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Galia Brener
December 19, 2014
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Destroy the shit before 2015 – Part 1

Destroy the shit before 2015 – Part 1 https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Gali_feature_Antibes.jpg 1354 437 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g December 19, 2014 March 16, 2015

It’s that time again when the year is winding down and we are confronted with our demons. Some call this the “Holiday Blues”, thinking they might be depressed, sad or lonely, but it’s much deeper and more important than just that. It’s a crucial time that will determine how you step into the next year and which direction your life will go. This is a tough love article, so I might seem somewhat harsh, but it’s for our own good.

Like it or not, a new year is a “reset”. Even if you don’t believe in this, your brain is subconsciously influenced by the thought of a “new start”. If you are honest with yourself, there are some things that you can change and improve about your life. In order to do so, you must first destroy the existing defective base before you build a new structure. No one builds a new luxury building on a rotten old foundation. Never! First everything is destroyed, cleaned out, and then rebuilt.

This week I deal with the points of elimination and destruction of the bad things in your life that drain your happiness. (Next week I will address how to rebuilt a new foundation).

1. Get rid of the toxic people in your life. Cut off anyone that hurts and drains you. They won’t help you grow and will only deplete your goodness with their needy problems and dramas. Be tough even if it seems merciless. You are not their emotional garbage bin so don’t let them dump their shit in your life. Enough!

2. Forgive. This is a tough point, especially if someone has hurt you badly. Regardless if the were friends, exes or colleagues, forgive all these idiots that hurt you. You are doing this for yourself and not for them! You don’t have to speak to them or see them again – but forgiveness allows you to burn away “your” pain and anger, which is blocking you from the good new things.

3. Say NO. We do too many things to be “good” for others, and sometimes even do what we don’t want to. Stop it immediately and don’t hesitate to say NO! Stop going against yourself. By the way, the others will respect you actually more for standing your ground.

4. Nothing is personal. Remember; when people do or say something mean to you, it’s their issue and not yours! Destroy the ability to let others make you feel bad and guilty for no justifiable reason. Don’t take shit from no one, especially when they are trying to deliberately offend or hurt you.

5. Learn to be selfish. We give and give and give so much, but forget ourselves in the process. The love you gave your ex or so-called friend, give that to yourself now. Love yourself truly, because you deserve it. It’s your life so do what’s good for you.

6. Let go. How willing you are to let go of stinky old garbage depends on how much you truly love yourself. Not letting go brings emotional, physical and mental pain and illness. If you really want to be happy and healthy, then you have no choice but to let go of the past and make place for the good things and people in your life.

7. Destroy all bad habits. Easier said than done? No. If you truly want to be healthy and not die, then you can do it. It’s all about willpower, making that “1 decision” and sticking to it! Stop smoking. Stop taking drugs. Stop drinking alcohol excessively (only in moderation). Stop eating damaging food. If you can’t do it alone, then get external help and stop hurting yourself.

8. Throw away all the junk you don’t need. Like the bad people that collect dust in your life, so do the things that you don’t need. I hate going into homes that are cluttered with “stuff” because I can’t breathe there. Your home reflects your inner self, so why block yourself with useless things? Take a big garbage bag on the weekend, go from room to room, throw away the small crap and destroy the clutter. Keep it simple. Give the clothing and things you don’t need to charity.

Like my Papa always tells me, “Make a solid firm decision and stick to it. Going back and forth will only bring more pain and insecurity.” Some of these 8 points may sound tough, but are necessary in order to move into a better life and a happier new year. We must never stop to work on ourselves and develop for the better. We have this one life, so why deprive ourselves of complete happiness?

Next week comes part 2 about rebuilding the good after the destruction of the bad.

To be continued …

Galia Brener
December 12, 2014
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Is this a date or not?

Is this a date or not? https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Gali_feature_applewine.jpg 1354 437 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g December 12, 2014 November 5, 2016

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.

Galia Brener
November 28, 2014
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Prada Men store opening in Frankfurt

Prada Men store opening in Frankfurt https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IMG_5065.jpg 1600 1600 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g November 28, 2014 September 28, 2017

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Slowly but surely, our little Frankfurt is catching up with International glamour and flair. And guess what? We now have our very own Men’s Prada store, directly in the heart of the city at the Goetheplatz beside his stylish French brother, Louis Vuitton.

The opening event was incredible, an affair that I have never seen in Frankfurt before. Upon arrival, a beautiful model checked our name on the guest list, and waved us onto the red carpet. Photos were taken, and camera flashes illuminated the sky with bright stars. My best male friend Juan García was with me, and we were quite excited to go inside. Two champagne flutes were placed in our hands, and so the evening began.

We quickly realized how huge the store was. Over 1000 square meters spread out on two floors, filled with Prada clothing and accessories for men. Some of the women were jealous because the men have a bigger store and selection than the women do now. Juan of course thought that was fabulous! We were greeted by Daniel Tobias Etzel of the WAOH agency, who helped with the event and did a wonderful job! Celebrities were to be seen everywhere. Actors such as Benjamin Sadler, Florian Bartholomäi and Lavinia Wilson, film producer Oliver Berben and his lovely wife Katrin were also there, along with the handsome Kevin Trapp, the goalkeeper of the Eintracht Frankfurt soccer team.

The journey continued to the back of the store. We saw people gathered around a table, and of course us two curious cats could not resist. When we got there, we could not believe our eyes! A huge seafood buffet offering the tastiest delicacies that the ocean has to offer. Oysters bigger than my hand, lobster tails, giant crabs and shrimps. We filled up our plates, and proceeded upstairs to dance, eat and party at Prada!

The top floor was darker than downstairs and accentuated with red lights all around. It felt like being in a chic new club, with couture clothing everywhere – what a refreshing new concept! The hypnotizing beats came from the French DJ team The Penelopes, who did an excellent job of getting the people to dance and have fun. There were two additional bars upstairs, with service from my favorite Schumann’s bar in Munich. Juan and I danced non-stop for an hour. We saw people flirting all around us, and I am sure that a few new romances began that evening. Needless to say, not many people left the store before midnight.

Dearest Prada, you have really outdone yourself this time. Never have I been to such a fabulous store opening before! So much fun, glamour, excitement and couture packed into one event. Bravo!

The surprises didn’t stop at midnight. The following week, Mr. Etzel personally came to my home and brought me a beautiful gift. An elegant leather Prada wallet – a thank you for attending this unforgettable event. What can I say: Prada, you were and will always stay on top of my favorite fashion list!

Galia Brener
September 30, 2014
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A night to remember at the Oktoberfest in Munich!

A night to remember at the Oktoberfest in Munich! https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Gali_feature_Oktoberfest_2014.jpg 1354 437 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g September 30, 2014 November 5, 2016

Every year comes a special time around the end of September, when the air gets a bit chillier, the leaves dry up and fall down from the trees, the summer is noticeably over, yet there is still a lot of fun ahead. This is a time when we pack our bags and take the next ICE train to the one and only – the Wiesn in Munich! The dirndls are dry-cleaned, the high heels are polished, and the anticipation rises!

Upon arrival at the Munich train station in the afternoon, the energy was not to be mistaken with any other time of the year! People were running around everywhere, the men wearing their sexy Lederhosen and the woman in their luxurious, colorful and very feminine Dirndls. There is something very special about seeing everyone in the traditional Trachten outfits. It feels like being transported back into time, when the men courted the women with flowers, chocolates and carriage rides with horses around the beautiful parks. The first stop was at my dear friend’s house, where we dropped off our bags, and got ready to go to what would turn out to be a very special Wiesn night!

The adventure started at the Nymphemburg Sekt Bar inside of the wine tent. This was a great place to get into the Oktoberfest mood, because that’s where the band plays the loudest, craziest music, the people like to party and the wine flows by the gallons! We were 10 girls, and took up the entire left bar area. The first sip of cold Riesling after the long journey was fantastic, because I’m not a beer drinker. Everyone was in an amazing mood, people were singing along with the band, eating the Bavarian delicacies, drinking their beer by the Maas, and kissing their partners – and also other people’s partners at any given opportunity. I couldn’t help but notice how many attractive people were in Munich that weekend! Every other man was incredibly handsome, had a charming smile, and looked simply delicious in his Lederhosen – which helps to show off their bums and calves to a perfection! I was definitely doing many neck exercises, turning my head left and right to get a glimpse of it all. The women were glamorous and very seductive, with their hair done in braids, and their cleavage screaming out for freedom. There was a lot of sexual tension in the air. The next stop was the Käfer’s Wies’n-Schänke, where we had a table upstairs. As we got there, I couldn’t help but notice that beside us was a table with a very famous footballer from the FC Bayern team. My one-and-only Jilli sat beside me, and he saw her right away. Needless to say, it would be a very interesting night.

Jilli, blonde and green-eyed, arrived in Munich the day before, because she had a date with a handsome man who invited her to the theater to see Faust. We ordered platters with all of the delicious goodies that Käfer’s had to offer, along with a bottle of rose champagne. When the waiter arrived, the bottle was 5 times larger than what we originally ordered, saying it was compliments from an admirer. The mystery was building up! In fact, the funny Bavarian waiter insisted that we drink the champagne from Maas mugs, which are 1-liter beer mugs! After dinner and a few friendship toasts and stories, I took Jilli and another friend for a little walk around Käfer’s. On the way we met another footballer from the past National German team. Again I can’t mention his name, but he brought some “bad luck” to the games. He saw Jilli, and reached for her hand as we were passing by. He invited us to come to a party with him, but he seemed very pushy, loud and aggressive. We didn’t like his behavior, thinking that he can get any girl there. But he couldn’t get Jilli! We moved on and saw a few more celebrities, including 2 actors and a well-known entrepreneur.

We came back to our table, where the party was already in full swing. The girls were standing on the benches, and the guys from the table beside us were flirting heavily with them. Jilli sat on top of the bench, looking around in her usual nonchalant easygoing way. She didn’t notice, but the star footballer was starring at her the entire time! I told her, and she looked at him, sending him her sweetest smile, and her famous mysterious locking-eye-trick. The game was on, and he couldn’t get his eyes off her! He came closer and talked to her, and invited us all to go with them to the Heart’s new private club. In the black shuttle, they looked at each other, and smiled the whole time. We could all feel the electric tension between them. As we arrived upstairs at the private club, Jilli seemed a bit nervous yet very happy. She liked him. As the night went on, many girls were running up to him and trying to catch his attention with their breasts and everything else they can think of. He was always very polite, but had eyes only for Jilli. The strange part is that he knew a few very intimate details about Jilli, like her full name and what she did for a living! He wanted to give her a kiss, but both didn’t want to do it in public. She told me that she was going to his place, where they will continue to talk and enjoy the evening. My crazy and amazing friend Jilli, what would I do without her!

The next day Jilli came back looking very happy, wearing his black t-shirt under her Dirndl! She told us that she had a night to remember. I was sure that we will hear some wild dirty stories, but it was quite the opposite. She said it was so amazing and romantic with him. They talked about life, kissed and cuddled, and slept hugging the entire night. He wasn’t pushy to have sex, and acted like a real gentleman. Jilli likes to take her time and get to know the man before having sex, considering the fact that she had an extremely painful breakup at the end of last year. He had her hooked, the star footballer who turned out to be an amazing, warm and passionate man. I always did say that FC Bayern is the best team in the world. The next days Jilli was walking around with love-glazed eyes, thinking of him the entire time. We went to Käfer’s again the following two evenings, and had the time of our lives! If done the right way, the Wiesn can be a truly amazing and unforgettable experience! Sure there are the drunk people throwing up or having sex on the street, but there are also the unique people that you will never forget. I highly recommend jumping on the next train and head to the Oktoberfest. It’s still happening for another weekend, and you never know whom you might meet there! Like in Jilli’s case, a wonderful man, or maybe even your next big love! I have 3 friends that met their husbands at the Wiesn. So pack your Dirndl, a good push-up bra, take your best friends, and set out on an extraordinary journey. For me, Wiesn 2014 was the best one yet, one that I will never forget for my entire life …

Galia Brener
September 21, 2014
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Oktoberfest Bild Newspaper – 21.09.2014

Oktoberfest Bild Newspaper – 21.09.2014 https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Gali_feature_Bild_Oktoberfest_2014.jpg 1354 437 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g September 21, 2014 November 9, 2015

What a fabulous Oktoberfest this year! We had a lovely time, and enjoyed it very much! Thank you Bild newspaper, Jörg Ortmann, Kitti Pohl and Fotograf Vincenzo Mancuso for the Oktoberfest party today. And a special thanks to Shanty Sutadji of Shanty Dirndl Couture for making this lovely Dirndl for me!

Galia Brener
February 21, 2014
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12 things happy single girls do

12 things happy single girls do https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Gali_feature_Champagne.jpg 1354 437 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g February 21, 2014 March 16, 2015

I will be direct and not spare any feelings in this article. Life is short and you should live, enjoy and be happy while you can (single or not). Last night sitting on my couch, I realized that absolutely everything in life is pretty much temporary – either longer or shorter periods of time, but never forever. That’s why it’s time for us to wake the hell up and start living a happy live NOW.

1. Sports. Happy girls are balanced girls. I do yoga because it gives me peace at heart, and keeps me sane, especially when I have stressful and difficult situations to deal with. I enter the yoga school with thoughts about everything, and exit with an empty mind. It’s worth gold to just breathe and not think about your crap for a while. Sports help us stay healthy, beautiful, and allow our brain to rest from the constant mind fuck that we put it through.

2. Take care of themselves. Single does not mean dead. Happy single girls continue to shave their sweet parts, and take the best care of their hair, nails and skin. They take vitamins to boost their immune system, never miss a teeth cleaning at the dentist, and make sure they go to the gynecologist to get everything checked up. Happy single girls love and make themselves their own top priority. To be brutally honest, and what I’ve heard from people’s situations, is that nobody needs a sick partner.

3. Spend time with friends and family. Life is not only about romantic love, and having a partner. Single happy girls are grateful for every opportunity to spend time with the ones dear to them. They appreciate the true gifts in life – of having a best friend, and family that love them like no one else does. Remember my words: everything is temporary – and parents will not be here forever. Spend as much time with them as you can… before it’s too late.

4. Shopping. No boyfriend? No problem! Being single leaves you with more money to spend on yourself. Spoiling yourself is a privilege that you should get used to. However, also saving a bit every month is very important because it gives you financial freedom, which is a bloody amazing feeling!

5. Spend time alone. Spending time alone is very peaceful for me. I sometimes lock myself in for the entire weekend, and watch DVDs, write my articles, pig out on Russian pilmeni, sort out my closet, do some facial masks, sleep, rest, read, draw, and the list goes on. A single happy girl must be able to spend time on her own. Life is not over if you have no boyfriend, quite the opposite actually, it gives you time to relax and do the stuff you love – whenever and how long you want to.

6. Let go. Single happy girls let go of expectations and pressure to meet a guy. They know and have faith that the right man will come when the time is right, and not stress themselves and their friends about it. Single happy girls are confident, know their own worth, and are never desperate. They don’t take any shit from a man, and would rather be single than together with a schmuck.

7. Live in the present. Happy girls are not stuck in the past with thoughts of how amazing the time with their ex-boyfriend was, while shedding painful tears. They also don’t dwell too much in the future thinking how happy they will be when they finally find their true love. Happy girls live in the present, because they know that life can pass by in a blink of an eye. Living in the past in a crazy illusion – it’s not real, and a ridiculous waste of time.

8. Get enough sleep. A well-rested girl is a happy girl. Never underestimate the power of sleep! The body regenerates itself during sleep, which means better skin, rested calm nerves, no dark circles under the eyes and more energy. This all contributes to a daily happy-feeling. The great thing about being single is having the bed all to yourself. Plus there is nobody snoring beside you, keeping you awake and irritated all night.

9. Optimism. Happy single girls stay optimistic. No matter what hardship they have been through in life, they keep their strength and don’t let anything break them or kill their spirit. Nobody on this planet is worth your damaged nerves and health. The happy girl will see all bad occurrences as an opportunity to better herself, learn a life lesson and grow. Winners are able to create their own happiness – it’s your own choice!

10. Commit to goals. Happy single girls don’t have time to complain about how lonely they are, because they actually have goals to achieve in their life. Instead of wallowing in miserable self-pity, happy women get off their ass and achieve something! They complain less, and accomplish more.

11. Surround themselves with happy people. Happiness attracts happiness. Likewise negativity attracts misery. Get rid of all the energy vampires in your life. You know those people that always have dramas and complain about everything? They are toxic. No matter how much you try to motivate and help them, they never learn. Happy single girls stay away from these people, and have friends that are positive, successful and well-balanced.

12. Happy single girls know how to masturbate well! They have perfect knowledge how to pleasure themselves and are not afraid to explore their own body. They know exactly where to touch themselves, how to do it, and what they need to reach an Earth-shattering orgasm. Happy girls have a great collection of vibrators, and are not afraid to use them!

So it’s really up to you… do you want to be happy or not?

Galia Brener
December 7, 2012
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Ho Ho Oh so SINGLE, and HAPPY for the holidays!

Ho Ho Oh so SINGLE, and HAPPY for the holidays! https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Gali_feature_big_smile.jpg 1354 437 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g December 7, 2012 November 5, 2016

The lights are hung in the city, and the festive holiday mood is spreading around like hungry mosquitos. Friends call to meet you at the Christmas market, which is already in full swing at the Römerberg in the middle of Frankfurt. When you arrive, you see the beautiful 28-meter tall Christmas tree decorated with magnificent bright lights, glittering in the evening sky. After a few minutes, you notice the many couples walking around you, holding hands, giving each other loving kisses, laughing, hugging – and all of a sudden, those tree lights turn into harsh blinking-blue reminders – making a mockery of your single holiday blues. The tree is not your friend anymore, and you escape to the next stall, in order to drown your sad thoughts with a few Glühweins.

Must the holidays be a constant reminder of how single you are? Does hearing ‘jingle bells’ every time you enter a store make you feel even lonelier? Let me shock you here for a minute… it doesn’t have to be that way! To be quite honest, being single during the holidays actually opens up a huge amount of possibilities to you. You are your own captain! You can accept or decline whichever holiday party invitations you wish, you can do whatever the hell you want to with your spare time, you can pamper yourself in a spa, you don’t need to buy your partner or their family any presents – think of all that extra cash you can now spend on yourself! Buy that sexy dress you saw in the store window, be the goddess that you are! You have more time to spend with your friends, or those you haven’t seen in ages, hang around more with your family, have extra time for your fun hobbies, take an exotic vacation during the holidays… basically, you have the freedom to do what you want, when you want to, and how you want to! That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Actually, it sounds quite fabulous!

Dave, a friend of mine, was telling me that last year he organized the most amazing Christmas party for his big love, Julie, and her family. He showered her with beautiful gifts, and made sure that everyone felt welcomed and comfortable in their home during the holidays. Instead of showing a tiny bit of gratitude, Julie was complaining that everything is going wrong, how he is not good or respectful enough to her family, that she is under too much stress due to trying to be perfect and accepted by his family. The holiday season was a devastating disaster for both of them, even though Dave tried his very best. (The single people reading this are now thinking…oh, thank God I do not have to deal with this crap!) Am I right? The way that I see it is that there are both positive and negative aspects for being single or attached during the holidays. Being in a relationship can be wonderful, but there are also times of stress, fights, emotional overflows, attempts at pleasing each other and the families, and more chaos. Do not concentrate and fixate on the thought of how amazing it would be to have a partner now. This will only cause more emotional pain, which is not really needed right now – frowning causes wrinkles, and is not a good accessory to your New Year’s Eve outfit! So what, you’re single? Believe me, you’re not the only one out there. It’s not the end of the world, (Actually it might be, but we shall see in 2 weeks ;-) it’s just another year that some more holidays go by. So you see dear single boys and girls, being solo during the holidays is not so bad… instead of being sad, go and enjoy yourself, flirt, bake, dance, sing, work out, continue that stamp collection from childhood, learn Mandarin… there is so much to do!

The flirt-factor in December is quite high! The snowflakes are falling, and people want to have fun at the Christmas parties. So instead of wasting time and feeing down and depressed about being solo, take your fabulous self to a salon. Get a stunning new hairstyle, buy a seductive new outfit, and make plans with your dear friends for the next few weeks, including New Year’s Eve. You are fantastic and have no time for pitying yourself! You are a warrior of love, and deep down you know that the “right” person will come when the time is right! So why wait? Go out there, have fun and enjoy your life… good things shall come!

friends