soundrop.

I have a new favourite app, actually it's the first app I've ever really used; Soundrop. I use it on my Spotify account and it's the best. There are different "rooms" with music genres, kind of like a radio station, but much better! I got so sick of the ever repeating songs on the Indie radio on Spotify. Not with Soundrop. So many cool new songs mixed in with old loved ones. They also have a web player version, for those without Spotify. And how sweet is the icon? ( See the musical note in the negative space of the drop?) Genuinly excited about this. You can check it out here.

a detox smoothie recipe.

When it comes to eating healthy and working out I can be terribly black and white. It is either balls-to-the-wall, full on health beast mode or indulging in whatever the heck I want. Anyone else had pizza for dinner three days in a row lately?

Something that helps me eat better are fun new purchases for the kitchen. I recently bought bee pollen and hemp seeds and ever since, these healthy little suckers go on almost everything I make: sprinkled on yogurt, pancakes and in smoothies. Last week I made a big smoothie batch for the week and thought I'd share my favourite recipe with you.

Blueberry-Mint Smoothie

serves 1-2

1 cup  blueberries, frozen or fresh

1/2  avocado

1/4 c  fresh orange juice (apple juice is lovely, too)

1/2 c  water

1 tsp  lemon juice

1/2 cup  mint leaves (don't leave out, they make this drink!)

1 cup  spinach (you won't taste it, promise)

1/2 tsp  bee pollen (optional)

1/2 tsp  hemp seeds (optional)

Add all ingredients in your blender and mix until smooth. (I use a hand blender and it works perfectly.)

It's so delicious; also sneaking in spinach before 9 am is pretty cool plus it makes me think of Popeye.

under a tree, again.

Since writing this post one year ago, a lot has happened. I finished my studies in business marketing and graphic design, finished my (hopefully last) awesome internship, lived in NYC, started freelancing, and moved to Amsterdam. More like, I am still moving in. And still getting my bearings. And still having to get papers, CV and website in order. But I also have been fortunate enough to work on some amazing freelance projects already. Makes settling in that much easier.
As for this place, I really missed posting more regular and will pop in more often from now on. First and foremost though, it'll remain my "no-fuss-no-pressure-no-stress"-corner on the internets.

Hoping you guys will hang around for this next chapter of my life. For future posts, I can already promise lots of pictures of cheese, cute Amsterdam cafés and massive complaining about the weather.
Oh and in case you have been looking for a good Google Reader alternative, I personally found feedly to be the best of the bunch.
See you soon guys!

the forgotten borough.

Last weekend we took a ferry to Staten Island, the forgotten borough of NYC. It was perfectly sunny and crisp, which made for a fun cruise on the water. Staten Island itself was special, in a weird way. I can't quite put my finger on it.

We stumbled upon grand old houses with so much charm and personality. However, they've seemed to have outlived their prime by a good twenty years. Empty streets, not a soul walking in the sun. Curious objects sitting in cluttered front yards. Curiouser objects to be seen through windows. I kept imagining the owners of these houses being all very special and full on characters, like Alice's Mad Hatter. 

We left the island a bit mystified and vowed to come back one day for further exploration. 

To completely de-romanticise you, check out that smog! Poor Manhattan people. Only the top of the Freedom Tower gets some fresh air. Oh, and I am pretty sure I witnessed a drug deal going on between two of the very few people we actually saw on Staten Island. This big city life, it is all so very scandalous.

on time and new york.

How has it been over a month again? Time in New York has a mind of its own, I swear, and it is very different from what I was used to. The days pass quickly and in a blur and before you know it's the weekend again and you're trying to cram in as much as possible. At least that's what it has been like for me. During the week I don't do much besides school and sleeping. I must be the most boring person Manhattan had the pleasure of hosting, ever! I wake up early, drink coffee that my sweet man has made, go to school, work and play with my friends there, walk home, debate going to bed right then at 6pm, decide against it in favour of something to eat, watch a show/ read/ play a board game, sleep by 10 pm, repeat. There was the odd school night outing to go for dinner or a reading, but they have been scarce. Don't get me wrong, I like my boring life here and would probably have a hard time keeping up with school otherwise, but sometimes I feel that I am not doing this city justice, that I am insulting it with my routine. Weekends on the other hand are wild, people! They are spend doing laundry, grocery shopping, exploring new neighbourhoods, thrifting, going to the park and walking til our feet hurt. Yesterday we enjoyed the snow in Central Park and froze our noses of. It was good fun. And I got to wear my yellow wellies to fight the slush. If that doesn't say exciting weekend, I don't know what does. On that note, I am off to Staten Island, which means boarding a ferry.
We are wild.

the first day.

I've survived the first (and 2nd and 3rd) day. Although that sounds way negative. It is amazing here! Sure, completely crazy busy, noisy and chock full of people, but amazing nonetheless. School is intense in ways that make my brain go numb around midday, but my super nice class mates share these woes. So we sit in silence and enjoy our lunches together.
Basically, all is well friends. I am happy and excited about these coming three months. Although they almost wouldn't have happened due to a little incident at customs upon arrival at the airport. Have you ever heard of a SOP? Yeah, me neither. Well, according to said SOP the almost-bald officer at the airport could have sent me back to Germany. To cut this nightmarish (and on my end teary and sweaty) story short - the officer was nice, I used the phrases "Yes, Sir" and "Thank you, Sir" more then one should, he didn't put me on a plane back home, we grabbed our things and entered the US of A. Glorious.

*PhonePic of my First-Day-First-Ever-1$-pizza slice in the neighbourhood. Also glorious.

new york city.

Today, we are leaving for New York. ( and I am probably sitting on the plane being jumpy and nervous right now, bruising M's arm. Sorry schat!)

Between the holidays, saying goodbye to friends and families and organizing last minute things, there was not really a moment to spare to feel the jitters. But as I sit here just hours before heading out the door, with too much luggage than good for any one person, there is a definite murmur in my tummy. And in my fingers, I can feel it there, too. 

Usually I am someone to pack an adventure by the horns, this city though, fills me with respect. However, it won't stop me from trying my best to enjoy the hell out of those three months, exploring, eating, seizing days and most importantly learning and creating. See you from New York, friends!

*pretty picture found here