Here's the thing. 

I miss Berlin. I miss it terribly, I miss it like a lover who's shaped me for life, I miss it like a child I gave up, I miss it like the love of my life. Which it is. 

Beware, a personal post with heavy reflections ahead. If not interested, just scroll until you find "Markthalle 9" written in large letters.

I Stepped Out Of My Comfort Zone And I Liked It

I've loathed PE classes my whole life. When I learned, sometime around age 13, that there isn't such thing at the university, that was a thing in life I looked forward to. A lot. (Un)fortunately, I wasn't one of those kids whose parents made sure they got exempted from PE classes by asking a physician to make something up about their (in)abilities. In fact, I even worked out during my period, because I'm a lucky bastard that doesn't feel any physical pain—only wants to eat everything. (And my everything is probably everythingier than your everything.)

Flirting with Minimalism

If I find an interesting challenge online, chances are I will try it out. We love challenges, don't we'?Though it tells nothing about how far I will come. Plank challenge, half way through. Abs challenge, not even that far. 30-day yoga challenge, well, eventually I finished it! Only because it took a lot more than 30 days, though. But all this shouldn't mean I (and you!) shouldn't even try because I know (OK - I suppose! Some positivity here...) I won't be as successful as I should be. So I found another one, ages ago! I loved it and bookmarked it right away. But I wasn't ready to take it until now.

If you'd like your surroundings and daily life to be with more purpose, and if the thought of being more present appeals to you, you might want to join me. Read on! 

A Few Thoughts of a 27-year-old

Hello there lovely people! 

Just wanted to check in - because I haven't for a while, obviously - even though my blogging calendar says I should have SO MANY TIMES. 

I'm 27 today, and what you see in the photo above is my breakfast. That's a weird tradition of mine I've been having for years now. Oatmeal, yogurt, fruit; that's the usual regime, but once a year I get to be silly (in this regard! I'm not talking about anything else :)) and just grab something nice and chocolate-y. Well hello you beautiful day! 

Six Months Later: Where I Am With My NY Resolutions

For those of you who don't know, last January I compiled a list of NY resolutions and published them here. I've always had those, but kept them to myself, and this, along with the fact that I'd constantly been an overachiever, might be the reason why I never accomplished them all (not even near!). So now I decided to keep it low and publish it, because then there's no back! 

Three months ago I posted an update, to allow both you and myself to keep track with my progress. It seems that publishing was a good thing, because I was doing good! That's why I'm also posting another update, half-way through the year. (I know, scary.)

Have you made any NY resolutions? How are you doing? Making effort, or did you already forget them? In that case, I hope this list of mine inspires you to take action. It's not too late! So, here's how I'm doing.

Foreign Habits Worth Adopting

I wish words could express how much I miss traveling. Or even better, I wish I could travel right now! But as I already said a couple of weeks ago, my staying in one place at the moment is one side of the medal - the other one is saving money, and I like that one way better. After all, I've got a lifetime ahead of me to travel... right? So if you're in the same boat right now, lusting for travel but not going anywhere, you might want to bring the world to you. If Mohammed will not go to the mountain... ;) Here are some great little ways to internationalize your days.

Favorite Animated Shorts

I remember, once as a kid, I read somewhere that roughly only 20% of world's consumption of ice-cream is eaten by children. It came as a shock surprise to me: why on Earth would adults eat ice-cream that much, it's children's food?! Growing up, the realization of the obvious was inevitable. Of course we love ice-cream and are not giving it up! There is a number of things that are reserved for children, or maybe more appropriate for them, but I decide that age has nothing to do with them. One of these is cartoons and animated videos. From time to time I really wish for a Disney marathon - and nothing anyone says will persuade me I'm too old for that! Luckily, in the past decade or so people making animated movies realized that adults are a big part of their audience, so turned to making stuff that is appealing to them as well. Not that I'm saying The Lion King isn't, but, you know.

This Time Last Year - Some Thoughts on Travel & Saving

If you stumbled upon this li’l blog of mine last spring, you could have probably thought that I was leading this out-of-the-suitcase life. In a way I did, it lasted for about two months and I never slept in the same bed for more than five days. I covered six countries and twice as many cities, packing on Thursdays, unpacking on Mondays, and repeating it all over again. It was exciting, but also hectic, and hell, tiring. In the end I had troubles separating memories from different places, because it all seemed like a continuum with blurry lines in between. That coffee with a view, was it in Zurich or in Paris? That open square where we spent a sunny afternoon, was it in Brussels or Berlin? ...And when I say ’we’, who exactly was there with me?!

The Lungs of Kreuzberg - Prinzessinnengarten

I've noticed lately that healthy lifestyle is becoming more and more popular - which is supergreat, of course! People are getting hooked on exercise (I haven't gotten there yet, but hopefully I will!), riding bicycles instead of using cars and/or public transport, visiting farmers' markets for fresh fruits and veggies instead of getting those in large chain supermarkets... or growing their own food. As someone whose mother has grown her own veggies ever since I can remember, I find it quite funny that it's so hip nowadays - especially when I remember that her veggies had never looked as good as the one in the supermarket, so of course a kid would prefer a better looking bell pepper... (because the kid knows nothing).

A Thought for the Beginning of the Week

Hello you lovely people, 

since you reacted so good on the quote I shared with you last Monday, I thought I could make it a thing... or at least do it again today. I know Mondays are hard, so it's nice to remind oneself once in a while that life is not all Mondays, it's a pretty good deal of Fridays as well. And the days in between? Learn to embrace them as well.

A Thought for the Beginning of the Week

So I stumbled upon this quote some time ago and kept it on a note on my desktop ever since. I've been wanting to share, and is there a better opportunity to do it on a Monday and inject you all (and myself!) with some energy?! Here goes:

Nice People

When you ask a successful blogger, or someone who is well traveled, what the best thing about what they do is, they'll almost always tell you this: people they've met on the way. Well, I'm not a successful blogger, nor someone who is paid to travel (I wish!!), but I am an international student. You'll see the connection in a sec. I have had this wonderful opportunity to live and study in three European countries, to attend lectures by amazing teachers, try different lifestyles and foods (let's not forget foodies, right?). But twenty years along the road, do you think I will remember what subjects I had in school? I don't think so. I will remember, though, people I met and stories they shared about their distant or not so distant homes.

Back!

When you change countries and travel and fall in love with places so much and so deeply that you start considering them homes, being "back" does not have a straightforward meaning. So, here's a clarification: I'm back in Berlin!!!

Snippets of Serbia: Interviewing Emma Fick

I don't even remember how & when I stumbled upon Emma Fick's drawings. (Must've been Facebook, everything happens on Facebook.) And I was impressed! It was a drawing of someone or something from Serbia, with a witty explanation from the point of view of a foreigner. Soon I found out that she is an American expat in Serbia who turns her days and experiences into a charming series of drawings - Snippets. Emma is an English teacher and a gifted artist. So far you could've seen her Snippets of Serbia all over the internet, but soon she's hosting an exhibition in Belgrade, and in few months she will publish a hard copy! As a curious being, I had to approach Emma and ask her a question or two, and she was so kind to answer (OK, it was more than two). Enjoy this lovely lady's work and don't forget to come to the exhibition if you're around Belgrade this coming Wednesday!

52 Little Actions for 52 Nice Weeks

I bought my first yearly planner in 2002. Which means that I've been using those for almost half of my life. I'm pretty lost if I don't write my tasks, errands and even classes down. And oh, the feeling of crossing something off the list! I would always begin my search for a perfect planner in December. It has to have dates in it, it has to fit in a purse, and it has to be beautiful. Apparently, I didn't find the thing for 2011 in December that fulfilled all the requirements, because the one I used that year was bought in March in London. I stumbled upon a pile of perfect little planners; of course, I was thinking that I already had one (less-than-perfect, but still) and didn't need a new one, but it was just too cute! And it had little actions for you to do every week, to make yours or someone else's day better - and it also concerned the environment! So when I was in Serbia and trying to get rid of some crap I've piled up in my room, I stumbled upon this beauty and decided to share the actions with you. 

The planner was made by WeAreWhatWeDo, and judging from the website, they don't produce planners anymore. Too bad! I know I would have loved to have another one that's similar. 

I Recommend: My Favs in 2014

I was first thinking of sharing with you my favorite movies I watched last year, because I really tried watching as many as possible, and I enjoyed my new hobby (can that be called a hobby?) very much. But then, since I didn't post my #WeekendReads last week, I thought I might actually go further and share my fav online places, as well as books I read. Not many of those, unfortunately. (Anyone else having a hard time finding time for reading??) Sooo, here we go. I hope you like my recommendations. If you have any, please feel free to leave them in the comment section, as well as your comments on things from my list you liked or disliked!

2014 Recap + 12 Things I Learned in 2014

I know recaps are usually done in the last days of a year, but I have an excuse for not having done so. I was lazy. Yep, that's my excuse now, do you mind? Given that you don't, sit back now, grab a cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate/whatever your cup of tea is (pun intended), and follow along the memory lane.

2014 was amazing.

I don't know if it's me, or the reality, but for the last ten-ish years I've been saying that each year is better than the one before. Which is great, if you ask me! Even those years without any travels (2007, 2008, for example) were amazing because of the new experiences, fun and loving new people, great old people. But speaking of travels, 2014 has been an absolute champion there and I just hope it wouldn't stay one!

Holiday Wishlist

Being an adult has some wonderful perks and I'd never swap places with my teenage self. As somebody said in a TV show, it sucks not being able to handle drama but needing to live with it every day - think of boys in high school, UGH! However, being an adult has its downsides, too. I'm not entitled to believe in Santa anymore. Nor the Easter Bunny. Nor the Tooth Fairy (not that I need her anymore, but still). You get the point. No more nice characters whose only purpose is to bring you gifts if you've been a good girl. Boy. Whatevs. And at some point years ago we stopped giving presents to each other in the family. Like, we're grown-ups now, who needs gifts?! (I do!)

I guess we turned to a more pragmatic approach. No need to wait for the holidays for, say, new pair of shoes, new nail polish or whatever I need - or think I need. But some magic got lost in the process as well. 

Here's what I would ask from Santa.

How to Survive Winter (Coming from Someone Who Survived Their Last One in Finland)

If you had asked me what I thought about winter two years ago, I would have been a girl version of the Grumpy Cat: I. Hate. It. I thought it was pointlessly cold, pointlessly unpleasant and just... well, pointless.

But then again, you could say I was a bit of an ignorant when it comes to winter. I neglected proper clothing for the sake of looks, and I pretty much didn't behave as if it's really cold. That's why I loathed winter: I didn't know it. So when I was forced to spend a winter in Finland, I got to know it. Really know it. And having spent winter there made me realize two things: winter in Belgrade, or pretty much anywhere else in continental Europe, is nothing compared to the one in Scandinavia; and it was good that I had to spend it there, because now I know all the do's and don'ts. Today I'm sharing them with you.

Late, late, late: Instagram Sept & Oct

I feel like the White Rabbit from Alice in the Wonderland: Oh my god, oh my god, I'm so late! I usually post Instagram posts at the beginning of the (odd) month, but this month I just didn't feel... inspired. I don't know. I kinda neglected this lil' online place of mine. Well, soon enough it will be time for another Instagram update, so I better deliver this one! So, September and October. September seems like ages ago. Which is a pitty, because it almost feels like a previous life. And it was the coolest.

Before I start with the photos, I just want to wish a happy Thanksgiving to all the Americans who stop by! I hope you have a wonderful holiday and a wonderful dinner. Have I told you that I had a Thanksgiving dinner two weeks ago, hosted by our American teacher? It was that early because it was the date everyone could make it, and it was my first Thanksgiving ever. I had no idea traditional American food was SO FREAKIN GOOD. I was so full. That turkey, and the sweet potatoes, and the beetroot and apple salad, and the stuffing, and the gravy, and I'm just craving that right now!! What a night.