Category: Blog

A new year, a fresh start. Does this evoke a “Yey!” or “Neh…” in you? Do you want to reach new goals or are last year’s goals still perhaps, ehem.. a bit delayed?
As Benjamin Franklin said: “Energy and persistance conquer all things”, so let’s do our best to have plenty of those two in 2017!

Many coaches talk about the art of goal setting, so I will only touch lightly on the subject, but what about preparing for the actual goal setting session? Or getting you out of a slump so you even want to make plans for the future?

If you are in the I-can-take-on-the-world kind of mood when you write down your wishes, intention or goals for the year to come, you can more easily and clearly envision the outcome, which in turn will increase the probability for you to reach your goals.

The magical trick

This is where this list of empowering songs comes in. My best trick for raising energy levels is music (especially ‘Levels’ by Aviici, who also is Swedish by the way, but this time I want to focus on empowering songs that has lyrics). Depending on the starting position, I might need one song or a whole list to alter my state of mind. Dancing or any kind of movements along with a few deep breaths intensifies the feelings. Singing along too. I know you know this, but do you actually put on music when you are low or bored instead of checking social media, a movie or random youtube clips, snack or complain to a friend or just go to bed? Do it, let the music fill you up as often as you need to!

What will it do for my goals?

Back to the resolutions. The idea of being in a positive and mentally strong state is not that you will set completely unrealistic goals (write those down as visions or long term goals instead), but to infuse your goals with a kind of determined intention.

You can do it. Make a plan, figure out what the next step you can take is and do it, straight away. What can you do every day to get you closer to your goal? What habits and/or people to you need to support your endevour? And a very important question to answer: when will you do a follow-up on your progress? Do you need someone to help you with that? But first, here’s the Youtube version of the list for those of you who don’t have Spotify:

A few words to all of you who are having a down period or can’t see the point of this blog. I know a song and a dance (or ten)  most probably won’t cure severe depression, but most of us can feel enthusiasm and life energy surging through us when we dance and listen to great music. If you’re not into setting goals because you think you won’t fulfill them anyway, or don’t deserve them, consider at least having the goal to get someone to help you truly accept that you are enough, lovable and deserving. It’s such a waste to believe anything else. Also, finding out what’s worth pursuing for you helps. You can do so much more than you think.

Oh, if you count the songs you see I added a bonus track. You can never get too many uplifting, empowering songs, right? If you’ve reached the end of the list and still feel low, just let the last one go on repeat, sing along with the chorus “I’m in the right type of mood” and dance like crazy.

Wish you all the best for 2017 and may your dreams come true!

Are you missing any great songs? Let’s keep adding to the list. Share your best tips and songs in the comments.

Want to hang around a little longer? Here are (most of) the videos one by one.

1. Titanium, feat Sia
2. Stronger, Kelly Clarkson

3. Get back up again, Trolls (Anna Kendrick)
https://youtu.be/OchWk2WgiQc
4. Fight song, Rachel Platten

5. Good Life, One republic

6. Brave, Sara Bareilles

7. Firework, Katy Perry

8. Express yourself, Madonna
https://youtu.be/GcY6_Q-ObuE
9. We can, LeAnn Rimes

10. I’m coming out, Trolls (Zooey Deschanel, Anna Kendrick)
https://youtu.be/SU7xwavu0nc
11. Roar, Katy Perry

12. Unwritten, Natasha Beddingfield

13. Don’t you worry child, Swedish House Mafia

14. Born this way, Lady Gaga

15. It’s my Life – Bon Jovi

16. Love me, Katy Perry

17. Worth it, Fifth harmony

Autumn is perfect for cleaning out and to organize your home. Preparing for a fresh start with a dedicated place for every item.

I’ve been at the sorting stage for a month now, having the KonMarie method in mind. Items that don’t spark the feeling of joy in me I’ll either sell, give away or, if it can’t be repaired or reused in any way, throw away. This includes jewelry and accessories (which I of course prefer to sell or give away). But the items I keep I want to display nicely and there are several ways of doing that on a budget.

Here are five videos to inspire you organize, to make that display you always wanted and make your jewelry drawer a delight to open:

1. Get a professionally organized look for your jewelry
2. For your everyday wear accessories
3. A smart combo solution (the project starts around 2.45 min in)
4. Nice display for accessories
5. And finally, for your travels, tips for keeping your accompanying jewelry organized

This is my grandfather Allan taking a break on one of the last walks we ever took together. His is one of millions of minds and life stories affected by Alzheimer’s.

“It’s probably nothing – or is it?”
It started very typically with difficulty in remembering recent events. I had just turned 18 and he asked me if I had passed the tests for getting my driver’s license yet. Strange, I thought. He had always cared about what was going on in my life, how could he have forgotten that I passed the tests a month ago? The next time we met, he asked me the same question. And this happened over and over. Grandma was worried. He forgot appointments, where he put his keys and couldn’t remember what she just had told him, but we all hoped that it was just temporary “senior moments” and not Alzheimer’s. After all, he was over 70 years old.

A long wait for the inevitable
Unfortunately, it got worse. A couple of years later he wasn’t able to drive anymore. It became clear when he was driving to my parents’ house and stopped two blocks away, completely confused of his whereabouts. At home, he would turn on the stove with empty saucepans on it and grandma had to endure his mood swings and episodes of aggression. He needed constant supervision and my grandmothers care wasn’t enough. The last years he couldn’t get dressed or eat by himself and at the end he couldn’t even walk or talk. It got to the point where it was too painful for my grandmother to visit him at the long-term care home. However, my parents never gave up on him and visited him at least twice a month, even if it was a long drive. The first years after he moved permanently to the home, I went with them. But when he didn’t know who I was anymore, I stopped visiting.  At the time I told myself it was ok since the person I had grown up so close to, was not mentally present anymore. I wanted to remember him as the kind and caring person he used to be and the fun we had together with my dad, playing for hours without them getting bored with all my ideas. Times when we all were truly alive. Today, knowing what I know about the positive effects familiarity has for Alzheimer’s patients, I would have continued my visits. He passed away in 2004, twelve long years after showing the first signs.

Aftermath
For some, the physical death means the end of the story. But for those of you who believe in an afterlife, I want to share the message he left for me through a medium a few years after his passing. After showing detailed evidence of who he was, he wanted to let me know that the years he wasn’t contactable didn’t matter anymore. It’s like they never existed. No sorrow, no painful memories. It was all gone.

I was grateful to hear it and choose to believe it. He may have faded away physically, but the memories of him are bright and crystal clear in my mind as is his spirit.

To contribute to the cause, please donate to any of your national organisations.
In the US you can visit Alzheimer’s association and in Sweden: Demensförbundet

To share your story of a loved one on social media in September, the World Alzheimer’s month, use #RememberMe

“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” – Hafiz of Shiraz

Those days that you feel like you’re not on top of the world (or not even on top of your work load or household chores), it’s easy to fall into the “I’m not all that”-trap. Your self talk might be everything but positive and the person in the mirror looks like he or she has seen better days, no matter what you put on or how much hairspray you use. The spark seems to be missing. If this is the case, it’s time to turn things around.

There are proven ways to increase happiness like practicing mindfulness, being around happy people and having good friends, volunteering and focusing on experiences rather than acquiring things, but when you’re moping around and nothing feels worth doing, it can be tough to even think of something that would make you feel better.

To be proactive, a good friend of mine has created something she calls her Happy list for days when her energy and happiness levels are low. She pulls this decorated list out of her notebook and chooses one of the activities. Here are her top seven happy-boosting activities:

Painting
Writing
Watch the stars
Go for a walk in a forest
Watch a romantic comedy
Dance in a summer rain
Take a shower, thinking of it as a ritual, cleansing the soul as well as the body

You get it. It’s those small things. You can write one too. Keep it somewhere where you can see it or easily retrieve it and be reminded of things to do when you need a refill of energy. On my list you’ll find dancing, which I always do like nobody is watching, singing, going to a café for a nice cappuccino and reading to name a few.

In severe cases of negativity and low energy levels, taking a nap can actually be the best thing to do, since you get a chance to reboot your thought system when you wake up. It’s easier to move forward from neutral.

Having friends who are uplifting and reminds you to actually look at your happy list when you need to also helps of course. Another friend of mine messages me encouraging quotes when she thinks I need them and I do the same for her. We always try to find one that suits the other person’s situation and it’s great to later scroll through our conversations filled with pictures of serious and funny quotes from Google. It becomes another kind of happy list, a source for finding valuable and strengthening truths to re-read or to forward to someone else.

My point is this: When you are feeling low, make it a priority to give yourself time to do something you enjoy or allow yourself to do absolutely nothing. A Happy list can remind you that there are things to be grateful for and that they are available to you. The spark in you makes you a naturally beautiful person, so do whatever you need to ignite it, making it expand. It’s always there, but happiness makes it easier to see it.

In part 1 of this blog post, you find more thoughtful gift ideas. If any of them suit the reciever better than these, then just go for it. No judging here! This ‘his and hers’ sectioning is just a practical and a bit sterotypichal way of deviding the blog post, but hopefully you get get your wheels turning from these exemples.

So, you want to give something more personal than a tech gadget, slippers or a robe? There are plenty of DIY videos on YouTube on Christmas presents and a few of the suggestions in this list are really easy DIYs, but you will also find ideas of store bought items, events/experiences that can be just as personal.

12 gifts from the heart

1.  A framed picture of the soundwaves of his favourite song
The exemple below is Back in black by AC/DC. I used AuCDtect, did some cutting and pasting, printed it on aquarelle/water color paper for a nice texture and then framed it using a black passepartout. For other forms of waves and patterns, use another audio spectrum analyzer software or sound wave software free for downloading.

2. Gift baskets or boxes
For any kind of gift basket, you can get content inspiration from ready-made sets at gourmet or delicatessen online shops and put together your version of it and get away with less money. Choose things that suits the receiver. Cellophane and a ribbon makes it look great.
First, how a bout a gift basket/box for the BBQ fan? Yes, you can barbeque during winter too, even if you live in a place where it gets really cold. Put together a gift set of e.g.smoke wood chunks, vacuum marinaters, sauces, utensils, a digital thermometer and a cool apron.

Or a basket filled with quality delicatessen like olives, healthy nuts like naturelle macademias, home-baked saffron biscottis or chocolate/date balls. If he enjoys cooking, put in a piece of himalayan salt and a mini grater, truffel oil, aged italian balsamico vinegar and a whiskey or honey flavoured mustard.

3. Books
It’s never too late to get a grip on ones finances, learn a new hobby or just expand ones knowledge. Inspirational books on personal finace, how the mind works, photograpy or just a great novel are all great choices.

4. Sign up for a race together
Also, if he runs when it’s dark outside, a LED headlamp and a refective vest is a great way of saying that you care for his safetly. The headlamp can be useful for other occations as well.

5. Movie night box
Pack a box, a popcorn container or a paper cone with movie tickets and his favorite snacks. If you are a commenter like me, include a promise  not to talk until after the movie…

 6. A tour at a brewery
If you don’t have a brewery close by, a beer or wine tasting event can be something interesting to go to together. You can also secretly invite his friends to join you.

7. A gift card for professional barber
It’s like a retro and modern male spa-experience.  An old fashioned shaving kit for him to use at home afterwards can be a part of the gift. If he has no facial hair to talk about, perhaps the bearded beanie is a fun idea, but only if you’re sure he can take the joke. If not, a more suitable accessory could be a bow tie. Also retro, yet modern.

  
8. Tickets to a stand-up comedy show
Shared laughs is always a great gift.

9. A nice bottle of wine, whiskey or cognac
Keep notes or take a photo of the bottle label when he mensions his favourites. If you can find a bottle from the same year you met or another year of importance for him, it adds to the personal aspect of this gift.

10. A bag of his favourite coffee beans
Ask his favorite coffee shop if you can buy their beans if they don’t have it on display.

11. Make a personal cook book using a printed photo album service
This one takes some time, so save this idea for a birthday or next Christmas if you don’t have the time to make it this time around. There are many great male home cooks out there, but for others it’s a struggle to come up with lunch or dinner ideas. Make a tailor made book with favourite recipes. Since its for personal use, you can borrow text and photos freely from the Internet.

12. Subscriptions
A magazine, a music-, movie-/TV-series service. Usefulness works with guys.

Bonus idea: Donate to a good cause in his name.
If he likes animals, the local shelter usually needs money. For other causes, pick a larger organisations you can trust makes good use of the money. They usually provide you with a gift certificates too.

This final tip is for the advanced gift giver is from part 1, but deserves repeating. Start preparing now for next year. Keep a list, e.g in your phone where you write down every time you get a good gift idea of something he’d need or would appreciate.  Dont trust your memory. You won’t remember it one, six or 11 months later. While you’re at it, start such a list for every person you usually give gifts to.

Good luck!

Christmas countdown. You need thoughtful gift ideas for that special someone in your life. Of course an expensive item usually shows that the receiver is important to you, but what if you want to give something other than jewelry, perfume, a weekend getaway or an exclusive robe? Or just an addition to the pricier gifts the woman in your life has wished for. A personal gift that doesn’t cost a fortune and says “I know what kind of person you are and I truly appreciate you”? Don’t worry, you don’t have to knit a sweater or start taking wood work classes to be able to a produce personal gifts, but there are plenty of DIY videos on YouTube on Christmas presents for those of you who want to give handicrafts a go.

For the rest of you, here are some ideas of store bought items and events/experiences that can be just as personal.

12 gifts from the heart

1. A framed collage photo or photo album of fun and memorable times you’ve had together
For next year you can have this in mind and capture moments throughout the year she’d appreciate that you recognized as valuable. There are many free collage maker software on the Internet and simple programs for great photo album layouts are usually available from the photo printing company.

2. A beautiful notebook or writing journal for her ideas, dreams and plans
If she enjoys sketching, get one with blank pages. A smooth, flowy pen can be a nice addition too.

3. Gift baskets or boxes
Put it together yourself, don’t just buy the ready-made ones.  Choose things that suits the receiver and signals that you care about her well-being. Cellophane and a ribbon makes it look great.
A gift basket/box from the health food store is a great choice for a everyone; dried fruit or berries, herbal infusion tea, vitamin D/omega 3 capsules for the winter and some quality dark chocolate.

4. Or a gift mix for the ultimate winter evening inside: cozy socks, tea and perhaps a nice cup to go with it, a sentenced candle and a book
It doesn’t have to be a novel, there’s a lot of interesting non-fiction books such as Thinking, Fast and Slow, A short story of nearly everything, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, The Gifts of Imperfection, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, an inspirational almanac by Coelho or for the really open minded, books about astrology, life beyond death or Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking . It’s just a book. Go a bit crazy. Who knows where it might lead.

5. Talking of books, an inspiring cookbook together with some colorful utensils can spark inspiration for cooking or baking
Time to try raw? Or throw in a gift card for a cooking class you can attend together.

6. Movie night box
Pack a box, a popcorn container or a paper cone with movie tickets and her favorite snacks.

7. A giftcard for a brunch or dinner
Book a date and for en extra twist, surprise her with secretly inviting her friends to join you.

8. A gift card for professional products from her from hair dresser

9. Get a ticket to an interesting lecture
Perhaps you can go together. Keep an open mind and choose an event that would interest her.

10. Coffee shop gift card
If she’s one of those girls who love spending hours in the coffee shop with friends, a gift card to her local favorite place can be a good idea.

11. A nice bottle of wine of the same kind you shared on a special occasion or just her favorite.
Keep notes or take a photo of the bottle label when she tells you she really liked the wine.

12. A bag of her favourite coffee beans
Number 11 works for coffee too. Ask her favorite coffee shop if you can buy their beans if they don’t have it on display.

Bonus idea: Donate to a good cause in her name.
If she likes cats or dogs, the local shelter usually needs money or if children in need is closer to her heart, pick one of the larger organisations you can trust makes good use of the money. They usually provide you with a gift certificates too.

And for the advanced gift giver, start preparing now for next year. Things we haven’t even asked for are truly appreciated among most women. Keep a list, e.g in your phone where you write down every time you get a good gift idea of something she’d need or would appreciate.  Dont trust your memory. You won’t remember it one, six or 11 months later.

And finally, there are lots of instructional videos on how to wrap the gift nicely if you struggle with this one. Using cotton or silk ribbon instead of paper ribbon instantly gives the gift a more exclusive look.

1. If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas – check out the window today. Anders is today’s name in the calender, (means man or human), and tells you what the weather is going to be like on Christmas. If you see sleet on Anders-day, Christmas is going to be really cold and snowy according to our old Farmer’s almanac and this morning it sure looked like we’re getting a really cold and snowy Christmas in Stockholm this year!
2. Cabbage roll day! One of our national dishes is actually an “import” from the middle east and was mentioned for the first time in 1765 in a famous Swedish cook book by Cajsa Warg. One unconfirmed theory is that our king Karl (Charles) XII brought it with him back from Turkey, where he had stayed for almost six years after his defeat in Poltava. No ABBA song about that battle…
3. Charles XII died on the 30^th of November in 1718, which meant the end of the Swedish Empire. The famous painting(s – there are two) of his funeral procession by Gustav Cederström hang in the Nationalmuseum, National Museum of Fine Arts in Stockholm and in the Gothenburg museum of art. Unfortunately, unlike the death of king Gustav II Adolf, there’s no specific pastery connected to this day to remember him by, so I’ll just have a regular ‘fika’, i.e. coffee break now…

Friday afternoon, a night out is approaching and young woman is scanning the mall for a new piece of accessory. A necklace, bracelet, earrings, anything, preferably cheap, because in a few weeks, she’ll need something new. She can’t wear the same old jewelry she wore last time out, right? Right?

That’s was me in my 20s. It was almost like a start-of-the-weekend tradition, but not much of what I bought back then is still in my jewelry box. Now I have fewer pieces, in genuine materials and I love to wear them time and time again. I especially treasure the ones with a story, like my inherited jewelry. How come so many of us nowadays feel the need to be wearing something new all the time? Lack of self-worth? Wanting to impress? To compensate?  Or just by not actively choosing differently? Choosing to appreciate what you have?

1940, as newlyweds with very little money, my grandfather saved up enough to be able to buy my grandmother a silver enamel butterfly brooch as an addition to her jewelry “collection”; her wedding ring, two necklaces and a thin bracelet. They always planned all their purchases thoroughly, mostly out of necessity, so she was truly surprised. She loved that brooch and wore it often. Later, when they could afford to buy jewelry without having to save up first, the butterfly still remained one of her favorites. Before she passed away, she left it to me.

There is some kind of immeasurable value in a quality object that is made to last and to be passed on. Every time I look at my heirlooms, I think of the person who gave it to me. Especially my grandmother’s brooch. And even if I don’t wear it that often, just holding it makes me smile and think of her. The taste of her raspberry jam on pancakes that she made for me every time I visited and of course her laugh and hugs.

I know that you also know that money can’t buy you love and things can’t bring you true happiness, so next time you feel like buying something new just for a party, try asking yourself if it at least will give you joy in a year or two or ten? If not, walk away. People want to meet you, not your new bling, promise.

By the way, tradition comes from the latin word traditio which means handing/hand over and can be a possession, teaching or a saying.  How much in your jewelry box is worth handing over to the next generation?

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
– Jack Canfield

For a long time I believed that if something was meant to be, it would come easily to me and if it was too difficult it was a sign that I should leave it behind, stop struggeling. But the truth can be a little bit more nuanced than that. The trick is to know when to take action and when to just sit and wait out the waves on the sea of life. Some things a worth the wait and needs time to manifest, perhaps because the journey itself is necessary for our growth, giving us the opportunity to really appreciate what we have.

Leaving your homeland to start a new life in another country with hopes and dreams of a better future is one of those things. It’s a topic that is hotter than in a long time, with all the refugees from Syria travelling through Europe, risking their lives to reach a safe place to for them and their children. They’ve heard that Sweden is a great place to live and that’s true. As long as we do all we can to make help them feel welcome.
For some who raise their voices against accepting them, perhaps it helps to remember that Sweden hasn’t always been the promised land. Due to famine and a lack of hopeful future here, 1,3 million Swedes emigrated between 1821-1930 to start a new life.

Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg (1898 – 1973) wrote about their struggles and the journey over the Atlantic in his series The Emigrants of four books published between 1949 and 1959, concerning the Swedish emigration to the United States in the 19th century. The first emigrants could spend up to two months on a sailing boat, enduring bad weather, illnessess and eating food that had expired. Later emigrants could make the trip in two weeks, embarking on steam boats in England or Germany, but the conditions were still tough.

It’s in our human nature to do what you need to do in order to survive, physically and mentally. If you are in the position that the only thing between you and your dream are your own thoughts and protective psychological constructs, you’re lucky. Even if your challenges may feel life threatening, they probably aren’t.

Doing what we can to realize our dreams is a way of celebrating life. So honour yourself and your dreams. If you want a new life, go face your fears, be patient and then celebrate. It’s your journey.

What an event! Glitter and gold and nicely dressed people everywhere you look. This year’s jewelry and watch fair in Stockholm was full of inspiring jewelry and designers.

One of them was Anna Odeback, the founder of Shieldmaid, whom I was happy to congratulate to winning the award Precious Talent 2015. We met last year at the fair and I was immediately drawn to her concept and designs. Just like Arva, Shieldmaid has found its inspiration in Swedish history, but from an earlier era, the Age of the Vikings. I really appreciate her encouraging words this past year when things were tough during the preparations for the launch of Arva Sweden.

You could walk around for hours and still not be sure that you hadn’t missed something, but two half days was what I had to work with. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to attend the seminars presented by the Swedish fashion council, but the major jewelry trends are presented below.

I’m looking forward to next years Precious fair, to be inspired, dazzled and proud over how many great designer we have in the Nordic countries. It’s truly a blessing to be surounded with so many beautiful things when working in this industry.

The trends

Gold and glitter
Spring will sparkle. Think Studio 54 and the disco feeling of the seventies. Sequins and frosty nail polish. And the colour of golden yellow will have its revival. We will see gold in both large luxurious designs as well as in small, thin necklaces with minimalistic chains and charms. The golden, the glowing and the copper tones will be reflected in interior decoration, shoes and bags.
Black and white patterns of nature. There is a strong black and white theme with various animal patterns, such as zebra, dots and stripes. Stone such as marble in black, white and grey together with brass is strong, with a retrospective glance at the eighties, only this time more minimalistic. Pearls will have a comeback too: natural and synthetic, big and small, white and in various shades of grey.

Sunset traveller
Also in this trend, gold and brass will emerge together with warm burned tones of cognac, natural beige, paisley and animal prints. This is bohemian chic with a seventies feel to it. A parallel development is the growing wish to not be online – to be able to go into offline mode. Classics, in fashion as well as in watches and jewellery. This is particularly noticeable in watches where designers look back on older, pre-digital models.

Crisp pastels
In this theme, we will see how pastels such as light pink and blue, mint and different tones of beige find new ground in fashion: simplicity with at sporty touch, while still very feminine. The crisp pastels with work very well with jewellery and accessories in silver and rose gold.

Matchy-patchy
This is the trend where order rules – in the jewellery box as well as in the closet. The style is very neat, bordering nerdy. A tailored and sporty look with influences from the early sixties, but the neatness is complemented by breaking it up with mixes of patterns and materials. A classic pearl necklace as well as sporty and colourful watches will go well with this new trend.