December 27, 2015

Christmas feast

Eating, drinking and being merry


Christmas brunch at Dad’s, afternoon Prosecco with friends, Raclette, Mum's homemade cookies and chocolate fondue  - the same procedure but different food four days in a row. No wonder why most people gain weight over Christmas. 









But whatever Christmas is only once a year – let’s say we have a few more cheat days than usual. Who cares about those 2 kgs more over Christmas? We can hide in oversized jumpers, xxl cardigans and coats. 




The only thing that bothers me is the idea of wearing a bikini. I have exactly seven days to get in shape and to feel comfortable in wearing less than ski clothes and sweaters. 

I received a special Christmas present: four days of relaxation, wellness and winter fun in the 
Almwellness-Resort Tuffbad in Austria in the beginning of January.

On my TO do or NOT to do list for the next 7 days:
  • Running
  • ski touring 
  • less cookies
  • no alcohol (with the exception of new year's) 
  • no carbs after 5pm 
  • lots of fruits and veggies 

Happy holidays! 


December 24, 2015

Merry Xmas

Frohe Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale


Dear everyone,

I wish you a happy Christmas, a great holiday and good times with your beloved ones. 

Yesterday evening we turned on some Christmas music, popped a bottle of rose Prosecco and put up the tree in our living room. Before we finally started setting up our tree, we had some color and decoration discussions. After all we came to an end, we have a big tree with strands of lights and very simple-monochrome Christmas ornaments in white and golden color tones.





I felt like a child again. Although everyone is stressed and in a kind of anti Christmas mood I am excited like back then. This morning I woke up very early. I turned on my favorite Christmas movie from my childhood. While I was watching “Miracle on 34th street” I wrapped the presents. 



Don't get caught up in the stressful “holiday cheer” and ignore the rush around you! Not everything has to be perfect; it is already perfect when you can spend Christmas with your beloved ones. Enjoy the holidays and take it easy! 





December 20, 2015

Gray matters

Winter's hottest fashion trend: Poncho!



„Are you wearing a blanket?“ my boyfriend’s six-year-old cousin asked me when I wore my new gray poncho.

So many people say ponchos look like blankets. Well, I don’t care. I just love them. It is one of my new winter wardrobe must-haves. It is an easy to wear, cozy and stylish trend plus it is a time saver.

When I snooze my alarm five times and the radio anchor says it is 8 o’clock, I have exactly 25 minutes to catch the bus. This means I have zero minutes to try on several different outfits. Mornings like these are made for easy-deciding poncho looks.

It’s a perfect choice either for the office or for a sunny weekend walk.

The poncho is such an easy way to give a lazy-day outfit a super-chic twist. I would always choose the monochrome style. Patterned or colorful ponchos will never find a space in my closet.

Less is more. Less colorful looks more elegant. Sure, black-and-white combinations are making strong statements but there is also an elegant hue that comes between them: GRAY!

For a clean look I take a pair of black leather shorts, black tights and throw on a simple gray poncho from H&M. Combined with light-gray full-grain leather ankle boots from an Italian boutique to finish off the casual-chic outfit.





 





December 18, 2015

Christkind for myself

Getting into Christmas mood



Christmas – the most peaceful and quite time of the year? Well, I would say the most stressful time of the year. 

Every morning both at work and at home I write myself a to-do list. And since Christmastime started the list seems to be endless. Although I love being busy I am at a point where I have to force myself for my own “Meli-quality time”. I have started to add personal to do’s like running, walking and reading to my list.

Yesterday I finally crossed a thing from my personal to-do's. First I went shopping for myself! 

Jewelry it is!

I spent almost one hour in the New1shop in Salzburg. Beautiful rings, bracelets and necklaces gave me a hard time deciding. But I did! 

Back home I made myself a Matcha Latta and spend a few minutes in bed with my cuddly blanket while thinking about some Christmas presents for my beloved ones and flipping through some magazines.

 




Next to do on my list is a very cool and yearly MUST-DO!

I will spend the afternoon at my Mom’s decorating, eating her delicious cookies and drinking homemade orange tea. 

Happy 18th of Christmas! 

December 13, 2015

Vegan Chai Cookies

Delicious must-have Chai cookie recipe



My Sunday morning turned out being more successful than lazy! I found an easy, simple and kind of healthy recipe – well at least it sounds like one.

And believe me it’s not only the fancy name that makes the cookies special.

Everyone bakes vanilla crescents, gingerbread, and coco macaroons – so I thought to try something more unique.

But I am neither that girl who follows every trend nor am I vegan. I love my Mom’s calorie bomb cookies and don’t mind craving them.

That’s the thing, because I am not the perfect baker or cook, I wanted to make something different. Special cookies those are not comparable to other classic Christmas delicacies.

Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and black pepper combine to create an incredibly aromatic spice blend that is worth trying!


Ingredients
  •        4 tea bags of Chai
  •        200 gram oleomargarine (1 cups)
  •        50 gram cane sugar (¼ cups)
  •        Pinch of salt
  •        300 gram spelt flour (2 cups)
  •        100 gram sugar to roll (½ cups)

Preparation:

1. In a food processor or mortar pulse the tea mix until the tea is pulverized.
2. Cream the margarine and cane sugar until light.
3. Add the tea mixture and flour. Pulse together just until a rough dough is formed.
4. Let the dough chill for at least 1 hour.
5. Form cherry-sized balls and press them slightly flat.
6. Preheat oven to 150°C (375 °F)
7. Place the balls on the baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes.
8. Before eating roll the cookies in sugar.



Happy baking!



White Christmas

Healthy Christmas cookies


„It’s begin to look a lot like Christmas...“ sings Michael BublĂ© on my Spotify Christmas Playlist, while I try getting into the Christmas spirit.

And what goes better with Christmas than cookies? It’s the time of the year everyone goes cookie-crazy – me included.

So I make the most of my lazy Sunday morning and get inspired by cookie recipes.



It feels like that Christmas eating season kicks off just as early as the shopping one does. 
That’s why I hoped to find some healthy but delicious ideas.

Despite my intention to avoid winter weight gain, I think the season just wouldn’t be the same without occasional indulgence.

Christmas is not about calculating calories, however there are simple recipe tweaks that can make cookies a better fit to a clean eating style.

Let's see how my baking went. If my kitchen didn't catch fire and the cookies taste like cookies than I will post the recipe later :-)