Fashion is still a topic which is on my mind even though I didn’t like to be a so called “fashion blogger” once. I prefer to have my freedom when it comes to blogging and I wanted to create content in an area in which I have a real and deep passion for and this is fitness. Fashion is not completely gone from my Blog but I don’t see myself as someone who gives advice or recommendations on certain fashion items. Freedom and not one style is what I prefer without being critised for – Yes, I still love stylish and cute looking fitness outfits and of course I think about my next gym outfit and plan them ahead, it is a part of me. There are days or events where I love to bring back my heels and cute dresses but that is just not every day anymore. Anyways, this post was not supposed to be about my thoughts about the fashion industry, it is about a part which is a mix between fashion, church and cultural backgrounds. Friends of mine went a few weeks ago to The Met on 5th Avenue and showed me beautiful pictures from a current exhibition, which is called: “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” and I knew right away I’d have to see it for myself.

The Leopard at des Artistes is a restaurant with updated Southern Italian fare in a space decorated with historic murals located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I don’t know how many times we walked by this restaurant and said we have to come here for dinner and yesterday was the day we finally did. We had a table reservation and asked for a quiet nice table, away from the door – I always ask for these kind of tables because I simply do not enjoy getting interrupted from arriving or leaving guests all the time. New Yorker restaurants are always crowded and it was nice to find this hidden jewel almost empty. We arrived at 9:00 PM during the week and it was a perfect timing. The menu offers in season menus with a three course tasting menu. One of our seasonal dishes was the seafood risotto and we both decided to get it. It was delicious. Creamy rich, with different kind of seafood including scallops, octopus and mussels. A beautiful restaurant which is different compared to the dishes, the style and the ambience and we really enjoyed it. It felt like traveling back in time.

One perk of living in New York are the farmers markets during summer time. Different local farmers offer fresh, locally grown and organic products. I ran out of honey so I decided to pick up everything from the Rockefeller Farmers Market. I got a bunch of different vegetables, fruits, local honey and maple syrup which I will need for my homemade granola. I love shopping from local farmers, besides the fact that I’m able to support local businesses, I also know where the products come from. I just hope that these markets will get rid of the plastic bags and use paper or cotton bags for their products.

What happened? Did I quit or fall off the wagon?? No, I did not quit because I wanted to, I quit because I noticed several issues regarding the diet. Long story short:My body did not respond very well to the suggested form of dieting. As I learned from my past mistakes I do not believe in cutting out a food group and I especially do not believe in very high protein diets. Everyone is different and it might work for others but it definitely did not work for me at all.