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 ;)

Weekend things the 2nd

Ok I started that post about a hundred times by now. Maybe it's not the time yet, to say what I actually wanted to say. Ugh. Writing full stop. Anyway, it's been my second day of work as in 'real' work (I am paying my taxes now, my own health care and I officially started to pay for my pension. It does feel major haha). And I simply feel pretty...exhausted. But I guess that's more because of our temperatures here. Spending a full day of quality time with little kids in 30°C and plus does get exhausting (and my three rather not planned and preferred sand showers plus two 'green snow' (gras) storms didn't bring any improvements either).

So with that being said, here we go with my weekend part II (from here on, phone pictures)

We started our weekend with three large packages of super fresh strawberries. I just have to smell them it I'm already dying. Love strawberries! (there are, obviously, all gone by now)

After our sunburns had one day rest, we went out for some shopping. Shopping and coffee that is (sleep doesn't get as much attention as it might should...on weekends anyway).

Cute cafés with plush chairs

And lampions...

And the cutest thing I ever saw. Post stamps in tiny frames...I wish I had included something to show you how small they actually were!

Sunday was quality family time. A really late, but really beautiful breakfast with two of my three men.

Muesli for me. Cake for them. Smile!

This week is my official personal start of countdowns. So excited, scared, happy and giddy for whatever is coming (and I really don't have the slightest idea at all). I'll be down in our kitchen now, prepping some last things which will hopefully make it into this week...not that there are still other posts waiting for their turn. Have fun in the heat!

Half a day off {How I got my first serious sunburn ever...well my first sunburn at all that is}

Blogging doesn't happen as regularly as I wish it would right now, oh well.
Before we start into our new (and busy) week, I wanted to go back to this weekend. It felt so good in so many ways, soaking up some major friends- and family time and just enjoying...well life, I guess. I just feel like I'm one happy and blessed person having all those people around me!

So for Friday, a friend and I headed to 'our' small lake in the morning to soak up some sun. My work was scheduled especially late for that day, so it worked out perfectly. Except for the wind...and the clouds...which made us believe that the sun could not possibly be that bad. And that's the story of my first and worst sunburn ever. Riding my bike to and from the lake, playing beach volleyball and swimming...work wasn't as much fun as usual, when everyone keeps asking why you're so red. Aw. Well, I've learned my lesson.
Photo overload ahead!

We tried a smaller hidden way first...that did not work out. So we turned around. Hey there.

But I guess it was worth it!

Thanks to the fact that school is still on (so everyone's there, instead of...well...here) we had the beach all to ourselves.

Clouds and sun...not so good for your skin as it turned out. But don't you like my nail design? ;)

I have to admit, I do like to goof around...from time to time. Poor people.

Though I wasn't the only one...

Someone thinks one picture is enough...I don't think so.

It was nice to just lay back and talk. And laugh. And talk more.

I also got new glasses this weekend...not those, but I just remembered.

And back through a dense and green forest

And thanks to my slow shutter...I was not looking at the picture again but making sure I was still straight on my way...and not heading into that forest green. It's still a fun reminder.

I wish you all a wonderful start into the week!

Just really short in between

I just wanted to pop by and say: I guess, this is why I'm really blogging. Thank you so so so much nina :) Und ganz viel Glück und Motivation und Durchhaltevermögen für deine Magisterarbeit!!!

Summer smoothie with garden cress {How my perfect smoothie pictured never happened}

I sometimes think, it's crazy how easy it is to make a story out of something (ups I wanted to say: nothing) A story out of nothing. Anyway). This is the story with the not so promising title 'How my perfect smoothie pictured never happened' but it's probably just, well, who I am.

So, the other day I was feeling like a smoothie (Ok, I probably always do, but that's not the point here). And I conveniently still had a bag of frozen fruits left from the other day where I had intended to make a smoothie but somehow never had gotten around to actually do it.
Having said that, I went into our kitchen, grabbed my bag of fruits from the freezer and let them fall into the mixer. They looked quite good in there. All this red and orange mixed with the much fuller and somehow richer orange from the mango. I added a few leaves of mint and a few other things and was suddenly amazed by how much I actually liked the colour picture of what just had happened inside my mixer (we hadn't pressed the 'mix' button yet!). It was asking for a picture.
I got my camera.
I positioned my piece of art.
And...don't ever ask me how!...this happened:

Yeah. So much about my great smoothie-in-a-mixture-picture (rhyme-schmyn).

Well. I cleaned up the mess (sort of. Cough), assembled the things back together and pretended nothing ever happened in the first place.
Just shortly after that, I also learned why it's not a good idea to just throw all your fruits into a bag and freeze them. Because they freeze as a huge lump. Mixers don't like that.

While penetrating my lump of frozen fruits with a kitchen knife (it would have been so me to destroy the knife during the process as well. That, however, luckily did not happen) I pondered about how one of my older host brothers had just mentioned the other day, how he missed me in the family. 'Life was so much more fun with you. Like on TV'. Uhm...that gives you things to think about. (There was a funny comment I wanted to make about this comment but I forgot. I guess, he's laughing by now if he's reading it. Hey there!!)

With that story, I'll leave you with the recipe for a, still pretty awesome, smoothie. Have fun!
(Oh...I also thought about adding a banana, though in the whole process I forgot about it. Yeah, I know. Anyway, it was good without it but next time I'll add half a frozen or unfrozen banana as well).

You'll need (1 serving):

• one small frozen bag of fruits (appr. 1 1/2 - 2 cups) Mine had: watermelon, mango, pineapple
• two ice cubes
• three large mint leaves
• 1 big Tablespoon of greek yogurt (non fat)
• 1 Tablespoon garden cress (Gartenkresse)
• water and orange juice according to your preferred consistency

Put everything of the above into a blender. Try not to drop the blender and spill out its contents. Blend!

Enjoy ;)

Some Tuesday randomness

I had another post in mind for today but than it just turned out to be one of those days (one of those good days, I might have to add) that I didn't feel like writing about what I actually wanted to write about. Ok. I guess I made myself clear. It's one of those days.

Right now it feels like time is speeding by and, at the same time, being as slow as some really thick and sluggish uhm...honey! One one side, I cant. (as in c.a.n.t!!) wait for it to be August!! Than again, I'm hell a lot scared for it to turn July (which is quite inevitable if I want it to be August at some point), than again I really want to find out about my universities!! (I sent out all the applications now) but than again I don't want it to come to that point because that means my favourite-August-time is going to come to an end soon and...do I want to find about about my university results? That's open for discussion I guess. Quite a mess, right?!
Good thing tough, that apart of all the messes, I went out with my dad this morning for some quality father-daughter time. We drank a tea (me) and a coffee (him) at our favourite spot, we walked our favourite streets up and down discussing the people who passed or just life in general, went to the museum to talk a bit more...this time though about art...and life in general again and had an easy but amazing lunch at the museums café/restaurant/bar/something.
It's a great place to have your lunch by the way! It was build in between to buildings, just by 'wrapping/closing' everything 'open' with a glass wall. It's huge and light and open. Simply beautiful! Talk about having a good lunch! (Only drawback, my phone was in my bag, which was all the way back in the museums locker. So no actuall pictures).

The rest of the day was calm but productive. And now I'm going to write some other applications, get some more forms done (they seem to be endless these days) and keep on worrying about things I can't change anyway. Good luck with that...to myself ;)

Also, that's what I'm drinking right now. Quite picturesque isn't it?! ;P In case you're wondering what it actually is, more about that tomorrow...or Thursday, we'll see.

And that are some of the leftovers of my lunch. This picture is so what not. displaying. how. good it was!!! So you'll simply have to believe me ;)

And with that, I'll leave you and I'm wishing everyone a nice Tuesday!

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).