some Friday facts

1) Sometimes I actually ENJOY driving these days 🚗 ✌
2) On my way to see a friend who lives in the sticks, I just had to stop and take some photos. The mountains, the clouds... it was all so pretty! 💖
3) I don't want to have a kitten. They bloody scratch 😸 😒 (the latter is the 'unamused face')

mirror, mirror on the wall

I don't have a mirror in my bathroom.
Well, I have one of these small cosmetic mirrors but not one on the wall.

Interestingly, almost (potentially every, I simply cannot recall) all men who have used my bathroom felt the need to comment on it.

Here's my theory:
Women are more careful to come across as criticizing the way I have decorated my flat.
Men all want to be the knight in shining armour who fix the problem for me.

Here's some news:
If I wanted a mirror on the wall, I would have made it happen.
I might not have a drill myself but I know people who do. But thanks for offering to improve my life (no sarcastic undertone here, I promise! Cause I do appreciate people offering their help).

The oracle

About eight or so months ago, I came across oracle cards. I had heard of tarot cards, but not oracle cards. In a FB live session Allison Crow pulled the card 'Surrender' for me.

As part of another FB challenge I am taking part in (honestly, there is some great stuff out there, which above all puts you in touch with beautiful people as well as yourself!), I had the following cards pulled for me:

Acceptance: I unconditionally accept, cherish and love myself just as I am.

Silence: I am serene no matter what is occurring around me.

The latter literally minutes before my mum called...

Nowadays I also have my own set of cards. And I love how they always have a valuable message for me.

The little things that make a difference

I love buying books. As a natural consequence, I was running out of bookshelf space and piles of books were spread around my bedroom. Last week, I finally managed to go to the local DIY store to get some wood cut for me to create a second layer of shelves in my IKEA Kallax shelf. I had done this before, when I had moved in here, but hadn't (no idea why...) bought enough for each compartment.

At the store, nobody was in the wood cutting section and despite ringing the bell twice, nobody appeared.I went back to the front of the store to check at the information desk whether anyone was there to help and was then promptly served.

On my way home, I was thinking how in the past, I would have - most likely - reacted quite differently. I would have been pissed off about nobody reacting, having to walk all the way to the front and then to the back again etc. And how that would have probably shown in my interaction with the shop assistant, who would in turn potentially not served me as friendly as they did.

And I would have blamed it all on them instead of recognizing the role I was playing in the scenario. Isn't it beautiful to recognize that so much of what you put out there, will come back to you? How we create the world around us?
It certainly made me very happy.
And my books are all shelved again. With some spare space for future book purchases.
Plus I paid €5.40 for four shelves. You can buy them online for about €17 each. Bargain!

roses are ... pink

After finishing the dress, I continued with this top, which I had cut out ages ago, too. It's version A from the Simplicity pattern 1613. This is already my third garment from this pattern but the first of this version.
Number 1
Number 2

My brain is not made to understand the way things are constructed and thus it took me a long time to get my head round the instructions of how to create this lovely knot at the front. It all (more or less - as with all my garments: do not look too closely!) worked out in the end and I got it done within a day.

What next?
I could finally complete the coat I started months ago. But I somehow feel a new project coming on instead.

I haven't given up eating

I guess, I haven't been sharing all too many food pics with you lately. Rest assured, I am not fasting!

Firstly, not actually a food pic but a couple of pics of the lovely flowery decoration at Dinzler café where I met with a friend for breakfast last week.

And secondly, my glorious Schnitzel in honour of getting the job I wanted. But let's face it: it's always Schnitzel-time!

Dinzler - and it's only empty cause everyone was sitting outside

Schnitzel at the Hedwig Grill

Summer time: show off your shoulders!

This dress took me quite some time to complete. It's the Simplicity pattern 2281, version C, without the midriff applique.

First mistake happened at the sleeves which I managed to sew on twisted.
Then the project came to a standstill when the zip had to be inserted. I prefer to do them by hand. Which turned out really crap. Not quite obvious from the photo below but it really was all wanky. So, I undid it all and redid it with the machine. Which was an improvement, but because of the pocket, it still looked shit. I thus, redid it again, this time removing the pocket. So now I only have one pocket on the other side. Which quite frankly is fine with me.
Lastly, the hem looked shit due to a mistake with the lining. So, I had to redo that again.

But finally, I have a dress! And I really like the shoulder details. And everything about it really. I think I might do another version of it in another fabric, this time without the pocket to start with which I hope will save me a lot of hassle!

*ouch*

I think I have shown my glorious bruises on here before. The other day, I woke up and found this bruise on my thigh:

Yes, it's literally the size of the palm of my hand... And the crazy thing is that the only way I can explain it, is my having scratched myself because I got a mosquito bite the day before.
Very pretty...

yoga love

I've been doing yoga for more than a decade now. On and off. A lot of the time off...
As with other things, I am much better and find it more enjoyable when doing it in a class rather than by myself at home.

I recently took part in a 7 day yoga challenge organized by the Yoga Goddess Collective (check them out on FB, if you are interested). And it has really revived my motivation. Starting my day with some yoga makes such a difference. I can feel a whole new level of calm and peace within. To me it is one of the exercises that help me practice mindfulness. Just like meditation does, too.

And last but not least, I discovered the photo filters on my phone and had some fun experimenting with those! 📷

2017 resolutions - May review

My 2017 resolutions
January review
February review
March review
April review

1) exercise: I bought a new bike! And have been taken it out a few times. Also extended my Pilates membership. Still room for more, but it's going in the right direction at the moment.

2) healthy eating: no comment... I feel I should take this off my list. It's not happening, is it?!

3) less moaning: let's say more awareness for when it is happening especially linked to being judgmental.

4) my coaching business: definitely moving forward on this! I am finding I have less time for my blog at the moment. So, do follow me on Instagram for more or less daily updates now.

5) less time on the internet/mindfulness: daily meditation reintroduced 😎

Menschen 2017 - May 2017

Reminder: Menschen 2017

Agnes, Christiane, Doris, Michael, Volker, Oskar - attendees of the NLP Course
Nik's mum, Katharine + son
Ms. M. and Mr. S. - met at the photoshoot with the mayor
Thomas - NLP testing
The team at Blickpunkt Rosenheim (x6)
Toni from my brother's gym
X - the wonderful massage therapist (I'm terrible with names - this does not reflect on her at all!)
Paul - from the English speakers group - my theatre companion



January 2017 - 17
February 2017 - 8
March 2017 - 17
April 2017 - 33
May 2017 - 21
New total: 96

more sadness

Terror attacks are in the news all the time. But when they happen in London as opposed to far away Kabul, they hit harder.
Hearing about what happened in London last weekend brings tears to my eyes. Borough market - an area I've been to many times.

I'm not naive. But despite London being a big city and of course there is crime in a big city, I always felt safe. I'm not sure how I'd feel now.
I of course also know that there is no 100% safety anywhere.

I am thinking of those affected. In whatever way.

a classic

The photos never come anywhere close to the beauty of the actual place.
I cannot quite explain the happiness that I experience when cycling (or walking) along this path near my house. Cycling with my new bike has become even more pleasant by the way!

The view of the alps at the horizon gets me every time.
Unfortunately, hayfever season has also started. While I was out for more than an hour, everything was fine. But when I got back home, my eyes were so itchy... Annoying, but as I've had much stronger reactions when I was younger, I am trying to focus on the improvement in the situation.

octagon balcony

Right in the city centre but I only noticed the awesome balcony the other day. Pretty, right?