Fun & Famous

CAROLIEN’S FAST LANE LIFE

My dear husband can no longer do without it either, but at first he had to get used to the amount of scented candles, room sprays, and body products that I brought into our new home. Scent is very important to me: it brings back memories, sets the mood, and can really influence my mood in a positive way. I love it when friends step over the threshold of our home and say, “It always smells so nice here, this is really your home scent!” Now I’m always up for trying new variants, so when I saw this lovely package from Comfort Zone lying on the doormat, I couldn’t wait to test it! The scent immediately relaxes you, which is really a treat in the shower or bath. The roles have now reversed: Jon suggests having a spa moment every day to use the bath oil and the scented candle, and before going to bed, he always sprays the bedroom with the Tranquillity room spray. What scent can do to someone…

Last Friday, I made a shocking discovery: I realized that we had been so busy all week that I hadn’t spent even half an hour with Jon. And that in an entire week! With tears in my eyes, I called him and asked if we could go away together for the weekend. Not even five minutes later, he had booked a beautiful getaway in my hometown The Hague: Hotel Des Indes. I grew up on that street, but I had never set foot inside! When we walked into the beautiful suite, we could have cried from happiness: we were just living in a little palace this weekend! The next day, we concluded our royal visit with a deluxe high tea accompanied by a harpist. Jon sat across from me (in a suit, no less!) with a charming smile on his face, enjoying our super relaxed weekend away: such a moment of happiness that you want to last forever.

The only ‘obligation’ we had during our weekend away was a lovely Halloween party in the city center of The Hague. For this party, it is absolutely necessary to put in a lot of effort into your costume, as there are quite a few prizes to be won. Weeks in advance, our hotdog and ketchup costumes arrived, and I couldn’t wait to see Jon in his outfit. Poor Jon didn’t flinch and without any reluctance transformed into the cutest hotdog ever. The staff at Des Indes must have thought we were completely crazy when we casually walked through the lobby in these outfits. After sore feet from dancing and a nomination for ‘most original costume’, we arrived exhausted at the hotel. But we had to and would end the evening with a true Hague fries mayo/pindasaus! Of course, in bed.

The moment a new sports hype is located in Amsterdam, I’m at the front to test it. I can’t exactly say that I’m a real fanatic athlete, but as long as I mix it up enough, I manage quite well. This week, ROCYCLE was on the agenda: a full workout lasting 45 to 60 minutes on a bike with uptempo music as a mantra. The owners call it a ‘boutique fitness’, where you experience the same service as in a boutique hotel: upon entering, you check in, receive a bottle of water, a special biker cover, and a towel. Then you enter a space that radiates complete tranquility, including candles and dimmed lights. During the lesson, I was so carried away by the instructor and the rhythm of the music that I could completely switch off my mind and ended up in a sort of ‘high’. Another plus: for participants under 27, there is a special rate. Ladies, hold your horses: I have found my new workout!

There I was: early November at 5 AM, in the cold, with my mother and sister in line for the Kenzo x H&M collection. I hear you thinking: which mother is crazy enough to go with her daughters? Well, mine, I can tell you. In the end, it turned out to be a big party: you make several best friends in just a few hours (these could very well become your enemies inside…); and they handed out prosecco, umbrellas, and the latest Grazia in line! At 10 AM sharp, that cheerful ‘kumbaya’ feeling suddenly turned 180 degrees and the people in line turned into little shopping monsters, but that didn’t spoil the fun. Now I have the privilege of being among the ‘lucky few’ who can attend the exclusive pre-shopping, so I dutifully take my family’s order and save them a night of freezing and hair-pulling. This year’s Kenzo collaboration is truly made for me: those beautiful prints, bright colors, and lovely silk and wool fabrics make my heart literally race! My favorite outfit from the collection? This lovely colorful ensemble. My wish list is already ready for tonight!!