Monday post - When the kitchen is on fire

Whereas the two first weeks in Stuttgart I was busy finding my way around last week I had the feeling my new exciting life had taken off. Time of waiting was over. I had found a new Christ crusade group with two enchanting girls, visited Würzurg for one day to pick up my bachelor diploma, and shoot two weddings at the weekend.

So here come the highlights of my week past.

Shooting one wedding at a very gorgeous-meets-country-side feeling kinda location. A private mill with wonderful hosts and incredible good taste. There where all kind of small and big birds running sound the location. The April weather put on it's most impeccable face and as I walked the grounds before the fest begun I just could not believe my luck. This was one of the days I have been dreaming about and that living and walking in those dreams is now reality is truly a gift! Maybe I did not quite get it yet since I was busy keeping up with the schedule. I would love to go back & just sit in tranquility in this wonderful place and breath it's peacefulness. 

The Saturday wedding was at the local zoo "Wilhema". Before the ceremony begun I visited the butterfly house and the fruit bats, there is nothing like watching two cuddling bats for a start of the day. 

I had no clue this park was so gorgeous and exotic, with loads of moorish architecture sprinkled across the lawns.

Beside these kinda obvious highlights there was one more thing. It was tucked away in the quiet of the night. Not glorious, not loud. 

I had visited my friends in Würzi & was at my dear friend Mau's place. It was well past one a.m. and sleep just would not come. For some while I was debating with myself whether to go to the bathroom or not. This might sound stupid to you... But moments later I felt the need to drink a glass of water, beside the full glass I had already stored in our bedroom. What I discovered when opening the kitchen door was just surreal. The whole kitchen was filled with smoke so toxic I flung the door back shut in shock and coughed for the burn in my lungs. I ran to Mau in a hurry and woke her up with the words, Mau you have to get up, there is a fire in the kitchen!!!!  Never seen a person from sweet slumber rising quicker from the mattress than in that moment. 

Wedding Nadine & Florian

 For some reason I just knew this would be an extra special day and I grinned in happy anticipation on the whole drive to the location.

I was to meet the couple at Schloss Neuburg an der Kammel and take pictures of them getting ready. Arriving at the castle I drove past deer grazing peacefully on a meadow and then up a tree lined, cobble stoned alley. As I walked through the gates & gardens and finally into the castle it took my breath away. This place was charming in each detail of each room. Switching between the bridal suite and the gentleman's room I was able to photography both of them getting ready with each of their dear ones. It was such a joy  to document their wonderful style. Nadine´s elegance reminded me just ever so slightly of Grace Kelly. She looked absolutely stunning as she slipped into her off-the shoulders, intricately embroidered dress. 

On my way home, I was still smiling to myself, the scent of lavender from the gardens still fresh in my memory. It was truly a perfect day!

Five tips for mingling in a new place - Monday Post

Socialising in a new place can be exiting ... but very often it is also scary. Yes basically just that. Scary. While for the Easter holiday I nicely avoided this fear instilling part & visited friends, the past week I could avoid it no longer & had a super big mingling planned. I don´t know what got me into this but I agreed to join my new roomy Anna to go away with 160 strangers for four days. Very often right before these crazy things (honestly how do they come up all the time?!) I doubt my ability to make any good decisions and want to run off. Welcome to my head.

Here is a list of things I took away from my four days with Soul Devotion.

1) Accept an invitation. This sounds basic but it helps to get out of the living room & meet new people face to face. Put yourself out there. Just so we all start at the very beginning. ;)

Anna invited me and then I searched for other friends who might had joined the trip already. Making a small start.

2) Forget the worries. As I walked with the girls to the first meet up I laughed so much on the way that I totally forgot to be scared of a room full of strangers (Thank you Lisanne). When we opened the door I was totally overwhelmed by all the faces, but I was not so scared by being scared... get it? 

3) Go for the crowd. After the first two days in my small shell, checking out the crowd & being still a bit shy I decided to leave the safe field (the five lovely ladies I shared the house with) and go talk to a new person for every occasion I got, café table, lunch, hiking, prayer meeting. The whole thing. 


This was the view I got up to every wonderful new day :D