GB Show #20: Galia Brener and Natascha Ochsenknecht in Club Med Mauritiushttps://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Galia_Natascha.jpg10431043Galia BrenerGalia Brenerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g
Funny GB Show #20: Galia Brener and Natascha Ochsenknecht in Club Med Mauritius 😍 Watch me “try” the Flying Trapeze! Hahaha 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Journal Frankfurt Summer Fest 2016 on the MS Catwalkhttps://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Journal-Frankfurt-Summer-Fest-2016-1.jpg1600875Galia BrenerGalia Brenerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g
This year the traditional and beloved Journal Frankfurt Summer Fest was taking place “on” a very special location. I haven’t been there since summer 2012 and was definitely thrilled to be back there again!
My good friend Jens Prewo picked me up from home, smiling as I came down in my extravagant long red dress. My motto has always been the same, “Better overdressed than underdressed.” The sun was shining and I was in very good spirits. I was happy to see colleagues that I have I haven’t seen in a while and meet new people from our city.
As we arrived at the Nizza restaurant, we saw the MS Catwalk boat docked directly at the main riverside, floating gracefully in her grandeur. Looking at the boat from ashore, a few memories rushed into my mind. Memories that are very special to me, and ones that I will never forget. Many guests have already arrived and the upper deck was filled with excited people and loud music. The party was in full swing.
Jens and I made our way onto the boat, our happiness rising with every step towards the top. The upper deck was filled with delights. A handsome young man offered us a sparkling wine, and the Journal crew was wearing sailor hats, which created the perfect mood for a perfect party! I was not the only one that made an effort with my outfit. Many people were dressed beautifully – men in sharp suits and ladies in elegant dressed.
As the boat started to sail, the energy was multiplying like electricity on the deck. The talk and laughter of the guests became louder and the music was beating harder. I looked up at our beautiful skyline and knew that I was home. This thought made me very happy.
I saw many people I knew and also met some new ones, such as the Journal business partners, some local celebrities, politicians, and the list goes on and on. It seemed like everyone had a shiny glass in their hand and a big smile on their face – definitely the sign of a very successful event!
After a while, we walked down to a deck below us and were welcomed by a delicious smell. Of course we followed the tantalizing aroma were greeted by a lovely chef, eager and happy to tell us about his delectable creations. I tried all the different dishes and was very impressed. From exotic fish, to various meats, fresh vegetables, artistic looking desserts and more! It was a fest for the taste buds and a very lovely experience for a gourmet like myself. Jens and I shared our table with new people that we just met, and were happy to talk about Italy, wines, pasta, cheese and… someone’s rice balls.
When the dinner was over, we made a little tour around the beautiful MS Catwalk, which is designed by Porsche. The lowest deck has an LED bar, with a big dance floor and a DJ area set up across. This is a perfect place to dance and have fun, even if it gets a bit chilly outside.
Back at the upper deck, the music was making the boat vibrate, and the feeling of floating smoothly on the main was unforgettable. Many photos were taken, which I am sure will be seen in the Journal Frankfurt magazine very soon. After the hours melted away, the boat was docked again. Nobody wanted to leave because the evening was so fabulous!
Eventually I left the sophisticated MS Catwalk, smiling to myself about how much has changed in my life since I was last on it. I walked towards the Nizza steps, and looked back at the water and the happy people dancing on the upper deck. Instantly I knew that everything is ok. Everything is happening as it should. Life has a way of working out for the best and fate always does her work – what’s meant to be will always happen. I walked up the stairs with an easy and light heart.
Thank you Journal Frankfurt for this wonderful evening!
Are you “dating” or just “hanging out”?https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/DSC00650.jpg1200800Galia BrenerGalia Brenerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g
Have you ever met with someone that you liked, went for dinner, maybe drinks after or even dancing, and at the end of the evening you get a hug and a friendly smile with a quick “thanks” and “bye”. You are left standing there wondering, “What the hell just happened? Was that even a date? Or does s/he only like me as a friend?” Rest assured that you are not alone and this strange confusion happens quite often.
My friend Bill met a girl that he really liked. They “hung out” and always had fun. They did many things together like go to shows, dinners and parties. However, Jessica never kissed him or showed any physical interest in him. They never spoke about romance or sexual things. Bill thought that she simply needs her time. He was falling for her, and was in denial without wanting to face the truth. This kept on going for a few months, and still nothing happened. I told Bill that even an extremely shy girl would have wanted to kiss him after a few months, given that she was interested in him as more than just friends. Slowly he was starting to realize that these were not “romantic” dates! I told him to ask her straightforward, but he didn’t have the courage and didn’t want to risk pushing her out of his life. He did fall in love with her in the process, and unfortunately got hurt after realizing that she only thought of him as a “friend”. This can be avoided if you pay attention to the following signs:
It’s a date:
1. He reserves a table at a restaurant and pays the bill.
2. S/he acts nervous around you on the first few dates.
3. There is some physical contact during the date – slight touching of forearm, elbow, etc. while talking.
4. You feel the chemistry and tension between you, and he wants / tries to kiss you.
5. S/he asks you a lot of questions, and seems genuinely interested in you, and wants to get to know you better. They show interest!
6. They compliment you in a flirty way.
7. S/he sends you a “Thank you and good night” text after the date.
8. He acts very chivalrous and is a gentleman, and tries to positively impress you.
It’s not a date:
1. S/he asks you to go to a group event, and doesn’t pay much attention exclusively to you.
2. If s/he asks you to “hang out”, and you end up doing something non-romantic at all.
3. Spending time with a colleague and talking mostly about work, without personal questions.
4. If s/he talks a lot about a love interest or a person they like.
5. Talks about their friends, and who would be a good match for you. Or gives you tips about dating, the opposite sex, flirting etc.
6. No effort with their physical appearance. No one wears sweat pants on dates.
7. S/he is not flirting or playful with you, and no kiss or physical intimacy.
8. They bring a friend with them.
We live in an era full of confusions, where a date can actually be a non-date, or the person you fell in love with actually thinks you are their best friend, and nowhere near a romantic interest at all. Listen to your gut feeling and pay attention to the other’s body language. You should “feel” if there is romantic tension or not, and never lie to yourself. Never run after someone that doesn’t want you, because that will damage your confidence and self-respect. Make yourself available for someone that sees how wonderful you are, and actually wants to have romantic dates with you!
The best advice I can give you is to be straightforward. Communicate and simply ask them in a cute way, “Are we going on a date?” with a smile while asking. This should never be an embarrassing thing to do! Better to say it straight up and know where you stand, rather than get hurt after, like my friend Bill did. We were born with mouths to speak and ask what we don’t understand. It’s so easy, but unfortunately we make it complicated for ourselves. Guessing games suck too much happiness away from you. Don’t guess, just ask.
Belstaff Pop Up Store Opening in Frankfurthttps://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Belstaff.jpg1200400Galia BrenerGalia Brenerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g
Finally! One of my very favorite brands has made its way to our little city with a big attitude. What I love most about the Belstaff brand is that not only does it have history that goes back to 1924, but its timeless classic jacket can be worn in the next 100 years as well! I cannot imagine going on a Harley wearing anything else than my favorite black leather Belstaff jacket. I got mine many years ago, and it looks better and better with age. That’s the thing about timeless classics; they are always there to remind you that some things can never be replaced!
As I walked down the glamorous Goethestrasse, I was dazzled by the lights shining in my eyes. For the first time in a long while, I decided to wear my prescription Ray Bans to contradict my bright red Paris-inspired outfit. I was happy to see my two friends Jens and Olli waiting for me at the front of the store. Life is always better with smiling friend that are happy to see you. I hugged them both, and suddenly my attention was ripped away! The entire front of the store was lined with amazing bikes! Everything from BMW to Triumph and Harley Davidson. Goethestrasse has been graced by our handsome biker men, who came to admire the new Belstaff collection. Knowing my intense addiction to choppers, I couldn’t take my eyes off the machines. One was better than the other! After drooling over the bikes for a good 20 minutes, it was time to enter the cool pop up store.
The first sight that my eyes landed upon were two beautiful ladies that offered the guests a tray full of goodies – including Balvenie Whisky single barrel, Old Perth blended malt, Craft Beer, fine chocolates and other delights! I was pleasantly surprised to see that many of the guests were in attendance wearing their own Belstaff jackets, proud to show that they have good fashion sense. As we moved further into the store, I was warmly greeted by Daniel Tobias Etzel of WAOH, who is the man of Frankfurt when it comes to fashion and lifestyle events and opening parties. Once again, he did a fantastic job at organizing this Belstaff opening event and made sure that the brand got the real welcome that is deserves in Frankfurt! I’m pleased to say that we are the second city in Germany who is privileged to have this iconic British brand. Continuing with our tour of the store, I saw a huge glowing sign saying “Outlaws” with David Beckham’s handsome face starring back at me. He is Belstaff’s proud testimonial of 2 years, with his own capsule collection.
Daniel introduced me to Julia, the pretty store supervisor, and her right-hand man in charge, Harald. I couldn’t get the thoughts of the bikes outside out of my mind, and knew that they have to be on the feature photo. Harald picked out two attractive men for me and dressed us all up in his favorite Belstaff jackets. He assigned a bike to each of us, and the mini photo shooting on the Goethestrasse began! Stefan Höning, the professional photographer was about to take the photos, but as soon as I got my bum on the bike, the alarm went off and the siren blared throughout the entire street. It was exactly like in an embarrassing scene of a movie, all heads turned, everyone started laughing, people came outside to see what the chaos was all about and red-faced Gali was sitting on the bike and wishing that the earth would open up and swallow me together with the bike and the fabulous Belstaff jacket that I was wearing. But of course the only way to react was to laugh with everybody else. Then the tall, dark-haired owner of the bike came outside, gave me a flirty wink and the embarrassment rapidly washed away.
After an hour the people gathered at the front to listen to the magical voice of Sam King, who filled the entire store with a melody that had everyone mesmerized. I was highly impressed by his performance! That’s definitely a man with soul, rhythm and spirit. The people were enjoying themselves tremendously, the whiskey was flowing and the jackets were selling like hot cakes. I don’t know what Belstaff does to their jackets, but I noticed that any man who puts one on turns into a handsome-strong-warrior-biker-man! There is no better way to describe it, but their leather jackets make all men look hot. Or maybe I just have a thing for biker guys. I stood in front of the women’s leather jackets and tried each one on. Slowly, one by one – like a sugar addict locked inside of a Patisserie and cannot escape!
Another wonderful night was coming to an end. I enjoyed myself very much because it was a very warm and intimate opening event. Everyone seemed to know each other. One could see that the people were having a wonderful time and were savoring their evening. Slowly I had to step away from the bikes, say goodbye to my friends and make my way back home to my cozy little city flat, take off my 13 cm heels and get some beauty sleep.
If you’re also curious to see the collection for yourself, the Belstaff Pop Up Store shall be with us on the Goethestr. 3, until March 2016.
Frankfurt is not just about bankers, the skyline, Handkäs, Grüne Soße or Ebbelwoi. This city is so multicultural and versatile that even the Munich celebrities are coming to our Oktoberfest! Yes, you read that correctly. Frankfurt has its own Oktoberfest, and every evening for 3 weeks, our tent gets hot and stays sizzling until the very end! However last night was the wildest of all nights, when the VIPs, celebs and local Frankfurt heroes came out to play at the yearly event – the Fash’n Wiesn!
Frank Kuhlmann had a busy few weeks with his glamorous event organizations. Last night was his Pièce de Résistance, as he brought us all together for a night to remember! Doing what he does best, Mr. Kuhlmann made sure that the energy was buzzing, and his guests were happy and excited with the evening escapades! We had an amazing time at his table surrounded by gorgeous models, actors, professional athletes, singers, writers and entrepreneurs. It was a magical evening because it appeared that everyone had a permanent smile on their faces. The vibe of the party was extremely contagious and one could tell that the people really enjoyed themselves. The band was rocking the stage and everyone was dancing and having a fabulous time! What I also love about our Oktoberfest in the Hausmann tent is that one can order the traditional Bavarian food, but also have the delicious Frankfurt dishes on the side as well. This way you get the best of both worlds. Needless to stay, we tried almost everything on the menu last night!
Walking around the authentic Oktoberfest tent, I bumped into a few friends and acquaintances that I have not seen in a long while. I really enjoyed catching up with them and having a nice drink to celebrate our friendship. I find that it’s really important to take care of and invest in friendships – this way they stay a lifetime with you!
I don’t know what it was about last night, but it seemed like the entire tent was in Flirting-Mode! Everywhere I looked I saw people kissing and dancing very close to each other. Maybe it was the passionate scent in the air, or the love-laced Mass beer, but last night was definitely an evening where the Love Gods made their presence known – and their target was the Oktoberfest in Frankfurt! I don’t want to know how many children were conceived after midnight in the city last night!
I was really lucky because I had the chance to wear a special dirndl. It is a one of a kind design by my friend Shanty Sutadji – owner of the label Shanty Dirndl Couture. I also wore her design last year and what I really love the most about her dirndls is that there is only one of each kind! So ladies, you will never ever have the situation when you are at the Oktoberfest and someone is wearing the same dirndl as you! Shanty’s dirndls are all handmade with love and passion for design and details. My pink one last night had intricate elements of silk, hand-sewn roses, Swarovski stones and enough lace to make even Marie Antoinette jealous! Thank you dear Shanty for making such a beautiful dirndl for me!
After a few rosé champagne glasses with the girls and some innocent flirting in between, I decided that all good things must come to an end. The others made their way to the Matrix Pop Up Club, but I heard my bed and leftover sushi in the fridge calling my name. Thank you to all my friends and acquaintance for making my evening so happy, lovely and warm! I wish you a nice weekend dear friends and readers :-)
Ladies, it’s time to start dating like men do!https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/green_Dress.jpg1200400Galia BrenerGalia Brenerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g
Dear ladies, we live in a time when you can and should date like a man. You hear so many stories about men dating different girls in one week, and taking their time being single. Well, you know what? You can do the same thing without worrying about being called a slut. If the guys are considered “James Bond” because they date many women, well now consider yourself as the sexy “Catwoman” by having a few parallel handsome options as well!
Sorry gentlemen, but you pushed us into it. If you can date around, so can we. No, this doesn’t make us cheap. No, we don’t sleep with every man we go on a date with. Just like you, we would like to keep our options open in finding the very best for ourselves. Guys, why should you be the only ones who can enjoy a nice wine tasting without ruining your reputation? Well ladies, it’s time to go on a Champagne tasting adventure… if you know what I mean!
Jilli and Heather were enjoying their usual girl’s night out in the city. The sun was setting, and the weather was warm enough to walk around naked. The girls were sipping a gin tonic on the rooftop of a trendy lounge. It was filled with beautiful men and women, prancing around in their best outfits, waiting to get noticed. Of course many had their “Serious-Cool-Frankfurt-Faces” on, but deep inside they wanted to meet someone special – even though some would never admit this. Jilli was telling Heather a story of another new guy she met, went out with, and decided not to date anymore. Heather’s reaction was the same as usual. She screamed, “Jilli! Again?! But he was a good guy! Why don’t you give him a proper chance?” It’s not as if Jilli was turned off by “nice guys”. Quite the opposite actually. Jilli did want a good, caring, sweet, honest, charming man – but the one that she would “click” with.
“Aha Man” was not the right one for her. Jilli did not feel the passion and chemistry – or what I call the “Click”. She knew deep in the bottom of her stomach that he was not the one! All her friends, including Heather, thought that she was crazy for not dating him. They couldn’t understand why. However, Jilli knew that the right one will come. She had faith.
Jilli was dating like a man. She liked meeting new people and enjoyed the evenings out. She wanted to have fun! She did not sleep with them all. She simply went out with the men she met, in order to find out if any of them were the right ones. Unfortunately they were not. Heather couldn’t understand that. Heather believed in dating for weeks and weeks – even after realizing that the man was not a good match. Heather wasted her time, nerves, money and patience on the wrong men. Giving someone a chance is good, but when it’s obvious that the connection is wrong, why continue and torture each other?
Girls take your time and date. Do not worry what people think of you. I always say that one must chose wisely and make a good decision about whom they marry. Dating more men will show you what you want and don’t want in a partner. Consider it like gathering information by reading many books, and taking cars out for a test drive, until you find the car you want. If women would not be judged by society for dating like men, would we do it more often? Why do women get labeled “easy”, when all they want is to meet a nice guy, and not waste any time with the wrong one? I say bloody hell to all of those people that label you! Go ahead and date as many men as you like until you meet the right one.
Of course dating around also means that you get to have wild, pulse-stopping sexcapades and exciting adventures. However, I would advise you to keep this to yourself. Not everyone will understand and not everyone will be happy for you. There is a lot of jealousy out there and you do not need to attract this evil into your life. People love to judge and gossip. Tell your best friend, but for the rest, you should stay a mystery.
Girls, date around like a man. Live and love, do what makes you happy. Do what’s good for you! As long as you are respectful to others and your body, then everything is ok. The only one that can judge you, is you. So do yourself a favor and date a few different men until you meet the one that’s right for you. If they can do it, then why the hell can’t we? After all, girls should want to have fun! So go ahead, you have my blessing.
Bitchiness between womenhttps://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Galix3.jpg640250Galia BrenerGalia Brenerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g
It’s Saturday afternoon, and you have a date to meet the girls for a nice lunch in the city. You leave the house wearing your favorite outfit. Your hair is flowing in the wind, and your lips are shimmering in the sun. You enter the restaurant feeling happy and confident. Your girlfriends are waiting for you at the corner table, waiving at you to come over. You get there, sit down… and surprise surprise; you get a nasty look from a woman at another table! The crazy thing is, you don’t even know her!
Why is she looking at me like that? Is the question most of us women ask ourselves when confronted with such bitchiness and undeserved hatred. Why? Simple answer: because of our insecurities. Be honest to yourself, how many times did you judge a woman you do not even know simply because of her outer appearance? All women do this. A sexy blonde gets into an expensive car, and you automatically think to yourself, “Which man is she sleeping with or had to divorce to get that?” It’s shameful, but we all do this. Well my dear ladies, its time to STOP.
Lack of confidence: it is a normal human reaction to elevate one’s own self-esteem by bringing someone else down. Thoughts like these make us feel better about ourselves: “She looks easy to get. I’m not cheap like her” or “She is fat and not attractive, so why do the men look at her?” (This is not an opinion, it’s a judgment). Who the hell are we to judge another woman? The sad part is that by doing this, we are not working on ourselves to become stronger and better women, but rather we make ourselves more miserable and vulnerable. Having such feelings and thoughts about others shows that you must improve your self-esteem. No need to feel bad, many have the same issue, but this can be and should be worked on! I dealt with these issue, and honestly, I think we all have had them at one point in our lives!
Jealousy: one of the most evil feelings that exist on the Earth. There is no reason to put down another woman simply because we don’t have what she does, such as: success, happiness, wealth, a great husband, good body, etc. In fact, you should become friends with such fabulous women, and try to learn from them. If they have this, then they must be doing something right. Being open and willing to learn is the key! Girlfriends are there to help you grow. Jealousy is a nasty little devil that will eat you from within! Best to stay away from it completely.
Fear: of being second best. Or even last. You cant, and shouldn’t always be the best. Why? This is so strenuous! Don’t be afraid that the beautiful woman standing behind you will steal your boyfriend away. Stop noticing that her legs are longer than yours. So what, even if they are? There will always be girls with longer legs than yours. There will always be girls with shorter legs than yours. This is not a competition: you are who you are. That’s it. No more to it. Love yourself as you are. When you truly do, you will see how things will radically change for you! I asked many men about this fact, and almost all of them said that personality and charisma always win! Being bitchy (zickig) towards other women is a waste of time. Instead, work on your charisma and be a kind, charming, friendly and lovely woman. The ego creates fear. The ego sees others who are better as a natural enemy. Do not be weak, and don’t let your ego control you.
A girlfriend of mine, lets call her Karma, met a well-known model in Frankfurt. They went on a few dates, and she decided to sleep with him. The sex was nice, but she couldn’t connect with him on a mental level. She loved having deep, interesting conversations, but couldn’t do this with him. So she stopped seeing him. He called, but she told him that she didn’t feel the connection. After a while, Karma received a letter from a woman saying that she was his girlfriend at that time! The woman accused her of stealing him away from her. She was rude to Karma, and tried to humiliate her. Sadly, Karma didn’t know this at all! He told her that he was single. Instead of being angry at the stupid guy, this foolish woman took it out on poor Karma. Why? This is so evil and cruel. It was his fault. He lied to both of the women! When will we ever grow up ladies, and see that we have to stick together and support each other, instead of hating each other?
We are not animals. We differentiate from animals because we have the intelligence to inquire into the truth and meaning of our existence. If you spend your time being bitchy to other girls, how will you ever evolve and find your meaning here? You need your time and energy to do something real, enjoy life, make love, succeed at your career, travel, sing, dance, whatever… but certainly not waste time judging other women. Doesn’t that seem petty compared to your existence on the planet? You have bigger and better things to do!
Try this experiment (It always works for me): Next time you see a random woman and want to judge her, push your nails into your palm. The feeling is not the nicest, but the pain will automatically stop your bad thoughts. When you give some innocent lady a bad stare, do the same. When you talk negatively about a woman at your work, do the same. Eventually you will stop. You don’t need this evil inside of yourself. Get rid of this, and open yourself up to goodness. Women, like you, are wonderful, beautiful, caring, nurturing, loyal and empathetic. We should support one another, instead of making it harder for each other in this male-dominated society. It’s time to stop being enemies and become friends.
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