On Body Language

Here's a really good TED Talk by social psychologist Ann Cuddy on body language and how posture affects our testosterone and cortisol levels. Aside from the science and experiments, this talk has a powerful ending as well. Watch it until the end and get ready to "power pose."

You might need a handkerchief as well (I am looking at you Daph).

 (via Swiss Miss)

Gastropraxis am See

If you need to see a gastroenterologist in Zürich this is the place to go. The doctors are incredibly professional and the entire staff has a wonderful bedside manner. It doesn't hurt that the recovery beds overlook Lake Zürich and the Alps. We guessed the colorful pictures on the wall to be closeups of human intestines but they are actually pictures of coral from around the world.

Look at the sun-kissed Eames Eiffel chairs in the waiting room!

Studying Chagall at Kunsthaus

Grace and her friend Annabella attended an art workshop at Kunsthaus today. The artist of study was Marc Chagall. When I asked the girls what they had learned about Chagall they told me he was old when he died (almost one hundred) and that he painted pictures upside down. 

Both girls agreed that it was really hard to paint like him.

 

 

My Mother's Rug + A Scared Orchid

I have been waiting a very long time for my Mother's dining room rug to arrive from the States. Just to give you an idea of how tiny our place is (140m2) take a look at what the rug looks like in our apartment. I love it though and couldn't be happier to have it. My Mom loved this rug and I love having something that reminds me of her.

The orchid was a gift from a friend and it's the only living thing in our place aside from humans. I am hoping to keep it around. And if I fail at keeping it alive at least I'll have this picture of it. 

Sportferien (Sports Holidays)

Grace is out of school for Sportferien (sports holidays) for the next two weeks. During this break, we will be skiing, catching up with friends, and just having fun in and around stadt Zürich. Today Grace went to a 13:00 showing of Tinkerbell (in German) with her friend and classmate, Annabella. On Wednesday, the girls will attend an art class at Kunsthaus where they will paint and study Chagall. Tomorrow we are meeting some friends for lunch and this weekend we are having friends over for dinner and skiing some more.

Walking with the penguins

Rob took the girls to the zoo today where at 1:30 on weekends, during the winter months and with the correct outside temperature, visitors are invited to take a walk with the zoo's penguins. Grace was front and center and even took a couple of these pictures.

Grace watching the penguins after walking with them

Riding the tram up to the zoo

Riding back home on the bus

Visiting the rainforest

Our View

I know I have posted many pics already on the view from our kitchen and dining room windows but I can't get enough of it. When I miss my Mom, feel down, tired, restless, or homesick I only have to look out my window to feel transported to somewhere calming.

Preparations for Ally's Birthday Party

Ally is turning three next month and we are throwing a very low key birthday party for her. We know how devoted she is to her Schleich animals and I saw this post and knew instantly it was the only way to celebrate Ally's special day.

On the rare occaison I can get Ally to nap, Grace works on making party hats for all the animals. We will bake a cake and fix her whatever she wants to eat for dinner.

photo by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day

Playmobil Castle

Grace received a Playmobil castle for her birthday. We went in with her Aby to get it for her because it's a BIG gift. It almost feels like another piece of furniture in the house. See for yourself. Grace and Ally play with it every day. Ally likes to insist it's a barn and tries to house her Schleich animals in it and nothing makes Grace angrier than someone messing up her pristine castle. I have that in common with my oldest.

Fastnacht

We don't really celebrate Halloween here in Zürich unless you live in a heavily expat populated neighborhood. There are a few Halloween parties at expat led organizations but I do miss having trick or treaters ring our doorbell and putting up decorations.

What we do have is fastnacht. Also known as carnival. The Baseler Fastnacht, which is the largest carnival in Switzerland, starts on queue at 4:00AM on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and lasts for 72 hours. Every town throughout the region has their own fastnacht and it's the closest thing to Halloween we can find. It's very loud and folks are very happy to be celebrating.

We bumped into a mini fastnacht a few weekends ago at our local shopping mall. Grace loved sneaking up and surprising other kids with a handful of confetti on their heads. Ally enjoyed the snacks and only stopped eating long enough to complain about a few errant pieces of confetti ruining the taste of her muffin.

Next year we will travel to Basel to experience fastnacht firsthand. In the meantime here are some pics from this year's carnivals.