Frugal {fancy}: Glamping

Glamping (as in glamorous camping) is something I initially thought was absolutely ridiculous. However, since reading the Sunset magazine spread in this month's issue, I've decided it's the greatest couple's getaway idea ever! 

Imagine going glamping with your husband (no kids!) and sleeping on a comfy bed, waking up with no alarm clock and drinking hot coffee in the peace and quiet of nature. Then in the evening, instead of watching TV or wasting time online, you could enjoy a glass of wine under the stars and make s'mores over the fire. Sounds delightful doesn't it? Apparently there are all sorts of options for glamping from 100% DIY to full luxury including meals and turn-down service. Sunset has a great camping guide online here. 

It will be quite a few years before J and I want to go glamping just the two of us. We are definitely looking forward to camping as a family for now. But when the time comes, I think it's an awesome way to have a fancy, romantic and truly relaxing getaway. What do you think? Would you go glamping? Why or why not?

{photo from Sunset}

Frugal {fancy} Painted Nails

These days I feel completely naked without painted nails. Thanks to my lovely friend and neighbor, N, I have discovered the joy of the at-home manicure - a must in Zürich where an "Express Manicure" will set you back 60 francs. Yikes! 

I used to think that you couldn't have a decent manicure at home. Not true. N is really good at painting nails and I'm learning from her. Her secret weapon? Chanel base coat and top coat. Use those two products and your nails will look perfect for nearly a full week! I've never had a salon manicure last that long. I used to think that nails had to be long to look good painted. Quite the opposite! After I scratched Coco by accident, I cut all of my nails down short. As it turns out, short nails look way better (and last way longer) than long painted nails. How delightful!

Having painted nails adds a little whimsy to everything I do throughout my day: washing the dishes? paying bills online? changing a diaper? dropping a letter in the mail? All fancy when done with painted nails!

Do you paint your nails? What are your favorite manicure tricks and products? 

{photo from here}

New Home

We could not be happier about our new apartment in Seefeld. It is definitively the most desirable neighborhood in Zürich and utterly impossible to get into - especially at an affordable price. One evening we were riding the bus to a party at a friend's house and I got to thinking about how I'd like to live in the city. As nice as Adliswil is, it's a suburb and I just don't do suburbs! I'm a city girl, through and through. I looked up at J and said, "You know what will happen? Someone we know will be moving and then we'll take over their apartment and it will just work out that way and we'll get an amazing place."

Less than three weeks later we got an urgent call at 10 pm from some friends. Their neighbor was moving and if we wanted to get this place we had to act fast. We viewed the apartment the following evening and got the application in the mail the following day. Things fell effortlessly into place from there.

I was a little shocked to discover the total non-existence of equal opportunity housing policies here in Switzerland and extremely shocked to see people's reactions. At work and among friends, we got everything from sincere congratulations - you'd think we'd just completed our doctorate - to jealousy and whispering of the not-so-subtle variety. Waiting to hear back about an apartment you really, really want is hard enough, but having to endure remarks like, "An affordable apartment in Seefeld? Do you even have a chance? What makes you think they would they choose you?" is horrible. You might be asking yourself right now, how does one respond to that? I'll tell you. With a confident smile and an enthusiastic "It's not advertised! Our friends recommended us. They've been in the building for six years. Isn't it great?!" Oh, it's fabulous, darling!

I can scarcely count the ways this move is going to be wonderful, but definitely near the top of the list is decor. I have missed the vintage charm of our beautiful apartments in Portland more than I can say and our new place has serious charm: Original parquet floors from 1865, a wood burning stove from the same era, tall old windows with deep window sills, wainscoting! Elements such as those deserve decor that is warm, a tad modern to off-set the historical feel and cozy. Here's what I've got in mind.

photos from ikea.com and pendelton-usa.com

With the exception of the striped wool throw, which J and I saw in Sunset Magazine and immediately became completely obsessed with, all of the furniture and decor come from IKEA. The coveted striped throw is from Oregon's own Pendelton Woolen Mills. And did I mention it's 100% pure Merino? {swoon!}

When brainstorming what's important to us in a living room, we both agreed that cozy is paramount, hence the high pile wool rug, the Pendelton throws and the comfy couch where you can really snuggle up. It's also extremely important to us that our television not be the focus of the room. In fact, we don't even want it to be visible, so the cupboard will keep it tucked away and out of sight when we are not watching a movie rental from iTunes. In order to add a little warmth to the top of the cabinet, I envision the blue pitcher vase on top and a stack of books. I just love an artfully selected stack of books. To keep things from being too drab or plain, the red lamp gives a punch of color! Finally, the sofa table with its gooey golden glow will keep the sofa away from the wall and create depth and dimension in the room without the couch feeling like it's just out in the middle of the room on its own. I think it's going to be delightful!

What are your top priorities when decorating? What does your ideal living room look and feel like? What sort of "living" does your living room cater to?

Capsule Coffee

I'm now the proud owner of a capsule coffee maker and it's my new best friend. They're prohibitively expensive new, but I found this used model from an American relocating back home. She was sad she couldn't take it with her.

That fancy shmancy red orb is the Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee maker and all the boxes are filled with little capsules that you put into the machine and then flip it on and presto! A fresh cappuccino or latte machiatto. Yum! J is such a sweetie and when we got home after picking it up, he automatically made space for it in the shelf above his beloved kettle. Joel is a purist and drinks French Press coffee and lots of tea. I'm not that sophisticated and I tend to run with the trends, so I'm a Dolce Gusto kind of gal. 

Here's a cappuccino in progress. It takes two capsules, first a milk capsule to make the frothed milk almost all the way to the top, then follow up with the espresso capsule to finish it off. Wow. The milk is actually foamy and delicious and this machine is so completely cool. I am in love!

Darn It!

Martha Stewart has done it again.  In the January issue of Martha Stewart Living, the article entitled "A Stitch in Time" made me wish I had some holes in my sweaters to darn. Not only does the article encourage a lost idea (fixing rather than replacing!) but it does so with flair. Just look at the contrasting yarn darning the holes on that sweater.  It makes me giddy with delight!

From Martha Stewart Living January 2011, Number 206

Then what should happen, but last week I looked down only to notice a hole in one of my favorite J.Crew cardigans. No! My initial dismay quickly turned to delight when I realized I now had a chance to use Martha's fabulous darning idea. Yes! Immediately I knew that I wanted neon yellow or green (or both?) to darn my navy blue cardigan. Happily Purl Soho had exactly what I was after so while home for Christmas, I shall have a fun little project to tend to while chatting with my mom and drinking tea.  

Mettler Neon Thread $22.40
photo from Purl Soho

Looking forward, I want to have a knitwear first-aid kit like Martha's at the ready. Sewing and knitting are such relaxing enjoyable activities that it also makes a pleasurable task out of a disappointment. There's everything to love about that.

From Martha Stewart Living January 2011, Number 206

Lilac in a Bottle

I was born in the Lilac City so I know the smell of a good lilac.  Being rather finicky and preferring a very alkaline soil, the lilac is not easy to grow in many places.  When the conditions are right and the lilac flourishes, the scent is positively intoxicating.  So imagine my surprise when I discovered Pacifica's French Lilac perfume.  It's like the real thing.  In a bottle!  Best of all, it rings in at just over $20.  This will definitely be my fragrance addiction this summer.  

photo from pacificaperfume.com

Pacifica Perfumes, candles and soaps are available at Whole Foods Markets in the Portland area.  Shop Pacifica online at www.pacificaperfume.com

Heavenly & Blissful

Yesterday I had the most relaxing, peaceful facial at the Aveda Institute in The Pearl.  I must admit that I was a little nervous about going to the Aveda Institute this time around.  The majority of my visits to Aveda have been really positive, but from time to time when you have students doing your services, you wind up with someone who really does not have the knack.  Sorry to be rude, but seriously, the last pedicure I got at Aveda was hell.  I was literally scalded with paraffin wax and left with nail polish not just on my toe nails, but all over my toes, too.  It's one thing to get through an uncomfortable pedicure, but a facial is quite different.  It was a serious relief to have a very skilled student giving me my facial yesterday and as an added bonus, she didn't talk at all.  No one wants to talk when they're getting a facial.  Still, there are those times when you get a chatty esthetician.  Anyway, whoever came up with the facial was a genius.  It is so wonderful to have your face massaged with luxurious smelling beauty products, get hot towel treatment and that lovely steam they blow in your face.  It is the best.  I almost fell asleep at one point.  If you live in Portland and you have not been to the Aveda Institute, you should go.  Chances are you'll get someone really great to do your services.  I think I'm going to go every other week until summer starts.  Seriously.  At $25 per facial, it's a worthy investment in stress reduction and peace of mind.  La.

photo from avedainstitutes.com 

Frugal {fancy} Spa

On Thursday, my friend Andrea and I went for luxurious, essential oil scented spa pedicures with a sea salt scrub and parrafin dip with hot towel wrap for only $19! Where, you ask? Aveda Institute Portland! Unlike going to conventional nail salons that smell really awful and toxic, Aveda's products are so gentle and eco-friendly you can actually feel good about using them. One unique part of the Aveda pedicure is that they don't ask you which scent you'd like. Instead, they have you smell each one without seeing the label and you choose based on scent alone. That way you choose the aromatherapy that best suits your mood at that moment. So lovely!

Aveda Institute Portland has an amazing line up of services. It is students who are working on you, but it has nearly always been my experience with students that they are extra careful and attentive, making the experience a positive one. Be prepared that after your services, you will be guided through the retail section by your student with a cute little wire shopping basket in hand. And they will proceed to load up said basket with all the products that were used on you during your services. In the past, when paying $16 for the haircut, I've always welcomed this part of the visit. But with the pedicure, it's a little silly and I'm definitely going to go back to experience the lavender scented footbath before I buy the oil myself.

The only problem now is that I'm having a hard time deciding what I'll do on my next visit. I think I'll be unable to resist the Botanical Skin Resurfacing Facial for a mere $30. 90 minutes of pure bliss! It truly is the best thing around.