Let’s chat across the kitchen table! Grab a load of laundry to fold or clear out an office drawer! Today I’m talking about our Danish “clocks go back” tradition, our new Lockdown Restrictions and speaking at the Dressing Your Truth Weekend!
If you’re looking for a capsule wardrobe system, I can thoroughly recommend the Dressing Your Truth system (there is a free course on the website). Your best colours and styles are determined by your facial features/inner energy (my primary energy type is 1 with a secondary energy of 4). It has been lifechanging for me and makes getting dressed so easy! (I’ve made several YouTube videos about my wardrobe, see below.) I use the Flylady system to keep me organised and my daily routine includes choosing my outfit a day in advance (I check my diary/weather forecast to see what’s ahead). I hang my outfit on a hook on the back of our bedroom door and am ready to go the moment my feet hit the floor the next morning. I love having a morning routine which sets me up for a good day!
Happy Tuesday from dreich Copenhagen where I’m enjoying the fact that my menu plan is done – a week of easy prep meals! We put our clocks back last weekend and the early onset of the evening darkness (around 5pm) leaves me feeling very lethargic – so I’m making sure that cooking is super simple this week. I menu plan to save stress and money – having my grocery list written out before I shop means I’m less tempted to buy things that we don’t need. (If you need help with creating a daily focus for yourself, see my Flylady videos here “Plan and Play day” ) Without further ado, here’s what’s on the menu this week at Casa Copenhagen…
Black bean burritos with sour cream, guacamole and cheddar cheese
Leek and bacon quiche served with salad and pickled beetroot
Danish biksemad (hash) topped with a fried egg
Baked gnocchi with sausage and peas in a herby tomato sauce
A Danish classic Stegt flæsk med persillesovs (crispy fried belly pork with parsley sauce), served with carrots and potatoes
one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
My Scottish Mum’s beef stew made in my Instant Pot – YouTube video with the recipe is below. All in one pot (the potatoes and carrots are steamed on the top), minimal prep. What’s not to love?!
Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!
Happy Tuesday from rather grey and dull but still wonderful Copenhagen! We are back to taking inspiration from the Lifesum app for our menu planning this week. I menu plan once a week to save stress and money – having my grocery list written out before I shop means I’m less tempted to buy things that we don’t need. I don’t always feel like menu planning but I’m always relieved when it’s done! (If you need help with creating a daily focus for yourself, see my Flylady videos here “Plan and Play day” ) In other news, I’m slowing getting used to cooking for only three instead of four (our son now has his own appartment in Copenhagen city), but I do have to keep reminding myself that we don’t need to cook such large quantities of side dishes such as rice, potatoes, pasta, etc, anymore! Without further ado, here’s what’s on the menu at Casa Copenhagen…
Last week’s white wine, parmesan and chanterelles risotto – delicious!
Tuna, tomato and basil spaghetti
Beef steaks with mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas
Mongolian stir fry beef and veggies
Garlic roast lamb with gratin dauphinois and a tomato salad
Chicken and sweetcorn pasta salad
Saturday will be a takeaway (perhaps sushi) because it’ll be a busy day: I’m speaking at the Dressing Your Truth “2020 I Love my Life” virtual conference!
one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
And if you’re looking for a 5 minute meal, when you really can’t face cooking or things are busy, try Coronation Chicken – a British classic!
Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!
Who needs some declutter motivation, zero waste! See what I decluttered this week in Flylady Zones 3 and 4…lots of necklaces today! Tips on how to start, and what not to do!
Join me for some easy Christmas prep 2020 using the Flylady system! Less stress, more Danish hygge! Get ready to have your best Christmas ever! I’ll be checking in with you each week to let you know how we are preparing here in Copenhagen, what we are cooking, making and decorating.
Happy Sunday! Schools were closed this week for the autumn break so it’s been rather quiet in these parts. Had some lovely sea swims with my Besties (start of the week was mild and sunny, by midweek it was blowing a gale and we needed our fluffy socks) and the sea temperature is now 10c/50f. And hubby and I spent a couple of wonderful days at our Swedish cabin. All in all a great week!
Red and pink cosy sweaterWearing my Granny’s crystals for some good energyHaving a little fun making an Instagram video in Flylady Zone 3Our Swedish neighbours cat, who always spends time with us at our cabinHubby on the jettyBy the sea, my happy placeDon’t be fooled by the sun, air temperature was just above freezingThe Oresund bridge connecting Denmark and SwedenSun is shining!Hold on to your hats…another blustery day by the sea!Love my best friends!
If you’re looking for a capsule wardrobe system, I can thoroughly recommend the Dressing Your Truth system (there is a free course on the website). Your best colours and styles are determined by your facial features/inner energy (my primary energy type is 1 with a secondary energy of 4). It has been lifechanging for me and makes getting dressed so easy! (I’ve made several YouTube videos about my wardrobe, see below.) I use the Flylady system to keep me organised and my daily routine includes choosing my outfit a day in advance (I check my diary/weather forecast to see what’s ahead). I hang my outfit on a hook on the back of our bedroom door and am ready to go the moment my feet hit the floor the next morning. I love having a morning routine which sets me up for a good day!
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to these Zone inspiration ideas over the past months! Choose a few things to add to your bingo card (or write them down on a piece of paper, make a list on your smartphone), and enjoy some self-care this week! We are taking care of us and taking care of our homes. Keep scrolling down, there is something for everyone!
SELF-CARE/PAMPER/SELF-PRESERVATION
ZONE 1 – ENTRY, HALL, DINING ROOM
cut a bloom from the garden/buy a single flower for the hallway
add a flower pot to your entryway/postbox area
“redecorate” the area with items borrowed from other places in the house (vase, candlestick, lamp)
add a blanket for the cooler evenings outside on the porch/veranda
use your “best” china and glasses from the dining room – every day is a special occasion!
use one of your “best” glasses (wine, crystal) and enjoy a glass of chilled water, add some fresh mint or a slice of lemon
set the dining table with flowers/candles, turn on some background music and enjoy lunch or dinner – alone/with family/online with friends
hang a crystal in the dining room window or entryway
make paper flowers to display on the dining room table
make a wreath or welcome sign for your front door
make a small “tableau” in the hall/entryway or dining room (some candles, a flower, a photoframe, something which makes you smile)
diffuse your favourite scent or light a candle while doing your zone work
listen to your favourite music/podcast while doing your zone work
once you’ve completed some zone work (decluttering or cleaning), sit outside/in your favourite chair and read for fifteen minutes
sit outside on your porch/veranda and read or enjoy a cup of chilled water or hot coffee
sit outside on your porch/veranda and admire your efforts!
ZONE 2 – KITCHEN
Homemade face mask, lip or hand scrub, bath salts/bombs, homemade foot cream. Use herbs or flowers from your garden or pantry items (honey, sugar exfoliating scrub, olive oil egg yolk hair treatment, vanilla bath salts).
Keep a tube of hand cream by the sink.
Additional hand-care with some lotion or a mini-manicure.Make one day this week a “detox” day, with juicing and relaxation.
Search online for a new recipe to try, or reread a favourite cookbook.
Write down your favourite family recipe and make a copy for your children.
Have a go at that recipe you saved and never got round to.
Try making a new healthy snack, biscuit or cake.
Prepare a ‘new’ or ‘special’ snack to enjoy later on with a cup of tea!
Tidy and/or discard old recipes.
Tweak your diet, research healthier eating ideas and add one to your menu plan this week.
Add some fresh mint or a slice of lemon to your water.
Make homemade chocolates, truffles or fudge (for Zone 4 stash 😊).
Sit outside with your morning tea or coffee and listen to the birds.
Candlelight dinner with your best china, alone or with your significant other, on the balcony or in your garden.
Put together a pamper snack basket for the week, something special each day to enjoy.
Add your favourite meal to this week’s menu plan.
Sit at the dinner table, add candles, background music, serviettes, eat outside weather-permitting.
Enjoy the light in the kitchen for reading or doing a crossword.
Try a new type of tea or coffee or savour a cup of your favourite brew. Use the one you have been saving “for a special occasion”.
Indulge yourself and enjoy your favourite dessert, or a new ice-cream flavour.
Use one of your china teacups/saucers that you only keep for guests, or drink water/juice from a crystal wine glass.
Put together different salads, trying new combinations of veggies and fruits you’ve never tried, use a variety of lettuces and greens.
Add something which makes you smile while you’re cooking/doing the dishes: a bloom from the garden, a pot plant, a candle, a photo frame.
Make paper flowers to put on your windowsill or table.
Take a couple of pieces of the “good china” you save for special occasions out and have lunch or a snack, a cup of tea. Take a photo and invite a friend to do the same for a “separate but together” teatime, or eat “together” via FaceTime or Skype.
Hang a beautiful crystal in the window to make sparkles and rainbows.
Attach a perspex bird feeder to the kitchen window.
ZONE 3 – BATHROOM PLUS ONE OTHER ROOM
Diffuse some essential oils, candle.
Try a soothing hydrating face mask (oats, natural yoghurt, honey) or a gorgeous body scrub (sugar, olive oil, orange essential oil). Use what you have in the kitchen. The scrub is also really good for gardeners hands if you add a little liquid soap as well.
Condition your hair and let it dry in the sun. Deep condition hair (steam/protein treatment).
Put a fresh flower or plant in the bathroom.
Have a bubble bath or pamper shower. Use bubble bath or a few drops of a luxurious oil. Play some music in the background, light a candle, drink a glass of your favourite tipple.
Keep some hand lotion by the sink.
Have a “mini spa day”: facial, mask and hands, enjoy your favourite drink.
Epsom salts (ginger and clay) soak for pamper.
A foot bath (or electric foot spa) and foot cream, finish by putting on a pair of fluffy socks and relax.
Read a magazine or chapter of a book. Read an e-book from the library.
Do some colouring (online or printed colouring pages).
Pedicure and manicure , try out some nail art.
Listen to some new music while you are getting ready for the day. Add new music to your pamper playlist.
Use a lip exfoliator to get rid of dry skin, apply a nice lip balm to make them really soft ready for summer.
Depilation.
Body self-massage with lotion, feet and shoulders. Apply lotion to knees and elbows for some extra care. Head massage.
Take time to sit and “just be”.
Write in your journal or read your prayer journal
Keep a small manicure kit and some essential oils handy and use them when having a bubble bath or pamper shower. The essential oils can be calming or energizing.
Before showering, place a drop or two (not too much, especially if one suffers with respiratory ailments) of Eucalyptus essential oil on the floor or wall of the
shower – the room will smell like a spa.
Put coconut oil around the fingernails & back of hands.
“I keep a solid rectangle bin that both my feet will fit in under my bathroom sink. I have it filled with some Epsom salt, 2 cans of beans, a foot scrubber, and a towel. I pull it out and fill with hot water , some good smelling soap, and some Epsom salt. I soak my feet for 10 – 15 minutes and then scrub them. I then pat them dry and roll the cans under my feet for a good massage.”
“I love the idea that every day is special. I used to save everything until it would go bad… now I use my wonderful oils on my face and neck before bed. I also love burning lavender incense at night to relax.”
Rotate my body gel, lotion, and body spray sets to a new or seasonal scent (eg. change from musk to citrus for spring and coconut for summer).
ZONE 4 – MASTER BEDROOM/CLOSET
tidy out a drawer in your night stand, adding pretty lining paper to make a comfort drawer for all things pertaining to sleep and relaxation eg chocolate/violet creams, hand cream, night rescue remedy, herbal sleeping tablets, notepad and pen, gratitude journal, eye mask, massage oil, lavender sleep balm, etc
use a guided meditation, open the window, place an incense stick on the shelf and just be
say/listen to positive affirmations before going to bed/while you are getting ready in the morning
try a new sleep diffuser blend/spray, nighttime body lotion or light a candle when getting ready before bed, or while getting ready in the morning
a foot pamper with socks for the night for extra hydration
wash your eye mask or try a weighted one
use gourmet handmade earth-friendly soaps and oils
wear a piece of sentimental jewellery or an item which you only wear on special occasions…every day is the special occasion!
make a cover for a clothes hanger adding a brooch that you love but may not wear as a way to still enjoy it
use a perfume/lotion which you have been keeping for a special occasion…every day is the special occasion!
play with the items in your wardrobe and make new outfit combinations and wear them this week
once you’ve completed some zone work (decluttering or cleaning), sit on the bed/chair and read for fifteen minutes
make sure you are getting enough sleep, start your evening routine a little earlier
switch off your phone and read a magazine or a couple of chapters of a book before you sleep
put a fresh flower or plant on your night table or dresser
“redecorate” the room with items borrowed from other places in the house (vase, candlestick, throw pillows, soft rug, lamp)
apply hand/foot lotion in the morning or evening
enjoy your favourite drink/coffee in bed in the morning
read a magazine or chapter of a book. Read an e-book from the library.
listen to some new music while you are getting ready for the day. Add new music to your pamper playlist.
body self-massage with lotion, feet and shoulders. Apply lotion to knees and elbows for some extra care. Head massage.
take time to sit and “just be”.
take time to sit and enjoy your clean, orderly bedroom!
use a basket to keep your pyjamas, slippers, hand cream, magazine, spectacles and other items together
write in your journal or read your prayer journal
spritz the bedding with linen spray or essential oils before you make the bed in the morning and enjoy the scent/a relaxing sleep at night
keep hand, foot and lip cream/balm in your bedside table and apply them as a bedtime ritual
play “white noise” or ocean sounds to promote sleep, or check out Binaural Beats for Deep Sleep
keep a tiny fan or water spray on your nightstand for hot flashes/humid weather
keep a small manicure kit and some essential oils (calming or energizing) by your bed handy and use them when you have 5 minutes during your day, or before bed.
“I love the idea that every day is special. I used to save everything until it would go bad… now I use my wonderful oils on my face and neck before bed. I also love burning lavender incense at night to relax.”
change your body gel, lotion, and body spray sets to a new or seasonal scent (eg. change from musk to citrus for spring and coconut for summer).
ZONE 5 – LIVING ROOM
watch an episode of your favourite tv show, or half an hour of your favourite movie
watch a concert video while you are doing your zone work and sing along!
watch a themed movie (summer, Christmas, etc)
add a summer weight blanket for the cooler evenings on the sofa
bring the fan out for the hot days and wipe the blade with aromatherapy oil of your choice (lemon, lavender…) and let the fan move the scent around the room
“I watch a show or movie my family wouldn’t care to watch , usually Hallmark type things ”
search online for new book ideas, order books from the library
ask a friend for movie/tv series/book recommendations
use a guided meditation, open the window, place an incense stick on the coffe table and just be
a foot pamper, mini-pedicure or foot massage, paint your toenails
“I put all my pamper snacks in one 3-liter glsss jar with a tight lid. Looks nicer than having several bags open and clipped. When I ran out, I noticed that I felt the lack of not having something in the house. Having the pretty snacks on display makes me feel abundance and I can just take one piece or just look at it and feel really satisfied.”
once you’ve completed some zone work (decluttering or cleaning), sit on the sofa/in your favourite chair and read for fifteen minutes
put a fresh flower or plant on the coffee table or sidetable
“redecorate” the room with items borrowed from other places in the house (vase, candlestick, throw pillows, soft rug, lamp)
read a magazine or chapter of a book. Read an e-book from the library.
have a dance party in the living room!
take time to sit and “just be”.
take time to sit and enjoy your clean, cosy livingroom!
gather your favourite items in a pamper basket (eyemask, slippers, hand cream, magazine, spectacles, small manicure kit and some essential oils (calming or energizing)
LLAP! May the Danish hygge be with you! Hugs!
Diane
And if you’d like help with cleaning and decluttering in the Flylady Zones, I am here to guide you through!
Another Tuesday, another menu plan! (“Plan and Play day” in Flylady Land) This week Danish schools and universities are closed for the autumn break – kartoffel ferie (“potato holiday”). It was traditionally the week that kids would be required to help harvest potatoes – those days are long gone but we still call it that! Here’s what’s on the menu at Casa Copenhagen…
Warming gnocchi in a herby tomato and sausage sauce
Homemade quiche with bacon and courgette, served with a salad
spaghetti bolognese (I made a double portion of meat sauce last week and froze it)
pork medallions in a creamy balsamic sauce with broccoli and roast potatoes
one day of the week for us is usually leftovers, a frittata/quiche made with any veggies which need using up, or Danish smørrebrød (rye bread open sandwiches with various toppings)
a takeaway or out to dinner to celebrate the holiday week
Danish meatball, carrot and dumpling soup with homemade bread rolls (one of my bread roll recipes is below)
Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday! And remember to K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple, Sweetie!
Happy Saturday! A quick check-in from autumnal Copenhagen with this week’s outfits!
Aqua is one of my favourite colours!
Bubblegum pink
Coral sweater from our recent Clothes Swap party
I love stripes!
And I love polka dots too!
My morning routine includes getting ready by candlelight for some added hygge!
And in skinnydipping-seaswimming news, the sea temp has dropped again slightly to 13c/55f. This week there was so much seaweed that we felt we were swimming in minestrone soup!
Breakfast tastes better by the sea
Sunshine but with an autumn chill
Finally all three of us are reunited!
Just before the rain started…
Me and my Danish Besties
If you’re looking for a capsule wardrobe system, I can thoroughly recommend the Dressing Your Truth system (there is a free course on the website). Your best colours and styles are determined by your facial features/inner energy (my primary energy type is 1 with a secondary energy of 4). It has been lifechanging for me and makes getting dressed so easy! (I’ve made several YouTube videos about my wardrobe, see below.) I use the Flylady system to keep me organised and my daily routine includes choosing my outfit a day in advance (I check my diary/weather forecast to see what’s ahead). I hang my outfit on a hook on the back of our bedroom door and am ready to go the moment my feet hit the floor the next morning. I love having a morning routine which sets me up for a good day!
Daily reading is one of my favourite ways to pamper and get some self-care (I prefer the term “self-preservation”). Here’s a round up of what I read over the summer! A mixed bag with rather a lot of cozy mysteries and a couple of (pleasant) surprises!
Jane and the Waterloo map by Stephanie Barron. A historical cozy mystery (part of a series, this one is number 13) where Jane Austen solves crimes. Rather enjoyed this and will probably read more in the series. Three stars out of five.
Last Train to Helsingør by Heidi Amsinck. I picked up this book at random at our local Danish library. It looked very promising – specially commissioned short stories for BBC Radio 4 – some Scandi-noir tales. Unfortunately this was a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me. Simply too outlandish and simplistic – the kind of stories you would write in junior school. Two out of five stars.
The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley. This is the second in the Flavia de Luce series which I’ve read and it was a little heavier going than the first. But looking forward to the next! Three out of five stars.
A Study in Treason by Leonard Goldberg. Another cozy mystery series, this time with, Joanna, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes solving the crimes. An interesting premise but not sure I would read others in the series. Three out of five stars.
Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay. Another cozy mystery, number 10 in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, revolving around the owner of a bakery called Fairy Tale Cupcakes who is catering her best friend’s wedding. I listened to this on audiobook. Three out of five stars.
Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen. Number 10 in the Royal Spyness series. I’ve read many of Rhys Bowen’s books before and they are always a cozy read. You know exactly what to expect. Three out of five stars.
The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett. Aaaaaargh! I was so excited to read this because a) Simon Brett is one of my favourite cozy mystery authors (he has several series and I enjoy all of them) and b) it was labelled as a decluttering mystery. Two of my favourite things! LOL! But, alas, the book kind of fell flat. I wasn’t really interested in the main character at all and Simon Brett’s usual quirky, humorous touches were absent. Let’s cross our fingers that he’s soon back on form. Two out of five stars.
The Girl Next Door by Ruth Rendell. I listened to this on audiobook. Ruth Rendell is a fantastic writer, giving you a little slice of English society while presenting some dark crimes. It’s not a mystery as such (we know who the killer is from the beginning) but the suspense keeps going til the end. Three out of five stars.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. I picked up this book at our local Danish library because of the eyecatching cover and the fact that it is set in Tokyo (one of my favourite places in the world). I’m a sucker for Japanese mysteries (though this isn’t a mystery) and love the Japanese clean style of writing. It was obviously a “hot title” beacause our library had a whole pile of these books stacked up on their summer reading table. A fast and very short read (I read it in Danish and, if I remember rightly, it’s only about 180 pages long), very quirky and with a couple of laugh out loud moments. Four out of five stars.
The Magic Chair Murder by Diane Janes. This is a new series, a historical mystery set in 1920s England. I really enjoyed the setting of this one and the characters. Four out of five stars.
Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay. This was my second Jenn McKinlay read this summer (see Wedding Cake Crumble above) and this particular one was number 8 in the Library Lover’s Mystery series. I listened to this on audiobook. Simplistic but good to liste to when you are working in the garden, doing laundry, etc! Three out of five stars.
Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter. This book was a very pleasant surprise! I picked this up at our local Danish library, completely at random. A really good read and I’ll definitely be checking out other books by Andrea Carter. This one is number 4 in the Inishower Mysteries series. Set in County Donegal, Ireland in the present time, featuring a solicitor called Ben (Benedicta). A fast-paced easy read. Four out of five stars.
LLAP! Hugs!
Diane
PS: I very rarely buy books, preferring to borrow them from our wonderful Danish local libraries! I use eReolenGlobal and Libby apps to find/read books, plus Goodreads to track what I’ve read.
PPS: If you’re looking for book suggestions and reviews, my friend Sue (formerly a book seller, now a librarian) has a great book blog!
Woo hoo, we are preparing for the weekend! Do you want it to be relaxing or productive? Perhaps both! Here’s how I plan and organize mine, with my best tips! Plus it’s self-care bingo time! Lots of low cost ideas which can be done during Lockdown/quarantine. How did I get on with the list I made from Flylady Zone 2? As Calvin Harris says, we are ready for the weekend!
