My favourite summer drinks

I’m back with a summery topic!
Sorry that I didn’t post anything for so long.
In this post I wanna share with you some drinks I know from the time when I was working in a Bar and which are quite popular in Switzerland.
I usually don’t drink strong alcoholic cocktails, I prefer white whine or prosecco instead.
Here are a few easy recipes of my favourite light summer drinks! Enjoy!

HUGO
fresh, light, sweet, yummy!

Dash of elderflower sirup
2/3 Prosecco
1/3 Sparkling water
Garnish with mint leaves, lime slices (squeeze them in) and icecubes

GESPRITZTER SÜSS/SPRITZER SWEET
sweet, light

2/3 White whine
1/3 Sprite
Garnish with a slice of orange, icecubes

APEROL SPRITZ
light, slightly bitter

4cl Aperol
1dl Prosecco
Dash of sparkling water
Garnish with a slice of orange and icecubes

APEROL SOUR OR AMARETTO SOUR
sour, slightly bitter, sweet, fresh

4cl Aperol or Amaretto
2cl Sugar Syrup
2cl Lemon juice
Garnish with slices of lemon, orange, lime, mint and icecubes

(easy recipe to make sugar syrup yourself: https://whatscookingamerica.net/Sauces_Condiments/SimpleSyrup.htm)

MARA
sweet, fruity, fresh

4cl/dash Passionfruit syrup
1/4 Passionfruit (seeds)
1dl Prosecco
Dash of sparkling water
Garnish with a slice of orange, mint and icecubes

MOJITO
fresh, strong, sweet, sour

4dl White Rum
1Tablepoon Brown Sugar
1/2 Lime (sliced and squeezed)
4-5 Leaves of mint (missing in this picture)
tiny dash of Sugar Syrup if you like it sweet

Mix all of this well and crush it with a mortar.
Fill up with sparkling water and ice. Crushed ice is perfect, also works with normal icecubes (when adding a bit more water)

I’m sure you’re going to love this!
xx jana

making apologies

The Chainsmokers – Roses (ft. Rozes)
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This is an issue which means a lot to me. It is something I recently discovered to be an issue everyone should be aware of – I discovered it to be a topic which changed my way of talking and communicating and dealing with myself and others. I am going to talk about something which can make you feel better.

This is a post about honesty. This is a post about making apologies.

I still remember an argument I had with my mother years and years ago, as if it was yesterday. I was very young at that time. Still a kid. And we were screaming at each other. It was a weekday evening and I went to bed angrily. It doesn’t matter anymore what the argument was about. But it matters that after a while when I was just about to fall asleep, my mother opened the door – and apologized for the quarrel. At that point it became very clear to me that I also had never wanted to argue. We ended up crying and apologizing – and we went to sleep with a much better feeling than before.

This experience has taught me that saying sorry is never something bad. It is something which demands sincerity, a little bit of bravery and greatness.

It took me years to understand this. I have always been a very stubborn person, sure to stand for my opinions and things I said. It ended up causing me too many arguments and a lot of anger and sadness. Today, with 21 years I have come to a point where I generally hate arguing. I don’t think its worth my time or my energy – all of this negativity. But I also know it is not avoidable.

My understanding for the meaning of apologizing came after very intense arguments with my boyfriend when we screamed at each others faces or ended up walking away from each other. So often, just a few hours after the argument I would feel sorry for it all, or for things I said.

I dunno where this came from. But I guess there was one point where I didn’t have any other choice than saying sorry. So I did. And it turned out to be the greatest thing ever.
Since then I started to be a lot more aware of things I could apologize for.
Even a few days after an argument, I could confront others with suddenly apologizing. I am not holding back on this anymore. I say that I didn’t want to argue, that I am sorry for this or that particular thing I said, or this or that particular thing I did. I have gotten better in doing so, that now, even if I am in the middle of a fight, I can take a step back, look at things and ask myself: “wait? Is that what I wanted? Is this argument worth it? Do I really want to go on like this?” And then I might say sorry just right in the middle of the argument. This doesn’t mean that I apologize for everything. I only say sorry for the things I know I actually feel or will feel sorry about. Sometimes it is everything, sometimes it is just a tiny little thing.

And I tell you. It is worth it. Never has someone I know reacted negatively on it. And for me, as a person who loves harmony and who can hold a grudge not only against others for ages, but also against myself, it made me feel so much better.
Even my boyfriend has been so appreciative of it, that just recently I found him doing the same thing. An argument between us and its aftermaths, which would have usually lasted for days, ended in a blink of an eye. It was so truly great.

Don’t be too proud to say sorry. It is never too late.
I have managed to build friendships again, which had been broken a long time ago.
Just by apologizing.

It is worth it in every way.
And I tell you this is not showing weakness or backing up or trying to get away with something.
It is about second chances and people’s temper, which can so easily get out of control.
It’s about knowing yourself and being reflective and about fixing relationships and not making things worse than they already are.
Try it out yourself.

xx jana

Uni-Life: Tips and Recommendations

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I’ve been wanting to write this post for ages – but I didn’t find time. But now here it is!

So basically, I have started Uni in September at University Zurich. Throughout my first semester I have made loads of experiences, which I really want to share with you.

 

  • Preparation for Uni
    Uni life doesn’t start the moment you enter the building. It starts when you have to enrole  and book your courses. I would recommend you to take your time with this. Think through what you really want to study, check if certain combinations are allowed, and whether you have to have special knowledge to be allowed to study this subject (e.g. Latin certificate), and check what the courses will entail (content wise  – but also in terms of: are they a seminar? or a lecture? or both? do you need to write papers or a test throughout the semester? how much credit do I get for the courses?)
    Because what you will do next is coming up with a time table. The way I did this, turned out to be the wrong way, really. I though, “well great, I’m gonna put a time table together so that I only have Uni on three days a week and a super long weekend”. Trust me, it’s not a good idea. After half a day you will feel exhausted and unable to follow the lectures or seminars. Additionally, you won’t have time to finish homework straight that evening, or repeat and learn/internalize what you have just heard throughout the day, because you would actually be supposed to prepare for the lectures and seminars the next day. And on those free two days throughout the week, you won’t be as productive as you wish you were.
    So my recommendation is for you to book as much as you can in the early mornings. Better you go all week, every morning to uni, than a whole day. Because firstly, you will have the afternoon off to quickly finish homework or write summaries straight away and you still will have something from the day. I would say, go to uni in the mornings, because you will have a fresh mind and brain, ready to fill with information. And honestly, what else would you do if uni started in the afternoon? Right, you would only sleep… if you want to do Uni and work part time, you won’t have the time to waste for sleep, trust me 🙂 #uglytruth  Another option if you hate waking up early is booking around lunchtime.
    With all of those issues and the course-booking I recommend you to also talk to a friend or someone who’s already studying at the specific Uni. They will know everything and explain things to you. Uni-organisatory-stuff is super complicated in the beginning. So get yourself help!

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