Up among the clouds where we live....

The holidays are now over and life goes back to normal up here, among the clouds, where we live... 2012 was the best year yet......by far! Probably impossible to beat, (felt more happy and more fit that I've done in YEARS, getting pregnant, had an amazing road trip in Florida, got proposed to, had so many lovely people visiting us, spent a fab holiday in Sweden, gave birth to our beautiful daughter, got a new job offer, took decision to move back home etc.), but even so, I am looking forward to 2013 with great excitement! 

It's been absolutely fantastic spending our first Christmas and new years together as a family of three, getting some down-time in preparation of what's to come. Moving back to Sweden in 3 months time!

Christmas eve was spent in all silence at home in Essertines, just the three of us, snuggling, opening gifts and also shopping some of the last gifts at "Tristan Chocolaterie" - an absolutely fantastic chocolate shop, very close to where we live with, dare I say, probably the most delicious chocolate I've ever tasted.... A bit pricy, but sooooo worth it! Guys, I mean it! If you're in the region, stop by at this little cute place and don't miss the milk chocolate chunks with whole hazelnuts inside. OMG! TO.DIE.FOR. 

The rest of Christmas was spent in Schaffhausen with Chris's family. A lovely few days which among many other things contained an amazing evening with Fondue Chinoise, lots of happiness, laughter, good food, really beautiful gifts and seeing some great friends....

New years eve was spent at home, in silence, as Allison got a fever from her vaccination shots.... We did however manage to have a three course dinner with a Chevre Chaud salad as a starter, Moules Frites (one of my absolute favorite dishes) for main course and then having dessert (white chocolate covered mango, strawberries and pineapple in the oven served with ice cream) and Champagne in bed as we wanted to stay close to our little girl. For the first time since before teenage years (at least as far as I can remember?!), I fell asleep before midnight but don't feel even a teeny-tiny little bit bad about it! I was just so happy that Allison could manage to fall asleep and rest the fever away.

On new years day, we headed out on a little 2-stop-road-trip to the mountains, passing by at Chris's uncle in Frenieres and then on to Chris's auntie in Crans Montana, where we spent the night. We loved it and the weather was amazing so we went for a walk enjoying the amazing views they have up there, finally surrounded by the snow we were unfortunately missing during Christmas!!

Some photos to enhance the flavor of what I just wrote:

Yes....we literally do live among the clouds.... It's magical!

A view of Mont Blanc and the French Alps from where we live...

I love the forest! So much beauty.....

....and the sun was peaking through the trees, making a magical light.

I have a thing for leafs =)

The perfect ingredients for a perfect walk: Allison sleeping in the buggy, Chris, sunshine and a thermos of hot tea....

...the view coming back from a walk in a nearby forest.

Superb Chocolate quality at Tristan!!

Me on new years eve

Chevre Chaud Salad with Avocado, Pomegranate and Roasted Pine Kernels....
Photo unfortunately taken with the iPhone, hence the crappy quality =o/

Moules Frites! =p

Pink Champagne.....my only requirement for new years eve!

Out for a walk in the snow....

The beautiful little fairy-tale-like village of Lens

Our walking views....

.....leaf....again =o/

Again, poor iPhone photo quality.....but loved the light!

This photo was taken from the car window on the way back from Crans Montana....completely unfiltered or unedited, just the gorgeous, natural light over Lac Leman (Lake of Geneva)....to bad I only had the iPhone in the car.

.....oh and I also really feel that I want to brag about receiving the most amazing christmas gift this year from Chris!! A new portrait lens for the camera AND private photo lessons that will be given to me by my favorite wedding photographer, Erika Gerdemark! I can barely believe it!! I'm sooooo thrilled!! She will also be the photographer at our wedding in July, booked since a few months back ;)

Wishing all you lovelies a healthy and happy 2013!

xox

That post-holiday feeling.....

The first work week after the holidays is done and I must say, I never found it harder to ramp back up again. During this holiday, I managed to get completely relaxed and I didn't have to work even for a minute!! I can't even remember the last holidays I had where I didn't have to join at least one meeting from home, or at least receive a call from someone.... Probably I had forgotten what it is like to really have a break and now, once I've tasted it again, must say, it's the best thing ever!! Hence, the difficulties this week ;)) 

Some snapshots from the holidays:

Our little village, captured from a walk during Christmas

I went to Morgues for some shopping.... It's such a cute town!

We went to St Cergue for night skiing....only Chris skied. They only had red slopes opened and I was too scared ;))

For a while, the snow nearly melted away completely....

I went running many times and this is my usual view. Gorgeous!

Cheese fondue on New Year's eve

Mom and Kalle, enjoying their first fondue!

....hmmm....maybe more our 100th fondue?? ;)

My mom and I built a snowman....and I namned him Frosty, just like my sweater!

Like mother, like daughter ;))

We visited Lausanne

Where we had some Starbucks.... Gingerbread Latte, of course =p

We also had Raclette

.....and I found this little guy in my cheese =)

We went to Montreaux and had a nice walk by the lake

...and I played some more with my new curling tool from Amika!

With this post-holiday feeling in mind, I left work early on Friday and did the grocery shopping (to have that over with). When I came home, there was a plate of freshly baked cookies at the entrance from our amazing landlords (how great is that?! ...and they tasted divine btw ;))!! I then went for a 6km run while it was snowing (which feels amazing!), came home, did some strengthening exercises, stretched, took a looooong hot bath and then, while waiting for Chris to come home, I cooked pizza for us while sipping on a glass of red wine.....and just when I didn't think the day couldn't possibly get any better, Chris stepped through the door with a bouquet of flowers for me! I am truly blessed.

The cookie plate =p Do you see the two cats?

The before: Heading out for a run in the snow

The after: As soaked as if I had a shower and there is obviously also some steam in this photo =))

The flowers!! Aren't they beautiful? <3

The veggie pizza! This one with tomatoes, fresh garlic, mushrooms, fresh basil and mozzarella..

Now it's Saturday morning and I am trying to mentally prepare myself for what's coming up in a couple of hours..... I am nervous, but excited. My legs feel like jello thinking about it. I am curious to find out if I can really do it. This afternoon, I have a 2 hour downhill skiing lesson!!!! I hope I come back without broken bones =o/ Wish me luck!


I wish you all a lovely weekend!


xox

Belated, but here goes: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

So the time has come to look again into that rear view mirror, ponder upon its reflections and at the same time, make plans for the new year, without the help of any magic crystal balls. 2011 was a great year, but something tells me, the best is yet to come....could 2012 be it? For sure, the potential is there.... I can't remember ever having been happier.


Feelings

2011  Since this was a year of many new beginnings, for sure a mix of different feelings! I was feeling a bit of separation anxiety, leaving my old job....or well, that was mainly about leaving the team. I felt very very angry for a while due to some really stupid and also some non fact based comments made by people in my circle of aqaintances. Luckily this anger passed quickly and I simply had to remind myself that everyone is entitled to their opinions and it's not my job or business to change them.....nor will I ever change mine as a result. Other than this, 2011 has been filled with feelings of immense happiness, joy and finally a great sense of calm. I have finally found a place that feels like HOME.

2012  I'm hoping that this year, I will feel as happy as in 2011. I hope this feeling of calm stays.... 

Holidays

One of my favorite shots during our trip to Camogli in Italy

2011   We started 2011 by spending 2 glorious and relaxing weeks in the Dominican republic where we got PADI Open Diver certified. We also went to Rome in April, Sweden in June, had a fantastic diving weekend in Camogli (Italy) in August and went to London just recently.

2012  So far, only 2 weeks of fixed holiday plans! We will go for 2 weeks to Sweden in end of July with Chris's youngest sister and her boyfriend and we are sooooo excited about this trip!! We will probably "travel around" for one week and stay in the archipelago in a little house by the sea for one week. On top of this, we are talking about several destinations and timings, but nothing is set yet..... It's a kind of blank page ;)

Life changing events

2011  As loosely predicted in last years new year's update, indeed I left my previous company for a new opportunity and moved to the other side of the country.....this was certainly life changing! Not sure if more is needed here? ;))

2012  I think I prefer to leave this one blank for now. Let's see, shall we?

Meetings

2011  No mind-blowing meetings in 2011 that can compete with my dinner with Paolo Coelho in 2010. On the more personal side though, I have to say I have met some really really lovely people this year (some who I now am really lucky to call good friends). 

My cute little niece, Cindy, cuddling with her grandmother (my mom), Anne

2012  The only meetings I am really dreaming about is the ones with friends and family. I really really miss my friends from back home and hope that this will be a year where we have more time to see each other. I am especially looking forward to see my niece/goddaughter again!! She has grown soooo much and is now both running around and talking!! On top of this, I might have the pleasure of hosting one of my blog friends, Maddie, for a week this summer =)

Blog happenings

2011  Well.....not really a "happening", but I made some revealing posts about myself this year, hoping to make people realize that you can never judge a book by its cover and got an amazing amount of reactions from an amazing amount of people.....all positive actually. There were 2 posts, where the first one was deliberately provocative and probably the most difficult post to publish of all my blog posts. The second post is in my top 10 in terms of number of unique visitors.

1: http://linda-lostinswitzerland.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-most-annoying-post-ever.html

2: http://linda-lostinswitzerland.blogspot.com/2011/07/other-side-of-coin.html

2012  Am hoping to finally be able to post a long promised interview with one of my favorite singers....let's see. I know she is incredibly busy so am not keeping my hopes too far up on this one. Maybe I'll jump on board one of those blog challenges again if I have enough time and I'm also hoping to do another series of guest bloggers.

I chose this picture to represent my new job as it so frequently brings me to

Professional achievements

2011  Got a new, great job!

2012  My professional aim for this year is simply to do my very best! No plans to change anything this year.

Music

2011  If I were to pick a few highlights, I'd probably go for:

Hero by College/Electric Youth

When I'm alone by Lissie

Paradise by Coldplay

Take it from me by The Weepies

First by Lucy Rose

Set fire to the rain by Adele

Rain by Patty Griffin

Trouble by Ray LaMontagne

....and I also rediscovered 3 of my old favorite songs:

Cup noodle song by Pineforest Crunch

Crash by The Primitives

Maniac by Michael Sembello

2012    Lucy Rose is working on her new single and I am very very keen to hear it. Am also looking forward to hearing something new from Ingrid Michaelson and/or Rob Thomas!!

My first time downhill skiing EVER! In this pic, a veeeery shaky Linda ;)

2011 Projects...hmm....well maybe I could mention the 10km run I did during the Lausanne marathon? I started running in September and since then, I have been running 138km's. Fantastic feeling to track and measure each run (I LOVE the Runkeeper app!!) and to feel ones fitness steadily improving. 

2012  Am really hoping to take some downhill skiing lessons as I only started skiing in 2011 and so far only went a few times and I am truthfully really really scared  when it gets a bit steap, but have as a goal to ride down blue slopes without fear this year.

Movies

2011   As always, I have watched plenty of movies. Didn;t find a new Pan's Labyrinth but I really loved Barney's Version, Inception and Arrietty the borrower.

2012  Among many others, I can't wait to see Hugo, The Hunger Games, The Descendants, The Hobbit: An unexpected journey and Disney's Brave.... Am also reeeeaaaally keen to see all of the movies on my amazing xmas gift, "Studio Ghilbli collection box" =p

Foods

2011  I've had a record number of Cheese fondues in 2011 and soooo much nice Italian food after many many trips to Italy this year (2 Italian trips on a private level and countless business travels).

2012  Honestly? I can't wait to go to Sweden this summer and eat all of my favorite foods! Am also looking forward to cooking more at home this year now that we finally have a nice kitchen!!

To finish off this post, I would like to wholeheartedly thank you all so much for your support during 2011! YOU are what keeps me motivated to keep this blog alive and your comments mean the world to me.

HAPPY 2012!!! May this be the year when all your hopes and dreams come true ♥

xox