Christmas Budget Home Tour

Anyone else sitting around eating way too much left over Christmas chocolates?  I got back to school today and found several more boxes of it waiting in my box.  Normally I would throw it out, but this is German chocolate and.it.is.amazing.  Thank God bikini season is much further away in Germany than it is in Texas.

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Moving internationally a month after throwing a wedding and going down to one salary at the same time put us on a really tight budget the second half of 2012.  I had to get creative when decorating for the holidays and mostly used what I already had in my craft supplies.

Here is our Christmas Budget Home Tour:

On top of our FREE Ikea Expedit shelf was our main Christmas display.

The snowman is actually made from a miniature leftover Thanksgiving pumpkin.  I used white acrylic paint although spray paint would have been a better choice.  I did this as a kid to a large pumpkin sitting on our front porch.  The paint acts as a sealer and slows down the pumpkin rotting.

 Yarn Wreath on our front door. 

Miniature yarn wreath and canvas.  

All materials for these two projects were purchased at the dollar store. Each month I paint a new canvas and change out the wreath for the seasons. 

 Danish Heart Basket Garland

I used scraps of different green and red materials and yarn.

 I plan to use the heart baskets again at Valentines Day! 

Maybe I'll put up a tutorial.

Since we were going to be back in the States for Christmas we decided not to put up a Christmas tree in 2012.  This is something that Husband and I truly regret.  We really missed the memories we've made picking out a tree and decorating it together.  In the future, no matter how impractical it seems at the time due to travel or whatever else life throws at us, we will make sure to get our Christmas tree trimmed and shining merrily. 

Hope your holidays were warm and bright,

Germany Isn't a Third World Country

Last week my husband pushed a shopping cart down the medicine aisle of Target and irritably said "You know Germany isn't a third world country" as I threw in a second box of DayQuil. 

So we didn't move to Ethiopia...and yes I know I can get most of my needs taken care of at Rossman or if not there then at an actual doctor's office.  However, when I'm feeling horrible and shouldn't be let out of the house, the last thing I want to do is stand in an aisle of foriegn products, trying to use google translate, to figure out if something is for my cough and/or just my runny nose.

Here is what my suitcase looked like flying home for Christmas:

My friend Anat asked me if I was serious.  Oh I was.  Just two pairs of jeans, three sweaters, and a pair of pjs was all that I packed for my trip home. I needed space. Lots of space.

Space for ALL of this!

Can you believe my husband and I were able to bring all of this home?! 

Most of these items were packed into our checked luggage and all clothing items were put into our carry ons.  I'm pretty certain our carry ons weighed more than our checked luggage.  We each had two large duffle bags full of new sweaters, snow boots, and heavy cookbooks.

I probably looked a lot like this walking through the airports:

Hunched over and feeling like a pack mull.

Yummiest Item:

Husband- Chili Powder   

Maren- Pure Almond Extract
Shelby- Beggin' Strips

Most Useful Item:

Husband- Metric Set of Allen Wrenches   

Maren- 4 month supply of Tampax Pearl
Shelby- New dog leash

Favorite Item:

Husband- DVDs

Maren- Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Hand Soap
Shelby- Black fur lined hooded coat

Oddest Item:

Husband- Bacon Jelly

Maren- Computer Power Supply
Shelby- Everything else

Couldn't fit into the suitcase so left behind item:

Husband- Jalepeno cooker

Maren- Handmade quilt
Shelby- her best dog friend Lila

We can get an equivalent to most of these items in Germany.  However, it is nice to have the comforts of home when you are in a new place.  Until there is a Pier1 or Homegoods in Germany I think I will keep leaving room in my suitcase!

Home Sweet Home,



2012 in Review

Happy New Year!  We had such a good time last night bringing in 2013 with our family and friends.  Husband and I spent our evening at a dinner party hosted by one of our best friends.  Throughout the meal each guest took a turn standing and saying a toast.  Between all the cheers and glasses clinging I thought back to what a year 2012 was to us. It was a wild, in your face, not gonna slow down, can you handle it kind of year.
 
Let's take a look back at 2012:
January- Yeah I can't remember that far back...
Februrary- Celebrated 28 years with my best friends at my favorite French restaurant.
March-cake and catering tasting, invitations, dress fittings, floral decisions, dj interviews, wedding, Wedding, WEDDING planning...........AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
April- STARR testing and super fun wedding showers!
May- Emotional knowing this was most likely my last year teaching after five wonderful years at a great school.
June- Officially signed the German work contract, GOT MARRIED, honeymooned two weeks in Ireland and Scotland. The calm before the storm....
July- Packed my life into about 100 boxes and sorted them by "Store in Parent's Garage" or "Take to Germany". Then Husband and I moved to Munich, Germany.
August- Ate Italian gelato, walked all over Munich, picked fresh raspberries, created many yarn wreaths and watched Love Actually 5 times.
September- Moved into an empty apartment and slept on an air mattress for a month and a half with just our suitcases.
October- Our crate arrived, new kitchen installed and our Labrador Shelby flew solo to Munich plus...Oktoberfest!!!
November- Participated in my first Christmas Bazaar as a vendor. Broke even and made enough to drink a margarita.
December- Started a new job teaching kindergarten! Came home for Christmas with the family and to ring in the New Year!

May 2013 be a little boring,

Christmas Day 1

It's 3:05 a.m. and I am sitting at my Mother In-Law's desktop blogging.  Gosh, I hope nobody wakes up...this lack of writer's block could lead to an awkward middle of the night situation. 

 

In case you were wondering, I'm happily jet lagged because Husband and I are back in the States for the next two weeks!  Each day I will document our events on here.  Since tonight we (started) watching a Christmas Carole, I will keep with the movie theme and organize my thoughts by Past, Present, and Future.

 

Past:

Less than 24 hours off of the airplane and my first stop was my former school.  I spent five years teaching with some amazing people, sweet children, and supportive parents.  Just walking into the office I was greeted with friendly faces, big hugs, and felt very welcomed.  My friend Kim and I were able to visit several classrooms, speak to teacher friends and say hello to what used to be our little second graders.  It was so refreshing to be reminded of what a wonderful school family we had.  I'm so fortunate to have taught with such giving people and to have started my education career in such a warm place.

 

Present:

After the school visit, Kim and I headed to one of my favorite spots in our historic downtown, Spoons Cafe.  I love this place because the food is comforting and the atmosphere has a vintage rustic vibe. I had a BLTA (mmm bacon!) and pumpkin soup with a passion tea. One of my classic Spoon orders!  Better than the meal though was our conversation.  Don't you love having friends that after months of not seeing each other you can just pick up where you left off?

Not a beat was missed as we talked about married life, future plans, and our walk with faith.  While expressing how Husband and I missed meeting with our small group each week, I had an "ah ha" moment.  It has been difficult finding a church to get plugged into in Germany and this past fall we have felt lost without worship. The "ah ha" moment came when Kim reminded me that the people are the church not the building.  If we can't find a place to feed us God's word then perhaps we should find other people like us in the same situation and form a new small group.  Perhaps there is more to the great plan than just work opportunities during our stay in Germany.

 

Future:

The last time I drove a car was July 22nd.  After five months of DB training me around and Husband chauffeuring me in our standard car, Flash, I was ready to be behind the wheel. My in-laws have been so kind in letting me store my car at their house during our time in Germany.  My car is the same one I drove in high school and after 10 years I still love it.  It took me to and from college, back and forth (nearly) every day of my teaching career, and man did we let the good times roll.  I was nervous about driving again after such a long time, but just like riding a bicycle, it came back naturally.  It is amazing how refreshing it was to get back behind the wheel, cruise down Highway 75 and blare the best of country music. The small things...  I know our time together is coming close to an end.  When Husband and I get back we will end up getting a new car. One with four doors, a roomy trunk, side airbags, childproof rolling windows, and if I'm lucky...automatic locks. 

 

Merry Christmas,

 

 

Modernly Old Fashioned

Reflecting on our day over steaming bowls of homemade chicken noodle soup, Husband and I realized that today must be declared an Old Fashion Sunday.  Going through the things we accomplished today it was pretty hysterical to see a resemblance in what the day held.  

1st. Old Fashion Zucchini Bread

Every Christmas season my mom makes a delicious Zucchini Bread.  With a zucchini just hanging out in the fridge, I decided it was time to make some good use of it.  Not having my mom's recipe here in Germany, I took to the next best thing...Google.  There I found a healthier version of this timeless classic from Skinny Ms that uses honey in replacement of sugar and low fat plain Greek yogurt instead of butter.  I decided to experiment and used cherry yogurt but in the end could not even tell. Next time I will stick to the suggested plain Greek yogurt.  Breads do not last too long in our house, so knowing this version from Skinny Ms makes me feel less guilty when I have made it two weeks in a row! 

A delicious warm aroma fills the entire house while this bread bakes!

2nd. Old Fashion Orange Juice

One of the perks of visiting Great Grandma Alma in sunny California were her gorgeous orange trees.  Waking up in the morning you could expect to find fresh squeezed orange juice waiting to quench your thirst.  As newlyweds, Husband and I were so excited to receive an electric juicer as a wedding gift.    The first sip of fresh squeezed orange juice always takes me back to those warm visits in California.

Just about each week I buy a bag of orange from Aldi for about one euro.  

While they are not as wonderful as California oranges, they still produce a really nice juice.

The whole process of cutting and squeezing only takes me about 15 minutes.

It is so easy it makes me wonder why I haven't been doing this more often...

Our not so Old Fashioned Electric Juicer from Cuisinart.

I highly recommend this juicer!

One orange squeezes out about half a cup of juice.

One bag of oranges will make about one liter of juice.

3rd. Old Fashion Laundry

Our washing machine is downstairs in the keller with about 8 other machines in a washroom that each unit shares.  The washroom pump has been broken for about two weeks and a new part is on order but still not here. German time frames are a lot different than American time frames... Patience is a necessity!  Twice the laundry room has had a nice flood of water on the floor so it has now been closed off.  That means for two weeks our laundry has been piling up!  Do you realize I had to count my unmentionables to see how much longer I could last without doing laundry?!  Well today was Doom Day but I have a wonderful husband who took this damsel out of her distress.  He washed two loads of laundry for us...in our bathtub...  You don't realize this when you run your washing machine, but that water turns a nasty grey color in it's first cycle. Ek! It was too gross to photograph for you to see. I think my husband deserves a Husband of the Year award! 

In Germany it is very common to hang dry your clothes.

Since it is snowing outside and below freezing... our bathtub has become our dryer.

It will take about two days for these socks to fully dry without the sun. 

I just hope my knickers won't still be drying when we have family visit this weekend!

4th. Old Fashion Christmas Music

While working on the chicken noodle soup tonight we enjoyed some classic Christmas music from our favorite artists via the not so Old Fashion Youtube.  It is December 2nd today and we still had not heard any Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, or Julie Andrews.  But huddled around the lap top with our bowls of soup we enjoyed these traditional tunes much like you would have experienced decades ago.  It was such a nice rewind to a laid back, Old Fashioned Sunday.

 

Enjoying Gluwein at the Residence Christmas Market Saturday night!

In other news:

After 6 months of being an "Accidental Housewife" tomorrow I start work at my new school.  I was hired in August for a job that starts the beginning of December.  After planning a wedding, teaching in a new testing grade with new content last year, and moving halfway around the world God knew I needed this time off to decompress.  I was burned out and this time has allowed me to get back the passion that had been spread thin.  Teaching is such a rewarding experience and I am so excited to gain new perspective in this field.  I'm looking forward to meeting people from all over the world, learning what kindergarten is all about, and hopefully some 5 year olds can help me improve my German speaking skills!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Waking up this morning it was weird not being able to turn on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I have fond memories arriving to my grandparent's house early Thanksgiving Day and laying on the floor watching the parade.  Then after awhile my aunts, uncles, and cousins would trickle in over the next few hours.  My grandparents would set a table so long it would stretch into the the living room.  Everyone had their "spot" at the table.  Lefties on the corner, highchair at the other corner, and the dog whining underneath at my grandmother's feet.  After dinner everyone would retire to the living room, every seat and floor spot taken.  We would visit or watch family film strips.  Then came time for dessert and coffee.  We would have an assortment of pies to pick from; pecan, apple, chocolate, and my all time favorite, pumpkin.  One of the cousins would "take orders" and pass out the pie pieces.  There were some great times shared around the table and in my grandparent's house.

Usually 15 or more people would sit around this table.

Sometimes card tables past their prime were brought in for the "kid's table".

Today was a lot different.  As the years are coming and going new traditions and changes are taking place.  Today my husband and I celebrated our first Thanksgiving married.  We were sad to not be with our family crowded around a big table, but did have an enjoyable experience just the two of us.  I started the baking and cooking at 1:00 p.m. with the traditional pumpkin pie.  I knew canned pumpkin was not available in Germany so I packed a can into my suitcase back in July.  When it comes to pie, I think ahead!  Grandpa would be proud.

My pumpkin pie brought all the way over the ocean.

After awhile Husband was able to come home from work.  Together we made homemade green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, veggies, and a well herbed turkey.  Initially we were concerned about being able to have an American traditional Thanksgiving meal but with some improvising everything worked out well when it came to finding the ingredients. We learned how simple it is to actually make homemade green bean casserole. Since french fried onions are not available here, we sauteed onion in oil until crispy. Cream of Mushroom soup comes in a packet in Germany so we created our own with onions, mushrooms, butter, flour, and milk.  It was good and just as easy as the common recipe.  

Just so my husband and I knew where to "sit" at our table for 2!

Both of us enjoyed talking for a few minutes to our families.  It is hard to be away from them but I know we are fortunate to have the new experiences here in Germany.  Someday we will go back to large family meals at the grandparent's house.  New additions will lay on the floor watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and I will be in the kitchen making the green bean casserole.  Today I'm thankful for family, past and present, near and far. 

Happy Thanksgiving! And Happy 80th Birthday Gpa!

Homesick for...Kroger???

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I felt this was an appropriate entry with all the grocery shopping everyone has been encountering this week. 

I loved Saturday mornings in Texas.  My body would wake up way too early so I would spend time at the kitchen table creating my weekly menu, going over the grocery list, and reviewing my coupon selection.  Then in jeans and a fleece, with hair in a ponytail, I would head to my local Kroger.  This became one of my favorite parts of the week.  The roads were bare, the day fresh, and the store not yet overcrowded.

At Kroger I would get my shopping cart, carefully buckle my purse into the baby seat, and place my coupon file on top.  Then I would stop at the Starbucks coffee stand for a warm treat.  With my white chocolate mocha in hand, I would leisurely stroll the aisles crossing off my listed items using my bold felt tip pen.  This was time for me to relax and practice my mad math teacher skills.  It was like a game. "How much can I save on this item?"

My favorite part at the end of the transaction was when I would hand over my stack, hopefully, of coupons.  If I saved at least $20, I considered the grocery trip a success.  I think my mom received a few bragging calls in such occasions!  Afterwards, I would make small talk as the bag boy helped me load my car.  I enjoyed the friendly service and my visits were usually quite pleasant.

Here in Germany, grocery shopping is a bit different of an experience.  It is more like a marathon or a fight between life and death.

I get anxiety when I am due for a shopping trip.  Having only one car I shop several times a week instead of once.  It is about a 10 minute walk to the store so I take only one reusable bag.  This prevents me from buying too many items to drag home.

There are two grocery stores that I usually shop at depending on what items are on my list.  Aldi is great for affordable produce, meats, and basic pantry items.  AEZ is where I purchase name brands and milk.  Before going to Aldi sometimes I feel like I should stretch my muscles.  It is always an intense experience.

Inside Aldi the aisles are over crowded with hurried people.  You better move it or lose it.  There is not a fancy coffee stand just loud noises of the rush.  Much like a french fry grease clogged artery, the floor is packed with staff stocking shelves and carts whizzing around pushed by mad housewives.  You can hardly get through the place.

The check out lanes always contain people backed up into the produce section.  If you aren't watching, an aggressive retiree will try to sneak their way in line after not so indiscreetly picking up an avocado.  On the conveyor belt I always organize my items heaviest to lightest.  Meats first, then cheeses, followed by produce, and finally breads last.  While standing next to the conveyor belt, I get my money ready.  Pulling out your wallet and counting money takes too much time.  I always slip my ready cash into my jacket pocket for quick access.  

When it is my turn to check out, I better be ready.  At lightening fast speed the checker girl will fling my items across the scanner.  There is no time to follow the rings ups to check for errors because you better be bagging.  The girl is always done ringing my food before I can shove it all into my bag.  Then she stares at me impatiently until I hand over my money.

Hoping the change is correct, I stuff it into my pocket and quickly move out of the way.  At the door I reorganize my bag of groceries, throw it over my shoulder, and head on the walk home.  In and out as quick as a flash.

WHEW!

Despite the differences in customer service, we are saving a lot more money on groceries here in Germany.

Estimated Weekly Grocery Costs:
Kroger: 80 dollars
Aldi: 30 euros which is about 40 dollars

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!