Sunday 29 January 2012

Holidays

Dear followers,

You've probably recognized it: I changed my blog's design a little to bring some fresh air on the site. Hopefully you like it, but for now I am quite satisfied with the result. Still, I am discovering new gadgets and options on my account each time I look, so it might be that further changes will be made.

At the moment, I am back at my parents' and I have just spent a marvelous week here. My brother celebrated his birthday and offered himself the best present: He won a music competition in school and is now allowed to go to London for the next competition. Congratulations! He really played well on his bass guitar although he must have been extremely nervous - I was it, too. 

The last week was calm as I only skied a little, spent a lot of time reading books (snuggled in bed or in front of the chimney), did some shopping with my Mom and had some delicious Sushi with a friend on friday. Beside those activities, I reorganized my desk:

Before
The new desk fits so much better into the room and I am really glad I bought it (IKEA). Personally I love all kind of boxes to organize myself and to throw things inside - all hidden in matching boxes. The old desk seemed to be overloaded, whereas the appeal of the new one lies in its simplicity and organized structure.

After
Today I go skiing another time. I can't believe that I have already spent one week at my parent's and that university only starts in 7 days. Actually I could need some extension...

To end today's post I want to come up with a totally different topic: I am going to spent my summer holidays in California, Colorado, Utah and Nevada with my family. We will start in Los Angeles, then driving to the Grand Canyon and to the Arches (Tuba, Moab & Cedar), followed by a stay in Las Vegas, then heading to Yosemite National Park and finishing in San Francisco. As this route is really popular we need to organize now and book hotels soon. Do have any recommandations? Any tips where to stay, where to go and what to see?

I hope, everything is going well for you.
See you next week.

Sunday 22 January 2012

End

It's done! Done! Done!

Sorry, I have to write it three times as it is over now. All 7 exams are written, we had a great party yesterday and I am looking forward to two weeks of holidays.

First: Exams. Some have been more diffcult than expected, whereas others less. In conclusion I think that my way to prepare was quite right (including working throughout the year), though I can only juge this when I get my grades.

Second: Party. It was called End of the World and now my mind is reset for the next year - mission completed. We partied in an old theatre which was really nice and fitted perfectly to the theme Hollywood. Finally I went as a kind of Cat Woman. The masque was the best as some people couldn't recognize me.

Third: Holidays. I am glad that I can spend them at my parents where I can ski again and just relax. No work, no duties - only free time. It's my brother's birthday on wednesday that we will probably party in a restaurant having fondu.

To finish: A recipe I tried this week as it was a nice distraction from work. I had a lot of food rests in my fridge, so I used them to make an apple pie.


Apple Pie:

4 eggs
500 g flavor
200 g sugar (white)
Vanilla sugar
Baking powder
200 g melted butter
8 apples
Cinnamon

Preheat the oven at 180°C. Mix all ingredients except the cinnamon in a bowl. Peel and cut the apples into small pieces and add them to the pastry. Fill the pastry into a greased baking tray, spread some cinnamon above and put it in the oven for about 45 minutes.

Bon appetit!

Sunday 15 January 2012

6 days left, 6 exams to go, 0 life.

I've to admit that I thought a long time about what I could post today.
Actually my headings tell you everything. 

Important notice:
Maths: 

The rest is coming this week which is why I spent the whole morning by learning "Organizational Behavior" and will continue by "Business" and "French" later.

After the exam yesterday I went to a nice restaurant in the centre where I had delicious pasta with a good friend. The atmosphere is cosy, people are nice and food is good. I love such places!

As I said, my week wasn't any kind of spectacular as I spent most of the time in university or in the library or in my room - always for studying. I'm looking forward to Saturday when we have our "End of the World" party. This year's theme is Hollywood and I have no clue what I will wear. Any ideas? I thought of going as Audrey Hepburn but I don't want to ruin my dress. Besides it is the standard disguise, such as Marilyn Monroe. I am gladful for any tips from your side.

I know that this post is not really of any interest, but next week I will be more relaxed and can tell you about how my exams went and - this is of even higher importance - how the party was!

Xoxo

Sunday 8 January 2012

Motivation, where are you?

Only 5 days left until my first exams. OMG, I'm so nervous. But still, my motivation is hidden somewhere. Help! Did you see it? If, let me know. Please.

I am back in Germany in my own apartment, with no parents asking weird questions. But I am also here, knowing that have seven exams coming up soon and that I must kick off some learning sessions. It's easier said than done.

I am not that kind of person who sits down 10 hours a day to learn. I do 7 hours maximum (I was so shattered afterwards), but I need some time to relax as well. Let me tell you what I did this week to motivate myself and to relax:
  • shopping (found a really nice pullover in sale and a waistcoat)
  • chocolat fondu at a friend's
  • walking around
  • reading
  • watching one episode after the other of Gossip Girl
  • watching TV in general
  • watching movies on the internet
  • cooking

And hey, yesterday I tried a new dish: It was easy, inexpensive, delicious and still extraordinary. Here is the recipe and some photos I took:

Stir-fried chicken and pasta (4 persons)

270 g jar sun-dried (sun-blushed) tomatoes in oil
3 chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
2 garlic cloves, crushed
125 ml cream
2 tablespoons of shredded basil
400 g penne pasta, cooked
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Method:
Drain the sun-dried tomatoes, reserving the oil. Thinly slice the sun-dried tomatoes.
Heat a wok until very hot, add one tablespoon of the reserved oil and swirl it around to coat the side. Stir-fry the chicken strips in batches, adding more oil when necessary.
Return all the chicken strips to the wok and add the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and cream. Simmer gently for 4-5 minutes.
Divide the pasta among serving bowls, top with the sauce and sprinkle with the basil and pine nuts.

Chicken
Sauce
Done
So, next Saturday first exam: Maths. Let's cross fingers that it works out. 
Xoxo

Sunday 1 January 2012

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a pleasant New Year's Eve and a fantastic first day in 2012. All the best for the forthcoming year and may all your wishes will come true.

For my part, I will probably never like the 31st of December. Each year, I'm sitting here, wondering how I can celebrate it, although I don't really want to party. It is such a forced event. As each year we went to the lake and afterwards to the Old Town, but it was not as good as I remembered it from last year. Maybe it was because most of my friends didn't participate, maybe I was annoyed by people I didn't want to celebrate with - however next year I'll need to figure out some good plans. How did you spend the last day in 2011? Any special events?

My last week was very good though. I could relax, did a lot of skiing (this is why I couldn't post this morning - I was on the slopes all day), but also had to learn for my exams in two weeks. I must admit, that I didn't put so much effort into learning. This will change when I go back to Germany on wednesday. And I ate a lot this week, this will also be reduced when I am on my own again :D

Actually, I am kind of glad that I can go back to my place this week because once you have moved out, it is strange to be back again. Not that I am annoyed by my parents, but sometimes I just think that they have a weird behaviour.

As I said I will leave on wednesday morning and hope that I get back without any turbulences. I am looking forward seeing my friends again. Funny, on one hand you miss your parents, but as soon as you are with them, you want to be with your friends again. Think about it - life is strange?!

Xoxo

P.S.: Random picutures I took during the week.

My room
Skiiing
Christmas I
Christmas II
Cherry pie
Apple-Vanilla-Cinnamon Muffins