Quick meals: dinner for one.

I love, love, love cooking just for myself:  

Very fast and uncomplicated and fresh – it is great fun, because, of course, I only prepare what I like myself, and don’t need to accommodate any preferences. 

Nobody picks out the green ingredients from the dish (“What is this? Zucchini? I don’t like Zucchini!”), complains about unfamiliar tastes and misses Nutella.  

And when I put the finished dish on the table, nicely presented, all you hear are  sighs of pleasure and no skeptical looks! 

Priceless.

In the morning I blend a big glass of freshly squeezed orange juice with a ripe mango and two bananas for a sweet smoothie. 

Or prepare an omelet made of eggs, crispy bacon, finely chopped shallots and small pieces of tomato. 

For lunch I have sweet potato fries from the oven, that I sprinkle with sesame seeds before baking, together with a yogurt dip and a store-bought mango chutney. 

Or veggies and quinoa, heartily seasoned with cumin or Garam Masala. 

Or minestrone soup with lots of peas. 

Or rigatoni pasta with a sauce of mixed mushrooms, cooked with a bit of white wine and garnished with a lot of fresh herbs and Parmesan. 

Or a garbanzo bean curry. 

Or I cut green vegetables into thin slices, such as sweet peas, broccoli and bell peppers, sauté them briefly, season them with fish- and soy sauce and top everything with a handful of cashews.  

In the afternoon I have black tea with a chocolate macaroon from Breuninger’s (currently my favorite sweet thing), or a bit of Ben&Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice-cream.

Or a piece of bittersweet chocolate with tonka beans or barberries. 

(I tried packaged brownies from the grocery store, they were unfortunately very disgusting.) 

In the evening I eat a piece of a very aromatic cheese such as cave ripened cheese or Gruyere and wild boar salami with crunchy bread, olives and home-made guacamole. 

Or I prepare leafy green salads in different variations – with fried porcini ravioli (bought from the fridge at the grocery store), marinated prawns, feta cheese or pan-fried salmon – I like pairing this with something fruity, such as fresh mango slices, raspberries or pomegranate seeds.  

Or I’ll have root vegetables such as parsnips, beets and carrots from the oven accompanied by a garlic dip. 

In the evening I drink to myself and the beautiful day with a cocktail: 

Sometimes this is a Hugo with fresh raspberries or a liqueur glass full of chocolate Bailey’s (I mix it additionally with whipping cream at a 1:1 ratio – long live the calories!), my own creation of a mango cocktail or simply naturally pressed apple juice from the region around Ludwigsburg (available at the grocery store, I like it a lot). 

Do you want to try something really delicious?  

A great tip and definitely a recommendation on my part: the Inpetto delicatessen – the name stands for products made by small-scale producers, usually family-run businesses, in top quality. 

If you like using balsamic vinegar in your salad dressings, you should definitely try the fruity sauces: I used both the mango and strawberry balsamic vinegar. 

Both taste very intensely of each of the fruits and are so fantastic that you would want to pour them into small bowls and use them as a dip for Ciabatta bread. 

A simple spring salad with radishes and herbed prawns and some added mango vinegar tastes to die for. 

A toasted slice of bread with a little goat’s cheese and some drops of strawberry vinegar is heaven on earth. 

Serving a whole buffalo mozzarella with cherry tomatoes and basil: yum. 

Serving a whole buffalo mozzarella with cherry tomatoes and basil AND strawberry vinegar: SENSATIONAL.

The latter works as a dinner for one or as a starter for a multiple-course meal. 

Any dish that can handle a bit of acid is instantly boosted by the balsamic vinegar – it is so good that you will wipe the leftovers neatly from your plate with a piece of bread so as to not leave even the tiniest bit behind.  

In case you order the mango balsamic vinegar at Inpetto’s you absolutely do have try the following: 

Fill a glass with ice, add ½ teaspoon mango vinegar and fill everything up with a bit of champagne, Hugo or sparkling water. 

Trust me: it tastes amazingly refreshing and it will go down really well as an aperitif at any party. 

But the refreshingly sweet mango cocktail also works perfectly to toast to yourself! 

Plates with writing in gold: HERE

Small bowls with writing in gold: HERE

Small plate with writing: HERE

Inpetto vinegar: HERE

Chocolate with tonka beans, barberries, etc.: HERE

Everything via Inside Living.

Note: naturally all recipe suggestions also work for couples or a family with children. 

But if somebody starts picking out the green things in disgust – it’s not my fault! 

Let’s toast to that!

Cheers!

Love,

Joanna

This post was translated by Ginnell Studio.

Good-bye February - hello March!

In February...

- there was warm comfort food, such as warm fruit cobbler and Polish Pierogi after my mother’s recipe,  

- 10 tips for a cold week-end, 10 best ideas for  Valentine’s Day (some of them not to be taken quite seriously ;)), and inspiration how to escape an unpleasant day and jump right into spring, 

- I told you my beauty favorites this month, and created an American dessert table to say farewell to my children, 

- there were first tips for a spring look: with a relaxed  leather jacket, a light coat and a lace top, this season’s prettiest backpack, and Valentinos in the utmost anticipation of sun rays, 

- I wrote the second part in the series of things “that are not being taught in school” 

- ... and told you the far-reaching consequences one simple question by my daughter had: 

 "good-bye, Germany!"

Quite to my surprise this post triggered numerous positive reactions by my readers. 

You felt inspired, encouraged and challenged – many of you even took concrete steps towards change in the subsequent days: 

Tackled things that had been lingering for a while, put them into practice, did not hesitate any longer and left your comfort zone.  

You couldn’t have pleased me more with this! 

The kids have been in California for two weeks now already – it is wonderful, how much they enjoy the time despite some language-related challenges (particularly in class), and how beneficial it is for them.  

Especially Ben has taken a big step towards more independence – even if Jil thinks “this is only, because he is away from you overprotective mother hen.” 

Tssss!

That little bit of putting out his clothes in the morning, making his lunch, tidying after him, reminding him a million times of everything…what does she even know. 

For me, too, it’s countdown time towards the departure – and slowly I feel like no moving cartons in the world can hold the amount of things here. 

(How on earth did all this fit into this house? It is truly a miracle.) 

Don’t get me wrong: 

I am a great fan of decluttering – anything that has ceased being pretty or functional is instantly rejected. 

Apart from that, though, I possess so many things of beauty and high-quality, that it would be a shame to put them in the trash.  

I will be hard-pressed for time to offer them all to you online – which is why I decided to hold a yard sale the second-to-last week-end in March (somewhere between March 20 and 22). I will tell you all the details and the exact address in due time – I am looking forward to meeting some of my readers in person. 

And now I have a little request: 

Unfortunately it is hard for me to estimate how many people will show up

In order to avoid having 200 readers pile up in front of the house on Saturday morning and us all being overwhelmed – would you kindly let me know in the comments, whether you plan to come? 

Should there be very many, we have to consider this somehow or spread it out to two days – you understand my concern? 

It would be a great help, thanks! 

The following people won the fairy-tale froggie give-away:

Hanna

Nestliebe

Andy Keller-Polzer

Mein Goldfischglas 

obilaus

Congratulations to all winners, please send me a brief email with your address! 

Everyone else:

Don’t be sad – we will have ourselves such a wonderful March that nobody will miss anything: not a frog nor a prince (LOL), nor anything else, because take note: 

If you want to feel good – you have to ALLOW yourself to feel good. 

With this piece of wisdom, embroidered onto your couch pillow, I wish you the most beautiful month of March (Liebesbotschaft on your set reading list, no doubt!) and send you lots of love, 

Joanna

Thank you for translating this post, dear Eva Ginnell!

My rock star kind of life without kids.

I was so young when I became a mom that I never really had much time to myself. 

At the same time I can say with the utmost conviction that those many years with the kids have been absolutely the loveliest and most intensive years. 

I simply made it a lovely and intensive time. 

Now I have been by myself for nearly two weeks and I’m living the rock star life! 

Finally I can do lots of forbidden, morally questionable and meaningless things, because I am not responsible for anyone, do not have to be a role model for anyone and do not have to be back at home, because somebody is starving/still has to do their homework/has been spending hours at the Play Station. 

OH. MY. GOD.

Intoxicated by my new-found freedom I spent my first evening alone taking drugs eating in front of the TV. 

Fast food. 

And left my stuff lying around wherever I dropped it. 

And then I just left the feta cheese, that actually goes in the fridge, out on the counter. 

FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT. 

And then I slept in until 11 am…umm…well. 

I woke up at 6:30 am. 

(Try and reprogram yourself after 20 years of getting up early!) 

But THEORETICALLY I could have slept until 11 am. 

The following day, though, I first of all tidied everything, cooked only healthy meals for myself and kept getting up at 6:30 in the morning. 

Truth is:

My whole day is not even that different than when my kids are here. 

The only difference is: I COULD leave the feta cheese on the counter. 

Rock'n'Roll!

If my husband happens to be here on the week-end we always take the time, despite packing and construction site, to spend a morning out in town together. 

Usually we just walk around, eat chocolate cake and drink fresh mint tea, browse in a book store or visit a gallery – and  gather ideas for our loft or new projects along the way. 

Even if we do not see each other very much, I still like spending time with him: 

He tells me the latest news from Berlin, I tell him about the most beautiful mails from readers (I sometimes receive such nice mails from readers, they simply make me weep with joy), then we exchange new ideas and dreams, inspire each other and laugh a lot. 

Or we spend an hour just arguing whether a sink should be round or rather rectangular. 

And the best: 

We do NOT have to be home by 2:20 pm. Because somebody has to be taken to a birthday party, has to be picked up from the after-school program or is bored and has sent 10 text messages saying “When are you finally going to be back?”. 

(parents of small kids please replace the above with “did not take a nap/needs a diaper change/needs to be nursed or has to be picked up by the babysitter”.) 

In a word: I am not responsible for anyone except me! 

You are probably thinking: "great, Joanna.... ", but I have not had this situation for so many years that I really enjoy it. 

Spring is getting closer and with it the time for family get-togethers and holidays like Easter, confirmations, christenings, weddings, etc. 

In case you need an elegant, simple coat for these kind of occasions, mine is simply perfect: it matches both a LBD and jeans and T-shirt quite wonderfully. 

I am wearing a lace top underneath paired with a delicate lingerie-type top with spaghetti straps, which is also nice on its own – however, only in summer. 

I received several nice compliments while out and about, and felt really comfortable wearing the clothes when I was in town! 

The black leather bag is available in two sizes: the big one is wonderful for daytime, the little one is great for festive occasions and for night time. 

And speaking about classics: 

My Valentino heels are the main reason I am looking forward to spring! 

Nude is a color that just matches any other color in spring and summer – I know this for sure, because all nude shoes are my daily companions during the summer. 

By the way, the beautiful studded heels are also available in a slightly lower heel or as flats – and they are breathtakingly beautiful in any version! 

Lastly an insider piece of advice for all those living in Suttgart: 

There is a liquidation at Königstrasse 36 (I hope that number is right!): besides the store’s interior design pieces, such as big mirrors or shelves, you will also find wonderful prints of the Kennedy clan in this Campus store. 

You have to leave one thing to the Kennedys: they sure looked good in pictures ;). 

And for all those who do not live in Stuttgart: 

Who are the Kennedys anyway?

If you have to move house, for example, and pack up your old photographs you will come across one or another old picture – and you can blow it up and hang it on the wall, too, right ;)? 

Maybe I should do that, too, and hang it up in my living room as a memento. 

Before my DINK life (= Double Income no Kids) gets the better of me, I start wanting to always leave the feta cheese out on the counter all night long and as a consequence will simply “forget” my children over there. 

LOL.

Sources of supply:

Lace top, lingerie top, coat: Villa Smilla

Purse, big: Villa Smilla (purse, small )

Valentino pumps: Stylebop and MyTheresa

La Bourgie lamp: Amazon

Love,

Joanna

Thank you to Ginnell Studio for translating this post.

Getting into the California mood: my beauty favorites in February!

I am going to show you this month’s favorite beauty products today – all without chemical ingredients, very natural, yet at the same time glamourous. 

I am a huge fan of self-tanning lotions – as opposed to sunbathing for hours or visiting the tanning salon. 

This is why I apply self-tanning lotion year-round, even in summer. 

In my opinion it enhances your tan in a very natural way. 

And since I can hardly arrive in California with white legs – chances are they are going to expulse me! Does anyone know the details of their entry requirements? No? That’s what I thought. – I will show you my favorite one today. 

Let’s go!

1. Peeling, brush and hand cream. 

In order to avoid unsightly streaks or blotches with self-tanning, there is just one thing: 

peeling, peeling, peeling.

The big LaBruket jar contains a sea salt peeling, with a fragrance of wild roses and added almond and olive oil: no plastic beads, which are bad for the environment, no chemical additives. 

If you like, you can use a special peeling brush – I use a massage brush for the whole body, which works just as well. 

So keep scrubbing, until your skin is all bright and rosy, it’s beneficial for the whole body! 

Hands are given extra care with the LaBruket hand cream – it soothes even very dry and chapped skin and absorbs easily. 

2. Self-tanning lotion. 

I asked you on Instagram what your favorites were – very exciting to discover new products! 

I tested a new self-tanning lotion myself this month, one that has absolutely no chemical additives, which makes it ideal for everyone with sensitive or allergic skin. 

Trilogy is one of the best organic beauty labels globally, which keeps winning prizes due to its high standards and its excellent properties. 

Wonderful:

The gel absorbs super quickly, is easier to apply than cream and does not leave the skin feeling unpleasantly sticky. 

It is already slightly colored, so as a kind of immediate effect you can see the tan and won’t leave out any spots. 

Unfortunately it has an unpleasant smell during the application (unfortunate flaw in general when it comes to self-tanning products) – luckily it disappears after a while and all that’s left is a light and natural scent. 

3. Powder duo.

Who does not prefer a quite un-made-up, natural look for during the day? 

Some task for pale winter skin! 

If this is what you wish for, you will love this duo: 

“Und Gretel” is a brand new and sought-after label from Berlin, which focusses on ingredients of the highest quality and uses no synthetic preservatives or chemical additives. 

Already a real insider tip in make-up-artist circles for one reason only: the products are simply that good. 

The little container features a light powder, to give your entire face a matte tone, and a darker powder to enhance contours – for cheek bones, hair line, temples and a touch for the chin and the bridge of the nose, just enough - as if the sun had kissed you gently. 

There are also two small brushes made of shorn goat’s hair in the container. 

My color is called Leve and looks very, very light and natural, nearly as if no make-up was applied at all.  

“Und Gretel” also makes top-notch lip colors: 

my lip gloss is called sunrise red and is a light, yet very deep red. 

My advice for daytime application: 

Apply, then dab with a paper tissue – lips will look slightly reddened and very natural. 

4. Tea to go.

Admittedly, this is not a classic beauty product, but essential for pretty skin: 

Lot of hydration.

If you, like my daughters, like to take your tea with you wherever you go, you will be delighted about this stylish glass bottle with stainless-steel strainer and wooden lid! 

Sources of supply:

Sea salt peeling: LaBruket

Hand cream: LaBruket

Peeling brush: Voya

Massage brush: Voya

Self-tanning gel: Trilogy

Powder and blush duo: Und Gretel

Lip gloss: Und Gretel

Glass flask to go: Teatox

Everything via GreenGlam

OK, so I am ready for California! 

Tanned legs included!

Love,

Joanna

By the way:

Did you know that you can personalize your donuts at all Dunkin’ Donuts franchise stores in Stuttgart? You can order a box of 6 or 12, for example, and have a personal love message or good wishes inscribed – a free-of-charge service ;). 

Sweet idea, isn’t it? 

Unfortunately I do not know whether it is available everywhere in Germany. 

Whether it is available in Cali? 

I will find out for you. 

Soon to come on this blog! 

Thank you to Eva Ginnell for translating this post.