Swap Fever and a Kiss – FMSphotoaday Day 29

Hello my Beauties,

i hope you are having a lovely mid-week. 
I have to tell you, i’m in a huge “swap fever“, which can be easily explained.
I’m currently participating in 2 especially organized swaps, one is the Summer Lovin’ Swap and the other is the Sweet Summer Swap, that was put together by Polish Alcoholic and I.
You will see posts on both events sometime in june, so please stay tuned. But that’s not it.

Somehow it happened, that a few more bloggers decided at almost the same time to send me a few goodies over, since we all love trying things from other countries and i’m not an exception to that.
(Of course i did send them something as well!)

So these days the packages started to arrive and i can’t even express how grateful i am. Always when someone takes the time to think through what kind of goodies to get, wrap it all nicely and write a sweet note…what can be more personal?!

Without further rambling, this was the surprise from one of my favorite bloggers, the Sweet Jelly Bean. I believe by now you must know her, if not – stop by & take a look on her fabulous blog.
OMG where do i even start?! Let me tell you the most important thing first, there was nothing in this box, that i didn’t like the idea of and have tried before. I guess i have only seen Dr.Organic products on other people’s blogs.
The package came all the way from the UK to me with a lovely hand-written card (love it) and Donah’s blogger-business card.
Wow, well done!! That is such a cool (and important) idea to have a “blogger card”, in case you meet right people at the right time. I guess if you start taking blogging seriously, you need this kind of “tools” in your purse!!
If you read Donah’s blog, you might know, that she is a big lover of korean skin care & cosmetics. And as i have never tried any korean products, she was so nice to include these samples of creams, serum & BB creams, so i can get an idea of what kind of beauty comes from Korea. I’m very excited to try them and as Donah always speaks so highly about their brands, my expectations are quite high as well.
As mentioned before, i saw Dr.Organic on many british blogs before & many ladies were talking pretty good things about the products. So when i saw these two babies in the box and made a little “yeay”noise.
So here we have:
Organic Lavender Skin Lotion – An intensely aromatic moisturising lotion based on Organic Lavender oil with Aloe Vera, Cocoa butter, Shea butter, Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Irish Moss, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. An intensely aromatic and moisture rich complex which combines the properties of organic lavender with cocoa butter and shea butter.
Organic Virgin Olive Oil Skin Lotion – Bioactive Organic Virgin Olive Oil is a super hydrating, intensely nutritious fruit oil, rich in Oleic Acid, a powerful antioxidant. In combination with a proprietary blend of bioactive, natural and organic ingredients this incredibly effective skin lotion.
I already looked on the official site & notice that the Olive Oil range is a bit wider that the lavender, so i guess it must be Dr.Organic’s best seller. Thank you Donah for the opportunity to try these lotions.
Next lovely product was the Bluebell Hand Balm from Cath Kidston. And look at how it was wrapped?! I guess Donah’s little son was helping her – that’s so adorable. 🙂
A fun blue tub filled with a thick cream, very moisturising for hard working hands. Contains shea butter, glycerine and vitamin E. Delightful, fresh floral fragrance with notes of freesia, fruity geranium, muguet, violet and jasmine, resting on a base of patchouli, musk, cedar wood and amber.
I didn’t want to open this cream yet, since i still have so many in use right now, but on the official site it looked like the balm has a little blue color to it & should smell heavenly floral. Loved the description.
And because Donah knows me so well, she found an incredibly nice smelling citrus ginger hand & nail cream. The tube itself reminds me a bit of the L’Occitane or Crabtree & Evelyn packaging, which i love. I’m not exactly sure what the actual name of the brand is – London Apothecary Nr.18? Donah might help with more information… I’ so happy someone remembered my love for Ginger & Lime tea’s and included that scent into a wonderful hand cream. 🙂
Last but definitely not least, there was literally the sweetest little treat. I guess it was customized, since the chocolate says: Luchessa on it. Awww!! How can i possible eat it?! Thank you so much, Donah (it didn’t break!)

My Sweet Jelly Bean, i appreciate all the thoughts you put into this package and please give the little bean a HUG for helping you wrapping everything.
I can absolutely not wait to try everything and report back about what i liked the best.
Oh and because we are still in May and it’s Day 29 of the May Photo a Day Challenge, i added a BIG KISS to my “thank you” as well.
29. Kiss: This is our charity prompt. We’re going to kiss MS goodbye. So wear red, or pop on some red lipstick and show us a ‘kiss’!
Have you used any of the products mentioned above before, my Beauties??
Has anyone done a swap lately? If so, please leave a link below, so i can have a look. Love posts like that. 

Before i go, i would also like to thank Trine-Marie for sending me her hand-made friendship bracelets, that i won a week ago.
It’s always such a nice touch, when it’s actually hand-made, don’t you think?? 
When we finally get some summer here, i will made sure to wear them with a cute summer dress.
Until next time – stay beautiful!

ps: Here are some read’s, that you might enjoy.

Win a copy of Eat Love Pray.
Link up with us in the Friendly Bunch Blog Hop.
What does the Beauty Blogger Community mean to you?

 

What you’re doing now? – FMSphotoaday Day 28

Hello my Beauties,

it’s an incredibly rainy & stormy day here today and if i’m honest with you, i feel a little tired today.
But as i’m still very motivated about the May Photo a Day Challenge, i didn’t want to miss Day 28  to blog. 
Today’s topic is:
28. What you’re doing now: Choose a moment in your day and take a photo of it.

As i just came home from work and was in serious need of a dinner, i decided to combine the two things: My food & post in one.
So here we go: 
From my time in Spain i learned to cherish their typical tortillas, as it’s also one of the most commonly served dishes there.
It’s often part of a tapa or appetizer, but as far as i experienced it – it’s really nice for dinner.

Btw, if you ever go to Spain, you can ask either for tortilla de patatas or tortilla española. (It’s the same dish.)
Sure it’s basically a potato omelet, but please try to remember not to call it an omlet in Spain, people could be offended, since the Spanish tortilla is more about potatoes than eggs. 

I really like it as a this basic dish for dinner, it’s really filling and with some fresh vegetables it’s always a little party for my belly. 🙂

Do you have a favorite spanish dish? And with the word’s of this challenge: What are you doing right now? 😉
I’m off to eat now…

Until next time – stay beautiful.

ps: Don’t miss our Friendly Bunch Blog Hop – stop by & link up.
And here is your chance to win the book Eat Love Pray & find some motivational blog posts.

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 20 ( FMSphotoaday – Light ) + NOTD bonus

Hello my Beauties,

hope your week had a successful start and you’re fully motivated to achieve your goals!

Today is already Day 20 of the May Photo a Day challenge and i’m surprised how great your feedback about it was so far. 
I have seen some of your challenge entries and i got to say: i’m impressed! 😉

20. Light: Light makes a photo beautiful, so how can you play with it in your photo. Could you find a little sunflare, play with light inside or something else. Lets make magic!
As you see, today’s topic is “Light”. Being a bigger fan of natural sun light rather than any kind of pretty lamps, i decided to share with you a recent shot, that i took while enjoying a gorgeous sunny day outside.
I love when the sun light shines through the trees and leaves a beautiful reflection on the water.
It makes every location just so much more romantic and relaxed. Don’t you feel the same way?

And because sun light can be so important, when it comes to great makeup or nail polish swatches, here is a little bonus to the “light” topic for you. 
Most of us here are big nail polish lovers and you guys know, when there is a holographic polish – light can be the “make it or break it” part of the photo. 
Sharing my “nails of the day” (#NOTD) with you!
Really hope the beautiful holographic effect is visible on this one. This is a quite unknown Lithuanian polish brand Sincero.
If anyone knows more about it, please share. The quality of it is really nice and i enjoy wearing the this color. 

Until next time – stay beautiful!

ps: Don’t forget to link up with Nia & I in our weekly Friendly Bunch Blog Hop and participate in my current mini Giveaway!

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 18 (FMSphotoaday – Want)

Hello my Beauties,

happy weekend! It started raining here again, so i decided to stay in & take care of my blog, instead of going out.
It seems to be a romantic thing to do: to sit on your cozy couch and write, while listening to the rain outside your window…
Don’t you think so?
There are some exciting things coming up on here, so you better stay tuned to not miss anything. 

Today is Day 18 of the May Photo a Day challenge and the topic is: “Want“.
18. Want: What do you want in your life?

We all have big and small dreams in life. They also tend to change over the years. Some seem to be silly at some point, the others become our goals. But there are also some sentimental dreams and wishes, that we carry in us during all of our life’s. 

One of my sentimental “wants” is despite all the daily tasks and problems,  to keep my inner child alive. 
I guess the photo that i’ve chosen today represents this “want” somehow.
Hope you don’t mind me using a photo, that was taken with an analog camera for this post.
It was back in 2007 in Puebla, Mexico – where you could find those helium balloon sellers on almost every street corner.
And as i was a huge fan of balloons when i was a kid, of course i just had to take pics with these colorful ones there. 

What is your “want” in life? Is it something big, that you hope to achieve in future or is it something from your past, that you want to keep present? Tell me your story.

Until next time – stay beautiful.

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 17 (FMSphotoaday – Season)

Hello my Beauties,

we made it through another week and it’s friday again. I have to say, it’s a really lovely sunny and warm day here and i’m totally in the mood for a picnic or a walk somewhere nice in the nature, outside of the city. Aren’t you?!

Besides that, it’s Day 17 of the May Photo a Day challenge and the topic is: “Season“.
17. Season: What season is it where you are? How can you share it in a photo?

It’s spring here in Germany and finally it even looks like one. 🙂
Although i’m really more of an autumn kind of girl, after a really long and cold winter i do enjoy this spring so much.

One of natural wonders that i love during spring are flowers. But not just any flowers, i’m talking about Syringa vulgaris, better known as common lilacs. I prefer the actual lilac (or purple) ones, even though the whites are pretty as well. 
When i see the lilac bushes in full bloom, i know – spring has finally arrived! And since i remember these flowers from my childhood so vividly, they are definitely my favorite spring flowers. And they smell just heavenly!

As far i know lilacs are the european version of Wisteria, that can mostly be found in Eastern United States, China, Korea and Japan, which i find incredibly pretty as well. Maybe that’s why i love my Wisteria eau de toilette by Crabtree & Evelyn during spring so much?!

(Photo taken form Crabtree & Evelyn site)
If i was a scent, i’d be Wisteria. I think it was love on the first smell. 

“The composition is built around top notes of mandarin apple, nashi pear, apple blossom followed by notes of wisteria, gardenia, jasmine, galbanum, ylang ylang in the heart before signing off with base notes of airy musks, cashmere wood accord, sandalwood, white pepper”.

What does spring mean to you? And what season are you in right now?
Share your photos and links below or via Twitter using the hash tag: #FMSphotoaday 

Until next time – stay beautiful!

ps: last chance to sign up for the Sweet Summer Swap!

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 16 (FMSphotoaday – Mailbox)

Hello my Beauties. 

Today is Day 16 of the May Photo a Day Challenge and i want to thank everyone who has participated so far and shared all the wonderful post links and Twitter photos with me (#FMSphotoaday). It’s always fun to see, how you interpret the challenge. 

16. Mailbox: Take a photo of yours, or someone elses.

Ok guys, i have to admit, my mailbox is incredibly boring, just the very regular type and not worth even showing on my blog. 
What i find much more interesting, is the mail that actually comes in pretty often. 
As i do have many great friends all around the world, i tend to get mail a few times a month and of course i send things out as well. 
So it’s just one big coming & going here, that looks something like this:
I really enjoy the process of hunting for some cool personalized items, get it into a pretty box and send it to my friends. 
If there was a job as Ms.Santa Claus, i would apply for sure!!

What does your mail(box) look like? Don’t tell me, it’s just bills…

Until next time – stay beautiful!!

ps: if you missed the beginning of the challenge and you want to catch up, try Day 1.

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 15 (FMSphotoaday – 7 O’Clock)

Hey my Beauties,

how is your day going? 

Can you believe, we are already half way through the challenge?! Time goes by so quickly.
Alright so today is Day 15 and the topic is “7 O’Clock“.

15. 7 o’clock: Whatever you’re doing at 7am or 7pm – share it!

Ok i have to warn you – this is not a “no makeup challenge” – but you asked for it, so here we go.
Yes, it’s early in the day. Way too early, if you ask me! It’s 7 O’Clock and a beauty blogger is right out of the shower (can you tell?!).  
It’s not my favorite time, since i’m more of a night owl, but what can you do, if you got to start early…
No makeup, and a definite need for a big mug of fresh coffee. You have seen me having really big mugs before. Like HERE.

A little bit off topic: Does anyone have a problem going out without wearing makeup?
Just asking, because i got a few emails, asking me about my makeup routine and if i wear makeup every day.

I have to say, i do love my cosmetic goodies and i enjoy applying it before going to work or out at night.
But i’m not someone, who doesn’t feel well being seen in public au naturel.

Just yesterday i met a friend for coffee. We were sitting outside a nice coffee shop, enjoying the sunshine and a great talk.
And you know what –  i was totally alright without any makeup on.

What about you? How confident are you in public? Are you brave in the city or “just” on the beach vacation?
Tell me about your experience.

Until next time – stay beautiful!

ps: Come and join Polish Alcoholic’s & my Sweet Summer Swap – there are still 2 days to sign up left.

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 13 (FMSphotoaday – Sunset)

Hello my Beauties,

happy new week! Wishing you a great fresh & successful start today.

It’s already Day 13 of the May Photo a Day challenge and the topic is: “Sunset“.

This is how the creator of the challenge describes the task:
13. Sunrise/Sunset: Choose one or both, and take some time to see the sun wake or go to sleep.
Alright, so because it’s such an incredibly gloomy, grey & dark day here, i’m sure no one wants to see the rainy sky…
That’s why i decided to go with a picture of this beautiful sunset, taken some time ago in La Palma the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands.
It’s a wonderful volcanic ocean island, with great views and those big palm trees, that i love so much.

This is basically how i see the perfect sunset.
Sitting at the ocean, listening to the beat of the waves and watching the sun slowly going to sleep.
That’s definitely the part i miss the  most, when i think about vacation…

What about you, my Beauties? What is your favorite place to watch a colorful sunset or maybe even a sunrise? 
Share your photos with me via Twitter using the hash tag: #FMSphotoaday.

Until next time – stay beautiful!

ps: don’t forget to stop by the Polish Alcoholic & mine Sweet Summer Swap to sign up. The more the merrier.

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 12 (FMSphotoaday – Mother)

Hello my Beauties,

“Mother is just a simple word
yet it’s especially dear… 
And it seems to mean much
more with each passing year…

Each word of Love and Affection
describes you mother…

It’s a word that’s filled with love, 
a word that reflects everything that’s
wonderful – Wonderful just like you.”

Today it’s not just any sunday, but Mother’s Day.
And so many of us all around world are celebrating this such important day and the gorgeous women, who gave life to us. 

Of course  Chantelle from Fat Mum Slim who actually came up with the idea for the
May Photo a Day challenge, has thought of this special day & included the topic:
“Mother” on May 12th! (btw: Here is my Day 1 in case you missed it)

12. Mother: It’s Mother’s Day. Take a photo of a mother figure, or if you’re a mum – perhaps yourself.
Or what the word mother means to you.

I really wanted to find some special photos of my mom, that really show the site of her, that i really love.
Her ability to make me laugh. 
Sometimes it can be a crazy family story or something ridiculously funny from my early childhood, that makes us sit for hours in the kitchen, have tea and laugh. I treasure moments like these so much!

This is a picture of my mom, when she was around 24 and i bet she was singing or telling a funny story to my dad, while he took pictures of her.  Don’t you just wish you could have been there, that very moment, when you see those old pictures of your parents?!

Love & respect your mother’s – they earned it! Have a wonderful sunday & enjoy Mother’s Day!
Tell me, what is your most favorite photo of your mother?

Please share your links below or via Twitter using the hash tag: #FMSphotoaday.
I would really love to see your posts!

Until next time – stay beautiful!

ps: If you would like to participate in the Sweet Summer Swap – you’re invited to sign up.

May Photo a Day Challenge – Day 11 (FMSphotoaday – Smile)

Hello my Beauties,

happy weekend. Any exciting plans for today?
Maybe a birthday party or a picnic outside in the nature? Let me know what you guys are up to.
It’s time for Day 11 of our May Photo a Day challenge. How is everybody coming along?? 

Today’s topic is – “SMILE”. What a wonderful topic, if you ask me. 
It was really easy to pick a photo this time. That one was not taken today for obvious reasons, which you will see in a second.
Please excuse my crazy wicked smile here, but when i finally met my little nephew Roman for the first time on the fifth day of his life, i couldn’t help myself, but smile this hilarious big smile. 🙂
I talked about this topic a little more, when Nykki did her Interview with me some time back.

This little man has brought such a big love, craziness, joy & change into his parent’s life and made me so proud at the same time, it’s just incredible.
So every time we meet, it’s a reason to celebrate, smile & cuddle.
(See how serious he can look! 😛  Simply adorable.) 
Today the little one is already a bit over 3 month and for me it’s so amazing to see how much he changes over the short time period.
And i still smile that big smile every time i see him…
I know all the new parents, aunts and uncles can relate to that.

What makes you smile your best smile, my dear readers? Share your story with me here below and your pictures via Twitter, using the hash tag: #FMSphotoaday.

Until next time – stay beautiful.