1 // This:
{via: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m08eohhSGa1r5czf5o1_500.jpg – artist unknown – let me know if you know anything!}
2 // The art works of Hossam Hassan. This one reminds me of India for some reason (and of two of my Kiwi friends who currently spend a few months there):
{via Pinterest // http://www.saatchionline.com/hossamhassan}
3 // Another amazing collage called “Dove”. So amazing:
Big suprise: the world hasn’t come to an end. But the year will end shortly and since I discovered so many great books in 2012 (some of which I will tell you about in another post laster early next week) I’m already thinking about the books I want to tackle in 2013.
“Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone” is a collection of essays Hunter S. Thompson has written for the Rolling Stone magazine. I got this book as a Christmas present and it ranks top on my “to read” list.
Another book I’m curious about is “Fury”, the first of a series of three paranormal mystery type books. On author Elizabeth Miles’ website it says: “Revenge has never been so bitter sweet in this sexy new series about the ties that bind, and the secrets that kill.” This (and what the trailer shows) is about as much as I know about the story so far but I’m looking forward to find out more. The German edition will be out in January and since I’m really intrigued by the trailer I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Other than those two, I’m looking forward to finally take a glance at some of Ken Follett’s books. I’ve been wanting to read “World Without End” for ages but other books distracted me before I even got to page 1.
Most books on my “to read” list aren’t even new actually. I don’t know if you can relate (if you like reading as much as I do, I’m sure you can, though) but I reckon there are much more good books than one can read in one lifetime. Looks like I have to set priorities… if I can.
Do you have a “bucket list” for books you want to read in 2013?
{pic: via Pinterest/http://www.onthemarqueeblog.com/2009_05_01_archive.html}
And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and ev’ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
I feel like Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ seems like the best soundtrack to the last week of our lives. If you believe in any of the countless apocalypse theories, Maya speculations and doomsday prophecies, that is. People have been speculating for over a year now whether the world will come to an end on December 21 and I reckon with 2012 coming to an end also, this is the perfect time for a little resumée anyway. All in all, I’m quite happy with my life, I reckon. I feel privileged to having been able to study journalism overseas, work in London and then even change professions to now become a pastry chef. And I’ve travelled a lot, too. People seem to find my CV rather unusual, but hey, at least I can say: I did it my way.
Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
On some days, I regret not having stayed in New Zealand when I had the chance. But like Frankie says: I did what I had to do and in the end it all turned out fine. Some other regrets relate to hasty decisions I made and little chances I missed, like not giving that cute guy your phone number or something like that.
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way
This probably relates mostly to work… there were quite a few times when I thought I could easily do something when in the end it turned out to be trickier than expected. But that’s fine. It’s always a good experience to grow with the challenge.
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
“Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way”
Especially in the last two or three years I lost a few people who meant a lot to me. The weird part is that I didn’t actually lose them, like, they didn’t die or something. They just stopped being part of my life for one reason or another. And others don’t take up an active role in my life anymore even though they still mean as much to me as they always did. Yet they decided to leave. My brother is one of them. He’s physically still here but I feel like the special bond between us went missing somehow. He’s almost like a stranger to me.
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!
If you know me a little, you know that I tend to say what I think very straight forward. Must be tough sometimes when you hear my judgement, but I hate it when people are dishonest for the sake of friendliness. It makes life so complicated! Say what you truly feel, people! It might actually make the world a better place!
Yes, it was my way
Oh yes, this is my way!
P.S.: By the way, I don’t believe in any of the apocalypse theories. The Maya calender has actually ended months ago except nobody took the lap years into account when coming up with the date for the apocalypse. Also, someone must have broadcasted the rumour the end would come to an end on 12/12/12 – my facebook went all bonkers that day because of all these “OMG it’s the last day of our lives”-type messages. Ironically, they all came from my New Zealand friends. And ONLY from my New Zealand friends. So obviously, whoever spread that rumour only spread it over there.
P.P.S.: Speaking of 12/12/12… another thing people were waiting for that day was a big miracle to happen. You know, that “the-last-sequential-day-of-our-lives-surely-something-miraculous-will-happen” rubbish. Anyway, I decided NOT to hop on that train – but then I really had a small miracle of some sort happening to me. I had a really bad day at work and was a little unstable and on my way back home everything just stressed me out and I broke down crying. Imagine me, hands clenched around the steering wheel, tears running down my face, having a total meltdown. – And then there was this huge truck in front of me that got stuck in the middle of the old part of my town. The driver got out of the car, came to my window, which meant I stopped crying and tried to look normal, and asked me where the cement works were. And boy he was gorgeous! And he had this super-cute accent (he must have been from Luxembourg). So I showed him the way and we discussed whether his vehicle would fit through the tiny, narrow roads (it did) and when he took the wrong way, I honked and showed him the right way. Not a big deal, but it totally brightened my mood so when I left him at the cement works, I felt all cheery and happy again. Well… until I realised I hadn’t given my number. But you know, like Frankie said, regrets, I’ve had a few…
{Frank Sinatra: My Way lyrics © CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.}
The past few weeks have been literally horrible – but this morning I woke up to a miracle.
It was 4 am, I had to go to work on a day when most people stay in bed (or in their pyjamas anyway) and I am still recovering from a nasty cold. And then I looked out the window and there it was, my very own personal miracle.
The world was covered in white, glittery, silver shining ice crystals: snow.
If you’ve been following this little blog of mine for a while you have probably realised that I’ve been crazy about snow since I came back from New Zealand (where I had like six summers in a row, but that’s a different story). 
You probably sit right at your desk now, thinking: “Oh no, here she goes again. The neverending love story of Sabrina and the snow.” Same story every year, I know. But I’m not sorry and I’m not going to apologise. I love winter and I love snow and, seeing how something as dull as the weather can actually turn the world into a place that seems quiter and more peaceful all of sudden, makes me happy.
Meanwhile, with some Christmas songs playing in the background, I’m trying a new recipe. Roast apple cookies. Imagine the smell of cinnamon, clove, baked apples and caramelised brown sugar. And now put that into a cookie. Winter awesomeness, I say.
Cut 2 apples in mini-cubes and roast with a little butter in a pan (~2 min.). Sprinkle with a pinch of sugar and cinnamon. In a seperate pan, melt 100 g butter and 150 g brown sugar. Beat 1 egg and add to the butter-sugar-mix. Add 150 g flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and clove. Finally, add the apples, then use a little spoon and drop spoonfuls of dough onto a prepared baking tray (greased or lined). Bake at 170-180°C for 12 minutes. Enjoy!
Halloween is coming up but if you’re looking for the classic stuff, you should probably head over to Martha’s…
However, if zombies, monsters and blood comes to your mind when you think of your dream halloween party, have a look at these beauties:
{cake 1 & 2 from left via pinkcakebox.com, cake 3 via ahnegao.com.br}
The brain cake is quite realistic, eh!? My favourite is the monster cake in the middle, though. I mean, hello, it even has a T-Rex, how cool is that!?
I really quite enjoy looking at photos of other people’s Halloween ideas. So for more Halloween stuff and inspirational ideas like bloody nail art, Day of the Dead-sugar cookies and pumpkin perfection, you might want to check out some of these Pinterest boards over here. And then come back and tell me which ones you liked best, if you want.
Happy World Bat Cat Day, everyone!
Look what I got in the mail today:
My new Batman tee. Yay!
I saw ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ on the weekend (and what a weekend that was – after work my workmates and I went for a swim, then dinner, then to see the movie, then to a bar and then, at 3.30 next morning straight back to work) and I got a voucher to order the shirt online – and here it is!
{via Pinterest – click for source}
Also, I don’t feel the need to review the movie because whatever you’ve heard of it is possibly true: it’s awesome!
Ladies and gentlemen… um… yeah… well…
I guess another one of coffeerocketfairytale’s legendary wrap-up posts is over-due. 
You might have noticed how unusual it is for me to be that quiet for such a long time and I think you have every right to know what I have been up to since disovering the taste of rhubarb water.
I went to Greece for a short holiday.
Originally, I had planned to visit Ireland – my friend and I wanted to hire a car and stay wherever we wanted to – but flights to Ireland simply overrun our budget so we decided to go to the beach instead.
We went to see a travel agent and were ready to book the flights and hotel – when my friend stood me up and told me she didn’t want to go away at all.
First, I was really dissappointed and angry at her (after all we had planned to go away for almost 3 months now but she waited until 10 days before the week we had planned to go to tell me she changed her mind). I have had a whole lot of trouble to get that particular week off work so eventually I decided to go alone.
And that was my best decision ever. Going on holiday all alone is awesome. You can relax, sleep as long as you want, go wherever you want, do whatever you want. Perfect.
I went to Rhodos, Greece, where I had been before but stayed in a different hotel this time.
It was right near the beach where the water was crystal clear. There were more locals than tourists and I enjoyed the tranquility, the sound of the waves and the heat.
I went on a boat trip to the island of Symi where I ate Symi shrimps.
On another day I visited the Old Town of Rhodos with its magnificent history and arcane buildings.
And I spent a whole lot of time at the beach or at the pool reading, relaxing and drinking frappé:
Sadly, even the best holiday comes to an end and when I got back home I had my brother’s 30th birthday to organise.
It was a hell of a party and I made a huga cake for him.
And then there was Milow. You know Milow? The Beglian guy with the funny lyrics… “I sometimes wish you were a mermaid so I could raise you in the tub at home…”
The girls from work had bought tickets in February and for months now we have been looking forward to the show – and it was awesome!
We had lots of fun that night and I can assure you that Milow’s songs are live as perfect as they sound on the record (because don’t you hate it when you really really like an artists’s record and then find out that they suck when performing live? - Well, that’s not the case with Milow, he is excellent on stage.)
Now I’m back to “normal” life after all these great summer experiences and I’ve got a whole bunch of things to do.
Right now, I design my next special cake for another competition at a trade fair in Munich in October (and this time I can choose the topic or motto for the cake myself, so that’s going to be rather exciting!).
And what are you up to these days?
Pizza. Beer. Soccer.
I’m having a typical boys night out tonight.
Except… I’m not going out. And… I’m not a boy. Actually, there aren’t any boys involved at all. Truth be told, there is nobody involved except myself. And the 22 men on telly, chasing a leather ball (28, if you count the referees and coaches, too).
Yes, the European championship UEFA EURO is on again and tonight is Germany’s first match against Portugal.
Portugal was actually one of the first teams I ever cheered for… that was when I was a teenager and hardly interested in watching ANY kind of sports on telly – I rather enjoyed watching Mediterranean types – Luís Figo, as a matter of fact – in tight shorts running up and down a nicely mowed lawn.
So yeah… that was the story of how I discovered soccer…
Luís Figo remains my one and only soccer-crush ever but since he’s no playing for Portugal anymore, I will concentrate solely on the match.
May is rather exhausting.
I have mentioned this before, but I really would love to have my brain magically connected to my blog because so many times over the past few days and even weeks I found myself thinking about all the things I wanted to blog about.
Although I always had written these blog posts in my mind already, I never got around to actually sit down at the keyboard and write.
And because I know that you guys like my wrap-up posts, here’s another round up on what else happened in May:
1. I made a pretty cake and chocolate ornaments (at culinary school):
2. I missed out on seeing Bruce Springsteen again. Couldn’t get a ticket to his sold-out show and despite me knowing that it was sold-out for the last six months, I was still pretty buggered came the day of the gig. (And now I have even more reasons to be buggered: He played 30-odd songs that night, a total of 3 hours and 21 minutes and eight encores. And I missed it. BUGGER!)
3. Luigi and I did some serious house cleaning.
When we cleared out a wardrobe full of documents, we found this amazing card you can see in the top left corner. It was made by my fellow students back when I studied in New Zealand and I had totally forgotten about it. So when I held it in my hands the other day, it brought back the loveliest memories and tears to my eyes.
4. I celebrated “another year of Sabrina” with family and friends and had a lovely coffee table set up to showcase the collection of confections I’ve made for this occassion:
Plenty of other things have happened in May, as you can see in the image at the very top (in no particular order):
I got a haircut and bought new clothes to match the new colour, I taught myself how to make lemon curd (and lemon curd strawberry tartelettes), I watched ‘Pirates of the Carribean 1-3′ once again, I found lovely miniature cakes called Gugl in the mail, I attempted to make Hummingbird Bakery-style cookies, I started a new amigurumi project, I created a new version of a coconut layer cake for my birthday, I ate a fabulous ice cream cake with strawberries at a nice restaurant, I got lost on a mini-road trip….
And what have you been up to?
Once again I’d like to show you the things I madly love at the moment. (We should really make this a category on the blog, don’t you think?)
So, here we go, currently, I’m obsessed with…
1. Matching movie and ice cream duos. Like Casablanca, the movie and Casablanca, the ice cream.
{Remember last year when I got all crazy about Doctor Zhivago?}
2. Cavo
{Listening to their new record ALL THE TIME!}
3. Bluntcards/ecards – they’re just so perfectly… blunt. ^^
