vegan haircare products

I don't know about you, but I'm a tad bit tired of thinking, writing, talking about the sadness and hurt over the project and team situation that went amuck. So from inside my head to literally outside we go - this will simply be a post about vegan haircare products, the good, the bad but never the ugly inside.



I used to use a lot of Paul Mitchell products, not really sure why I stopped. Because they were darlin', the Awapuhi shampoo, the carrot Detangler and the apple scented Super Sculpt gel were my favourites. As they've changed the design and the content isn't really obvious anymore it was a bit tricky to find the right gel - less than clever people at hair salons had no idea what I was talking about and instead tried to sell other brands... But Google was my friend in this case and I found it. Hooray.

And once I opened the bottles in the shower and used the products it was like coming home. It's so obvious high quality products, the Awapuhi shampoo has a delicious scent and the Detangler is still one of few conditioners that works well on my hair. I always end up looking like Ronia Robbersdaughter anyway, but for a while there's sleek softness and less bristle. The apple gel helps to tame too. Classic animal friendly products still going strong.



Had the chance to try this vegan hair care range from Swedish brand disp. last year. First of all, the design of the bottles looks very cheap and outdated to me. The prices however is nothing but cheap. Hydrating shampoo and Conditioner plus a Healing mist. The scent of them all is very strong, luckily it's amazing, think fruit salad and exotic flowers with a dash of sweets shop. The shampoo is alright, but I wouldn't buy it again, for that price it needs to be great. The conditioner is rubbish, turned my hair into dry steel wool.



I was really sceptical about the Healing mist, seems like a pretty superfluous product (but I guess you might need it after that conditioner experience...) to me. But guess what, it's lovely. Smells great, obviously, tames the wisps and makes them soft. I will definitely buy this product again, as I know the interior is something quite different from the ugly exterior.

Last but definitely not least there's the Swedish vegan brand Maria Nila - "Animals fill our lives with joy and laughter, and should therefore never be a part of a beautyproduct." They also climate compensate their packaging and plant a tree in Africa for every bottle sold. I'm happy to say that care for animals and the environment is matched by the content in the pretty bottles. Just with the Paul Mitchell products you can tell it's high quality from the first lovely scented dollop.

I thought the True Soft-series would be good for my hair and it really has been. The Head & Hair Heal masque I got only because the True Soft one wasn't available, and it's great. Even though the scent is a bit too after shave-ish for me. Next time I'll go all True Soft.

Funny thing is that it actually does make wonder for the softness of hair. Was talking with a friend about patronizing behaviour and she illustrated it with patting me on my head - and going a surprised "Gosh, how soft your hair is!" Where upon my reply naturally was "Yes, of course, True soft it is."

I'm pretty certain I can thank the fabulous soft haircare products for the recent few great job meetings I've had - I and my super soft hair, irresistable we are.

What are your favourite animal friendly hair care products?

as close as i'll ever get to colin firth in a wet shirt

One of my favourite castles in the whole wide world, Skokloster, currently has an exhibition called 'Jane Austens värld' (Jane Austen's world), with original clothes from 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Emma', with focus on women's roles in society back then (late 18th - early 19th century). And as much as I adore the television and movie adaptions of Austen's books, oh my am I grateful I live here and now...

The guided tour was really good but I have to say that this particular piece was the highlight of the exhibition. For all of you who, like me, swooned over a certain someone in a certain scene in 'Pride and Prejudice' - you know why.

After the tour we could play dress-up and try on regency clothes, for some reason it wasn't a popular feature for the visitors in my group. But I decided to try on some hats at least. With an ever present Colin Firth.

It was the wonkiest mirror ever which made me in an A-line dress look even wonkier and as much as I love playing dress-up it's not much fun when you just look weird and there's noone around to laugh with, but a stern Colin. - Oh why couldn't you have smiled just a little bit during our brief moments together?

All in all a lovely day though. You can't go wrong with castle + waffles + tiny dog company. And a close encounter with Mr Darcy's once very wet shirt.

PS On August 19 they apparently host a Jane Austen ball at the castle, tickets sold out, but it does sounds pretty fabulous, wouldn't you agree? DS

quantum wellness

Seven years ago I bought 'Quantum Wellness' by Kathy Freston after seeing her on Oprah. She struck me as very inspirational, kind and full of good thoughts as well as having a practical approach with ideas for a better world for all. But as I'm not very big on self help books (understatement of the year), despite this one sounding so very good, I never got around to reading it.

Until now. When I rummaged through one of my big book boxes the other week for something light and feelgood to read, I picked this up and realised that actually being in a life crisis and in the process of redefining myself this would be a great time to finally start reading this bestseller.

And you now what. I'm so very glad I did. It's a wonderful wonderful book. Which has taken me on a meaningful journey from page to page. And I love how it in so many ways talk about views, values, things and facts I already live by - 

I can't begin to tell you how fantastic the feeling is when you read, talk with and hear about people who has the same approach to life as oneself! I get all soft and mushy inside, more than a bit teary actually. And given this book is a bestseller it must have touched many people's hearts with its kind wisdom - 

and at the same time show me new holistic ways to improve my lifestyle and way of thinking in order to move on, move up. Some chapters of course speak to me much more than others (and as an atheist I would have prefered less deity-references, but it's all done in a very kind-hearted non-pointer way), but as everything is connected - no pun intended - I chose to read it from page to page anyway. And yes, there are a lot of scribbles all throughout the book. I will go back and read those again and again and again. In the end of the book there are also a lot of recommended reading, books and research reports. Ie 'Quantum Wellness' is so much more than a simplistic self-help book.

For me personally, to be honest, these past couple of weeks have not been good. Despite fine things, experiences and people there are a lot of worries and brooding. Financial. Practical. Life choices. And sometimes there's only so much mindfullness and resilience can do to keep those worries at bay.

I'm so grateful I found this book when I most needed it. It has given me not only wisdom and kindness but also tools and thoughts on how to deal with this still ongoing emotional roller-coaster - and how quickly those ups and downs can come during one single day still surprise me... - after three plus months. Which I suppose is really no time at all, after almost 27 years.

The fact that the commuter trains out here are replaced by buses until August 8, which is very inconvenient and stressful, currently limits me when it comes to being tourist in my own summer city alas. So instead I'm doing a lot of well-needed pottering around the house and garden - money saving activities, hooray - thinking, planning, focusing (well sort of), walking, healing and reading. To be honest though, again, the downside is that it's very easy to become rather unsociable like this, thus I force myself doing a bit of socializing and actual see and talk with people (not only cats), not simply texting or emailing, now and then.

But so far I think, given all the different circumstances, summer has been good for my healing process. (Even if some days it really really doesn't feel like that.) Of course I would love to be in another emotional and financial place in life, but turning back the clock is not an option for neither. So I'm pondering, pottering, planning and slowly leaning into wellness and the future as I see it.

we should all be feminists

This is one of the best books (novella) I've read recently. In fact ever, since it's such an important read. For everyone, women and men alike.

'We should all be feminists' is an adaption of Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche's TED talk. An it's brilliant.

The novella has been given to every second year high-school student in Sweden. A fantastic initiative I hope will follow suit in schools and workplaces all  over the world. Because to be enlightened and a feminist is to be a part of the worldwide kindness revolution this world of ours is so in desperate need of.

And because we should all be interested in and work for a better, fairer world. I could quote many oneliners from the book but I'll settle for this, what we all want - 'A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves.'

the diy book chair

One of the cutest, most brilliant armchairs I've ever seen! Spotted in a bookstore and such a great inspiration for a DIY, wouldn't you agree?

Discarded and thrifted books, and wood, together they get a new life as a chair, table or some other furniture. And if you haven't decided on the perfect Christmas gift yet, well it's high time to get building!

moomin pillow case

This is certainly not my first Moomin pillow case and probably not my last, but it is my latest. And one of the cutest. I love when they tell a little story rather than show a scene.

Plus it always put a smile on my face at bedtime.

the october books

Meet the latest little book batch - as if I needed one some might say. But I had just finished my last book in the Sunday Philosophy Club-book series, remembered how much I love it (but never finished it at the time due to the lost reading mojo) I decided to get the rest of the series. Which turned out to be the very reasonable number of only three.

And even if the predictable, weight-obsessing chiclit genre isn't my cup of tea in general, I really enjoyed an old Jenny Colgan book recently (freebie from a magazine in 2002). Laughed a lot over the clever writing. So I got this one too, just to see if I would enjoy any of her newer books. As it happens this one has just been translated into Swedish, I know the publisher, but I'm usually not interested in reading English books in Swedish so I went for the original version.

And then the bittersweet little book about Edward the hamster. I think I have to really braze myself before I read it...

Currently I am however reading Marian Keyes latest, bought it to get it signed at that lovely breakfast last week, alongside a couple of other old ones. But I'm quite smitten by "The woman who stole my life", it's quite delightful.

It has indeed been a good reading autumn so far

meet cute: marian keyes and gudrun sjödén

Despite the fact that I had to rise way early at 5.30 already and take the train in morning rush hour - two of my absolute pet peeves I'm so grateful I can avoid most days as my own boss - I had a delightful morning in the company of this lovely lady, author Marian Keyes. 

Of course I was not alone in the Gudrun Sjödén shop for this breakfast talk. It was jampacked with mostly female fans in various ages.

We were also treated to a nice organic, vegetarian breakfast pre-talk. 

To be honest I'm not a great fan of her books (chiclit and all, even if it certainly is better than most things in the genre), but I have read some and I have even more in the bookshelf (thrifted), and enjoyed a few - if not the last one I read... 

That said I think it was such a lovely initiative by designer Gudrun Sjödén and I got a couple of the free and limited tickets. And as soon as Marian Keyes opened her mouth - and I saw her gorgeous shoes! Look I even managed to snap me a special shoe per diem moment - I think she was darling. And hilarious. She talked a lot about her love for Sweden, in the most entertaining way, and of course her penmanship. And a lot more - apparently there's an Irish saying 'why settle for 1 word when 20 will do'. Or maybe that's a Keyes saying.

When Gudrun herself - who according to Keyes 'makes clothes for women who actually eat food' (which is possibly THE best description of a design I've ever heard) - surprised is with a visit, Marian got super-excited and was totally starstrucked. Meet cute alert.

Yes it was a really lovely morning with lots of laughter. And for once I did managed to get a couple of books signed, since the queue to do so wasn't too long. I just wish I had asked where she got her gorgeous blue shoes.

The very colour coordinated Ms Keyes - in Gudrun clothes - will be a guest at the Skavlan talk show this evening - which I never watch because I can't stand the host, but this evening I obviously have to - and yes, she loves the name Pia.

And then I will continue to read her latest book 'The woman who stole my life'.

new swedish banknotes 2015

On October 1st we got new banknotes in Sweden and they are quite lovely - but the loveliest is definitely the 20 SEK note with Astrid Lindgren and Pippi Longstocking.

It has also been paw inspected and, given the interest, highly approved of.

my favourite book by henning mankell

I was so sad to hear about the too early passing of Henning Mankell. A man so much more than a great crime novelist, also a human rights activist. 

Of course most known for his books about Kurt Wallander, but for me first and foremost (and yes I've said so before) 'The Man from Beijing' is the book you should read. Well-written, ingenious and  brilliant in so many ways. A book that will most likely blow your mind and make you a more well-informed and curious person. 

Do you have a favourite Mankell-book?

miss peregrine's peculiar children books

I bought a bunch of books in May. And of those seven seen in the picture one was a present and three and a half I've read so far. Of which one I didn't like, yet I'd already bought the sequel when I realised it was incredibly overrated (and with too much animal cruelty involved, yes I'm talking about Peter May's "The Blackhouse" of course) and one was alright even if not very memorable as such (The Good House) and one I absolutely adored. And that one is the what this blogpost is about.

"Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children" by Ransom Riggs isn't like any other book I've read. I don't care that it's supposedly a book for "young adults", it just draws you in from teh first page and refuses to leave you once you've read the last sentence. It's a quirky, ingenious read that uses old, creepy photos to create a wonderful multilayered horror story.

I'm currently reading the sequel "Hollow city" and half way through I love this one too. Looking forward to the third books in the series being released in pocket in Swedish, "Library of souls". Yes, usually I prefer to read books written in English in their original language, but sometimes I share the books with my mum and then they get read in Swedish instead. And this series is of excellent translation (which sadly is far from often the case).

So if you haven't read these peculiar books yet, you really really should!

a beautiful little book

I rarely read classics anymore, although I've had both wonderful and awful experiences with them. But mainly I think it is because there are so so SO many new books published that I want to read (and of course never will be able to catch up on) and I prioritize those.

Once again the novella format comes to aid. I had never read anything by Marcel Proust before this one. Possibly because he's rumoured to be *difficult*. But you know what, this little short story about madame de Breyes melancholic summer was so beautiful. Wonderfully written - I can see that in an ideal world you should read it slowly slowly savouring each word - and surprisingly easy to relate to. 

Love issues and emotions never change, deep down we are the same, it's just the way we express ourselves in words that varies through the centuries. I love how connected one can feel with the old classics. Even more so than with modern books, which in many cases, to be honest, leave me feeling rather more alienated than before.

Yes, I should explore more classics. And look for the novellas first.

cookies and novellas

This is pretty much how I'll spend my weekend - with a few great cookies and reading to match.

Have 1/3 left of the "From Holmes to Sherlock" book - still good reading! - and a couple of other half-read books I'd really like to finish, but I'm sure I won't be able to keep my hands from these beauties:

the latest batch from the Novellix novella subscription is four novellas of Agatha Christie (since it would have been her 125th birthday next week). Stunningly stylish cover design. They simply scream "read me!". And so I will, at least a couple of them this weekend too.

from holmes to sherlock

I'm surprised at how much I like this Swedish biography-ish book about Sherlock Holmes by Mattias Boström. Because a) even if I do enjoy a bit of the older move adaptions of SH now and then and of course the latest Sherlock TV-series I've mostly found the character really annoying. And b) I may have been a bit intrigued by the book but I mainly bought it because it was on sale.

Little did I know I would be smitten from page one. It's written in a rather endearingly patronizing way combined with dry humour and interesting facts about pretty much everything Sherlockian from the author Conan Doyle and his sources of inspiration up to how the 21st century Sherlock-series came by. I'm appalled at the lack of copyrights before the early 1900s and I had no idea just how extremly popular teh Sherlock Holmes stories were back when it all began.

Of course I have no idea if I'll love the book through all its massive 460 pages, I'm only 1/4 in to it yet. But I'm impressed by the clearly well researched story and all the little factual tidbits through the centuries. It's strangely enough quite an exciting read, like a suspense novel in itself.

Don't know if it has been or is planned to be translated in to other languages. But if you're lucky enough to read Swedish I, 125 pages in, do recommend it.

you know a book about books and a cat will be great when...

... it stirrs this much attention from literary inclined felines.



As if not only one. Or two were enough.



Or three. Or four. But only five will do.

Surely the book must be beyond awesome? (Even if the illustration of the Maine Coon cat Diesel isn't very Maine Coon-looking). And since 'Man kann im leben auf vieles verzichten, aber nicht auf katzen und literatur!' is a universal truth the blend of clever cats, books and a mystery in a book is brilliant.

My first read of A cat in the stacks mystery- novel, and 25 pages in to "The silence of the library" so far so good. And sweet.

Have you read any of these books by Miranda/Dean James?
What did you think?

do you want to sign up for a novella subscription?

My friends at Novellix publishing company - which I wrote about on World Book Day - got in touch with a fun offer for my friends - and that of course includes you, dear lurking blog readers -

If you sign up for a novella subscription before May 10, 2015 and use the code "prosit" when you check out you will get 50 SEK discount! All books are written in Swedish, a subscription costs 99 SEK for 3 months (and you only have to subscribe for as long as you want) - and you will get new short stories written by Hans Gunnarsson, Ann Heberlein, Jonas Karlsson och Khashayar Naderehvandi.

Free P&P within Sweden, 59 SEK for the rest of Europe. You will find more details (in Swedish) at the Novellix website.

I really recommend these novellas, for all the reasons I previously mentioned. I'm also thinking they would be great little reads for anyone who's studying Swedish. And who knows, maybe you'll find your new favourite writer in the subscription?

PS. The subscription packaging is simple, unpretentious, just like a little paper bag full of sweets for grown ups! DS

world book day 2015

Admittedly, I haven't been very successful with the concept reading by rota. Not because I wouldn't be able to be, but for the fact that I've been so absorbed by a few books I haven't been able NOT to read only one chapter at a time and then move on to the next in the pile.

I haven't written a book review since October, but I've certainly read them. I'm pleased to say. very pleased. It may be the World Book Day today but I won't write one today either. Instead I'll give you a clever reading tip if you feel you lack your usual reading mojo, or perhaps you just want to discover more writers in a simple way.



Go read a short story.

Not exactly revolutionary, but such a great and easy way to keep reading and finish a book, lots of books. And find new favourite writers. Or decide that writer really isn't your cup of literary tea.

A small publishing company in Stockholm called Novellix publishes only short stories, a mix of old classics and new writers. Both Swedish and foreign, sometimes the short stories are brand new and written especially for Novellix. Publish four at a time. And pretty much always with wonderfully designed book covers.



This was my first short story from Novellix, which I hadn't heard of before that. My mum gave me the book and since John Ajvide Lindqvist is my favourite writer it was a great wee gift. It's a fantastic story, he's such a talented and clever horror writer and these 45 pages sent such chills down my spine I couldn't turn the lights off for several nights after I'd read it. The novella is called "Speciella omständigheter" (Special circumstances) and it'll definitely make you think twice when buying your new home.



Novellix later started to follow me on Instagram, I followed back and was smitten by the idea of novellas. Apart from selling their novellas online (and in some selected bookstores) they have a neat subscription where you get 6+1 books during 3 months.



My first 2+1 books where three short stories by Astrid Lindgren. I've since gotten 2 more and in may I'll get the last two. I've also bought a few more novellas since, some I've enjoyed a lot while others have been, to be honest, less than well written nonsense. But since it's nonsense on few pages that doesn't matter all that much compared to when you get a proper book and get sorely disappointed. And the enjoyable ones have certainly wet my appetite for those writers.



For Easter they had a cute little box with some novellas which was perfect as an Easter gift. I've come to love that it's always so easy to both start and finish a book when you have a short story close at hand. And that it's a lovely thing to do while having fika or breakfast, to read a little story accompanied by tea and cake.

So a good novella, for a quick read fix and food for thought, that'll be my tip for this year's World Book Day.

Edit: The friends at Novellix will give you 50 SEK discount if you sign up for a novella subscription before May 10, 2015. Just write the code "prosit" when you check out! All books are written in Swedish, a prescription costs 99 SEK for 3 months. Free P&P within Sweden, 59 SEK for the rest of Europe. More details (in Swedish) at Novellix website.

What's yours?

what happens when one of your favourite writers is released in pocketbook?

The answer is: you get THIS excited.



And since it's actually NOT a brick novel you get even more excited.

I'm already half way through. So far I don't think it's one of Marie Hermanson's best, but a really good and easy read just the same. Sometimes it's just such a relief with books just  a r e, rather than being overly intellectual and pretentious. Even though I love them too, well the intellectual bit, never the pretentious part.

Also, I'm in desperate need of a haircut.

say hello to the earviator

Or, you never get too old for wearing a cat hat!

When The North Circular - you know, the company who knitted the darlin' innocent bobble hat - announced 40 % sale on Instagram the other month I knew I had to get this fabulous cat cap. Or as they brilliantly call it, earviator hat. Needless to say it was the cat ears that called my name. I've always wanted a cap with ears, but have never found one that's more stylish than childish. Not to mention I've not managed to knit one that doesn't look silly.



I'm so happy I chose it in red (it comes in off-white, black and electric purple too), it's such an uplifting colour - and no I don't think it makes you look devilish. Just like the innocent bobble hat, the earviator is handmade with love by gran Shirley of Devon.



I also bought the knitting book "A good yarn" which apart from lots of inspiring patterns (for different levels of skill) and lovely photos also tells the story of The North Circular brand, the women behind it and their values. Obviously I had to get my copy signed.



Shopping at its best, handmade, quirky, slowfashion far from the cheap, massproduced wear and tear stuff you find in the high street stores.

Knitting brings the world together and soothes the soul.