.SOMETIMES RAW.

Hello!

I hope you all had a great start of 2016! Headache? Party? Well, let me tell you what I did. I celebrated New Year with my parents and my son. That is it. My husband flew back to Congo on Wednesday evening and my son and I stayed at my parents house in Germany. I am not into these huge New Years Parties anymore for the simple reason that I like it rather quiet and calm. Clubs, huge celebrations – been there, done that. Out of a sudden it has become pretty cold in Germany. We had some ice rain/light snow that gives the impression that it is winter after all. We took long winter-walks, with hot tea in a thermos and pretzels, my son bundled up in the stroller and enjoyed that it seemed we were the only ones out there in the cold. Then we came back in, fired up the oven and curled on the couch – mostly with a  good book. What else could I ask for? Well, maybe that my husband would be still here. What I been up to? Read my Five Things for this week. Enjoy!

Listening to: The Minimalist Podcast.  I love them. This podcast is still available for free now so click on it and listen if you want!  I do like Iron Maiden. Unfortunately, I have never seen them in concert, (Hello to my friend Alex Konopka who has seen them live approximately one million times and has all the albums). Check out this amazing Iron Maiden Documentary here .  I also listen to Motörhead. If you haven’t heard: Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister ( 24 December 1945- 28 December 2015) died. At some point I was a huge fan of Motörhead. Great memories of an Après Ski night in Austria with my Motörhead T-shirt on while drinking Jagertea. Check out their documentary and keep in mind: “You win some – you lose some”:

Watching: I am still waiting for the movie Room to be released on iTunes or Amazon so I can watch it online. See the trailer of this amazing movie:

Everybody here in Germany talks about The Walking Dead and Season 6. I haven’t seen any good series lately, have you? Can you recommend one? I am not quite convinced of The Walking Dead to start Season 1. I loved Breaking Bad and Nurse Jackie and Californication.

Eating: I love sushi and I was happy to find out that this  Sushi Restaurant opened in Coburg. I tested it today with my friend Michaela and it was just great. Fresh, tasty and good sushi. If you like sushi, you won’t be disappointed! I will review this place soon and post more pictures. Like their Facebook page and find out what they have on the menu. Otherwise, I have been eating way too much and will slow down this eating-insanity that only really happens during the holidays.

Drinking: On our way out after dinner, I found out about Fame – Frozen Cocktails Bar & Lounge which is right next to the Sushi Restaurant – Badergasse 3 in Coburg. This place seems amazing. We did not try their cocktails yet but I had a nice chat with the owner, Timothy Person who is actually from Long Island New York. How small the world is, right? I will most certainly stop by soon to have one of their amazing cocktails and maybe write a review.

Thinking about: How fortunate I am to be here in Coburg with my son again. My parents, Joel and I had the most relaxing and yummy Raclette last night and it felt so good to sit in the kitchen and talk, drink and eat. With all the upcoming projects my husband and I have in the next couple of months and for 2016, it is good to have a bit of calming and quiet time at home. Have a great weekend!

Thank you for reading my blog. 

Hello!

We all have to make decisions in life. Every single day. Sometimes good ones and sometimes not so much, right? We have to keep in mind that beauty is indeed everywhere. Even in all those wrong turns we will take in life. I want to write today about those times when we stand at an intersection and need to decide which way to chose. A couple of weeks ago we found us at a path in the woods in Canada. There were no road signs but we knew at some point we cannot go back and have to make a decision at this intersection – simply left or right. So there we sat in the car thinking which way to go. Right looked good but maybe we should take left instead?

Let’s switch to relationships for a bit. There are so many decisions when your heart says right but your gut says left and your brain questions both decisions. A good friend of mine just broke off her marriage with her husband and they say that they did have a deep love for each other. I always thought that these two would make it. They could survive this madness of relationship-insanity that so many couples go through these days. Doesn’t it seem lately that everyone breaks up? My friend told me exactly the same decision-problem. Her heart told her to stay but her gut told her to leave him. And of course her brain questioned both. Whenever you think someone’s relationship seems okay and it is smooth sailing, you are even more surprised when the couple breaks up. Now, back on the road.

That particular day in the deep woods of Canada, we decided to take left and it was a horrible ride but turned out well in the end. At some point I was really frightened but I guess this is what life is all about. Was it a wrong turn or was it the wrong decision? Nope. It was all okay. We learned from it and next time we will try another direction. With all these decisions we make we might have this feeling that some do lead us the wrong way. I think all we really have to do is be open for something new and look very closely at all possibilities. Maybe this wrong turn was the most beautiful.

Thank you for reading my blog. 

Hello!

Today  I share a review of my favorite bookstore Riemann in Coburg, located at the Market Place. A sweet independent bookstore that has the extra little something. When I was a child, I had this dream of working there when I grow up. I spent so much time at Riemann; reading, browsing and buying books that I am almost part of the furniture. This sweet, cozy bookstore simply has it all. It is just so much more than just awesome books in shelves. There is excellent service, information, coffee and pastries available at the little café (Caféchen) on the first floor. The staff is very knowledgable and helpful. Also, do follow their Facebook page and website for updates, newsletters, lectures and events.

The Bookstore Riemann exists over 200 years. In 1805, Johann Gerhard Riemann founded a bookbinding store and one year later they added the bookstore. The current owners are Martina Riegert and her husband Martin Vögele. They took over after Irmgard Clausen, in January 2015. Irmgard Clausen was in charge of the bookstore for 28 years and transformed the bookstore into what it is today.

Riemann bookstore makes me realize how nice it is to visit independent bookstores, filled with an amazing book collection. It is important that they do exist.  The love and care I feel at this place makes me wish that there would be more like this one available and less of the chain bookstores. When you browse through the store you find book recommendations from Riemann personnel. It seems that the Riemann team really loves what they are doing, love books and obviously enjoy reading.

If you are looking for a new book, a good cup of coffee, a snack or a reading by a great author, this is the place you want to go. Riemann just has character that is lacking in chain bookstores – it just has it all. If you are looking for souvenirs – book-related or from Coburg, notebooks, pens or pencils, postcards, art supply – you will find it there. It is just so much fun to get lost in there. They offer “Leseförderung” as well and so much more. Make sure to check out their website for details. Sometimes I visit Riemann with my son and we enjoy the children’s section. Believe me, you will not be disappointed.

There are readings for kids that take place in the little café and sometimes in the kid’s section of the bookstore. I also enjoy the fantastic travel/cooking and art section  with seating arrangements for you to sit, read and browse. Their selection is full of interesting titles. You will find an international sections with selected books in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

You will be hit by a pang of nostalgia and love when you browse the bookstore and find out about the history of this amazing bookstore. If you are in Coburg you basically cannot miss stepping in at least once. It is an absolute delight if you are a book lover, enjoy reading and appreciate books. Make sure you discover the upper floor and the little café. I highly recommend this place. Bookworm paradise!

You can also find my review on TRIP ADVISOR.

Thank you for reading my blog.