
Catherine Baum, founder of Baum Cosmetics, explained to knowitall.ch, "After 32 years of living in Burkina Faso, I settled in Switzerland in 2019 with the idea to brand a series of natural cosmetics. The two harsh environments that make plants particularly potent, the Swiss Alps and sub-Saharan Africa, seemed like the perfect match and I was very inspired."
Not only is there distinct contrasts between the two, but also similarities. Mixing real Swiss alpine plants with precious sub-saharian oils with shea butter allowed a greater benefit from the best of both worlds. It was a match made in heaven and the idea was born.

In 1993, I decided to take "my skin in hand", so to speak, and I learned from Burkina women how to process shea butter to benefit from its wonderful benefits. I then added other sub-Saharan oils in synergy with active ingredients to enrich my cosmetic preparations.

Ariel-Pierre Haemmerlé with the newly published book
Back in 2021 we wrote an article about Ariel-Pierre Haemmerlé at this link, the tour guide with a big personality. This lovely man has just published his fifth book! We met up with him to find out more and get our hands on a copy of Genève, les dates les plus importantes de son histoire.
If you love history, you will love this book. If you don't love history, you will still find this immensely interesting.
Do you know what these dates represent?
- 1536
- 1639
- 1815
- 1989
- 2017
If none of them ring a bell, read to bottom for the answers.
Organized very simply by dates, with a brief explanation of what each date means to Geneva, you will learn many, many fundamental milestones in this city's evolution.
The book will be available to purchase from all bookshops from Tuesday, 13 December 2022. Ariel Pierre will be at Payot Confédération on Saturday afternoon for book-signing. This might be the Christmas present you might have been looking for!
This tour guide knows how to catch your attention and keep it. If you are interested in inviting him to an event to talk about Geneva, please contact him. He will not disappoint your audience.

With the busy buying season quickly approaching, here are a few tips to help you navigate your budget safely.
Make a shopping list and compare prices
Stores compete with each other to offer the best deals, but they're not always real bargains. That's why it's worthwhile comparing prices beforehand. Make a shopping list in advance so you can keep track.
And don't get caught off guard when you see a sign with a reduced price. The savings might not be what you thought at first glance; see photo below from last year with only a 10 centime difference!


Note: All the stamps shown in this article (except the supplementary ones) will be released on 10 November 2022 but you can already pre-order at this link.
Christmas stamps
Every year, Swiss Post’s Christmas special stamps prove highly popular and Swiss Post's 2022 whimsical series with woodland animals will not disappoint.
An incredible number of rituals and traditions surround Christmas. The new stamps showcase the various preparations for this great celebration while surprising in a humorous way. In the snow-capped forest there is a lot of excitement: the hare has bought a beautiful Christmas tree and is racing out of the forest on his sled, the deer are tangled up in the Christmas lights and the little mouse hurrying to bring you your Christmas letter.
The subjects were the result of a design contest and Post Office staff members were given the opportunity to vote for their favorite designs worth 90, 110 and 180 centimes.

Stained glass stamps - Nativity and Angel
Two magnificent stamps pay tribute to the cultural and historical richness of sacred art in Switzerland. They represent fragments of stained glass windows from the collegiate church in Bern and the convent in Königsfelden. The subject of the 110 centime stamp is a nativity scene from the "Youth of Christ" stained glass window in the monastery church of Königsfelden. This church near Windisch was built for the Habsburg family as a place of remembrance following the assassination of King Albert I. The stained glass windows in the chevet, depicting the birth of Christ, were created just before the building was inaugurated in 1330 and are an expression of the skills of the time.

Balexert takes its old advertising materials (banners, parking barriers, tarpaulins ...) and recycles into quality, original and unique bags and key rings. The project started during the height of Covid and is still going on now. All proceeds from sales are sent to the Non-Violence Project Foundation, a Geneva-based organization whose mission is to fight against various forms of violence by developing training and prevention programs.
Each of the proposed models is handmade by professional seamstresses from Pro, a Geneva-based foundation whose goal is to offer a responsible work environment to disabled people and young people in reintegration.
The bags were made from old banners and posters and to apply the true sense of recycling... this project was not a commercial nor profitable one.
The models are on sale at the Info Stand of Balexert, located on the first floor of the center.
Shopping bag: CHF 7.00
Shopping bag: CHF 25.00
Shoulder bag: CHF 34.00
Key ring: CHF 3.50
Next time you visit Balexert, please go to the client service stand to see which ones they have left!
- The first natural stamps using green coloring from plants: chlorophyll pigments
- Swiss Post announces “Cute animals” photo competition
- Vachement Suisse offers quality Swiss unusual items
- Simply Zoë offers feminine clothes and accessories for those diagnosed with cancer
- New prices for Courier A and B for your Swiss letters
- Know-it-all Marketplace unites 35 local creators under one roof
- Chêne-Bourg hosts an artistic duo, Kathleen Redly and Sophie Tracewski Grange
- Creative locals are invited to participate in our 6th Know-it-all Marketplace 2022
- The third book in the Grondère series is hot-off-the-press
- Design Dogs Switzerland - Digital Seasonal Cards
- Fabric canvas stamps available at the Swiss Post office
- Rocky's Adventure: A naughty parrot in Switzerland
- Rome est une femme: A thriller for your Christmas wishlist!
- Do you know someone who needs some Swiss Blue Jewellery?
- Kathy Overlack uses locally-sourced products handmade with love... and lavender
- Coucoudre - refugees help repair clothing, create products, and hold a repair café
- My experience selling gold in Geneva and who to trust
- New book out about John Calvin's Geneva by John Glass
- Broccoli Brocante sale on May 1st with 2 vouchers to be won
- “Sketch of Pets” exhibit of animal portraits by local artist
- Beautiful personalized illustrations and patterns by Groseille
- New book from a Swiss woman’s perspective in 1959: Voting Day
- EMO-Photo is offering a special photo shoot to one lucky reader
- Bergli’s latest publication about 50 Amazing Swiss Women
- Newly launched, Mookaite silk scarves' first collection makes a big splash
- Online Furniture and Home Decor in Switzerland
- Local teenager, Ashley Lucking, writes a novel at age 16
- Diccon Bewes teams up with Bergli books for The Expert Guide
- How someone tried to scam me on Facebook - Hoping this helps someone
- The newest series of Swiss and French stamps are now out
- How sustainable fashion relates to slow fashion
- Are you looking for a business opportunity? Brappz is looking for a new owner
- Summer Shadows in Grondère: just published by local author
- Ceramist's creativity born from confinement is amazing
- When a scent can melt away all your worries
- Swisstory, an entertaining illustrated history of Switzerland for all
- Ordering food or other items with delivery options in Switzerland
- Send a letter to a friend so you can use these beautiful stamps!
- SMART EVASION solves the problem of having to choose between a DSLR camera and your portable telephone
- Clients to get their ‘flower fix’ at Royal Bloom in Lausanne
- MaRen chic tween undergarmets designed by a local mother
- Joining the IWCN and get involved in some charity work, make friends, and discover the area
- Receive 2 flamboyant red Strappz and 1 free heart Snappz with your Brappz order!
- Special rate for knowitall.ch readers on the new Body Pass 2019!
- Stay-at-home STEAM toys to keep your kids happy during Covid-19
- A personalized photo book for your child brings family into the picture
- Brappz teams up with SmileyWorld to create new line in athleisure jewelry!
- Federesque: the perfect gift for tennis fans!
- Reduce your waste and contribute to a more sustainable future with the help of Zero Waste Switzerland
- Lifestyle photographer, Sophie Robert-Nicoud, captures the joy in your life!
- Giant Advent calendar in the middle of Cornavin Station!
- First designer life-style product launched by Sufixe to be sold at Know-it-all Marketplace!
- Find out all about Know-it-all Marketplace on WRS!
- Full range of English TV options from Williams Services
- 25th Year of Geneva Writers’ Group Begins with 14th Edition of Offshoots, Writing from Geneva
- On-demand delivery service brings goods 2yourdoor in Lausanne!
- Special rate for knowitall.ch readers when purchasing Body Pass 2017!
- 50% off everything at All For Kids closing-down sale – including the last 5 copies in stock of the new 10th Edition of Know-it-all passport!
- Special Christmas offer for knowitall.ch readers on the new Body Pass 2017!
- Hand-made cards with the personal touch from Groseille
- Get your Know-it-all passport® guidebook signed by Lisa Cirieco-Ohlman in Manor Lausanne this weekend!
- Great savings on diving equipment and lessons for knowitall.ch readers at Scuba Dream and Aqua Diving
- New online necklace business, Le Joli Collier, is launched!
- Free delivery within Switzerland on all toys purchased from Swiss e-store, My Little Room
- Contemporary furniture by British and Swiss designers from Heidi & James
- Receiving and shipping international parcels by post
- Everything you ever needed to make the perfect cake at Genevacakes!
- 2015 Christmas Markets in Geneva, Vaud, and neighboring France
- Around Switzerland in 80 Maps - A magical journey by Diccon Bewes
- Brappz gives away free Neon Brappz fashion accessories to knowitall.ch readers
- 50% off silk scarves from Audrey Soie Haute Couture
- Payot Libraire opens brand new book store in Geneva
- The perfect souvenir of Switzerland: figurative oil paintings of Swiss scenes painted by local artist, Rita Mancesti
- Special opening of Soul of Asia showroom featuring high quality cashmere shawls and Ayurvedic body products
- Add style to your wardrobe with Venus Secrets’ exclusive range of handcrafted jewelry and exquisite lingerie
- Get addicted to junking - go bargain-hunting with Lisa and find something unique for your home!
- Tissuandco.ch online fabric and haberdashery store is launched in Switzerland
- ASK – All Special Kids teams up with Rush Pop Up Store to launch Geneva’s first charity fashion shopping event!
- Geneva-based entrepreneurs get you hooked on brappz – the cool alternative to bra straps, which can also be worn as bracelets and necklaces too!
- Get 20% off your books this summer with OffTheShelf’s Fr. 20.- Summer Pass
- New regulations on customs allowances announced
- New “On My Way” dry cleaning service makes clients' lives easier
- Renowned Studio Harcourt portrait photographers to hold 3 days of photo shoots at the Hotel d’Angleterre in Geneva
- Exercise your brain with mind games from www.PuzzleYoga.com
- Use SMS on your phone to buy Swiss postage stamps
- Buy your copy of the beautiful "Lake Geneva - As time goes by" poster!
- Deal of the month: hardware stores
- New edition of Know-it-all passport® 2013/2014 now on sale!
- Some simple ideas for party nibbles
- Choose any book for only Fr. 8.- at OfftheShelf English Books
- 100% Geneva milk is used to make authentic fresh mozzarella
- Some simple ideas for party nibbles
- Customs allowances
- Stylish and seasonal ideas for your home
- Know-it-all passport tops best-selling charts!





