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Ich habe lange überlegt wie ich es angehe. Seit über einem Jahr habe ich schon nicht mehr auf meinem Blog geschrieben und es hat sich einiges getan.

Ich bin zwar immer noch in Australien, aber ich fühle mich wie ein neuer Mensch. Nicht nur äußerlich sondern auch innerlich. Ich möchte darüber schreiben, aus mehreren Gründen.
Einer davon ist um Freunden wieder Updates aus meinem Leben zu geben aber ich möchte auch über mein 'neues' Leben berichten und Leser inspirieren. Ich habe mich entschieden dies vorerst mal auf Deutsch zu tun teils um in Übung zu bleiben, teils weil ich es genieße auf Deutsch zu schreiben.

Soviel hat sich verändert in dem einem Jahr. Ich habe eine Karriere in der Medienbranche, arbeite hart und habe eine Balance gefunden, für beides -  Privat- und Berufsleben.

Vor einem Jahr habe ich meine Ernährung umgestellt, bin gesünder und glücklicher als je zuvor und habe zudem noch eine Kleidergröße verloren. Aber dazu mehr später.

Ich freue mich wieder hier zu sein und zu posten.

KK x

Pretty Beach

This was indeed a very pretty beach. Ben and I visited that beach twice when we were in South NSW during our christmas holidays. I miss being at a quiet beach without thousands of other people around you. The only thing that scared me was not having lifeguards around looking after in case you get stuck in a rip or a shark is close. When Ben told me a 1metre big sting ray was right underneath him when he snorkeled I kind of got a bit nervous. Apart from that though I absolutely loved it there. In the late afternoon there were lots of kangaroos around just watching us swim in the ocean. And I found some of my most amazing shells on that beach too. I'd go back there right now to escape the miserable weather we are experiencing here in Sydney. 

Moist Coconut Lemon Cake

This is a recipe I have to share with you. It is seriously one of the best cakes I have ever made. According to Ben it's THE best cake I ever baked. I found the recipe online but I altered it a little bit with a recipe from a cookbook of mine. Here is the link to the recipe. No wonder it was one of the best recipes of the week.

Picture from the ninemsn website

I added a lemon rind and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the batter and also added some lemon juice to the icing. Lemon and Coconut go really well together and a lot of people commented on the nice lemony taste of it.

If you like coconut this cake is a must!

Christmas Eve in Bondi

I hope you all had a great christmas! I had even though it was pouring all christmas day long. Good thing christmas eve "day" was perfectly sunny.  We had a nice breakfast, then I baked the best coconut cake ever (recipe to come) while Ben finished his last minute christmas shopping. I could never do that, I'd be too nervous that I don't get the gifts I wanted. Ben seems fine with it and does it every year while I usually finish my shopping a week before christmas eve. When Ben came back we went to the beach and relaxed in the sun before we had our own little celebration in our apartment. We had oven baked trout for dinner and exchanged our gifts after our little meal. It was lovely and I was spoilt by my man. He surprises me every year with his thoughtful gifts. I can't wait for especially one of his gifts - he booked a 4 day holiday for us. I need a little break and getaway right now. Christmas time has been hectic in the retail business and being a manager in that time is even more stressful. This is a perfect little holiday before my life will be changing in January. Below is our little christmas tree in Bondi (yes it's a real tree!)

I'm back.

I have taken a little break from blogging. The reason behind this was changes in my life. A lot of changes. I needed some time off and concentrate on my life and future here in Australia. I finished my master degree, graduated, started a job. I also had my parents here in Australia for the first time for almost three weeks and I started to train 5x a week to become healthier and fitter. Food has always influenced my life a lot and as you know I have had a lot of problems in the past with sugar and wheat. Since my last post a lot of time has passed and I am feeling a lot better, I am working 5 days a week (which was quite hard to adapt to after being a student for a year) and Ben and I got our de facto visa approved after only 3 months. We have just been on a little holiday in Melbourne for Melbourne Cup Day. We felt like a couple that recently started dating, walking hand in hand through Melbourne trying to find the best little cafés and restaurants. The holiday was good for both of us, we hadn't been away together since christmas last year and we enjoyed every minute of it. We loved Melbourne so much that we are even thinking of moving there. I wouldn't mind for a year or two. Anyway I recently felt like writing on here again, I really miss it, so I hope you are still interested and are happy to read a little more posts from me again. Considering that I am working 40h a week now I probably won't be writing as much as I used to but I will try and keep you updated on my (now healthier) life and post some recipes again.

Ben and I at the Melbourne Cup

Family in Oz

Right now my parents are here in Sydney to visit me. I am absolutely loving it. It is the first time that I can show someone from home how I am living here on the other side of the world. Every day I show them around in the city that I love so much and spend time with them at my favourite spots. I love to be able to call my mum in the morning, and not think about the 10h time difference, invite her for breakfast and chat with her on our balcony. Even though it might sound weird to some people, we also spend time together just doing domestic things like cleaning my apartment or baking together. It is very new to me to have someone help me here and it kind of makes me sad thinking that I won't have this for very long. Life is a lot easier if you have your mother close to you, just simple things I have no idea of, like cleaning or cooking matters, are different if you can ask your mother about it. I am enjoying my time with them here right now but I also fear the moment when I have to say goodbye to them. It is going to be really hard, but right now I don't want to think about it and rather enjoy them being so close to me.

Something blue...

Ok, I have to admit that I am in love with the new trendy nail polish colours (like mint and blue). I might have said that I don't like them a few weeks ago, but now that I have seen some girls with awesome looking nails in the shopping mall, I changed my mind. Yesterday I got myself one of the new colours - and absolutely love it on my nails!
I am also very busy preparing our new visa. It is more work than I thought and even though I want to hand it in at immigration next week, there's still a lot of forms to fill out. I am still waiting for my police checks from the UK and Australia and I am praying every day that they will arrive on time. My medical check is done and I am also waiting for the results in the post. I am getting a bit nervous but according to Ben we should "definitely" get the visa with all the evidence we are providing. Let's hope so!

Filled Strawberries

Ben has had a hard day at work, so I decided to surprise him with a dessert tonight - Strawberries filled with Banana and Cream. Look how delicious they look, I am so excited! I know he'll love it, it looks so nice and I am sure they'll be divine! Here is the recipe:

What you need:
* Strawberries
* about one big teaspoon Vanilla Yoghurt depending on how many strawberries you have (I used natural yoghurt and added some vanilla syrup)
* a small banana or half a banana
* half a teaspoon sugar
* flaked almonds

What you do:
Mash a banana with a fork and add the yoghurt and sugar.
Cut out the middle of the strawberries, try to let a thin wall.
Then fill the strawberries with your banana yoghurt.
Decorate the ends with the flaked almonds. DONE!

Bastille Day Weekend

Last weekend was just crazy even though we were home no later than 11pm Friday and Saturday. I met up with some friends from Wollongong on Friday and on Saturday we were invited to a house party. An amazing house party! It was Bastille Day this weekend, so my French friend invited us to celebrate with her and her housemates. We brought cheese and wine and chatted over some French finger food before we started some cultural influenced dancing and singing. After a few hours we were trying to have one or more french words in each conversation, and I can tell you all the wine helped. It was a great idea to have a french party and I am thinking maybe I  should have an Austrian Party in October when the Austrian's celebrate their national holiday. I haven't had a crazy going out weekend yet, but maybe for the better considering all the money a night out in Kings Cross costs. I have been saving quite a bit of money the last weeks, which I need because I am going to Splendour in the Grass at the end of next week. A music festival in Byron Bay, about a 10h drive from Sydney. So right now I am saving up all my spare money so I can enjoy my time up there.

Graduation is coming up

Today I got my uni results and my graduation date. Thank god it is in the time frame my parents are here! I was so nervous about that. I don't understand how universities only release their graduation dates a month before. How are international students supposed to arrange travel and accommodation? Well I couldn't wait any longer because I didn't want my parents to pay a fortune on their flights to Australia (considering it's already so expensive to get here). I was lucky! Someone must have heard my prayers to put my graduation date in between a two week timeframe! So now I can't wait until my parents are here, I can start counting the weeks now - 4 in total, and start organising everything for them. It's weird to think of tourist attractions in Sydney now that I am so used to just living here! Good thing is, after one year I know about amazing places to take my parents to and I can't wait to simply show them what my life down under is like!

These pictures were taken during my lunchtime run, isn't it amazing where I live?

Flowers and a new flatmate

Last week Ben and I were walking to the beach. On our way home we walked past the little corner shop that always has those nice flowers at the front. Suddenly Ben goes: "Wait, I gotta get something real quick" and leaves me standing at the front before I can even say anything. Then he comes out with a bunch of beautiful flowers. This is what I like about this guy and it's these little things that make me like him more and more!

Last night I looked at the flowers and saw this little fella in there! So cute! It must have been hiding in the closed poppy flower, because I haven't seen it until the flower opened up! I took it outside today, I don't think it was too happy about being in our living room!

Lunch time Workout

Yesterday was such a nice winter's day that I decided to go for a run to the third furthest beach. I was surprised that I could handle the distance without having to stop a million times. I had some water at the beach and watched people for a little while (some were swimming in the ocean, just watching them gave me goosebumps!) before I ran back to Bondi. I hope the weather will be nice again soon, when it is cloudy and rainy I just can't get myself to work out! Apparently it is the coldest time of the year right now, so from now on it can only get better! This cold is giving me a hard time, especially after coming back from boiling hot Austria a few weeks ago! I shouldn't be complaining about 16°C in winter though, especially when there's days like yesterday.

3 weeks (2)

Here is a little list of things I did in Austria - I think the best point is the weather (I can't believe it was only 8 degrees this morning here in Australia!)

* BBQ's in the evenings in the garden and chatting til 1AM
* Party with my best ones
* Watching TV with my besties and talking until we realise it is 1AM and all of them have to work that day
* Spontanious meet ups and mocktails in the afternoon
* Going shopping with my mum (including grocery shopping - I love to buy food I can't get in Australia)
* 33 degrees celsius
* Vienna - during the day and during the night
* supernatural experiences in Vienna
* Valentina - (almost) every single day
* traditional confirmation of my littlest cousin
* being out til 5 in the morning and forgetting that I have to be up at 9am
* realising my little cousins were out longer than me (but don't look even close as tired as I do!!!)
* meeting up with my family and cousins, talking for over 3 hours at the restaurant until the waiter gives us "the" look
* watching the progress of my little niece learning to walk all by herself and realising that she is able to do that now all by herself in just 3 weeks
* going for walks with my mum at 10 at night
* cuddling my 13 year old dog fearing it is the last time I see him
* going on a night field day and walking 12km in the dark being guided by my friend's cutest sausage dog
* 34.5 degrees celsius (!)
* being able to buy half a litre of the most delicious raspberry punch for 5 euro
* watching the EM with the boys and learning about soccer ("what I should have known already!"
* having the comfort of just calling my friends and them being there for me anytime
* having a late flight home so  I can spend my last day with my family
* getting upgraded on my last flight and enjoying all of it
* secretly crying and pretending to sneeze while watching "Warhorse" on the plane

3 weeks gone like the wind

I can't believe that those 3 weeks were over so fast. I have been home in Austria and I enjoyed every minute of it. There were no blog posts as every moment I lived there felt so natural and not made for the blog. I spent lots of time with my little niece and my sister, in fact almost every day. I tried to fit in as many friends as possible into my timetable and was out and about as much as possible. I also needed a day off - from people or visits and things to do, so I went to Vienna by myself and went window shopping. That day off felt amazing, it was a warm summer's day and the best was the feeling of not being rushed or thinking what do I have to do in an hour.

I also had to say goodbye to something very important to me: my iphone. Someone stole it out of my bag including my wallet. And that happened on my third day in Vienna. Why has nothing like that ever happened to me in Sydney? Last time I was home in November they stole money out of my purse too and I have to say I am one of the most careful people when it comes to watching my bag. (Living in the dodgy parts of London taught me so). After getting told that I have to "watch my stuff better and how can this even happen?!" by the man ordering my new driver's license ("Yes Sir, you know I lost my iphone on purpose because I love paying a ridiculous amount of money for a new one because - as a student - I have loads of it at the moment. Seriously, give me a break.") Well that was just in my head, in fact I said with an understanding face: "I know, I need to be more careful."

Other than that I had a great time back home and so you get an idea too, I'll post some iphone pics (the few I have left after my phone got stolen) in my next post with some details about my trip. To start with, here you can see the beautiful town I grew up in.

Almost one Week

On the 6th of June I went onto the plane and in the early morning of the 7th I arrived in Vienna! It was a 26h flight and I was glad it was over when my sister, her husband and little daughter picked me up from the airport! I was lucky, the day I arrived was a public holiday so when I got home we had a big feast and chatted for hours. The weather was the biggest difference from Australia - it was about 30 degrees and boiling hot. In the afternoon we went for a walk with my little niece and I got sunburnt - not only a little bit - my back felt like it was on fire!

Since that day I was meeting up with lots of my friends, went for walks every day and enjoyed just being at home! One week is over tomorrow and I have two more here in my home-country. I will make the best out of it and try to meet up with as much people as possible! Here are two landscape pics from my stay so far!

My birthday

Wednesday was my birthday. It was a great day and I wouldn't want to change a thing.When I woke up I saw a bunch of flowers on the table, of course from my lovely boyfriend. He also had an envelope prepared for me, I chose not to open it until he was home from work... It was the last day of uni too, so after class we went for a drink on campus. I was lucky, it was sunny and didn't rain! After that I waited for Ben to come home so I could finally open up his gift. And of course that day he had to work late! Oh well, I survived and was happy find a getaway to the 5 star Sheraton in their luxury room, in the envelope. Additionally he got me tickets for High Tea at the hotel. I was shocked that he got me so much, it was more than I had hoped for! After that he took me out for dinner at one of the best restaurants in Bondi. The food was great but I was most excited for the dessert, it was rated one of the best desserts in Sydney in 2010. And the orange granita with sweetened cream didn't disappoint me. Ben even made the effort to tell the waitress to bring it with a candle while I was in the bathroom. It didn't end there - after dinner stayed up and watched a movie with me. What a perfect day - I just kind of missed the warm weather a bit. I am used to have my birthday in hot weather and here in Australia it is the opposite, my birthday is in winter. However, I think I was quite lucky, the sun was shining and we were able to sit outside in the beergarden. So it wasn't too bad! More about my birthday weekend later!

New Furniture

Here you can see what our living room furniture used to look like and how we (or let's say I) changed it. It was an old set of drawers from Ben's old bedroom. I didn't like the look at all so I thought I am going to change it a little bit. I bought new knobs and painted it white. It took me about 4 weeks to finish it as I had to paint it with a primer first and then 2 layers of paint. I think it was worth it though. I also added a another drawer with a shelf. The fact that I did it all myself makes me like it even more! I also changed the bedside table. It looks so much better now and it has a personal touch!

Here you can see photos from the bedside table:

The Anchor

On Friday Ben and I went to a restaurant called The Anchor in Bondi. We always wanted to go there and previously watched the people in there while walking past. It just has this Bondi - vibe in that tiny little restaurant. People seem to be really relaxed and young,  they wear amazing "cool" clothes and are just enjoying themselves while talking to each other. Until now Ben and I always said "we aren't cool enough to go there yet" But the time has come and last Friday our dinner there was amazing. Their specialities, mostly fish, were so outstanding and foreign that we needed the waitress to explain the dishes to us. In the end I decided to get mulloway, a fish I had never had before with sweet potato chips (I never had these kind of chips before - they are better than "normal" chips!) It was the best thing I ever had! I know I always say that, but honestly I couldn't believe how good it was! After reading some of my blog entries from Sydney I have to say that this city has a huge number of amazing restaurants! The Anchor is one of them! We finished off our dinner with a nice cocktail until we went to another bar to meet up with our friends, I have to say the dinner was the highlight of the night though!

It's been a great 6 years...

You, my dear Ugg Boots, I think after 6 years, it is time to go...

There is no detailed pictured of my diseased boots - it is just too heartbreaking.

Today I found you after your wintersleep with huge ugly moldy patches all over you. It breaks my heart but I have to say goodbye.
I remember when I was first in Australia and my Canadian flatmates introduced me to your brand. I was "Uggs? Sheepskin boots? No way!", a week later I was one of those people, wearing you everywhere I went. To uni, to the shops and at home, our cosy Villa 12. I wouldn't have survived the winters without you! I remember when I took you back to Austria and no one knew about you and thought that you looked quite weird. "Too big, and that colour!" people said.  Then, two years later Ugg-Mania also hit Europe. I remember walking past the Ugg-Shop (Yes, a whole shop dedicated to you!) watching people waiting a 10 metre line just to attend the shop. I remember seeing Designer Uggs sold for 250pounds (!) and people desperately trying to fit children's sizes to avoid those ridiculous prices.
I remember seeing boots in the shopping centre in Australia and thinking how the price for Ugg boots has changed in 6 years, gladly looking down onto my own, reliable pair.

And now the era ends...I have to say goodbye. I haven't worn a pair of shoes as much as you- I will miss you!

Dinner home - Dessert at the restaurant

I know that it is normal to go out for dinner, but last week Ben and I decided to go get some dessert. I absolutely love desserts, it is actually the first thing I look at in the menu. Sometimes I wouldn't mind eating dessert only and something savory first. There was an event going on in Bondi, which was really disappointing for us as we couldn't get anywhere in. All the little bars and restaurants were full. So we saw this new little cafe in the middle of all the bars and thought we'd give it a try. I absolutely loved it there. Everything was retro style and people were all chatty and friendly. But even better was the food - I got a banoffee brulee (a mixture of banoffee and creme brulee) served with cream mixed with crushed oreos. It was so delicious! Ben got a chocolate sponge cake with chocolate sauce and cream with mashed strawberries. It really was one of the best desserts we have ever had in Sydney (except the ones I bake)!