a little Advent time

it's a poor Christmas, but not without a little something to cheer us up.

Today it was all about baking Homemade Swiss Cookies delights, or advent cookies. Oh I've missed baking.. and it's been a while since I've made this delicious Milanesini and Miroirs by Betty Bossi. I only chose 2 kinds this time and had a lot of fun, thinking of good memories when I used to make this for my family back home in CH. Usually this wouldn't last more then a day hahaha!

{recipes in Italian and French: I Milanesini, Miroirs here and here. If you need the translation let me know}

best cities to spend Traditional Christmas

by Travel Blog Magazine this are the best.

Pls Sign me up!
This time of year I might be dreaming of a cabin in the woods, but I can't miss to feel like putting on some glows and scarf, and freeze my nose running around a nice city. Christmas Markets are my favorite around this time, and here are some of the best. OOOh dreaming.. The places I've never been are now on my traveling winter wishes list :) Every place is so unique and so beautiful! .. and if you notice, in every city there is snow!

Prague, Czech Republic

A Caleche in Quebec City, Canada

Christkindlmarkt in Vienna, Austria

Rudolf in wonderland - Rovaniemi, Finland

Ice skating in Cologne's Heumarkt, Germany

Central Park NY

Grote Markt Square- Bruges, Belgium

{photos by: Prague- Rich Pick, Quebec- Imapix, Vienna- -12C & Seandalai, Rovaniemi- Leo Cheung & Roomman,  Cologne- Koelerweinachtsmarkt's, NY- Edzone, Bruges- Bruno Misseeuw & G Batistini}

mom to be.. some day

I've never posted this (see below).. who knows why, but I am posting it now cause I just want to remember this time. Very shortly after I wrote this, on August 11th 2010, I actually got pregnant.. what are the odds??? hahaha :) Oh the intuition of a woman, it is precious!

"Ok, how should I say this?
Today I received my first 2 maternity tops! ha! :)

I know, I'm crazy, and my husband thinks so too, since.. well no I'm not pregnant.. yet. But that's how I do things. If I'm going to do something then I start doing it even if it's not here yet. I get prepared and how can that be bad? Worth it every penny since I got it for so much less, I waited for sales and I got 2 nice maternity tops from Shade which I loOove. Now just wish us luck that I can use them soon :)"


{by the way, after the miscarriage the shirts are now still in a bag, waiting to be used.. let's see what the new year will bring, right?}

let it snow

awake at 3:30 am this morning I couldn't go back to sleep. It is the same old same.. When my husband gets up so early to go to work, I just can't go back to sleep. My body refuses to sleep but ignoring the fact it really needs to rest some good hours.

So when the sky was still dark and the sun still asleep, I was dreaming of a snowy day.. faraway in the woods, surrounded by trees, lots of them, a nice fireplace keeping me warm in a nice cabin, and the quite peace and silence outside that only snow can bring.. Cosy, warm, loved, relaxed.. Today I'm bringing you snow  :)

{by country best cabins photo by Heidi Long / via french by design, }

P A P E R decorations {patterns}

We still don't know where we'll be for Christmas. Not only, we are still unpacking since we just moved. We really don't have much, we need furniture, lamps, all kind of things. And.. I don't think we'll have a Christmas tree this year.. I know sad.
But I like this ideas of making things yourself with p a p e r. Little resources, it's exactly where I'm at and I really love this ideas and patterns by artist Jurianne Matter.

My absolute favorites are this adorable angels. I love to read the words of Jurianne Matter in the making of this adorable little pieces and finding out where they ended up. I can see how each one of them is so precious to her.

{everything by the great artist Jurianne Matter. Her Angels are available for purchase. Find it here.

How lovely she even gave out the pattern for the Paper Christmas Tree and the pattern for the Danish Paper stars} {via Decor8}

to make you smile

the cutest thing ever

{via LaCasita}

fluffy, over clouds

Little cute pieces I've been looking at and loved while thinking "baby and candid thoughts" .. Ok I might have been thinking baby girl thoughts hahaha!

So darling, I absolutely adore all of them! 

Oh they will be on my list till I'll be able to get them :)

{on Etsy for you:

Multibubble scarf by Clariceonline, Rose pink Crochet fingerless glowes by Happyestore, Perennial Moment print by Papermoth

Rain cluds by Almapottery, Pink Reversable beret by Sweatpeatoadtots, Organic booties for Newborn by Sweatpeatoadtots, 

Josie and her Hot Sheep Ballon by Heatherfuture, Apple-Jacket by Handamade, Clock love birds by Bonnie1982}

personal calendar, or time for a journal {tutorial}

I feel like it gets harder everyday to be able to do everything you have in mind. One of the things I'd like to be able to do again, is to write my journal in a regular bases. But.. yea.. I'm certainly not there yet.
Maybe that's why I love so much this idea! I think it is genius. Few words, and there you go. Sometimes that's all you need, an organized piece of paper to write on..

It looks very easy to make. I think it is a great idea for a gift. This great idea and tutorial is by Design Sponge.

christmas christmas and again Christmas

It's been on my mind since.. August! Yep I know.. crazy me. In fact I might have been, just a little. I give the fault to the crazy pregnancy hormones back then :)

I now can't believe it is only 2 weeks away..
Here some of my favorite on etsy.

{on etsy for you:
Christmas happy red angel bowl by Hideminy, Vintage German Candle holder by Calloohcallay, Cut out Greeting card by Storeyshop,
Felted wool slippers by Grazim, Fresh square wreath by NHWoodscreations, Sterling silver earrings by Kcompliment, Decorative Linen pillow by Woodponddesigns, Bambi Ornament by Iwannabe,
Heart hay ornament by Pomander, Holiday Acorn Sachets by Mireio, Pepperdolls ornaments by Munieca, White ceramic tree by Violetsandgrace}

what saved me..

a crock-pot, seriously the best!

It is still going today, and my husband has become the master of it, while he was taking care of me while I was on bed rest.. for the past month.

I was talking to my mom today and she has no clue what that pot can do. Of course I didn't know it existed until our first Christmas, 2 years ago, when my sister in law and fam. got us one.

It isn't common and well known in Switzerland yet.. I say yet, cause well everything soon or later gets there, taking its time, but it gets there. But once it gets there it is high tech :)

Anyways, I had to find a pot for my mom, of somewhat a reasonable price and well.. at first I just wondered if they even sell it there. It took me a while to realize that crock-pot and slow cooker is the same thing and how they call it in Switzerland anyways.

This is for my mom:

eccoti la pentola slow cooker mami. Come ti homandato via e-mail tutte le info, posso trovarti anche qualche ricetta.

{della MioStar lo trovi alla Migros per SFr. 49.90}

The story

I had quite a different 6 months then never before. After loosing my dad last June some things have changed. For some time the normal things I used to do changed to other things. I had a refuse of getting back on the computer, I couldn't stand it anymore. I was just living the moment in such different ways.. I guess grieving, .. I'm still doing now.

Then my Christian and I went through another great experience. At first it was such a joyful one. We were expecting a baby! Oh gosh, what an excitement. Doe to the fact I wasn't sure I was even be able to get pregnant, you can imagine how great news that was. It's been fantastic to be pregnant.. all the way even if from the very beginning I new I was having an hard pregnancy. I mean I figured it out once I started having so many symptoms I never heard anyone have in the first weeks or first months.

Oh it has been hard, but not as hard as having complications, bed rest, a subhcorionic hemorrhage, pain of another world, gone in labor twice, and then actually lost the baby.
What an experience. I'm not sure I can describe it. It is a very sad experience you know.. I've lost our first baby, and it has been so painful like anything before. Quite traumatic and not as simple as going to the bathroom and flash it out.. nop, not for me. It took weeks, lots of pain, bed rest, and moree pain, and actually mORe pain. Yes, epidural for me next time even if I'm not actually having a baby please!!!!
But do you think it is crazy I look back with a smile? I loved being a mother, that feeling you get while pregnant.. so precious. I loved having this experience no matter how it ended.. I never want to forget it and I'm glad I can look back with a smile. We had a baby that was given to us even if for a short time, but he was with us :)

Now talking about recovery. This is something else I'm still learning from. You know, everyone acts around you like it's not big deal cause they went throw it, their sister's went throw it, and oh they know so many friends that had tuns of miscarriages, so really it's not big deal.
So without knowing I really started to think it wasn't a big deal for me. I think I kinda forced it that way, until I had to say, stop. I'm in general a positive person, but being positive doesn't mean you are doing great, you are trying to get better with a positive attitue. My body is drained, yep still drained, and I don't know how long it will take, but no I'm not back to normal just yet. I can do some things, but no I'm not back to normal just yet. Fact is, it is a big deal,  being back to normal.. I can't say that.

Some things are coming back to me, and I can finally enjoy more like go back to nice walks in fresh air, and enjoy this beautiful season that I love so much. I finally can go back to enjoy creativity..  I love to look up on etsy and see what other people have created. Even if right now I'm still not in the position to start making things, I love to be inspired by other people. So now I take one day at a time, trying to follow what my body and mind needs to get back to normal after such a traumatic experience.
It is hard to "not run faster then you have strength for..". It is in my nature to run, but in the past years I have done better. Hopefully also this time I will be better with my self and take it easy, keeping on learning how much nicer it is to slow down and carry on :) Oh yes, cause life it is so much better that way :)

{My dad's loss, a pregnancy and miscarriage... now on my way to recovery}

a catchy dance

this is the cutest. Since I'm still sick in bed I do wish to get up and start jumping and dancing like this :)
Needles to say.. Kids are the best :)

{ Cute girl has a catchy dance via The Ellen show}

RUN! Shade is leaving us!

Quite Tragic I know!

I'm so serious, I'm Shocked. I'm totally a Shade girl, I've seen it grow from the very first year they started in 2004 selling their first Cap Sleeve and Baby Tee. I fell in love with it. 

That's all I wear everyday in some ways. 

There has been a lot of other people and companies that have tried to do and make the same thing, but like Shade there's none. They stayed true to their simple, comfortable, fashionable but modest standard and on top of that what makes their product one of a million - their quality is impeccable like no other. 

Their impact in the fashion industries has been a strong one, as much in woman's hearts.

Unfortunately the news is true!

Shade will be closing their doors selling everything within inventory and assets. Closing stores, website, everything to go dark for what they say "a period of time- there is not a set timeline for our return".

For those of you who know their FABULOUS products, the letter of the founder about the liquidation is quite a shocking news.
Everyone is talking  about  it, and I'm sure there's a lot of confusion going on.

Some time I'd love to sit down and chat with this amazing lady. Chelsea Rippy founder and owner. She has done a great job and brought a lot of people to the attention of what woman's clothing can really be. 

RUN if you can to the last liquidation event. Online there's not much left!

WAREHOUSE SPECIAL LIQUIDATION EVENT

AUGUST 27TH - 28TH

Thousands of items, everthing must go.

Friday, August 27th 8am - 7pm

Saturday, August 28th 8am - 3pm

Located at the Shade Warehouse, 864 South 490 W, Pleasant Grove, UT 84602.

PASCO WASHINGTON SPECIAL LIQUIDATION EVENT

{Last chance and products at Shade, Liquidation Events}

Travelers - look up

All I need is some extra cash and time with my hubby to take off on this great deal. But honestly all we really need right now is the opposite. Some peace,  stop in one spot and a place called our own.

For those of you who can, JetBlue unlimited travel is back!

From today All you can Jet is available here. Seats are limited, you better hurry!!! Pick your travel buddy and the adventure at your sight. And yes, adventurous means traveling.. light!

You can read more about it at Helium and Jaunted.

{photos via weheartit}

happy 719th birthday Switzerland

I'm so proud of my native beautiful country like no others

What makes you think Swiss?

One of my favorite things that do recall Switzerland to me, are the houses so well taken care in every details (wait isn't that the case for everything else??). Colors and flowers are everywhere, almost in a daily festive way. Nature again is in foreground, and you, the visitor, the farmer, the traveler, the business man, the normal individual walking by is once again amazed by its beauty of color, shape and simple but accurate creativity and taste. It is this clear, when the Swiss do something they do it well. Yes!

{photography by photo community }