a German on a Journey

I am now almost 5 months postpartum and still trying to figure this whole "mom-thing" out. Most people don't talk about how challenging it can be to juggle being a mother and partner AND to also still be your own person. My life has changed a lot and while I absolutely love my son and new family dynamic, I struggle with finding time and energy to dedicate to the things that made me "me" pre-baby. One of those things being: eating healthy and balanced meals. I was in, what I believe to have been, the best shape of my life pre-pregnancy, which was partially due to a complete lifestyle change a few years back. I adjusted my daily diet and followed a frequent yoga practice. Now, as I am caring for a baby, while also still breastfeeding, I find it rather difficult to revert back to all that. I know I need to give myself time and be kinder to myself, but easier said than done, am I right ladies?! So, the first step to a healthier "me" is to stick to fres...

As my second trimester is coming to an end soon, I wanted to open up and share some tips that have made the first couple months of pregnancy a little easier on me. Perhaps there are some soon-to-be-mommies out there who can find some comfort in knowing: "You are not alone"!!! Although I was over-the-moon excited about seeing those two pink lines on the stick, overwhelming emotions soon set in as my body started going through its changes.  Please remember that everyone's pregnancy is different and these are just things that helped me personally :) Give in to the fact that your clothes will start getting tight - I believe if you look good, you feel good, so wear clothes that fit and are comfortable. Although most maternity clothes are completely overpriced, you don't actually have to spend a fortune: Check if any of your mommy friends still have maternity clothes they are looking to get rid of. Utilize second hand sites like Thred Up or Poshmark. Most of the it...

Last, but definitely not least, I finish my Clean Food Friday series with a real treat: 2 guilt-free & delicious Nice Cream recipes! First up: Very Berry Banana - this one is so refreshing and can be made with fresh or frozen berries. The consistency of the Nice Cream tends to be more like sorbet if you use frozen berries, though. I love playing around with toppings, too. I used little fruit cutters for the banana stars and dragon fruit flowers! The blackberries are starting to be in season right now, so I like to stock up on those. I also sprinkled some coconut flakes for some added tropical flavor! Bananas are a definite must-have for Nice Cream. I buy them in bulk and freeze them once they turn brown. Note: make sure to peel and slice the bananas before freezing them! I love stocking up on any seasonal fruit and freezing what I don't use. This way I can enjoy smoothies in the winter time, as well! I'm also sharing a recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate...

Don't let the name fool you - these muffin-look-alikes actually have more of a raw cookie dough consistency and are addicting! A friend of mine sent me the original recipe and although I was hesitant to make treats out of CHICKPEAS, I was hooked as soon as I tasted the first batch. They are so fudgy, sweet, and filling that I usually go through a batch in a few days!  I have modified the recipe a little by adding plant based protein powder instead of honey & vanilla extract. It's hard to believe they are completely gluten-, grain-, and dairy-free.  You can modify the toppings to your liking, too. I used unsweetened coconut flakes and chopped walnuts. For my next batch I want to try some cocoa nibs! YUM! You could also drizzly them with some extra peanut butter. Are you hungry yet?! The recipe below yields about 10 "muffins". They stay fresh in the fridge for about 5 days. If you don't think you will finish them in 5 days, they are great for freezin...

Happy Friday! It's time for another clean-eating recipe that I often make. I like to meal prep at the beginning of the week by making several portions of vegetables, brown rice, quinoa, and some type of protein. "Meal-Prep" always sounded like such a daunting term and something only the organized moms or fitness connoisseurs took the time to do. But once I got over the actual term, I really found that it saves me so much time through out the week AND helps me save money, while eating healthy. Through out the week I just alternate between what I prepared so that I don't eat the same combinations every day. Since most of my veggies are roasted in the oven, I get this done fairly quickly!  Two items I always try to incorporate are chickpeas and sweet potatoes. They take on seasonings really well so that I can alternate between different flavor profiles. Also, they are packed with protein, fiber, and Vitamin A & C. I like cooking with colorful ingredients, so...

Full disclosure: I do not eat a strict Vegan or even Vegetarian diet, however, I try my best to make conscious food decisions and to also have fun with making my own meals, rather than buying processed food. What really changed the way I eat was a post from Cassey Ho, social media fitness entrepreneur and creator of the YouTube channel "Blogilates". She presents a free  28 Day Reset Challenge  which is a training program that teaches you how to eat real food and helps clean out your body from built up toxins. What attracted me to this was that it is not a diet, but a nutritional program that eliminates gluten, processed foods, dairy, and added sugars  to "help jump-start your metabolism while helping you discover which foods are causing bloating, inflammation, intolerance, and stubborn fat loss" (Cassey Ho). So in the spirit of eating healthier and being more conscious of ingredients, I want to share some recipes for the next few weeks. First up is this delicio...

It's been quite some time since my last post...I must admit my creative motivation has been lacking a bit, but after this past weekend, I feel refreshed! If you are looking to deepen your yoga practice beyond just postures, I highly recommend checking out  Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch  in the Catskills of New York. My girlfriend Amy, with whom I have been able to share my love for yoga, found  this unique retreat for us to attend over the Easter Holiday and it was an amazing experience.  As per  Yogapedia , an "ashram" is "the name traditionally given to a spiritual hermitage or a Hindu monastery. It can be used to describe the place where a spiritual or religious guru and their disciples live". I had never visited an ashram before, therefore I really didn't have any expectations, but after three days of full immersion into deeper spiritual living, I know I will be back sooner than later!  Swami Vishnudevananda founded the ranch in 197...

I can't believe it's been two months since our wedding! Time flew by. Now it is almost time for our honeymoon! Over the last few months a lot of people have been asking how we were able to pull off a budget friendly wedding in just 6 months. So, I wanted to share three money-saving-tips that I am so glad we followed! We knew from the beginning that we wouldn't be able to afford anything too extravagant and wanted to keep it as intimate as possible - and true to who we are. 1. FLOWERS Right after we got engaged I started looking into flower options because I knew we wouldn't want huge centerpieces and didn't need bridesmaids bouquets either. I received the advice to look into on-line whole sale vendors and ended up choosing Global Rose and Costco !  For under $120, my mother was able to make my bridal bouquet and small centerpieces for 12 tables,. We even had greenery and roses left over! 2. SAVE THE DATES & INVITATIONS With only 6 month...

It's almost Friday!!! Are you looking for some extra energy to get you through this week? Try out these yummy gluten-free, non-bake Pumpkin Protein Balls! Although it still doesn't quite feel like Fall here, I am all about EVERYTHING pumpkin! I've been playing around with healthy pumpkin recipes and while a Pumpkin Chia Pudding landed in the garbage today (I hate wasting food, but this was not edible!!!), these energy snacks came out so delicious! And are super easy to make! The fun part is that you can customize them to your liking...I bet they are super tasty with added chocolate chips or chopped walnuts! I LOVE chocolate, but I'm trying to stay away from added sugars as much as I can. I prefer to drink my calories...if you know what I mean :) Fun fact: did you know that pumpkins are fruits and not vegetables?! And they are made up of 90% water, which makes them a great low calorie food. They are also high in vitamin A, fiber, and potassium! ...

Hello Weekend! It's finally Friday again and this concludes my Super-Food series...hope you guys enjoyed this month's posts...and maybe got inspired to add some of these colorful and nutrition packed foods to your diet! Today I want to share a really easy and refreshing drink that I make in the mornings to hydrate and stay energized throughout the day! And the best part is, it actually has TWO ingredients that are considered "super foods"! Green Tea is known to be high in antioxidants and is said to speed up one's metabolism, thus aiding in weight loss (source:  Greatest - Superfood Green Tea ). I've been buying Lipton's White Mangosteen Peach Green Tea , which has a very light peach flavor. I find that I stay more focused when I drink a glass or two throughout my day, compared to when I have more coffee after my morning cup. For more flavor and nutritional value, I add fresh ginger and lemon while I steep the tea. Ginger is one of my favorite ...

It's finally Friday! And I have another super-food to share with you all :) It took a couple tries for me to really enjoy these seeds to the fullest. I've tried them in a salad and in smoothies, but neither combination really did it for me. Until I came across tons of Instagram posts that marketed Chia as a pudding!!! A healthy pudding, you say?! Of course I needed to try that! Chia seeds can vary in price, but I usually find decent sized bags at TJ Maxx or on Amazon for under $10. A little goes a long way with these seeds, since they expand once they come in contact with moisture. Although tiny in size, Chia is packed with nutrients, such as fiber and protein, but very low in calories. They are usually grown organically and are naturally gluten free (Source:  Health Line ). Another reason why they make it on my super food list, is because they are loaded with antioxidants! I love making the pudding in the evening and then having a bowl for breakfast ...

Happy Friday and welcome to part 2 of my Super-Food Fridays series. Today's recipe is a great Happy Hour appetizer to kick off the weekend.  What are your plans this weekend? I plan on working on some DIY projects and relaxing by the beach. And having "some" wine to help me forget how much we still need to get done before the wedding :) Beets were never on my favorite foods list...probably because I only ever tried the canned type and they are nothing compared to the fresh kind! But once I tried a friend's Beet and Feta Salad at a restaurant, I was hooked! Besides their stunning color, they are really easy to prepare. You can either boil, bake, or roast them. I usually cut them up and bake them with some salt, pepper, and olive oil. Pickled, they taste great on sandwiches or in salads, too! What puts them on the "super-food" list, is that they are a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium. Also, according to several studies con...

I started being a bit more focused on clean eating in efforts to see how my body might react positively to cutting out processed foods, added sugar, dairy, and gluten. I just want to feel more balanced and healthy overall. And let's be honest - fitting into my wedding dress may or may not have been part of the reason, as well :) To avoid getting bored by eating the same dishes every day, I started looking into new recipes by targeting so-called "super foods". While some of them have been part of my diet for years (for example: blueberries and kale), many of them I have not tried!  So, this is my first post in a 4 part series that I will share this month, called Super-Food Fridays! First up: Pitaya - more commonly known as Dragon Fruit Not sure why, but I was always intimidated by this fruit...how does one cut it? How does one eat it?! It's actually very simple. Cut it in half first and then either cut it in cubes, slices, or just scoop it out. It is surpris...

It's been a busy few weeks, but in between all the wedding planning, I was able to squeeze in some time to check out two spots I have been meaning to visit in Asbury Park. Combine both locations in one day and you can spend a super relaxing weekend by the beach! In the Morning: Sunrise Yoga at The Asbury Hotel : Yes, you have to get up early for this one, but trust me, it's so worth it. This new  boutique hotel first opened its doors in May of 2016 and features an outdoor pool, rooftop bar, and event facilities, such as an open-air cinema and a space that can be rented for weddings. Since I started following them on social media, I noticed that they offer outdoor yoga Wednesdays - Sundays on their rooftop. I knew I had to check that out...yoga with ocean view...I'm in. Classes are at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on the weekends. In my opinion, the earlier class is much more enjoyable because it does get pretty hot in the summer! After yoga, I had a refreshing drink at t...

If you enjoy yoga, animals, AND giving back, you must check out  Oasis tlc , a non-profit organization that assists autistic individuals with living more independent lifestyles and integrating them in their local communities. Oasis fulfills their mission by running farm centers that provide meaningful work and healthy environments for the young adults who live there.  The event that my girl Amy and I had the opportunity to visit, was hosted by  Hot and Soul  yoga studio and took place on an actual farm in Red Bank, NJ. The real perk besides practicing some outdoor yoga with like-minded individuals, was that the property is home to numerous goats...and tons of baby goats that wandered around us while we enjoyed our stretches, twists, and inversions! The event organizers handed out food for the goats so that they would walk around while we practiced. I swear, put me in the middle of animals, and I am in heaven!  And the best part: there are TWO more ev...