I BREAK THE NEWS | News, Creativity, Life and Travel

This is a stock photo to enhance the positive energy of this post

Hello everyone, I thought I give you a little glimpse into what the lockdown situation is currently like in Germany. So ever since March, most stores and all schools are closed. You can still go to the supermarket, where they disinfect the shopping basket once you return it. Keeping your distance to other shoppers is required, wearing a mask during the shopping run is recommended but not ordered by law as of yet. Necessary places like hospitals and elderly homes continue to operate, with additional safety measures. Just like everywhere, protective gear is in high demand and sold out in stores mostly. But you can still get it on online - sent from China or from within Germany where self sewn re-usable cotton mask stores pop up online left and right with any prints/colors you can imagine.

Greetings from my (backyard) home office to yours.

Daily quarantine routine does not really include make-up. 💁🏻

There was an article on LinkedIn recently, titled: Is this the end of the influencer? And I just thought: I sure hope so. :D If you think about it, only if you pretend your life, your skin, YOUR MAKE-UP and your relationship is perfect, will you get the admiration of thousands of instagram followers and $brand deals$. This platform and the way it is being used now brainwashed people. It is a dangerous concept because if you are a real person with real problems you can't score. Also, I think a personal life is a precious thing to have.💎

There is a very well known business strategist who held countless keynote speeches. He has a very young easy to impress audience and he (still) says you should be on social media 24/7. How irresponsible?! He has 2 children. Guess how many hours a day they are on social media.. ZERO is my guess.(PS. I used it when it was NOT what it is now) As a woman you barely want to go outside when you are not photoshopped into perfection.. That is what I think, now imagine being a teenager in these times. 🤔

A quote to remember: Perfect is not real and real is not perfect. Meanwhile we are facing environmental issues and barely anybody is talking about what is really going on and what does not work in reality at all. It is the ideal cover up. Pretend everything is fine, get paid by big brands to keep up the facade and nobody has to take action - because everything is great, right? False. Because the current problem is so immense that it broke through the surface and damn right it finally burst the instagram bubble, if you are paying attention. So this brings me to the main topic of this post: How do I spend my time in quarantine?

During quarantine I like to play with my dog Scotty all day

because I think it is a productive way of spending my time.🐶😊

I had a family Easter BBQ with my parents. Did you know, that if you request a song from ALEXA and it does not have it, it will play a playlist of songs similar to the one you originally wanted? It can also just play any radio station.. I am not sure about all its functions since it is not mine. It belongs to my parents, it was a gift from my nephew.🎶

So to add a bit more excitement to the BBQ I requested a song. Since I like RnB and Hip Hop, it was that type of song.. but Alexa did not have it so the recommended playlist started.. and we literally went from a radio station that was playing 'imagine all the people..' to this song:

That was also the moment, when I was glad my parents don't speak English.

This playlist went on for a while and I have to say Alexa came up with some good Hip Hop/RnB songs from the past, when things were different.

So what else am I doing during my time in isolation: I do some graphic design for my online projects and watch many, many youtube videos. Question: How many videos on ecommerce can 1 person watch? How many webinars about ecommerce can 1 person take part in? The answer is: Never too many. God bless the day, when I finally figure it out. But I think I am half-way there. So much great content about it. The best thing is the location independence. When I watch travel videos, I realize what international food I miss: Chipotle for example. We don't have that here at all. I love tacos or a burrito with guac!! 😊🌮🌮

Also, I think it is worth a mention that this little Blog right here - has won an award! My first award ever. Under other circumstances I could be really happy about it. I got an e-mail that said I have won the Excellence in Business Award in the category Best UK News & Entertainment Blog! To which I can only say: Wow, thank you. I am glad someone likes what I am doing. So this is now an award-winning Blog. Which makes me an award winning writer. OMG.😱

Watching a press conference that does not contain true facts.

In all seriousness, these are uncertain times for everyone. I am also worried and I am thinking a lot about what is next.. I was in London when all of this started. But there are only 2 ways of handling it and I chose hope over fear. Even with articles like this, I want to send out some positive energy to all those who need it right now.
We are in this together - we go through it together. I am also watching a lot of motivational content on YouTube and I want to conclude this award winning article with a message from one of my 3 favorite coaches: Lisa Nichols. Listen to this and feel better. Thank you for stopping by.

Photos © IBreakTheNews.com

As we get news updates - only from reliable sources and for a limited amount of time each day - about the rising covid-19 cases around the world, New York has been hit harder than any other US state. I have just watched the press conference during which Governor Andrew Cuomo shared updates on the situation and it is very serious. Besides other items, NYC is short on personal protective equipment for the bravest people in all of this: The doctors, nurses and hospital staff. This article is really about the city but to understand why I am especially moved by these latest developments, I have to share parts of my personal story with you.

I have a strong connection to NYC because I was living there for 5 years during my younger years. 🙂 For me, living in NYC was like an awakening. Coming from a small town in Saxony-Anhalt, with high unemployment and a future that was looking like the opposite of bright, I was used to hearing 'No' for a seemingly endless period of time. 'No' to my applications, 'no you are too young and you have no work experience'. A doctor even wanted to give my pills for depression - when all I wanted was a future. I had been told about all the things I CAN'T DO on a daily basis. Then I finally got an internship opportunity in Berlin, I was there for 6 months before that company location closed down.

So I decided to move to NYC, with approximately 700 Euros in savings. I was young and clueless but this was a good starting point because I was ready, willing and able. I arrived, got through the initial culture shock and experienced something new, because for the first time in my life - I heard people say YES to me! 😃 I was looking for creative opportunities and people were like: 'So you want to do that? Ok, let's go. Let's give it a try.' And I was like: THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! During this time I was also pursuing my music career. NYC had many great places where you could just sing for the people.💖

It was not easy and this city kicked my butt more than once. Quite frequently actually. I learned that there are countless professional opportunities if you have the ambition but to find a good personal connection with someone, was rare. Everybody had a goal in mind and there was rarely time for sentimental talks.. So for all your romantic ideas, you can scrap that. Unless you find another immigrant who is up for it - NYC is for business. You see and experience amazing things but have mostly no one to share it with. Competitiveness is high but there is also an undeniable, underlying team spirit.

Now NYC needs our help! As Governor Cuomo said, 'NYC people are tough - and you have to be tough to get by here but NYC people are also very loving.' And by that I am sure he meant that everyone knows it is challenging, navigating life in a busy and huge city like this - but we are in this together. And I somehow, still feel like a New Yorker until this day!🗽😊 So I thought about what I could do from where I currently am.. and now I am going to send an Amazon package with protective gear straight to where it is needed the most. Think of it as online shopping but for someone else, for the greater good and a higher cause!

There are brave doctors, nurses and hospital staff treating people on the front lines of this dangerous virus around the world. They show up every day for work, to help solve this massive problem. Since there have been more than 40.000 cases in NY state of which about 15% need hospital care and they might soon run out of personal protective equipment. Here is something we can do: Ordering #PPE (like masks & face shields) online (on amazon potentially) - and send the package directly to a hospital in the current center of the crisis. Here are some NYC/US hospital addresses to choose from: https://findthemasks.com/#sites

I used to live in Queens.. and this is exactly where I will send this package to: Internal Medicine Services, PLLC, 30-11 21st St #5D, Queens, NY 11102. Am I going to save the world by doing this? Probably not. But at least I am doing something. If we all contribute a little bit, it will pile up to a lot and the brave hospital staff has 1 thing less to worry about. If you are in another country and want to help there, with just a few clicks you can place an online order of medical equipment like protective masks and send it to a hospital near you / of your choice.

And finally,
I don't know when or if I will be back but I need to say this: NYC 🗽 - for all you have done for me when nothing else was possible - I love you and I always will! ❤️

Hey everyone, we hope you are all doing well. Yes, this is a News Blog but we are going to have a different approach on commenting on what is going on in the world right now, than 90% of all other news outlets. First of all we want to say that the 'news coverage' of covid-19 in our opinion is irresponsible and vile. If it is the TV, radio or online content, on pretty much every website - there seems to be no escape. Turn it off.. take a break.

If you are a person with a tendency to anxiety or stress, some news channels obviously want to take you out before this virus could even potentially ever get to you. I'm not sure if there is something else going on that we are all supposed to be distracted from but this 'news coverage' (aka panic mode starter) does not help anyone. It does not inform or advise you in a calm and helpful manner.

We take the situation serious as well and will take precautions during this time but we will not stress you out. What we will do, is: Avoid crowds, have some basic food items for the next few weeks for less trips to the supermarket but mainly spend time at home until things calm down again. With this article we want to give you some helpful suggestions on how to spend your time during this isolation period. Somehow, we will all get through this together.

You can read books to learn about a certain subject or listen to an audiobook. There are several full length audiobooks available on youtube. Not everybody knows that. 🙂You are welcome! If you should have an online business, now is a good time to work on that because it is a productive thing to do. Video games are another option, believe it or not but you can learn strategic thinking from that. Spend time with your pets! 🐶 They need you. They love you.

You can write some notes or goals in your journal or start writing a book if this is what you always wanted to do. Every person has a different (life) story. Every one knows something the next person does not know. Maybe your story will encourage or inspire somebody. You can also call your family or a friend you have not spoken to in a while to show some interest in how they are doing. Netflix is a good idea too.. you can never get too much 'Stranger Things' Season 1. Be well and take a break from all the madness out there.

'This exhibition will present the kimono as a dynamic and constantly evolving icon of fashion, revealing the sartorial, aesthetic and social significance of the garment from the 1660s to the present day, both in Japan and the rest of the world.'

Outer-kimono for a woman (uchikake) High-ranking courtesans were called oiran. They were major celebrities, known for their culture, wit and artistic ability as much as for their sexual skills. Enough said.

Welcome back to your favorite Blog my dear readers! The V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum) was kind enough to invite us to an interesting press preview once again. This time, for Kimono - Kyoto to Catwalk. Before I get into my own observations, here is a part of the press release: ' On 29 February, the V&A opens Europe’s first major exhibition on kimono. The ultimate symbol of Japan, the kimono is often perceived as traditional, timeless and unchanging. Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk counters this conception, presenting the garment as a dynamic and constantly evolving icon of fashion.

Stunning 17th-century Japanese garments, international haute couture and costumes from Star Wars come together in a major V&A exhibition on kimono fashion

Highlights of the exhibition include a dress designed for Björk by Alexander McQueen and worn on the album cover Homogenic and original Star Wars costumes modelled on kimono by John Mollo and Trisha Biggar. Designs by Yves Saint Laurent, Rei Kawakubo and John Galliano reveal the kimono’s role as a constant source of inspiration for fashion designers. Paintings, prints, film, dress accessories and other objects feature throughout the exhibition, providing additional context to the fascinating story of the style, appeal and influence of the kimono.'

Kimono ensemble for Madonna by Jean Paul Gaultier. Madonna wore this scarlet ensemble for her music video 'Nothing Really Matters'.

Björk is known for her experimental music and avant-garde style. For the cover of her 1997 album Homogenic she collaborated with Alexander McQueen.

Most creative Editor of IBreakTheNews.com reporting live from the V&A in London surrounded by Kimonos - learning about the Japanese tradition & culture.

Kimono for a young woman fabric (furisode)

'By the mid-19th century, sleeves for young women had lengthened, Waist sashes (obi) had also widened considerably.'

Here is some Star Wars (bathrobe - I mean - kimono for guys) hotness!

'Costume for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope by John Mullo (1931 - 2017) The Star Wars character Obi-Wan Kenobi was equal parts Buddhist monk & noble samurai. Conceptually and visually, kimono were the ideal solution and an essential component in the creation of the alternative universe.'

In the past I have been to the V&A for exhibitions several times, so it is nice to keep this tradition going. I really like museums in general. I could spend hours in there, learning about historic events, amazing paintings and world renowned art. To get the most information out of any museum's visit, it is best to have a tour guide or an audio guide at least. When using an audio guide I prefer the English one over the German. I also sometimes think in English.. Just in case you always wanted to know. 🙂

Most puffy Kimono. They really are pieces of art. If you think about all the time that goes into creating such an outfit.

'Please Let Others Sit Comfortably'

by Yokoyama Yumiko (b. 1984) and Kadowaki Takahiro (b.1969)

The exhibition Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk has been curated for the V&A by Anna Jackson and Josephine Rout and runs from 29 February – 21 June 2020. Tickets are £16.