A new year always shows me that you have choices. There are so many possibilities out there and the only thing you have to do is just pick it like it is a fruit and enjoy it! You can always become the person you would love to be. You can always seek for joy and adventures. You know, its waiting just behind the next corner!

If there are things in your life that bothers you- a relationship, which is poisoning or a job that does a lot but do not makes you feel good. Take the challenge and DO something. A new year is a new beginning!

Last year was a brilliant year for me and it ended fantastic. For the year of 2012 I chose not to pic a “Word of the year”

simply because I don’t feel the need of it this time. This past year gave me so much joy, mental strength and self-fulfilment  that I don’t need to focus on something in particular this year.

I do have to say that I challenged myself in the last 4 weeks to reflect the way I eat. I actually dont know exactly when this started and why but I inhaled every bit of information about a Vegan lifestyle. I do can remember that I was watching a show on TV and they asked the challenging question: ” What kind of person would you like to be?”

A simple question from the outside but it has so much power if you dig deeper into it and let it grow inside you. I asked myself this question again and again.

I managed to already grow as a person in the past (build up a positive attitude, being thankful and forgiving. Have healthy and stable relationship…)  but this question above generated a few new ones in my head in a way that surprised myself. It challenged me to think about my attitude about my Food consumption.

Linn, would you like to be a person that tolerates that small male chickens get killed (, because they don’t give eggs in the end) only because you want to eat eggs?

Linn, would you like to be a person who enjoys a piece of meat ( I do love bacon) and ignores the fact that an animals die for YOUR satisfaction?

Linn, would you be a person that simply do not care and reflect that animals die and be exploited every day so that I can have a roasted Dinner, a weekend- breakfast-egg or my amounts of milk?

The answer to this few questions is NO! I don’t  want to be a person who is  involved in any violence  or animal harming action! So I  faced the consequenses:

I read a lot of articles on the internet, went to local shops and observed the supermarkets about vegan food and I was totally surprised about how many products they have. I ordered a Soy Latte to go to try it and bought vegan cheese.

It isn’t that easy though as you are constantly “working” against your own habits.  But it isnt only the habits you need to change- you need to change the thinking that animals havent got rights and only have the purpose to feed or please humanity.

For now I do not put myself onto so much pressure. I do not eat meat, which is easy as I havent eat meat that often already. I reduce the amount of eggs and milk and try new and different recipes. I will slowly add more and more vegan products to everyday life.

For me going vegan is a process, which takes a while but I feel this is a right step.

Please let me know if you have any tips, links or recipes you like and want me to try. I would also love to know what you think about Vegetraism  and vegan Lifestyle or if you ever questioned your lifestyle.

Love*Linn

Here some links if you want to digg  deeper into Vegan:

http://vegan.ellen.warnerbros.com/why-go-vegan.php

http://www.govegan.net/

http://features.peta.org/VegetarianStarterKit/

I got to start the year of 2011 with the satisfaction of having a job which is totally made for me.

I work as a Social Worker at a Church Community Center. Our passion and duty is to invent projects for Woman.  We for example qualify them, we build up a Mummy Helpline or a Sewing-cafe to get them together with other woman. We are a lobby for Woman and work for equal rights. It’s really a blessing working there in a team of three other woman.

I started a few new things in the beginning of the new year. Some of them like Ballet, I did for years others, like Patchwork and NIA I wanted to try out for the first time. I loved being back in dance class again as that’s the perfect form for me to express myself. Not so much the patchworking- a bit too advanced for a sewing newbie!

I had a fun time at our grandchildren meet up at my grannies around Easter!! This was the first time that my Twinnie, my little brother and our spouses meet up without my Mum’s.

I saw Joyce Meyer preaching for the first time in Hamburg, which was very  inspirational.
I visited Munich and Paris for the first time in my life and I am defenetly coming back some day. Great cities to visit!

I got the chance to see the Beatsteaks and The Subways in Hamburg twice,  System of a Down on their only German Concert in Berlin, Ryan Bingham, Shantel and Monster Magnet also in Hamburg. You know I am a fan of Concerts and one of my fave bands are The Subways. So it was an amazing day as I got the chance to finally meet them, talk to them face to face and see their sound check and the gig later. Truly amazing day and such fab people!

I spent my first vacation in Asia, which was 3 weeks of unbelievably brilliant-ness. The weather, the uber friendly people, travelling with the backpack through Java and Bali. I climbed an active volcano, released a little turtle into the ocean, got the chance to hold an asian palm civet and learned how to surf in tropical water!!:D

I am going to close this year of 2011 as I started it: in Norway! I am going to visit my twin-sister and her Girlfriend and spend New Years in the beautiful land of Norway!!

I know that this year was more than amazing and I am truly thankful for what has happened. I know that not every year is going to be like this past one. For me 2010 was the shabbiest I have had. So I feel very grateful and I am looking forward to the upcoming year. Knowing that it is going to be different but nevertheless unique!

Thank you 2011. You have been amazing! Love*Linn

its been a while that I wrote something on here. Lots of things to do- on work and in my spare time but now I am on holidays I wanted to catch up on here.

Christmas is over and I hope you all had a blessed and fun time with family, friends and your loved ones?!

Soon all the Christmas spirit and decoration is gone again for another year but before its all back to normal I wanted to share with you the wonderful Christmas Cards I have got this season.

Oh right, maybe some of you dont know whats behind a Christmas Card Exchange.  Last year I had the idea to write Christmas Cards to the people, who become close friends on Facebook and Twitter.  Last year, it was my first year on twitter too, I wrote Cards to six people.

This season, I got 13 Cards from England, Scotland, Canada, Germany, USA, Austria and Ireland!! They made the weeks before Christmas really special.

Thank you again Cate, Betty, Andrew&Sarah, Annie, Sue& Tony, Emma, Rhys& Helen, Rachael& Glen, Janet, Dave, Sonja, Adele& Adrian!!! Love you to pieces!!

Love*Linn

I am sure you know this song “Rock’N'Roll Queen”, which was one of their biggest hits back  in 2005.

The Subways, this are basically:

Charlotte Cooper (Bass& Vocals)

Josh Morgan (Drums)

Billy Lunn ( Guitar& Vocals)

We had to be at the DOCKS at quarter to 4 and what shall I say. Me and Kai were late thanks to huge traffic on the way. :S We reached the famous REEPERBAHN at exactly 4:50 and saw a little group about to move into the club. We were like…ohh noo lets run. So we jogged the last meter and were super relieved as we got in there.

William, who organized the whole Meet and Greet welcomed us and gave us our VIP tickets before Charlotte came around to give us a big hug. It was so cool to chat to her in Person instead of tweeting to her. She is so lovely and we had the chance to talk to her for like 10 minutes all alone. About running, Hamburg, Copenhagen, our trip to Indonesia (blog posts will follow ) and the bands next tour dates.

After our talk Charlotte picked up this tiny orange flag again and guided us all  into the music hall. We made us all comfy while Charlotte left us and joined the band onstage for the sound check.

It was fun and interesting to get the chance to look behind the scenes! Watching how much fun they have as a band doing what they are doing was brilliant. Such positive, relaxed but professional behaviour.

After they have finished the sound check they joined us before the stage. They introduced themselves and asked if we all live in Hamburg, applauded for a guy who was on the road for 2 h just to see the band.

Everyone got the chance to make a pic with The Subways before we followed them to the merchandise table after a bit of chit chat.  Everyone who was there got a signed Poster, a free Band Shirt and a signed songlist after the show! !!  We really got spoiled rotten!!

After the meet and greet the band was off for a signing session in a musicstore and me and the Mister went out for Dinner before we returned to the club again. We had a splendid night with The Subways and their support The Dancers and The Dukes. I so hope to meet them someday soon as they are really lovely people to hang with. No celeb attitude at all. Down to earth chaps!

Love*Linn

Remember that me and the Mister went to Munich last July weekend to visit Lena?! Right. First September weekend she packed her bags and visited us up north in Hamburg. We had such a blast:

Went out for lovely Sushi,  I took her on sightseeing the whole Saturday afternoon.  Rocked hard at the Open Air gig together with The Subways, The Beatsteaks and a few workmates. I loved the Open Air.

It was sunny and warm and I even got myself a new The Subway’s Shirt! We also met some completely strangers, which was fun. We all partied at the Reeperbahn after the gig and went home in the early morning hours.

Sunday we slept pretty long,  had a huge hearty breakfast and visited the largest Medieval Festival in Germany.  I wrote about it last year. If you wanna check go here: http://linngraves.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/traveling-back-in-time

I even got the chance to try archery for the first time in my life. I was really really stoked as it was so much fun!! I LOVE trying new things!!:)

We ended this sunny weekend with a movie on our huge screen.

I loved having Lena. We spent so many time outside in the sun, in different cafès,  rocked hard and had great conversations. We had fun in a large group at the Gig and even met new friends. Such a blessed weekend and I am truly thankful. There isnt much to say beside:  “Goodbye Summer- see you NEXT year”

Here are some pics to enjoy!!

Love*Linn*

Over this past year I made several picture postcard exchanges and send and received birthday cards or packages to people who became my friends.

But one thing didn’t happen: A Tweet-up. I have never meet anyone I tweet with.

  That changed TODAY!!!

Today I met @BienAgiter and @Helena_Jackson .Two Teenage Girls who live in Hamburg. It was a short but really fun meeting. We had Bubble Tea and laughed a lot. I am happy that it was so joyful and not awkward at all, even though I was super nervous before the meeting. The Girls told me they were nervous too. lol^^

Next time we meet for yummy Sushi! (Cant waaiiit)

Thank you so much for the lovely time Girls! See you soon!!

Love*Linn

It’s the vibe that always hits me when I line up with all the movie Fans all excited to see movies, which sometimes don’t fit in a specific Genre or have the chance to rule the big Movie Theatres, even though they are brilliant.

It’s the joy of art in movies, joy about well drawn characters, joy of really good music. To sum it up, the joy of being very well entertained.

That is why me and the Mister entered the Fantasy Filmfest for the third time. This year we could only see 2 out of  70 movies as we were in Paris the weekend during the Filmfest. Pity that was but you can’t simply have everything, right?!

The first movie we have seen was a creepy remake from producer Guillermo del Toro named “DONT BE AFRAID OF THE DARK”. I love his way of producing and his talent for weird-looking creatures as you can see in the movie Pans Labyrinth or HELL BOY II The Golden Army. It was such an exciting movie and I was thrilled and creeped out every single minute! I felt also a tinsy bit special because all the people who watched the movie with us were in fact the first people on this earth who did as we could see it before the US release!!! Lucky us. Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and Bailee Madison played the main characters. I simply loved Bailee’s acting she is so amazing!!!

The second movie called “ATTACK THE BLOCK” by Joe Cornish. Its hyper hilarious, fun but also really, really scary at times. You hear the adrenalin pumping in your ears. I havent seen such an amazing movie in years!!! Great young actors, cool coming of age story meets Alien invasion in a huge apartement block in London. Splendid dialogues cracked me up all the time. Fantastic piece of movie with a bloody brilliant soundtrack. Will surly get this one!

Here comes the trailer:

I so can’t wait for next years Fantasy Filmfest. I love how exciting everyone is after the movie. It’s common sense that you applaud after the movie and for sure give scene applause after a fun, cool or exciting moment! Its how watching movies in theatres should be, I find! Fun, entertaining and with a grateful crowed who really appreciate the movie they’ve seen.

Till next year than when its time for the 26. Fantasy Filmfest!

I had a hard time figure out if I want to have a party with friends and family or how to spend the day in general. I had no idea, as I had to work the Saturday before and after my Birthday.

To make a long story short….I was allowed to take the Saturday before my special day off and I was got surprised with a wonderful present.

My Mister gave my A WEEKEND IN PARIS for my Birthday, which was totally amazing.

We left rainy and grey Hamburg early on Friday to be 1,5 h later in Paris. It was so beautiful. Perfect weather, blue sky and the sun was wonderful warm. After we checked in we did sight-seeing the whole Friday. Of course we visited The Eifelturm, Sacre Coeur, Palais de Chaillot, Arc de Triomph, Grand & Petit Palais. We went shopping in the famous Galerie Lafayette…Had wonderful Sushi in a sweet place. Simply perfect day all in all.

We spent the second day at Disneyland Paris. I truly loved this place! Its magical and so much fun wandering through the park, entering all the different rollercoaster and seeing happy people all over the place. Super positive vibes everywhere!

I also had the chance to meet a very special person:

We started our last day with a typical French Breakfast in a local café, which was lovely. In fact the breakfast itself was rather simple but to have a simply Breakfast in Paris was sweet! After that we strolled along the Seine, visit the Louvre but only on the outside cause the que was freaking long. You wouldnt belive it!  We had a yummy crepe sitting on a wall near Notre Dame while the sun was out. We left Paris in the early evening, the sun kiss still on our faces.

It was the first time I was ever in France as traveling through doesn’t count for me. I had a blast seeing all the Sights, the multi cultural people, who live there, mostly Africans, Jamaicans, People from India, Pakistan and all over Asia. I loved how “colorful” Paris is. We had a few pity moments as not everyone speaks English,which was a bit stressful.It was a wonderful and memorial gift and my Mister really knows how to spoil me. Gotta love that Man!!!

On the Tuesday, which was my actual Birthday I took the day off. After sleeping long I made myself French Toast and a big Mug of Coffee while going through all the lovely birthday cards I got and the messages on Facebook and Twitter. I never thought that so many people would congrate me. It was sweet and I am very, very grateful! Then I went out for shopping as I needed to have a new Business Outfit for the Saturday at work. We spent the evening at the movies seeing “Captain America”, which was a fun way to end a birthday.

I also got surprised by two foreign packages and one card. One package from UK by the lovely Adele and the other one by the wonderful Kate. The sweet birthday card was sent by the dearest Janet  I am so thankful to really have friends out there. It’s not “just” Socialmedia. Its making true friends. Friends for life. Love you Ladies! <3

Thank you again for all your congrats and wishes they mean the world to me!!!

Here are some impressions around my birthday. Enjoy!

Much love*Linn

One year ago I started writing this blog and I am surprised that I am still into it. Blogging about things, which happen in my life. Things I love to do like cooking, traveling, reading, visiting concerts, filmfests and so much more.

Looking back I struggled in my first few posts. I wasnt sure how to write and what to put on here but that phase passed. During this first year of blogging I changed the blogs name from “High Tea with Linn” into “My Life As Linn”, as I found it more personal more Me. If you know what I mean?!

I am always happy to get response and the statistic from my last post “A weekend in pictures: Munich” just blew me away. 92 people took some time to view the photos I have posted on one day. And around 30 people the days after I posted them! That made me happy and also made me think to do such photo post much more often.

One pity thought there is: I wish I had more time to blog more regular. I have lots of  ideas pile up but simply not the time to sit down to write between work, everyday stuff and the events I enter but I try more harder to write more properly.

And last but not least. THANK YOU. Thank you to all you people out there, who read my blog and comment. That means so much to me.

Mucho love and lets roll on a second year of blogging!

Love*Linn

Since I work since last year in November, I searched for a good and fun way to have lunch as you can’t afford to go to a restaurant every day even though the prices are between  5- 12 Euro for a Lunch including a drink. But whats the alternative? Take a sandwich? Or buy one at a local bakery? Having a Kebab or a Burger? Too boring and not that healthy either.

Taking a Bento with to work was the solution!

But what exactly is a BENTO?? Take  a look at this wonderful  video, who explains it very well:

I hope you are as excited as I was!! Me and the lovely Mister decided to buy one of the boxes and a few little supplies to get started. You can buy bento boxes and supplies here:

• Casabento    http://casabento.com/shop/en/
• JBOX              http://www.jbox.com/home
• Laptop Lunches      http://www.laptoplunches.com/
• Monbento      http://en.monbento.com/?gclid=CJykkYXxyaoCFcwq3wodcn5syg

We got our boxes from Casabento, which we totally love.

To get started you either head over to YouTube and search for videos around Bento making. There are a few! Or you take a look on these links, which really helped me to get inspired. You find cute bento pictures and also recipes, guiding and A LOT OF FUN AND INSPIRATION!! These are only a few sites. You can find lots out there!

• http://justbento.com/
• http://www.mybentolicious.com/
• http://www.squidoo.com/cute-food
• http://happylittlebento.blogspot.com
  

Above you can see my first few attempts at Bento making. I even made my first Maki’s (Rice rolls with salmon, cucumber&rice filling) As I am a Bento beginner I try to prepare a Bento Box once a week. It takes a little practice and as I want to have fun during the whole process I keep the pressure low. A good tip is also, If you not like to get up ca 20-30min earlier every morning you can fill your bento with left overs and only prepare the fresh fruits and veggies in the morning. That safes a lot of time I find.

Hope you enjoyed reading.

Mucho love*Linn*

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