Time {and my more or, right now, less greater management with it}

With so much going on recently (not just recent recent, but just recently in general) I have been spending a lot of time thinking about my priorities, wishes and goals.

When you're an open minded and interested person, you'll might have come across the problem that the day actually only has 24 hours, there are 'only' 7 days a week and also, ones strength knows its boundaries. And lately I have come across all those limits quite often. So what to do. 

Just to sum, it up (we'll pretend I'm doing that for you, and not to get my cuddled mind organised) this is what I've been working on/ doing lately:

1. Biggest and most important: I started university! And while a lot of people I know, seem to have quite an easy going life during courses, I somehow can't see the end of work I'm supposed to do right now. And we're only in the first couple of weeks. (But that might have something to do with what I chose to study).
2. Secondly, I've been "working" on a lot of bucket list points recently. Those take time, but also make me extremely happy. I'm currently tackling:

• Learn a martial art,
• learn Portuguese,
• try out yoga and
• perfect (well, rather develop) my cooking skills (though that only feels like a half point)

     3.  I also have a little blog update/project I'm working on (which is quite time consuming...hence it 

          only gets done in really small baby steps. But were slowly getting there).

     4.  And there are a few more, but also more private, smaller projects going on besides all this (Oh less

          private so eventually interesting for you: The 30 day plank challenge!!! This is the link and you can

          see my progress at the top left side. So proud! Do it people!!).

I'm also trying to focus a bit more on a healthier life style and another one of my 2013-goals is to improve me general level of fitness. Yay for making the most of your time. Which, actually brings me back to my current problem. Time. 

And here's what I want to do about it.

It's actually quite simple. Along with all the thinking, a lot of thinking-about-myself /redefining my values has happened recently, and I'm embarrassed to admit, but I could do so much better on my time management. While I know that breaks are necessary, I often find myself not really getting started with things but rather idly wandering along with thousands of unnecessary side distractions (hi facebook!). Also, I'm tending to stay up later and later lately (haha) while I know, that this time isn't really spend productively nor is it spent to actually relax (and it makes it so much harder to wake up in the morning). It's more that I spent the time telling myself what I still should do while I know, I'm not going to do it. Aka: Pure stress and remorse. Aka: wasted time!! (Can you relate? It's so horrible!!).

Sooooooo. (deep deep breath!).

I want to be more focused on what I do. I want to sit down and DO the task I set myself beforehand! Easy as that. Also, less distracting and wasted time spent on social media! And also: An even closer look on my diet! Because what you eat has such a great impact on your energy and general feeling!

And most important of all (well, for me right now anyway): Don't hover over sad/depressing thoughts. Allow them their time, but also be able to let them move on! Otherwise this whole thing ends up being a vicious cycle. 

And with that, thanks for reading all my cuddled thoughts ;) I'll make sure to report back!

(Btw who was wondering about the pictures: Those were taken on my last bike tour through the woods behind our dorm. I starting to really...like this place. Slowly, but we actually might get along!)

One month {life lessons}

It is exactly one month today that I moved out from home (out and away I should say. Because there is a huge difference between those two!) and the last month has been one of the probably most intense month in my life. I feel like I've never been so aware of so many things and that I have never learnt as much in such a short time.
And what actually made me start writing about this, is that  I noticed all those little "classes" that seem to pop up on my way and which are, if you think about them, obvious, but than again, they are so obvious that we forget about them most of the time.

Like, to cherish time!
And to really use time and live in the moment we're in right now. Because we won't be able to change what happened and we can't predict what lies in the future but we can have some saying in it with what we are doing right now.
And another, to respect other people.

Especially the last one gave me a lot to think about because it seemed like such a basic thing. We know we have to respect other people. But how much goes into that, I didn't really get before (and I still might only get a small part of it now). But understanding it better made it so much more important to me.
Because we feel.
And we can be hurt.
And often actions have far greater effects than we first really think or notice.
And we are responsible, with our actions, for others!

So we do have to respect the people surrounding us and that can be affected by what we do, say, show... 

What also came along is that you need to be aware of your actions in order to learn from mistakes!
That strength and stamina is good but that it often takes even more strength and courage to find your own limits and accept them!
And also, what a friend told me, that at the end of the day, it is important that we (you!) feel good. Not in a selfish kind of way or excuse to be selfish, but to find a balance to respect others without letting yourself down in the process. And again to have the courage that if something is continually causing you pain and damage, the you have to find your limit, on which it is better to say "No!" to something, even it might be hard.

I'm so thankful that I get the possibility to experience and learn all of this. And to get the opportunity to make mistakes so that I can learn from them and at the end, develop and grow.

My "Thank you"s for that and to everyone who helps me catch myself when I'm struggling ♥

Running thoughts

I would never describe myself as a runner. But I do certainly run from times to time. And what I like about it most is what running teaches me about life. Seriously. I guess if I would have to, I would describe myself as a problem runner. Each and every time my head gets too cramped up with things or my body feels like it has too much energy to cope with (which normally is quite correlated to too many thoughts) I go out and run until I can't do it anymore.
Firstly I'll be pondering about stuff while I run, than I'll be too occupied by actually keeping in running and forget about the stuff, but at the end all the tangled thoughts will be straitened out. The magic of running haha (ok I might be dramatic here).

What running also has taught me, that you can't go faster than you actually can. Even if you want to, and you might sprint for a short period, you'll have to take a longer break after that and you'll be just a bit more exhausted. At the end, your time and the distance you left behind will be the same as if you would just have kept on with your steady speed.
But...and that's the cool point. If you go slow and steady for a long time, you'll get faster eventually. So. Go by a pace that you can handle and don't overdo it.

So much to my deep thoughts on running. Haha. And here's my running round right now (with some stalking at the end ;P):

Traditional Vancouver weather

Stretching break in the middle

Stalking someone. Can you tell I'm not good at it?! :D

Here we go, a post I'm scared about

Earlier this year I made a list (no surprise here aehm) of things I wanted/want to do in 2013. We're already half way through the year (crazy! It feels like yesterday that it was new Year's eve!!) but I wanted to talk a bit about point No. 10. 'Be active/sporitve' and I might should have added: healthier! Uh booooring I know. Bare with me. It's going to be nothing but honest.

When it comes down to those things I'm average. I'm in no way super sportive but I'm also not 'unsportive'. I'm also not super healthy or unhealthy.
But...(ah! Here we go).
I've always been one of those extreme skinny persons (skinny as in unhealthy skinny) and 'sport' never really happened to make it into my schedule. I had two younger brothers and, once a week, ballet lessons for 13 years, that was sport enough!
Over the last couple of years, I became more aware of what might be good for my body and where I might needed to make a few adjustments...but I rather noticed than that I was actually going to change something about it.Well, the last year brought along quite a lot of new things, and with those new things also came 10 kg plus! That was huge. I did not really care (Uhm ok, I cared...I simply didn't seem able to stop it) while gaining those pounds but I was suddenly facing a totally different me in the mirror, as well as while looking at my wardrobe as well as how I felt. And I guess, it was the last point that actually made me stick to my list point No. 10.

I didn't loose all of those 10 kg I gained. I'm happy with most of them. However, I didn't like that there was no shape to those kilos.
So here is actually what worked for me:

1. Loosing all/a few of those kilos in a really short time (with things like no carbs) did not work for me at all. I'd just gain the again after I started eating normally. What I was looking for was more like a transition/change I'd feel comfortable with on a regularly basis. That means: Treats are absolutely allowed (I LOVE chocolate...and peanut butter...and ice cream...uhm yeah. No way I would give up on that!!)
2. Exercising! This does not mean hours spent in the gym! I'm not a gym person. I've never been to a gym that is (Except for boot camp classes but those were an exception...a good one!). Keep in mind I wanted to have something for my every-days-life. So it couldn't be too time consuming, definitely not expensive and just pretty easy. For one thing I made sure to get one major exercise each day. That would normally be one walk through the fields (either 4 or 5 km....sometimes I would make double rounds or expand), riding my bike either just everywhere I went or for one extra round in the evening (8-10 km), doing some muscle 'workouts'/exercises. I'd use some of the bootcamp things or do simple and common things (knee bends, push ups, squats etc. especially focusing on my upper arms, thighs and belly) and last but not least a simple but positive opinion about exercising, moving and sport in general. Sometimes I would go running. However, this doesn't happen too often. I run if I feel like it, I never push myself.
3. Busy days. That doesn't sound logical but it helps. a) from keeping your mind of little snacks you would get out of boredom b) because you keep on moving (and lifting little kids, moving chairs, standing for 5 hours straight...that does get exhausting after some time!).
4. Make sure you eat healthy and balanced! I'm not believing in any kind of diet/rule for eating. I simply make sure to eat to appropriate times, regularly and include as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Otherwise the normal things as in whole wheat, grains, nuts, enough protein, early dinners, not too many sweets etc. I'm still having 'bad' days where I'm going to eat the whole chocolate bar at one sitting...or the ice cream container that is. Or have a peanutbutterjellybanana toast instead of a salad and some...uhm..bread. It's just about keeping a 'healthy' balance!

With that being said I was just wondering why I ever wrote that post. Oh right. I had this thing last week.

I tried some water, where you'd soak half a cucumber, mint and lemon in water overnight and drink it the next day. This is/was supposed to make your skin look nicer, clean your system and help you to loose weight. I did this for...two days. And than I stopped because I was annoyed of the process. (Yeah I'm lazy). However the water did taste good! (I used less cucumber because that was just weird and also added ginger!!) and it did made me feel kind of 'cleaner' but, yeah...I'm lazy. What do you think? Does this stuff work for you?

I definitely want to try a cleanse some time soon (your body does feel toxic sometimes) but I haven't decided yet what kind and when...so it's probably going to have to wait a bit longer.

And with that I'm going to leave you with an salad overload...I'm definitely addicted lately...

Green salad, cucumber, tomatoes, corn, cheese and water melon

I didn't make that one...but it was worth a picture!

Green salad (three different kinds), cucumber, tomatoes, chicken, sun dried tomatoes, cottage cheese

Tomatoes, cottage cheese, basil, salt and pepper, sweet balsamic

That was one of the above...I probably just took this one to show: I'm a messy salad eater ;)

DIY: Remodel your phone case {Because there are simply NO phone cases for my phone whatsoever}

Some talking first. For the direct tutorial look out for the little star (*)
Here we go with more thoughts from my overfilled brain. Uhm...
Sometimes I'm stuck in front of my PC wondering what this whole blogging thing means to me. Sometimes, I feel like I should quit. Seriously, what's the point? I'm sort of talking to myself (don't even start trying to convince me otherwise. People mainly scroll through pictures. That's a common fact) and revising all my recipes and DIY's to myself...again. It's not that I already did them before. Duh! It's also quite weird if you tell people about it. They are rather really interested...which makes it weird again because they get to know you so much better (I mean I'm typing down what I'm thinking, right! And it's also stuff I wouldn't normally talk about. Figure) or, they rather put you into that weird-creative-people-and-she's-blogging-about-it drawer. Can you relate? (Uh I know I should stop. Why am I even blogging?)

On the other hand. Talking to yourself can be really helpful (I didn't just say that). Occasionally. I also get to refresh my English and improve my spelling mistakes (thank you auto correct!!).
But than, to be a 100% honest (and with that comes the possibility of sounding slightly creepy) sometimes it's just this pull to write. This pull to get all the words, wanting to burst free, down somewhere. And hey, I guess it's a good thing I did when my mum suddenly calls for recipes while she's at my grandpa (whom I have to call as I just remembered...ups) and I simply have to send her the link providing pictures, information and a reminder of a fun story she was probably involved...or wasn't, but she'll remember anyway.


*(here we go)
Having said that, here is a fun 'tutorial' I did the other day. It happened out of the need to do something with nail polish...while my nails were already painted. Jeez. I'm such a girl.

You'll need:

• A simple phone case
• nail polish (one or various colours)
• masking tape
• scissors

Just for the sake of colors. Be patient with me ;)

1. Apply the masking tape to your phone case. I did a triangle pattern. But writing about it, I just thought pretty much any pattern would look cool!
2. Cover the 'free' spaces with nail polish.
3. Let dry.
4. Remove the masking tape.

Thinking of it now also makes me think that layers would be cool. Like some abstract layer pattern in various colours (and glitter?!). So possibilities are endless!!! Go get some nail polish and have fun!!!!!

Let's see how long this is going to stay before I change something again...

Note: My nail polish started drying with this crackling kind of pattern. I guess that's because I applied my polish rather thick. I really liked it. If you don't: Go for thin and rather more layers. Also: I was unsure of it's longevity so I made the huge mistake to apply a 'sealer' (some spray) I normally use for sealing the paint of the furniture I repaint. I know. Just typing it down, I realise this was a stupid idea. It really was a stupid idea. It never really dried and was all sticky. Good thing: I got it off with a lot of soap and scrubbing and that way also found out: This whole nail polish makeover is so going to be doing whatever you put on it without showing a scratch in the paint. Yay for that. So: NO kind of sealing afterwards (though glossy translucent nail polish should probably be ok).

A café-like heaven rhubarb cake {and a little rant}

I'm in the midst of applying for universities right now (uhoh exciting!) and my full time job is about to start any time soon as well (I'm so happy to get an organised schedule back. This whole every-week-is-different does have some pros but is also really exhausting).
So with this, sounding all nice and organised here comes another rant (sorrysorrysorry....though maybe you're familiar with the problem?!). You might have noticed that my kit is/was/seems-to-be-forever sick. And it didn't turn out as one of those '10-days and everything is fine again '. Nope. There were complications. Operations. More complications. By now, she's feeling much better. Except for the part, that she feels so much better now, she notices, she doesn't like her current situation. And that's where my problem starts.
She wants to be on my lap/legs/belly/arms 24/7. Non. Stop.
If she doesn't get her way, she complains.
She constantly keeps trying to remover her suit aka: get to her stitches and remove them (not that we already did that. Twice. She keeps trying).
She is still rather....uhm...clumsy with her toilet. Which stands in my room. Enough of that.
The list goes on. And on. And on.

I am so sorry! I know this is 'just' a cat. But seriously?! Sometimes she feels like a tantrum throwing toddler right now (ok it's not that bad, but close).
Anyway. This is where I wish the part of me being a super woman with no ending strength, nerves and endurance would start. Sorry to disappoint you. Not happening here.
I tried everything. It didn't help. So this afternoon (uhm more like half an hour ago) the cat hat to move into my mums studio again. Without me.

Don't get me wrong. I love my cat. I just felt that at this point of our relationship, distance would be a good option for both of us.
End of the story. I'm defeated.

By the way. This whole thing makes me think of meditation...do you do that? My family is rather...actively interested in this kind of stuff so I get a lot of times that I should be starting doing it since I'm such an overactive and definitely-not-grounded person. Though every time I try it ends like this (sorry dad, the grounding part will have to wait for later...years...uhm):

 Ignore the weird subtitles...

Anyway. This post actually got written because I wanted to share another recipe with you. And this time my mum baked it. She normally never really gets around to it because either she doesn't feel like it or I already baked something. This time she was lucky (I was cat-occupied).

Simple but oh-so-delicious rhubarb cake

The original recipe is from here, though my mum tweaked a few things (I think I just got from where I got my tweaking-recipes part). This one includes the tweaks, for the original one, just follow the link above (though that one is German).

You'll need:

• 400gr rhubarb
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 100gr butter
• 180gr brown sugar
• 1 package vanilla sugar
• 1 egg
• 130ml egg liqueur
• 180gr whole grain flour + 100gr normal flour
• 2 Tablespoons baking powder

1. Preheat your oven to 170°C/338°F.
2. Cut your rhubarb into 1cm pieces and let them soak with your tablespoon sugar. (About 10 min. will work).
3. Beat until fluffy: Butter and sugar. 
4. Add egg and beat until fluffy again.
5. Add all the liquid ingredients and mix. After that, add all the dry ingredients.
6. Fill into your pan and add your rhubarb pieces on top.
7. Put it into the oven for 50 minutes or until a inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

Tip: Don't butter the sides of your pan! The butter makes the sides get hot faster. Therefore the cake will be done earlier. That means your sides won't rise as much as the middle part of the cake will. If you don't butter them, thinks will be pretty even ;)
We also found, that the egg liqueur taste wasn't really strong what might have been due to the fact that we used whole grain flour. However it kept it really moist. In the original recipe, they only use normal flour and people kept saying how wonderful the liqueur taste would add to the the whole cake experience. So you might want to try it out.

What I love(d) about that cake is, that it's so simple. You mix your stuff. And after it comes out of the oven it's done. No fancy-schmanzy things but old and simple basics. And still: It's soft, it's moist, it's fluffy, the balance between sweet and sour is perfect. It is one of those cakes that just simply stand for themselves and are awesome that way. Enjoy!
Oh and it's not like I wait for days to take my pictures (Since:only a quarter of the original cake is in the picture). That was within the 24 hours range after that cake made it out of the oven...ups ;)
And you can eat it right after it comes out of the oven! With a serving on vanilla ice cream. omgsogood,wehadtwoservings...uhm yes. I did anyway.
I'll be back on trying to get this meditation thing working. I'm at least sporting yoga clothes right now. I always feel more grounded just by wearing them (is that weird. I guess no). The meditation will just have to wait a bit longer ;)