exPress-o: October 2014

Cheers to a spooky weekend!

Friday, October 31, 2014

Happy Halloween! How are you celebrating? Tonight, Balazs and I are going for our friend's annual Halloween party and I'm planning to eat myself silly with candy. Lovelies, have a spooky weekend and I will see you back here on Monday morning. Don't forget to set your clocks one hour backwards on Sunday morning, but in the meantime, here is a bunch of fun links for you to enjoy. Cheers! xo

Those autumn cocktails tickle my fancy.

Brilliant! 46 stray cats of Athens :)

There is no view like a bird's view, is there?

Let's go to Bermuda, shall we?

This chef and his beautiful food.

I need to make those!

Oh, Robbie Williams is something else - giggle!

What a beautiful idea.

Eek, awkward.

Do you realise how extraordinary your story is?

The human behind 'Humans of New York'.

Kissing your socks goodbye.

Metropolis.

Ha! Fancy sending a tweet from a weather balloon?

What to say to a grieving friend.

Sweet!

What a brilliant idea to jazz up your kitchen jars.

Why every newborn has the same blanket.

Does everything happen for a reason?

And fancy a blast from the past?
- Three years ago today.
- Two years ago today.
- One year ago today.

P.S: Fancy a bit of chit-chat? Join me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or even Instagram.

(Photo by Inge Morath - New York, 1960 via Lauren)

This Week's Gems

Ah, this blazer is made for chilly autumn days:)...

Swoon - how stunning are those diamond rustic stacking rings?

Ha! The coolest spoon ever!...

Imagine wearing this bag with your favourite autumn uniform - perfection!...

Stunning bulb vase since it's never too early to start thinking about growing Paperwhites...

A key ring to adore...

How beautiful are those yarn ball hair pins?...

The prettiest porcelain spoon...

My new coffee-love...

The perfect everyday necklace...

Cactus print perfection! A must for a work desk:)...

Bit under the weather? Try this mustard soak detox bath...

Cheese markers for those amazing Friday nights with friends...

Happy Friday! What caught your eye this week? Any great buys or finds? xo

P.S: Fancy more gems?

(Top photo by Polienne)

The 15-minute rule to a less-distracted life.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

How are you with your house chores? Do you prefer spreading them throughout the week, or you'd rather do everything in one day?

Last year, after reading Jodi's post, I adapted her 15-minute rule to my everyday house chores to live a less distracted life. I'm not the type that would spend a whole day cleaning the house, and since I work from home, I get easily distracted if the kitchen floor needs mopping, or the pile of laundry that I've been avoiding is getting bigger and bigger. So taking 15 minutes each day to do one thing like laundry, cleaning the bathroom, organizing the closet or dusting makes my life smoother and keeps the distractions to a minimum. Works great for me. What works for you? xo

P.S: Your happiness makes your friends happy, too.
P.P.S: For a good night's sleep.

(Photos via mrs washalot and Minnie)

24 Years, 215 Countries, 1 Car.

Blimey, meet 77-year-old Gunther Holtorf and his wife Christine who just returned from a 24 years long road trip! Yup, they spent all those years covering 556,000 miles and visiting 215 countries - all in their trusted car that was adapted to fit in a mattress, storage for their gear, a set of clothes and some basic kitchen utensils. They went everywhere from Africa, South and North America, Asia, Australia, the whole of Europe, even to the base camp of the Mount Everest which is 5,200 meters above the sea. Ah, what an adventure!

Can you imagine the amazing memories they brought back? Have you ever taken a road trip? Would you?

P.S: Let's travel!
P.P.S: Plus, tons more travel lust.

(via Sho & Tell via Daily Mail. Photos by SWNS)

Let It Go...

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

In the world that gives us countless opportunities to be in control of the smallest things, like how many steps we take while walking, it's no surprise that everyone wants to be immaculately accurate about every decision they make. Yet, I find myself wanting to have less control and keep going back to Kiki Smith’s words for comfort.

"Just do your work. And if the world needs your work it will come and get you. And if it doesn't, do your work anyway. You can have fantasies about having control over the world, but I know I can barely control my kitchen sink. That is the grace I'm given. Because when one can control things, one is limited to one's own vision."

Each time I read it, I realize that knowing everything, planning ahead and being fully in control of the giant that is life is simply impossible. No point trying to tame the beast…just do what you do and you will be just fine.

Thoughts? Do you feel in control? xo

P.S: How to have a great life full of simple pleasures.
P.P.S: High five New York :)

(Photo by Luca Bortolato)

Clean Eating: Banana Nut Porridge

Do you like porridge or oatmeal? As a child I used to eat it all the time for breakfast. Nowadays, I much prefer making a hearty bowl of porridge for dinner on those slow, lazy nights when Balazs is working late and I'm having the flat totally for myself.

Here is the thing about this particular porridge, it's without a doubt the healthiest and yummiest bowl of breakfast goodness around. It doesn't contain cow milk or sugar or oats or yoghurt - it's made entirely from nuts, banana and coconut milk.

Have I convinced you? I hope so:) xo

Banana Nut Porridge
(Serves 4. Recipe adapted from Danielle Walker – Against All Grain)

Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup of raw nuts like cashews, almonds, pecans or any other you like
- 1 very ripe banana
- 1 table spoon of hemp seed* or hemp powder (optional)
- 2 cups of coconut milk
- 1 teaspoons of cinnamon
- A dash of sea salt for soaking water

Place the nuts in a bowl full of water and sprinkle the sea salt over them. Cover the bowl and soak overnight. Next morning, drain the nuts and rinse 2 or 3 times, until the water runs clear. Blend the nuts with the banana, coconut milk, hemp seed and cinnamon until smooth. Next, put all of the porridge in a pot on the stove and heat over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. When ready, serve with raisins, chopped nuts or dried fruits and an extra splash of almond milk if desired.

*Here is why I add hemp seed.
**If you are making the full recipe, you can store your leftover porridge in the fridge for up to 3 days.

P.S: My dear breakfast.
P.P.S: A breakfast club.

(Photos by exPress-o)

Fly Over Earth.

Fancy a quick trip around the earth with the International Space Station this morning? Go here and scroll, scroll, scroll! Crikey, isn't our planet breath-taking and pretty neat? Now go on and have coffee. xo

P.S: Tweeting astronaut.
P.P.S: Botanical space flight and a bit more of space dazzle.

(via Tina Roth Eisenberg. Photo via Scribol)

exPress-o Film Club: Begin Again

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

A few days ago, Balazs and I watched the 2013 romantic comedy Begin Again and I still can't stop thinking about the way it made me feel. Have you seen it?

It's not your typical comedy - it's a cooler, more grown up, deeper take on a light-hearted love story. It's about two people bonding over song-writing, loneliness, heartache and betrayal that results in them rediscovering who they are, who they want to be and what's truly important to them. So if you're in the mood for some amazing tunes, incredible views, drunken song-writing and heartfelt emotions - this film is totally for you!

Bits and Bobs:
- I can't get enough of the film's soundtrack. Pretty awesome, isn't it?
- My second favourite tune from the film.
- Adam Levine plays the ex-boyfriend.
- Next time a boyfriend cheats on you, sing him this song.
- Everything you might want to know about this film.
- James Corden on the film.
- Now I really want to see him in One Chance. Have you seen it?
- Plus, he is starting a Late Late Show on CBS in March.
- Psst: I really enjoy his twitter feed.
- The amazing Keira Knightley sung all the songs herself.
- The moment Keira's and Mark Ruffalo's characters meet for the first time.
- She seems so lovely, doesn't she?
- Mark is probably best known for his role in Avengers Assemble or Zodiac but I loved him in 13 going on 30 and The Kids Are Alright.
- Keira played in films like Anna Karenina or Pride & Prejudice but she totally nailed this more light-hearted role as well. (And her dresses were something I'd wear any day).
- Here are all the tunes from the film if you fancy checking them out.

P.S: Plus, a few other films that I love right now.
P.P.S: And 10 best scary films.

(Photos via IMDb)

Autumn Style Tweak: Belted Scarves

How do you wear your beloved scarves this autumn? I think we all agree that snug, chunky, long and beautiful scarves are perfect accessories, right? Well, here is a new and sassy way to wear them this season - belted over French layers, cozy coats, sassy dresses or even oversized cardigans. I just love how they add a dash of elegance to an understated autumn uniform. I'm sold! Would you wear it? xo

P.S: The art form called layering.
P.P.S: Gentlemen's club style.

(Photos by/via Maddinka, A Love Is Blind, Tommy Ton, Vanity Fair and Vanessa Jackman)

Nifty Parmesan Rind Cooking Tip

Since the soup season is officially here, here is a fantastic little tip that will make your autumn and winter dinners taste even better:

From now on don’t bin your leftover hard cheese rinds (especially from parmesan). Just freeze them and use them to jazz up your hearty soups, sauces, stews and everything that you’d normally use parmesan cheese for. Somehow if you stick a cheese rind in a pot of soup or a spaghetti sauce while cooking it, it will transform your regular dish into a deeper and creamier pot of goodness. Try it!

Also, we just discovered this little dipping sauce recipe for fresh bread: put your rind in a jar and add a slug of good olive oil and a clove of garlic. Let it sit for a few hours and start dipping your bread. So good!

P.S: Also, this ginger peeling trick and 4 awesome apple tricks.
P.P.S: The best way to keep lemons fresh for up to 5 weeks!

(Photos by Smitten Kitchen and The Pioneer Woman. Dipping sauce recipe via Fantastic Man)

Succulent potted pumpkins

Monday, October 27, 2014

Tomorrow night Balazs and I are having a few friends over for a pre-Halloween (scary) movie night. While looking for fun ways to decorate the dinner table, I stumbled upon those beautiful succulents potted pumpkins that would look great on any occasion including even Thanksgiving.

Don't you just love how festive they look without being overdone? Plus I'm on such a succulents high lately that I couldn't resist them even if I tried. Are you planning a Halloween party? Or maybe going out? xo

P.S: Six quirky takes on jack-o'-lanterns.
P.P.S: The best Halloween costumes - ever!

(Photos by Elia Sills via Con Botas De Agua)

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

Blimey, every year thousands of people gather at a remote mountain town of Pingxi district in Taiwan to celebrate the new Lunar Year by filling the night sky with over 200 000 lanterns. According to the tradition before releasing the lantern, each person should scribble their desires and ambition on it and then send it into the heavens for good luck. The next festival will take place in March of 2015 and boy, oh boy what a treat it would be to see it in person, don’t you think? Would you fancy an adventure like this? I totally would! xo

P.S: Also, the stunning yi peng festival in Thailand and this ceremony in Hawaii.
P.P.S: Plus, the Midsummer Night festivities in Poznań.

(Photos by/via 海龍蛙兵, Oliver Wu, Aaron, Jirka Matousek, Nik Cyclist)

Burgundy Chevron Nails.

Recently I realized that Mondays are the perfect manicure days and a great (beginning of the week) distraction. So, this morning, I'm meeting my friend Sofia and hoping to get my nails fancy with a burgundy chevron manicure. It looks like the perfect fall look, doesn't it? xo

P.S: Oxblood goodness.
P.P.S: Metallic shine.

(Photos by LuLu*s)

Artollo Giveaway Winner

Drum rolls, please!!! The winner of the Artollo $200 gift card GIVEAWAY is Marta. Congrats! xo

P.S: Thank you all for playing:)

Cheers to a serene weekend

Friday, October 24, 2014

Cheers to the weekend, lovelies! Any cool plans? Tonight, our friend is organizing a coffee tasting evening in his coffee house and I've been looking forward to it all week long. Besides coffee and banana bread, there will also be a little jazz band playing. Also, a little reminder for all the European readers: make sure to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday morning. Darlings, have a great next two days and I see you back here on Monday morning, but in the meantime, how about a handful of awesome links to browse through? Enjoy! xo

In how many languages can you say thank you?

Don't forget to enter our $200 Artollo home décor GIVEAWAY!

Do you love chocolate? If so, this will make your day.

How to shoot with film.

Which one are you?

Stressed? Cali can help:)

When introverts should avoid coffee.

Ha, nifty!

Ah, Sunday Suppers gathering.

Girl carrying the ocean on her shoulders.

New and genius take on avocado.

Why we take pictures...

A few clever ways to make your cut flowers last longer.

Walk like a happy person...(be a happy person).

How to have a clutter-free life.

Fancy having a hummingbird as a best friend? (So awesome!)

Amelia Earhart on marriage.

I can't get enough of Jerry :)

How to kick off a dinner party right.

And fancy a blast from the past?
- Three years ago today.
- Two years ago today.
- One year ago today.

P.S: Fancy a bit of chit-chat? Join me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or even Instagram.

(Photo of the road to Como, Italy by Pierre de Izarra)