Plan your happy weekend - 29 Nov - 1 Dec

Again a weekend full of events and things to do in Luxembourg. The Chirstmas markets are open, so there is always a new thing to try out there. But if you’re tired of being outside in the cold, MUDAM had a great idea – this Friday they have organized the first event from the series Friday Nights at MUDAM.

Friday Night at MUDAM

I was too lazy and tired and unfortunately I couldn’t go to the first edition, but the next one from 27^th of December is definitely on my list. 

Source Mudam Cafe©Bouroullec

 Source: Mudam Luxembourg©Eric Chenal

The plan sounds like fun, as you can register for a free guided visit in English of the exhibition or just hang out in the restaurant with your friends. The impressive installations created by Lee Bul are still at the museum, so in December will be a good opportunity to see them.

Program

18h–22h Snacks, drinks and music at Mudam Café

19h Guided visit (45 min)

20h–22h Formule apéritif or menu*

Entrée 5 € (Mudami +1 person: free)

Formule apéritif 5 € (1 glass of crémant + pastry assortiment (4 pieces))

Snack 5 € (no drink)

Visite guidée free*

Menu 28 € (plat + dessert + water + café)*

* Available with reservation at: fridaynight@mudam.lu ; t +352 45 37 85 531

International Bazaar

The International Bazaar is a very nice tradition in Luxembourg – every year a group of volunteers organizes at Luxexpo a multicultural event that attracts thousands of visitors and raises lots of money for charity. 

This year 70 national stands sell various national products, from food to Christmas decorations or book and donate all the earnings for almost 100 charities. The Bazaar will be open until Sunday, 1^st of December.

Have a great and inspiring weekend!

Inspiring desk

We spend so much time in the office that having a creative space is a must. I have just realized that when noticing that my only decorations are the stack of papers and documents plus some Kinder gifts (Gargamel and a Barbie). Oh, and of course my tea. So it’s high time for a creative boost, it’s now on my to do list.

Pinterest is full of inspiring examples, hope my desk will soon look a little like that. 

How does your desk look like? Does it inspire you when you're down?

Sources: Pinterest

Plan your happy weekend - 22-24 November

Hunger Games Marathon

The weather is not very inspiring, but thank God it’s almost weekend and planning your free days always helps. It will be quite a full weekend, with a lot of events and new things to try.

First on my list is Hunger Games – Catching Fire, that for me is the film of the year. I loved the first one; it was the first movie that turned out better than the book. I remember I had zero expectations when I went to the cinema two years ago and it was one of the most entertaining experiences ever. Since then I fell in love with Jennifer Lawrence – how can a person be so cool in her early twenties? She has that coolness and brightness that you have to be born with. Of course, after seeing the movie I went to buy all the three books and I read them all in less than three days. Catching Fire was last on my preference list which makes me even more curious about the movie. And speaking of that, did you see the pictures with the costumes? Amazing!

So don’t forget, today at 19:00 at Utopolis and Belval starts the Hunger Games Marathon. The price of the ticket for both movies is 14.80 euro.

Metz Christmas market

Source: Metz Tourism

Saturdays are always good for day trips so I would suggest visiting the Christmas market in Metz, the opening day is November 23 and it will definitely cheer you up. It’s always amazing to discover how the same market concept is different from place to place. Plus, with 3 million people visiting each year the Christmas market in Metz is considered as France’s second most visited market after that of Strasbourg. The cosy chalets are spread over 5 sites - Place de la République, Place Saint Louis, Place de la Gare, Place Saint-Jacques and rue des Clercs. 

Coffee tasting at Golden Bean

Source: Golden Bean

Of course, after so many exciting events, a day of rest would be perfect. I’ve been thinking of tasting the coffee from Golden Bean in the city center, where specialized baristas promise real coffee experience. Apparently it’s the best place for coffee in Luxembourg, so I definitely have to give it a try. I’m more into Italian espresso in the morning and cappuccino after lunch so I’m curious how my Sunday coffee break will look like. Plus I’ve heard they have an amazing carrot cake bakes by two girls from Sweden…

Golden Bean
23, rue Chimay
L-1333 Luxembourg

Have a great and inspiring weekend!

20.11 – Be Happy Day in Benelux

I have just heard about this event and, while I strongly believe in Tolstoi’s words “If you want to be happy be”, I think that it is always good to have a celebration with such a cheerful theme. 

Source: Pinterest

Because very often we get stuck in our daily routine and worry about so many things that we need something to remind us to be grateful about what we have and enjoy the small things. 

Like the sun for instance that is very precious in Luxembourg and today shines beautifully. 

I have found nice article that talks about choices we make every day (some of them look completely unrelated to our happiness) and that have a huge impact on our mentally and physically state. Click here to find out which are the 10 things that we need to stop doing to be happier.

Personally, when I’m a little down, it always helps to look at my holiday pictures as reliving those beautiful experiences always cheers me up.

Like the eats and drinks of Tuscany

The beautiful street art of Florence

The chairs of Rome

Or the views of Cinque Terre

What makes you happy?

Mind the quack

I’m a sucker for rubber duckies so this article in the Economist made me so happy as it announced that this cutesinesses finally got where they deserve. It seems that the National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York (I would like to visit that place) inducted the toy in its National Toy Hall of Fame.

The duck, that first splashed the world in the late 1800s, hasn’t lost its appeal judging on the fact that it was the public that had made the nominations. The final selection was made by a committee of toy developers, historians, collectors and psychologists.

If you are as fond as I am of the rubber duck, there are some very creative options available out there.

In Salzburg, Mozart has a rubber version, with ducks available in different sizes and designs in the main souvenir shops. I got mine from a small and cozy shop in the city center and I have to admit it was difficult to choose from so many options.

After Mozart opened my appetite, I discovered in Bruxelles the Bud ducks, created by a company that had the great idea of reinventing these toys. 

Now they are very popular and well known for their “luxury” duck (I have never imagined I would use luxury and duck in the same sentence). What’s interesting about their strategy is that they launch new versions on regular basis, being inspired by different events or news. And no matter what they always bring in their humor. My collection only includes the “La vie en rose” duck, as I have offered the rest as a present.

And last, but not least, my bathroom displays also the “posh” duck, a very dear present from my best friend, that reminds me of one of the most beautiful poster collections I have ever seen Poster Art 150. It’s still on display at The London Transport Museum; if you’re interested you have time to visit it by 5^th of January. 

Advent Calendars – a fun way to count days until Christmas

I have first heard about the Advent Calendar concept last year –we don’t have this tradition back home, we only fast before Christmas. 

But I thought it’s a fun way to prepare for Christmas. Especially because the first calendar that I’ve seen was a beautiful chocolate box from Neuhaus, so it was an easy win for the idea.

Just a short history for those of you who are not familiar with the tradition. The Advent Calendar originated in the 19th Century from the protestant area of Germany. Protestant Christian families made a chalk line for every day in December until Christmas Eve. Before long, commercial entrepreneurs started replacing the ephemeral chalk lines with printed calendars. The first known Advent Calendar is for the advent of 1851. 

Nowadays it is usually a thin rectangular card with 24 or 25 doors. The doors are numbered 1-24/25.

So this year I’ve started searching for creative ways I could celebrate this period and here are my finds. Naturally, I begin with a Neuhaus Advent Calendar, as they opened my eyes to this tradition – it’s a beautiful box that sells for around 26 euros. You can also find similar ones at Oberweis, but the packaging is not as lovely and inspiring.

For children, but not only (considering that last year I bought Lego for Christmas for me), Lego has created special boxes. I saw them at Auchan, but I’m sure they are available in all the shopping centers as well as online.

The DYI amateurs can create their own. I specially loved this idea – a calendar that includes activities, not presents, because after all Christmas is about being with the loved ones right?

How do you celebrate Advent?

Sources: Pinterest