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WOOD & FIRE #2 CELEBRATE Christmas – It was always my favourite holiday. THEODOR STORM
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C E L E B R AT E ! ! With our second section »Celebrate« of the issue »Wood and Fire« we are thinking about all the topics that become important to us in December: Christmassy decorations, the biggest Christmas trends – as found on Pinterest, books and audio stories for a little time out by the fireplace and finally a big guide all around being a good host. We hope, that there will be no questions left after reading about setting the table, folding the napkins and getting some inspiration on table decoration. Even if sisterMAG always has a personal touch, this section turned out especially family oriented: we hardly ever had that many own productions, decorated that much, moved around Christmas trees, took pictures or looked back at our childhood and shared our old passions with you (like Bibi Blocksberg stories). And all our interns got together to create a big gift guide for you which they produced all by themselves from the concept to the final shooting and layouting. The result is a very Christmassy section and we hope that you will have as much fun with it as we did!
Yours, Thea & sisterMAG Team W H AT H A P P E N E D S O FA R ? With the first section of #sisterMAG27 »Wood & Fire« we are taking some »Time Out« – what would be better on those winter days. We dedicated this section to wood, show you the most beautiful DIYs from birch wood and concentrate on the phenomenon »wood scent«. Thinking about Thanksgiving we collected the best roast recipes for you. Together with our partner Activia we answered the question »How to live #InSync?« SISTERMAG 27 | 12 / 2016
The Dutch illustrator Leonie Bos develops wonderful retroillustrations in the geometric style of the 50s and 60s. For us, she illustrated all three sections of sisterMAG. SISTER-MAG.COM
ILLUSTRATION L E O N I E B O S
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THE MANTELPIECE
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FIRE PLACE BOOKS
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50
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A cultural history
Beautiful books for a cosy evening with or without a fire place.
EENE MEENE MEI,... From cassette to streaming – the digital native column by Thea Neubauer
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PINTEREST CHRISTMASTRENDS Hege Morris shows us the Pinterest-Christmas-trends
THE S.PELLEGRINO DINNER EVENT
A TRUE SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS TREE CAKES sisterMAG visits Berlin's most traditional tree cake manufactory
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A personal view from Toni & Thea about their Christmas tree traditions in their family
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THE HOSTING COUNTDOWN
A »Modern Italian«-Dinner at the sisterMAG-Office
Speakers in all forms and colours to give or buy for yourself
sisterMAG decorates two Christmas trees in the themes of this issue: »Wood« and »Fire«
THE BIG SISTERMAG HOLIDAY GUIDE
The 101 for a perfect host
SPEAKERS AS GIFTS
THE SISTERMAG-SPECIAL "CHRISTMAS TREE"
Major holidays around the world
What makes a host a good host?
THE SPOTIFY KIDS HUB Five Bloggers told us about their favourite audio stories and music.
RELIGIOUS FESTIVITIES
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SISTERMAG GIFTGUIDE The best gift ideas from the sisterMAG editorial team: All interns teamed up for this very special gift guide
STARTUP SPOTLIGHT: TAKE A SHOT A Fashion Startup from Leipzig tells you more about itself
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TEAM & CONTRIBUTO MARKETING
TONI Marketing & Finance
PA R T N E R S
ALEX Sales
C R E AT I O N
THE COVER PHOTOS Jules Villbrandt (Herz & Blut) MAKEUP
THEA Chief Editor & Design
MARIE Design & Creation
Andreia de Almeida HAIR Alice Trewinnard MODEL Oh Hedwig DRESS
EVI
HELENA
Fashion
Design
SONGIE
DANA
Design
Design
Evi Neubauer L O C AT I O N Lissabon
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O P E R AT I O N S
Claudia Baske travellittleone.com Franziska Bründler & Simone Müller-Staubli 9mal9.ch NADINE Operations
LAURA Content Management
Benjamin Donath eateryberlin.com Barbara Eichhammer the-little-wedding-corner.de Isa Grütering hauptstadtmutti.de
FRANZISKA Content Management
CHARLIE Content Management
Ellen Kapalka friedatheres.com Sarah Leutloff sarahplusdrei.de Rebecca Lina elfenkindberlin.com Nadine Metgenberg fine-weddings.de
OLGA Content Management
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Hege Morris hegeinfrance.com Jules Villbrandt herzundblut.com sisterMAG Team
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PHOTOGRAPHY Claudia Baske travellittleone.com
VIDEO Claus Kuhlmann clauskuhlmann.de
Benjamin Donath eateryberlin.com Christine Juette travellittleone.com Sarah Leutloff sarahplusdrei.de
Jules Villbrandt herzundblut.com
Alexander Kords kords.net Christian Naethler @iamvolta
FLORISTIC HĂźrriyet Bulan botanic-art.de
Thea Neubauer @thneu Cristopher Santos cristophersantos.com
PROOF
Antje Ritter das-korrektiv.de Claire Cunningham clairemariec.weebly.com Elisabeth Stursberg Amie McCracken amiemccracken.com
STYLING Evi Neubauer pinterest.com/evin
ILLUSTRATION & LAYOUT TRANSLATION Tanja Timmer @tanjastweets Alex Kords kords.net Christian Naethler @iamvolta Franziska Winterling @franziefliegt Sabrina Bäcker
Dana Lungmuss hellodanane.com Leonie Bos leoniebos.nl Alice Williamson designedbyalice.co.uk
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#27 DOWNLOADS SISTERMAG HOLIDAY GUIDE Florals for every table
5 ways to fold napkins
4 ways to set a table
Glasses guide
Stationery Designs
Himmeli
Vorspeise
Hauptspeise
Dessert
RECIPES
Breakfast Coffeetime Dining with friends Fine Dining
VIDEOS Our video series about napkin folding
Stop Motion Videos how to deck the table
PARTNER We couldn't work on our issues and publish sisterMAG without our partners who we want to thank very much. This time you'll see our features with following partners. Click to jump directly into the pages!
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Text:
BARBARA EICHHAMMER
A roaring fire in the fireplace makes us dream of cosy winter nights or romantic candle lit dinners. Feeling comfortable in front of a fireplace has come a long way from past intimidating feelings of smoke, power or status. Our little cultural history of the mantelpiece sketches the development from open hearth to electrical fire and shows how we discovered the mantelpiece for decorative purposes.
From Ancient Rome
to the Middle Ages
Barbara Eichhammer Barbara Eichhammer has a degree in cultural studies. She is a writer as well as the editor of the blog ÂťThe Little Wedding CornerÂŤ, where she writes about modern weddings. For sisterMAG she regularly looks at the interesting history of everyday things or places.
In ancient Rome, elaborate heating systems such as the hypocaust (pipes heated in the walls and underneath floors) were used to heat living rooms and houses. Later, European medieval homes were built around a simple, open hearth in the middle of the living room. During the 12th century, however, the first fireplaces were built into the wall, replacing the open hearth. After this adaption, further technological changes in fireplace construction did not manifest for another 500 years. Though what did change over the 11
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n centuries was fireplace design and decoration. For the space above the fire – the mantelpiece – gained such a representative significance that it was elaborately decorated with ornaments or objects.
From middle ages
to 18th
Ornaments for the Aristocratic
During the Renaissance, the mantelpiece emerged as a socio-economic status symbol and space of conscious self-fashion for aristocratic elites. Marble, granite or precious wood were the preferred building materials to showcase abundance noble wealth. An ostentatious example: The Black Chimney in the Palais de Justice in Bruges. There are essentially larger-than-life statues of Charles V. and his royal family that demonstrate their royal power. The delicate carvings in SISTER-MAG.COM
the black Dinanter marble make the mantelpiece one of the top attractions of the city. Speaking of sightseeing: In 17th century, Paris grand mantelpieces were so popular that even guidebooks listed them as ‘must-sees’ for a touristic visit to the French capital. In 1690, the French mirror industry developed the technology necessary to produce full-length mirrors. As a result, a new mantelpiece design emerged. Soon, this mantel-mirror-combination became one of the most essential pieces to important rooms by increasing the room’s function. It was said that those seated around the fire should be able to look into the mirror and observe everything going on in the rest of the room.
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CHIMNEYPIECE Date: ca. 1765–70 | Culture: French | Photo: Courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art 13
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The
gnifying the cultural capital, education and taste of the respective Mantelpiece as house owners. Due to In the 19th century, the mantelpiece in- status symbol for the Industrial Revolution, the middle classes creased in popularity as interior design mo- the middle classes gained an unprecedenved into the middle-class home. ted prosperity which also increaIn the wake of industrialization, sed the middle class's desire for the middle classes appropriated material goods. Mass production the century-long status symbol of in factories guaranteed a flood of
19th century
Charles Maurice Donnay, French, 1908. the aristocracy to showcase their wealth, respectability and success in the public sphere. Shelves above the mantelpiece were decorated with precious art objects, vases, porcelain, botanic fern collections, exotic fans, souvenirs, pictures and photographies, siSISTER-MAG.COM
new products, making it possible to fabricate previously expensive objects at a lower cost. Suddenly, a variety of social classes, not only the noble classes could afford to buy porcelain or mantelpiece decorations. In addition, the changing ideology of the home
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Das Haus von Designerin Erica Pols. Der Kamin befindet sich im Wohnzimmer. Er ist aus Holz geschnitzt und dekoriert im viktorianischen Stil des 19. Jahrhunderts. contributed to the rising significance of interior decoration. The home was understood to be a haven from the public sector and a stressful working life. Although domestic stability and cosiness compensated for the rapid technological changes, the home still remained as an emblem for the
successes and wealth. In fact, the home developed into a primary symbol of new-gained wealth. Thorstein Veblen, an American sociologist, dubbed this phenomenon Âťconspicuous consumptionÂŤ describing how people define themselves by their relations to their owned goods.
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Mantelpiece
today
It was after the Second World War that central heating systems were built into most households. Though over the last few years the fireplace and mantelpiece have gained new attention. It is not due to its warming functions, but the design aspect. Several interior design stores
even sell mantelpieces without an oven for the sole purpose of decoration. Beautiful electrical fireplaces simulate flames and promise a comfortable cosiness for long winter nights. Which only leaves me to say: Grab your blankets and enjoy the crackling fire.
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FIRE PL ACE BOOKS More content, less lifestyle TE X T
Lizzie Stursberg
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to the very popular coffee WHAT Similar table book, these are books that ARE FIRE look beautiful and are presented for decorative purposes in pretty PL ACE arrangements. The difference is that while coffee table books are mainly BOOKS? chosen for their visual content, fireplace books place great emphasis on the narrative in addition to an aesthetically appealing design. Fireplace books deal with detailed and substantive analyzes of different topics in a more profound way. In short: More content, less lifestyle – but still beautiful. Here, we will introduce some of the various themes explored within their pages.
DO YOU REALLY NEED A FIREPL ACE TO ENJOY THEM?
Of course not. We don’t have a fireplace but still find pleasure in a tasteful stack of books. The term »fireplace books« is intended to evoke a very special, homely feeling – a condition which occurs, for example, when one sits with good friends or family in front of a flickering, crackling fire until they reach a state of pure relaxation and contentment.
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WOMEN IN CLOTHES A glance through the Leanne Shapton, Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits;
keyhole directly into the closets and dressing rooms of other women. Blue Rider Press, 2014 The book’s content and form is derived from contributions of various kinds – in response to the question, »I feel most attractive when...,« for example. It is also about the influence of our mothers and grandmothers, of our friends and partnersd and in general about our biography.
THE BOOK OF TEA »Tea is a work of art
and needs a master's Alexandra Klobouk und touch to reveal its Eva Gonçalves noblest qualities.« This Tuttle Publishing, 1989 booklet is a classic for all who want to learn more about our favourite beverage beyond the sweet blends from the supermarket. Published for the first time in 1906, »The Book of Tea« by Kakuzo Okakura has now been reissued at Insel Verlag and is an absolute visual pleasure thanks to charming illustrations by Alexandra Klobouk and Eva Gonçalves.
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A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 OBJECTS Preceding this book was a series of radio C.H. Beck, 2015 features in which Neil MacGregor, then Director of the British Museum, gradually presented some of the most important exhibits of his prestigious collection. This served as the inspiration for this publication. Right at the beginning, the author points to the difficulty – rather, the impossibility – of telling the history of the world. However, he still attempts to trace the history of human development through carefully selected objects and their classification into historical, social and cultural contexts. Peter Heine
ATLAS OF IMPROBABLE PLACES The two authors of the book struck out to visit Travis Elborough und breathtaking places Alan Horsfield different from the wellAurum Press, 2016 known itineraries. The six sections have titles like »Scary places« or »Built curiosities« – there is something for everybody. This will not only act an inspiration for the next trip, but the Which one is your »atlas« is very entertaining and interesting favourite book to read to read without having any plans of by the fireplace? Let travelling. us know by using the
hashtag #FIREPLACEBOOKS
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EENE MEENE MEI, ... From cassettes to streaming The Digital-Native-Column Text : Thea Neubauer Illustrations : Alice Williamson
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As regularly as the seasons change in the temperate latitudes, as regularly do us humans seem to change our mood. While we long for an awakening and a new beginning in spring and make plans or travel to distant countries in summer, we often look back in fall and winter. On the tick, nostalgia gets to me from September 1st on. I just like to reminisce about my childhood that is full of anecdotes about my »projects« or typical accidents (like running against the doorframe). And my mother never forgets to mention that it was never quiet in my room. I almost continuously listened to all kinds of audio stories. Almost nothing is unfamiliar to me: from Bibi Blocksberg and Benjamin the Elephant to The Three Investigators, TKKG, St. Clare’s, Castle Schreckenstein or fairytales – I collected and listened to all of them. Often with my sister with whom I discussed and shared every episode.
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Over the last weeks, I started the stories almost too well, they devoting myself to audio stories chose stories I wasn’t that familiar again and noticed the big role with. Every evening, I listened to they played in my childhood. My the first 3 seconds following the favourite hero is and will always title song and had to guess which be Bibi Blocksberg whose series episode (including the right title was later expanded by the series and number) it was. My sister had »Bibi and Tina«. When I hear the plan to sign me up with the TV the inimitable voice of Susanna show »Wetten, Dass« but since I Bonaséwicz that has been the was a little coward, I never would voice of Bibi since 1980, in my have made it ;). head I think of the little blonde When I listen to the stories today, witch in the green dress. I owned I still know the text of some every cassette from episode 1 passages. I know exactly where (»Witches exist after all«) to 72 the voices of the narrators go up (»The bewitched calendar«) and and which passages I liked most: had them in the correct order in This immersion into the world the shelves of my children’s room. of audio is a reason for children Up until today, my to listen to audio parents have a shelf I listened to the first stories and for with my cassettes in 3 seconds following parents to support their attic because it. Children can the title song and I can’t give them already use these away. My love for had to guess which stories however the little witch was episode it was. they want to, they getting to a point My sister had the can choose which where my mother plan to sign me up story matches and my sister Toni their own feelings with the TV show invented a game. and which one they »Wetten, Dass« … Because I knew are up to. With the
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audio pieces, they can retreat into a little private sphere and get their own experiences and good feelings. And sometimes, it’s just about bridging times of boredom or idleness. When I listened to the audio story »Bibi’s new friend« (number 10 ;)) again, I realized that it tickles the fantasy: All of a sudden, the same pictures I had in my head when I was a child came back – underlaid with today’s knowledge that »Bibi’s skyscraper« couldn’t be standing in that small city. But I still smiled when the old pictures came back. I immediately called
my mother to tell her that the old feeling came back: I felt like being Bibi and for me, my mom has always been Barbara Blocksberg. Being confronted with this statement of her 29-year-old daughter, my mother laughed and told me that I’m still nuts. But we still discussed which story was the best one (my mother says it’s number 38: »Bibi and the Santas«). Up until today, my sister Toni rants about »Benjamin the Elephant as a cook« (number 23) because she thinks that Benjamin is »very/too dense« in it.
p ee sl a ll fa or p u e k 25 a w u yo er Wheth
This is what most of our childhood pictures look like: my sister Toni and me listening to cassettes.
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Bibi-Blocksberg games in my grandma’s kitchen
Playing with gradnma
Another aspect is proven right by now: If a child listens to an audio story repeatedly and with pleasure, it can positively affect the language development. The sound effects, noises and music as well as the change of narrators lead to a very intense listening experience. The language can be perceived and processed better. The vocabulary is established and strengthened with such intensive listening. When I looked at my collection of cassettes I discovered something else: the self-painted and nicely »copied« inlays with red and
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yellow stripes (the impression of the back of a cassette) and spidery writing. While I had to wish for the new episode on every holiday – be that Easter, Christmas or my birthday – or had to go to the children’s library of our town to borrow the missing episodes (I don’t want to explain in public that I always had to do that only once – thanks to dubbing) it’s no problem anymore today. Full of astonishment and a little bit of envy, I recently scrolled through the offerings of Spotify: No matter which search term I entered, the program displayed the right story,
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separated into chapters. This surely saves a lot of space in the children’s room! Of course, Spotify makes other agonizing problems of the age of the cassette go away: the »turning« (especially when you sit on the couch with the cassette player at the other end of the room!) or the disaster of the »spaghettied tape«. Do you still remember when the tape was pulled into the cassette recorder? Horrifying. In the worst case, the tape had to be cut. I remember the concentrated face of Toni (a little mad as well because I – as the little sister – was always under suspicion to be the source of the mischief) when she glued the tape back together again, using cellotape, which led to lapses of the sound.
beforehand which generally led to resentments during the ride. After the fourth run of a cassette of Benjamin the Elephant, my father had enough and demanded for the radio or silence! There is a huge selection behind the button »children and family« in the menu »browse« of Spotify. Here, you find playlists, like curated lists by Nena (»Children’s room punk«) or Johannes Strate (»Daddy, are we there yet???«). Under »artists« you not only find singers like Rolf Zuckowski or Volker Rosin but also spot the well-known face of the friendly elephant from Neustadt – Benjamin and newer offerings like »Mia and Me.« An almost
It’s also a real treat for every travelling family that they can take along a whole arsenal of audio stories in the car, the plane or to a distant country. We always had to choose 10 to 12 cassettes
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s e t t e s s a c e h t checking infinite pool of listening material for children (and some adults as well). Eventually, many adults still admit that they like The Three Investigators! When the narrators of Justus Jonas, Peter Shaw and Bob Andrews perform live, the hall is full to the last seat – and not only with children! An interesting feature, especially for travels, is the offline storage for premium users. It allows listening to audio stories you saved before, even without WiFi. After doing some research I found out that I am lucky with my home country because Germany is the country in which most audio stories are produced and consumed. With more than 46 million sold units and 100 gold and platinum records, The Three Investigators is the most successful audio story production in Germany – and the world! It accounts for 40 % of the commercial audio story market! It’s followed by TKKG which I also remember vividly – even if I have the impression that Gabi was kidnapped all the time. According to that series, I should never have walked through
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winter holidays Winter vacation in a wood cabin. On board: lots of Barbies and of course our tape recorder
an empty alley ;)! Whether it is a detective story, a story about horses or a thriller and adventure series – in every story you get to know new worlds and the lesson was quite clear: friendship, honesty, understanding and generosity. All the stories and audio friends of my childhood taught me these values. No matter how many tricks Bibi played and how many rules she broke (»You must not conjure in school!«) – it always was for a good cause! Thanks to Benjamin, I got to know every possible job – from baker to taxi driver to zoo director. And who knows: Karla Kolumna may have made a more sustainable impression on me than I would admit today. I already have big glasses, work for a magazine every day – now I just have to get a scooter and start a fight with the mayor ;).
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THE SPOTIFY KIDS HUB How do I actually use the new Kids Hub? When do we listen to what and what are recommendations from mommies in the sisterMAG network? We asked five bloggers what they think about the Kids Hub and when they listen to audiobooks and music!
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Featured BLOGGERS
TRAVEL LITTLE ONE
SARAH
HERZ & BLUT
We are Claudi and Philip, both in our thirties and photographers. Together with our two daughters, we moved to North-Rhine Westphalia into the Bavarian Alps last summer and made a dream come true for us.
PLUS DREI
Jules is the woman behind the camera and founder of the blog Herz & Blut (Heart & Blood). She has always been interested in many aspects of life, in her photography she focusses mainly on interior and people. Sometimes, you will also find her seven-year-old son Justus in her pictures, who loves – like her – the scent of the big city.
We love the mountains, nature, small adventures, travelling the world and we are sharing this spirit on our blog travellittleone.
Sarah, her husband Stefan and their two young kids live in Münster. Her blog (Sarah Plus Three) is no dreamy phantasy about motherhood, but an authentic insight into daily life with kids! Through personal texts, recipes, DIYs and much more, she takes her readers along on her daily experiences and family chaos.
LAENAEL BY ELFENKIND
HAUPTSTADTMUTTI
On her blog, Rebecca and her two Elfenkinder (fairy children) don’t just show the collections of their sustainable fashion label, but she also shares her lifestyle as an entrepreneur, who likes to make bee wax candles with her kids on the weekends. A blog that pays attention to sustainability and the small, but important specialties in life.
Hauptstadtmutti (Capitalmom) is a blog for modern mothers, who are trying to balance family, jobs and style in a fashionable way. Founder Isa is engine, heart and soul of the blog and lives in Berlin with her two sons, who are four and seven years old. She is the best example for a free, independent, young mother, who takes life into her own hands, stays flexible and enjoys good style.
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HOW IT WORKS
In the app or the desktop-program you can find »Genres and Atmosphere« under BROWSE.
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On the button »Kids and Family« you can collect playlists and audiobooks for the whole family.
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From bed time to playing with friends, there is an overview of artists like Rolf Zuckowski or Bibi Blocksberg.
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Photos: Claudia Baske
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Whether it’s for brushing your teeth in the morning, during a little nap time in the kids’ room around noon, at a spontaneous costume party with friends in the afternoon, at the best bubble bath party in the evening, on an airplane or a long car ride to our family in Bonn or a vacation – with the kids hub from Spotify, we always have the right music or audio story for the kids with us. While listening to the same CD on repeat used to be unbearable after a while, now we don’t get bored even after hours and hours, because we have such a big selection to choose from. We’re especially into the »Folk For Kids« songs – our oldest daughter instantly said »this is my favorite music« and I sat back and remembered my own childhood. A time when I had fallen in love with that type of music during the road trips my parents took me on across the US. We also really enjoy the big selection of audio stories – to have someone tell you a story and go on adventures as a knight, a princess, a magic fairy or as part of a group of investigators even evokes a childlike enthusiasm in us adults. It really is something for every age group. Many categories such as bath time, children’s room punk, Christmas audio stories for kids or audio stories and music for fun with friends make choosing the music intuitive and foolproof Claudia & Philip & their at the same time. It’s a great thing two little girls to have, whether on the road or at home. SISTER-MAG.COM
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Extremely important when travelling: Spotify Premium members can save music and audiobooks and listen to it offline.
In the car or on the plane, the Travel-Little-Ones always listen to: the ÂťFolk For KidsÂŤ-Playlist
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Photos: Sarah Leutloff
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I don’t know about you, but every time I want to listen to THAT CD with the kids, then exactly THAT CD is not in its case. Most of the time you find another one in its place. And after opening the third or fifth wrong CD case, I really don’t feel like looking anymore. So I discovered something new – Spotify now has a selection for kids! Yes, my Spotify account still needs to get used to a playlist including children’s songs by Rolf Zuckowski, but my kids can sing along to every single one of them. By now, my two probably know how the app works better than I do. Even my one-year-old has already mastered the art of swiping…
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Next to the Christmas classics from Rolf, we enjoy listening to the Christmas songs by »Radau« at the moment. I consider their songs some of the best of what children’s music has to offer right now. Their album »Das Blaue vom Himmel« is one of the favourites and was also played at Lütti’s first concert. Her new favourite band is »Deine Freunde«. If you like a little bit of everything, well, then I can only recommend »Giraffenaffen«. That’s even something parents can listen to without having their ears bleed (which can happen with some children’s music). 37
What Sarah Plus Drei loves during Christmas time: Christmas with a row!
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BL UT
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Together with Jules from the blog Herz & Blut we got to cruise through Berlin and photograph the most beautiful moments at Hauptstadtmutti’s and Elfenkind Berlin’s. Something that makes Jules so special as a photographer: you never feel like being watched. This is how natural portraits are taken – whether it is at her own home or at the bloggers’ in this feature. Music and audio books are also played at the Herz & Blut home – Jules tells us on the following pages where and how.
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Pho tos : Jul es Vil lbr and t
Sunday is our family day. My son Justus goes to the bakery all by himself, which makes him pretty proud and us as well. During our extensive breakfast, we listen to calm, relaxing music, which is everything from hip hop by Freundeskreis to Bob Marley. 39
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In the children’s room, the playlist changes constantly, from hip hop party including the band »Deine Freunde« to a literary salon with a cocoa ceremony. Justus especially likes the audio stories by Erich Kästner. I think he really wants to be a detective himself at the moment.
I am out and about in Berlin quite often and use public transportation a lot. So me laughing out loud on the underground because of the podcast »Fest & flauschig« (literally: firm & fluffy) by Olli Schulz and Jan Böhmermann may happen from time to time. I also like to listen to great music by Solange or Frank Ocean to escape the everyday noises around me when I am walking. This way, I get new thoughts and ideas. So there really is nothing worse for me than to realise 5 minutes after leaving the house that I forgot my headphones!
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Just like me when I was a child, Justus loves audio stories! And of course, he didn’t get his first name by accident. No wonder he loves »The Three Investigators« so much . Oh and The »Famous Five« are also still popular! Especially when it’s bedtime, a story is always welcome. Unfortunately, my son isn’t one of those people who falls asleep after only a few minutes but one who listens to the whole story right up ‘til the end. 41
Excitement at night with the Three Investigators
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Pho tos : Jul es Vil lbr and t
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I DY
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Music is just part of our home. My husband is actually a musician, which is why we have a small music studio in our house. »Daddy, can we make some music?« is what we often hear when our kids come home in the afternoon. Then, they put on their dad’s headphones, play with the buttons or try out the guitar or keyboard. We also have boxes from Sonos around the house so that we can all listen to different types of music at the same time. Or in the kids’ case – audio stories. At the moment, our oldest son Gustav practically listens to audio stories all the time. Especially while his little brother takes a nap after lunch. Then he sits in a corner somewhere and eagerly listens to stories like »The Three Investigators« or »The Lion King«. Anything works as long as it has some suspense in it.
Isa has two little boys (4 + 7)
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My new trick when it comes to tidying up the kids’ rooms – get the loudspeakers and turn up the volume. The kids find that inspiring somehow and tidying up becomes a lot easier and more fun, for me as well. With music, I even enjoy helping them, because there is no whining or complaining. We’re sort of meeting at eye level through music and sometimes do a little dancing when we’re finished.
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The perfect playlist for cleaning up: Kidsroompunk, put together by Nena
SISTERMAG 27 | 12 / 2016
PROMO
Especially on the weekends we also listen to music in the kitchen. The genre depends on our mood and who is there with us. My husband likes Chad Baker the best at the moment. As for me, I am more of the Django Reinhardt type. And when the kids choose, then it’s definitely going to be that playlist (family time: music). Fun, light music you can hum, sing or dance to.
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PROMO
N I NC
G
E L F E N KI ND
Pho tos : Jul es Vil lbr and t
BE
DA
R LI
P L A Y T I ME
N ‌do your children also love to just snuggle up on the sofa or their bed and listen to audio stories? I still remember as a child I used to listen to stories about Bibi Blocksberg and Pat and Isabel for hours and hours. And I can still recognise the episodes after hearing the first few sentences. I think my daughter will be the same. In the digital age of Spotify, it is a lot easier to listen to an all-time favourite audio story again. I have to admit that I really cherish these moments with my daughter, entering the world of the boarding school St Clare’s with twins Pat and Isabel or the little witch Bibi Blocksberg together with her.
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»Mommy! Let’s dance and play The Lion King!« No sooner said than done. And off we go with African tunes busting from our loudspeakers and we dance, play and have fun. Let me just say Hakuna Matata! 47
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PROMO
‌I think it is very important for kids to just do nothing, take a break and not think about school and the like. So I gladly let my daughter listen to audio stories, sometimes even before her homework is done, because our kids are so surrounded by stress in their everyday lives that I think it is all the more important for them to just relax sometimes.
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‌LaÊna loves listening to songs over and over again and then to play them on the piano. I for one would not have the patience to do that, but she really enjoys it!
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Accmor Night Light
AwoX SL-B10
for children: Alarm,
StriimLight LED-
Lamp & Bluetooth
Light bulb
Speaker
(E27-socket) with Bluetooth Speaker (44,90€)
SPEAKER AS A GIFT
Thumbs Up PANSPK Speaker (23,72€)
SOPHISTICATED
Speakers – whether mobile or big for the living room – come in all kinds of different versions, sizes and colours! sisterMAG picked some of our favourites. The Spotify-button shows you, which devices are especially well suited for the Spotify-App (important for all audiobook fans ;))
Definitive Technology W7 Wireless Speaker (459€)
Amazon Echo is a hands-free
Sonos PLAY:1 I Compact
speaker that you control with
Multiroom Smart Speaker for Wireless Music Streaming
your voice (180 €)
(180 €) SISTER-MAG.COM
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Bem HL2022C Bluetooth Mobile Speaker ($15.41)
Lewis Hyman Wireless Bluetooth Shelf with Speaker ($76.22)
UE Roll Speaker, waterproof und
Steljes Audio SA60,
shockproof (79,90€)
Streaming Portable Radio Walnut/ Matte White/Black, Oak (279€) Como Audio Duetto Wireless
VINTAGE
Music System, Walnut/Black ($399)
MiniAmp MP3 Mini
Roberts
Speaker
Revival
(17,95€)
iStream 2: Wireless Internet Radio (269€)
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The Christmas tree as decorated green stuff is part of different cultures. Evergreen plants have always been representing vitality which is why in earlier times, people believed that they bring health into their homes when they decorate it with green plants. We will save the history of the Christmas tree for next year as it is by no means straight forward, but marked by different proofs and not easy to reconstruct – even for historians and specialists. The further you go back in the history of Christmas; the more wholes you will come upon. This is why in this sisterMAG, we will start looking at the Christmas tree with a very personal examination of our founders Toni and Thea as well as their relationship to the »Christmas tree«. And of course, we would like to hear from you what you relate to our evergreen friend and especially – how you decorate it! This is why we also prepared two sisterMAG Christmas trees that could and should inspire you for this year’s Christmas festivities!
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Many Christmas traditions – from the advent calendar to drinking mulled wine – evoke Christmas feelings in us. But they are rather connected to the Advent time. But for us and our family, nothing stands for the actual Christmas eve and the two official Christmas Days like the Christmas tree. Every family has its own traditions when it comes to decorating it and setting it up. In our family, the Christmas tree was always set up on December 23rd and decorated by our mom in the morning of December 24th. For us, it symbolizes this festive day when SISTER-MAG.COM
you – especially as a child – woke up and anticipated your presents, this day on which you could stay up much longer than usual. The particularity of the Christmas tree was stressed by the fact that our mom has the unconventional characteristic of being bored quickly. Shortly after Christmas (often before New Year’s Eve), she was annoyed by the Christmas tree and threw it out. The rest of the family insisted on a date after New Year but our tree hardly ever lasted until January 2nd. The short lifespan did no harm to the importance of the Christmas
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tree. On the contrary, we all knew that we should enjoy those few days. It was lit up early in the morning; in the afternoon we played next to it or watched TV (which was one of the reasons why our mother was annoyed: because we had to look around the tree to watch television;)). Back to the decoration: While our father drank a bitter and we got into the right mood with a glass of marzipan liqueur (just when we were adults, of course ;)) and sat next to the tree, our mother brought a number of boxes full of baubles and lights to the tree. When the work was done, it was »examined« by our grandfather and was evaluated as being »especially beautiful this year.« Which brings us to the topic: the different tastes in
Christmas tree decorations. While our grandmother loved the small wooden figurines from the Ore Mountains, our grandfather was a fan of blown glass baubles. After a short afternoon of discrepancy, their small tree was decorated with a mixture of both. The trees of my mother suited the taste of grandfather much more. Our mother had a real passion for collecting baubles and lived it out every year. There was another peculiarity of our family that »our men« had to get familiar with: Every year, we three women determined a color scheme for the Christmas Days. Not only the Christmas tree was decorated in these colors, also the presents that were lying under it had to be wrapped in these colors. This lead to only one »disaster«
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2009 Gifts and tree in white & green | 2011 Instead of a classic Christmas tree, we chose a Christmas bush with white twigs and pastel-coloured ornaments | 2012 We went with a more classical colour scheme in red & white | 2015 A pine makes a great Christmas tree as it is a lot more dense and unique than others, while resembling nostalgic Christmas pictures from the past.
2009
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when in the morning of one December 24th, our mother decided that the red and white colors on the tree didn’t look good and decorated everything with brown and copper baubles. We don’t have any pictures of the tree and the presents of that year ;).
Because Christmas trees are our passion, we decided that Christmas trees should also be part of sisterMAG. Together with you, we collect the best tips, tricks and links for Christmas trees (you can read about your input in sM next year). We also designed two Christmas trees Collages made of pictures of with the team and our family that match the topic of the our Christmas trees issue:
2012
2015
2016 - wood
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S I S T-Efire RMAG 27 2016
| 12 / 2016
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Model 1
Wood We dedicate the tree »Wood« to our grandfather Sepp. We already mentioned our grandfather who is no longer with us but would have become 100 this year. He particularly loved Christmas, turned incense smokers himself and, even in times when the family had nothing, crafted big Christmas presents for his children. That’s why we were very touched and enthusiastic when Evi/mom had the idea of using the old carpenter tools as a decoration for our wood tree. You find a small hammer, a machinist square, a pocket rule or a chisel under it. If you don’t have such old tools at home, you can find them on ebay or on the flea market. Of course, variations are possible as well – maybe, a food blogger wants to misuse silver spoons and props as Christmas decoration. Next to the carpenter tool, you find wooden baubles and wooden decorations from this year’s Christmas collection of IKEA on the tree.
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pocket rule
chisel
screw clamp
IKEA Christmas Collection Wood
IKEA paper-roses
Hammer SISTER-MAG.COM
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Model 2
fire The model »Fire« uses an exceptional color concept with red, golden and copper baubles – a daring combination that definitely looks unique. In our 101, we go into detail about colors and selection of baubles. Also, sisterMAG designer Marie built geometrical ornaments (see the instructions here) using brass rods (2 mm in diameter, bought at the hardware store). Thanks to the colors and the different shapes, the tree is very modern and, because of the many reflecting baubles, it glitters beautifully in the light of the evening – a little bit like the dancing flames in the chimney. In addition to that, we recommend our »fireplace books« on page 18.
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pe
cop v i n t a ge b a u b l e i n
red baubles (6-8cm)
small golden stars (e.g. from Depot)
de a m
fl e –s e) i l e r e m h Him orial t (tu
red hearts SISTER-MAG.COM
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Instructions for the self-made himmelies can be downloaded here on the sisterMAG website
Download
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1 Pay attention when buying a tree! Besides the size, the kind of tree matters as well. Bluespruce, Nordmann fir (most popular in Germany because of the soft needles), pine, and so on.
Rather take a small tree and fill it up – if you don’t want a minimalistic tree (see here) ;)
1 For globe cut trees: Concentrate on two colors – except if you want a colorful tree: Determine a color scheme beforehand
Don’t forget the hangers – most suitable are those who disappear in the background SISTER-MAG.COM
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Something that is fine for outside and a great distance, might not be the best choice for inside: pay attention to the quality when using plastic ornaments!
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Invest in a good stand that doesn’t drive you nuts (e.g. one with a strap to wedge)
Don’t forget about the top of your tree: besides the classic (and very questionable in taste) glass tops, there are tons of other ideas: angel, star, a special ornament, and so on.
DIY Christmas decoration?! There is countless ideas for that on Pinterest: and why not start today, so you can avoid hectically crafting on Christmas Eve!
Go for material mix! Paper ornaments are a great addition to the classic glass ones – but then you should stay in the same colour scheme!
Think different: Other glass ornaments like birds or Santa Claus can be used in a stylish way and don’t instantly make your tree look like an American Christmas kitsch tree
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Pay attention that you choose »warm« light when you buy LED light chains
We have totally given into the craze of Christmas trees and have started a Pinterest board where you can pin with us together! How? Click here!
PHOTO: pinterest
Pinterest christmas Âtrends
Interview with HEGE MORRIS
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PHOTO: pinterest
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PHOTO: pinterest
How do you manage to find trends on Pinterest, what are your techniques?
‘Christmas Trends 2016’, there won’t be a lot on new trends because it`s too vague!
PIN There are thousands of Christmas photos on Pinterest; so the trick is to narrow it down to what you're looking for. More than 80% of Pinterest users search, so when you upload or save something to Pinterest, it is really important to have a great description so your image comes up in searches. If you do use the search feature, try to be as specific as possible. For example, if you search for
If you search for Gold Christmas Table, you`ll get a different result to if you search for Gold Christmas Table Minimal. The popular Christmas photos have been pinned over thousands of times, but that doesn't mean it's this year's trend. It is important to look at how old the pin is. For example, look at brands and blogger’s recently posted Christmas images to follow this year's trends.
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like
PHOTO: pinterest
PHOTO: pinterest
To be honest, it’s a little harder to find trends on Pinterest than it used to be. I still use Pinterest in a way that is considered ‘old fashioned’ I hardly ever search. I think it’s easier to find trends by following really good pinners and seeing what they save. Although the pinners I follow don't all have big accounts, I really like their style.
Which trends for this year’s Christmas season have you detected so far on Pinterest?
Interior and fashion trends pretty much go hand in hand these days. We’re seeing a lot of gold and velvet this season, so I think it’s only natural that it`s this year’s trend for Christmas. Gold SISTER-MAG.COM
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PHOTO: pinterest
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PHOTO: pinterest
In interiors I`m seeing a lot of green pine branches in simple vases. It’s a look that is easy to achieve and is understated yet decorative. Gold accessories are very much in, but you don't need to over do it. Have a look at this beautiful image.
send
pin
I'll personally be adding some nice velvet ribbons to my gifts. I've bought a nice caramel colored ribbon that I think will look beautiful with white wrapping paper and a bit of greenery. Velvet adds a touch of luxury.
PHOTO: pinterest
PHOTO: pinterest
is a definite winner this year, but greenery and woodland creatures are still up there too. I’ve also noticed more black, like black plates and cutlery. Images with greenery and wreaths seem to be very popular on Pinterest as well.
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PHOTO: pinterest
like If you`re looking for something to wear I would go for glittery tights and leggings or again velvet tops and dresses. This year; I think it's more about bringing the outside in, handmade gifts, scented candles, and last but not least; amazing food. I guess what I'm describing is a Scandinavian Christmas and of course it`s all about HYGGE.
PIn These are my favorite accounts with great taste in design, both fashion and interiors.
amerrymishap PHOTO: pinterest
septemberedit
Pinterest Accounts designhunter
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Pinterest Pins Scandinavian Christmas with nice food and interior ideas.
fannyhaag
myattic
A great board if you like monochrome decor or ideas with colors.
DIY Splatter paint gift wrap. I want to try this!
netaporter PHOTO: pinterest
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Religious festivities
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I
In order to close this knowledge gap, we want to tell you about the most important festivities of the big world religions and of other cultures near to and far from us. In addition, bloggers and other individuals explain them to us.
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TEXT: OLGA FELKER ILLUSTARTIONS: DANA LUNGMUSS
n every shop, every mall and in many marketplaces in Germany, we are confronted with the fact that the Christmas season has arrived. Every now and then, we are a little tired of chocolate domino pieces (»Dominosteine«), gingerbread and glitter globes. As much as we are confronted with Christmas, as little do we know about the non-Christian holidays – although 21 percent of the inhabitants of Germany have a migrant background and celebrate other festivities.
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Sugar Feast ISL AM
INTERVIEW WITH REDA Reda is originally from Lebanon and has lived in Germany with interruptions since he was six years old. Therefore he is familiar with festivities in both countries.
Which religion do you belong to? What/when/how/who/where I belong to the Islam. To be more is it celebrated? We celebrate exact: I am Shiite.
Which is the most important festivity in your religion? The most important festivity for us Muslims is the Sugar Feast (the end of Ramadan).
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the enlightenment of Mohamed the Prophet. We also celebrate the birth of the Quran, the Holy Scripture of all Muslims. The Quran consists of the revelations that the archangel Gabriel sent down to Mohamed after Mohamad asked god questions.
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Islam With 1.6 million followers, Islam is the second largest religion of the world. It’s also the second largest religion in Germany. The origin of Islam goes back to a time around 520 after Christ, and to the cities of Mecca and Medina. Like in Christianity, the followers believe in only one god who is called Allah in Arabic. Many people mistake that Allah is not the Muslim name of god but the Arabic word for god. According to that, Christians in Arabic-speaking countries use the word Allah for their Christian god as well. The most important part of Islam is the fulfillment of the Five Pillars. These are the declaration of faith, the prayer (five times a day while facing in the direction of Mecca), charity (7 percent of the income), the fasting during Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
What are the specific characteristics of this festivity? The month-long fasting is ended and we eat with the whole family or the whole village. This depends on where you celebrate. In the Islamic countries like Lebanon, the Sugar Feast is celebrated on a larger scale than in Germany.
Is there a typical food for this festivity? No, there is no typical food for this holiday. Every family cooks what it likes to eat the most and what is festive. Just like at Christmas, different dishes are cooked. The most important thing is that there are many different dishes and that there is generally a lot of food.
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What do you like most about Are there presents for everyone this festivity? I find it especially at that festivity? No, mainly the beautiful that we all meet and eat together.
children get a present. They get sweets and money from their relatives.
Do you still celebrate Christmas or do you take part in some kind What do the decorations looklike of Christmas festivity? Yes, we for this festivity? The whole still celebrate Christmas. The birth of Jesus is celebrated by the Shiites as well since Jesus is seen as a prophet in Islam too – even if he’s not the most important one like in Christianity. At Christmas, we decorate the house, drink tea, eat cake and watch movies. But we don’t give presents.
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house is arrayed for this festivity. Also, everybody wears their best clothes.
Are there certain customs for this festivity? In general, the meal that we have together and the gathering are the most important customs of this festivity.
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Rosh HaShana & Jom Kippur JUDAISM
INTERVIEW WITH JUNA Juna is a blogger on irgendwiejüdisch where she talks about different aspects of being Jewish in Germany.
Which is the most important festivity in your religion? The »high holidays« Rosh ha-Shana and Yom Kippur.
What/when/how/who/where is it celebrated? Rosh ha-Shana is the
Jewish New Year that is celebrated calmly, unlike the customary social New Year. In the synagogue, the shofar, the ram’s horn, is blown. We have the year 5777 now. Yom Kippur, which is translated as »Day of Atonement,« takes place ten days after Rosh ha-Shana.
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Judaism Judaism is the origin of all monotheistic religions. The most important book for Jews is the Torah that is known as the Old Testament of the Bible. In contrast to many other religions, it’s comparatively difficult to convert to Judaism since there is no baptism or anything like that. You become a Jew when your mother is Jewish. To highlight this special connection to the mother even more, daughters, especially get names that start with the same letter as their mothers’. Many people know that Jews eat kosher but most of them don’t know what kosher food is. Similar to the Muslim halal food, kosher food is connected to different rules and prohibitions. The most important one is that milk and meat must not be mixed or eaten together. This prohibition is based on the verse that says: “You must not cook a goat’s kid in the milk of its mother.«
What are the specific Is there a typical food for these characteristics of these festivities? At Rosh ha-Shana, festivities? In the ten days we traditionally bake round bread between Rosh ha-Shana and Yom Kippur, we have the (last) opportunity to apologize to all the people we wronged over the last year. We don’t apologize to god but to the people affected who then forgive us. The legend says that god opens the book of life at Rosh ha-Shana and registers the names of those people who get another year as a gift. At Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, this book gets sealed. SISTER-MAG.COM
instead of the braided bread Challah. Apple slices are dipped into honey and are eaten with a wish for a sweet new year. Some families have the tradition or the pleasure of counting the seeds of a pomegranate because the number says how many good deeds you did or will do over the next year. Yom Kippur is the day of fasting. From sunset to sunrise, we neither eat
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nor drink and waive washing, cosmetics, perfume, leather shoes and sex. Since we normally spend the whole day in the synagogue, time passes quickly.
What do you like most about these festivities? I like the silence of Rosh ha-Shana as being the opposite of the loud New Year of our time. It offers more peace for reflection and I also like that there is this small pressure of trying to compensate. You sometimes need a push to overcome – although you shouldn’t let things get that far. At Yom Kippur, I like the worship with prayers that are only said on that day.
Do you still celebrate Christmas or do you take part in some kind of Christmas festivity? When I was a child, we also had a Christmas tree. But since my birthday is at Christmas and we have the beautiful Hanukkah at that time, I like it more than the consumption-oriented Christmas of the majority. As a child, I thought that everybody has a Christmas tree on their birthday.
Are there presents for everyone at these festivities? No, there are no presents.
What do the decorations look likefor these festivities? At Rosh ha-Shana, some people decorate their apartments with pomegranates and maybe, the beautiful round and fresh braided bread is also a decoration – but a rather uncommon one.
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New Year celebration KOREA
INTERVIEW WITH SONGIE Songie moved from Korea to Austria as a child. However, she has never lost her Korean roots and still takes part in Korean celebrations.
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Korea In some countries, it’s not the religious festivities that are celebrated on a larger scale but the cultural ones. Especially the arriving new year is welcomed in a festive manner in almost every culture. Because of the change of calendars over the centuries, the new year isn’t celebrated on the night of January 1st in every country and cultural area.
Which religion do you belong to? My roots are in Korea. I grew up in Vienna and am very familiar with both cultures.
What/when/how/who/ where is it celebrated? Seollal is the Korean New Year’s Day that is set according to the Chinese lunar calendar (normally between January and February). Chuseok is the traditional Korean harvest festival when the whole family gets together. It’s celebrated at the patriarch’s house on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
Which festivity in your culture can be compared to Christmas What are the specific in view of its importance?/ characteristics of this festivity? Which one is the most important At both festivities, traditional festivity in your culture? The two costumes are worn. Also, a most important Korean festivities are Seollal and Chuseok.
bowing ceremony is held to honor the older family members; the younger ones wish them health and a long life.
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What do you like most about this festivity? Although I grew up in Vienna, we always celebrated both festivities in the Korean community. In doing so, the Korean community grew together very strongly and I found many friends for life. And, not to forget, lots of good food. :)
Do you still celebrate Christmas or do you take part in some kind of Christmas festivity? Yes, I am Christian and have been a member of an evangelical congregation since I was a child. Of course, we have a big celebration with the whole church family every year.
Are there presents for everyone at that festivity? At Seollal, the Is there a typical food for this festivity? At both festivities, many traditional dishes are prepared. Especially for Seollal, it’s a long tradition to eat Tteokguk, a soup made of rice cake.
younger family members get a blessing and some pocket money from the older ones after the bowing ceremony.
How does the decoration for this festivity look like? The colorful selection of dishes and the beautiful dresses are the decoration.
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Diwali HINDUISM
INTERVIEW WITH ANKIT Ankit comes from Delhi, the capital of India, but has been studying in the Netherlands for the last few years, which is why he also gotten to know Christmas traditions there.
Which festivity is the most important one in your religion?
you live in India. Every part of India
Hinduism is highly diverse so
But most commonly Diwali is a
naming
festival celebrated in almost every
one
such
festival
is
difficult. It depends on the region
has a different important festival.
part of India.
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What/when/how/who/ where is this celebrated?
It is celebrated around the end of October to the begining of November. The actual date differs every year as it is based on ancient Indian calendar system. It is celebrated by lighting up and decorating your whole house with candels and small lamps, fireworks, traditional foods, sharing gifts and coming together. Mostly all Hindu people celebrate it, but within India other religious communities also participate to share the joy. It is celebrated among almost every part of the India.
What are the specialities of this festivity? The festival symbolises victory of light over darkness. According to legend, Lord Ram returned back to his home after defeating a Demon and people SISTER-MAG.COM
welcomed him by lighting up the whole city. The festival also symbolises inflow of prosperity in your house. The godess of wealth and prosperity supposedely walks in your house. Therefore you light up your house to welcome her. Buying gold before this festival is common practice. And sometimes employers gift their employess with a bonus during this festival. The festival is about having fun with your family , and through the meaning of a crude word it is the Indian counterpart to Christmas. If you obeserve closely you can find several common elements among the way they are celebrated. Children have alot of fun during
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city from a tower is magnificant. Most people renovate there house before this festival. this festival because of fireworks, and whole country looks beautifull during that night. Watching the skyline full of fireworks or pan view of the
Is there a typical food for this festivity? Some traditional Indian sweets are shared among the guests. The menu differs in different parts of India, but it is mostly vegeterian on that day. Kadhi-Chawal, Pakoda, Kheer,
Hinduism There is hardly any other religion that is as diverse and has as many gods as like Hinduism. That’s also the reason why it’s so difficult to describe this religion and to make it understandable for outsiders. The most worshiped divinities are Shiva – who is also known by the name Krishna and many other names – and his son Ganesha who is recognizable by his elephant head. But there are numerous other gods. Since Hindus believe that every living being holds god, most of them are vegetarians or even vegans. For the same reason, many animals are considered holy in Hinduism, like apes, snakes and, most familiarly, cows. On one hand, the bulls are holy since Shiva rode on a bull, Nandi. On the other hand, cows are holy since they provide humans with five important raw materials: ghee (clarified butter), manure of the cow (burning material), urine of the cow (remedy), milk (in chai, above all), and yoghurt.
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Puri-Sabji are some common examples of dishes on the dinner menu. It should be a full course meal with at least 7-8 different dishes. Kaju Katli is a sweet that is distributed among friends and neighbours. It is very common in India to celebrate a festival with your whole neighbourhood.
What do you like most about this festivity? The fireworks and celebration with friends, family, neighbours all together
Are there presents for everyone? Yes.
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How do you decorate for this festivity? As I said decoration is the main theme of this festival so you decorate the interior of your house as well as the exterior. Interior decoration can be done in various ways and exteriors decorations should be candles and lamps, but in modern days use of LED to decorate exterior is also getting common
Are there any particular customs for this festivity? Depending on the religious belief of the family you normally have an evening prayer together with your family at your home. But the festival is more about culture than religion itself, so several families celebrate it without prayer if they feel like it.
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New Year celebration CHINA
INTERVIEW WITH HELEN Helen just recently moved to Germany and loves to discover differences to the Chinese culture.
Which religion/culture do you Which one is the most important belong to? Actually, I don’t belong festivity in your culture? Chinese to any religion although in China, the Buddhist lifestyle is lived out.
New Year is the most important festivity for all Chinese people.
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What/when/how/who/where is What are the specific it celebrated? The exact date of characteristics of this festivity? Chinese New Year depends on the traditional Chinese calendar. It can take place between mid-January and mid-February. New Year is celebrated while the whole family gets together, eats something special and waits for the new year to arrive. On the first day of the new year, everybody wears new clothes and says »Happy New Year.« Children get »red pockets« on that day which basically is just money as a present for New Year. Also, we light fireworks on the first 15 days of the new year, always at a certain time, to celebrate it.
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The new year begins.
Is there a typical food for this festivity? Yes, there is special food, however, it varies depending on where in China you are. In the north and the northeast, dumplings, pig feet, fish, chicken, several regional vegetables and other food made of flour are served. This food is eaten at the same time every day from New Year to the 15th day of the new year.
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What do you like most about this festivity? I like most that the whole family comes together again – not just the closest relatives but all of them. Following an old custom: first the family of the father, then the one of the mother.
Are there presents for everyone? Children get »red pockets« on the first day of the new year after they wished the adults a »Happy New Year.« Also, many of them give their parents new clothes for them to wear at the
evening of New Year’s Day. When you visit somebody at the evening of New Year’s Day it’s important to bring a present because it would be impolite not to.
What do the decorations look like for this festivity? Just like the food, the decoration differs in the various parts of China. In the north of the country, people put »Dui Lian« and »Fu« on their entrance doors. »Dui Lian« are two pieces of paper on which the good wishes are written in Chinese ink. »Fu« is the Chinese word for luck. In general, there are certain requirements to the decoration that has to contain specific numbers and words. Furthermore, the windows are decorated with paper decoration.
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The big sisterMAG Holiday Guide
Hosting
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Traditionally, the second half of the year is especially full of festive events and occasions to »invite«. This is why sisterMAG and S. Pellegrino took the section »Celebrate« as a reason to give you a detailed hosting-guide, from a proper table setting to beautiful flower bouquets!
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What makes a host a
GOOD HOST? Text: FRANZISKA BRĂœNDLER & SIMONE MĂœLLER-STAUBLI Photos: CRISTOPHER SANTOS Whether you made a plate of pasta or a sophisticated five-course menu, in the end only your guests' happiness counts. A happy guest is what you want, but that's easier said than done. We think being a good host is 80% craft and 20% personality. You can learn how to set and decorate a beautiful table, how to plan everything perfectly, and how to begin your preparations ahead of time; you can make an amazing dinner and have the greatest apartment. But in the end that is not enough. It comes down to passion, joy, warmth and authenticity. The guests can feel whether you are happy to have them - and if you actually feel as comfortable in your own flat as you seem to be. All this is just as important as skills and craft.
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But how can you take on the host role and still enjoy your own event? To master this balance, preparation is most important. Whether it comes to shopping or cooking, a good plan is key. Detailed planning ahead of time is a big help to be more relaxed during the evening itself.
When it comes to organisation, there is one basic rule: It should always do justice to the situation. Okay, when the queen pays you a visit, you can boast it - but not for every gettogether. A plate of pasta and paper napkins are perfectly fine for a fun night with friends, but when we have the time and mood, it is great to get out your fabric napkins and put a ninecourse menu on the table.
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Practice makes perfect If you invite guests more often, you will notice that good 'tools' pay off. You don't need the same equipment as a star cook, but you should be willing to invest in a good pan, sharp knives, and high quality plates. Your guests will appreciate it and you will be happy every time you set the table. Another important factor is that you don't just take time for cooking, but for everything around it as well. What is the state of the apartment? Is the bathroom clean? Is the wardrobe cleared? Quickly checking everything won't do any harm. And don't forget about yourself, either. What am I going to wear? How do I feel comfortable? Only then will you be able to dedicate full attention to your guests during the dinner.
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Off to a creative start Your guests have arrived and you are getting into the evening with an aperitif. In many countries, like France or Italy, the alcoholic beverage, aperitif, is accompanied by a small dish of food. Include this little appetizer when planning your menu and surprise your guests with a sophisticated creation. This is also great way to kick off a conversation. And if it takes a little while until dinner is ready, your guests already had something to eat.
How the evening is
conducted
Dinner conversations can be a little tricky. Sometimes, they just develop all on their own: funny anecdotes, animated discussions, and deep conversations. But occasionally, this can turn out all wrong: interrupted small talk, awkward silences, and one embarrassing moment after the other. There are some rules for that: politics, religion, and illnesses are always difficult, so be aware and try to subtly conduct the conversation. Sometimes it can be necessary to take things in your own hands, tell a story, and entertain your guests. Or simply listen and lead the conversation at crucial points.
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All about the timing The evening is going well and you started it off with a great appetizer. To be able to keep concentrating on your guests, make sure you think about the timing during the dinner beforehand and make a plan if necessary. How can I prepare the next course? Preheat the oven? Count the plates and warm them up? The same is important for timing the food. Not too slow and not too fast. Your guests should be able to enjoy it and not feel like they're eating at a fast food place, but they also shouldn't think that there is one course as the next one's not ready yet...
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The evening was great and now your guests just don't want to leave? Throwing them out is obviously not an option, but some subtle yawns or starting to clean up can be well-placed hints. Sentences like »I'll have to get up early tomorrow« or »It was a long week« can support your efforts. Generosity is not about the budget and your guests can feel whether you are thinking generously or not. When the mood is right, it is only natural to open up another bottle of wine or offer a schnapps - even if it's not the most expensive one. These gestures will be appreciated and complete a successful evening. Also, be generous with your time and attention to your guests. With the right preparation and lots of flexibility, you and your guests will enjoy a wonderful evening.
Happy ending
To a great
EVENING
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The hosting COUNTDOWN
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A dinner with friends is coming up, the menu is together, but what else is needed? How do you properly set a table, which glasses are necessary, and what do you do with the napkins? We entered the world of hosting together with some experts to answer all these questions. The result is our sisterMAG hosting countdown with five ideas for creative napkins, the four most important variations of table settings, three amazing floral bouquets (all of which can be done by beginners), two table decorations inspired by Milan and Tuscany, as well as a guide to choosing the right glasses for every beverage. And what's next? - A lavish celebration!
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The Experts Ellen
is the face behind the wedding blogazine »Frieda Therés« . In 2011, she founded the blog as an hommage to her grandmother's name. Now, »Frieda Therés« is well known for its natural, fresh and exclusive style as well as lots of inspiration from the world of weddings and beauty. Ellen is always in tune with national and international trends. The category »Table Decoration« on her blog proves how a nicely set table can influence a whole event. Together with wedding photographer Christine Juette she designed our table »Milano« for an elegant and modern dinner.
Food blogger Benjamin Donath from »eatery berlin« used to work as a »pastry chef« and looked behind the scenes of many Michelin restaurants and five-star hotels. In his glasses guide, he gave us some basic rules on how to choose the right glass for every drink.
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Hürriyet Bulan
Fine Weddings & Parties is the premium offer by wedding expert Nadine Metgenberg from Hamburg. As the first and only German wedding planner who is part of the international luxury wedding network EPIC by Sarah Haywood (London), she organizes high class weddings and events for her national and international customers. With »Fine Weddings« Nadine Metgenberg started her own brand in January 2016 under this label she already organized countless weddings and events. Thus »Fine Weddings« knows exactly what is important when it comes to setting the table or folding napkins.
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Foto:Julia Loewe
from Botanic Art is sisterMAG's favourite florist and brought many of our events to life with her flower arrangements. She spent several years living abroad, which inspires her creative flower bouquets and concepts. For our dinner countdown, she put together three instructions for amazing bouquets and flower decorations that also work for beginners.
creative napkins folds
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N BY
INE D A For a fine dinner, you can't skip fabric napkins. These can either be rolled in a napkin ring or be added to the table set in a triangular fold. But if you want to get a little more creative, you can try different techniques of pleating napkins, which is the proper term. In the following videos, I show you some examples from easy to challenging. All you need are square napkins – 40x40 cm or 50x50 cm – and some practice.
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ways to properly set the table Text: NADINE METGENBERG Photos: THEA NEUBAUER Illustrations: SAMANTHA LYNN SISTER-MAG.COM
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Breakfast or brunch with friends, coffee time with the family, a casual dinner, or an elegant dinner party for a special occasion. There are many different reasons to put more effort than usual into your table decoration, and one thing can never be missed: setting the table. There are many rules and probably just as many myths on this activity, which is why we decided to get things straight. Event expert Nadine Metgenberg shared with us the most important rules as well as some personal tips on a perfectly set table.
FOUR :
VIDEO
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ones can be saved for special occasions. For guests who don't like juice in the morning, there should always be mineral water on hand, like S.Pellegrino. Cheese and sausage platters, jams, honey should be served and arranged nicely on platters or in small bowls. Plastic is a no-go even if you are with friends. But you also don't need to aim for golden plates. The silverware should be stainless steel. The silver forks, just like the crystal glasses and golden plates, are reserved for special events. The egg spoon can be plastic. For breakfast, the table decoration can be minimal. You don't need fresh flowers. In
For
Breakfast
with friends, things can be pretty casual. That is why you don't necessarily need a table cloth, which can seem over the top; placemats are just fine. Your napkins don't have to be made of fabric either, and you can skip the napkin rings. Paper napkins or some with a fabric style are perfect for the occasion. Juice should be served in a glass or clay jug, not in a bottle or even a box. The drinking glasses can be colourful; industrial glass is definitely enough. The crystal
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THREE : COFFEE
Time VIDEO
Modern coffee time isn't comparable to traditional afternoon tea. There is a great variety of coffee specialites, so it is important which of these you offer. A latte macchiato wouldn't go well with a fancy cake, for example. In that case, cookies or pastries, presented on elegant plates or in bowls, would be more appropriate. Make sure you don't get them out of a bag as they will likely be crushed on the bottom. A box is a better choice. A cake is also beautiful on a slightly elevated cake platter, or an etagere for smaller pieces.
service, there is another rule: no candles until noon. However, this mainly refers to long candles. Tea candles are fine in the mornings as well. There are also beautiful swimming candles or wind lights that can be used. Keep in mind that the candles shouldn't be scented. The focus should stay on the food!
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The silverware needs to be adapted to the pastry selection; it should be minimalistic and you might want to skip it altogether. However, make sure you have small spoons for milk and sugar. A table cloth is optional and depends on the rest of the setting. With sweet treats like cupcakes and macarons, the rest of the decoration can get a little more romantic as well with fresh flowers and matching dishes.
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TWO :
DINNER WITH FRIENDS
VIDEO
For a casual
to alcoholic drinks. Think beyond water in a nice glass bottle,
On a relaxed evening with friends, a placemat is more appropriate than a table cloth. Alternatively, you could skip them altogether. Especially when you have a nice wooden table, that can yield a great effect. A corresponding or seasonal decoration, for example for advent, upgrades the table. Again, fresh flowers are not necessary. However, if you like them, feel free to add a bouquet. A small arrangement of Christmas ornaments might be a nice alternative as well. In the evening, fabric napkins are a nice choice, but not obligatory. The small 30 x 30 cm ones are fine for a casual dinner.
perhaps a non-alcoholic drink or
Especially these days, you might want to consider an alternative
You can use the same set for the
cocktail that goes with the food. A great example is »Sanbittèr«, a bitter-fresh aperitif that brings back summer memories. Matching wines are another great support for a good dinner. Make sure that you have enough glasses for different kinds. In the evening, long candles are a nice choice, but tea lights or swimming
candles
work
just
as well. If you like, a handmade candle holder or the flea market retro ones will find their spot here, too. The stainless steel silverware should be polished and sharp. appetizer as well as the entrée.
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VIDEO
The base for this setting is a table cloth. Besides place platters, small bread plates should be part of this setting as well. However, a separate bread knife is no longer needed. Salt and pepper should be displayed nicely; pepper in a mill and sea salt in a small bowl with a spoon. Besides the water glass, which is aligned with the knife, a white wine as well a red wine glass are needed. When switching wines, these should be changed as well.
ONE :
For
FINE DINING you should first make sure that every guest has between 60 and 70 cm of free space around them. As such a meal can take up to several hours, it is important that every guest can sit comfortably. The amount of silverware should match the number of courses that are served. The silverware needs to be set in the order of the courses inwards, forks and spoons for dessert are placed above the plates, parallel to the table. SISTER-MAG.COM
In this setting, a fabric napkin is mandatory as well – it should be at least 40 x 40 cm, while 50 x 50 cm is ideal. The napkins don't need to be folded or use a napkin ring. This is a new development during the last few years. Part of the dinner should be fresh flowers or a bouquet. Just make sure that the flowers are not too heavily scented. This might distract from the scents of the food served. It is also important that the height does not block the view across
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the table as a nice conversation is think ahead where you will visibly the most important part of every put these gifts. There should also successful evening. be space to hang coats and jackets Here are some other factors to as well as enough towels in the consider when planning a dinner bathroom. Ten guests shouldn't party: a popular gift from guests is need to share one towel. flowers, which is why you should make sure to have enough vases on hand. If possible, the guests' bouquets should be present during dinner, although they don't need to be on the table. It's best to
Around 15 minutes before the guests' arrival, the candles should be lit so that the smell has time to vanish. If possible, lights should be dimmed during the dinner.
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floral bouquets for every table Text: FRANZISKA WINTERLING Photos: THEA NEUBAUER Flower Design: HÃœRRIYET BULAN
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Flowers turn a set table into a festive board –we can probably all agree on that. However, making a bouquet yourself sounds complicated, maybe even impossible. But it doesn't have to be! Together with floral artist Hürriyet Bulan (@botanicart), we gave ourselves a go on floral decorations and found three variations that you can recreate easily with a few tools at home!
BY
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One:
Mini-Vase-Ensemble DOWNLOAD STEP-BY-STEP 115
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TWO :
Centrepiece
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THREE:
Table Runner
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ways to decorate the table Table Tuscany: THEA NEUBAUER & NADINE STEINMETZ Table Milan: ELLEN KAPALKA
| Photos: CHRISTINE JUETTE
Christmas Table: TONI SUTTER & THEA NEUBAUER SISTER-MAG.COM
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Tuscany
MODEL
Our table ÂťTuscanyÂŤ is inspired by the warm atmosphere in Italy to create an elegant yet inviting table. On a warm day, a similar decoration is also perfect for the outdoors, while during winter it brings summer back inside. A Mediterranean menu that picks up the impulses of the table decoration would be perfect with this.
cloth can create a similarly warm base. The plates with a classical shape and slight romantic touch, the nostalgic silverware, and the crystal glasses add a lot of sophistication and elegance. In contrast to that are the rather clean and unusual decoration elements that make the table Tuscany interesting to look at.
Of course, one of the highlights of this setting is the long wooden table. If you don't have one, a beige linen table
Fresh flowers and plants take a central role and are arranged in small groups along the length of the table.
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That creates balance on a long table and you can make sure that your guests will still be able to talk to each other across it. A special highlight is also the playful take on different vases and plants that are wrapped in paper – the structures make sure that things don't get boring even if they're all neutral colours. SISTER-MAG.COM
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The napkins are in a special position for this setting, namely underneath the appetizer plates. That leaves enough room on the plate to place menus or name cards here. It is also a great way to incorporate some of our floral decorations or add some colourful accents with a band as it was done here in red.
Other ÂťpracticalÂŤ decorations are little bottles for oil and vinegar as well as small bowls for salt and pepper and glass water bottles. These should be on the table to make them available for your guests throughout the meal. Even better is if they also become part of your table setting and decoration!
More pictures ON PINTEREST
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BY
E LL
EN
MODEL
Milan
The second table, ÂťMilanÂŤ, is all influenced by Italian design. This setting has a wonderful way of playing with the colour contrasts of white, black and grey as well as some accents, like shades of green and red. The base here is a classic, white table cloth. It is an instant upgrade for every table and a perfect foundation for an elegant dinner. A wonderful frame for the white
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dishes are the black underplates. Even if this colour was banned from table decorations for many years, it can be a wonderful accent when used in the right dose as you can also see in the small vases and candle holders. With a clear and straight table, small details can have a big influence on the overall appearance, which is why we wanted to show you some of these easy variations on our Milan table.
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Of course, flowers play an important role here. Held in shades of white and green and mainly focused on the end of the table, they can support the minimalistic style while leaving enough space for adding other decorative elements, like a little sea of candles to create some warmth. Small, colourful bouquets will add instant vibrancy to your table and create a more playful look.
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On the plate itself, variations are possible as well, mainly initiated by the use of your napkin. For our first version, they are neatly folded and create a great foundation for your menu cards.
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Alternatively, you can make use of napkin rings, whose colours and style go well with the rest of the table decoration and can create more dimension on your plate. Small appetizers like olives and fresh bread are lovely to be added to your table setting as well and will please your guests when they arrive. More pictures ON PINTEREST
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SPECIAL
Christmas
For a Christmas dinner with family or friends, it is great to get all festive – of course! But the traditional Christmas colours like green and red can quickly seem over the top or too old school for a nice table decoration. This is why we decided to decorate a table that is perfectly suitable for the Christmas season while keeping a modern and elegant vibe as well. Of course, the cool, metallic table plays a big role here, but if you don't have that you can just as SISTER-MAG.COM
well use a grey table cloth for creating a neutral foundation. That you don't have to be afraid of Christmas colours or classic elements of decoration like tree ornaments becomes obvious when you take a look at our candle arrangement, as well as the napkins. It's all about the balance here, which is created by colour variations through rose-gold ornaments and modern details like the transparent candle holders made of glass. ,
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It is also important not to overload your Cristmas table, so focus on a few small highlights, such as the green twigs in little vases, the butter cut into star shapes, or the glass water bottles that go with the overall colour scheme. That will get you in the mood for Christmas without any kitsch! More pictures ON PINTEREST
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ultimate glasses guide Text & Photos: BENJAMIN DONATH
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»Raise the glasses – raise the wine
today we celebrate ...!«
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RY B E R L
IN
B
You are having some friends over, wrote your shopping list, prepared some nice decorations, and are now ready to set the table. What is needed on the table seems obvious to most. Plates, silverware, a water and a wine glass (if you have one). Some of you might say, ÂťOf course, what else could there be?ÂŤ
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Y
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Wine glasses come in many different shapes and designs and there is a good reason for that. Especially the shape and the structure, and how thick a glass was blown, can have a major impact on your drinking experience. Just as relevant is the question whether a glass should be practical for daily use or support a special occasion. You shouldn't forget about these things when it comes to setting the table. In my glasses guide, you can read more about each glass, its use, and the right choices when setting a table.
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Organisation: NADINE STEINMETZ & NUNA HAUSMANN & FRANZISKA WINTERLING Photos: CRISTOPHER SANTOS SISTERMAG 139
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After all these preparations and much information around the topic of »being a good host,« the time had finally come: we turned our countdown into action. To do so, we invited 11 bloggers (invites coming in the mail, you can download them here) for a dinner with S.Pellegrino at the sisterMAG office. The evening's topic was »Modern Italian« and not just because this is where our partner, »S.Pellegrino,« comes from. It was more about the warm lifestyle, the friendly hosting attitude, and the well-known long and big dinners in Italy. Our blogger dinner proved that you can recreate this atmosphere even in cold and wintery Berlin as long as you have great company.
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Aperitif
As a welcoming gesture, we started off with an ÂťItalian SunsetÂŤ as an aperitif as well as an Amuse Bouche, a small appetizer with eggplant, goat yogurt, and hazelnuts. Just like the menu to follow, this treat was prepared by Ricky Saward. The young chef from Frankfurt is one of the national finalists of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Award 2016 and has already gained quite a lot of experience at just 27 years of age. 141
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RICKY SAWARD started at the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Award
He created his very own culinary signature that speaks of great creativity and is full of innovations and experiments. After his apprenticeship, Ricky worked at the Hilton Vienna for two years before he took on the big wide world, namely Sydney. Afterwards, he added to his knowledge at some of the best restaurants in New Zealand before returning to Germany and working as a sous chef at ‚Alte Oper’ and ‚Chairs’.
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Right now, he is living creativity as a private and event chef. But he won't stay for long. Soon he will embark on Copenhagen for more culinary inspiration.
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Appetizer
with salmon & carrot puree
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Entrée
with deer steak, celery puree, and roasted shallots
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Dessert
with fresh clementine cream, squash balls, and fresh orange chips
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For our event, Ricky created a »Wood and Fire« menu inspired by the topics in this sisterMAG issue. He pulled out cooking spoons, sieves, edible flowers, and created little pieces of art on porcelain canvasses with a mixture of textures, colours and flavours. Even a dehydrator was part of the chef's equipment and definitely got us thinking during the preparations. What exactly is that? Thanks to Berlin-based »Green Smoothies,« we got to find out that the »Dehydrator Excalibur« is a drying tool that can easily turn fruit and veggies into chips and other dried goods. And as soon as we tried the
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crispy oranges that topped off the dessert, we were very grateful to Green Smoothies that they provided us with the dehydrator and therefore made this unique culinary experience possible for us.
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Challenge
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The guests of the winning table received the wonderful book »Herzlich Willkommen« (A hearty welcome) with many decor ideas from Callwey. (A big thank you to our friends in Munich)!
TAKE A LOOK!
But before they could sit down and enjoy their dinner, there was some work to be done by our guests. In a little challenge they needed to set two different tables à la »Modern Italian«. To do so, the bloggers, who took on the challenge in two groups, were supported by three experts. Nadine Metgenberg and Thomas Siebens from the wedding and event agency »Fine Weddings« had the answers to all questions around the art of setting a table. They gave our guests important tips on silverware, napkins and more to make sure that nothing can go wrong for the next dinner party that they will be hosting.
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And as no table decoration would be complete without the right flower arrangements, our expert on that was Rebecca Lina from the blog Elfenkind Berlin . She took care of our floral buffet and, together with the bloggers, created creative table runners and bouquets using berries, twigs and even lemons.
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The complete tables were really something to be proud of. Both teams created two very different interpretations of the topic ÂťModern ItalianÂŤ. One was a very classic variation with a grey table cloth, silver silverware, a runner made of olive twigs, berries, lemons, and candles, as well as napkins folded into pockets with handwritten menu cards . 151
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Table 1 Table 2
Which is your favourite?
We will reveal the winners on our Instagram channel in calendar week 50. So make sure that you follow us @SISTER_MAG! 153
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The second table used the bare wooden table and paired it with warm colours like orange berries, copper silverware, many candles and, as a special highlight, a hydrangea bouquet. Despite these very different moods, both tables used the same dishes from the »Urania« series by KPM . The classic plates are perfectly adaptable to every kind of decoration and instantly added elegance to the tables. The wide variety of sizes makes it possible that the small Amuse Bouche as well as the complex and artistically arranged entrée will fit.
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Such beautiful tables made it an even bigger pleasure to sit down, enjoy the delicious food, and partake in a wonderful evening. It turned out to be a lavish celebration with great conversations, a warm, Italian atmosphere, and sparkling S.Pellegrino mineral water.
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A True Symbol of Christmas
Baumkuchen sisterMAG visits Berlin’s most traditional baumkuchen confectionary.
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Looking around the supermarket these days, you can get the impression that the arrival of baumkuchen (tree cake) signals the arrival of Christmas. But is that really true? Is baumkuchen – a delicate, exquisite, finely layered delicacy – only delicious when it is cold and dark outside? We had to find out for ourselves, so we went straight to the best address: Berliner Konditorei Buchwald , the traditional Berlin pastry shop..
We not only discovered that baumkuchen is a year-round indulgence, but were also treated to many wonderful anecdotes about the long history of the confectionary. Oh, and there were plenty of tastings, too, of course! Pastry master and owner Andrea Tönges has made it her mission to make baumkuchen popular beyond the holiday season. Part of her strategy is to create desserts and other delicacies with a baumkuchen basis. We got our hands on some of these recipes to make them available to you.
to talk about the baumkuchen itself. After all, many of us are only familiar with the dust-dry variety from the supermarket. What does this have to do with the baumkuchen from Buchenwald? »Nothing at all!« exclaims Tönges. Only the dough, a heavy sand mass, is the same. Apart from that, there are significant differences: in taste, consistency and consequently, also in price. The image of baumkuchen is unfortunately a bit dusty in itself – an injustice, we think, because its history is actually quite glamourous.
But that’s to follow. First, we have
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The History
of Baumkuchen
Incredibly, baumkuchen has been around since the year 1426, when it was mentioned for the first time in an Italian cookbook. Its triumph quickly followed. It developed a reputation for being a pastry that can be preserved for a very long time (the Buchwald baumkuchen will be good for a quarter of a year) – a very favourable quality at a time without refrigerators. Because baumkuchen not only tasted excellent, but was also a very big effort to manufacture, it was not long before nobility discovered it for themselves as a wedding cake. But not only that – Tönges describes how the »king of the cakes" developed into a status symbol. »Those of a particular standing would afford themselves a baumkuchen for a wedding, or when guests were invited,« she says. Those who did not have such means could only grant themselves this pleasure on very special occasions, hence the association with Christmas came about.
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Today
Baumkuchen
Today, making a baumkuchen is one of the compulsory tasks in master baker testing, and for the production there are firm guidelines. For example, the pastry can only be called a baumkuchen when butter is used in the dough. We were surprised to learn that the classic baumkuchen is actually not covered with chocolate, but with a fine sugar glaze. If it is supposed to be chocolate, Andrea TÜnges recommends a dark variety – after all, the cake itself is sweet enough.
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the Method Originally, the dough was baked on a wooden roll over open fire, which changed when households eventually switched to gas. At Buchwald, an aluminum roller is now used, to which a total of 21 layers of dough are applied. The preparation of a baumkuchen takes about an hour. Slight pressure by hand is used to check whether the top layer of pastry is baked. To rely only on the degree of browning is too uncertain because it is possible that the layers below are not so far along yet. If further layers are applied, the underlying layers can slip due to their weight. Although the design has been continually refined thanks to new techniques, a confectioner’s masterful finesse plays the leading role. For those without a rotating roll at home (a brief survey in our office reveals that this is true in most cases), one can alternatively prepare the baumkuhcen in a springform pan. The result is called Baumkuchentorte and tastes just as well.
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In some cases, there are great variations in taste between different baumkuchen products, although the basic ingredients are the same. How can this be? Spices such as cardamom and cinnamon, as well as integrating almonds or marzipan, make the difference, as every baumkuchen baker applies their own preferences. Therefore, it is also understandable that Buchwald’s recipe is strictly secret. The founder of the company, Gustav 165
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Buchwald of Cottbus, developed it himself and sold baumkuchen since 1852 at his own, newly founded business. Focusing entirely on baumkuchen has been the company’s USP – unique selling point – since its foundation. With Berlin’s rapid development as the capital of Germany, Buchwald moved from Cottbus and became a supplier for the royal court. The company survived both World Wars and was passed on to the second and third generations. Thanks to the business acumen of Gustav Buchwald's descendants, it once again established itself as a popular institution. Today's owner, Andrea Tönges, heads the pastry shop as the fifth generation
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and has been familiar with many of the regular visitors since she was a child, crawling between the tables and chairs of guests. She maintains the family tradition and focuses entirely on the preparation of baumkuchen (of course, she also offers all sorts of exquisite cakes and other classic delicacies).
The four Baumkuchen varieties Salzwedeler Baumkuchen Since 2010, the Salzwedeler Baumkuchen has been awarded an EU mark of quality as a protected geographical specialty. It has a subtle lemon flavor and slightly drier consistency. Cottbusser Baumkuchen This version is made with almonds, in contrast to the Salzwedeler Baumkuchen. The co-founder of the traditional Cottbusser Baumkuchen was Gustav Buchwald. Stettiner Baumkuchen & Dresdner Baumkuchen The recipes differ only slightly in their basic ingredients; their uniqueness is obtained thanks to refinement in taste using different spices.
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In order to showcase the versatile possibilities of baumkuchen, TÜnges and her service boss, Monika Weiland, have developed five desserts based on baumkuchen. In the spring, an expert jury tested the creations and recommended them without hesitation. In the following weeks, guests were allowed to taste and evaluate the creations themselves with equally positive reviews. We especially like the varying difficulty of the recipes; if you don’t have time or desire to make the individual components, you can simply buy them. Below are three of the creations we were able to taste at the confectionery.
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SERVES 4
BAUMKUCHEN WITH CREAM AND 2 BAUMKUCHEN RINGS CARAMELIZED APPLE-RUM SLICES 2 APPLES 10 CL RUM 50 ML CREAM SUGAR
Cut both baumkuchen rings in half and place the four pieces on a plate. Whip then chill the cream. Cut the apples in half, remove the pits, then cut into wedges. Melt the sugar in a pot (careful – hot!) and add the wedges. Deglaze adding the rum then arrange the wedges next to the cake slices. Top with chilled whipped cream.
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SERVES 4
1 BAG OF BAUMKUCHEN TIPS FRESH RASPBERRIES (1 PUNNET) CUSTARD
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BAUMKUCHEN SERVED IN A GLASS Take four glasses. Quarter the cake nibs and layer your ingredients in the glasses following this order: First a layer of custard, then a layer of quartered cake nibs, then a layer of raspberries. Repeat. Top with whipped cream if desired.
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SERVES 4
1 BAG OF BAUMKUCHEN TIPS 250 G RASPBERRIES VANILLA ICE CREAM SUGAR
BAUMKUCHEN À LA »HOT LOVE« Arrange the baumkuchen tips on a plate. Heat the raspberries together with one table spoon of sugar in a pot. (If you like, you can deglaze them with some raspberry brandy but that’s optional.) Spoon the raspberries over the cake nibs and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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GIFT GUIDE Year after year, it is suddenly December and suddenly, there are just a few days left until Christmas. And once again we are caught by surprise and star t to panic a little, since we don’t have all presents (or none?) yet. But no worries, we have all been there and this is why our interns and student workers dove deep into the world of gifts and inspired by the topics of this sisterMAG issue, found presents for ever yone’s taste. Whether it is high-quality wood products, cosy gadgets for our personal home spa, the best accessories for the next par ty, the per fect equipment for all spor t junkies, design materials for creative minds or souvenirs for jetsetters. Whether you are looking for inspiration for your own wish list or a last minute Christmas shopping tour – you will find it here!
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NECKLACE
Christ
WOOD WATCH
WeWood
NUT WOOD BAG
Kunstboutique
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1
HOLZ
SISTERMAG GIFT GUIDE
b y O lg a
L A P TOP S TA ND FROM OAK
DaWanda PRODUCT INFORM ATION MAGAZINE
The man and the wood
OLGA
IPA D S TA ND
Sean Alan Design
(Content Praktikantin)
Even if Olga spent most of her life in cities, growing up, she was mainly influenced by places in nature. Siberia, taking the Trans-Siberian railroad through the Taiga, studying in the Netherlands on a park-like campus right next to a forest and travelling through India to the Himalaya. To keep some of these memories alive while living in the concrete jungle of Berlin and share these with family and friends, Olga’s gift ideas revolve around the topic of Wood. When picking the presents, she made sure to find pieces that are modern and innovative instead of being too rustic or old school. 175
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S TART-UP SPOTLIGHT BE WOODEN is shaping wood in ways that we have never seen before. For example, as bow ties! Stylish and unique wooden accessories to wear around your neck. Their product range is also made up of wallets, cufflinks and belts – of course all made from wood or with wooden elements. The used wood comes from local regions and is often the upcycled leftover from carpenter workshops. In this process, BeWooden creates accessories with a unique style that make a per fect gift for all fashion lovers.
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ACTIVE
SISTERMAG GIFT GUIDE
by Charlie
THERMOS BOTTLE
S'well bottle
2
JACKET
Adidas
YOGA M AT
Yeti RO SHE T W O F LY NI T RUNNING SHOES
NIKE
TOTE BAG
MZ Wallace SISTER-MAG.COM
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WIRELESS EARPHONE
Cauden
BEAUTY RX EXCERISE KIT
Beauty RX
CHARLIE
(Content Intern)
Though Los Angeles native Charlie Tanquary is always on the go, she prioritizes squeezing a workout into her busy schedule. Whether she’s hiking outdoors in the Santa Monica mountains or taking a spin class in Berlin, Charlie takes advantage of every opportunity. Her secret? A repertoire of easy and reliable accessories! These neutral colored items have that fun pop of gold. The perfect gift for any workout junkie. From the stylish yoga mat, to lightweight tote, to the comfortable sneakers, these pieces will ensure an efficient, but most importantly stylish workout.
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S TART-UP SPOTLIGHT earphones are simply amazing just to look at. And to make sure that the sound doesn’t suffer either, the company founders created this Playlist with an especially wide frequency range and listen to it over and over when creating new headphones.
SUDIO SWEDEN is the result of the company’s goal to combine elegant design with a great headphone sound. To the young, international team, headphones are not simply practical but also a fashion statement. With their roségolden details, the head- and
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Celebrate
SISTERMAG GIFT GUIDE
by Lizzy
3
ICE BUCKET
Anthropologie
BOTTLE OPENER
Anthropologie
TA BLE N A PK INS
Cartissimi
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NECKLACE
District Six
LAMP
Impressionen
LIZZY
CHAMPAGNE
Gourmondo
CONFETTI
Partyerie
ACRYLIC PAINT
Hornbach
(Content Intern)
During her internship at sisterMAG we got to appreciate the feeling for style and the positive attitude of the cultural studies student Elisabeth. This is why she was fitted perfectly for taking on the »Celebrate« section of our gift guide. Because what could be better – especially in preparation for NYE – than golden treats from a bottle opener to a wine cooler. And make sure you don’t forget about matching party accessories like eye-catching jewellery! 183
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GIFT IDEA PYTHAG BOWL GOLD Tr a y f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a
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SERVING BOARD Walnut Serving Board
S TART-UP SPOTLIGHT
BABYLONSTOREN SHIR A Z 2013 Red wine from South Africa
DISTRICT SIX is a concept store coming with a great amount of wanderlust and South African joy. Founder Caroline Adam fell in love with the products of local designers and studios while travelling to South Africa and since 2013, she brings these to Germany via her online shop. When choosing the producers, she pays attention to skilled crafting and a naturally sustainable production and she is always in close contact with the designers. With the wide range of beautiful things, The Distict Six store is a true paradise for ever yone looking for presents with a great stor y.
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BELLE Handmade Rapphia shoulder bag
CURVED BALL EARRINGS Earrings with golden meshbeads
MISM ATCHED EARRINGS Brushed chrome earrings
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BEIGE TWIST EARRINGS Earrings from Pichulik
CROCHET CHAIN NECKLACE Glassbead necklace
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TRAVEL
SISTERMAG GIFT GUIDE
by Fr an zi
4
PA SSPORT CA SE
Fossil
TR AVEL GUIDES
GebrauchsÂanweisung
DVD
Wild TR AVEL JOURNAL
Odernichtoderdoch
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WORLD MAP
Scratchmap
GLOBE ROSEGOLD
Maisons du monde FRANZI
CHARGING WALLET
Fossil
(Content Student Trainee)
After living and travelling in the US for two years, Franzi, Content student trainee at sisterMAG, is seriously infected with wanderlust. Her last cure was a trip to Portugal and thanks to great souvenirs and beautiful photos the memories stay vibrant even in grey Berlin. The perfect gifts for jetsetters? That could be unique products from faraway countries, useful gadgets like a passport cover or a stylish pocket with a charging station for your phone. But travel guides, journals or movies will make travellers happy as well – to keep them going till the next trip. 189
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PORTUGAL is a countr y full of traditions, that are present in ever yday life until today. Tiled houses, shops full of sardines in beautifully designed cans or salt that is freshly taken from the salt fields at the Algar ve. All this can be
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found in Por tugal, as well as modernity and innovation – such as a bread covered BOOK ! And even if you haven’t been to Por tugal, consider unique, regional products to give great and unforgettable presents.
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DESIGN
SISTERMAG GIFT GUIDE
by Songie
5
TEA CANDLE HOLDER
Granstudio
MAGAZINES
Lucky Peach
DAGUERREOT Y PE ACHROM AT & PE TZ VAL ART LENS
Lomography
STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST
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Austin Kleon
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PRINTA BLE CA LENDA R & WOOD S TA ND
Etsy
WAT ER F ILT ER & GLASBOTTLE
Soma Water CERAMICS
Studio Ahoj
SONGIE
(Design Student Trainee) Songie is studying graphics and is originally from Vienna. However, this summer has taken her to Berlin. She loves good food, humorous magazines and inspiring books. On a beautiful day you can find her wandering around town with her analogue camera and doing some people watching. She is showing us everything that a creative creator could ask for. 195
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Homewear
SISTERMAG GIFT GUIDE
6
b y U l r ik e
SATIN SLEEPING M A SK
Aubade WOOD SOAP
O'Live
ROOM FRAGRANCE
Wood & Leather
CUSHION WITH CASHMERE
Maison du Monde SATIN SE T
Aubade Paris SISTER-MAG.COM
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V ELV E T DRE S SING GOW N
Zara Home MUG
Ralph Lauren
ULRIKE
(Content Intern)
Ulrike was born in Berlin and still lives there. She studied Art History and has a great interest for the beautiful things in life. Especially during the wintertime, one of these is her home, the comfy sofa, the best place in the world. And of course, your old sweatpants are great for chilling, but velvet and satin will make you feel especially comfortable and glamorous at the same time. The special something, the give of glamour, that fits perfectly for Christmas time. So why don’t you give – instead of the ever knitted socks – some luxurious loafing?
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START
TAK E A S H OT www.takeashot.de
INDUSTRY HEADÂ QUARTER FOUNDERS
Fashion leipzig Hannes & Matze
LOGO
UP SP OTLIG HT
INTRODUCTION
TAKE A SHOT is a group of young, creative minds who are designing hybrid sunglasses since 2012. The German label mixes materials like plastic, acetate and wood. Inspired by his experiences when studying abroad, Hannes and Matze founded the company while still studying. By now there are five people in the team and we are very proud of our headquarters and showroom in the city of Leipzig. IDEA
2011, while studying abroad, the idea to create something of our
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GIFT IDEA own was born. While Matze was in China he discovered wooden sunglasses and we instantly knew that this was it. As we were not absolutely happy with the offers there were, we started working on our own collection. Matze was responsible for finding partners for the production on location, while Hannes took care of the legal issues in Germany. After getting our last savings together, it started: we filled the trunk of the car with sunglasses and cruised through Germany on the weekends – finding 12 shops that were interested in our creation. This initial success motivated us to keep going. Until today. PRODUCTS
Since 2012 we are thriving to improve the traditional wooden sunglasses. Our design concept is based on mixing materials and we are able to combine the advantages of both wood and plastic: a plastic frame meets wooden temples. Wood is an organic material. We love the feel and the comfort. Plastic is flexible
and enables us to all kinds of designs: flashy colours, exciting patterns, new shapes. NAME AND PHILOSOPHY
Behind every brand are people who are investing their passion and their time to make a statement. Our lifestyle and brand are totally intertwined, which is why we added our slogan to each of our glasses as well: »We are young, life is simple, take a shot«. That has always been our motivation, which is why we want to encourage people to get out there, take a risk and experience something new.
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COSTUMERS
They are young, urban and active. Many of them are also interested in fashion or sports. But we also have customers completely different from this main target group which makes us especially happy. DISTRIBUTION
We have an online shop as well as sales partners in different stores and our very own Âťsales forceÂŤ that spends weekends driving from town to town to get our glasses to you. We are on festivals, exhibitions and design markets. There you can try on our products as well as talking to our team in person. You can find out where we will be next via Facebook or Instagram. TEAM DESIGN
As opposed to other brands, our sunglasses are not completely wooden, but only use this material as details. We wanted to get a greater variety of possible designs which is why we found our hybrid concept using the advantages of different materials. SISTER-MAG.COM
The chore of the brand is made up of Matze, Hannes, Alexander, Alexandra and Bastien. Matze and Hannes are the founders who started everything in their bedrooms. Alexander was one of the first to join us and added his knowledge on e-commerce and online marketing. Alexandra is
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responsible for PR-work as well as social media and influencer marketing. Bastien is the newest member of our team and makes sure that our customers are well supported and happy. WORK AND UNIVERSITY – HOW DO YOU FIND THE BALANCE OF THESE TWO TIME CONSUMING ACTIVITIES?
During our high-season, we don’t really focus on university, but have to be totally on our work. Luckily, our professors know that and are very understanding. By now, we are almost done with our master studies and will hopefully take care of our final thesis during the winter season. Fingers crossed! T YPICAL WORK DAY
Whoever comes first is allowed to put their bike in our showroom. We have our office in an »up and coming« neighborhood. ;) WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR SELVES IN FIVE YE ARS?
www.takeashot.de
We are glad when we can decide on where to eat lunch today. But of course we would be glad to be established throughout Europe with our products and philosophy by then. 201
FACEBOOK INSTAGR AM
TAKE A SHOT @tas_takeashot
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IMPRINT SISTERMAG – JOURNAL FOR THE DIGITAL LADY w w w. s i st e r - m a g . co m Chief Editor
Theresa Neubauer
Operations
Nadine Steinmetz (Operations Dir.), Olga Felker, Laura Glabbatz, Ulrike Schulz, Elisabeth Stursberg, Charlie Tanquary, Franziska Winterling
Design
Theresa Neubauer (Art Dir.), Marie Darme, Helena Melikov, Dana Lungmuss, Songie Yoon
Illustration
Samantha Lynn, Dana Lungmuss, Alice Williamson
Styling
Evi Neubauer, Hürriyet Bulan
Contributing Editors (Text)
Claudia Baske, Franziska Bründler, Benjamin Donath, Barbara Eichhammer, Isa Grütering, Nuna Hausmann, Ellen Kapalka, Sarah Leutloff, Rebecca Lina, Hege Morris, Simone Müller-Staubli, Thea Neubauer, Elisabeth Stursberg, Antonia Sutter, Jules Villbrandt, Franziska Winterling
Contributing Editors (Photo) Claudia Baske, Benjamin Donath, Christine Juette, Sarah Leutloff, Theresa Neubauer, Cristopher Santos, Jules Villbrandt Video
Claus Kuhlmann
Contributing Editors (Food) Translation Final Proof
Ricky Saward
Sabrina Bäcker, Alexander Kords, Christian Naethler, Tanja Timmer, Franziska Winterling Claire Cunningham, Christian Naethler, Alexander Kords, Antje Ritter, Elisabeth Stursberg
Published bi-monthly by Carry-On Publishing GmbH, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany. Re-use of content is only allowed with written permission of the publisher. There is no liability for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. The Carry-On Publishing GmbH assumes no liability or guarantee for the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information provided. All information is provided without warranty. Contact: mail@sister-mag.com Geschäftsführung
Antonia Sutter, Theresa Neubauer, Alex Sutter
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Alex Sutter (Sales Dir.)
Marketing
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THE NEXT SECTION WILL HAVE THE TITLE
"FIRE UP"
AND IS PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK
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