We have had a busy trip so far, it's gone too fast! I spent the first several days Christmas shopping and dealing with car repairs. Visiting with family and friends, Christmas, after Christmas shopping, movies and eating.

One of the foods I miss is Chinese Food, our favorite restaurant is right near our house called Mountain City. This little husband and wife run the place they are both about 4 feet tall, and the hardest workers you will ever meet.

When we lived in Utah we would go there all the time or do take out. My sister and her family have gone there for years as well. One time my sister and I went together....Kin the owner was shocked we were sisters.

In her Chinese accent she would say "you two are sisters"? Yes we are. So the next time I'd come in she would say "your sister is so sexy and You...you are so normal"! WTF does that mean? I would find my self explaining why I was so normal and not sexy like my sister....often I would to do take out on my way home from Gym so I'd be in sweats with messy bun!

Then I would come in and she would say "I no like your hair, you need it cut" why you not like your sister!!

OMG seriously enough little china women! So often on days I had my hair done I found myself wanting Chinese Food, but secretly I think I wanted her to see me looking done and I seeked her approval. SAD I know!

When we would come in as a family she loves my Husband she would say your husband is so good looking and you, you are so normal!She loves my daughter always telling her how pretty she is and how she looks just like her Dad. I don't know why I kept coming back I think I'm crazy. The abuse I took from her for years.

The last month before we moved Katelyn and I ate there a lot. Craig was already in Germany and I was busy packing and cooking was the farthest from my mind. She would always say "how is your husband? He is so good looking....email him and tell him I say HI!! Tell him come see me before you move!

Tonight we paid her a visit .....she said to me " you look good like real Germany women" WTF does that mean? I think it's a compliment.....maybe? She took one look at my hubby and said "you look old"! Hee hee I was laughing inside ....yes finally! She brought us our meal and pretty much stood there while we ate starring at Craig saying you look good but old, lots of grey hair you work too hard. Katelyn she said "you look so smart like very smart girl look like you 18 or 19 years old! Of course Kate liked that....I was just happy I didn't look "NORMAL" but like real Germany women! I'm pretty sure this is what she meant!!

Merry Christmas

Peppermint Mocha Coffeemate Rocks!

It's 5 am and this JET LAG has got to end! I'm done with you STUPID Jet lag! Being awake at 5 am is for paper boys and bakers!


Since we landed in Utah it's been foggy with the inversion.....you can barely see the mountains. And it's cold....different cold but cold.


Expecting snow today one hand I'm excited....woot woot (that's my excitement at 5 freaking AM)
and on the other hand I hate driving in the snow!!


It's been fun driving again....well at least the first five minutes after that I felt a sense that nobody drives as good as me and they should get out of my way. Come on people WTF was a constant conversation I had.


Shopping with a man (sorry honey) is never fun!


I'm not ready for Christmas.......OH Crap are there any stores open at 5 freaking AM? Besides Walmart?


Katelyn keeps getting the same cold over and over again! It's getting annoying ( sorry honey) but seriously get over it already!


We are staying at my parents place (thanks Mom and Dad) while they are in NJ visiting my sisters. It's nice and I totally appreciate it. But Mom expiration dates are there for a reason because things DO expire. I needed medicine last night for Katelyn and found some cold tablets in junk drawer.....score! NOT expired in 1993!! MOM!! 1993!


I have a dentist appointment today and I'm totally looking forward to it for the Nitrous gas.....sad uh? Not even focusing on the fact I think it's a crown or root canal or something major that could cause pain. No not me I'm focusing on the gas and a power nap before I had to the MALL and fight the crowds.


Have a wonderful Tuesday and stop by and visit the UN Mom and her Random Friends!

HOME HERE WE COME!!!!!

(photo credit: Jeff Wignall)

Tomorrow bright an early at O'crack 30 we are heading to the STATES!

It's going to be a long day.....really, really long, but worth it!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Marzipan

My German teacher gave me what I thought was a mini loaf of bread. The package said Marzipan and something else....It was not bread! What the hell is Marzipan and what are you suppose to do with it? Make something with it? Or just eat it? My husband took one bite and spit it out, daughter did the same! I took a little bite ....me no like!

Marzipan is everywhere here......have you and do you like it?

CHOCOLATE YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH!

We are experiencing some season confusion here......one of my Rhododendron Bushes has several blooms!

 It's not because it's warm, Oh! no it's bitter arse cold. That's frost on my blooming flower!

YES! I don't know if you can tell but it snowed last night!! Woot Woot love snow! What can't you see it? It's there....that white stuff is SNOW! Okay it is only a dusting but still...it's technically SNOW!

P.S. For those of you who asked I did the pictures via Polaroid on picnik.com

What's your favorite stocking stuffer?

For me shopping for presents is easier then coming up with creative stocking stuffer's.

My favorite is   

But after that I'm at a loss?

What are your favorites for teens or Husbands?

Dexter Season 4 finale anyone???

Any Dexter fans out there? We watched season finale last night and OMG! It was awesome, I could barely sleep after that! 

Thoughts? I want to believe it was a dream....but I don't think it is! 

September is a long way off to wait! 

Saturday was pretty exciting day around the Frau's Haus! First thing in the morning I always boot up the computer, checking my email and I have say I was over whelmed. You might want to sit down for this.... I recieved three very important emails....apparently I may have won the UK lottery (OMG !) and the Irish lottery (double OMG!!) and then this nice man from Africa has 10 million dollars he wants to wire transfer to my account and I get to keep 35% can you believe it! It was weird how it all show up in my spam file but that happens all the time with emails!! Needless to say I was freaking I mean I'm RICH, what to do first.....I hate to admit my first thoughts were a bit selfish, you know had thoughts of nip and tuck etc..than of coarse my husband can quit his job and we can move back to Utah. I was almost dizzy from the excitement.

But with some thought I decided to delete the winning info I just was really worried about this sudden wealth...how would it change us? I just couldn't risk it! Sorry Honey get to the office before your late!

Later that night we had a Winter Dinner for my Daughter's school at the nicest hotel in Bremen, Park Hotel. It's a gorgeous luxurious hotel and was a beautiful setting for a dinner/fundraiser. I was really excited, I mean my day had started so well with the emails and all. I knew this was THEE event of the year for the school so I search high and low for a nice appropriate outfit for such event. First things first European sizes are not and I repeat not the same as American just want to make it clear. After many trips to the city and many dressing room battles and a lot of foul language I found an outfit that would do. I was a bit uncomfortable in my holiday out fit, I was all geared up in my SPANX and actually added the control top pantyhose as well! Now that I've turned away the winnings from the lottery my only option is SPANX x2.
I thought I was going to die....I sat there at the table listening to conversation and all along thinking to my self ...I  wonder if anyone has died from SPANX cutting off air flow? And thoughts of OMG I really have to pee but how can I Un-Spanx myself than what? The rest of the night was a blur due to low oxygen levels in my brain. I think I had fun, I didn't win anything which was weird considering the luck my day started out with. Oh well! There's always this weeks SPAM fortunes to look forward too!

We also celebrated our little German Christmas. My family gave me Wii Fit (woot, woot) So maybe I will lose weight and not die by Spanx death! And I also received a gorgeous Santa Balance toy.

Hope your weekend was just has Lucky as mine!

Sunday in My City-Weihnachtsmarkt

Germany is famous for their Weihnacht Markets. I love our Christmas Market no matter what time of day or night you go, it's always crowded. It can be 10 am and people are happy enjoying their Gluhwein and Bratwurst, enjoying the season.

We start our tour with the Christmas tree at the Hilton, we went there on Friday evening after doing some Christmas shopping. It was freezing out and one can have only so much Bratwurst! The Hilton's tree was amazing and we were lucky to listen in on a performance of a local choir.

They were singing in English and German, beautiful voices and a nice treat. Note the girl in front has a real candle burning wreath in hair, she was covered in wax by the end. It was hard for me to focus on the music, I wanted to stand by her with a glass of water. One can never be too safe!

Pictures do not do justice how gorgeous this was, there are several side streets in the city lined with Chandeliers. It's an amazing sight!

Lots to do for the whole family, seeing Santa but not sitting on Santa's lap wonder if that is an American custom? Kiddie Rides and yummy sweets and treats!

Shopping of coarse, for authentic German Nutcrackers, Smokers, Pyramids and ornaments galore!

The funniest thing I noticed is large groups of friends young and old all decked out in matching hats, some Santa hats, Christmas tree hats, Antlers, Christmas Cowboy hats but always the group had the same. Usually quite happy and Gluhwein in hand singing away! Nice to see!

I loved seeing this, side by side the display of two religious symbols celebrating the season together!

Hope you enjoyed a tour of my German Christmas Market.
Head over to Unknownmami and travel the world with her and friends.

Happy Holidays and Happy Sunday!

I have grandiose plans

In this:

I hope to smuggle return with:

Wish me luck!!

In TEN days!!

We will be landing in Salt Lake City, Utah!! A place we call HOME.......I'm so excited!
We are spending almost three weeks there, plenty of time to visit family and friends, shop, eat out, see movies, did I mention SHOP! Drive a car again, ski, play in the snow oh! the list is endless.

There are several food items I'm over the top excited about. First Mexican food, OMG do I miss it! Second Hamburger, that is real beef....good ol' fashion greasy burger! Third is flavored coffeemate oh how I miss you let me count the ways!!!! Fourth Chinese Food...Lemon chicken, Orange chicken, General Chow I'll be there soon!

Shopping who do I miss the most TARGET, TJ MAXX , OLD NAVY or every MALL in the VALLEY...who am I fooling your all #1 in my book. VISA and AMX are you ready to do some work!!

Family and Friends  are you ready for FRAU, I've missed you all!

New Moon....Jacob....Edward...see you soon!

Candy Canes Oh! My!

TEN DAYS PEOPLE ....TEN DAYS!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!

Merry SITSmas!!

Merry SITSmas from Frau and Family!

Our little German Christmas Tree

This is our Christmas tree in Germany for this year. From what I learned most Germans put their tree up on Christmas Eve, the children go to bed and on Christmas morning the magic of Christmas begins. They also put real candles on their trees and light them for short periods of time, I have fire issues so I put candle lights on.  I have never really had a chance to see a German tree, since they put them up so late and we are in the States by then. I'm pretty sure we are the only ones in Bremen with a fake tree! But my house is decorated and it feels like the holidays are upon us. 

How about you did you get your tree up? 

Sundays In My City-Saint Nikolaus Day

Last night in Germany and many other countries as well. Children left their shiny shoes or boots outside the door or by the fireplace so Saint Nikolaus could pay them a visit. Before last year I had heard of this but never participated, Katelyn is all about when in Rome do as Romans so we took part in the tradition.

Children dress up as Saint Nikolaus and go to stores and have sweets, nuts or fruit placed in their bags or boots they carry. Some even come to your home like trick or treating. We did not have any visitors like this picture. But I did see children bringing their boots to the grocery store where a Saint Nikolaus filled them with fruit and nuts.

 

I love seeing the different traditions Germany has. My German teacher told me that most Germans do not decorate for the season until Saint Nikolaus Day. And when she grew up in Holland if you decorated before this day, you would often receive notice. I'm not sure what that means except maybe you received coal or got put on the naughty list!

Needless to my lovely daughter was at a sleepover last night and sent a text reminding us that Saint Nikolaus should being coming tonight!! My husband texted her back asking if she put out her shoes? She responded by saying I'm pretty sure I left a few pairs laying around!

What about you do they celebrate Saint Nikolaus in your city?

Have a wonderful start to the Holiday Season!


Go visit Unknown Mami and see what her city and others have going on, on this lovely Sunday.

Candy Canes

Did you know Candy Canes originally came from Cologne, Germany? It's true in 1670 a choirmaster gave the children sugar sticks to keep them quiet during Christmas performance. They were white representing purity and straight in the beginning.  Later bent to represent a Shepard hook or the "J" for Jesus. 

In the 1800's they made their way to America and in the 20th Century the red stripes were added, some say they represent the blood of Christ. The flavor of peppermint is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is said to symbolize the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made.

I love Candy Canes, I love to decorate my tree with them, I love to eat them and I love to stir my hot cocoa with them also. Since moving to Germany the founders of the first Candy Cane....you think they would be everywhere right? And you think they would be the best in the world right? They are not everywhere and they taste gross and are not peppermint flavor at all. And they are so expensive 1 Euro or $1.50 for ONE! They don't even sell them in boxes with multiple quantities! THE INVENTOR OF THE FREAKING CANDY CANE!!!!

So friends in America when you are buying your Candy Candy's in the box it's probably Bob's Candy Canes the largest producer and you are probably paying the same price for a box as I am for one little yucky non peppermint candy cane!! SO enjoy them and consider yourself lucky! 

 Not bitter just jealous!

Hi everyone! See the above widget, Send a card to the Troops. Xerox is sponsoring this and children all over the US have designed the cards. It's totally free and a feel good gesture for the men and women risking their lives each and every day. One easy click and it's done...easy peasy!
Here is the one I sent

I have been in..... denial.

I really didn't think my hair was that Gray!

Until the sun was shining just right, and I glance in the mirror.....the horror!

So I took charge, oh yes I did....I hummed and ha'ed a few days!

I knew my emergency awakening was not going to get me in to my regular gal..

as in the one I went to in August!!!

So I bravely scared as hell walk into a salon ...in Germany with little or no language skills to guide me.

I did my best Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Nein, she says and looks at me as to say now what!!!

This is when for some reason I think speaking loud and slow with choppy words, some how they will understand me....sounds a little like this me need color on my gray hair and (using my fingers to make scissor movements ) a trim!! JA!

She looks at me with a blank stare...ah! eyebrow Ja! 

NEIN I point again to skunk stripe me need COLOR!! 

Ja, Ja, Okay heute? (today) Ja! Hello I'm here aren't I! 

Okay now she wants to know what color ....I know my German colors but I really don't want just a solid Brown want some texture....(suddenly the fact I have been walking around gray for too long I need a fancy color!) 

So I look around the salon I figure I can't point to someones hair and say Ja like hers!

OKay bad idea there was Pink and Elvira and pin stripe girl. 

So I say just Brown! Beggars can't be choosers at this point.

She works her magic and I see my gray hairs disappearing and a lovely brown shade appear.  She just keeps smiling at me and nodding her head ! And I smiled back and nodded my head! She say ja das is gut and I said much better! and I thanked god it was not pink and blue and any other rainbow of colors! 

The thrill of the hunt!

Yesterday I woke up at O'crack thirty, psyched to start my Christmas shopping. I put on my fuzzy slippers, grabbed a cup of joe and fired up my piece of crap Dell. I thought for sure my inbox would be full of special invites for extra percentages off but nothing.....! You know like on Black Friday first 100 shoppers get a free teddy bear or key chain.....something! Also in my mind I was thinking HA! I'm 6-8 hours ahead of the game in the USA I'm so ROCKIN the deals before everyone else is even awake (insert evil laugh!)

Online shopping is really my only form of shopping these day. I don't shop here for anything but food and health and beauty items. And since I'm not working and seem to have no motivation to workout, having way too much time on my hands I surf the net a lot!!! So it's safe to say I know my prices and deals...but I wanted to wait for Cyber Monday...what a mistake! I think there was much better deals before Monday and even higher % off . It's hard to get excited about free shipping WHOOT WHOOT ! That happens all the time. Who were they trying to fool, with all their flashy Cyber Monday ads and glitzy enticement?

Nothing compares to the hunt of shopping for deals in person....seeing other shoppers with bed head, their coffee travel mugs and list in hand. The anger of not finding what little Suzy wants and being pissed off cause you have waited hours in line. And to boot your stuck behind someone that won't shut up cause they found everything on their list and she sent her husband to Walmart and he scored a Flat Screen TV for nothing and their older daughter is at the mall and was first 100 hundred in line and won a million dollars.All you can think is shut up lady I've been up since 4 a.m. OMG!

 I totally miss that!

Christmas time means Christmas movies, with 25 days 
(25 DAYS OMG!)

until Christmas every night is movie night!

Christmas is all about lists, so here's a list of my families

  TOP 10 all time favorite Christmas movies!

Christmas Story

Elf

The Grinch

Miracle on 34th Street

Home Alone

Charlie Brown Christmas

It's a Wonderful Life

Christmas Carol

Christmas Vacation

The Santa Clause

What about you, did I miss your favorite? 
P.S. Why does my Christmas count down widget say 24 days??

Sundays In My City-My Favorites

Stop by UNKNOWNMAMI and see her beautiful City, then travel the world with her and her friends.
The weather has been getting in the way for my photo ops of my city. So I decided to show you a few of my favorite things about living in Bremen, Germany.

1. The houses here are really unique, there are a lot of apartments,brownstone style homes, farm houses, A frame houses, modern looking homes. One of my favorite is the thatch roof homes and the eye brow windows. 
2. Protest happen everywhere I know this, but coming from Utah it is pretty rare to see. So here in Germany it's normal to have the city shut down for several hours and have a peaceful and some times not so peaceful protest/demonstration. 
3. Toilettes galore! In most places you have to pay a small amount or tip an attendant to use the toilette. The trade off is they are always stocked with TP, you will never have to ask your neighbor to spare a square! Plus they are some of the cleanest toilette around. Most restaurants if you are dining in you do not have to pay. When we were in Italy a Toilette was hard to find and when you did they were disgusting.  
4. Fountains, fountains and more fountains! I love fountains my city has quite a few and they are beautiful in their own way.
5. Statues all over in random places, some of  importance and some not so important. 
6. Random horn tooting people in parks and street corners. 
7. Flower markets everyday but Sunday! ALL YEAR!
8. Market of fruit,veggies, meats,cheeses and such everyday but Sunday! ALL YEAR!

Hope you enjoy some of my favorites in Bremen!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

**Collage inspired by unknownmami