Easter around here and egg dying ideas

Easter is yet to come for us this year, so we have plenty of time to think about dying the eggs until May 5th.
Last year we kept things almost classic with solid colors and I experimented a little with glitter (as one would expect). I had fun putting together items I love, not necessarily related to Easter (like the lovely reindeer below) and a few color palettes, along with making my mother crazy with all the glitter spread around the kitchen.

 One of my favorite all holidays decoration

Solid color eggs

Happy lantern

One of the two special glitter heart eggs

Pastel eggs with glitter polka dots

Styling pastel eggs

Bright Easter colors

Glitter polka dots eggs

Gold, brown and red Easter palette

Lovely tiny details my mum creates around the house (please don't tell her about that fingerprint)

My favorite plastic flowers

The special egg saved to be thrown in water on January 6th. 

Don't tell anyone, but it's still hidden in a closet.

How is Easter looking around your place? Do you pay attention to decorations days before, or only dye your eggs and have family lunches? I love starting to feel every holiday early in the air, because after the food is eaten, the magic goes away quickly. I guess it is much more fun with kids around too. Can't wait to hear about all the activities you do.
Also here is part 1 and part 2 of 10 holiday decorations you all have at home and a cute easy idea for Easter breakfast.

| Love, Lisa |

10 tips to survive flu like a pro

It is quite interesting how each individual's concept and strategy of going through a flu is totally different.
For example my friend has an imaginary superhero kill the evil of flu every time she feels weak. I on the other hand am more on the classic side, but with a twist (rest + pills + something extra).
Not to declare that I am a pro when it comes to flu, but after laying in bed two times in December and once more this week, I decided it's too much for a single winter season.
The good news is I finally decided to pay attention to my body, my mind and the overall sickness this year, figuring out what works when it comes to feeling better.
I am going to share a few things with you, hoping to help you kick flu away or just pretend so, because most things are mental tricks :)

1. Biggest debate ever : Staying in Vs. Getting out
Don't feel guilty if you take the day off from work but fancy the idea of going out with a friend later. Fresh air and exposure to sun rays will make you feel energetic. Just listen to your body carefully and you will know what to do and for how long, otherwise you'll end up tired. While we were in Europe in December, I was ill with a severe cold. I wanted to rest and not do much, but short activities were a good break from feeling ill all the time. Trying to capture the perfect moments in pictures and driving a few hundred kilometers helped me feel sane, concentrated and not missing what was supposed to be an adventure.

2. The same thing doesn't work for everyone. I am so sick and tired of the "hot soup-hot tea-stay warm in bed" formula. Maybe I'll only keep the third one, but hot food and beverage is not for me. Bring me some normal to cold fruit juice, a citrus flavor soda, maybe an ice cream or frozen yoghurt too and let's call it a flu cure :) Once a friend of mine swam under a cold water fall and she swears she got rid of her sore throat.

3. When it comes to tea and other drinks, doctors claim hot is not good for you because it favors an environment for bacterias to multiply and you don't by any means want that. If you feel like drinking tea, have it normal or cold. I like to create odd and fancy variations like cinnamon honey vanilla tea milk or orange chunks mandarin ice tea. Try to add a little surprise element to your drink and it can make you feel like you're having a magical potion out of a sudden.

4. Moisturize. I am the last person on Earth who likes to drink water when I am sick, but here is a safe way to make sure you stay hydrated. Drink a full glass every time you have a pill or medicine. In addition to water keep a moisturizer cream by your bed. I find it soothing to apply from time to time around my nose and lips when they crack from rubbing with tissues. Also I apply plenty on my lips and hands, sensitive areas that I feel drying and itching easily.

5. Don't underestimate the power of nice smell. Be it a fruity or floral candle, a subtle air freshener or a sprinkle or two of your perfume, use it on the room you are staying the most and you'll see why. Also, keep a bunch of fresh flowers in the room if you can.

6. Amongst rolling in bed and having family members bring everything you need to you, it can be easy to forget to refresh the room. It quickly gets overwhelming if you don't let fresh air in. Try to do your best even when all you want to do is glue yourself to your pillow. For me, this includes opening the windows before I go wash my hands and having a stroll around the kitchen before coming back to bed. It is essential to do this several times a day.

7. Hop into the shower. This one has been particularly hard to embrace lately, as our mother always kept us away from baths when we were little and sick. But after trying it doubtfully at first, I never missed a steamy shower to help drop high temperature since than. Even when anything else seems to fail fighting fever and 39 degrees, give a classic 5 minute steamy shower a try.

8. Some people crave their favorite food when they are sick, some only want soup and some cake. I think you better stick to your usual timing and size of meals and put more emphasis on soups, fruits and vegetables. For me vitamin C is the hero. Whenever I feel flu in the air or there is someone sick in the family, I immediately start to eat tangerines and oranges. Most of the times it works.

9. There are some things we save for a special occasion, like silk pajamas, heavenly smelling shampoo, a new color nail polish, an expensive face serum or lace lingerie. Get them out of the closet and pamper yourself. The other day I felt my dry skin looking for a different moisturizer and after searching in my drawers, I came upon a hidden Estee Lauder set of creams I was saving for a potential gift. Oh my! My skin loved it

10. This is very personal. Some people are all against medicine and taking pills, some like moderate treatments based on doctors' advices. While some others prefer to take a pill every time they see a hint of flu coming in the horizon. Whatever your attitude is, be sure to have control over your body and symptoms a common flu or cold might bring you. Having someone check you for high temperature at night is ideal. If you never take pills, consider so if you are burning in fever or have strong aches. The best is to always see the doctor even for a common flu, but if conditions (or being too scared) don't permit, stick to classic pain relievers that usually work for you.

Bonus random tips : I find it health boosting to be surrounded by clean stuff even if I skip the hair washing day. A crisp pair of sheets sooth me instantly, just like folding clothes piling in my room or wiping out my laptop screen. These little things make me feel organized and fresh (I told you from the beginning my tips were more mental tricks than real deals). Favorite music, movies, new magazines and books are welcomed too ;)

I wish all of you suffering from flu and cold get better soon! Take you time to feel strong again and let your body hug the pillows for as long as it needs to. Consider it all as an opportunity to pause and recharge. This is what I catch myself saying after a couple of days laying in bed all the time : "What happened to that mile long -To do- list? The world didn't actually end, huh?"
My friends, maybe you should evaluate your priorities and understand what is the most essential for you in life. Sometimes we only see the good things through bad ones :)

| Love, Lisa |

10 gift ideas for Mother's Day

- Picture from the beautiful village my mother was born and raised -

Having many people call me a gift guru, I feel really bad to admit the one person I rarely seem to please is my mother. When I was younger I started to actually think there was nothing that she would like and all my gifts ended in my room/closet/neck/finger/skin. But only lately I have realized the main reason she says she doesn't want us to buy her presents is because she doesn't want us spending money on things she already has or flowers that will die after a few days. Mothers, you know! However, I have not quit yet and spotting the next surprise for her is a real pleasure (still a challenge though, I have not mastered it completely yet). Based on my experience, dreams and desires, here are 10 meaningful gifts suggestions for the lovely ladies in our lives :

 1- Your mother is unique and so needs your gift to be. So you gotta think out of the box by all means! My mother loves plants and flowers, but somehow I couldn't please her with my expensive compilations or exotic clementine trees. Somewhere between her knowing I spent too much (she hates that) and me standing in line for two hours making the flowers look dead by the time she got them, I rarely got the satisfaction I crave for in her face. But there was one time when I went on a different smart direction. Somewhere at the back of the shop (I always find gems when I get into dark corners and storing space in all kind of shops) where I usually buy flowers from, I spotted a dusted wooden airplane serving as a vase for three cute tiny cactus in it. This was the most successful gift from the flowers edition (I'm sure the different vase stole her "beauty detector" eye and heart). Also, I made a great deal as no one was buying cactus that day and the owner was too busy pricing bouquets of tulips and orchideas, so he got rid of me with a fair price and simple packaging. Four times win (price, time, innovation, satisfaction).


2- In case your mother has a special love for sweets, cakes or non gluten biscuits, your job is easy, just make sure to get the best in town of what she likes. Or maybe a gourmet selection, a little bit of all the best. How about trying to bake something delicious yourself? She will appreciate the effort even if something goes wrong.

3- Even if you go with the traditional flowers bouquet, stick to only one kind and color to make a bigger impression. I'd suggest white, yellow or pink roses or carnations (that flower is the cheapest, but I find it so romantic and feminine in a bunch, except for when it is in red). To add meaning to this gift, write a little note for every flower in a tiny strip of paper, roll them around each flower and instead of the usual wrapping, put them in a transparent box (you can trim the ends of the flowers, so the total doesn't exceed 30 cm in length). Write anything you like, memories, your favorite things about her or the reasons you love her so much. Wrap the box in a big bow in a matching or clashing hue. Even if you buy only 10 cheap flowers, the result will be a show stopper.

4- If you have basic design software skills (such as Photoshop or InDesign) or collage skills/drawing, you can make a small culinary book. It could be thematic, like dishes from France, if that is a country she loves, or the best of seafood, if she used to live by the sea when she was little. Another option is to introduce your mom to some new recipes, helping her test her kitchen skills and making yourself never use the phrase "we're having ... again??" before a meal.

5- Go for something useful, something she needs, something that got old/lost or something she never had. Stay alerted when you go shopping or randomly pass by a window. Remember the dress she tried on and looked great in, but got away empty handed waiting for the sale season. If she seems to like something but you know she'd never buy it for the full price, it's your chance to surprise her because she deserve much more than that.

6- Consider a subscription if there is availability. My mother is crazy for design and interior magazines and I'd love to be able to have the best international ones delivered to her door every month. Unfortunately it is not an option in my country yet, but starting with one or two famous local magazines would be a nice touch to entertain her when she just needs some quiet time alone.

7- Sign her up for a class. This can vary from cooking pasta to baking cupcakes, from folk singing to floral arrangements, from yoga to DIY etc. You know her best and you know what she would enjoy doing if she wasn't busy serving all the family needs. I'd sign my mother in a creative workshop such as exchanging ideas over a topic or a quick interior course. She is great at interacting, giving ideas and has exquisite taste. And who knows, maybe this ends up with my mother quit her boring job and finally follow her passions.
 
8- If your budget permits, send your mom somewhere, as near as a B&B in the town or as far as Hawai, with your dad or her best friend. My dream is to book a hotel and two tickets for my parents to unwind for a week and just remember what having fun means (without children). Just be sure to pre check with your father on this one, because you don't want to waste money on a non refund ticket/reservation.

9- How about something really underestimated? Why don't you try to do all what she does for you everyday? Cooking, cleaning and all the thousand chores? Along with a promise to repeat this more often, coming home to a clean house would be such a relief and gratitude alert. Mothers can easily tear up, so be prepared if you choose to follow this idea.

10- Give the woman who gifted you time on this Earth the gift of time (the most important in my opinion). Go out with your mother and spend some time together, do something fun or what you haven't done in a while. Helping her master computer skills or getting over the fear of driving lessons would be a great meaningful choice that will bring you together more than one day per year. And of course you get to show her how much she means to you more often than you would normally during those busy days of our lives.

You can find more gift ideas form the past here, here, here and here.
Also, 10 things I have learned from my mother.
If you are looking for more inspiration, check out my "Gift ideas" board on Pinterest.

Now, I am curiously sitting here and waiting for your reports. How will you show your mother love on her day? And what is a gift you would really want to receive lovely mothers?

P.s : don't forget mothers in law, grandmothers, neighbors, friends, unknowns in the street. A "Happy Mother's day!", a smile, a phone call or a single flower goes a long way for making every woman around us happy.

How to shop at ASOS.COM

Asos is my favorite website to shop online and I know I am not the only one. No matter how many new shops I discover, I seem to never trust them or fall in love more than Asos. It could be their marketing strategies or the huge amount of items they carry, but it always does the trick to me and leaves me sleepless if I check it out in the evening. I can't say I am an expert at shopping after one year, but I have learned many things for sure and most of them I learned the hard way, wasting money, time and effort. To avoid disappointment, here are my tips, in case you are interested :

1. First of all measure yourself to find your size in the size chart available on the website. It might seem so obvious, but I will shamefully admit that my first pair of jeans were a size UK26 (5 sizes up) because I was too smart and lazy to measure up. I had to learn my first lesson the very hard way.

2. If it is your first time in the website, I warn you that you will spend so much time browsing everything. Go through all the items during several visits (not at once) and then you can check every day for two minutes to see what's new, or once a week for 5 minutes.

3. Consider the models' height (it is written in the description section, usually varying from 1.75 to 1.80). I am way shorter and now I know a skirt or dress will run longer on me. This means I can buy tunics or oversize tops and wear them as a dress with leggings.

4. Don't be afraid to go down a size in items that usually run larger, like knitted dresses, jumpers and cardigans. Trust your guts and what you see, combining with past experience.

5. Don't fall for a cute fabric if the cut is odd. It took me 3 months to figure out how to wear that swing dress deeply cut on the back with gorgeous pink flowers.

6. Customer's service is great. They reply to your email after a workday and do their best to please you. Don't hesitate to ask questions.

7. It hardly ever happens for your parcel to get lost on its way to you. It happened to me once, but the refund was quick and easy.

8. Unlike other sites, they remove everything that is out of stock immediately at Asos. It will rarely happen to put something in the basket, check out and then receive the delivery email letting you know something is missing in the order. However, if it happens, you will get the money back into your card.

9. Don't be lazy to return items that didn't meet your expectations (like me). If you want another size, be fast to grab the new size before it is gone and then post the old item for return. The directions are in every parcel you receive, or you can print it from the website, according every order.

10. Shoe sizing is a bit difficult to master. I don't have an exact number, running between 4-5, depending on shape. I found it easier with Asos collections, always getting a 5, but with other brands I struggle a lot and hesitate to order, unless I have previously bought. But if you have easy access to returns, just order 2 sizes and return the one that doesn't fit.

11. Buying a pair of trousers that will require tailoring is normal, but buying a dress two or three sizes bigger is not worth the money and time to fix it.

12. Get the most out of all collections, petite, curve, longer length, maternity. I explore all the options to find the right item in the right size.

13. Be familiar with the models. Normally there are a couple of them modeling for Asos and usually the same model features one brand's clothes. If something makes a model look fat in the lower part of the body, it will likely make you look fat too, so be smart.

14. Even when I put items in the shopping bag, I wait until the next morning to check out. This helps to clarify my mind and decide if you really really need and love everything. For me it helps to remove at least one item before check out and it saves me money.

15. Before buying something, think of all the options you already have and how you can match it. If you buy often, try to buy conceptually. Create outfits and themes, know how you want to look like exactly, so you don't get lost in the ocean of thousands of pretty items. Stick to a palette per season for example and make several outfits out of a few pieces.

16. They do a great job at discounts and promotions. From time to time they have 20 % up to 80 % off different things. Subsribe to their newsletter to be sure not to miss anything.

17. Everyone likes the two big seasonal sales that last several days, but my favorite are the express offers that last a day or two. If you act quickly and wisely, you can get gems for a low price. It helps if I have a few money on my credit card all the time and not empty it on a single shopping spree.

18. Unfortunately there is no option to review the items and you have no basis except your experience and judgement. If something keeps showing up from time to time it means people are returning it and chances are there is a problem with it. Most common problems could be poor fit (slouchy, big), no scale (same length on small and big sizes making it too short for the latest) or bad quality (different than it looks like, very thin or modest material).

19. Colors don' vary dramatically from screen to reality, but textures do, so read the description and the materials carefully, zooming in each picture to see carefully. Also move the screen's angle of your laptop or change your position in front of the desktop. It helps to understand the texture with light or dark colors.

20. Avoid weak materials like polyethirane. They smell terrible and the price is not worth it. I got a bag once and it smelled horrible. I could only wear it after leaving it outside for 3 days.

21. If you have bought a skirt and a dress, be sure to check out their length in cm in the description section. It is an indication or size 8, but always remember it. If the dress you have runs short, avoid length like that or shorter in the future. I always know where a 85 long dress in size 8 hits on me in my size. Even if a skirt seems like could run long enough on me, if I read 37 cm I run away immediately.

22. There is a new feature lately, the "Shop the look" which shows you complementary items shown on the model beside the selling item. I find it more marketing wise than shopping helpful and I usually don't pay attention to it, but I have seen that it helps men create outfits and pair items as a basis for matching.

23. What is new for the season won't likely go on sale soon, but will run out of stock quickly. They might restock or not, depending on the material and nature of the dress. Don't expect a bejeweled dress with feathers to last until after New Year's sales. I suggest buying a new dress or two at full price every season, depending on your budget and play with what you have or discounted pieces and accessories.

24. Ignore seasons. Next winter comes too quick and no matter how much you want to get new dresses for spring, it is wise to invest in good quality pieces on sale for next fall/winter. This is the way my mother has taught me to shop in the real world and I try to do my best not to ignore it online, where the chances are more frequent.

25. At the same level, try to be fast forward. Always have a look at the coming season's trends. You could grab something on sale in November and wear if happily next Spring.

26. Don't be discouraged if something gets out of stock before you manage to buy it. Save it for later and now watch the wishlist frequently, refreshing the page as much as you can. Chances are someone might leave your favorite item out of their shopping basket when they check out. Stock lasts for 60 minutes, so be patient and fight over your favorite things :)

27. The Wishlist option is my favorite. Now they have extended the period from 30 days to 60 days. Once you put everything you like the first few times you visit the website, you can add items daily/weekly, anytime you check out something new you like. Also have a look at the whole basket form time to time, to notice returned stuff, better prices or restocks. What I do to keep the number of items in the basket sane (for me that is 400-500) is to go through it every once in a while and remove anything that I don't really like, anything that is not worth it even if it goes 80 % on sale or something I will get bored easily with.

All pictures from my Asos wishlist.

28. Use the site for inspiration, not only for impulsive shopping. Try out new looks, or invent new ways to wear something you have. Look books and features are a great help.

29. Express shipping for my country costs 14 euros and delivers in 5-7 days. The faster I got was 3 days once. They bring it to your doorstep. There is also the free delivery that brings your parcel for 7-10 days usually. If your postal office delivers the orders to your home, don't bother with express, unless you have an event coming in a few days and you want to be sure you have all you need. I know that in Italy the courier brings the parcel to you even with free shipping, but in Albania it doesn't happen, at least as far as I know, you have to collect it yourself at the post office.

30. No matter how strong and indifferent you think you are, you will going to lose time, money and night's sleep like you haven't even imagined.

Bonus tip: If you are in doubt, leave it. Full stop! I tried hard to manage this.

Also, check out the easiest tip to manage yourself while online shopping. 

Let me know if you find any of these helpful. I'd love to hear about your own advice and experiences on shopping at Asos or any other online store.

| Love, Lisa |

10 ways to be happy and inspired on Monday morning

Doesn't that seem like a spam title? Because isn't it unrealistic for most people out there? I have been lucky enough to somehow manage my own schedule and beside some rare days during university, I can't say I hate Monday on its classic meaning. But because I am fully aware of how much you struggle to find the right jump of the week on this day and how much you might luck inspiration, I am sharing some little tips below. They apply to work, school, university and even being a full time mum :). Here are ten ways to be happy and inspired on Monday morning:


1. Never ever forget why you are doing it. Eager for knowledge? Getting independent? Supporting your family financially? Saving for a trip? Love? Faith? Want to be a better person? A rockstar? Maybe you just love it? Whatever the reason might be, always remind yourself why you will be doing what you have to during your Monday (or any day) when your alarm clock rings before you managed to get enough sleep. This is my motivation for sleepless nights :

2. Make the most out of it. If it is work, do your best to absorb skills and rock on what you do. Chances are your life will be easier there if you know how to do your job well. If you attend school, try to listen during classes and explanations, so you save yourself time reading in the evening or before exams, making up time for fun. If you are a mother, don't forget how fast children grow, so try to enjoy every phase of them growing up.

3. Look for something excited inside your routine. The art class you can't wait for after five hours of math? Your nice coworker who you get to chat with during lunch break? The afternoon snack? The quiet time with your husband after you put your children to sleep? It could be anything inside your routine.

4. Look for something after work/school. Having something fun planned after you finish what you don't like that much, keeps you motivated and maybe the time runs faster and smoother.

5. Plan in advance. It helps me tremendously if I have my outfit somehow planned for Monday, my hair freshly washed and an idea of the meals I'll be eating if I spend all day out. Might sound silly, but having some things not stress you out, could lead to a better start of the new week.

6. Something new. While this might sound very materialistic, believe me when I say it is such an efficient mind trick. I feel so excited whether I have a new piece of clothing, an accessory or even a new lipstick or shadow. Fragrance, underwear, umbrella, stationary, notebook could do the trick too. So don't save that new dress for your date night or the weekend sister. You need it on Monday :)

7. Use your time wisely. If you have lots of breaks between classes, keep a book with you to read in a quiet place or out in the sun, instead of having 5 coffees everyday. Keeping your socializing time to once up to three times a week saves money, drama and precious time. If you have the permission to be on the internet during work hours, don't spend it chatting on facebook, complaining about your day or your boss. Don't look at others' pictures from the weekend either, because you will most likely feel miserable about yourself. Instead I'd suggest to check out a few of your favorite blogs and read an online newspaper. If your time and noise level around you permits, why not start developing a hobby? It would be a great chance to finally read all about switching your camera to manual mode, or making candles or learning how to sew. It could be anything, as long as the internet is full of tutorials and stuff. Just a little reminder of how productive I feel when I have a book with me and read a few pages every time I am free:

8. Beautify your space. Personalize your desk. Include items you love (not the whole collection of family pictures though). Add smells and colors you love. Do whatever they allow you to, from adding a vase to painting the walls. The space will instantly feel more yours after the first touches. If you still go to school, choose a bag you love, have pens and tools beautifully designed, a sparkling notebook to your taste and a closet/locker full of helpful and favorite stuff.

9. Evaluate. Sadly enough, our lives are fully packed of missions and to do-s that we hardly ever stop and evaluate our path, count our glories and pat us on the shoulder for doing so great. You need to do this, very often, maybe every Monday. Start by reminded your latest wins, things you have mastered, things you improved, personal or professional achievements and compare yourself to last year and then three years ago. You see so much change and improvement, right? Learning how to change a diaper properly or putting your baby to sleep in less time than last week, counts too. Never let anything go without celebrating and getting inspiration for a rough day and week waiting for you. Because you know you get better at the end of every day. Below is a documentation of my progress during a fashion sketching workshop. To me the achievement is huge, considering how scared I was to start sketching the first day.

10. And always remember that no matter how terrible your job/school/life might look like, our mission is not to make time run faster, but pause every minute we can, to taste and fully live, taking advantage of our limited time into this life. No matter how hard your Monday seems to you, there are always bright things to hold on to :)

| Love, Lisa |