2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2018 is here and I hope that this fresh and new year only holds the most exciting adventures for you, that are going to put a big smile on your face and that are going to give you this butterfly feeling in your tummy✨

This might be a bit late to say hello to 2018 but it's still January so hey, I guess it's still kind of appropriate.

In regards to this photo that is completely out of focus, this year I want to focus on things that will make me happy and that are going to make me feel full of love and life.

Hello Autumn.

I am sitting in the tram several times a week and usually I listen to music but I found myself not really enjoying the songs as much anymore as when I first listened to them. I guess that's what happens when you listen to the same five songs over and over again. So I discovered podcasts for me. A few months ago people were already raving about podcasts but I never thought I would ever get into it but here I am really enjoying the podcasts of Stephanie Yu 'A Beautiful Mess' and of Estée Lalonde which is called 'The Heart Of It'. It's beautiful being outside, walking to my tram station while listening to these podcasts (oh and if any of you have any other recommendations for podcasts please please let me know). The leaves turn their colors into yellow, brown and gold and it just makes me feeling really cozy and happy.
A few days ago I posted a photo on my Instagram with the caption Nature will ground you and I think I can really relate to that. The photo above was taken during a camping trip with my family this summer. Being with my family in the nature and enjoying simple things like looking through old photos my grandpa brought or playing cards after my sister and I went for a swim in the lake made me feel so happy✨🍂 Happy Autumn everyone!

Roming around Italy - One Day in Rome

I am so excited to finally share the Rome trip Marie and I did in the beginning of July. To put it in a nutshell: it was a great, hot, touristy day with good food and taking lots of photos. But for anyone who would like to hear me rambling a bit more about our less than 24 hours stay in Rome keep reading.

Basically the two of us planned to go on a little trip months, well maybe years ago. But due to different uni schedules, other plans and being not the best decision makers it has always just been an idea of us. Until we finally looked more seriously for a rather cheap flight anywhere in Europe (we were pretty open for any place to discover). Rome has always been on my list of places I wanted to see so when we came across a cheap flight to Rome on a day that worked for the two of us - we booked! I just wanted to see the beautiful architecture Rome has to offer with my own eyes (along with eating some traditional Italian pizza of course. Who doesn't love food, right? Not me FOR SURE.)

It has been an early morning (waking up 3:30am ... not to mention we stayed up until midnight). But I don't want to complain because Rome was waiting for us.
We had a rough plan of what we wanted to see (that's why we stayed up until midnight because we haven't really made a plan before that haha). So on our list was the Colosseum, Vatican City, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. We started with the Colosseum and walked to the other places which was in my eyes the perfect way to get around because this way we didn't miss out on Rome's cute little streets, shops and other not so famous but just as beautiful attractions. I would highly recommend just walking around the city you want to explore. Just grab a map and you're good to go!

I couldn't even say what my favorite spot was because the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, I couldn't wait to see, took my breath away but obviously there are so many tourists around that the vibes and atmosphere in different locations is just as beautiful and not as packed.

Have you ever been to Rome? If so, what was your favorite thing about it?

- Nina x

Treasures ✨

When I was around 14 years old, so 7 years ago (oh gosh time is honestly flying by like crazy haha) I liked to have all sorts of especially earrings and necklaces. Stars, rainbow colored pearls, flowers whatsoever. What mattered was that it would go with my shirt or outfit in general. And looking back at it I think it's a cute and funny memory of going and growing through different stages in life. Today and right now I'm definitely in a different stage. A stage where I appreciate having something with a meaning and something I'm not gonna take off whether I'm at the lake, in uni or sleeping. You can also call me lazy haha but also patient as I was waiting around 6 weeks for this precious little magical necklace making its way from the other side of the world to me. This post isn't sponsored or anything I just want to share it with you and also show you that sometimes less is more. I found minimalism in life not only helpful for you but also our environment. It makes you appreciate something ten times more💎✨
YCL Jewels makes ethically and cruelty-free jewelry which is something I love to support and if my future husband is reading this ... they make beautiful wedding rings as well haha.

My Instagram: @ninaatatjanaa

NOW

Wake up early to see the sunrise. Buy fruits. Sell some old clothes and get a new piece you’ll love and wear to death. Be strong. Be patient. Listen. Start jogging. Be impressed by nature. Smile at strangers. Call your mum. Post an Instagram. Get the piercing or tattoo you always wanted. Drink coffee. Book a plane ticket. Look at the stars. Drink more coffee. Love your body. Write down your thoughts. Meditate. Learn to stand being alone. Make compliments. Watch a movie and eat popcorn or chocolate or both. Shave for yourself. Laugh. Learn a new language. Paint. Go on a road trip. Water your flowers. Take lots of photos. Cry when you feel like crying. Learn to be with yourself.

NATURE ft. BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND SPOTS ON THE SOUTH ISLAND

 - LAKE TEPAKO -

 - LAKE OHAU -

 - MIRROR LAKES -

- MILFORD SOUND -

People feel connected - either to other people, to a certain sport, to a religion etc and I have found myself recently and especially in New Zealand connected to nature. We live in a world with so much to explore and so many different landscapes. It makes me so happy to be in a place where the nature is just so different to what I'm used to and to just intake each unique feeling a place gives me. My favorite spot in New Zealand was probably Milford Sound. A truly beautiful and magical place!

Traveling On Your Own 🌏 Being A Female Solo Traveler

So about one month ago I stepped onto an airplane, having an 36 hours journey ahead of me, and that was the start of the first time I was traveling on my own. I have always been the kind of person that enjoyed traveling with a friend or my sister but this time I decided that I wanted to try out something new, well even something I was a bit afraid of doing. So I booked a trip to New Zealand and okay I have to admit that I wasn't completely on my own since I booked a tour where I was with a bunch of people and everything was basically organized for us but I'm taking baby steps here right? 😄 And since I didn't know any of these people beforehand it was definitely something a bit scary yet super exciting. However I've spent multiple hours on the plane on my own, killed a 10 hours layover at Perth Airport on my own, etc when I was basically never completely on my own because I met super nice people along my way and it's crazy how much more open you are when it's just you and you simply find yourself being open and happy to start chatting to anyone who is around you.
During the tour it was a great experience to get to know around 50 amazing yet so different people from all around the globe and it was really easy to connect to those people as we all had something in common - the love for traveling. We were all so keen to have the best time in New Zealand and in the end that's was we had indeed!
I'm so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and that I did something that challenged me in so many ways. In the end I must say that I'm a person that can probably enjoy a trip and also look forward to it a tiny bit more when I can share this excitement with someone but I wouldn't say that this trip was the last one me as a solo traveler.
There are definitely pros and cons to traveling on your own as well as traveling with a friend and I guess everyone is different and therefore prefers a certain type of traveling but I would recommend to anyone to just be open and try out things. It's great to share moments and memories with someone you love and that's something I missed a bit but doing this trip on my own probably taught me a lot more about myself and the only person you have to worry about is yourself - no compromises as you can do whatever YOU want to do. 😋

"If you want something you've never had. 

You have to do something you've never done!"