New Year. New You!

Posted by Mette on January 4, 2012

There is nothing like new beginnings, second chances or any excuse for making a change really.  And what could be a more appropriate time for a fresh start than Jan 1st?

For me, 2012 is going to be the year of a solid commitment to myself and my overall health and well being.  I do understand that we all have our ways to find happiness, harmony and new fabulous de-stress methods but I can start by sharing my top 3 “intentions”:

  1. Make time to relax. 15 minutes a day is the goal. Living with an autoimmune disease I have always researched the latest trends/discoveries on how to manage the onsets of pain and inflammation.  And what I keep hearing over and over again is that stress counts by far as the biggest factor for the onset of illness.  And if that is not bad enough, stress actually speeds up the aging process and causes wrinkles.  I feel vanity staring me right in the eyes.

So this year I will commit to 15 minutes/day to keep the pain and wrinkles away.

  1. Follow my recent discovered Dr Fuhrman health diet.  I have always been a healthy “dieter” but I introduced the Fuhrman diet into my life mid last year and stayed on it for 3 months.  It was absolutely amazing.  I felt good and looked so much better than I had in ages.  Then the Xmas season arrived and out went the kale and in came the sugar treats. Now I am ready to make the lifestyle change and stick to it. That said, I do have one disclaimer though… and that is champagne.  One should not live a fanatic lifestyle but a combination of laughter, celebration, exercise and a diet packed with nutrients (which is Dr Fuhrman’s principal: maximum nutrients per calorie.)
  1. Caring/Volunteering. We all know how good it feels to give so why not make it a bigger priority? I will no longer make any more excuses about being too busy running a business or needing more time for friends and/or hubby.  Giving back can happen in many ways and I can always turn a lunch date into a fabulous volunteering event with a friend.

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Holiday Joy with Marni Wasserman!

Posted by Mette on December 11, 2011

Today, I would like to introduce my first and highly eco-fashionable guest Marni Wasserman. I have come to know and appreciate Marni’s very distinct style over the past year as well as her many eco-conscious business ventures. From her dynamic cooking seminars, to her expertise in nutrition, Marni is considered to be the health and wellness guru of her generation, not to mention her fabulous sense of style. She not only is a contributing writer for Tonic Magazine, but she is also the author of several fabulous e-books, including Veggin’ Comfortably.

I was pleased to hear that Marni’s top 3 tips to make this the most fabulous holiday season mainly involved relaxation, food and cozy drinks to prepare at home. As much as I love social events I also really appreciate Mette time at home (hence… home spa products).

Below find Marni’s 3 tips to holiday dream land:

Fabulous lifestyle from Toast UK

  1. Wear comfy sweaters and pajamas all day long. The best part about the holidays is that you have no reason to change out of your pajamas – especially when you are spending the day with loved ones. At the very least, wrap yourself up in your comfiest sweater. This will make you feel warm, happy and free to just be yourself.
  2. Put your feet up by a warm fire with a Mette Vangso pillow behind your head. Nothing says relaxation like a plush lavender pillow that soothes away tension and stress. There is no better time than the holidays to take advantage of some “you” time! (I swear I did not ask Marni to say this!)
  3. Indulge in cozy, warm and fuzzy drinks and food. My all time favorite drink would be my homemade Heart Warming Chai.
    Do give it a try:

Spiced Chai Tea (Photo credit: Flickr/mouse)

Ingredients
1 cup pure water
1 cup Ryza rice (or almond) milk
1 cinnamon stick
4 pieces of cloves
1⁄3 inch fresh ginger root, sliced
3 pieces whole peppercorns
1⁄3 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
1⁄4 teaspoon whole cardamom seeds
2 teaspoons Rooibos tea
Honey, maple syrup or agave nectar to sweeten

How it’s Made
1. Simmer all spices in 1 cup of pure water covered for 30 minutes.
2. Add the tea and milk and bring to a rolling boil.
3. Reduce the heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, cool slightly to comfortable drinking temperature and serve with a sweetener of your choice, or plain.

Now that I’ve shared what I learned from Marni, remember to relax and take care of yourself and let the joy begin. I am definitely going to try this recipe. Maybe right after I post this.

And stay tuned as I embark on my quest for more fun and fabulous tips to make this holiday season more enjoyable.

Vi ses!

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Welcome the Holiday Season with Joy!

Posted by Mette on November 15, 2011

As this is definitely my favorite time of the year I am back to writing and hopefully spread some fabulous Danish holiday joy.

ummmmmm...Honninghjerter (Photo credit: Flickr/kraen)

Every year, the mood changes for people all around the world during the holiday season, whether they become happy, sad, or lonely, there’s no denying that we all succumb to the holiday spirit during this time of year. But for those who don’t know, Christmas is the holiday that Danes value and anticipate the most. From the decorations, to the home crafted presents, to the amazing holiday treats and the candle lit cafes, the site of it all can turn the biggest scrooge into Cindy Loo Hoo.

when all else fails ..... (Photo credit: Flickr/deCadmus)

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had many memorable holidays – with friends and family, and the shopping deals I scored of course, but I know many of us have had different experiences as well, so what I would like to know is how do we turn this holiday season into the most joyful experience without too much stress and headaches.

I will interview other fashionistas sharing our holistic positive outlook on life and learn about at least 3 tips from each on how we can make this holiday season the most festive experience. I will add some “sparkles” with specials I find and offer and hopefully by the end of this season we can all look back and say “what a fabulous holiday season”.

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