Below is a font that was made from my very own handwriting. If you wonder why I post it here, read on…

YourFonts, where I made the font, will let you create personal handwriting fonts for free (yes, FREE) on 23 January 2012 to celebrate the National (American) Handwriting Day. On that day, you can create as many fonts as you like. This is a great opportunity to “immortalize” your and your children’s handwriting. It would be a great gift for them!

While you have to wait for that day (23 Jan) to create the font for free, you can already download the template on their site now, fill and scan it, so that it will be ready for uploading on D-day. A personal tip from me: Upload it as early as possible on that day to avoid possible traffic from users in U.S.

But don’t forget to use coupon CPN4NHD2012 when you check out to receive your font for free!

Pssst… If you can’t make it on that day, creating the font on other days cost $9.95 (+$5 if you include special characters) and if you go through the links on this page, I will get a 40% commission on your purchase, which will be used to support the blog! Isn’t it great?

Org-Vac.ch is having several interesting programs this winter that you can see below. For the Family Ski Day, readers of Lausanne Mom can have a 10% discount (Mention Lausanne Mom when booking).

The 34th Hot-air Balloon Festival in Château-d’Oex is scheduled to begin on 21 January and will last until 29 January 2012. As always, the program looks very exciting, there will be many shows, including an air show and illuminated balloon night. There is also special programs for kids on Wednesday afternoon. Let’s hope that the weather will be good!

For more info and complete programs, please check their website.

One of the most well-known events in Lausanne, the Prix de Lausanne, will take place from 29 Jan to 4 Feb February 2012 at the Théatre de Beaulieu.

Created in 1973, the Prix de Lausanne is an international competition for young dancers, from 15 to 18 year-old. Its prime objective is to discover, promote, and support talents among the world’s finest young dancers.

If you’re interested to watch, the ticket for selection days cost CHF10 and 20 (sold on the spot), and for the final CHF20-80 (already available for online purchase at www.prixdelausanne.org or by phone +41(0)21 310 16 00 from 12:00 am to 6:00 pm). Children (7-15 y.o.) enter for free (under 7s are not allowed).

For more info, visit the official website.

Jazz lovers, Cully Jazz will only come in April, but I would like to remind you that the shows are easily sold out, so make sure to get the tickets as early as possible! They will come on sale next week, starting 18 Jan 2012. FYI last year TL offers special late-night buses to bring you back from Cully train station to Lausanne for only CHF3. Check their website (click here) for complete programs and other info.

*Photograph courtesy of Oliver Bruchez, used under Creative Commons

Just wanted to remind you: Christmas trees (without decorations) will be collected on the second week of January, on the same day the green waste is collected (check the schedule sent by your commune a couple of weeks ago). You can leave the tree on the side of the street, however away from the pedestrian path. Decorations should be discarded into the regular garbage bags, unless they can be recycled.

*Photo courtesy of NJ Tech Teacher, used under Creative Commons

Twenty-four lovely readers had left their comment for the Laura Amiss’ San Francisco Hill Houses Print Giveaway! Wow! I wish I had more prints to giveaway! I had so much fun reading all the comments and happy to know that so many of you like the print as the twin sister is now hanging in my house

Random.org has picked a winner this morning… *drum roll*

It’s Kim! Congrats! You’ll hear from me soon!

Thank you all for your participation and have a great weekend and a Merry Christmas!

Note on 22 Dec 2011: I thought that many of you would be flying this week and would like to remind you of this place. This post below was originally published on Nov 2010

On our recent trip to Germany, we flew from Zurich Airport and made a stop at the airport nursery and playroom (there are two, we went to the one in Transit A). We were impressed. It was much better than we expected — Very spacious and full of toys of different kinds. And most (if not all) the toys were the beautiful, good quality, wooden(!) ones. There was also a playpen. Even better, there were only a couple of other children there, so our daughter could easily pick and play with any toys.

And look at this lovely changing area. There was one sink for every 2 changing pads, and they even provided the wet wipes. I don’t remember if I saw the diapers there, but the airport website said so. I also didn’t check this, but apparently there is also a kitchenette with a hotplate, microwave oven and cutlery for warming up meals.

Restrooms for the adults were available within the facility. FYI, there was no child minder, so you must be there to accompany your child.

To use the facility you must show your boarding pass to the lady at the reception. The only “problem” for us was that we still had to pass a security check between the nursery and the gate, which means we had to carefully calculate the time we needed to pass the check and walk to the gate before boarding (although there was a sign inside the facility showing the minutes you’ll need to reach your gate). It would be much easier if the nursery is located after the security check, but we were happy anyhow with the quality of the facility.

The location of the nurseries at Zurich Airport:

• Transit A, between the transfer desk and special assistance desk, next to the entrance to gates 60–69

• Dock E, level 3, above gate E45

For more info, here’s the airport link.

Note on 22 Dec 2011: I thought that many of you would be flying this week and would like to remind you of this place. This post below was from January 2011.

After being so impressed by the nursery and playroom in Zurich airport, I couldn’t pass the similar facility in Geneva Airport. The opportunity came last Christmas Day, when we flew to Budapest for a 10-day holiday.

Although it was smaller than the one in Zurich airport, I was still impressed with the facility. Many different types of toys were available, from the climbing jumping ones, to cooking set, to books.

Here’s an area with playpens and baby gym for the very little ones.

And here’s li’l me in front of one of the bookshelves.

The facility also offered a closed room for changing diapers, complete with wet wipes, a baby bath tub and a mini toilet. If I remember correctly (I’m pregnant, I easily forget nowadays! *grin*), there was also a breastfeeding room.

Better than in Zurich Airport, this nursery and play room was located after the final security check, and in our case just above our gate. That was really great as we could stay there until the last minutes before boarding time.

So, next time you fly with the little ones and still have time to kill at the airports, don’t pass this facility. It’s great!

Nursery hours: every day from 08:00 am to 08:00 pm.
Phone: +41 22 717 71 92

Remember this guest post about the SessaKids baby bibs? I had the chance to meet Svenja, the creator of those lovely bibs, a few Fridays ago at her stand in Place de la Palud. It was my perfect chance to take a closer look at the many products she sold. Oh yes, she had many other besides the bibs (aprons, buntings, pants, bags, etc.). Great choice of fabrics (many oil cloth ones) and colors, simple and classic yet lovely designs. And the prices were very reasonable given the fact that they were all hand made! L.O.V.E.

I just checked Svenja’s website (www.sessakids.com), unfortunately it’s still under construction. In case you want to check out her products, simply email her at: info (AT) sessakids (DOT) com