Woohoo: a new book!

Last Thursday I introduced together with my dear friend Fidessa Docters van Leeuwen our new book: Lichter leven (translation: Living light).
Lichter leven is a ‘lightstyle inspiration book’, full of real life examples, meditation, yoga and a dash of mindfulness to brighten up our daily existence.
Cross fingers that the book will be published in English as well!

Dutch readers: for more information on the book, please visit www.light-style.org.

ABC

I was already in love with the ACORN necklaces of Amsterdam-based jewellery designer Sandra Turina, but now I have also fallen for her ABC collection, developed in collaboration with graphic designer Lena Steinborn. The only question: what letter shall I chose?

Old masters inspired food

After ten years of rebuilding, renovation and restoration, the famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has finally reopened its doors 2.5 weeks ago. The museum is known for the work of Dutch School painters like Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals and Johannes Vermeer.

The Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam brings its own hommage to the reopening of the Rijksmuseum with its Classic Afternoon Tea in Old Masters’ style. Eatable art it is! The Old Masters Afternoon Tea contains typical old-Dutch food like herring on rye bread and a burger of Amsterdam ‘osseworst’, a regional beef sausage.
Not my cup of tea as a diehard vegetarian, but I had to share this, because it looks amazing!

Daily served from 3pm – 5.30 pm in the Brasserie for 35 euros p.p.
The Conservatorium Hotel is situated in the Museum Quarter with world class Amsterdam museums like the Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum.
See also the website HERE.

Art of Nature

The color palette of the limited Aveda Art of Nature Make-Up Collection spring/summer 2013 
starts with pure pastels like the first buds of spring, and builds into exotic, 
high-summer color.
I like this kind of product presentation.

Leg-inc: better than pants

Saskia Schipper (left) and Marleen Albers van der Linden at their Amsterdam studio

Recently I visited Marleen Albers van der Linden and Saskia Schipper of Leg-inc in their Amsterdam studio. Better than pants is the slogan of their brand. A phrase that fits their designs perfectly!

The ‘leggings’ (Marleen and Saskia prefer to say Leg-incs or pants) fit as beautiful as trousers with the perfect shape. Long legs for a looser fit and no high water effect and made of double-stretch material, so no ugly flubbing knees. The pants are high waisted and that prevents us for visible love handles under tight dresses. Besides the great fitting, Leg-inc is also known for its crazy prints and luxury materials. Whenever I wear their pants with peacock eyes, positive comments is all I get!

Tailor-made
Leg-inc designs are available via their website, but you can also make an appointment for a private fitting at the studio. Marleen and Saskia, who started their company one year ago, also organize sale parties at people’s homes, just like the Tupperware parties. The host of the party receives a pair of Leg-inc by choice. When desired the designers also produce tailor-made. “Sometimes somebody has wider ankles or a bigger behind, but a small waist. That’s no problem for us. A perfect fit should be available for every unique shape!”

Sustainable
“We only chose beautiful materials of exclusive qualities. Materials that last for ages and that are sustainable because of that. For that reason we started our kids leggings, in the beginning made of rest materials only. You can also find a lot of Barbie dolls and toys in mini Leg-incs around us! What our future plans are? Well, we love to be available international. Currently we are working on a new website. Another goal is to design our own patterns and materials.”

Leg-inc is available for women, kids and men in all possible sizes and countless materials and colors.
Please, visit www.leg-inc.nl  or follow the brand at Facebook to stay up-to-date.

Bye bye Bea

After more than a century The Netherlands, the country I live in, will get a new King on April 30. 
Queen Beatrix will relinquish the crown to her son Prince Willem-Alexander.
April 30 will also be the last time that we celebrate Queensday, always a giant party in Amsterdam. From next year it will be Kingsday on every 27th of April.

For those who want to celebrate the crowning in unique style, media platform ONESECPLEASE and the new Amsterdam shop PRJCT AMS have released these two Tees portraying Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima.
The wicked illustrations are made by illustrator Kristel Steenbergen.

Available from April 19, in the sizes XS – XXL, for € 39,95 via PRJCT AMS (Gasthuismolensteeg 18, Amsterdam), de Bijenkorf, online at the Vive L’Homme website (the label of the T-shirts) and other places (check ONESECPLEASE for details).
Of each sold T-shirt a percentage is donated to – what’s in a color – Orange Babies.

Fantastic animals #2

© This Wild Idea – Theron Humphrey

This amazing photo of Maddie the Coonhound has been made by photographer Theron Humphrey.
His rescued dog Maddie is also starring in his beautiful photos on Instagram, Facebook and his blog Maddie on Things.
So lovely!