A SUNDAY TRADITION

Source: Pinterest

A favourite past time of mine is relaxing in a bath. Sometimes a bubble bath, sometimes a bath infused with oils - either way it's my favourite way to sit back and relax. 

I came across this picture on Pinterest and was inspired to research more ways to spice up a regular bath. Wouldn't we all LOVE to have a deep, big bath with such a fabulous view?! But if this is not your bathroom - which I can unfortunately tell you does not resemble mine - there are other ways to get the same effect. I would like to share with you my favourite bath....

The Lavender Infusion Bath!

Lavender is a perfect way to reduce stress since it is well known for its sedative properties. The calming scent will help bring your mind that races everyday thinking about work, family, the kids, what to cook for dinner, etc...down to a harmonious state. Lavender waters used to be used to sooth women that were susceptible to hysteria which still holds true today and I can attest to that!

Directions: Fill your bath and infuse the water with 5 - 6 drops of lavender essential oil. Slip in, close your eyes and let your mind wander into a state of pure relaxation. To complete the feeling of zen, include some candles around your bathroom. Fabulous Living has a selection of beautiful candles and lighting ideas you can check out - Be prepared, you never know when you will crave that ultimate evening of total rejuvenation!

"KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" - anonymous

~ Heili and Team Fabulous

A BURST OF CREATIVITY!

Source of photos: Pinterest

Over the weekend I did some spring cleaning which inspired some creative thinking...

I don't know about you but I don't have a safe, organized place to store my earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I found that I had jewelry scattered around the bedroom in any drawer or surface that had space! I want a clear view of my jewelry every morning so that I can pair the right piece with the day's outfit. So, I searched the internet for some ideas and found a few super stylish DIY organizers that not only will keep my jewelry in order but will add a creative flare to the home. 

A cheese grater spray painted with legs? An old rake hung from the wall? A piece of wood decorated with different drawer knob designs? What easy and brilliant solutions! So now you know what I will be doing next weekend;)

Is it time to grow your collection? Check out new necklaces, rings and bracelets from Fabulous Living boutiques - A girl can never have too much jewelry:)

Get creative and happy shopping!

~Heili and Team Fabulous

SPRING IS HERE, TIME TO CLEANSE!

Source: Pinterest

Doesn't this statement put things into perspective?!

A couple of years ago, I started a ritual of cleansing with the changing of every season to help kick-start my body and immune system. Boy, have I noticed a difference in my energy levels and in the way I feel after a cleanse!

Ideally, your cleanse should last 2 weeks however if that’s not realistic for you, try one week. The key is to commit 100% to the time you set out for yourself. My naturopath helped me set up a plan as a guide to what foods to eat and which to pass on. Plan your meals for each day of the cleanse and buy all the necessary ingredients so it's easier to stay on track. Preparation, organization and determination is the key to success.

Fill your daily diet with vitamin rich foods like:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Fish
• Nuts
• Lean meats

And avoid foods like:

• Refined sugars
• Heavy carbs
• Red meat (hard to digest)
• Caffeine
• Preservatives/additives

And remember, if you're feeling unmotivated to hit the gym or to step our for a run, think about the great feeling you have after your workout. There's no debating that your body feels rejuvenated after some vigorous movement. And think, it may even help you to fit into those favourite summer pants you haven't been able to wear for a few years:)

I'll check back in a couple of weeks after I have cleansed and would love to hear how you feel as well!

A little food for thought...

Reward yourself with some Spring/Summer shopping on Fabulous Living!

-Heili and Team Fabulous

A bit of the '80s are back!

Do you remember flashing neon colour combos in the '80s? Well it's back! 

Two of the hottest spring/summer colour palettes are neon and pastel. They are making a huge comeback and I have been seeing pops of colour all over the shops and magazine spreads!

Over the weekend, I decided to visit the 'Surrounding Bacon + Warhol' exhibit at the Göteborgs Konstmuseum. First of all, what a small and great display of cool yet strange art. The piece that stuck out for me was Warhol's 1984 'Marilyn Manroe'. Warhol was known for working in the third person and interpreting figures and people in the media via his own unique techniques of reproduction. What a fantastic display of neon and pastel colours - it gets me excited about so many colour combos for the spring!

I guess some of the '80s are back with a 2012 twist! Will we be seeing you in a pop of neon or pastel this season?

Get inspired!

-From Team Fabulous

New Purse!!

COWBOYSBELT DOES IT AGAIN

I finally got the new purse that I have been waiting for. Today I was at our butik Sagolikt in Mölnlycke doing a photo shoot of new products and I fell in love with this purse by Dutch brand Cowboysbelt. 

A beautiful leather bag with a woven pattern on the front. The purse is a nice solid leather similar to that of Campomaggio bags but at a fraction of the cost. It has two straps to hook on my arm or wear over my shoulder. And if I want more casual use, I can put on the extra strap and wear it across my body. The inside which is always very important is lined with good quality cotton twill, two open pockets for phones, etc. and a zippered pocket for smaller items. 

The bag is the perfect size, not too big that it can't be used for every day and not too small that I couldn't put in the iPad 3 when I get it.

And the best part of it is... it was a gift to me from Sagolikt owner, Therese. Thank you Therese for the great bag and for having such great buying sense. If you want to buy one also, it will be available on Fabulous Living next week. If you can't wait until then, email us and we can put your name down.

Have a great Easter weekend!

From Kristi, Patrik and Team Fabulous

GlossyBox.se

On the weekend I picked up the first month of my subscription to GlossyBox.se. Each month they send out a box out each month with 5 "lyxliga skönhetsprodukter" in smaller trial sizes. Each month you get to try 5 different products and they come in beautiful packaging from the outside all the way in to the inside packaging.

 Once you try the products you can earn GlossyDots by writing a review of the product. When you write a review you get 20 GlossyDots, when you have 500, you get the next GlossyBox month free! Sounds great to me. A good way to try products without having to spend a fortune on regular sizes and you get a big enough size to actually see if you like the product. 

So if you would like to try it yourself, go into Glossybox.se

New Boutique Sucre à Porter

Fabulous Living would like to welcome our newest boutique Sucre à Porter in Malmö. As you can see by the photo Sucre à Porter is inspired by vintage France. They carry hot French brands such as Leenoy, Dress Gallery, Des Petits Hauts, popular Paul & Joe Sister which is from French designer Sophie Albou who launched Paul & Joe - named after her two sons - in 1995, and now regularly dresses the likes of Cameron Diaz and Kate Moss . 

Sucre à Porter also sell shoes from Spanish brand Chie Mihara and Italian brands Via Roma 15 and Le Mie Ballerine.  They also sell lifestyle products from US Tokyo Milk and purses by Make Everyday Happy.

Sucre opened in Malmö in October 2011 and is located in the trendy Davidshallstorg and offers a unique blend of French, Italian, English and Spanish labels.

"Everything has been carefully selected to offer something really special, in terms of design and quality. Sucre is the perfect destination for style seeking women, looking for quality, personal service and, thanks to our international background, a unique approach to fashion."

Sucre à Porter is also selling this years hot ballerinas, a must in every wardrobe. I personally have several and could have even more. If you have Audrey Hepburn as your style icon, then you can't be without the most comfortable shoes around. You feel like your not wearing anything. Your feet will love you.

Happy Spring!

Following a dream

656 pages of inspiration, motivation, melancholy and empowerment. I don't have much time to read, running a business, 5 kids and their activities and maybe some time at the gym, but I felt I needed to read this very big biography of the Steve Jobs, founder of Apple (for those who don't know who he is, if there is anyone).

The book is written with a refreshing objective honesty presenting the two sides of Jobs - the genius and the dragon. Everyone has the light side and the shadow side, some more than others, so I found his persona actually quite balanced in the sense that in his extremes there was balance; extreme highs and extreme lows in the way he did things, treated people, thought, acted, etc. 

The thing that I connected with is the fact that he was not motivated by money but by excellence. He wanted to create great products, simple and easy user experience to simplify and enhance our lives and he wanted to create a great company. 

Like anything in life, when something is done for the right reason with the intention to want to improve and enhance life, society, etc. one is often successful and as a result, money is plenty. Although Steve Jobs was hard on people, he wanted to help them to reach the unreachable. To find within themselves their true potential. Many people in society today are talking about motivation, affirmations, fulfilling your dreams, and making things happen. Robin Sharma's books and philosophy is based on this, being the best you can be. Believe it or not, Maria Montessori over 100 years ago started her method of education to help each individual child realise their true potential.

If we say, "no, it can't be done", it won't get done because we have already created that reality with our thoughts.  Instead we can think like the Little Engine that Could, "I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I know I can. 

A little philosophizing on a Friday morning to give you food for thought on a early March weekend. 

Trevlig Helg!!!

The Oscars

Being from Toronto, Canada and having lived in Vancouver (both cities known for being the Hollywood of the north) it is not surprising that the Academy Awards is as special to me as Idol or Melodifestival is Sweden.

The event, the glamour, the actors we all love to watch as we escape our lives through film are all there together to celebrate an industry that enriches our lives. They tell us stories, portray events that we perhaps have no awareness of, make us laugh, make us cry and take us on a journey with them.

Living in Sweden however with a 9 hour time difference it is not easy to deprive ourselves of precious sleep to see the spectacular show that goes on for 4 hours if you start with the red carpet. So fortunately we will get a condensed version of the real thing this coming Saturday at 18.00.

Until then I would like to share some of my favourites and give my salute to those whose passion and hard work paid off in acknowledgment and sometimes the coveted golden statue called Oscar.

ehandel.org - E-marknadsplatser satsar på social shopping

Photo from ehandel.org's article on "E-marknadsplatser satsar på social shopping"
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Drag n Drop
Den svenska shoppinggallerian Fabulous Living jobbar med etablerade varumärken från utvalda fysiska butiker med fokus på kläder, accessoarer och heminredning. Nyligen presenterade de en del nya tekniker på sin sajt som egentlige inte borde vara så unika...read more http://www.ehandel.org/nyheter/e-marknadsplatser-satsar-pa-social-shopping/

Odd Molly Spring Collection

Odd Molly's Pre-Spring Collection is starting to hit the stores. While the stay and true staples are part of the collection, there is also some new styles. The Timeout Wrap is a perfect piece while the weather is deciding what it wants to do. The Lovely Knit and Grandma Crochet Knit are in great long standing colors of blues, vintage grey, pink and porcelain.

As usual the colors and patterns are luxurious and slightly off-beat. But that's why we love Odd Molly. You can find some of the new collection in Fabulous Living now ... see Odd Molly

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Memphis Colorblocked Satchel
by Marc by Marc Jacobs SS12 collection

A perfect purse for this spring when the colours are so bright. Fuschia pink and red are a perfect combination and the satchet style that will never go out of fashion. I especially like the consistency in the lining and the partitions and sections inside which makes it easier to keep things nice and organized.