Self portrait Thursday - week 7 of 2012!

Hooray, the first self portrait of 2012! I really just forgot to do them once I couldn't upload pictures and then continued to... shame on me! That's going to be different from now on. So here it is:

I'm not actually sure... I think I just wanted to draw stars... I'm jumping from light to light... you could say that the stars are the ideas or projects or goals I'm working on.
Or probably the many many people I'm meeting at the moment - every day of my two weeks in Switzerland is full with coffee and dinner dates - that's a good thing about living abroad. When you are home, everyone actually takes the time to come see you.
I hope your day held some shining star-moments for you, too!
Good night ;o)

Self Portrait Thursday - week 51

This is me with some candles that I've lit for the projects in my life that I want to tend to and make from small flames into big fires in the coming months. :o)

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!

Self Portrait Thursday - week 50

This nasty cold has been creeping up on me like I've never seen it before. Normally I feel it coming for a day and then - wham! There it is. But this time I really believed I could hold it off until yesterday. Then I woke up with a severely sore throat and hurting ears and I knew I would go through it all.
So I'm whipping out the Tiger Balm and hiding in my big scarf. Some things you just have to take how they are. ;o)

Take care, don't let the bugs bite!

Self Portrait Thursday

I actually did but never posted a self portrait last week. This week I haven't gotten around to it yet, so I'm catching up. I've been a bit frustrated with the sketchyness the sp's have taken on in the past months. I'm quite sure it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm using a normal pen instead of a fineliner - it's hard to do smooth lines with those because they are made for quick writing. But this one's better, I think.

I look a bit sceptical and sad because I don't know what to expect, waiting for the train to France. Also, I'm worrying if everything will go well. Hehe, we know now that it did. ;o)

See you soon with pictures from Scotland!

self portrait thursday - week 47

When my doc told me that working out wouldn't hur my back more, I started exercising again. But I had been doing absolutely nothing for about five weeks before that and it is hard to get back on track. I went jogging for half an hour every day before my backpain hit. Now, after two weeks of building up, I can do 20 minutes and I am absolutely dead afterwards.
I've also changed my morning yoga into a more challenging posture muscles exercise program that is going well. That means, I can see a lot of difference after those two weeks. I still have very weak back and ab muscles and trying to keep myself upright during the day often gives me back pain. But I think I'm on the right track.

I started an interval training program two days ago to see if that can boost my endurance platforming. Today is day two, it's sunny and I'm looking forward to hit the track. Wish me luck! ;o)

P.S: Posting is not so frequent since I'm staying with my family until Monday and I want to enjoy the time with them. It's a weird thought that I won't be with them for Christmas. It will be the first time in my life and it is a bit scary.

Self portrait Thursday - week 46

Feeling a bit hippy in my handmade farmprint-fabric pants today! ^^ Also, we made a start in sorting through our stuff to see what will be packed when we move.

Trev got an email that we've been waiting for for some time now, as we made our plans around this event. Remember we agreed to spend christmas in England this year. Since Trev also has a job offer from a lab in Glasgow we wanted to link the two so we didn't have to fly over twice.
So our December will start with a short trip to Montpellier in France to sign our rent contract for the flat which will run from beginning of January until sometime in summer.
The week after we'll fly to Scotland and spend some days there. We also want to look at the city a bit and see if we would want to spend a few years there... then we'll take the train down to London and stay with Trev's parents until/over christmas.
There are no further plans yet but at the beginning of January I'll hand over my flat in Zurich to Kim officially and we have to be ready to move down south. I plan on packing everything but the bare necessities up before the traveling starts but you never know.
So, yeah, I'm excited! :o)

Oh, I'm also enlightened, as you can see. *lol* still feeling very dazed from my experiences last week. Some dear friends have agreed to help me plan my initiation ceremony, I'm so grateful for that and really looking forward to work together with these girls!

And here is something else: I made a couple of things in the past few days that I don't really want to keep. So I had this idea that I wanted to trade them with somebody who would be happy about them - for whatever they want to offer - another item, the postage fee, or even just a smile and a prayer... go look at my facebook album of the Karma Swap!


Wherever you are, whatever you do, I hope it is pleasant!

Self portrait Thursday - Week 45

Already? Hmm, time flies by, doesn't it? Especially October and November always seem to go way too fast, as if they had been infected by December...

It's been a strange couple of days since we came back from England on Tuesday. I always feel like I'm a bit boring when I tell lengthy stories about small things, but that's mostly what defines our lifes, isn't it? So I think I haven't told you in detail but I've had some problems with my back that started a few weeks ago and it just hasn't got significantly better. I'm really pissed about that because when it happened I had just established such a cool exercise routine. I was working out, running and doing yoga every day and I felt great. Then I did something - I still have no clue what caused the whole story - and wham! Pain in my lower back, zapping all the way down into my leg. It's really annoying.
Well, I decided to show the doctor yesterday and she gave me some anti-inflammatory painkillers to try, although she wasn't quite sure what it is either. She said I can start working out again though. Yay! Now I have to kick my ass all over again.

Well, that's the background groove of the past few weeks (remember, in this time we've been to Paris and then the two weeks in London - equals a looot of walking equals a looot of pain!).
But then something other happened to me on Wednesday... I still can't really put it in words but I'm trying and I hope I'll be able to write a concise post about it soon... This is not a teaser, it's just to try and tell you how I feel at the moment. Something big happened to me, that I've been wishing for for a loong time, and now I'm not sure how to feel about it and as it is with sceptics like me, I already feel like it might have been just a dream...

Has something like this ever happened to you? A moment where you were sure that your life was changing there and then, but not in a way that one could see our touch - and then afterwards you wondered if you had imagined everything?

Self portrait Thursday - and a Halloween freebie!

Here's me with an outch again... I feel so silly!
I got these barefoot shoes from a friend to try and I went running with them. Although I knew it would be very different from running with normal shoes I just wanted to run so badly I went for my normal 30mts route.
I didn't even have to wait for the next day for sore legs. But yesterday and the day before have been SO bad! I could hardly walk, I'd rather call it staggering. And stairs are almost a deadly obstacle. I go up them kind of sideways and down in some sort of slump, trying not to use the muscles in my lower legs...

When people ask me if I'm hurt or something I'm really embarrassed to tell the story because I feel so riddiculous. Ah well, lesson learnt! ;o)

On another note, it's Halloween soon! I don't know if you celebrate it in any way. Many people seem to have taken up the American traditions around here. We don't really do that because we can't relate to it, but Halloween under all the modern partyfrenzy and kids-excitement is also a very important pagan holiday and therefore is big for us. We're remembering our ancestors, honouring them and asking advice for the future. For some people (like me), Halloween is the actual beginning of the new spiritual year and therefore is a time for looking back and deciding what to let go of and what to take with me into the dark and silent times that mark the birth of the new year.
I'm really excited because we're planning to go to Stonehenge to celebrate it. I've never been there and I'm excited enough to see the Stones, let allone to have a ritual there.

But what I really wanted to say is: I've played around with some of my pictures and made a card that I really liked and I thought you might like it too, so I'm putting it up here as a little Samhain-present for you! Maybe you still want to send out some cards or use it as a placecard for a Halloween dinner, or, or, or. Just download it and whatever you want (except for selling it or saying that you made it - but I don't think you will! ;o) ).

(I left the bubble free so you can write your own greetings)
Here's the link to a bigger version. Hope you like it. ;o)
Have a magical Halloween!
Thanks for reading!

Selfportrait Thursday - week 42

Well, after yesterday's post, this doesn't need a lot of explanation. It's me, all wrapped up, checking if the thermostat is still working oO
But just to be clear: I'm not feeling bad, just cold. And we all know, "If a girl is telling you her problems, it doesn't mean she's complaining. It means she trusts you." ;o)

Have a happy Thursday everyone!!

Self Portrait Thursday - week 41

This week I've been studying an awful lot... whatever took my interest. I've been reading about tea cermonies, different religions, and currently I'm trying to understand how money works.

Oh, and no, my computer is not swearing at me... It's meant to tell me different things... but maybe it's secretly swearing at me because I have so many tabs open in my browser all the time! ^^


Hope you're having a great week!
Much love,

self portrait thursday - week 40

whoopsie! That's what happens if you don't do a self portrait for a while: The next one you try comes out all wonky and weird.

I've added some bubbles for new ideas that I've been having and exploring, and some spikes at my back because I have a big pain there. I must have overdone something during training sessions, probably pulled my leg too much in a yoga pose or so. Anyways, it's very painful and there's no position that makes it better and painkillers don't seem to work on that one so it looks like another sleepless night (I'm writing this on Wednesday) :o(
Slabbing some tiger balm on and hoping for the best now!

Thanks for reading!

Self portrait Thursday - W34/11

There was a big storm here yesterday and today I feel pretty much the same way the world looked this morning... a bit shaken, still dripping, but gladly smiling into the golden rays of the sun.

I had one of the dark days, the first one since I changed my diet, actually. It started out pretty ok, I spent the day in the city, reading a book by the lake and avoiding doing any serious stuff. I thought the heat was getting to me, but actually I just got gloomier and gloomier and by the time we were on the train home I knew that this was a dive.
Strangely enough I did not feel panicky, nor did I get into a vicious circle of scoulding myself into feeling even worse. I knew I wouldn't be able to do anything reasonable until I'd finished the book anyways, so I finished it. Then I was just lying on the bed, listening to my soul being gloomy and complaining about the responsibility of having to decide what to do with something so precious as a life... hearing the world turn in the night outside the window... It felt OK.
I know I have these days and I cannot avoid them. They are part of the process, they are good because they remind me to question everything I invest my energies in every now and again and set my compass anew.

These days used to be the beginning of the end, of breakdowns that would leave me so shattered on the inside it took days or weeks to restore.
I think I have learned quite a lot this year.

The dark days are my friends.

I am OK. The storm has passed. :o)

Self portrait Thursday - W33/11

Hello world! :o)
Hehe, you don't wanna know where I am right now, but I'm gonna tell you anyways. I'm sitting in the Lounge of the Riverside Hotel Amsterdam in a nice leather armchair, next to a warm fire, looking out on the romantic square in front of the huge windows. We just ate reeeaally nice sushi, prepared before our eyes and enough to easily fill three girls or make immobile, smiling balls out of two.
Up the huge staircase with dark wooden walls and a soft turquoise carpet right in front of me is the restaurant "Waterkant" where we dined like queens yesterday... with a view right out on the harbour.
We took some aperitiv drinks at the bar on the 20th floor of the building - with a splendid view all over Hamburg and the harbour.
When we came back from our sightseeing and some shopping this afteroon I went for a quick sauna session in the Spa area of the hotel - I had it all for myself...
That's what you get when you ask for a 'nice, quiet hotel, not too expensive' at the tourist information in Hamburg...oO

I was a bit sceptical when my sister wanted me to come with her on a city trip, knowing that she is not the type for the kind of traveling that I am used to. We first agreed on some compromises (taking a rideshare for the way up, at least one night of couchsurfing), and then I just jumped in and tried to enjoy what we got as much as possible. I am doing quite well although I can't help adding up the money we're spending in my head all the time and sometimes thinking 'Gods, these four days will cost about as much as I spent in three weeks of my last tour...'
But what's the use, I agreed to come, so I won't complain.
If all goes well and the weather is good tomorrow we're planning on taking a day trip to Helgoland - might as well! ^^

So here's my portrait, with some of my impressions of the fancy fancy life we have here ;o)

On a not so bright note, I lost my camera yesterday, so I don't have my pictures from our first day (saved all the others, luckily), and it seems I'm back to using my phone for taking pictures. :o(
I'm mad at myself because I forgot it in the lounge and now it's gone and it's really just my fault. And it was a good camera and not so old. I seem to have bad luck with them. I will have to save a bit before I can buy a new one. That's ok though, I think it will do me well to suffer a bit and then I will maybe learn to take better care of my things.

You all have a nice week, see you at the weekend with some pictures!
And if you're traveling, take care of your stuff! ;o)

Self portrait Thursday - W32/11

As I said yesterday, coming home hasn't been the smoothest ride, together with us learning about what's going on in London and other parts of Britain this week and the colors of my life seem a bit muted by this and other sad things at the moment... I feel like water is slowly rising around me, water of things that I don't really have control over and I'm still undecided if there's sharks in the deep and confused by how pretty the background scenery is, despite a city burning in the distance.
If that made any sense to you, congratulations! ;o)
I just feel confused by a lot of things that are happening at the moment, some of which I like, some I don't some I feel frustrated with because they are out of my control, some I just have to get done, some are still uncertain, some I just can't get to a decision over... I feel swept here and there with the tide and don't see that the ride is going anywhere.
I also haven't had a good night's sleep in about three days, so I'm just trying to take it easy on myself and wait until the fog lifts a bit, doing what I can in the meanwhile.
Aaaawh, life! :o)

Well, one thing at a time. We're going to spend the afternoon and evening in Zürich with Tali and then going to the Schwarzwald for the weekend tomorrow, after saying goodbye to her in the morning.
I don't know if there will be intenet, but there is a "Let me show you..." scheduled for tomorrow and then on Sunday I'll post more pictures.

See you soon lovelies! :o)

Self portrait Thursday - W30/11

Heyhey on this Thursday! :o) Here's my selfportrait. We just hitched Amsterdam-Brussels-Amsterdam and it was fantabulous! More of the story next week.

Did you see that my friend Leah posted an interview with me on her blog "Splitter von Glueck"? It's about sustainable lifestyle and it's in German and English. Leah has such a cool blog with a lot of her beautiful pictures, go check it out. :o)


Many happy greetings from Amsterdam!

East side Gallery self portrait!

You can find me at the East Side Gallery now. :o)

We arrived safely in Amsterdam tonight and already have really charming company. ^^
And tomorrow I will take time to show you more pictures from last week!
Have a great weekend!

Self portrait Thursday - W29/11

All the best from Berlin! ;o)
Tomorrow I have a great guest poster for you with a travel-themed post for the start of summer holidays. Stay tuned! ;o)

My creative space: The lucky bee

Hey everybody! I've had a pretty nasty bladder infection the past two days. I'm on antibiotics now and feeling better, although still a bit woozy and weak.
But I managed to snap a few pictures of the lucky bee who got chosen from all the beedling to be used for my friend's project.

 Thanks for reading!

Self portrait Thursday - W28/11

Awh, time goes by so fast! 28 weeks into this year...
I'm afraid most things you will read here now will be in some way travel related... I think I got a nasty bug of backpack fever! oO
So here's me staring into the clouds and making crazy crazy plans to see every inch of this world ^^

Thanks for stopping by! :o)

Self portrait Thursday - W27/11

This week, I just feel very tired. I've got so much to do and don't seem to get anywhere. Nor do I get enough sleep. The weather is so nice and I feel bad staying inside. Can't enjoy being outside properly though, since I know I should be working.

Today I'm working on getting the things done that will give me some air to enjoy a day off - just for myself. I know things will look up after that. :o)

Thanks for reading!