Current Lust List

tgif: One weekend with no plans

touch of spring

Ha!I could have never quite thought before that I will love that, but I do look forward to a lovely weekend of having no plans at all. 

I mean, of course I plan to clean the house and get the grocery shopping done, take some phone calls, work out. But that is pretty much it. I am looking forward to read that book which is laying on my bedside table -utterly neglected throughout the last century. At least. I am looking forward to watch this serious of Downton Abbey, which I started but could not finish yet (although this was hard, but I need some sleep at nights) and make myself loads and loads of cups of tea. And buy myself flowers for my house (sadly no one else buys me any flowers, so I have to do that myself) and I am looking forward to catch up with some long nights of sleep.

Does not sound too teasing you think?

Well after weeks and weekends of being super busy I think there is nothing I would want more than tasting a bit of a lazy weekend. And if that should get too lazy, I can still go and pop to town to the famous Leineweber city festival. Well, I might not, since May does not quite feel like May over here and I am not so much in favour of running around in my winter boots in order to keep warm. Anyways, I might pop aroudn there for a minute, to just catch a small glance at the festival - since it is my first one!

The last weeks and weekends were not just busy, they were also fabulous: In the beginning of May my wonderful friend Hanna came over to Bielefeld for a very small housewarming party and some girly weekend: We went wining and dining in and around Bielefeld, went to the hairdressers, getting a manicure, chatted, had more wine, and good food, and lots of sunshine. And a good time. And a small pre-birthday celebration. 

On my actual birthday I had a lovely day in the office with everything a birthday girl could ask for: cards and flowers and glasses of champagne and lots of happy people around me! Hoorray!

All my lovely birthday cards -- Thank you so much my friends!

Josie and her friend Kuno having fun on the beach

A few days later we had a national holiday over here and my parents,sister and dog came for a proper family reunion. (Uhh, I looove that everyone comes around)And a proper birthday party with the family! Turning 31 one is not that exciting so that I though I will skip that whole big party thing for this year. I will make a housewarming party instead. My family stayed for 4 days and we had a brilliant time: Again, Lovely wining and dining, and city touring, castle watching and visiting, and long puppy walks in the Teutoburger forest.

Idyllic scenery behind the house

The weekend after I went home to see my family and my dog in Northern Germany over Pentecost. Another long weekend, I like (well, who doesn't?!) Josie was so happy to see me that she jumped into my car and would not let me get out for some time. 

We went to walk on the beach, had BBQ's, birthday celebrations, more walks, more nature, runs in the forest, more Josie, not so much sleep, but more food (duh). 

Josie looking for spring

Right. I was talking about not having plans. After these busy days that seems like a good plan to me...

What's your plans for the weekend?

Love,
Svenja 

Hello again

Hi. I know. I have been bad. So bad. Oh. And even worse. Because I kept on promising that I'll be back soon and stuff, and then did not stick to it. 

I know. 

And I am sorry.

Truly.

But life has been busy lately and I was out and about to get to know my new place as well as I could (you know, bars and restaurants and stuff ;-)) and spend a lot of time in the office, working. Sometimes til late. And I have to say that I enjoy it. I enjoy working long long hours. But when I finally come home, I try and squeeze in some workout and go sleeping. Sometimes i manage to skype with my friends, but that was pretty much it. Don't even get me started on my reading project, the classics club. I am still with Mr Joyce, and still not much further, and no, the degree of difficulty of Ulysses is not an excuse. I just did not read.

What I did though was watching Night train to Lisbon though. Anyone willing to discuss the movie, please drop me a line. 

I am also half through with "Why French Women don't get fat" and the Great Gatsby, although I am quite confident that I will manage that one before its movie release. 

I have settled into my new flat well, and embrace my new place of residence, Bielefeld, with all my heart. I do not know where I have felt that good before. Sure I love my home, the place where I grew up. But I have been living in numerous different places, I liked them all, but here it is different. The right mix of life stylish, country sidish, and how can I say, it is perfect. Oh, wait. No, maybe not. Because it seriously lacks some water. But that is ok, I have it enough when ever I decide to spend a weekend at home. So. There you have it. Almost perfect. Charmingly imperfect. 

Anyways. 

I love the bars here. You can eat dangerously well at place such as Bar Centrale. Uh. And for coffees. Mhhh, there is a whole side street full of cafe's, who offer fair trade made coffee products, all organic sandwiches and locally produced drinks and beverages. 

This weekend I am a lucky girl, since my best friend Hanna is coming over for a small visit. I can't wait. She will be the first one of my friends I can show around my flat and my new town. And besides that there is plenty of stuff to catch up on. And lots of wine to be drunk. And lots of music to be danced along and lots of coffees to be had - after the wine (you know, after the wine comes the coffee). 

Also the next week will be a wonderful one, probably the best one ever: First - it'll be my birthday. Second, my family comes over for a visit. Third. They will bring JOSIE!!! I miss my little fur baby, you don't wanna know. The best thing: She will stay through the entire week until I will go home over the Pentecost weekend to visit the folks there, to visit my grandparents and everybody who wants to see me. 

While I write my little blog, I seriously feel how much I missed it. I really seriously, truly, try to get back to here and get back into the blogging rhythm asap. I mean it is not even that I have a writer's block or anything. There is plenty of stuff to blog about. Fashion. I want yellow trousers and a colour block dress. Yes. What are you lusting after? Or I could pass on the fabulous recipe of the pasta I had tonight. Mmmh -- delicious. Or - uh, that'll be a good one. A local painter and his works. I don;t know I really could go on for ages. 

But I will leave you for now and say happy spring - happy weekend. We all deserved it ;-) 

Cheers, 

Svenja 

xx

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone happy Easter days 

and lots of sunshine!

I promise to be back into more regular blogging soon

with some more interior design and my new home, on the city of Bielefeld and some fashion related posts.

For now I will pop outside in the snow & sunshine and look out for the first crocus and daffodils as proof that spring is only just around the corner

and enjoy quality time with the family 

before I'll have to head off back to Bielefeld tomorrow.

Love,

Svenja 

xx

New home

When moving to a new place there is -- among all other aspects -- one part which is truly the most delightful of all: Taking care of interiour design. Colours, arrangement of furniture, accessories is so much fun, really. 

My all time favorite colors if it comes to interior design are white (for all major items), and light pink and grey. 

I decided upon white furniture in the living room. When I moved in I found one wall painted in a fairly dark blue. I still have to think about whether I leave it or paint it white, which I usually prefer...

Since I really like the design and of course their attractive prices I decided to decorate my flat almost entirely from IKEA items. They are somewhat timeless, simple and yet beautiful, I find. Bonus: They are not overly expensive, and if I happen to stumble upon something unique and quite must have in the future I can just exchange it - without feeling guilty.

Here is a small sneak peak into my new home: 

What do you think?

For now I will go out for a small run to enjoy the --- wait for it --- SUN!! 

;-) 

Happy Sunday!

Love,

Svenja

A Touch of Spring and Summer

I am still not quite back into my normal posting rhythm and still stuck in post-move activities, such as interior-designing, finding my way around, walking extra ways to everything because I do not know any of the short cuts yet and simply try to settle. Quite time consuming, if you ask me. 

While I had been hoping for some serious spring coming around the corner all of Germany seems to be covered in white again. Really. I do love snow. In the winter. In December. It is there to make Christmas & holiday season looking even more romantic than ever and to make us have fun building snow men and snow angels... 

The calendar says it is spring already, so come on. 

Unfortunately I think we cannot help the weather we can only help ourselves to feel a little more spring-like.

That is why I am so happy to have a little touch of spring in my new home: A small crocus flower I got as a present from my friend.

Yesterday it started to blossom and it really makes my day on a day like this...

To continue having spring mood it helps to read my favorite blogs, for example the Londonder (go check it out, if you didn't already) for some paradise - beach- photos, I promise you will feel much more summerly in a few moments. Turn on some Jack Johnson tunes or listen to the Buena Vista Social Club for lighting up our winter blues ears. I promise, it helps ;-)

On days like these, I also really like to eat healthy and colorful food. For example this Asian Vegetable dream. Made of chopped vegetables, coconut cream and rice or couscous. Add whatever you fancy: Shrimps, chicken tofu - ready! Yum yum. Super easy. 
Even I can do it. It takes just the time of chopping the vegetables, the rice is cooking while doing everything else, and altogether it can be served in 25 minutes time. 

And the mood goes up, I swear!

Why only talking about a small touch of spring? Ha, let's talk summer:

I cannot wait to wear my small cherry summer dress I bought back in January. Therefore I am very eager to get some warmer temperatures soon, please!

I only would need some shoes to go with it. 

Any suggestions ?

I thought about some white heeled espadrilles / wedges or some red ballerinas, what do you think?

My white summer hat would perhaps also go.

Hmmmm. 
Though, I am afraid I have to practice patience (not my strongest point) and wait!

In the meantime I will spend some more time reading my new book - which is not a classic this time (I am a member of the classics club. And I am sorry James Joyce, yours has to be put on hold for a moment) but a book narrated be a French lady who used to work as a CEO for Veuve Cliquot Champagne and who pssst..! lets us into the secrets of French women's eating and lifestyle habits ;-)
YAY!!!

I am around 50 pages through so far, and it is well and wittingly written and I can say that I enjoy it! 
It is quite a quick-read, and I shall write a summery and recommendation here after I finished it.

When I was cleaning my new home this morning, not expecting anything but maybe my small amazon delivery, the postman rang -- and brought me this: 
A large care package from my auntie to congratulate me to my move and cared for the first few items which will inevitably be needed.  
What a huge surprise! 
The next few minutes I spend happily unwrapping lots of presents, clapping hands from happiness and gratefulness:
Candles, a table cloth, some groceries, a book (another one than above mentioned), spices and a bowl of the famous mymuesli muesli, which I know already for ages, but never really tried myself....
 It is a company based from students in my student town, and their idea was that everybody should be able to pick'n'mix their own muesli since those pre-packaged and -selected ones mostly contain components not that much needed. 

If you are interested check out their website (no, it is not a sponsored link, I just like them and their products) and get yourself a portion of this super healthy and individual stuff - and on top of it -- it is all organic!! 

Here is mine:

A bowl of finely selected grains, mango, banana, raspberry.

Filled up with soy milk, and it was utterly delicious. 

And when I look out of my window, I see the tree and little birds nest covered in snow...

... and dream of spring and summer!

What do you do to get over the winter blues?

Have a wonderful day!

Love, 

Svenja

xx

New in Town

This past weekend I have moved and can call Bielefeld my new home. 

This is it.

After hours of driving, hours of furniture shopping at IKEA 

hours of building everything up and hours of cleaning and ha, basically - moving in, I am finally settled. 

What a joy!

In my imagination I had moved to a place a lil' hotter than this(you know like Berlin, Munich or even Cologne and Hamburg would do), a place where I might know some people already or a place not that far away from my home town. 

However,

 sometimes life has quite different plans with one.. 

None of the expected. 

Even though none of the above mentioned criteria is matched. 

I must say

--utter honestly--

I like it here. 

I love living so close to the city center. Bielefeld old town (where all the bars are too, you know)is within walking distance.

Nature is not far, in fact just about 500 m up my road, and I am in the Teutoburg forest. 

Being a bit scared of what is coming ahead, wondering whether I will find new friendships, 

and find my way around

I am looking out for my new adventures and enjoy being 

New in Town.

Love,

Svenja

xx