Just the other day, I hung the first piece of art on the wall. It’s a print my brother and his wife gifted me two years ago. I can’t believe it took me this long to hang it!
I like how romantic and simple this print is – so perfect for the bedroom.
– Have a beautiful weekend –
This is a really easy vegan matcha latte recipe. I make it using the steam wand on my espresso machine – it literally takes one minute using this method. However, I’m sure it’s possible to make on the stove as well!
It’s finally starting to cool off a bit here in Berlin, and I have full intentions to make the most of this beautiful Saturday. I’m about to head to the gym, and then will cycle over to Schöneberg this afternoon to meet a new friend for coffee.
– Hope you all have a great weekend –
While matcha powder and chia seeds are the main stars of this recipe, the real hero is the oat milk. It creates such a rich and creamy flavor! And let’s be honest, you really can’t go wrong with this energy-packed ingredient combination.
By now, matcha powder’s ultra health benefits are no secret – it’s rich in vitamins, packed with antioxidants, and is an ideal source of caffeine. Likewise, chia seeds are also ridiculously good for you – they’re super high in nutrients while being low in calories, and carry a whole lot of fiber and protein. Oat milk is quite possibly the greatest thing that’s happened to dairy-freebies since coconut ice cream. It’s delightfully creamy, unlike other milk alturnatives, and is also high in calcium and fiber.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of these ingredients, check out the links below.
MORE ABOUT MATCHA | MORE ABOUT CHIA SEEDS | MORE ABOUT OAT MILK
– scroll down for the recipe –
prep the night before
topping ideas
Because the chia pudding takes a bit of time to set, I always prep mine the night before. It takes nearly no time at all and when you wake up, breakfast is basically ready! In a lidded container, simply mix your matcha powder and oat milk until smooth and then add the chia seeds. Pop the lid on the container and give it a good shake. Store in your refrigerator overnight. In the morning, your healthy breakfast will be ready for some yummy toppings such as fresh fruit or nuts.
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Enjoy and be happy!
Just a few weeks ago, Sven and I moved into this charming Berlin flat. It’s been nine months since I packed up all my belongings and shipped them from the US to Germany. Finally getting to unpack has felt a bit surreal, especially since my favorite person and I are building a home together.
I’ve had fun mixing calm Scandi vibes with the eclectic little touches collected during our travels.
It will take a bit of time before we’re completely settled in. We’re still missing a kitchen sink along with a few other key elements (our living room is still practically empty). Nevertheless, this bright little flat is already beginning to feel like home. I’ve fallen in love with the creaky wood floors and all-day sunlight – the natural airiness really helps in creating a sense of refreshment.
Some of you might be wandering how exactly we ended up in Berlin. After all, a few months back I announced that we would be moving to Bremen (in this post). To make a long story short, Sven got word that he would be spending the first ten months of his job traveling. So instead of moving to Bermen, we felt like Berlin would be a more interesting city to settle – at least for the time being.
We’re not sure how long we’ll be in Berlin, but it’s definitely the start of a new chapter. In the mean time, I’m looking forward to making a home out of this place, getting to know this new city, and sharing the journey with you all.
Rebecca
It’s late into spring which means that the weather is fabulous and the markets are bursting with fresh veg! I love how colorful plates become during this time of year and I was certainty excited to get back in the kitchen after spending the past ten weeks on the road.
But before I dive into the travel blogs, I thought I would share a delicious summertime recipe I whipped together tonight. It’s as tasty as it is beautiful and leaves you feel satisfied without weighing you down. This easy beetroot gazpacho is delicious, easy, and packs a refreshing punch of flavor thanks to the unexpected ginger and fresh orange. And of course – it’s vegan, gluten free, dairy free, guilt free, and probably free of anything else your trying to avoid eating. In other words, it’s pretty darn healthy.
for the gazpacho
for the topping
Place all gazpacho ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth. You can see in the photos above that my gazpacho was a bit chunky due to an underperforming blender. Ideally, it would be much creamier. Pour into a big bowl, top to your delight, and enjoy!
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I had this as my whole dinner, but I think that a smaller portion would make a beautiful and delicious starter into a meal. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Sven and I have the great pleasure of spending our final Workaway week in France with these two. Their cozy tea room, Le Tearoom, is perfectly situated across the courtyard of their adorably shabby micro farm. In addition to serving up piping hot kettles of Earl Gray and delicious, freshly baked scones, Judy and Nick are gourmet jam and marmalade makers. Their organic preserves are served all around the world in 5-star hotels and delicatessens.
Aside from helping out with the daily influx of tea room customers, S and I have worked on an assortment of random home projects. Even on a micro farm, there’s always plenty to be done.
Pretty soon however, our relaxed time on the French countryside will come to an end along with our two month Workaway experience. On Sunday, we’ll be taking the train to Paris where we’ll begin a proper Parisian holiday doing all of the touristy things one does in the ‘city of lights’.
Once we get back to Hamburg, I’ll begin working on putting together a whole heap of travel guides from our recent adventures!
Talk soon,
Rebecca
Not too long ago, Sven and I enjoyed some time together under the arms of the cherry blossom tree in the garden of Chateau de Gizeux. It was absolutely bursting with the most beautiful floral clusters – all ruffled, pink, and fragrant.
S and I spent almost two weeks at this beautiful and expansive chateau. We worked in the gardens and I helped photograph the process of an art restoration which was taking place in the grand gallery of the chateau during our stay.
Somewhere between now and then, I’ve let the blog get away from me. We’ve been traveling through France for nearly two months now – going from chateau to chateau. We’ve experienced so many aspects of this country and made lifelong friends along the way. But just as I expected, I now have a backlog of images waiting to be edited and a heap of blogposts just waiting to be written.
I’m hopeful that I’ll find the time and the focus to share updates more frequently again!
Talk soon,
Rebecca
The small villages scatter throughout the Burgundy countryside are filled with such charm. I’ve particularly fallen in love with the muted range of colors which bring life to the shutters and doorways.
The other afternoon, Sven and I took the bikes to our nearby village, Saint-Gengoux-le-National. The little cobbled streets of Saint-Gengoux-le-National are like most villages in Burgundy – cozy, quaint, and peaceful. I’ve been feeling so inspired by the unique textures and beautifully soft colors that contrast the stony hues of the buildings in these French villages. Maybe I’ll bring them into my design work later.
I’m sad to be leaving this region in just a few days, but excited to discover a whole new part of France. On Sunday, we are heading to a new chateau in Loire Valley.
Talk soon,
Rebecca
The other afternoon, Sven and I took the bikes and went for a ride through the Bourgogne countryside.
The whole surrounding area is absolutely wonderful to bike through even though there are quite a few hills. Everything is becoming so lush and green and it’s nice to be in the fresh air away from the cities. After peddling a few kilometers past pastures, we found ourselves in the charming village of Cormatin. There is another chateau in this village that is quite beautiful too!
It’s difficult to describe just how lovely Bourgogne is. The entire region is cute and so picturesque. Tomorrow we are going to spend the day exploring Dijon, which is the capital of Bourgogne. Even though I love the countryside, I’m looking forward to being around a little more commotion for the day.
Talk soon,
Rebecca
The weather is becoming more mild, which means that picnic season is finally here! S and I packed up the basket the other afternoon when we had a particularly warm day – it’s the absolute best way to take lunch on the French countryside.
Not too far from Chateau de Burnand, we found the perfect spot for our blanket on a little clover field next to a vineyard. I can see many more picnics in our French future… we still have a few more regions to explore and I plan to take a picnic everywhere we go.
More updates to come later!
xx
Rebecca
Here’s a recipe for a quick and easy walnut banana bread. I made it the other afternoon here at Chateau de Burnand and used the fresh walnuts which came from a tree on the property.
One of the best parts about living at the chateau is having access to the amazing kitchen. I’ve really enjoyed making use of it during our time here – it has everything you could imagine and more!
3 Over-Ripe Smashed Bananas
Ground Oat Flour, 230 grams / 1 cup
Wheat Flour, 50 grams / 1/4 cup
Sugar, 50 grams / 1/4 cup
Baking Powder, 1 teaspoon
Dash of Salt
2 Eggs
Chopped Walnuts, 100 grams / 1/2 cup
Preheat over to 180 c / 350 f. In a large bowl, mix all batter ingredient together until totally blended. Pour batter into a very well-greased baking form. Cover top with chopped walnuts and place in the oven on center rack. Bake for about 20 minuets. Remove from form and let cool.
Viola – Hope you enjoy!
Rebecca