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    Nelland Living

    Sharing the Wealth A confession: I have never done voluntary work. Also I am not a fan of donating money for charity. Especially in the past three years, while I´ve been a stay-at-home-mom (with virtually no paycheck). On the other hand I try to spread positivity and help those people I know, or meet, if any way I can. I have also donated hair for those in need, and my old clothes and household ware for charity. Once before Christmas at my work, they collected toys and books to be given as presents to poor families´ children. “How sweet and thoughtful!” I figured. Until I read the note further… They…

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    Nelland Living

    DIY true love I hate romantic comedies. I hate love songs. I hate when they (and I did also) say “till death do us part”. I love myself. I love my kids, my husband and the rest of my family. I love life. I love beauty. I love justice and equality. I love to love.   Love is universally appreciated above all else, but also romanticized above all else. Love is not something that, once you reach it, it will automatically stay with you forever.   As a teenager and young adult I remember my friends picturing their future husbands and weddings. Even their kids and family-life-to-be. I always found…

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    Nelland Living

    Colors of New Year Nature rules! It is the greatest source of beauty with it´s ever changing scenery of light, colors, and seasons. Nature is my greatest inspiration for creating beauty in my life. Deep dark blue and silver make the perfect couple in my color palette around New Year´s. The sky shows it´s darkest side now, bathing in deep murky blue most of the time. Luckily there are also stars up there, twinkling ever so brightly on cold clear nights. That´s the combination I embrace this time of year, at late Yule, after Christmas and before Imbolc. (Sadly my little snapshot camera is unable to capture the beauty.) When…

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    Nelland Living

    Triple chocolate – the healthy way before Yule     The centerpiece of my Yule table is definitely chocolate. No turkey or ham, it´s chocolate! While it is still a good three weeks until the occasion, my mind is already set on the treat.   Instead of chowing down bucket loads of pralines a month prior to Yule, I have found a few ways to calm my ever-aching chocolate tooth. Ways that benefit both my taste buds and my nutrient-craving body.   The following three raw recipes all include cocoa, and help curb my appetite for the “real deal” until Yule evening.     Chocolate on Pears (serves 1): 2…

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    Nelland Living

    Samhain Fashion: The Hobo The newest outfit in my artistic Samhain collection is this, the hobo. Strongly inspired by Charlie Chaplin, but in a modern and streamlined way.   ?  Black is the color of my Samhain palette, and with this I go all the way. The look is quite masculine, as I like to play with the theme every now and then.     ?  Makeup is quite strong and only shades of grey and brown are used, but to balance out masculinity, applied in a feminine way. Androgyne is not the way I´m going for. The earrings are nearly unisex, and the only piece of jewelry worn with…

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    Nelland Living

    Forest food We are lucky to have clean enough forests to eat off of. It is harvesting time and, besides my garden, I take advantage of what wilderness has to offer. How awesome is it to simply walk into a forest and gather it´s offerings, free of charge?!   Time is the only thing it takes, and a bit of patience. But spending time in the forest is also therapeutic, so the longer it takes to fill the baskets, the better! Kids also enjoy time in nature, and with adults, so taking them along is a good idea. I took my two-year-old with me to this trip, and while we…

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    Nelland Living

    Healthy Fall Earrings My goal is to reach my 103rd birthday in the far future. But to achieve that in the best possible condition and state of mind needs some serious groundwork. One aspect of it is nurturing myself with healing and empowering, all natural essential oils. I have gone one step further than just lighting up an aromalamp at home; I wear them in my earrings. I created the idea of aromatherapy earrings nearly a year ago, and am totally hooked on it now! I craft the earrings myself, and each model holds a special place for an absorbent material for essential oils. You simply add one drop of…

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    Nelland Living

    The No-Makeup Makeup for Lammas Lammas is the time of year to take it easy, relax, and enjoy the warmth of summer and the sun. By now my skin is it´s most tanned, and looks best with minimal makeup. Effortless and natural beauty is the core here. Making it look like I´ve just rolled out of bed in the morning, and simply looking good as is. The truth is far from it, but nobody needs to know, right?! Here´s the diy to my nude makeup for Lammas:   This is the naked truth, the bare beginning, a clean face with only moisturizer on it. I have not much to celebrate,…

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    Nelland Living

    Litha Fashion: Polka Dot Tunic   Nautical style is such a classic that it is always a fashionable summer look. Trends make the shapes and forms of the clothes change, but the style remains. You know, red-and-white and blue-and-white stripes, white pants, navy blue with white accents, etc. In many cases I like to do things differently, but here I´m all in the same boat with everyone else. I simply love the nautical style, and it flows, along with the 1950´s theme, through pretty much my whole Litha Collection. Here is one way I like to wear it:         A classic feminine look of white polka dots…

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    Nelland Living

    Bag-in-a-bag This invention of mine has made my life much easier and handier. (I love everything easy and handy, does that make me lazy…?) A handbag that contains another handbag. For years I have searched for the perfect handbag. Tried all shapes, sizes and combinations, and never been fully satisfied. Until now. With my new Scandinavian styled, clean and sleek, faux leather mates: Literally a bag-in-a-bag. The point is simple: when on the move, heading to town to run errands, first I only need to carry “one” handbag. The smaller inside the bigger one.     In the big one I place stuff I need to have with me, but…