My relaxed in-laws

I just have to say: There is nothing more amazing than relaxed in-laws. We went over to my mother in-law yesterday to meet my husbands two brothers as well as one wife and cousin Paula. Look at us playing a game in the middle of X-Mas chaos. It was all fun and comfortable - like home. Therefore I very much enjoyed the day. Hope you had a good day as well. Any family visits?
Today I am back to my desk and off to the gym later. I love X-Mas, but I love going back to normal as well. Which means: it is 6:30 and I am going to join my son in the living room and entertain him.
Have fun you all
Svenja

Dancing with my daughter

Merry X-Mas everyone! I can't believe it is already Christmas morning. I have been trying to keep up with my blog, but this December was just too busy. Sorry. I will be better prepared in January. We will have a nice family holiday season - it is just the kids and us (well, and for today one brother and one grannie), but that is that. This month was filled with kids celebrations at their various engagements. Today I am blogging some pictures of my daughters' dance lessons Christmas party. It was really cute to see how excited everyone was. Those little girls in pink really break my heart.
It is still 7 a.m. over here and, which means my early bird son and me are the only one downstairs. As much as I could kill for just ONE morning of sleep - I love those quiet hours where it is just the two of us.
Gotta get going to prepare that Christmas grocery list. I still haven't done a thing which I think is a good sign: I am pretty relaxed these days. Anyway - have a wonderful Christmas night and celebration. We are off to Ireland for New Years Eve but I will be posting in between.
Love
Svenja

Article about lilukids at The Storque

NEWS*NEWS*NEWS*

The fabulous pearlswirl has included me in her shop local article about German based Etsians.
Pearlswirl, thanks a million! I feel honoured to be put up there with amazing German crafters and artists. And all of my lovely readers: Don't forget to look at pearlswirls shop for some fantastic jewelry!

I will be posting some Malibu pictures and more that has been going on in my busy life very soon!

Love - and enjoy the holiday season,
Svenja

Leaving for L.A.

Oh, how I love to post this. You are welcome to look at my master bedroom for the upcoming 6 nights. I will update you from Malibu - promise. What a view to wake up to, eh? Anyway, I am already missing the children, who are staying home with nanny and grannie.

Excited to go
Svenja

Sir Terence Conran and the Seven Sins

If you are planning your trip to Munich you absolutely have to stop at this restaurant right at the Stacchus: Lenbach. It was designed by Sir Terence Conran. Its theme, The Seven Sins, is glamouros as well as voluptuous. Food has to be tasted as cannot be described - lets put it that way - I always go back.Interiors are very dark in these pictures, but then again it was nighttime. The ceilings are breathtaking. I love the catwalk, as it is higher than the rest of the restaurant and makes everyone so tall and attractive. Which isn't a must, as there is always a lot of eyecandy around anyway. Enjoy!
Svenja

Claerwen James

All pictures copyright by Claerwen James

Every now and then you click onto a website and are almost shocked about how much you like what you see. Happened to me when I visited Merrilee's blogspot and found out about the British painter Claerwen James. After studying zoology at Oxford she turned to painting, the love of her life. She specialises in portraiture, particularly of young people, based on photographs. A true artist, isn't she? I would love to have one like that of my children.

Svenja

X-Mas patterns

I just scrolled the papersource website and love a lot of their this years X-Mas patterns. Thought I'd share those with you and hope to get you in the mood, too. This year very graphic patterns seem to do it for me.

Hohoho,
Svenja

Lollihopp

This weekend we've been to an indoor playground called lollihopp. It is quite recommendable, as it is huge and has a lot of attractions for the little ones. My husband was in the picture mood, so I finally have some pictures of me and my kids. Most of the times I am the one who is taking the pictures, so it almost looks as if I am never around. Anyway, this proves: they ARE my children. We were having loads of fun. By the way - I love my husband a lot. (This has to be said from time to time, doesn't it?)

Let's start this week...
Svenja

Let's do this

I just read a piece in the New York Times magazine about how we use the term "Let's do it". They had this cute illustration to go with it by James Joyce, I just had to make it my new header! Sweet, isn't it? Makes me wanna go and work out, finish sewing that dress for my daughter, end an article I have been lingering over for a while and another million things. I have to make a list, soon. Another one...

Have a great Sunday!
Svenja

The creativity of others

Sometimes others people creativity gives me a crafty flash. Happened in the case of Sandberg fabrics some while ago. I was so inspired, that I made a baby quilt for my Australian friend Megan. I blogged the animal pillows before when they were not quite ready. As you can see, those were inspired by the sandberg animal fabric below. I really want to spread the word about that company - full of admiration. It's too bad you can't really buy them online. Or does anyone know a shop that sells Sandberg?

Bye for now
Svenja

Oh happy day

We went on a family day trip to Austria yesterday. The region is called Karwendel and it is said to offer an Indian Summer like experience as there are a lot of maple trees in that region. Well, what they don't tell you is that roads to that special area are closed exactly by last weekend, which means that you have to walk there. It was our family and another family with two little children and a wife, pregnant in her last trimester. Anyway, we gave it our best and didn't really see any trees but collected branches, fir cones and leaves. On our way back in the car we drove past a beautiful lake with an almost magical reflection. We stopped in the middle of the road to take a picture. It was breathtaking and I thought I'd share it with you.

Love
Svenja

Halloween Party III

I just had to let you in on my party decoration when it was finished. Pictures speak for themselves, I guess.

Halloween Party II

As I said, there was a lot going on at our Halloween Party. First it was all cakes and candles.
Then came the clown, Mr. Breuer, who made them laugh for almost an hour.
You can probably imagine how I loved him for that.
And these are my babys in front of the TV when the party was over. All exhausted. Five and three years old - and they still want that bottle of hot chocolate in the evening. Guys, I love you.

Halloween Party I

Just a really quick post. Our Halloween Party went great. You can tell by the looks on their faces: Lis in her new Arielle dress and Ludwig dressed as a skeleton - the party about to begin. I will post some more party pictures later on. We are going on a daytrip to Karwendel now, so I have to start packing. See yah
Svenja

I blogged about those chairs I love the other day. Then I remebered that I had some beautiful pictures of my little (birthday)-girl (pink dress) and her best girlfriend in the world, Clara (turquiose dress). Those pictures are 1 1/2 years old, but I think they perfectly portray how much fun these girls have together. And the chair is great, too, isn't it?

Birthday party

I spent all of yesterday cutting bats, skulls, ghosts and pumpkins. As Ludwig turned 3 on Tuesday and Lis turns 5 today, we've invited 11 children and their parents over for Halloween. I love to decorate for parties so I was all over the place. This is what it looked like yesterday pretty late at night, but I will put up more pictures as soon as the party is over. Right now both kids are in the living room watching television (birthday treat) and they love the party feeling of all the rooms. Gotta go, there is food to prepare and children to dress. What a day - best feeling in the world when another year is gone and everybody is safe, developing and having fun. Are you having a Halloween bash yourself?
Love Svenja

Another Sunday

Another Sunday and another playground. Just some impressions before the busy week starts.
Wish you well
Svenja

Great bargain and fun at the playground

We went to the fleamarket this morning. Sun was shining, kids were in a great mood. And guess what - I bought the coolest tin can (originally for peppermints) ever. Doesn't it look great?
It is really big, about 30 cm high. Love it. In the afternoon we went to the playground around the corner. I was stealing flowers (well, actually just cutting down half a tree owned by the city) and the kids were playing football. Here are some shots - me with no make up, but who cares on a Saturday afternoon?
As you can see - my family is the most important part of my life. I love those three people (hubby not pictured, but always included) to death. Hope you have a great weekend yourself. Up to something special?
Talk soon
Svenja