California Here We Come
No, I’m not singing the Phantom Planet song anymore but I’m way too excited to not share this with you guys: I’ll go to California in August!!
Well we won’t visit OC (thank god 
) but we’ll start in Seattle (ok, not California but western USA anyway) and drive down to San Francisco!! My friend Simone (who sometimes reads the blog.. Hi pal! Hope you don’t mind me sharing the news with the rest of the world) and I booked the flights yesterday and are über excited now.
Oh and by the way, we’ll also stay one day in New York on our way back home.
Who wants to play?
Some of you probably think that I travel a lot. Well it’s true. Travelling has always been an important part of my life (that happens when your parents are from two different continents). I also think that meeting other people from other cultures is amazing and helps us deepen our mutual understanding.
I’m not rich (ha! far from it!) but I want to see something of the world. And since I’m young and work full time, this is the time to travel! I’m aware that I’m really lucky which is why I want to make the most of my life. It would be awful if I looked back and regretted something.
After we booked the flights I went back home and found a precious little surprise in the mailbox..
(Like my paint skills?? )
A PACKAGE FROM KARLA!!! Awww you’re such a sweetie!!
I basically ran upstairs and ripped the package open when I got to my apartment. And look what I found inside:
(Karla: Hope you don’t mind me publishing your note too but it made me SO happy to receive mail from you!!)
Only a foodie will understand my joy.
Let’s take a closer look of what was inside:
AB & PB (The über famous barney butter!!)
Chocolate!!!
And BARS! Oh my dear Lärabars, how much I’ve missed you. I’m also super excited to try the Kind and Kashi bars.
I had my eyes fixed on Barney Butter though and just had to try it with some apple for “dinner” (it was pilates night after all).
Heaven.
Oh and I also couldn’t resist the chocolate..
Karla, can you read my mind? I love chocolate with mint filling!!!! Thanks again for all the goodies sweetheart. You’re too kind! 
Today’s breakfast was much less exciting but great nevertheless. I used to have sweet saffron polenta for breakfast all the time a few years ago and then kind of forgot about this amazing ayurvedic dish.
First I cooked 1/2 c cornmeal with 1 c water and then added a tiny bit of saffron and some agave. That’s it!
You can top it with whatever you want to. Today I was in the mood for mixed nuts and some flax.
I actually wanted to make a smoothie for breakfast but I had no banana and wanted a creamy drink. Tomorrow is a new day.
For lunch today I had an other thrive-inspired meal (tired yet?).
The salad had: mixed greens, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 avocado, 1 tbsp sesame seeds, 2 tbsp pine nuts, 1 tbsp nutritional yeast.
I also used the tomato basil salad sauce (an other thrive goodie) and some tomato sesame paste.
Best. Salad. Ever. (Or at least in a long time)
Q: Weirdest Breakfast creations?? (I need inspiration! I love porridge but I like mixing things up a little bit too)
Have a STUNNING Wednesday
wish I lived closer to SF so that we could meet up! so happy to find out about your blog.
What a fun package!!
Two summers ago, four of my girlfriends and I took that same roadtrip (practically)!!! We started in Seattle and worked our way down for a week and a half, finally ending in LA. It was SO much fun!!!
You’re a traveling fool. I am SO jealous! I’m forcing myself to take a vacation somewhere or another this Summer. It’s been too long and my brain needs a mental break away from the every day hustle.
I used to make sweet fruit wraps for breakfast sometimes. Not too exciting I know, but it’s a tad bit different. I use apples or pears (or both), slice them super thin and layer them into a tortilla which is already smeared with either sweetened ricotta, light laughing cow cheese or low fat cream cheese. Then I sprinkle in some cinnamon and Splenda (or sweetener of choice, brown sugar would be good) roll it up and sear it in the pan until nice and toasty. If you’re a real dare devil you can drizzle agave nectar or honey on top and eat it with a knife and fork. SO civilized.
Now I want this for breakfast. Maybe this weekend!!!
Ahh! I have no idea where I’ll be in August! Either in California or NY! I would definitely loooove a meet up!
So glad you received the package! Enjoy!!! Hope if made you smile
That’s so awesome that you’re going to be staying in NYC and San Francisco! Both cities are beautiful and have lots of fun sights to see
I love to travel as well; seeing different places and experiencing different cultures is something no one will be able to take away from you. Love it
Weirdest breakfast creations? Hmm. I’ve been sticking with oatmeal for a long, long time… and before that it was usually cold cereal, pancakes, or crepes. You could always try a sweet quinoa dish with apples, coconut milk, raisins, and cinnamon
What awesome goodies!! I love traveling too- it’s my goal to travel more this year
You are going to love the ride from Seattle to SF.. BEAUTIFUL.. Raymond and I drove from Portlant OR to SF and we took our time and made a lot of stops… had an amazing time.
Wow that’s a very nice care pacakge that your recieved
How sweet of Karla! I a mseriously loving your cornmeal breakfast! Your salad does look like the Best! I forget to use pine nuts! They add so much flavor!
I’m sooooooo jealous of your barney butter, I wish we could get it here in the uk, if I ever get to the states I’m stocking up! Weirdest breakfast hmmmmmm maybe spinach in my porridge! x x
Yay for vacation! I’m going to Vancouver next week which is like 3 hours from Seattle. It’s so beautiful there! I’ve never been to Cali, though I really want to go to San Francisco!
Karin,
Just caught up on a ton of your posts and they are AMAZING! I love all of your new Thrive meals and your trip to Japan looks incredible. Those pastries must have been out of this world!
Please let me know when youre in SF- I may be there!!
What a sweet note! Bloggie twin…awww!
I love baked oatmeal in the morning. It reheats so well and it includes a whole grain and fruit!
aww what a SWEET package
that pumpkin pie kashi bar is FABULOUS and i actually haven’t tried barney butter!! i want to. i think it is great you love to travel so much
i have that same asian bowl lol! i feel special bc i knew about your CA trip already
. please promise me that we’ll get to meet up? i would be thrilled! and i’ll take you somewhere yummy, promise!
Hi Karin!
I just found your blog and I was so excited when I saw that you are Swiss! You are the first fellow Swiss person I have come across in the blogosphere.
Love the title of your blog!
I am excited to read more!
- Christina
your stash is awesome!
love that you put cashews and seeds on your food….yum
and your travel plans!!!! hell yeah girl! we are in the process of (trying) to move back to San Diego (So Cal) from Arizona and by Aug we should totally be there. If you find yourself in So Cal, holla, blogger meetup!
A great package and a trip to California? Wow! Lucky girl:) But you deserve it!
x Julia (Taste of Living)
so exciting about your trip! traveling is great, that’s my favorite thing to do on vacation!
great package, so many treats!
favorite porridge? aduki bean, rice and red dates.
I am so excited to hear about your trip! You are going to have a fab time! Let me know if you have any layovers in Chicago
Karla is such a sweetie
oh god im alergic to tons
atm im re introducing gluten though! but dairy, onion, garlic, chilli, pepper, chickpeas, artichoke, coconut, alot of soy products and potatoes *breathes* aha