a German on a Journey

I say this every year around this time, but OMG I can't believe it's almost Christmas! Where has the year gone?! I usually get pretty sentimental around the holidays because I can't always be with my family in Berlin. It's a time I reflect on what's important in life and what to look forward to in the next year. One really amazing thing I experienced this past year is that I have a solid group of friends in my life - friends who are like family to me. So it seemed fitting to spend quality time with them this close to Christmas.  Last Sunday I hosted a "Girlfriends-Christmas-in-PJs-Brunch" and found THE perfect recipe that inspired my "Sunday Funday Winter Sangria" concoction.  If you decide on making this, don't plan on driving anywhere...you will want to have more than just one glass of this deliciousness! I think the key ingredients that really elevate this recipe (besides the wine, of course), are the cinnamon stick

Still trying to hold on to the magic of our honeymoon! Wish we were still on the beach far away from adulting!!! If you have never been or currently deciding on your next getaway - definitely consider the Riviera Maya section of Mexico. When I researched where to go for our honeymoon, I definitely found that all-inclusive trips to Mexico are more affordable than other popular Caribbean destinations. We stayed at  Ocean Maya Royale  - an all-inclusive, adults only, beach front hotel - perfect for our honeymoon! We loved our ocean-view room and how friendly the staff was. However, my favorite part of choosing this hotel was the wildlife that roamed the grounds! If you are an animal lover, book your vacation at Ocean Maya Royale :) To provide a brief guide on travel to Mexico, here are some tips once you have decided on making the Riviera Maya your next travel destination! 1. What To See/Where To Go A must see spot is Tulum and the ancient Mayan ruins, located on cliffs

I can't believe it's been two months since our wedding! Time flew by. Now it is almost time for our honeymoon! Over the last few months a lot of people have been asking how we were able to pull off a budget friendly wedding in just 6 months. So, I wanted to share three money-saving-tips that I am so glad we followed! We knew from the beginning that we wouldn't be able to afford anything too extravagant and wanted to keep it as intimate as possible - and true to who we are. 1. FLOWERS Right after we got engaged I started looking into flower options because I knew we wouldn't want huge centerpieces and didn't need bridesmaids bouquets either. I received the advice to look into on-line whole sale vendors and ended up choosing Global Rose and Costco !  For under $120, my mother was able to make my bridal bouquet and small centerpieces for 12 tables,. We even had greenery and roses left over! 2. SAVE THE DATES & INVITATIONS With only 6 month

It's almost Friday!!! Are you looking for some extra energy to get you through this week? Try out these yummy gluten-free, non-bake Pumpkin Protein Balls! Although it still doesn't quite feel like Fall here, I am all about EVERYTHING pumpkin! I've been playing around with healthy pumpkin recipes and while a Pumpkin Chia Pudding landed in the garbage today (I hate wasting food, but this was not edible!!!), these energy snacks came out so delicious! And are super easy to make! The fun part is that you can customize them to your liking...I bet they are super tasty with added chocolate chips or chopped walnuts! I LOVE chocolate, but I'm trying to stay away from added sugars as much as I can. I prefer to drink my calories...if you know what I mean :) Fun fact: did you know that pumpkins are fruits and not vegetables?! And they are made up of 90% water, which makes them a great low calorie food. They are also high in vitamin A, fiber, and potassium!

Although it definitely does not feel like Fall here in New Jersey, I've been wanting to scout out some new places to enjoy this up-coming season. With so much more time on my hands since our wedding, I headed to NYC with my girls on Saturday to share some laughs and most importantly drinks! I love spending the day in the city, especially by the water! I had heard about City Vinyard from my friend from college. She's been living in the NYC since we graduated and always knows about the most fun places! When I told her I wanted to spend the day either on or by the water and she suggested this beautiful spot. Although it was a bit hot this past weekend, with cooler days approaching, this restaurant is a great afternoon spot - and a special treat awaits if you stick around for sunset! City Vinyard faces the Hudson on the Western side of Manhattan and offers a fantastic show of colors as the sun disappears behind New Jersey's skyline. Customers are able to dine and d

Hello Weekend! It's finally Friday again and this concludes my Super-Food series...hope you guys enjoyed this month's posts...and maybe got inspired to add some of these colorful and nutrition packed foods to your diet! Today I want to share a really easy and refreshing drink that I make in the mornings to hydrate and stay energized throughout the day! And the best part is, it actually has TWO ingredients that are considered "super foods"! Green Tea is known to be high in antioxidants and is said to speed up one's metabolism, thus aiding in weight loss (source:  Greatest - Superfood Green Tea ). I've been buying Lipton's White Mangosteen Peach Green Tea , which has a very light peach flavor. I find that I stay more focused when I drink a glass or two throughout my day, compared to when I have more coffee after my morning cup. For more flavor and nutritional value, I add fresh ginger and lemon while I steep the tea. Ginger is one of my favorite

It's finally Friday! And I have another super-food to share with you all :) It took a couple tries for me to really enjoy these seeds to the fullest. I've tried them in a salad and in smoothies, but neither combination really did it for me. Until I came across tons of Instagram posts that marketed Chia as a pudding!!! A healthy pudding, you say?! Of course I needed to try that! Chia seeds can vary in price, but I usually find decent sized bags at TJ Maxx or on Amazon for under $10. A little goes a long way with these seeds, since they expand once they come in contact with moisture. Although tiny in size, Chia is packed with nutrients, such as fiber and protein, but very low in calories. They are usually grown organically and are naturally gluten free (Source:  Health Line ). Another reason why they make it on my super food list, is because they are loaded with antioxidants! I love making the pudding in the evening and then having a bowl for breakfast

Happy Friday and welcome to part 2 of my Super-Food Fridays series. Today's recipe is a great Happy Hour appetizer to kick off the weekend.  What are your plans this weekend? I plan on working on some DIY projects and relaxing by the beach. And having "some" wine to help me forget how much we still need to get done before the wedding :) Beets were never on my favorite foods list...probably because I only ever tried the canned type and they are nothing compared to the fresh kind! But once I tried a friend's Beet and Feta Salad at a restaurant, I was hooked! Besides their stunning color, they are really easy to prepare. You can either boil, bake, or roast them. I usually cut them up and bake them with some salt, pepper, and olive oil. Pickled, they taste great on sandwiches or in salads, too! What puts them on the "super-food" list, is that they are a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium. Also, according to several studies con

I started being a bit more focused on clean eating in efforts to see how my body might react positively to cutting out processed foods, added sugar, dairy, and gluten. I just want to feel more balanced and healthy overall. And let's be honest - fitting into my wedding dress may or may not have been part of the reason, as well :) To avoid getting bored by eating the same dishes every day, I started looking into new recipes by targeting so-called "super foods". While some of them have been part of my diet for years (for example: blueberries and kale), many of them I have not tried!  So, this is my first post in a 4 part series that I will share this month, called Super-Food Fridays! First up: Pitaya - more commonly known as Dragon Fruit Not sure why, but I was always intimidated by this fruit...how does one cut it? How does one eat it?! It's actually very simple. Cut it in half first and then either cut it in cubes, slices, or just scoop it out. It is surpris

It's been a busy few weeks, but in between all the wedding planning, I was able to squeeze in some time to check out two spots I have been meaning to visit in Asbury Park. Combine both locations in one day and you can spend a super relaxing weekend by the beach! In the Morning: Sunrise Yoga at The Asbury Hotel : Yes, you have to get up early for this one, but trust me, it's so worth it. This new  boutique hotel first opened its doors in May of 2016 and features an outdoor pool, rooftop bar, and event facilities, such as an open-air cinema and a space that can be rented for weddings. Since I started following them on social media, I noticed that they offer outdoor yoga Wednesdays - Sundays on their rooftop. I knew I had to check that out...yoga with ocean view...I'm in. Classes are at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on the weekends. In my opinion, the earlier class is much more enjoyable because it does get pretty hot in the summer! After yoga, I had a refreshing drink at t

If you enjoy yoga, animals, AND giving back, you must check out  Oasis tlc , a non-profit organization that assists autistic individuals with living more independent lifestyles and integrating them in their local communities. Oasis fulfills their mission by running farm centers that provide meaningful work and healthy environments for the young adults who live there.  The event that my girl Amy and I had the opportunity to visit, was hosted by  Hot and Soul  yoga studio and took place on an actual farm in Red Bank, NJ. The real perk besides practicing some outdoor yoga with like-minded individuals, was that the property is home to numerous goats...and tons of baby goats that wandered around us while we enjoyed our stretches, twists, and inversions! The event organizers handed out food for the goats so that they would walk around while we practiced. I swear, put me in the middle of animals, and I am in heaven!  And the best part: there are TWO more events this summer! For

Yes, extravagant date nights can be fun and romantic for special occasions, but after being in two weddings this year AND planning our own, I am definitely on a budget this summer. I think that you can have a wonderful time without spending the big bucks. At the end of the day, it's about you and your significant other spending quality time and not about how much you've spent. Here are some ideas if you want to connect with your partner or friends, without having to dish out a fortune! 1. Watch the Sunset: Whether you are by the water or on a rooftop, getting away from the daily grind and taking the time to just be still, is completely free and super romantic. Bring a bottle of wine and just enjoy the view! 2. Go for a Bike Ride: We love spending time outside. Because we don't have our own backyard, we have to get creative. Since we both bought bikes, we like taking them out for a ride together. Any form of exercise gets your blood flowing and releases endo