Body Positivity is So Goddamn Important

When I started this blog, I thought I’d just write about whatever seemed interesting to me, and I didn’t really plan much further. Now, I am realizing that apparently, what interests me is mostly smashing the patriarchy. I really don’t want to come across as the stereotypical angry feminist who doesn’t shave her underarms (not that there’s anything wrong with that, either). But some things just piss me off, you know?

Like the other day when I was scrolling through my Facebook feed. A German magazine had posted an article about the #DropTheTowel campaign encouraging women of all body shapes to enjoy the summer, the sun and the beach without obsessing over who might judge them or hiding inside their towels. It was accompanied by a beautiful picture of women of all shapes and sizes showing off their bodies in bathing suits.

Awesome, I thought, maybe I can manage to do that this summer, too. And I would have kept scrolling, but then the comments caught my eye. Basically, it was a bunch of women, mostly, pointing out that obesity is unhealthy and shouldn’t be glorified, and the idea that overweight or obese bodies could be beautiful is just ludicrous.

And then I thought, that is SUCH bullshit.

3 simple steps to making resolutions you will actually keep

Happy New Year lovelies ♥

I don't know about you, but I'm the kind of person that makes 3824802 resolutions every New Year's Eve only to forget about all of them by January 15th. But I never waver in my optimism: every December 31st, for a short few hours, I am ready to start being a whole new person: strong, smart and confident. The girl that goes to the farmer's market on Saturday mornings to buy kale and to spinning before work five days a week. The girl that does brunch with her friends on Sundays at noon and date nights on Friday. The girl that reads Tolstoi and Rousseau before bed.

Come February and I'm the girl who agrees to a second date with the guy from Tinder who stood her up (because he needed to take his ill pet gecko to the vet or something), then, when he turns out to be a sexist pig, eats a family-sized four-cheese pizza in one sitting while listening to "All By Myself" on repeat.

(It's not actually that bad.)

Anyway, this year I've decided to be a bit more realistic, and I came up with quite a simple three-step procedure for generating useful goals.

7 Things To Do Over The Holidays

Hi lovelies ♥

What I love most about the holidays is that absolutely no one does anything during them. So it’s really the perfect time – and sometimes the only time you get all year – to relax completely and do all of the stuff that you don’t get round to in your hectic day-to-day life. Like...

The Grinch's Guide to Christmas

Hey lovelies ♥

Do you like Christmas? I’ve always preferred birthdays. My birthday is my very own personal special day. Christmas just seems like a random day on which we have collectively agreed to spend time with people we may not actually like all that much, simply because our DNA happens to be slightly more similar to theirs than to other people’s. 

One thing I do like about Christmas, though, is that even with the rampant consumerism and the awful commercialization, it can slow people down. In a culture where being busy is glorified incessantly, at Christmas, enjoying life a little is actually socially acceptable. I’m constantly worried that I am Not Doing Enough, and yet the other day I actually made Christmas cookies.

They were delicious.

Why helping others is the best thing you can do for yourself

Hi lovelies! ♥ 

Today’s post is going to be a bit more serious. Austria is currently overwhelmed with an influx of refugees unlike anything we’ve seen in our recent history.  This has obviously brought about a variety of reactions, from people saying we should secure the borders and quit letting anyone in to others working their fingers to the bone 50 hours a week to ensure all those coming in have food, warm clothes and some form of shelter until they continue their journey. 

I’m somewhere in between. I’ve taught and organized a few German lessons and taken some food, drinks and hygiene products to train stations, where it’s needed most. I might have helped more if I didn’t have a full-time job and a degree to finish, but I did as much as I felt I had the time and energy for. And I felt happier for it. Suddenly, I thought, who cares if I don’t have a career in the traditional sense or if I end up unmarried with four cats. Today, a small child who has been through unspeakable things is going to have cake for dessert, and I bought that cake. And that matters. 

Here's how much sleep you really need

Hello lovelies! ♥

My blog now has a facebook page, and everything. It’s very exciting.

I hope you had a lovely weekend just like I did… And now it’s time to go to sleep so we’re all well-rested for tomorrow! But how long should you actually sleep for? 

Why you should laugh first thing in the morning

Hi lovelies ♥

 

Have you ever been in a really shitty mood, have someone tell you “oh come on, smile!” and then wanted to claw their eyes out?

Or maybe I’m the only one with homicidal fantasies.

Either way, turns out they were right.