switzerland and sunday

So, it turns out my type of night is listening to this happening little jazz band from Bern (Le Rex) on the shores of lake Luzern with a spritzer and friends around...that was good stuff!

You had a good w/e?

I...
am panicking about summer ending (going too fast)
enjoying a new job
and that I got to go to near Hannover (germany) for it last week and in to the weekend
guess I got to know some of my new coworkers pretty fast...
enjoyed the rain today

Important Things...
-10% from a blog design package by Design by Wushka with code okvillage --> See this post for deets
-tomorrow Under a New Light is giving a gift away to you, watch for that ;) (here's a hint)

swiss sunday

a foggy evening lake luzern from this past week.  the weather has been grey and cloudy and oh so relaxing =)  today we are en route to paris with friends who are visiting (one of my best friends since HS and her husband. It's been pretty amazing having them here - we were talking today about how great it was that we could be so far apart but whenever we see eachother we just pick up where we left off - you have to appreciate friends like that in your life (and take care of them)!

Also today, I'm sharing my idea of the ultimate travel destination at Elise's blog, Globetrotting in Heels.  It's kicking off her "Sunday Trippin" series. Elise is a pretty great person, I have the luck to have gotten to know her in person since she lives in Zurich (thanks blogging!)

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Dear the area where I live,

 ...you have stolen my heart.

P.S. The yellow dot is where I live

P.S.S I did a quick little guest post at Bug Miscellany about movie barcodes if anyone is interested, have you seen those?

 

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Swiss Sunday & Friend Friday

Photo Credit - my friend Teri =)

I'm not sure why I'm posting all these random photos lately but here you go! I was sitting with my friend in Old Town yesterday and all of a sudden we hear marching band music, yelling, etc - like a parade. But then the riot police showed up next to our tables and we realized it was a protest! To have a protest in Switzerland, you first get permission from the police and then they show up with all of this stuff automatically - so nothing huge was happening but it was interesting to see!  I take that back, somehow mark and his friend got in the middle of a bunch of guys dressed in black chasing these other guys when they were riding through on their mountain bikes...the details are fuzzy.

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And now since I failed to do this on Friday, I'm hooking up with the Friend Friday topic (from the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday group) hosted at Modly Chic which is about Fitness!

1. Do you keep some kind of fitness routine? Why? 

I do - I try to run at least every other day and would ideally like to do more but it usually never happens =) I keep it because it's the only way that I can feel confident in my skin. Just eating right doesn't do it for me.

2. Has working out, maybe training for a marathon or something of that nature, helped with your own perception of body image?

I think so - I think that the achievement and high that I feel from a really great run and running consistently cancels out any doubts about how I look because I feel great and that has become most important.

3. When you are hitting the gym or going for a hike, what do you wear? Is it about functionality or fashion? 

If I'm going to be honest here, if I had the choice between looking awesome or functionality I'd go for looking awesome. But, that being said, I do try to find the best of both worlds because those ugly mesh wicking shirts actually make a huge difference on long runs so I've been stealing marks and resigning myself to finally buying some (finally). But usually I wear black leggings and baggy v-neck shirts and tank tops for hot hot days

4. Do you feel there is a cultural perception about what you "should" be doing for your own physical fitness?

This is an interesting question to me because I think Switzerland is different from the US in this aspect. In the US I think that physical fitness is not that important as long as you look good. But, in Switzerland - I think people respect physical fitness a lot more. I've always been a runner but moving here has made even me more conscious of my fitness level and how it's not really up to par. Sure, I can go run long distances but can I hike up a billion meter mountain as effortlessly as the 70 year old swiss man that just blew past me? Nope. In the US I worked out to maintain my body and to feel good - here I train to be able to keep up with our friends on hikes!

5. Dream big, what would be your ultimate fitness goal?

To be able to hang with Mark and his friends mountain biking. They are insane boys though, so it will never ever happen. And to run another half which I'm working on!


Thanks for the great questions Katy - to see everyone else's entries visit Modly Chic.

Fasnacht in Switzerland

Our costumes at a Saturday night party (I'm the black swan!)

Before I moved to Switzerland, I had never heard of "Fasnacht" and I didn't really pay attention to Carnival in Europe - but oh. my. goodness. Fasnacht in Luzern has to be one of Europe's best kept secrets - it is a RIOT. Quite literally, actually. For 1 week this normally sedate, courteous, rule following and clean country goes insane. All of that recklessness held in the rest of the year? Unleashed. While celebrations are held throughout Switzerland, Luzern is known for hosting one of the craziest weeks.

(The above pictures were taken during a day parade by my friend Audrey!)

While celebrations can start as early as the January/February, It all officially starts at 5 am (oopsy, edited from 5:30 - you know I wasn't up!) on the morning of Dirty Thursday where Schwanenplatz in Luzern is packed with people in costume, gluhwine and beer is flowing, band music is playing...and it basically doesn't stop until Fat Tuesday. People call off of work for this week solely to spend the time drinking in costume. It's bizarre. I didn't attend the early morning kick off but I did hear the marching band going down the street even in my little village! There's basically two ways to experience Fasnacht - you either leave on vacation to avoid marching band music for a week straight OR if you can't beat them, join them =)

Pictures from my villages celebration

Even the surrounding villages have celebrations, including mine =) I love my town's celebration because it's a little more low-key - you don't have to wait in line forever to get food and drinks and everyone seems to know everybody so there's a laidback coming together vibe.

Anyway, it is totally mental, but if you're up for it - it would be an amazing time to visit Luzern! Last year M and I casually observed the madness but this year we jumped in! Sink or swim! (or get confetti thrown on  you if you're not in costume) =)

Swiss Sunday - an Igloo Hotel!

 

You might have seen on the Twitter that a few days ago I was heading to spend the night in an igloo? Here it is! It was the by far one of the coolest things I've ever done (no pun intended). The igloo hotel (Iglu-Dorf) is located in Engelberg, a popular ski resort area for central Switzerland. It also serves as an ice bar during the day for skiiers.  The igloo is rebuilt every year and each year they bring in a new artist to decorate the inside - which you can see in the dining area and bedrooms - it was seriously impressive! (our bedroom was the elephant one). Our overnight stay included drinks, a snack tray, a fondue dinner (incredible), a snowshoe hike and use of the 2 person hot tub and then a breakfast at the lodge in the morning.  And yes, it was SO COLD. But amazingly warm sleeping bags were provided so sleeping was no issue. And they woke us up by bringing in hot tea to our room, which I could get used to. OH and I saw a naked man coming from the hot tub...geez Europe.

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Switzerland Sunday and one more thing

I saw this ad wrapped around a...something...downtown Luzern.
I like it =)

Also, today I got to be part of Ren's (Lady of the Arts) series called "Around the World" in which she has bloggers feature 4 different photos showcase inside their home, outside, their creative space and a Wildcard - all with the intention of "stimulating dialogue and promoting creativity". It's one of my favorite series floating around now - To see mine, click it!

Swiss Sunday & Some Links.

Playing on the top of a mountain with some friends ;) Near Gimmelwald, above Interlaken.

I love when people do these, so I do them TOO!

• El Vintage is having a $15 sale of ALL 98 sale items at her etsy shop...go! (msg her what you want and she'll adjust the price before you buy)
• Now this is a good "Hey Ya" cover...
• What is your style? A Quiz.
• Create your own dress? Yes Please. (via)
• Scarves galore
• a 106 yr old holocaust survivor...this is beautiful. 
• DIY elbow patch idea...so great
• What would YOU do with your old denim? This blew my mind.
• Chic 'n Cheap Living is starting her holiday gift guide - sneak peek! watch for mine ;)

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Swiss Sundays: The Fog

For the past week and a half or so, where I live in Switzerland has been smothered with this grey damp moody fog - and I think it's absolutely gorgeous. I had to show you these two pictures because the sun isn't far away even though it appears to be so - all you have to do is climb a mountain for some blue skies, sunshine - and the added bonus of looking out over a huge sea of fog - it's pretty amazing! I'm thinking it's kind of the next best thing to being by an ocean =)

Links & Things/Swiss Sundays...

I'm all packed and ready to visit London for my first time! I've written down all of your suggestions (huge thanks) and will report back on Tuesday!  The Great Gorilla Run is on Sunday...we'll see how that goes =) Maybe I'll be back with a gorilla picture or 2...or maybe I should be asking how much monies you'd pay to see them ;)
Ok, now I just have to get on the airplane...fun fact - I'm terrified of them, my stomach and heart already feel tight :(
But anyway, here's a 'swiss sunday-but-on-friday' picture that I had to take when I saw this scooter in Zurich the other day - I'd love to see who is driving that around!

*I like the internets*

• Have you met Marcel the shell with shoes on? I dare you not to fall in love =) (via)
• The BEST desk I have ever seen.
• Need a cuter camera bag? Check out Epiphanie or Jo Totes
• Herding cats in Ikea...this is the most random thing I've seen in awhile...
• Cool Nikon iPhone cover
• City maps cut by hand
• Speaking of maps, you have to see my map related question and The Flickrite's awesome answer to it!
• Cute puppy alert ;) 

And way special thanks' to
Bella Gets Real
Selma, Crazy Little World of Mine
Cocktails & Orgies
Tragic Fairy Tales
for the awesome blog awards while I was away =) Thanks!

swiss sundays! and some links :)

If you're ever here, you have to visit the Trift Bridge. We did this hike with some friends last month and it was amazing!

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And happy Sunday! - I had a fun Fri. the 13th out on the town then I met my sister in laws with a bottle of prosecco at the train station yesterday to celebrate their arrival here! I managed to open it safely, I always get nervous, but Jen let me practice Friday night ;) They left today for Italy travels and Mark and I and his mom will meet up with them next weekend in Cinque Terra for some quality family time before we head back here to show them around der Schweiz. As for today, it's me, my puppy, coffee and rain =)

I love the internet:

• Maybe THIS is the bike I've been waiting for?
• Look at this cool illustration documenting a flight from New York to Berlin :)
• Sparkle and Fate's why  husbands don't make good photo bloggers - so funny!
• I'm IN LOVE with this apartment - ahhh! 
• A Treasury of handmade etsy scarves, love it.
• I need to figure out how to make this

{Thanks to Daisy Dayz, Bella Gets Real & Laugh, Live, Dream, Take for the lovely blog awards :)

Hiking and whatnot - Advice needed!

These pictures are kind of un-real to me - still. Here's the thing - I'm not much of a hiker - I get bored and I'd rather run, etc...but M really wanted to hike up this mountain behind our flat and he was really really excited about it so I couldn't not go - so I went. That little town in the middle row to the right - that's where I live! Just beyond that is Luzern. Anyway, I cannot walk properly - my legs are so incredibly sore...but looking back, I think it was worth it - I got some cool pictures anyway!

My big question is - what in the world do you wear hiking? I'm totally out of my element in hiking shoes and what not. Is it possible to look way hot and go hiking? No...
So do you hike? What do you wear?!
I live in der Schweiz - home to hardcore Swiss hikers and amazing hiking opportunities and a husband who is ridiculously outdoorsy - so I'm not going to be avoiding it anytime soon. Help a girl out!

P.S. I'll pry climb Mt. Everest next - I dunno

cute =)

I know you are probably thinking "what the heck..what is this cow picture" and I'm kind of thinking that too as in why am I posting this, but aren't they just sooo cute?! We ran across them in a town past Interlaken on a little hike last week on our trip and they just came right up to the fence to say hi to us! We tried to get Bama to check them out but he was terrified, shaking and wouldn't even make eye contact with them - it was quite entertaining  =)