a German on a Journey

Yes, extravagant date nights can be fun and romantic for special occasions, but after being in two weddings this year AND planning our own, I am definitely on a budget this summer. I think that you can have a wonderful time without spending the big bucks. At the end of the day, it's about you and your significant other spending quality time and not about how much you've spent. Here are some ideas if you want to connect with your partner or friends, without having to dish out a fortune! 1. Watch the Sunset: Whether you are by the water or on a rooftop, getting away from the daily grind and taking the time to just be still, is completely free and super romantic. Bring a bottle of wine and just enjoy the view! 2. Go for a Bike Ride: We love spending time outside. Because we don't have our own backyard, we have to get creative. Since we both bought bikes, we like taking them out for a ride together. Any form of exercise gets your blood flowing and releases endo...

Last weekend I was able to check off an item on my bucket-list: to visit the Adirondacks in Upstate New York! I love spontaneous adventures, so when we were invited to stay at Jr's friend's lake house for the weekend, it didn't take much convincing for us to take the six hours drive. I know....SIX hours for just two days seems extreme, but once we were on the road and noticed there was zero traffic because everyone was heading to the beach, the drive went by pretty fast. Side note: I won't bore you with the details, but WATCH YOUR SPEED when you drive through Pennsylvania.... We ended up at Trout Lake in Hermon, NY which is a tiny town with one little store and a bar that happens to have the best wings! The house was located right on water, with a private deck, canoes, and a boat. In between two state parks, Trout Lake is the perfect destination for hiking, fishing, stand-up paddle boarding, and swimming! Also, the deck made for the BEST location for some out-door ...

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo: some tips on how to enjoy the celebration in a more health conscious way! Don't worry...you can still have tacos and margaritas:)  I know you can't substitute everything in every meal and still make it taste as yummy as the original version, BUT if you replace processed ingredients with fresh ones, you can add nutritional value to your meal. 1. First Up: Skip the cheese and add a few slices of ripe avocado. The creaminess of the fruit - yes, "fruit" not "vegetable", and its' high content of vitamins, make this a healthy substitution for cheese. 2. I might be partial here because I LOVE plain Greek yogurt, but the yogurt's tangy taste and creamy consistency really make for a great sour cream substitution. Greek yogurt is high in protein and even its' full fat version has less calories than low fat sour cream (source:  Livestrong ). 3. Whenever you can make something fresh versus buying it ready-...

It's time for a new Conversation Series post! So excited to share this interview with my favorite little fashionista - who also happens to be one of my best friends! Jen was one of the first friends I made in New Jersey when I moved here almost 15 years ago and her family has made me feel at home for the Holidays and sleep-overs ever since! If you ever need to find the best deal on an over-priced outfit, don't know what to wear to an upcoming event, or simply have no time to shop - Jen is your Girl! I constantly lose my patience with shopping and get too overwhelmed by choices, so I often drag Jen with me and end up leaving the store happy. Last weekend I sat down with her to talk fashion, personal shopping, the inspiration behind her new blog, and latest Spring Trends. Lena: You not only stay on top of all the latest styles and trends, but you also shop for other people. You've done this for me plenty of times and this is something you actually really enjoy ...

The warmer weather gives me major travel fever....Since I have a wedding to pay for this summer, my usual trip to Europe will need to be put on the back-burner....but instead we get to plan our honeymoon! Not too bad either :) With booking a vacation on my mind, I have been motivated to share some of my favorite travel tips that make staying healthy and relaxed while preparing for travel and being away from home less stressful! 1. Pack Like A Pro I used to over-pack for every trip; sometimes even had to pay extra for overweight baggage! Just to come back home, realizing I didn't even wear half of the clothing that I had brought on the trip. So I started planning ahead...I now lay out the outfits that I intend to wear on each day while away. I try to visualize how I can mix and match items to bring as little as possible. Another great tip for effective packing is to roll the clothes! It doesn't seem that more would fit in the suitcase this way, but try it out! It also ...

Summer is right around the corner and that means my wedding isn't far away either! AHHH! 170 days to go...but who's counting, right?! Needless to say, I am motivated to put some healthy goals in place. Without a plan and guidelines, I never stay on track! Only working out does not do the trick for me. It's important to nourish my body from the inside, as well. That means I have to keep my eating habits easy and versatile so that I stick with them.  Since I absolutely LOVE avocados, I wanted to share these 3 variations with you. Avocados contain a wide variety in nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals. Contrary to the rather "old school" belief that they are high in fat and thus, a bad option for one's diet, avocados contain healthy fat and are low in carbs (source: Authority Nutrition ). Following are three simple recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dessert! Baked Avocado with Egg, Avocado Toast, and Chocolate Avocado Truffles ...

If you had to pick one type of cuisine to eat for one whole month, what would you choose? I would pick between Mediterranean and Thai. Both offer such great flavor profiles and light, healthy cooking variations! Lately, my go-to Friday night take-out meal has been some sort of Thai dish with noodles or rice, so I've been inspired to cook some on my own...to add a twist, I substituted the traditional rice with zoodles...YES..not noodles, but zucchinis in the shape of noddles :) To begin, you will need a spiralizer. You can get a basic version here . If you start using this a lot, I would recommend investing in an electric one instead. The great thing about this dish is you can really play around with the ingredients...mix up your proteins by adding chicken or tofu for a vegetarian version. If you like it more sweet, add some coconut milk and maybe some curry. YUM...I think I might need to make that next time! My least favorite part of preparing this is cleaning t...