flohmarkt

I wouldn't mind having this book to thumb through.

As much as I love IKEA, I have come to realize that I really do not want to live in a home in which everything comes from there. They make such cool rooms, so its challenging not to just buy that "room" and put it in your home, but I think the more original & one of a kind things you can find make a room (or home) more uniquely yours.
That being said, I am stoked about going back to the many different flea markets in Basel!

Philipp and I went to several two years ago when we were busy trying to sell off all his records before traveling and its just such a fun place to be. With all the people around, weird things to look at and yummy crepes/cheese tortes, etc. it makes a weekend. I'm especially looking forward to the Christmas market, since this is one of the first experiences I had of Basel & around the time Philipp & I fell in love *sigh*...many good memories there.Images from flickr.

sweetie.

click to enlarge.

Euro Travels

I've got some serious work to do.

Europe

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

US Travels

Tour USA, Baby!

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

joy.

click to enlarge

Top 5 Things I'm really, really happy to have in my life right now:

1) My best friend (who also happens to be my husband), Philipp. Every day I am reminded in some obvious or subtle way how incredibly fortunate I am to know & be loved by him. We have been able to spend every single day together for 2 years traveling and working. During this time we have not been apart for longer than 3 hours. Although this is bound to change along with the changes we are about to make, I have nothing but profound gratitude for this time.
2) My health. Being able to move freely without pain, walk and run as much as I wish, breathe in & out with ease--these things are incredibly valuable to me. I think along with relationships, its what one must fiercely protect the most.
3) The coming of Autumn. I have such a love affair with this season. After being in Summer-like weather year round for two years by default of wherever we've been living, I am craving cool days, chilly nights and warm clothing.
4) Our In-laws. Really, I don't stop to think about how cool both sets of our parents are until I read or hear about the troubles people have with theirs. Aside from both sets being genuinely good people, we enjoy being around them. This makes for such positivity and joy around life events, holidays, etc. Just knowing that I don't have to guard one my future children from either side is a relief! ; )
5) Time to prepare. In the last year, as Philipp & I have become more interested in this whole idea of "Yay! Babies!", we have had time to reflect, talk, get excited, read (okay, thats only been me--but I read enough for the both of us to have, oh, I don't know, quintuplets!), etc. I feel really good about where we're at (and will be) when the time comes.

**I only slightly feel weird about having an "inspiration quite with picture" on my blog. This in no way was accompanied by candles, incense, and/or an Enya soundtrack.

reisenthel

This market basket from the German company Reisenthel seems perfect for trips across the border to the outdoor market!And I really like this loop bag that they offer as well.

Get yours here.

dylan tracks

Today I'm busy listening to the soundtrack from "I'm Not There," which is full of really well executed takes on old Dylan tunes. On a side note, is there anyone Cate Blanchett cannot play?

fall essentials, annoying advice, etc.

Why is it that as far as the subject of parenthood/pregnancy/motherhood goes everyone (and I do mean everyone) loves to give unsolicited advice that is more so than not, discouraging?

Case in point, Philipp and I have recently had a couple encounters with strangers (strangers!) telling us in passing things like, "Well, enjoy each other now b/c when you have kids you will never pay attention to one another again," or "Better do all your traveling while you can..." etc. etc.

I don't know about you, but I tend to notice a theme with the majority of these people:

They were not doing cool things before they got married & had kids, so why do they feel this suddenly happened to them exclusively after having children?

Either we are completely blind and are in for the worst wake-up call of our lives or we know that we can forge our own paths that don't necessarily have to look like everyone else's. For sure, life will look different than as we know it now, but when did "different" automatically mean "worse"?

This is kind of along the lines of when we got married and people would say, "Don't worry, things will get better, the 1st year is always the hardest". These kind of negative cliches just never took hold with us.
***********
Ahem, moving on to Autumn Essentials.I love this flowy wrap cardigan, grey tank dress and wine colored tights from H&M.

A new longer length trench is in the list for colder days (also H&M).Cozy new hat & matching gloves with feminine details (H&M, who else?).And really, who could resist this mod polka dot romper from BabyStyle?Also, I could think of some particularly colorful/inappropriate words to spell with these Scrabble cushions from Stephen Reed Designs.

peaches

Before leaving NC, I had all intentions of picking up the largest basket of peaches from the best place in my hometown, but we were busy and I forgot and had to buy a smaller bag in the next state down. These peaches were okay (and are really long gone), but not comparable to the ones from NC.

Peach season comes and goes so quickly that I am finding myself unable to find a decent one here and they'll all be out of reach in a week when we leave for Switzerland. So sad!

I usually succeed in eating my weight in peaches during the summer. Alas, not this year : (

colorful cloth

I'm really not the expert on cloth diapering, so this post is mainly just for my mother-in-law whom laughed at me when I told her I wanted to try cloth diapering in the future : )

I wanted to post what the new era of cloth diapers looks like!
Pretty freaking cute and saves you a load of money too!

more bed talk

So here are some more canopy beds. They're popping up everywhere (now that I'm looking for them!). I don't like the way these rooms are styled, by the way.From Design*Sponge.
Both images from Room&Board.

further geek evidence.

And this too (BabyCenter.com is fun!):

Profound Dedication

Scorpio

Scorpio

Above all, you want your family to be safe and secure, and you'll do whatever it takes to achieve that security. You like your privacy and prefer being at home with the family more than anything else.

As a parenting team, you bring devotion, consistency, and deep attachment to your children. You understand them at the core, raising them with watchful eyes and grasping their motivations and their troubles with penetrating perception. If only they could understand you so well! You both have the Scorpio tendency to withhold and to keep to yourselves. It's not for lack of emotion -- you both have plenty of that. The fundamental issue is one of vulnerability: You crave and fear intimacy at the same time. Parenthood provides an incomparable opportunity to develop emotional intimacy with your children that will open your heart in ways you never expected.

the geek that I am.

Ovulation Calculator

Fertile days	Resulting due date
September 16, 2008 - September 21, 2008	June 12, 2009
October 16, 2008 - October 21, 2008	July 12, 2009
November 15, 2008 - November 20, 2008	August 11, 2009
December 15, 2008 - December 20, 2008	September 10, 2009
January 14, 2009 - January 19, 2009	October 10, 2009
February 13, 2009 - February 18, 2009	November 9, 2009

found him.

Look at this lovely lump of cuteness. I have no idea where this photo came from, but I like it nonetheless.

foster's & figs

I randomly picked this cookbook up from the library and have to say, it has for sure made it into my wish list. Its full of really versatile, fresh & delicious looking recipes. Plus the author, Sara Foster, owns a specialty market in NC. I love supporting things from my home state.
There's a dessert recipe in there involving balsamic vinegar & fresh figs. Mmmm. Cannot wait to have my own kitchen again. I miss my herb garden!

logo nation

I just have to make a quick little rant here: Why do nearly all little boys' clothing have stupid little cartoons or cars/trucks/trains/sports motifs on them? It really drives me crazy. Especially the Disney cartoon stuff on everything. I'm not a big fan of lettering on clothing in general and I have noticed it seems so much easier to track down cool things for little girls that look like real clothes. Some little characters are cute, but not the overload of primary colors with gigantic kid theme patterns.

My favorite alternative is the plain 'ole Gerber white Onesie. My brothers always looked scrumptious in these as infants. Cute and timeless.

waterbirth

What I've been reading:
This image is sort of a dream I have right now, floating around inside my head... to be surrounded by the ones I love when giving birth, in a natural setting with my husband playing an active role. Re-birth of oneself has always been a topic I've been intrigued by and even more so now that I have been really interested in the actual physical act of birth . A quote from the book likens birth to "a soul giving birth to a soul". I like that.Image from this blog.

oregon

Image via Apartment Therapy

These prints remind me of our time in Oregon. What a special state that is. I miss it.

more peonies.

I never thought this day would come.

Image via Apartment Therapy

Really. I've hated pink for quite a few years now. I don't want it on my body or around me. I don't know why. Maybe I reached my limit as a girl and as an adult it turns my stomach. I do continue to love it for little girls, just not for myself.

However. A few pink highlights in design have been catching my eye lately. I have been seeing it being used to break up an otherwise monochromatic room. I'm storing this for future nurseries/children's rooms for when/if my girls scream "Pink!" I can turn to this blending of strong/soft colors to make it less uber girlie.Images via Remodelista.Image via Domino Magazine

a good use of chalk

Here's another great shot of using a chalkboard in the home:

childhood

Image from Living, Etc.

I look forward so much to having the little things of childhood in my house.

canopies found!

I LOVE the magazine Living, Etc. from England. Here are a two rooms featuring poster beds I found on their site. I really am loving the idea of all white bedrooms at the moment.

Canopy bed craze

I am kind of obsessing over four poster/canopy beds at the moment.

No. Not those.

Really nice, clean & modern canopy beds.

Not the kind I obsessed over as a 7 year old. Back then I wanted a frou frou one so bad--ruffles, pink, lace, the works! I'm hoping to find more actual room designs with them. I think if done right, having one now could be modern as well as romantic.

Baukjen of Isabella Oliver

I know I have posted on the genius that is Isabella Oliver before, but I was clicking around on their site and happened to notice that the redhead of the duo that creates the line shares my birthday! Of course she does ; )

I also found out that they are branching off from maternity wear to start a line for everyday women. This too excites me.

I am adoring this coat right now, which says it can be worn throughout pregnancy and beyond...
If I could, I would literally have one of everything from their website. Every piece is so classic & chic, not to mention versatile.

The way they use ruching and wrapping is so clever and flattering.Check out their line, here.

henry rollins

Still not 100% sure why I sat down and did this, but I wrote a really extended email to Henry Rollins today. I just had to.

malm beds

Back in California, Philipp & I had the Malm bed from IKEA, in the birch veneer color:Which we did really enjoy, enough to buy it again; it was very sturdy & just the right height. However, after seeing this picture on Design*Sponge with the oak color:
I'm torn between which one looks cooler. Oh. And we have both decided that we want to spring for a King size, no matter if it overtakes the whole room because we sleep SO much better when we both can hog a larger space all to ourselves. Plus, if we end up co-sleeping with our little ones, that extra space will be much needed/appreciated.

crisp & clean hotel

Could this hotel in England get any more clean and awesome?

home tour in NorCal

These images are from a lovely home tour in Northern California from Cookie magazine's blog. Check it out here. Pretty much anything involving a Peony gets me going and I absolutely love the large wall hanging behind their bed.

sleepy heads

These sleeping bears from this high-end shop from France remind me of how lucky I am and that I should always remember it. It's the little nuances of life that one misses the most once they're gone. Every night & morning shared is a simple treasure.

kristin dress

I'm currently hypnotized by this website for 3 reasons:

1) The music to their homepage
2) They actually have a dressed called by my name (and spelled correctly!); top left
3) They're eco-friendly

bricks & mortar

on friendship

The friendship that can cease has never been real.

-Saint Jerome

striped bowls

If I could have found this picture earlier, I am sure these from Crate & Barrel would both be in my favorites list:
Philipp & I bought these shortly after our wedding. They were part of a Halloween collection, but us Scorpios see no reason to save those for the devil's holiday. We love them for everyday.

inspiration for leaving/outtakes from CH

I really am getting excited about moving back to Basel. Clicking through these outtakes from '06, there is much to be looking forward to!

H&M wide leg trouser jeans

These jeans on the far left look cool from H&M. Hopefully not too low cut on the waist. Nice curvy figure+superlow jeans= not so nice muffin tops.

one more reason...

What? Another reason to be pregnant? Isabella Oliver pregnancy clothes are to die for. I want them all. I can drink a lot of beer I promise, to get that belly (um, unless I was in fact pregnant). I love clothing that wraps.

storing the pinkness

This would be the perfect match for the pinkness described earlier, no?

Image from Martha Stewart.

movenpick

Movenpick, oh Movenpick. Soon I will have you in my grasp again. Soon you will cast your spell on me and entrance me with your ridiculously priced/portioned incantations of deliciousness. Oh, Movenpick. Wait. What the hell? Nestle bought you? Nestle does NOT have the same ring to it as saying Movenpick of Switzerland while licking/validating my gum ball sized 5 franc ice cream cone!

11 things that make me happy.

Inspired by Joslyn's post over on her Simple Lovely blog, I decided to do my very own favorites list. Once started, I could not limit it to just 10. So this is my "11 things that make me happy":


Clockwise from left to right:

1) Real Simple magazine: aside from the clean, sophisticated layout, I love the content & ideas for better, simpler living--real simple.
2) Rosebud Perfume Co. Minted Rose Lip Balm: this cult favorite lasts forever and makes your lips have just the right amount of shine & color. The vintage-like tin is a plus!
3) H&M: pretty much anything from this store I love. Simple European pieces that you don't cry over losing or messing up--their prices are great!
4) Levi's slouch cut jeans: after years of trying to find the perfect boy feeling beat up jeans that don't drown me in size, these were a winner. Really comfortable and the dirtier, the better.
5) Linen Sailor pants: Sadly, my favorite pair of perfect fitting linen sailor pants have ripped beyond repair. Perhaps I'll find them at H&M again, maybe these will do? Not quite like my favorite ones, but a try on is in the future.
6) Sailor/French inspired striped top: these are always fairly easy to find since they're such a classic. I've come to love stripes more & more. I found one similar to this at H&M in California. I'll probably pick a few more up if they're still there in Basel. They're good to have around.
7) Bare Minerals foundation powders: I really am not a make up kind of gal, but these powders are so lightweight and luminous. They give you a perfect complexion and are actually good for the skin.
8) Converse Chucks: I swear our kids will come out of the womb with a pair of these on. Its the only thing Philipp wears and they're my go-to-always-perfect shoe choice. I prefer mine in maroon. P goes for navy and most recently black (he wore them for our wedding)!
9) Weleda wild rose toner: I just recently got into this German brand of health & beauty products. Its an all natural/bio dynamically grown company which focuses on many holistic products for face & body. I really love the smell and therapeutic properties of this toner.
10) The Family at Home: Love. Life. Style: this is such an inspiring book on modern design within the family life. I love the heavy weight paper the images are printed on & Anita Kaushal is magic!
11) Monochrome: any album by this German band is a fantastic listen. They have easily become one of my favorite groups since being introduced to them earlier this year.

lotus bowls

I really, really want this set of nesting bowls. They are perfect in every way.

scents.

I am not a fragrance person in general. I have asthma so scents tend to really put me off. However, this is the one perfume I can wear on special occasions. It brings back so many wonderful memories for me, just to smell it. Philipp surprised me with this one night in San Luis Obispo while we were eating at my favorite restaurant, Novo. The lovely packaging and memories always bring a smile to my face. Picturing my scruffy husband in Banana Republic buying it does too. I also wore this on our wedding day.

what's my motivation?

A print from etsy. Quite fitting for the moment:

porcelain jars from IKEA

What? All 6 of you will be coming home with me in a few months once having a place of our own in Basel? Oh. Seven or eight (or thirty) more of your friends would like to join as well? Well, okay.

A nod to purple

When I was a girl, I was utterly obsessed with the color purple (um, not the movie). Everything had to be purple. My father even built me a bunk bed with a child size doll house underneath painted completely purple (I think he didn't want to go to work that day). Anyhow, I adored it.

I found this kitchen on Apartment Therapy today and although I would not think to do it, I really like the effect. Its a step away from what I am usually drawn to in kitchens; clean & white, if not almost sterile.This room is designed for a little girl in mind with combinations of gray & purple. I am not completely sold on the colors being all compassing of the room, but I think touches here and there would be cool. Maybe keep the walls as is and make the bedspread and accessories only pick up the purple of the walls?

We had chalkboard closet doors in our place in CA and they were really fun.

exotic hotels

Check out this hotel setup in the Maldives. Rented house boats which are tethered to a pier. You can rent them out and have your back door as a diving board. There is way too much out there to not be ecstatic every day of the possibility to explore.

cool loft

This is a really light and beautiful picture from a loft in San Francisco.

comments, etc.

I just wanted to post that I just now realized people have been commenting on my blog and I had no idea because I didn't enable them to notify me each time someone does. So, sorry if potential conversations went unnoticed--I'm in business now. ; )

more H&M love

Competing for #1 against the lederhosen fascination of days gone by, why couldn't I find this in the mens section of H&M? Philipp? Anybody?Also, some really stylish looks on children which I would be happy to steal/borrow/beg for:

H&M & boy business

Who would have ever thought clicking around on the Germany H&M website would soften my heart towards having a boy afterall? Still girl obsessed of course, but this munchkin is irresistible.Does anyone reading my blog gather that I am ready to have a baby? Didn't think so.

sofas & all that jazz

If I had to go out right now and buy a sofa (which hopefully once settled back in Switzerland will swiftly become the case), I would buy from IKEA's Karlstad series. Set up just like this:(Taken from one of my favorite home tours on AT).

Get the scoop here via IKEA's website.

chic city guides

I'm pretty curious about these little sets of slim travel guides from the people over at wallpaper magazine. Basel is included in the covered cities, so I am really interested to pick one up. These definitely do not scream "Murder me, I'm a tourist" like hauling around a Lonely Planet Bible does.

on being yummy

I do have an obsessive personality. And I have read upwards of 65 books now on pregnancy/parenting mainly due to this character flaw/trait. If I am into something and there is something to know, I want to know it all--right now.

That being said, the above image is from a book I just finished called The Yummy Mummy Manifesto. Yeah, I know the title sounds really cheesy. I did not have the highest of hopes upon scoring it at the local library, but it actually was fun to read and not dumbed down like other "work your awesome life, you awesome person, you!" titles I have read in the past. Ahem, Eco Chic anyone? (God, that book irritated the hell out of me).

This was mainly just a fun, girlie beach read that turned out to be interesting and got me thinking about remaining fit & stylish while becoming/being a mother. I am not going to set the bar too high for myself when I become a mother but I also do not want to be one of those women who forget they have waistlines and schlep around in matching sweats with the words "Juicy" on them. Moving to Europe will be an obligatory cure for that temptation because thats just not acceptable there. Maybe that was a requirement for countries joining the EU ; )

Anyhow, Philipp and I have been having to weed through our belongings for the upcoming move and it has me in a real mood of wanting to clean out my (embarrassingly tiny) wardrobe. I plan to remove anything that does not fit, has rips, stains or tears, or otherwise makes me look like a high school drop-out who works at Sonic.

As much as I feel I really know how to shop for my body and know what looks good on it, I also come from a long line of Kales who really love nothing better than to go bra-less in volunteer fire department tees and hideous gym shorts for days on end; inside out or worn correctly, it matters not.

My theory is that if something ugly is not in my closet then I cannot put it on.

From now on (meaning when I actually have the money to go shopping), I want to focus on really good pieces which will last more than one season. I have a real bad habit of buying disposable clothes which are stylish at the moment but unravel in my hands upon the first washing all because I am chu chu chu eap.

Here's to quality over quantity & a new fashion era!

the pinkness

Oh my goodness, what a mess I got myself into while visiting at my parents! This is just a sample of the girlie treasures I found waiting for me in cardboard boxes and plastic bags. My mother saved all of my sister & my baby and childhood clothes over the years and I had a drool fest while unpacking them and cleaning them from years of storage. A lot of the pieces were next to ruined from age yellowing but I found a miracle product called White Brite and worked extremely hard at getting them out. I nearly died from toxic overload while doing it, but the results were amazing.
This little cardigan was actually my mothers. I have to admit I have incessant day dreams of wrapping a 3rd generation watermelon head Kale baby in it daily.

DIY project

What an adorable little mobile project. Seems pretty easy, too!
From over on Design*Sponge.

stenciling

These are some really cool uses for hand stenciling in homes from Design*Sponge.

re entering.

I've been stuck in dial up land at my parents' place for a few weeks and am back up and running. Another one of these:Taken from Apartment Therapy.