Daydreaming

Darlings, close your eyes and imagine that you are taking a romantic stroll amongst those pretty flower bushes of the Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan. Don’t they smell beautiful? Le sigh. xo

P.S: More Japanese goodness: the firefly forest, the firefly squid sea and the enchanting flower garden!

(Photos by Takau, Shin-k and Ed M. Villasenor)

Summer Time Scarves

Wearing my beloved silk, cotton or pashmina scarves during summer time proves to be quite tricky. It's simply too hot to wear them around my neck and when I need them in the evenings they are nowhere to be found - sounds familiar?

Well, this year I decided to find a few snazzy, yet comfortable ways to incorporate them into my everyday outfits. So, if you have the same scarf dilemma, here are a few takes on summer-scarf-wearing that I can't wait to try out:
As a head-bow-tie-scarf or around a snazzy top-knot hairdo.
As a top cover-up or a guy-bow-tie.
As a belt. (or part of a belt).
For cooler summer days or evenings as a cover up or a side cover. Such a wonderful way to add extra texture to the outfit, isn't it?
Or loosely flowing in the air - perfect for bike rides.

Lovelies, which one you fancy trying? Do you know any other fun ways to wear scarves this summer? Do tell! xo

P.S: Also, you can wear it as a necklace.
P.P.S: Don't miss our awesome Mi-Bra GIVEAWAY!

(Photos by/via Vanessa Jackman, La Mariniére, Note To Self, Elle, Street Peeper, Lydia Abaté, Garance Doré & The Sartorialist)

Venice of the Netherlands

The other day, Shoko wrote about this little Dutch village and I utterly fell in love with it. It's called Giethoorn and it's one of those rare birds that doesn't come around too often. Listen to that, the whole village is connected by a water canal system instead of actual roads so the locals commute daily by boats, kayaks or canoes. How brilliant! I’d love to take a trip there and wander around the little paths, spend evenings on the boat staring at the stars and greet my neighbours with a friendly hoi while passing by each morning.

Lovelies, have you ever heard of this place? Would you fancy going there? xo

P.S: More swoon-worthy travel spots, including this gem in Scotland.

(Photos via All That Is Interesting)

Wednesday Giveaway

Today’s giveaway is from British based Caroline Baker, the designer of Mi-Bra whose mission is to empower women to feel strong and beautiful in their own skin. Mi-Bra is an eco-friendly sports bra, made with 90% organic cotton that feels super comfy to workout in and looks great. The totally handy part is that the bra itself has a no frills pocket on the front for you to store your iPod, change, keys or even your subways pass. Genius, isn't it?

Today, Caroline is offering you a chance to win your own Mi-Bra. If you are not a runner yourself, this little gem would make a great gift to your jogging friend, sister or even your mom who loves staying fit.

For a chance to win you should be a follower of exPress-o, please visit Girl Habits and let us know why would you want a Mi-Bra or for who. As always the giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday night. Good luck! xo

For extra entries:
Follow exPress-o on Twitter, like Mi-Bra on Facebook, follow Girl Habits on Twitter, join the exPress-o group on Facebook, follow exPress-o on Pinterest or tweet about the giveaway and please make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Summer Sunburn Trick

Lovelies, if by any chance you forget to apply tons of SPF this summer, here is a little trick to instant sunburn relief: Simply rub a few frozen cubes of aloe vera onto your burnt skin. Supposedly it soothes the pain and calms down the redness. Voila!

Who would have thought, right? Also, I'd love to ask what's your favourite sunscreen? (I'm on a hunt for a new one). xo

P.S: A little summer lipstick trick.
P.P.S: An awesome GIVEAWAY Wednesday is coming up! Stay tuned:)

(Tip via Real Simple. Top photo by Nina Leen, 1950 via Forties, Fifties, Sixties, layout by exPress-o )

Dinner Party: Herb Bouquets

Last night Balazs and I had a lovely couple over for dinner. They moved into our building a few months ago and they seemed lovely after a few quick staircase chats we shared. Anyway, they arrived with a bouquet made of herbs! It was the sweetest dinner treat I have ever got. The husband explained that each time they passed our door they noticed that I grow herbs in planting pots so that's what inspired them. Isn't that sweet and super thoughtful? By this morning our whole flat smelled like sage flowers, mint, oregano, basil, geranium leaves, parsley and lavender. Bliss!

Loves, have you ever given a herb bouquet? Would you? What are your go-to-dinner-party gifts? (I recently swapped our usual bottle of wine with a jar of oven dried cherry tomatoes). xo

P.S: And here are a few takes on foodie wedding bouquets. Aren't they beautiful?

P.P.S: Tips and tricks to a perfect dinner party.

(Photos by /via A Well Traveled Woman, The Herb Companion, The Kitchn, Every Last Detail & 16 House)

New Take on Vintage Brooches

Loves, do you wear vintage brooches? I rarely do. I have one that I got from my grandma on my 18th birthday and I occasionally pin it onto my tweed blazer, but only when I’m going somewhere special. I’ve always wanted to incorporate it more to my everyday wear but I simply didn’t know how, till this morning...

I literally gasped when I spotted this sweet idea of pairing your favourite vintage brooch with an everyday hairdo. Whether it’s a messy bun, a loose braid or a slick updo, it seems to add such a charming edge to even the simplest of looks. I totally want to try it out with a top-knot, old jeans, and a slouchy blouse. J'adore!

Darlings, would you give it a go? xo

(Photos via The Glitter Guide, Pinterest and Heather Bullard)

Carrot Lemonade

Have you had carrot lemonade before? Me neither but according to the First Lady, Michelle Obama this take on the classic makes for a scrumptious, totally refreshing drink packed with healthy goodness. Here is the recipe if you fancy giving it a go - I certainly will! It looks delicious, doesn’t it? xo

(Top two photos by Linda Wagner and the last one by Better Homes and Gardens)

Have An Uplifting Weekend

Loves, what are you up to this sunny weekend? Balazs and I are planning to simply spend it chillaxing on our balcony, eating tons of those lollies with lavender water (they are so good) and whip up some spinach omelette for dinner tonight. My darlings, have a beautiful weekend and I see you Tuesday morning.

As always, here are a few great links to check out if you're in the mood for some blog hopping fun. Enjoy!

Crikey, a cafe with all things nutella!

Two great sounding summer drinks.

What's really like to write a family cookbook.

Oh boy, sunset.

Thinking about starting your own design studio? Check out those tips.

Britain glows in space:)

The most astounding fact - The universe is in us.

On regret.

What a great way for kiddos to eat veggies.

I'm smitten with egg cups.

The view, the pool, the house - bliss!

Summer nails (88 takes on nailpolish).

Matching shoes.

I can almost smell them. So beautiful.

Flower arrangements.

Eight amazing spots in Australia.

And how about these 4 exPress-o posts all about travel destinations you might have missed?
* Iceland.
* China.
* Poland.
* Britain.

(Photo of the amazing red hot air balloon in Luxor, Egypt by Andrew Kerr via  Guardian)

This Week's Gems

There is nothing better than stripes for summer....

There is something totally magical about this pendant, isn't there?

This lunch box set would be so great for picnic breaks with friends...

Don't you just love this bangle? It would go so well with breezy summer dresses. (Btw: you can get it in three other colours as well).

Picture this: floppy hat, this tote, flowy shirt dress and your favourite sandals - summer perfection!...

Have you ever been to New Orleans? It looks magical:)...

How pretty are those peg magnets? I want them for my fridge!...

Fun little earrings. They would make a special gift to someone who loves taking photos...

I love this quirky little tee!...

Speaking of statement jewelry, this ring makes me swoon...

Lovelies, happy Friday! What caught your eye this week? Any great buys? xo

P.S: Fancy more gems?

The Floating Market In Thailand

My friend June recently came back from a work trip to Thailand. The first thing she said to me was that besides all the mesmerizing views her favourite place to visit was the Damnoen Saduak floating market. It’s a colourful gem hidden near Bangkok.

She was blown away by the concept of transforming such a simple daily activity like selling fruits into one of the most fascinating scenes ever. June described it as a totally colourful, lively place full of buzz that sells fresh fruits, veggies, flowers, drinks and even meals cooked on the spot. The funniest thing she experienced was that all the transactions were done very quickly as you actually shop boat-to-boat and the traffic is out of this world in the early morning hours. You are simply expected to be quick.

Now, I am totally dreaming of spending a morning there too, don’t you? Lovelies, have you been to Thailand before? Would you like to go? xo

P.S: More travel lust.

(Photos by NZ, via Pretty Stuff and Pinterest)

Swoon-Worthy

Swoon! Wouldn't you love to live in that sassy dress this summer? Bee makes it look oh-so feminine and simply adorable. I love the understated, relaxed vibe of it with the extra touch of total foxyness - the open back. A perfect summer dress for casual strolls in the park or romantic candle-lit dinners. xo

P.S: A few more breezy dresses.

(Photos by Atlantic-Pacific)

Best Friends

Are you still in touch with your childhood best friend(s)? I’ve always been a bit envious of Balazs and his childhood buddy with whom he still manages to keep a close touch with. Each time they meet, they kind of pick up from where they left off. On the other hand my oldest and best friend that I keep contact with is from 10 years ago. As a kid we moved tons of times around the world so I quickly learned how to make new friends. The thing that stayed with me is to always make an effort to have fun together. Nowadays, when I meet someone new I bake brownies, brew coffee and enjoy their company. xo

So darlings, I'd love to hear about your best friend. Who are they? How long have you been friends? Where did you meet and how? xo

P.S: Have you seen this film?

P.P.S: And dinner with friends:)

(Photos via Kimberley Gordon & Matchbook)

No Place Like Chrome

Last night while having dinner at our local hummus bistro I got totally distracted by the girl at the next table. She wore a very simple tunic-like black dress, low ponytail and chrome colour nails. I’ve seen that shade used on toes before but never on fingers and it looked oh-la-la beautiful! Of course the girl noticed me staring (go figure), so I awkwardly blurted out how much I like her nails. Btw: the colour she wore was from the latest Essie collection 'mirror metallics'. I found it in Target this morning; it’s called 'no place like chrome'. Bingo!

Loves, have you worn chrome or silver colour before? Would you? xo

(Photos via Wit + Delight)

Would you dare?

My darlings, would you dare taking a stroll across that see-through skywalk? I get dizzy just looking at it. This incredible bridge is built on the side of the west cliff at the Yunmeng Fairy Summit in China. The part that gives me butterflies is not the height but that the whole walkway is made of sheer glass. Just imagine the feeling of being 4000 ft above the ground while looking down - eek! Supposedly the brave people that went though the 200 meter path say that the view from up there is one of a kind and totally worth it. Swoon!

Would you go? Have you already? xo

P.S: How about this bridge in Vancouver?
P.P.S: Also, a teahouse on top of the world - incredible!

(via Daily Mail)

Dazzling Take On Statement Earrings

Do you wear big statement earrings? They seem to be on a stylish-speedy-train right now and you won’t believe what I just read about them.

According to Red magazine, dazzling earrings can be used as an unexpected beauty-fix. For example you can use them to liven up your dull hair days. Here is how: instead of treating your uncooperative locks with dry shampoo, try using long, chunky earrings that will break the mischievous-vibe in your hair by optically adding movement and extra body. If you have shorter hair they can be used as an extension to your haircut, creating longer neck. Also, they supposedly serve as a great transition stage between longer and shorter hairdos by providing something you can touch or grab as if you had longer hair.

My darlings, do you agree or disagree with those tips? Thumbs up or down to the trend?

P.S: Also, snazzy anklets.

(Photos by/via The Glitter Guide, Tatiana, Vanessa Jackman, Hanneli & The Sartorialist)