Receiving an award is warming my heart.

Hallo meine Lieben,

I am a bad blogger right now. 
I really am. And I am very sorry. I hope that will change very soon.
Even though I really suck at blogging right now, my fabulous friend Em from Backlist Books (who is a wonderful person who also likes to talk about books and to cuddle with kitties) surprised me by giving me the "Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award" which sounds pretty damn fantastic to me. I feel very honored (thank you Em, you rule very much)!

This look looks pretty cool early 90's like. Which makes the award even better. 
So now it is up to me to answer Em's questions. Which will be fun because the questions are all about books and I love to talk about books. And animals. 

1. What 2015 book are you most excited about?

That's an easy one. It's "Verheißung" by Jussi Adler-Olsen and Carl Mørck's 6th case. I am waiting for this book since fall 2013 when I finished the 5th book and it is driving me insane. The Danish original got published last October and I was mad because I do not understand Danish. But now the wait is almost over. 

2. Which blog did you discover recently that you can't believe you didn't know about?

Cake Invasion. Lots of delicious vegan treats. Went to the store yesterday to get all the ingredients I need to bake something called Death By Chocolate which totally sounds like my kind of thing. My friend Julia told me about it. (I know, it's not a book blog but we all need a snack while reading.)

3. What's the best book outside of your regular genres/topics/authors you've read in the past year? (You can extend this time-frame if you haven't been reading adventurously lately!)

I know I talked about this book before but I really really liked All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Which is more of an YA love story (not the bad kind, I usually dislike love stories but there's more to this book, just read it) and not my usual crime novel. 

4. Judging books by their covers: yay or nay?

I totally judge books by their covers. Cheap covers freak me out and I don't pick the book up. I might miss something good but people should make an effort to have a good cover for their books. I often find myself hating the American cover but loving the German one (don't know why but the German crime novel covers are usually much better looking). And sometimes it's even the other way round. 

5. What's your favourite book-to-movie adaptation?

Harry Potter. High Fidelity. The Silence of the Lambs. The Lord of the Rings. Trainspotting. 

6. Which fictional world do you wish you could move into?

I want to live in Hogwarts, fly on a broom, play Quidditch and talk to my owl. Also I always wanted to live in an old castle. Preferable without Voldemort, the Death Eaters and all that crap. 

7. Hardcover or paperback?

I have more paperbacks, that is for sure. I mean, they are cheaper so I can buy more. Easy. But usually the hardcovers get published earlier so when I really want to read a book as soon as possible then I buy the hardcover edition. And of course it is nice to have some fancy looking old hardcover books in your shelf. 

8. How many books do you read in a week, on average, and are you happy with your number?

I can't really say. That depends how much time I have. I read 8 books in January, only 4 in February but I am already on my third for March. Also, I am reading books that are not just for fun. I am not happy with my number because I would love to read a lot more books if possible. My tbr-pile is growing and growing and I need to find some time to read them all. 

9. Which books are on the top of your TBR list?

The Adler-Olsen one I mentioned earlier, The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow, Night Film, The Last Time We Say Goodbye, Horrorstör, The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81, The Shepherd, Etta and Otto and Russel and James, What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, If I Fall, If I Die, ....oh, and an intimidating amount of more books. 

10. Because this is Backlist Books, which books published at least a year ago are highest on your TBR?

Well, some of the books mentioned above were published at least a year ago. Also, I finally want to read Gone Girl because it really sounds interesting and I think I am one of the few people who have not read it yet. And then Thirteen Reasons Why, A Man Called Ove.....

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Em's questions are so good that I don't even want to come up with other ones. Instead I would be thrilled if you would answer her questions as well! Erin (Mini.Rebel), would you? 
Have a fabulous week! Thanks so much for reading!

The one where I feel honored and talk about songs and travels and movies and blogging and some other stuff.

Hallo meine Lieben,

a while ago my wonderful friend Chrissy from The Brave Wanderer (go check her out if you haven't already, she is fabulous) surprised me by giving me an award. And I felt so honored because it always gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling when somebody actually likes my weird blog. 
Chrissy, thank you again for nominating me! It means so much! I am happy to be able to call you a friend. Sorry it took me a couple of days to post this!

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Friends rule. 

What is your favorite song?

Oh, there are so many! "New Noise" by Refused, "Tattva" by Kula Shaker, "Funny little frog" by Belle & Sebastian, "Electricity" by Suede, "Park Life" by Blur, "Whatever" by Oasis, "Was hat dich bloss so ruiniert" by Die Sterne, " Ich bin ganz sicher schon mal hiergewesen" by Tocotronic, "I don't care as long as you sing" by Beatsteaks, "The bartender and the thief" by Stereophonics, "Motorcycle Emptiness" by Manic Street Preachers, "Apply some pressure" by Maximo Park, "About a girl" by Nirvana, "Munich" by Editors, "Kung Fu" by Ash, "Svefn-g-englar" by Sigur Rós, "No you girls" by Franz Ferdinand, "Hysteria" by Muse, "3 libras" by A Perfect Circle....Oh and, classical music. I like music. 

Where would you like to travel if you could go anywhere?

Pretty much anywhere but on top of my list are Iceland, Ireland, Christmas Island, India, New Zealand, Sweden, Estonia. 

Do you regret something in your past?

Yes, trusting some non-trustworthy people. 

What is your favorite time of the day and why?

Late evening because it is the most relaxing time of the day and usually the time I cuddle with my furry family members, read a book, eat a snack and watch a movie/show. Also I like getting up early on the weekends when everybody else is still asleep because it is so quiet. 

Do you have a secret wish?

Of course I have. 

We all have a movie we could watch over and over - which one is yours?

The Boondock Saints, Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, Napoleon Dynamite, Reality Bites, Before Sunrise, Bienvenue chez les Ch'Tis, Wayne's World, Dodgeball, Love Actually, The Holiday, Harry Potter, Star Wars, From Dusk Till Dawn, School of Rock, High Fidelity, The Sword In The Stone. 

Is there a craft you would like to learn?

Yes, knitting and sewing. But I would like to learn all crafts to be honest. I like crafts. 

Road trip, air travel or by train?

Road trip. Or by train. Not a fan of flying. Trains are my favorite I would say. 

Camping or hotel?

Hotel. I don't think I am the born camper. One or two nights are fine but I always get so cold, even in summer. 

When did you start blogging and why?

Almost 3 years ago. I started reading blogs a couple of months before and I loved it so much that I started my own. Never regretted it. I have met so many wonderful people because of my blog. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

Living in an quirky cottage with my loved ones and lots of animals, running an animal sanctuary, having a job I truly love, reading lots of books. And having my own library. 



This was fun! Thanks again to Chrissy for the honor! I hope you are all having a wonderful week! Maybe you want to answer Chrissy's questions as well. I would love to read what you have to say!

The one with even more books and awards.

Hallo meine Lieben,

my lovely book worm friend Martha nominated me for another Liebster award and I could not feel more honored. Because Martha rocks and because I really love books. So now I will share 11 facts about me and answer Martha's questions. Martha, thank you again for nominating me, it means so much to me!

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11 random book-themed facts about me. 

1. Sometimes I am scared to watch a movie which is based on a book because I don't want it to destroy how imagined the characters etc. 

2. I would never give up reading. Not for a million dollars.

3. When people tell me that they don't like books then I think that something must be horribly wrong with them. 

4. I do judge books by  their covers.

5. There are books which I have read more than 10 times, including Harry Potter, the Adrian Mole diaries, the Nick Twisp diaries and lots of books from my childhood. 

6. I always carry a book with me because you never know when you find time to read. 

7. My cats share my love for books. They like to sleep or rub their faces on them.

8. I am disappointed when I find a typo in a book.

9. I would never sell any of my books. They mean too much to me. 

10. My favorite books are crime novels and cook books. And anything about traveling.

11. One of my biggest dreams is having my own library.  In a tower, with a fireplace, an old armchair and a globe bar. 

Martha's questions. 

1. What is the most overrated book you've ever read?

Well, when I was a teenager I read a German book called "Crazy" which was very popular at that time. They even made a movie out of it. Everybody was  so excited  about it and the author who was just a couple of years older than me became very famous. I bought the book because everybody was so crazy about it but I was not. It was okay but I was really disappointed at that time. I expected so much more. 
There are more but this is the first book that came into my mind. 

2. What about the most underrated? Anything other people hated that you loved?

I heard some people saying that they did not like "Set this house in order: a romance of souls" by Matt Ruff. But I absolutely loved the book. 

3. Do you have a special reading “spot” or ritual, or are you an anywhere, anytime reader?

Well, when I am at home then I love to read on the couch with a cup of tea in my one hand, the book in the other and my pets by my side. But I read anywhere and anytime. On the train or when I have to wait for something, in the car....

4. Do you like book clubs? Why or why not?

I have never been a member of a book club but I would definitely give it a try. The thing is that I usually want to chose what I read so that might cause some problems. 

5. Do you have a favorite book to gift to other people?

I love to give my favorite crime novels as gifts. Or the Adrian Mole books. Just because I want everybody else to love them as much as I do. 

6. Who is your favorite literary character?

Adrian Mole. He is hilarious and never fails to make me laugh. Or cry. Or both. I am also a huge fan of inspector Van Veeteren (from the Håkan Nesser books), Carl Mørck (Jussi Adler-Olsen), Kurt Wallander (Henning Mankell), Erik Winter (Åke Edwardson) and some more crime novel characters. 

7. Ever read a line in a book that really blew you away? What was it?

I read a lot of books about animal rights and of the quotes I always remember is “Whether we change our lives or do nothing, we have responded. To do nothing is to do something.” Or “Something having been done just about everywhere just about always is no kind of justification for doing it now.”  (Jonathan Safran Foer). And from one of my heroes Philip Wollen: “When we suffer, we suffer as equals and in their capacity to suffer, a dog, is a pig, is a bear, is a boy.” Or “Peace is not just the absence of war, it is the presence of justice. Justice must be blind to race, color, religion or species. If she’s not blind, she will be a weapon of terror and tonight there is unimaginable terror in those ghastly Guantanamo’s we call factory farms or slaughterhouses.” "Just because you can do little does not mean you can do nothing."

8. If you could rewrite the ending to a book, which would you rewrite, how, and why?

Well, I do not want some books to ever end but I never felt like I wanted to rewrite the ending of a book. Lame answer, I know. 

9. Any favorite book blogs to recommend?

Emily's blog Backlist Books of course. She always makes me get more books. 

10. If you get partway into a book and just aren’t feeling it, do you give up or push on to see if it gets better? At what point does it go into the “unfinished” pile?

I usually try to finish all the books I  start. Sometimes I do take a break because I have enough of it for a while. Maybe that while takes a little longer though.  I admit it. But I always feel guilty when I do not finish a book so I never make the decision to not finish a book. Okay, I admit that I read the first couple of pages of "50 Shades of Grey" just because I wanted to see what all the fuzz is about. And it was so horrible that I decided to never pick this up again. Luckily I never spent money for this book. So to answer the question: when the book is 50 Shades of Grey then I will never finish it. 

11. Which POV do you prefer–first or third? What are your thoughts on multiple POVs in a book, especially when both are written in the first person?

I am pretty much fine with anything, it really depends on the book. I think most books I read are written in the third person. 


Thank you again for nominating me, Martha! It means a lot! And you know I love talking about books!
Happy weekend!

The one with the books and the award.

Hallo meine Lieben,

a while ago my fantastic friend Em nominated me for the Liebster award and obviously this is a huge honor. Thank you so much, Em! You rock! So today I want to answer the questions which Em mentioned in her post. You should all check out her blog by the way, she loves books and cats and writes fantastic reviews. 

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What's your favourite part of book blogging?

Well, I am not a book blogger myself but I do love to read book reviews. As many as possible. I mean, I always need a good recommendation and Em gives me lots of them. I wrote a couple of reviews when I started my blog and I have no idea why I stopped. But that's one of the things I want to change about my blog: write some book reviews. I love reading and I do have a blog so I guess it would be a logical decision. Book blogs are definitely one of my favorite source for information (also my friends and book stores). 

Have you found people in the book blogging community that you really connect with? 

Oh yes, Em is fantastic and I am happy to call her my friend. I am also glad that I found my fellow book lovers and friends Martha and Celeste and Rooth and Ankita. We book lovers have to stick together. 

Anyone you talk to outside of blog comments?

Of course. I do talk a lot with the girls mentioned above. I found many fantastic friends because of my blogs. And I love to communicate with them. 

What's your favourite genre (or genres) to read?

Scandinavian and Icelandic crime novels. Especially Henning Mankell, Arnaldur Indriðason, Håkan Nesser, Åke Edwardson, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Jussi Adler-Olsen....I also love to read about traveling. 

Your least favourite?

I am not a fan of romantic love stories (they have to be funny at least...or involve a crime).

Which book do you think everyone should read?

Well, all books by the authors mentioned above. Plus the Adrian Mole Diaries by Sue Townsend. 

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What books are on your TBR list for the summer?

My TBR list is endless but on top are: the David Hunter series by Simon Beckett, the latest books by Max Bentow and Lars Kepler, The Girl Who Saved The King Of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson....

Which book cover would you be most likely to frame and hang on your wall as a piece of art?

"Das alte Haus" - because it reminds me of my Mom. She always read that book to me before I was able to read it myself. 

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If you could ask the author of your favourite book two questions, what would they be?

1. Can't you write faster? 2. Why?

Which fictional world do you wish you could move into?

I would love to live in The Burrow. 

What's your favourite literary adaptation? (Movie, TV Show, etc.)

I usually like the books a lot better than the movies because I like the way I imagine the characters etc. but I do love the Harry Potter movies. A lot. 
I like Orange Is The New Black but I have to admit that I never read the book so I can't tell if it is better or not. 

When you're not reading, what else are you doing for fun?

Entertaining my pets, drawing, painting, going to flea markets, drinking tea, spending time with my loved ones, writing, watching movies and tv shows, being with animals, listening to music, going to concerts, traveling, cooking and baking, daydreaming...


Have a fantastic weekend!

A guest post + My writing process blog tour.

Hallo meine Lieben,

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Today is another important World Cup game and I am crossing my fingers for Germany. 

My wonderful friend Sara from C'est moi, Sara Louise asked me to write a guest post on her blog and of course I said yes!  I feel so honored! Sara is such a fantastic friend and I read her blog for a long time and love every single post. So thanks again for asking me, Sara! It means a lot! 

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First of all, I can't even put into words how honored I feel and how much it means to me that the wonderful Rika from vegan miam nominated me to a part of the My writing process blog tour (which is a way to get bloggers to get to know each other and to discover new fabulous blogs). The blog tour is also a way to share some more of the background of your blog, why you write what you write and what it means to you.  After being nominated by another blogger you answer the four questions below. Then it is your turn to nominate three other bloggers - bloggers you know and love and want everybody else to get to know as well. 

Rika said so many wonderful things about me in her post. It really really touched my heart. Rika, thank you so much! It means so much to me! You even made me tear up a bit. 

Rika's blog is one of my favorites....I read every single post of her and I adore everything about her....She shares the most wonderful recipes and always makes me hungry. She also inspires me to eat things that I have never eaten before. I love to read about her travels and adventures. The pictures she shares are always brilliant and make me want to travel to new places and to cook, cook, cook. She is such an inspiration...not just because she definitely is one of my vegan role models but also because she is such a smart, beautiful, caring and fantastic person. Her comments on my blog always make me smile. Plus, we have so much in common. Not just that we are both vegan...we also share the love for shoes and Scandinavian crime novels. Oh, and we both love salt & vinegar chips. And everybody who loves those is a brilliant person. You all need to follow her blog vegan miam and you can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. So if you do not know her yet, go over and say hello. You will become very hungry and will get to know one of my favorite people in blogland! 

The questions.

1. WHAT AM I WORKING ON?

On my blog, I try to cover all the topics I am interested in. Which means: animal rights, veganism, books, my German-American life, traveling, food, movies and all the other things in life I do or like. I do feel like that I want my blog to improve. I talked about this before, I don't have enough time to work on all the things I want to. I started writing a novel a while ago and I feel like my day needs more than 24 hours to get all the stuff done. There are so many things in my life that I want to write about, things that are important to me. I have so many interests  and obviously I want to pursue all of them and I want you guys to be a part of it. 

2. HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS OF ITS GENRE?

Well, all our lives are unique so I guess there are not a whole lot of Germans married to an American who are vegan, have two bunnies and two cats as pets, like to do all kinds of crafty things, are book worms and care a lot about animal rights. I love to get to know the people behind the blogs because we all have interesting stories to tell and I think that is what makes blogging so interesting for me. I have made so many wonderful friends because of my blog and I can't even tell you what that means to me. 

3. WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I DO?

I am very passionate when it comes to the things I care about which is why I want to share them with others as well. For example, animals play a very important role in my life. Not just my pets but all animals in general. I want to protect them. So many terrible things are happening in the world, especially in the meat industry and so on. And I want people to be aware of these things and to consider them. 
Another example: I love to read. Always have and always will. I have hundreds of books and read every single day. I want to share this love with others. Because I always feel like that the things that make me happy might make others happy as well. And I am clearly happy when I can talk about Scandinavian crime novels. 

4. HOW DOES YOUR WRITING PROCESS WORK?

I would not say that there is an order or a special procedure. Not at all. When I have an idea then I write it down in my notebook and then come back to it at some point. If I don't write it down immediately then I forget about it again. Which is why I always try to carry a notebook with me - let's say that does not always work. So I often have lots of lose papers in my purse or on my desk where I write things down. I get inspired by everything I read, the people around me and just the world in general. There are so many interesting things I want to write about. And when I see something interesting, then I take a picture and share it later. Sometimes that means a couple of weeks or months later. I just always make sure that I write everything down which comes into my mind...I really don't want to forget any important thought. 

AND WHO IS UP NEXT......?

Martha @ Quick, Cheap and Pretty

Martha is such a sweet person and I can't even tell you how happy I am that I have met her because of my blog (honestly, I am so thankful for all the wonderful friendships, I never thought this could be possible! So thank you to all of you for being such fantastic friends, it means so much to me!). I do not have any vegan friends in real life (can you believe that?) so I am more than thankful that I can talk to her about all things vegan. And she always makes me smile by sending me cute animal pictures. I told you, she really is a sweetheart. It is so much fun to read her blog because it is the perfect mixture of all things cruelty free, vegan recipes, fashion, stories of her life, books, cats and smart thoughts. I feel like we have so many things in common and we would make great friends in real life as well. I mean, come on, she is a vegan cat lover who reads tons of books and loves tea. 

Celeste @ Rebel With a Cause

Another wonderful friend of mine. She is such a fascinating person and I admire her minimalist style and sense of fashion. Her blog is a mixture of very intelligent thoughts, fashion, books, human rights, travel stories and so much more. You can't even put it into words, you have to see it yourself. I am always so excited when she talks about the adventures of her life. She has been to so many places and has so many stories to tell. I can't say this enough: I am so thankful that I have made such a wonderful friend. I feel like we have a lot in common: she is a huge animal lover, loves to read a lot and to drink tea. I also love about her that she knows so many fascinating things about science, she is studying for a degree in Natural Science so she is the perfect source for all kinds of wisdom. I am really proud to be able to call her my friend.

Lissa @ sleepwalking in ny

My friend Lissa is one of the most creative and talented people I have ever met. On her blog she shares the stories she writes and her drawings and photography and also bits and pieces of her life in New York City. You need to check this out for yourself but her stories always touch my heart...I can't describe it but the way she writes is just absolutely brilliant, you feel with her characters. She is such an incredible talented artist and you can find her work in her store the rain girl. I am a huge fan of all the beautiful rain pictures she takes. She is not just incredible talented but also a wonderful and kind person and a really lovely friend. So if you want to feel inspired and meet a truly brilliant person, you have to check out her blog if you have not already. 


Thank you guys for being such wonderful friends and loyal readers, I can't even tell you what it means to me. 

Have a great week.

Awards & questions.

Hallo meine Lieben,

happy Saturday! I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. 
I have to say that I always feel so honored when people actually take the time to read my blog and leave some comments. I have never expected this when I started my blog. It means so much to me and every single one of you makes me happy. Thank you so much.
Last week I got nominated for the Liebster Award by two of my friends - I am speechless. I can't thank you enough. I am overwhelmed by all the wonderful friendships I made through my blog. 
Please go and check out my friends' blogs. I got nominated by Ankita from Humming Words and Kelly from Today Was a Fairytale. Thank you so much, girls! It means so much to me!

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So now I want to answer the questions Ankita and Kelly asked me in their posts.
Here are Ankita's questions.

1.    One book/movie you could alter the ending of.  Please give reasons for your choice.

I would change the plot of any movie or book in which an animal gets hurt. I just can't stand it. I watched Bambi as a child, cried for days and never watched that movie again. And when I watch Marley & Me I have to stop at some point. I can watch the bloodiest and most brutal movies but I can't stand it when an animal is in danger in a book/movie. I have to stop watching/reading then. 

2.    Which two Indian laws would you change if given an opportunity to do so?

I really wish I would know more about Indian laws....but I would definitely change any law that isn't in favor for animals. Banning animal testing etc. 

3.    Are you a dog person or a cat lover? Which breed of dogs you like the most and why.

I love all animals and I would love to add a dog to my family someday. But I am definitely a cat lady. I love my cats endlessly. They rock. I love all kinds of dogs but I would definitely adopt a corgi. 

4.    Which actor and actress you think should permanently bid adieu to acting and why.

Meg Ryan because she only has one facial expression. She always looks the same. And Tom Cruise. I just can't stand that guy. 

5.    Name the two films you would like to direct again. Who will you cast in lead roles?

Hmm, I can't really answer this because I think that the movies I already like are perfect the way they are. And I don't want to be the director of any movies I don't like because that wouldn't be much fun. I hope that makes sense. But I would definitely give all bad ass roles to Norman Reedus. 

6.    Where do you stay the most (mentally), your past, present or future?

I try to stay in the present and not worry too much about the past or the future. I am not always successful but I am working on it. 

7.    Describe yourself in three words.

Animal-lover, bookworm, strong-willed. 

8.    How do you de-stress yourself?

A good book, a cup of tea, animals. Taking a bath, watching a movie or going for a walk are also ways to calm down. But reading is probably the best way to relax, at least for me. 

9.    How would you deal with a very rude but a close relative?

I have some really really really really really really horrible relatives (aka the "relatives from hell") and I don't talk to them anymore at all. 

10.  One zodiac sign (apart from yours) that you like and why.

Scorpio. Because that's David's zodiac sign. 

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And here are Kelly's questions.

1. What do you find it easiest to blog about?

Topics I am interested in anyway: books, traveling, animals, food, animal rights, movies, shows etc. 

2. Is there a topic that you'd like to blog about but are to scared/nervous to write about?

Not really. I don't really talk about sad experiences that much on my blog because I want it to be a happy place. But I mention those things once in a while. 

3. How has your blog changed since the day you started it?

I have met a lot of wonderful people since I started blogging. The blog itself hasn't changed that much. I mean, I changed the design and it is definitely time for a design change again. Other than that I still talk about the topics that are close to my heart. I started to participate in some link-ups and now I am a co-host of Random Thursday which is definitely a damn cool thing. 

4. How has blogging changed your life so far?

As I have said, I have met so many fabulous people and some of them became really close friends even if I have never met them in reality. Those friendships mean a lot to me and they have definitely changed my life! I have also learned a lot since a started blogging. I love to read about people's experiences, opinions, travels etc.

5. Have you been able to meet, face to face, any of the bloggers that you follow?

Unfortunately not but I hope I will have the chance someday! 

6. Is there a blogger {or few} that have helped motivate you or really touched your life in any way?

Yes, the bloggers I am friends with now have definitely touched my life! And I would really love to meet these people in person someday. You know who you are!

7. Does anyone in your real life know about your blog? If yes, what do they think? If no, what keeps you from telling them?

David knows about my blogs and I think he reads it on a regular basis but other than that my family and friends don't know about it. I can't even explain why but I like it that way. 

8. When you run into a writing block what do you do to help you out of your funk?

I just take a break and then at some point a topic comes into my mind. It's also good to get some inspiration from other blogs. 

9. What are your hopes for you blog over the next year?

That my friends will keep reading my blog and won't stop leaving comments. And that I will finally change the design of the blog and learn some more about that topic. 

10. What is the first thing you notice about another person’s blog?

Well, obviously the design. I also love to read a short description of the person. And it scares me so much when music starts to play. 

11. Do you have any advice you'd like to share with bloggers who are just starting out?

Just be yourself, write about the things that mean something to you. Visit other blogs, leave some comments, just be nice. 


Thanks again, Ankita and Kelly! It really means so much to me! You girls rock!
Have a happy weekend!

The Sunshine Award.

Hallo meine Lieben,

hope your week is going fine! Yesterday I was so happy to find out that my friend Martha nominated me for the "Sunshine Award". It is "an award given to those who inspire us and bring sunshine into our lives". How sweet and wonderful is that? I feel so honored! Thank you, Martha!

There are a few rules:
-Include the award logo in your blog post
- Link to the person who nominated you
- Answer 10 questions about yourself
- Nominate other bloggers.

And here are Martha's questions and my answers.

1. If you could travel to any point in the past or the future and spend one day there, where/when would you land and why?

I would travel back to the saddest day of my life and would try to change the things that happened. That is for sure.

2. Everyone talks about how much they love autumn--but what's your least favorite thing about this time of the year?

I love autumn but I don't like the freezing cold rainy days when I have to leave the house and try to make sure not to freeze to death. Not that easy. I am always cold and I can wear layers and layers, scarves and hats and boots and warm socks...it does not help.

3. If you could only wear one shade of nail polish for the rest of the year, what would it be?

That  would be either a dark red or taupe. 

4. What item do you have no problem dishing out serious cash for? Doesn't have to be beauty related, could be books, food, etc.

Definitely books. I can control myself with other things most of the time but I can't resist a book I really want to read. So when I find one, I buy it. 

5. What would your last meal be?

An Indian curry, vegan cookie dough ice cream, a bag of salt and vinegar chips, pasta, apple pie, fried tofu, hot chocolate with almond milk, pizza with artichokes, more pie, a banana smoothie. Oh, and lots of dark chocolate.

6. If you could live in another country for a year, where would you go?

Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, India, Sweden or Christmas Island (not  a country, I know.). 

7. If you won the lottery, would you still work a regular job, or would you choose to punch out for the last time?

I would buy an old castle in Ireland and live there with lots of animals who need a home. Goats, donkeys, cats, dogs, bunnies, cows, pigs....every animal is allowed to stay there with me. David could do his music and I would do something creative. No 9-5 job. Well, I would still work on the stuff I am interested in, forensic psychology and criminology. I would probably try to write a novel too. But I would definitely only do stuff that makes me happy. 

8. If you could have any wild animal for a pet (and it would behave like a domesticated animal, of course!), what would it be?

All of them, of course. 

9. What beauty routine do you secretly loathe, but follow religiously (or not so religiously) anyway?

To tweeze my eyebrows. It just hurts way too much.

10. What's your "theme song"?

I asked David and he said "Smooth Criminal" because I am fascinated by anything crime related so much. 


I nominate all of you lovely friends who are always there for me, stop by and leave such lovely comments. You rock! And you mean so much to me!

Thanks again, Martha! I am so honored and so glad to have you as my friend!

Have a lovely day!

Lovely Blog Award.

Hallo meine Lieben,

my wonderful friend Irene from Away from Tenerife nominated me for the "Lovely Blog Award" and I have to say that I feel so honored that she thought of me. I mean, I am always amazed when people actually read my blog, leave comments and respond to mine! Thank you so much! It really means a lot to me!
You should all check out Irene's blog! She is an expat from Tenerife who currently lives in Switzerland. So there are lots of interesting things going on in her life. She is also a real sweetheart.

Back to the award. I allowed myself to change the rules a bit. You are supposed to thank and follow the blogger who nominated me which I already did (but I still want to thank Irene again because it really means a lot to me! Thank you!!). Then I need to share seven random facts about myself which I will do in this post. But instead of nominating 20 other bloggers I just want to award all of you guys because you rock! And please share seven random facts about yourself with me. 

So here are my random facts.

One.

I love to buy books, nail polishes, magazines, lip balms, Lush products,food and shoes. Those are my favorite things to shop for. I love to spend hours in the book store and it is better not to disturb me when I am there.

Two.

My eyesight is pretty bad which is why I wear contact lenses. I want to get some new glasses and start wearing them more often tough. I wish I would wake up one morning and my eyesight would be perfect. I feel so stupid when I can't see anything. 

Three. 

I have a stupid kidney disease which annoys me because there is not much you can do against it other than having a healthy lifestyle. 

Four.

My favorite movie of all time is "Boondock Saints" but I also love to watch a fun mixture of other movies such as Before Sunrise, Star Wars, Napoleon Dynamite, Dirty Dancing, Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis, Dodgeball, Nacho Libre, Shaun Of The Dead, Love Actually, The Holiday, Die Hard, From Dusk Til Dawn, High Fidelity, Be Kind Rewind, The Sword In The Stone, Reality Bites, Lord Of The Rings, The Royal Tenenbaums and a lot more. 

Five.

I can't whistle. I just can't. I have tried it but I really suck at it. 

Six.

I have a scar on my forehead but it does not look as cool as the one Harry Potter has. I wish it would. Mine is not as impressive.

Seven.

My bucket list includes things a ride in a hot air balloon, learning at least two more languages, travel to Christmas Island, write a book, own a castle where I run my animal sanctuary, build my own furniture, learn how to sew and a lot more things. 

Thanks again for nominating me, Irene! I feel so honored and I am so glad that we have met!

And now I want to hear some random facts about you guys!
Have a lovely Wednesday!

An award and an apology.

Hallo meine Lieben,

first of all: sorry that there is not much interesting going on on this little blog right now. I am a bit busy so I don't find much time for blogging. I guess you all know how that is. But things will hopefully get better soon so be prepared for some more posts and more topics to blog about. 

source

Pretty good quote, I would say. 

I recently received the Liebster award from bevchen and I feel so honored! Thank you so much! You can find her blog Confuzzledom here. She had a couple of questions for her nominees so I want to answer them now. 

1. If you could change your first name to anything at all, what would you pick?

I actually like my first name but I would probably choose something exotic like Phoebe Buffay did and  name myself Princess Consuela Banana Hammock. 

2. Where were you born?

In a tiny city in the south west of Germany, in a state called Rhineland-Palatinate. Pretty close to the oldest city in Germany, Trier. 

3. What is your favourite quote?

Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are like us." Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are not like us." Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction. ~Charles R. Magel

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
~Albert Einstein

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~Gandhi

“So many books, so little time.” , “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” , “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”, “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ,  “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” 

4. Tea, coffee or hot chocolate?

All of them, please. I mostly drink tea. Lots of tea. But I also like a cup of coffee once in a while. And I prefer my hot chocolate with almond milk. Vegan, please. 
My favorite drink right now is Irish Breakfast Tea with coconut milk. 

5. If you could own any animal, what would it be?

I do have two cats and two bunnies but I think a dog would be a great addition. :) I would also love to offer my home to another cat. And if I would live in my dream castle, then I would like to give some donkeys and cows and pigs and chicken etc. a new home. 

6. Why did you start blogging?

Hmm, good question. I started reading blogs before I started my own blog and I have always been fascinated by the blogging world. Then I moved to America and I guess I just wanted to share my thoughts with some people. I am glad I started my blog. I have met so many wonderful people, made some great friends and I really don't want to miss this!

7. Who is your favourite author?

I guess it is not a secret that I love crime novels and I wrote a post about my favorite crime writers here. 

8. What is your favourite flavour of crisps (chips for the Americans)?

Salt and vinegar.

9. Apart from blogs, which website do you spend most time on?

I don't find as much time as I want to right now but I really love goodreads. It is a great way to discover new books. I also love cuteoverload - lots of animal pictures. It's probably not a website but I do love Instagram a lot. 

10. Do you have a talent? If so, what?

I don't know if it is a talent but I love to paint and draw and do all things crafty. And I can make my thumbs move in a weird way. 


11. What was the last song you listened to?

"I'm alone but that's okay" by Ron Sexsmith. The song from the great show "Family Tree". 


Thanks again for nominating me, it really is an honor! I know, I was supposed to provide 11 random facts about myself and I promise to do that in a later post. Also, I would love to read your answers to the questions!

Have a lovely day!