pizza is apparently a first course in Italy.
pizza is eaten whole by one person in Germany.
In America, we would split a pizza between two or three.
American pizza, first off, is an abomination. let’s be real.
it can however also the best guilty pleasure.
But the American pizza dough is incredibly thick. If the bottom of pizza for the US is like a slice of bread, the pizza in the EU could be considered a soft cracker.
when you get here, you’ll understand.
I am one for the cracker
The internet is a massive black hole, and half the time I’m on it I feel like I’m wasting my time to find something that is actually worth my time. Some things have really quenched this thirst lately so I wanted to post here to either a) share this with you guys, and/or b) publish it so I can find it later. Because really this blog is kind of contributing to the black hole I mentioned previously.
1.
Porn Hub’s 2018 Year in Review: I recently had this sent to me, by none other than my boyfriend, and I have got to say it is one of the most interesting thing I have read on the internet. Yes, I know it is March 2019 and I am super late to the party. The piece really goes hard on the stats and provides a peak into the world’s changing sexual interests. This article was on my mind so much it actually came up as a topic while live streaming on Twitch just the other night. Have to say it has been one of my favorite live stream discussions to date.
Speaking of porn…
2.
Via the rabbit hole that is YouTube, I landed on some TedTalks and followed it to the founder of a website called Make Love Not Porn. The focus is really more about love making (clearly) and real life couples and partners sharing their intimate lives and kinks. The viewing system is much different than PornHub and is worth a look. They provide previews, but one has to work off of a subscription model or I believe a pay per view. Some of the previews are good enough! I will say that their website needs a major revamp though. It’s almost hard to navigate, and is not user-friendly yet. However the idea of this movement is deserving in itself.
Something now a little less sexy…
3.
Fresh Air has been a staple in my life since freshman year in college. Radio had always been really big in my family, and I realised just how much I missed NPR once I had moved out. There is honestly something so great about Terry Gross; probably many somethings actually. The show sources incredible subjects and she asks questions that get to the meat of the matter. A few weeks ago, this one came out about the cost of going to the ER in America. This was particularly poignant as my father was just there last week. Thank goodness he came out alright, just a hiccup in his health. Living and working in Germany, I am thankful everyday for this healthcare system, and that I never have to worry about my health vs my bank account. I just have to worry about the bank account after booking too many adventures in South Africa.
What’s draining the wallet and the bottle…
4.
As early as next week I will be taking my first trip to South Africa! I cannot believe it. I didn’t even think I would get to go to Africa in my life, especially not in my 20’s. Life has a funny way of surprising you like that. I have been dating a wonderful South African since last summer. He does live there, so we have a LDR. However, he goes to incredible lengths for us to see each other. This is the longest we have been apart since we have been together and its just been a month. He is always flying in, and he came to Dallas with me for the weddings last fall in Dallas! (Which reminds me. I have got to tell you the story of how that happened.!) Our first destination will be Cape Town, and there we will be going on a wine tour of the vineyards at Franschhoek. BUT LISTEN! We are going on a wine tasting tour via a tram! I have no idea what to expect, I have nothing to expect at all for this trip, but I am SO GAME for the idea of it. The idea of it is getting me through my work day.
To be completely honest, I didn’t pay for the wine tram.. but I’m positive the wine will be affecting my purchases once I’m on it. Please pray that I don’t order a $100 wine.
What’s filling up my brain…
5.
You may more may not know that I am not a gamer. However! There is this daily brain excercise app called Peak Brain Training. It gives me 4 short games every day (because I have the free version) that are supposed to be measuring and excersising different areas of the brain, like memory, focus, emotion, language processing, etc. Do I know if that is working? No. But I definitely find myself opening it every day to play these four randomised games, which they select for you based on your development (I think). What I do know is that I like it, and a feel like I am doing something good for myself. Even if it is a game.
Loewe’s limited edition linen set is a dream. Add that to my checklist for dream house.
Post Malone as a person is really hard to not like. Seriously, what a great and easy going guy. AND he happens to be from the Dallas area 😉 Vice’s Noisey made a great short on him.
This organisation is bringing people together with food. The New York Times wrote a pice about it, scroll down to the title: Food Matters: A Seat at the Table
Bureau Betak’s blog is having a moment, displaying their top pictures from the work they did for Paris Fashion Week.
I’m personally not into anime, but Ezra Koenig’s Neo Yokio is fkin’ perfect. I’m obsessed with it! And I’m sick of reading reviews that trash it. So much so, I called Netflix’s customer service line just to say, “hey guys, please make more of this!” The woman on the other end was all about it, too.
The documenta 14 budgetary drama continues to unfold, and becoming even more scandalous.
Their website doesn’t do it justice, but this quaint Italian restaurant at Münchner Freiheit in Munich was such a delight last night. Trattoria Donna Maria probably couldn’t sit more than 50 people, has a limited daily menu, and best of all, everything is cooked by an Italian mother. The kitchen has a door that swings open when food gets delivered, and you see a dolled-up Italian woman wearing 60’s-style drop earrings stirring the sauce. It was more than a pleasure to be able to find a seat there last night. Highly recommend if you are ever in Munich.
Hello…black hole. Anyone there? Well, I certainly haven’t been.
A virus can force someone into misery, face-burried-in-pillow, this-is-the-end kind of misery. Not this one. I am ill to the point where I am exhausted by movement, but I feel completely awake. There isn’t pain, but constant discomfort. Clogged nose, terrible cough and sneeze…but my brain and body are wide awake, brimming with energy.
Which brings me to you. I noticed that my pledge to this blog has epically failed. It has GOT to be more than a year now since I’ve updated you. And that’s really a shame. So much has happened! I have a new job- Head of Client Services and Communications Manager and one of the agencies I was teaching english for. I am the only full-time employee, and it’s about five years old. So I guess you could classify us as a start-up.
I have to say it’s only been three months, but man is it thrilling! I learn so much everyday from B (my boss). She is such a mind! She founded this company in 2010 on business English training in the niche sector of board members and managing directors and VIPS. Now, since we have build relationships with them over the years, we have branched out to more communications work. Internal. External. Corporate Wording. and more…
And I’ve got to say, it’s been a crazy time. Learning, doing, executing, brainstorming.. I’ve never been so grateful in my life to have an opportunity like this. I also find, that the busier I am, the more productive I am. Pumping out work left and right. Dead air leaves me lazy, not motivated. So hence, a nice update here. Thanks for sticking around, all of you, none of you, or one of you 😉
So, over winter break I read Sophia Amoruso’s #GirlBoss book and became obsessed with all things eBay. Her journey from online eBay store with 50 bucks in her pocket to multi-million dollar online and brick-and-mortar empire inspired me get out there and sell things. I set up an eBay account, went out to secondhand stores and started scouting for free marketing platforms.
Unfortunately I never carried any selling or even putting the clothes online. Womp womp..
And I told my boyfriend about all of my reselling dreams and he was hyped about it! He was equally as disappointed to find out that I got stuck in the procrastination and fear of putting things out there. Which, by the way, is not a good excuse.
So now, in a pledge to redeem myself, I have committed to a flea market coming up at the end of January. In Germany… Meaning of course, that all of this will have to be sold in the German language. Must. find. inner. GIRLBOSS.
I have lived in Germany for a little over a year now and mein deutsch ist mittlemaessig. This will effectively double the challenge.
Things being sold at the flea market include:
The goal, aside from completing the task, is to at least make the money back that it costs to rent a stand at the flea market. D and I have split the total cost of 30 Euros for a personal cost of 15Euros.
In my experience as a flea market goer and haggler, this won’t be as easy as it sounds. Most clothes can go for anywhere from 50 cents to 5 Euros. And that’s if I sell anything at all.
So far the piles of clothing are high enough to fill another’s empty closet. Good sign for making some money, right? Well, Germans are stereotypically frugal and have the great advantage of being fluent German speakers. Not to worry, I have some strategies.
I have luckily taught negotiation strategy English classes to major companies and department stores. I will need to sell my jeans and shirts for a minimum of 1 Euro each. The coat will need to be a minimum of 5. Books can go for 50 cents if I’m lucky. Every negotiation conversation will need to start at double the price for the goal prices to be achieved.
Either way, this should be an interesting test of my german skills, selling skills, and overcoming the devil we all call procrastination. An update will be posted in the beginning of February.
Do you guys have any tips and tricks for selling your old clothing, haggling or setting up a tent at a flea market? If so, ANY information is appreciated!
Wish me luck 🙂
Greta Goes 
