One thing I love about the year end sales here is that the discounts are fabulous. They start from 30% just before Christmas and can go up to 70% after New Year! Another plus point is that the items on discount are usually current season items.

So there really isn't any motivation or incentive for us to shop during the non-sales period.

Trooped down to the city to check out the sales after cooping up at home for the last 3 days, and scored myself some pretty good deals!


Zara is much cheaper in Europe compared to Asia and it's also one of the few brands here that carries smaller sizes. I can even fit into their kids' range (I've got a body of a typical 12-year-old European kid :P).

Also snagged a lovely light pink wool-mohair scarf from COS at 50% of the price. COS has very lovely designs that are different from the other brands here (It's like a combination of GG<5 and Mu). The prices are pretty decent but the smallest size (XS) is still too large for me most of the time :(

There's gonna be more discounts to come after New Year and how I fear for my pockets! 

I had a blast with the girls from the mini shop project as we held our little Christmas celebration at a Chinese hotpot restaurant last Friday. I sat at the table looking at the happy faces and I felt incredibly thankful for what the year has brought me.

My life in 2010 basically revolved (and is still revolving) around my online shop and Etsy.

I came here not knowing anyone and didn't know how it could be possible for me to make friends since I'm not working. But with a stroke of luck (and of course through the wonderful world of Etsy), I got to know Eva, Johanna and Kathleen just before 2009 ended.

When Etsy opened their office in Berlin, Eleanor started the Etsy Germany Street Team not long after. We even had a meet-up with the Etsy people when they dropped by Munich, and everything else just seem to fall into place then after.

The team grew over a short period of time and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there are quite a number of crafters in Munich, all of whom were seeking opportunities to showcase their wares other than on their online shops.

I finally got to meet a few faces when the crafters in Munich held our first craft party in June.

We also had grand plans of doing outdoor sales in the beginning of the year but only managed to participate in flea-markets since craft markets are almost non-existent here. And coupled with the cultural and spending habits of the locals, I almost thought it was unlikely we would ever sell any where other than flea-markets.

But the participation in flea-markets gave us a kick-start to everything else in the second half of the year. We got to know more people and eventually started the shop project (but not without much headaches and challenges). It's a shame that we had to shut down everything abruptly a week ago due to some complications (ridiculous ones, if you asked me).

The shop project is a success to me in every sense even though we didn't have rocket-high sales. I've learnt and discovered many things over the short span of time (even able to comprehend a wee bit of conversational German! Listening though. I still can't string a proper sentence in German :P ) and the best of of all, made good friends that I enjoy hanging out with.

I've made progress on Katheyl too. Not big ones but definitely more than what I've expected. A few consignment and wholesale opportunities and had the good fortune of participating in not one but four Christmas markets.

On the personal front, nothing much has changed. I'm thankful to be reunited with the husband after living apart for 1.5 years (and I hope he feels the same way too!). I've never thought I would ever become a home-maker but I'm liking this new role so far :)

Leaving my full-time job and dabbling in something different has been nothing but rewarding. I consider myself really lucky to have the opportunity to give a shot in doing Katheyl full-time, and also the luxury of taking things slow (I'm actually a kan cheong spider (nervous and tensed) by default, and I think I still need to work on that :P ).

I'm also thankful for the opportunity to reside overseas though I miss the warm climate (badly), my family and favorite hawker food. Still, it's good to be here as we can easily travel to different European cities. Other than a few Bavarian towns and German cities of Frankfurt and Berlin, we had also visited Barcelona, Salzburg and Vienna this year. Before moving here, I'm not someone who plan for holidays (as in actively looking out for good travel deals), but now I look forward to these trips to the neigbouring countries. We definitely hope to visit more places in the coming year.

Not sure if I'm getting old or what, this year seems to pass even more quickly than the previous ones! There are so many things that I'm thankful for. It is true when I ended my 2009 reflection post that 2010 is potentially a good year. I've had a whale of a time this year and I just feel really blessed to embark on this journey.

Can't wait for 2011 to come! But I need to seriously think of my resolutions for the year first :)

The past month has been rather dreadful for me. I've not been in the best of health and I just can't seem to fight off the bugs no matter what I do. The most annoying thing is that I don't get the full-blown cold/flu but the little nagging symptoms that don't really bring you down but make you uncomfortable.

So I'm a little relieved that I'm done with the markets for this season and can finally stay indoors a little more (though I wouldn't mind having a few more to go to!). The cold weather is the biggest cause of my poor health, and it certainly doesn't help that a lot of people are falling sick.

I guess I just need plenty of rest to battle the bugs. I get tired very easily during Winter and everyone says that's because I haven't been eating a lot to build up my reserves. I've been trying to load up and things are slightly better now as I do get hungry when the weather gets cold, unlike last year when I had not much of an appetite. Don't think I'm gonna lose any weight this winter :P

This morning I woke up with a very dry and sore throat that is accompanied by a heavy head and stuffy nose. I could have slept the entire day if not for the postman who rang the doorbell to deliver this:

A lovely gift that makes me feel much better! The scent is so wonderfully sweet! I just need to get the bugs out of the way first so that I can enjoy the full taste of it. Right now I need the herbal tea and plenty of sleep.

Christmas came early for me! 


I was out last Saturday when the postman came by to deliver it. So I popped by the post office this morning to pick it up and boy, was I excited to see it!


Thank you so much for everything, Mooni! I absolutely love the gifts and you have made me a very happy girl!

I haven't been in the best of health lately, most likely due to the cold weather (which brings along the flu bug).

The throat has been rather uncomfortable for a while and I finally decided it's high time to pay a visit to the GP since I still have another market this weekend.

Unfortunately, she could only do some superficial checks but couldn't confirm what was wrong with me. So she referred me to the ENT guy next door.

After a quick but uncomfortable procedure (which involved the doc sliding this scope from my nose into my throat), I was diagnosed with a case of infection of the larynx (aka the voice box). I was then sent off with a prescription of 3-day antibiotics, which costs 20euros for 3 tablets!

Oh well, at least the meds are doing their job...

I went back again for a review this morning, feeling really nervous because I didn't want the scope down my throat again. You see, after the first procedure, I went back with a horribly irritated nose which couldn't stop running for the entire evening. I was sneezing quite a bit too and as a result, my throat was more sore than it already was.

Thank goodness he could see my throat from the mouth this time round (I was gagging so much the other day that he had no choice but to put the scope through my nose). Everything seems to be fine for the time being and he said I should be alright soon.

Looks like I should continue to refrain from talking too much for the day :)

While we were packing up after yesterday's market, the snow came fluffing down on us! The empty streets were promptly covered with snow and we had a little fun walking in them :)

And a beautiful sight we have here after a day of snow:


I love walking on snow but I'm definitely not looking forward to it melting. According to the forecast, tomorrow will be sunny so everything's gonna be wet and slippery :(

One of the things that I like about craft markets is that you get to see an array of interesting handmade items that can't be found in the big box shops, and each of them has a story behind its birth!

So no prizes for guessing that I'd gone shopping at the markets that I was participating over the last 2 weekends. Scored myself some pretty things! It's hard not to be tempted when you are facing them 10 hours a day!

Just got myself a handheld blender and decided to try it out by making something simple.


I wasn't sure if I wanna make this 'cos my kitchen isn't that well ventilated and I'm quite sure my German neighbours won't appreciate the belacan smell :P

Anyhow, my cravings got the better of me so I turned on the ventilation fan at full blast and toasted the belacan. The chilli turned out really nice and yummy but a tad too spicy 'cos I've been a little too generous with the birds' eyes chillies :P

I'm gonna get the other chilli recipe from my parents, which is my all-time favorite and I eat it with almost anything. The supply that they gave me is running out and I guess it's high time I learn to make my own. Just hope that it turns out as good as the one my parents make.

..but in a good way!

I've been shuttling between the shop and preparing for the markets, which leaves me little time for domestic matters (I miss cooking and trying out different recipes).

I was about to settle down and get some work done after lunch when I received very good news from 2 of my close friends (I was practically screaming like a mad woman over the phone!). Now I'm so excited that I can't get myself down to do the work that I was supposed to do an hour ago. Oh man!

Anyhow, here's something that you should know if you are in Munich:


I'm absolutely excited over the upcoming 2 markets because the crafters in Munich are coming together to hold a purely handmade Christmas market, with the support of Etsy, no less!

So you must swing by these 2 locations and show your support to our crafters!

27 & 28 November -  ELKI, Schwabing (Nordendstrasse 53)

4 December - Stemmerhof (Plinganserstrasse 6)

Ok, now I seriously need to return to my work!

I'm not sure what's wrong with my skin this cold season.

My legs are awfully dry even though I've been using the same moisturiser which I had used during last winter. I tried applying pure shea butter balm too but it didn't seem to help.

My cheeks are also flaming red, especially after a day out. Husband even said I looked like I've gone sun-tanning! :(

So it's a definite sign of sensitivity. And I'm also spotting this little rough red patch that has been hanging around my cheeks for the last 2 weeks. It itches at times and I've to keep reminding myself not to scratch.

I've been pretty fortunate all along to have relatively good skin so it really worries me to have such problems, especially the facial one. I'm switching to facial care products that are meant for dry and sensitive skin and I certain hope they will work. Else I have to embark on the organic route :(

As for my legs, baby oil has been a saving grace so far.


This brand that I've recently discovered is very affordable (around 2 Euros for a 200ml bottle!) and also not too greasy yet it gives pretty good protection. I apply it daily after my usual body moisturiser and so far it has kept the itch and dryness at bay.


I got this today and the cream is so thick and smells really good too (like talcum powder)! I'll be testing it when I'm out this weekend. I hope this alone will be sufficient and I don't need to apply the baby oil. I'm too lazy to spend so much time applying this and that on myself everyday.

If these 2 products work, I'm gonna switch everything that I'm currently using, including the shower/shampoo stuff, to all baby products. Afterall, they are meant for babies who have delicate skin. I don't think I have to worry about them not being 'strong' enough since I don't apply make-up nor use any hair-styling products.

Wish me luck!