Lovely Links June

1. Shop the Iconic Amsterdam 9 streets online on 9straatjesonline
2. Italian street food... YES PLEASE,  Conde Nast Traveler selected some fine examples
3. The absolutely gorgeous kitchen crew of the beautiful Ett Hemm Hotel in Stockholm maintain a
     perfect, mouthwatering Instagram Account
4. The best way to prepare for an American Road Trip... American Food per State
5. Bring California home with these awesome vintage inspired images from this Etsy Account

Recent Discovery: The Thief - Oslo

On a recent business trip to beautiful Scandinvia I was lucky enough to stay in The Thief, a great Design Hotel.

As the name implies, The Thief steals you away from everyday life... and how.

The hotel is located at the waterfront in the recently renovated Tjuvholmen district. The Tjuvholmen district is one of Oslo's most exciting urban renewal projects as a centre for art, business and night life. Overlooking the Oslofjord, a breathtaking view is guaranteed.

A 5-minute taxi ride from Oslo Central Station or a 30-minute ride from Oslo Gardemoen Airport will take you to the island of Tjuvholmen.
What once was a prison islet in the 18th century is now home to an art lovers paradise.

The check in at the hotel is amazing, the super friendly staff is more than happy to create your own little itinerary to keep you busy while waiting for your room to be ready.
The check in time is the regular 3 O'Clock, due to an early flight I arrived at 9Am. But so much to do and see to keep me busy and happy for the time being.

The Astrup Fearnly Museum of Modern art is just outside the hotel and gives guests of The Thief free access. Also within walking distance of the hotel is the Nobel Peace Price House and the small harbor from where you can take a boat trip to the breathtaking fjords.

Getting back to the hotel... staying in at this place is no punishment at all, like staying in a 5 star property is ever a punishment. The room is one of the most comfy hotel rooms I have ever stayed in, huge soft beds covered in tons of pillows, order some room service, snuggle in and watch a movie. Or find a little surprise above your mini bar- the in room shopping drawer including OPI nail polish, comfy socks, toothpaste, face masques, and many more.

Or fix yourself a drink from your minibar with your own Mini Bar Tender Guide, how awesome is that for a late night fix?

Once you get tired of your room, which I doubt by the way, take the elevator up to the Thief's rooftop bar for cocktails and a view, perfect for long summer evenings.

Don't worry about a hangover the next morning, The Thief's Spa will guarantee a relaxing and fresh start of your day. The Thief's Spa is inspired by the Norwegian nature. The Thief Signature is a gift collection for those who want to try a bit of everything. Select your fav's from the spa menu and put them together in a combination of your choice.

Comfy beds, great surroundings, good food, happy staff, a seriously cool cocktail bar and a Spa where you can create your own treatment? We will be back.

The Thief

Landgangen 1

0252 Oslo Norway

www.thethief.com 

Images in Courtersy of Hippy in High Heels 

Rooftop Image and Exterior Image in courtesy of The Thief Hotel Oslo

New Kid on The Block; Meet Morgan & Mees

In the west part of down-town Amsterdam a girl's orphanage, dating back to 1880, turned into a little piece of Boutique heaven.

Morgan and Mees opened its doors this winter and proved to be an instant hotspot for locals, travellers and foodies.

The design complements the building and neighborhood perfectly; sleek fishbone floors, cheeky art by Dutch artist Jasper Krabbé, vintage feel furniture with a modern twist and industrial touches.
In short a Parisian feel with an down to earth Amsterdam approach.

Morgan and Mees features 9 individually designed suites complete with Coco Mat bedding and amenities by the addictive Amsterdam brand Marie Stella Maris.

Morgan and Mees is is also the place for breakfast lunch, dinner or drinks and bites.
The menu includes a perfect combination of French brasserie style classics like Moules Frites and Steak Tartare but also contemporary dishes like sea bass ceviche and a Bouillabaisse to kill for.
The ingredients are pure and authentic and are complemented by an extensive wine list.

Design, good food dito wine and a fine looking crowd...

Not convinced yet? Morgan and Mees also feature a stylish courtyard. Wine in the sunshine, what else can you ask for?




Morgan & Mees
Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat 2-6
1052 LC Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Images in courtesy of Morgan and Mees

A changing wind

I was close to giving up on Hippy in High Heels. Why have a blog and never post anything...

Until I recently read a quote:

Your 20's are your selfish years.
Old enough to make the right decisions and
young enough to make the wrong ones.

Be selfish with your time-travel,
Explore, fall in love, be ridiculous and silly,
stupid and wild...
Be twenty-something

Being twenty something is not always as fun as I anticipated when I was 16. Job offers come and go, constantly doubting if the decisions you make are the right ones and  decisions defining the course of your life more and more. And then there is the constant what if...coulda-shoulda-woulda.

But the twenties are also the time for finding out who your true friends are and most importantly what your true passion is. If you loved something when you were 16 and are still loving at at 26, you are sure as hell that this passion will stick with you for the rest of your life.
I found my passion, but never realized it until a few years ago; Travel.

And that is were Hippy in High Heels takes a turn. From an all over the place, outdated blog, to a new travel blog (oh no not another one!). Including a passionate scrapbook on my travels, places I went, endless lists and tips.

Let's go....

#100daysofhappy - Day 26 Breaking the silence

I am well aware that it has been extremely quiet here on Hippy in High Heels!

In June I started a new job and moved to the city centre of Amsterdam, ever since then my life has been pretty much a rollercoaster all the time! Moving to Amsterdam, starting a new and challenging job, getting used to the bustle and hustle of living in downtown Amsterdam...

Being 25 makes me question every decision I make, every decision feels like it is more definite and will shape my future more and more... What makes me more decisive and more confident is inspiration from those who made it before us... from world leaders to famous fashionistas and from yogis to Nobel Price winners.

Women who make a difference...

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different - Coco Chanel

Women are the largest untapped resevoir of talent in the world = Hillary Clinton

Be peaceful and love everyone - Malala Yousafzai

Choose people who lift you up - Michelle Obama

We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are - Oprah Winfrey

Find something you are passionate about and keep tremendously intrested in it - Julia Child

#100daysofhappy - Day 25 Smile! Natural ways to a brighter smile

Of course we know that we need to brush our teeth at least twice a day, floss visit the dentist every now and then. Taking good care of your teeth is a must for good health and a bright smile ;).

However getting that big, white, sparkly Hollywood smile seems to be one step further. It takes pretty expensive professional whitening treatments and whitening strips to get results. Next to the money issue I doubt the health consequences a little bit….

Since a few weeks I started oil pulling and noticed that my teeth started to get whiter and whiter, even my mom and friends noticed it.

This got me to look into natural ways to get and maintain a bright white smile. Not completely sure if these little tricks work, but I would say that it is worth the try!

Oil Pulling
This is an ancient and relatively cheap ritual. All you need is a teaspoon of natural oil. I prefer virgin coconut oil. Swish the oil through your mouth for precisely 20 minutes. Spit the oil out and wash your mouth thoroughly with lukewarm water. The oil absorbs the toxins and bacteria in your mouth. And lots of people say they found their teeth wither after a few weeks of continuous oil pulling. I did at least ;).

Fresh Basil Leaves
Dry some basil leaves in the sun. As soon as these are completely dried out crush the leaves into a powder substance, add a little bit of water and brush your teeth with your home made basil paste.

Strawberries
The acid content in strawberries help remove buildup plaque and whiten your smile. Rub the strawberry back and forth over each tooth. After this, rinse thoroughly with water.

Water
You are not alway able to apply these fancy tricks or even brush your teeth. Something you can do at any time is swishing water through your mouth after a meal. This to remove food particles and to remove any liquids you consumed.

#100daysofhappy - Day 24 Happy Rituals

Back from the states and fueled and more inspired than ever (thank you sunshine state Florida and the amazing WholeFoods store).

Back to continue the happy days :). The sun is shining more and more and summer is just around the corner but still my head has not landed in Amsterdam yet, guess I left it somewhere in Miami.

On vacation you have all the time in the world to do everything you like. More and more I try to implement little happy rituals in my daily routines.

My current fav ones:

1. A huge morning cappuccino
2. A sunset 5K run
3. A healthy breakfast to keep me going all day, especially some crunchy granola
4. Guilty pleasure number 1, being a mindless couch potato watching too much girly tv, a current fav is Pretty Little Liars.
5. A quick morning work out routine
6. The ongoing search for the ultimate healthy cupcake

Try to do something that makes you happy everyday :).