My last days of 2011

Yes, I know - long time no see. As our internet hasn't worked for the last days I was involuntarily separated from the world wide web. I decided to conclude my last post of 2011 with a few - *cough* - impressions of my holidays and I really hope we see each other again in 2012, wow, it feels weird to type 2012.

Macarons from Sprüngli

 Christmas Eve

Boxing Day

I mostly showed you pictures of food but that is because my holidays mostly consisted of food! :) Sorry about that!

The days after Christmas were spent trying to catch a mouse that found its way into our kitchen. We placed all together 8 mice traps in our kitchen and hoped for the best. One morning the decoys were missing and no mouse was caught - good times ... NOT. We switched to apples and yesterday, precisely at midnight, our mouse was caught. We named it "Silvester" and set it free.

I wish you all the best for 2012 - may your next year be a good one!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Messy bun

Lately I thought about my hair style for Christmas Eve and the holidays. Don't laugh at me! I like planning ahead! I came across a few rather nice ideas. Stay tuned!

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And just by the way: What the hell is that suppoed to be?

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Do you dress up for the holidays?

Have a great evening!

Lip Gloss Challenge #1

I can't remember where I read about this but I'm pretty sure it was on one of the blogs I follow. So please bare with me. What I'm going to do is quite simple. I chose two lip glosses from the intolerable amount I accumulated over the past years and I'll use them during the whole month of December. At the end of December it'll show how much I'll have actually used.

Meet the first two candidates

Smashbox lip enhancing gloss sheer color in Red Rock

MAC lipglass in Florabundance

As you can see I have hardly used them - that's going to change, ok, already has changed. I've started this project on the 1st of December, sometimes I'm a little OCD with dates.

See you all soon!

The Christmas Cucumber

This is how it accurately translates, the Christmas Cucumber (= Weihnachtsgurke). Outside of Germany it may be known as (it's just a guess!) Christmas Pickle and looks like this.

About seven years ago this madness began. I want to stress that until then nobody - except vegetable lovers - would hang a cucumber in their Christmas tree. They tell you that it is a German tradition and we all do it, let me assure you we don't.

I found a really good website that summarizes the whole story. I link it here! and show you the interesting parts of the entry.

"A very old Christmas eve tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle [ornament] deep in the branches of the family Christmas Tree. The parents hung the pickle last after all the other ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew the most observant child would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck for the whole year."

I have to admit that this is a cute story but St. Nikolaus doesn't show up on Christmas Eve, he arrives on the 5th or the 6th of December. Contrary to the UK or the US children in Germany unwrap their presents on Christmas Eve, and we dress up for this occasion.

The story behind the Christmas Pickle is often told as follows.

"A descendent of a soldier who fought in the American Civil War, John Lower (Hans Lower), born in Bavaria in 1842, wrote to tell about a family story that had to do with a Christmas pickle. According to family lore, “John Lower was captured and sent to prison in Andersonville, Georgia. ...In poor health and starving, he begged a guard for just one pickle before he died. The guard took pity on him and found a pickle for John Lower. According to family legend, John said that the pickle—by the grace of God—gave him the mental and physical strength to live on. Once he was reunited with his family he began a tradition of hiding a pickle on the Christmas tree. The first person who found the pickle on Christmas morning would be blessed with a year of good fortune.”

Don't get me wrong if you're happy hanging your Christmas Pickle in your tree - DO IT! But please, trust the Germans who don't do that, it's not a tradition.

Have a wonderful fourth Advent Sunday!

The madness continues

Remember my I want them all post? Well, here are a few additions! I just can't pass by Martha Stewart these days!

Southern Comfort Punch

 Apple Cider, Cranberry, and Ginger Punch

Pomegranate Champagne Punch

Amaretto Burbon Punch

Mulled White Wine Sangria

I'm going to start with the Pomegranate Champagne Punch this evening since I have all ingredients at home.

Have a fabulous weekend!

I don't know where to look first

I love our Christmas tree. It's a family tradition to decorate it a week before Christmas. We always do that in the evening and have mulled wine and Plätzchen. It's definitely one of my favourite evenings during Christmas time! I was browsing the internet and stumbled upon a few items I would put in our tree in an instant but most are from the US so dreaming will do!

Since I'm currently living at the Baltic Sea I love this lighthouse ornament!

I'm originally from Bavaria so this pretzel ornament feels like home!

I've never actually eaten a candy cane but I think they're pretty and they're striped! <3

How do you decorate your tree? Do you even have a tree?

Have a great evening!

Christmas movies

Well, I did a post on my favourite Christmas music. It's only consistent to do one on my favourite movies.

The Holiday - I love it! <3

 White Christmas - It's part of my childhood, it's just not Christmas without it!

Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas - It's so funny and it has Danny Elfmann singing!

Miracle on 34th Street - I always cry at the end, I just do.

Love Actually - Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and Colin Firth, it's quite easy to make me very, very happy!

The Polar Express - It's a tradition to watch it at least one time before Christmas!

Do you have any favourite movies for Christmas time?

Have a nice evening

Glossy Box November 2011

Last week my November Glossy Box arrived and I am absolutely stoked about its contents (except one). YAY! I love the products I got but I think I just got lucky since there are a few things I wouldn't be happy about. Let's go!

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* Kryolan Shades palette in Cairo - Gorgeous colours, I can't wait to use them. They're the perfect winter shades!

* Dr. Eckstein Active Concentrate Vitamin Complex - Apparently they do a lot of different concentrates and so far I suppose this is the right one for me. We'll see.

 * Malu Wilz Creamy Lip Pencil - It's a nice colour and I think it'll match my winter wardrobe perfectly!

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* Dr. Scheller Calendula Hand Cream - Small tube, great product, nothing new. I've used it several times in the past and I like it. I don't know why, but recently I'm a big fan of tiny tubes of hand cream since they're really nice to carry around.
* C:Ehko Style Nova Styling Gel Brilliant - What the hell am I supposed to do with that? I have long hair and am really not into the sleek look. Fail!

I have to mention the following thing: This month you (= I) received at least products with a value of at least EUR 81,-. That's fantastic, but - don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I'm human after all! :) - it's nevertheless a bit confusing! Are they planing on keeping that level? Fingers crossed!

Happy Monday evening!

Christmas music

December is my favourite month of the year. And I always make sure that I cannot stand one single Christmas carol after January 6th. That means you'll find me listening to Christmas songs from December 1st straight. I thought I'd share my go-to CDs.

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source - ok, it's a DVD

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source - I adore it!

What are you listening to during Christmas time?

Have a relaxing evening!

I want them all

This is insaity at it's best! They are perfection in a glass and I don't seem to get enough of festive themed drinks at the moment and I completely blame Martha Stewart! Only a short time until Christmas and I still haven't tried every drink I'd like to - hurry up, girl!

Mandarin Cocktail

Candy Cane Cocktail

Kumquat Sour

Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail - At first I thought "why on earth would anybody put a fir limb inside a cocktail, they doesn't even taste good!" Don't ask me how I know that. Well, it's rosemary ...

Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail

Ginger Sparkler - ginger and champagne, it doesn't get better than that!

Kumquat Champagne Cocktail

Cranberry Martini

I think I'm obsessed with Kumquats, I love them! Fortunately the rest of my family doesn't - that's more for me!

Have a great weekend!