tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9230302010295059432024-03-14T04:55:06.065+01:00Expat KateKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-42881433193565320312009-07-23T19:02:00.001+02:002009-07-23T19:02:46.022+02:00Check out these lovely espresso cups! They hail from Cape Town, South Africa and are even dantier in person... I love their egg-cup shape!<br /><br />Hugs...<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/23/282.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/23/s_282.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/23/283.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/23/s_283.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />-- Post From My iPhone<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-65063314250548107642009-07-16T18:21:00.001+02:002009-07-16T18:21:20.774+02:00SummerscapeEnjoying these roses at the moment and the gloriously sunny day! Who needs Febreeze when there's fresh blooms around?<br /><br />Hugs...<br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/16/254.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/16/s_254.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /> <br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/16/255.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/07/16/s_255.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />-- Post From My iPhone<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-5818515989719201972009-07-12T11:04:00.005+02:002009-07-12T11:26:13.589+02:00Summer Bags to Feel Good About<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">By now, it may be no secret that my favorite site of all time is</span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Etsy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">. And on the </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Etsy main page</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> is my new favorite addiction: the </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/recently.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">"Recently Listed"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> scrolling photo list that rolls all of the newest handmade and vintage goodies across the screen. The images dance past my eyes for mere seconds and are just as quickly replaced by other visions of loveliness. Today, I couldn't resist clicking on these bags by </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6982096"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Tida McIntyre</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">. Tida is a designer living in Milan, Italy and has quite a few bags that are dripping with the vibe of summer. To check out the goods or more of </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6982096"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Tida's work</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, head on over to her </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6982096"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">myTida</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Etsy shop!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Until next time!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Hugs...</span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=26746294"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlmofXQRoRI/AAAAAAAAAJo/QLNmdyxUHkY/s400/il_fullxfull.76409260.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357498488505606418" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=26746294"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlmofPBK0mI/AAAAAAAAAJg/v3fOr5P6iKs/s400/il_fullxfull.76409257.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357498486294762082" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27686161"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlmoDMrKWzI/AAAAAAAAAJY/n__NLWNFCcE/s400/il_fullxfull.79558357.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357498004629248818" /></a><div><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27686161"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlmnpLdd4JI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/gdO6QIlRQMM/s400/il_fullxfull.79558353.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357497557626773650" /></a><br /><div><br /></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-54547112855331766992009-07-09T00:21:00.002+02:002009-07-09T00:38:27.951+02:00Take A Walk On The Mild Side<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">As one rainy day rolls into the next here in central Switzerland, I thought I'd take you for a stroll through our neighborhood. With umbrella and jacket in tow, I peeked into the gardens and yards of some of my favorite little outdoor spaces in the 'hood. Enjoy!</span></div><div><br /></div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlUdWdpRQoI/AAAAAAAAAJA/u10yNoJcd2g/s400/IMG_0045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356219603579126402" /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlUdWoLXg1I/AAAAAAAAAJI/pMoDF9DX7PU/s400/IMG_0067.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356219606406497106" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlUdVw7bxII/AAAAAAAAAIw/XGhvEkTKTh4/s1600-h/IMG_0056.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlUdVw7bxII/AAAAAAAAAIw/XGhvEkTKTh4/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356219591575716994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlUdVlKXTZI/AAAAAAAAAIo/8uae3nKcUYQ/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlUdVlKXTZI/AAAAAAAAAIo/8uae3nKcUYQ/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356219588417113490" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SlUdWLbmg4I/AAAAAAAAAI4/xMta3okmvUM/s400/IMG_0222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356219598689960834" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Hugs...</span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-4106310338297610132009-07-02T08:40:00.003+02:002009-07-02T08:50:15.205+02:00And The Winner Is...Thanks everyone for participating in my giveaway! And especially a big thanks to Trish at Pink Parchment Soaps for being gracious enough to sponsor the prize. The winner of any three currently available bars of handmade soap from Pink Parchment Soaps Etsy shop is: Anne! I will be sending a message right away to our lucky winner! Thanks again everyone for making this giveaway such a great success.<div><br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SkxYMWxYusI/AAAAAAAAAIg/F4LYoiCiRWI/s400/il_430xN.65079826.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353751026331073218" /><br /></div><div>Hugs...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 21px; font-family:Trebuchet;font-size:13px;"><dt class="comment-author blogger-comment-icon" id="c6920006061293911470" style="line-height: 16px; background-image: url(http://www.blogger.com/img/b16-rounded.gif); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-left: 20px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; background-position: 0% 50%; "><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14779102079454164659" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 64); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anne</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> said...</span></dt><dd class="comment-body" style="margin-top: 0.25em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These are my favorites<br />1.Green Apple Soap<br />2.Orange Creamsickle Soap<br />3.Peppermint Soap<br />I would love to try these out! thanks!</span></p></dd><dd class="comment-footer" style="margin-top: -0.25em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.1em; "><span class="comment-timestamp"><a href="http://expatkate.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway-pink-parchment-soaps.html?showComment=1244167200176#c6920006061293911470" title="comment permalink" style="color: rgb(107, 85, 170); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">JUNE 5, 2009 </span></a></span></dd></span></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-2068109650135974762009-06-29T22:38:00.004+02:002009-06-29T22:49:01.462+02:00Giveaway Ends Soon!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">There's only one more day to join in on this great giveaway from Pink Parchment Soaps! For the contest page and more information click <a href="http://expatkate.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway-pink-parchment-soaps.html">here</a>!</span><div><a href="http://expatkate.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway-pink-parchment-soaps.html"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SkknScgnEaI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/O0s8IvWp2kE/s400/il_430xN.57073904.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352852829950644642" /></a><a href="http://expatkate.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway-pink-parchment-soaps.html"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SkkncQAMyjI/AAAAAAAAAIY/S4KcwkmyPGk/s400/il_430xN.53785546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352852998392171058" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hugs...</span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-81771174470235746002009-06-17T08:25:00.008+02:002009-06-17T08:54:34.674+02:00Summer Glow<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br />This is a picture of <a href="http://www.chellepaperie.blogspot.com/">Chelle Paperie's</a> table decor from her wedding. The table was also featured on an Apartment Therapy piece about <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/look/outdoor-lighting-inspiration-use-lots-of-jars-085864?utm_source=Apartment+Therapy+Daily+Email&utm_campaign=3578d1fec9-AT_Email_6_16_096_16_2009&utm_medium=email">outdoor lighting inspiration</a>. I can't decide which I adore more, Chelle Paperie's beautiful creations or her glowingly romantic dinner party table... I am definitely stealing this idea!<br /><br />Hugs...</span></span><div><br /><a href="http://www.chellepaperie.blogspot.com/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjiOYZyfiaI/AAAAAAAAAII/hCouqv0oRGk/s400/052909_outdoor.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348181107393137058" /></a><br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-52841599841615508522009-06-12T09:21:00.007+02:002010-05-27T14:22:54.836+02:00Fick'r Friday<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">A very fairy birthday party indeed. For my monkey's seventh birthday last year, I thought I'd theme it up the event. We used the guidance of Tracy Marsh's </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Fairy-Craft-Party-Book/dp/080694319X"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Midnight Fairy Craft & Party Book</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "> for our inspiration. Hope you're inspired for your little monkeys too! If you want details on any of the specifics to this party, just post a comment & I'd be happy to share</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Also, thanks to Grammy for taking these photos!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Have a very fairy weekend!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Hugs...</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3619103986/in/photostream/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3619103986_df700383a2_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3618355105/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 307px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3618355105_27343d3e51.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3618153007/in/photostream/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3618153007_ab15f145b5_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3618144903/in/photostream/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3618144903_c5b5535521_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3613154189/in/photostream/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 350px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3613154189_331702dc8e_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3613952308/in/photostream/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/3613952308_efd66d2d92_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3613952296/in/photostream/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/3613952296_6bf94f2e2f_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38452983@N04/3613952300/in/photostream/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3613952300_e43644d0c7_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-7012270696631750722009-06-10T23:25:00.004+02:002009-06-10T23:46:14.496+02:00Montone Does Not Equal Monotony.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: italic; ">This is my dream home in my dream palette. I can't get enough of these pics, which I have tucked away in my "some day" folder on my laptop. Until my someday comes, I give you monochromatic done right.</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjAoHLVhrBI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/Dj-peD9_zlM/s400/2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345816861456051218" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjAozC-obuI/AAAAAAAAAH4/IT9Mpqk10Y8/s400/8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345817615126785762" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjAozsgMtxI/AAAAAAAAAIA/D22KN0iWNck/s400/9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345817626273429266" /><br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjAoHQC3gpI/AAAAAAAAAHg/LkwzoVGz05s/s400/3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345816862719967890" /><br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjAoHJDr9vI/AAAAAAAAAHY/TXKruVFBGow/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345816860844357362" /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjAoHjEdgBI/AAAAAAAAAHo/OlxsFqZhKz0/s400/5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345816867826925586" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SjAoH7nHlDI/AAAAAAAAAHw/a2F8o20NOOg/s400/7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345816874414740530" /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I have no idea whose blog I pulled these lovely images from and have exhausted myself in the search in order to properly give credit. Now I am asking you, dear readers, to join in on the search. I know this much: about six months ago, I was perusing a design blog that featured these pics of a british designer's house, who often lets photographers use her space as the staging for their shoots. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-89644862100306552272009-06-08T10:28:00.009+02:002010-05-27T14:27:20.099+02:00Waiting For Roger<a href="http://binary.rolex.com/en/media/images/world-of-rolex/sports-culture/ambassadors-tennis/roger-federer.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SizTYZUQXFI/AAAAAAAAAG4/4vN0MmHrM7U/s400/roger-federer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344879273848101970" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">World renowned tennis player and recent French Open winner, Roger Federer, is Swiss (in case you haven't heard). While he may be the darling of the Tennis world, he is the beloved hero of the Swiss world. Where, you may ask, am I going with this? Yesterday I witnessed an interesting event at a country club restaurant. Imagine a swanky banquet dinner complete with candlelit tables, white linens, polished silver, amuse bouche & haute cuisine, bottles of flowing wine and champagne, glasses clinking and the low murmur of quiet enjoyment. Now imagine plate after plate of freshly made sorbet balanced atop puffs of flaky tarts sitting at empty tables, melting away as only homemade ice cream can.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.jenniferbowen.net/table-setting.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SizdEYvT6_I/AAAAAAAAAHI/EeYLf4-EKxE/s400/table-setting.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344889925212040178" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> Where have the diners gone? They're all cramped into what would otherwise be a sizable lounge, watching their dear probably distant relative Roger Federer win his most recent trophy. They gasped, they sighed, they squeaked with tension, and at the denouement they burst into a roar of furious claps and cheers of wild abandon. The sorbet was left to its ultimate demise. The kitchen staff looked vexed as their works of art were being thrown into the trash bin, though they too had been watching their dear Roger bring home the glory for their homeland. </span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hugs...</span></div></div></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-18634282665123669472009-06-07T12:00:00.002+02:002009-06-07T12:13:38.494+02:00Le Sens Propre... A delight for the senses!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I saw this not long ago on Meilssa Nucera's blog, </span></span><a href="http://www.januarywish.com/2009/05/cs4-love.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">January Wish,</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and thought it was visually delish! Enjoy this eye candy or check out some of the lovely prints at her Etsy gallery : </span></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=96518"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This Year's Girl!</span></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Have a great weekend!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></div><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4510492&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=34cfbc&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4510492&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=34cfbc&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4510492"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cisma's "Le Sens Propre"</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> from </span></span><a href="http://vimeo.com/user756534"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cisma</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> on </span></span><a href="http://vimeo.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Vimeo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span></p>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-9751879577459686082009-06-03T10:38:00.007+02:002009-06-03T11:46:41.034+02:00Giveaway! Pink Parchment Soaps<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div>I gave out a <a href="http://expatkate.blogspot.com/2009/05/giveaway-teaser.html">hint</a> last week. I wonder how many of you guessed the product was... soap?</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SiY9inxMg9I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/y9K-x9HCtOo/s400/il_430xN.69027340.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343025672921842642" /></div><div>Environmentally conscientious Etsy shop owner, Trish of P<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5318396">ink Parchment Soaps</a> is holding a divine giveaway for the month of June and I am happy to host the contest! The prize is any three currently available bars in Trish's <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5318396">shop</a>. Not surprisingly, being an expatriate means I do a lot of online shopping and gift-giving for my family back home in America. I stumbled upon <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5318396">Pink Parchment Soaps </a>while looking for birthday gifts for both my mom and step-mom. The best thing about Trish's soaps is that they are vegan and smell divine! Mom called to say that she had finally used up her first bar, the Lemon Verbena, which had lasted her over a month of daily uses! She said that's three times as long as her usual store-bought brand. </div></span></span><div><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20978923"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SiY-K0_xAiI/AAAAAAAAAGY/VU6798psQPw/s400/il_430xN.57073904.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343026363667382818" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I've had the opportunity to chat with Trish about her shop...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Kate</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">How long have you been making your soaps?</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Trish</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">: We have been making soap for 6 years now. Here is a rather funny story on how we got started: Several years ago, we were on vacation in North Carolina and stopped in a small soap shop. They made the most beautiful soap we had ever seen. We also thought, oh these will make wonderful gifts for both my husband’s mother and my mother – both of whom are incredibly difficult to buy for! With both mother’s day and birthdays right around the corner, we stocked up. Once we returned to Michigan, I happened to get a flyer from a local college and they were offering soap-making classes. I took the class, and voila, we were hooked. </span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19994847"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SiY-6UE3J_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/IznmWK6RJTg/s400/il_430xN.53785546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343027179464108018" /><br /></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Kate</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">: What caused you to make vegan soap?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Trish</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">: There are several environmental and ethical reasons to make and use Vegan soaps.</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">True soap is made from oils - either animal fat (tallow) or vegetable oil and sodium hydroxide. Most commercially-made soap is currently made from tallow and/or synthetic detergents. Tallow usually comes from cattle and sheep. Besides the serious health, environmental, and ethical questions regarding raising animals for consumption, tallow is known to block skin pores and can cause breakouts. Detergents may have phosphate in them. Phosphates are a known contributor to algae bloom, which has an adverse effect on the health of people, marine organisms, marine mammals, birds and sea turtles. Even phosphate free detergents have toxic ingredients that inhibit the ability of aquatic organisms to breed. Today, we have so many wonderful vegetable-based oils and ingredients available – olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, to name a few – that are both environmentally and skin friendly that there really isn’t any reason to use tallow or detergents.</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Kate</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">: What's your one favorite product in your shop?</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Trish</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">: Currently, my favorite product is the peppermint soap. I love the smell and the cooling sensation of peppermint.</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Kate: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">What is the best/most fun/most interesting part of the soap-making process? </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Trish: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The best part of soap making is when you are trying a new color and/or new scent. In both the hot and cold process methods, both the colors and scents morph – so you never know what you are going to get. The first time we made cucumber melon, I had this great vision of how beautiful a light yellow top with green bottom would look. When we un-molded it, it was florescent yellow and bright purple. It was rather striking, just not what we had in mind!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Kate: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">What is your next up and coming scent (or) what's currently curing (or) what haven't you tried making yet that you'd like to?</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Trish: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Up and coming is an unscented (real) cucumber shea butter facial soap, currently curing is a lavender/rosemary shampoo bar, and I’m not telling LOL!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The giveaway is open worldwide with a prize value of $20-32 USD (including shipping)! To enter the giveaway:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. Go to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5318396">Pink Parchment Soaps Etsy shop</a> and select the three bars you'd like to receive should you win. Come back here and post one comment to this post with your three picks.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Follow me on Facebook networked blogs (see right-hand column), then come back and post a comment to this post stating that you're FB following.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. Follow Expat Kate directly through this blog on Google Connect (see right-hand column), then post a comment stating that you're EXKate fan.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">4. Blog about this giveaway and post a comment with the link to your blog's post.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">5. Buy an item from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5318396">Pink Parchment Soaps etsy shop</a>, and comment here, including either what you bought or your Etsy name.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">6. <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/">Stumble me</a>, then comment to this post.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">You can enter this giveaway up to six times in the aforementioned manner. The contest is open until midnight EST, Tuesday June 30th. The winner will be randomly selected from <a href="http://random.org/">Random.org</a>, and will be announced on this blog on Wednesday, July 1st, so check back here to find out if you've won! The winner will have three days to contact me at zenagent at yahoo dot com, or another winner will be chosen and subsequently announced! Good luck!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hugs...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SiY_2WRLZzI/AAAAAAAAAGo/gcr8J02NGc8/s400/il_430xN.65079826.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343028210844788530" /></span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com103tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-82723794487390391792009-06-02T20:54:00.009+02:002009-06-02T21:52:35.342+02:00Anatomy Never Looked So Cool!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana;font-size:12px;"><table width="400" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><tbody style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is a screenshot from the </span><a href="http://www.bandhayoga.com/flyarounds.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bandha Yoga</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> website. The interactive pose viewer is the coolest around! It has me inspired... <br />Until next time!<br />Hugs...</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(79, 140, 143); font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="http://www.bandhayoga.com/flyarounds.html">Explore: Anatomic Pose Viewer</a></span><br /></span></span></span><br /></td></tr><tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><td align="center" valign="middle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><embed src="http://www.bandhayoga.com/flash_stuff/poseLib.swf" width="500" height="500" quality="high" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></embed> </td></tr><tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><td height="16" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> </td></tr></tbody></table></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-2601345544391235572009-06-01T09:32:00.001+02:002009-06-01T09:32:54.050+02:00Zermatt, here we come!<br />We're on the way to Spend some family time in Zermatt for a few days! Here are some on the way pics with more to come including perhaps yoga in front of the Matterhorn (that's the paramount pictures and toblerone chocolate mountain they use in their logos, respectively)... I'm about to drive onto the piggy-back train!<br />Hugs...<br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/06/01/12.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/06/01/s_12.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/06/01/13.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/09/06/01/s_13.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />-- Post From My iPhone<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-42096986034818399012009-05-29T13:18:00.004+02:002009-05-29T13:30:14.623+02:00Flick'r Friday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Oh, words cannot even begin to express how lovely I think this photo is! The white is such a light and muted shade that it provides an airy backdrop for the other pieces and textures in the room. Enjoy your weekend while I soak in some of this loveliness from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31806912@N06/3555057202/in/photostream/">One Haute Mess'</a> flick'r page. To see more from this beautiful home and collection, click on the images!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31806912@N06/page2/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sh_GsVKkEdI/AAAAAAAAAF4/GnqwRzfGCQg/s400/3555057168_54337a7ff4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341206147982692818" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31806912@N06/page2/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sh_HCkO40SI/AAAAAAAAAGI/nkofMblvWSk/s400/3555057356_d233794612.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341206529984483618" /></a></span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31806912@N06/page2/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sh_GWPQmFmI/AAAAAAAAAFw/s4wtPkJoxmU/s400/3555057202_d32a61fc32.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341205768440256098" /></a><br /></span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-29512991218657765502009-05-28T17:42:00.005+02:002009-05-28T23:03:44.755+02:00Giveaway Teaser!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">In the upcoming week, I will be presenting my very first giveaway from one of my favorite </span></span></span><a href="http://etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Etsy</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> shops! This will be open to readers worldwide, so be sure to "follow" me by clicking on the Friends of Expat Kate's link in the right-hand column of this page. For those of you who aren't as technically savvy or patient and would like step-by-step instruction that only takes a few moments *ahem, you know who you are* just let me know! The prize is customizable and will definitely please!</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lunay/1372237285/sizes/o/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sh66LxHC4kI/AAAAAAAAAFo/ZAD1yYgK_Ac/s400/1372237285_aac4a534d3_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340910919432200770" /></a><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">And now for a small excerpt from the mystery store owner:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"The first time we made ...(teaser- no clues)..., I had this great vision of how beautiful a light yellow top with green bottom would look. When we [unveiled] it, it was florescent and bright purple. It was rather striking, just not what we had in mind!"</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I hope your curiosity is piqued & you'll check back in the coming days when I unveil the mystery prize and share the rest of our mystery guest's interview! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></span></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-48627371358188436042009-05-28T15:42:00.007+02:002009-05-28T17:17:27.407+02:00Tea For You. Tea For Me.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I love, love, love my new teapot! I purchased it from the Migros and still giggle with excitement each time it begins to emit its high-pitched whistle. I believe after boiling pots of water on the stovetop for what seems like years (wait a minute it has been years!), I am amazed at the speed with which my kettle heats up the H2O. Now I feel completely justified in my choice as not just sleek and unabashedly sexy, but time-saving and energy efficient as well...</span></span><div><br /></div><div> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sh6YWBv1F0I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/BcvYVZ_1epY/s400/IMG_0284.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340873712301578050" /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">And for a little more tea time eye candy check out these lovely excuses to brew a cup of something warm and tasty! These would be great as gifts for fellow tea lovers in your life! Click on the photos to check out each of these beauties on their respective sites!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.saisonkueche.ch/de/shop/teekrug-bodum/detail/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sh6aFvqe3dI/AAAAAAAAAFY/q1kni1zdRVA/s400/20081197B_Teekrug_jpg_485x320_upscale_q85.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340875631592660434" /></a><a href="http://www.livingtools.de/product_info.php?refID=shp&info=p2890_Menu-Teekanne-BLACK-CONTOUR.html"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sh6aheyD2pI/AAAAAAAAAFg/8jsRlVoZ3Es/s400/menu_teekanne_black_contour_2890_0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340876108097378962" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Also, check out my current tea-themed etsy favorites from my Etsy Mini, on the right-hand side of this page! Happy sipping!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs... </span></span></div><div><br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-14962072866349277402009-05-21T13:57:00.003+02:002009-05-24T16:42:59.573+02:00Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around The *Jewelry* Tree...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Living in Switzerland has definitely taught me one important lesson: I have too much stuff (or I should consider living as a minimalist)! In my home in the US, I have a large-enough bedroom with plenty of space and places to store my jewelry and hair accessories. Here, jewelry boxes seem big and cumbersome when considering the scale of my current bedroom and accompanying furniture. The compromise? Form and function! After taking a forest walk, the Pups brought home a yummy piece of wood to nibble & following suit, I brought home a bough on which to hang my pretties...</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShVK5FTLNuI/AAAAAAAAAE4/mtELb5Roegs/s1600-h/100_1350.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShVK5FTLNuI/AAAAAAAAAE4/mtELb5Roegs/s400/100_1350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338255277853193954" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The tree takes up very little surface space, but more than compensates by giving vertical height and a little visual appeal.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShVK5RcpZVI/AAAAAAAAAFA/BnkJQFwgxlQ/s400/100_1354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338255281114146130" /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The base is merely a glass jar filled with sand to anchor the branch and some stones to provide weight and stability. Did you notice my gray hair, lovingly taped to the mirror? In some quirky way, I'm really quite cool with it and am looking forward to seeing how they grow in! (I'm secretly hoping for one of those chic gray streaks as opposed the salt & pepper variety, but I suppose I won't have much say about it in the end...) But I digress.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShVK5afo1wI/AAAAAAAAAFI/KCB0M5KvBxc/s400/100_1355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338255283542611714" /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Could you say goodbye to your jewelry box for good? Not that every girl doesn't remember her first. Mine was white with a picture of a girl in a lacy, frilly dress sitting in a meadow. Inside was a ballerina that spun and danced to "twinkle twinkle little star". </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">What do you think, would you put this idea to use in your home? <br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-69881772393188314222009-05-19T14:50:00.003+02:002009-05-19T15:11:09.313+02:00Read All About It!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Continuing on the book and bookshelves theme from last week, I offer you a glimpse of some of my favorite bibliophelia. First is this great and economical take on wall mounted bookshelves from </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearuhsaurus/441045046/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">pearuhsaurus'</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> flickr photos: the fruit crate! My only concern would be the added weight of the crates + books could be more than my walls could handle without serious support... </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearuhsaurus/441045046/"></a><div><br /><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pearuhsaurus/441045046/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShKtQeXlXtI/AAAAAAAAAEY/3PcosfQTNO4/s400/441045046_91662a40af.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337519006928953042" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This book console/bench, found on the design site <a href="http://www.industrialdesignserved.com/Gallery/Console-Bookshelves/64770">Industrial Design Served</a> would be ideal in my home office! I would prefer white & pink for a punchy bit of color but the concept is dreamy...</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.industrialdesignserved.com/Gallery/Console-Bookshelves/64770"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShKtQ_8_MMI/AAAAAAAAAEg/sY-NokhYyhs/s400/601901205887479.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337519015944204482" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The next two images I've had on my computer in my "Inspire Me" folder on my desktop for several months now, and try as I might, I haven't been able to find the original source! If you know who's responsible for the following two brilliant ideas, I would love to give credit where it is so evidently due! </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShKtRNGtAOI/AAAAAAAAAEo/lpgRtS5Ja58/s400/418740703_d43a3926e6_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337519019474616546" /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 347px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/ShKtRbBeZ1I/AAAAAAAAAEw/HlppO3uFhFw/s400/1069.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337519023210784594" /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Until next time, happy reading!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-90698388094434564532009-05-16T20:11:00.003+02:002009-05-17T11:05:02.213+02:00Reading Rainbow<span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">One weekend only a few months ago, I decided to rearrange my book shelves, which are filled with mostly university textbooks that I'll not likely read again soon. In doing some basic internet research, I found an incredible website called </span><a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Apartment Therapy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, maybe you've heard of it?? (I know, I live in another country- not under a rock, but I had no idea about AT or blogs in general). Discovering AT was like finding a long-lost family member. On my first foray into Apartment Therapy's land of love and color, I spent hours in an amazed stupor reading post after post and absorbing the delicious photography. In the end, not only did I find a plethora of newly favorite websites, but I also finally decided to organize my book collection by color. What do you think?</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: italic;">Hugs...<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sg_SQ_fcFdI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/Ko2hVefSymA/s400/MyPicture.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336715272820364754" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sg_SQo8RrcI/AAAAAAAAAEI/CcnBiQEwqeQ/s400/MyPicture-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336715266767302082" /></span></div></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-51198347456404319182009-05-14T17:47:00.005+02:002009-05-28T22:58:37.958+02:00Pajama-Rama!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Yesterday the Monkey and I took our cues and inspiration from my friend's <a href="http://expatkate.blogspot.com/2009/05/invited.html">handmade birthday party invitation</a>. This invite (minus some pertinent & personal bits) is our version. We found a decorating magazine filled with summer garden party pictures and I actually felt badly about destroying such lovely photos. However, I feel the end result justified the means. I realize we planned a slumber party, with nine little girls and one doggy, partly to have an excuse to create this invite! We decided to add the info hearts separately at the end so that we could change/re-use the background for other invites or projects if desired. Now to get the house and doggy ready to receive a brood of giggling, squealing princesses, wish me luck I'll need it!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hugs...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-family:Georgia;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-family:Georgia;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/Sgw95IwybKI/AAAAAAAAAEA/6N3LFDUfWcI/s400/IMG_0268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335707710341147810" /></span></span></span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-86626602386415476702009-05-13T17:10:00.003+02:002009-05-13T17:21:48.058+02:00Truly Beautiful Print Giveaway<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Artist Melissa Nucera is giving away two 8x8 inch "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sparrow</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">" prints on her blog </span></span><a href="http://www.januarywish.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">January Wish</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">. To enter, check out Melissa's Etsy Shop: </span></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=96518"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This Year's Girl</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and then head over to her </span></span><a href="http://www.januarywish.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and post a comment! The giveaway ends on Friday June 12th...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I think her work is really unique and she has created some pieces that are both haunting and luminescent at the same time. I hope to get my hands on one of these </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sparrows</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, or anything else in her Etsy Shop for that matter! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: italic;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SgrjYRRXwuI/AAAAAAAAAD4/9pmnJoRUprA/s400/il_430xN.65528301.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335326714666402530" /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-32128839508364261472009-05-12T15:50:00.013+02:002009-05-13T17:23:01.360+02:00You Can Light My Fire!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">F</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">or my pal's birthday (remember the uber-cute </span></span><a href="http://expatkate.blogspot.com/2009/05/invited.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">invite?</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">), I decided to take about a thousand glass seed beads and attach them with straight pins into a pillar candle. Here's the result:</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SgmCKmu10tI/AAAAAAAAADg/vvFvSm-bjnM/s400/4301_1148115945044_1291935118_396250_2554557_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334938352304378578" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Several hours later, the finished product! Next time, I think I will use slightly larger beads, a thimble (yeouch!), and perhaps decorative pins. Here's a couple in-progress shots too...</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px;font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SgmCa1IidyI/AAAAAAAAADo/hVPpWlKNlMQ/s400/4301_1148115785040_1291935118_396246_5125032_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334938631048165154" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SgmCqUCy5CI/AAAAAAAAADw/eLT0hEWshgE/s400/4301_1148119265127_1291935118_396254_1260853_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334938897043612706" /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></div></div></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-32872392516324411532009-05-11T15:30:00.002+02:002009-05-13T17:23:35.694+02:00Gifts From Afar...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">When one lives so far away from family, it is important to have connections. Around the major holidays, it's not so much the conversational kind, but more along the lines of gift-giving. As I enjoyed my Mother's Day, complete with "homemade" breakfast and an assortment of other lovingly handcrafted items made by the eight-year-old Monkey, I realized that one never tires of handmade lovelies. As for my Mom, I too went the route of handmade...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Christen Largent is the proprietor of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5273857&order=&section_id=&page=3">bddesigns</a> and this customizable, handmade necklace pendant is exactly what I would have made for Mom myself, if only I could. Instead, Christen worked her magic on this two-sided sterling design with the inscribed names of each of Grammy's children and grandchildren...</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24659664"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 336px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SggscewfGBI/AAAAAAAAABQ/KxwYkOhuNgs/s400/il_fullxfull.69420839.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334562626424739858" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">To see more of bddesign's beautiful collection click <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5273857">here</a>, or through the photos.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24621094"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 377px; height: 336px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SggxII2OT8I/AAAAAAAAABw/HDUy7mpAnyo/s400/il_fullxfull.69293198.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334567774503980994" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24259733"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 357px; height: 336px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SggxH6ZrpJI/AAAAAAAAABo/z0oqpPFoU4E/s400/il_fullxfull.68077081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334567770626172050" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15603514"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 367px; height: 336px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SggxHzFhF5I/AAAAAAAAABg/MvtTSSPJojI/s400/il_fullxfull.39247885.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334567768662546322" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14200349"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 340px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SggxHj_48UI/AAAAAAAAABY/x05Z9BnvRXM/s400/il_fullxfull.34653098.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334567764612411714" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-923030201029505943.post-30260145196623562822009-05-09T23:09:00.002+02:002009-05-13T17:24:07.069+02:00Mother’s Day = Yummies & Love<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As Mother’s day nears on Sunday, I am reminded how different the holidays feel from across an ocean. Herr Big Guy is out of the country on business, so the Monkey and I will be spending a very low-key Mother’s day together. One thing we’re definitely looking forward to is these delectable yummy treats including “zopf herz brot” which translates literally to butter-top heart bread. Check out the little individual loaf of bread with chocolate interspersed and the salted croissant that tastes like a light flaky pretzel. I may have died and gone to carbohydrate heaven, but this will be worth it!</span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SgXyLhMNbrI/AAAAAAAAAAc/Mz8fYnThtd0/s400/IMG_0244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333935613392285362" /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WlnEDBEvg1g/SgXyLu9FKmI/AAAAAAAAAAk/RoWCYqjAX2I/s400/IMG_0237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333935617086925410" /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Hugs...</span></span></span></div></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529728812536734839noreply@blogger.com0