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!"

New Zealand - Aotearoa VIDEO

A BOWL FULL OF LIFE (ACAI BOWL)*

Because it's winter in Germany and also just because it's Germany it's pretty hard (well more likely impossible) to find a place where I could buy an acai bowl. But fortunately it's super easy to make one at home. I simply mixed together two frozen bananas, some frozen raspberries, about a teaspoon of acai powder and some water and then I topped it with some fruits, chia seeds and agave nectar as a sweetener. But what actually made it even better tasting was that I could enjoy it out of a coconut shell bowl! It's not only looking really nice but the fact that it's something so sustainable makes me really happy and made me want to share it on here with you guys. Sometimes it doesn't need much to live a little bit more conscious and every little step counts :)

Here's where I got my beloved coconut shell bowls from CLICK
Also check out their Instagram: @koko.andco

A FRESH START

Let's take a little less and give a little more in 2017! Because true happiness comes from within us and what's a better feeling than knowing you're the reason for someone else's smile. Let's use this year to share happiness and throw kindness around.

"We rise by lifting others!"

Walking through life we're in charge of choosing to look at all the bad and terrible stuff that is happening around us OR we can look at the bright side and all the beauty and positivity. Even though we often don't realize it but we can have a positive impact on others and the world just by being the best version of ourselves that we can be. Because in the end what matters is h a p p i n e s s.

Page 2 of 365 - First Day of Snow!

It's amazing to live in a country where we are lucky enough to experience all the four seasons. But I must say that I absolutely love warm and sunny places (especially near the ocean) and I would love to live in a place like this one day because I feel like that's where I belong and feel most happy. But I can't deny that I would probably miss these cold snowy days if I would have summer all year around.

Today we had the first real snow this winter. What a beautiful start to this year, am I right? It just looked so magical, so my mum and I went for a walk near a little river. I'm not gonna lie that I was freezing after our little walk but I still made the most of this snowy day since this snow always melts way too quickly and then we're just left with this brown sticky mud on the streets ;)

I hope you all had a great start to this week :)

Cheers to 2017🍾🎊

Happy New Year everyone! 

Looking back at 2016 it was definitely breathtaking in so many ways. I guess every year has its ups and downs and so did 2016. But there were definitely so many amazing, unforgettable and precious moments which I will always have captured in my heart and this is to many more to come in 2017! Last year was a year where I had to figure out what I want to do in life (at least to a certain extent) which was for example changing my uni course and also following a less cruelty filled lifestyle. I have been vegetarian for around 6 years and realized following a vegan lifestyle doesn't only make me feel heaps better but is also better for the animals and our planet🌎🌿💚 So one of my new years resolutions is to keep doing this along with doing more sports. As well as to have an early start to the morning more often, to stop overthinking everything and to just do what feels right and makes me happy, to be more productive with school stuff, to take more photos and videos and to always look on the bright side and enjoy life!✨

What are some of your new years resolutions? And I realize that it doesn't have to be a new year to start something new but I still like the thought of a new year with new chances, new opportunities and new adventures.

Let's collect many great moments in 2017!

Invigorate your life - TRAVEL*

One thing I never want to lose is the desire I have for traveling. I want to see the world, explore the unknown, learn more about any and everything, grow as a person and collect moments and experiences. I'm really grateful for all the amazing places I have already been to and now I'm just really excited and can't wait for my next adventure which is going to be NEW ZEALAND! I always wanted to go there and I know that it's not the closest destination, in fact it's on the other side of our beautiful globe, but I somehow really felt drawn to New Zealand so in only a few more weeks a big dream of mine will come true. And remember: We will never regret the money we spend on traveling! So go out there, buy a plane or bus ticket or jump into your car to see what else is out there if you feel like that's what you want to do. Because life is too short to wait and to make excuses. 🌍✈️🌿

This was kind of the long introduction but just something I had in mind and something I wanted to share with you. I was actually going to talk about the beautiful piece of clothing you can see in the pictures below. Oh how I love grey shirts and quotes - so I guess the perfect combination for me. You can find the T-shirt and some more lovely items on Etsy (the shop is called MyknZLife). Maybe some of you still need a present for a travel lover or you treat yourself because why not?! It's Christmas time, am I right? :)

Have a lovely Christmas time everyone!

November 2016 #gratitudejournal

Happy 2nd Advent everyone! Light up the second candle, grab a cup of tea and enjoy some moments I want to share with you of November. To sum it up it was actually a month full of catch ups with friends and family. I met up with some old school friends (some of them I haven't seen for over a year now I think) so it was lovely to see them again and to talk about the good old times. Then it was also my sister's 23rd birthday which called for a surprise visit hehe. So my dad and I drove up north to the baltic sea to surprise visit her, eat cake and to spend some time at the beach (oh how I love the ocean!!). Speaking of surprise visits, my sister actually surprise visited me too the weekend before her birthday so we had a nice chilled weekend together, went to the movies, an art gallery and of course ate some good food.

Another highlight was also the Bastille concert I went to. They are honestly one of my favorite bands and the show was just amazing - definitely one of my favorite evenings of this month... well actually this year! And since I was already in Berlin for the concert I was also able to spend some quality time with my best friend. Unfortunately time always flies by like crazy when we're together.

Also the opening of the Christmas market and that it feels so chrismassy now is something I love and really enjoy. 

I hope you all had a month filled with many many great moments and I'm sure December will be just as good.

Vegan "Vanillekipferl" Recipe

You'll need:

250g flour (I used partly wheat and partly spelt flour)
2 small bags of vanilla sugar
1 pinch of salt
100g grounded almonds
200g margarine
75g sugar (I used partly normal and partly brown sugar)
powdered sugar

What you probably already noticed is that I most of the time go for pretty easy recipes and this one is no exception. So all you need to do now is to mix all ingredients together (make sure the margarine is room temperature and mainly soft) except for the powdered sugar and put them in the oven for 12-15 minutes at 175 degrees. Once they're done you want to make sure to give them a little bath in the powdered sugar when they're still warm. Enjoy :)

Count Stars Not Sheep*

Good morning world! Today I woke up on this chilly sunny winter morning and before I had some chai tea or got ready I made my bed. I think once you wake up with a positive thought in your head and a smile on your face you are already making the decision that it's going to be a good day and with that I also like to start my day organized by making my bed (except it's super early and I need to rush to uni, then this step must wait and I would rather have some breakfast of course haha).
I like to have a nice little (or not so little) pillow wall because who doesn't like lots of pillows am I right? So my new addition are two pillow cases from a shop called Bubbles.lt. I love the simple design and writing which is 100% my taste.
It's the middle of November, in my town the Christmas market already opens next Tuesday (I can't wait!!) and I think this might be a perfect present for someone you want to give a little joy at Christmas. ❄️🎄🎁

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Our Trip to the ULURU

Some people are also calling this massive rock in the middle of Australia, which means in the middle of nowhere, Ayers Rock! When I was in Australia I knew that I had to go there because this place seemed so extraordinary and special to me that I had to see it with my own eyes. During the time when my sister was visiting me in Australia we booked a flight to the Ayers Rock Airport (which only had, believe it or not, 2 gates haha) and once we stepped out of the airplane we walked straight against a heat wall. Well lucky us we decided to go there in February, so the middle of summer.
But nevertheless it was a spectacular experience and it made me so happy to be there - a place which is so far away from home and a place that couldn't be more different to where I was coming from.
While we were there we stayed in a 20 dorm hostel room and due to the heat we could only enjoy this place very early in the morning and later in the evening/night time. But this also ensured that we saw beautiful sunrises and sunsets which were priceless! We did also do a free ranger tour along the Uluru where we found out some interesting facts about this "rock" and now I would just like to share some photos of the Uluru with you guys :)

Kata Tjuta - another rock combination close to the Uluru

The Uluru by sunrise

Delicious Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Another weekend - another recipe. Yay! During this time of the year it is just so much fun to put some music jam on (have you listened to Bastille's new album Wild World? It's amazing!!) and to get into some baking.

These cookies are a thousand times better than any bought ones and the perfect snack!

You will need:

1 Tbsp   ground flax seeds + 3 Tbsp water
1 1/4      cups flour
1 tsp      baking soda
1/2 tsp   salt
1/2 cup  margarine
1/2 cup  brown sugar
1/3 cup  white sugar
1 tsp      vanilla extract
non dairy chocolate chips

Step 1   Preheat oven to 350F/180C!
Step 2   Combine flax seeds and water in a little bowl
Step 3   Combine flour, baking soda and salt in an extra bowl
Step 4   Place margarine (you might want to melt it a tiny little bit in the microwave) in another bowl
             and add the sugars, mix for around 2 minutes
Step 5   Add the flax mixture and the vanilla to the margarine mix and combine
Step 6   Add the flour mixture and mix it but don't overmix, then add the chocolate chips
Step 7   Place little balls on a baking sheet and now you only have to wait for the cookies to bake for
             around 12-14 minutes in the oven :)

Traveling up the Australian East Coast - MUST STOPS!

I was planning to write about my favorite places along the Australian East Coast a while ago but it always seemed quite difficult to pick some favorites. But I had such a chilled and wonderful weekend with an old school friend who was actually also in Australia when I was there and talking about the time over there really made me feel like looking through some old photos and to just pick some in order to show and share them with you.
But I also have to say as breathtaking and beautiful as a place can be, for me it's the most memorable when it's shared with the right people and it is also so dependent on what you are connecting with this place as well as all the memories of this place.

・M E L B O U R N E  &  T H E  G R E A T  O C E A N  R O A D・

While being an Au Pair in the South of Australia I had quite a lot of time to explore Melbourne with the Queen Victoria Market, the beautiful parks, busy shopping streets, the Yarra River, China Town, Hosier Lane etc. It's a beautiful vibrant city with so many facets and I loved spending time in the city.

Of course I also had to see the famous Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostels. I loved the beaches and the whole landscapes. That was also where I saw Koalas in the nature and not a touristy zoo.

・S Y D N E Y ・

If someone hears Australia the city they will think of first is probably Sydney. It's really busy there but I loved the vibe and atmosphere the city provided. It was a magical and special moment to see the Opera House in real life and Bondi Beach was great to hang around and enjoy an ice cream as well. There is also a secret spot (which in the meantime probably isn't as secretly anymore) that is a playground where all the backpackers and travelers head to to take a photo on a swing with the skyline of Sydney in the background (it's called the Dover Heights Swing and you can take a memorable photo for free there).

・B Y R O N  B A Y ・

Unfortunately I don't have too many photos of my time in Byron Bay. But if I had to choose one favorite spot it would probably be Byron. I don't really know why but I just loved this cute little town next to the beach with its nature, markets, people, lighthouse and just the whole atmosphere in general. I felt so happy there!

・B R I S B A N E・

It wasn't really planned but I ended up quite a long time in Brisbane. The photo shows Southbank a lot more touristy and less natural than other spots but I still liked it because it was so different. In Brisbane you can also explore the city with a free ferry called CityHopper or as well as in the other cities I loved walking through the botanical garden.

・F R A S E R  I S L A N D・

Fraser Island is the largest sand island of the world and it was truly amazing there. We where there with a tour group and explored Fraser with a 4WD which was a little adventure itself. There are also planes landing at the beach right next to where you drive haha. Some other memories are that we saw the milky way at night, dingos, dolphins and the Lake McKenzie was so unique!

・T O W N  O F  1 7 7 0・

Driving up north you can't miss the Town of 1770. It's an insiders' tipp if you want to go surfing because it's so cheap (around $17) to take a surfing lesson there!

・T O W N S V I L L E・

I saved the best for last and that's not directly the town I want to talk about but the mountain right next to it. Townsville is a small town in Queensland and once you're there you can't miss this big mountain where you should definitely go up and enjoy the sunset. Truly magical and one of my favorite memories of my whole time in Australia!