Lazy Saturday night and Sunday with glee

From The Secret Daily Teachings:

Whatever you want to bring into your life, you must GIVE it. Do you want love? Then give it. Do you want appreciation? Then give it. Do you want understanding? Then give it. Do you want joy and happiness? Then give it to others.

You have the ability to give so much love, appreciation, understanding, and happiness to so many people every single day! (Rhonda Byrne)

My sweetheart is busy studying for his exams so we don't spend the whole weekends together anymore. After dinner yesterday, he went home :( and I didn't have any plans so I decided to watch my favorite TV show glee.
I've been watching Revenge the past few days but I have almost finished the whole season 2 so decided to start with glee. I already have the whole season 4 on my MacBook but since I wanted to finish other series first (I don't like watching different ones at the same time ;) ) I neglected the latest episodes...
However, when I started watching the 4th episode (I stopped after the 3rd ep. last year autum - ?! was it really last year autumn?! Time flies!! :-O), it didn't hit me... It used to be my FAVORITE series (after Gossip Girl, of course ;) ) but it's not that interesting anymore with the new crew... Rachel (played by Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) graduated from McKinley High and are living in New York now, Finn (Cory Monteith ♥♥♥) and Rachel broke up, I don't like Rachel's new style and her new crush, the "old" glee club was somehow better,... Without the love story of "Finchel" (= Finn + Rachel) it's just not the same anymore!
But then I continued with the 5th episode and the 6th... thank God Finn is back! I thought Finn won't appear on glee that often anymore after graduating high school but he has taken over glee! Mr Schu is leaving the school for a few months so Finn is in charge! Wooohoooo! I can gush over Cory on screen again! ;P
Man, I feel like a teenager whenever I see Cory Monteith - I have a huuuuuge crush on him. LOL

Ever since I saw him on glee the first time, I thought, OMG he is cuuuuute! AND I also thought he looks exactly like my ex's (well, he wasn't really my ex bf, we used to spend time together a lot 3 years ago and we liked each other but he didn't want to have a real relationship...) guy friend (who is my bf now ♥ :P).
So now that my sweetie doesn't have much time for me, I can watch glee and dream of Finn/Cory...
Here are parts of the very sad episode 4 of season 4 "The Break Up"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGEVUPHu584

Ahhh, now I'm hooked to glee again! ;D

Jelmoli - Promotions

In Zurich there are only 3 department stores and Jelmoli is one of them. Yes, Zurich is very small and shopping here is not that exciting but on the other hand it can be convenient because you don't have to walk around forever to get to the next store and it is well laid out. ;)

At the moment Jelmoli is doing some promotions - yay!
Firstly: 20% off on all Tara Jarmon clothes (today and tomorrow)
http://www.jelmoli.ch/blog/g-nial-tara-jarmon-mit-20-rabatt-21343
I love their classical and feminine style - very pretty!



via www.tarajarmon.com 

Secondly: 10% off on all "Sensai" products of Kanebo
http://www.jelmoli.ch/blog/heute-entdecken-sensai-cellular-performance-21339
The Japanese cosmetics company Kanebo has launched two new products: Cellular Performance Lotion II and Cellular Performance Emulsion II. Go to Jelmoli today or tomorrow and get 10% off!
The other very good news is Kanebo is not doing any animal testings so these products are cruelty free! ♥ ♡

Thirdly: buy a man's suit and get a tie for free!
http://www.jelmoli.ch/de/home#!herren-business-promotion-21234
Buy a suit from Boss, Canali, Corneliani, Lardini or Tommy Hilfiger Tailored by 31 May 2013 and get hold of this generous gift!

www.jelmoli.ch
Seidengasse 1
8001 Zürich
Mon - Sat: 9:00 - 20:00

Garnier Dry Shampoo - coolbrandz product test

FINALLY, the test product arrived! About a month ago I subscribed to coolbrandz.ch (see my blog post dated April 18, 2013) for product testings and the first package arrived today. Woohooo!

Ohhhh, they wrapped the product like a present! In pink - my favorite color! ♥ So pretty! :D

So, this is the product I am testing: Garnier Dry Shampoo. The package is typical for Garnier, they always use that lime-green color. I like it - you know instantly, already from the distance that the product must be from Garnier. I also like the lemon and the ice-cubes illustration - it reminds me of "freshness"!












A letter from the founder and CEO of coolbrandz - Eileen Schuch. She describes how we could test the product and what to keep in mind when using it. These points really helps for first-time testers like me when we have to give our feedbacks later. Thoughtful!

The description is short but clear to understand, the font size on the back is not too small.

I think the size of the spray can is perfect. It's not too big like the common hairstyling products (hair spray, -mousse, -voluminizer,...) but it is also not too small. It fits in any busy person's schoolbag or business bag. :) Very handy!

It looks like a hair spray with the nozzle. I sprayed a little bit of the product on my finger and it felt cool and fresh and not sticky like hair sprays. Mmmmmhhh and it smells good! Like a lemon or lime - with a little hint of sweet flower... (Ahhhh, a lemon or lime sorbet would be nice now... *drooling*)

The main test:
In the following morning I tested it on my not-so-fresh head and hair... :P I shook the spray well and sprayed directly on my scalp at 15cm distance as described on the can. I lifted my hair so I could spray on different parts of my scalps. The product felt very cool on my head and also very refreshing. My 'oily' head felt fresh and it smelled good! I could smell the lime / lemon still a few hours later - when I was in my office! (♥o♥)


The result:
I am very happy and satisfied with Garnier's Dry Shampoo. My head really felt fresh after using it! I would totally recommend this to everyone! If you have overslept in the morning or are in a hurry and just don't have the time to wash your hair or when you realize on a date that your hair doesn't smell good *eww* or doesn't look fresh anymore - this dry shampoo solves the problem! ;)

Design:      ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  (über cool)
Fragrance: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  (über cool)
Freshness:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩  (super cool)

Thank you coolbrandz for giving me the opportunity to test this product! I really enjoyed it!

The Secret - it changes your life

Do you know the book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne? If not, it is HIGH time you get to know about it because it will change your life - unless you are a happy and thankful person already. :)
I got to know about the book some time in 2008 when I was having dinner with my female friend T and a guy we got to know at a BBQ party at the American Embassy residence in Tokyo. I think he was into her but she just wanted to have a casual dinner so she asked me to join.
During the dinner he mentioned once something about the Law of Attraction. He explained that you should always be positive and that you could attract everything that you want in your life. I got curious. I don't remember how I found the book eventually - if it was because I was surfing the internet looking for the word "The Law of Attraction" or did I find the book randomly in a bookstore and I remembered about the conversation with that guy? Dunno...
However, I am very VERY thankful that I found it! It really changed my life and made many of my wishes come true! I used to be such a pessimist back then but now I think positively and life is beautiful and so much easier.
The theory of The Secret is quite simple: you have to be THANKFUL for everything you have in your life, be positive, don't have negative thoughts and strongly BELIEVE in things you want in your life. Any dreams and wishes of yours will come true because you can attract EVERYTHING in your life. That is the Law of Attraction.


There is also a movie based on the book so if you would like to know more about it just click on the youtube and watch the first 20 minutes:

"The Power" and "The Magic" are Rhonda Byrnes latest powerful and magical books. I have finished reading "The Power" and am reading the third one at the moment but I think "The Secret" is the best book so far.

I recommended The Secret to many friends - especially to those who were having difficult times and were thinking very negatively about their life. They were ALL hooked when they read the book! My friends and also my mother are all using the secret of the Law of Attraction and are positive-thinkers now. :)

Here's the official website:
http://www.thesecret.tv/index.html

On the website when you go to "Living the Secret" there is a topic called "The Secret Scrolls". Place your name, e-mail address and click on subscribe: you will receive inspirational messages from the author Rhonda Byrne periodically by e-mail - for free!

WALK-IN CLOSET - an awesome event

So, like announced in my last entry, I went to this event called "Walk-in closet" in Stall 6 Zurich where you could bring your old clothes, bags etc and trade off with others' brought stuff. I really loved that economical and ecological idea and was very excited to this day. When I arrived Stall 6 around 3PM the ex-barn was already packed! First, you had to pay CHF 2.- service charge at the entrance and tell the girl the approximate number of clothes and accessories you had brought. I said "15" and she gave me a piece of paper with the number 15 written on it. That's the amount of stuff that I can take home later in exchange!

At the next counter, you had to lodge your stuff where the helpers of the event were sorting out the clothes, shoes and accessories from the bags.

So this is the main barn (= Stall) - full of chickens, uh, I meant "chicks" and ladies. ;)

When you got thirsty or hungry from digging around the clothes, you could get something from the bar or you could drop off your tired and bored husband/boyfriend (like I did ;) )

There was also a section to let the pants or skirts hem.

These are the stuff I took home:

Navy-blue velvety booties

Sea-shell beads necklace

I could have spent the whole afternoon at the "Walk-in closet" since more and more new stuff were brought in but my sweetie was getting bored and I didn't want to waste his free time any more. (He is busy studying for his exams and Saturday was his only "learning-free" day). And also, I wanted to clean out the closet and not to overfill it again with new-old clothes! ;)
I really hope there will be another event like this very soon in Zurich! I LOVED IT!

Project WALK-IN CLOSET: One (wo)man's trash is another (wo)man's treasure!

Do you also feel like you need new clothes and bags even though your closet is crammed full and doesn't have any space - not even for a single sock? Do you have t-shirts that you bought on sale just because they were very cheap but never wore them anyway? Do you have a beautiful pair of high heels that look fabulous but not so much on you because you can't walk in them at all...?
Tomorrow, you can bring your clothes, bags, shoes and accessories that you don't use anymore and are still in good conditions to "Stall 6" in Zurich and exchange with other people's 'old' clothes and co! I'm sure I am not the only woman who owns a lot of clothes, bags and shoes that haven't been touched for years but doesn't have the heart to throw them away because they are still well-preserved...
You might have gotten bored of your pink floral dress or the strappy sandals from last summer but maybe someone would fall in love with them like you did when you bought them new! You might be able to trade off your old brown leather bag with a black small bag that you've been looking for! Isn't that exciting? One woman's trash is another woman's treasure! I told my mother about it and she gave me some of her clothes that she doesn't want to wear anymore. I will also bring a few of mine tomorrow to Stall 6! :D
So, everyone, please start cleaning out your closet for other "new" clothes and co! ;D Very looking forward to tomorrow!

Saturday, May 11, 2013
14:00 - 17:00
"Walk-in closet"
Stall 6
Gessnerallee 8
8001 Zürich
Free entry and afterparty from 22:00
http://www.stall6.ch/programm/detail/stall-6-praesentiert-walk-in-closet-kleidertauschboerse-447/

Afternoon Tea - Eden au Lac

Had a lovely afternoon tea with my 2 girlfriends M & S today. They are my only friends who love to have afternoon teas as much as I do. They are also my only friends in their 30ies who still love girly, pretty, cute and kitschy stuff, who would wear ribbons and pink clothes and accessories even though we are like 10 years too old ;), we all love Japanese food and all the kawaii (= cute) stuff from there, we are all a big fan of the US fashion, food, celebrities, trends,... and we all love luxury designers. I feel very comfortable being with them, I can talk with them about my desire to CHANEL bags without feeling like a spoiled crazy woman (who would spend that much money on a handbag?!) and I can talk about prince charming or wanting to live in a luxury villa and feel like a princess, just like we would be talking about the current weather. They have the same dreams and desires so they don't judge me. They wouldn't think I am crazy. Well, all my female friends are nice and lovely and they would never judge me either, but they are realists and think that I dream a little too much. ;)
M, S and me, we are dreamers, romanticists, a little bit spoiled 30/31-year old girls who want to be princesses.
Everyone says that prince charming doesn't exist in the real life. A rich, good-looking, romantic, nice, likeable and perfect guy who makes you feel like a princess... I thought so too, but actually M's boyfriend is like prince charming. He comes from a good family, he is rich, romantic, nice, likeable and accepts her the way she is, gives her expensive presents, they go on luxury vacation (but not too extravagant that other people would think they are crazy), they really seem to connect and they are still very happy and in love even after 10-years being together. I adore this couple! I do love my boyfriend, too and he is my prince in his own way and he makes me feel like a princess! I am not complaining at all! He is the one for me and I am very happy! But what I want to say is, that kind of rich but still very nice guy on the white horse aren't just dream of some hopelessly romantic girls. I guess these guys are VERY rare but they DO exist! M is the living proof. ;)

Ok, now I should write about my main topic: afternoon tea!
Our favorite place for that is the hotel "Eden au Lac Zürich".
The Eden Bar:

The lounge where you can enjoy the afternoon tea:

You get to relish 4 different sandwiches, mini cakes, mini-cupcakes, mini-muffins, chocolate mousse (today's special) and of course scones with jam and fresh creams and a tea of your choice for only CHF 29.-. This is really good value for money!

The entrance hall / reception:

My favorite spring outfit for today's afternoon tea:
Flower print jacket and dress: Forever 21; bag: Bally; high heels: Dosenbach

Service:               ★ ★ ★ ★ ★                      Luxusiousness:  ★ ★ ★ ★ 
Food:                   ★ ★ ★ ★                         Atmosphere:      ★ ★ ★ ★                         
Value for money: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
               

Eden au Lac Zürich
http://www.edenaulac.ch
Afternoon Tea:
Everyday from 13:00 - 17:00
CHF 29.-/39.- (with a glass of Champagne)

JJ

Maybe you remember that I was in Tokyo about one month ago. Amongst others, I bought there my used-to-be-favorite fashion magazine "JJ" to enjoy the Japanese fashion further on also back in Switzerland. :) Even though I am a little too old to read that magazine (it's for girls in their late teenage-years and early twenties ;)), I bought it nevertheless. I used to read "JJ" when I was younger.

So this is the cover of the magazine - all in pink:

Half-Japanese (meaning not full Japanese) models are very popular in Japanese magazines. Nicole on the left and Audrey on the right.

Japanese fashion is very feminine, girly, pretty and cute. <3 br="">

Miranda Kerr, the ex Victoria Secret-model is also popular in Japan. She is advertising here for a Japanese handbag brand "Samantha Thavasa".
Beyoncé, Paris & Nicky Hilton have been in advertising campaigns, too.

Even the alcohol ad is in pink and cute! A peach-flavored cocktail called "Dear Pink" :D

I grew up most of my time in Tokyo, was influenced by Japanese fashion, magazines, TV shows and saw many thin and skinny Japanese girls who were wearing girly and pretty clothes. I guess that's the reason why I love kitschy, pretty, lovely and girly stuff...? I am not in my early 20ies, so I can't wear pink clothes with ribbons and laces etc but I also don't wanna wear just jeans and t-shirt and sneakers or flat shoes like MOST of the girls here in Switzerland... The fashion here is really boring! I know that the girly fashion match the face and figure of the Japanese girls better but that doesn't mean that Swiss girls can't experiment a little more with their fashion, too! Sorry, I shouldn't backbite only about the Swiss girls - I guess it's the same in Germany and Austria...?
In Paris on the other hand women are very fashionable. In Italy as well, no? In New York City people like to experiment with their fashion and aren't afraid to wear something that look "unusual". But in Zurich, when you are wearing something unusual, people would stare at you. I hate that. I think those people who stare and even make fun of the others who are experimenting with their clothes are just envious because they are not brave enough to try something different than t-shirt, jeans, flat shoes/sneakers and in winter some sweater, jeans with UGG-boots.... Not so fancy, I think...