Lebenslustiger.com - Happy World

Please come upstairs

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:28:00 +0000

.... to visit "Upstairs" with me!

You will find this nice shop in Montecito, the upscale neighborhood of Santa Barbara, which is home or at least second, third or fourth home to more or less famous people.

Upstairs is located above a fun clothing store, so you get to check out at least two great shops when you come out here...

But let's focus upstairs now:

I love to come here in the morning hours with enough time to wander thru their spacious rooms while it's still quiet.

The very friendly staff let's you roam free, which i always appreciate in this kind of shops, to discover all the great little and big goodies. If you need help, they are of course happy to assist you.

The shop is an eclectic mix from all over the world - esthetically decorated in an inspiring way.

It's a bit like traveling to different country's ... cozy throws from Peru, handmade items from Africa and much, much more...DID i already tell you, that i love traveling?

Here are my favorites from my recent visit:

colorful rugs and throws colorful covers

colorful comforters

colorful papers

color your life!!!

XOXO, Anette

Best Of

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:18:00 +0000

My last day at the Austrian herb farm - in case you missed day 2 , day 3, day 4 and the story how it all happened, please read here and here if you like.

I am completely filled with all those wonderful impressions of my Sonnentor-Maria-Andi-Austria-adventure.

I saw sooo much - and had soo many great experiences.

What was the best? Hard to say....

There is of course Maria - the spiritual organic herb-farm specialist, joy-yoga teacher and fasting expert, who made a deep impact with all her wise and kind words.

Or friendly and fun Andi and his oh-so-old tractor.

Maybe it's the fact, that i now know how a lentil plant looks like.

Could be the wonderful birds nesting and feeding their young right outside my bedroom window - and cats, too...and of course Jette, the cute baby cow!

Or the funny dirt lumps jumping joyfully to the sky from the wheels of the tractor on our tour thru the fields.

Not to forget my (almost) successful fights at night with Sonnentors' blog software. Currently Peter, one of this years candidate, visits another herb farmer of Sonnentors'.

I guess it's all together. All the big and small moments and wonders who made my time in Austria so very special.

A THOUSAND THANKS goes to Sonnentor, Andi and Maria for taking such good care of me. I will miss our talks and laughs and this beautiful country, but of course:

I ALWAYS look forward to the next great fun adventure!

XOXO, Anette

Farmers Yoga

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:42:00 +0000

Pretty much exactly a year ago I was invited by Sonnentor to spent a week on a farm of one of their herb suppliers in a beautiful, remote part of Austria. You can read here, how I ended up being chosen to work on the farm and to blog about my experience. Before I actually headed to Maria's and Andy's farm I spent a wonderful day at Sonnentor's headquarter. You can read about that day here. Since I had just started blogging back then, I hadn't had many readers. But - thanks to YOU - that has changed! I'm so happy, you are here! So, I thought you would enjoy reading about this little adventure as much as I enjoy thinking back to it.

But now off to the farm...

Eighty-three years old Andreas is worried. "It does not want to drink". He is talking about the little newborn baby cow, which is standing in a corner of the stable.

Usually he would be on his tractor working the fields by now. Something he has done almost daily as long as he can think back.

"Maybe there is too much pressure on the utter", i suggest - thinking back to my own breastfeeding adventures. Andi, Andreas' son, gets a bucket and starts milking.

He will call the vet because he fears the baby is having a navel infection. I cross my fingers - feeling sorry for the little one.

Maria and i get back on our bikes and I follow her to the fields.

Back home i do a lot of yoga but looking at Marias upper arm muscles i have to admit, she owns the much nicer pair. So, i start to wonder what kind of exercise she does...Well, i don't need to wonder very long though, because we just arrived at her yoga center. Nice, hidden place behind a little forest - quiet and warm... but... no mats. She hands me a metal tool on a wooden stick and leads me to my place. Hm, something else is missing - instead hardwood floor there are thousands of green little bushels.

And then the lesson begins... Forward fold - reach for the ground - check if there is something else growing than the green sugar roots, take a step - repeat at your own pace. Forward fold- reach for the ground, check.....If you need a break: come up, take a deep breath - rinse and repeat.

WOW - after a matter of very few minutes i had my mantra: "Please let there be no other little plants growing between the roots so i can make a longer step; Please let there be no other little plants....."

See, it CAN be very easy with the whole meditation and muscle definition thing ( AND with getting your feet REALLY dirty ) : hard, hard work will do the trick.

It's so amazing how much devoted hand work Maria and Andi happily put into their herbs and spices. They have been working with SONNENTOR for over twenty years now. The only fact I regret for today is that I haven't had a second helping of those delicious, sweet, handmade pasta we had for lunch.

Well, it's fine - i already smell Marias rye bread baking in the oven. She made it from scratch....

Have you been to Austria yet?

Stay tuned for day 3 !

XOXO, Anette

Friday Questions

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:14:00 +0000

1.) One of your favorite words?

2.) New to your life? 3.) I almost can't believe...

4.) Saturday night? 5.) Your weekend...

Many more answers at Ohhh Mhhhh...

Have a wonderful weekend!

XOXO, Anette

Good Mood Enhancer

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 31 May 2012 00:46:00 +0000

What an amazing time of the year! Natures abundance in full bloom. Enchanting blossoms everywhere - so pretty - so lush - an instant good mood enhancer - for free!

More beautiful flowers at : was eigenes

XOXO, Anette

Dolfie - Imagine Peace - Choose Love

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:04:00 +0000

New shoes in the house! Bought at this sale - I hadn't even heard about this fun Barcelona based company before!

Dolfies website is creatively done and the history tells a bit more about their great spirit.

I love them - just had to change the colors of the beads a bit to my liking...

Pin It

What is your opinion? Original or pimped?

XOXO, Anette

Island Quest And Necklace Give Away

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:28:00 +0000

I have to show you my favorite summer accessories. Mostly neon again...

Write a comment guessing my trip destination (see below) to win one of them!

These fabric necklaces are so fabulous and fun to wear. They pimp literally every outfit from jeans to dressed-up and look just georgous!

Made in Switzerland they are excellent in quality. I have just very limited quantities of all four kinds - so - if you are interested in one, please e-mail me: lebenslustiger(at)gmail.com

The three smaller ones are 29 Euro each. The larger one is 69 Euro.

If you guess or know, where I have been recently for an amazing little big trip you can win one of the smaller necklaces! You get to choose the color!

One little hint: One of the pictures shows something endemic to these group of islands...

XOXO, Anette

Spring Is Here!!!

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:37:41 +0000

Finally!

Enjoy dancing into May, loved ones...

Pin It

If you like this then you probably also like my lebenslustiger.tumblr.com page - lots of more springy pictures.

I put my "Best Of" collection there.

xoxo

White Stuff Give Away

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:15:00 +0000

"White Stuff" just opened his first shop outside the United Kingdom in Copenhagen. I had never heard of them before and I instantly liked, what I saw. The shop design is so well thought through - there is love and joy in every little detail. Hooks are decorated with little birdies, wood(!)-hangers with clothes made out of their own signature prints let you know that there is " Happiness in every stitch", adorable tags - there is even an awesome little retro theater for your enjoyment! All rooms feel totally homey, original and believable. I also like a lot the story behind this brand. Two guys who loved the snow and skiing so much that they sold T-shirts to finance their sport - that's how they started. Today they say:

We love clothes - We love color - We love to laugh! Isn't that a wonderful business philosophy???

And here is my White Stuff Give Away for you: A super cute little red Tweety Coin Purse(meanwhile completely sold out!) and an awesome Purdy Star Bracelet perfect for spring and summer!

Please enter a comment below to participate in the raffle.

if you like, let me know who or what YOUR little gem is...

And if you also like, like lebenslustiger.com on FB!

Thanks so much for joining the fun!

P.S. The birdie purse reminds me of another little birdie who just recently spread his wings to find a new home... :)

Copenhagen - Inside Colors

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:40:00 +0000

I love to read travel tips and shopping recommendations online or in a book but once I'm actually on-site I usually just enjoy to wander the streets trusting to discover little treasures here and there.

I found that a lot less stressful - especially when traveling with children.

Here are some of my favorite Copenhagen finds. Great places to visit but also just wonderful for a colorful visual inspiration...

Copenhagen has great creative little shops on the alleys right and left from the main shopping street called "Ströget". Helbak and Scherning features Malene Helbak's well-known hand-decorated, colorful earthenware and Mette Scherning's delicate handmade porcelain jewelry. There are exclusive collections from the two designers that are only available at this location:

Isn't that mint floor awesome?

Retro Villa just around the corner from Helbak Scherning is a small charming boutique and online shop by super talented interior designer Mette Helena Rasmussen where you will find Scandinavia's largest selection of original vintage wallpaper and cute design items for your home, your children and yourself.

And the last pictures where taken at Atrium. A shop who - among other great danish designs - carries stylists Rie Elise Larsen's fabulous creations.

All shops were super nice, friendly and welcomed me to take as much pictures as I wanted! Big Thank You - Copenhagen Love!

Oh - the Give Away!

Next Post... I promise!!!

Copenhagen - Outside Colors

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:28:31 +0000

Mostly grey sky and still really cold temperatures but beautiful outside color expressions on our Copenhagen family trip.

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Next post I'll show you my danish inside finds and a GIVE AWAY I brought home for you from Copenhagen!

Have you been visiting northern Europe yet?

Ponyland

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We are off to Ponyland Norddeich again!

My kids are excited to take care of their "own" Pony for a week.

We found out about this magical Pony universe last year thru a book called "Unser Ponyhof". The authentic story takes place and is photographed right at Ponyland Norddeich.

Out of 80 available Ponys, my eight year old horse lover girl was chosen to take care of a Shetland pony named "Bronco" who is one of the featured ponys from the book!

Can you imagine, how lucky and happy she was?

Heaven on Earth... Well - I enjoy her joy...

They are the cute little couple in the middle!

Off they go for a beach ride...

Pin It

Isn't that a crazy gigantic beach?

Do you have any plans for spring break?

ROME - WITH INSTAGRAM AND HENRICUS BARBATUS

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:05:59 +0000

Here comes a secret: I'm a complete failure when it comes to speaking Latin.

To my excuse: It became coursework later in my school time - I was already around age 15 - for the last three years of the - back then - thirteen school years in Germany. Now they have unfortunately changed it to twelve years which puts a whole lot of stress and pressure on the kids these days, but that's another story...

Back then at age fifteen, life had just gotten really exciting with party fun and all that comes with it and the stuff I wanted to learn or hear about LEAST were the battles of the Roman Empire, the togas, the slaves, the forum, the... presented by a little shy Latin teacher.

So - I had successfully suppressed this shortcoming of mine until now - twenty years later - my son recently started to learn Latin in school.

Of course I told him about my encounter with the mother of so many languages - not without making clear, that this will looked at as a SINGLE accident and not to be repeated in family history... I now actually think, Latin is a really cool and totally undervalued brain exercise and I am much impressed and inspired by the beauty and the craftsmanship of the Roman architecture, design and art.

Thumbs up - my son loves it so far... and lucky me, because I found a book called: "Latin for all occasions" written by Henry Beard, which is filling in all my (gigantic) gaps with just the sentences I'm missing...

For example:

Pithy Latin Expressions:

- By that very fact
Ipso facto

- No way
Nullo modo

- Read my lips.
Labra lege.

- A done deal
Pactum factum

- Fat chance
Fors fortis

- Accidentally on purpose
Casu consulto

Excuses:

- My dog ate it.
Canis meus id comedit.

- I did call. Maybe your answering machine is broken.
Sane ego te vocavi. Forsitan capedictum tuum desit.

- Baby, Sweetheart, would I lie to you?
Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi?

- I was kidnapped by aliens. What year is it?

Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt. Qui annus est?

Insults:

- I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.

- In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags.
Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem.

Things to Say to a Teenager:

- Really Rad, dude!
Radicitus, comes!

- What's happening?
Quid fit?

Bumper Stickers:

- I brake for animals
Frena pro feris teneo

- Save the whales
Balaenae nobis conservandae sunt

- Honk if you speak Latin
Sona si latine loqueris

- When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt

- If you can read this bumper sticker, you are both very well educated and much too close
Si hoc adfixum in obice legere potes, et liberaliter educatus et nimis propinquus ades

Sounding Smart in Latin:

- Listen, would you repeat everything you just told me, only this time say it in English?
Heus, modo itera omnia quae mihi nunc nuper narravisti, sed nunc Anglice?

- Oh! Was I speaking Latin again?
Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar?

- Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out.
Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.

- Sure, I speak a little Latin.
Sane, paululum linguae Latinae dico.

- I picked it up here and there. Really, Latin isn't all that hard.
Id legi modo hic modo illic. Vero, Latine loqui non est difficilissimum.

- It looks like a tricky language, but you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.
Lingua speciem involutam praebet, sed sat cito eam comprehendes.

- And remember, there aren't any Romans around to correct your pronunciation.
Atque memento, nulli adsunt Romanorum qui locutionem tuam corrigant.

BALD-FACED LIES ARE LESS BALD-FACED IN LATIN:

- The check is in the mail.
Perscriptio in manibus tabellariorum est.

- I have nothing to declare.
Nihil declaro.

- I don't know what you're talking about.
- Nescio quid dicas.

- It was that way when I got here.
Ita erat quando hic adveni.

- There's no one here by that name.
Nemo hic adest illius nominis.

- Don't call me, I'll call you.
Noli me vocare, ego te vocabo.

INTIMATE SUBJECTS ARE EASIER TO BROACH IN LATIN:

- Your fly is open.
Braccae tuae aperiuntur.

- Your slip is showing.
Subucula tua apparet.

- You have a big piece of spinach on your front teeth.
In dentibus anticis frustum magnum spiniciae habes.

Yep - I think, that's all I need for now...A lot more 'useful' topics are covered in this little gem of a book...

What about you - any Latin hiding inside you?

WEEKEND LUCK - HOP INTO THE TUB - SONNENTOR JANUARY RAFFLE

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:51:25 +0000

Is there ANYTHING better than a warm and cozy bath after a long winter walk or a long stressful work day???

Thanks to my dear friends from SONNENTOR ("Where joy grows") I bring you a very special wellness treat GIVEAWAY today: Teabags for your bath tub!

Two variations: "GOOD MOOD HERBAL BATH"

with Sea Salt, Lemon-balm, Lime Blossom, Anise, Orange Peel and essential Oils Bergamot, Ylang-Ylang and Lemon

as well as

"RELAXING HERBAL BATH"

with Sea Salt, Lemon-balm, Sage, Lavender, Fennel, Parsley and essential Oils Tangerine, Bergamot, Ylang-Ylang and Pine.

And of course - like all Sonnentor products:

From purely organic farming in premium quality carefully processed by hand.

Heavenly bath fun for you - please enter your comment and take part in our raffle!

Oh - and as usual we will put a little extra Sonnentor treat in the package...

Ready to dive in?

More fun at Steffi's and Okka's

FORMIDABLE...

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:27:26 +0000

magnifique, fantastique...

YES! - I'm talking about my weekend in Paris...What an outstanding city!

We had a great time walking MILES while browsing and discovering one unique store after another. Here is just one and here and here for you to look at...

Of course, there was a french lunch as well...

and dinner was planned here but no room for all of us was available - so we went around the corner and enjoyed a wonderful evening Brasserie style. THANKS so much FRIENDS!

Much more miles were walked the next day at Maison&Objet.

What an eye feast!

As I was looking thru the pictures I took at the fair, I noticed this one here:

Amazingly it contains all color trends I had noticed while there TOGETHER in one scenery:

YELLOW (almost neonish)

DARK OCEAN BLUE

SOFT CHALKY GREY

CORALL

PISTACIO

TURQUISE

Even the patterns on the rugs and seats are trendy: modern interpretation of ethnic forms. Nice, but not my taste though...

Unfortunately - and I'm very sorry about this - I don't know the company name.

Out of many likes here are some of my favorites:

BITOSSI HOME

BLEUNATURE

DOMANI.BE

Are you inspired like me?

Oh - and then a trend scout shared her insight with me!

What did she say?

Shhhh...

I will let you know - in one of the next posts! Stay tuned... )