It's Thursday -- time for some Alphabe-Thursday fun! This time I want to introduce you to Mae West. Actually, I don't mean the actress Mae West, but the 52m/170.6-ft-high sculpture on Munich's Effnerplatz (Effner Square). With its hourglass structure it reminds of the figure of its namesake.

The artist Rita McBride definitely created a new architectural icon for Munich. Driving on the Mittlerer Ring (Middle Ring), an urban highway, you can make out Mae West from afar. The sculpture is made from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. If you want to read more, be sure to check out Mae West: Pipe dream in Munich by Donna Dawson.

Five years ago I started blogging. It doesn't feel that long at all. My very first post was titled Eraser Mania. Back then I wrote: "I have collected erasers for a long time. They all found a new home in a big glass bowl -- much like one of those glass bowls in which people put a poor, lonely goldfish."

I didn't mention though how this eraser collection started. As a child I went on a bus trip to Italy. One of the ladies in the group was hunting for erasers -- blame the beginning of my collection to her! She was searching for erasers in the form of candy which are forbidden in Germany since kids can easily mistake them for the real thing. So I bought the chocolate eraser below -- and the rest is history...

I would have never thought in how many colors and shapes eraser come. I recently looked through all my erasers and took some photos which I will share in the coming weeks. Here's a whole gang of Halloween cat heads.

And -- ACTION!

Now wouldn't that be a cool color for a racing car?

Over the years I found some really nice pieces. I will now show you five of my very favorite erasers. The details are amazing. That piece of chocolate cake looks good enough to eat.

Ice-cream anyone?

Or do you rather fancy a sandwich with tomatoes and lettuce?

I can also offer French fries.

And here's a strawberry milkshake.

If you want to see more of my erasers, be sure to come back in the next few weeks. I promise that I have a few really odd ones, too. 

Finally, let me thank you for making my first five years in Blogland such a great experience. I am happy to call many of you friends! Be sure to check out my two 5th Blog Anniversary giveaways -- you could win an  I ♥ Oktoberfest T-shirt or a Bavarian package.

On the occasion of my 5th Blog Anniversary, I decided to have yet another giveaway (since not everyone wants to wear an Oktoberfest T-shirt for whatever reason). I put together a couple of Bavarian style pieces -- a gentian bandana, a large and small notebook, two pencils, a sharpener, a clip, an eraser, and napkins.

Both the gingerbread heart and gentian are typical for Bavaria.

A close-up of the bandana.

Here you see the clip.

Another view of the goodies you could win.

Simply leave a comment below (one per person please) and make sure that I have a way to contact you if you happen to be the lucky winner. Open worldwide!

It would be lovely if you visited my actual 5th Blog Anniversary post which also happens to be my 500th post. Moreover, you have another chance to win -- the prize is an I ♥ Oktoberfest T-shirt.

The giveaway is open until Sunday, September 23rd.

Good luck!

I am celebrating my 5th Blog Anniversary, and you have one last chance to win an I ♥ Oktoberfest T-shirt. Below Rapunzel is modeling the shirt. Obviously, size L is too large for her, but she looks cute in anything. And, no, Rapunzel is not part of the prize -- she stays in Munich.

The shirt is 100 % cotton with a pink heart and rhinestones on the words I and Oktoberfest.

The front measures 57 cm which is roughly 22.5 inches.

The label.

So how can you win the I ♥ Oktoberfest T-shirt?

The giveaway is open until Sunday, September 23rd.

It would be lovely if you visited my actual 5th Blog Anniversary post which also happens to be my 500th post. Moreover, you have another chance to win -- the prize is a Bavarian package.

Good luck!

 

Better late than never! In no particular order, here are my favorite books of 2011: 

1. Matched by Ally Condie (5/5)

2. Room by Emma Donoghue (5/5)

3. The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult (5/5) 

4. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (4/5) 

5. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (4/5)

6. A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness (5/5)

7. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich (5/5)

8. Foreign Body by Robin Cook (5/5)

9. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (5/5)

10. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (4/5)

I read a total of 60 books in 2011, so once again it was hard to pick only ten favorite books, especially since I rated 18 books the maximum of 5/5 and 29 books a very decent 4/5. 2011 was definitely a great reading year, and I am thrilled to say that 2012 isn't far behind. Any book recommendations? Who knows -- maybe your favorite book will end up on my Top Ten list of 2012.

Hot summer day? No problem anymore! Just put about two cups of frozen watermelon, one banana and the juice of a small lemon in a blender and you have the most refreshing, healthy smoothie ever! 

And the best? It's pink!

Happy Pink Saturday!

This lion was part of Munich's Lion Parade. Isn't he perfect for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday?