Bye-bye 2012

2013 is just 4 hours away! I'd like to wish you an early Happy New Year! 

2012 hasn't been that great for me so far and I hope 2013 will be a better year for me and everyone!

The hubs and I aren't doing anything special this evening. We're staying at home with some home cooked meal (he's cooking!) and enjoying a bottle of Bordeaux red and champagne.

Italy

Road trip. Italy. July 2012.

1/ In Pisa.
2/ Venice, a beautiful city.
3/ Our new car arrived a day before our trip!
4/ Some of my hauls from Florence.

Budapest, Hungary

M and I went to Budapest for the first time two weeks ago. It was a relaxing long weekend at a spa resort. Most of the time we're in the thermal pools, at the saunas, massage... and enjoying great food. We didn't get to explore the city much since we only left the resort in the afternoon to go for a few hours walk. But I know we will be back again soon.

1/ Budapest Heroes Square.
2/ The very old metro systems in Budapest.
3/ Waiting for our spa treatment.
4/ Great food at Hungarikum Bisztro. We also tried Borkonyha Winekitchen.

I'm Still... Here

It's been more than 4 months since I last updated this blog. 2012 hasn't been that great for me so far - the surgery, health issues, blah blah... When I'm not working, I spend most of my time at home, watching the telly or doing nothing.

My parents came visiting us in July and we went to Italy together. I've heaps of photos still sitting in my memory card waiting to be edited.

Hubby and I were in the US for a short trip. We just returned to Prague on Monday. I'm so ready to move there but he's not even though he calls DC his second home!

Away

I haven't been around much. I had a surgery last Friday and now back at home, resting and on medical leave for more than 2 1/2 weeks.

I'm more active on Instagram though ;) Feel free to add me - noiselet.

I Can't Wait...

for the weekend to begin! It's Friday again. I hope your week has been a good, if not a great one. This is a short week for us since Monday was a bank holiday.

Mr.M and I spent a great Easter break with our friends in Cesky Krumlov. I've always wanted to visit that place and was really excited when Mr.M suggest a weekend trip there. It's a beautiful little town. I was glad we went there in the beginning of the season because there weren't that many tourists.

I have more photos on my dSLR camera. I'll try to upload them this weekend ;) Here are some sneak peak for now. Have a nice weekend!



1/ View from the tower.
2/ It's like a fairytale land.
3/ Snow in April. At the Easter market.
4/ Our first dinner in Cesky Krumlov at medieval style restaurant - just because everything else was closed.

Vienna

It's already April, and long Easter weekend. Spring is in the air, so are pollens. I just got back from Vienna yesterday. It was a short business trip and a fruitful one ;) I've been to Vienna many times and will never get tired of the city. There are so much to see!

1/ Horse carriages outside St. Stephen's Cathedral.
2/ Outside the famous Cafe Mozart.
3/ Got this YSL Rouge Volupte in #29 at the airport duty-free shop. I was hoping to buy the new colours from Chanel Rouge Coco but the shop doesn't even have the new collections.
4/ A guilty pleasure from Chanel ;)

Life So Far

I've been... very busy with work and enjoying life (not so much because spring is here!). I went to see my immunologist last week and got the prescription for my allergies. I'm probably the only person you know who hates spring with a passion.

The only thing I like about spring is the days are longer and the weather gets warmer. So there come my inspiration and creativity. I started my craft projects, hopefully it will not take ages to complete them this time. I also re-arranged my craft room, threw away junks (I wonder why I even collected them in the first place)...

1/ Made 3 new cushions. I bought those home deco fabrics from Stockholm ages ago.
2/ Little boy loves the cushions.
3/ The stuffs on my board were gifts from Japan, except for the Hello Kitty calendar I got from M&S last year. Oh, my new Janome rocks!
4/ All the way from Paris. Mariage Freres Marco Polo is my most favourite tea in the world.

A Long Weekend in Radstadt

We went skiing again last weekend. It's our second ski vacation this season. I hope we get to do this more often but ski vacations aren't always the cheapest way to spend a long weekend ;)

We were in Radstadt this time and went to 2 different ski resorts - Flachau and Zauhensee which is now my second favourite ski resort after Serfaus. The weather was perfect - sunny and warm! The ski slopes are well-groomed and there weren't too many people as it's off-peak season now.





1/ Mr.M and I taking a break half way down the hill.2/ Taking a break again!3/ Going to the peak.4/ In Flachau.

Another Birthday

I turned a year older (again) on 26 February. Since Mr.M is on his 3-week business trip in the US, I spent this special day with two of best friends. K flew in from The Netherlands just to celebrate my birthday. We've been knowing one another for almost 11 years. It was nice to have them around, it remind me of our good, old, crazy younger days back in Australia. K is moving back to Australia next year, so is another close friend of ours who is now in China for work. Sometimes I secretly hoping Mr.M will tell me, 'Let's move to Australia!'. He knows I've always wanted to move out of Europe, to be closer to my family but... (there's always a but).




1/ We started our day at Cafe Louvre for brunch.
2/ I played a tourist guide for a day.
3/ Later in the evening, we went to La Casa Argentina for dinner, then clubs-hopping until midnight.
4/ I bought myself an early birthday present - a KitchenAid Artisan!

Mr.M is coming home on Sunday. I can't wait to see him and what he's bringing me from the US this time!

February

Happy Valentine's Day! Are you celebrating this special day? Mr.M and I don't usually do anything special - we have dinner and good wine at home, usually he'll cook. He's away in the US for business this time. He will not be home until next month.

I still need to edit the photos we've taken during our trip. Here are some random ones from my iPhone. I love Instagram! Haven't you noticed it? :)





1/ I actually like Costa Coffee hot chocolate better than the Starbucks one!
2/ Louis Vuitton window display at Takashimaya, Singapore. Wilshire PM in Monogram Vernis Rayures.
3/ I love my Repetto flats. I'm definitely going to buy more of them.
4/ Now we have added Singapore to our Starbucks city mugs collection.

Back!

We're back from our 2-week vacation last Sunday. I'm still having jetlag, seriously... Both Mr.M and I pass out before 10pm everyday. We're certainly not very excited with the European cold and snowy winter!

I still need to upload and edit the photos I've taken on my dSLR. I'll write more soon. xo

On Vacation Mode

Mr.M and I are flying to Asia for our winter vacation today. I can't wait to get out of this ugly weather - rain, snow, rain, and more rain here. I'll be back in 2 weeks ;)

The Weekend!

It started snowing yesterday. Mr.M and I went shopping and I finally got to wear my sunnies again! It was sunny but freezing when we left home. He was laughing at my photo, saying the reflection on my glasses looked like bird's dropping! Men!

1/ Loving my Prada sunnies and Burberry scarf.
2/ Took my new Sorel boots out today. They keep my feet warm and happy. They run small. I have to get them in EU39 - I'm a EU38.
3/ Pink Prada Saffiano credit card holder is finally out of the box.
4/ We went Le Creuset to pick up a present for my mom. I wanted to add another casserole but Mr.M disagreed! I need a Cassis in my collection!

My Boy

A friend recently adopted a dog from a lady who didn't care much about him. She only walked the dog twice a week, most of the time the poor thing was in his crate - simply because she didn't have time! I don't understand why people keep a dog if they are not able to spend time, give love and care for one?

 It took me over a year to decide getting a dog. Both Mr.M and I are not eligible to adopt any dogs from the shelters because neither one of us holds a Czech permanent residency. I did a lot of research, looking for the perfect breed that matched our lifestyle and I really like Yorkshire Terriers. Finding a reputable breeder was also a challenge since I don't read or speak any Czech language. I finally found a breeder whose website was also in English and she lives 20 mins drive from us via a Czech Republic Yorkshire Terrier board. I went to the website and saw puppy #6, emailed the breeder if we could see him.

When I first saw Sandy who was almost 3 months old at that time, I wasn't sure if I wanted him! He was such a naughty little thing, running around and grabbing toys from the older Yorkies. Mr.M was in love with him! We spent an hour at the breeder's, she asked us a lot of questions - to make sure we were the right parents for her puppy. We had more than a week to think about if we wanted to take the puppy. And I'm glad, we returned and brought Sandy home on 19 November 2009. The rest was history :)

1/ Sandy and his favourite toy - Sheepie.
2/ That cute little pink tongue!
3/ *Yawns*
4/ 'Leave me alone. I want to sleeep!'

Hello 2012!

Today's the first day of 2012, it also marks the last day of my year-end vacation. Back to work tomorrow! In less than 3 weeks time, Mr.M and I will be flying to somewhere warmer for our winter vacation. I can't wait :)

We have been celebrating the New Year at home for the second year now. We started with NYE dinner and plenty of wine. There was more finger food, champagne and wine.

1/ Homemade raisins & rum truffles coated with coconut, roasted almond flakes and cocoa powder.
2/ Christmas cookies, olives, Swiss cheese...
3/ Counting down... I fell asleep around 10ish but woke up 10mins before the New Year.
4/ Watching the Prague fireworks show on the telly.