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Everyone who feels homely around clean lines and neutral colour palettes combined with natural materials must be a fan of Scandinavian interior design. Whether the inspiration lies in Sweden, Norwegian or Denmark: Scandinavian design always seems to find the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionalities. And as our British heritage is deeply connected with the Scandinavian minimalism and sleek design that Larsson & Jennings stands for, we have collected some of our favourite L&J Scandi interior inspiration for you... “Scandinavian style is characterised by three key components – functionality, simplicity and beauty. Although simple in design, clean lines are often incorporated with understated elegance and warm functionality, which creates a very homely feel.” - Craig Ritche, Communication and Interior Design Manager IKEA @thepilgrm @cubicle @fredrikrisvik @apesharvey @lucywilliams02

Get ready for our favourite #food inspiration Instagram pictures. Warning: You might get hungry when looking at this...

Within the past years solo globetrotting has become a popular trend. Especially the number of female travellers has doubled since 2015 which shows that either the world has become a little bit less hostile or that there must be some pretty good tips and tricks on how to travel alone, enjoy it, and stay save. Spending more time with yourself can be a healing but also quite scary adventure which however, can ultimately lead to powerful self-transformation. We’ve put together a list for you on why and how traveling alone is a must this year! Those experiences will make you grow Handling tricky situations on your own can get to a completely new level if these are happening outside your day-to-day life. At the end you will certainly learn from and never forget all the good and bad things happening during your trip which might then allow you to see the world, people and yourself from a new perspective. Make those travelling blogs your favourite reads Studying the countless online blogs, Instagram pages and articles on everything you need to know when solo travelling, as well as different cultures will make it a lot easier to get around and make those trips feel less intimidating and a lot more relaxing. What’s your purpose? Focusing on what you might want to discover and achieve during your travels is a pretty good start before hitting the road. Are you a fitness lover? Why not going for a big hike discovering the Camino De Santiago in Galicia? Or do you want to get more into meditation? Then maybe that yoga retreat in Bali is more for you. The options are endless and the choice is yours! Be wise when taking advice Especially if you haven’t travelled alone yet, you will probably realise that a lot of people along the way will try to give you their well-meant but maybe not always reliable advice. And while a few of them might genuinely help you along the way, you should not follow all of them straight away. Especially in third-world countries it’s better to ignore the chats with locals and trust your gut feeling - and those foreign travel advice books instead. Stay save and happy travels!

Join us during the coming months as we go behind the lens with photographers and explorers alike to give you the ultimate summer exploration inspo, whilst we redefine discovery.  Warning! This will make you want to get off of that sofa, leave that office and live more in the moment.  Your travel companion? Our Meridian... Stayed tuned for more... #SlowMoments #DiscoveryRedefined _______________________________________________________ 10 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEMS Let's face it: Summer is slowly coming to an end... However, now is probably the best time of the year to hit the road! Most tourists are returning home but the temperatures are still nice and warm. Traveling in September/October means stress free flights and escaping the ultra-hot days. And to embrace the joy about our travel plans, what could be better than looking at some must have travel items that will definitely help get us in the mood! _______________________________________________________ WHAT'S YOUR #SLOWMOMENT?  How do you slow down when daily life becomes too overwhelming? Do you take a bath and relax to the sound of your favourite anti-stress meditation app? Or how about reading that book on Hawaiian best practices for reconciliation that your friend suggested the other day? Does a walk in nature help you calm your busy mind? Or maybe a HIIT training class is what sets you free best... Whatever it is, we want to know how you create those #slowmoments in your life. Simply comment on this Instagram post and let us know how and tag a friend to be in with the chance of winning a Meridian watch. However, most importantly by doing so, you will help us build more awareness around the importance of taking time out and stepping away from stress.  You ready? Comment on the picture, tag a friend and make sure that you are following us @larssonjennings and tag both, #larssonjennings and #slowmoments in your post. Deadline is 15th August. _______________________________________________________ Travelling in LJ Style Hitting the road - or the five-star hotel - oftentimes trigger the thought that for this holiday we need to look and dress our absolute best. Why? Well, because those picture perfect Insta moments in front of Mount Kilimanjaro or the Great Canyon cannot be retaken anytime soon. However, we don't want to encourage you to put on those heels or sweat in a suit - we know you wouldn't do this anyway. Travelling in LJ style is much more about feeling comfortable in your skin and wearing outfits that make you feel and look good. Here is some of our favourite looks by travel style icons @marilee_pham, @wethepeoplestyle, @robinlam and @moderosaofficial. _______________________________________________________ L&J Travel Inspiration Before heading on the next big trip getting that dose of breathtaking travel inspiration is definitely a must. Our watches have made it around the world, accompanying travel addicts such as lifestyle blogger Divya, NYC girl @wgempire in Hawaii, London-based muse Michella Choi, bombshell Roos van Dorsten and LA stylist Stacey Marie... _______________________________________________________ MERIDIAN: Your Favourite Travel Companion Living in today’s society where a hectic lifestyle and the same daily routines have become a massive part of our lives, we are often craving for times of rest, self-development and slowing down. We want to escape the inevitable hustle of daily life and instead spend more time enjoying the priceless moments in life. Travelling and exploration allows us to gain new perspectives, step away from our sometimes narrow-minded point of view and help us collect meaningful memories that will last forever. Inspired by this love of exploring and discovering unknown places as well as new parts of ourselves, we have designed the iconic MERIDIAN collection which draws its inspiration from the great pilot watches of the past, combining nature elements of sea, air and earth. With its luminous hands and markers, textured sub-dial and large indexes, we mixed the best of the past with modern Arabic numerals and contemporary colourings, making the MERIDIAN one of your favourite travel companions! Start exploring the full collection here.

From pastel colors, floral accents, and fresh patterns, get ready to pop a Claritin and bring these floral decorating ideas and styling tips home with you. Blooming Artwork Bring your floral arrangements to life with artwork like the photograph in this Regan Baker-designed dining room. And remember: A few vases can go a long way. Pretty Up Your Mudroom A mudroom doubles as a place to arrange flowers, thanks to shelves filled with ironstone vessels. The homeowner's favorite pale pink geraniums inspired some of the hues in the feminine townhouse. Consider Washed Wooden Floors Designed by 2LG Studio, this pastel living room will feel like a warm spring day no matter what time of year it is. The washed wooden floors bring in an unpretentious cottage feel while the crisp white walls and detailed ceiling borders feel perfectly polished. Create a Focal Point with Chinoiserie Wallpaper Designer Christopher Maya accentuated a Georgian-style home's dramatic staircase by covering the entire hall in Temple Newsam, a scenic wallpaper by de Gournay. The frothy Louis XVI demilune and Italian neoclassical gilt barometer are from David Duncan Antiques. Try Bold, Tulip Wallpaper William Morris's Tulip Frieze wallpaper and a metallic tile add warmth and luster to a spacious kitchen in a Long Island house.   This article was originally written by Design Editor Hadley Mendelsohn and published on housebeautiful.com.

No jewellery wardrobe is complete without a watch or two (or more). With everything telling you the time now — smartphones, tablets and appliances — watches are worn for much more than utility. Women are especially embracing timepieces to suit their individual style. You’re going to want one for every mood and occasion. Go Big Along with boyfriend jeans and cardis, watches with big faces and chunky straps or bracelets are on-trend. Because men’s watches have gotten bigger over the last decade, simply buying a men’s watch can overwhelm women’s smaller wrists. As a result, watchmakers have delivered sport and dive watches with metal, leather or rubber bracelets that still have heft, but better proportion for women. That being said, don’t hesitate to try on any watch you may like, even if it’s labeled as a men’s watch. If it looks great and you love it, who cares? How to wear it... If your watch has a big metal bracelet: Try wearing it loose, so it hangs a bit like a bangle. Don't add any other bracelets. Wear it tighter, and layer and stack bracelets on the same arm. Play with expectations by choosing a big watch in rose gold tone. Look for a ceramic watch with metal or diamond accents. Look for Classics A sport watch can go almost anywhere, but why let it have all the fun? An elegant rectangular face in a yellow gold tone with a luxurious tan, brown or black leather band will never go out of style. Smaller watches with streamlined metal bracelets can go from the boardroom to happy hour without missing a fashion beat. How to wear it... Play with textures and mods: Small metal watches worn close to the wrist look fresh with a stack of bangles, bolos or leather bracelets. Classically styled watches with leather bands look amazing when contrasted with edgier apparel, like a bare sleeveless top and leather trousers or tights. Small jewel-encrusted watch faces and bracelets are evening ready and a beautiful alternative to other jewellery. When you don’t need them to just tell time anymore, watches become an essential part of your jewellery wardrobe.   This article was originally published on Jewelry Wise - Expert Source for Jewelry Advice.   Image credit: @wgempire & @styleinbeta photographed by @joeywang__ wearing @verafield_official

Take advantage of all those daylight hours and become a happier, healthier, more successful (and suntanned) self. Summer — time for catchy pop jams, days on the beach, and thick triangles of watermelon dripping onto the grass. It’s ripe for vacations, for rest and for relaxation. It’s also the perfect time to get away from work and do a quick check-in with yourself. Are you happy? Are you as productive as you could be? Are you fulfilling your potential? If you’d like to improve any of these areas, why not take advantage of the longer, lazier days of summer and get started? Crack one of these 9 books from the Blinkist library that’ll do good for your body and mind. When vacation’s over and it’s time to get back to work, you’ll be ready to bring your A game. 1. Read this to be more content and joyful: A Guide to the Good Life — William B. Irvine For the Stoics, the prescription for peace of mind and freedom from pain was straightforward: live a life of moderation and self-control and you’re good to go. If you’re not an ancient Greek philosopher, however, this is no easy task, so A Guide to the Good Life shows you how to harness the mindset to deal with the things we can control and reckon calmly with the things we can’t. You’ll learn about why being stuck in traffic actually isn’t so bad, what cold showers have to do with full lives, and, next time you lose a tennis match, how to do it gracefully. 2. Read this to master your habits: Better than Before — Gretchen Rubin Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.” If that’s not reason enough to better your habits, then nothing is. NYT bestseller Gretchen Rubinstarts with helping you understand what kind of person you are, and then suggests specific, simple strategies that you can use right here, right now to nix your bad patterns and stick with the good ones. 3. Read this to eat healthier: In Defense of Food — Michael Pollan Much of today’s dietary advice is based on little more than hypotheses. Hypotheses that, unfortunately, are swaddled in thick layers of pseudoscience. In Defense of Food is a close examination of the rise of nutritionism and a historical account of the industrialization of food. An expert in food ecology, Michael Pollan limns the ways in which the food industry shifted modern man’s dietary focus from “food” to “nutrients,” and thus narrowed the objective of eating to one of maintaining physical health — an objective it completely fails to fulfill. Here, you’ll learn that it’s possible to escape the dominant dietary approach that nutritionism has become and develop a healthier, more traditional way of eating that even great-grandma would love. 4. Read this to be happier: The Happiness Advantage — Shawn Achor We’re taught to believe that if we perform well professionally, we’ll eventually arrive at a point at which our accomplishments and wealth make us feel happy. Bad news: this isn’t at all how it works. In fact, happiness — far from being the result of all your hard work — is actually one of the tools you can use to increase your performance and your quality of life. In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor looks into the origins of happiness and the positive effects that happiness has on productivity. Based on 12 years’ research in positive psychology, the book offers concrete tips on how to increase your own happiness and your chances for success. 5. Read this to be more mindful: The Untethered Soul — Michael A. Singer Your mind is amazing, but it can also be a big, negative pain in the neck. The human consciousness is potent and often, it’s all that stands between you and the positive energy you need to meet all of your goals. The Untethered Soul explores how you can overcome the thoughts and emotions that are holding you back. Michael A. Singer draws on different spiritual practices to explain how you can navigate your own mind, get in touch with yourself and become master of your own mind. 6. Read this to declutter your life: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up — Marie Kondo The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up isn’t just a guide to decluttering, it’s a best seller that’s changed lives in Japan, Europe and the United States. The Wall Street Journal even called Marie Kondo’s Shinto-inspired “KoMari” technique “the cult of tidying up.” Kondo explains in detail the many ways in which your living space affects all aspects of your life, and how you can ensure that each item in it has powerful personal significance. By following this simple yet resonant advice, you can move closer to achieving your dreams (and cleaning out your closet). 7. Read this to be more productive: 59 Seconds — Richard Wiseman Jerry’s boiler is broken and he spends weeks trying to fix it. When he finally calls an engineer, the pro walks in, taps it on the side and boom! it’s fixed. Upon receiving the bill, Jerry grouses that he shouldn’t have to pay for a fix that took the engineer a few seconds. “Well,” says the engineer, “you’re not paying for the fix, but for the years of training it took to know exactly where to tap.” What does this prove? That you don’t have to spend tens of years or thousands of dollars to fix most problems. Thanks to huge advances in psychological research and technology, we’re now able to “fix our boilers” in exceedingly simple ways. In fact, Wiseman’s book shows that we can often change things for the advantageous in less than a minute. These are the top psychological tricks to improve yourself in all sorts of ways, from being more creative to spotting a liar. 8. Read this to learn to ask for backup: The Art of Asking — Amanda Palmer Once you’ve heard of controversy queen Amanda Palmer, you always want to know what she’s up to. Her tweets, shows and interactions have reached millions of people — and most of them are now fans and supporters. In her book, she explains how building a successful career as an artist and performer has just as much to do with knowing how to ask for things, network, and treat people right as it does with talent and tweets. Palmer’s journey from street performer to world-renowned artist teach how you too can achieve what you desire. 9. Read this to improve your memory: Moonwalking with Einstein — Joshua Foer What does it take to become a USA Memory Champion? Follow Joshua Foer’s footsteps and you’ll find out. In Moonwalking with Einstein, Foer explains how memory works, why we’re worse at remembering than our ancestors, and why an extraordinary memory isn’t just available to a select few people but to all of us. The best part: he walks you through specific techniques for improving your own memory — including how to squirrel away recollections in your childhood home. Dive deeper into a refreshing pool of self-betterment over at Blinkist. All the books you see here are available as 10-minute summaries more powerful than Uncle John’s jet ski. And, hey! You can read them for free, too!   Written by Caitlin Schiller with contribution from Laura Erler. This piece was originally published on Blinkist. For more content like this, visit Blinkist Magazine.

7 BENEFITS OF WEARING A WRISTWATCH Smartphones do everything we need them to do, from organising our schedules to giving us weather updates. They even tell the time. So many of you might wonder why I would be writing an article on wearing a wrist watch. Aren’t wrist watches obsolete? Well I’m here to tell you the many benefits of wearing a wrist watch in today’s smartphone society that may just surprise you. #1. ACCOUNTABILITY The whole essence of a wristwatch, the function of it is to tell the time. There are still fields in our industries where wearing a watch and time are extremely important. Pilots, Airline Stewardesses, Businessmen and women, Stock Brokers, Military Men, Home Designers, Caterers. If time is an important function of your life, then a wristwatch is something that you will definitely need to keep you accountable. # 2. CONVENIENCE Now many of you may say wearing a watch is redundant. I have a smartphone. Why on earth would I wear a watch when my phone tells me the time. But when you wear a watch and someone wants to know the time, it’s a simple flip of your wrist. No digging in your pocket or handbag to find your smartphone. No fingerprint scanner or code to turn your phone on. Just turn your wrist over and bam! You know the time.  # 3. LESS DISTRACTIONS  Wearing a watch and knowing the time is just that. Nothing more. When we grab our smartphones, we not only see the time, but we check updates, play games, check Facebook, take photos. We become distracted. So much so there are an abundance of articles online about how our smartphones are actually making us less conversational one on one. Whereas having the simplicity of a wrist watch is just for the simple function it provides. To know what time it is and keep you on track throughout your day.  # 4. CONFIDENCE It’s amazing how a piece of jewellery or a scarf, a tailored jacket or a fancy pair of dress shoes help make us feel confident. Well, a wristwatch adds the same to our style. People notice watches. I mean, I’ll be honest. I  have asked people about their watches when I see a sleek design. A watch will make you feel confident and build your confidence. There’s just something about wearing one that holds a value of importance that cannot be explained. It’s more important to be noticed than not noticed, and wearing a watch helps you get noticed.  # 5. STYLE AND BUILD I remember as a kid growing up my grandfather having a pocket watch. Watches aren’t something you can just mass produce, at least not the good ones. There is a lot of craftsmanship that goes into building a good watch. Each one unique in style and function. Each one with a story to be told. So style and build are important when choosing the right watch for yourself. # 6. FAMILY TREASURE This goes hand in hand with number 5 on the list. Having a beautiful wristwatch you take pride in, even one unique in style is something that means something to everyone. My son loves Venom the comic book character and when he came across this black and white Venom watch that was sleek in design, he purchased it right away. He wears his watch almost every single day. This is the type of watch he can pass down to his own kids who may love comic book characters. Just like any family heirloom, a watch is something that can be treasured for years to come. # 7. TIME IS IMPORTANT Building a relationship with time is important. It helps us know how many hours are in a day. Many of us don’t know if we are honest about how much time we have. It’s a reminder we may not want to know about. But it’s important. Having a good relationship with time changes your outlook on life, and the right watch can help you do that. It not only keeps you on track but lets you value the time you do have to spend it right with the people you love, and understanding its value is something that will change your life.   Written by Jodi Shaw, originally published on Just Jodi Shaw.

Busy jobs, bad weather, emotional struggle – at some point everyone gets overwhelmed with the level of stress they have to deal with. Manifesting itself in a lot of different ways, stress can, in the worst case, lead to serious physical and psychological problems. And when life suddenly seems unbearable, the only way to get back to your balance, happiness and healthy ways is by learning how to soothe with your stressed-out mind. Meditation, exercise, a cup of tea or a hot relaxing bath have proven to be top stress-killers. However, if you love sugar and prefer to stay in bed rather than going out for that run, here is another method to calm your mind…Poetry can be a powerful trigger of positive thoughts. Beautiful wording and the playful use of stressed and unstressed syllables are nutrition for the soul. Authors Jonathan Bate, Paul Byrne, Sophia Ratcliffe and Andrew Schuman created the ultimate collection of classic poems against stress with their book ‘Stressed Unstressed’. Featuring poets like Rudyard Kipling and William Blake this must-read hold the perfect selection of poetry from different centuries to handle those unpleasant every-day challenges. Beside classic poetry, there have been a lot of new modern artists inspiring us with their poetry on Instagram. We listed some more of our favourite contemporary poems that will hopefully feed your mind and soul.    

Style icon and Creative Director of ‘Welcome To Singapura’, Lucas Veríssimo Brilhante a.k.a. @lucas.verissimo teamed up with Farfetch who just published a selection of his favourite must-have watches. On his Instagram, he announced, “#withfarfetch I realised my obsession for watches is back. In my early memories, I remember being obsessed with the watches that people wear. I was always wondering why they pick that particular design for this highly functional artefact. I’ve partnered with @farfetch on an edit of the best watches right now.” Besides being included in one of his top picks, Lucas chose our Lugano Aurora Gold Milanese 26mm for the according to the photo shoot with Farfetch. The result? Badass imagery featuring Lucas’ effortlessly cool style. Set in São Paulo, the pictures reflect an urban feel combined with tropical vibes. Images Credit: FarfetchModel: @lucas.verissimo