as a fountain, temple, rose gardens and a cute cafe situated at a large meadow which I can imagine is full of visitors in high season.



We shared a apricot cheesecake there and it without a doubt the best dessert/cake I had in Berlin this time. Such loveliness. Befitting the overall experience. It was such a nice walk around the lush, pre-holiday season island - the perfect place to wind down, relax and get out of the busy city mode.



Very well worth the visit if you're looking for peace and tranquility. A very modest 4 euros for a ferry-ride (which takes about 2 minutes) and then you can spend as much time there as you like. I'd imagine it's a very popular place to visit in peak summer season though, so slightly less peaceful then perhaps.

a marimekko unikko dress day

well, to be honest, who cares about a sadly ill fitting cat and mouse dress when there is a wonderful, colourful summery marimekko unikko dress that do fit?

and as luck would have it, on sale.

and further lucky, followed by a gorgeously warm summer day perfect for said and seen dress.

happy weekend!

the rhubarb planting inspector

Every home and garden should have one. They're very efficient and helpful. Really.

new favourite from organic löv tea

No you don't need nailpolish that matches the tea tin to enjoy this tea. Nor a tea colour matching cat. But it does lend an extra sparkle to the experience.

The organic almond rooibos tea from LÖV tea is wonderful. Like drinking an almond paste cake, but less sweet.

It's so good that even the most die hard rooibos hater (in this case M) finds it lovely to drink.



So great even cats (in this case the Prosit sisters) fight over it.



The colour matching one wins.

When I first visited the lovely new Kusmi tea shop in a posh Stockholm suburbia shopping centre, they were all out of this fantastic rooibos and I went for another Löv tea. Despite me knowing I don't enjoy white tea, because the blueberry coconut one smelled great.



Drinking it I was terribly disappointed because it didn't taste of anything. And I did follow the brewing instructions perfectly. But when it had gone cold, the flavours came through properly. So I'm thinking it would make a fine ice tea. Though not so fine warm.

Because surely the lack of flavour of tea couldn't have something to do with the not colour matching nailpolish?



What's your favourite tea right now?
Warm or iced?

the sun apple

The solar bird lights and the sun lamp has now been joined by the solar apple. And with only a few hours of cloud and rain it lit up this beautifully already. I think it's lovely.



In awaiting the time and money to install a proper solar panel on my roof this kind of solar power will have to do. And it lights up my life in other ways, in a way that a solar panel will never do.



Just like the bird lights and the sun,
the solar power apple is from IKEA.

colourful life lessons for breakfast, noon and evening

A very early morning called for a soy latte to go. In the keepcup of course. The reason for getting up at 5.30 (crazy!) was a breakfast seminar about a so called reputation resume - which turned out to be great and if you didn't know it by now, the CV is dead, long live your reputation!

I also learnt that if you leave home at 6.30 you go slightly pre-rush hour and commuting isn't such a hassle then. Plus you can saunter, enjoy the weather, views and your coffee and still arrive well in time.



My goal was to find a couple of matching flower pots for the two new geraniums. I wanted a two smaller, white and painted ones. Unfortunately the only white one left was being used in the window decoration, but I got a reasonable earthy discount for both that one and the blue one I had to chose instead.

I was reminded of the fact that things don't always turn out the way you expect or want them too, but that can be a blessing in disguise. The now three pots with their respective geraniums look awesome on the office windowsill. I doubt three white/decorated ones would have looked better.



My first ever taste of Dunkin Donuts donuts will also be my last. They may be übercute looking, but the taste was way to sweet and I really do not like frosting. At all. Just like I'm not a cupcake person I'm clearly not a donut person.

But the meet cute also confirmed that I obviously have a bobbaloo to match anything and everything. Still, there is always room for more.

blissful garden and geraniums

The weekend that was did not only hold suburban pink cherry blossom trees and the King's meadow lily field of 2015 it was also time for the first visit this season to one of my happy places Växplats Nybyn.



Where we enjoyed their vegan and awesome as usual take on cinnamon buns/rolls. And bought some flowers. Because even if my experience of geraniums isn't that great and I'm no fan of their strong scent I think they look lovely and I wish I had a better hand with flowers. And I did by one recently (the geranium of 2015, Violino) which looks rather alone on my office window sill.



So I got two more for company. Hopefully I will be able to keep them alive this time. And in regular bloom. For a long long time to come.

the 2015 king's meadow lily field

It seems like there haven't been a proper post about the king's meadow lily field since 2010 -



2011 was a huge disappointment,
2012 was only briefly mentioned,
2013 the visited was never blogged
and 2014 we sadly missed it completely -







I love how this year we timed it so the field was not only full of fritillaria (kungsängslilja in Swedish which translates into king's meadow lily), but also cowslips, wood anemones , dandelions and other tiny flowers.

I think the bobbaloos of choice were a bit overwhelmed about it all. Magic and nature can do that.