SMOONSTYLE

Here is a little Christmas gift from L'Oréal Paris for you. This time for the German subscribers.

L'Oréal Paris send me two gorgeous nail polish advent calendars. When I got back home from the tour on the 8th of December I got to open 8 all at once. Well, the winner can open them all at once. 24 beautiful nail polishes, top coats and more!

Just write a comment below with how you spend your Christmas and I will pick a winner tonight!

(Germany only)

The winner is Lena (first comment and a loyal reader)! 

Lucky Lena, please send me your address to smoonstyle@googlemail.com.

♡ SIMONE

'So this is Christmas, and what have we done?

We've stuffed all our faces,
instead of going (sung really fast otherwise it doesn't fit) out for a run.'

Today is the 24th and time to place our behinds at the family table. We've been baking and cooking and eating too many cookies. I love it! I know I have been eating too many and am on a constant sugar rush. Then again, I have been ever since I started eating sweets. Tap my blood and it will taste of sugar.

Enough with the rambling now.

Thank you all for a lovely year! We are so happy that The Quantum Enigma is a success, the tours and shows we've done this year were amazing! Looking forward to a new year filled with adventures.

For those of you that like moving motion, check out our Christmas Video for you! See you in India or in 2015!

Eet smakelijk!

♡ SIMONE

Noa by Cacharel eau de toilette has been a perfume I know for years. My mother wears this amongst a couple of other scents, but this one is my preferred perfume and kind of her signature scent. I connect this with her and somehow never really saw it as an individual scent. After my show in Utrecht I stayed at my parents house and decided to give it a try. I liked it so much that I got a 30 ml bottle at the Douglas in Cologne on my way home to Stuttgart. 

I find it a stable scent that doesn't change when I wear it compared to my mother. Maybe it is because we are related, maybe not. 

The notes are white musk (love white musk), peony, pepper, benzoin, incense and coriander. It's design is totally my thing, I love round sleek perfume bottles with not too big lids. Easy to travel and a timeless classic in my world of scents. Good for many that this is very affordable.

Do any of you wear your mothers perfume sometimes? Let me know!

Price: 30ml €19,95

♡ SIMONE

Last Tuesday I was in Berlin for a special L'Oréal event. There was not much information about what was going to be revealed, just a small video that we were sent a while back. We all thought that it might be some beauty app, but weren't 100% sure.

I arrived in Berlin around the afternoon via Airberlin. The little chocolate hearts are always a nice way to end a flight. The first bloggers that I met were Innen und Aussen and Der blasse Schimmer. Both really lovely ladies. During our taxi trip to the hotel we were exchanging stories about our cats and dogs.

After checking in at the Q Hotel I met up with a friend to have lunch at a cute cafe nearby. Around 16.00 we all gathered at the lobby of the hotel and took a taxi van to Berliner Freiheit where the event was hosted. We were greeted with a nice glass of bubbles and finger food. After greetings most of the bloggers/vloggers, we all sat down for the presentation.

Our suspicions were right, this night was the introduction of MAKE UP GENIUS, the ultimate make up simulator app for your phone and tablet. It is not just any make up app, it's technology is originated from the Hollywood movie studios and 3D video games. Doesn't that sound very interesting?

A special guest was introduced to show us how the app works. We heard that Lena Meyer-Landrut was in Berlin and guessed we would be seeing her. Lucky me to meet another singer that also loves her make up. She was funny and sweet. She even made the guys try out the app (so did I at home).

How does it work: First you scan your face. That takes about 1 second. After that you can try out products or even the complete look. You can make photos and videos and share them online.

I love the idea and was impressed how well it worked! Another great thing is that you don't have to worry about hygiene when you try it out. Testers in shops can be really gross, so this is a huge plus as well.

The app is available in Germany and the States. Other countries will follow.

More info at: MAKE UP GENIUS

I had a great time in Berlin, met some lovely people and want to thank L'Oréal for inviting me.

Some of the bloggers/vloggers that were there:

Keep an eye out on the blog, because I have a little Christmas present from L'Oréal to give away that is coming on SmoonStyle in the upcoming days.

♡ SIMONE

The first part of The European Enigma is a huge success! Our shows are going really well and we are being spoiled by all our fans. A big thanks goes out to all the people that came to see us so far!

One of the great parts of touring is that you wake up in a different city, country almost every morning. A tour bus has a lot of advantages, one of them is always having a bed close by. There can also be some disadvantages as well.

When we woke up on the 25th of November in Rome, our tour manager told us that the bus was broken and that it needed to go to a garage. We collected our personal belongings and waited for results. The bus couldn't move from the territory and in order to get to our show in Marseille, we had to wake up at 6.30 after our show in Rome (which is really early when you are on tour time), to get a flight to Marseille. After our show in Marseille we were supposed to have a day off in Barcelona. We were all really excited about that. Too bad our bus was still not fixed. That meant a day off in Marseille.

On top of that we received the bad news that our tour bus driver had a heart attack and that he had to go to the hospital. He is doing ok now, luckily. 

Our next bus call was 2 am to get to Madrid on time. Waking up a couple of hours later, we found out that we were running behind of our schedule and would be in Madrid around 19.30/20.00 and our show was at 21.00. Any setback and we would miss the show. Our TM (tour manager) told us to get out in Zaragoza and take a train to Madrid. More bad luck; all trains were fully booked.

So we rented a van. Arien and me got us some sandwiches for our little road trip and off we went.

Isaac drove the whole way. Our crew took the train from Barcelona when we picked up a second driver earlier that morning. 

Due to good team work we made the show just in time. We arrived at 20.30 and had to hurry up to get ready and hit the stage. Our VIP meeting was postponed to after the show. Normally we have those between 17.30-18.30.  We started a couple of minutes after 21.00 and had a great gig and some amazing tapas after our show. 

We were all very glad that we made it to our show and didn't have to cancel. We also couldn't start much later because of the second party that was taking place at the venue shortly after our show.

♡ SIMONE

After my smoothie time picture on Instagram I received so many questions about the nail polish that I am wearing. It is Essie's 'Decadent Dish'. It is one of my all time favorite nail polishes and it always goes with me on tour.

Essie describes it as a dark brown with a hint of bronze shimmer. My eyes do see some purple red sheen in it as well. Such a gorgeous color for any time of the year, but perfect for this time of the year.

You need about two coats before it is opaque and it will last you a long time. The brush is nice and wide. It applies like a dream.

Price: €7,95 15ml

♡ SIMONE

You guys have told me that you love the more 'talking' posts, so this one will be filled with what's in my brain. I will be calling it Chit Chat and I hope you all will like it!

Yesterday was a day filled with clumsiness. I fell really hard inside my house. It must have looked hilarious, but my ankle hurts and that is of course not funny. Now you must be asking yourself: How did it happen? Well, I was working on my computer, sitting at the table with my legs crossed. My lower right leg fell asleep. As I walked to the kitchen, after taking two steps, my house shoes made me trip and I fell on the floor like an accordion. I even managed to put down my phone and glass on the floor. When Oliver came down he was surprised that even though I fell, I managed to save my phone and the glass that I was holding. How I would have loved to see a video of this 'Misses Bean' moment!

Because my lower leg was numb, I didn't feel any pain, but my ankle snapped a couple of times before I was on the ground. I was scared that I really damaged my ankle and thought about the upcoming tour. I stayed on the floor for a couple of minutes to regain my sanity. I was quite shocked and terrified that something was really damaged.

Oliver helped me get up and took off my house shoes. I felt nauseous and was shaking a bit. After a glass of water I felt better. I tried to step on my foot and it felt 'pulled' and loose. It didn't hurt luckily. Stupid me didn't cool it. I had to cook and clean the house and take care of V. Oliver had to go to work.

By the end of the evening I took off my socks and boom! Granny ankle! Almost as big as at the end of my pregnancy. It also started to hurt more and more. During the night I put a pillow under my foot to lift it a bit and as I am typing this now (the next morning), a nice icepack is lying on my ankle. I should have done that yesterday, but mom's can't rest until the baby is asleep. 

Have any of you ever made a silly fall? Let me know in the comments!

♡ SIMONE

Lorac is known for their Pro Palettes and the Unzipped Palette. They are highly hyped palettes in the beauty scene. It took me quite a while to get my hands on one. When I was in New York earlier this year I went to a Sephora and it turns out that they only sell Lorac nowadays at Ulta.

When I found out that amazon.com also ships to Europe I ordered my Lorac Palettes. Today I want to show you the Unzipped Palette. The Pro Palettes will be featured in a separate post.

The Unzipped palette contains ten eyeshadows. Three are matte, one semi matt and the rest are shimmer/metallic eyeshadows. A nice mix between cool and warm shades to compliment every eye color. I am a huge fan of the color range and already had a go with it.

They are super pigmented and blend out like a dream. On the lower pictures I am wearing Undercover as a base, Unreal and Unbelievable on the lid. In the crease Unspoken and Unbridled. On my lower lash line a dash of Unbridled. I find the look very wearable and perfect for day time, but you can of course amp it up more.

Let me know if you'd like to see an intense look created with the Unzipped Palette in the comments.

The palette packaging is nice and sleek. It is very light weight and has a small mirror. Perfect for traveling if you ask me.

♡ SIMONE

There have been quite some empty bottles accumulating in my BB drawer and I just had to empty it and create a blog post for the Beauty Bin Section. 

Let's go!

Nivea Creme Care shower creme

The reason why I mainly love this is the scent. It smells just like the blue tin creme that they have since the beginning of Nivea. Oliver uses that creme, so you get my point. ;) A good shower gel that smells lovely!

Dove Pistachio shower creme

Dove is my favorite shower brand. Whenever a new scent comes out, it will end up with me in the shower. This smells so luxurious and really hydrates my skin. A great plus is that they are inexpensive, at least here in Germany.

Redken Fresh Curls Shampoo

They don't make these anymore. I hate it when they do that! Redken carries a new line that is called Curvaceous and my hairdresser told me that their customers liked the old version better. That sucks for me, because that was my favorite shampoo. 

Redken Smooth Down shampoo

On to my second favorite shampoo from Redken. I have half wavy, straight and slightly frizzy hair so this is perfect for me. I do need a little silicone in my hair to keep in under control and this shampoo does that beautifully.

Babylove 'Gute Nacht' Lotion

The scent is divine! It smells like lavender, but not like granny style. I included it in my BB because I also used it. Don't tell Vincent.

Balea Soft Oil Balm

My favorite body lotion, still is and will probably be for a long time. And they lived happily ever after :)

MAC Brush Cleanser

I was hoping to find a cheaper dupe for this, but failed. I am currently trying the brush cleanser from Hema, but it is not the same. MAC really cleans the brushes, doesn't have a strong perfume and doesn't feel oily. Will have to get a new one soon.

Nivea 3 in 1 cleaning fluid for sensitive skin

I was curious when I saw it and had to test it out. My favorite was the Bioderma and after trying the one from L'Oreal, I have to say that Bioderma does work the best for me. Ordered two new big Bioderma Sensibios. 

Nivea Soft and Intensive Hand Lotion

Already am using my second one. I love using this at night to really give my hands a treat after all that washing and cleaning. It has a nice texture and really hydrates my dry hands. It also feels comfortable on the hands and doesn't leave a sticky layer. It smells great too! 

Manhattan Endless Stay make up 62 Porcelain

One of my favorite drugstore foundations. It has medium to full coverage and lasts all day. They don't come in a big range of colors, but 62 Porcelain is a good mix for me (I am NC20 in MAC). However, it is a bit on the grey side, so I mix it with a warmer foundation. At the moment I am testing out another foundation from Manhattan. It is the Powder Mat Make Up in 80 Sand. A really lovely foundation, but full of silicone unfortunately. It has great coverage and also lasts really well. You will have to decide for yourself if you want to have silicone in your foundation. I find that it feels quite comfortable on the skin though.

Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner

A great primer for combo skin. It mattifies the skin, and makes the pore appear smaller. It doesn't make the disappear. No product does that, let's be honest. 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer

Another great product that has been taken of the market. I love this for brightening the under eye area and to highlight the face. It is not a full coverage concealer, so don't expect those grey bags to magically vanish. For highlighting it is great!

Rituals Qi Gong deo stick

After hearing so many people raving about this deodorant, I had to get it myself. I normally don't spend almost €10 for a deo, simply because I find that too expensive. Rituals do always seem to convince me with their divine smelling products. The Tao Collection is my favorite scent and I already own the deo spray from this line. The deo stick was ok, not a miracle working and unfortunately also leaving stripes in my clothes. Will not buy this again.

Balea Volume Shampoo

A super inexpensive shampoo that works ok. When you have long and heavy hair, it is hard to create volume in it. It is free of silicone so that must be a plus to many of you. Another plus is that it still made my hair shine, even though the silicone is mostly the reason for that. The scent was very delicate and doesn't last long on the hair, but that is ok. Will buy this one again soon.

So, my question to you: Would you like me to continue with the Beauty Bins?

♡ SIMONE

Craving a healthy snack but have nothing at hand? Well, you might have, but just need to work some magic in the kitchen.

These muesli/granola bars are so easy to make and you can customize them to your liking and with the ingredients you have at hand.

What you need is 60 grams of apple butter for a base which you put in the microwave for about 30 seconds to melt. Then you add all the lovely goodies that you want your healthy bar to contain.

I added corn waffles, linseed, sesame seed, muesli, some chops up nuts and raisins, dried apricots and them some more oat flakes.

You mix it all nicely and then put it on a baking sheet, press firmly until it becomes a nice package and then put it in the oven for about 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Let them cool down and enjoy. 

They are so good! Vincent loved them too.

Eet smakelijk!

To celebrate my almost 300,000 Facebook friends, I want to do another extra long Q&A on Twitter with you guys!

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to make sure that you are part of the Q&A and have your questions answered by me.

Looking forward to it!

The day and time of the Q&A will be announced as soon as FB hits 300,000 people.

♡ SIMONE

During fall I love to wear almost black versions of red, purple and blue if that makes sense.

P2 is a great brand to try out fun colors. The price and quality is great. Their 'Volume Gloss Gel Look Polish' appealed to me. I was searching for a deep black purple to complete my nail polish collection and I succeeded!

210 Diva Expressiva is a beautiful, deep purple that was kind of hard to capture on camera. I love it when colors at first look black, but when you take a closer look, you see there is more.

This nail polish needs two coats, the first one is still a medium dark purple, but after the second layer you are 'deep purpled'.

What are your favorite fall nail polishes?

12ml €1,95 available at DM Drogerie

♡ SIMONE

I have seen time grow up into a beautiful little man. A funny, sweet, super energetic, walking and kind of talking Vinceman! One year doesn't seem much for a grown up, but what one year does to a baby is incredible. How they develop and grow every minute, it is a true miracle.

My cameras have been helping me to document his first year. Now the task lies upon me to choose a selection from over 5,500 pictures to make a photo book. It will probably be ready by his second birthday.

To celebrate this milestone in his life, I have been baking non stop for over the last week. The first birthday cake recipe that I found on Buona Pappa was a success. All babies enjoyed it and even wanted more. While baking it, I had to laugh because it looked just like the cake from 'Sleeping Beauty'. It was falling apart and all I heard was 'gently fold in two eggs' haha! It did come together in the end, but it was a funny experience.

I made the cake the evening before and added the toppings the next morning. I decided to do that after seeing that the mini cake was melting the sugar toppings. You learn along the way.

For the party (which was a couple days later) I made cake pops! I love cake pops and thought that it would be a great sweet center piece at a kids birthday party (also for big kids like me).

It was the biggest mess I have ever created whilst baking.

I found a cake pop maker at my local super market and just had to get it. You can find them online as well: Cake Pop Maker

There are several recipes to make cake pops, even some without baking. You have to find your own way, just like how you want to decorate them. I got some toppings just for the party and also used what I had already at home. Be creative, the options are endless!

Aren't they pretty? Would you like some?

Thank you all for your lovely entries! I love love love love all of them! You are all winners in my world! You came up with some beautiful SmoonStyle artwork! I am impressed. So much talent amongst you guys! Keep up that amazing work.

This year I wanted to pick 4 winners. One for each year. It was very hard for me, but I made the rule to pick 4 winners.

To the winners: Please send my your shipping address to smoonstyle{at}googlemail.com and we will get the Kryolan goodies to you as soon as possible.

Here are fantastic four:

♡ SIMONE