Another Big Move

I’ve been really quiet since my rebirth and that’s because we have big news to share!

Most know the story but for some of you who are new here, I’m from NY. No…not NYC…the state of NY. Specifically, Upstate (the better part of NY altogether!) The only thing NYC has to do with upstate is the atrociously high taxes it causes us! Toblerone and I met there actually. It holds a very special place in our hearts and of course our friends and most of my family is there.

I try to think back about when I first decided to follow him to Germany and I must have been drunk. I’m surprised I went at the end of the day. That was a major risk and I think my little 25yr old brain didn’t have ANY idea of what I was getting into. Somehow I thought, “I’ll just move back home if I don’t like it!” The reality is, I can’t just go home when my “home” (Harley and Tobes) wouldn’t be coming with me. It was more complicated than I thought.

I went to Germany with a huge carry on bag of German cuisine cookbooks (seriously) very unsure of what my future would hold and after 4 years it giving it the old college try, we decided moving back to the states was best for us. Tobes got a job that shipped us over to Michigan and although it was the US, it still was 9+ hours away. So I went from a 9+ hour flight to an equally as long of a drive. Not sure it was a win.

Chilling at a winery in the black forest

Every time that we did make it back to NY we always talked about how our hearts were warm and we felt relaxed. Much of that has to do with the atmosphere my mom’s house presents and also because of the friendships we have there. We have a tribe.

The goal was always to make it back closer to family and out of nowhere the stars aligned and here we are…going back to NY. We’ll be 20 minutes from everyone and we are bubbling over from excitement thinking about how different our life will be now. Not just for us but for the kids.

Ten years later…home. I’m no longer tribeless.

Finally holidays that will mean something. Traditions to continue. Birthday parties to have. It all finally makes sense. Finally.

We left a couple days before Thanksgiving and we’ve been shacking up with the prenatal units until we close on our new house after New Years. It’s been a surprisingly easy transition. The kids are adjusting nicely and Toblerone fits right in at his new job. All is well so far!!

Until next time, Readers!!! Xoxoxoxo

Wouldn’t You Like To Know – My Life Lately

Oh my dear lovelies! I have been SO SO SO behind on blogging and every day I put it off the more I avoided it! I’m forcing myself to give you all an update on my life! Lots going on and its only fair I let you all in on the deets!

Back when I came to Germany in 2011. A brunette!!

First and foremost…I celebrated a BIG anniversary. March 1st hit the 3 years in Germany mark. Can you believe that nonsense?! THREE WHOLE YEARS! IN GERMANY! Like wait….what? I’m not exactly sure how that happened. If you think about what you yourself have accomplished or done in the past three years you’ll realize…its a good chunk of time. It’s also enough time for life to go on without you back home and you start to notice it. People have asked me if being an expat gets easier but I think that depends on the person. Some people really have that travel bug and “want” or “need” to explore. I, however, just want to be around my family and things that are familiar. For me, in three years, I still want nothing more than to be in the US. This also has a lot to do with where we are located (far from cities, bars, bowling, clubs, great lounges, good restaurants, festivals etc.) We rely a lot on the company of each other and the family get-togethers. But even that, as special as it is, gets dull over time. I just keep trucking along though and try to soak in the experience and be thankful that I get this opportunity. Most people I know will NEVER get this chance in their life. Love makes us do crazy things and I would move around the world 100 times just to be with Toblerone. Harley Jones Noodle Butt Butt wouldn’t like that so much though…he’s not a fan of flying. 🙂

Harley Jones is NOT a fan of airplanes and he’s here to tell you all about it!

Secondly…we have 5 months until our wedding! 161 days from this post! WHOA! I feel like I have nothing together and I probably don’t actually but thats ok. We have SO many Germans flying to the US for this, in fact I think the airlines should give us free tickets for 5 years considering how much money people are spending for this. But how cool is that? People are coming all the way to America just to see our wedding (and of course travel) but this fills my heart to the brim. And as if things couldn’t get better, so many unexpected people from the US are coming too! I thought for sure people wouldn’t come because it’s a destination wedding on Cape Cod. I’m just incredibly stunned and so overjoyed there are no words for how complete this makes me feel. On top of it all, most of these people are taking time out of their lives and staying several days or even the whole week on the Cape with us. I…I just….I’m speechless. Speechless from the outpouring of love. I get to spend a whole week surrounded by incredible people. How did I get so lucky? How do you thank people? How do you return the love you’re being given? Just such a beautiful time ahead of us and I can not WAIT. Mattespalooza here we come! Plus we are having a real deal Cape Cod Clam Bake and I can’t wait to watch people get down and dirty crackin lobsters! My dress will be a giant mess! A ceremony followed immediately by a rock the dress session! LOVE!

Mmm….clambakes!!

I’ve been bad with blogging due to work and just being utterly exhausted. However, Toblerone and I gave up drinking alcohol for lent and it seems to be a lot better. Plus we are working out together and such which makes the nights nicer. Strange how it does make a slight difference in our lives! Have any of you done that as well? I mean, some days I would just LOVE to have a glass of wine but its worth it in the end! Plus I better be 10 pounds lighter!

There is big news on the horizon but I have to wait to tell you in the middle of April or so. I hate to hold out on you BUT its important that I do for many reasons. And no, I’m not pregnant, sadly. This may/may not be equally as good though! Stay posted and in the meantime try to guess what it is! Thank you all for hanging by me while I pull my head out of the ground and get back to what I love – writing!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxo

My Life Lately

I have been totally MIA and it’s not because I’m ignoring you guys…I’m truly not. In fact I have over 50 blog posts in my drafts folder ready to go!Gotta get with it! I figured I’d catch you up to date on what’s been going on in my life lately and then we can go from there!

Where to begin…ahhh yes….Sweet sweet summertime. No, actually not sweet. I am MISERABLE in the summer. Give me a gloomy fall day and a snow storm ANY DAY of the year. I am not a summer person. This of course all happened once I moved to Germany. Where as you know Air Conditioning does not exist and strange large flesh eating bugs attack me when its the most humid out, constantly. Today it’s rainy and its a balmy 46 degrees. I have found my happy place!

I’ve mentioned this before but in Germany, several companies have a mandatory 2-3 week summer vacation. They shut down the company and everyone goes to Turkey…sometimes Greece or Croatia. Air tickets spike and Germans are EVERYWHERE. This summer Toblerone and I decided to keep it simple. After all, we do have a wedding to pay for in a year! We went to our favorite hotel in the alps, I turned another year older, and got quite a few things done around the house. I got some really lovely gifts from the husband and in-laws 🙂 And in true German fashion very practical gifts! More on this later!

Now I’m in the midst of throwing myself into little projects. I decided not to continue teaching English lessons through the school and instead will keep my private lessons and search for a more permanent job. Of course these little projects consist of changing my name finally on my social security card, my passport, and filing for the Toblerone to get a green card. Thankfully, the US Embassy here in Germany can help me with the majority of that. And the greatest part about dealing with the embassy…is I call…and its ALL in English. THANK YOU BABY JESUS! Its nice to talk to Americans once in a while!

Other projects are of course…PARTIES!!!!! A dear friend of mine is preggers and although she is due any day now, I’ve decided to throw her a baby shower! Germans don’t have baby showers. It’s quite the opposite due to superstitions. Friends and family bring you gifts well after the baby has arrived. But if it was me I’d want to be showered for a day! So, that’s happening this weekend. Then of course, the 3rd Annual Halloween Party is almost here! We’ve invited even more people than last year, I’m prepping for this and it just so happens to be on our 1 year wedding anniversary too! We have a fun costume that I can’t wait to show you guys!

In other giant news…we decided to completely start from scratch with our wedding. In fact, We changed the venue, cut the guest list down by 75%, we changed the style, and…changed the state! Things back in NY just started to feel complicated for us for some reason. Maybe was it too many people? Was it because everything is just way too expensive? Maybe…but I really think that we just felt like we were settling for something that isn’t 100% us. SO, going back to the old plans…we’re planning a very small and intimate wedding in Cape Cod, Mass. As you all know…we love us some Cape! That’s where we are doing it and already, it’s a thousand times easier. A HUGE weight has been lifted off my shoulders. We realize most people won’t be able to join us…even most family won’t but I had to start thinking about what we wanted. Just us. And the answer was really simple.

And last but not least…Oktoberfest!!! Off to Stuttgart to celebrate and looking forward to it! This year is special, I’ll be meeting a new American friend who is in the same situation as me. You know the story…fell in love with a Germ and moved here to be with him. Yeah..so the story goes! Anyways, that will be fun. I’ve decided this year I really need to put some more effort into making friends here that get me. Looking forward to that! 🙂

Still collecting ideas for 30 things before I’m 30. German recipes is at the moment the one in my head but give me some ideas!!!

More to come about all the fun! Thanks for sticking it out with me while I took a little break from the world! The truth is, I hit a little downward spiral of homesickness and just generally hating people so I figured it was best to keep my negativity off the blog space for a bit. That’s never good for business!!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxo

Throwback Thursday – People, It’s My Birthday

Today is my birthday. Holy hell. The past 4 birthdays seem to really bring me back to reality. The truth is as simple as it sounds: I’m not getting any younger. To me, this is terrifying! Like shakin in my boots scared. Where did my life go? Am I where I want to be? Did I do all the things I wanted to do up until this point?

Today I’m 29…Like…whoa…

…and here is a little blurb of me on my 3rd birthday ( I think )

Today I had so many wonderful birthday messages through all sorts of different social networks and emails. It kind of makes a girl feel special. So to those of you who wished me a Happy Birthday, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Being so far away from what is normal it helps me stay grounded. I forget that living in Germany means that I have to follow their traditions, which is hard since I’ve been celebrating my birthday a different way every year. But I know that next year I will get to celebrate my birthday back in the US next year and it will be amazing!!!! Can. Not. Wait.

So I have one year left in my 20’s. One year as of today to do something great. I’ve got my life bucket list, I have my German bucket list which I am plucking away at but I want something different. Another blogger friend did 30 German towns before she turned 30. That inspired me to want to do something of my own. 30 things before I turn 30. But I need your help and your inspiration to give me ideas. What should I do with myself?! Give me your thoughts!

Here is to another year…correction, another wonderful year full of taking roads that are less traveled and making our own stories. Chapter by chapter.

Until next time, Readers!!!! xoxoxoxo

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

Throwback Thursday – A Babyrific Post!

Another Thursday yet again, only that much closer to the weekend! Woot woot! I’ve been having crazy dreams about babies and fertility drugs and all sorts of whacko stuff. And staying in theme with this week’s post about Germany’s way of announcing babies I decided to throw us all back to a cold December day in 2009 when my nephew was born! He was the first to give me the name “Aunt Kait” and I just fell TOTALLY in love with him when I saw him all wrapped up like a burrito.

Isn’t he adorbs?!? He’s all grown up now practically…talking, walking, saying “no” to everything because he can and because he’s a little manpants. Still totally in love with that sweet boy! This picture was also before I knew I had endometriosis and it was a time where the possibility of having my own child was still an easily reachable goal on the horizon.

For those of you who know that I wrote a story called “The Letter” for a great organization called CausePub, we need a certain amount of people to sign up to buy the electronic story. It’s only $10, and it would help us meet our goal to 1. Publish the book and 2. provide clean water to over 40,000 people in Africa. This is such a big deal to me.

I wrote the story a long time ago, not really sure that I would ever publish it in fear of showing my feelings and sounding too dramatic and spotlight hogging. But that’s not the case. I published it and people wrote to me, thanking me for my bravery. That they share the same feelings and problems and are feeling less alone. To have this story published in a book would be not only incredible for a writer like me but imagine the people it would influence!

If you would like to spend the $10 (come on, we all have it to spare!) then please go to CausePub – Buy the book and read more about what your money would do for others. Andddd of course, how it would make me kinda famous!

Until next time, Readers!!!! xoxoxoxo

Another Day, Another Story…

I did something yesterday that took a little courage to do. Remember back a few weeks when I posted about a really cool place called Causepub.com?? I submitted a story which you can see here and vote on for a chance for the story to be published!

Well, I posted a second story. The first was more along the humor lines and this second one was a personal one that hit home. I wrote this letter a bit ago when I was trying to piece together the feelings I was having regarding infertility and the struggle to have my own child. So I wrote this…and for some reason I decided to share it. Why did I share it? Maybe to put the message out in the universe would make it hurt less. Or maybe my struggle would help another woman know she’s not the only one. For whatever reason…it’s there.

Here’s a little excerpt from it:

You don’t know this yet, but you’re the best part of my life. I’ve dreamed of you for so long it’s almost as if I painted you to life. Those soft blue eyes, the sandy brown hair, and the giggle that sends me to the happiest of places.

I’ve been waiting to say those two little words out loud. To scream it to the world that you, my dream, are here. Those words that so many have been able to say before.

“I’m pregnant.”

But with each passing day, the words don’t come. I know you’re just waiting for the perfect moment to surprise me. You’re clever that way, just like me.

To read the rest of it you can go here: The Letter on Cause Pub. And it would mean the WORLD to me if you would vote by clicking the orange thumbs up or the orange button. The more votes, the more chance I have to get my story published.

The orange voting buttons look like this:

Thank you all for your help and mostly, thank you, as always, for reading!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxo

We All Need Clean Water

I should be on a ten hour bus ride to Berlin right now buttttt we kind of missed the bus. However, I can’t pretend I’m not relieved! From the beginning I had a bad feeling about this little get away and it’s for the better. It’s pouring this weekend anyways so better to just stay in by the fire! Not time to be a tourist! Besides, we are going to the US next weekend and Id rather stay home and get ourselves organized for that! Berlin…you’ll just have to wait!

I have some WÜNDERBAR news!! I wrote a short story (1000 words max is hard to do!) for CausePub which is an inspiring organization that publishes books in order to fund a specific cause. This particular project is going to provide clean water to those in need and what a cool thing that is! I share a crazy story about how I’m not a couch potato and bam! People are drinking clean water!!!Well, almost…

To see more about this particular cause watch this, its empowering:

Yesterday I got the news that my story passed the first step and was approved for the voting process! Now I need your help! The more votes, the higher the possibility that my story makes it into the book. Then a few things will happen:

1. I get to say I’m a published writer!!! Eeeeeek! Dream come true!!
2. I will be able to sleep at night knowing that because of my story (and many other awesome stories) there are people drinking clean water. For every book sold, three families in Africa will drink clean water for a year. How incredible is that?!?!?
3. I can see who votes for me (so you bet I’ll be adding you either to the naughty or nice list…) which means…I will put the names of everyone who voted into a drawing to win some pretty cool German stuff!! This may include a typical German beer stein and other fun things!

Here is how you vote!

Go to this link: Cause Pub Story – Click Here!

Once there…read the story…laugh at the mental image of me going through that strange ordeal.

Then…at the top of the page where there is a big orange button (this should show the number of votes so far). Click the orange button or click on the “thumbs up” orange button right below!

You can verify your vote through Facebook or twitter and then Bam!!! You just helped save a life….or helped to provide clean water but either way, you did a good thing!! Thank you for giving me a fighting chance to also chase my dream a bit!

Until next time, Readers!!!! xoxoxoxoxox

Throwback Thursday

Decided to do something regular with this blog since up until now I’ve been random and sporadic. So, Every Thursday is throwback Thursday where I share a picture and a blurb of a memory! 🙂 I mean…everyone is doing it! #tbt…right?

Ahhh…yes….throw back Thursday starting off to a great start! I’m taking you back to the 1980’s. I believe I was at Rehoboth Beach on a trip with the neighbors and my family (help me out mom!). Totally banging outfit. The tie dyed suit REALLY brings out my eyes don’t you think? Awesomesauce…thats all I can say!

Until next time, Readers!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Let Me Take My Bow

You know how everyone says, “I never win anything!”??? Yeah, I was definitely one of those people but may god strike me with a ball of thunder and lightening of fire if I ever say it again! Mark my words, lovelies, I have WON something! Something great! Something better than the lottery. I won the Versatile Blogger Award!!!! It’s so nice to be recognized for my blog, which I’m crazy passionate about.

And who do I have to thank?? A fellow Versatile Blogger, From Casinos to Castles. As an expat much like myself, she understands the hard work that goes behind falling in love with a European and living in a country that is not so similar to your own. She’s got a sense a humor I really dig so I STRONGLY urge you to go and check her out and stay for a bit on her side of the internet! So, THANK YOU for the award…Glad I’m no longer a “virgin” in the winning circle of life! And Happy to join such a versatile blogger such as yourself!!!

With this great honor comes a few rules that all must abide by. Kind of like a secret society…I always wanted to be in a secret club. So here it goes based on what is listed here!

1. Thank the person who gave you this award. (Thank You to: From Casinos To Castles!)
2. Include a link to their blog. (Just in case you missed the link above, go here: http://fromcasinostocstles.wordpress.com/)
3. Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
4. Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award
5. Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

I follow many great bloggers and discover more each week. I’m like a serial follower but I have no shame! A few of my favs at the moment in no particular order:

1. The Learning Curve
2. Wife In Captivity
3. Confuzzledom
4. My Life In Lederhosen
5. Spoonfuls of Germany
6. Germerican Denglish
7. Loving This Army Life
8. Doin’ Time On The Donau
9. Living The American Dream In Europe
10. Franglais
11. Sweet & Spicy Life
12. Ellie Moves To Deutschland
13. Small Town. Small Times.
14. Sojourning Abroad
15. Oh God, My Wife Is German

And as far as rule number 5 goes…I have to tell 7 things about myself to the person who nominated me. This is probably the hardest part!

1. My idol is Princess Diana. She held her head high with grace when put through the ringer by not only paparazzi but by the royal family as well. She was really something in her time and I would be happy to be half the woman she was!

2. I love to sing and like to think that I have a pretty good voice but I’m SO shy and don’t like to sing in front of anyone but my mom and my sister.

3. My cat, Max, died when I was about 13 years old and I must have cried for three days straight. Mariah Carey’s version of “Can’t Live” still throws me into a pit of black sadness about my long lost cat!

4. I seriously dig old school musicals. Anything to do with Judy Garland or Fred Astaire really get me excited! Favorite movie of all time is The Harvey Girls.

5. 80’s music makes me want to puke. One song here or there is ok, especialy when I’m drunk or at an 80’s themed party, but as soon as Madonna comes on, I’ll set the radio on fire.

6. I always said I wanted to be a house wife until I became one, lol.

7. If I was in prison and was allowed one last meal, it would be mac & cheese with hotdogs made by my mom and creamed tuna or creamed chipped beef on toast made by my dad.

So, that ends my tasks to accept the award and now that I’ve won, I’m off to hire a doorman, a maid, gardener, pool boy, and personal chef. I always knew I was a regal kind of gal… 🙂

Until next time, Readers!!!! xoxoxoxoxo

A German Bucket List

The truth is, I’ve been in Germany for just a few months shy of two years and there is no telling when I’ll make it back to the states. Ill admit that lately I’ve become more accepting of the culture around me and much more comfortable with the life I do have here. With that being said, regardless of time…I’m making a bucket list for Germany.

Here we go

1. Learn how to bake 3 different German tortes/cakes.

2. Snowboard on the Alps.

3. Try to have a whole conversation in German without ANY grammar mistakes!

4. Make crafty stuff/cookies and sell it at the famous Christmas Markets.

5. Try out a Zumba class in German and stick with it!

6. Start up a once-a-month game night with friends.

7. Go to Berlin and be a massive tourist.

8. Learn how to knit socks from Toblerone’s grandmothers.

So far this is what I’ve got! Anyone have any other suggestions for me? I really want to make this list meaningful and fulfilling. Taking advantage of all the time I have there! Leave your suggestions in the comments for me!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxo