Archives for April 2014

Photo of the week: Rosegarden

April 30, 2014 filed under: my so-called life

Hello photo lovers. What’s been up in your part of the world this last week? I am so excited to share my ‘Foto der Woche‘ with you again this week and I am very much looking forward to seeing your photos!

Without further ado, here’s my Glücklichmacher #17:

Rosegarden (taken April 29, 2014)

It was a beautiful day yesterday and I went for a walk at the park after work. The rosegarden is one of my favorite places in this town. There are so many different kinds of roses in a whole range of different colors. It’s quite lovely.

April Favorites

April 29, 2014 filed under: love, monthly favorites

1.) Some friends told me about the European Craft Magazine Flow and I couldn’t resist and had to order one issue to see what the hype was all about. It’s a Dutch magazine which is also available in German and they just recently came out with their first two international (English) editions. I really like the magazine, it comes with some creative extras and it’s worth the 6.95€ in Europe. The International edition, however, is 12.95€ + shipping which makes it a pretty steep prize for a magazine. I don’t think I am going to order it again, but I can see myself picking up another issue when I am going back home.

2.) I bought one of those Cuppow mason jar lids and it’s amazing. I love drinking out of mason jars (not just because they’re pretty, but also) because I like drinking from a glass rather than a plastic cup. This can also be used with a straw which is awesome for all cold drinks.

3.) You know that I am a big fan of making my own cards and I am very picky when it comes to store-bought cards, because usually it’s one or the other: either I like the design, but not the message on the card or vice versa. However, I am really liking Trader Joe’s Greeting Cards right now, because they have a lot of cute cards with beautiful designs and lovely messages that I fully approve of. And at $0.99 a pop, these are great to have in stock.

4.) I’ve been trying to stop using my beloved Coffeemate® in my morning coffee, because I know that the ingredient lists leaves a lot to be desired. I didn’t realize though how attached I had gotten to the Coffeemate® taste in my coffee and how hard switching to something else is going to be. One alternative that I found (and kinda like right now) is Organic Valley Hazelnut Half & Half. Do you have any other suggestions? (Non-GMO, carageenan(-and-other-crap)-free?)

5.) I usually go through phases with certain foods and this month Mexican food was my favorite. We especially like a little taqueria not far from our house. They have the best burritos in town – hands down!

6.) Like I said yesterday in the Birchbox review, I love pastel colors for nail polish and my current favorite is the Revlon Provence Color Stay Longwear Nail Enamel which is a light pastel purple-grey. So pretty!

What was one of your favorite things this month?

April Birchbox

April 28, 2014 filed under: beauty

This month I received Birchbox #21 and I was very pleased with all that was in the box! I was especially excited about the hair treatment and the nail polish!

Here’s what I received in this box (*calculated value of the samples in parenthesis):

Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser ($4): This is a 100% natural, fragrance-free formulated facial cleanser and I am very excited to try it.

Davines Oi all in one milk ($10.37): I’m always excited about stuff that will make my hair healthier and happier. This multipurpose leave-in treatment is specifically formulated to moisturize and amplify your hair and I’m very much looking forward to trying it.

Color Club® Gala’s Gems Collection – Gold Stuck ($3.25): This nail polish doesn’t really look golden at all, but it has a nice shimmery light-pink pastel color. I am a big fan of more muted, pastel color and really happy with this.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner ($12): This eyeliner is almost full size and therefore a great value in this box! One can never have enough eyeliner. Definitely excited about this.

KIND Healthy Grain Bars – Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt ($0.79): I am usually a little bit hesitant when it comes to granola bars, because a lot of them are loaded with sugar, but this one is non-GMO, all natural and the sugar content is on the low side. Very intrigued to try it.

The total for the box this month was $30.41 and I got some great stuff for the $10 that I paid. I am really excited about all of this and can’t wait to try it.

2014 in pictures: week 17

April 27, 2014 filed under: a year in pictures

SoCal • Sunset • clouds •
caprese • yogurt • Real Simple •
going out • Rose Garden • antipasti •

Easter weekend recap

April 25, 2014 filed under: California, holidays, weekend

J and I took a little trip to SoCal over Easter to visit family and our weekend started off with this amazing view of Yosemite National Park from the plane. I honestly can’t get enough of it and try to get a seat on the correct side of the plane when we fly down in the hope of spotting El Capitan and Half Dome. I labeled them in the photo, in case you couldn’t spot them yourself (sorry for making assumptions!).

We had a wonderful, sunny weekend and I am warning you right now that this post is photo-heavy. I can’t see, however, why one would mind pictures of a sunny beach in April. I for one couldn’t get enough of it.

We went up to Ojai on Saturday and explored the little stores and had coffee.

Later we went to the Father Serra Cross Lookout and had this amazing view of Ventura and the ocean.

Then we went to the Pier and had dinner at the Aloha Steakhouse. I had an excellent Grilled Portabella Mushroom Salad. Yum.

On Easter Sunday we had a slow morning with coffee on the patio. Later we had a delicious BBQ lunch and then went to the beach again. Basically, we spent a lot of time close to the water. It always makes me feel like I am on a mini-vacation.

How was your Easter weekend? Did you hang out with family or do something fun?

Photo of the week: SoCal Sunset

April 23, 2014 filed under: my so-called life

Hi photography nerds, it’s time for the ‘Foto der Woche‘ and I am happy to share my Glücklichmacher #16 with you. I mean, can anyone get enough of amazing sunsets? I didn’t think so!

SoCal Sunset (taken on April 19, 2014)

We spent last weekend in Southern California with J’s family and it always gives us the opportunity to hang out at the beach. Waiting for the sunset when we’re there is one of my favorite things to do. Isn’t it just simply beautiful?

Currently vol.14

April 22, 2014 filed under: currently

Current Book(s): I am really bad at reading right now. Does my “Real Simple” subscription count? I need some book recommendations. Can you help?

Current Playlist: My running play list. Mainly 90’s music (Grunge FTW!).

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Trader Joe’s Hawaiian Salt & Vinegar chips. Man, they’re tasty.

Current Color: mustard yellow.

Current Drink: Coffee. Lots of coffee.

Current Food: home-baked bread.

Current Favorite Show: Parenthood. I am watching this on my own time (J doesn’t want to watch it with me), but I usually get an episode or two in on a weekend morning and I just love all the characters in the show. I am looking forward to seeing them.

Current Wishlist: Some more clarity. I know this is vague, but maybe I can share more soon.

Current Needs: 48 hours in a day! I feel like I say that all the time.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: too many thoughts in my head. Sounds familiar?

Current Celebrity (Girl) Crush: Melissa McCarthy. I think she’s beautiful and hilarious inside and out.

Current Outfit: Jeans, flip flops, tee.

Current Excitement: A Jury Summon. Ha! Here I was thinking that I wasn’t going to get one any time soon (as I had to decline the last time around when I was not yet a citizen), but I guess driver’s license renewals put you back up at the top of the list. This will be interesting (as we don’t have jury duty in Germany – maybe I’ll explain the German judicial system in another post!)

Current Link: If you’re a little health-conscious, this is an excellent educational site: The Environmental Working Group.

2014 in pictures: week 16

April 20, 2014 filed under: a year in pictures

French toast • lunar eclipse • BLTs •
flow • Yosemite • the beach •
VW • Ventura • sunset •

April Link Love

April 18, 2014 filed under: link love

My friend Ulli wrote an important piece about compassion, understanding and not judging people: The light some don’t find.

I loved this list of 10 life lessons to excel in your 30’s and wholeheartedly agree. This is some great advice.

It’s all about the attitude! Let Alexandra tell you Why you’re a big deal!

10 things you didn’t know about Germans. They’re (mostly) true.

While I am still mostly undecided (I think), I couldn’t agree with this more: you don’t need to have a reason to not want kids.

I have been doing some research lately and I am not liking what I find: the good, bad and ugly about GMOs.

Friendships, trust and what it means to be reliant by my friend Domi.

14 surprising facts about caffeine, explained by science.

30 beliefs happy people live by. I completely relate to #13, #17, # 24 and #28. You?

Nicole wrote about the 9 stages of goal setting. Good stuff!

I know this all too well, thinking that I shouldn’t feel bad because others have it so much worse than I do, but I need to remember that someone else’s pain + struggle do not negate yours.

11 habits of people who never worry. I wouldn’t say that I never worry, but I think I do worry less than other people (which is not the same thing as ‘overthinking stuff’, because that, I do on occasion! Or a lot!)

I really love this country (otherwise I wouldn’t live here), but it sometimes needs a reality check: We’re not No. 1! We’re not No. 1!

40 financial things you should know by 40.

I didn’t have all of these syptoms, but one should pay attention, because mine landed me in the hospital: 15 signs you may have an iron deficiency.

Some people better keep their mouth shut (and I am not talking about the person who wrote this): A mom’s open letter to Gwyneth Paltrow.

What good stuff did you read lately?

A new URL 2 IRL friend

April 17, 2014 filed under: California, friends, girl time

Last week, I was able to turn another URL friendship into an IRL friendship. My friend Jenny, who I’ve met through this blog last summer, happened to be in San Francisco last week and was kind enough to let me know about it, so I could take a day off work and go to the city to have some fun.

I picked Jenny up at the hostel that she was staying at and within minutes, it felt completely natural to be around her. I love when transition from online to offline relationships are so incredibly easy.

We decided to start our day of exploring the city with a hike up to Coit Tower for a nice view (unfortunately, the tower is under renovation right now and we couldn’t go inside, but the view was worth it anyway).

From there, we made our way down to Fisherman’s Wharf and over to Ghiradelli Square and the Acquatic Park Pier, because the views from there of both of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city are amazing!

From there, we contemplated taking the bus to the Marina, because I thought that Jenny should most definitely see the Palace of Fine Arts and the beautiful neighborhood, but a quick look at Google Maps and we decided ‘nah, we can walk that!‘. So, we walked up the hill to Fort Mason and down into the Marina district and to the Palace of Fine Arts.

After hanging out there for a while, we briefly thought about taking the bus back to the piers, but then decided again that it was quicker to walk it. So, back to Pier 39 we walked. I mean, you can’t come to San Francisco and not see the sea lions at Pier 39… tourist stuff or not. (And thank you big container ship for coming into the picture right then and there. You looked pretty!)

So yeah, we did a lot of walking that day. 9 miles (15 km) plus some. If it hadn’t been for our sore feet, I am convinced we wouldn’t even have noticed, because we just walked and talked for about 6 hours straight. It was fantastic!

We did finally give in though and decided to catch the Cable Car back to Powell Street and look for a restaurant to have some dinner and wrap up our girl date. It was definitely a great day and my sore calves and a bit of a sunburn were quite worth the fun! I hope we can do this soon again!!