Changing things up

With the new year coming up I have been thinking a lot lately about what is important to me, what I want to focus on next year and what I am going to let go of, moving forward.  

I want to focus more on my health and on my family.  I'd like to kick start the year with going back on Paleo, getting back to Zumba and taking up running again.  I used some of my Christmas money to buy running shoes today and I'm looking into a couple of organised runs in the new year.

Thinking about family, I want to spend more time with the kids and more time with Nico.  I'll be keeping up our two main documenting areas - Project Life and the one second a day videos.  Both have been really fun this year and are so nice to look back on.  We're also planning our first real family holiday in 2019 and I am so excited about it.

This year has been huge in terms of my career.  Things are still being worked out and finalised but I am making the hours fit better with family and I'm looking forward to just settling in more at my new school and finding my feet there.  After a turbulent year of change and uncertainty, I am finally where I have been fighting to get to for the past seven years and that feels great.

I'm still carrying on with my goals and with my crafting but in a bid to ease up on myself and reduce some of the stress and pressure I have felt this year, I am going to stop aiming to do my languages every day - I do that anyway through work and I'll still dip into it during my commute but it's off my to-do list.

Finally, I'm going to stop blogging every day.  I don't want to let go of this space completely, it has been an important way to keep up with friends and family over the last eight years and put my thoughts out there.  Lately it feels like I am writing for the sake of it and to be honest, I'm boring myself and getting stressed about it.  Going forward I will write when I have something to say and when I have the time to say it well.

Here's to a fabulous 2019!

Weekly Wisdom

When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a bigger fence.

The Saturday Update

What a fabulous holiday week!  We had a busy weekend of shopping, wrapping and sending in a last minute dash to prepare for Christmas.  I never want to be that late again!  

We spent Christmas Eve visiting Nico's family with my Dad.  It was really lovely to catch up with everyone and the kids had a whale of a time.  It was nice to look forward to the new year too with an invitation to a family wedding.

Christmas was blissfully quiet.  Just the four of us at home with my Dad.  We had bacon sandwiches for breakfast and duck for dinner and in between we opened gifts, played and watched a couple of films.

Boxing day was similar with a visit from Nico's parents too.  It was nice to be relaxed.

Dad left on Thursday.  The kids were quite down but we had a lovely breakfast and bit of shopping before taking him to the station.

Yesterday I handed in my application for citizenship - just a six week wait to hear now.  We got a few bits and bobs done in the afternoon but we are definitely still in rest mode.

Today I have a hair appointment and then I need to get on top of a few jobs to have a quiet week next week.  I am loving this vague period between Christmas and New Year now that the Christmas stress is over.

Links!

Mum life.

Feeling poor after Christmas?

Oh dear.

A great idea for history lovers.

Mulling over whether to do this in 2019.

Didn't do as well as I hoped here.

Glad this is over for another year.

2018

December Goals Review

Here's how December went:

• Visit the Christmas market with family - done!
• Fondu night - no.
• Sort out the hobby room - done!
• Finish a crochet project - done!
• Make Christmas cards - done!

Gingerbread House

A friend gifted us this gingerbread house kit when it was Joshua's birthday. I just had to make up the 'glue' icing with egg white and powdered sugar.

I waited until I had some backup and made this with Dad and the kids at the end of last week.

It was surprisingly easy - even Joshua got involved and it was fun. The only problem is that they are not eating it as fast as we made it.

Isabella was extra excited having made a house at Kindergarten so she knew what to do.

It was a fun little family project.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a merry Christmas with your loved ones and a happy and healthy 2019!

Make it Monday: Christmas Cards #2

 In a record late finish for me this year, I finished making Christmas cards this weekend. I sent fewer than usual this year but it still took forever.

 I used one design from last year and came up with two more using my Gonis stamps, cutter and pointer pens. I really like the finish.

 Also using Gonis products I did some special finger-painting cards with the kids which was messy but fun. They don't look as smart but I think they are a lovely keepsake for friends and family.

Weekly Wisdom

Practice makes progress.

The Saturday Update

Holidays!!

They didn't get here quick enough but we finally have two weeks off which are much needed right now.  We had a busy start to the weekend with the rennovations at Kindergarten.  

Monday was another Christmas party, this time at Isabella's dance class and then I spent the evening at the small animal clinic in Bremen with Pete.  We got his wound cleaned and closed and he is recovering well, despite his grumpiness at being housebound with a collar on.

Wednesday was manic.  I took Isabella to work with me as Kindergarten was short-staffed.  She was actually really good and almost too tired for her friend's birthday in the afternoon.  I had the Kindergarten staff Christmas meal which was really nice.  Then Dad arrived in the evening and we had a catch up.

On Thursday we took the kids around the Christmas market in Bremen and got the bus home.  It was a bit cold and wet but they enjoyed it.

I finally finished my Christmas shopping yesterday.  Work was really nice with an end of year show / celebration.  The school spirit is really strong and I'm feeling very glad to be working there.

Our new sofa finally arrived and it makes a huge difference.  Reall glad it's here for Christmas.

Today we did our big shop for the holidays and now we are getting bits and bobs done but it is a quiet weekend.  We are all tired so catching up on a bit of sleep too.

Links!

Can relate to this this week.

Blast from the past.

Beautiful prints.

Languages are good for you.

A green goal.

On a related note.

Considering this list when I go shopping for books again.

Good karma.

Gratitude

Santa?

Last week at the Kindergarten Christmas party, Joshua met Santa for the first time and he was amazed.  I noticed it again this week at the Christmas market.  It's so sweet, he's not scared but he's not sure what to make of him yet.

I also learned this week that St.Nicholas and Santa Claus are two different people in Germany.  It's only taken me almost nine years to realise this.  I'm not sure how long kids will go along with this given the rise in American films which are already confusing matters.  German friends are always asking me if we really wait until Christmas morning to open presents.

The children are still at an age where they don't really think about it too much but I think Isabella may start asking questions next year - why is it different for her and her cousins?  It's always been important to me that the kids have the magic of Christmas for as long as possible.  And even with one culture, they ask questions early.  "How can this present be from Grandma? - Santa brought it" etc. 

It also changes depending on religion - here the Jesus child brings the gifts for catholic children.

For now, I think we will just see what questions come and answer them as we go.  I'm just looking forward to having two happy children next week and some quality family time.

Recipe: Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 400g potatoes, chopped
• 70g celery, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 700ml chicken stock
• Parsley
• Seasoning
• 2 tsp flour
• 350ml milk
• 200g grated cheese
• 120g chopped ham

Instructions:
1. Add the vegetables, stock and seasoning to a large pan and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
2. Mix the flour and milk in a bowl.  Transfer to the soup and cook until thick.
3. Stir in the cheese and ham until the cheese is melted.

Make it Monday: Christmas Cards

I finally started making my Christmas cards at the weekend.  I am promising myself (yet again) to really get ahead of the game next year.  This is the latest I have ever been and it is so stressful!

The aim here, was to use my new blue ink from Gonis as well as the star stencil for the background.  I showed the card on the left at my parties last week.  I love the addition of the pearl dots and will be using more of those on the rest of my cards.

The blue doesn't feel that Christmassy to me so I will be changing up the colours on my next batch too but I still like these.  I am really happy with my stencils.  On the left are those I used last year and on the right are my new ones.  Both are looking good.

I'm also planning on getting Isabella in on the next round of card making too but this was a good start.

Weekly Wisdom

There's a real wisdom to not saying a thing.

The Saturday Update

After a full work week, two Gonis parties, a committee meeting for Kindergarten, a Kindergarten Christmas party and helping out with rennovations this morning, we are soooo ready for the weekend.

It was also a very social week.  We had a few former colleagues last weekend, I also saw friends through the Gonis parties (and got my order in for the new catalogue - roll on 2019) and we saw lots of the other families at Kindergarten this week and that's one of the things I love about this time of year.

It was a good week but busy and tiring.  Next week is the last one before Christmas and should be a bit calmer.  Dad is arriving on Wednesday.  Once I have finished my Christmas shopping and done my cards, I will be able to relax a bit.

Links!

Sweet.

Politics.

I get my seven hours about ninety five percent of the time but this sounds interesting.

Who's she?

Still glad we don't have one of these.

Amazing paintings.

What a beautiful project.

Good to see my old school on here!

Friends

At the weekend, I invited some of my friends over.  While working at my old school I made a lot of friends.  With many I have lost touch.  One of them is now one of my best friends, Godmother to my son and responsible for a lot of the luck I have had this year.

Some of these ladies, I see every few months, some I hadn't seen since I left work.  Several of us have moved on to new challenges in our lives but whenever we meet up, it's like we have never been apart and it does my soul so much good.

Christmas is a time for meeting up, catching up and going out.  This year, I invited this group of friends over so we could catch up properly in a quiet environment with our kids and other halves and it was so worth it - we should make it a regular thing.

I love that women can form such close bonds.  We swapped good news and bad.  It felt good to get things off my chest and offer the girls some moral support as well as celebrate some of the good things that have happened to us lately.  

I remember primary school when you could only have one best friend and it caused so much trouble.  Now I have a wonderful network of friends and they are so crucial to my mental well-being.  From family, childhood friends, school friends and best friends left in England, to colleagues, in-laws and mum friends I have met here, I would not change my support system for the world.

Christmas!

At the weekend we got our Christmas decorations up.  It's an event that I usually look forward to and really enjoy.  Usually...  This year I struggled a bit.  We were (are) running late with everything Christmas-related.  It feels like time is flying, I haven't started my Christmas cards and I ordered the first Christmas presents yesterday.  Isabella was very upset when the neighbours had their decorations up and we didn't.  I just wanted to get past Joshua's birthday first.

As promised, we went up in the loft and brought down the boxes.  I always forget how much we have.  The tree is packed and I wasn't too upset when a couple of ornaments were dropped on the tiles - although trying to stop a two year old running through glass splinters while you run for the vac, is an impossible task.  Stress levels went through the roof.

I also forget we always have new decorations from gifts the year before so it is nice to rediscover them and find them a home.

On the whole, I was glad we did it and I love the cosy Christmas lights on an evening.  I'll be happier when we have gotten everything ready (so that'll be about midnight on Christmas Eve...) but I'm starting to enjoy this not-so-slow slide towards the holidays.

Recipe: Christmas Punch

Ingredients:

• 1.2l cranberry juice
• 1.5l sparkling wine
• 500ml apple cider
• 400ml ginger ale
• 400ml dark rum
• 2 oranges, thinly sliced
• 350g cranberries

Instructions:
1. Combine the ingredients in a large bowl with ice.

Make it Monday: Crochet Unicorn

 This sweet little guy was the result of my first ever pattern swap with another mum from Kindergarten. I am proud of a few facts here - this was not a beginners pattern. It took time and I used proper safety toy eyes for the first time.

I also used up yarn from my stash so it didn't cost me anything. I love the colours in the mane and tail too.

It's going away for Isabella for Christmas and I'm taking a crochet break until the new year.

Weekly Wisdom

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

The Saturday Update

We've had a good week here. It was a busy but fun weekend celebrating Joshua's birthday and accompanying Isabella to a friend's birthday party.

Nico and Isabella were both under the weather at the start of the week but picked up over the last few days.

Isabella had a few playdates this week so the kids have been busy. Nico had his Christmas do with work. 

I finished a big project and managed to keep on top of things.

We're busy this weekend with guests coming tomorrow and I'm taking Isabella to a birthday party today. On top of that, I've promised the kids Christmas decorations today too...

Links!

I want to go here.

This looks yummy.

Though I may prefer this before I go on my 2019 diet.

Kids.

Brilliant.

This is a real, modern fear of mine.

Motivation for 2019.

This made my week (almost woke up my 4yo, laughing)

Nikolaus

Yet another German celebration that is so much more fun with kids.

This morning we got the kids up early to find their shoes filled with gifts - books and chocolate from us, toys and chocolate from Oma and Opa.  They both loved it.

At Kindergarten it had been a big deal to leave out a shoe under the Christmas tree yesterday and they were filled with some healthy snacks - satsuma, peanuts and a little bit of chocolate.  

Even Joshua had a satsuma and chocolate in his slipper.

At work, Nikolaus had left chocolates and a candle on the desks and a chocolate in the pigeon holes.

It is such a sweet tradition and I love it. In the evening, some children go door to door to sing for sweets - kind of a cross between Halloween and Christmas caroling.

This year I am a bit late getting to grips with Christmas.  I haven't started my shopping, made my cards or put up my decorations so I'm hoping to get a bit more into the spirit at the weekend and I am planning to get ahead of the game next year (but I seem to remember saying that last year too).

December Goals

Here's how I'd like to finish up the year:

• Visit the Christmas market with family.
• Fondu night.
• Sort out the hobby room.
• Finish a crochet project.
• Make Christmas cards.

Recipe: Butternut Squash Curry

Ingredients:

• Oil
• Onion
• Curry powder
• 1cm grated ginger
• Cayenne pepper
• 300g butternut squash
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 3tbsp peanut butter
• Seasoning
• Coriander

Instructions:
1. Fry the onion for about seven minutes, adding the curry, ginger and cayenne pepper after five.
2. Add the remaining ingredients apart from the coriander.  Bring to the boil, cover and cook for twenty minutes.
3. Remove lid and cook for about twenty more minutes until thick. Serve with the coriander.

Make it Monday - Crocheted Patchwork Blanket

 After two years of weekly crochet, I finally finished this lovely blanket this week. It feels like such an achievement. When I began, I couldn't do a basic stitch. Now I've completed so many different skills and can read crochet in German and English. This magazine subscription is a fantastic way to learn.

Isabella has asked me so often who this is for. As there is so much pink in it, I'm going to give it to her as long as she gives Joshua the knitted one I finished last year. I love that she likes what I make and that she is interested in crafts too. 

Weekly Wisdom

Good things come to those who wait.

The Saturday Update

We have had another busy, and fast disappearing week here.

We both had a full work week.  I had my first full staff meeting and a check in with my new boss.  Nico had his school's Christmas Fair.

Isabella had dancing, her friend's Bibi and Tina themed birthday party and a playdate with another Kindergarten friend.

Joshua turned two, which I'm still loving and hating in equal measure.

Another highlight of the week was receiving my civil servant certificate yesterday after a six and a half year struggle.  It is a huge change for us and brings us a lot more stability.  It's still sinking in.

Today we are celebrating Joshua's birthday with family and his Godmothers before another busy busy week.