a German on a Journey

It's been a while since our last vacation, so naturally, I am dreaming of another get-away! Our last trip was to visit my husband's family in Fort Lauderdale. During our stay there, we also rented a car and took a three hour drive down to Key West for a night. If you've never explored Florida's Southernmost point, I highly recommend visiting the Florida Keys. You can easily fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale, rent a car, and drive south for a few days. It doesn't require a passport, yet it feels like you are in a different country!  Sunset Pier at the Ocean Key Resort and Spa Unfortunately, it was a bit overcast when we arrived, but what's a little rain when it is warm and you're surrounded by palm trees and smiling faces?! And there are tons of activities to do while taking shelter from an impromptu shower. See list at the end of the post! Lorelei Restaurant Cabana & Bar Since we drove down from Fort Lauderdale early in the morning, we...

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 say this every year around this time, but OMG I can't believe it's almost Christmas! Where has the year gone?! I usually get pretty sentimental around the holidays because I can't always be with my family in Berlin. It's a time I reflect on what's important in life and what to look forward to in the next year. One really amazing thing I experienced this past year is that I have a solid group of friends in my life - friends who are like family to me. So it seemed fitting to spend quality time with them this close to Christmas.  Last Sunday I hosted a "Girlfriends-Christmas-in-PJs-Brunch" and found THE perfect recipe that inspired my "Sunday Funday Winter Sangria" concoction.  If you decide on making this, don't plan on driving anywhere...you will want to have more than just one glass of this deliciousness! I think the key ingredients that really elevate this recipe (besides the wine, of course), are the cinnamon stick...