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VIRTUAL COFFEE DATE | MAY 2020

- Tobia 7 Comments
sipping a coffe at the window sill craftaliciousme seeking creative life may coffee date

And just like that we are here for our May coffee date. Again Lecy is hosting and I am glad you stop by in my little corner. Today we kinda meet in person but only with feet apart. We bring our own coffee and stay on our own side of the fence. But we chat and we see each other and that is kinda of a good thing.

While we sip our coffee…
let’s discuss the phenomenon I recently came across more often. I listen to a podcast and next time I am on Instagram I receive an ad from the host selling some online course. I sit at dinner with friends (pre-Corona) and she tells me about a new product I have never heard of, never googled and never seen before online yet next time I am, I see ads everywhere. Well my phone was on the table during our gathering. So it’s not surprising that when I look for something on Pinterest I soon get infos about it on other social media. While I know all this is happening (and am not totally opposed as I work in marketing) can I say it is still a bit weird. Or better it’s grounding as it shows me that I am quiet transparent in case someone wants to know anything about me. So in a way it is kind of humbling and it makes me reconsider every once in a while what I put online. What are your feelings?

While we sip our coffee…
I talk about our not happening family reunion on the first weekend in May. Usually we meet up at my late grandparents house in the countryside for a weekend of bbq, playing talking and some exploring. Obviously it did not happen. It’s a bit sad. I decided to go down there on my own on May 1 (a holiday in Germany) to visit grandpas grave as it is his day of death. It was a good decision. I sat at the cemetery for an hour enjoying the sun and listening to the birds sing. Then, after spending two hours in the garden (secretly waiting for my parents to come back from their little drive) I left to go back to Berlin. So no worries the social distancing was still intact.

While we sip our coffee…
I share with you my new practice of writing letters. Just last Sunday I wrote three sitting on the balcony. It is such a nice thing to do. And I really do miss having a slow conversation with people. To wait until you receive the answer. Of course I still like the internet and immediate responses too. I guess it’s the combination of it all. It looks like I am developing a new penpalship with an OLF. And so letters are flying between Prague and Berlin. Have you written more letters since the pandemic?

While we sip our coffee…
we just enjoy the warmth of the sun. After a few really warm days it has been rather cold here. But temperatures are climbing again and when you are in a spot of sunshine it gets really nice. So we soak up all the vitamin D we can get.

While we sip our coffee…
I share with you that I have not eaten any cake, chocolate or candy since late February. I am working on crossing of my #74 on my goal list. Basically I try to reduce the sugar intake. I have to admit I had spoon of Nutella once or twice (realizing I really care for it) and I had some semolina with cinnamon sugar and what ever is added to the store bought yoghurts. But besides that I have been good. And my migraines have reduced noticeably. It could be the new treatment with the shots though. I will start having the occasional cake starting in June then we should see but I can’t deny that the sugar is not my friend. I feared that outcome…

While we sip our coffee…
asking you if you keep a regular journaling practice. I have been doing a gratitude journal combined with some habit tracking for years but it looks like the system is not working for me this year. I have hardly filled the pages of my calendar. I used to do it in the morning but now I rather read. And at night I am too tired, keep forgetting or don’t feel comfortable writing in bed. If you keep up that practice please share some tipps.

So much for now. It is getting late. We end our coffee date for today but will be seeing each other next months for sure. And of course in between you are welcome to stop by as well.

Happy May

Tobia

VIRTUAL COFFEE DATE | APRIL 2020

- Tobia 6 Comments

In times that are different than our usual days I like to keep some consistency. So let’s chat again with a nice cup of coffee. I will sit on the balcony and dream of meeting you in the little café I once had breakfast with Mr. ♡ while we FaceTime .

Let’s sip a coffee…
and I listen to you telling me about your Easter holidays. What did you do this year? Was it’s as it always been or did you have to refrain from seeing family and friends?
It was the first time Mr ♡ and I were completely alone. It was different but relaxed and nice. I have been making the traditional easter braid and dyed our eggs with some onion skins. Such a deep color. There was no church service as it falls under the contact ban but music was playing and you could walk by the church and pick up a candle, some flower seeds and the sermon. It was good for what was possible. Later I sat on the balcony and read in the sunshine.

Let’s sip a coffee…
and I tell you about the 100 day project. As you may know by now I try to do this every year. It’s my 5th time around and this year I have had too many ideas. Rather spontaneously I decided I will list all ideas and projects that take up brain space (38 projects so far) and then will start towards completing them for the next 100 days. Some are easily done in a few minutes other will take a couple days. But it feels good getting to work and it fits perfectly with this years word. If you want to get a daily scoop of my projects follow along on Instagram. Do you also participate?

Let’s sip a coffee…
and I want to tell you about my lent experience. I decided to abstain from using my phone in the bedroom. It’s really amazing how that has changed from “I need to scroll Instagram before falling asleep” to “not even thinking about it”. It’s also really freeing to wake up in the morning and not looking at the screen immediately. Now I often lie in bed some minutes just letting my thoughts roam free. I decided to keep that habit. Did you do something and will you continue?

Let’s sip a coffee…
and I’ll let you know how within the last two weeks I was enjoying the first snowfall of this season (March 30) while a few days later I sat outside on the balcony reading my book (April 12). Now tell me it’s crazy right? Did you experience anything similar lately?

Let’s sip a coffee…
and I share with you that I scored a free month of Kindle unlimited access. I always look forward to those offers because I save up all the books within the unlimited package on a separate wishlist and once I have a month going I have my own small selected library. Do you have any smart organization tips when it comes to handling your TBR?

Now friend I need to finish our time together. I have some more time scheduled to hop over to all the people participating in Lecy’s coffee date. Hope to see you around next months.

Happy spring

Tobia

VIRTUAL COFFEE DATE | MARCH 2020

- Tobia 8 Comments

In times like these it is good to have routines. But we need to be flexible and find creative solutions so we meet online today and chat from the comfort of our apartments.

craftaliciousme seeking creative life cappuccino with Röststätte logo on marble table for virtual coffee date

If we met for coffee…
of course our topic would be the current pandemic that holds this globe alert. While I am not overly concerned about my (personal) health issues I do worry about a few people around me. Mr. ♡ and I actually have been officially quarantined for 72 hours until his test came back negative. It’s just a regular infect for now. Even more anxious makes me the economic and political aftermath that will follow though. I personally already had almost all jobs canceled due to the situation. I decided to volunteer my time to a small business helping to keep them alive with my online marketing skills I can provide from home. Also I decided to write weekly letters to my godchild to keep them (hopefully) entertained with writing me back. How are you handling the situation so far? Let me hear all your thoughts about it.

Then we decide to move on to more regular topics and try to keep life going as usual. No point in panicking.

If we met for coffee…
I’d admit about my thoughts to only own books that are blue or white and maybe some shade of pinky coral. Ok and grays to black. Is that crazy? But I am always very annoyed by the different covers, the titles being written left to right and right to left on the spine. Who does that? Not even within a series it is the same. Drives me crazy.

If we met for coffee…
I’d tell you about my recent Marie Kondo project. I finally caved in and decided to get some structure in my wardrobe. One Saturday night I threw all my tops in a big pile on my bed and started folding in this special way. While doing so I also tracked every item I owned in an excel sheet for a better overview. It is amazing how many pieces of clothes you own when you believe daily there’s nothing in your closet. Could you pinpoint the number of clothes you own?

If we met for coffee…
we would discuss the following situation. I recently hired a cleaning service before we had some guests coming over. I was happy to squeezed in a couple more hours of work while someone got the apartment in order. When she was done I saw that the bedroom was still very dusty so I asked if she didn’t have time to finish it. She said she cleaned everything. Well after she left and a closer inspection I ended up doing a recleaning for 90 min. But that wasn’t the strangest part. At night when cooking with our guests I was reaching for the avocado I bought the day prior. But I only found one in my fruit basket instead of two. I was doubting myself but I was pretty sure I put two in. My guests said that I might have left it in the store but they came in a net… Oh well, sometimes strange things happen. However the next day when we wanted to make breakfast and I reached for the “Brötchen” (breakfast rolls) one was missing. Again I started to doubt myself but remembered I kept the receipt so I double checked. The right number was right there.
Since I and the cleaning lady were the only people in the house until the guests arrived I have to assume she took them. How crazy?! I mean if you are hungry you could ask. When she arrived I did offer. I am really pissed not because of the value of the stolen things but the audacity. Tell me, am I out of line?

If we met for coffee…
I share with you my Easter egg tutorial. Since we are meeting online it is easy to do so. And now that we might have a bit more time at our hands it might be something to try. I will probably do a few more of those eggs in this wax technique. Do you have a special craft that is very unique to your area or heritage? I would really love to hear about it.

We say our good byes for now and commit to check in with each other next month for sure. Maybe a quick note in between in these times were we all need some extra kind words.

Best for now

Tobia

VIRTUAL COFFEE DATE | FEBRUARY 2020

- Tobia 8 Comments

Who would have thought that time flies by like crazy. It feels like we are skipping the whole winter and head right into spring – at least on my part of the world. Not a single snowflake in sight but oh so many tulips, crocuses and snowdrops. While I love them all I think they could stay in their supposed season. Anyways, since the weather is nice lets get ourself a hot cup of earl grey with a dash of milk and stroll around the park. I also have some Omenakakku to snack on the way.

seeking creative life coffee date with friends

While sipping tea…
I’d tell you about last weekend. It was my anniversary weekend and we spend it in Oslo. I have never been to Norway before and it was a trip I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately the weather was rather sad just below freezing, paring rain and strong winds. One day we were not able to be outside at all. We still made the most of it and had a wonderful weekend. Do you plan something special on anniversaries?

While sipping tea…
I would tell you that I had to inject myself for the first time with this new migraine medication. I was a bit hesitant about it and really didn’t want to do it but than you grow with your challenges. And it was rather easy and did not hurt. Now hoping it will be more effective than everything else I had tried. Just the last two days were another struggle.

While sipping tea…
we need to chat about books. Obviously. I’ve read so many in January and then picked up “Uncle Toms Cabin” and it is so very very slow. I really want to read it as it has such a historic relevance but I already know it will only be a 3* read. How do you handle such readings?

While sipping tea…
I’m wondering if you ever feel so terribly tired. Recently I could just sleep and sleep and sleep. Many days I take a nap in the afternoon and it messes up all the things on my to-do list. I really don’t know why I am always so tired. I usually do sleep 7 hours a night too. What is your wake-up remedy?

While sipping tea…
and before going our separate ways I want to hear how life has been treating you. What have you been up to since our last chat? Are you still working on your New Years resolutions?

We have walked the entire park, I showed you my friends the grey heron and climbed the “Bunkerberg” and looked through the barren trees over Berlin. For now it’s time to head back to our to-do lists and errands. I am already looking forward meeting again next months.

Happy day

Tobia

VIRTUAL COFFEE DATE | January 2020

- Tobia 5 Comments

I can not believe this first months of the year has already passed us by. It feels like so much has already happened and then at the same time motivation is a bit tough to get rolling. So I am more than happy that we sit down again for our monthly coffee date Lecy is hosting and chat a little of what has been going on.

If you and I had coffee…
first off I’d like to know how you start into the new year has been like. How have you celebrated the holidays and how did you welcome 2020? I am not a big fan of New Years Eve so as always we have holed up in the apartment and watched some movies, read, played games and I made a meat loaf for dinner. Around midnight we peeked out the window and listened to a bit of music and then I went to bed.

If you and I had coffee…
I would have to share the story of our stolen tires right before Christmas. I was almost on my way to get a tree (December 23rd) when the police rang at our door to let us know that our car was stripped of all tires. Really not what you want right before leaving for the holidays. It took us all day and Christmas Eve morning to do calls, paper work and handling tow trucks and garage services but then we had the car off the street, a rental care and were off on our way to spend the holidays with my parents. It wasn’t the relaxed start we’d hope for.

If you and I had coffee…
I wondered if you have set yourself a reading goal? I can proudly say I have done it again and I am quite motivated. It’s the highest goal I’ve ever set (53 books) but I am confident to achieve it. I also wrote another list of books I want to read in 2020.

If you and I had coffee…
I’d ask if you have a favorite actor. I don’t really have one but I really like Will Smith. So it comes as no surprise that I was actually planning on seeing Bad Boys III right when it came out. I haven’t been to the movie theater in years. It’s usually so much more comfortable just watching through Netflix but it was a date night and it was fun doing something and being out together. And the movie was good too. Did you see it?

If you and I had coffee…
want to hear if you ever went on a blind date with someone you met online. And I don’t really mean a romantic date. More like a coffee date with friends you made online? I recently have developed more courage to just reach out in conversation letting people know I’d be happy to meet up for coffee and it really is fun. Just this week I met another girl I met through Instagram and we had tea and matcha cake and we talked for almost three hours. And Hopefully next week I meet up with a Silvie again for another photo outing around the neighborhood. If you have never done anything like it I can only encourage. Maybe you might also like to check out this post about “networking” there might be some helpful tips.

If you and I had coffee…
I want to let you know that I have been able to work towards one of my 101 goals (to be precise #12). I set up an account on a platform to sell some of my photography. This might not be the best platform as I realized later on but you gotta start somewhere. So glad my word of the year is starting out promising.

Now it’s getting late and we need to wrap it up. We’ll see each other soon again as I try to keep in touch more regularly and not be so behind all the time.

Have a wonderful new week

Tobia