Blended in Berlin [blogger meet-up]

Hi!

Keeping it [rather] short and sweet but also slightly sappy here today. If that’s not for you just return tomorrow for the food. I won’t judge you [much]. For those of you who are still reading: let’s talk blends once more. It’s a well-known fact among bloggers that aside from all wonderful parts of blogging the friendships we create are the most amazing. Like I mentioned before this weekend did not only involve a simple day in Berlin but involved a meet-up with Lucie.

Lucie had suggested a cute little restaurant in Kreuzberg, the neighborhood she used to live while in Berlin in 2008 for our meet-up.  It had the typical Berlin flair – a mix of guests from students, tourists as well as people who looked like they had been born and raised in Berlin. Unsurprisingly the place was packed and had a great atmosphere. I’ll admit I was still anxious the hours leading up to our meet-up. What if we didn’t get along? Or if I don’t know what to say? Or … I can be quite talkative but awkward when first meeting others. Clearly my constant over-worrying tendencies persist even in the face of happy events to come.

All of my worries were obviously [or not so to me, apparently] unnecessary and forgotten all at once when we met. From the moment we hugged and said hello we clicked with each other right away. It’s one of those clichés that’s true: when you’ve been following each other’s blogs, exchanging mails and letters it’s like you’d been friends forever. Lucie and I talked non-stop about … everything, really. Just like catching up with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while and where you can pick up a conversation at the point were you stopped the last time. From blogging in general to food [obviously], families,  fitness and whatever else we could have gone on forever. It’s probably a cliché saying this by now but Lucie truly is just as sweet in person as she appears to be on her blog.

The beauty of friendships among bloggers [is blendship an existing word yet??]: We know each others’ background, thoughts, opinions, worries or just random quirks. Meaning that we’ve bonded over similarities, given advice, laughed with each other long before an actual meet-up. What we share on our blogs at times is so intimate we might not even have confided it to family or friends. No matter where we are in life, which struggles we face or questions we ask about life there’s somebody out there who has experienced the same and can offer helpful or at least calming and reassuring words. Support, advice, There’s no need to explain yourself or try to be someone else when you meet people who don’t judge you for your past or current ‘flaws’ you shared on your blog. There are topics I have an even easier time approaching with blends than with ‘real life’ friends though I’m happy to add Lucie to the latter now, too. [In case she agrees, that is :).]

Source

If it hadn’t been for either of us needing to catch a plane respectively train back home Lucie and I agreed we could have kept talking forever. It’s safe to say plans to visit Switzerland are starting to form over here. Even more amazing would be following Lucie suit and attending one of the huge blogger meet-ups overseas to meet even more blends. Wishful thinking …

Come back tomorrow for more on what I ate  in Berlin. Happy Tuesday!

Happiness inducing today: Sharing an office with a nice colleague.

What was a highlight of your weekend or your Monday?

Will you attend one of the blogger meet-ups in the US? Which one?

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MIMM: Fabulous February [favourites]

[Grammar nerd alert: Can’t get enough alliteration in my life.]

Yes, you read that right. I know it’s almost too late to post February favourites by now but as there were quite a few fabulous things and happenings I’ll still do it. Which better occasion to do so than Marvelous in my Monday?! Thanks to Katie for hosting!

Favourite beauty product

Thanks to my fantastic American pen pal who spoiled me with goodies earlier in February I finally got to experience the awesomeness that is Bath & Body Works.  Their Honey Autumn Apple Lotion scents sooo good.

Favourite tea

While I’m usually not keen on fruity teas at all Celestial Seasoning’s Cinnamon Apple Spice flavor is a fabulous exception. Warming, naturally sweet and just delightful it’s one of those teas I can’t get enough of.

I’ve been bugging a local store selling several Celestial Seasoning’s products about ordering this flavor but while they promised it they never did. Talk about bad customer service. Once again my pen pal stepped in and mailed me not only two large boxes of that flavour but also some of this …

Sugar Cookie Tea!

She got this for herself after I recommended it having heard the whole blog world rave about it. Teasing me she pretended she wouldn’t be able to fit it into the box anymore. Such a sweet surprise to open the package to this one, too. Granted, I might not have assumed the taste to be reminiscent of sugar cookies had I not known the name. But it certainly tastes fantastic and I totally get what all the hype is about now :).

Favourite blend

Hoping to get back to the lovely restaurant soon – not alone for sure :).

Okay, there are way too many sweet people in the blog world to play favourites. But having met Kat in February I can definitely say she’s a fabulous one I hope to meet again soon! Getting to know alike minds is one of my main reasons to blog and I hope to meet more blends in the future.

Favourite book

Reading everybody’s enthusiastic reviews during the past months I finally got “The Happiness Project” for my Kindle. I’m usually skeptical of books like this but am enjoying it a lot so far. In case you’re wondering why I haven’t finished it yet: I think it’s one of those books to read slowly trying to incorporate the advice in your own life. Yet another topic for a future post, I guess 😉 – not that there weren’t enough I’ve promised you already. I will get to those soon, I promise!

 

Favourite trip

The famous “Ampelmännchen” spotted on a shirt at the flea market.

Visiting Berlin was definitely one of my highlights in February. Funnily enough I wasn’t even to keen on going there when I was younger wondering what all the rage was about. But especially during the past years I’ve grown quite fond of the city. It’s an interesting place with many things to see and do as well as good food to eat, obviously ;). Traveling with my mum was the cherry on top. Fingers crossed we’ll be going again soon!

What were some of your highlights in February?

Which is your favourite flavor of Celestial Seasoning’s tea?

MIMM: A fabulous blend [not talking coffee]

Did you all have a nice and relaxing weekend?

After last week’s Berlin adventures mine was definitely more laid-back but no less special thanks to a fantastic first: Meeting a blend! And not just any but the lovely Kat who made my Saturday truly marvelous.

We’d originally planned to meet a while back already after realizing how close to each other we lived. But university and work got in between hindering an earlier meeting. I’ll admit my usual anxiety came up as I was afraid we might not get along in real life or have nothing to talk about. However, I can now safely say Kat’s one of the sweetest person I’ve met to date and we kept talking non-stop from the very minute I picked her up on the gate. A fabulous blend, dare I say?

With only four hours on hand we tried to make the most of our time and started with the only possible thing: Shopping. Sorry for confirming a girly cliché here ;). But browsing the shops was a necessity. It’s safe to say we could both have spend a little fortune on pajama pants, Hello Kitty bowls and cute mugs [I’ll get you that one next time, Kat!]. Somehow managing to resist larger purchases we headed to our main destination.

I just HAD to get this cute pen – it’s varicoloured after all, right :D?!

After my great birthday lunch experience we’d decided to visit the café I’d been to with my mum and friends again. The daily menu sounded fabulous once again.

Once we’d gotten our beverages and ordered our mains it was time for our gift exchange.

Kat obviously had to try the Sweet Chili Yogi tea I’d been swooning about. No convincing needed ;).

Staying true with her sweet personality Kat spoiled me with goodies. We’d been talking about our fear foods several times before so there was a certain something I’d asked for …

Cereal! Real, sugary cereal.

Growing up I’d never really eaten a lot of it and when ED hit I eliminated it from my diet completely. Being the cereal queen herself Kat couldn’t let my life go on cereal-less anymore. Therefore she brought me both her favourite and a special kind of cereal I’d asked for. More on that in Wednesday’s post – I’m such a tease, right ;)?! But here’s what else she added.

Hello, Lindt truffles!

Being quite camera shy in anyway we failed on remembering to get a picture of us taken. Bad blogger alert – sorry! But food pictures make up for it, right J? So here’s what we got at the restaurant.

My entrée: Arabian Chickpea and Kidney Bean Stew with fresh mint and a side of whole-wheat bread with spreads

Not exactly photogenic but a delicious choice nontheless.

Kat had meant to try the vegan tarte flambée my mum got on my birthday but her order was switched up accidentially. She still enjoyed the vegan quiche she got instead.

Time flew by way too fast and we had to say goodbye already. It was so nice to chat about everything but obviously especially fun to go into all kinds of topic only a fellow blogger understands. Exchange about nut butter favourites, taking pictures in public and chocolate definitely happened. One thing we fully agreed on was how fantastic the blogging community is. We were already talking about a future meet-up again on the way to the station. Thanks for the marvelous day, Kat!

Hope you’re all having a great Monday!

 

Have you ever met a blend? What did you do?

Tell me about the best part of your weekend!