Freerice for everyone!

During enjoying cookies and tea parties, wrapping presents and having fun in the snow we shouldn't be forgetting about those who don't have these luxuries like we do. There are billions of people all over the world that don't even have enough food to keeping them alive. So, why not take a few minutes each day to help feeding those hungry mouths at freerice.com.

I'm not talking about spending money on food or anything like that, but only a few minutes a day will give a child a decent meal somewhere. Freerice is a website where, by answering questions people can earn grains of rice that will be distributed to people in Asia, Africa and Central- & South America.

It only takes about 7000 grains of rice for one decent meal, that's about 700 questions. I know, that seems a lot, but believe me, the questions are quite easy and not very complicated, so you can earn a lot of rice in quite a short time.

At first I didn't understand how this could work as you don't donate money or food, but I found out that the rice is funded by the money raised by the advertisements under the question box.

Sometimes it only takes a small thing for one person that'll make a huge difference if a lot of people work together. Even if you don't have time to raise a whole meal a day, it'll make a difference nonetheless.
In light of this I really hope you'll take a little of your precious time and spend it on this wonderful project.

Xoxo, have fun helping other people!

Daddy's girl

Whatever I do, whatever happens - Truth is, no one will ever be as good to me as my dad!

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My only wish for Christmas

All I wish for Christmas this year is to have some more time.

Time to spend with my lovely boyfriend.
Time to spend with my family and friends.
Time to read wonderful books while sipping a hot chocolate.
Time to go outdoors and enjoy nature.
Time to go skiing.
Time to go to the cinema.
Time (and money) to go on a trip around the world.

I know it's (almost) impossible to be presented with a gift as valuable and hard to give as time, so I'll try to make most of the time I have.

What would you do with more time on your hands?
And what do you wish for this Christmas?

Xoxo, enjoy what little time you have and live every moment!

Wise words

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Christmas everywhere - even on my nails

Today I thought, I'd share my favorite Christmas nail designs with you. I'm so excited for Christmas already that I decided to get me some more Christmas decorations.

Here are my top 4 designs I'll definitely wear this season:

Santa's Hat
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Simple and easy design, but nonetheless beautiful!
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Sophisitcated Christmas tree (if a thing like that even exists)
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Simple tree ornament
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I will post my own recreations of these wonderful designs until Christmas. I'd also love to see your recreations!

Xoxo, have fun being creative on your nails!

Christmas time is almost here!

It's that time of year, when autumn has arrived, the leaves are changing their colours, it's raining all the time (at least it feels like that) and when days get shorter. This is the time when I first start feeling a little Christmassy. I'm always kind of expecting the first snow to fall and to hear the first Christmas song on the radio. Of course, that won't happen until December, but nonetheless you can always hope - or make your own little early Christmas party.

This year's very first party was very short and improvised, but when the first Christmas feeling hits you, you just have to go with the flow, don't you think? My party consisted of listening to my all-time favorite Christmas song and watching people hurrying home through the light sparkling in the rain.

The instant I heard the opening chords of Whams "Last Christmas", I felt calm and happy and couldn't wait for Christmas to come around. For me, this song gives you the ultimate Christmas feeling.

Here's to all the other people out there, who also feel Christmas is right around the corner:

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

Xoxo, let's have a big pre-Christmas party!

RGRC Update #2

I've been very lazy over the last two months. Basically, all I did was work. Even the books I actually made it through, I read at work during my less busy late shifts.

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This time I chose two very differential books - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald on one hand and Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe on the other.

I have to confess, if I had to choose, I'd prefer The Great Gatsby over Uncle Tom's Cabin, simply because it's story is so glamourous and makes you want to live in the Roaring Twenties and experience one of Mr. Gatsby's great parties.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading both books. Both of them brought a whole new world to me and made me see certain things in a different way.

So, in light of all this I hereby vow to try and read more until it's time for the next update. I'm planning on reading:

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Lady Chatterleys' Lover by D. H. Lawrence
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Xoxo, have fun getting lost in your book's world.

Love is...



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Xoxo, enjoy being in love, it's the best thing that can ever happen to you!!

No men, no problems

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It took me until today to realize that if there are no men in your life - in a romantic way, of course - you've got a lot less problems then when you are in a relationship. Of course there's the occasional misunderstanding with your co-workers or a little fight with one of your friends.

But there are no evenings spent on the sofa crying and watching Dirty Dancing. There are no long hours of waiting for his call or text. No days spent at home, because you feel too depressed, tired, ugly, ... (fill in your feeling here) to go out of the house. No worried phone calls from your mum saying she's going to send out a search party to rescue you from this world shattering mistake you're about to do or, alternatively asking when you'll finally get married.

Instead, you have a lot more time and muse to practice your hobbies, meet with your girlfriends, drink wine and eat chocolate while watching Sex and the City for the thousandth time or dancing along to this one embarrassing favorite CD. You don't have to shave all the time, no one minds if you've gained a few pounds and there's no reason why you shouldn't spend hours on some online shopping site spending your money on beautiful shoes and bags.

And the greatest benefit: Knowing yourself. You've got so much more time at your hands
to get to know you.

What do you think are the greatest benefits of being single?

Xoxo, that's a great life, don't you think!

RGRC Update #1

I was very busy working on the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge during my holidays - whilst doing some sightseeing in Paris and the South of France and enjoying a few days of sun, sea and beach in Croatia.

So, during these last couple of months I read about 2300 pages. Three books, that couldn't be more different if intended. "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, an epic love story and famous classic, "The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America" by Erik Larson, which is a non-fiction book about the World Fair in Chicago in 1893 and "Lord of the Flies", a novel about a group of boys stuck on an uninhabited island.

All three books were very interesting to read and carried you off into a whole new world to explore. Now, that I'm finished with these books, I'm planning on reading these:

Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen - Sense and Sensibility
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby

Xoxo, have a great time reading!

11 things that make a great life

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1. Being loved by your friends and family. I'm not talking about the occasional phone call from your mum asking how you were, but being supported in everything you do - even if it is a stupid idea.

2. Living in a secure and stable society.

3. Having a group of friends that fit you just right. Friends, that are funny and childish when needed, friends that take you back down to earth when you're too high up in the clouds and help you get up when you fell.

4. Being free to do whatever you like e.g. travelling, saying what you want, reading what you like - I guess you get the picture here.

5. Having financial security. I'm not talking about having millions in your bank account, but having a secure job and a little money saved - maybe even a boring, little pension plan.

6. Being able to enjoy hobbies you like in terms of having enough spare time and money - and friends.

7. Having enough to eat - whenever you like - and only having to "starve" because you want to or because you were to lazy to go grocery shopping.

8. Living in a healthy, unstinking and clean environment.

9. Having a job you don't absolutely detest, that pays the bills and where you've got nice colleagues.

10. Knowing that whatever it is you are doing - either at work or at home - isn't useless but has an impact, somewhere. Seriously, everything I can think of makes a useful impact somehow - just think about the butterfly effect.

11. Not having to work or live close to people you hate - or, if you have to work or live with them, learning to be at peace with yourself and the people around you.

What else would you
count as an important part for a great life?

Xoxo, enjoy your life!

Seeking attention II

Remember how I told you about my desire for more male attention and therefore decided to open an account at an online-dating website?

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Well, I did open an account, answered most of the questions and even uploaded a picture. At first, while I was still debating with myself about which picture to upload, I didn't get too many messages, except some creepy ones, of course. But then messages started rolling in and I couldn't (and didn't want) to answer them all. So I picked out the ones that sounded best and tried to get to know these guys.

But you know how it is, you've never met that guy, sometimes there's not even the slightest chance you will ever be able to be with them, because they live too far away and wouldn't want to leave your current life behind again...

There was this one guy I would have agreed to actually meet because he was funny and entertaining, but I knew from the beginning that it couldn't work out because he lives more than two hours away.

Anyway, it was an interesting experience to make and maybe, some time I will try again ;)

Xoxo, what are your experiences with online-
dating websites?

Ode to the nice guys

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The following is dedicated to all the nice guys out there, who are still single because they haven't found a girl yet, who appreciates their qualities.

I found this text by chance while spending some time on StumbleUpon and it made me realize, while I've always been dating the mysterious, interesting, bad guy, I'll only be happy for the rest of my life with a NICE GUY.


Ode to the Nice Guys
This rant was written for the Wharton Undergraduate Journal   This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. ... This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.

This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they’re at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.

This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn’t worry about it. ... This is also for that time she didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you ... And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.

The nice guys don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don’t seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. ... many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things ... Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. ... I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many girls who ... realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single. 

So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.
Read the full article here

Isn't that just the most beautiful text to read? I was, maybe sometimes still am that girl, who isn't appreciating the nice, quiet guys, who do everything in their power to make you happy and know what to say at the exact right time, but I still have hope that one day I'll be able to actually change my ways and choose a NICE GUY.

Xoxo, I suggest we try to appreciate all the nice guys out there a bit more, girls!

Málaga Shopping

Remember my little trip to Málaga a few weeks ago? And of course I didn't leave Málaga without doing some serious shopping. Because Spanish women are crazy about dressing up, and basically looking perfect at all times, there are make-up stores and drugstores at every corner. I guess you can imagine what that meant for me. I really had to restrain myself not to buy everything that caught my eye. There where so many colors and textures and different effect polishes that I really didn't know how to decide which ones to buy.

Here are the ones I finally decided upon. There's one "Mirror" nail polish, a "Sugar Matte" polish in salmon pink, two bottles of beads for the "Caviar" effect and a bottle of plain green polish.

So far, I've only worn the "Mirror" nail lacquer, which is a nice bluish anthracite. It looked really nice and very shiny when I first painted my nails - and it dried very fast, too, but after half a day of shopping and cooking dinner it already started chipping. Although that's a bit disappointing I think it's perfect for nights out.

Xoxo, what do you think of this new "Mirror" effect nail polish? Have you tried one yet?

Outfit Interview

I had an interview for the position as Front Desk Manager at a big international company yesterday and I thought I'd show you my outfit. Apparently they liked it (and me) as I already got an offer :D

What do you think? Would you have worn it differently?

Xoxo!

Going South - Málaga & Córdoba

A couple of weeks ago I went on a trip to Málaga visiting my cousin, who spent an exchange semester there.

Málaga, in the very South of Spain and on the Costa del Sol is an amazing mediterranean little city, where everything is just a few minutes on foot. They've got two amazing palaces on a hill on the far side of the city, a beautiful cathedral and lots of wonderful shops.

Here are a few impressions of Málaga and Córdoba, where we spent a beautiful day wandering the city and sightseeing:

1 the harbor of Málaga 2 olive plantation 3 patio of the Mezquita de Córdoba 4 Plaza de Torros in Málaga 5&6 gardens in Málaga

1 overview of Málaga 2 patio in Córdoba 3&4 palaces in Córdoba 5 beach of Torremolinos

Where are you going this summer? Anything planned?

Xoxo, enjoy your holidays!!

What I'm reading

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Over the last weeks I've been reading two books, that have been on my To-Read-List for months now. Two books that couldn't differ more. Two books that are miraculously part of the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge, too. The first one is "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson, the other one "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell, which has been made into the same-named all-time classic movie.

"The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America" is a 2003 non-fiction book by Erik Larson presented in a novelistic style so thrilling, that you almost can't put it down. The book is based on real characters and events. Adapted from source

"Gone with the Wind", an epic novel about life in the Southern States of the US during the Civil War. It follows Scarlett O'Hara, a Southern Belle, who pines after - what she thinks is - the love of her life, after he marries another girl. The book describes the events in her life and the Civil War in very colorful terms and pictures.

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All in all, both books are very interesting, thrilling and informative and you feel you can't put them down. In "The Devil in the White City" some parts are nothing for highly sensitive people, but these are the parts that make the story thrilling.

I could only recommend to read both books, as they are stories everyone should have read in their lives.

What other books would you recommend everyone should read? Why?

Xoxo, enjoy the summer and read on!

The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

A few weeks ago, while I was spending some time on StumbleUpon, I came across this post about the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge, where taking part means reading all (or as many as possible) books Rory ever mentions throughout the show. I decided to give it a go and take part because of three reasons:

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1. I love Gilmore Girls! When I was still in school I loved to watch as many episodes as they would show. Also, I admire the way they sometimes integrate quotes from movies, books and songs into their conversations.
2. I love reading. When I was younger people always told me to put that book away and do some sports or whatever.
3. I love ticking things off lists.

And, after going through the list of books, I discovered that a lot of them are either older books or biographies, so I'll be learning a lot while reading. Usually, when reading, I tend to choose books that are romances, which naturally all end the same way, so I am quite excited to get to know other genres (and plots).

I opened up a new page, which you can find here, where you'll find a list of all the books to be read and already read. Also, I'll sporadically write posts to update on my progress.

Xoxo, enjoy your summer while reading a good book and getting tanned!

Nails, Nails, Nails

I've felt very creative throughout the last few weeks and created a few nail designs I thought it'd be nice to show them to you. Here they are, my little master pieces :)

About the first design, one of my professors actually told me that my nails looked like M&Ms.

The second design was intended to honor Chanel, as they are one of my favorite brands! (Although I couldn't really afford anything from Chanel until now ;)

And here is the last one, inspired by this creative tutorial by Cutepolish

What do you think of my creations? Do you like them? Let me know in the comment section!

Xoxo, see you soon!

PS: There's a beautiful blog presentation going on over at Carla-Laetitia's blog. Check it out and maybe even take part yourself!

Seeking attention

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I did it again. I registered on an online-dating site. I have to confess, I don't really believe in online dating, but I really feel like I need some male attention and it's quite hard to find male attention when all you do is sit at home and study...

Remember the last time I wanted to try online dating? My big "Next Step"? I didn't even have a chance to really get talking to anyone because I met Mr. French like five minutes after I registered. So, somewhere in the back of my mind, I guess, I'm hoping that maybe this time it'll work out just like it had last time.

I don't really trust in finding Mr. Right on an online-dating site, but who knows? And if nothing works out, I'm sure I'll have some fun and get some material for new posts ;)

Xoxo, let's see how it works out!

Writer's block

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I've got it. I'VE GOT IT. Writer's block.

I've been trying to write a new post for over two weeks now and there's absolutely nothing that comes to my mind when I think about what I'd want to write about... No ideas at all. Niente, nichts, nada.

I mean, I see all the beautiful things that are going on with spring finally being here and everything turning green and starting to bloom. But still there seems to be nothing that relates to my blog somehow.

So, please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to write about - seriously, anything! (I admit, I'm desperate for something to write about)

Xoxo, let your creativity flow! (Let's hope some of the inspiration
will rub off on me)

PS: I really liked how they defined writer's block in that picture :)

What I've been up to

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Hey girls...

Sorry for not posting for such a long time but I've been crazy busy about all the stuff that's been going on at uni... But, I've recently had some spare time - finally!! And I've been doing a bit of research on Pinterest... Nothing special, but here are a few highlights I'd like to share with you ;)

• Something to laugh about: So funny

• A few wise words to think about: Wise words

• Something to drool about: Pure Hotness

I hope you like the pics as much as I do!

Xoxo, enjoy!!

Romance on demand

As I am currently on my own (=single), I've got a lot of time to dream about Mr. Right,  but also to watch quite a few TV shows. The last few weeks I've been watching North and South with Patrick Swayze and Downton Abbey. And now I wish Mr. Bates and Orry Main would be real. They are just the most romantic and attentive gentlemen I know. They always seem to know the right thing to say and do, they never do anything that could break a woman's heart. They'd wait years to finally be with their love and never even look at another woman in the meantime. And, on top of all that, they even look good - Patrick Swayze, at least. I'm not really sure about Mr. Bates, but I think that all the attentiveness makes him more attractive, don't you? Or maybe it's the time difference? I think that like a decade ago, you dedicated yourself to someone and that was it. There was no getting cold feet or changing your mind. You either loved the person right from the beginning or you didn't - end of the story.


Also, as I can't watch TV all the time (because even that gets boring after some time), I've been reading a lot, too. At first, I've been reading a few books I've had lying around forever, but then I started on a really nice book I got for Christmas - Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery. And tell you what, it was just so nice to read a light, funny and romantic book. I had it finished in about two days because I was so anxious to know how the story would continue and if the main characters would be together in the end.


Xoxo, enjoy being carried away by all the love and romance on TV!