A seal belly rub, library dreams and ice cream cravings. {Ten On Tuesday}

Hallo meine Lieben,

happy Tuesday! I hope you are all doing great! You can link up with lovely Alyssa here. Send her lots of love, please. 

1. A seal who gets his belly rubbed. How adorable is this?

2. You can find an infographic about the Canadian seal hunt here. You can find some interesting facts about this horrible practice which needs to end. The baby seals (who are mostly younger than 3 months old) get killed for their fur. More than 2 million in the last 12 years. A lot of countries have banned the trade in seal products. I hope Canada will follow. Now. 

3. My friend Bevchen reminded me of the Famous Five which I forgot to mention in this post. How could I forget about them? I loved the books and the show! But I am not sure if they were American-famous too or just European famous.

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4.  Still don't get that nobody in America knows Take That.

5. I really wish I could find some coconut milk cookie dough ice cream. I am thinking about that for a couple of days now.  It drives me insane. 

6. I seriously want to have a room like this. Just add a fireplace and an old armchair and a globe bar. 

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7. I would be okay with this one as well. 

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8. I did not win the lottery last week. Surprise. But I am not giving up. If I ever win then I will get a library and a place for an animal sanctuary. 

9. The to-be-read pile of books makes me happy when I look at it. Then it makes me sad that I don't have the time to read as much as I would love to. I really need to be a ghost and some point and spend eternity in a library. Together with my animal friends of course. Sounds pretty good to me. 

10. My cat likes to lick my hair.


Happy Tuesday!

My life in books. {Tag}

Hallo meine Lieben,

my friend Celeste tagged me and so today I am answering some book related questions. As you probably know, I am a huge book worm.  I would love to read your answers as well, so please join the fun! You can read Martha's answers here. 

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1. What is the first book you remember reading? 

"Das alte Haus" (the old house), a collection of wonderful stories which all take place at Grandma's old house where she lives with her old dog Bautz, her very old rooster Krahks and her very very old cat Murks. The book was first published in 1923. My parents always read it for me before I was able to do that myself. I guess I have read that book at least 100 times during my childhood. And I am happy that I still own it. 

2. What books make up your childhood?

The stories about "Die Drei Fragezeichen" (The Three Investigators). There are at least over a hundred books. I guess I have always been into crime: Jupiter (in German "Justus), Peter and Bob are teenage detectives and they solve crimes with the help of Alfred Hitchcock. I collected the books when I was a child and I have to admit that I still buy them when I see one at a flea market. Obviously there are lots of other books but those were the first ones to come into my mind. 

3. What’s the first series of books you devoured? 

Well, I guess I answered this already. But aside from The Three Investigators I also loved the TKKG series, also about some junior detectives. Oh and of course "Der kleine Vampir" (the little vampire), a book series about a boy who finds a friend in the little vampire Rüdiger. I even named one of my cats after Rüdiger's brother Lumpi. 

4. What books have you, or could you, read over and over again? 

Oh seriously? I always read books several times when I really love them. So all the books I mentioned above plus the Harry Potter series, the Adrian Mole diaries, the diaries of Nick Twisp, all Mankell, Nesser, Indridason... crime novels, non-fiction books about serial killers, Lord of The Rings....

5. What books take you back to a certain point in your life and why? 

All of them remind me of something. But I guess the Mankell novels have a special meaning for me because they remind me of my Mom. My Mom started reading them at some point, I became interested and so we both sat there together reading those crime novels when I was a teenager. 

6. What book changed your life, or could at least change someone elses? 

I don't think I can answer this by naming just one book. I mean, I feel that all the books I have read had an impact on my life and made me the person I am now. 


7. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, which book would it be? 

I really really hope that I never have to make this decision. I am happy that there are millions of wonderful books out there and I am looking forward to eternity as a ghost where I will find the time to read all of them. 


Do you want to join in and answer those questions too? I would love to read your answers!
Have a fantastic week!

Five Things. Relax, Lab Animal Day and loss.

Hallo meine Lieben,

happy Friday! I hope your weekend will be fantastic. Please check out my friend Celeste's Five Things as well. 

1.  I try not to get stressed out about things anymore. I am getting a lot better but sometimes it just feels like that there are so many things you need to take care of that it feels a bit overwhelming. There are certain things that help me relax: reading a book, cuddling with the pets, take a deep breath, have a cup of tea. What helps you to relax?

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2. Lab Animal Day.

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Yesterday was World Day For Laboratory Animals. Animal testing is a cruel and unnecessary practice which needs to stop. The products are not only tested on mice and rats and bunnies and monkeys but also on cats and dogs. A fact a lot of people are not aware of. Please speak out for the voiceless animals. They need our help - to stop the suffering. 

3. Today is the "anniversary" of my mother's death. It feels weird to call this an anniversary since they are usually happy days. I miss her every single day of my life. Sometimes I still can't believe she is gone. 

4.  I am loving this jewelry. It is from an Etsy shop called Friendly Gesture. I guess I really like anything which has an animal theme. 

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5. This picture is adorable. Found on Cute Overload.

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Enjoy your weekend!

Random Thursday. Zombie apocalypse - 5 things in my favor.

Hallo meine Lieben,

hope you are all having a happy week! Welcome to another Random Thursday with Lin, Em and me. 

So here are five reasons why I would survive a zombie apocalypse. I do kind of have the feeling that I would not....but hey. I would give it a try. 

1. I would be accompanied by Daryl Dixon. 

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I would be stupid to try to fight the zombie apocalypse alone so obviously I would take Daryl Dixon with me. He is my ticket to survive. You can't get hurt when you are with him. 

2. I can start a fire. 

I am pretty good at starting fires and that is definitely not the worst thing if you have to survive in the wilderness. Of course the fire would attract the zombies and they would try to kill me but I still have Daryl by my side so I am safe.

3. The animals are on my side. 

Animals like me. I have a connection to nature. I would meet a nice fox and the fox would offer me to stay in his burrow until the zombie apocalypse is over. I would have it comfy and safe in there.

4. My mental strength. 

My mental strength would help me to stay calm in some dangerous situations. I would be able to figure out a way to escape and find some safe place to stay.

5. In reality...

Obviously I would get into a huge fight with Daryl because he hunts animals. I send him away and try to make it on my own. On my first day I bang my head on a tree. I get knocked out. Zombies eat me. End of story. 

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Why would you survive a zombie apocalypse?

Crazy cat lady sneakers, a surprise package and a vegan feast. {Ten On Tuesday}

Hallo meine Lieben,

how are you doing? Hope everything is alright and you all had a fantastic Easter weekend, no matter if you celebrated it or not. I am linking up with my friend Alyssa.

1. I got the loveliest surprise package from my friend Miki in the mail today! I am speechless! She is such a sweetheart and she totally made my day! Love you, girl! Thank you so so much!

2. Guess who got the coolest crazy cat lady sneakers? Me! I am so in love. 

3. My family invited me for Easter lunch and my Dad's cousin made all of the food vegan (well, except of the fish). How nice is that? I got a vegan lasagna, a vanilla dessert with caramelized mango and pineapple, different salads and grilled veggies, rice with almonds, beetroot with arugula, apple pie, a dessert with chocolate and nuts, grilled potatoes....as you can imagine: I ate way too much.

4. Happy Earth Day everybody! The planet needs our help. Be responsible.

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5. Tomorrow is World Book Day. Which means that I will spend the day reading as much as possible. And I will buy a new book. I need to celebrate.

6. I can't even put into words how addicted I am to Criminal Minds. I really hope that show will never end. 

7. I have read that the Game Boy turned 25 recently. Did you have a game boy as a kid? What was your favorite game? I loved Super Mario Land. And Tetris. And Dr. Mario.  I still have my Game Boy. And it still works. 

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8. Game boy is a pretty weird name for such a little computer thingy. 

9. You can watch a video of a meerkat making friends with a dog on Cute Overload. And here are more meerkats. I wish I would be that photographer. 

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10. Celebrities who wear fur are horrible role models and nobody should pay them any attention. 


Have a fabulous week!

Thought questions #9 - #20.

Hallo meine Lieben,

I am way behind answering the 365 thought provoking questions. I found them on my friend Martha's blog. My friend Celeste is answering them too. I will try to catch up as soon as possible! I hope you are all doing great. 

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#9. What’s a belief that you hold with which many people disagree?

I believe that being vegan is the right way for me to live my life. I don't want other beings to be hurt just because of me. 


#10. What can you do today that you were not capable of a year ago?

I can knit. At least a teeny tiny bit. I am still working on my skills. 


#11. Do you think crying is a sign of weakness or strength?

It can be both. It depends on what you are crying about. 


#12. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I don't even know what to say here. I usually don't care that much what people think of me but I guess I would speak my mind even more often. 


#13. Do you celebrate the things you do have?

Of course. I mean, there are many things we can be thankful for and it is easy to forget about them. Like having people who love you, being in good health...we should not take things like that for granted. 


#14. What is the difference between living and existing?

Living means that you give your life a purpose. 


#15. If not now, then when?

Good question. I am really trying not to procrastinate but sometimes you just can't help yourself. 


#16. Have you done anything lately worth remembering?

I tried to be there for a desperate woman who needed somebody. 


#17. What does your joy look like today?

New books to read. But there are a lot of things that give me joy. My loved ones for example. 


#18. Is it possible to lie without saying a word?

Yes, of course it is. 


#19. If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow this person to be your friend?

I guess I would still be my friend but I would get mad at myself a lot. I tend to be very hard to myself but I am trying to get better at that because it really does not help anybody. 


#20. Which activities make you lose track of time?

Reading. Spending time with animals (my own and others). Watching shows or movies.  Drawing. 


Have a great day!

Five Things. A snail parade, impressive travels and horrifying advertisement.

Hallo meine Lieben,

happy Friday! I hope you will all have a weekend full of happiness! Please check out my friend Celeste's Five Things as well.

1. These fantastic snail pictures are absolutely beautiful. It gives me joy to look at them. That is why I always pick up snails from the street and bring them to a save place.

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2. This story of a guy who traveled to all the countries in the world. Without using a plane. 


3. This stupid pizza chain wants to promote their "rabbit pizza" by covering a billboard with hundreds of dead rabbits. What is wrong with this world?

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4. I really need a house where I have lots of space for all the books and book shelves I adore. I would add this one to my collection.

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5. My plan for the weekend is to make some vegan peanut butter chocolate chips cookies. What are your plans?

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Random Thursday. My favorite Easter traditions.

Hallo meine Lieben,

welcome to another Random Thursday with Lin, Em and me! We hope you will have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Well, let me start with the bad: I am obviously not a fan of some things that come with Easter because Easter means a lot of animal cruelty. Did you know that male chickens get shredded alive immediately because they are not useful for the egg industry? Horrible and sad but true. Sometimes they get gassed or killed in another cruel way. And all the chickens who have to live in factory farms to produce all the Easter eggs? It is just terrible and needs to stop. 

One thing I will never forget about my childhood Easter is searching for candy in our garden. My parents and grandparents always hid surprised for me and it was my highlight so go searching for them on Easter Sunday. No matter if it was snowing or raining or I don't know what. That is a tradition I will never forget and I definitely want to keep that alive. 

My two Easter bunnies Tiffie and Findus will definitely get some extra cuddles on Easter. I mean, they are the Easter VIB's (Very Important Bunny). 

What is your favorite Easter tradition? 

A baby turtle, a ducky sweater and metal cats. {Ten On Tuesday}

Hallo meine Lieben,

it is Tuesday which means that I am linking up with lovely Alyssa. I hope you are all having a fantastic week. 

1. You can all help ending the horrible Canadian baby seal slaughter by signing this petition. I guess we all agree how wrong it is. 

2. I love how this cat greets her/his owner. Way to go cat. Found on Cute Overload

3. I am trying to win the lottery. Wish me good luck.

4. If you want to see some metal musicians and their cats you can go here. Love to see some mean looking guys being all cuddly with their feline family members.

5. This is way too cute not to share. Also found on Cute Overload.

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6. I am really trying to eat healthy and I eat my fruits and veggies every single day but right now I am craving all kinds of unhealthy stuff. Vegan fondant eggs, sugary almond milk cappuccino, chips, marzipan, gummi bears....

7. It might sound weird but it is so much fun to watch bunnies eat. It really is. They always look hilarious.

8. I am absolutely and totally and completely in love with this fantastic sweater.

ModCloth

9. I am thinking about baking a carrot cake but I have never made one before so I wanted to ask if you guys have a favorite recipe? It does not matter if it is vegan or not, I can "veganize" it. I would really appreciate it a lot!

10. I can't stop listening to "Hungry Heart" by Bruce Springsteen. I guess I am weird. 

Have a fantastic week! Thanks for reading!

Five Things. A dog-licking goat, an awkward professor and safari party chocolate.

Hallo meine Lieben,

happy weekend! Hope it is full of sunshine  and fantastic things. Please check out my friend Celeste's Five Things as well. 

1. This candy.

Saw all that stuff at the store which stocked up on vegan delicacies (which is very exciting) and could not resist. I had the fruity version of these gummi bear thingies before and they were fantastic so I can't wait to try the cola ones. And come on, rice milk chocolate shaped like safari animals. I don't even know if I want to eat them because they are way too cute. But I tried the chocolate bar (with crispy rice pops) and it is heavenly! Yay for more vegan options. I am really exciting that groceries stores start to sell more vegan products. 

2. These animals.

I found it on Cute Overload. These animals are just so unbelievably fantastic. I mean, that goat is just funny and never gives up to try to make the dog play with her. And come on, a dog-licking goat is brilliant. And the dog is so patient and unimpressed. Can't stop watching these two. 

3. This book.

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I do not usually read books about love. But this one sounded so interesting that I made an exception. I haven't finished the book yet but I can honestly say that I am surprised how much I like this book. The main character is hilarious and reminds me a teeny tiny bit of Adrian Mole. This book makes me laugh and it touches my heart. Unless the other half of the book turns out really crappy, I definitely recommend reading it. Here is a short description I found on Goodreads. 

"An international sensation, this hilarious, feel-good novel is narrated by an oddly charming and socially challenged genetics professor on an unusual quest: to find out if he is capable of true love.

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper."

4. This entrance.

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This is the entrance to a bookstore. I would not mind having an entrance like that. And my own book store.

5. This show. 

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I am re-watching Freaks and Geeks (not that I have tons of other stuff to catch up with) because the show makes me feel good and comfortable. It's like meeting an old friend. I also took a test to find out which Freaks and Geeks character I am and my result is Ken Miller because "sarcasm is my second language."


Happy Sunday to you!

Random Thursday. What I'm looking forward to in spring...

Hallo meine Lieben,

welcome to another Random Thursday with Lin, Em and me! We're so happy that you are a part of it. I hope you are all enjoying your week! Almost weekend! yay!
And happy National Farm Animals Day!!
Each year in America an estimated 10 billion farm animals are killed for food. An unfathomable 99 percent of these animals are forced to spend their entire lives confined to factory farms. It is time to change this. 

Spring is definitely one of my favorite seasons, right after fall. It has been pretty nice here over the last couple of days. Sunshine, warmer weather, lots of flowers and everything is colorful. And here are the things I am especially excited for. 

Not freezing to death.

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Well, I always have cold feet and freeze when others don't but I guess it is not as bad as in winter. There is a picture of one of my friend's birthday party and everybody wears t-shirts and summer clothes and I wear a scarf. That pretty much says it all I guess. It is definitely nice to not have to freeze as much as usual. 

The smell after a spring rain shower.

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Can't really describe the smell but I guess you know what I mean - kind of fresh, grassy, clean and pure I would say. Definitely a good one. 

Fruits and veggies. 

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I love fresh fruits and veggies, preferably directly from the garden. So spring is definitely a good time for me. I mean, Spargelzeit (asparagus time) starts in April! When I was a kid we had a huge garden with all kinds of veggies and fruits, it really was like paradise. I just had to go outside and got everything I wanted. I hope I can have that again some day. 

Books - just because.

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Books are always something to look forward to. No matter if spring, summer, fall or winter. So I have to mention them all year round. 

Hearing the birds sing.

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I love to wake up and hear the birds sing. It is the perfect way to start a day. Makes you happy immediately. 

Wearing ballerinas again.

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I think I mentioned these before.

Don't get me wrong, I love my boots. But after months and months of wearing nothing but boots it is nice to be able to wear something else again. Still might wear boots in the evening. Because...you know....cold feet. 

What are you looking forward to in spring?

Smart kitty, Pig Beach and a cottontail rabbit. {Ten On Tuesday}

Hallo meine Lieben,

how is your week going? Hope it is fantastic. You can link up with lovely Alyssa here.

1. If you want to see a really smart cat then you need to click here. I am impressed.

2. I took the test Which backyard wildlife species are you? and my result is: cottontail rabbit. Perfect result I would say. Rabbits rule.

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3. I need to move to Pig Beach, an uninhabited island in the Bahamas which is populated by lots of swimming feral pigs. Sounds like the perfect place to live.

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4. And bunnies obviously. 

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5. One pair of these shoes in European size 39, please. Thank you. They are vegan and fabulous. 

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6. It is so true. Everybody can make a difference. 

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7. I really don't know how many times I have heard this question before. Nobody cares about your protein intake until they find out you are vegan. Ironically a lot of plant-based products contain more protein than any meat. 

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8. I might have a Black Books marathon this weekend. It is time to re-watch one of the best shows ever. 

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9. I found some vegan Easter candy which I always loved as a kid and now I can't stop eating. I had planned to wait until Easter to open the package but I got so excited that I had to try. And it did not disappoint. I don't even know why I like it so much because it is way too sugary for my usual taste. And obviously it is clearly against my cutting out sugar policy. Bloody hell.

10. A corgi and a dachshund. I am in love.

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Have a fantastic week! Thanks for reading!

Five Things. Sugar bowl love, cuddly seals and a cookie monster.

Hallo meine Lieben,

happy weekend! I hope you are all enjoying it and having a fabulous time! Please check out my friend Celeste's Five Things too!

1. This sugar bowl.

I saw it in the store. It is pink and red and gold and there is Snoopy on it. I do not necessarily need a sugar bowl but I am sure can put something useful in it. Like earrings or buttons or coins. It makes me happy so it is useful.

2. This video.

I found the video here. Watch it, it will make you happy. One of the most wonderful things I have seen. I love the guy's reaction.

3. Cookies. 

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I found the vegan version of the favorite cookies from my childhood (Prinzenrolle, for all the Germans) and now I am happily eating the whole pack without feeling guilty at all. Sometimes all you need is cookies. 

4. This tea set. 

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Hello? Cats AND tea! Just added this to my wishlist. I am quite sure that tea tastes even better out of this gem. 

5. This cake stand. 

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Because you need something sweet while you drink your tea. And because my cookies will look even better on that thing. And because I am old school. Lots of reasons to buy this thing.

Happy weekend!