Christmas spirit

It’s Christmas Eve and although I’m working, it’s windy (Dirk is here) and I miss my family, Pinterest is always there for me when I need something to lift my spirits up.

So here are my five picks that best describe the Christmas spirit for me.

Family

 Giving thanks

Cosy

Fairytales

And food of course

Plus one to celebrate the newest guest in our home, this amazing cat that is visiting for two weeks and is waking me up at impossible hours in the night, but spreads so much good energy that makes up for everything.
 

What does Christmas mean to you?

I wish you all very happy holidays and don’t forget to enjoy time with your family and friends!

Robbie Williams – Swing Both Ways

Robbie Williams has always had a constant presence on my playlist and although he had some ups and downs in his career he managed to get back on track and find new inspiration. The Take the Crown album, although is not bad, lacks mojo and song are quite safe, so it didn’t bring any emotion in my life.

But the new Swing Both Ways is amazing – it has that old fashioned vintage feel of the old movies and spreads good feelings everywhere. It’s so relaxing; I can just imagine myself listening to it in front of a fireplace, with a glass of Prosecco, cuddled in a warm and fuzzy blanket.
 

As for Robbie, he has announced a European Tour to promote the new album next year, but he will again perform on big stadiums, which I don’t think is a good idea for this kind of music. I would have imagined a nice show at Royal Albert Hall, like he did in the past, but no, he preferred the O2 Arena in London…Money in the bank…

But today I’ve just heard a great news - he will perform at the closing of the ski season in Ischgl – a resort famous for its Top of the mountain concert. 

Now that’s something I would like to see.

The best Gluhwein (mulled wine) in Luxembourg

Every December I embark on a Gluhwein quest, trying to discover the best place for this amazing Christmas drink. So you can imagine my happy spirits before Christmas- but of course it’s all for a good cause – I want to taste real Christmas in a cup.   

And it’s definitely not an easy task. Though the Christmas market in Luxembourg is not very big, there is quite a variety when it comes to the quality of wine. There is one stand – the train that is in front of Cercle Cite - that sells a sort of drink that is more like hot artificial juice than wine.

Anyway, after trying almost everything, I found my place of joy. It’s located in the Christmas market from Gaelle Frau, very close to the back and they sell the best one I’ve tasted so far. The alcohol is not burnt out and you can actually taste the flavor of infused spices. Just a sip and you forget about the cold.

Plus, they have these cute mugs that look like a Christmas tree.

Did you find your favorite gluhwein?

The costumes of Hunger Games Catching Fire

The Hunger Games costumes were so amazing that they definitely deserve a separate post. It was so nice to discover that the movie’s costume designer Trish Summerville, has chosen (with some exceptions) to work with new and upcoming designers, that created fresh and surprising pieces.

By far the most impressive was the wedding dress that Katniss wore for the grand entrance to the games kickoff. 

I saw an interview where Jennifer Lawrence was talking about how excited she was about wearing that incredible creation and how after some hours it turned out a nightmare, as it was very heavy, it itched and was very hard to move with.

But for the rest of us who didn’t have the chance to see it, the dream of trying such a wonder is enough. The dress was created by the Jakartan designer Tex Saverio, a young designer who has been described as the "Alexander McQueen of Indonesia". Saverio's work has been worn by international celebrities such as Lady Gaga (who chose to wear Saveiro for her Lady Gaga Fame advertising campaign) and Kim Kardashian.

Then it’s the one-shouldered sweater vest that Katniss wore over her father’s leather coat in a scene that takes place in District 12, a real buzz piece over the internet. 

Source: Lions Gate Entertainment

The piece was created by Maria Dora, a well known Los Angeles based knitwear designer. She talks so honestly about how she got involved in the project that probably changed her trajectory here.

And finally, Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), who has become more and more extravagant, wore an Alexander McQueen couture design when she returned to District 12 for the reaping.

Which one was your favorite?