knödel, möbel & life

Inspirational and unconvential

2012-03-22T01:45:00.000-07:00

Maybe it´s too much sun in the spring that makes my mind go creative. It might also be the influence of creative friends who keep on posting stuff on facebook and those links lead me on to new, undiscovered paths. The following pictures are all from Tododesign and I thought about where I could be creative and put a smile on a passangers faces. There are so many sad things happening in our world, so why not brighten it up a little bit?!

Spring

2012-03-17T23:45:00.000-07:00

What a day it was yesterday! Saturday, sunny, warm, bright and did I mention warm already?! ;) I have been waiting for weeks for this winter to end and I think now it happened. Plus 24 degrees celcius. You could sit in the sun with only a tank-top. So nice. And the first flowers are up in the garden as well.

We have some good friends over from Finland for the weekend. We got to share with them the first picnic, the first lunch on the terrace and the first huge portion of Italian ice-cream while sitting outside. I so like this. And I have so much been waiting for this: Spring.

Garden kitchen

2012-03-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

I totally admit it: I am dreaming. Dreaming about the summer. And how absolutely cool it would be to have a small corner in the garden with an open kitchen. You know, nothing big but a corner with a cool grill/BBQ, a place to wash the dishes and a few nice boxes and classes. A place where you can cook, cut your watermelon and just be outside!! These garden-kitchens keep on popping in different magazines and I am simply slowely falling in love with them. Didn´t find the perfect pictures yet. But here a few ideas from pinterest:

Newest addition...

2012-03-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

...to our household machines is this bright red "Francis Francis" from Illy. Steve says it makes perfect espressos. I like the look and I have still no glue how good coffee is supposed to taste like. Sold ours away a couple of months ago to dear friends and now bought the same thing just in a different colour....I had to use all my bargain skills and after two weeks of hard bargaining I got this used machine for the price I wanted ;) Feels good. Welcome all coffee lovers to try it out.

Woman´s Day

2012-03-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

It´s Woman´s Day. So I quickly baked a cake to celebrate this evening. If you are close by, you might wanna pop in and have a piece or two :)

Flowers and a box of chocolate.

2012-03-07T12:23:00.001-08:00

No. It´s not my Birthday. And it´s not a late Valentine´s Day gift from my husband. It´s a gift of new friendship. A reminder of a nice evening together. Talks and laughter.

Light.

2012-03-01T22:49:00.002-08:00

I know. Spring is coming soon. But it´s not quite here yet. On dark days like these I wish we would have more lights in our house. Not ordinary, normal lights but something funky and stylish. Like one of these:

http://blog.holamama.es/page/32/

http://www.sacramentostreet.com/

http://batixa.tumblr.com/

http://www.notetoyourself.com/search/label/Lys

http://blog.holamama.es/

Wishing you a lightful weekend....

Posters

2012-02-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hi,
Here I am again. Got all excited about blogging again ´cause I have now offically 13 readers!! ;) Also I am very much inspired and motivated to go on with the house decorating since I have a whole week of holiday left from university. Gotta do what I still can before crazyness of life starts again...
Well, we have this dining room where nothing fits together yet and I have to get some colour in there as well. And I want a poster. A really nice one. Or two. If the poster would have nice colours I could take those and get decorate the room according to the colours of the poster. Have been on a few sites but I still like etsy.com the most. All the following posters are from their web-page and you can order them as well while I am thinking about what to do...

Tiramisu

2012-02-25T23:58:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not but one of the easiest desserts to make is Tiramisu. It´s not exactly the type of food you wanna eat during lent, but if you get really nice guests, you are allowed to make it (and maybe even taste a bit of it). Enjoy the creamy taste of something very Italian.

Tiramisu ala Karen and Ria:

*about 400g biscotti
*full small espresso cup of strong espresso
*500g mascarpone
*3 eggs
*100 g powdered sugar
*100ml whipped cream
* 2cl rum or amaretto
*dark cocoa powder

Seperate the yolk and the egg white. Beat the eggwhite until it´s stiff. Add the sugar, rum, whipped cream, mascarpone and rum to the egg yolk and mix it well. Next stir under the beaten eggwhite very carefully. And hola, your cream is ready. Now take a big class bowl out and lay the first layer of the biscottis. Sprinkle some of the strong coffee over the biscottis (use a spoon or one of those baking brushes), put one layer of your cream. Then add another layer of biscottis, sprinkle the espresso, add the cream etc. etc. until you are at the very top of yoour dish. The last layer should be covered with cream and then you just cover the whole thing with cocoa powder and put it in the fridge for a couple of hours.
If you like coffee, make yourself a good espresso with it and enjoy!

Dreaming

2012-02-24T23:51:00.000-08:00

If I ever should get the chance to own my own small plot of land in Finland for a small summer-house I would build exactly THIS and sleep there every single summernight that I spend in Finland.

Picture from http://freshome.com

Kids Room

2012-02-24T23:40:00.001-08:00

Finally I have managed to open every single one of the boxes that came in the container from Bangladesh. The next thing to do is to get starting on the boys-room. I have to find really good solutions for a really diffcult room. It has a roof slope and the floor is build in two storeys. On top of those it´s really small. Nevertheless I was searching this Saturday morning online for ideas. And I quite like the following ideas even though I can´t implement all of them. The storage-wheel and the book-tree are my personal favourites.

All pictures from: http://pinterest.com and http://kenziepoo.com and the last one from http://www.evdes.com

Perfect pictures

2012-02-14T00:38:00.004-08:00

I was about to answer a friend´s email when I realized a link she had sent me long time ago. I opened the link and for about 15 minutes I surfed on a blog with stunning pictures. And because it´s Valentine´s Day I decided to share my joy with you. Absolutley beautiful. I promise.

http://kristakeltanenblog.com/

Happy Valentine´s Day to you <3

Breakfast

2012-02-08T02:47:00.000-08:00

Breakfast is a real good thing. If you have the opporturnity to start your day with good food in a nice setting

it´s definately worth all the effort. Collected some ideas for you today inspired by some fine breakfasts lately with friends.

Picture above some design from Finland: http://www.finnsideaut.at/

..and here something from: http://www.clarkesgiftsorkney.co.uk/denby/

...and here you can find gorgeous tableware: http://www.kitchencritic.co.uk/tableware/ (the next 5 pictures from their website)

Last something classy from a blogger: http://tiptoethrough.blogspot.com/

Tea

2012-02-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

Today is the coldest day so far of this winter. In numbers that is -11 degrees celsius!! I spent the last five years in Asia where the temperatures never dropped this low. As a person with very finish roots I brought all our bedding outside today to kill the dust-bugs.
If you would know me a bit, you would know that I really like slurpping my tea. I basically like any kind of tea and I can drink it at any time of the day. And I like to drink it from different kinds of cups. One of the nicest gifts I have ever gotten were these teapots/cups that my husband gave me over a year ago as a Christmas present.

Please note, that all the pictures above are taken by my phone-camera and are not eddited... ;) Point being: It´s not about the camera how good your pictures will turn out, it´s about having a nice background and enough LIGHT!! ;)

Of course I did surf a little in the world wide web for you today just to find out where to get nice tea-pots in case you would like one: http://www.whittard.co.uk/equipment/teapots
I would propably choose one of the following:

...and if you want real good tea in your teapot I would recommend: Clipper-tea. I haven´t found a store yet in Vienna where I could buy it, but if you happen to know, please, let me know it too!! And here a few pictures of the Clipper-teas because the packets just look so absolutley gorgeous.

There is nothing more left to say that enjoy your tea-time today...It´s soon five o´clock. So hurry to get your own pot ready ;) And yes, take a good piece of chocolate with it as well...

Plum-Pie

2012-01-25T07:59:00.000-08:00

Haven´t been baking for weeks. And I realized that is a sign for not being well. I don´t know if it helped a bit that I got today notice that I am through with all my really important exams at uni and that we are done with some imigration-bureaucracy-stuff too. Anyway. I enjoyed baking after a long break. Found some frozen plums from the summer in our freezer and converted a blueberry-recipe into a plum one. I am too lazy to translate the whole recipe now into English, but if you should want it, I might concider to post it here :)

Have a relaxing Wednesday evening and do something you enjoy!

Butlers

2012-01-24T01:42:00.000-08:00

Last week I walked into one of my favourite shops here in Vienna: BUTLERS. And there it was. Right in front of me. The funniest card I had seen in months. It just describes to me how life sometimes really sucks. And there isn´t really anything you can do about it except for finding a new beach. Sometimes in life we gotta find those new beaches and places as well. Even if we don´t want to.

I also found this beautiful wooden chocolate box. Haven´t decided yet whether to keep it or to give it as a birthday-gift. The duck below was just funny. It really makes a duck´s noise and you can use it to clip your papers together.

I wouldn´t mind getting one or the other thing some day later in my life from that shop. Here a few samples from their webshop: www.butlers.de

Cups

2012-01-22T23:10:00.000-08:00

Currently I am unpacking. Unpacking the boxes that I packed half a year ago in Dhaka/Bangladesh. So many memories. Like these lovely cups from Wik & Walsøe. Norwegian design made in Bangladesh. These are definitely the nicest cups I have owned so far. And with many friends and guest we have had quite good talks about life while slurpping tea or coffee from these cups. These conversations have had a huge impact on my life so far. And I hope to to have many more of these moments.

If you are intrested in more Wik & Walsøe, you can visit their website by clicking here. And here two pictures taken from their website:

The Office

2012-01-22T01:21:00.000-08:00

Latley I have been spending really much time in one room in our little house: The Office. I have been studying for hours and hours for big exams. I never thought so, but one of my favourite rooms in the house has become The Office. Maybe because of the beautiful green sofa from the 60/70's that we saved from being dumped is there. Or maybe it´s the globe that I wished for a long time for when I was about 11 years old and then finally got it as a Christmas present. The good feeling might also come from the huge map we found at a road-side fleemarket years ago. It might also be the pictures hanging on the wall reminding me of good times abroad. It could also be that the postcards on the pinboard remind me of wonderful friends. The matruska-mouse-pad reminds me of the huge shopping malls in Bangkok. And the Dagobert Duck-piggy-bank that it´s always good to value what you have. Point being: It´s the small, precious things that you surround yourself with that make you feel home and good.

Enjoy your weekend. And surround yourself with nice memories.

A little sewing corner

2012-01-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

Dear readers,

About 5 months ago we moved into a small house close to Vienna. The house is far away from being a perfect house. In fact it has so many corners that should be fixed that I have started doubting that we will ever finish everything before we move out again. We have cruket walls, floors in at least 4 different colours,.... and I could just write you a loooong list here. But because this is not really OUR house, there is a limit how much you want to invest in permanent fixing. Point being: I am far away from having this place ready but last week I finished one tiny,small corner that I have been dreaming of a long time: The sewing corner :) Maybe the funny thing is that I absolutly can´t sew, but luckily I have a daughter who LOVES all kind of handicraft stuff. Also I have talented, gifted friends visiting at times who (hopefully) will/can teach her. Anyway. I have now a sewing corner. Naomi and I both love it. It reminds us of Bangladesh where we started a handicraftproject for woman in need. I bought one of the same machines they use in the projects. The girls have been sewing on our machine and I think it´s a great piece to remember the woman there... And who knows, maybe one day I learn how to use the machine as well.

I know. Almost too many pictures. But here a few more ;) The first one is the pattern of the carpet of the corner. Handmade by my very own Grandmother. The next too pics are close-ups from the cool pearl-classes we made with Naomi. Last but not least, the SEWING SUPPLIES-bag made by the ladies in Bangladesh designed by Sister Susan and me.

Great Blogs from Finland

2012-01-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

You know what I miss from Finland while living abroad? (Besides liqurice, candy and rye-bread) Good interior magazines. For some reason I have not found equaly high quality magazines in the German speaking world until now. But luckily we have the internet these days. From time to time I find myself surfing around beautiful and inspiring blogs. There is plenty really nice ones in finnish language (many do it english/finnish) and today I just wanna share a few links with you. You don´t need to understand a language in order to just adore and get inspired. Lean back, take your time and start surfing online...

All the pictures below are from my (currently) favourite one:

http://keltainentalorannalla.blogspot.com/

Here some more links:

http://parolanasema.blogspot.com/
http://www.timeoftheaquarius.com/
http://kalastajanvaimo.indiedays.com/
http://jotainsinista.blogspot.com/
http://kaksihuonettajakeittio.com/

Funky Dinner

2011-12-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

I have to share my joy with you, my dear readers, of an excellent restaurant we were invited to a couple of days ago. I simply loved the athmosphere (although I guess if you are together with great people, it doesn´t really matter where you go) and if you happen to be some day close to Vienna, it´s really a trip worth out of the city to visit the famous Marchfelderhof. Not only is the restaurant a sight in itself, the cuisine is some of the best you can get in the area.

Here a few pictures taken secretly with my iPhone. Maybe you can find some inspiring home-decorating ideas as well. It´s a little bit of too much stuff for a regular home (at least for my taste) but it´s interesting to wander around and go back in time and make lists in your mind what it would be worth to collect.

Ps. My absolute favourite place: The toilet.

Forgotten Games

2011-12-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

A Christmas tradition (and maybe the thing I like most about Christmas besids delicious food) in our family is to play all kind of board- and card-games during the whole holiday week. We take out the games that have been in the shelves for a long time and just play. Sometimes I get to play my favourites like THE train-game, CARCASSONE, Take it easy or Bohnanza and not to forget to mention: American Dominoes. We had most of our games with us when living in Dhaka and one of the most precious things to get from our shipment boxes were the games. If you ever need any game ideas, mail me :)

Christmas greetings from Vienna

2011-12-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

Just wanna wish my readers a peaceful Christmas with this images of Vienna:

Merry Christmas, Ihanaa Joulua, Angenehmes Fest, Bhalo Shubo Nobo Botshor.......

Post from England

2011-12-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

I simply LOVE getting regular mail. Today I got something really nice and funky from a dear friend from England. Very stylish. Very vintage. Very Jessie (and me). Tomorrow I´ll start cooking/baking for our family Christmas and I will be wearing this apron and think of my friend <3

Girls Party Part 2

2011-12-12T05:47:00.000-08:00

Great Party. Great girls. And I am the luckiest mother on earth to have a daughter like Naomi...Happy Birthday sweety-pie <3

Girls Party--- Part 1

2011-12-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

My baby-girl will be 11 tomorrow. And I guess every girl wants to have a cool party every once in a while. You know a party where no boys are allowed and you can giggle around with your best friends. I decided to get you inspired as well and take you on this trip of planning, doing and enjoying!

Of course everything always starts with good planning (I love my little note-book where I can plan things no matter where I am)

We have the tradition that the birthday-kid can always choose the cake. This time on the wish list was a chocolate cake:

Sometimes party preperations concists of more than just baking ;) We got our new dining table yesterday!!! Glad I have a man to built it together...

I couldn´t resist trying out a new berry-muffin recipe...

No illusion that my kitchen would look like the kitchen´s in the interior magazines while baking!!

But I happen to have the most wonderful little sister on earth who voluntairly cleaned up my whole mess last night and did the dishes while I was out on a party with Steve. Maybe the motivation for that was this gorgeous kitchen towle that a dear friend brought me last weekend from Finland?! I love the design, the colours and the finish words on it.

More will follow later today when the party is over....

Snapshots

2011-12-03T23:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you will find the most inspiring interior in unexpected places. Like yesterday. I walked with a dear friend into a big clothing store and all of the sudden I found myself ot admiring the clothes but the design of the shop. So I started taking pictures with my iphone and thinking how I could use some of this awesome style in my very own home as well. Have a look:

Chocolate

2011-12-03T23:47:00.000-08:00

If you one day should fancy some excellent chocolate that is not made in a huge fabric, you should come to Vienna. There are several of these tiny little chocolate shops downtown where you just pop in and travel back in time. You can find the classics, but also the greatest combinations that you never thought to excist!

Here a good link to all my German-speaking readers. This blogger has a good collection of Chocolateries downtown Vienna including opening hours and addresses.

Chicken Soup

2011-11-06T01:21:00.000-07:00

On Friday I found it. The Asian Store that I will get all my supplies for Bangladeshi, Thai and Indian food during our years here in Vienna. I had been grieving for a Thai-soup called "Tom Kha Kai". For years this has been one of my favourite meals.

Here is my version of it (no prawns, no mushrooms)

1 cup of coconut milk
One packet of Tom Kha Paste
400 g chicken cut in pieces

Boil the coconut milk together with the paste and add the chicken to it and cook until the chicken is done. Turn down the heat and add:

1cup of water
1 cup of coconut milk
fresh lemongrass pieces (I usually take 2-3)
fresh ginger pieces (use with care as the fresh ginger is quite strong)
fish water (use it like salt)

Now let it stimmer on low temparature for about 10 mins. untill the chicken is soft. Just before serving add into the soup:

juice of one lime or lemon
one red onion cut as you like to eat them
one small box of cherry tomatoes

....and it´s ready to eat!! If you want a heavier meal out of it, you can eat it with rice...

Enjoy your Sunday!

Pictures on an empty wall...

2011-11-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Last week I just got so tired of waiting for the container from Bangladesh to arrive. Living in this house with so many empty walls, I decided to do something about it and went to a near by flea-market. The goal was not to spent more than 3 Euros on one picture. What I found there was more than I had imagined. It was enough to make a whole collage on an empty wall!! Most pictures were about one Euro ;) I really like that wall now and it matches perfectly with my retro-wallpaper-corner on the left...

Funky kitchen machines...

2011-11-05T03:45:00.000-07:00

This is my absolute favourite kitchen-machine. Ever since I saw it for the first time in an interior-magazine years ago, I knew that one day it will find its way to my kitchen. I am still waiting for this babe ;)...Their website: www.kitchenaid.com isn´t the best. But if you just Google KitchenAid you´ll find even more funky products like a toaster, a waffle-machine or a smoothie-maker. Gorgeous.

Another "machine" for the kitchen I fancy is one of this SMEG-refrigirators:

But I still can´t make up my mind if I would like a plain white or something colourful. Which one would you choose?