Five Things. Vegan addictions, books and some bad news.

Hallo meine Lieben,

happy (rainy) weekend! I hope you are all doing great. What plans do you have? 
Please check out my friend Celeste's Five Things as well. She rocks!

1. Books in general.

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I realize every day that books make me so unbelievably happy. Just thinking about all the books in this world makes me smile. Maybe that sounds stupid but that is how I feel.  Just got new reading material and can't wait to start! Thanks so much for making my day, Em!

2. Vegan whipped cream. 

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I wasn't even a huge fan of whipped cream before I went vegan but I discovered this in a store and had to try it and now I drink coffee with whipped cream or hot chocolate with whipped cream all the time. I even add some to my banana smoothie. I am a bit addicted. 

3. This hand cream.

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I have very dry skin so especially in fall/winter I use a lot of hand cream. I recently discovered this gem, it is vegan and smells like pomegranate. Perfect. Plus it is really effective and makes my hands feel so soft!

4. Some terrible news. 

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I got really sick and angry when I read the headline: "Spanish Senate declares bullfighting to be cultural patrimony". Yes, of course. That is what the world needs. More cruelty. Justified by declaring it a cultural patrimony. I think I have heard this excuse before. You can read more about it here.  Some idiot described bullfighting as "a national and popular art-form for excellence and a basis for the development of Spanish society." I would like to meet that sick guy. 

5. Vegan cheese cake. 

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My next challenge. I want to bake a vegan cheese cake. I have always loved cheese cakes and that is one of the few things I miss. I really had no problems going vegan and I don't miss a lot of things but I would definitely love to eat some "cheese" cake again. Keep your fingers crossed!

Have a happy weekend!

Random Thursday. I can't resist buying...

Hallo meine Lieben,

welcome to another Random Thursday with an awesome topic! I am so happy to be a part of this link-up! I hope you are all having a great time! 

Books.

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I want a book Christmas tree by the way. Such a great idea.

Well, I guess it is no secret that I love books. I definitely need some more book shelves because I am running out of space. My book collection is growing and growing because I just can't resist a good book. Books make me happy. Reading them of course. But also just looking at them, smelling them...

Food. 

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Cooking, eating, shopping for food, reading cook books....also things that make me happy. I love to take some time to prepare a great meal, try some new recipes and just enjoy the food. It is so much fun to discover new things that you have not tried before. I am so happy that there are so many vegan options now. 

Art supplies.

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I love to paint, to draw, to do anything crafty. So obviously you always need lots of supplies at home. I need to have the option to do something crafty anytime. 

Shoes. 

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I  usually don't like pointy shoes but these Stella McCartney booties are perfect. I would love to add them to my collection. I probably have more shoes than I need but I love every single pair I own. 

Nail polish.

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I love beauty products in general and I am happy to see that there are many vegan and cruelty free options. I guess the "problem" is that you always find a nail polish color that you don't own yet. And so you basically just have to get it. 

So, what are the things you can't resist buying? I can't wait to read your posts!

Ten On Tuesday. Let's talk about food, stereotypes and some other things.

Hallo meine Lieben,

how is your week going? I hope it is fantastic! It is time for another Ten On Tuesday. You can link up with Alyssa here.

1. I got some vegan whipped cream which tastes so good that I basically put it on almost everything. I guess it is normal to freak out a bit when you find the vegan version of something that you have not tried before.

2. I really like to talk about food. 

3. I want this for Thanksgiving, please. Save the poor turkeys!

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4. I got so addicted to the show Criminal Minds that I don't even want to watch much else. That show is so fantastic....the cases, the characters, everything. I really have no idea why I did not start to watch this show earlier.

5. I am way behind on all the other shows I watch just because I watch Criminal Minds every free minute that I can spare.

6. If you would have to choose between potatoes, pasta and rice and you could only eat one of them for the rest of your life, what would you choose? It's though but I would probably choose the potatoes and cry because I would not be able to eat pasta anymore. 

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7. I wonder if the stereotype that all Germans love potatoes is true. All Germans I know do. But who does not love potatoes? Do you know a person who does not eat potatoes? 

I must be really hungry because I can't stop talking about food.

8. Speaking of stereotypes... This map is pretty entertaining but I would not agree on all the things. Sadly my home state is so unimportant that they don't even mention anything about it on the map.

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9. This is Europe according to the Americans by the way.

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10. I can't survive without blankets, scarves, gloves, hot water bottles and tea.

Have a wonderful Tuesday! Thanks for reading!

99 questions you should ask yourself - part III.

Hallo meine Lieben,

hope your enjoying your Sunday! Here is part III of the 99 questions you should ask yourself. In case you missed them: Part II and Part I.

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21. Do you drink too much?

No, I don't. I rarely drink alcohol. Sometimes a beer or a glass of wine but I don't even remember when I had the last drink. 

22. What do you have to protect yourself from?

Probably worrying too much. I tend to do that a lot but I know it is not healthy and does not do you any good so I am trying not to worry too much. 

23. What couple with whom you are friends would you want to have sex with?

I don't know if I sound boring now but there really isn't a couple I want to have sex with. And sorry for the awkward translation.

24.What are you embarrassed about?

A couple of years ago when I did an internship at a prosecution office I called my boss an idiot when I first met him at a parking lot. He was very rude. The stupid thing was that I did not know that he would be my boss at that point. 

25. What can you do better than everybody else?

Rescuing rain worms from the street.

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26. When is the last time you did something good for others?

Yesterday. I gave a homeless guy with a dog some money. 

27.  And when did you do good without expecting something in return?

Yesterday. I always give money to homeless people with animals without expecting something in return. 

28. Do you want to have kids? If so, how many?

I really don't know yet. I am very happy with my furry kids right now. 

29. Are you scared of getting grey hair?

No, I am not. Nothing you can do against it so why worry. (See I might worry too much but not about everything).

30. Which animal do you resemble?

I asked David and he says a bunny because of my diet. 


I would be so happy if you would join the fun and answer the questions too.
Have a happy Sunday!

Five Things. A black rhino, World Vegan Day and pie pops.

Hallo meine Lieben,

hope your week is going fine and you will have a wonderful weekend ahead of you! Please check out my friend Celeste's Five Things as well.

1. World Vegan Day

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Happy World Vegan Day! Every day should be World Vegan Day but I guess it is a good start to raise some awareness. And I think it is a really weird to day "Be nice to all animals on this day (not just the cute ones)." It should be normal to be nice to all people on every day of the year. But I guess I know what they mean.

2. This petition.

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I was shocked and in disbelief when I first read about it. Then I just got rally angry. Here is what's happening:

"A Texas hunting group is auctioning off a permit to shoot and kill one of the most endangered animals in the world: a black rhino. The Dallas Safari Club, an international organization of hunters and wildlife enthusiasts, said they plan to auction off a permit to hunt an endangered black rhino from the government of the Republic of Namibia. However, the organization says their goal is actually to save the rhino, of which there are approximately 5,055. "First and foremost, this is about saving the black rhino," Ben Carter, the executive director of the Dallas Safari Club, said in a statement. "There is a biological reason for this hunt, and it's based on a fundamental premise of modern wildlife management: populations matter; individuals don't. By removing counterproductive individuals from a herd, rhino populations can actually grow." 

What a faulty logic. I hate these bastards.

You can protest against this here.  Please help. 

3. These pie pops.

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I know cake pops but I have never seen pie pops before.  I think it is a pretty cool idea and I will definitely give them a try. Anything pie-related sounds good to me.

4.  These socks.

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I need these socks, please. I mean, come on, the combination of warm feet and cats is just perfect. 

5. This baby got bat bag.

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How can you not love this? This bag is way too cute and the name of it is fabulous. I want, please! Christmas wishlist!

Have a lovely Friday!

Random Thursday. Let's get spooky! Halloween Faves...

Hallo meine Lieben,

welcome to another Random Thursday and Happy Halloween! I hope you are having a fantastic week. Please link up and share your Halloween Faves with us!

Halloween is definitely one of my fave holidays. Halloween is not as popular in Germany as it is in America. When I was a child we did not even celebrate it. You did not even get Halloween decoration in the stores. But things are changing and it seems like the kids even go trick or treating nowadays. My first Halloween in America was so exciting, I felt like a little child, went to haunted houses, bought Halloween decoration, did some pumpkin carving, made pumpkin soup. I  even went to a store which sold nothing but Halloween related stuff. I could not imagine that something like that even existed. As I said, I am a German and I am still getting used to all the American traditions. 

So here are my favorite things about Halloween.

Haunted Houses.

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I have been to a couple of haunted house in America and they were all so much fun. Even though I always was the victim of all the monsters, zombies, demons etc. 

Costumes.

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I am not sure if that dog is very amused. I have never tried to put my cats into a costumes but I am pretty sure they would not care at all since they are so relaxed and always in a good mood. But a lot of pet costumes are unsafe for the animals. So yeah, dressing up is a great thing for humans but  I would just leave the furry friends alone. 

Pumpkin Carving.

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I love to see all the creative pumpkins people decorate their house with. By the way, I am still confused by the term Jack-o'-lantern. I have never even heard  that before I came to America. For me it was a carved pumpkin. I guess you never stop learning. 

Halloween decoration.

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I love decorating and since I have a soft spot for all spooky things, Halloween is my favorite. I love bats and vampires. 

Creepy movies. 

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I  know, The Addams Family is not that creepy but I love all kinds of movies which have anything spooky in it. So I think it is perfect to watch the movie this time of the year. My favorite "character" is Thing by the way. Which is called "Eiskaltes Händchen" in German ("Ice-cold hand"). Horror movies are also good, of course. Or Edward Scissorhands. Idle Hands. Lots of hands....What's the deal with all the hands....

Please make sure your pets are safe. Especially your (black) cats since there are so many sick people out there who can try to hurt your beloved cat.  

So what are your Halloween favorites? 

Vegan raisin cinnamon buns (Rosinenbrötchen).

Hallo meine Lieben,

as I told you before, I am really into baking right now. I had to realize that the stuff I bake does not always look that great but it usually tastes good. My Rosinenbrötchen are another example for this. Don't let the pictures fool you, they taste pretty awesome. And they are so easy to make. 

Here is what you need.

300 g flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
150 g raisins
75 g vegan butter or margarine (I used Alsan)
250 ml almond milk
some salt
cinnamon

It gets complicated.

Mix all ingredients together. 
Form the dough into 6-7 balls. 
Put them on a baking tray.
Bake them for 15 minutes at 225 degrees Celsius (450 degrees F).
Done.

You can also add nuts or chocolate chips if you want to. 

Sorry for the quality of the pictures, I had to use my iPhone camera. 

Enjoy and have a lovely day!