Carolien has had a busy week again and this time not just in the Netherlands... Are you joining me?

Last week I really had to face it: after lying next to a sniffling man for a week, I also woke up with a huge runny nose and a sore throat. And the next day I was finally supposed to leave for a weekend in London after my canceled flight two weeks ago: not the best timing. There was nothing else to do but cancel all my appointments, steam all day, sleep, and hope that I would feel a lot better the next day. Fortunately, this drastic measure helped and I flew early in the morning only a little sniffly to the British capital. Upon arrival, I had to rush straight to my scheduled Harry Potter tour at the Warner Brothers Studios, and if you love Harry and his magical friends even a little, then this tour is a must! I stood in the real Hogwarts dining hall, tasted treats in all flavors, and saw Hagrid's motorized head up close; I can enjoy this for weeks to come.

Fortunately, my girlfriend in London loves exactly the same things as I do: shopping, good food, and especially tasting delicious wines. So after a weekend of non-stop indulging in these activities, I knew one thing for sure: I have an extreme need for a detox day. And of course, that also includes a “little spa visit”! When I was at a juice bar, sipping my detox juice and googling “spa London,” I was surprised to see Akasha Spa at the top. I quickly called to check their availability, and less than an hour later, I was lying by the pool in the heart of London waiting for a wonderful massage. This spa is very reminiscent of its “sister” in Amsterdam, but has a slightly more classic appearance. The holistic massage was fantastic, and the sesame oil worked as an extra detox for my skin. After a little sauna and steam session, I was completely recharged for my last hours in London. Conclusion: an absolute must during your stay there to unwind...

Another absolute must is this secret cocktail bar called Mr. Fogg’s. Without inside information, you would never find this place, but once inside, you won't forget where it is quickly! The interior is like an old-fashioned British gentlemen’s club, complete with similar music. The cocktails are anything but old-fashioned and sound like little works of art on the menu. I went for a cocktail with gin, ginger, lemongrass, and six other ingredients. You understand: these cocktails were, of course, consumed before the whole detox day, otherwise, I would have rolled straight back into the Akasha Spa...

Lately, I seem to be the scapegoat of every film set. During Sneekweek, I got hypothermia and broke my pinky, and yesterday I made the most embarrassing fall of the year at Zwarte Tulp. In my Uggs, I was walking from the set to the dressing room when I suddenly slipped hard on a super slippery wooden threshold. The result: a hole in my hand and two broken knees. As if all this bad luck wasn't enough, I've often had rashes from all the film makeup in recent months: yes, yes, the life of an actress is not all roses... But for the past three weeks, I've been using new facial products from Dermedics that consist of body-friendly ingredients. When I woke up this morning, I suddenly saw the result: no dry patches or bumps, but an even skin tone with a beautiful glow! A small band-aid on the wound, literally.

For the past six months, I can hardly wear heels anymore because I get shooting pains in my left foot almost immediately. Really a disaster, considering the huge shoe closet filled with heels that beg to be worn every day (yes, my shoes talk to me...). Fortunately, there are so many cute flat shoes nowadays that I slowly have to accept it and start to carefully part with my heels. During the holidays, I wore heels to every dinner, but this year I need to find an alternative for that. For the sailing scenes in Sneekweek the movie, I got to wear amazing sneakers from Est1842. Last week their Christmas edition was launched, and I didn't know how quickly I had to order these pairs online: here is the perfect combination of chic and comfy. Let the holidays come!