Lifestyle

Let’s get together

Robert Borneff Lifestyle , , , 0 Comment
Let’s get together

What’s better than getting together with friends and family? Our kids have parties all the time. We need to open up to our colleagues, friends and neighbors. We should enlarge our circle of friends. Our homes are not made to be hiding places. Any time spent with friends and family is worth the effort of serving a meal and creates happiness.

Keep it simple

A dinner party should always be gathering of like-minded people. Only invite guests that you really want to have around yourself and of whom you believe that they are interested in one another. Eight, ten people are a good size, so everyone can talk with each other.

Choose a one course meal that you are familiar with. Certainly you can choose something easy, like pasta. That is always a hit!. You may serve it with a soup to start, a salad on the side and a dessert afterwards. Important are good bread, butter, and olive oil for munching. If you choose to work with a catering service, the atmosphere could be a little bit like in a restaurant. Not as precious and authentic as home prepared food. It does not matter if you have been standing in the kitchen for one hour or ten. The only thing that counts is that it tastes good.

Relax! It’s not a competition

To ease the stress the best thing is to prepare the day before; calm and with leisure. The whole thing is supposed to be a pleasure. The host belongs to the table and not in the kitchen; the guests want to enjoy their host! Therefore  you might prefer stewed or oven-baked dishes over au-point cooked dishes. Comfort food is always popular.  Soups can be prepared the evening before, desserts anyway. Personally I am a fan of Hungarian Goulash, which tastes better every time you warm it up.

Be careful with experiments. It can be fun to try out dishes the first when you have guests, but you will need a back-up plan in case something goes wrong. You don’t have to apologize to your guests but you need a trick for the show to go on.

Have a great time

You are the life of the party! It’s your turn to get the party started! Just do not rush! Invite your guests early so they can mingle and snack on nuts and appetizers before the dinner starts.

Instead of serving each dinner on plates it shows more generosity to serve “family style”, which means everybody helps himself from the pots and plates. That makes it also easier for the guests to open up to their neighbor. And the host can devote himself to his highest duty: to enjoy the evening.

Party more and stress less! Hosting small casual parties does not have to be stressful. You’ll probably have a lot of time to enjoy the party with your guest. People will appreciate your effort and hospitality. Over the delicious food and great conversation you may look forward to the next get together.

“Mahlzeit “ – About Sharing Meals

Robert Borneff Lifestyle , , , 0 Comment
“Mahlzeit “ – About Sharing Meals

It is better to build a longer table than a taller  fence.                                                                                            Unknown

There is a piece of furniture in most homes that experienced a change of importance over the the last decades. It’s very often found in the kitchen but in a lot of cases there is a whole room dedicated to it. At some point it was the control room of a family, a place where most important decisions were made. Over the years it has lost its importance and has been degraded to a playing area or a storage place for paper and other stuff.

I am talking about the dinner table. Not so long ago that was the place where the family met, up to three times a day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am the offspring of one of those families growing up the in seventies and eighties in Germany. We did not only have breakfast together every day before school. No, my mom cooked every day a meal for lunch, because my dad came home from work, and in the evening we gathered again around the same table for Brotzeit.  I continue to strive to spend many mealtimes during the week and especially on the weekends with my wife and three children.

Nowadays it looks like this is the exception to the rule. According to a survey of Department of Health and Human Services in 2011 -2012 fewer than half of Americans eat meals daily with their families. That makes sense. Everybody including children are more independent now. Schedules are tight. Grabbing a bite (mostly fast food) is quite simple. But what’s the price families pay for that convenience?

Here are some benefits to consider:

  • Eating at home is normally healthier than eating out
  • Eating together means eating slower, recognizing earlier when to stop
  • Family dinners promote better communication skills in children and adults
  • Eating together teaches social skills, helping children to interact with peers
  • Sharing meals supports creativity and critical thinking

But eating together is not only beneficial for children:

  • Eating lunch in the office together supports the team culture and morale
  • Sharing meals brings people together and invites the exchange of ideas
  • Doing business over a meal is more convenient than in an office
  • Inviting strangers to share a meal creates friendship and tolerance
  • Sharing meals nurtures the mind and the soul and supports happiness

So the next time you are up for a meal think about if you want to munch something all by yourself, or if you should ask that person near you if they would like to eat with you.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “Mahlzeit”

Source:

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/ChildrensFoodEnvironment.pdf

Benefits of a Minimalistic Lifestyle

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Benefits of a Minimalistic Lifestyle

During the last recession a lot of people got worried about their financial future. For some peple this changed their lifes for the better. They have learned to live within their means. Don’t live in a house that’s too expensive for you; don’t get into debt for spending too much. Always pay your bills. Make life much simpler than it used to be. Appreciate the people around you, enjoy the beauty of nature and find time to do the things you are passionate about.

In short: Live a better quality life without the hassles of buying and spending. This can be considered a “Minimalistic Lifestyle”. Here are some benefits of this lifestyle:

  1. Being your true self and relaxed:

Your self-worth is not connected to your belongings anymore. You are valued as a personality and not as an owner of things. You escaped the cycle of debt and overwork and you live relaxed.

  1. Cherish relationships.

Since you are not constantly maintaining, fixing and storing your possessions, you find time to play with your kids and visit friends and family. You may also be able to volunteer in your community and be grateful for what it offers to you.

  1. Value the work of others

You become aware that cheap manufacturing is at the cost of those in poverty working overtime under unbearable conditions. You are choosing your purchases wisely respecting the work of others.

  1. Protect the environment

Your lifestyle saves energy, water and resources. You are aware of the destructive powers of industrialization. Your lifestyle contributes to the use of renewable energy, sustainable grown wood and responsible agriculture.

  1. Strengthen neighborhoods and communities

Your lifestyle supports local businesses and communities. You are an active part of your community and you exchange your gifts and talents with the people around you. You are accepted and you enjoy the fruits of the community.

  1. Agree with of words of Henry David Thoreau:

    “I make myself rich by making my wants few“

 

 

The Little Things in Life

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The Little Things in Life

Isn’t it amazing how seemingly unimportant things can sometimes make your day. Besides accomplishing goals and reaching targets, there are very often coincidences on the sideline that change everything. I remember sitting in school classes that would not end and there was this little bird outside the window sitting on a tree. My thoughts turned to the bird and how he enjoys his freedom and the time in class went by much faster.

Or did you ever eat the perfectly ripe Mango. Buying Mango is like playing the lottery. They often look good and smell good, but when you cut them open, they still taste sour and are chewy. Other times they are already turning brown inside and have that taste of fermentation. What a great day is it when your Mango turns out to be sweet and juicy.

I remember in college missing my train on those cold, wet, foggy days in Germany. While I was standing there on the tracks looking for the next connection the sun came out and I realized that I am an hour early anyway, because I forgot to change my watch from day-light-savings-time to winter time. What a great day!

In our busy lifes we often overlook the important things that have an impact on us. Last year I joined the Roanoke Valley Bird Club together with my son. Standing there in the quiet forest listening and watching the birds, it is amazing to realize what’s around you that you would never realize this otherwise.

With this experience in mind I started to pay more attention to the things on the sideline of my life. Now I see the world around me more mindful. During a yoga class outside in a park I was able to follow the hunt of a hawk for a smaller bird. Thankfully it did not end in bloodshed but to hear the shrieks of the hawk and see the two birds chasing each other in the sky was incredible. I was probably the only one in our yoga group who recognized this spectacle.

Try it out! Start paying attention to the things you normally don’t see. Sit in your living room and look around. Take a walk around your neighborhood. Turn off your phone and just enjoy the moment. You will be surprised about the world around you!

Snooze to be well

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Snooze to be well

How are you? Are you feeling good today? Did you have a good night sleep? We all know that sleeping enough is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It can benefit your heart, your body, your mind and much, much, more. You can even learn better when you sleep enough, because your brain strengthens and retains memories that you gained while you were awake. That means the presentation or the music piece you practiced in the evening  will turn out better in the morning.  People that don’t sleep enough can even become depressive. In summary, we can say that a good day starts the night before.

But many of us don’t get enough sleep.  The days are just not long enough. Long working hours, late night travelling, personal stress, and small children are all factors that keep our beds empty at night.  Personally I am not a friend of sleeping pills and that’s why I looked for alternative ways to help me fall to sleep:

  1. Don’t push too hard

Very often sensitive and well disciplined people tend to ponder about falling to sleep.  If you think about falling to sleep, you are already standing in your own way. Just let the sandman come whenever he is ready.  This works when you are tired, but not if you need to sleep, because you need to get up early the next day.

  1. Night time routines

It may help to adapt some habits which have to be repeated every night. This way the body gets used to the ceremony of going to bed. Writing a diary could be helpful. The imagination of being at the beach or elsewhere on vacation while laying in bed may also work. Even a routine of reading before falling to sleep is helpful, as long as it is short. Works for me!

  1. Be a Night Warrior

If you have a hard time sleeping, don’t go to bed until you are really tired. With a couple of short nights you may find better sleep in a couple of days. Always a good one!

Important: No TV in the bedroom! The blue screen light prevents deep sleep.

  1. Take it as it is

Some people always sleep well, others don’t. People that accept that they are not like a groundhog often have less stress about sleeping. I have adapted to the fact that sleeping is not my favorite thing.

  1. Relax during the day

Don’t rack your brain with fears and sorrows during the day. Most likely they will follow you to bed. End your day being assured that you have done all, what you could do. For me this works only, when I am not too nervous about the challenges ahead.  What then helps me is Reiki and things are much better.

  1. Change the game – Think Positive

Switch from worrying to problem solving. When your head is busy finding solutions, there is less room for worry. The negative effect that prevents sleep gets buffered by the problem solving thoughts.

To master this switch it helps to appreciate your daily accomplishments. Regarding the undone things you should have a plan to get you in a positive prevailing mood. Don’t bring unwished business home with you mentally.

  1. Don’t drink too much

Low quantities of alcohol support sleep, but too much will prevent deep sleep and wake you up in the middle of the night. People over 40 like me should generally stop drinking before going to bed to avoid numerous trips to the bathroom.

And now it is time for

Good Night…

Source: Welt N24; So schlafen Sie abends besser ein; 07.26.2016

Hausmannskost – Cooking at Home

Robert Borneff Lifestyle , , , 0 Comment

In Germany during the 16th Century it was common that the food of the man of the house was more hearty and solid with more meat and fat compared to the other members of a household. In some areas this was usual until the 1900s. Today the expression stands for simple, traditionally made food with primarily local ingredients. I am using it here as a synonym for home-made-food.

Unfortunately, the fate of home cooking looks grim for the future. The Washington Post even titles an article “The Slow Death of the Home-Cooked meal”. All the cooking shows and celebrity books can’t change it: only about half of all dinners eaten at home in the USA are homemade and eating out is very popular.

Well, there’s nothing wrong with eating out. My family loves it! Picking a restaurant for a special occasion; enjoying vacations; trying out things you don’t cook at home. Eating out is great! Same thing with catered or processed food. Time is scarce, schedules are busy. Who has the time and the guts to stand in the kitchen every day?

But here is the thing: Eating out becomes boring, when done too often. Plus, it’s not healthy. Processed and frozen food is known to be bad for the waistline. And considered from a financial point, both eating-out and processed food is expensive. So…

I have to admit I love eating and I always have. I joined my mom in the kitchen from early on (even she did not always like it). I loved the TV shows of the French Maestro Chef Paul Bocuse.

The way he picked out his fresh ingredients on the farmers markets; the way (and speed) he sliced his onions; the amounts of wine and cognac in his dishes; unforgettable!

But the switch from just eating to actually cooking the food myself came with my family. And this is probably the most important reason why I cook: Home cooking is a group activity. That certainly sounds like everybody’s helping and setting the table and all that, but that’s not it. It’s the act of cooking for my family. Cooking what they want, when they want it, and how they want it. And the best part of it is sitting at the table together and eat.

Guten Appetit!

 

 

 

Simple Living

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You may think “Why is there a post about Simple Living on a Blog about Furniture and Interior Design?

The reason is that a growing number of people realize that chasing the Golden Egg does not make you happy. Long working hours, stressful jobs, exhausting commutes are just not worth it anymore. People prefer spending time with their family, being together with friends and neighbors or working out in Mother Nature. They like to spend time preparing for a good meal and be part of what their kids are doing.

I am not talking here about hippie communes or lonesome hermits in the middle of nowhere. More and more people rethink their life and choose different priorities than before. The idea of simple living is almost 3000 years old and can be found in every civilization. The famous Bohemians in Paris in the 19th Century were part of this movement.

Simple living does not mean you have to refrain from luxury but enjoy it. Luxury is great as long as money plays a minor role. Being happy and grateful – That’s what’s important.

Simple living is also about the little things in life. Things you would not even recognize doing like enjoying the foliage of the forest in the fall on a hike.

This way of life creates different expectations from retail stores. These people don’t storm in the store every time the sales sign goes up.

In my opinion these customers value their time and want something different out of their visit.

Some of them may come, because food is offered (think of Ikea). Others may be attracted by events for the kids, like a puppet theater, a magician or a crafting table.

These customers prefer to enjoy the merchandise, not necessarily with a buying intention in mind. Some may be inspired by the store layout and develop design ideas for their home.

Some Boutique Stores also mix up their merchandise with art, jewelry, shoes, food, cosmetics and table ware. The stores have a special type of customer in mind and cater exactly to his taste.

There are many ways to increase traffic in a store, but to find out what fits best, you have ask the customer. People like it, when their opinion is valued. The customer feels taken care of. The customer feels in control and that creates trust.

The good news about trusting customers: They may become loyal to your store and you see them again and again.

8 Ways Spending Money Makes You Happy

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8 Ways Spending Money Makes You Happy

As the saying goes, Money alone cannot buy happiness. But money can buy, what makes people happy. This was shown by numerous studies to this subject by Elizabeth W. Dunn of the University of British Columbia, Daniel Gilbert of Harvard and Timothy D. Wilson of the University of Virginia. Here are eight ways how spending money really makes you happy.

            1. Prefer memories over products

While material things are quickly perceived as boring, the memory or traveling or attending concerts last longer.

 

 

            2. Spend money for others

There is no indication that people are happier when they simply spend more money for themselves. But anyone who donates parts of his income or purchases gifts for others, is happier on average.  There is neuroscientist evidence that people who are asked to donate to a local charity, have brain activity in regions of their head that are also active when people are rewarded.

           3. Buy less insurance

The research of Mr. Gilbert shows that people deal much better with disasters than they would believe. He speaks of the psychological immune system. In contrast, buying extended insurance warranties that extend the guarantee of a product is not always useful.

           4. Pay now, consume later

Anticipation is the greatest joy! The great thing about anticipation:  It often makes you even happier than the actual event itself.

But many people pay for their purchases with credit cards. That means: Consume now, pay later.  The nuisance of having to pay is pushed into the future, which is supposedly not as bad. Experiments show that this is not the case.

            5. Pay attention to the “unimportant” things

People make poor judgments regarding their future happiness feelings of purchases and tend to overestimate some of them. In other words they think buying a product makes them happier, than it actually does. That’s why you should think about in detail how you would actually use the product in everyday life. You may be surprised!

            6. Buy many small amenities, instead of a few large luxury items

Little pleasures, great happiness:  Treating yourself to something frequently is more important than quantity, number or scope of the item. An experiment showed that people prefer short frequent massages over a few long ones.

            7. Do not compare too much

Research shows that people comparing different offers prior to a purchase mainly focus on the price. It would make them much happier to spend a little a more and get better quality. The quality difference of product is often not obvious at the moment of purchase but comes out later through the use of product. In Germany there is a saying: “ Who buys cheap, buys twice!”

           8. Follow the crowd

 Experiments show: Those who rely on the experience of others have a better chance to invest their money properly – and to be happy with a purchasing decision. The abundance of consumer reviews for all kind of products and services on the web is therefore very helpful.

Source: Sueddeutsche Zeitung; November 20, 2012: So macht Konsum gluecklich

Hello again

Robert Borneff Lifestyle , , , 0 Comment

Hello again,

After more than a year without writing anything on my blog I am finally back. What has happened in the last year? Well, a lot. I have looked deeper into, what moves people  to makes decisions. What makes a store attractive? What must a product have today to be successful? I probably still don’t know the answers to all of these questions, but I have gathered a lot of thoughts and ideas.

It is my that understanding, the customer today is looking for more than just a product. The times where people flocked to the stores and get carried away buying tons of mostly inexpensive merchandise are over. At least for the sophisticated customer that does intensive research before committing to a brand or a product. It is very important to know where the product was made, how it was produced, what is in the product, and what impact the product has for the customer.

The customer today also likes to build a story behind a purchase. How did he find a product? Was it fun to pick it out in the store? Why did he buy this product and not something else? Does the product still provide joy and happiness when it is at home?

This is where “Artful & Inspired Living” comes into place. In a world that’s cramped with stuff in attics, closets and garages, you have to choose carefully what you put around yourself. A lot of books are written about decluttering and minimalist style but I don’t think that’s the answer. You can learn how to get rid of things, but the key is to create an atmosphere of joy and pleasure at home.

A home provides the most happiness when it is filled with objects that create joy, provide wonderful memories or are simply practical and functional.  A home can be the fertile soil for great things and lift up its owner to a better life. “Show me how you live and I tell you who you are!” is a saying with a lot of truth.

I am very pleased to introduce two more companies that I am working with. The companies are based in Germany with the company FM Munzer, manufacturing high class sofas and the other company Hobbs Design designing and producing unique cabinets.  Both companies fit perfectly in the concept of Artful & Inspired . Please stay tuned for my next post to learn more.

Sustainable Living

Robert Borneff Lifestyle , , , 0 Comment

There is a lot of talk about sustainability in the past years.  What is sustainable?  And how do we measure it?  Is it really only about nature and endangered species?

As a forester I am following the discussion about sustainable forestry for more than 15 years.

A core question is: How can you responsibly use wood for construction, woodworking, furniture and even paper products, without damaging or destroying valuable ecosystems?

Wood is one of the few building materials that can grow back providing beautiful forests (unlike concrete, steel, Aluminum, plastic). If used locally, it has one of the lowest carbon footprints. And finally, if wood is not treated with dangerous chemicals, it can be easily reused and recycled.

Independent from the question of how to provide a reliable system that guarantees sustainable forestry it’s interesting to note that most people in our society are not directly connected with this subject. It’s about wild animals, swamps, nice mountains but not about daily life. I want to discuss here, how sustainable living has an influence on most people every day, no matter if they live in the city or in the country.

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