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Independence Day celebration with the Consul General of the United States of America, Mr. James W. Herman

Independence Day celebration with the Consul General of the United States of America, Mr. James W. Herman 1054 1280 Galia Brener

The big day had arrived and the Breners set out on a delicious barbeque adventure! I have been waiting for the special Independence Day celebration for a while now and was happy to throw on my island clothing topped off with my favorite pink cowboy boots. Upon our arrival, the Consul General of the United States of America, Mr. James W. Herman and his beautiful wife Leilani Herman, greeted us warmly into their residence. Mr. Herman gave a wonderful speech, making all his guests feel at home.

My first impression was a true feast for the eyes! There were many well-dressed people, as the theme of the party was island casual. Women were mingling in pretty dresses and the men proudly wore their Hawaiian shirts and American-colored leis. However the best-dressed woman of the evening was definitely Mrs. Leilani Herman. She had an elegant long white dress on, decorated tastefully with traditional Hawaiian celebratory lei and magnificent jewelry.

As I walked inside the garden, I saw my friend Stephan Reeg, who is the private chef of the consul general. He had a cool pink chef jacket on and the buttons had little black crowns printed on them. Now this is what I call amazing attention to detail! I’m a big lover of good food, and the foodie within me was excited beyond belief. As far at the eyes can see, there was food in every part of the garden. From delicious juicy burgers to, seafood salad, crispy wings, desserts and meats in every shape, size and variation! The bar was stocked with delectable drinks from all over the world. I was very happy to discover my favorite rosé wine there, the Whispering Angel.

It was the perfect occasion to meet new people and speak English the entire evening. I have been living in Europe since 2003 and really miss using my native language on a daily basis. So the Canadian inside me was jumping up and down like a mischievous little girl, eh.

As the guests were enjoying their beef burgers and International wine, all of a sudden, I heard an alluring live voice behind me, singing one of my favorite songs. I turned around and saw a group of handsome young men singing at the top of the garden stairs. What a splendid surprise! Their voices mesmerized us and the gentle harmonious sound mixed beautifully with the warm summer breeze.

The garden was immaculate and every tree and bush was trimmed to perfection. There was a big white tent set up in the middle and around were many lovely sitting areas, perfect for mingling and eating. As I walked inside the tent, I saw Mr. Herman and his wife, cutting the delicious Independence Day cake and handing out colorful pieces for their guests to enjoy. Another sweet attention to detail were the cream-filled donuts, with the American flag painted in savory glaze on top. Such a creative and tasty idea!

Another band started to play, and the singer’s voice was deep and soulful. As I stepped outside, I saw my parents dancing together, with a loving and happy look upon their faces. At that very second I thought how lucky I am and what a beautiful life we have. A wave of love and warmth passed through my body, and with a huge smile, I joined my parents on the dance floor. Mr. Herman was also dancing with his lovely wife, and one could see and feel their joy. The guests were chatting, eating, singing and all were having an incredible time! I was pleased to see some good acquaintances, which I haven’t seen in a while. It was so nice to catch up and talk about life.

As the hours were melting away into the romantic night, this Canadian had to leave in time to write the article for you my dear readers. I said goodbye to my friends and thanked Mr. James and Leilani Herman for the truly magical and unforgettable celebration. This was an Independence Day that I will never forget. It felt so good to be close to my people and celebrate our cultural traditions. As I got to the top of the garden steps, I turned around, and had a last look at the elegant guests enjoying themselves. I realized yet again that this was a very special holiday. For me, it is not just about independence, but rather about uniting the people together, brining hope and happiness to all, in Germany, Europe, Canada, The United States of America and actually… the entire world.

www.galiabrener.com

 

FASH’N WIESN 2015 – Frankfurter Oktoberfest

FASH’N WIESN 2015 – Frankfurter Oktoberfest 1200 400 Galia Brener

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 :-)

 

Hugs,

 

Your Gali

 

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https://www.facebook.com/ShantyDirndlCouture

 

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