Fashion Crisis: What to wear for Christmas? ❄️

Christmas sweater: H&M / Pants: H&M / Strappy flats: MissGuided

Christmas is just a few days away and not to mention all those Christmas parties as well. So if you still haven't figured out what to wear, well then no worries, dear. I got you covered with a few Christmas Looks. 

Starting off with this awesome sweater from H&M! Nothing says "Christmas" more than a Christmas sweater. To not wear those typical ugly Christmas sweaters, H&M has made their own jolly translation. So in a world of selfies, the H&M team came up with a Elfie sweater. Let's see how many Christmas sweater contests you'll win in this bad boy. 

Lace peplum top: H&M / Pants: H&M / Pointy flats: MissGuided

Like jewelry, delicate laces can never go wrong with the color that never goes out of style. H&M clearly knew that, so for this Christmas season they made it a reality with this oh-so-lady-like peplum top with lace sleeves. Nothing screams femininity than a peplum top that shows off the curves while hiding that Christmas food baby we all know we'll be getting this season.

Gina Tricot has made this year awesome with this kick-ass romper with all the current trends that we are seeing in 2015 - Everything from the wide 70's sleeves to the v-neck cut out with strings. What better way to end of the year and Holiday season in this sexy and enchanting piece. 

Romper: Gina Tricot / Wedges: Vagabond

Crop top: H&M / Skirt: Gina Tricot / Pointy flats: MissGuided

Another trend that has been very popular this year are cropped turtle necks. A simple basic piece that you can pretty much dress up or down to every occasion. So instead of always buying something new for Christmas, why not find a basic piece like this ribbed cropped turtle neck from H&M and match it with your favorite skirt. 

Surely the Holiday is all about the thrill of spending and spreading joy to everyone, in every way possible - Either by exciting and bold colors or surprising gifts and details. 

For the perfectionist with the eye for details, spread the joy and happiness with exciting details by wearing some awesome jewelry and shoes, but do make sure to wear comfortable ones so you can dance all night long.  

Top: Gina Tricot / Skirt: Gina Tricot / Wedges: Vagabond

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas just like the one I used to know in this awesome white crop top with cut outs on the sides from Gina Tricot. Talk about Merry Christmas, right? The good thing about this jolly piece of art is the fact that it gives you a little dazzle of sexiness for Christmas while still remaining sweet and jolly with the little turtle neck and 3/4 sleeves. 

Do zip up since, "Baby, it's cold out side" with this cool zipper skirt from Gina Tricot. 

Grey may not be the most festive Christmas color around but it is a color you can wear all year round. The black zipper is an awesome detail with the silver zipper head - it does have a j'ai ne sais quoi over it, don't you agree?

Anyways this was all this time around. Hopefully I gave you an idea on what you could wear for Christmas and until next time Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Ps. Can you guess which outfit I'll be rocking for Christmas? I'll snapchat the answer on WithShandra so stay tuned. 

X❤️X❤️

Shandra. 

Christmas Crisis: What to give her? ❄️

"It is not about how much we give but how much love we put into giving"

                                                                                                                   - Mother Teresa

We are slowly nearing the big day where we get to spend time with our loved ones. Christmas is the most magical time of the year, where you can spread love everywhere you go. And as we all know, Christmas is also the time where most people spend a ton of money, trying to show their loved ones how much they mean to them. So if you still need to buy a few gifts for the women in your life but don't really have an idea on what to get them, well then keep on reading, love.

Jewelry is always a great idea when it comes to women. You might think "Oh I can't afford getting her a nice piece of jewelry" but who says it has to be 24 c. gold with diamonds? You can find tons of cute jewelry and statement pieces at the shops. Don't forget it's not the price of an item that tells your loved one how much they mean to you, but the thought you put in the gift. One of my personal favorite jewelry shops is called Pilgrim, which is a danish brand that sells beautiful pieces to all kinds of prices. The best thing about Pilgrim is that it is nickel free so nobody will get an allergic reaction.

You always have that one woman in your life (your mommy maybe) who always works so hard and takes care of everybody but never herself. So why not show your appreciation to her by giving her a gift card to the spa, where everybody else takes care of her for the day. If you can't afford that, then be creative and make your own little gift card, where you can give her a massage for a day or do her nails. Either way, she will love being pampered.

For those lazy Sundays, why not give her something she can de-stress in like a new pair of PJs and comfy socks? Every girl loves being dolled up, yes but they need that one day where they can totally relax and just chill. So make her day as comfortable as possible by getting her a cute pair of pjs and comfy socks.

Perfumes and makeup will always be a favorite item to receive, so why not go out of your way and get her a nice perfume. Just remember the scent of the perfume will only mean more to her since every time she uses it, she will think of you. So if you guys don't see each other that often, I would suggest you get her a nice perfume. I chose the Jasmine Noir by Bvlgari. It has an elegant and sensual scent for women with strong personality. A perfume jewel with hints of Jasmine, apples, almonds and liqoirice. 

If the lady in your life loves to travel or you guys are planning on going on a trip in the near future, why not get her a little kit of things you know she'd need for the trip? I personally love the little travel items that The Body Shops provides since they not only smell amazing but they are not that expensive PLUS The Body Shop supports Fair Trade. 

Anyways hopefully this gave you some kind of an idea on what to get her and until next time - Ingat and Happy Holiday!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Christmas Crisis: What to get him? ❄️

If you're panicking a little bit about what to get your special guy, whether it's your father, brother, boyfriend or even best friend then do not worry, my dear. I got a few ideas on what you could get your special guy, so keep on reading. Who knows? You might get inspired on what to get him. 

Levi Jeans

Clothes are always ideal when it comes to gift giving, especially to those guys who works hard and pretty much always wears the same clothes. So why not get him something you know that not only will look good on him but that you know will last him for a very long time, like a pair of jeans. In this case, the man for this gift is my dad. There are tons of stores providing you with lots of different options on styles when it comes to jeans, but I chose the old faithful Levi Jeans for my dad. In all honesty, I feel like Levi Jeans are the best jeans you can get a man. And as you may (or may not know) Levi Jeans have different numbers of styles, and I of course chose the style with straight legs. Manly and rough with the perfect touch of denim blues.  

Calvin Klein

If you're a snuggler like myself and you love snuggling on the couch with your boyfee and watch Netflix, why not get him a nice pair of pjs, that not only will keep him warm during Winter but will most likely make him look even hotter when you guys snuggle. Now I personally feel like it's hard finding a nice pair of pjs that not only are super soft in quality but also looks nice. Luckily I found the perfect match for my Noob at Calvin Klein. That man surely knows what he is doing. 

L'homme by Yves Saint Lauren

Another gift you can never go wrong with are perfumes for men. I think perfumes are expensive and therefore most guys maybe prefer not to buy that many and some stick to the same scent every year. It's necessarily not a bad thing but let's face it, ladies.. We are the ones who are going to be smelling them, so why not get him a scent that you actually likes. In my case I chose L'homme from YSL and if you hurry now and visit your local Matas store, they are having a 25% discount of all fragrances so while you're add it buying him a scent, why not get one for yourself as well? Hihi. 

For the guy who is always on the go (like my brother), it can sometimes be very frustrating for him when his batteries dies and there is no place to charge your phone or Ipod. So why not be the practical one of the two of you and get him a portable charger? I can not tell you how many times my own portable charger has saved my life. Get one with a cool design or his favorite color and I'm sure he will love it, maybe even love it more than he loves you haha. 

Gift cards are always a great idea, maybe not the most fun to give but is the best to receive. So if you truly do not know on what to give him, then simply give him a gift card to a store you know he frequently visits when he is out shopping. In my case, I chose to get a CityVejle gift card which is a gift card you can use in pretty much every shop down town. But if you do find it boring giving a gift card by itself, then why not wrap it in in a fun way like hide it in a box of chocolate or such.

Lastly as we all know, people spend a TON of money buying Christmas gifts to their loved ones and of course it is not everybody who can truly afford "spoiling" their loved ones with material things, so for those who might not have much in cash, there is nothing better than receiving a box of chocolate. Right now all chocolate brands are selling their goods in cute Christmassy packages. And let's face it, every guy loves to eat so if you don't have that much money to give, simply buy him his favorite snack/candy and he will love you forever 'cause remember - It is the thought that truly counts plus the way to a mans heart is through his stomach, remember that.  

Anyways that was all this time around. Hopefully I have given you an idea on what you could get him and until next time - Happy Holidays and Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Lookbook: Christmas Kiss

Knitted jumper: H&M / Pants: H&M / Purse: Guess / Boots: Nelly.com / Beanie: Trend

C is for candy canes in the Christmas stocking when I wear this cute outfit. I must admit I'm feeling a tad bit like Christmas whenever I wear this jumper but then again how can you not with this fluffy fella, red pants and topped off with a fluffy beanie to match? I am seriously a Christmas person, I love anything and everything that has to do with this jolly Holiday so why not make a little tribute to the joyful month that is slowly nearing?

Jumping onto another subject that still got something to do with Christmas, how many of you have already bought your Christmas gifts?

As for me I already started buying a few in October which I now have to wrap, so until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Fruity Facts: Papaya, The Magical Fruit

Disclaimer: This photo is not mine

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and therefor the definition of beauty can be very different depending on where in the world you are. In Asia the belief of having white skin is seen as beautiful and that is why many Asians use lighter foundations, powders and even whitening remedies so they can become whiter. Papaya has been Mother Nature's answer to skin whitening for centuries and till this day, papaya is seen in many beauty skin whitening products around Asia. But what can this so called magical fruit really do for you?

Benefits: 

Compounds found in papaya helps break down and uses proteins properly. Papaya is known to help reduce inflammation for people with inflammatory medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma and can help prevent cancer. This magical fruit contains lots of enzymer and Vitamin C which is why it is often used to strengthen the blood for people who have a medical condition called Thrombocytopenia, which is a dangerous condition that can lead to internal bleeding. Due to high levels of Vitamin A, C and flavonoids, papaya is seen as a miracle or magical fruit. It helps keeping the skin healthy and wrinkle-free. And these nutrients work as antioxidants where they help to prevent free radical damage leading the cause of aging, and not to mention the fact that this amazing combo of Vitamins, antioxidants and enzymer is known to help whitening the skin.  

Papaya kicks acne mask:

Are you one of many who deals with pimples or acne scars? Then give this face mask a go. 

Papaya is a Vitamin C fruit which contains antibacterial properties that will kill off acne-causing bacteria from the skin. Papaya also has a deep-cleansing action that removes all the junk from clogged pores. 

What you need:

1/4 ripe Papaya, 1 tbs honey and 1/2 lemon juice.

Why?

The benefits:

Honey: Honey is known to hydrate and soften the skin. It gently exfoliates skin cells while preserving moisture. It contains antibacterial properties that kicks acne-causing bacterias, it helps fade blemishes and evens out discoloration. 

Lemon: Lemons is known to kill germs on the surface of the skin. It is also known to deep-clean the pores and refreshes the skin. It acts as a natural astrigent which will help tighten large pores. 

Directions:

Step 1. Mash the papaya into a lump free paste. 

Step 2. Add the honey and lemon juice and mix well.

Step 3. Apply the mask onto a clean face and let it sit for 15 mins.

Step 4. Rinse it off with warm water to loosen the mask and then rinse the face with cold water to close the pores. 

Papaya lightening and age-fighting mask

As soon as you enter your 20's, you should start protecting your skin for aging. Many things can affect your skin that can make you get pre-mature wrinkles and who really wants to be wrinkle? 

What you need:

1/4 ripe papaya, 1/4 cucumber and 1/2 banana. 

Why?

The benefits: 

Cucumber: Cucumbers are known to hydrate, moisturize, nourish and cleans the skin. It contains skin-lightening properties that helps fight against blemishes and acne scars. It is also known like Aloe vera to sooth and relieve inflamed acne and sunburns. 

Banana: Banana is known to smooth out the skin and reduce wrinkles. It also hydrates and moisturizes the skin plus it promotes glowing and youthful skin. 

Directions:

Step 1. Peel and blend all ingredients in a blender until you get a nice and smooth puree. 

Step 2. Apply it around your face though avoid the eyes and mouth. Let it then sink in for 10 - 15 mins.

Step 3. Then wash the mask off with warm water and then finish it off by washing your face with cold water to close the pores. Remember to pat your face dry with a clean towel.

Raw fruit Thai salad:

To freshen up a boring salad, try making a thai-inspired salad with fresh cut papayas, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, green beans and some red chili. Mix it all well and use coconut and fresh lime juice as a dressing. 

How to: 

Step 1. Cut the meat of the papaya in nice slices and mix it with two fresh tomatoes that have been sliced as well. 

Step 2. Peel one cucumber, 2 carrots, one little red onion and blanch some green beans and mix it all well with 1/2 red chili. 

Step 3. Make the salad dressing by mixing coconut milk with the juice from one lime and voila. 

Anyways that was all this time around. Do let me know if you tried one of the masks and hashtag me on Instragram with #FruityFactsWithShandra. So until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Lookbook: Paris

Crop t-shirt: H&M / Pants: H&M / Boots: Nelly.com

"13.11.15"

Stripes and the colour red have always reminded me of Paris and in the light of what happened last Friday where the city of Love and Fashion was hit with a tragedy, I thought why not show the city I love so much some affection with this little dedication. Though let us not forget, the night when the city of light and love was dark, the rest of the world lit up their lights for Paris. But also let us not forget that what happened in Paris that day was not the only tragedy that happened, so let us not only pray for Paris, but for the other countries where tragedy occurred as well. 

#PrayForParis - #PrayForBeirut - #PrayForMexico - #PrayForSyria

#PrayForTheWorld 

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Lookbook: Dancing Queen

Hat: H&M / Dress: Gina Tricot / Boots: Bianco

"You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life. 

See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen"

Imagine going to the disco with the girls and boogieng to the famous song Dancing Queen by Abba in this cute 70's inspired (some might say blouse but I say) dress. As I mentioned on an earlier lookbook, the 70's are having a comeback this year and thank God for that! Now we can wear the fun and funky fashion trends from the 70's but only modernized. This dress has the 70's flare to it with the shape and especially because of the sleeves but got modernized with the lace details and the criss cross strings on the chest. It's super fun and flirty. I didn't want to wear too many accessories since that might take the focus of this cool ass dress, so I decided to keep it simple by wearing my black boots and my dark purple hat.

Anyways watch this Dancing Queen dazzle of so until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Lookbook: Ever Green

Cara top in Olive green: Gina Tricot / Skirt: Gina Tricot / Boots: Bianco / Jewelry: Guess

O is for the olive green colour that is slowly but surely taking over my heart when it comes to favorite Fall colours. And if you pay close attention then you'll see that it has bombarded the shops as well with its teammate maroon.

I have to be honest here and say that my sense of clothing style and choice in clothing pieces has changed a lot from when I was younger. Before I would pick the boldest colour or print simply because I loved the material or the design, and now as I'm slowly and sadly maturing (and the number 25 is around the corner), I have face the fact that I have become more aware and picky when it comes to shopping. Now I don't grab after the most craziest print or design but more after key pieces every gal should have in her wardrobe, though where I simply make sure it has a little detail that stands out. Like this top from Gina Tricot; it is a key piece that you can wear with pretty much anything and all year round but what made me fall in love with it besides its material, is the fact that it is a crop top. As for the skirt, it's a knitted bodycon skirt with an elastic waist. To make it a bit more Fall-ish I paired the outfit with my black boots of course and the icing on the top are my gold jewelry. There is something about Olive green and gold that looks so well together, wouldn't you agree?

Anyways that was all this time around. I hope you're doing fine and until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

October Favorites ♡

Another month has ended and we all know what that means.. Another monthly favorite! So here are a few stuff that I've been loving the month of October.

Beauty Favorites

1. Micellar Cleansing Water by Garnier. I'm pretty sure I have already mentioned this one in a previous monthly favorite of mine, but as I said before this bottle right here is amazing! If you have sensitive eyes then I really suggest you give this one a go. It removes the makeup so easily and leaves your skin feeling fresh. 

2. Hydrating shampoo by Bangstyle has become one of my best friends when it comes to my hair. Not that my hair really needs to be "hydrated" since I've been told by many hairdressers that I have nice and healthy hair, so I only use this baby maybe 2 - 3 times a week, just to give my hair a little bit of love. It leaves my hair feeling super smooth and the shampoo smells like candy and who doesn't love having their hair smelling like candy, right?

3. High Impact Curling Mascara by Clinique has been one of my favorite mascaras for years now and if you saw my lashes when I use it, you would totally understand why. I like many asians have short lashes and since I do not want to wear fake lashes all the time, I'm always on the hunt to find ways to make my lashes appear longer. This goodie not only makes my lashes appear longer but it helps make lashes to stay lifted and curled. 

4. Sally Hansen Gel Nailpolishes are a new way when it comes to nailpolishes that leaves your nailpolish to last for over 10 days. It contains on a 2-step program where you first apply the gel nailpolish of your choice and then finish it off with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. I have been loving three specific colours which are 120 Bare Dare, 450 Get Mod and 340 Hydro Electric. These colours are so gorgeous and perfect for Fall and best of all, they do not crack so fast compared to regular nailpolishes. They might be a bit pricy here in Denmark since they cost 120 kr in Denmark but Matas (our danish version of Sephora) do have deals where you can buy 2 for 1.  

Anyways so these were all my favorites for the month of October and until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Unboxing: October's Goodie Box

Curiosity has always been a good trade of mine (According to myself), so when I saw that you can get a goodie box here in little Denmark, I could not resist to give it a go! If you are familiar with the Glam box from the US then let me tell ya, it's pretty much the same thing. If you don't know well then let me explain: A goodie box is a subscription where you get a box filled with beauty goodies monthly to try out with a little card that gives a description of each product.. 

The goodie box subscription cost 120 kr I believe but you also pay for the shipping, so it total you pay 150 kr. The good thing about this is if you for some reason are not satisfied then you can always unsubscribe. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, they shipped my GB in a cute pink box, and this time around the danish beauty store called Magasin contributed with some beauty goodies. So here are the little loves I received for the month of October:

Magasin Du Nord Eye Gel

An eye gel from Magasin's own beauty line. It contains creatin and cucumber extracts that helps rebuild and apply moist to the under eye. The tube has a rollerball applicator which makes it easier for you to apply the product onto your eyes, plus with the cooling effect helps your eyes from looking tired and puffy. 

L'Occitane Verbena Shower Gel

This little bottle of joy is a french shower gel for you to pamper yourself in the shower. It contains organic provenicale iron-extract and oils, which will make your bath smell heavenly and lemony. Your skin will be left feeling clean, super soft and just nice. 

Balance Me Restore And Replenish Face Creme

Balance Me is a prizewinning British brand that has a ton of beauty fans around the world. The creme contains hyaloron acids, peptides and omega acids which helps gives the skin a moisturizing boost and not to mention, it also helps to strengthen the skins ability to repair and rebuild itself. You can apply the creme day or night.

Real Technique Brush

I am sure most of you (if you watch beauty tutorials on youtube) know or heard about the brushes, but did you know who "invented" them? It was two sisters who had their own youtube channel and blog Pixiwoo.com that came with that idea to make this brushes, and now they are pretty much well known all over - the brushes I mean. This brush is a goodie since you can use it for either powder products, foundations, face powder or blushes. 

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Face Oil

This is a new series from the Body Shop that came out a couple of months ago. The oil contains lots of seed oils which helps to make your skin silky soft and leaves your skin with a nice glow. You apply 1 - 2 drops of the oil and massage it onto your skin before you use any other moisturizer. By buying this product you help to plant seeds in the Cerro Blanco forrest in Ecuador. 

Karameju Konjac Sponge

Is a 100% natural sponge that helps balance the skin's pH-level and exfoliates and rebuild the skin. You use the sponge by letting it soak in water for a couple of mins and then rinse your face with it by using circular emotions, after use you rinse it clean and you should clean it properly once a month by letting it soak in hot water. 

Magasin Skønhedsserie All In One Cleaning Wipes

Cleaning wipes has always been one of my holy-grail since it helps remove makeup quickly when you're feeling too lazy to do it the proper way and let's face it, we sometimes do get too tired and lazy to do the long process of removing the make up, so cleaning wipes has pretty much been a gift from God for all people who are super busy or just lazy. And as many other cleaning wipes, Magasin's contain 3 steps since it acts like a cleansing milk, a toner and as a makeup remover. It contains extracts from chamomile tea and aloe vera, so your skin will be left feeling clean, fresh and soft. 

Anyways I will do a prober review of the products in the future so until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.