Schools Out!

I am so happy that the stress from school and tests has gone to have a vacation with the unicorns and leprechauns! We actually had a really chill day at school today because everyone was fully aware of the fact that we were already in break mode. On top of that I slept really well last night because I was able to shut everything off and take a hot bath and go straight to be at 10:30.  

After school I went into town to buy a zipper and some thread for my sewing project and then I met up with a friend of mine because she is going home for the holidays soon so it was lovely to see her again and catch up. And walking through to Christmas markets in our town center was also wonderful despite the slight stormy drizzle that was never gone for very long. The hot apple- sea buckthorn juice most certainly made for a truly lovely finish before our bike ride home. 

As much as I love spending time with her for her, there was a certain free and truly deeply relaxed feeling over the two of us because we were clearly going into a very relaxed period of the year. these next two weeks will probably be busy for me, but still fun to no end. and afterwards I will have my next internship; this time for 6 weeks followed by the next vacation week. 

My mental state seems to have spun right around from rather high stress and tight time management to freedom! For whatever reason, I feel the difference far more this year. It's almost like the feeling before summer break ads a kid, except that I have the joy and anticipation of seeing so many relatives soon on top of that free feeling. Life really is good. And today was a wonderful reminder of that. Also I think my methods yesterday have proven that I need to take half an hour before bed just for me more often. Especially when my roommate is not home and I can turn my phone on silent and just enjoy the tranquility of that moment. 

And thank you for reading, especially if you have stuck with me throughout my advent blogging despite two missed posts and everything. 

The Quest for Unique Fashion

So many of us want to be on trend and so called fashionable but still have unique style. This seems a little contradictory since trends are what most people are wearing, but somehow this is the ideal that the fashion industry and fashion and beauty bloggers instill in us. The simplest solution would of course be to sew our own clothes! This is most certainly not what commercial clothing stores are trying to sell us on, but it would make for clothes that are exactly our own style, unique and if you do it right, they always fit. 

I learned how to sew from my mother. It really isn't all too hard, and it seems to be a skill that was very much forgotten but looks to be coming back with the young people. It may be more work than going shopping and require some creative foresight to imagine the finished product you are aiming for. Using patterns available and a simple sewing machine it really isn't all too difficult. 

I thought I might write this little bit as food for thought as I took my last test before Christmas break and am currently working on a top I plan on wearing to some of my Christmas parties this season. Pictures will be up once I finish sewing this piece. It occurred to me that not only is this not that hard, sometimes you can find really cool fabric for great prices, but I don't have the time in one pice to do both the creative bit and actually make the piece I imagine. And it is sad becuase I have a lot of fun sewing and also wearing my own clothes knowing that no one else is wearing the same thing. 

I suppose I have my first new years resolution too. I want to sew more and I have a few ideas that I have seethed or noted in my notebook so that I can look back to those when I need some inspiration. As always, thanks for reading, and I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. 

Birthday Dinner Outfit

Birthday Dinner Outfit by alovelylittlethought-1 featuring black skinny jeans

I'm off to a Birthday in the family and this is roughly what I am wearing.  I love the simple and timeless elegance of black jeans with a clean cut black top, soft brown eyeshadow and a bold red lip.

Study Break!

Oh my, oh my! It is most certainly Monday. And I have already put off studying with some grocery shopping and a trip into the drugstore for bits and bobs that I needed, although if I am totally honest it could have waited until tomorrow or the day after. But I have a Monster test coming up and because I know exactly how much I have to study and how much of it I really only need to refresh and all of this to Wednesday. I have a terrible case of the Mondays.
Tomorrow won't look much better in terms of things I have to do outside of school stuff. And lets face it once I have survived that and then the second test of the week on Thursday it is all smooth sailing! Christmas breakfast in school on Friday and then I'm off! I have lots of Christmas presents to finish and wrap and then my brother will be joining me in Dresden for the two weeks. There is so much to enjoy and look forward to. Unfortunately, there are a few hurtles that are not too small standing in my way. So it is hard to get into this week and start getting through this week.
This was my study break, so I will now go hit the books. I have definitely vented enough for one day. I hope your day has been better than mine and Thank you for bearing with me and getting this far.

Baked Apples Recipe

Bakes apples are a wonderful winter treat! Absolutely delicious and mindbogglingly simple and also a great way to use apples that have been sitting just a little too long to have a pleasant texture raw. 

I fill mine with a combination of vanilla sugar and coconut oil that have been creamed to an even paste and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Then I add some chopped nuts today a mixture of almonds and walnuts in about equal parts. I eyeball all of this based on what I have in the house and am feeling. Many people like raisins or other dried fruits in the fulling, but I am not a huge fan of raisins and I like the simplicity of apple and nuts without any other sweetness added to the mix. If you like it, you go right ahead and add it in. 

The apples need to be washed and cored, but not peeled, they fall apart if peeled and the filling can easily be scooped out with a spoon if you don't like the peel. The stuffed apples go into the over at about 180°C for half an hour or so. When they fill the apartment with a delicious scent and look slightly golden they are ready. I like mine with some Greek yogurt or quark but ice cream is also quite tasty and they are of course delicious just as they are. 

Thank you for reading. and happy 3rd Advent! 

Chocolate Shells

praline shells are a bit or a tricky situation. I found instructions that said to fill the hot chocolate into the form and flip them to let it run down, but mine seemed to just run down one side and filling them all the way seemed pointless because then the chocolate would have nowhere to go. so i took a tooth pick and meticulously coated the sides of these starts with chocolate from the bit i had put in the bottom.

These stars are actually pretty cool, although I tend to prefer simple shapes without too much fuss. The outer shell is really just the first step but it is so important to get a nice layer that can then be filled. Because the shell needs to be thick enough to be sturdy but thin enough that the filling doesn't go under inside a hard shell that also overpowers the flavors. Also it is always better to have a nice shining chocolate cover and not a coat of cocoa butter that makes the finished color milky and dull. this is pretty easy to do. All you need to in to chop your chocolate and melt about 2/3 in a double boiler and add the last 1/3 once it had been taken off the heat. It will still melt, but it takes advantage of the multiple melting points of cocoa butter that make chocolate to scrumptious.
Once they are filled with whatever you want they are also easy to close. If you put quite a bit of chocolate on one side you can scrape it over with a dough cutter or scraper or anything sturdy with a straight flat edge. This leaves a thin coat on the bottom of the chocolates and close the praline with a nice finish.

I'm working on perfecting a Compari orange fulling that should come soon along with some other fillings I am working on.

Book Covers

It is once again that time of year when I realize just how behind I am on making all of the Christmas gifts I have planned. And for whatever reason this year I am still putting it off because I have some pressing school work that needs to be done first.
This was simply a notebook and not a very pretty one which is why I wanted to spruce it up. I should mention that this is possible with any number of other books especially books you have bound yourself. Notebooks with blank or lined pages are just as good as stories, poems pictures, or whatever else you have up your sleeve. But you will need a book of some kind, glue and some paper also a ruler and a pencil make this easier and something to trace the folds just go ahead and make everything a little neater.

Firstly you will need to measure your book. Including the spine! Then mark the paper from the wrong side with about 1cm margin to fold over the edge. Then for the inner lining you will need to measure the inner side of the book and subtract about 1/2 cm from each side. this peace will be posted over the folded in sides of the outer paper. The margins I used here are just suggestions if you would like a little more or a little less boarder then go ahead and adjust accordingly.

For the glue it doesn't really matter so long as it ti suitable for both components that are being joined and it is spread thinly all over. Then gently align the outer paper and smooth it on pushing to the outside to eliminate any bubbles. The inner side go on the same way. Then let it dry. this here is my finished project:


Make it your own! I love paper, so this is just the thing for me to do and not just for me but also to give others. Now I can collect my thoughts in one very neat and lovely book that is all mine.
I think this is a great idea for gifts because it provides a one of a kind object that is also useful in many ways. Happy crafting!