Fun & Famous

Carolien’s Fast Lane Life

Now I have been on the verge of getting a spray tan multiple times, but I am always afraid that I will come out looking like a carrot. Let alone that I dare to spray at home with a tanner. But when I recently ran into a girlfriend who looked like she had spent two weeks in the Bahamas and told me that this came from a spray, I became curious. So I immediately purchased the natural tanning spray from Marc Inbane. Then I stared at the spray for a week, afraid of the first use. Don't be such a wuss, just spray it on that handy glove and then make circles on your skin to even out the color. And now I am addicted... The result is a super natural bronzing: as if you just flew back and forth to Mauritius on your private jet for a weekend. Here is the perfect Christmas gift for all your female family members (males can have it too :-)).

A few years ago, my inbox suddenly filled up with invites for one ‘ugly Christmas sweater party’ after another. I went on a mad hunt for the most bizarre Christmas sweater with lights, bells, and crazy prints. Luckily, that craze didn't last forever, and Christmas sweaters have now been reduced to a cool print that you would want to wear every day. And online, you can't get enough of all sorts of personalized options, like this delightful Christmas sweater from Bulbby. Every time I wear this sweater, I immediately crave Christmas cookies and Christmas songs. Today I am ‘Santa for a day’ and I get to give away three of these personalized Christmas sweaters! The first three people who email info@bulbby.com within 24 hours mentioning my name and an original Christmas greeting can design their own Christmas sweater online. And then you'll be sitting at the turkey this Christmas with your own creation, quelle fête!

Oh guys, I keep bombarding you with photos from the filming of ‘Bella Donna's’, but I can't help it... It's going to be incredibly cool! I've never done such awesome things for a film: driving a horse through the KFC drive-thru, Krav Maga, stealing wedding dresses, and yesterday we got to add illegal street racing to that list. Together with the other ladies, I was hoisted into a kind of Power Rangers suit and we walked like real Charlie's Angels over a spooky industrial area full of race cars and fire pits. The fantastic stunt team De Beukelaer performed the coolest car stunts and we were screaming with joy in the slipping race car. But by the end of the night, the temperature had dropped below zero and I couldn't hide the shivering from the camera anymore, so afterwards we drove home like crazy to warm up under a hot shower. But it was all worth it!

After a week of filming, you can literally sweep me up: you make days of 13 hours and only come home to learn lines and sleep. So when a day off came into sight, I couldn't wait to treat myself to a lovely facial. In the winter months, my skin is always quickly irritated, so I prefer to use natural products. So I made an appointment at the Aveda Dayspa. When you walk in, you immediately feel like you're in an oasis of calm: the Ayurvedic philosophy is fully reflected in the style, the music, and the treatments. After a lovely foot bath, I lie completely zen in the chair and after ten minutes, I slowly drift off. The aromatic oil makes me dream of Thailand and I feel myself recharging. After an hour, I feel reborn and my face is glowing again: all irritations and bumps from the cold have disappeared like snow in the sun. I immediately know what I am going to gift myself under the Christmas tree...

Santa hasn't even come by yet, and we already have to think about our New Year's plans. Is it going to be a small but cozy party at our place with a huge amount of bubbles and oliebollen, or are we going to hit the town? Now, I'm not really into big New Year's parties: you usually pay a hefty sum, stand among a bunch of people you don't know, and you have to stay until the end to get your money's worth with the ticket and unlimited drinks... But when I received the “New Year No Rules party” invite at the W Lounge of the W hotel, I was immediately intrigued: the location is beautiful and not too big, the DJs promise to create a London club vibe, and from the rooftop terrace, you have a million-dollar view of all the fireworks in the city. If we stay in town, this is definitely the location where we will ring in the new year! New Year No Rules @ W Lounge Amsterdam, December 31 from 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM.