Archives for September 2016

September Favorites

September 29, 2016 filed under: monthly favorites

1. WrightSock Double Layer Running Socks Cool Mesh II – I used a $15 store credit at my local running store to buy (and try) these socks and I love them. They’re super-soft and comfortable. And so far: no more blisters.

2. I just recently tried Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drinks for the first time and they’re so delicious (well, the flavors that I had so far – lemon ginger and Tangerine ← tastes like Fanta ). I like sparkling drinks to begin with (they’re so refreshing) and I like the extra health benefit for digestive health and immune function that I get with this drink. Unlike kombucha which is fermented with black or green tea, KeVita is fermented with coconut water or filtered water. You should give it a try!

3. Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner (made in Germany – ha!) I think I received this in one of my Birchboxes (when I was still subscribed). I just recently found it in my bathroom cabinet and decided to use it. Let’s just say: I am so glad I found it because this eyeliner is awesome (and since it’s not exactly cheap at $16, I’m extra-happy that I am using and liking it.)

4. Pixlr is a free alternative to Photoshop and they offer an online version and app. I only have an (older) version of Photoshop on my (even older) DELL laptop at home and this is a GREAT alternative. Check it out!

5. If you don’t own a Lodge Cast Iron Skillet yet, you need to remedy this immediately. Trust me, you will not want to cook with anything else again. J was hesitant to use the cast iron skillet for the longest freaking time, because – I know – it looks like stuff will stick to it. But if it is seasoned correctly, this is where the magic happens: NOTHING will stick to it. Even better, you can use the skillet on the stove and in the oven.

6. Asics Gel-Cumulus 18 – I bought some new running shoes a couple of months ago and I am really happy with them. I used to run in Brooks Ghost 7’s (which I loved), but wanted to try a new shoe/brand. The Asics have a great fit, are also a neutral shoe, but have a little bit more cushion than the Brooks (I think), and are really comfortable. I just wish they had had them in this color at the store.

Currently | September

September 28, 2016 filed under: currently

so excited to pick up my parents at the airport this week. I haven’t seen them in 6 months and I can’t wait to hug them. They’re coming to visit for 2,5 weeks and I am so excited to spend some quality time with them. (I might be a little bit MIA the next couple of weeks, but I have scheduled a couple of blog posts in advance, so that you don’t completely forget that I am here. Ha!)

appreciating the fact that I get to take some time off from work to spend as much time with my parents as possible.

hoping for time to go really, really slowly the next two weeks.

watching This is Life with Lisa Ling. The new (3rd!) season started yesterday on CNN! Highly recommend.

reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Holy moly… the book is so intense. I haven’t seen the movie (yet), so no spoilers. If you have read the book AND seen the movie, which one did you like better?

loving my new ‘I RUN THIS BODY”-t-shirt!!

drinking the first few cups of hot tea. Fall has only made a brief appearance so far, but it was enough to make me want to drink a hot beverage (besides coffee).

eating German apple pancakes for dinner last weekend. I don’t make them very often, but I had a craving.

scratching my head over the shitstorm that was the presidential debate on Monday night. I mean, seriously, America. What is this!!??

enjoying (to my own surprise!) the early morning workouts at the gym. I never thought I’d be able to squeeze in a workout before work, but HERE I am doing it.

thinking that Instagram should really go back to the chronological feed, because it’s super-annoying a) not to know if you’ve scrolled back far enough to not miss anything and b) seeing posts pop up a day or two late (and them therefore being out of context). At least, give us the option to choose, Instagram. Who’s with me?

What I bought at Trader Joe’s (meatless edition) – Vol.3

September 26, 2016 filed under: food, review, shopping, traderjoes

Hello, hello. Here’s another edition of ‘What I bought at Trader Joe’s’. I know you were waiting for this, weren’t you? I can’t say enough good things about Trader Joe’s* and if you don’t have one near you, I am truly sorry.

I try to eat a healthy and balanced diet (of course, the occasional treat is absolutely necessary) and I am glad that Trader Joe’s has a wide variety of healthy food items. (Of course, they also have things that are not so good for you – so I still check labels and nutrition information.)

Today I am sharing some items that I regularly buy at Trader Joe’s that I consider part of my “runner friendly diet”.

Trader Joe’s Whole Plain Greek Yogurt ( 16 oz – $1.99 ) ★★★★★ // dairy section

You guys, this is the best greek yogurt I have ever had. If I could, I would give it an extra star. It has the best taste and texture of any Greek yogurt I have tried so far and I have tried many different Greek yogurts in the past. Even J, who is not a yogurt fan in general, will have spoonful every once in while just because it’s just so good. It’s smooth and only a touch tangy and I just love it with my granola and fresh fruit. It also is a great substitute for sour cream on your baked potato or in salad dressings. As you can see, I buy the whole milk version. I don’t really believe in low fat versions of anything.

Trader Joe’s Silverdollar Pancakes (11.3 oz – $1.99) ★★★★☆ // freezer section

Ok, these “only” got four stars, because obviously they don’t really compare to freshly made pancakes, but they’re really easy to pop in the microwave and top with some syrup and fruit when the craving hits and a) you don’t have time to make pancakes from scratch and/or b) you only need one portion. It’s nice to have these handy in the freezer.

Trader Joe’s Hemp seed (8 oz – $5.99) ★★★★☆ // cereal aisle

This is a great addition to your granola or oatmeal for an extra boost of omega-3, omega-6, and protein.
I only give them 4 stars, because I haven’t used them for anything else but granola yet, but I am sure you can also add them to salad, baked goods, or bread.

Trader Joe’s Crunchy or Creamy Almond Butter (16 oz – $7.99) ★★★★★ // pantry section

I didn’t grow up with peanut butter (although I think it’s now available in German supermarkets), so I wasn’t used to the texture and taste of any nut butters at all. Peanut butter is still something I avoid, but I’ve come to like almond butter quite a bit. This one has only one ingredient (almonds!) and is really tasty! I add it to my smoothies and occasionally eat a spoonful by itself.

Trader Joe’s Organic Midnight Moo (20 oz – $3.49) ★★★★★ // pantry section

For when the post-run chocolate milk craving hits! It’s chocolate-y but not overly sweet. I love it. Which chocolate milk do you like?

What did you pick up at Trader Joe’s this month?

I am linking up with Rachel for Meatless Monday today. I hope it’s ok to “switch it up a bit” by not posting a recipe, but some vegetarian runner-friendly food options I buy at Trader Joe’s.

* I am not affiliated with Trader Joe’s, nor have they endorsed, sponsored or paid for my reviews. I am just sharing my love for the store and its products, which bascially means free advertisement for them. Ha. All opinions are my own.

A decade in the making

September 23, 2016 filed under: friends, good times, travel

Last weekend, I got to spend three days with one of my oldest and dearest friends. Cathy lives in Sydney, Australia and we’ve been friends for almost 25 years.

We started out as pen friends back in the day. Does anyone still remember what FB’s (“friendship books”) are? People sent little booklets – ‘Friendship Books”- around where you put your address, you age and your interests and when you received such a booklet and there was someone that you liked, you could write them a letter and become pen friends.

Cathy and I initially bonded over our mutual love for New Kids on the Block (no shame! Blockheads represent! :)), but it turned out to be so much more than that. She’s been in my life since we were teenagers, we’ve been through high and lows, happiness and heartaches, and it’s just been so amazing that we’ve kept up all these years. I don’t think it can be taken for granted that our friendship survived this long, especially because it was all based on letter writing for such a long time.

We were lucky enough to have had the opportunity to meet each other IRL once before, when she and her husband traveled to the US and we met up in Los Angeles for a long weekend (including a trip – my first! – to Disneyland). The best part: it didn’t feel awkward at all, because we already “knew” each other. But that was 11 years ago.

We spent a couple of very special days together, then they continued their trip, we went up north to Sacramento, not knowing when we would be able to see each other again.

This might not seem like such a big deal today as we – especially us bloggers – make so many connections online these days and it’s almost common now to meet up with someone that you met over the Internet, but back in the day, it was rare to be friends with someone who lived so far away and who you hadn’t met in person. Letter-writing was a real effort and it takes two committed people to make this work for so long, but we stuck it out and became and have been best friends ever since.

We still kept writing after our meet-up, but not as much as we used to. J and I got married, Cathy and Greg had two lovely girls. Life got busy. But despite some periods of time where we didn’t hear from each other that much, I always knew that Cathy was there.

So, then fast forward a few years to 2014 when Cathy started talking about making another trek over here and when she started saving for the trip and planning it, scratching it, re-doing the itinerary, but always with the goal in mind to meet up somewhere and spend some quality time together. I told her, if she makes it over to the US again, I’ll come and meet her anywhere. So, we basically had been talking about seeing each other again for the last two years (and you can imagine how hyped up we were getting).

On Saturday morning, I boarded a plane to meet her + her family in Vegas for a long weekend. And when I arrived at the hotel that we were staying at and saw her walking towards me in the lobby, I felt giddy, yes, but it was instantly comfortable as if we had just seen each other a week ago. It’s amazing how that works, right?

It’s hard to put in words what this weekend meant to me. It’s not like Australia and the US are neighboring countries (and neither were Germany and Australia back in the day). With everything and everybody so connected these days, it does feel a whole lot closer (it’s not like we have to wait weeks for a letter to be delivered), but it’s still not like we can just hang out anytime we want, so the three days that we got together were extremely special.

We chatted NONSTOP. And when I say nonstop, I mean nonstop. This, of course, is a good sign, because if you can talk to each other like that, it means that you don’t really have to do much else. Yes, we walked the Strip and saw a bit of the casinos, had dinner at a buffet one night and lunch at Wahlburgers (*squeal*) and enjoyed the night view from the Paris, Paris Eiffel Tower, but the rest of the time we were perfectly fine hanging out at the pool (or the hotel room) and chatting the hours away. And it was still not enough time.

When I caught the taxi to the airport on Monday evening, I couldn’t help but feel like there was so much left to say.

I think I said that before: face time with close friends is so very special. You just talk “differently” with each other. You dig deep, get to things that you don’t talk about when you communicate via Whatsapp, text or email in between the demands of daily life.

The good news is we might see each other again in the not too distant future. I won’t say anymore, because let’s not jinx it, but FINGERS CROSSED. I miss her already.

Do you have any good friends that live really far away?

TotR | Best running advice you’ve received

September 20, 2016 filed under: fitness, linkup, running

It’s time for another Tuesdays on the Run post and the question that we’re addressing today is “what is the best running advice you’ve received?”.

I think the best running advice – or advice in general when it comes to competitive sports – I have ever received is that you have to run your own race and be the best runner YOU can be.

There is really no use (or point or reason) to compare yourself with other runners, although I am all too aware that we all tend to do that from time to time. It’s hard not to.

Not playing the comparison game was easier when I just ran occasionally as one (of many) types of leisure exercise. I didn’t pay attention to pace or distances much. The competitiveness started to come out when I committed to my first training plan and then signed up for a race. I mean, if you sign up for a race, how can you not compare your training and pace to others? It’s what you do.

A race, of course, is a competition, so you’ll want to try to perform your best and possibly “win”. What that really means though is NOT crossing the finish line first (although for some people that might be their goal and their reality), but crossing that finish line at all and striving to achieve your personal best.

But here’s the thing: we are all on our own journeys. You might be running for years or just started out. You might be a natural runner or someone who has to work hard for every mile. There are sprinters and endurance runners. Professional athletes and amateurs. You can not compare chapter 2 of your journey to someone else’s chapter 20.

I am always trying to remember that. I sometimes get discouraged when I see other people post their race times or training paces. They complain of “having a slow run” when they’re running a pace that I could only dream of right now. But I also know that my pace might seem fast to someone else. It’s really all a matter of perspective, because I know that I can achieve progress and that I have gotten faster in the comparatively short time that I’ve been running. That is what I should focus on.

So, have fun, run your own race, compete with yourself, beat your own records, because this is the only way you can really win. That’s the best running advice I have received and pass on to others.

This week, I am linking up with Erika, Patty and Marcia for Tuesdays on the Run again.

September Link Love

September 15, 2016 filed under: link love

What it feels like to be the last generation to remember life before the Internet. Yup, I was born before 1985. Were you? I definitely know what it was like to call landlines, living without a smartphone and not having the internet at the tip of my fingertips for everything. Those were simpler times. I wrote more letters and read more books.

No bake almond butter + strawberry jam breakfast bars. Oh these look so good!

Duh! No-brainer. Why do people not understand that? Paying people to stay home when they’re sick results in fewer people getting sick.

I’ve seen this happen over and over again: people will suffer through an awful lot of pain before they’re ready to change something about their situation. It’s almost counterintuitive, but I guess people are after all creatures of habit and change is hard and why we so often only start to make changes when the pain gets great enough.

When love isn’t as simple as standing by your man. I thought this was so well-written. Life can be so hard, so complicated, and it’s nobody’s fault.

Take the pressure off and add these four words to the end of your email (if applicable).

Scientists have figured out the ultimate US road trip. Oh, I wanna go? Who wants to come?

Milwaukee shows what segregation does to American cities.

Kindness goes a long way.

In need of some desktop background zen?

The unexpectedly existential roots of adjective order – talk nerdy to me! I am a grammar nerd! “It pleases the ear to have adjectives placed like concentric circles, radiating out from the center of the noun.” “linguists unearth the structures underlying the way we speak. While it’s hard to articulate, there is logic there: Nouns and adjective are like friends — the ones who share the most in common can always be found close together.”

Because you asked..

September 14, 2016 filed under: about me, USA

Last week, I wrote about my “California-versary”. I arrived in the US on 9/9/2001 and some of you made the razor-sharp observation that I arrived in the US two days prior to the 9/11 attacks on NYC. I’ve been asked many times how I experienced this time. I never wrote about it, never wanted to write much about it, because it feels like year after year, enough people share their stories about where they were and what they were doing when the attacks happened and to be completely honest, I don’t really have a story.

However, people pointed out that maybe I do have a unique perspective having been a foreigner who had just arrived here. So, here’s my story, which isn’t really one.

I remember that it was around 6 a.m. here on the West Coast when the planes hit the twin towers. I was blissfully unaware and asleep at that time, still trying to get over my jetleg and adjust to the time difference and culture shock as I had just arrived 36 hours earlier.

Also: remember, this was the time before everyone had a laptop and/or cell phone glued to their hands at all hours of the day, so I had neither, and I had rented an apartment without TV or Wifi, so I didn’t find out what had happened until hours later. There was no house line either, so it’s not like my family could have called me or anything.

I remember that I got up, wandered around town in search of some ~~coffee~~ (who am I kidding, I was not a coffee drinker back then, although I was about to become one) breakfast and public computer access to check my email and check in with home. I didn’t have a student account yet and couldn’t go on campus to use the computer lab and I only had a telephone card to call home from the local pay phone at the corner of my block (which was expensive). So, I did not know that my parents were desperate to hear from me at this point.

I found a public computer at a local newsstand (I wonder – though doubt it – if they still offer public computer access these days?!) and when I saw an image of the burning towers on the news website that was pulled up first, my initial thought was “Oh man, are they making a new Hollywood movie?”. The news didn’t really compute until seconds later when I realized that this was no movie image. This was real.

I checked my emails (of course, my parents had tried to reach me trying to find out if I was ok – which, I was. After all, I was not in New York, not even on the East Coast, but on the other side of the country in a small college town. But hey, I guess the question was legitimate when your (though grown up) child is off on their first international adventure all by themselves.) I left the newsstand and looked for the nearest pay phone to call them….

… and then I don’t really remember what happened after that.

I wish I could say that I was glued to the TV (which I didn’t have) or the radio (which I didn’t have) or the computer (which I couldn’t occupy for more than 30 minutes) for the rest of the day, but I honestly don’t remember what I did afterwards. I probably went back to the apartment and waited for my other (exchange student) roommates to arrive. I vaguely remember talking with them about the horrific news, but it’s not like we were able to do anything about any of it.

I think I also was still too much in my own head, dealing with the culture shock and the new surroundings that were going to be my home for the next few months, to really understand or fully process what had just happened on a national level. All I knew was that I was 3000 miles away on the other coast and there was nothing for me to do other than feel relieved that I was safe, I guess.

Of course, I was horrified and shocked by the things that unfolded that day. I cannot imagine having been there personally when it happened (although I have seem numerous first-hand accounts replayed on TV over the years again and again). It still seems like something out of a movie, not real life.

I just remember one thought that I kept thinking over and over: “I am so glad that I am already here”. Some of the students from my university who were in the same exchange program and hadn’t left Germany yet and who were supposed to arrive the following week, never came. They cancelled their flights after the attacks and ditched the exchange semester and while I can understand that everybody was scared and rattled by 9/11, I was strangely thankful that I arrived before it happened and that it didn’t thwart my stay abroad.

Selfish and insensitive? Maybe. But again, I didn’t really know how to respond to it and since I wasn’t an American citizen at the time, I didn’t feel like it was a personal attack on me or my country (if that makes sense). I am not sure if you can relate to the “confusion” of being a foreigner in a country that is under attack.

I feel a bit bad that I don’t have a more profound account of that fateful day. I even sometimes get a little annoyed (I am sorry) how we keep talking about it year after year after year. Gazillions of terror attacks have happened since then in all parts of the world. I don’t think they’re recounted and relived as much as this one. Don’t get me wrong, I get the whole “never forget” movement and I agree, we should never ever forget what happened that day, but does it really have to take over the complete TV schedule for the day? Do we have to see the planes hit the towers over and over again? I am not sure if it does anyone any good.

Anyway, this is my 9/11 story, small and insignificant as it might be. I didn’t personally know anyone in NYC at the time, the sense of shock and grief I felt for people who lost their lives or whose lives were severely impacted seemed anonymous and somewhat abstract, but of course, it’s still a day that I will never forget and to be honest, flying has never really been quite the same for me.

Phew. This got a little longer than expected. Thanks for reading. What is your story?

Recipe | Broiled veggies and parsley rice

September 12, 2016 filed under: linkup, recipe

I don’t know about you, but I am a huge fan of big bowls of veggies over rice. I feel like I am putting something really healthy and nourishing into my body and it’s also delicious. This is why I have to share this easy, super-yummy recipe with you.

We’ve been making this a lot lately, because it’s easy to prepare and quick to cook (even on a busy weeknight). Dinner’s ready within 20 minutes.

[yumprint-recipe id=’4′] Adapted from Budget Bytes.

I am linking up with Rachel for Meatless Monday today.

15 years ago today

September 9, 2016 filed under: about me, nostalgia, USA

If you are new around here (and didn’t read the sidebar information carefully), you might have missed the fact that I am originally from Germany, but have lived in California for a long time now.

15 years (give or take a few months during visa renewals and such) to be exact.

Well, 15 years ago today I landed in California for the first time to spend 6 months as an exchange student at an American university and I had no idea that this decision would end up being the biggest life changing decision of my life. Because what was supposed to be a 6 month stint turned into years…and I’M STILL HERE.

I’ve written about my story how I ended up in the US before (you can read about it here) and I still have days where it’s utterly mind-boggling to me that I made that leap and that I am living my life abroad.

I was a very shy and timid kid and nobody – least of all me – would have thought that I would ever take off on an adventure like that. Nobody would have bat an eye, if my (fraternal) twin sister, who used to be – and still is – so much more extroverted and outgoing than me, had done that, but guess where she lives now? In our hometown, 15 minutes from my parents’ house. Go figure.

This is no judgmental statement or anything. I am just stating the facts and marvel at the surprise factor of life’s unexpected twists and turns. If I have learned one thing in my life, it’s that you can’t predict, foresee, or plan anything with certainty, period.

When I met J, he actually planned to move to Germany with me after college. He was taking German classes when I met him (independent from me) and I was thrilled that he was willing to move overseas with me (not everybody would be up for that!), but life had other plans for us and we ended up staying in the US. (It’s a long story.) I am not going to lie though, moving back to Germany has always been a possibility in the back of our minds (especially with Trump as a potential candidate for the presidency – haha. No seriously!), but for now, we’re not going anywhere.

The truth is: As much as I miss my family and friends back home (I won’t lie about that and there are days when it’s extra-extra-tough), I love living here. I love being able to spend a weekend in San Francisco or Lake Tahoe, because they’re both just a 2-hour drive away. I love the hot summers and moderate winters. I love my job. I love our house. I love our Californian life. All these years of living here do that to you.

15 years.

1,5 decades.

Wait. When did I get this old?

Labor Day Weekend Recap

September 7, 2016 filed under: holidays, weekend

Hi guys, how was your Labor Day weekend? Ours was pretty low-key (overall). We didn’t really go anywhere and didn’t attend any BBQs (is that a Labor Day thing? I saw a lot of advertisements for BBQ stuff before this weekend), but I since I get (most) Fridays off, I was lucky and got an extra-long four-day-weekend out of this holiday weekend. Sweet!

On Friday, we got all our errands out of the way. Grocery shopping, cleaning the house, and such. It’s nice to have it all ‘done’ before the weekend even officially starts. In the evening, we made sandwiches and watched a couple of (recorded) episodes of “Adam ruins everything”. Have you heard of the show? Adam Conover debunks myths and misconceptions that most people take for facts in an educational, but funny way. J and I really enjoy the show.

On Saturday morning, I did an interval training run and dedicated my 7.5 miles to the #girlsruntheworld project. I am sure you have heard about the three recent acts of violence against female runners, haven’t you? Girls Run The World is a project that is supposed to raise awareness and send a message to the unknown perpetrators of recent violence against women runners that WE WILL NOT BE STOPPED. Everywhere, throughout their day on their daily runs, runners were wearing YELLOW to draw attention to our numbers, to our strength, to our courage, as we hit the streets in celebration of running and to remember Nicolette Brueger, Katrina Vetrano, Vanessa Marcotte and all the other strong, women runners who have faced violence or harassment on the streets.

So, I ran in yellow on Saturday (in the one yellow shirt that I own) for all the women runners out there. I am horrified about what happened to these women while they were doing something that they loved. Although I know these kinds of attacks are rare, I also know why I mostly run around the local park (yes, laps if you will) or at the gym. I just don’t feel safe running along the river or on other more remote running paths by myself.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing laundry and finishing “Joyland” by Stephen King for the #Postal Bookclub. I am usually not a fan of Stephen King, because I always associate him with horror stories (which I am not a fan of), but I am so glad I gave this book a chance, because the story was so well-written and I loved the main character, Dev. A really good mystery story, if you are interested.

Saturday night, we got a large veggie pizza and sat outside on our deck for most of the evening.

On Sunday, I had my usual phone calls with my family in the morning and then J made coffee and we had some breakfast. After writing some emails and reading some blogs, I got a second cup of coffee and then started a new book.

In the afternoon, I also did some baking. I made new pumpkin-seed granola, some nut bars, and these seeded spelt-rye rolls. I’ve made them a few times already and they have looked prettier before, but they still tasted great. There is nothing better than some freshly baked bread (give me all the good carbs!).

Monday, I ventured out to Ikea. I was a bit afraid that Labor Day would be a bad day to go, but it turned out that most people must have done their Labor Day Ikea shopping earlier that weekend. It was like any other day at Ikea – crowded, but totally manageable.

I walked through the showroom for about 2 hours (I love it. I know other people get stressed out by it, but I love the Ikea showroom maze and I always take my time and let my mind wander and get inspired). I usually have a list (or five) going where I mark down things that I consider purchasing or take notes on what I might be able to DIY. Sometimes I take pictures of the room setups.

I ended up buying a Kallax 16-cube shelf for my craft room, the Ingolf bar stool for our kitchen counter, the Rundlig Serving bowl, the Luns Chalk/Magnet board that I had been eyeing for so long and the Ängstörel bedspread that just looked so lovely. I am under no illusion that I’ll be making our bed and using the bedspread every single day (although I wish I was that orderly), but whatever. I have a nice bedspread! We have visitors coming soon.

After the Ikea shopping, I went to the gym to get my endurance run in (6 miles on the treadmill + a side of baseball. Don’t you love working out while watching sports? Me too!).

On my way home, I stopped at our local running store, because a) they had a weekend-long sidewalk sale going on, b) I had a $15 reward credit that I had to spend and c) I just love perusing the running store. I ended up buying two new pairs of running socks and a tube of Nuun tablets in a new flavor that I haven’t tried (which flavor is your favorite?)