Advent season ahead

In Germany there is a tradition called "Adventskalender" (Advent calendar). I think this custom is of German origin and goes back to the beginning of the 20th century. Since I've been a little child I loved my annual Advent calendar and the night before December 1st was always extremely exciting for me. Obviously those times are long gone but I do love Advent calendars all the same.
I am pretty sure it's not a novum per se but some days ago I spotted some cards which I thought were brilliant. I don't particularly like those chocolate Advent calendars  - except the one from Niederegger and Lindt of course - since I usually don't like the chocolate. To explain what I'm talking about I'll include some pictures for you. I'm planning on getting at least a few and sending them to my friends and family.

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I LOVE this one from the Fruchfliege Online Shop.

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I'm really intrigued by the lantern ones, I think this idea is fabulous! I'm going to show you the calendars which I ended up buying but before I do that, I'll have to figure out how to hide this from my family and friends. Ah, I know, I'll post the pictures after December 1st. :)

I also bought two calendars for myself, yes, I really did. One is - oh surprise - filled with beauty products and the other one is from Lindt and filled with tiny Lindor chocolates. I cannot wait for December 1st to come! :)

Have a great first Advent Sunday!

Major hair envy

Since I've seen The Mummy Returns I always wanted Rachel Weisz's hair - not in a creepy "The Silence of the Lambs" kind of way. I really liked her cut and the colour and since I have naturally straight (=boring) hair I wanted waves like her.

 If anybody happens to know where these pictures are from please let me know, I saved them a long time ago in my "Inspiration" folder and don't know where I got them from.

I was browsing amazon.de for Christmas presents when I came across this hair dryer. It spin-dries your hair and is supposed to create naturally looking wavy hair. Does anybody know if that actually works? The product video seems so but I don't trust them. It seems too good to be true. 

Remington D1001 Spin Curl

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Maybe I should just buy it and try it? But if it doesn't work I'll end up with a hair dryer with a duck's bill.

What dou you use to create naturally looking waves?

Have a nice evening everybody!

Douglas Box October 2011 - It's an early Christmas

Hm, I quite fail in remembering why I didn't photograph my October Douglas Box of Beauty. I suppose, I received it when I was really ill and just didn't fancy leaving my bed. Either way, I have to show you the November Box since it is absolutely AMAZING!

May I present my early Christmas surprise?

 

The Original Product: Annayake Highlight Brush in 01 light - It's perfection since I'm running quite low on my YSL Touche Éclat. It's regularly on sale for EUR 29,95 and if you take into consideration that you pay EUR 10 for your Douglas Box of Beauty there really isn't one thing to complain about.

Other Products
* WELEDA Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion - I already know this cream and I like it.
* Michalsky Shower Gel for Women - nice formula and smell, but to be honest, I would use almost every shower gel imaginable since I don't care about its qualities (except it has to leave me with a clean feeling).
* Kings & Queens Nefertiti Honey Shower Gel - I haven't opened it yet, I'm going to save it for a shortrip since it's a handy size.
* Essie nail polish in Chincilly - the colour is a middle grey with purple notes and just recently I considered buying it, now I'm glad, I dind't. Another plus: It's the original size and I would have paid EUR 7,95.

I'm really impressed with the box of this month! <3 it!

Have a fabulous week everyone!

Glossy Box October 2011

Alright, here is my quick and very belated rundown of the contents of my October Glossy Box. Obviously it was Halloween themed and I have to admit that I find the combination of rose and orange weird. Whatever! :)

unwrapped

I received the following products, some are good others need getting used to.
* A-Derma lip balm with oat - well, you know, it's another lip balm, at least it's nourishing and doesn't dry out my lips. As I go through lip balms like crazy in the winter time I'm always happy to have a new one!
* ALO Enrich drink - that's the huge bottle, it's supposed to be a beauty drink. I WAS quite happy to receive the flavour pomegranate and cranberry since I love that combination, what I don't like are the little pieces of Aloe Vera swimming in the drink. It really resembles jellyfish. No, thank you very much! I've already given the bottle away to a friend who's really into healthy stuff and most of all Aloe Vera.
* Kaloderma Age Balance Day Cream - it's nice but I'll stick with my face products.
* Misslyn Sweet Lips lip gloss - I like the colour I got, neutral and shiny.

 The absolutely highlight for me is the Moroccanoil since I wanted to try it for ages. I'm very satisfied with my Revlon Orofluido Beauty Elixir but there is no harm in trying something new, I suppose.

That's it, quick and short but when I'm in a hurry I tend to shorten my posts. Sorry!

Have a great and pleasant weekend!

I'm in love

I've found my perfect coffee glasses. They're fantastic and absolutely gorgeous. And the best thing is that I don't burn my fingers holding them. I first came into touch with them in a nice little coffee shop and people were looking at me quite strangely since I peered at the glass rather intensly by holding it up over my head. Hey, it's been dark outside and I couldn't see properly. The glasses are from a brand called "Schärf the art of coffee" and here are my favourites.

Tea and Coffee Glass

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Royal Glass

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Now I have to decide which ones and how many to get. Maybe I could use some as a Christmas gift as well ... definitely have to think about that!

Have a relaxing night and see you soon!

Some days ...

... I really seem to run on caffeine only. It starts in the morning and ends in the late afternoon, in between you can find several cups of white coffee, espresso, cappuccino - the stronger the better. I know, caffeine doesn't substitute a healthy lifestyle but on those crazy days it's my life-saver. Meet THE perfect cappuccino!

In other thoughts, why is December approaching so quickly? I'm pretty sure Halloween was yesterday! I really need to start my Christmas shopping - that means a lot of to-do lists.

Did you know? The Toffee Nut Latte is back at Starbucks! Yay!

Have a great evening everyone!

Last weekend

I tried something new. I've never eaten sweet poatoes before and I really wanted to try them. I read a post on Cupcakes and Cashmere and decided to give that recipe a shot. Well, first thing I have to say is you definitely need a sharp vegetable grater, mine broke after five slices. Yes, not so good. I then used a vegetable peeler similar to this one.

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Well, believe me this one was sharp. In fact, I succeeded in cutting into the tip of my forefinger. Damn, it bled like hell and mixed really well with my bright red nail polish. As I am typing this post I assure not to use my forefinger since it's still unpleasant to touch the finger tip.
Nevertheless the chips were delicious - they better had to since I sacrificed my blood!

Before baking

 After baking

It's a very simple recipe. Just slice your potato. Mix it with olive oil, pepper and salt in a bowl and spread it on a baking paper on a baking tray. Bake to gusto.
I suppose you can use every spices you like, I used a sea salt with mediterranean herbs.

Have a nice week everyone!

I wish ...

I wish the weather would be like this.

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But actually it's not - surprise! It's more like this. Rainy, bitterly cold and freezing.

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It's only November! How am I supposed to survive the next months with ice cold hands and feet?

Please excuse me now, I hvce to snuggle up in a thick blanket and have some mulled wine while watching all three episodes of SHERLOCK (Trailer on youtube)! Woot!

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Have a great weekend everybody! 

Strange similarities

This is the story behind. About five years agos I was absolutely obsessed with Agent Provocateur's parfum. I couldn't justify buying it myself but since Christmas was near I made up a "plan". Usually my "plans" tend to be subtle - well, that one was not. From December 1st to December 23rd I told nearly everyone around me at least one time a day about this perfume. I know! What can I say? I was obsessed! Thinking about that now, I guess, simply begging would have been niftier ... Long story short, I got it for Christmas and was beyond stoked! And then it all went wrong.

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I still like the smell but that's it. My first time using it ended in a very bad allergic reaction which in retrospect I blame on the hydrocarbons. I used it a few times afterwards but the allergic reaction still occured. So I had a 100 ml pink porcelain bottle and couldn't use it and some male friends pointed out weird similarities. :(

* pig's stomach - I'll spare you a picture, but well, it's actually plausible.
* hand grenade - girly edition *rolls eyes*

My adventure came to an end one year later when I sold it via ebay the next Christmas. Nevertheless I still smile remembering the whole story, just too grotesque ...

Did you ever run after one thing and ended up getting rid of it later?

Have a great evening!

October Favourites

Well, it's already a week into November and I've finally come around to do my monthly favourites post. I don't know why, but I kind of like those posts - although I've only written one until now. I guess that is because it gives me a possibility to recap the past month and to actually focus on the things I really liked and loved using. Yes, I know, I'm weird in this regard ...

Some standards and a few newbies

* Benefit some kind a gorgeous the foundation faker in medium
* Avéne Couvrance translucent mosaic powder
* Clinique High Impact Mascara in black
* Chanel nail polish in 505 Particulière  - It's my colour of choice since it's been launched. I highly recommend it!
* Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara in black - It seperates my lashes perfectly, I suppose that's due to the plastic brush/comb thingy ...
* MAC Lipglass Viva Glam Cyndi - nice colour + nice formula = nice product
* Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat - You don't know it? Buy it, you won't regret it! Promise!

It's so cold here at the moment and I fear it's not going to get better soon. My hair has mostly discovered it's own will and I try my best to fight it down, literally. I used to let my hair just air dry but in the colder months that's sadly no possibility since it would force me to stay in for approximately five hours straight or catch pneumonia.

* Catwalk by Tigi Sleek Mystique Haute Iron Spray - Smells really good and doesn't make my hair look oily. Win!
* John Frieda Full Repair Deep Infusion Fluid - Although smells divine, I apply it to my hair-ends and wrap them up in a bun at night! No, I won't show a photo!

You know that time of the year when you switch your daily perfume to a warmer toned one? An all time favourite of mine is actually another Yves Saint Laurent product. I seem to have quite a thing for Yves Saint Laurent. I guess there are worse things. :)

* Yves Saint Laurent Opium - You don't know it? Go smell it! It's definitely a feminine scent, with slightly spicy tones and warm oriental touches.

Alright, this may seem odd - ah, who am I fooling - it's odd. To include these things, I mean.

* Wrigley's Instinct warm and cool mint chewing gum - I'm all for chewing gum but never ever chew with your mouth open in my presence, I promise A VERY BAD THING will happen. Just so you know.
* Sisley Baume Confort Levres - really nice stuff, absolutely right for winter time.

Something for my soul

* Ferrero has a new flavour of DUPLO - dark chocolate and almonds, how could I resist that? Only dark chocolate with marzipan would be better!
* Lindt Les Grands dark chocolate with whole hazelnuts - yummy!

Just one remaining question. Has anybody started buying Christmas presents yet?

Have a lovely night!

Wishlist #1 - Books

I really do need more time to read. I love reading but recently I didn't have any time to read a good book or something that isn't work related. *sigh* At the moment there is particularly one book at the top of my wish list and a book series I would like to start reading.

I like it's slightly morbid looking cover!

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The Parasol Protectorate - love the title - light reading, but seems to be really funny! I think it's perfect to relax and just chill. So far I've found five volumes ... the first one ...

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I'll definitely have to figure out how I can squeeze at least one of these books in my busy schedule.

Have a nice evening and enjoy the first days of November! God, where did October go!?