Wednesday, October 30, 2013

mas patatas bravas, por favor

Be still my heart.







There is something about Barcelona that gets to you. 
 A mix of elderly men & women meandering the streets and sharing drinks & patatas bravas in the local pub, while the next establishment is full of surfer-hipsters (is that such a thing?) from all over the world who've found a home within it's narrow streets. 

Our AirBNB Apartment on the 5th floor was a quiet haven providing a glimpse into local life. Mouth-watering smells wafted from nearby open windows, women stood gossiping in the corridors while squeals of children were heard from their respective flats. 
But at night, all was still despite being in the middle of the liveliest part of the city.


Having previously visited twice, the main sights were checked off and all we wanted to do was eat. And good, sweet Lord did we eat!


It was wonderful to connect with our dear friends Byron and Lauren  whom we've known for practically half our lives by now. They graciously allowed us to crash their honeymoon since we were unable to make it stateside for their gorgeous wedding in St. Auggie. Having previously visited twice, the main sights were checked off and all we wanted to do was eat. And good, sweet Lord did we eat.




We spent time exploring Parc Gruell with its famous Gaudi mosaics,  overjoyed at the fact that we were actually hot and possibly about to be sunburned (okay, maybe that was just me.)


















 Drank sangria and people watched at Barceloneta beach, which brings back memories of jumping off rocks when the water was warm last summer and Alex being stung (impaled?) by a sea urchin. 

Took the funicular up to Montjuic (which was anticlimactic, to be honest,) then laughed harder than we have in a while on our 'hike' down (aka how the heck do you get down this thing?) We knew it was time to hail a taxi when Byron began shouting and kicking leaves in a hilariously delusional need-more-sangria state. 




Maybe Barcelona is special to me because it was one of the stops on my first European invasion, freshly graduated from high school and with my dearest friends traveling the world. It was on this trip that I gained a bit of independence and realized that nothing would ever be the same. 

I need to see the world. As much as I can. Ready, go. 



It was in Barcelona that I figured out the bus system with another friend as we made our way down to the beach. We probably weren't meant to do so, but figured we weren't necessarily told NOT to...
 And for some reason, I felt so cool, so grownup for having done so.  


Add Barcelona to your bucket list. And when you've finally arrived, don't be surprised at how easily you assimilate to the lifestyle, arriving at the restaurant after midnight to be seated for dinner (and make sure one of those restaurants is Paco Meraldo.) 
Consume tapas like it's your job.

And make sure you've invited me to come play as well!

Monday, October 21, 2013

A Week's Worth

Skimming through pictures this morning from last week, as I apparently took a hiatus from Instagram. Isn't it funny how you can feel a certain way about something, but then look back and realize that it was better than you're making it out to be? Last night, when my emotional barometer indicated low pressure and life was full of cupcakes and rainbows, I thought, "I sure am glad that this week is OVER." It took the slightest thing to set me off into a pit of despair... like yesterday afternoon when I felt like the walls of our tiny apartment were closing in on me and nothing could be done to bring joy back into the world.

So we went on a bike ride. As soon as we hit the woods, the cloud of lame sadness lifted and I felt more myself. Except when I saw a lab who was loving life in the river. That made me choke up. 



Anyways, the whole point of my tangent is that sure, parts of last week sucked. But really only the parts where I allowed myself to wallow in a sadness that is unnecessary and not linked to anything substantial or worth griping about. 

And judging from my iPhone pictures, it was actually filled with really wonderful people and experiences:


Family Dinner night-- Wii bowling and takeout curry (!!)



Bringing home carrots.. in my carrot grocery bag...



Scrabble Thursday complete with delicious cakes and wine


Fashion Friday-- We found a tiny pony!


And some cool hats.


Shameless Selfie going out picture-- Bought this dress in Florida last winter, actually blow dried my hair, went to a bar that looked like a haunted castle.. it was a fantastic night!


Flea market treasures-- a new bike, an awesome old trunk for the Mondons, knit booties for Mike. The fun part was walking the trunk through the streets of Frankfurt...

I introduce to you... Hercules!! This bike's living upstairs with us so it won't get stolen. 


The highlight of the week was Saturday night, when everyone was invited over for a proper American "tailgate." We watched the Gator game in real time, ate burgers and grilled jalapeƱo poppers, had a mini-keg... it was glorious!

But the real fun came when Sophie and Paul brought over a meter of Super Dickmans, chocolate covered marshmallow fluff with the best name ever.
I kid you not, there was a game suggested on the back of the box where you blindfold someone, spin them, then they have to seek out a Super Dickman to eat. 


Can you only imagine the hysterics and crude jokes that lasted for a good hour or so?! 
Forever scarred into my brain. 







They MOVED the Dickmans so I would lick the table! Rude. 


The sun's out, the weather promised 70 degrees tomorrow, I have mahjong to look forward to and we're going to Barcelona to see Byron and Lauren on Wednesday. 
I'm a happy girl!



Thursday, October 17, 2013

insert witty title here

Everything's been slightly off-kilter this week. Not sure what it is... perhaps an onslaught of a change-of-weather blues?

It's hard to explain. Our tiny apartment has random items strewn carelessly about. A suit that Mike wanted me to take to the cleaners two days ago. A deliciously written book and an almost-done scarf waiting patiently on the coffee table... yet I can't pick them up to finish either? I haven't had cream in the fridge for two days now, which means I'm drinking my coffee black. I hate black coffee.

The hubs comes home from work and I feel so disconnected-- him, tired from a day at work. Me, restless and wanting to talk, connect, something. I don't know. This expat life can be so peculiar at times, a roller coaster ride of sorts where the weekends are in full swing and we're looping around, squealing wildly feeling that rush of "Holy-crap-this-life!!" Weekdays take over, and if one's not careful, it's easy to slide into old habits and thoughts (What am I doing with myself? You suck.)

Sorry for the negativity; I'm not complaining. Absolutely not. Just muddling my way through why I'm feeling the way that I am.

On a different note, spur-of-the-moment woods walks work wonders (like that alliteration? You're welcome.) The moments where I'm feeling the lowest are when I receive a random "Let's go for a walk" text and I know it's a gentle reminder that I was not created to be alone or to wallow around feeling sorry for myself for reasons I can't decipher.







 Catching leaves out of the sky is good luck, right?


This tree pees when you get close to it. German humor. 

A beefsteak mushroom? Looks like flesh. I almost vomited. 


Foraging for walnuts

picking my first apple ever!






Leaving this couch and vowing not to return to it today, until this evening when I will snuggle up next to Mike to catch up on our American shows. Baked potato soup is on the menu tonight.

I refuse to allow myself to feel sad and lonely today. That is all :)



Monday, October 7, 2013

How to Make the Most out of your Oktoberfest Experience

1. Purchase appropriate attire, or you’ll look and feel like a loser. This step should always come first, even if no Oktoberfest is in the horizon. Ignore the cost, for, in the words of Martha, you’re purchasing an heirloom that will be passed on for generations. (I can see it now, “Oh no. Dad’s wearing his lederhosen again and talking about the ‘Good old days…’”)







2. Make reservations in February. Or, if you had no idea you’d be in Germany come September/October, then wait until the absolute last minute and buy online from a Canadian could who, after the previous weekend, realized it was hell to wake up on the Sunday after and have to resume their parental duties, thus selling their second weekend’s reservations.


3. Find 10 friends to help fill the reservation.






4. Scour the internet for a last-minute place to stay and don’t worry that you’re paying double, maybe triple the amount for a place to lay your weary head. (AirBNB has always come through for me with this.)



5. Hop on the 7 AM train filled with fellow Oktoberfest goers. Ignore that most are already drinking.



6. You’ve officially arrived! You can either:
            A)Proceed directly to the festivities or



            B) Explore Munich, knowing that Saturdays are insane and not worth             squeezing your way into a tent. Good food, fun, and beer to be had either             way.


7. Once at Oktoberfest, first walk around and soak it all in. You’ll see rides of monstrous proportions, ‘tents’ that are more like permanent gymnasiums, and traditional wear of all shapes and sizes. Revere the old men proudly donning their worn-in leiderhosen, their hats with protruding feathers and multiple pins from God-knows what. Judge each dirdel, compartmentalizing into your own created categories (That-One’s-Legit, I-Want-That-for-Next-Year, Got-That-One-From-Spencers.) Take in the smells as you saunter past each stall: fried sweet dough, chicken over an open rotisserie, crispy pork skins ready to be consumed on a roll, brauwurst of all kinds, baked potato bar, the fish stall (pick up the pace on that one…) Caution—these smells may or may not be as inviting after spending some time in a tent.





8. Once your time has come, cautiously enter into the tent of your choice (in our case, the Hofbrau.) Marvel at the sheer enormity of the structure with a capacity for 10,000 people, both inside and out in the biergarten. Make your way to your reserved table where you’ll be given vouchers for two liter-beers, a half a chicken, and 7.50 to spend on whatever else you fancy.




9. Let the festivities begin! Make friends with your neighbors! Sing along to the German drinking songs! Love life!




10. Continue with #9



11. Safely make your way home.


12. Repeat on day 2.


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

28 Reasons for Joy- The Birthday Edition

Celebrating birthdays in a foreign country can be a daunting prospect, especially for one who so very much loves her own birthday. There's something about counting on being made to feel special for that one day a year, knowing it's all about you and it's okay to be demanding because it's the one day you can get away with it!

I woke up yesterday morning to gray, chilly skies, but a warm, snuggly Michael. It was starting off brilliantly. About 10 am, creeping feelings of loneliness and thoughts of, "You're all alone + your friends and family are across the globe = you are insignificant." So I decided to pursue all of my favorites, be it songs, foods, and people, because October first is a celebration of my life! It was a freeing feeling, choosing to only do the things that bring about joy to stave off the lies that try to force me to feel anything less than who I was created to be.


28 things that made me happy on my 28th birthday:

1. Waking up to this guy



2. Deciding to make a list of happy things in my favorite list book from my favorite Kristin Auman




3. Wearing my ratty, comfortable Toms




4. Saying, "Screw you, Paleo," and eating the Best. Breakfast sandwich. EVERRRR **Note-- a number of my favorite things might involve food**




5. Catching up on blogs over coffee


6. Blasting Justin Timberlake and dancing around the house. Not cliche at all...


7. Eating American junkfood periodically throughout the day (I had to hide this Reeses from Michael in a safe spot so I could have it on my birthday)




8. Shamelessly checking FB every 15 minutes to see who else wished me a happy day (I LOVE it and always have!!!)


9. Painting my nails (Mom-- "It looks like your nails are moldy. Didn't you have that color in the 7th grade?")

My hand looks like it belongs to a vampire.


10. Wearing stripes. I love stripes.


11. About noon the sun came out just for me! It was a beautiful, chilly day!



12. Skyping with mom & dad and discussing Mom's trip out to see me for Thanksgiving/Christmas market-time (!!!)



13. NOT doing laundry or unpacking from the weekend.



14. Looking over pictures from said weekend. Epic.



15. Mike came home and lunchtime toting a bag with a jacket I've been coveting for a couple months! Swoon (Never mind that it was about this time we realized my bike got stolen over the weekend. Lame.)


15. Meeting Martha & Sophie for the best coffee in Frankfurt (Wacker's!)



16. Gifts from my sweet friends... they know me so well already!


PS-- the people pictured are not my friends. They are not even real. But my friends made me take this picture with them and I thought this was an appropriate place to put it. 



17. Realizing how blessed I am to have made instant connections with amazing ladies here who have (and will continue!) carried me through this adventure --> Love you, Hausfraus :)


18. Conversations about our engagement stories make my heart swell.


19. Connecting with my besties and knowing that we will be a part of each others' lives forever



20. Found the perfect boots!



21. Ate a ginormous cinnamon roll



22. Wore my favorite red peacoat and my sparkly new year's party shirt to dinner

23. Received a hug and a bottle of wine from the lady in the hotel's office

24. Calls from Momma Chex, Leanna, and Bryan

25. Annie's card arrived just on time!

26. Took a detour through the park to crunch through the leaves

27. Mexican!



28. Had a discussion with Mike as to what kind of scarf he would like me to knit him... and was granted extra bedtime snuggles





Maybe we should treat every day as if it were our birthdays, seeking the little things that bring about joy and choosing only to love and be happy. Although for me, that would mean that no chores get done, ever, and I eat chocolate all the time.

(PS--  ultimately, I believe with all my heart that joy and freedom comes from living a life in pursuit of Christ-- true happiness cannot simply be achieved by eating a Reeses Peanut Butter cup and jamming out to Justin Timberlake. But, it will provide at least temporary joy.) 

Choose to love today. And much love to you who shared in my birthday joy. It meant the world to me!