spruced by marlene

Well, obviously the biggest advantage of working from home is that I can eat unlimited bowls of Honey Smacks – and nobody can judge me!

Another advantage is that I get to work in this room from now on. I thought I should give you a little tour of the place before the table gets too cluttered with empty cereal bowls, I mean: with tons of work. When I decided to move out of the office space I had rented for the past six months to save on expenses, I knew that I wanted an actual office in my home instead of a small desk behind the couch in the living room where I had previously sat and written. The desk was fine. It was just that the couch was always calling for naps after cereal. I wanted a space that would hopefully motivate me to procrastinate less and not head straight for the couch even on those days when I’d have to catch up on filing, with a big table that would double as a dinner table.

Behold! The table.

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*This winter is driving everybody nuts. I read today that an American lawyer is trying to sue Punxsutawney Phil because spring didn’t arrive when the groundhog had predicted it would. I’d like to have a word with that clairvoyant rodent myself. It’s been groundhog day for fashion around here for months now. Every morning, I put on thick socks, jeans and a jumper. Sometimes jeans, a jumper and thick socks. Or, when I’m feeling particularly adventurous, two jumpers, thick socks and jeans. If spring ever arrives, I will probably have forgotten how to wear other clothes. Although I tried and at least put on a pair of jeans that had been lying in my closet for years – with open-toed sandals, but obviously just for the picture –, as I started writing a new style column for Glam this week. I have to thank Ari for asking me. And for trusting me enough to kick things off with that delicate question: Bootcut jeans – yes or have I gone crazy? The column will be published every first and third Friday of the month. The first one is here. (in German)

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Here’s something else I learnt from my grandmother: One can never own too many shoes. And who would I be to question my grandmother’s teachings? In fact, my shoe closet is proof that I have taken her lesson very seriously. These were a recent addition to the collection. I could try and justify why they are the fourth pair of black pointy pumps I have bought. Let me tell you instead that I think you just can’t go wrong with pointy pumps. Although, admittedly, walking in them on Berlin pavements can be a challenge. Regardless of that small obstacle, these pumps are so sleek and classic that I think of them as a wardrobe staple anyway. Like a white tee. And, no, I will certainly not tell you how many white t-shirts I own. You wouldn’t believe me anyway. As for the pumps, the dream is a pair from Prada. The reality is Zara. Which isn’t meant to knock Zara. Quite the opposite. I’ve bought so many shoes there over the years that my grandma would be very proud of me.

Gonna throw these on now and head out.

Have a good weekend!

I already celebrated Christmas once this year. At the end of January. A creative act of re-scheduling that wasn’t so much down to the fact that there was still snow on the ground a month after Christmas 2012, as there is still snow on the ground today, officially the first day of spring, and that the thought of covering the dreariness with a festive atmosphere made winter much more bearable. Although it did. No, it had more to do with me never getting into that festive mood in December, when I was too occupied with covering myself with a duvet and hiding from the world. As was the fact that I spent December 24 in Spain, not in Denmark, where my family had always celebrated Christmas. There was something missing from last year.

My grandparents moved to Spain 20 years ago and for the first time they weren’t able to travel north for Christmas. So we flew to them. And it was good to be there with them. Better than I had anticipated given the unfamiliar circumstances. Maybe it was because Christmas didn’t follow the same script as it does every year. And because I realized, with a shocking suddenness, that my grandparents are getting older. Which is perhaps an odd thing to say, but to me they had always been the same age. Grandparent age. A constant, even as I was growing up and becoming a grown-up. When I sat in the kitchen on December 23 as my grandmother, my Mormor Inge, was preparing for the big dinner the following night, I also realized that for 33 years I had counted on Christmas dinner being served – having not a clue of how Mormor and my mom actually made it. I decided then to ask my grandmother to teach me how to prepare a Danish Christmas dinner, with turkey, red cabbage and risalamande for dessert, and to cook it again myself for my loved ones in Berlin. My other family.

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This week just keeps on giving. After my excitement yesterday that James’ collection of metallic clutches is finally available, here’s another treat: H&M’s new brand & Other Stories opened their online shop today! Once I got through the front door, I headed straight for this dress, although I didn’t get it in pink, but in black. And I could’ve just kept adding things to my shopping bag all morning long, there’s a ton of good stuff. So, head on over there. And happy shopping.

P.S. There’ll be a break from “a week in fashion” this weekend and it might be a little quieter than usual on the blog next week, too. I’m taking time to push some things along that have been on my to do list for a while. Wish me luck. And have a good weekend.