The days are scorching hot with the right dose of humidity to boot. Come evenings, thunders roll in from the horizons with a short round of downpour to cool off the day. As I sat by the balcony, with the glass doors wide open, I caught a scant scent of fresh damp earth, of magnolias glistening in the evening sun, of morning glories that have yet bade the day good night and scent of roses which seemed to intensify after the rain. The cheerful chirping of the sparrows slowly faded away until the only sound I heard was the night settling around me. Intoxicated. Content. Enriched.

I know, blogging has taken a back seat recently. What shall I say? Summer got in the way. I used to wonder non-stop about who would want to read about what I write about the ongoing (in)significant events in my life anyway. But whether I have an audience or not doesn’t matter much to me anymore. Have been taking some time off to read, to explore, to shop, to ponder, to experience, to experiment, to learn, to go places, to plan, to taste, to go off the beaten track and to wander out of my comfort zone. So you see why I need a break from blogging. Summer is all but too short and the sun sets way too fast for my liking. When the mood strikes again, I’ll be back.

I have a habit of looking out for cute but out-standing shop signs wherever I go. I especially love those retro-looking shop signs which are usually found in aplenty in some old European towns. I was delighted to encounter so many eye-catching and truly unique shop signs that captured my attention in Bamberg. Here are some that I like:A shop selling orthopaedic shoes A German restaurant. Love those little figurines!
A shop that sells ceramic potsWant some pipes ? It’s a brewery.Need a tailor anyone?

I was browsing through some fashion websites, looking for inspirations to complement my strapless dress for a friend’s wedding. I have to say, I am completely smitten by these gorgeous necklaces by Monsoon.
They are: Oriental Collar Necklace, Butterfly Collar Necklace, Flower Garland Catwalk Necklace and Silver Fan Necklace.  I love their bold yet feminine designs. A fashion statement indeed.

Unfortunately, they don’t ship to Germany . Guess I’ll have to find a way to get them .