THINK FAR: Cult Beauty from Abroad

There is something exhilarating about getting my hands on and experimenting with cult beauty products from abroad that are unavailable in Greece and too expensive to buy online. Here are 3  products to spice up your beauty routine with international beauty.

UK : Batiste Dry Shampoo

I am a busy chic and I do not have anymore the time or the energy to wash and style my hair every other day, as I used to. Batiste dry shampoo has been an absolute game changer since I discovered it in the UK and recently the most used item in my walk of shame kit. It is my sebum control soul mate, fantastic in refreshing my second day hair and giving them an instant volume boost in a couple of shakes. It gives my lifeless hair an instant and inexpensive (2.99£) makeover without any water. Be aware though of the powder-head situation till you have the time to wash those locks!

Available at British drugstores (Boots, Superdrug) and online here

FR :  Serozinc Toner

I am secretly hoping that one day will discover this magical product to keep my hormonal and stress related acne at bay. Anything that can prevent my PMT skin tantrums makes me absolute thrilled and therefore Serozinc, the miracle worker, the magical zinc-sulfate solution in the blue bottle that every beauty guru is raving about, had to be transported from Paris to me. The miracle though did not happen. For me, Serozinc’s beauty lies on soothing my dried out, irritated skin during the cold winter months and preventing excess oiliness during hotter months, ensuring my complexion feels fresh and comfortable any season. 

Available at French pharmacies - City Pharma, a beauty addict's paradise in Paris, is full of fabulous French skincare products in great prices. 

DE : Alessandro Hand!Spa Hydrating Hand Cream

It’s not too often that I am excited about a hand cream. I first laid eyes on Alessandro Hand! Spa products, when in desperate need to soothe my cracked hands from cold during my Berlin visit. It is a dreamy, lightweight, luxuriously smooth, intensive moisturizing hand cream with pearl protein extract and macadamia oil, gorgeous to smell. Definitely worth the splurge!

Available at Douglas

THINK PINK: 2014 in 14 Photos

Goodbye 2014! 

2014 was in one word a bittersweet year for me. I lost a job and I lost respect, but I kept thinking pink and dreaming big. I had lots of free time to appreciate the beauty in everyday life, to read great books, experiment with makeup and food, as well as to learn a lot.  I had many painful horizontal moments in bed and I was so stressed, but I was well dressed.  I managed to get back on my feet and I was lucky enough to visit amazing summer and winter destinations, get pampered in luxury hotels, to push my limits and expand my culinary horizons in great restaurants. I refused to compromise with any job and against all odds I landed on a dream job where it feels like home. In 2014 I got my own share of sadness alongside my happiness and I am so ready to welcome the new year with confidence and curiosity.

2015 bring it on!

Hello 2015!

THINK XMAS: WISHES

Simple Joys, Little Pleasures,

Laughter & Smiles in big measures,

Friends, Family, Togetherness, Love...

Peace, Prosperity and Happiness too...

All these and more are my wishes for you!

Keep Thinking Pink & Dreaming Big!

This is just to wish you

I will be back with fresh content soon! 

WISH LIST: Kitchen Accessories

Decor me, please!

After sharing ideas on how to give your kitchen an organized, but yet stylish, warm and inviting feel, I have rounded up wish-list-worthy items for charming touches. Retro utility carts, graphic bowls, modern fruit bowls, fun salt and pepper mills, colorful pots, sleek soap dispensers and jars, are functional, affordable and most importantly too pretty to hide away. Let your personal objects shine!

SHOP THE POST

1. PEUGEOT_Salt & Pepper Mills / 2. Koziol_Wall Clock Silk/  3. TIGER_Bowls /4. IKEA_CACTACEAE Potted Plants with Pots / 5. IKEA_ RASKOG Kitchen Trolley / 6. IKEA_TRADIG Fruit Bowl / 7. H&M Home_ Glass Jar with a Lid/ 8. H&M Home_Glass Soap Pump

THINK CREATIVE: How to Style your Kitchen

I love eating and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, as well as having people around. One of the biggest challenges, when I first moved in the city apartment with MrA, was to style a very old kitchen and later on to decorate a new, modern space that looked almost "clinical" without any accessories. 

In both cases, my aim was to create an efficient, organized, but yet stylish kitchen. I was looking for space-saving storage solutions, so that I could have enough countertop space for food preparation, but at the same time to display utility items that would add a bit more personality and warmth to our kitchen, without creating a visual clutter. 

 { Inspiration Board #1 }

Here are some ideas on how to create a stylish culinary stage that reflects your personality:

Turn clutter into décor 
Branded packaged goods on countertops can create a visual clutter. Glass jars with sleek handwritten labels for dry goods (cereal, sugar, coffee, pasta etc), as well as pretty dispensers for oil, vinegar and soap bring  a sense of stylish uniformity to the kitchen. Everyday kitchen items, like knives and colorful mugs, can double act as wall décor, while it's easy to grab.

Store smarter 
Smaller appliances (kettle, microwave, coffee machine etc) that often take up precious countertop space can find home in space-saving utility carts. Similarly, open shelving stocked with bright dishware and stovetops with stainless steel or copper cookware is utility doubling as décor. 

Think green 
Bringing in green does wonders for any windowsill or kitchen countertop. Pots with fresh herbs for cooking are ideal for kitchens with daylight, whereas succulents and cacti last forever and thrive indoors. Similarly, colorful fresh fruits and veggies in stylish bowls help to perk up the space.

Brighten things up 
While we love a clean white kitchen, a pop of color breaks up the crisp palette and brings out the warmth of the space. It's amazing what an impact can make swapping out cupboard knobs or a few colorful pots, pans, mixing bowls, tea towels and kitchen art prints against a neutral-toned backdrop of woods and whites. 

Take inspiration from others 
Stay curious and take inspiration from other people’s spaces, but do not attempt to replicate them. Accessorizing helps to create spaces that reflect your personality. The best places for hunting down inspiration are Pinterest and blogs.

 

  { Inspiration Board #2}

  

Keep up with more of my inspiration boards by following me on Pinterest.

 Let the Kitchen Makeover Begin!

Sources: 

Inspiration Board #1: 1 (left), 2 (top, right), 3 (bottom, right)

Inspiration Board #2: 1 (left), 2 (top, right), 3 (bottom, right)

THINK BIG: Books On My Nightstand / The Sense of an Ending

As I am getting older and faced with life’s challenges, I realize that much of what I thought was important for my younger self  is rendered utterly irrelevant by the passing of time. Meanings shift and change. Tony Webster, a retired middle-aged divorcee and narrator of The Sense of an Ending , comes to a similar realization.
 

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is a compact, contemporary novel of only 150 pages, but jampacked with a skillfully plotted story about friendship, youth suicide, eros (sexual love) and thanatos (death), loss, affairs, pregnancy, remorse, the complexity of the human heart, the fragmentary nature of memory, the passage of time, and with a strong mystery at the core of it. "History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation." p.59

A warning though, its effect can be disturbing, leaving you unsettled and frustrated once you reach the story’s ending. The enigmas, as well as the stunning psychological and emotional depth it offers sum up the pleasure of the book. No wonder it gained the reputation for being the book that you must read twice to search "sense" in a hazy "ending".

A rainy week ahead of us calls for more books on my nightstand. Here’s what’s on my October reading list:

The Goldfinch  by Donna Tartt

A lengthy novel that keeps me awake at nights. I challenge you to tackle its 864 gripping pages! However, if you are not up to the challenge, you could pickup Tartt’s other slightly shorter but equally acclaimed novel, The Secret History.

Gone Girl  by Gillian Flynn

Another mystery novel with plot twists and a grand finale that I am itching to discover before watching the movie, which has hit the big screen in Greece.

Now it’s your turn! Please let me know of any books you highly recommend.

Have a good read and a wonderful week!