Hello and Happy Friday/Earth Day!
Today is Earth Day. Facebook reminded me this morning while I enjoyed my cup of coffee. I think it is important to celebrate Earth Day every single day. Just simply cutting down on waste and learning about how to recycle and compost is important to me. I wrote not too long ago that I love to cook and I am amazed every single time about the amount of plastic and garbage I throw away afterwards. Have you heard about this place in Berlin? Zero-waste is key! Check out their website. What a great store concept, no? So in honor of Earth Day I try to be extra aware how I can create a healthier, happier place to live for me and my family. And if it is just for buying a coffee to- go without the plastic lid. This week went by so quickly again. Way too fast. This is what I have been up to if you would like to read.
Reading: A lot. Actually, I found good book recommendations and literature blogs all over the place and my list of books-to-read grows and grows. I read Benedict Well’s book Vom Ende der Einsamkeit which kept me breathless several times. I have never heard of this amazing author before but a book that actually made me cry in the end is always worth recommending I think. Mr. Wells, I will read all your books for sure! Highly recommended! Next, I loved Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove. I actually won this book and a movie ticket at Riemann Bookstore. Beautiful, simple story and a gem of a feel-good novel! To observe how Ove’s world full of sadness and anger changes over time is fantastic. I want more Fredrik Backman! I read Blauschmuck by Katharina Winkler and this book made me uncomfortable. In a nutshell, it is about Filiz, a turkish woman, who suffers psychologically and physically the beatings of her husband Yunus. Blauschmuck (Blue Jewelry) describes the different blue-shades of bruises she has all over her body. And this is by far not the only pain she experiences. This is a book that cannot be reviewed so easily because the everything is based on a real story. I suffered with Filiz, it made me so angry, sad and helpless. Highly recommended, disturbing, thought-provoking but a book like this needs to be read. I finished Wreck and Order by Hannah Tennent-Moore. Read the review here. Currently, I am reading Jed Mc Kenna’s Spiritual Enlightenment -Book One. Review will follow.
Watching: I went on a movie-date with my husband to see A Man Called Ove. The movie very accurate to the book’s content which made it so special. I only found the German trailer and don’t know if and when it will be released in the States. Soooorry! Or you learn Swedish.
Learning/Discovering: I found this blog about a couple who travel the world, write about it while living mostly on raw food and back to nature. No shampoo, deodorant, shower gel but plain water. Check out their website. It is definitely worth it to get a bit of inspiration. Tie-Restaurant in Coburg. You like vegetarian/vegan food? Do check out this place! Also, it is National Letter Writing Month! Yaaaay. When I moved to Munich and later to New York I used to send my mom a letter at least every two weeks. It was a tradition that we somehow started. Also sending letters and postcards to my grandparents, sister and brother is just still a great thing I like to do. I used to have pen pals as well but for some reason, lack of time, smartphones, Skype, FaceTime and emails letter writing is not so much on my mind these days. I also remember writing consistently to my best friend Julia and attached a Simpsons Postcard. How awesome is this feeling when you open your mailbox [not on your phone or computer] and find a handwritten letter or postcard? I love it and I am great at writing letters. I decorate the outside and letter itself with stickers, paintings, add photos – it is so much fun! When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone? Do it TODAY. 🙂
Loving: This t-shirt
Listening to: Nick Drake’s Album Pink Moon which is so beautiful. I love discovering new musicians and then be instantly hooked. Usually, I pick my favorite song of the album and listen to it on “repeat-one” for days until I am tired of it. Crazy, I know! For some reason I believe that this won’t happen with this song. What an amazing voice Mr. Drake! Makes me almost tear-up a bit.
What are your plans for the weekend? What are your five things for the week? What are you up to? I would love to hear from you. Have a great weekend.
