an awesome book of thanks

I just came across this little but so awesome book! The perfect thing to read through when you are feeling kind of blue or otherwise bothered. It cheered me up so much that now you have to look through it. The rhymes are cutest. Find the entire book here. Trust me, you'll love it.

So thank you bed, thank you family, thank you travels, thank you food, thank you love, thank you friendship, thank you washing machine, thank you pen with the right amount of ink, thank you creme de nuit, thank you dogs, thank you elevators and stairs, thank you music, thank you books, thank you doctor, thank you hospital, thank you visits, thank you plans, thank you beach cruiser, thank you summer, thank you candles, thank you nature, thank you sea, thank you tea, thank you mango, thank you pepper, thank you cheese, thank you fighting, thank you smooches, thank you cuddling, thank you bike, thank you water, thank you mojito, thank you fridge, thank you unexpected, thank you sports, thank you thank you thank you.

men in style

Some style for you, my men, at the end of this not-so, but rather male week.


Effortless cool in a grandpa cardigan and camel slippers.
 

Isn't this styling rad? The perfect couple, in perfect socks.


Blue tones looking not marine at all.


Utilitarian.






































Do you wear glasses? PS: seen "A Single Man" yet?

A good, old aviator watch.

Cool Zonkey Boots.


A new sports shirt from Adidas Originals Blue Collection (in case you don't wear glasses).


Vintage weekender.



Classy simple leather wallet.


A must read.


Poster. Get it here.


Have an awesome weekend, guys!

(pictures: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12)

how to start a movement

And for the entrepreneurs in you: this video shows pretty well how one can start a movement by simply being a leader. People will just follow you and your followers get other followers... It's amazing to see that basically the only thing needed to encourage people to follow you, is to truly believe in yourself.

food for thought

No, I did not forget. This week's men's week. A few links for you to review some happenings and ideas:

• The 99%‘s Best of 2010: Our Most Popular Tips, Interviews & Think Pieces
• How to promote Facebook without saying Facebook
• The New York Times’ 10^th Annual Year in Ideas 
• Time Magazine’s The Top 10 of Everything 2010

(illustration: Craftily ever after)

difficulties

The last two days have been exhausting. I just realized that it was only two days - it feels like a week has passed. Somehow, when times get rough, you get strength from somewhere. Where does it come from, I'd like to know?

I hope we are on track again and hopefully in a couple of weeks back to normal. Normal sounds (for once) like the best thing in the world. Just normal. Not excellent, brilliant, outstanding, great, wow. Just normal. Even boring-normal would be fine with me.

Polaroid iPhone

Isn't this Polaroid iPhone decal totally rad? You can get it here.
(I want one msyself)

world hug day

January 21



Chandler and Joey in action.

(collage: darkest-black)

a continuous report

I came across A Continuous Report. A site filled with best ofs: best of shopping, restaurants and hotel finds from some of the worlds most stylish cities (NYC, Barcelona, Paris, Rome...)

The below places would definitely make it to our "to-visit-list" for one of the next trips. Passadis del Pep, here I come! Find more on your favorite cities over here.

Charming wine bar Aria in NYC's West Village

Late dinner at Passadis del Pep in Barcelona

Rustic Grefsenkollen in Oslo




Have a great weekend everyone! I am glad this week is over.

(all images)

google pillow

 


Isn't this pillow cool? The typographical design was inspired by the top Google searches 2010. You can order it here.  

Hey, did you notice? The pillow is neither pink, nor does it have owls or bows on it. Guess this entry can truly be called a gender-neutral-post. :)

male

Usually my writting in here is rather girlish than guys-related. And that's fine 'cause 97% of you readers  are probably female. For the next few days however, I've decided to write some male posts, if one can call it that way. But girls, keep on coming in, it might be fun, nevertheless and at the end, the content will probably be rather gender neutral than really male. But, tell your guy. ;)

So thanks to the five (or so) guys visiting once in a while! Much appreciated.
And hubby; hope to entertain you a bit during the next few days...

(image: Jon Contino)

for you: ice cream

If you eat lots of this, you'll be soon feeling better. I promise. Meanwhile, I'll take good care of you.

(images: we heart it)

sundance

Starting next Thursday and until January 30th, Robert Redford will be hosting the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Like every year, thousands of film lovers, tourists, celebrities and filmmakers will descend to take part in one of the world's most famous film festivals. If I was to visit a film festival anytime soon, I think it would be Sundance or the one in San Sebastian. Both highlight independent cinema from around the globe, which gives so much to discover.

Let's pretend we are all going to Park City, shall we? So let us pack our duffel bag (this one's from Jack Spade)...

 

...dress comfy and warm...


...have a little road trip to Utah...




 ...and enjoy some good movies! I'd for sure want to see Jesse Peretz's "My Idiot Brother"  and "The Ledge" from Matthew Chapmann. Something to laugh at and something to think about...

(images 1 / 2 / 3)

Dear Weekend,

Leah is right. More Leah over here. I enjoyed buying some great artisanal dinnerware,walking in the not so normal but mild January-sun, some good movies (and a really bad one), dinner with friends, a great, yummy Spanish lunch with some of my favorite people and lie-ins. Those, those were the best. Hope you all had a great weekend!

healthy change

Skip started the year with a new series: Each week, he will write about a Healthy Change on his blog Word of Wisdom Living which is a study of all things healthy. Number two on his list is an easy one, but there might be harder changes to come:

I guess I will take the opportunity and follow his 52 changes over the year and try to change some habits. Will you do so? Are you happy with your eating-behavior? 

Have a healthy weekend, food-lovers!

(both images via Word of Wisdom Living)

daydream: spring

One of the best things about designers showing their collections half a year in advance, is that you get to dream about spring/summer during winter months. We are amidst the coldest days, the ugliest days, if you ask me. Looking at J. Crew's spring/summer collection 2011 gives me hope that there will be a next spring... someday soon.

If you doubt that, too: Here are some refreshing pieces from their collection. Pretty, pretty, pretty.

(images: style.com)  

till death do us part

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.


...this video is so heartbreakingly beautiful... You have to watch it. Danny and Annie, a couple from Brooklyn, tell the true story of their twenty-seven-year romance. From their first date to Danny's last days with terminal cancer. Heartbreaking & beautiful, true love.

(via Very Short List / animated by StoryCorps)

Piet

awww! To say that I like Piet is an understatement. I think I might be deeply in love. Why do Sweedish designers always have the coolest ideas?

Piet is an indoor stove in the form of a super elliptic egg, with a brass reflector that burns ethanol fuel instead of wood. Means, no smoke, or soot. Okay maybe not child-friendly but...so cool! And since it doesn’t require any permanent installation you can just move it from one room to the other, as you please. A layer of rockwool fire insulation between the reflector and the outer shell keeps the outside cool.

(Designed by Fredrik Hyltén / you can order it here)

danse partout & burlesque

Sure enough you remember last weeks post about my little burlesque adventure? The person facilitating that one was Miriam Nussbaumer from Danse Partout. A comfy dance school in downtown Zurich, just around the corner of Sihlcity shopping center. I did like the experience of dancing Burlesque very much and from your emails and reactions, I guess you like the idea of trying it out, too. That's why I've interviewed Miriam; here is what she says about her Burlesque adventure:

What is Burlesque - how would you describe it to someone who never heard of it?
Burlesque is a form of entertainment, starting in the beginning of the 20th century in European and American music halls and vaudeville theatres. It is often called "the origin of striptease". But unlike the modern striptease, the focus lies on the teasing and not the stripping. The performer teases her audience and seduces it with style, playful movements and a lot of fantasy. In a Burlesque show, costumes, accessories and props play an important role.

How did you discover Burlesque and why did you become an instructor?
A friend of mine saw a show of a local Burlesque group and told me about it. Saying that she had to think of me - whyever (says it with a big smile :) ) - That got me started reading, watching burlesque shows online...looling at pictures and, of course, shopping and trying out costumes! Then I started practising and taking some private lessons with a Burlesque performer in Berlin. As I planned to open my own dance school, it was soon clear that I would offer Burlesque lessons here in Zurich, too.

Is it easy to learn? I mean, the moves are quite sexy...
It is absolutely something that any woman can try out and learn. As the costumes and accessories create a beautiful effect, simple moves can already make a sexy impression. You will anyway feel supersexy in your costume, so  no problem on that end, I promise.

Dancing in high heels however needs some practice and handling some unmanageable feather boas, too. But as Burlesque is performed with a wink, it does not hae to be all perfect.

How long does it take for someone like me (meaning a total beginner), to learn Burlesque?
This is of course very individual. If you have taken dance classes before, you will have an advantage. Also if you are used to walk in high heels :). However, it is not only talent but also -as with everything- the time you spend practicing. In a two-months-class as I offer regularly, you will learn all the basics about performing, costumes, make-up and use of accessories that you will need to practice on your own and to create your own Burlesque performance.

You wear amazingly beautiful outfits - can you give our readers  tips on where to find them?
It's mainly about keeping your eyes open. You will find very beautiful pieces in special shops and of course on the internet. If you don't want to spend a fortune you sometimes will also find Burlesque-like pieces at H&M, Manor, New Yorker, Claire's etc., as Burlesque fashion is getting more and more popular.

Thank you Miriam, for sharing your thoughts and knowledge with us.

Burlesque gives you the feeling of being a diva, of feeling supersexy and playful. We had a great time - you should try it out yourself. :) Here are some tips from Miriam to get you in the mood:

•  Watch this and this movie and also old movie material from the early years.
• Sparkling looks, shop at Stardust in Zurich!
• Vintage and Pin-up clothing
• Corset and lingerie heaven at Black Griffin
• Sensuelle



and us :)

  




  

PS: Miriam also hosts Burlesque bachelorette nights! 

   

(images: Danse Partout)

salty sea

Sweet print and some www-founds for your happy weekend;

How big is your but?
 Amazing proposal!
 Cute print, would be good to hang next to your bathroom mirror.
 Healthy recipes.
 Big Echo, an awesome album.

xoxo

burlesque

Sure as hell you did not understand at all what I was talking about in yesterday's post. Except if you were one of four ladies who were experiencing the same thing I was - on Tuesday evening. Except if you were a long-legged, sexy instructor. Or if you happened to be the gal or guy working on a broadcast that night for SF1 (which oups! happens to be the Swiss Television).

Tuesday I went to a little Burlesque workshop given by a former work buddy and friend of mine. I wanted to try Burlesque for a while, but I never managed to subscribe to one of the courses. And then, when she told me she was giving a workshop on Tuesday, I just said yes. Or better to speak: I said yes, despite the knowledge of the fact that a TV station would be filming. Well TV, what kind of TV station can that possibly be? Little did I know.

So I bought a little, tiny, short-short flouncy skirt, took out a corsage and off I went after work. Arriving at the Danse Partout studio and noticing all the perfectly "burlesquish" dressed ladies and what kind of broadcast they were filming for, I suddenly began to use my brain. 10vor10 is watched by half of the nation. Switzerland is not a big country but the thought of my friends, co-workers, probably my new boss and even worse my mom-in-law (editors note: of only six months...) seeing me dancing Burlesque for the first time, wearing a little tiny nothing, was somewhat scary.

We started and -despite the cameras filming every move- it was great fun. Miriam is a brilliant teacher, bursts with sexiness and burlesque bubbles. Burlesque is all about playing with the audience (or in our case the mirrors), sexy yet classy moves, fun and flirtatious routines, in short; being a diva!

I loved the expirience of moving burlesquish to music from the 50ies and hope to retake classes anytime soon. I can only recommend you try it out. Miriam is starting new classes at her beautiful Danse Partout studio soon. Find her schedule here. Imagine how much fun you will have with your girlfriends or some other sexy girls you'll meet there.

Keep coming back for more on Burlesque. I'll have our sexy instructor telling us a bit more about it soon.

PS: I survived the reason for the oups!, namely being on TV yesterday evening while doing Burlesque moves half-naked for the first time. It wasn't that bad, I have to admit. :)

angus & julia stone

Over the holidays I've downloaded Angus & Julia Stone's last album and love it. Listening to it over and over again, Big Jet Plane has become my favorite song on the "Down the Way" album. Check out the quaint video:). This brother and sister duo from Australia is so different.

oups

Ladies...and gents..but today; ladies, ladies, ladies! What an evening! Do you know the feeling of finding yourself in a situation you enjoy for what it is, because it is something completely new, something great. And then, later on you just think oups! this is also going to be embarassing. Exactly for the same reason you liked it in the first place. Hold on, no, not for that but because it is something you do for the first time and therefore are not good at but you show it off to half the country(??). It is not rational. But then again, isn't being surd the spice of life?

I bet you don't understand a word of what you just read, right? Don't worry, neither do I understand what I wrote. More on it later. Maybe. :)

I hope you have an embarrassing but exciting day, too! Here is to trying out new things!Ha!

(photo: Andy Warhol /  1986 by Robert Mapplethorpe)

le chignon



Some pretty ladies wore their hair in a quite perfect chignon on new years' eve. Doesn't a chignon always look trés chic, mes dames?

  

(images: 1/2/3/4)