My Blue and Gold Sunshine Day

Yesterday was a perfect day and my brother's last in Berlin. Although I was sad walking home after saying goodbye this morning, I am happy that we ended on such a high note — we road bikes, ate delicious food, listened to live music, played more cards, laughed and soaked in the sunniest day this city has seen in quite some time. 

I tried my hand at the blue and gold trend with a vintage polka-dot cropped blazer paired with my new silk Topshop top and the necklace I bought at the Mauerpark Flea last weekend. Certainly a more subdued version then some of the ladies I blogged about, but without their inspiration I might just have just thrown on a white tee underneath. Boring.

Berlin Weekend Roundup: Ping Pong, Cards and Karaoke

This was the first proper weekend I have had in Berlin in quite some time, and the first my brother has had since two summers ago, and it was a proper Berlin weekend indeed. The sun was shining (I have gone back to wearing cut-off jean shorts pretty much every day, with tights yes, but still, shorts), the skies were so blue (see!), everyone was out and despite the still chilly crispness in the air, we did all those outdoor things (biking and ping pong!) that make me love this city. Sadly, I also had the realization that I better get out of here quick before it actually heats up (and I can take off the tights) and the warm weather Berlin attitude kicks in and I start regretting my decision to leave — I really do love this city in the summer...almost as much as I love New York.   

The photos above were taken yesterday at and on the bike ride to the Mauerpark flea market — where it seems everyone else in the city went as well — to peruse the goods and take in some serious outdoor karaoke. Do you see how many people are sitting and watching in that pic up there? Yeah that is for karaoke, pretty insane. So all in all a fun weekend with my bro, but one that had a bittersweet undertone as the number of weekends left in this city widdles down to just a few. 

It all went something like this: greek chicken for three, juice for one, wine for one, dinner party for four, weird, Joaquin Pheonix documentary (warning: do not watch this!), doubles ping pong at Görlitzer Park, yummy street food, German card game and hot chocolate then dinner at Edleweiss, Hearts at a bar across the way, late night ride home, sleeping in again, long ride to Prenzlauer Berg, coffee and ice cream, flea market, ring, necklace and tote bag purchase, karaoke amphitheater, short story tears, Vietnamese food, Portlandia.

Olfactory Weirdness

Yesterday I had two separate moments where my nose was filled with an aroma that took me back to a certain yet unspecific time in my childhood and warmed my heart just a little bit. To me there is nothing better than the smell of a just picked tomato still on the vine (I refrained from posting a photo of this due to the over-abundance of fruit and veggie pics on my blog as of late), I am sure it comes from always having tomatoes growing in the garden as a kid. And there is something about the smell of pavement after a spring afternoon rain that gets me too. Not too sure where that one came from though. It's strange how people are attracted to certain smells that not everyone would necessarily find pleasing — some people love the smell of gasoline or matches. Do you fancy any random smell?

Photo from Flickr.

Holy Moly

My Itunes shuffle just gave me these three songs in a row as the sun is beaming through my window after returning from a lovely afternoon with friends (pics to come). Coincidence (all those sunshine/happy tunes)? Most likely. But it all makes me feel so sweet...
Belle and Sebastion "Legal Man"

Velvet Underground "Rock and Roll"

Van Morrison "Here Comes the Night"

Berlin Weekend Roundup

After a rough week where "budget cuts" once again thwarted my existence, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend to lift my spirits. It started off with a bit of a headache after a long night out with a new friend on Thursday (who also cheered me up and got me excited about all the possibilities in Berlin) and ended with a day of all days where there was not a cloud nor a plane in the sky, the park was packed, the people were partying at the river clubs already and my pasty legs finally got to see some sun.

It all went something like this: excessive creamy treats, The Graduate, thrift shopping, yummy lunch outside, bike ride, a favorite little bar with Anne, night walk on the river, too much French wine and olives, gypsy music, fresh squeezed orange juice in bed, long long lunch with Erin, sun!, Görlitzer Park, dusk drinks on the river, in bed early.

Random Sunday

MUNICH, Germany—Spring sunshine at the Glyptothek, 1950.


Spring sunshine indeed, today was blissful.

I Want To...

...run through some tulip fields. Isn't it just ultimate taste of spring? This week I stumbled across the blog Abby Try Again and her beautiful photos of the Wooden Shoe tulip fields. I really love bulb flowers, I have been buying a bouquet of tulips every week since the sun started shining. But the difference between a vase of 12 and fields of thousands is well, huge. The ones she shot are in Oregon, but weirdly these days I am closer to the real thing in the Netherlands (pictured here). Shall we go?

Photos from here and here.

Soft Spring

I am a sucker for florals, soft lighting and that certain romantic nostalgia. Lucky(ish) for me, so is everyone else this season. It seems like we are all taking fashion cues from the lovely Lisbon girls with pastel flower prints, white lace and flowing fabric. Currently I am on the search for a vintage light-colored floral mini to add to my collection of 1990s fem attire. I mean it couldn't get any more perfect for spring, right?

And speaking of The Virgin Suicides, when is Jeffrey Eugenides going to write another novel?  I mean Middlesex (definitely in my top three) was published in 2002, he has had enough time right? And speaking of novels, I am just about to finish The Savage Detectives, which admittedly has been a long and somewhat grueling process. So I am in need of a new book, preferably one that is completely engrossing and potentially life-changing. Any suggestions?

Görlitzer Park

One of the best things about spring is that first sunny day when everyone comes out of hibernation and the streets are filled. The weekend was nice and all, but today was actually beautiful. A perfect time to pick up my new bike and just ride. Passing through the city the ice cream shop lines stretched out into the street and the parks were packed. Just look at Görlitzer!

Berlin Weekend Roundup (Spring Fever!)

Saturday was the first day of spring, and thank the lord spring has finally sprung in Berlin. I am still waiting for the flowers, but the sun will do just fine for now. Oh man, it makes my life so much better and contributed (among a few other things) to making our weekend quite lovely.

It all went something like this: our first dinner guest, my first attempt at cooking for a guest, yummy enchiladas, sleeping in, new bike!, walking in Friedrichshain, carrot cake and coffee, skate park and graffiti photo shoot, a Cold War history lesson over beers, lightning, house party, dancing dancing dancing, cheese fight (don't ask), guacamole, Weeds, Sunday cleaning, a much needed phone call with Miss Diebel.

This Made Me Laugh Part 3

More cards from my friend Dan.