Photo Friday Challenge

I am once again taking part in the Photo-Challenge posted on the gorgeous blog OhhhMhhh. The challenge is always thought provoking and always a lot of fun, so here goes:

• The tastiest thing this week: 

Baked apples. I am currently absolutely obsessed. I especially like them with some Greek Yoghurt and a dash of vanilla extract.

• Didn’t think about it, just did it:

I haven’t been out on my bike for a really long time but this week-with the weather getting marginally better - I grabbed it and went for a wonderful cycle. I was a little bit nervous, due to my growing belly, but it was lovely to be out on my bike again.

• What nearly went wrong:

I decided to make a changing matt for the little soon-to-be-person in our family and found this lovely set of instructions via Pinterest. Now the instructions are fantastic, I am just incapable of sewing anything without having to take it all apart a hundred times and this was no different. But the end result is rather cute!

• Nearly purchased:

You may have realised I have a small obsession: my mini bow bag from Miu Miu. Now I am trying to justify buying its bigger sister to hold all those nappy changing things. Am I crazy?

• Greatest joy:

It was a year ago this weekend that my husband and I tied to knot and are now expecting our first child. 

Today is the Day

I just love the image, the typography and the thought behind it.
Today is the day!

Wintery March in Berlin

Berlin in March is a little bit depressing; temperatures well below 0, plenty of snow… Don’t get me wrong I LOVE snow in December and January! By the middle of March I (like everyone else by the looks on people’s faces) am ready for a change. For sunshine, the first blossoms, and cute spring clothes. But it is not to be, so I can be found in a sort of escapist dream world. Here is how I will cope with the weather:

1. Be inspired by the DesignSponge guide to Berlin 
2. Lounging around in lovely little cafes like La Fleury
3. Eating amazing food at DuDu
4. And visiting my favourite museum: German Historical Museum
5. Is there any way to actually look good in this weather? I am not convinced! The layers, the cold, and the wind all combine to make outfits that are puffy, unflattering and just plain dull! But that doesn’t mean one can’t rock a bit of personality under all that. So I will be sporting a wrist full of jewels, no one but me will know but don’t you think sometimes it is those little secrets that make us walk that little bit taller? 
6. Berlin city notebook: Ideally purchased at the most adorable little paper shop:
   RSVP
7. To me it is that time of year when I can’t help but dream. Everything seems so dark and gloomy but surely other brighter things are just around the corner. I love nothing more than sitting down with some gorgeous paints and just dreaming of what spring has in store for us.
8. You have seen it before and here it is again: my leopard print scarf
9. Why not top of the wrist of jewels with gorgeous nails and beautiful hair?
10. My Bow Bag to store all those city essentials (although it is only little so it will be a tight squeeze)
11. Maybe one day I can actually dig these out of the depths of my wardrobe, retire the big clompy boots, and enjoy the feeling of lightness and prettiness that only a pair of gorgeous little shoes can provide.

Thought on adventure

Is there anything greater than an adventure? To discover new things, see exciting new sights, and explore a new place… But who is to say exactly what an adventure is and what an inconvenience is? Is there a difference? Maybe it is just in the way we approach adventure-with anticipation in our hearts. Who is to say that we couldn’t do that with anything and turn even the most boring things into an adventure?

Girl's Weekend

This weekend I am off to Newcastle with my four great girlfriends. We have been friends since school and haven’t actually all been on a trip together since we finished school (and that was nearly 10 yearsago!).  This trip may be a little different from the last one-for a start I am 6 months pregnant!

I have never really been to Newcastle so I am really excited to explore and get to know the city. But the trip did present me with a few problems in terms of what to bring. For one thing the weather could be absolutely miserable or gorgeous-such is life in the UK. Also we will be doing lots of sightseeing and shopping so plenty of walking, and going out at night. At the same time I am getting rather large; so how do I stay chic, comfortable and warm this weekend?

My inspiration:

1.    The absolutely stunning Hedvigso from her blog:the-northernlight.com. She has made me realise that just because you are pregnant does not mean you can’t look amazing!

2.    A gorgeously polished look

3.    Miranda Kerr rocking, and downplaying, her bump

4.    I love the combination of necklaces available onthe gorgeous etsy shop of Shopkei

My reading list:

I am totally incapable of going on a train without masses of random reading material. Here is my selection for this trip:

5.    A book I have been meaning to read for sometime: Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

6.    Monocle, one of my favourite magazines to really encourage me to think

7.    Vogue-need I say more?

The clothes I am taking:

8.    This Wolford shirt has been my pregnancy saviour

9.    Leopard print scarf, mine is actually a bit of silk purchased from one of the many amazing fabric shops in London

10. I could not get through spring without a trench coat. Mine, sadly, is not Burberry but from Monoprix

11. Darkboot-cut jeans

12. So that I will survive all the walking-riding boots

13. Best underlayer-actually a dress but works wonderfully to cover the belly

14. Because stripes are great and I am going to show off my bump a la Hedvigso

15. Last but not least my Miu Miu bow bag. I love that thing a little bit too much!

Photo Friday

Today I am taking part in OhhhMhhh’s Friday Photo Challenge. She posts 5 questions to be answered in photographic form. So here goes (starting top left):

1. Entzueckend or enchanting

To me there is nothing more enchanting than a good book. It transports you to another world and lets you live the life of other people for a little while. Whether they are fairytales, non-fiction works or books about beautiful clothes; books enchant me like nothing else.

2. Auf den letzten druecker or at the last moment

As always that would be packing! I am heading off for a girl’s weekend and have once again left the packing to the very last minute. Even though the preparations were relatively thorough-see tomorrow’s post.

3. Where were you happy this week?

Sitting at my make-up table getting ready. Is there anything more wonderful than the anticipation of a great evening to come?

4. Trying soon

I am always on the lookout for new recipes and recently my source has been, without fail the Pierre Herme cookbook. In it there is a gorgeous sounding recipe for a Kugelhopf and seeing as I am a huge Kugelhopf fan I will be trying this recipe out soon.

5.Highlight of my day

Flowers given to me by a great friend

Thoughts worth thinking

Study the classics: write your own rules. I just love that sentiment. Many people deliberately don’t read classic novels but to me classics are such a powerful tool to connect us to the lives of others that have gone before us. They allow us to learn form others and then forge our own path.