Montag, 19. Dezember 2016

Invigorate your life - TRAVEL*


One thing I never want to lose is the desire I have for traveling. I want to see the world, explore the unknown, learn more about any and everything, grow as a person and collect moments and experiences. I'm really grateful for all the amazing places I have already been to and now I'm just really excited and can't wait for my next adventure which is going to be NEW ZEALAND! I always wanted to go there and I know that it's not the closest destination, in fact it's on the other side of our beautiful globe, but I somehow really felt drawn to New Zealand so in only a few more weeks a big dream of mine will come true. And remember: We will never regret the money we spend on traveling! So go out there, buy a plane or bus ticket or jump into your car to see what else is out there if you feel like that's what you want to do. Because life is too short to wait and to make excuses. 🌍✈️🌿

This was kind of the long introduction but just something I had in mind and something I wanted to share with you. I was actually going to talk about the beautiful piece of clothing you can see in the pictures below. Oh how I love grey shirts and quotes - so I guess the perfect combination for me. You can find the T-shirt and some more lovely items on Etsy (the shop is called MyknZLife). Maybe some of you still need a present for a travel lover or you treat yourself because why not?! It's Christmas time, am I right? :)

Have a lovely Christmas time everyone!



Sonntag, 4. Dezember 2016

November 2016 #gratitudejournal

Happy 2nd Advent everyone! Light up the second candle, grab a cup of tea and enjoy some moments I want to share with you of November. To sum it up it was actually a month full of catch ups with friends and family. I met up with some old school friends (some of them I haven't seen for over a year now I think) so it was lovely to see them again and to talk about the good old times. Then it was also my sister's 23rd birthday which called for a surprise visit hehe. So my dad and I drove up north to the baltic sea to surprise visit her, eat cake and to spend some time at the beach (oh how I love the ocean!!). Speaking of surprise visits, my sister actually surprise visited me too the weekend before her birthday so we had a nice chilled weekend together, went to the movies, an art gallery and of course ate some good food.
Another highlight was also the Bastille concert I went to. They are honestly one of my favorite bands and the show was just amazing - definitely one of my favorite evenings of this month... well actually this year! And since I was already in Berlin for the concert I was also able to spend some quality time with my best friend. Unfortunately time always flies by like crazy when we're together.
Also the opening of the Christmas market and that it feels so chrismassy now is something I love and really enjoy. 
I hope you all had a month filled with many many great moments and I'm sure December will be just as good.





Mittwoch, 30. November 2016

Vegan "Vanillekipferl" Recipe


You'll need:

250g flour (I used partly wheat and partly spelt flour)
2 small bags of vanilla sugar
1 pinch of salt
100g grounded almonds
200g margarine
75g sugar (I used partly normal and partly brown sugar)
powdered sugar

What you probably already noticed is that I most of the time go for pretty easy recipes and this one is no exception. So all you need to do now is to mix all ingredients together (make sure the margarine is room temperature and mainly soft) except for the powdered sugar and put them in the oven for 12-15 minutes at 175 degrees. Once they're done you want to make sure to give them a little bath in the powdered sugar when they're still warm. Enjoy :)

Freitag, 18. November 2016

Count Stars Not Sheep*





Good morning world! Today I woke up on this chilly sunny winter morning and before I had some chai tea or got ready I made my bed. I think once you wake up with a positive thought in your head and a smile on your face you are already making the decision that it's going to be a good day and with that I also like to start my day organized by making my bed (except it's super early and I need to rush to uni, then this step must wait and I would rather have some breakfast of course haha).
I like to have a nice little (or not so little) pillow wall because who doesn't like lots of pillows am I right? So my new addition are two pillow cases from a shop called Bubbles.lt. I love the simple design and writing which is 100% my taste.
It's the middle of November, in my town the Christmas market already opens next Tuesday (I can't wait!!) and I think this might be a perfect present for someone you want to give a little joy at Christmas. ❄️🎄🎁

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Sonntag, 13. November 2016

Our Trip to the ULURU




Some people are also calling this massive rock in the middle of Australia, which means in the middle of nowhere, Ayers Rock! When I was in Australia I knew that I had to go there because this place seemed so extraordinary and special to me that I had to see it with my own eyes. During the time when my sister was visiting me in Australia we booked a flight to the Ayers Rock Airport (which only had, believe it or not, 2 gates haha) and once we stepped out of the airplane we walked straight against a heat wall. Well lucky us we decided to go there in February, so the middle of summer.
But nevertheless it was a spectacular experience and it made me so happy to be there - a place which is so far away from home and a place that couldn't be more different to where I was coming from.
While we were there we stayed in a 20 dorm hostel room and due to the heat we could only enjoy this place very early in the morning and later in the evening/night time. But this also ensured that we saw beautiful sunrises and sunsets which were priceless! We did also do a free ranger tour along the Uluru where we found out some interesting facts about this "rock" and now I would just like to share some photos of the Uluru with you guys :)





Kata Tjuta - another rock combination close to the Uluru

The Uluru by sunrise

Freitag, 11. November 2016

Delicious Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe



























Another weekend - another recipe. Yay! During this time of the year it is just so much fun to put some music jam on (have you listened to Bastille's new album Wild World? It's amazing!!) and to get into some baking.

These cookies are a thousand times better than any bought ones and the perfect snack!

You will need:

1 Tbsp   ground flax seeds + 3 Tbsp water
1 1/4      cups flour
1 tsp      baking soda
1/2 tsp   salt
1/2 cup  margarine
1/2 cup  brown sugar
1/3 cup  white sugar
1 tsp      vanilla extract
non dairy chocolate chips

Step 1   Preheat oven to 350F/180C!
Step 2   Combine flax seeds and water in a little bowl
Step 3   Combine flour, baking soda and salt in an extra bowl
Step 4   Place margarine (you might want to melt it a tiny little bit in the microwave) in another bowl
             and add the sugars, mix for around 2 minutes
Step 5   Add the flax mixture and the vanilla to the margarine mix and combine
Step 6   Add the flour mixture and mix it but don't overmix, then add the chocolate chips
Step 7   Place little balls on a baking sheet and now you only have to wait for the cookies to bake for
             around 12-14 minutes in the oven :)




Sonntag, 6. November 2016

Traveling up the Australian East Coast - MUST STOPS!


I was planning to write about my favorite places along the Australian East Coast a while ago but it always seemed quite difficult to pick some favorites. But I had such a chilled and wonderful weekend with an old school friend who was actually also in Australia when I was there and talking about the time over there really made me feel like looking through some old photos and to just pick some in order to show and share them with you.
But I also have to say as breathtaking and beautiful as a place can be, for me it's the most memorable when it's shared with the right people and it is also so dependent on what you are connecting with this place as well as all the memories of this place.



・M E L B O U R N E  &  T H E  G R E A T  O C E A N  R O A D・

While being an Au Pair in the South of Australia I had quite a lot of time to explore Melbourne with the Queen Victoria Market, the beautiful parks, busy shopping streets, the Yarra River, China Town, Hosier Lane etc. It's a beautiful vibrant city with so many facets and I loved spending time in the city.

Of course I also had to see the famous Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostels. I loved the beaches and the whole landscapes. That was also where I saw Koalas in the nature and not a touristy zoo.






・S Y D N E Y ・

If someone hears Australia the city they will think of first is probably Sydney. It's really busy there but I loved the vibe and atmosphere the city provided. It was a magical and special moment to see the Opera House in real life and Bondi Beach was great to hang around and enjoy an ice cream as well. There is also a secret spot (which in the meantime probably isn't as secretly anymore) that is a playground where all the backpackers and travelers head to to take a photo on a swing with the skyline of Sydney in the background (it's called the Dover Heights Swing and you can take a memorable photo for free there).



・B Y R O N  B A Y ・

Unfortunately I don't have too many photos of my time in Byron Bay. But if I had to choose one favorite spot it would probably be Byron. I don't really know why but I just loved this cute little town next to the beach with its nature, markets, people, lighthouse and just the whole atmosphere in general. I felt so happy there!



・B R I S B A N E・

It wasn't really planned but I ended up quite a long time in Brisbane. The photo shows Southbank a lot more touristy and less natural than other spots but I still liked it because it was so different. In Brisbane you can also explore the city with a free ferry called CityHopper or as well as in the other cities I loved walking through the botanical garden.



・F R A S E R  I S L A N D・

Fraser Island is the largest sand island of the world and it was truly amazing there. We where there with a tour group and explored Fraser with a 4WD which was a little adventure itself. There are also planes landing at the beach right next to where you drive haha. Some other memories are that we saw the milky way at night, dingos, dolphins and the Lake McKenzie was so unique!



・T O W N  O F  1 7 7 0・

Driving up north you can't miss the Town of 1770. It's an insiders' tipp if you want to go surfing because it's so cheap (around $17) to take a surfing lesson there!



・T O W N S V I L L E・

I saved the best for last and that's not directly the town I want to talk about but the mountain right next to it. Townsville is a small town in Queensland and once you're there you can't miss this big mountain where you should definitely go up and enjoy the sunset. Truly magical and one of my favorite memories of my whole time in Australia!

Mittwoch, 2. November 2016

Papaya Fruit Bowl & Getting Enough Sleep



What's a perfect start to the day for you? - Today my day started off pretty close to what I would call perfect. I was able to have a sleep in and especially during the past months I figured that it's so important to get enough sleep. My body just feels so much better and refreshed. I actually love staying up late and it's so rare that I go to bed before midnight but recently I'm trying not to go to bed after 12. You're body, mind and soul will thank you for a good sleep!
When I woke up the sun peeked through my curtains and I went to the kitchen to have a big glass of water and to finally use the papaya I got from the market a few days ago because it already passed the very ripe point (oops) but it still tasted alright. The end product and fruit combination was delicious :)


Dienstag, 1. November 2016

October 2016 #gratitudejournal



Today is the 1st of November and I'm excited for a new month (and for christmas to get closer hehe). But I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to capture and talk about some special moments of last month and I think it would be kind of nice to continue doing this every month ahead of me because I'm sure it would be great to look back at it in a few years or even just in one year time.

So October was actually a new start in so many ways and especially because I started my university course which was really exciting. I met new people, attended my first lectures where I wasn't 100% sure what to expect and I did also spend more lunch hours in the crowded cafeteria again which I kind of missed haha I'm grateful for the decision I made to change uni courses and that I finally feel I enjoy what I'm doing. And apart from uni I also had lovely autumnal days walking through parks, going to the movies, dressing up for halloween, meeting new people through work, stumbling across new songs I fell in love with, going to the market, donating blood for the first time, seeing my babysitting girl turn 2 and having my morning coffee before bundling up to go outside.

What has been a special moment for you in October?

Sonntag, 30. Oktober 2016

Our Amsterdam Adventure 2016 I VIDEO


This summer my sister and I went to Amsterdam for a few days in order to explore the city with its channels, beautiful architecture and bicycles everywhere. I actually totally forgot about the fact that I filmed quite a lot of the trip so I was able to put together a whole video of our time in the Netherlands.
I hope you enjoy this very unprofessional but with memory filled video of our trip!

Have you ever been to Amsterdam? And what did you think of the city?

Lots of love,
Nina 🌍⛵️✨

Samstag, 29. Oktober 2016

Vegan Cake in a Cup Recipe




There was a time where my sister and I were obsessed with cakes in a cup. Just because you usually don't need a lot of ingredients and after putting it in the microwave for a few minutes you had a cake ready to eat. We loved it! And then I kind of forgot about it but this morning I had to think of it again and really wanted to make a cake in a cup again - a walk down memory lane in a sense!

Just mix together:

0.5         ripe and mashed banana
3 tbsp    coconut flour (normal flour would surely work as well)
0.25 tsp baking powder
2 tsp      coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
3 tbsp    milk (soy, almond, coconut,..)
and        chocolate drops to decorate

After mixing all ingredients together in your cup, you just have to put it in the microwave for about two minutes (I checked every 30 seconds how the texture is) and then your cake in a cup is ready to be eaten! Enjoy :)

Donnerstag, 27. Oktober 2016

BEING AN AU PAIR - One of the best experiences of my life




About two years ago I was on the other side of the world - collecting memories, living my life to the fullest and having a new exciting adventure ahead of me every day while being an au pair in Australia.

But before I could call myself an au pair of an adorable 6 years old girl who endlessly loved dinosaurs and a 2 years old boy who could give the best cuddles in the world, I had to go through all the organization stuff.
The decision that I wanted to organize everything myself and not go over there with an organization was quickly made since my sister already run through all this two years before me and in general every single person around me told me that I wouldn't necessarily need an organization. So first of all I jumped on a website called 'Au Pair World' where I created a profile and it didn't take too long until I had my first skype interviews (interview always sounds so serious... but it was actually just a relaxed conversation to get to know each other). The family I ended up with (and I couldn't have been more lucky!!!) send me a message on my birthday that they would like me to come over there to be their au pair. I couldn't have asked for a better 18th birthday present :) After that I only had to book my flight, get a visa, pack my stuff and I was ready to go ✈️ Kangaroos, Koalas, hot weather - here I come!


I spent July until December in a small town close to Melbourne with my lovely second family, in my second home and I had such a happy time full of experiences.
I didn't have to work too much (only 5 days every two weeks) so I also had plenty of time to discover Melbourne, meeting other au pairs, driving along the Great Ocean Road, attending a surf course, spending a day on Phillip Island and feeding kangaroos hahah. Beforehand I already planned that in December my friend Lisa from Germany would come over there so we could backpack together up the east coast and explore more of Australia. But being an au pair was such a great start to my whole stay abroad. I had a safe place to stay, could earn some money (which I used up pretty quick though, so I could go on trips etc, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way), make new friends but most of all I was learning so much. Not only about their culture but also about life especially from the kids who taught me a lot. They filled my heart with so much happiness and still are!


If you would like to know more about my work as an au pair or about the preparation part or anything else please just ask and I would be more than happy to share my experiences with you :)

Also.. sorry for the crappy quality of the photos but most of them were taken with my phone and I still wanted to share them with you because they hold a lot of meaning for me.





If anyone of you is thinking about being an au pair or not I can only recommend to go for it. It has so many benefits and you will definitely grow as a person (and actually see how stressful it can also be to take care of kids). But I can definitely say that it has been one of the best experiences of my life which I am so thankful for!





Montag, 24. Oktober 2016

Acai Bowl with Coconut Water



Today I started my day and also the new week off with an Acai Bowl. There are so many delicious looking pictures floating around on Tumblr or Instagram that made me really crave one this morning and maybe my bowl can't compete look wise with most other acai bowls but it was super tasty and that's what matters right? :)

For the base I blended together one normal and one frozen banana, just a few frozen berries, a teaspoon of acai powder and some coconut water (just add a bit in the beginning and if the mixture is too stiff you can always add a bit more).

Once you poured the mixture into the bowl you can add whatever you can find in your kitchen and whatever you feel like. I really liked the combination of kiwi, granola, nut and shredded coconut.

Sonntag, 16. Oktober 2016

Fall in love with as many places as possible*



Traveling is one of my absolute biggest passions. I love the excitement to plan a trip, book a ticket and to have an adventure ahead of me. And every continent, country and place I've been to had its own magic and inspired me in its very own way. There are places that touch me more than others but I think that's normal that we feel more connected to certain places than to others.

When my sister was an Au Pair in Canada I went there to visit her over New Years and even though this is now probably 4 years ago I still feel so connected to Canada and will definitely go back there to explore more one day! This state necklace is from a beautiful etsy shop called IvyByDesign. Maybe a great christmas present idea for a friend or family member that is also in love with traveling? :)

Hope you all are having a beautiful autumnal Sunday :)