Tuesday 31 December 2013

Goodbye 2013

I haven't been writing anything lately - I guess no matter how much you love doing something, sometimes you just need a little break. To balance this out, I've remembered how much I like arts and crafts (a lot) and how pretty the paper in my favourite art supplies store in my hometown is (very pretty). So I've started this silly little project and even made a tumblr for it, which you can access here should you want to do so. Meet the Pick-Up Theorist. I've made up plenty philosophical pick-up lines, so there's certainly more content coming. Don't you worry.



I'm usually big on reviewing the past year, but for some reason, I don't really feel like doing this for 2013. It was a pretty good year with lots of highs and lows though, and I liked it because I got to do some serious character development, made my CV look pretty lush and also learn quite a bit about people and life in general. So bring it on, 2014. 

Monday 16 December 2013

Instant Crush Winter Fabrics

I finally finished all my essays and the exam. During this last month I've written approximately 21,000 words altogether, essays and job combined. While this is certainly a pretty good number, I'm fairly relieved to not HAVE to write much for the next month. I certainly hope that I will be writing lots and lots though. And reading. And thinking. And planning. I've had the nicest semester with amazing people, and I can't wait to be back in Edinburgh in 2014, but for now I'm happy to be back in Germany for a bit. 


My family moved house, and it's strange to not have my old room anymore, or any room which is properly mine for that matter. But it's a good feeling too. After all, I have become some kind of very familiar visitor here, and while my teenage years have obviously made me who I am today, I'm all about the future really. And Edinburgh is an excellent place to launch the future from. But this is a good place to come back to.
Anyway, these are my favourite winter fabrics - red velvet and glittery embroidery are the best ways to celebrate the cosiest month of the year.



Wednesday 4 December 2013

Who said it, Noam Chomsky or Kanye West?



"My child-like creativity, purity and honesty is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts/Reality is catching up with me, taking my inner child I'm fighting for custody." 

"I'm speaking of the kind of creativity that any child demonstrates when he's able to come to grips with a new situation: to describe it properly, react to it properly, tell one something about it, think about it in a new fashion for him and so on."

Obviously, Michel Foucault disagrees either way.


Sunday 1 December 2013

Please don't go, I'll eat you whole I love you so


My life right now revolves around academia and food - more specifically: post-it notes, library fines, word count angst, packed lunches, dinner breaks, theory testing and late night gym trips. I've got one week left to write two 4000 word essays, which I don't mind too much since there are worse things than spending all day every day writing and thinking. The thought of so many ideally very meaningful sentences is still a bit unsettling though. 


Packed lunches are pretty good, but they do involve a bit of planning and I need to get better at that to avoid impulsive panini and cookie buys. This is a whole wheat pasta salad with a mayonnaise-mustard-olive-oil-dressing, roasted pepper, potatoes and kale. 


I just made these this morning, and they were amazing. I'm trying to become a more effective snacker, and these cookies only have two ingredients - eggs and bananas, plus any additional fun ingredients really. I added coconut and chopped almonds because that's all I had available, but I need to get some dates (haha) and cranberries or blueberries for next time. You can find the recipe here. I might or might not have finished all of them already. 

Saturday 23 November 2013

Feeling 22

I've had a great week - my mum visited, I had a wonderful birthday dinner and lots of sunshine. Now it's time to make friends with the library again. I really need to make a start on my long essays as well as plan my final project and do lots of writing to earn a bit of money.


Today was absolutely gorgeous. This is the view from Waverley bridge right after I took my mum to the Airlink. Edinburgh morning light is beautiful.


I'm materially a very happy girl right now since I got the loveliest birthday presents including lots of cosy jumpers, workout clothes, amazing smelling skincare products and a pretty neat lunchbox. But since there's obviously always more to buy - these are some of the things that I've had my eye on for a while now and might invest in in the near future. Fairtrade Honey shampoo and Rose Jam shower gel from Lush (there's nothing that smells better than a shower with Lush), a Herschel Retreat backpack in rust, Field Notes (for, well, field notes), and these great boots from Shellys London which I first spotted (and fell in love with) here. I guess we'll see how long it will take until I'll give in - my bank balance sure hopes it won't be too soon.

Sunday 10 November 2013

Sundays


I figured it was time to get a grown up bag (all bags I own are either small vintage handbags, big college style leather bags or backpacks) and I found this in a charity shop. It's got a shoulder strap, enough space for books and bananas and it is fairly pretty too. I think I quite like it. 


Carrot cake oatmeal - microwave shredded carrots with honey and cinnamon (lots of it) for a few minutes, then add oats, water and possibly more cinnamon and microwave until nicely cooked and very delicious. Add nuts and all the fun stuff from your cupboard. 


Spending 60 pounds on these Topshop chelsea boots was definitely worth it. I love them dearly and wear them almost every single day. 


Good morning sunshine.

Saturday 9 November 2013

Almonds are the new black

They really do go with everything. Plus, almonds are said to decrease your risk of heart disease, lower the rise in blood sugar and insulin after you eat and help your brain work - basically the perfect excuse to mix them into every single meal.



Hello Glasgow

Glasgow Necropolis ist ein ziemlich großer, atmosphärischer, viktorianischer Friedhofsügel - und ohne Zweifel die perfekte Kulisse für eine Horrorfilmverfolgungsjagd inklusive Verstecken hinter Grabsteinen. Oder auch: ein bisschen so wie Venedigs Friedhofsinsel, aber in grau und gruselig und von Regenwasser umgeben.





Sunday 3 November 2013

November plans



• Start keeping a proper notebook.
• Read at least one book a week. Course readings don't count.
• Also, read one book in Romanian.
• Try to go to yoga class twice a week.
• Play tennis once a week (even if it's freezing). And do (silly) cardio.
• Plan meals in advance, and learn to cook something new every week. 
• Be responsible about money (+ less of an impulsive buyer).
• Take my small camera with me wherever I go (and try to take at least one photo a day).
• Mehr auf deutsch schreiben. Das kann doch wirklich nicht so schwierig sein.
• Be good about my essays and deadlines and course work. 

All of this is inevitably connected to my last bullet point:

• Turn 22.

I try not to think too much about everything I haven't seen or experienced yet, and try to focus on making the most out of life as it comes instead. After all, we're pretty lucky to be alive.

Thursday 31 October 2013

How very.

Time for a break from too many cold and early mornings with tea and chocolate oatmeal to warm myself up from the inside. Thinking about it, that's probably not going to change any time soon - but at least I'll have time to read non-uni-related books in bed and write lists that do not include all the readings I haven't done yet. 



This is one of my three numerous favourite breakfasts - oats, water, cinnamon, cocoa powder and bananas make for a very comforting start to the day. 


I love my room. I feel like the green and mint helps me stay calm and collected - or maybe it just helps me channel my inner Slytherin. That would be fine too. I've still got my navy Ravenclaw sheets.


Still in love with our kitchen - especially if it looks like this in the morning.





I'm a bit difficult when it comes to paper. I rarely find a notebook to satisfy my silly high standards - I really like the ink to get properly absorbed by the paper, yet is should obviously not simultaneously ruin the next three pages. This one - ordered from Muji - is pretty much everything I've ever wanted. It makes me want to actually scribble down my thoughts and brainstorm on paper instead of my laptop screen.



I'll dress up as Winona Ryder in Heathers now and enjoy not having to worry about uni work for a little while. How very.




Sunday 27 October 2013

Sunday Times

I'm very much and unfortunately quite literally wrapped up in book. There is little free space in my bed and I can't say that I enjoy Rawls' and Nozick's company very much; they're doing a lousy job of warming me up. But at least that's an excuse to have breakfast in bed while desperately trying to cut out words. Will I ever not have to get rid of about half an essay in order to stick to the world limit? Who knows. 

I can't wait for Thursday and some free time. I've been good at being organised and quite grown-up lately, but I do need a free weekend to take my life planning to the next stage. Which I am disproportionately excited about. But then again, anything that involves pretty stationery is reason enough for excitement.
I guess. 



Breakfast is probably my favourite meal of the day, and I do like to celebrate it accordingly. These are an apple and scrambled eggs with bacon, bell peper, smoked salmon and champignons.


Probably my favourite pair of earrings. I might have to visit the & Other Stories online shop soon - nothing wrong with buying yourself a nice pre-birthday present to celebrate the last weeks of being 21. 


The view from my desk. I guess I should maybe start using it, but my navy sheets and extra warm duvet provide me with the extra level of comfort that I desperately need during essay times.


Thursday 24 October 2013

So nett unsere letzte Wohnung auch war - diese hier ist mindestens zehnmal besser. Mein Zimmer ist schön groß, unsere Küche ist gemütlich, die Dusche ein Traum und ich bin nur etwa drei Minuten Fußweg von 39p Avocados entfernt.






Tuesday 22 October 2013

Es wird Zeit, meine Kamera(s) wieder zum Einsatz kommen zu lassen, aber das wird leider noch bis ganz genau November warten müssen - drei Essayabgabefristen sorgen dafür, dass ich bis dahin meine Tage und Stunden entweder mit Schokolade und Buch in der Bibliothek, mit Notizblock, Laptop und Stift im Bett, mit einer Tasse Tee in der Küche oder mit ausreichend Motivation im Fitnessstudio verbringe. Zum Glück passt sich das Wetter an.






Saturday 19 October 2013

My slumbering heart


Es ist wieder da - das Gefühl, dass alles richtig ist so wie es ist. Es ist ein merkwürdiges Gefühl, irgendwo zwischen Zufriedenheit und Euphorie einzuordnen. Nicht ganz Glücklichsein, eher ganz viel Glück haben. Aber Glücklichsein ist schließlich ein Projekt auf Dauer. Und das klingt blöd, aber es ist auch eine Entscheidung für jeden einzelnen Tag.

Ich habe gemerkt, dass ich inzwischen ganz schön viel aushalte. Und jedes Mal dazulerne. Und sammle, sammle, sammle - Inspiration und Motivation und ganz viel Willenskraft, ab und zu eben versteckt in den hässlichsten Ecken.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Die Stunde zwischen sieben und acht Uhr morgens ist mir fast die liebste. Es ist noch niemand wach, ich habe die Küche für mich, kann in aller Ruhe Tee trinken und meine Gedanken bei beschlagenem Fenster auf einem Blatt Papier sortieren während es langsam heller wird.

Sunday 6 October 2013

And I would walk 500 miles


Ich bin wirklich kein Musical-Freund, und auch hier bin ich bei jeder einzelnen musikalischen Einlage ein kleines bisschen zusammengezuckt - aber die Macher dieses Films sind eindeutig mindestens genauso verliebt in Edinburgh wie ich, und das macht Sunshine on Leith trotz des beeindruckenden Kitschfaktors absolut sehenswert. Oh, Edinburgh, du Superstar.