bye bye 2011

Around the end of each year I think more than usual (is that possible?) about me and my life and all things involved. Has it been a good year? What's to change? That's when I came across a little guide I want to share with you. So here they are; the 30 things we all need to stop doing to ourselves. I'll clearly focus on points 4, 23 and 28. And you, corazones?

I'll be gone for the rest of the year - back on January 5th. Wrapping up things and than heading to Sicily to breathe in fresh air, unwind the year and eat tons of pasta cooked by our lovely Italian nonna.

Have a great, great start into 2012!


(illustration: unknown, sorry...) 

happy holidays!

Merry Christmas corazones, have a great weekend! I hope you've bought and wrapped all your presents so that you can start to slow down and enjoy Christmas from this second on. I am looking forward to a nice dinner tonight, sleeping in tomorrow and having a calm day plus starting to cook for our family. 

In the newspaper today I read about the website Capture the Magic. If you are celebrating with children, you can upload a picture of your living room (preferable with Christmas tree) and put a "real" Santa in the picture. Tataaa you got proof for the littlest that Santa exists and came by to bring their presents. Cute? Cute!

I'd also like to share these Christmas around the world pictures, cause they give me goosebumps. Different cultures, different celebrating yet the same anticipation.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, lots of lights, sparkle and peaceful moments, xxx


(image via Anne-Margot)

thursday in style: holiday twists

Ready for Christmas? Try something different this holidays.

Top: angelic braids, you can easily do yourself. Find out how on Refinery29.

Bando lace headwrap. 

Glittery nails. This colour by Deborah Lippmann is called Stairway to heaven. :)

Happy dott socks from Asos.

And tree ornaments from fashion-industry.

rustic cabin

Seriously. Wouldn’t you love to spend Christmas in a little, rustic cabin up in the Alps? I’d love to! All red, green and tartan decoration (colors I usually ban from my home) look perfectly warm and cozy in an alpine cabin. Just for Christmas. The day after, I’d want to leave as soon as possible and find an all white and glittery place for New Year’s Eve. :)

But first we'll have an awesome Christmas dinner up in the Swiss Alps. We'd open presents under the huge tree and sit by the fireplace all night. The next day we'd go skiing... (all the family yes, my parents would learn how to ski overnight of course)...

... we'd come back to have Fondue at the kitchen bar...

...to later sit around in the living room reading old books and sharing family stories.

(all pictures via: Vogue)

books, books, books

Looking for some holiday reads, corazones? These are two awesome ones I've read lately. Both about immigration. And strong girls. About their home countries and habits and the new places they encounter in what seems another world to them. Both sad but funny at the same time.
Little Bee, story about a Nigerian 16-year-old orphan carried to the UK by brutal events happening at the beach in Nigeria.
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, about a Chinese girl leading two secret, separate lives and her hard-working mother. Arriving to New York and finding their way to a good life.


ps: A funny, a thrilling and a sarcastic read. Plus a sweet one. And a thankful one.

pps: Nicole Kidman got the rights and is currently producing the movie based on Chris Cleave's Little Bee.

christmas cooking

Christmas is the only time in the year I actually love routine. There is someting magical about driving to your parents home on Christmas day, to have the same Christmas dinner you've had all the past years, listening to your father sing the same Christmas songs and play the same games over a glass of wine, don't you think? I just L.O.V.E. it.

Two years ago we started to celebrate Christmas Eve at our place. I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out the first time - because it ment changing the lovely routine we had. But we had a magical night. So this year, we'll hit the replay button and have our families over again. Then celebrate the 25th and 26th at our parents homes. So much looking forward to it!

How are you spending Christmas this year, corazones? Are you travelling abroad? Having an easy, funny night without much celebration? Going out? Spending time with your family? Doing something completely different?


(picture via: bippitybobbityboo)

winter wonderland

Anyone travelling to Hong Kong during the next few weeks? If you happen to visit the Hong Kong Arts Centre, you will be able to stick your head through the ceiling of a gallery to find yourself in a paper winter wonderland.

The installation by Takashi Kuribayashi comprises trees in a snowy landscape hovering above the gallery floor and is part of the "Vision of Nature, Lost & Found installation". Can be visited until January 29th, 2012. Rad!

(via: deezen/ photos by Watanabe Osamu, copyright Mori Art Museum)

food for thought

What do you think corazones?

(illustration via I raff I ruse) 

weekEND - have tea!

It’s the end to a crazy-busy week. Let's START our weekEND with a few minutes all to ourselves and a hot cup of tea with some cookies, shall we?

Enjoy pretties! xo

(photo via electrifyed)

thursday in style: midi skirts

Dolls, what will you be wearing this upcoming holiday? I'd say it must be something that makes you feel comfortable even after having had half a turkey, tons of Christmas cookies and peanuts. A midi skirt would be perfect, not? Swinging light elegance yet relaxed. 

Top skirt from Warehouse, via Asos.

Swinging and long, paired with a laid-back blouse. Zara. Looots of place for food :)

Pretty print pencil skirt from Zara. Okay... I don't see where we could hide the roast or turkey in here...
 

wie frau sein: a must

This is a must-read! Michèle Roten writes hilariously about being a woman in the 21st century. Thank you S. for sharing!

to give & receive

Some inspiration from everywhere, to give or receive:

• A hip vintage poster.
• Books: When god was a rabbit - because it's just heart-breakingly beautiful.
• A turquoise iPad case from Comme des Garçons - to bring light to any winter.
• Cute central point bracelet.
• Buck stacking game :) . From Imm Living.
• White musk for men - because it's the best smell ever. From Kiehl's
• Cool city tours and activities from Vayable.com. Because giving an experience is always best.
• Teatowel from
• Sweet Peter Ibruegger mug.
Aubin and Wills, for loving cooks.

ps: Last year's gift guides; here, here and here.

True.

(via Haute Mama's Favourites)

scratch map

Remember this scratch map from last year's gift guide for teens? Here it is.
Still love the idea of having one to scratch off all the countries you visit. 


(photo via interiors-porn)

thursday in style: glitter, dots & stripes

What is not to love about stripes, dots and glitter? Exactly: nothing at all!

Cardigan's fall collection looks comfy & sporty, yet girly. That little dark blue sequin cardigan would be a nice wear for upcoming holiday dinners... paired with red lipstick.

Find all the Cardigan pieces on their homepage.

random

Miranda Kerr and her baby son. Just because they are the cutest couple these days. Sorry Orlando. My appologies for this random post - just couldn't help. :)

(photo via Pinterest)

slow motion: lost things

I want to share this lovely slow motion clip with you, corazones. It's what I watch lately, when I want to relax at work for a few minutes. Bliss.

by Angela Kohler & Ithyle Griffiths

chronic bitchface

This made me laugh out loud. :)

Kristina designes the cutest bitchface, don't you think? In case you happen to have the same little problem, you can pre-order the poster-sized Chronic Bitchface poster at her shop now.

(illustration via Krisatomic)

drink addiction: firefly

Confession: Addicted to Firefly. Addiction started in early summer. Thought it would be a seasonal thing. It is not. Still drinking. Glurp.

Lucky though. These engergizing drinks are made of natural ingredients only. Best one? Pomegranate & Elderflower.

Oh. And your photo gets the chance to decorate a Firefly bottle. Glass bottle. Of course.


PS: another addiction.

book of art

Mesmerizing books of art by Isaac G. Salazar.

(picture: we heart it)



stay hungry

Because it's Monday and you might need some motivation. :)

(illustration via cherrish sparkalicious allure)

hibernation weekend

Corazones what's on the menu this weekend? Whatever it is - have fun! I might go into hibernation - it's getting cold! :)

Some www for you:

• These grandmother tips by Chacho Puebla made me chuckle.
• Bake some Swiss Christmas cookies.
• Sweet. Just because.
• Wish the movie was already in theatres. Did you watch Before Sunrise in the 90ies? I was in loooove with Ethan Hawke.
• Cool gift guide - 77 presents under $ 77.00.
• Do - if you didn't.

Happy weekend! xoxo


(image via crush culdesac)

thursday in style: tiny pants

Let's wear some little tiny hot pants people! I promise it's safe. :) Remember it's winter and we are cold. So? We wear cool tights! And voilà - all of a sudden we can wear hotty hot pants not being 16 anymore!

Above denim knicker shorts from Asos.

Vero Moda lazer cuts via Asos.

If you happen to have the legs of all our dreams, go for this cool rocker chick shorty-shorts from Zara and pair them with biker boots.