.SOMETIMES RAW.

Hello!

These days I have to admit that my stress level is pretty low. I mean, if your only concern is when to write on the blog, to what restaurant to go to for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or when to go to the beach or what cocktail to order, life is pretty sweet, no? But there were and will be other times with a lot of stress and running around and such. Think about the approaching holiday season. You guys, it is X-mas in ONE month! Can you believe it? Another years is almost over. Wow! I am still speechless, thinking about how fast time flies. So let’s go back to stress. Are you already stressed out being reminded of Christmas and the gifts you have to purchase for everybody? I found the perfect solution for you. NO gifts! In my family we don’t buy gifts for each other for the holidays. My son gets one or two toys, nicely wrapped under the tree and that is it. My parents don’t believe in all the gift-buying insanity either. Christmas is just to go all crazy buying things in stores for everybody in the family and then to return most of it the next day.

All I really want is time. Give me your time. More time – anything like that. I don’t want any materialistic stuff only because it is Christmas and you think you NEED to buy (me) things. I buy whatever I want and or need throughout the year. Of course it is nice for kids to have a tree and unwrap things and have cookies and all that. And we really just do it for my son or the kids in our families. But I am defiantly not stressing myself out running around for days or weeks to find gifts for everyone else. Especially useless stuff – like dust catcher or another scarf! We have stopped  doing that in a long time and it is so much easier. We simply agreed on just preparing something for the kids. Easy, no? All you really have to do now is focus on your family. Focus on the people who are there to celebrate with you. Not on stuff. We have enough STUFF already. And isn’t all this so counterintuitive? The holidays shouldn’t be about stress you guys! Rather a peaceful, relaxing time with friends and family.

Besides that, how do you stay stress-free or de-stress? Here are some tips on how I stay out of the stress-zone:

1. Meditation and Yoga: Since we have been at the Hyatt Ziva in Cancun I have taken Yoga classes daily and I must say that this helps me to focus and be content. I practiced Power Yoga for a long time now and I love it. It is just an awesome balance and with a bit of mediation I am fine. Meditation is good for me. I never thought I could sit still for more than 5 minutes but it is all in your brain. You can do anything you really want to. Give your brain a rest and zone out for a while. Just sit quietly somewhere for a couple of minutes with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Everybody could to this for five minutes – puh-lease! 😀
2. Go outside: Nature is your best friend. My son and I are outside a lot. Almost every single day – unless it is pouring rain that does not stop for five minutes. But these days are rare. In Mexico we are out all day long. To spend time in nature as much as possible is key.
3. Lavender essential oil and breathing: Lavender calms me down, period! I love to drink lavender tea or spritz some of my essential oil mixed with water on my pillow at night and I sleep so well. Correct breathing is so important too. Try this exercise: Inhale for a count of four. Hold breath for a count of seven. Exhale for a count of eight. It does work. I tried it several times before losing my mind with my son 😀
4. 
5. Get a massage or a beauty treatment: Sometimes it feels so good to get a professional massage done, right? Yesterday I was able to get a deep tissue massage at the hotel SPA and it was hands down one of the best massages I have ever had. Get A haircut at my favorite place in Germany/Coburg which is always de-stressing and works for me. Have you ever visited a Naturhaarfriseur? A what? It is a hairdresser who only works with natural ingredients. You won’t get a perm there for example! If you get the chance to have a natural haircut done ask for the head massage with the boar bristle brush! Awesomeness! Try something new once in a while! You will never forget this experience. Nicole Reiter is the best in this field!
6. Read: I prefer to read at home on the couch with a nice cup of tea. For me, this is de-stressing paradise. Sometimes this is really all I need, too. I believe it is important to give yourself some time to rest. Life is stressful enough. Take a deep breath, do some yoga, stretching or mediation, read a book, play outside and go get a massage. <3 Have a good day!

Thank you for reading my blog. 

Hello!

Today I would like to share three great books that helped me a lot when I started blogging. These books are for everybody who does not have a clue what blogging is all about and is in need of some basic information. Along with great websites and ideas, links and helpful tips, these books will be a good investment. There is just so much to know and learn before you start your blog. Writing good posts is one thing; but the goal is, you also want to attract readers to your blog so you have to work on the website itself to make it look presentable. You can do so with widgets, plug-ins and such great tools that you will find out about in these books.

Are you thinking about starting your own blog? Here is what I learned so far.

First, ask yourself what you would like to share or really care about. The key is to write on a regular basis – let’s say Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Or everyday, like I do. I just love writing and researching so much! Many start a blog and then don’t post anything anymore. Of course nobody wants to follow your blog if you don’t keep it fresh with new information. If you have followed my blog for a while you know that I love to write about my personal experiences, how-to-do stuff, my take-on things, recipes and a lot more. Just think what blog you would love to follow or read on a daily basis. Me, I wouldn’t want to read only about food, fashion or books.  I want a variety of things. I love to help people or make things easier and better. This is why I love to share articles on my beauty products. Keep  in mind that you want a clear line of some sort throughout your blog. Stick to the categories you want to write about.

I think it is also important to mention the latest trends and news on the topics you like to share. New recipes, new creations, new books etc. This is how you can increase the readership. I try to add jokes and funny stories now and then and of course I want to inspire others to follow their dream and do what they love. Don’t just dream about starting a blog or writing a book. Do it. Life is too short! You can write about a difficult time in your life, illness, experience – there is simply so much. At the same time, be careful not to share too much about your family, work etc. Simply know the limits to not make anybody uncomfortable. Read and subscribe to other blogs to see what they are writing about. See, what is interesting, what is out there and get ideas. Of course, don’t copy and paste but try to find out what people would love to read. And then be better than the rest. 🙂

Are you ready to start your blog? Think about a great name for it first. Decide wisely because once you started your blog you don’t want to change everything again. What would fit well with the topics you would like to share and write about? Now think about if you want to create your own website or if you want to host your blog. WordPress and Blogger are the most popular website creation sites. I like WordPress (WP Engine) because you have a 24/7 help service included if you host with them. Pretty neat if you are not a computer nerd. I registered at WordPress.org, which is self-hosted. WordPress.com is free. The free version restricts you from having an income. I have heard from my friends on Blogger, that the website is very easy to set up and to maintain. You can purchase your domain for $12 or so and you get a domain name like yourname.blogspot.com. There is also Tumblr.com and Webs.com as website builders but I don’t know anything about them really. I looked for the two main ones and WordPress sounded more appealing to me because it is just so reliable. After my website was set up I created the “About” page to introduce myself. Just include some personal information why you want to write a blog or what you want to share. If you have any questions, send me an email under Contact! I will be happy and glad to help you and share with you what I have already learned in the blogging business.

I have followed “The Minimalists” for a long time now and love to read their blog. This great video gives you insight on how to start your WordPress blog. Enjoy! And happy blogging!

Thank you for reading my blog.

Hello!

And Happy Friday! The weekend is around the corner. Some great updates from me and my family will follow soon. I just want to say that I have the best time with ever and enjoy every single day. This is the most important thing for me these days. To know that my husband is with us and we are healthy and able to be together. I always write about him and it seems we have no arguments ever. Of course we do. Maybe it is because we don’t see each other that much due to his mission assignment in Africa but I must say that we really don’t argue that much. It is just easy smooth sailing and I love it. The only one who freaks out once in a while in a perfect situation is me. No clue why. Maybe because there is ONE thing I want and I can have it and I forget how awesome everything else is? Then I turn into a bitch. Thankfully, this really only happens once in a while. Like once a month hahahah…. poor husband because it is seriously never his fault!  My Five Things – read on if you would like:

Thinking about: My family and balance. Today, my husband took our son to the beach and spent at least two hours with him building sandcastles while I worked on my blog. This was awesome. I loved it and enjoyed every minute. I sat in a café, the friendly waitress was asked for automatic coffee refill send to my table and I typed along. I thought how fun it is to really do my thing and write but I know how much I love to spend time with my son and husband. The key is to find a balance and make it all work. I love to spend time with them and have the freedom to work on my blog and create new things and write. It was awesome after two hours of writing to see both of them again. I was so happy and it felt good. I know that I will always write but I know now that I will do it in a way where I feel good and it is all balanced.

I am also thinking about this and that it is so true. I clearly see my husband here 100%: 

and that, not so much my husband but I see it everywhere:

Just a little reminder! 🙂

Eating: Do you know what Ceviche is? Here is the link. I love this food. Let’s say I have eaten a lot of it lately and will share some more insight soon. I don’t like meat too much but I do love seafood (which is meat in a way too, but c’mon, you gotta live, right!) I just cannot say no. Especially not when it is raw – or sometimes raw 😉

Reading: I just finished Whoopi Goldberg’s book “If someone says ‘You complete me,’ RUN!” which was a great read. Check out my slightly different Book Review here.  I started  “The Heart goes Last” by Margaret Atwood recently but I have not finished it yet. I review will follow soon.

Watching: The Human Stain. Another one of my favorite movies. Watch it if you get a chance!  Otherwise, check out all these movies  on my list that I would love to see.

Enjoying:  This season. Fall, winter and Christmas. Well, for me, Christmas means to be with my family and nothing else. To be home, to eat good food and have the people you love the most around you and preferably no fights or arguments.

In my family we don’t give gifts to each other. My son gets one gift but that is it. I just don’t believe in all this insanity of buying something for everyone and the stress that is involved. In the end most of what you give will be returned anyway or not worn, or put somewhere to collect dust. I have the same feeling about any “holiday” let’s say. Valentine’s Day? C’mon. Seriously? You have to make a big thing out of this one day to show you love your significant other? I could not care less. Love me the rest of the year and I am fine. All these holiday are the same. You feel obligated to buy something for someone. It stresses people out and I just don’t like all that. I mean, of course, when you have kids, it is nice to have something small for them. Like one gift but to get something for EVERYONE in your family? C’mon…. get real. And then the hassle to return everything. If you want to give something, give money or a voucher so the person can purchase whatever they need and want. And do not stress any further. Simple. Really think about it. From my minimalist perspective, it is all just a waste of time and money. Rather spent time with your family and not going shopping for stuff that nobody needs. Really think about it.

Thank you for reading my blog.