Photography © Anna Kubel with thanks It took me more than a while to get into the Holiday spirit this year. It usually takes a little time for me to fall into that frame of mind — with family being miles away from us the excitement for celebrating fades very quickly in this house, although, we always seem to manage have a decent time.

This year, we’re enjoying a gift-free Christmas. We’re also not hosting a party this year and instead we will play the roll of guests. We’ve never had a Holiday with no presents and I’m hoping this experiment allows us to hug each other tighter and to focus all our energies into loving one another rather than having to divide our emotions with the expectations of material things.

I won’t lie… I’ve thoroughly enjoyed not feeling the rush to buy presents or the worry that someone would over-spend on a present for me. It’s been lovely to stay at home instead of pushing my way through crowded markets and malls but what I've loved the most is channeling that time into one very important thing: The science behind the perfect Chocolate Cloud Cake — which will be my contribution to the party, so... wish me luck.

Having said that this will be a gift-free Holiday for us, it doesn’t mean that I will miss the opportunity to thank you* with a gift this Holiday. Each one of you who comes to my blog, leaves a comment, emails me, follows me on social media or that simply lurks around deserves a big virtual hug and an extra one for all your light and the good energy you send our way on the daily.

Get a 25% discount on non-promotional themes using the code: HOLIDAY25 and the same discount on my book 30 Days To Minimal Blogging using the code: CHANGE at check out. A lot of people have been telling me they are saving the book for this break so they can read it intently and silently. I hope you get to do that as well.

The biggest gift for me would be that you read my book and send through a review so I can feature you on my book’s landing page. I want to know how the book is changing your vision, how it’s helping you but most importantly how much meaning is adding to your life and blog.

Enjoy a wonderful, meaningful and love-filled Christmas break with your loved ones.
Hugs,
Ana

Photography © Ana Degenaar A couple of months ago I picked out these beautiful linen sheets from CULTIVER and I have to say that these are the best linen sheets I have ever owned, hands down.

This brilliant brand based in Sydney, Australia focuses on enhancing peoples' everyday routine through the luxury of their accessories — and that is very much what they’ve brought into our lives. Everyday luxury.

If you've been part of this blog for a while, you might already know that I’m a linen advocate and I speak very freely about my growing passion — that is because linen happens to be one of the most comfortable, stunning and giving materials in the entire world... and that will not only be my opinion as soon as you get your hands on some.

Of course, you might have already guessed that this is not the first pair of linen sheets I've own — but they are definitely the highest quality, the purest in color and the most fitting for all kinds of climates.

CULTIVER also offers stonewashed bedding, vintage silk velvet cushions and premium Turkish robes. The selection of colors they offer are to die for and I’m regretting not having picked up some of their gorgeous pink cushions. But I cannot complain — not only do they offer care and quality in their products, they also provide the best customer service I have ever experienced.

The only painful part was waiting just a couple of days for them to ship the package all the way from Australia to my neck of the woods in Brazil. Luckily the package didn’t take long to arrive and soon enough I had a carefully packed box on my doorstep: their Linen Flat Sheet With Border in charcoal gray, a Linen Duvet Cover in ice blue and a Linen Sheet Set With Pillow Cases in Indigo. I tried to pick a favorite, but as I mix and match sheets, I discover different moods — which makes it impossible to pick only one.

We’ve been enjoying the sheets for a while now and as expected, they only get better with time. I’ve received endless compliments on the new look of my bed so I can only encourage you to either run to a store if you are close to one of their beautiful boutiques... or to indulge yourself and place an order today. All I can say is you will never regret it.

Follow CULTIVER for more inspiration and insights via Facebook Pinterest or Instagram

Photography © Sara Medina Lind It’s my birthday today and I cannot help but to go into full introspection mode and think about how the last year for me has been. If you follow me, you know how terrible it was at times... but for the gift of resilience and for the constant love I’ve gotten from my little one all year long, I’m profoundly grateful.

Clearly, nobody wants to go through loss and hardship the way I did this year - but deep in my heart I know and understand how momentary everything is. So much so that the only way to have no regrets is to learn to embrace people wholeheartedly. To love our families, to make material things secondary, to hug people tight... and to be kinder to ourselves.

I have 2 birthday wishes: one is cake and... the other one is to be able to pass on some of my happiness and feeling of being celebrated and loved today.

There's a code for you ready to be used. Use the code: CAKE at checkout to get my book, 30 Days To Minimal Blogging at 25% off today.

Photography © COS I just stumbled upon COS' Market Art Fair for past Summer and as everything COS does, this too is absolutely stunning. To celebrate this year's Market Art Fair, an annual gathering of leading Nordic galleries in Stockholm, they created a temporary social space and store installation inspired by the shapes and textures of the COS Spring Summer 2016 collection and by the looks of it, it was a brilliant success.

Photography © Tommaso Sartori These stunning designs are part of Living Divani's new collection featuring brilliant designers: Massimo Mariani, David Lopez Quicoces and Piero Lissoni to mention just a few. Living Divani is a dynamic and vibrant family-owned company, that has successfully made its trademark of upholstery since the 1970's. Out of this wonderful Outdoor Collection I'm the most enticed by the George's Chair by David Lopez which displays a black supporting frame and wave in waxed rope, seat in solid Iroko wood — that of course, in combination with the Notes Table by Massiomo Mariani, as shown above, is a stunning work of art.

Photography © Joachim Wichmann

René Redzepi is the renowned genius behind NOMA and now also the proud owner of the high-end restaurant 108. SPACE Copenhagen is responsible for NOMA'S interiors as well as for transforming an ordinary warehouse into a stunning minimal industrial space for René's clients to feel comfortable. The furniture has also been designed by SPACE Copenhagen. The pendant lamps have been manufactured by Bomma and the restaurant’s woven chairs by Jørgen Bækmark. The restaurant seats around 80 guests and includes a small bar serving coffee and wine. Altogether this space is a display of René's characteristic organic, Scandinavian approach. In fewer words, it is perfect.