Did you miss me?

Long time no post and I have once again forgotten how this works 😅. However, I do have a good explanation for my absence: I was busy getting a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. I may have not been posting but I have definitely been scheming for the masses (shout out to my faves: Imagine Dragons). I am not sure how long I will be able to keep posting but I hope that this time around I can keep up somewhat of a schedule or at least get in a post every now and then. 
I am also planning to start a new segment in which I will share some of my favourite recipes. Cooking has been a passion for me for years and during the past year I have started to be more creative and healthy with my food. This led me to (re)create and modify some fantastic meals, which I would love to share. I am also trying to include the guidelines of the 5 Elements Theory which gives me a lot of interesting spices and foods to work with.
I hope that you as readers will enjoy this :) See you soon!👋

2014 - Impressions

Wow I haven't done this in so long, that I forgot the font I always used...
It seems like I've figured it out though, so let's get on with the post. As the title suggests this is going to be me looking back at my past year and sharing some impressions.

Curry Wurst in Berlin

One year ago I wasn't too sure what to expect of 2014 I just knew that I had to crawl out of my shell of self pity and loneliness and take my life into my own hands. 
That process is a slow one, you can only make it step by step and often those steps will be tiny... Baby steps as they say... but you have to make them or you'll be stuck. That is one thing I learned and so I picked up Karate again, made plans with friends, tried new things and said yes to opportunities. 
Throughout the year I didn't really feel the change and I still thought that I wasn't going anywhere and didn't make any progress at all which brought more frustration and sometimes I let myself get sloppy again. But looking back now I can only see the good things and I have to say that 2014 wasn't half as bad as it sometimes felt. It was actually pretty great and I collected memories I'm very fond of.

Louis and his friend were very
nice and we even got to chat
a little

The first thing I want to talk about is that I finally had the courage and opportunity to go to a Youtube event. I wanted to do that since 2011 but either it had been too expensive or I just felt too weird because I'm not really the girl who waits hours in lines just to take a picture with someone. 
But last spring ITATube happened in Milan which is somewhat close to where I live and when a friend suggested that we should go I couldn't resist and so we went. 

Meeting Alfie, Jim and Marcus

And of course the Eiffel Tower

I also traveled last year, not as much and as far as I had hoped but I definitely discovered some nice new places and cities. One of my favourites was Paris where I actually went twice and I can't wait to go back again. The city has so much to offer and I love the general vibe there. It is also where I got to see some van Gogh originals and got to discuss art with my dad from whom I must have inherited my interest in it. 
Another favourite of mine was Amsterdam I loved the architecture and the feeling you get there. It's kind of a small city (not in a Swiss sense of small but compared with other international cities) which made you feel at home and it was cool that you could get from A to B by foot. 
There were two days that we spent morning, lunch and evening in different cities and once even three different countries. It was kind of surreal but that is also the joy of traveling.

About halfway through the year I rediscovered nail art as one of my passions and finally bought some proper brushes in order to achieve some more complicated and delicate designs. I'm particularly happy about this because I enjoy painting in general and this gives me the opportunity to paint more often.

Then I found a job in a lovely location that offered lots of different tasks and introduced me to many new and interesting people.
In September I finally started studying and while it was hard especially in the beginning, I'm glad I chose Biochemistry because it is what I want and what will make me happy. Proof of that is that I can freak out with excitement about genetics and mitochondria ;P
I met more amazing people who became friends and one of them I even fell in love with. I learned how to cook healthy and am constantly learning and experiencing new things. 

Now I'm done with my exams, enjoying the free time and looking forward to what 2015 might have in store for me.

(Also I broke the s key on my laptops keyboard and guess how hard it is to type proper text now ;P)

The canal infront of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam

Born Pretty Store Haul

first try with the brushes 

Today I have a nail art haul for you. It's actually weird that I haven't talked about it before as nail design is my favourite section of the whole beauty world but that's probably because I've only just started getting into it again.

I have decided to step up my game and try some more delicate and artsy designs but then I realized that my collection was missing some pieces. So I started looking for proper nail art tools online.

All the things I bought are from the Born Pretty Store which sells various beauty articles and has an especially big nail art section.

Brushes

I bought three thin liner brushes and those are the reason why I went to the store page in the first place. 

I was a bit scared of using them, as the brush part seemed to be a bit too long for proper handling but they are easy to work with. 

Dotting Tools

Then I came across a set of different sized dotting tools and since I've always loved to create flowers I had to get this one too. There are also tons of other designs you can use them for and I can't wait to experiment around. :P

The set came with five two-way dotting tools. The ball on one side is the same size on all five tools but the one on the other side is different, as you can see in the pictures bellow.

Rhinestones and Studs

I also explored the decorations they had and decided to buy some silver rhinestones. They are actually a bit smaller than I expected them to be but I will find a way to use them. 

Next I found cute star shaped studs which come in eight vibrant colors. I bought the silver ones but I'll definitely purchase some of the colored ones too because they look so lovely.

I left out the rhinestones as they were a pain to arrange for the picture and we all know what they look like :)

3D Decoration

The 3D nail art section seemed a bit too bold for me at first but then I came across some golden sea shells and I had to get those, especially since I've been trying to create some beach nails. 

The shells come in two sizes 3 and 5mm and thinking 3mm would be big enough (my nails are quite small) I ordered those. Next time I'll probably get the bigger ones though as they look smaller irl than on screen :P

Glitter

The last item I bought comes from the glitter section. I went for stars again. This time I chose some iridescent cutout stars and it was their colorfulness that caught my attention.

Fangirl - Book Review

I feel like I'm constantly neglecting the book part of my blog so here is another review for you :D 

As you can see by the title I'm going to talk about Rainbow Rowells Fangirl. It was published in September 2013 and belongs into the contemporary YA section.

Note: Once again crossed out writing marks SPOILERS.

Synopsis:
Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to college and Wren's decided that she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fanfiction she writes where there's romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.
Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realizing that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible... 

Story:
The story is very typical for this genre... if you just brush its surface but deeper it's really not that typical anymore. What makes it unique is that Cath is a big fangirl, writing her own fanfiction and burying herself in that world. Naturally there are parts of fan culture etc in the book which is something I've never read anywhere else before and I think it's great that it is a subject in this novel. 
I also liked that she created the Simon Snow series as the Harry Potter series of Caths world but it confused me a bit when the actual Harry Potter was mentioned as well because why reinvent it, when you're going to mention it anyway?
The beginning of the story can be a bit frustrating, especially if you can not relate at all to Cath and her anxiety because she just turns down all the invites for any kind of social activity and mostly stays in her room. But it gets better towards the middle and you really start rooting for Cath. 
I was sad that it ended so soon because there were a couple more things that I would have liked to see. For example her finishing Carry on and the eight Simon Snow book or how her relationship developed. Second book please??

Characters:
This novel has the most relatable protagonist EVER! I could understand Caths issues and fears very well. Though I probably wouldn't have survived that long on protein bars and peanut butter ;) What I also loved about her was that while she is introverted and anxious she's not afraid to stand up for herself. 
Then we have Levi, probably one of the nicest and cheerful guys in all the books I've read so far. I just want to pick him right out of the novel so I could be friends with him. 
I also liked Reagan and her kind of forceful/brusque manner. She led to a lot of laughs. I'd also pick her out of the novel to be my roommate because while she might appear mean she's always there to give you a little push when you need it :P Here's an example of her interaction with Cath:

"I feel sorry for you, and I'm going to be your friend."

"I don't want to be your friend," Cath said as sternly as she could. "I like that we're not friends."

"Me, too," Reagan said. "I'm sorry your ruined it by being so pathetic."

Generally I really enjoyed how Rainbow Rowell developed the characters and the relationships between them. They are all different from each other and realistic which in my opinion is important in contemporary coming-of-age stories like this one.

Writing Style:
I don't really have much to say about the writing style. Rainbow Rowell managed to create lovely cute scenes and I particularly liked how she wrote all the fandom related scenes. They are very realistic and I guess many Harry Potter fans will remember what events etc are/have been like for them. The story is written from Caths POV but in third person which is perfectly fine since we stay pretty close to the protagonist and are able to sympathize with her as if it were written from a first person POV.  

Overall Opinion:
I really really enjoyed Fangirl and I think the biggest reason for this is that I could relate so well to the story and the characters. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars on goodreads and I would recommend it especially for girls who can see themselves in Cath or people who enjoy coming-of-age stories.

Kiko Mini Haul

A couple of months ago I discovered Kiko as one of my new favourite make up brands. The quality of their products is quite nice and the price is reasonable too. The brand is based in Milan and so when I went there recently I had to buy some make up.

They also had a sales action going and I really had to contain myself to not go overboard with my shopping.

I was actually quite good at that because I only bought four nail polishes and a liquid eyeliner when there were also tons of lipsticks that I could have bought. ;)
Three of my polishes are actual colors and the third is a mat top coat. I really like the colors 317 and 360 for spring, because they are bright and girly. The third one (226) will be great for next fall and winter as it is a dark burgundy red and I like wearing those colors during the colder season.

I got myself a new mat top coat

Number 317, 226 and 360

This is a dark grey metallic liner (Number 111), it is somewhat waterproof

Holy Grail Hair Product (Mini Review)

full size (100ml) bottle

Today I want to talk about my favourite hair product. It is the Nashi Argan oil which I first got as a free sample (not sponsored though).

I didn't use the product for quite a while after getting it because it was a hair oil and as my hair is naturally quite greasy, you can probably see why I was suspicious. Then my hair got really dry and since I've heard tons of good things about argan oil I finally tried it and was blown away. They promised shiny, healthy, nourished and tamed hair and it totally worked! My hair felt soft from root to tip. Even the dry parts! And over time this oil took really good care of my hair and made it a lot healthier and shinier. I couldn't notice any sign of my roots getting greasier than usual and even my waves/curls were enhanced by the product. Naturally I was very happy with it.
There is only one down side but luckily it's nothing that can't be fixed. The oil didn't tame the frizz in my hair. So despite the fact that Nashi Argan oil took care of most my little "hair problems" I can't get by using just this single product.
Another thing I should probably mention is that the oil is quite expensive but given what it does for my hair that is okay. Also since you only need a small amount of it, it will last you ages so it doesn't matter if you invest a little bit more.

A couple tips and tricks:
Don't use the oil after every wash because your hair will get used to it and the product won't work as well any more. I use it once or twice a week when washing every other day.
Don't use too much of the oil because even with long hair you can get by with a small amount (hazelnut or coin size) and too much of it will weigh down the hair a bit and it can look greasy. 

my sample of the oil (5ml) it lasted me for over two months

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer - Review

Yes these have been reviewed over and over again but I still like to throw in my opinion as well, so here we go: Rimmel Apocalips Review. 

I discovered the Rimmel Apocalips lip lacquers when I was searching for reviews of the Rimmel Kate lipsticks and they immediately caught my eye since I didn't yet have anything like them in my lip product collection. 

A lip lacquer is basically a crossover between gloss and lipstick. They usually have the texture and shine of a gloss but the duration and pigmentation of a lipstick.

So do the Rimmel Apocalips lacquers. Their pigmentation is amazing! Even with very little of the product you get an amazing color payoff! The duration impressed me as well.  It needs little touch-ups here and there throughout the day or after having food but else it lasts very well. The shine fades a bit depending on how much product you’re putting on your lips and for how long you've been wearing it but personally that doesn't bother me. 

You can see how it starts to bleed out

The product glides on nicely but you definitely need a mirror to put it on. Just like it is with lipstick, the high pigmentation stains very easily and mistakes while applying happen faster and can't be removed as easy. 

The doe foot applicator is manageable and helps to fill in the lips properly. I'm not massively impressed though by the hole at the back which is supposed to supply you with more product without going back into the tube. It does give you more product but to me that is too much because the more product you have on your lips the nastier it will bleed out. Also if you moisturize your lips before applying one of these, be careful to let that product sink in well before going over it with an Apocalips lacquer otherwise this will increase the bleeding out.

I own the shades Big Bang and Apocaliptic. Big Bang is a beautiful bright red, while Apocaliptic is a bright pink shade. Both are very pigmented as promised. Personally I like the red one better because it is more wearable. Even though I wear pink lipstick and am not afraid to show off bright colors the Apocaliptic can be a bit too much because it is a very "in your face" color. 

Big Bang

Apocaliptic - I couldn't get the color right on this one :/ It is a bit darker than it looks like here 

   

2014 Book to Movie Adaptations

Note: The release dates of the movies may change. 

This spring there are a lot of book based movies coming to the European and American cinemas. Generally throughout this year a lot of books are coming to the big screen so I decided to share with you the ones I'm most excited for. 

  

Mockingjay Part 1

Ahhhh! Even thinking about this movie makes me scream in a very high-pitched fangirly voice because I just can't contain my excitement. Especially since I really really loved Catching Fire and I hope that Mockingjay will be similar in terms of how close they followed the book and how well they captured the atmosphere of the story. 

Here is a little information for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about: Mockingjay is the third book in Suzanne Collins bestseller trilogy The Hunger Games. The series follows sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen and takes place in a future dystopian version of the US where kids are sent into an arena to fight to the death. When Katniss' sister is chosen she volunteers and the Games begin.

Release dates: November 21 (USA), November 20 (Switzerland I'll always be referring to the German speaking part)

Divergent
And here we have the second adaptation of a dystopian trilogy... Divergent like Mockingjay takes place in a future version of the US precisely in Chicago. The society is split into five factions of whom each values a different skill. The story follows sixteen-year-old Beatrice (Tris) Prior who is about to take the aptitude test which will tell her to which faction she belongs but the results aren't clear. That makes her Divergent and she has to hide inside a faction or otherwise she might get killed.

I'm excited about this movie because I loved the book and the world Veronica Roth built in it. I really want to see how they brought the story to life. Also I'm really looking forward to seeing Shailene Woodley and her acting skills.

Release dates: March 21 (USA), April 4 (Switzerland)

Trailer

The Fault in Our Stars

Fangirly screams again. I read this book a while ago and loved it so much. John Green tells the story of a teenage girl (sixteen-year-old Hazel) suffering from cancer. Her parents force her to join a support group for children living with cancer. That is where she meets Augustus (Gus) Waters. What follows is a unique heartbreaking story about friendship, love, life and loss.

This is the second 2014 book adaptation with Shailene Woodley in a leading role so besides seeing one of my favourite books turned into a movie I'm also excited to see how she brings life to two characters from very different stories. Also I'd say that this is one of the must watch movies of this year.

Release dates: June 6 (USA), June 12 (Switzerland)

Trailer

Vampire Academy

What got me excited for that movie and the books was the trailer. The story came across as very sassy, amusing and fresh which got me interested immediately. Then I read the book and now I'm really looking forward to seeing how it turned out. 

The author Richelle Mead introduces us to seventeen-year-old Rosemarie (Rose) Hathaway who is trained to become her best friends (Lissa) guardian. They suffer through ordinary High School and teenage dramas but with a twist. Lissa is a Moroi vampire princess and needs to be protected from Strigoi vampires and dark forces at the Academy.

Release dates: February 7 (USA), March 13 (Switzerland)

Trailer

Saphirblau (Sapphire Blue)

This is the second novel in Kerstin Giers Gem Trilogy. It follows sixteen-year-old (what is it with these 16 year olds? :P) Gwyneth (German: Gwendolyn) Shepherd and is set in London. Gwen’s cousin is supposed to have the ability to travel through time and has been trained for a secret mission. Things get crazy when instead of her cousin Gwen starts to jump through time.

I'm excited for this movie because I absolutely loved the trilogy. I hadn't read anything like it before. Also I really really hope they fix what was wrong with the first movie and capture the atmosphere better.

Release dates: August 14 (Germany), December 18 (Switzerland)
Trailer

The Maze Runner

Here comes our third dystopian (maybe sci-fi) book to movie adaption. The story follows another sixteenish Teenager but this time it's a boy. His name is Thomas and he is put into a Maze with other boys. They have to find their way out but that seems to be impossible. Also deathly creatures lurk in the nightly shadows of the maze. 

Dylan O'Brian has the lead role which is one convincing argument for watching the movie... Furthermore I'm excited to see how they adapted the novel and if I will like it better than the book.

I actually did a review of the novel so feel free to check it out: Maze Runner Review

Release dates: September 19 (USA), October 16 (Switzerland)
Trailer

The Book Thief

At some point last December the trailer caught my eye and sparked my interest for the book and movie. I'm currently reading the novel and so far I'm really enjoying it. I'm excited to see the German-American collaboration in this movie.

Markus Zusak tells us about a young girl (Liesel Meminger) in Nazi Germany. She lives with foster parents and they hide a Jewish man during the escalation of World War 2. She meets Death three times but manages to escape every time.

Release dates: November 8 2013 (USA), March 13 (Switzerland)

Trailer

My Life Next Door - Book Review

Woot, another book review coming your way. This time it's about My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. It is her debut novel and came out in 2012. There will be a sequel in 2015 (so EXCITED!).

Original Cover

Version I read (German)

Synopsis
"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them...until one summer evening Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

Story

The story is very realistic but still delicate and cute which I think is what makes this novel so interesting. That is also what makes it stand out from all the other contemporary YA romance books. Also there is a good amount of tension and excitement and you'll want to keep reading until you're through.

Characters
What I enjoyed most about the book are the characters. They are all unique, very well developed and appear so real. Even the smaller ones are perfectly thought out and likable. Then I also loved how mature Jase and Sam are. By that I mean that they aren't just guided by feelings and hormones but they also think and reconsider.

Writing Style
The story is written in first person from Samanthas POV. This suited very well because we get Samanthas thoughts and comments on certain situations. A lot of them are sarcastic remarks which she would never say out loud but for us as readers they are hilarious. 

Overall Opinion
I rated the book 5 out of 5 stars because I just really enjoyed this book. It made me feel happy and the characters felt so real. Also the story is very touching and I liked that besides the romance between the main characters there was also focus on other themes like family and friendship. 

I would recommend the novel to people who enjoy teenage love stories. It is also a nice read for the summer or the beach when you're on vacation. Generally I think girls will enjoy this more than boys would.

Covergirl LashBlast Volume - Review

I got this mascara sometime last December because a lot of people said it is very good and I just wanted to see that for myself. And oh am I happy I tried it!

Pigmentation/Color Payoff
Some mascaras have some kind of greyish undertone or they don't coat your lashes properly but not this one. It is super black and you can definitely notice a difference before and after applying the LashBlast Volume even if you don't put too much of it on. It builds up quite nicely and you can achieve natural and more dramatic looks. With too many coats it can get clumpy though.

Brush/applicator
The brush is made of plastic which probably not all of you will like but for me it's perfect because I actually prefer those. Another thing that might bother some people is how fat the applicator is. I guess though that this is just something that comes with a volume mascara as this applicator is actually not much bigger than for example the Maybelline Colossal Volum Express one. I have to say though that in the beginning the wand can be hard to use without getting black on your eyelids.

what the applicator looks like

brush comparison Covergirl LashBlast Volume (l) and Maybelline Colossal Volum Express (r) 

Longevity
I currently have the non waterproof mascara which can get very runny when your eyes tear up but else I've found that it lasts very well throughout the day. Even if you tend to get oily eyelids (like I do) it won't transfer or smudge. It also holds the curl if you use a lash curler.

curled lashes and one coat of the LashBlast after a couple hours -> still curled, no smudges

Overall Opinion
This mascara is one of the best I've ever used. It gives me so much volume without clumping or making my lashes stick together. So it definitely lives up to its name. I also like how well it holds a curl and how black it is. I will definitely repurchase this one (but waterproof) and try more of the Covergirl mascara range.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Book Review

This book is the first in a trilogy, it was written by Laini Taylor and published in 2011. It had been on my TBR shelf for quite a while before I finally picked it up and I don't know why I waited this long because I absolutely loved it! Seriously I was so pleasantly surprised with everything that happened that it became my favourite book of 2013 and it also has a spot on my Favourites of All Time list. But before I just go on and on about how great it is, let's start with the actual review.

Paperback (version I read)

Hardcover

Warning

I feel like I can't do this without revealing minor spoilers. I'm going to write them like this so you can skip these parts if you want to get through the review completely spoiler free.

Synopsis (as written on the back of the book)

"Errand requiring immediate attention. Come,

The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please', she sighed, but she gathered up her things. 

When Brimstone called, she always came." 

In general, Karous has managed to keep her two lives in balance. One the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunter and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole. 

Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.

Story:

I didn't really have much information about this book and so I was very surprised with how it all turned out. The world was built beautifully and the story developed so nicely. Generally Laini Taylor did a great job planning it and all the pieces fell into place by the end of the book while also leaving us with new questions and excitement for the sequel. 

I also liked how we discovered most of the mysteries just as Karou did. There are some things you could predict but most of the story came as a surprise.

Another point I particularly enjoyed about the story was that it's divided into different parts. This suited very well because Karou also went through different stages of finding out who she was and every part kind of matches with one of these stages. 

Characters:

I loved the diversity of the characters personalities and that you actually care about them. To me that is one of the most important things when reading and so I was very glad to have it in this book. 

The relationships between all the characters were developed so beautifully and delicately which lead to several very emotional scenes and I loved it. An example would be the relationship between Karou and Brimstone. You only learn about the true depth of their relationship towards the end but it's just so bittersweet considering how coolly he threw her out and that he's possibly dead now.

Writing Style:

The story was told in third person which I do not always like but in a Fantasy novel like this it was perfect because your view of the world is still focused on the main character but you also have a broader knowledge of what is going on around her. For once I even enjoyed the altering POVs because it let me learn more about Akiva and his motives. Also the changes seemed fitting.

What was truly amazing was Laini Taylor’s descriptive and vivid style of writing because it really helped letting Karous world come to life in my head. You might feel a little weirded out at the beginning because Mrs. Taylor has her way of weaving in information which won't always make sense to you but as you read on it's just like: Ahh now I see! 

Overall Opinion:

As you certainly figured by now I really enjoyed the book and I'd definitely recommend it. There is a bit of everything: romance, mystery, badassery... and once you get used to that world and how Laini Taylor builds it you will fall in love with the story and the characters. This is why I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I was very excited for the sequel and started reading it right away. Now I can't wait for the final book which is coming out in April. 

About My Shoes - Thoughts On Judgement

I'd like to start today's post with a quote which some of you probably know from your school days.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Okay maybe you can already guess that this won't be a post on beauty or fashion related things and except for the quote it also won't involve books. As it says in the title I will share my thoughts on judgment and also share some of my experiences with it. I learned a lot about this subject during high school and most of it the hard way. On one hand I felt what it's like to be judged and I also experienced what happens if you do it to other people. In fact I used to be a massive judger and it wasn't until last year that I realized how many options I closed the door on by assuming things.

Well to begin with I should probably explain why I mentioned my shoes in the title. This is also an example of how I've personally experienced judgment.

Long story short: I twisted my ankle quite badly last February but didn't really realize how badly until the summer when my ankle still stung occasionally. I figured that the main reason for the slow healing process might be my choice of shoes and so I went out to buy myself some "proper shoes" -> no heels, no fancy looks just normal trainers (aka bright blue Nikes) which could support my foot a bit. It actually helped and I've been mostly wearing them, even as we got to winter. 

Now of course the bright color and the general appearance of the shoes often interferes with my outfit and they also don't look winter approved. This caused some people to believe that they are now allowed to judge, gossip about my outfit and point out my shoes.  

But NO! That's not okay! People should NEVER judge others! This is because we do NOT know what the other person’s motive for a certain action or decision is, just as these people couldn't tell that my main reason for wearing the Nikes is not fashion sense or anything like that but doing something nice for my feet. And there is no way for us to know what is going on inside another person except if we climb into their skin just as Harper Lee describes it. So how can we judge someone based on what WE ASSUME might be going on in their brain? Yeah right we can't. Still we all do it but you now know why we shouldn't.

So for the year 2014 and all years that will follow I will try to withhold my judgment on people and instead try to get to know and understand them and I hope that some of you who read this might be inspired to do the same.  

My shoes as I've been talking about them a lot in this post :P

Holiday Essentials

Since Christmas is just around the corner and winter has arrived quite a while ago I decided to share my holiday/winter essentials.

Okay, let's start with Fashion

Winter is probably my favourite season for cloths as you can wear layers and pair everything up with cozy sweaters. Then there are the Christmas themed items! I'm a very big fan of those and so the pieces I'm about to share with you will feature Christmassy prints.

The first item is a woolen jacket. I love it because it's very soft and warm. This is the perfect piece for a cozy day inside when you don't feel like doing anything.

Then I also like a pair of leggings with a similar print. I've had them for quite some time and I still wear them as soon as we get to December and sometimes already in November.

Of course I can't go without my Christmas and winter themed socks. They are just super cute and boost ones holiday spirit. 

Nail Polish

If you know me you probably already guessed that this category will be in an essentials post, because I rarely go without anything on my nails. For the winter I like darker colors and my favourites are purples or deep burgundy reds. Around Christmas I throw in some gold glitter for an extra festive feeling. 

The polishes I'll wear for the holidays are p2 Can't Get Enough, Flormar in the shade 021 and Essence Make It Golden. I also use the Art Deco Gold Glitter with an ultra thin brush to create more delicate designs.

Lip Products

I generally really like red lipstick but during the festive season they are a MUST! My favourite ones are the Manhattan Perfect Creamy And Care in the shade 45N and Rimmel Kate Moss in the shade 107. The first one is a very creamy, shimmery red and the second one is a mat, deep burgundy red. 

The third product is a lip lacquer from Rimmels Apocalips collection. The shade is Big Bang and it’s a bright red which you can wear with everything. 

45N, Big Bang, 107

Music

Another essential are Christmas radio stations. I'll usually start listening to this kind of music around the middle of November because it puts me in a festive mood. Also I like bringing back my favourite holiday themed songs on my phone.

Songs

Last Christmas - Wham 

Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea

White Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald

Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms

Radios

North Pole Radio

Rautemusik Christmas Channel (They have the cutest app ever!  ->)

Movies

There are two films I usually watch around the 25th of December tough I don’t necessarily watch them every year. One is the German version of Cinderella (German title: Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenputtel). The cool thing is that it’s not a cartoon. Also instead of a fairy Cinderella has three magic hazelnuts which grant her a wish each when thrown over the shoulder. The other movie is The Holiday. Basically I like it because it’s a romantic comedy and this is my favourite film genre. Then the soundtrack was composed by Hans Zimmer and he’s just a genius.

Okay that’s it. I hope you liked reading this and have a great Holiday :)