My mum, sis and kinda-brother-in-law came back from Japan the other day.
I love Japan.
I miss Japan.
Anyhow..
To help my mum get over the jet lag (and to make you all finally read the book); here’s Katniss Everdeen:
Mama kore mo mita?
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Hiya pals!
Last weekend I left the big smoke and the crazy hours at work behind and headed up north to Derbyshire. People there (cough cough) think I have a posh Londoner accent. I disagree. My accent is cute and lovely and completely neutral – like Switzerland.
But then, while walking the dogs with Kirsty, I constantly exclaimed how beautiful the countryside was.
Help!
Anyway, I digress.
So I got to stay at Kirsty and Laraine’s lovely home and we had a fabulous time. First we went to yoga on Sat morning, had lunch at a cute café, walked the dogs for a few hours, educated ourselves with The Only Way Is Essex (smart!) and had a massive dinner at an Indian Restaurant. Sunday was how Sundays are supposed to be.. With a cozy lunch and drink and some chilling out. (I hate using any word that has something to do with “chill” but “relaxation” or “resting” sounds moronic as well).
Awww I love autumn!
Now are you prepared for a food extravaganza?
No, that’s not all the food we shared among us.. It’s what I had alone. The waitress wanted to take the plate away while I was still eating my naan bread.. I almost chopped her head off. (Kidding!)
I went home pregnant. So. Much. Food. (So good food!)
Thanks for everything Kirsty and Laraine! (ps shut uuuuuup!)
xx
I think Sunday is underrated. It gets such a bad rep for being “The Day Before Monday” and all in all it’s just a very depressing day.
Unless you do things that you love to at least make the attempt to turn it into a great day!
Studying…
Lying around in my PJs..
Snacking..
Laughing..
Doing “research”..
Lunch..
Running…
And for dinner I made us a fab veggie lasagne.
I’m also not too thrilled about Monday – or the entire upcoming week in fact (it’ll be so busy – I already can’t wait for it to be over) but hey that shouldn’t keep us from enjoying Sunday.
What did you do today?
xx K
Category : Around London, Friends
People often think that I am a city girl. Maybe it’s because of my collection of Birkin bags or my exquisite taste for expensive perfume (cough cough) but it couldn’t be further from the truth despite the fact that I’m living in one of the busiest cities in the world.
I am a country girl.
I might have been more of a bookish indoor person as a child (half of me still is that kid) but nothing feels better than walking barefeet through grass and breathing fresh air.
So last weekend my flatmates (Mel and Rach) and I went for a walk in the countryside. Somewhere in Hertfordshire.
(for some reasons I always end up on golf courses)..
Being stereotypical girls we got lost besides having those fancy instructions on a smartphone. I think we started to get lost when we couldn’t identify what a “ha-ha” was. (That’s what it said!). If you happen to be able to enlighten us – please do so!
But then again if you’re lost in the woods with girls who think that this thing (see below) marks the entry to the path it doesn’t seem that surprising that we lost our way after a few meters.
We somehow did manage to get back on the correct route though. What a fab afternoon.
Mel and I. We had to wear sun glasses because it was so sunny can you believe it?? In freaking England!!
It got dark terribly early we headed to a local pub and had some mulled wine by the open fire. How cliché!
Ok and now.. don’t think the worst of me but I sometimes have a very simple humour. And that simple humour is often shared by people around me.
And that’s the reason why we laughed out loud when we drove by this pub.
Yes my name is Karin and I am 13 years old.
Drumroll please…
I.
Have.
Internet.
At.
Home..
Whooo!! (clap clap clap!)
I’m so sorry I’ve been absent lately but I just had to get this sorted first. Unfortunately those broadband people are rather slow. But let’s not dwell on that.. it’s all sorted now!
Anyway, I have something very exciting to share with you all!
I AM NOW A STUDENT OF THE INSTITUTE FOR INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION IN NEW YORK!
You can’t imagine how excited I am about this. For a few years I’ve had this in the back of my head until I just went for it and enrolled. I kind of shocked myself a bit because it was an endless back and forth with lots of “what if”s and “but..”s. Sometimes you just have to take the plunge if you know that deep down it’s the right thing to do.
The course started two weeks ago and I am so amazed by the fact that there are so many people out there who share my believes about nutrition, wellbeing and health. IIN not only focuses on diet but also the general health of a person. Mentally and physically. I think that’s such an important part that often gets forgotten with nutritionists.
So yes, I am becoming a health coach.
What better timing is there than now? In the end it’s quite positive that I don’t have that many friends over here and can focus on my studies and work.
I will definitely start seeing clients in my free time next to my fulltime job so if you want to know more about IIN or if you are interested in IIN in general drop me a line 
.
My focus is still on my fulltime job of course. In fact we did some business calls to other day to Japan and I pulled out my fab language skills. (I am kind of kidding. I called my mum in panic the night before because I am so not familiar with business Japanese).. It was interesting to do something different and language-related.
Have you ever taken the plunge and done something “radical” by following your heart?
Love, K
I am currently getting a proper internet so you’ll have to bear with me until I am fully connected to the world (wide web). I rang my parents the other day and mum complained that I haven’t updated my blog in ages. I’m trying, ma! I really am! (It’s their fault, not mine!) ha!
So last weekend I went to the yoga show and even though it was a bit weird to see yoga being so.. “commercial”.. it was great fun. Especially because I went to the show on Saturday with Kirsty!
(And here would be a photo of us at the show but I look so dreadful on the pictures please allow me some vanity haha).
We walked around the stalls…
And got tempted but behaved well…
And then we did some yoga!
First we went to Katy Appleton’s Chakra Flow workshop which was brilliant. Katy is gorgeous and a fantastic teacher! Funny that I always practiced to the “Geri Yoga” DVD (Spice Girl Geri that is) a few years ago and didn’t realise until a few days ago that it was actually Katy who teaches on the DVD.
Afterwards it was time for David Sye’s workshop which was so funny! I like his no-spiritual-bullshit approach to yoga because sometimes people can get too caught up with the seriousness of it all that the fun and joyful part of it can be forgotten. I laughed tears. It was hilarious. You should have seen us. A bunch of nutheads.
Even though the event was great I am in two minds about the yoga show. One one hand it was way too busy for my liking on the other we went to two amazing workshops and there were people of all ages and sizes. I think I will go again next year but only for one day.
One of the best things was finding this book though:
It’s no secret that I have a massive girl-crush on Miranda Kerr. I’ve been trying to find “treasure yourself” for ages but it’s not published over here.. Surprisingly though her publisher had a stand! It really is a lovely book and I think Miranda’s just a great inspiration.
I think yoga is amazing.
I know it can sometimes be a bit like an exclusive club to “outsiders” but it really is for everyone. And you can’t imagine how much it has helped me overcome fears and self’-doubts. I really believe that nothing else has helped me more than yoga (other than my family and friends of course). It’s my sanctuary, the place I go to when things get difficult. And it has made me a much happier person.
I wrote this post on Tuesday the 25th but my internet at home has been so terrible of late, it made me swear at my laptop in the most vicious way. Anyway…
Last weekend was amazing! (I am referring to the weekend of the 22nd.. remember.. internet problems…)
My besties flew in from Switzerland on Friday (took them long enough – I’ve been living here since March! haha) and stayed for a super quickie weekend.
So basically we only had one whole Saturday. It was utterly hilarious.
Since Karin (the other Karin that is) has never set foot on this island before we did a tour de best of London…
Starting in Camden since I live in the north.
We then dashed on to Covent Garden, popped by Picadilly Circus and moved on to Waterloo.
From there we walked along the Thames to London Bridge as it was such a beautiful day (very very British – the weather that is.) We had lunch at the always crowded Borough Market – so busy but I love that place.
I spy with my little eyes…
Afterwards we headed to Shoreditch, had coffee at one of my favourite cafés, Franzé & Evans and then we went to the Porterhouse.
Let’s just say we stayed there for a while.
If you only have one day in London I would highly recommend that “tour”.
Gosh I really miss my friends! I would import them in a heartbeat!!
I have something super exciting to share with you all but that’s for an other post. I am watching Jamie Oliver’s new “Great Britain” show and I am so ecstatic as he’s in east London in that episode and walking through the market where I usually get my fantastic Friday falafel. (Friday is falafel day).
Oh if you happen to be in East London on a weekday – go to the Whitecross market and get some fantastic street food to go! Definitely a London highlight.
Love you all.
Kx
The other day I got a haircut.
And then this lovely lady did a blow-dry. Now… I really wanted to give it a fair chance considering it’s so en vogue what with Kate Middy (now Windsor) giving it a proper revival but heck (!!).. it took more than half an hour! Who has time for that (apart from when it’s your wedding or if you’re a royal)???
If I go to a class at Frame before work and take a shower there I just let my hair dry on my walk to the office. After all England’s windy. hehe. It works.
On Saturday I went out with my flatmate and her friends. We survived until 12:30am which I was quite proud of! Yay us party animals!
For the first time in my life I wore red lipstick.
That makes me proper grown up now. Thank you very much.
(And now let’s just ignore the creepy “from underneath”-look.)
But holy guacamole did my nose grow some more? It’s astronomical!! Mount Everest decided to come and reside in my face.
Well… at least I can smell things properly.
And yes, “proper” is my new favourite word. And it almost makes me a proper Londoner.
PS: I love “Downton Abbey”. Who says TV shows are stupid? There are currently such smart programmes on.. And for my sanity’s sake I usually watch them online – can’t be bothered with all those commercials.
Love and peace to you all.
Kx
Hello hello!
How are things going in your neck of the woods? I am sore. Especially in my shoulders. Yes, apparently I run with my shoulders.
Anyway..
There was so much going on last weekend it’s hard to wrap my head around it all because usually exciting stuff only happens about once a month (fun Frame classes excluded).
Friday evening kicked off with dinner and drinks with Val and BF who were in town for an extended weekend. It’s so lovely to speak Bernese German once in a while. I had such a good time.. having people around from back home is just fab. Unfortunately I had to leave early(-ish) to catch the last tube home.. because on Saturday I had to get up super early to get a million and one chores done in the morning.
At noon I met up with my chin twin Tamzin! (She pointed the chin twin thing out but it’s kind of true, isn’t it? Everyone needs a chin twin!! )
After reading her amazing blog for about a million years it was so lovely to meet her in person! We discussed that blogger-meet-ups have something so blind-date-ish about them… You DO know the person but then again it’s always different when you meet one another in real life.
But I kind of knew we’d get along well – after all we’re both massive foodies, enthusiastic about fitness (but not in a crazy obsessive way) and have a fabulous taste in music. If I dare say so.
She even brought me a present! She made it herself, can you believe it???
SO pretty! Thank you chin twin!!
Being the foodies that we are we headed straight to Neal’s Yard Salad Bar for some much needed lunch.
I’ve been dying to go there for ages but always saved it for a special occasion. I’m glad I did, lunch was delish!
Afterwards we continued our foodie tour de London.
Heavens.. Whole Foods in High Street Kensington will KILL me. I am so glad I don’t live in West London otherwise I’d be constantly tempted. It’s a place where dreams come true. (Who wants to go to Disney Land when there’s Whole Foods?? ).
Afterwards we had some cake and coffee and then it was already time to say goodbye. Another time my friend!!
I kind of rushed home because my flatmate had lost her keys (well.. she found them at work today..) and then I frantically searched Blandine’s mobile number as we had plans for dinner.
All turned out well and we went to Manna in Primrose Hill for dinner. It’s a vegan restaurant.
Now… I know, some people run away screaming when they hear the word vegan because “what do these people eat anyway?” but it’s simply unfair.. Saturday’s dinner was absolutely amazing. We shared quesadilla (but menos el queso haha) for starters and I had ravioli and Blandine had bangers and mash. Very British.
Unfortunately my photos turned out crap but that just means that I have to go back again and make some new ones .
We ended the evening with a cuppa and Gary Barlow and his X-Factor crew. When did Mr Take That get so hot? He’s like good wine – getting better with age!
Sunday started REALLY early.. I got up at an ungodly hour to get ready for race day. Blandine, who stayed over at my place, kindly came to support me.
It was busy, it was fun and it was one of the best races I’ve ever run. There was never a moment that felt terrible.. When I felt my legs getting tired I changed my stride.
(General comment: changing strides was one of the best things I could have done. It made things so much easier!)
Unfortunately I still had some breathing problems since I have a weird cold/sore throat.. I need to get that checked if it doesn’t get better. At times I had some chest pain but then I took it a bit easier and ran slower.
After all I love running but I love living even more so I didn’t want to push myself too much even though it meant that sub-2h got out of my reach. I didn’t care, health is more important.
I just realised that this all sounds more dramatic than it actually was.. I really felt fine otherwise I would have dropped out for sure. (Mum, no need to get worried!!)
It was such a privilege to run with Right To Play. I am truly proud to support such an amazing charity. Thanks again to all of you.. donators and non-donators. Your support has been great.
My official chip time was 2:00:51. It’s the first time I’ve run with my garmin but it was quite helpful and it helped me to keep my pace and not go too fast or too slow. The garmin was only there for support though.. I just ran it the way I felt was good for me. I felt like walking twice so I walked. And once or twice I felt like running 8 minute miles so I ran faster.
I suppose the reason why I felt this race was relatively “easy” was because my mind and body were completely in synch. My brain has tried to be smarter than my body for ages but nah, this girl’s not taking that anymore.
If I feel like running 10 miles I run 10 miles.
If I feel like eating a massive slice of cake I eat a massive slice of cake.
Life is too short to be miserable.
(On the other hand this shouldn’t be a free-pass for all things unhealthy. Balance, sweethearts! Balance!)
What an AMAZING weekend.
Now I just need a cup of tea, some Gary Barlow and some family drama and then I’m a happy camper.
But I have to be honest, I am freaking knackered. (Do apologise the tired look on my face – I was ready to fall asleep right there and then).
A massive thank you to everyone who donated. It means so much to me and together we could make a small contribution to improve other peoples lives. I am very very proud and happy. Also a big thank you to my dear friend Blandine who came to support me on the day.
If you want to support Right To Play but didn’t have the time to donate, it’s absolutely fine.. My donating page’s still up for another month! 
I will go and nap some more now. I can’t believe how tired I am!
Tomorrow I’ll tell you all about my fantastic Saturday and THE race. For now I just leave you with this:
Hmmm… 13.26 is NOT a half marathon. I want my money back! Or at least 1 min off my time (so I’d have a sub-2h half hehehee).
Love and peace and happiness.
Kx
