Fun & Famous

CAROLIEN’S FAST LANE LIFE

On days like this, I can really only think of one outfit: my Zoe Karssen tracksuit with a pair of warm Sorels underneath and the thickest winter coat ever. Luckily, the outfits always look very fashionable, so it's quite possible to bike straight from the pilates class in your Zoe Karssen ensemble to your dinner date (which was noted last night). And to gradually add to this delightful collection, I allow myself to score a new outfit twice a year during the ZK sample sale.

And believe me, this is also worth it if you don't want to be spotted in a ‘houssie’. The collection has now expanded with beautiful knit items, jeans with a perfect fit, and coats that you wouldn't mind having a little ‘Kat fight’ over during the sale... The Zoe Karssen sample sale is on December 2 from 1 PM to 8 PM and December 3 from 10 AM to 3 PM at Keizersgracht 324 in Amsterdam.

If you receive an invitation for an event via the lovely May-Britt, you can be sure it's worth it. So when I received the very exclusive invite for the launch of Philips' newest TV including dinner, I didn't know how quickly I had to block this evening in my calendar. Of course, I was running late again, biking in a rather impossible dress and heels to the Hoxton, only to step into a beautiful boat completely sweaty but as elegantly as possible. We were taken to the secret location where I immediately wanted to move in: an incredibly beautiful loft on the Prinsengracht that was set up as the perfect cozy living room for the launch of the Philips OLED 4K TV. And after the demonstration, everyone was blinking their eyes: the screen is flatter than ever, and the Ambilight technology ensures that you are completely drawn into the image, which is also incredibly sharp. Oh yes, did I mention that we were also treated to literally a work of art as dinner? Dear May, keep those invites coming!

In winter, I always go outside like a sort of yeti: sporting a giant coat, ear warmers, a thick scarf, and those super awkward mittens (because they are the warmest!) and the chance is high that I'm hiding underneath all that. But this makes it nearly impossible to call or listen to music with all those layers and claws for hands... Luckily, my husband, uhhh the dear good Saint, was there to give me the ultimate winter gift: these earmuffs from AVANCA have built-in speakers and are also extremely warm! Plus: they work on Bluetooth, so you don't have to deal with cords. Do you see a loudly singing girl completely bundled up racing by on a leopard bike? Then you can't have missed it.

You can't make me happier than with an afternoon or evening of extensive dim sum. Together with my best friend from The Hague, I went to the best dim sum restaurant in Scheveningen every week during my break since I was sixteen to stuff ourselves with ha kau, siu mai, and other Chinese delicacies... And it is still a fixed routine for me and Marly to dim sum at least once a month at A-Fusion on the Zeedijk. But when a friend told me about a real dim sum paradise a little further down the road, I was of course jumping to test it. So last Sunday, the three of us stood in line for half an hour to snag a table at Oriental City on Damstraat. And believe me: it was worth every minute of waiting. Luckily, there is a picture next to everything, and you can order the most popular dim sum dishes without a doubt. I say: again this coming weekend, who’s joining?

Every time I get a reminder for the dentist, my heart starts to beat a little faster. Every time I promise to floss every day, but I just can't seem to manage it. Those toothpicks are just too thick or break off as soon as I've done one tooth... But when Lizzy van der Ligt told me extremely enthusiastically about the Waterpik (you won't forget the name quickly), I was immediately triggered: a water flosser that thoroughly flosses your teeth in one minute, so you never have to use those stupid picks or brushes again. And although I was afraid I would only last a day or two with this device, I am now two weeks in and even look forward to ‘water flossing’ every evening. Especially when you see how much dirt you still rinse away with the flossing that you would otherwise have gone to sleep with... I’ve found the perfect Christmas gift!