One of my favorite way to upgrade an area is by adding side tables and decorative objects. It is an easy, non-permanent change that can totally pull together the rest of the room without costing a fortune. Together with Leiner.at, I have taken on the challenge of styling a beautiful side table duo in three different ways: for luxe living, practical in the (home) office and bedside beautiful.

Depending on what room you are looking to elevate with a side table here or there, these are some pointers to keep in mind:

• for the living room: look for accessories that are timeless, yet come with a certain luxe factor. Since the side tables are made of marble tops and metal caging, I love the idea of glass for candles and vases. Decorative items are a must for the living room, but don’t go overboard. My rule of thumb (also for the coffee table) is 1 vase, 2 to 3 candles + 1 or 2 coffee table books.
• for the home office: form follows function when it comes to a workspace environment. Meaning: things should always have a purpose. A desk should be clean and organized, which is why a smaller side table is the perfect place to store inspirational magazines or working utensils that you may want to keep within reach but away from the desk. Another personal must for me are snacks. Instead of decorative vases, I like to opt for pretty bowls or platters for the office to keep a few fresh berries, nuts or a croissant to go with my morning coffee on hand.
• by the bed: bedside tables are a given and always come with a purpose. Not only is it a wonderful place to put down a book, keep your favorite lotion on hand or charge your phone over night, but I feel like the nightstands also function as a frame for the bed itself. Not many people enter our bedroom, but creating a beautiful and cozy sleeping environment is key to a good night of sleep. While having one table on each side of the bed is the classic way to go, the duo from Leiner is extra special when placed together. And for those with a bed that is not free-standing but rather tucked in the corner of the room, the perfect place to create extra space. While our lamps are fixed to the wall, the double (bed)side table allows for separate surfaces that hold both your lamp and books + accessories!

For more side table inspiration and all the decorative objects to go along with it, be sure to check out this curated page with Leiner.at.

in paid collaboration with Leiner.at

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First things first, it is good to know that a week is the recommended minimum duration of stay. Ideally, ten to 14 days are recommended. However, judging from both of my experiences, if you are committed and make sure to properly prepare for the stay (find out how here) – then seven days are a good amount of time to create a major shift in the way you feel and look.

A week at VIVAMAYR Review – what it is really like!

Day 0: Checking in, we are instantly lulled in by the stunning Austrian landscape surrounding the location in Altaussee. The mountains, the lake, the golden light, the wooden structure of the hotel… it looks more like a postcard than a clinic.
The drive from Vienna took 3.5 hours, so by the time we arrived, we are quickly ushered into the restaurant for dinner. At VIVAMAYR, dinner is early between 5.30 and 7 pm.
Since the initial consultation with the doctor is not until the morning, our first meal at VIVAMAYR is a typical dinner: a tea pot full of vegetable broth + a small, hard roll (gluten-free, made of buckwheat). We are instructed to eat slow, chew each bite 40x, stay away from our phones and not talk. It feels strange at first, but then very freeing. To be able to sit in silence, enjoy the summer evening and gaze into the mountains.
After dinner, we finish our check-in process, fall in love with the clinic (feels more like a mountain resort) even more and unpack. By 9 pm, we are ready for bed and I jump into the bath for a soak before calling it a night.

Day 1: By 7 am we are awake. There are lots of things on our early-morning-to-do list. Oil pulling (at least 10 min), then a cup of warm water with epson salts to help clear the digestive system and 15-30 minutes of no liquids before meals. By 7.47 am we are having breakfast: another buckwheat roll + 2 sides (I choose a vegan spread + goat cheese) and at 8.30 I have my first consultation with Dr. Fegerl. Together we talk about my personal goals for the Cure at VIVAMAYR (better sleep, more regular digestion) and discuss what he sees as important + possible intolerances. Turns out, lactose and casein are NOT my friend.
From Dr. Fegerls office, I head straight into the diagnostics lab to have my blood drawn and get a Vitamin B12 injection. Then I am off to the lake for a cup of tea to soak up some Vitamin D. By lunchtime (12.00 – 1.30 pm) my diet has been adapted to suit my personal needs. Lots of potatoes, soups & vegetables. No dairy, no eggs, no meat or fish. Good thing I love potatoes!
Before my schedule for the rest of the week is finalized at the medical reception, I have some spare time to explore the clinic, try out their yoga, take a dip in the pool and hop into the sauna. Wellness at it’s best.
At 6pm sharp, Mike and I meet up for dinner (he was busy with cryo therapy, a massage and fitness training all afternoon). This time I get to have potatoes, salt from the region, flaxseed oil and a vegetable soup. After dinner we head out for a walk and then go back for another round of sauna. We plan on watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s in bed, but I fall asleep after the first 10 minutes.

Day 2: If you are worried of getting bored or having to much time “to do nothing” at VIVAMAYR, trust me, you won’t! My second full day is so busy that I have actually set an alarm for 6 am. Oil pulling, magnesium citrate (instead of the epson salts for me), and a quick dip for my feet in the icy lake are on the agenda before breakfast. Then at 8 am, I have a 50-minute massage scheduled and a dietary and chew-consultation at 9. Right after, at 9.45 am I get my final therapy plan at the medical reception and at 10 there is a bio-frequency test for me to do.
Lunch is at 12 pm, I have a movement coaching at 1 pm (where we focus on fascia training and why it is so important) and at 2.30 pm I am back with Dr. Fegerl for my manual abdominal treatment and functional myodiagnosis. Again, I find out that lactose is definitely off the agenda! Something I had intuitively known for years (hence I rarely consume dairy).
When I leave the doctor’s office at 3.30 pm, I can’t believe where the day has gone so fast…
I have one more “to-do” on my schedule: A liver compress. Which is soaked, warm hay on my liver, while I lay on a heated water bed. Needless to say, I doze off for a good 20 minutes.
I head back to the room to take care of my most important emails before meeting up with Mike again for our daily spa-session.
Dinner is a delicious pumpkin soup + side of potatoes. The waiters tell me I am allowed to order more if I feel hungry, but with an effort to chew lots and eat slow, I actually feel full.
After dinner, Mike and I take advantage of one of the daily talks given by the experts at VIVAMAYR. We learn more about how stress, the brain and gut are connected and how it affects our well-being and health.

Day 3: Our third day at VIVAMAYR in Altaussee is Saturday. Weekends are a bit slower at VIVAMAYR and I am excited to have some spare time to explore the area. After breakfast I head to my manual abdominal treatment with the doctor and then enjoy a blissful 50-minute lymphatic drainage massage with Marta (she is amazing).
After lunch, Mike and I are in the mood for a hike and we take the scenic route up to the Loser Mountain close by, where we spend the afternoon hiking and enjoying the view.

Day 4: A sunny Sunday awaits and I couldn’t be more intrigued by the thought of my book, the lake and a bikini. After breakfast (potatoes, avocado + vegan mousse) I fill my water bottle with broth and head straight to the beautiful jetty to read. I don’t move until lunchtime – except for an occasional dip in the lake to cool off. I love that VIVAMAYR is a mix of the ultimate vacation + lots of treatments to keep you busy.
In the afternoon, the clouds roll in and we hide out in the spa and test our way through the three different saunas, steam rooms and cozy nooks for reading.

Day 5: Monday, aka back to business. I start my day with 30 minutes of movement coaching (still a little sore from the last fascia session) and then head straight to breakfast. To my surprise, the waiter asks me what I would like for lunch! Wait what? Something other than potatoes? My doctor has adapted my meal plan to now include 2 courses for lunch (soup + veggies and fish). At first, I am sure he mixed something up, but after double-checking twice, I feel like a little kid in the candy store. I pick “rooted vegetables, curry and sweet potato” and am off to my salt scrub with a huge smile on my face. I didn’t mind the potatoes, but after 5 days of very monotone meals, the thought of a seasoning like curry is incredibly appealing. Blissed out, I doze off once again during my peeling – while snuggled into a heated water bed at the hydro therapy department of the clinic.
Lunch is, as expected, amazing! Not only delicious but also beautifully arranged and colorful.
At 1.15 pm I have a breath workshop, which mostly focuses on techniques to reduce stress, relax muscle tension and calm down. Then, at 3.30 pm I am back with Dr. Fegerl for my manual abdominal treatment and at 4 pm I am back with Marta, the sweetest masseuse!
Afterwards, Mike and I decide to walk all the way around the Lake Altaussee. The 7k walk takes us just over an hour and even though it starts to rain mid-way through, the air is so fresh and energizing that we love it!

Day 6: Our last full day at VIVAMAYR has lots in store for me. At 7.45 am I drop of my urin sample at the medical reception and have my weigh-in. Almost 2kg down in just 6 days and without feeling hungry or killing myself at the gym. 
Breakfast is at 8 am and at 9.30 I am back at the diagnostics lab for another round of Vitamin B12 injections. My next appointment is something I have been excited for all week: cardiopulmonary exercise testing (germ.: Spiroergometrie) to determine at what heart rate and strain my body burns the most fat vs. when it starts to burn glucose. With a darth-vader-like mask on my face, I have to run on the treadmill, increasing the speed by 0.8km every minute. I last for 14 minutes before I give up and it turns out that any exercise with a pulse-rate of up to 139 is best for me in terms of fat burning.
After lunch, I am back with Dr. Fegerl at 2pm for my final consultation and check-up. Things are looking good and I can’t wait to check back in with him in 2 weeks at the Day Clinic in Vienna. The Cure is not over when you check out, and that’s what I love about it. A week at VIVAMAYR gives you the necessary tools to take care of yourself in your own setting! Mike and I are determined to keep things up 80% of the time and continue our journey at home.
At 3pm I have an osteopathy session (incredible!!) and then a goat butter wrap for my dry skin at 4.10 pm.
At 5.00 pm Mike and I listen to another one of the free talks at VIVAMAYR before heading to dinner (celery soup + steamed vegetables) and one last evening sauna session. My favorite is the “Zirbensauna” (made of swiss pine) at 60°C. It smells incredible and is not too hot. Before bed, we enjoy the beautiful lakeviews one last time during a 30-minute walk.

Day 7: It seems both surreal how much we have experienced and changed in just one week and at the same time like it was just yesterday that we check-in for our week at VIVAMAYR Altaussee. One last time, we dip our feet in the cold lake before breakfast and enjoy the early morning air!
At 8.30 am I have a mud wrap to release tension and at 10.15 Mike and I have 1.5 hours of dietary consultations before checking out. Together with a nutritionist, we discuss possible meals and shopping lists for home. She also writes down recipe ideas and no-gos for the first week post-cure.
After one last lunch at VIVAMAYR (fennel soup + earthy vegetables with potato dumplings), we drive back to Vienna with a new-found glow and sense of well-being.

*photography by Marion Payr for VIVAMAYR | Press Invite

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Of course, in the scheme of things, the dress makes all the difference. My trusted one-stop-shop for all things fashion-related has been NET-A-PORTER for years and I love their wide selection of dresses for every occasion. With game changers like the linen dress or trend updates revolving around styling tips for the Summer heat and most coveted dresses of the season, NET-A-PORTER offers more than just a shopping experience, it is also my personal source of inspiration for all things fashion. I love their newsletter and editorials – be sure subscribe if you haven’t already!

Incredible Women. Incredible Fashion. Every Day.

When it comes to styling a beach-side favorite for the city, I have a few simple rules: The dress is key, and the bag tells a story. Bigger bag = beach bound. Smaller bag = more elegant. Also, shoes are an obvious trick to dress up or down, and so is jewelry.

Finding the right summer dress

You want beachy, but not too casual (or see-through). You want elegant, but not too fancy. My tip? Go for something oversized that is not too standout-ish. Meaning, a dress that you can easily wear multiple times without getting sick of it. Off-shoulder is perfect, both for the beach and elegant evenings where you want to showcase a beautiful necklace or drop earrings. A darker color instantly looks fancier than beachy white, so keep this in mind as well. Over all, try to work with something simple and let the accessories do the rest!

Sleeper off-shoulder dress, Alighieri gold-plated necklace, Bottega Veneta Small pouch bag, Loewe woven raffia tote,  Gianvito Rossi mules (similar here),  Havaianas flip flops (similar here)

From Beach To Bar: Shop The Look

*in paid collaboration with NET-A-PORTER

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In a quest to find the best of the healthy best (with the demand that the meals also satisfy a man’s tastebuds), I have come across a few incredibly inspiring cookbooks, mostly based around plant-based or vegetarian diets. What I have come to realize for my own body, is that I do incredibly well with carbs (the good kind: think potatoes, quinoa, sourdough bread, …) and fats. I have been skipping my daily cup of coffee in lieu of herbal teas, I have been opting for soups and stews in the evening (easier to digest than raw foods) and trying to really be present when I eat. Think: mindfully chewing each bite, eating slower and with more appreciation. No more TV dinners (at least for now), phone at the table or smoothie on the run. It is so important to sit down for a meal without any distractions.

But back to the best cookbooks my kitchen currently has to offer – some were gifts from family, some are borrowed from friends and others are my own purchases from places around the world that inspire me!

The Best Cookbooks: with plenty of inspiring plant-based or vegetarian meal ideas

• Malibu Farm: Not entirely plant-based or vegetarian, but with a farm-to-table approach, Malibu Farm is an incredible café in Southern California. I love both their Malibu and Newport Beach locations for a healthy brunch or lunch by the water. (More in my California Travel Guide). Bringing the best of the Californian Coast home to everywhere else in the world, this cookbook is built on the idea of fresh, organic, local.
• Ultimate Veg: “It’s all about celebrating really good, tasty food that just happens to be meat-free” says Jamie Oliver. I received this vegetarian cookbook from my aunt for my birthday back in February and since then, we have tried a few different recipes from the book and loved them all. However, our favorite is definitely the Bold Black Bean Soup, jazzed up with lime-spiked avocado, (feta) and chili. We usually skip the feta and it is just as amazing!
• Eat Clean, Play Dirty: The female founders of Sakara Life claim “food should make you feel sexy” – so true. Nobody likes feeling exhausted, bloated or stuffed after a meal. That’s why they have dedicated their business (meal deliveries in NYC) and this cookbook to a body and life you love! Designed to balance the science of nutrition with the pleasures of food, Sakara is a nutritional philosophy that helps to fuel the world’s most beautiful bodies.
• The Kinfolk Table: Cooking with friends, slow living, feel good kitchen. What’s not to love? Kinfolk is best known for it’s understated approach to entertaining and wonderful views into homes to inspire –  but this one combines kitchen tales, personal stories + favorite recipes. Although not entirely meat-less, this cookbook features 45 tastemakers who are cooking and entertaining in a way that is beautiful, uncomplicated, and inexpensive. Each has provided one to three of the recipes they most love to share with others, whether they be simple breakfasts for two, one-pot dinners for six, or a perfectly composed sandwich for a solo picnic. Need a tease? How about some Spiced Raw Chocolate Mousse or a Plum and Cilantro Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese.
• Eat Beautiful: How many times have we all heard “you are what you eat”? Uncountable, on my part. With good reason! The right foods and diet allow us to not only nourish our bodies but also our skin from the inside out. World-renowned beauty and make-up expert Wendy Rowe knows skin inside out. In this refreshing beauty + cookbook, Wendy talks glowing skin for each of the four seasons of the year. From cucumbers, ‘the internal cleanser’, to limes, ‘the natural astringent’ and carrots, ‘the immunity booster’, there are also breakdowns of the vitamins and nutrients each of these familiar ingredients provide. And of course the recipes to go along with it. I have shared this book before (back in 2016) and still love many of the recipes that can be found inside!

Shop these cookbooks:

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• hydration:  drinking of still water to hydrate – away from the meals (30 min before and after no drinks).
• caffeine, alcohol & nicotine: Remember when I quit coffee for 6 weeks a couple of years ago? VIVAMAYR was the reason. In order to prepare for the Cure, it is essential to reduce the consumption of “distractions” for your digestive tract. The point of the Modern Mayr Cure is to let your body function in the most normal setting possible. Taking its time to digest. Therefore, coffee is out of the game. As is nicotine (if you do smoke). And I think it is self-explanatory that a detox or fast do not involve alcohol, no matter how you spin it. For these substances (caffeine – also in form of black tea – alcohol & nicotine) I would recommend to start cutting back a week in advance and lay off entirely 3-4 days before you check in to VIVAMAYR. The withdrawal symptoms can be pretty bad for up to three days (fatigue, headache) so by cutting these items out of your day at least 3 days before arriving at VIVAMAYR, you are doing yourself a huge favor and can enjoy the Cure much more on the first few days.
• refined sugar, processed white flour: There is no sugar at the clinic. Sugar feeds a certain type of bacteria in our microbiome and at VIVAMAYR the aim is to get a balanced, healthy gut. Hence, all sugar and processed white flour (ie. pasta or bread) is best left out before arriving. I barely consume regular (refined) sugar anyhow, so this part was not too hard for me. However, fruit sugar is also off limits and that was super hard! I reduced my fruit intake 3 days before our Cure started.
• raw fruit & uncooked vegetables: Before I get into this point, let it be said that fruits and vegetables are obviously amazing (!!) for you. However, during the Cure, the main goal is to give our digestive system a break. Generally speaking, raw or uncooked things should never be consumed past 4pm because our gut has worked all day and is tired by the evening. A big salad for dinner may be a “light” meal in terms of calories, but it is super hard for us to digest and sits in the stomach for hours, if not all night – causing bloat. Aside from that, it can be said that fresh fruit and raw veggies require a lot of work by our digestive track. So in order to prepare for VIVAMAYR, try to leave out all uncooked foods a good 3-5 days in advance.
• chew, chew, chew: At VIVAMAYR, the aim is to chew each bite 40 times. Digestion begins in your mouth, not your stomach. So start practicing at home by improving your chewing skills with having smaller bites.
• sleep: Many regenerative and super important processes in our body take place during our sleep. Hence, it is absolutely necessary for our health (I have been obsessed with the topic of sleep ever since I read the book “Why We Sleep”). Before you check in to a VIVAMAYR clinic, try to head to bed around 10pm and get an (ideal) 8-hours of sleep.
• day clinic Vienna & London: One of the luxuries of living in Vienna (or London) is the access to the VIVAMAYR day clinic, where the doctors can support you pre- or post-cure. If there are specific health problems you are struggling with, it may be beneficial to schedule an appointment 2-3 weeks prior to the Cure in order to get a head-start. Also, follow ups after checking out are a great way to stay on track and maintain many of the healthy building blocks of your new life!

*photography by Marion Payr for VIVAMAYR | Press Invite

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How To: The Curated Wardrobe

What makes a curated wardrobe just that? In my opinion it all comes down to a handful of items, that are your ultimate go-tos. Your feel-good sidekick, so to say. I love seasonal trends as inspiration, but at the end of the day, I always find myself going back to pieces that never go out of style. Blue, high-waisted denim that flatter a feminine silhouette. A classy tailored blazer becomes contemporary cool with an oversized fit. Pearls and golden hoops for a bit of glam. Or a black tanktop that can easily be transformed from a laidback daytime look to a fancy night out when you add heels.

For years, NET-A-PORTER has been a main source of inspiration when it comes to creating a curated wardrobe. I lost count of how many pairs of AGOLDE jeans I have bought from them, I recently splurged on this timeless yet super stylish tuxedo blazer and I could browse their accessory selection for hours.

Incredible fashion for incredible women.
Discover the latest fashion trends, street style looks and names to know via NET-A-PORTER.

A Take On Sustainable Fashion

We are, and have been, seeing a shift towards consciously crafted fashion and beauty products. Which is not only good but also necessary. One of my favorite ways to shop more sustainable is NET-SUSTAIN, an easy way to identify brands and products that are mindful of the planet.
To me personally, there is an additional dimension to sustainability. It is all about the way we build our wardrobe. Do we splurge on pieces we only wear once or do we try to invest in versatile, high-quality options that will still be our go-tos in a year or two? Wearing pieces longer and more makes them more sustainable in my opinion.

My Wardrobe Essentials

• denim, baby: I will never count how many pairs of jeans I own because I know the outcome will be a ridiculous number. Once a denim girl, always a denim girl. But what styles are worth investing? My no.1 choice is always a mid-blue high-waisted jean that is not too skinny, not too wide-legged.
• blazer: Everyone needs to own a black blazer that will get you anywhere from a morning coffee date to a fancy business dinner. If you already own the ultimate black (tuxedo) blazer, next up is one in a natural color palette (think: beige, muted khaki green, or brown) with an oversized cut. Want to change things up? Add a thin belt around the waist and skip the top underneath for sexy, evening attire.
• totally tank: Tank tops are my favorite layering pieces and build the base of almost every outfit. On warmer days, just a tank, jeans and lace-up sandals will do. When it gets cold, throw on a cardigan, add a blazer for the office or style it with a leather jacket to pull off the biker chick look.
• the black bag: Not too small, not too big. Gold hardware is always a good choice. You want a classy bag that will look good with a date-night-worthy outfit, but one that will actually fit your iPhone 11 (+ car keys).
• a bling thing: The lazy girl way of instantly taking an outfit to the next level? Just add bling! Hence, you will often spot me in the simplest looks, but I always feel dressed up the second I add earrings or a pretty necklace. My weak spot are pieces of jewellery that are delicate and modest, yet an eye-catcher. Pearl-drop earrings or golden hoops forever.

Shop the Curated Wardrobe

*in paid collaboration with NET-A-PORTER

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First there was the idea of a cute bistro table, two chairs and lots of plants for an inspiring nook to have breakfast. Then I dreamt of a sun bed for catching those morning rays on lazy Sundays during summer. But then I remembered that the outdoor space is also accessible from our guest bathroom, so I wanted something where someone could sit in private. Lastly, the idea of an herbal garden adjacent to the living space came to mind. Lots of ideas for a little space measuring 5.4 square metres, right?
I headed to the huge Leiner store on Mariahilferstraße last week (they have 25% off many of their pieces until May 25th) to have a look around and see which of the options would work best for our terrace. That’s when I realized, that maybe it was possible to create a space that would embody a sun bed, a bench for relaxing and a small table option to enjoy aperitivo with friends. Turns out, with the right styling tips for small outdoor spaces, you can have your cake and eat it, too! 

Here are my personal styling tips for small outdoor spaces, to get the most out of your summer this year:

• a versatile piece of furniture: The biggest piece should always be the first thing you buy. In our case, it was a wooden garden bench named Easton, similar to this one. A regular bench at first glance – until you pull out the little side table or raise the seat to turn it into a sun bed.
  Be sure to keep your dimensions in mind. In our case, the 2m with was a perfect fit and the bench looks like it was actually custom-made for our terrace.
• no fuss plants: I don’t have a green thumb, neither does Mike. Aside from the fact, that we are both no professional gardeners, the choice of plants for our small deck was driven by greens that would not shed leaves or disperse a lot of pollen. When you do not have a lot of space, the last thing you want is something that will constantly have you picking up leaves. For a mediterranean flair I opted for rosemary and an olive tree, plus a lemon tree is on my wishlist. Go vertical is a great tip when you are trying to save space. Instead of bushy roses that you don’t want to get to close to (thorns), pick plants that will keep the space feeling airy, such as our olive tree.
  Make sure to also consider your pots and planters as part of the decor – so ideally they should go with the furniture. Ours were a total steal from Leiner at under 20€ and look as if they were taken straight out of an Italian masseria.
• decorative items: Let’s be honest, there won’t always be a fresh fruit basket on outdoor display or a stack of magazines just waiting for you to finish up work on Fridays. However, a big tray is not only perfect for serving guests, but also for adding some extra decor to small spaces. We usually keep the big white tray on our kitchen counter or dining table with fresh fruit, magazines and a candle or decorative coral. When it is time to head outside, it is so easy to just grab the tray and instantly style the terrace.
• create ambiance: Looking to add a cozy feeling to the deck? How about café lights, lanterns, and candles? Light is such a key player in setting the mood and making even the smallest space seem magical!

*brought to you in paid collaboration with Leiner.at

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Jump straight to the Recipe

Having home-cooked every single meal of the past 3 weeks (with the exception of 3 delivery orders), my creativity in the kitchen seems to be back. More than every, I am craving fresh dishes that include a lot of vegetables. For inspiration, I will usually just grab random items at the supermarket and then try to make something of it. With a single bulb of fennel lingering in our fridge and a banana bread waiting to be tried post-lunch, I wanted a light meal. With a bit of help from my old friend google, I quickly found out that a shaved fennel salad doesn’t really require much. Not even a shaver for that matter. A small, sharp knife will do the trick. With a healthy dose of olive oil, a hint of lemon and a quick tossing, this was such a delight and will be a favorite of mine this Summer during BBQ season.

Ingredients

Simple Shaved fennel salad with parmesan

• 1 large bulb of fennel
• 2 tbs olive oil
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• salt + pepper
• shaved parmesan, as desired
• optional: fresh parsely

Instructions

1. Wash the fennel bulb and cut it down the center.
2. Lay on a cutting board on the flat (cut-open) part, and thinly slice using a sharp knife.
3. In a bowl, combine the shaved fennel, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
4. Toss well – works best if you use your hands.
5. With a potato peeler, shave as much parmesan as desired and add to salad. If you do not have a peeler, chopped or crumbled cheese will also do.
6. If on had, add fresh parsley or other herbs. Apple is also a great addition or you can mix in some baby spinach and nuts for a more filling salad.

*This recipe serves 1 as a light summer lunch or 2 as a side dish for your next BBQ. I think this would pair really well with grilled fish or chicken.

Looking for more healthy recipes? Be sure to give my Beetroot Carpaccio or the Broccoli & Sweet Potato Tofu Bowl a try!

To edit these photos, I used the Viktoria Louise present from my Bikinis Confidential bundle – available here.

Der Beitrag Simple Shaved Fennel Salad erschien zuerst auf Bikinis & Passports.

These easy-to-attain Spring/Summer trends 2020 are worth taking a closer look at, if you ask me:

• vanilla ice cream: shades of beige and (yellow) pastels to match, all wrapped up in one big ice cream cone

• smart blazers, that look like you stole them from your guy. oversized styles, structured cuts and big shoulders are key when investing in blazers right now

• micro bags: while Bottega is bringing back the motto of “the bigger, the better”, I am still not over the 2019 trend of mini bags – especially when they are vintage

• dressed down: dresses worn over jeans are not only a trend to try this season, but also a perfect way to recycle wardrobe favorites, wear your summer dresses for transitional season and re-invent the way you style a feminine piece – not to mention that polka dots are making a comeback as a SS20 trend!

• (double) sweater weather is the best excuse to leave your warm coats at home and opt for a second sweater instead, which can be worn over blazers, denim jackets or simply layered with other knit pieces to keep your warm

Get The Look

*photos: The Street Vibe, Jeremy Möller & own

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Living Room details: Westwing Green Velvet Sofa // Westwing Black Marble Coffee Table // Westwing “JANE” Rug // H&M VASE // EICHOLTZ Chair // BYREDO CANDLE // DIPTYQUE Candle accessories // WEsTWING Tray

Coffee Table Styling Tips

• Sizing is key. If you don’t have a lot of space, opt for a smaller side table instead of a big coffee table like ours. If the table is big, there is room for magazine, flowers, candles and the likes. If you go with a smaller version, try not to over-style things, keep it sleek with a single vase or candle.
• Form and function: The coffee table is a place that catches the eye, hence the decorative aspect definitely plays a roll, but don’t forget that the pieces should not only look pretty and collect dust, but also serve some sort of purpose with their function. I only like candles on the coffee table that you actually light. I swap out the magazines depending on what I am currently reading, in order to have the right mag on hand when I have a spare 5 minutes on the sofa with a coffee in hand. Flowers are a must on our coffee table but they should never obstruct the view too much, otherwise you’ll find yourself carrying a vase through the living room every time you turn on the TV.
• The color palette: Things instantly look more tidy and organized if they belong to the same color palette. Since our velvet sofa in green is responsible for a bit of color, we try to keep the other pieces as simple and timeless as possible: white, black, gray and a hint of gold.
• Use a tray: Obviously, smaller things like remote controls, matches and other decorative objects also find their way onto a coffee table. A tray is a great coffee table styling tip to keep things looking orderly. I bought this affordable sleek white tray (50 x 35 cm) a few years ago and it works wonders on the coffee table.

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