OFF COLOR STUDIO.

11:04 AM Today's post is a very special one and I have to say that I was beyond excited to explore more about this to give you the best insight you need! And yes - you need that info! 

I know I never really talk about toys and especially Barbie dolls on OFF COLOR, but when my eyes saw this online, I freaked out! I wanted to share this and I just feel like I have to express my happiness about this product. 

As a little girl, I grew up playing with Barbie dolls, just like most of the girls out there. I remember my mom had a special edition Barbie in our living room which we weren't allowed to play with, but we had a good hand full of Barbies to play and be creative with. 

My sister actually had it all - the Barbie house, the matching car, anything you can imagine! 

I fell in love with cutting Barbie's hair and drawing on her body or face... that was my little Barbie world. 

Soon, I would find other toys to play with to be more creative. 

In my childhood, toys were there to just be occupied and to be wild (yey, to creativity). A little distraction or a special task I had to do when I was annoying my parents... I was happy playing with any of my toys, though, no matter why I was playing with those... in moments like this, I felt free and my imagination was running beyond. 

Who would have thought that 20 years later, toys are actually designed with a special message? I often find myself asking myself and friends how hard it must be to raise kids nowadays. It must be a lot of stress and frustration, especially with technology and special things happening on this planet. It's massive. 

Mental health is a also a big topic which NEEDS to be discussed in an early age and it's important to help kids who suffer early on from depression or other mental health issues. 

I wasn't depressed as a kid in elementary school, but when I started with highschool, I wished someone whould have told me how my mental health might shift and what I can do whenever sadness or anxiety hits me. 

Today I know what was wrong with me or what I really need to do to stay on track! But do kids know that, too? 

Of course we don't want to scare kids or ruin their happiest time of their lives, but I believe that we definitely need the right education with lots of empathy and open hearts. 

And that's why Barbie's "Breathe With Me Barbie" is such a genius idea and I celebrate this beyond! 

Oh, I would have loved to play with this kind of Barbie! Taking this doll with me to my bedroom and put her into my bed when it's napping or sleeping time! Experiencing the best sleep and great methods which keep me calm and healthy. 

Damn, this is the shit! I love it! 

The doll is dressed in a cute lounge wear outfit and through lights and sound you can get to know about meditation. Each of the five practices can help the kids learn and understand about mindfulness and how important it is to unwind and take care of the self. 

Uhh, this is just perfect and I am so excited that there are people at Mattel who bring those brilliant ideas to the table! 

Further than that, I also just discovered Barbie's YouTube channel and I am screaming!!! Did you know about that? Have you seen those videos? I'm shook. 

Please...if you want to teach your kids things on iPads or such, then make sure to include Barbie's YouTube channel! It is beyond brilliant, so realistic, and you can learn so much! 

I will watch a couple more videos now, too, but first, start with these below! 

What a great way to teach the next generation! 

8:50 PM

 

With the fall temperatures hitting us in Germany right now, it's time to slow down and go with the flow. 

It's the perfect time for me to do a little cleansing, decluttering, and taking care of my emotional health! Summer was packed - a lot happened, a lot of changes, and new things entered my life. I really enjoy to slow down now and really just be in the moment. 

Reflecting about my past weeks, there's one thing that was floating inside my head... carefree, but asking to be thought about a bit further.

Let me just say it out loud: where did our kindness and friendliness go? 

I don't want to brag or put myself above everyone, but I am a very positive person in general (I try to). Especially when I am outside, I am 100% an empath and react to ANYTHING. 

Being outside can be totally hard and frustrating for me, but I don't give up on enjoying walking around or shop, just because I hate dealing with my anxiety and the vibes I don't like outside. 

Too many people drive me nuts.

Too much noise makes me sick. 

Energies influence me. 

Yep, this doesn't sound like fun, but I learn how to deal with it and work on myself and my approach. It's my energy I can control and that's why I am super alert, but neutral when I hit the streets.

 

I am friendly to anyone and I try to be an angel, because I want to be treated nicely from others as well! What you give is what you get, right?

This approach is something I do at home and also in NYC - a city where I am home, but my language sometimes messes with me, too. That's why I might be hyperrrr sensitive and alert in the Big Apple. Saying thank you and hello way too many times and answering any question, even if the person didn't mean to ask me a question. 

Especially in the US, I always like to think of people who are so inviting and open! They ask stuff about you and never mind to help. 

Lately, I noticed (especially in NYC) that people got so unfriendly, self-centered, and so anti-social. I tried to ask someone for the right address and people didn't even look at me. I said excuse me, I greeted the people friendly, no action, no response. At cafés and restaurants I thanked the person for preparing my coffee or food and I got starred at as if I'm crazy. I finished my visit with a good-bye, have a good day, or have a good one, and people don't feel the same way to give their customer a nice experience back. Thank you, I never come back.... 

I felt cold vibes and I feel not welcomed. 

This is really important to me.
And if I don't feel welcomed or the people at a certain place are super unfriendly, then I take a little distance from the company or the shop, because it's not good energy for my system. I do not need you in my life. 

I came back to Germany and complained about it to my family how bad it was for me to try to make contacts or just interact with NYC people, but they wouldn't let me. 

My sister had the same experience lately at her job.... Being frustrated that normal politeness seems to die and no one really cares about it. 

Is that the cellphone culture that ruins every human interaction?

Or are we just too busy to give a damn about others?

We have to learn to be more social again.

Showing a little empathy, because we want to be treated well, too, right? 

Remember a hi, thank you, bye, doesn't hurt, doesn't cost much, and doesn't stress us. It feels good and you have no idea how much it can mean to a person.

Let's be friendlier again and just spread good vibes with one another.

Thank you!

Picture via. 

10:31 AM 

Spring is still in its beginning stretches. A slow waking up of everything dark and dead to something vital and fully green... 

I never really care about seasonal changes. They happen and I can feel it...I can see it... obviously. 

I'm a highly sensitive person and sometimes I react a bit weird about things or I am the complete opposite. Being super sensitive to my surroundings and vibes, I can never trust on my body's reaction once... I always react to certain things in a different way. 

It's a learning process which is confusing, interesting, but also a bit exhausting to experience over and over again. 

The weirdest thing I have experienced so far is a usual winter depression, one gets here and then, and one summer sadness I never knew it existed or would happen to me. 

Again: experiences. I don't know why my body reacts that way, but it's always a sign to take good care of my body and help with something that might be missing right now. 

So what happened this spring? 

It's quiet funny. I worked super hard all winter - working on my ocean dedication projects, COLOR things, all of a sudden, winter was over and spring was there. I didn't really realize that there was a transition happening. Maybe I was sleeping with open eyes - hard to describe. 

Now it's spring - we already experienced crazy temperatures and everyone seems to smile a bit more! The sunshine is doing her job and I still sit inside my four walls creating, hustling, and working out to get summer fine ~ 

I am good. I am not sad. 

I'm just following my routine. Having two jobs - being a bit more stressed here and then... dealing with private things and taking care of my body (trying to). 

No time to be lazy. 

All of a sudden, when I finally have time to check my calendar - what day is it? what's up right now? I realize that my body is acting a fool. Boom.

This is no PMS thing or the flu. I am aware that my vibe is weird all of a sudden. I started to study my behavior...checking what's up or finding the root of this. Was this behavior actually happening way before my little break and breathing pause? 

Two weeks later, I sit down again. Okay, this is not fun right now. I am not sleeping well, I feel crazy anxieties, and I am not happy that my body goes through so many hormonal ups and downs during a day. Again, this is no PMS shit. 

I sat down and took all my books which deal with anxieties, self-care, wellness, and happiness. I read through the night, feeling the first vibes of happiness again. Yes, yes, yes, that's it. 

I kept on reading, writing lists and little reminders to stay focused. 

OMG. Where was I the last days? 

The vibes I was getting through my books were so uplifting, I didn't know how anxious and low I was... mood wise. (Self-reflection is still hard for me). 

My sister took any chance to invite me to spend off-time with her in the city, going to the museum and watching my favorite artist. Dancing, laughing, drinking coffee, doing healthy grocery shopping, hiking, eating ice-cream, or just walking around.

The lovely Kunsthalle in Mannheim. A must-see if you are around!

I had to make off-time for myself to solve this. 

A little spring cleaning is needed!

I talked to certain people about this and apologized before I was even saying anything. I'm sorry, I have no definition for this, but something is going on in my body. 

I took another night of reflecting. 

I went through my schedules, my OFF COLOR things, anything. 

It was a lot. Maybe too much. 

My body asks for a little and smooth transition into the new season. It's the perfect timing. 

Go slower, Katrin. Do the things that matter first and then do the rest. Not everything at the same time. Take time off. Eat that damn ice-cream. It's okay to go to bed early here and then. It's okay to cry and feel. 

I am highly sensitive and I have to understand that self-care is a long process. It's not done in 5 minutes. I often forget that I need extra care, extra time and extra love. 

Spring is not my enemy and I really love that this current seasonal switch is the perfect timing for me to wake up and get shit done. 

I am writing more lists that will remind me the next weeks to stay on track and be happy about certain things, do less work, and give a fuck about people who mess with my vibes. 

If being a happy spring baby means to buy an annual pass for the museum then I am happy to invest into beautiful things for my heart to be happy and vibing. 

All for the heart. 

All smiles. 

Dear spring... I will take it slow, I promise.

6:21 PM Well-being. Something I am struggling with a lot here and then. My personal care routine is weird and irregular. Earlier, I didn’t care about it at all. I was just living. Day to day… things happened and I accepted it. 

Until I got active. Fighting my depression and being super active suddenly made me realize I have to take care about myself more. Since, I was super into philosophy all my life, I started studying everything about mindfulness which could help me taking care of myself better. Mindfulness made me happier – I understood life a bit better and I found an inspiration I could approach to with my weird moods and lifestyle. 

Today, after a little a routine, a bigger know-how, and a more open heart and mind, I can include more wellness moments into my life, when I really need it. Unfortunately, as a HSP person, I am sometimes caught in so much stress or anxieties that I forget to be mindful. I skip routines, rituals, or habits, because it’s too much at the moment. Deep down inside I want to be mindful, but my body refuses to, because it’s just extra stress that causes me heart racing and bad vibes… so I’ll just stay in my chaotic world and wait until the vibes flow naturally around me again. Then, I can be mindful again. 

Maybe restructure and start from 0. 

That’s my world. 

Maybe you know the same scenario or at least you understand my point here. This kind of situation sucks. That’s why I forced myself to live mindfully today. For a couple of months now, I am writing weekly schedules, and plan things ahead to have enough time to have plenty of me time and wellness for body, heart, mind, soul, and whatever body part needs a break. I know for some it’s hard to find mindfulness and actually give the body what it really needs. It’s a time process, but we shouldn’t forget about our beings first! 

Life is beautiful, but to enjoy this beautiful life, we need to take care of ourselves – physically and mentally.

Here are some tips how I stay well with some mindful wellness! 

1. CREATE A MORNING RITUAL. I don’t like rushing into the day. I hate stressful mornings and I love loooong breakfasts. That’s why I always plan a long morning routine to not miss out on a thing. There’s nothing worse than starting the day negatively with bad vibes. I wake up, stretch, make my bed, drink hot lemon water, breakfast and if I got enough time, I also like doing a tiny sport routine. Then I’ll get ready for work… there’s a lot one can do before the “stupid” tasks call our names! 

2. CONNECT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD BEFORE YOU HEAD TO WORK. I go to work by train, but I always make sure that I also walk a certain bit to my work place. I don’t like taking public transportation with thousands of others standing and sitting on each other… I like a little bit of privacy and me time, so I make sure that I at least enjoy a 10-20-minute walk to work where I am all by myself with my music and some space. It’s so refreshing since I am the one who can create pre-work vibes which I hold on to the whole day. If I am anxious or excited, I can also use this time to tell myself a mantra and repeat it a couple of times. 

3. EAT SLOW. Feeling good and relaxed is often a byproduct of eating. Ever felt hangry? When I am hangry, don’t talk to me… don’t annoy me and stop asking silly questions – I will kill you, haha. Create food rituals throughout the day to keep you balanced – whether it is your snack or your dinner. Sit down with your food, eat alone, and eat slow. Look at your ingredients, chew your food right, and register that you are really eating. Next to eating, cooking can also feel like meditation – enjoy these moments and take as much time as you need to feel nourished and happy. 

4. CREATE A BEDTIME RITUAL. Don’t rush into bed. Make yourself a tea, read a book, write in your journal, stretch one more time… feel grateful! You will sleep so much better and the next morning you will wake up with fresh intentions and sweet vibes. 

5. GO GREEN. HAPPY HOME – HAPPY VIBES. I love plants no matter what form or what type they are. Unfortunately, I always killed my plants and so I stopped investing. A couple of months ago, I started to get myself a cactus - now I got 5 (it’s not a lot, but I upgraded myself and even better they are growing and having babies already…). I also have fake plants in my studio, but I have to admit that my fresh plants and my cute cacti help me having a fresh atmosphere which makes me breathe in and out with all the benefits I could ask for. Also taking care of my plants is just like therapy – super soothing and very rewarding! Plants are the perfect addition to a healthy home - start small and upgrade yourself step by step. 

6. HAVE A BREAK. Make sure to have many breaks throughout the day! Don’t focus on work the whole day…whenever you feel like it’s too much, make sure to get away from your desk or wherever you are. No one is being fit 24/7 – one gets tired, hangry, stressed, moody. It’s normal. Take tiny breaks, do a power nap, but most importantly hydrate! Close your eyes and take a deep breath – you can do it! 

7. LIVE BY YOUR MANTRA. Create a mantra which you can follow each day you wake up or whenever you feel weak and exhausted. “I am enough”, “I am strong”, “I believe in myself”, “I will not let anyone steal my energy today” – whatever it is. Say it to yourself or write a little note so you don’t forget about it. 

8. TREAT YOUR BODY. When we are stressed or out of balance, our bodies react, too! We feel fatigue, exhausted, and our skin might react, too. That’s why I always make enough time to wash my face (I got a 6-step Korean Beauty thing that takes forever, haha), take a long shower, dance a little bit while drying and putting all the lotion all over me. Yes, it takes forever, but I realized that my body needs to chill, too! I have to give back and make my body stay the most healing temple in this universe. Don’t hurt yourself and punish your body, because of your hectic lifestyle. Make sure to treat and love your body just as much as you love pizza. 

9. WRITE IT DOWN. I feel stressed, I feel low, I feel exhausted and tired. How can I find balance? Write your thoughts down. Sometimes we don’t really know why we feel a certain way. Yes, we are stressed, but do we know where it comes from? To heal ourselves, we have to know the roots. I write more than one diary! I buy many books and divide these into different topics, so I can study many of my behaviors, feelings, dreams, or worries. Analyzing your problems is the best start to living a better and healthier life. 

10. LISTEN TO YOUR EMOTIONS. To live mindful doesn’t mean to be perfect. Yes, a happy life is beautiful and being mindful can bring you a lot of happiness, but there will also be days where you are beyond sad. I am sad often and I love to cry. You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself and just let it all out. When you feel like everything is too much – let it out and cry! Crying flushes all the negativity out and one can refocus again. Good vibes will follow after crying! Scream, shout, dance - it's good to feel! 

These are just tips which help me a lot having an easier daily routine with mindful and happy vibes. I feel less stressed and I always know what to do when I am beyond exhausted or feel like the world is bothering me too much. Try these things and don’t feel scared to open yourself to new things! It’s never too late to start with your own wellness routine. Nourish yourself and work on your whole being. It’s therapy and a lot of work, but it’s worth it! This can really change your life! 

Share your stories if you have any extra tips for me ~~

This week's Tuesday Talk is one day too late, but I planned it for today, since I wanted to share my awesome kitchen skills with you! Since this week is Thanksgiving, I thought I might focus on being thankful. This is a topic which goes through my mind a lot...now and then I think about it too much, and then again I forget about it (unfortunately). You know, you always work your ass off, you do this and that, but somehow you are never happy. Do you know this feeling?

Now that the year is coming to an end (plus my birthday is coming up) I reflect a little bit more and I try to find out if I reached my goals and ideas this year. Did I make myself happy, or did I disappoint myself a little? I'm honest. I am a person who is never satisfied and I always want to be better! As a creative being I have too many projects going on and I always feel like I have to do something. The consequence is that I have too much stuff which I can't really handle and I can't finish one thing with 1000% happiness and satisfaction. Weird, weird.

What did I change this year? I have to admit that I am not where I want to be. I am mad sometimes, when I see where I am.. still not coming one step closer etc. But then again, I am like fuck it.

Excuse my words...but yeah, I need to be thankful again. 

I get my money through teaching. I know that if you don't work hard enough, you won't get far. I tell this my kids and some of my kids also teach me life lessons!

In comparison to last year, I have to say that I feel like I found my spot and I know what to do. I organized my life (I'm not done yet, haha), but I definitely know about my priorities. And what can I say at the end of 2015? I am thankful for being healthy. I am thankful for being alive. I am thankful for everything which happens everyday and all the ups and downs. And I am thankful to have a special person in my life. 

I wish you all happy holidays and a lot of good food! Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the time with your lovebirds! x 

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