Me in December, being happy on the balcony of our beach house in Malibu.
Malibu always puts me in a great mood. Even when I am inside the beach house.
Me, smiling after a night out in Munich with really good friends of ours, Kerstin and Wolfgang.
LOVE this picture. The lady in black is my girlfriend FOREVER and this was at the party when her husband turned to be a professor in December. As you can see, my life has been quite nice lately, as I traveled and met wonderful people!
Stand in a milk parlor and help milk the cows for 2 hours straight.
Act very relaxed and not shy at all in a new location with nothing but strangers - even eat their pancakes and enjoy the whole experience.
Go on a little trip with one of those English speaking gals you have not seen before in your life. This was my sons' first trip with someone he hasn't known for ages. Their only shared word was "tractor", but that lasted a while. Thanks for doing this Mike!
Being easy to handle in a plane for 2 1/2 hours. See how I am patting his back - I was nothing but happy.
Dancing on a beach out of pure joy. I love you, princess.
Land of beauty - very romantic secenery, wild and calming at the same time.
Ireland beaches - obviously the place to have fun and go family.
Hospitality - it is unbelievable how nice total strangers will be. Try it!
Adventures around every corner. Mystic landscape and interesting people: to die for.
And last but not least - the girl who makes it all happen: my dear friend Grett. Thanks for opening your door and your heart. You are one of a kind!
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?
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.
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!
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.
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!
All pictures copyright by Claerwen James
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.
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?)
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?
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.
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. 
