Pictured above: Laura Ashley Cressida Heart Basket and Tool Set, Hunters Original British Rain Boots and Burberry Belted Leather Rain Boots

Creating an Unforgettable Mother’s Day

Still looking for that perfect gift to show your mom how much she means to you? Here’s my winning tip for you: try to think what your mom is passionate about and go for that theme – and make it a truly a day of celebration, rather than just a present and flowers delivered via web or a quick lunch in a restaurant.

Her ideal present might not be anything tangible in terms of goods, but maybe an experience, or a surprise visit from you if you haven’t seen her for a long time – after all time is the most valuable asset we have – and once it’s gone we can’t get it back… The key is to give it from the heart, and not just by opening your wallet and picking up some fancy presents. Make it a day with loved ones, doing things that mom would love to do.

If you are now thinking that your mom has no passions or hobbies that you are aware of it gets a bit trickier. It is possible that your mom has no interests whatsoever, or it could be that she’s still at that stage where she’s dreaming about something, but hasn’t gotten the courage or time (or what ever the reason might be) to get started. Try to think about what she’s told you before, directly or just hinted subtly, and something’s got to come on top. Then just go for that idea even if it ends up being a spring clean of the garage together and a champagne picnic between the boxes. She’ll so pleasantly surprised and happy!

My English Garden Dream Mother’s Day

Personally I have been pining for an opportunity to work in a garden for the past four years when we didn’t really have one, and this is what my perfect day would be like (hint for the husband as I know he reads my articles). No, it’ now a few diamond bracelet or Jimmy Choos, although the latter will be included, sort of, as I’d love the Jimmy Choos of the gardening world – aka a really fancy pair of rain boots (or wellies as I call them) suitable even for trotting the puddled streets of London! If I ever had a lawn as perfect as the Queen has in front of Buckingham Palace I’d be really happy.

So my perfect mother’s day would have a few of these elements – and I would’t turn down all of them taking place in the very same time, but that just might be plain greedy:

• A lovely breakfast in bed (what can I say, just a family-long tradition and i have nothing against keeping up with traditions – especially when there is a home-made cake too)
• A little family project in garden (this year, my dear husband, I’d like a couple of raised beds so we could plant some herbs and lettuce – and strawberries for the kids)
• Family BBQ in the garden (ribs, English sausages, asparagus and potatoes, need I say more!)
• A lovely afternoon stroll in a nearby castle and it’s blooming gardens – great for the body and mind and also gives me some garden ideas. And since it’s likely to be an afternoon it would the perfect time for a proper cream tea in the castle
• A pair of fabulous wellies, or maybe even two: Classic Hunter’s boots for muddy school runs and forest walks (and music festivals, just think of Glastonbury) and Burberry ones for glamming up (and I keep my old butterfly boots for the garden). Wellies are the must-have item item of the year and they are like sandals last year – no shame of owning more than one pair for different occasions
• And finally: there is always a need yet for another garden tool – so a fancy clippers or cute bird feeder will do (and this year a moss-killing set for the lawn might be hot commodity too!)

Castles, gardens and cream teas is what I dream of!

All this would make me eternally grateful and feel so cherished, at least until next year when I’d hope to have a lovely day again. And yes, for next Father’s day I am planning to follow the same format for my great husband too!

Every June, my family loads up our SUV with suitcases, sand chairs and fishing poles and makes the four hour drive to the North Carolina coast. It’s my favorite week of the whole summer. I love feeling surrounded by family in our little beach cottage, but nothing compares to the magic I feel walking along the beach, picking up seashells and listening to the waves crash along the shore.

And almost as wonderful as our actual beach trip is the preparation for it. My gym membership card is swiped more than usual in hopes of achieving the elusive “beach body,” and I spend at least two weeks packing beforehand, making sure I have every outfit planned down to my shoes and earrings. A new bikini and a new beach bag are two purchases that must be made in advance.

This summer, Target has all you need for a stylish vacation at the beach. You can’t go wrong with any of the towels from their new beach collection, but I’m simply in love with these fabulous ikat beach towels!

Ikat Lux beach towel in green

Ikat Lux beach towel in whipped papaya

Xhilaration Lavada Slide Sandal

No beach trip is complete without a sand chair, floppy straw hat and a great pair of sunnies. Yes, looking amazing on the beach is a priority, but so is our health! Sun protection is a must, so don’t forget to lather up with a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. I personally love Neutrogena’s ultra-sheer sunscreen, which won’t irritate your skin.

Beach Chair in Red

Merona Floppy Hat

Merona Rubberized Sunglasses in Tortoise

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock

Pack a good novel or a fun magazine, and you’re all set for a day at the beach. And if you’re on vacation, you might as well add a cold drink. (I recommend a piña colada, but really any icy beverage will do!)

It’s time for springtime – how are you getting ready for spring and summer?

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

It’s time for Springtime

When buying new home decor pieces for spring, I wanted to challenge myself to buy versatile pieces that I could use throughout my home in various ways.

When I laid eyes upon this white accent table from Target, I knew I had to have it in my home. Right away my mind was brimming with ideas on how to style it!

My first inclination was to style it as a bar cart. I simply love the idea of a bar cart in a modern home, complete with cocktail glasses and assorted liqueurs. To my arrangement, I’d add striped straws, a bowl of nuts and some fun napkins.

I also saw this accent piece in a bedroom, as a vanity of sorts. It would make such a chic display for perfume bottles, hair spray and whatever other girlish accessories you might want to show off.

I decided to use it to showcase my jewelry.  I love having my necklaces and bracelets displayed where I can see them. It’s so easy to forget what I have when it’s tucked away in a jewelry box.

The second piece of decor I bought for my home this spring was a set of three moroccan mirrors, pictured on the left. I love their unique design and their versatility. Since they come in a set of three, they can be arranged a number of different ways. I love mirrors because they reflect light and add another dimension to any room.

Both items are from Target’s new Threshold line, which is gorgeously modern and classic at the same time. I truly do love all the items featured in the collection! To see more of their new line, you can watch (and shop!) the video below:

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

It’s time for springtime

With the official arrival of spring, I always get the urge to “redecorate” my house. Incorporating bright colors and fun patterns into your home can be the perfect way to prepare for the upcoming warmer weather. However, it can be difficult to match patterns and colors within your home. Have no fear! You can use pretty patterns and fun prints in your decor without turning the room into one huge kaleidoscope.

4 Tips How to Mix & Match Colors and Patterns at Home

1. Stick with a color scheme: Selecting a common color palette can go a long way in coordinating patterns. Stick with similar hues to draw your eye to the color – not the varying patterns. However, this doesn’t mean all of your colors have to be the same hue. Try out multi-colored fabrics, but use a color that is similar throughout all the patterns for a cohesive look.

2. Save the color for accent pieces: Use various shades of neutral colors, such as off-white, beige or cream, for the bigger pieces of furniture in your house. Couches, love seats, coffee tables and bookshelves make great neutral pieces and are more “permanent” fixtures in your home. To spruce up your space, save the various colors and patterns for accent pieces such as pillows, side chairs and tables. The great thing about accent pieces? They’re interchangeable! The pillows pictured below are fabulous for spring; however, they’re easy to change out when fall rolls around.

Products in the photo:
White Lattice Cottage Mirror
Navy Lattice Toss Pillow
Orange Ikat Pillow
Slipper Chair in Blue Diamonds
Coral Accent Table

3. The rule of threes: Most experts suggest sticking with three (sometimes four) different patterns in a variety of size and scale. If you have too many competing patterns, it confuses the eye and can make your space seem cluttered. Save the large scale pattern for the focal point of the room, such as wallpaper or patterned curtains, such as the ones below.

Jacquard Ikat Window Panels

4. Experiment, experiment, experiment! Don’t be intimated by the idea of mixing patterns and colors into your home. Sometimes the best combinations of colors and patterns aren’t necessarily logical. Focus on color, size, scale and texture and trust your instincts – if you think it looks good, then that’s really all that matters. The most important “rule” in decorating is that you love what you create. After all, it’s your space, so it should make you happy!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

Welcome our new writer Caitlin Covington of Southern Curls & Pearls

It’s Time for Springtime

My debut post for Skimbaco couldn’t be more fitting for the beautiful spring weather we’ve been experiencing lately in South Carolina. With the arrival of sunshine and blooming flowers each year, I always start getting excited for Easter. For me, Easter evokes memories of flowery sundresses, colorful plastic eggs and my grandmother’s Sunday brunch. What could be better than time with family and a belly full of sweet potato casserole and deviled eggs? I can think of only one thing: Gramma’s table settings!

Although no table settings could ever match the sentimentality of Gramma’s antiques, they can be equally as beautiful. This spring I had the opportunity to set my own Easter table, courtesy of Target.

When I saw these baby blue scalloped dishes, I knew I wanted them for my Sunday table. (After all, Carolina blue is my favorite color – go Tar Heels!) I ended up pairing these blue dishes with a set of gorgeous floral melamine plates and bowls. The great thing about these dishes is that the possibilities are endless! You can mix and match to your heart’s content. I also love that the floral plates are made out of melamine – they are dishwasher safe and virtually unbreakable. Perfect for those who can be clutzy sometimes, like me!

To incorporate Easter into this table setting, I also picked up some crinkle grass and Cadbury mini eggs from Target to create a “nest.”

And with all the bright tableware in Target right now, I’m not lying when I say that I was really tempted to bring home every single item they had in the store. Luckily I had some self-control and managed not to buy everything. Unfortunately, my willpower isn’t so strong when I’m around these Cadbury chocolate eggs. See the bowl full of chocolate eggs, above? Well, these barely lasted three days in my house. Oops!

Inexpensive Easter table setting inspired by Gramma

To purchase these items, just click the links below. After perusing their dining section for an hour and a half, I’m confident Target has everything you need to set an Easter table. Even Gramma would be proud!

Scalloped Dinnerware Set in Aqua

Roped Vasaio Floral Dinnerware

Paneled Ribbed Goblets

Small Yellow Sandblasted Vase

Add fresh flowers and your Easter table is set!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

Think Spring

Oh yes, it’s spring here in Sweden too. The birds are singing, the snow is melting, water dripping, I can already see my driveway on a few places, and the daily temperature highs get over 40 degrees on good days. The best is the longer day light and I am hopefully the real spring and summer will come here this year too. IKEA is already getting ready for spring and I agree – it is a great time to start at least planning your outdoor living space for this spring and summer. The earlier start you get, the more time you will have to enjoy your outdoor living space makeover.

IKEA offers a blend of elegant (and oh so cheap) options for backyards and more colorful options that have more of the beach look. Their collection also has so many smaller furniture, like small foldable cafe-style table that are perfect for balconies. Great options from beach house to balcony and from beach to backyard.

My favorite is this simple look with ÄNGSÖ rectangular table, although I like the last year’s FALSTER tabel much better, we bought it last year, and I even used it indoors as a craft table during winter because I liked it so much.

Photos: IKEA

PHOTO ALERT: This post has ton of Holiday photos, don’t look if you don’t want to feel the spirit of Christmas.

Ekenäs Castle in Linköping, Sweden

You may have heard the name Ekenäs before, but do not confuse the IKEA furniture named Ekenäs with the real deal. The Ekenäs Castle (Ekenäs slott in Swedish) is one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Sweden with its three impressive shingled towers and annual jousting tournament and Medieval festival where you can still feel like in the medieval times. The Ekenäs castle is located outside city of Linköping in Östergötland, in South-East Sweden, only 20 minute drive from our home.

The Ekenäs castle is a privately owned castle, but visitors are welcome year-round, however, the castle itself is only open during the summer and the guided tours are only held during the summer visiting hours.

Christmas market at Ekenäs Castle

During Christmas time, the Ekenäs castle hosts a Christmas market, and bus-loads of people from all around Sweden gather to shop for Holiday foods, handmade Christmas gifts and drink hot mulled wine, glögg, and enjoy Christmas music and horse rides. There is around 11 dollar entrance fee to get to the Christmas market (children are free), but it is so worth it. This year the snow hadn’t come yet, and the weather was nice and crisp for walking around the castle grounds and shopping for artisan products and eating the Holiday treats.

Christmas Market Foods

Speaking of the holiday treats, let’s get down to the Holiday foods found at the market right on the start. You typically find roasted nuts, preserves and jelly and assortments of holiday candy like fudge in every Christmas market. The Swedish Christmas markets are bountiful in their food assortments and in addition you can find fresh artisan bread, smoked salmon, sausages and ham, and mustard to accompany your Holiday ham. In addition to the best fudge you’ve ever had you can find handmade peppermint sticks, marzipan and licorice.

The best about all this food: you will get to try it all. All food vendors give out food samples and you can get teased by these amazing flavors and then stuff your shopping bags with the Holiday treats.

In addition to the food vendors who were selling their goods at the booths set up in the castle barn, they had several different locations for coffee and cake, or for other lunch options like fish hamburgers or hot dogs. Scandinavian Christmas isn’t complete without mulled wine, glögg, and you can buy that too in several flavors (like chocolate, pear, berries and whiskey). In the castle cellar you can get glögg tasting and try the different glöggs with saffron biscotti.

Christmas Market Goods

There are some handmade craft markets where I feel shame for the sellers for the products they sell… and then there are European craft markets. You could find gifts for everyone in your list at the Ekenäs Christmas market. There were of course plenty of traditional Scandinavian Christmas ornaments made out of straw and elves and trolls in all shape and material. The quality of the handcrafted cutting boards or fruit bowls was amazing, and the wooden toys were still made like decades ago. Lamb skins and slippers made out of felt, knitted socks and gloves and crocheted scarves. And the gorgeous candles made in unbelievable shapes. Booth after booth handmade artisan products.

The craft booths were set inside a dark barn or inside the castle’s dark interiors, where there was no electricity and the light was set up with the help of generators. You really felt like you were transported back in time when shopping in the dark.

Christmas in Swedish Countryside

If the foods and the goods didn’t get you hooked yet – the ambiance in the castle and the beauty of Swedish countryside does. You can smell the burning wood in the fire pits mixed with the scent of roasted nuts while you watch children horseback riding and listen to live Christmas music. The Christmas market in the countryside is equally a romantic Saturday date destination as well a family attraction. Simply said – you can’t help but feel the spirit of Scandinavian Christmas.

Santa is already in town

What we learned this year – Linköping has it’s own Santa. We saw this same white bearded Santa playing music in every single Christmas market we visited this year, and at the mall and the town center. I literally felt the past 6 weeks that this IS the real Santa and he just keeps following us.

This is just one part of Scandinavian Christmas magic, I hope you visit us the next year and come and see it yourself.

Christmas Markets in Sweden

The best about Swedish Christmas markets: you don’t have to go far to find one. Most communities here in Sweden have their own Christmas market, and they are held in castles, schools, churches and even in barns in the countryside. In fact, my favorite ones are the ones held in the countryside inside the red barns and full of handmade goodies and ideas for crafts and DIY gifts. The Christmas markets start early in November, and we have been in a different Christmas market each weekend. Some are held only for a few days, and what we learned pretty fast, the same merchants travel around the country selling their products in various Christmas markets. So if you forgot to buy the specialty mustard for your Holiday ham, or want more of the fresh bread, the chances are you will find the same or something very similar again the next weekend from a different Christmas market.

Our first Christmas market this winter was Hantverksgården in Linköping, where all of these photos are from. We didn’t have snow yet, but as I am typing this we have a around a foot of fresh snow outside. Christmas time in Sweden is pretty magical, and it’s a great time of the year to come for a visit.

Hantverksgården in Ledberg, Linköping Sweden

Enjoy a virtual tour of the Hantverksgården, and share in the comments what’s your local favorite thing to do during the Holidays in your corner of the world. Often we find gems right around the corner, if we just want to look.

I love how the market welcomes you and the outside is almost prettier than the inside!

Christmas DIY Ideas from Sweden

I feel like I have a new hobby: it’s scouting for different Christmas markets every weekend. The first Christmas markets opened here in Sweden already three weeks ago, and it’s been market after market ever since. It’s been quite inspiring more than anything else. I love handmade things.. but feel like I should be making them myself, and not buying them. So the good news is that kids and I finally put the new sewing machine in good use, and have been making our own Christmas gifts and decorations. The Christmas markets have been great for inspiration, and they have really sparked the craft side of us. I might share some of the things we have been making – after Christmas – but here is some crafty inspiration for you too from the Swedish Christmas markets.

It’s dark and cold… Christmas decorating is all about the candles and making them pretty. We also light up a candle for each advent, each week in December, leading to Christmas, so seeing the 4-candle settings is pretty common here.

If you want a better idea how to make these decorated candles… here are some pictures of homemade craft supplies like dried apples and limes.

Christmas Pillows

Pillows are probably the easiest thing to make if you want to start sewing. Or I’m not going to tell anyone if you cheat and buy a store-bought pillow and use some of these pillow DIY-tricks to give a handmade touch to your pillows.

If you can do needle point – do a Holiday inspired text on a pillow to instantly make it a cuddly Holiday decoration or a gift. The next one is even easier… wrap a solid-colored pillow like a gift with some ribbon and you have a “Christmas gift” pillow.

Gifts from Kitchen

Another gift idea anyone can do – a recipe in a bottle or jar. Measure + add a lid on it and create a pretty card with the recipe and the instructions. If recipe is too much – hot cocoa and marshmallows always works too. The entire idea here is that you are making something with love. It doesn’t have to be rocket science nor take days for you to make it.

Read all of the Holiday Gift Guide posts and stay tuned for more from all of our writers.

This post is brought to you by Breville.

Secrets to super easy Holiday Entertaining

I like big parties and I can not lie: sometimes I tend to overdo it, and when I do, I am stressed, overwhelmed and hope that people would just leave!
There I said it. Isn’t it horrible?

The best parties are the ones where I call my husband at lunch time “hey, invite everyone over, let’s have a little party tonight.” Of course it’s not the most polite way to invite guests over, but with the live-in-the-moment invitations also come zero expectations of a party well-planned and the emphasis is always on having fun, like ANY party should be. Whether you are hosting a very well planned party, or an impromptu Holiday soiree, read these tips how to make it a success with a very little effort. For example I created this quick Holiday afternoon coffee pictured in an hour, including the baking time.

1. Know your party tip resources.
Also known as “join Pinterest”. I share everything I love on Pinterest, and find everything needed for hosting great parties. I have one board for party food and cocktails, another one where there are several of my friends too collecting the best cocktails, another one for party decorating, and one just for table settings. When I want to host a party – I typically immediately know which board to go to get the recipes or ideas needed. If you like it old school – have a binder with recipe and idea cutouts from your favorite magazines, or have a well-stocked cookbook library.

2. Learn to use what you have.
Hosting parties can be expensive, especially if you include the decorating as well. Learn to use what you have in hand, and learn to make easy centerpieces, like using edible things as part of the decorating (candy in bowls, fruit on a tray..). Choose a theme or color scheme and stick to it, and making it pretty in 15 minutes or less is easy.

For my afternoon coffee I used two large candle holders as my centerpiece but instead of candles I used Christmas ornaments inside them to give it a quick festive look. I chose blue, white and silver as my decorating colors and mixed old and new dishes that fit the color scheme. It’s OK to mix modern design and vintage finds!

3. Have a well-stocked kitchen.
While yes.. learn to use what you have, but also have a well-stocked kitchen and know how to use what you have. Let’s say you never use a specific kitchen gadget you have, but choose a recipe for your party that requires using the gadget, chances are you will need extra time just to learn to use the gadget. I recommend having simple white dinnerware and serving dishes that you can use in any themed party and easily mix with colors. I don’t believe in disposable plates or cups, but I do stock different colored paper napkins to easily set a colorful table. Entertaining is so much easier when you have the basics.

4. Have a well-stocked pantry
You probably have a few favorite party recipes, or have favorite Holiday time treats you like to offer for guests? Keep ingredients stocked for the entire Holiday season so you don’t have to worry about the basics when you plan your party. My basics during the Holidays are gingerbread cookies, chocolate pralines, assorted nuts and mulled wine, or what we call glögi in Finland, also ready to be warmed up and kept in a thermos for guests. I typically like keeping the spiced wine in the thermos when entertaining and brew the coffee nice and fresh. In addition you can never go wrong with crackers & cheese, and having a few puffy pastry sheets in the freezer for fast treats like the Toblerone Pastries.

5. Add music.
Holiday music has a mysterious way to put anyone into Holiday cheer, make sure you have some Holiday music that makes everyone in your party feel cheery whether it’s smooth Holiday jazz, or jingle bells, add some music to your party. To get you started… check out the Skimbaco Holiday Mix on Spotify.

Breville has released new, time saving products such as the YouBrew, just in time for the holidays! Create your perfect cup or pot of coffee instantly and easily with the Breville YouBrew. Check out their website for more information on this product and other great gift ideas.

And don’t forget to reply below for two chances to win your choice of amazing Breville products either for yourself or as a gift to a loved one: YouBrew, Tea Maker and Smart Oven products ($250 ARV)

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Breville. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules