a German on a Journey

My wardrobe has somewhat changed over the last year - I no longer spend money on skirts, blouses, and work pants, but rather on tank tops, sport bras, and yoga pants. Working from home and incorporating yoga and the gym into my lifestyle, has lead me to look for comfortable, stylish, and affordable clothing. One of my favorite brands of yoga leggings is Athleta . Although their tights and leggings are more on the higher end price-wise, they are worth every penny. They currently have their semi annual sale , so this would be the time to check them out! Besides, they have decent mark downs all year round so you can get items for around 20-30% less than what they usually cost. For yoga, I prefer a high-rise fit so that everything stays tucked in! These High Rise Heartbeat Chaturanga Tights come in many different colors and styles - also in Petite, Regular, and Tall lengths. I paired these tights with a great top from Harmony Balance that I got for only $16.99 at TJ Maxx. This is m

In my culture, the weeks leading up to Christmas are spent with friends and family and baking all sorts of yummy cookies. I remember my mom always having a batch of German sugar cookie dough ready in the fridge for us to bake on the weekends. We had tons of cookie cutters - I think my favorite was a cat or cow...but those never came out great. Most of the time you couldn't really make out what type of animal the cookie was supposed to represent. But I guess that didn't really matter, at the end - the cookies always tasted delicious! So in the spirit of Christmas, I got together with my two besties this past weekend to exchange gifts, catch up on life, and bake! I love anything mint and chocolate, so this recipe I found looked perfect! And the best thing is that it is EASY and does not require many ingredients. Using brownie mix, makes the cookies extra mushy and tasty! I usually prefer finding a more healthy version of a recipe...but for the sake of taste, I kept this one fu

It's the season of lowered immune systems and increased stress levels. Not only is it getting colder, but many of us are struggling to do our Christmas shopping and rushing from one Holiday Party to the next. We all know that as soon as our stress levels go up, we are at risk of getting sick. Here are a few tips of how to stay healthy and stress free this winter! 1. Vitamins, Vitamins, Vitamins My sister showed me this yummy DYI Ginger Lemon Tea years ago and it is still my go-to drink when it gets cold. And it makes me think of her, which is an added benefit! Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that is known to aid in building the immune system and also reducing nausea. Lemon is extremely high in Vitamin C and a really affordable ingredient.  To make this tea: Peel fresh ginger root and cut about 10 penny sized slices. Add ginger to about 2 cups of boiling water for 15 minutes. Add the juice of 1 lemon to a cup and strain the ginger water into the cup. Add some

Since my last trip to see my family, I have been extremely homesick. You'd think that seeing my home, friends, and family would make me feel better - and it does! - but it also pulls at my heart all over again, when we have to say goodbye. And so I try to find a little piece of comfort where ever I go...just enough to ease my yearning for home! I recently came across a Facebook post from a lovely fellow Berliner, who announced that she will be coming to Brooklyn for a book signing of her new cookbook Classic German Baking . Luisa Weiss, who is also the creator of a wonderfully written food blog called The Wednesday Chef , went to the same High School as my sister and me, and after living in several places around the world, has settled back in her birthplace of Berlin. Born to an Italian mother and an American father, Luisa has shared her journey of multi-cultural upbringing in her memoir  "My Berlin Kitchen - A Love Story" , which I devoured last year.  When I saw

Just in time for the cooler weather, I want to share a protein rich, low fat, full of fiber, and super flavorful recipe with you.  This Chicken Chilli recipe is great in so many ways - doesn't take much prep, super healthy, cooks in less than 30 minutes, and can be frozen for future meals. I love making this for a quick weeknight dinner or for when friends come over. If you don't like ground chicken, you can absolutely use ground turkey. My favorite flavors in this dish are the cilantro and lime juice. They add a freshness to the spicy heat of each bite.  I always drain my canned beans before using them in a recipe - just to get rid of the sodium gunk (sorry, couldn't think of a better word). After I strain them , I usually also rinse them a bit and then take half of the beans into another bowl to mash them. This adds thickness to the chilli. If you like your chilli really thick, add some cornstarch into a small bowl of cold water, mix it, and pour it into you

Last, but certainly not least, I want to take you through a day in the beautiful town of  Artà , located in the Eastern region of the island. We used to always rent a house in Canyamel, which is a beach town not far from  Artà , but in recent years, we prefer a more quiet stay, away from noise. Artà  is a rural town, lined with trees and little shops. Its main attraction is the San Salvador sanctuary/castle that sits on the hill top, overlooking the town.  San Salvador -  Artà Although  Artà  has several small hotels that are tucked away in the narrow streets around town, we prefer renting a "finca" (Spanish for "estate"), which refers to a piece of property on a rural or agricultural land. Luckily, Mallorca has strict zoning laws that dictate how far spread out houses need to be in farm lands. When renting one of these properties, the only sound you hear when you sit on the porch, are the crickets chirping and a faint "klong, klong" of sheep bel

For the second part of my travel series, I want to share a really amazing experience with you. I used to use vacation as an excuse not to have to work out, but since I fell in love with yoga, I have incorporated my practice into my travels. I enjoy practicing in different studios, with new instructors, and at unique locations. I use social media or good ol' google  to find yoga studios or events before I leave for vacation. While doing some research in preparation for my trip, I came across a blog piece on Mallorca Talks  about a German Yoga Instructor who teaches outside of  Palma de Mallorca - the island's capital! I immediately reached out to Uta and we set a date to meet during my vacation. Fast forward a couple of months, my sister Nina and I took the one hour drive from Artà to Palma de Mallorca , which is located on the West Coast of the island, to meet Uta for a private yoga lesson right by the ocean for sunset! Sigh...I know...perfection! Uta is not only a yoga i

I recently returned from one of Spain's Ballearic Islands - Mallorca. Some of my favorite childhood memories were made here and although my parents say every year that it would be nice to explore a different destination next year, we somehow always find ourselves back on this beautiful and versatile island.  I am starting this three part series off with my top 4 favorite beaches on the East Coast of Mallorca. Since I was little, I was always drawn to the ocean - no vacation is complete without being near the water - so I want to share some of the beaches where time seems to stand still for me: 1. Cala Gat I visited this tiny little inlet for the first time during this year's trip. My sister came across it while helping me research for the blog and since it was so close to where we were staying, we checked it out. Driving through the very popular town Cala Ratjada , follow signs for Cala Gat . Tucked away from the road, with only one little house on one side of the be

Today's post is the first one in my Conversation Series, for which I will be teaming up with experts in certain fields to learn about their world.  For my first interview, I met up with a very special person from whom I have learned a lot over the last year and a half. Holly and I haven't known each other for a very long time, but she has such an amazing way about her that it feels like I have known her forever. I had taken different yoga classes in the past, but not until Holly shared her practice with me, did it really click - she made me experience yoga on a deeper level and I was hooked! Lena: How long have you been practicing and teaching yoga? Holly: Practicing for 20 years and teaching for just coming up on four years this September. Lena: What made you discover yoga? Holly: A friend of mine, who went on to becoming my instructor - she brought me to my first class - that was it - Lena: Love at first site! Holly: Yes - love at first pose :) Len