KumKum

Let me introduce you to my fave jewellery brand: KumKum. They launched in Sweden in 1996, and is now available worldwide. The brand features fantastic pieces including linked bracelets, necklaces, and fabulous chunky rings, all handmade from precious stones and sterling silver.

Jasmin Zivaljic, the woman behind the brand, transformed her passion for travel, fashion and jewelry into a full-time dedicated career. And she stays true to her vision, embracing life's constant changes, while creating affordable authentic jewelry to enhance women's natural beauty.

I bought my first KumKum piece just over 9 years ago at Gilblads in Gothenburg. I still wear it regularly, and it still looks just as fabulous as on the day I bought it!

KumKum is chunky silver and gorgeous pearls

Fred Perry in Chelsea

Fred Perry at the Blue Bird

Beautiful lights and cocktails

Launched a new pop up shop at the Shop at Blue Bird on King's Road in Chelsea last night.

Departures

I watched a beautiful Japanese film from 2008 last night called 'Departures' or in original 'Okuribito'. My brother S, who speaks Japanese fluently and also love the culture and people claims that there are very few, if any, good Japanese films... This is one of them! Well worth watching, alone or with someone you love.

Pretty Underneath with Stella & Hanky Panky

To celebrate my 25th birthday in style I meet up with U and L at the Blue Bird on Kings Road last week for cocktails al fresco. We had belinis and caught up on gossip. They both spoilt me with the sweetest gifts - underwear and an antique tea pot. When the evening got a bit dark and slightly chilly we took a swift walk up to Fulham Road for further cocktails and dinner at Sophie's. My friends are fabulous, thanks girls.

xoxo

Take care of your UGG's

Isn't this little kit just soo fabulous? As you may know UGG's easily stain and they don't take water well. With this little care kit they will last much longer...

Is it just me or do the bottles resemble the Aussie shampoo packaging?

Essentials: Shoes

Inspired by the upcoming autumn and also being spoilt with a number of gorgeous shoes for my birthday recently I decided to share what I believe to be the essential shoe set for all women. If you have the magic four below you can feel confident at any occasions and in all weathers!

Item number one - every day casual with jeans or dress, day or night, summer/autumn/spring - the Converse trainer:

Item number two - every day casual with jeans or dress, day or night, autumn/winter/spring - (did I mention that it's the most comfortable shoe you will ever wear?) the UGG boot:

Item number three - chic in the rain (it rains a lot in London, and Gothenburg too...) - the Hunters boot:

Item number four - to the office, dinner party or nigh club, with jeans, dress or naked! - the black heels, here by Louboutin:

What is you essential shoe wear?

Impact: Women buying cars online

When it comes to buying a new or used vehicle women do not feel as comfortable about the car buying process as they do about other high value purchases. Recent research highlights the issue of women often feeling under more pressure in the showroom or at a dealership than men (What Car? Magazine).

Leading economist Linda Babcock and author of “Women Don’t Ask” claims that women are 2.5 time more likely to feel “a great deal of apprehension” about negotiating than men, especially when it comes to purchasing a car, which may lead to women putting off going to a showroom or car dealership altogether. However, as the Internet continues to grow and people are increasingly purchasing high value goods online, there are further signs that it is also changing how people buy cars.

Ford Retail, the UK's largest dedicated Ford dealer group, has launched ‘FordOnline’, a new easy-to-use car buying website that offers both convenience and value for Internet shoppers looking for new or used Ford cars as well as commercial vehicles.

Most car buying journeys start with browsing the Internet for information. Surprisingly, FordOnline has found that a large proportion of Internet shoppers (37%) are now prepared to purchase vehicles without a test drive, removing one of the final barriers to online selling of cars.

The convenience of the process is becoming increasingly important. New research carried out by FordOnline.co.uk shows that motorists believe the benefits of buying a car online are convenience and a hassle free process, especially with today's busy lifestyles:

What would you rank as the greatest benefit of buying your car online?
· Getting a better deal (35%)
· It is convenient and quick (29%)
· There is no need to haggle on price (21%)
· It saves time/saves visiting a dealership (19%)
· It is less stressful than buying from a dealership (13%)

The research also reveals that the majority FordOnline.co.uk users are already well versed in making a broad range of purchases online including; Books, DVDs and music (59%), Insurance (55%), Holidays (52%), Clothes and jewellery (43%), Theatre/concert tickets (35%), Brown goods such as TV's (34%), White goods (30%), Toys (26%), Health and beauty products (25%) and Car parts (24%).

Steve Hood, Managing Director of FordOnline.co.uk, commented: “We know that with the growth of the Internet there are car buyers out there who want to search for and buy a car without visiting a dealership. We have specifically designed FordOnline.co.uk for those people, offering them great choice, low-prices and high levels of customer service. What you see on FordOnline.co.uk is exactly what you get. Our customers only need to visit a dealer to pick up their vehicle.”

FordOnline.co.uk aims to make car buying simple and straightforward, it is also 100% owned by Ford Retail, the largest dedicated Ford dealer group in the UK, so users can be confident in using the website – it is the trusted, quick and convenient way to buy a Ford vehicle. They are now also to be found with the latest stories and updates on Twitter @FordOnlineUK. To find the best deals on your next Ford, go here

Puppy Love

I never thought it would happen to me with dogs, but it did... I'm in love with a puppy. World, meet Smilla.

I love my mum!

My mum and sister came to visit for four days last week. We had such a fabulous time and were also lucky with the weather - 25 C for three days in a row is not a common forecast for the UK! Highlights included lazy Thursday lunch in South Kensington, Women's Polo Cup at Cowdray Park (with picnic and rose of course) and rounded off with a family BBQ party in Sussex....

Now back in Sweden, Mother's Day is coming up on this Sunday (30th May). What do you do to remind your mum of how important she is to you, and how much you love her? I would like to hand make and send over some of these:

Älva London

A human like creature from the Swedish mythology. She is often a young beautiful female, and you can sometimes see her dancing in the mist. The 'älva' can be as big as a human or as small as a bug. She is dressed in white and will try to lure you into her dance. But be careful; if you join her dance you will forget yourself and be just like her kind.

www.alvalondon.com Älva 353 Fulham Road SW10 9TW London

Thai Square

T & I went to Thai Square last Friday, just by Putney Bridge. The bar is not so impressive, especially not early in the evening when it is still empty, but we soon moved upstairs to the front table of the restaurant. A great venue for a bithrday dinner, which this happened to be. Fantastic food, medium priced, though very slow service... Green curry highly recommended, but be warned, all dishes are hottern than advised in the menu!

Linda Carlén in the UK

Gothenburg based Linda Carlén has made a name for herself by designing costumes for the Swedish National Opera and various other prestigious institutions around Sweden. Her finely tuned and feminine clothes collection, including the famous (and quite barock) strech jacket, which can be bought in several cities and also online.

Rumour has it that Linda is now looking to expand the collection for S/S11 with several new additions to the line such as suits, loose knits and dresses. With prices ranging from £150 and upwards, the strech jacket and possibly the whole of the new collection is likely to become avaliable in the UK.

I have the jacket (above) in black thus far, and can't wait to get my hands on products from the new range! Stay tuned for more information...

Spring has arrived!

Sunday morning in the churchyard of West Hoathley, West Sussex, UK

From Clarity to Clarity

My favorite Swedish fashion brand Hunky Dory delivers another summer sweet yet so cool boho collection for S/S 2010 with lots of airy, romantic and comfy clothes for all women. Peach, white and duck egg rule. Cotton and silk, loose knits and see-through. For more inspiration, or to buy a dress or three online, head over to Hunky Dory

Topman Fashion Friday's

Popped by Topman 214 Oxford Street after work today as they were re launching their in-store stylish service to the public. Beer and haircuts on the house, goodie bags and books from Time Out / London Calling, it was a very nice event with lots of boys (yes, boys) in skinny jeans around. Give your boyfriend a kick in the but on the last Friday of April, when the next Fashion Friday is due, and get him to sharpen up with the help of the professional Topman team... shopping made simple and hassle free. Yes please!

For more info go to www.topman.com/stylist

the Newcastle diet

T and I popped up to Newcastle over the weekend. It is a bit of a drive (almost 5 hours) for two days, but it is well worth the effort as we have a big bunch of lovely friends up there. When we do go it always end up being a big party!

Did you know that doing your highlights is £80 in Fulham, and £26.50 in Newcastle? Or that you can enjoy a 2 course meal with wine for under £10 up North? Entry to the coolest bars in Newcastle is, yes it's true, £5. And the shopping is great. Although we didn't end up having any fancy meals this time around. This is what I ate on Saturday:

Breakfast - full English breakfast (although I always leave out the sausages) including mushrooms fried in butter, scrambles eggs in butter, and buttered toast

Lunch - seafront fish & chips with salt and vinegar

Dinner - n/a. Ended up boozing away and could not feel hunger, although had a few handfuls of crisps

Night-greed - Subway

Given results include feeling bloated like a blow-fish and having a massive hungover that lasted for the whole drive back to London. About to have dinner now, green beans and carrots please!

Spring-Want's

* A free mind
* Touche Eclat from YSL
* Nude colored leather vest from Diesel
* Suede killer heels with peep toe
* Tongue-kissing
* Highlights & middle parting (yes, it works this spring again!)
* Black iPhone 3GS 16GB
* Pedicure & bikini wax
* OPI Honey Moon Sweet

Fabulous Hanky Panky

Hanky Panky pants were recommended to me by my dear friend Ulrica whilst browsing around shops on Kings Road last spring. I remember her saying that they were sexy, and in lace, but really comfortable. She said she always gets her dad to buy her a new stash whenever he pops over to the US (they are cheaper over there). Ulrica always have lovely underwear, and lots of them, and I didn't really take much notice of her comment...

...until I read in a book called Buzz the other day how Hanky Panky had revolutionized the way women in the US (hell, the whole world) wear thongs, making something sexy so easy and comfortable. Now, this book is a business book written by a man. And even he was recommending this product. I had to try them.

So, just in time for Valentine's I dropped a comment or two in front of my darling boyfriend T. I happened to know that they had them in one of my favourite shops on Fulham Road called Indian Summer. And yes, what was lying next to the 12 roses on my breakfast tray on Sunday, if not a little pink roll with two 'Hanky Panky, low cut, one size fits all'. (He had to leave work early to get there before they closed last week and I love him so for making the effort).

Well, it is Monday evening and I have just had a shower and slipped into my baby blue, shining new pants - and they are fabulous. They are really flattering, comfortable, sexy, and they fit perfectly. There is no going back now.

For all film lovers

Just a quick post to recommend my new favorite (online) club - Love Film. I became a member a few months ago and it is such a comfortable service, can't imagine how I could stand going to the film shop back and forth before. It works like this - become a member, make you rental 'wish list' online, and get the DVD's sent home one after one to your letter box. No late fees, when you send one back the dispatch the next one. Easy!

Some of the latest films I've had at home include: Coco before Chanel, Synecdoche - New York, the Kite Runner, Moon and Everlasting Moments. All definitely worth watching if you haven't.

I have recently discovered that this membership is an excellent way of avoiding those 'what-to-rent' related conflicts with your partner, and ending up spending a good hour arguing in Blockbusters on a Friday evening. As for me, I'm the member of the film club, hence I decide what to get. If Troy wants to watch my latest film with me he is welcome! ;-)

www.lovefilm.com

Pornstar Martini

If you happen to be in London and fancy a fabulous cocktail head over to Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill and order a Pornstar Martini.

They are my absolute favourites. And even better, they always come with a shot of champagne. Heaven!