Thoughts

The whole problem with the world is that fools 

and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, 

and wiser people so full of doubts. 

-Bertrand Russel

Greta

The Greta dress, the most perfect of them all.

Pregnant, non pregnant, party, wedding, everyday wear ... It works well for it all. This is one in my collection of this growing swedish brand. Exceptional in taste, timeless elegance and the absolute perfect feminine dress that works year after year.

Don't forget that you'll have 15 percent off any item at KOTYR.SE if you use the fabulous code stina<3kotyr when paying.

Stay at home fashion

Fashion has never been so easy, yet so complicated since I became a stay-at-home mother for this period of my life. I need comfort, practicality, being able to sit on the floor, lay in bed, carry my little love on the hip (11kg!) and still feel that I live a conscious life, enjoying nice clothing and look good without time consuming and complex superficial decisions. But as time goes by, it feels like I've found the perfect balance between my passion for getting dressed and also feeling comfortable in what I wear. So this is my everyday kind of choice.
A beautiful sweater in soft angora or cashmere, a pair of soft stretch jeans, some nice bracelet or necklace in a material that Alexis can play with and a bag that has the multifunctionality of having a long strap in order to wear it over my body instead of like before where I always tended to wear my bags in my hands or over my arm.
Life changes, but still, it it's even more important now to feel good and keep yourself there, as much as possible.
Slowly but surely I'm adapting both mentally, physically and with all thoughts that runs through my head when thinking about the future, life and what it is in the world that REALLY matters.
Being a mother is the hardest task I've ever had, but also the most fascinating one. Never in my life would I have thought that I would love this child of mine so much, adore my little family this much and be able to change my life so radically from one day to another, because of someone else. I don't think there is much in this life that will shake your world in the way it does when you have children. Life becomes greater than yourself and your own existence. That teaches you a lot about yourself and what you are willing to do not only for yourself, but for the love of others.

(sweater: Acne, jeans: Joe's, bracelet: Marni & bag: Prada)

Stinas Vintage Store

Click yourself to Stinas Vintage Store,
as always it's first come first served!

Makeup

You are many out there to wonder and ask questions about what makeup I wear and what kind of skin products I use daily. It seems like a lot of women out there are very interested in makeup and all of that, which makes me glad, but I'm not actually. I've never been. I like things that work, give clear results, come in nice looking packages, are easy to use and feel good on my skin. And that's all that interest me.

The most important thing in the end is the skin. And I therefore would never use anything else than the medical products from Jan Marini. It's truly amazing what they can do and I won't lie if I say that I maybe got 5000 people to use it daily, through my patients and all the people around me. They are all addicted by now. And why would you not be when they make all the difference. I'm a perfect example and proof that it works and let's say that I'm very sceptic to skin products in general. Until now, I have never met anything else that lives up to my expectations.
Products in any domain have to go through a lot of trouble before I would ever conider recommending them, especially for skin products, because those make the surface work or not. And if you have problems with your skin, I suggest you book a counsulation HERE and they'll help you combine the different strong, medical ingrediens that will truly help you.

Regarding makeup, I've used the same colours and brands for as long as I can remember. I know by now what looks good on me and I know what kind of result I am looking for. I hate foundations: that sticky feeling is not for me and I like to see the skin. So I use a very, very thin layer of mineral powder instead and you can hardly tell that I am wearing anything at all. For blush, I wear the same mineral powder in something called "Warmth", which just give my cheeks some a little more colour.

I have very light eyebrows and eyelashes and that's why I colour my eyebrows every second week at home and put black mascara on my eyelashes. I seem to be the only one left in the universe that is not very fond of these super long, artificial eyelashes that everyone has nowadays. I actually think it looks prettier without them because it looks so much more natural.

For my lips, I won't ever leave home without some colour on them. I like a natural beige/pink kind of enhancer on the lips and therefore use a good pen and some beige lipstick above.

And that's it. It takes approximately 5 minutes to get ready and I like that.

I use:
- Medical skin products from Jan Marini (I use four different ones)
- Mineral blush and powder from I.D
- Mascara, Diorshow from Dior.
- Chanel pen and lipstick.

(I will also write about my favorite hair products, body products and nail products.) 

Creamy details

Best details today: Marni bracelet and the thin golden chain with small sapphires from A.G and Alexis world map hat. We have focus on South America for the moment as you might see.

Interview

If you would like to read an interview about my view of motherhood, traveling with a little one and what to see when in Stockholm for the first time - Click.

Thank you 33 AVENUE for having me!

Monday mode

For all of you who wonder when the article about the iconic bags will be readable, I can tell you that the first real release of the internet magazine Fine Decor will be out in the beginning of April.

Dagmar

Voilà!

Saturday's choice of dinner wear was this brave combination, but I actually prefer how I wore it the day after. I had the beautiful handknitted top to a black skirt and riding boots and later I wore the mustard trousers with a jeans shirt and leopard heels.

(trousers and handknitted top: Dagmar/Kotyr.se, bag: Chanel, bracelet: Tory Burch)

Surprise!

Let's just say that my weekly delivery of macarons came with a very special ingredient this time!

Thank you my love!

Sent home

Yesterday I got this marvelous combination sent home from KOTYR.SE. The warm mustard colour is one of the newest from Dagmar and I know it's brave and peculiar - but I really like the originality and the quality both of the trousers and knitted top; it's awesome.
I think this kind of yellow mustard goes perfectly to black and gold and I will match it with black heels and a gold/creamy coloured bracelet.
You'll see the result later. We're attending a dinner tonight and perhaps this is what I'll wear.

Don't forget that you'll have 15 percent off any item at KOTYR.SE if you use the fabulous code stina<3kotyr when paying.

DÄV rain boots - the WINNERS!

So it's now time to announce the winners of the DÄV rain boots!

The two winners are:

Simone from Austria, you will get the black, quilted ones
and Linnea the student in Sweden, you will get the brown pair.
Please send me an email (stina_auer@live.se) with your full name and adress and the brand DÄV and I will make sure you get your pair very soon!

Congratulations to you and THANK you everyone else for participating!

Accessories

I'm usually not very fond of the collaborations that H&M throws every year and I haven't bought anything since I don't know when. But one of the brands I really like is Marni and I actually think the bracelets and the accessories came out terrific. And it's a pleasant feeling to pay 30 Euro (300kr) for a Marni bracelet instead of tu usual 250 - 400 Euro (2500-4000kr)! So, this is the bracelet collection my dear helper got for me yesterday! The creamy bone colour and the green are definitely my favorite! Did you buy anything? And what do you think about the collaborations?

Unconditional mother

Sometimes I'm just so tired that I can barely focus my eyes or stand up. Our little beloved son has been sick for a week (stomach bug, the best kind) and on top of that he is entering that very special period where he has anxiety about being separated. I think I already had that period for at least one and a half months, because he cries as soon as I step two meters away from him, but apparently it's coming now again, stronger?! At certain points during daytime, I just realise that I have close to no energy left, that I could fall asleep on the spot. But then this classical little combination of some dark chocolate and a cup of coffee helps to squeeze out those extra pounds of unconditional love that helps you when time as a mother feels very, very exhausting.

Spring shopping

I got this fantastic dress sent home a while ago. I had planned to wear it with bare legs in Morocco, but the weather turned out to be much colder than I'd hoped for. So instead, I'm wearing it with black stockings in a more "early spring" kind of way! It also comes in black and the material is a wonderful, heavy silk that just falls perfectly on the body. I match it with mum's new stunning Chanel shades in that eclectic cat-shape that I just had to steal from her!

I also plan to get some of the newest things from Dagmar. I love their simple way of playing with fashion. And for me, that's what fashion is all about. Playing with my daily mood, starting the day with amusing thoughts in front of my closet, looking at all the different things and wondering "who do I want to be today?" I love the fact that the human brain is so playful and can be creative with the outside part as well as the inside part. You should never settle with anything less creative in your daily life than to have that mental freedom.

If you would like to go bananas with some spring shopping - click yourself to KOTYR.SE and use this fabulous code stina<3kotyr when doing so and you'll get 15 percent off on whatever you want until the end of March! How lovely is that?!

Pesto a la Stina

On Sunday evening I was cooking for my sexy man before he flew back to Switzerland again. And what is better than some juicy, nutty, homemade pesto? It's so easy to make and tastes fantastic with a wide range of flavours all mixed with passion and love!

What you need:

- 2 pots of fresh basil
- 150 gr of pinion nuts
- circa 300-400 gr of fresh parmigano
- 2dl of fine, tasty olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic
- black pepper and sea salt
- a mixer
- fresh pasta

So, let's get started. Rinse the basil leaves from the plant and put them in the mixer together with the pinion nuts and blend them. Add the garlic, the parmigano and the olive oil plus some black pepper and salt. Mix it once again properly.
Boil the fresh pasta and then mix it all together with the pesto in a larger bowl, then serve immediatly and top with some freshly grated parmigano.
Enjoy your man as an desert and Voilà, I swear, it's the best combination ever!


(You can keep the pesto in the refrigerator a week.)

Stinas Vintage Store

Hi girls!

If you want to own some really stunning classics, then now is the time to click yourself to Stinas Vintage Store.

And like always it is first come first served.

Happy shopping girls! 

 

Friendship

Alexis seven and a half month with Tiger appearing as an old man. Guarding curiously.
Time flies. And love grows.
Tiger is also adapting, something I almost thought impossible. He always has had a resentment towards children because of a five year old girl who chased him with a stick and then hit him when he was a puppy. But a mutual respect has grown and I can see a long term relationship spawning for those two stunning looking boys.

Details

If white is too early, then light grey is perfect.

Spring feelings

Ohh welcome spring!

(coat: Minimarket/kotyr.se, pants: Acne, top:Baum und Pferdgarten, nacklace: Marni, shades: Ray Ban, bag: Dolce & Gabbana & heels: Christian Louboutin)

Competition!

Today a new competion will start! I have the pleasure to announce that you can be the winner of a pair of DÄV luxury rain boots. Two different pairs will be part of this lovely competition: the one on the picture is the first one (riding inspired and in a dark brown colour) and the second one is called DÄV Quilted Victoria (black colour) and to see them please click HERE.
Who wouldn't love to wear something comfortable and good looking even during rainy days?

To participate you must do the following:

- Become a follower at BLOGLOVIN and GOOGLE Friends (if you already are, just write that down)
- Write a comment about what it is in this blog that makes you keep reading it and what you would like to have more of in the blog. Also write your shoe size and where you live.

I will choose two different winners in a week's time so you have seven days to participate and keep your fingers crossed.

Good luck!

(The price for these boots are normally arount 100 - 150 Euro and you can find them at Stockholm Market - Stockholm, Grace and United Fashion - Gothenburg, Illum -Copenhagen and around different stores in the US and Europe.)

Sunlight

Your smile is the sexiest curve on your entire body.

(top: Busnel, bag: Jimmy Choo & skirt: Maruschka de Margó)

Dark

I have a feeling that these dark heels will accompany me both in Venice and Portofino this summer.

(... and be prepared, in a day or two I will put some wonderful collector's items up in Stinas Vintage Store!)

Life equation

Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good, Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good. Feel Good. Look Good. Look Good, Feel Good

Life equation in its simple form.

Rainforest

I just have to share these colourful beauties I photographed. Mother nature must have had the most inspiring and joyful day ever when she decided to create these heavenly little creatures.

Beauty

Beautiful, beautiful weekend. Full with the best things life has to offer. Love, togetherness, our son, dinners, fascinating and interesting friends that almost count as family, restaurant visits and just those unexplainable moments that put themselves in memory lane.

In my mind

In order to lead a fascinating life, one brimming with art, music, adventures, intrigue and romance 

- you must surround yourself with precisely those things.

Boys

Alfie (10 months) & Alexis (7 months).

Health

Many of you wonder how I manage to stay fit and slim. I think that I get at least two emails per week about that and comments every week. It's very particular to get questions about how to stay fit when my body has gone through that enormous natural transformation when you carry a child inside of you and your body adapts. I can tell you that a lot has changed. Slowly but surely I start to recognise it again even though it will never look like it once did.
For as long as I can remember, I've been working out in one way or another. My body is full of muscles under those soft layers of fat from years of riding, dancing ballet/modern/jazz and running in my younger days. For my wellbeing and also for my physical strength, I need a small amount of exercise almost every day. The problem is that I hate going to the gym, running and all of those ideal things to stay in shape. And also, I hate everything that has to do with diets, calorie counting, saying no to fat and carbs just because of some kind of weight watching theory ... etc. To me, it's all rubbish and an unstimulating way of getting obsessed with food and in the end to get an eating disorder. After all, it's so unattractive to meet women who can't appreciate food in the way the world's heavenly created ingredients are meant to be explored and enjoyed; with tender appreciation and passion.

When I was younger, I struggled with bad self-esteem because of my body, like most women in this world unfortunately. But just as I hoped for, it all grew away and during the years I have understood what my body needs to stay strong, in shape and in my way of seeing it - healthy fit.
It's in fact a way of living where you allow yourself more or less everything you want, when you want it - but in reasonable proportions. I never restrain myself from anything and therefore seldom need to eat a whole box of ice cream, because I know that I can eat a normal portion every day if I want. When you allow yourself that kind of mental freedom around things that normally give a lot of pressure to women, you will start to understand that the cravings are lessened simply by the fact that there is no "dangerous" food. Food only changes your body when you abuse it.
If you eat a piece of chocolate here and there, I will hardly be noticeable on your body, but if you eat a whole chocolate bar every day, that will of course eventually translate into extra curves on your body.

It's very important to eat food that makes you satisfied and full. I would never leave out neither breakfast, lunch or dinner with a half full stomach. The risk that I would like to kill someone for a bag of chips or something else of the kind is obviously much higher.
I myself have a rule: I seldom eat something like a desert before eating a proper meal. Most often, I only need something small after dinner so when doing it that way the temptation is only for small things rather then squeezing another full meal in a desert.
All my meals contain some kind of protein like meat most often, potato/pasta or other kind of carbs and some vegetables. I'm also very fond of sauces and it's always a part of my meal. I always put butter on my carbs and in my veggies if they are steamed, for example. Fat is not dangerous in a proper meal. It's everything around, the unnecessary things that are harmful.
I also make sure to have what I call "between snacks". Like a smoothie, a sandwich or whatever I have close at that moment. It makes the metabolism work harder all through the day and the cravings for sweet things is less.

With exercise, I am a big fan of what can be done at home. It's so much easier and I can do it whenever I have 10 minutes free. I usually do some push-ups, sit-ups and some bump exercises. I sometimes use hand weights of 7kg each. And that's it. Apart from that, I try to walk as much as possible, but do have a problem just walking. I need to have a goal when I walk, so I often set a goal before passing the door. It can be something stupid like buying milk in a store further away.
I seldom dress for pure walking, then it would become pure exercise and in my head, that's boring. I just walk in my everyday life. It's my favorite kind of exercise because hardly notice it.
As explained above, I hate all kinds of planned exercise and having this daily routine relives me of pressure and guilty feelings. Some days, I won't do anything at all and some, I have a lot of energy and do more. To me, it isn't something I do here and now, it's a way of life. I strive to be strong, fit in my own way and in my own good shape for as long as possible.

I have a normal weight for my height. I have cellulite and extra fat in a lot of places, but the goal for me is not to get rid of that, more to have a firm body, see small contours in my arms, legs and stomach and especially to feel strong but without loosing the female lines. Fat is something we have, us women. It comes with the beautiful female body and is part of the magical possibility that the biological evolution has given us to be able to carry and nurture a child.

With all this said, I didn't do anything to keep in shape right after birth. It took almost five months to get my energy back and even thinking about anything superficial like this. But the necessity to get a strong body back one day took over and I've been back in my old track for a while, that daily way of living before I got pregnant and all of that.

Find a way that fits you and incorporate it into your life and have it as a lifestyle instead of something you do from time to time. If you find that fragile balance of eating what you want in normal portions, exercising a little everyday rather then massively two times per week and learning how to enjoy yourself in heart and soul - you'll always stay in perfect shape. Your own perfect shape.
And all of that focus on food and weight can be put into something more intelligent and creative.

Breathing is effortless

The more I live here, in this northern part of the world, the more it gets to me ... That this is life. Every day that passes is my life. And the question remains the same: is this where I want it to be? When all that my soul, heart and mind seek for is the sun, the tropical ocean, the clear blue sky, the freedom of light, the lovely feeling of soft winds caressing my body. Playing with my mind. I can see myself walking with our son holding my hand. M cuddling my shoulder. I am wearing a long silk dress, we're all barefoot on a silent beach somewhere. We have a home next to this picture. And life is so much easier. Breathing is effortless.

Orange/black

Last weekend was all about birthdays so Alexis and I dressed up.

Alexis - hat: Mini Rodini & shirt: Karpi Baby
Stina - cardigan: Acne, skirt: Prada, knee boots: TS & waist belt: Chanel

Delicious

Sunday dinner was topped with the red gold and crayfish.

Svenskt Tenn afternoon tea

As you might know if you read the blog regulary, I have a weak spot for high afternoon tea. Yesterday, we tried the new opening of Svenskt Tenn's tea room where they now serve this lovely arrangement of small delicacies and a wide selection of teas. I enjoyed it although the area is very small and we were lucky to find a spot on a Saturday afternoon. But I must say I do prefer Grand's, even if the price is more than double, there is nothing that beats their standard of service, the unforgettable view and the whole experience of it. It's as close as is gets to the perfection you can only find in the best english tea salons.

Back

So we're back in Stockholm.

 

Good Morning!

Click!

Meringue

Too often this week have I had this speciality with real meringue from this little hilltop called Gruyères where the world famous cheese with the same name comes from.
This tasty little sweet treat is the easiest ever. Just add the meringue, put some double cream on the top and add some fresh raspberries. Voilà!

Snowy memories

Beautiful memories created with my family in the whitest of snows.