Fall Bucket List 2018

September 22, 2018September 22, 2018 - Tobia Leave a comment

Hello again,

Did you enjoy the last days of summer? I sure did but I have to be honest I am looking forward to cooler temperatures and the cozy home feel that comes with the fall season.

Just this week I was visiting my friend and instead of just hanging out and chatting our time away we ended up making apple sauce from her 7 apple trees – and chatting our time away. This inspired me to make a fall bucket list. Actually the first one on this blog – how did that happen?

~~Making apple sauce.~~
~~I realised I have never done it before only watched my grandma.~~
Sewing a maxi skirt.
I want to expand my wardrobe choices. I created a new pinterest board and am inspired by this look.
Make a tassel necklace.
As I didn’t get it done in summer – let’s try in fall.
Try a new pumpkin recipe.
Let me know if you have any good ones.
Drink lots of tea.
Nothing more to say…
Read even more books.
I let you in on a secret: I already managed to hit my reading goal for this year. Come join me on Goodreads to share some fun.
Taking walks in the park and cemetery and observe the leaves changing.
It is always such calming experience.
Go mushroom picking.
It’s a long lost love and I wish I could make time to do so. Maybe this year.
Celebrate my mothers 60th birthday.
It is really weird doing so. I remember celebrating my grandpas. Anyone else having strange feelings?
Participating in a charity.
I’m thinking about going the “Christmas in a shoebox”. The last years I’ve been too late.
Going to BLOGST a blogging conference.
Lucky me snatched a ticket third time in a row so I will be going to Cologne in November. Who will I meet?
Work on my craft lab.
This is so embarrassing but I put it out here: I am still not done with this room. I really want – no need – to finish it by the end of the year. It drives me crazy.
Making a floral arrangement for Sunday of the Dead.
And maybe donating it to an unattended grave.
Sitting on the balcony listening to the rain. Preferably wrapped in a warm coat and som hot beverage in my hand.
Reading more blogs and commenting.
At least on the weekends I want to catch up and leave some lovely words.
Enjoying a spa day with myself.
I have to admit that I prefer those days maybe even a tiny bit more compared to having company.

What plans do you have for fall. Love to hear about it in the comments.

Happy fall,

Tobia

Homemade Vegan Bath Bombs

November 14, 2017March 18, 2018 - Tobia 4 Comments

I mentioned that I attended the blogst conference last weekend. One fun thing about this conference is that during coffee breaks you not only drink coffee but can craft. Because those sponsors are cool. They don’t just set up a booth no they set up crafting tables for the attendees to get creative. One of the sponsors was PonyHütchen a natural cosmetics shop from Berlin. And we were able to make our own vegan bath bombs.

It was so very simple and most all ingredients are either already in your house or are available in any grocery or drugstore. Now that does sound good right. Not only because the product really is natural if you can actually (almost) eat it. So I asked Lucie (head of marketing & Berlin store fairy) if I can share this simple DIY with you here. She said yes!

So lets get started (recipe makes two vegan bath bombs):

♥ 100 g baking soda (Natron)
♥ 50 g citric acid (Zitronensäure)
♥ 35 g corn starch (Maisstärke)
♥ 15 ml almond oil (Mandelöl)
♥ essential oils, food colors, nonpareils – optional

Now it is really simple. You have to mix well. And by well I mean well. If it is not really mixed the bomb might break when drying up. So take you sweet time, let your mind wonder and start relaxing.
Then press the mixture into a form. We had some half balls but I guess you could easily use silicone mutton of praline forms. However it needs to be packed really good. Otherwise it will all crumble.
Now it needs to dry over night. And ready to go. Wrap them up, gift or just enjoy a bath yourself.

This is a wonderful gift idea. It could also be a cool idea for a girlfriends night. Oh the possibilities.

I’ve heard from PonyHütchen before the event but I was happy to have gotten a better idea what they are doing. I have to admit I am usually not the biggest fan of natural cosmetics. Not because I think it is not good valid cosmetics more so because of the fanatics behind it. Fortunately this was not the case it was just lots of love, enthusiasm and joy. I loved the displays they put up in the bathrooms and the packaging is so cute too. It is nice to see such a young fun brand.

After I tried their hand cream at the event – it smells amazing and makes the smoothes hands, really no joking here – I was really happy to find a sample of the deodorant cream in the goodie bag. I will give this a good try during my business trips as I like to travel with the smallest amount of weight and it comes in a tiny cute tin. I am excited how it works.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share this discovery from my weekend with you. If you are into vegan handmade cosmetics this could definitely be something for you as they do have some decorative things too. And they own an online shop for everyone not in Berlin. I am not sure about worldwide shipping though.

Now I am wondering, have you ever tried making cosmetics yourself?

Happy Tuesday,

Tobia

PonyHütchen Store Berlin | Straßburger Straße 37 | 10405 Berlin

linked to creadienstag | Dienstagsdinge | Handmade on Tuesday | MMI | Freutag

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PARK LIFE #11 – 2017 PHOTO PROJECT

November 3, 2017 - Tobia 6 Comments

Oh my, this “park life photo project” seems to be a tough one to finish. I fell in love with the idea. A collage of 12 images of the same motif where I can see the change of season. If only I would manage to take the picture every months. I published the change of the first three months (1,2,3), took a couple more but never shared them.

So lets see how the meadow look on November 1:

I think it is still quite green for this time of year. I might have to cheat and push it to October and take another photo in two weeks. Does that count?!

Just a few meters into the park it looks totally different though:

Strange how that is, huh? Who knows why? Is it because of winds? I mean it can not be altitude obviously? keeps me wondering.

Even though I have a few blank spots on my collage I put t together and I am loving the look.

What do you think, what’s your favorite? The meadow above or the trees below?

I think I stick with the meadow. Even though the tree images show off the seasons and the life within the park much better. Just wished I had the full picture.

Have you ever tried to attempt a photo project like this? Maybe I give it another try next year. I mean third time is a charm, right?

Happy weekend,

Tobia

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The Fluffiest Waffles of all Times

February 19, 2017January 15, 2017 - Tobia 2 Comments

There are days when you just need waffles. At least I’ve got those days. It was raining, it was cold and I had a craving. In the days I somehow always go for sweet stuff: pancakes, semolina, french toast or waffles…

Those waffles were the most fluffiest waffles I have ever had. Seriously. They are fluffy yet crunchy, not too sweet and just yum. A real treat. Don’t believe me? Have a try and be convinced.

The Fluffiest Waffles – Crunchy Oatmeal Waffles

Ingredients:

125 g whole grain flour
25 g grape seed flour
250 ml milk
3 tbsp coco flower sugar
3 tbsp vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 pinch salt
4 tbsp oatmeal, whole grain

Directions:

Mix flour, milk and sugar and let sit for 20 minutes.
Separate eggs and whip up egg whites with salt.
Add oil, egg yolks, oatmeal to the flour mixture.
Fold in egg whites.
Bake waffles.
Enjoy with salty butter and powdered sugar while still warm.

Did you know that I made my very first waffles when I turned 30? I did not grow up with waffles. But for my thirties birthday party I had waffle and lemonade party. Ever since I am a bit hooked.

Do you make waffles for breakfast? Or is it more a treat in the afternoon? Would you spill your favorite recipe? And do you know of a recipe where no egg whites need to beaten? Because lets be honest its a pain in the a**.

Anyhow happy waffle baking

Tobia

Baked Apple Pie with Pudding Filling | Bratapfelkuchen

December 6, 2015December 5, 2015 - Tobia 6 Comments

It’s Saint Nicholas Day! Did you clean your shoes?

I used to think as a kid that you were only supposed to clean your shoes one day in the year – the night of December 5th. I now know it can happen more often but I find myself on the floor and cleaning all my shoes just that night every year.

Back when we were kids we usually had more than one pair out and of course the biggest boots we could find. Unfortunately we only had one pair filled. One boot was usually candy and chocolate and the other shoe was kinda boring with nuts, apples and if we were lucky an orange. But even though this wasn’t too exciting I was so sad when one year my apple was missing.

Today I didn’t find an apple in my shoe. It’s ok though. In case you didn’t have one let me share this wonderful baked apple pie | Bratapfelkuchen recipe with you. It is wonderful. And even though quite heavy it doesn’t feel like it and is nice change in all the ginger bread and chocolate-sugar covered cookies.

Ingredients for the dough

♥ 250g flour
♥ 100g sugar (I only used 70g)
♥ 150g butter
♥ 1 egg
♥ 1/2 tsp baking powder

Ingredients for the filling

♥ 8 small apples
♥ 1 glass of cranberries (I used dried cranberries)
♥ 125g marzipan (optional)
♥ 2 packages of vanilla pudding pullover for cooking
♥ 250 ml milk
♥ 500 ml cream
♥ 125 ml sugar ( I used 100g)
♥ 1 package of vanilla sugar
♥ 1 tbs powdered sugar
♥ almonds

Now lets get baking:

Combine all ingredients for the dough. Wrap in plastic and cool about 30 min in the fridge. Then put the dough in your baking pan and don’t forget to go up the sides. Just like any pie.
Peel your apples and use this fancy tool to make holes * in the middle of an apple. When you are done fill with marzipan and cranberries and almonds. Place apples on your dough.
Heat milk, cream, sugar, vanilla sugar and pudding powder in a pot and stir continuously until boiling. Remove from heat and pour over your apples so the gaps are filled. Add a bit of brown sugar and almonds.
Bake in preheated oven (180°C / 350°F) for 40-50 minutes. Let cool for 4-5 hours before serving.

I am usually no fan of pudding in my cake but this one is a great exception. What is your favorite cake during advent?

Happy St. Nicholas and cake munching,