FOLIO ROSE

Fish Out of Water

2012-01-24T21:53:00.001+01:00

Lately I've been feeling a little blue on Tuesdays. Coco and I go to Baby Swimming on Tuesday mornings. Don't get me wrong, it's really fun and so amazing to be in the water with her. She looks very sweet in her swim diaper and she coos and giggles at me in the warm water. In our class are five other mommies and babies the same age as Coco. That's what has me feeling blue.

All the other mommies know the songs and can sing to their smiling babies. I don't know the songs because I didn't grow up with them. So I hum along as best I can, but on occasion, Coco would rather look at an actually singing mommy, or the jolly singing instructor, rather than me. :( During the class all the other mommies joke and laugh with each other. I just focus on Coco, which is lovely, of course, but I do feel left out. In the locker room after class when we're all dressing and nursing our babies, it's the same. I understand snippets here and there of the conversation going on and I'd love to join in talking about whether or not my baby will take a bottle (she won't!) or about how torn I feel about returning to work in the Spring (I'm losing sleep!) but my German is nonexistent outside of ordering food in a restaurant.

It leaves me feeling a little blue because it reminds me that although this is the most settled and grounded I've felt in my adult life, I'm an outsider. I don't belong here. It's a rather strange paradox. It also makes me look at life at home differently. In the future, when I'm living in American again, I don't think I'll ever be shy again. Suddenly it seems that when others speak your language, you're automatically on the inside. I wonder if that will change for me after being back in the States for a while. I also wonder how long we'll end up living here.

Have you ever lived in a place where you didn't speak the local language? Did you learn it?

{photo from here}

Separation Anxiety

2012-01-23T13:51:00.001+01:00

Whenever I have to be away from Coco for any stretch of time, I get serious separation anxiety. This happens even when she's with a very trusted friend, or (dare I admit it) her dad! It's not that I fear for her safety, or worry that something will happen. I mean, I am a mother as in mama bear so naturally I feel protective of her. Mostly I think I just miss her so much!

I'm so thankful that I won't be going back to work full time anytime soon. I don't think my heart could stand it.

Goodnight Moon: An American Phenomenon

2012-01-21T11:32:00.002+01:00

In our house growing up, we always read before bed. I remember being a little girl and reading Goodnight Moon with my mom. I loved how peaceful and relaxing the book was with the rabbit and the red room. When I got pregnant, Goodnight Moon was one of the first books on our registry. Naturally, it's a classic!

Well, apparently it's only a classic in America. My British friend, Charlotte, asked me if I had Goodnight Moon when Coco was about six weeks old. "No!" I exclaimed, "I put it on our registry and no one got it. We really have to get a copy soon!" Charlotte exclaimed right back, "Every American mum I know has Goodnight Moon. I just do not understand that book at all!" What?! It had never (ever!) occurred to me that children in the English-speaking world had grown up without Goodnight Moon. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

Thankfully, Coco got her very own Goodnight Moon for Christmas from my sister Amy, who is an amazing photographer, and her husband Tod, who is an English professor and poet. Phew! Order restored.

What are your favorite bedtime stories? Do you still read before bed?

{black and white photos from here and here}

Little Darling

2012-01-19T21:17:00.001+01:00

I can't get over how Coco smiles. It's never a grin or smirk. She goes full tilt every time. How sweet is that?

Spring Fever

2012-01-12T10:15:00.001+01:00

Every year, once Christmas and the New Year have passed, I am ready for spring. This is inconvenient for the obvious reason that winter has actually just begun! Dear me.

A recent pop over to jcrew.com didn't help my spring fever at all. Doesn't this bold, jaunty ensemble have you craving daffodils and Cadbury Creme Eggs?

Aside from the leopard print bag, which is not my cup of tea, I love every piece of this outfit, head to toe. Swoon! Maybe when I find a new job and I'm preparing to go back to work, I'll make this my consolation prize for being away from my sweetie a few days a week.

Do you get itchy and impatient for spring? How do you cope with spring fever?

{photo from here}

Outdoor Nap

2012-01-09T21:16:00.000+01:00

It seems that when we're out and about, Coco always falls asleep in her pram. She sleeps so soundly in there. So when we arrive home, it's always with a little reluctance that I wheel her inside where it's too warm for her down suit, knowing that she will soon wake up. Conversely, if I try to undress her, she always wakes up, so it's a no win situation.

I read this post a while ago and it's been in the back of my mind that I could let her nap outside for some time now. But I haven't had the courage to leave my little baby alone outside, naturally! Then today, I figured out how I could make it happen.

I put the fully-loaded-with-batteries baby monitor in with her.

Then I covered her pram with a blanket and parked it where I could see it from the kitchen window.

I was more comfortable with it given that the door to our building is facing a courtyard and down a pathway from the street. No one passes by here or walks through here unless they're my neighbor and I know them. And because we're on the ground floor, I could leap out the window (which I sat next to the entire time!) if I needed to for any reason.

Finally, thanks to our fabulous baby monitor, I was able to hear if she stirred and even see the temperature where she was sleeping as I sat by the window and took care of some work on the computer. 16 degrees Celsius is actually quite warm. The thermometer must have been getting some heat off of her head because it was not 60 degrees Fahrenheit in Zurich today!

She only slept for about ten minutes! ;) But now that I've got it all figured out, I'd do it again. I think those Danes are onto something with the idea of napping in fresh air.

Would you let your baby nap outside? What would make you comfortable or uncomfortable with the idea?

Resolve

2012-01-05T23:14:00.000+01:00

I've never been very good at resolutions. I tend to take on too grand of ideas and then it's disappointing when they of course don't work out. One year my grandiose idea involved joining a gym (how original!) and one evening post-swim a man remarked in the steam room that he couldn't wait for February because by then all the New Year's resolution people would have quit coming regularly and the gym wouldn't be so crowded. How sad that he was totally talking about me. I was hardly going at all by March. That is embarrassing! But really, what was I thinking? I don't work out! :)

So, this year I've taken on a whole new approach. Something small, manageable, realistic and attainable. Becoming a mother has changed my perspective on all things. I have come to know (and accept!) that the house cannot be perfectly tidy and clean at all times. I know that if I don't give myself at least twice the time I think I need I will be hideously late. I've realized that I can only do so much and that prioritizing is the only way unless I want to be miserable.

My 2012 resolution reflects all of this. I feel proud in a miniature way! I have resolved to floss everysingleday of 2012.

Did you know that you can get Cupcake Floss? It tastes like frosting! I might just have to try it out one of these 366 days. (And this really made me laugh!)

Naturally, I have other resolutions I'd like to see happen in my life. For example, figuring out an effective laundry schedule, finding a way to blog on a regular basis, maximizing my time with Coco, reducing clutter, making more meals from bulk foods, organizing everything in my life. Eeeek! Talk about overwhelming. That's why I'm going to give the flossing a whirl for now. Maybe I can get to a few of those Herculean ideas later.

Do you typically make a new year's resolution? Do you tend to stick to them? What's your secret - will power or reasonable resolution? I'd love to hear about it and how it works for you!

A New Trick for Coco

2012-01-03T16:00:00.001+01:00

Today Coco and I are relaxing and enjoying a sunny day in Zurich. We took a walk and now she's engrossed in some tummy time. Something rather exciting has been happening on and off during tummy time lately. Suddenly she finds herself on her back! It's exciting for me, but more frightening her her at this point. Soon she'll love it. It's hard to believe how quickly she's changing everyday.

When did your baby roll over? We're you completely surprised?

Washing Cloth Diapers in Switzerland

2011-11-23T21:36:00.001+01:00

After a massive amount of troubleshooting, I have nailed down my method for washing cloth diapers here in Switzerland. The key? Extra water because it's a front-loading washing machine and uses less water than a top loader. The second issue I ran into was finding a suitable detergent. Zurich has somewhat hard water and really different detergents than are available in the US. I've got it all squared away though. Coco's diapers come out clean as can be. Honestly, I'll put my face straight into one and give a good sniff just to be sure there isn't some lingering odor in there somewhere. There isn't!

Having an intricate diaper system would make me switch to disposables, so I keep things simple. I do a dry pail with the Kissaluvs antibacterial liner. I use a watering can to add water to the washing machine.

Here's my washing method:

Turn the pail liner of diapers inside out into the washer. Set liner aside on top of washer. Run the diapers only on "Mini-Programme" (a quick 30 minute cycle at 30 degrees celsius) adding 10 liters of water as the cycle begins. No detergent. This is just a really thorough rinse.
Put the pail liner in with the diapers and run on "Blancs/Couleurs" at 40 degrees celsius adding 10 liters of water the wash cycle. Use 1/2 packet of Durgol water softener and one 7 gram scoop of Filetti Sensitive powder. Why 7 grams? Because I use the scoop that came with our French Press because we never use it. We just pour a bunch of coffee in there until it seems good. The scoop that came with the French Press is 7 grams, which is just the right amount of detergent for cloth diapers as it turns out! ;)
Dry the diapers on high. Hang dry the pail liner and any covers.

I'm pleased because it's so simple. Do you use cloth diapers? What is your washing routine?

Babies Dressed Like Babies

2011-11-19T16:10:00.001+01:00

Omgosh! Doesn't that sweet baby in cozy white woolens make you swoon? I am completely in love! Before Coco was born, my mother remarked that she doesn't like it when people dress babies like grown-ups in miniature jeans and collared shirts. "Babies should dress like babies," she said. Well, I'll admit I've had my fun dressing Coco in jeans and mini adult clothes. Then today when dressing her in something a little less bulky so she'd fit in her bunting for our walk, I got what my mom was saying.

Just look at how sweet her little body is in those leggings. And the knee-high socks pulled up over the leggings! Oh it's so adorable. Mini adult clothes actually hide that irresistible baby shape, which is criminal to say the least! I vow to only dress Coco like a baby as long as she remains a baby. And that won't last forever. Then she'll be wearing jeans for the rest of her life.

Nøstebarn is a Norwegian company that has woolen baby clothes perfected. As Coco begins to grow out of her current stock (sniff!) and the temperature drops, I am devising a warm, woolly winter wardrobe for her that will be simple and include lots of leggings and knee-high socks. And white. Because don't babies look so beautiful in white?

{top photo from here}

Sweet Slumber

2011-11-18T08:40:00.001+01:00

This morning I put Coco in her bassinet so I could assemble her darling mobile and what did she do? She nodded off all by herself. I know that while my little sweet pea is sleeping it's my golden opportunity to do things I can't do while she's awake, like eat or go to the bathroom or throw in a load of laundry or (gasp!) make the bed, but sometimes I can't pull myself away. I love watching her sleep. Her little nose is so cute and she looks so peaceful. It's overwhelming this mother's love.

A Whole New Life

2011-11-11T13:08:00.001+01:00

With Thanksgiving approaching, J and I have been thinking a lot about how thankful we are for our life together and marveling at how different it is compared to one year ago. In the space of one year, we are living in a new apartment in the city, J has a new job that makes him genuinely happy and we are parents! Omgosh, that is a serious amount of change in one year. I can safely say I've never had more to be thankful for.

I never intended for Folio Rose to be much about my personal life. Once I was pregnant I even considered starting a second blog, but I don't have the time to write two blogs and I just neglected this one! Now that we've welcomed our beautiful daughter into the world, I want to share about our life with her here. So that is exactly what I'm going to do!

Revel in Ruby

2011-09-08T13:16:00.001+02:00

Kate Spade's color of the month for September is ruby. I am quite smitten with those Franca ballet flats in red satin and the Supercalifragilipstick cosmetics case. It's quite the coincidence that Kate Spade's color of the month should be red in my birthday month! I spent the last few years of avoiding everything red and recently I've found myself incorporating it back into our home decor and my wardrobe.

Do you like red? Is it too bold or flashy? Would you wear red satin ballet flats?

{photos from kate spade}

Love Notes

2011-09-01T22:10:00.000+02:00

This week J is in the mountains with his class. They're hiking, taking a torch-lit night walk, having a talent show and movie night and staying in a Swiss chalet with fantastic views. How wonderful!

I was very inspired by this post so before he left, I tucked sweet handwritten love notes into his pack. Everywhere! I tucked them into rolled socks, the inside of his stocking cap, inside shoes and books and, of course, into pockets. Last night when we talked on the phone, he told me how delighted he was to find them throughout the week. Hurrah!

He gets home tomorrow evening and I can't wait. To celebrate his homecoming, we're having cheeseburgers, fries and salad. Yum! Does your spouse travel a lot for work? How do you cope with the time spent apart?

My Two Homes

2011-08-11T05:36:00.000+02:00

During my trip home to the US, I was repeatedly surprised at how confused I made myself and others by referring to "home." As in, "It's so good to be home," or "I need to buy some Cream of Mushroom Campbell's soup to take home with me." All I can figure is that I now have two homes. The US will always be my home and right now Zurich is definitely home. Crazy!

It was a bit disappointing to arrive home to rain and 61 degree weather, but there was a huge rainbow to greet me!

This time around, I've had some of the worst jetlag I've ever experienced in my life! I literally slept *all day* today! This evening, after I woke up, J and I took an evening stroll through town, had ice cream cones at Mövenpick and then dinner by the lake. We had the best seat in the place and the mountains were all pink with alpenglow. Swoon!

It's always hard to come back after being at home where everything feels so comfortable and familiar and English is spoken freely. Most of all, I love having time with my family. Coming back this time I even cried going through airport security! :( But now that I'm back it feels good to be home. I definitely missed my darling J and being back with him, everything feels right.

Do you live far away from "home?" How do you cope with the distance? Will you move back or are you staying for good?

Vacation

2011-07-26T07:57:00.001+02:00

Folio Rose has been on vacation for the past week, but I'll get back to posting tomorrow when things slow down a bit. I'm at home in the brilliant USA having the absolute best time being surrounded by friends and family and enjoying dining out at all my favorite restaurants. I needed a good dose of that!

The beautiful Sam at Navarre in NE Portland.

Zells in SE Portland. One of J's and my favorites.

Speaking of the lovely J, he is having the time of his life riding his bike through France along country roads through lavender fields and camping next to moat surrounded castles in Provence. He tells me his French is getting very good!

J's beloved Bleriot. Note the tent on the back.

A tree-lined street in Provence.

We are each having our own respective good times, but we agree that we miss each other terribly.

Darling reader, have you and your other half ever vacationed separately? Did it make for an extra emotional, lovey and meaningful reunion? Or would you never do it again?

Tiny Bathroom

2011-07-15T22:05:00.000+02:00

I've been thinking very seriously about shower curtains since reading this post a couple weeks ago. The bathroom in our new apartment is super tiny. This means I need to think fast because I've got the grand opportunity to get a stylish shower curtain (without breaking the bank) while I'm home visiting over the next few weeks.

Here are my current picks, which I find like, but which may or may not coordinate well with our Pink Dogwood and White Lacoste towels.

Simple and clean from west elm, but I do worry that the white would be too bright and draw attention to the contrasting flooring.

This Marimekko stand out from Crate&Barrel would definitely add some pop and excitement, but the colors might mean hiding the pink towels or buying more white ones?

If J and I were little children, I'd definitely choose this one from Dwell Studio, but we are grown adults so it is much too juvenile. Ultra cute for a modern kids' bath though, don't you think? Speaking of being children, J and I love to think about what fun we would have had together as little kids. We're pretty sure we would have gotten along really well even then.

I'm also fond of this embroidered curtain in the light blue from Pottery Barn. They used to (as in this morning) have an embroidered shower curtain with dots instead of the parallel lines. I preferred that one, but perhaps it sold out today. Either one is clean and crisp, which I love.

As you can see in the picture below, the bathroom truly is miniature. The toilet is to the right of the tub and immediately to the right of that is the wall. Mini, indeed! I want to make sure I choose a shower curtain that will draw attention away from the not-so-attractive tile floor but will still coordinate, lest I should accidentally draw more attention to the floor through accidental clashing. Yikes!

This photo was taken just as the previous tenants had finished clearing out.
It's looking a little grungy, yes, but it's bound to be sparkly clean for us when we move in tomorrow!

So far I haven't found a shower curtain that I absolutely love and am ready to buy. And I'm thinking that the curve around the tub may mean we need two. This was the case in our last apartment in Portland, but in the end I opted for two overlapping clear liners and just one shower curtain. No matter what, it's very exciting to be moving into and creating a home we will live in for the next three years. Tomorrow I get the mailbox plate engraved!

Faithful reader, what do you think? How can I add a little drama and intrigue to this boring bathroom? Am I crazy to wish to make it inviting and to look a little bigger?

{shower curtain photos from here, here, here and here}

Fan Dreams

2011-07-14T08:34:00.004+02:00

This sticky humid weather we've been having has me dreaming of fans. Forget air conditioning! Almost nowhere (and I really mean that) is air conditioned in Zurich. At the grocery store, there is a little bit of air conditioning, but when the temperature gauge hits 87 with 96% humidity, it's pretty much miserable and steamy everywhere you go: work, school, shops, train, tram. Not so fun.

Even still, air conditioning is terribly overused. What the world needs now is fans. Lots of fans! Here are a few of my favorites.

Industrial and sleek from Restoration Hardware. I'd love to have this whirring overhead while I go to sleep at night.

Don't discount the power of a paper fan. These little cuties are compact folded up in your handbag and incredibly effective at getting the air moving. You can choose solid colors, or one that's airbrushed with a Mt. Fuji-esque motif or this really cracked me up.

As for the desk, I could just die over this gorgeous vintage Emerson fan from Vintage Fans. My goodness, talk about combining form and function. I'm definitely swooning over this one!

What's your weather been like these days? How do you beat the heat?

{photos from here and here and here}

Safe Haven

2011-07-13T09:58:00.004+02:00

For centuries Switzerland has been known as a neutral place. It was a good place to be during the first half of the 20th century when Europe was war torn and embroiled in conflict. And for me, it's a good place to be now because it gives me a lot of distance and a chance at protecting my life and my marriage from my some completely toxic and utterly poisonous people.

They still try though.

If you have anyone in your life that land, sea and mountains can't block out due to the beauty and wonderful of a little modern invention called Gmail, I've got a trick for you! Go into Mail Settings, then click on Filters. Click on Create a New Filter. Then enter the email address of the person you would like to block. From there, you can check little boxes to create directions for Gmail to follow every single time an email is received from that individual. It's fabulous!

After the rather unpleasant experience of seeing a certain individual's name appear in my inbox this morning, I skipped reading the email and I set up a little filter instead. Any time I receive email from her, Gmail knows to do the following: Skip the Inbox and DELETE! It felt so good I set up an identical filter for another related person. Switzerland may have been the fortress of days gone by, but let's face it, nowadays we need an electronic fortress.

Darling reader, do you, or have you ever had, a relationship that was so toxic you simply had to cut the person out of your life completely? How did you do it?

{photo from here}

Little Bird

2011-07-12T22:42:00.002+02:00

Gabriel Rucker, the genius behind Le Pigeon, now has another restaurant open in SW Portland. It's called Little Bird and I can't wait to try it out with my dear friend Anne in just 10 days! How exciting to be homeward bound. All the same, I am actually really sad to be leaving my darling J and my home here in Switzerland for three weeks. Just think, when we arrived here almost exactly one year ago, I was rather nonplussed with the decision and didn't anticipate staying more than one year. Now I'm genuinely happy to be here and I'm feeling really at home and settled, which is a truly lovely outcome.

Aren't those photos of Little Bird just delicious? Mmmm. You can read about Le Pigeon in this post, which was coincidentally written during the time when J and I were deciding to take the plunge and move to Switzerland. I'm so glad we did.

When was the last time you took a leap of faith? Did it work out as you had expected? What prompted you to go ahead despite the risks?

{photos from here}

{Swoon} California Bungalow

2011-07-12T05:37:00.001+02:00

I cannot stop dreaming of white and pink and mahogany decor in a light-drenched, airy home after reading this post. Doesn't designer Chris Barrett's California bungalow just make you swoon?!

Oooh la la. I'm as smitten as can be.

{photos from here}

Leather Gift for J

2011-07-11T17:08:00.005+02:00

I had the most difficult time not spilling the beans before the fact and completely gushing to J that I got him the Roberu iPhone case he's been dreaming of for our anniversary.

I'm glad I managed to contain myself, because watching him open it and seeing how much he loved it was a real treat!

Next up some photos from our anniversary train journey around Switzerland.

Chic SPF

2011-07-11T10:09:00.002+02:00

After reading this article, I decided to get (even more) serious about sun protection. Naturally, I already use a moisturizer with sunscreen, but a couple of months ago, I added a super sexy Stetson hat to my sun protection routine. I absolutely love it!

It's a men's hat and my head is so unbelievably gigantic, I have to wear a men's LARGE! Strange, but true. I love wearing a hat because I don't get a burn in my part line and it boosts my protection efforts on my face.

If you're not wearing sunscreen on your face everyday, you really need to cultivate this anti-aging, anti-skin cancer habit. Here are a few suggestions for you.

For foundation-like coverage, use Clinique City Block. It packs a lot of SPF punch with a whopping broad-spectrum protection factor of 40, and it gives moderate to full coverage.

To look positively luminescent and have flawless invisible coverage, use Lancôme Teint Miracle. It feels like silk on your skin, but it's best for winter use as it only has SPF 15.

For no-tint, anti-aging, use Arbonne RE9 Advanced Restorative Day Crème. It goes on smooth and matte, has an SPF of 20 and is suitable for drier skin types as it's very moisturizing. Added bonus, it will stop those pesky wrinkles in their tracks!

Enjoy your summer - and remember, sun protection and the pale skin that goes with it are ultra-chic!

{photos from here and here and here}

On the Fence

2011-07-10T15:53:00.006+02:00

I'm really embarrassed to say this, but I'm on the fence as to whether or not I want to keep J's anniversary gift to me this year. It's not that I don't like it; I'm just not sure I can pull it off. It seems very fancy and impractical to me, which is hilarious because he chose it because he found it understated and practical.

It's a very beautiful, very lovely key case from Burberry.

Inside there are four hooks to attach keys and on the exterior is a leather strap with a key ring at the end which can either be folded inside or left hanging out. It also has two inner pockets and one outer pocket which would be great places to stash 20 francs, or a little to-do list or a love note.

It is a fact that I lose my keys at least once everyday, so it really is a very thoughtful gift on darling J's part. It's so pretty. It seems like something that dirty metal keys would ruin. And now since I haven't scratched it up by forcing my keys onto its perfect hooks and rings, J frowns and says I don't like it. Oh no! I should just go ahead and enjoy my beautiful gift. Honestly, I don't know what is holding me back.

Darling reader, what do you think? Understated yet practical luxury? Am I a fool not to put it to use tout de suite?

{photos from here}

Clean and Modern Email

2011-07-07T14:17:00.000+02:00

Gmail is updating their look at last! It's definitely the best web based email around and now it will look good, too.

Now if I could just clean out all of my old folders and gunk I've got in my archive... How do you keep your email neat and tidy? Are you a deleter? A filer? Or, like J, a 1,208 new messages in the Inbox sort of organizer?

Three Years Ago Today

2011-07-05T07:16:00.000+02:00

www.amysinisterra.com

I must admit that the first two years of marriage were rough. But, just like Carrie and Mr. Big, we got through the terrible twos and now we are onto the thrilling threes. I have never been happier. I feel so fortunate to have married my best friend and confidant. He is a true partner to me and gives me so much support, encouragement and love each day. Thanks for being an amazing husband, J! I love you.

Home, Sweet Home!

2011-07-05T06:47:00.000+02:00

Last weekend we went to measure our new apartment and afterward, while sitting lakeside, I found myself experiencing immeasurable delight. J said that of course I felt that way because we're moving into what is really going to feel like our first home. And I must confess, I think he is right! We have moved every year (at least once!) since we have known each other. That's eight years of U-Hauls, new apartments, getting settled, dismantling, and doing it again. This time we know we'll be staying put for three years. What a delightful feeling, indeed.

J in the kitchen, which is being updated this week!!

Living room with incredible hardwoods.

Living room from other side. Woodburning stove!

Bedroom with amazing parquet floor.

Second bedroom (and the current tenant finishing up packing!)

I'm really looking forward to the process of getting settled and creating a space we can call home. Next up, some pictures of the adorable neighborhood!

Anniversary Week

2011-07-04T06:50:00.000+02:00

This week J and I are celebrating our third marriage anniversary. First, a few pics from our rehearsal.

We are going out for dinner tomorrow night to exchange gifts. This year's gift is leather. We both can't wait to give each other our gift!!

Tomorrow some wedding pics. All photos by Amy Sinisterra Photography.

Snail Mail is for Lovers

2011-07-01T09:41:00.002+02:00

photo from www.usps.com

How gorgeous are these stamps? I love sending letters, but here in Switzerland, at 1,90 CHF ($2.25) per letter to America, it's so much cheaper to call! What a sad truth. I hate to see the art of letter writing disappearing into oblivion, but perhaps these fabulous stamps will help letter writing make a come back! They are Forever stamps and I'm more than a little tempted to buy up a bunch and tuck them away for future letter sending.

I'm dreaming of sending letters today. Love letters to J, heartfelt letters about my life in Switzerland to good friends, witty letters to pals.

When was the last time you sent a handwritten letter? When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Who did you write to or who was it from? Did you receive a reply?

Summer Shoes

2011-06-29T13:27:00.001+02:00

These sweet little shoes are headed my way and I don't intend to take them off for the rest of the summer.

photo from www.birkenstockusa.com

What's your go to summer shoe? What matters more to you when it's hot - style or comfort?

Endspurt

2011-06-29T13:15:00.001+02:00

You know that immensely difficult last push through a long and arduous task, like say the school year if you're a teacher? Well, in German they actually have a word for it: Endspurt. It translates very well. In Switzerland, people will wish you a "good endspurt" much like you might wish someone a happy birthday.

I'm taking all the wishes for a good endspurt that I can get. These days, J and I are just SO tired! Really, we are seriously running out of steam.

Luckily when trying to push through an endspurt, there is a breakfast that is fast, easy as pie and gives you lots of energy right through lunchtime. Just the ticket. Thank you, oatmeal, for being so wonderful!

Traffic Jam

2011-06-27T19:46:00.000+02:00

I probably have the most beautiful 15-minute-walk "commute" in the world. But like regular commutes, it has its drawbacks. Every once in a while, I'll be a little late to work due to running into these folks. It's okay. They make up for the setback in cuteness.

New Home

2011-06-22T19:30:00.004+02:00

We could not be happier about our new apartment in Seefeld. It is definitively the most desirable neighborhood in Zürich and utterly impossible to get into - especially at an affordable price. One evening we were riding the bus to a party at a friend's house and I got to thinking about how I'd like to live in the city. As nice as Adliswil is, it's a suburb and I just don't do suburbs! I'm a city girl, through and through. I looked up at J and said, "You know what will happen? Someone we know will be moving and then we'll take over their apartment and it will just work out that way and we'll get an amazing place."

Less than three weeks later we got an urgent call at 10 pm from some friends. Their neighbor was moving and if we wanted to get this place we had to act fast. We viewed the apartment the following evening and got the application in the mail the following day. Things fell effortlessly into place from there.

I was a little shocked to discover the total non-existence of equal opportunity housing policies here in Switzerland and extremely shocked to see people's reactions. At work and among friends, we got everything from sincere congratulations - you'd think we'd just completed our doctorate - to jealousy and whispering of the not-so-subtle variety. Waiting to hear back about an apartment you really, really want is hard enough, but having to endure remarks like, "An affordable apartment in Seefeld? Do you even have a chance? What makes you think they would they choose you?" is horrible. You might be asking yourself right now, how does one respond to that? I'll tell you. With a confident smile and an enthusiastic "It's not advertised! Our friends recommended us. They've been in the building for six years. Isn't it great?!" Oh, it's fabulous, darling!

I can scarcely count the ways this move is going to be wonderful, but definitely near the top of the list is decor. I have missed the vintage charm of our beautiful apartments in Portland more than I can say and our new place has serious charm: Original parquet floors from 1865, a wood burning stove from the same era, tall old windows with deep window sills, wainscoting! Elements such as those deserve decor that is warm, a tad modern to off-set the historical feel and cozy. Here's what I've got in mind.

photos from ikea.com and pendelton-usa.com

With the exception of the striped wool throw, which J and I saw in Sunset Magazine and immediately became completely obsessed with, all of the furniture and decor come from IKEA. The coveted striped throw is from Oregon's own Pendelton Woolen Mills. And did I mention it's 100% pure Merino? {swoon!}

When brainstorming what's important to us in a living room, we both agreed that cozy is paramount, hence the high pile wool rug, the Pendelton throws and the comfy couch where you can really snuggle up. It's also extremely important to us that our television not be the focus of the room. In fact, we don't even want it to be visible, so the cupboard will keep it tucked away and out of sight when we are not watching a movie rental from iTunes. In order to add a little warmth to the top of the cabinet, I envision the blue pitcher vase on top and a stack of books. I just love an artfully selected stack of books. To keep things from being too drab or plain, the red lamp gives a punch of color! Finally, the sofa table with its gooey golden glow will keep the sofa away from the wall and create depth and dimension in the room without the couch feeling like it's just out in the middle of the room on its own. I think it's going to be delightful!

What are your top priorities when decorating? What does your ideal living room look and feel like? What sort of "living" does your living room cater to?

Capsule Coffee

2011-06-20T13:26:00.000+02:00

I'm now the proud owner of a capsule coffee maker and it's my new best friend. They're prohibitively expensive new, but I found this used model from an American relocating back home. She was sad she couldn't take it with her.

That fancy shmancy red orb is the Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee maker and all the boxes are filled with little capsules that you put into the machine and then flip it on and presto! A fresh cappuccino or latte machiatto. Yum! J is such a sweetie and when we got home after picking it up, he automatically made space for it in the shelf above his beloved kettle. Joel is a purist and drinks French Press coffee and lots of tea. I'm not that sophisticated and I tend to run with the trends, so I'm a Dolce Gusto kind of gal.

Here's a cappuccino in progress. It takes two capsules, first a milk capsule to make the frothed milk almost all the way to the top, then follow up with the espresso capsule to finish it off. Wow. The milk is actually foamy and delicious and this machine is so completely cool. I am in love!

Saturday Morning

2011-06-11T12:38:00.003+02:00

Saturday morning is my favorite of all mornings. Friday nights we get a lot of sleep and then wake up on our own (no alarm!) and snuggle until we're ready to get out of bed. I'm especially happy this Saturday because it's raining and cloudy and inside feels so cozy and warm with a cup of strong coffee.

Today I tried a new recipe from my America's Test Kitchen Cook Book. I made the Cream Biscuits, which they promised would be fast at only 30 minutes start to finish and light. They were both. If I had taken them about just a few minutes earlier, they would have been a bit moister and chewier, but they were not the least bit dense or heavy. Overall very impressive, especially because I used Schär Gluten Free flour! Because I was on a roll, I also whipped together some pork breakfast sausages that I adapted from this recipe. I prefer the Hot version, but I up the sage and omit the MSG - of course!

All in all, a pretty perfect morning if you ask me. What do you do on Saturdays? What are your weekend rituals?

Vision Boards

2011-05-22T11:11:00.000+02:00

I thought the movie, "The Secret" was a crock. Some of the basic principles were good - positive attracts positive, negative attracts negative. But, unlike "What the Bleep Do We Know?" I found that "The Secret" focused mainly on attracting money and things and that is not all that inspiring.

Recently, I decided to give my goals definition and intention and thought I would make a vision board. In "The Secret" the vision boards are mainly composed of photos of gigantic houses, diamond rings that resemble flashlights and Hawaiian beach scenes. How do you represent "Organized, peaceful home" with a photo on a board?

Because our lives are so visual, I still wanted to give the vision board a try. I think that having a picture collage reminder of the things I'm working toward and desire will not only keep my mood positive, but also focused on the path and on track. Making a vision board is easier said than done!

In the end, one of the best ways I've found to attract more positivity is through gratitude. Taking a few minutes at the beginning or end of the day to recall five things I'm grateful for is surprisingly powerful. What are you feeling thankful for? Make it a great day!

Arbonne

2011-05-06T12:38:00.001+02:00

I wholeheartedly love cosmetics. I really can't think of a more gratifying way to spend money than on beauty products. Seriously. Having a bad day? Week? Month? Go get a makeover, buy yourself some shiny, good smelling beauty products and you'll feel amazing!

To that end, I was very excited to get a package in the mail recently from my dear friend Amy.

YAY!

Amy is an Independent Consultant with Arbonne and she sent me all sorts of goodies.

OMG!

Just look at all that fabulous stuff! Sea Source Detox Spa bath salts, RE9 skin care sample set, make-up, protein powder - and more!

Sometimes it can take me a while to try a new beauty product because I have such dry, sensitive skin. Trying something new always carries an element of risk with it. But Amy was in qualification to get a FREE white Mercedes Benz through Arbonne, so I thought to myself, "Hey, I need a moisturizer with sunscreen for the summer, I might as well support Amy and see if Arbonne has a nice one." WOW! Do they ever!

Arbonne is amazing! Who knew?!

That is my new RE9 anti-aging moisturizer with sunscreen and next to it is an Arbonne lip polish. The moisturizer is lovely, anti-aging and contains no parabens or other crap. That is because, I learned from reading a bit about Arbonne, all of their products are pure.safe.beneficial. meaning they're sourced from natural ingredients that are good for you. Wow!

Last summer Amy gave me a tube of that very lip polish as a going away gift and I promptly fell in love with it! Then tragedy struck and I dropped it on hard tile floor and it broke. I've been missing it ever since. I must say that Arbonne's lip gloss is the absolute BEST lip gloss I've EVER used! It's glossy and has lots of shine, but it's not the least bit sticky. How is that possible, you ask? I have no idea. But it isn't. It's not sticky! Best of all, it's moisturizing (yes, moisturizing!), so I can put it onto bare lips and it feels good and looks great. Talk about a dream product!

But it's not just a dream product, it turns out Arbonne is a dream brand!

photo from arbonne.com

That is the RE9 Advanced skin care set. It's the skin care line that my ahhhhmazing moisturizer with sunscreen is a part of and happily Amy sent me a sample of the whole line so I could try all the products out together. No joke, people, this stuff is incredible. I used the sample kit for seven days and seven nights and I couldn't believe the difference. Naturally, I ordered up the full-size kit on the spot. I had to! No really, I had to! How could I not when the word "blackhead" was quickly vanishing from my vocabulary?!

I can't even begin to tell you how revolutionary this skin care line is. That must be what RE stands for - revolutionary. My skin is smoother than it's ever been. The RE9 seems to have pulled all the impurities and blackheads right out leaving behind invisible pores and total radiance. It's to die for. Best of all, you only need the tiniest amount to see results. The sample kit is only supposed to last three days and three nights, but I managed to get a whole week out of it. Amazing! I am counting down the days until my full size set arrives.

So...are you curious about that FREE white Mercedes?!

They did it! Amy and her team are now an Arbonne Region and I, for one, am so delighted for her. The Arbonne Opportunity is incredible! Seeing what this company has done not only personally for my skin (in just one week!) but the phenomenal ways that it has touched Amy's life, I will definitely be joining Arbonne as soon as I get back on US soil! In the meantime, I'm a total believer in Arbonne's incredible pure.safe.beneficial. line of products and will continue supporting the Amy Everett Region!

If you are interested in the Arbonne Opportunity or want to try some incredible Arbonne products on your own skin, visit Amy's Arbonne Website. She will be more than happy to introduce you to Arbonne products and the company. Trust me, you won't regret it!

Spring Has Sprung!

2011-04-05T16:03:00.002+02:00

The weather in the Zurich area has been ridiculously gorgeous the past week or so. It honestly feels like summer and what could be better than a picnic lunch on a bench by the lakeside? Nothing, apparently, as that is what everyone and their dog is up to these days in Zurich!

I'm so happy to see winter long gone and long spring days here. Warmth, light in the evenings, strolls with just a light sweater or wrap, the feeling of the sun on my face. It's glorious. As J said, it's a miracle every year to see the buds form and watch everything burst into life. I couldn't agree more.

Best thing since sliced bread.

2011-03-29T16:15:00.000+02:00

Today I received my first grocery delivery and it's safe to say I may never go to the store again. Last night all it took was a little time, a few clicks and today all of my groceries arrived on-time, lovingly packed and I didn't have to carry anything up two flights of stairs!

This being Switzerland, one of the payment options is to be sent a bill via email. I do have to say I love the level of trust when it comes to money in this country.

It did take some time to select everything, about an hour and fifteen minutes from start to finish. That's still less time than it would have taken to go to the store and I was at home in my slippers! Coop @ home has a 100 chf minimum for delivery and an 18 chf delivery fee. If you order more, the delivery fee drops and I paid only 13 chf. As J said, we probably saved 13 chf in impulse buys just by not being physically in the store. Very true! And really, those were some heavy items. Having them brought up the stairs right to our door is worth every cent (or rappen as they say here in Switzerland).

I'm hooked. Only online grocery shopping for me. It really is the best thing to happen to the grocery store since sliced bread!

Woo Medicine

2011-03-12T09:51:00.000+01:00

I am currently recovering from what is possibly the worst head cold I have ever suffered from. The doctor sent me to the pharmacy to get a few things. The first item was Triofan, a fabulous nasal spray with a decongestant in it. If it weren't for Triofan, I think it's very possible that I might never have slept again!

photo from topwell.ch

Triofan is your standard drug. It's a pharmaceutical with xylometazoline hydrochloride in it, which is why it works so rapidly and makes breathing ~~so easy~~ possible again.

The doctor also told me to get something else: Weleda Doron Drops for Cough.

photo from weleda.ch

These are definitely NOT a pharmaceutical. In fact, they fall into a category that many would describe as "woo." These drops are not a Homeopathic, but an anthroposophical medicine. If you have not heard of Anthroposophy, it was started by Rudolph Steiner, who also founded the Waldorf school movement. I definitely consider Steiner to be 100% woo and I'll admit that after doing my masters thesis on his Waldorf movement, I am not a big fan of his educational philosophies. This makes me a bit biased against anthroposophical medicine.

That said, I like that doctors prescribe this stuff here. As a first course, it's always better to pursue the over-the-counter nasal spray and drops route rather than to take antibiotics! Initially, I was unbelievably impressed at how effective the drops were, in fact, I couldn't believe it. But that was before I had read the Triofan box and realized it had bona fide drugs in it.

Now, I am not entirely convinced that the drops work. Here is why: I took the drops at the same time as I took the Triofan. My cough was caused by mucus dripping post-nasally into my lungs and then being coughed back up. Yuck. So when the Triofan cleared up the nose, Ahhhhh, naturally the cough went away too.

The next time I have a cough I'm looking forward to taking some of these drops and seeing what happens. Given how acute my pain and misery were yesterday, I am very thankful for the Triofan and its drug content.

Overall, I think Switzerland has a really good balance of western medicine and alternative therapies. Yes, many people consider homeopathy, naturopathy and acupuncture woo, but these therapies can and do work for a lot of conditions. I am an especially sensitive person so holistic medicine really appeals to me as it investigates how the body is functioning as a whole and how a disruption in one area can have repercussions in other areas of the body.

That is not woo, it's just common sense!!

Happily, I have a supplement on my insurance that covers alternative therapies. As healthcare reform moves forward in the US, I hope that this is something that will become possible at home, too. I'm happy to pay a bit extra each month to have access to acupuncture, naturopathy, massage and so on. And in the end, it probably saves the insurance companies a lot of money. When people pursue preventative measures that are natural it's just plain cheaper than traditional western medicine that involves lots of costly pharmaceuticals and technology.

So, bring on the woo - and the drugs! They can work together.

Craving Home

2011-02-20T11:31:00.001+01:00

I've been pretty homesick lately. Here are a few of the things that I crave, want, need and hate living without.

Mail Order

I love getting things in the mail. Especially packages filled with clothes from J.Crew, stationery from Minted, frivolous lovelies from Kate Spade, lovely smelling geranium cleaning products from Mrs. Meyer's, kitchen gadgets and makeup from Macy's, and the list goes on and on. Best of all, when in America, these things come with manageable US price tags instead of prohibitively outrageous Swiss ones!

Whole Foods

photo from wholefoods.com

It's such a treat to walk into Whole Foods and buy super fresh produce that doesn't go bad within 12 hours. I love the Panko Bread Crumbs in a little can. Organic stuff that is affordable! Essential oils, Bach Flower Remedies, local meats. I do miss Whole Foods, even if they are corporate.

My Kitchen Appliances

photo from kitchenmixersreview.com

It's tough to bake a cake or make cookies without my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer that J and I got from my mom at my bridal shower. Other coveted items? Food processor and crock pot. I am not going to re-buy these things here. Mostly because I can't re-buy these things here. Do you know that a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is more than $600 in Switzerland? See for yourself. Ouch!

Top Loading Washers

photo from maytag.com

I know that front loading washers are more efficient, but I don't like them. After having a front loader for the past six months I firmly believe that top loaders get clothes cleaner (faster) and make fewer holes in them.

Chipotle

This is probably my favorite food on the planet, and it's definitely my most missed food now that I'm in Switzerland. I am crazy for Chipotle's crispy barbacoa tacos with green tomatillo salsa, cheese, sour cream and lots of lettuce. And I always get a side of those delectable black beans, rice tossed with lime juice and finely chopped cilantro and roasted vegetables. Heaven in a little basket.

It's true that the grass is always greener! Living abroad really helps me to appreciate home like never before. I think that this time around will do it for me and when I return, I'll be happy and content to settle in and put down roots once and for all. Until then, I have learned a lot about Mexican cooking. Be on the lookout for a post about that soon!

Stretching Menus

2011-01-23T17:45:00.000+01:00

My New Year's resolution is to stick to our monthly budget. I'm very good at making budgets thanks to the handy and intelligent Excel spreadsheet. And it does gives me such a great feeling of satisfaction to know that everything is accounted for and planned out. The problem is that once that fateful payday has occurred and I've made the requisite transfers to our savings account and US account to pay our student loans, then everything goes to pot. Somehow, we wind up spending more than I had planned, and along with the overspending seems to come a lot of wasted food. Why didn't I freeze that leftover chili? I completely forgot about those tender asparagus spears! Clunk, thud, it all goes in the garbage. Bad.

This weekend we're having one of our favorites: Roast Chicken. Typically, we only get two meals out of a roast chicken and then wind up wasting the rest because it becomes unappealing having sat in the fridge covered in saran wrap for too long. Not this chicken! It's a free range chicken from France and I intend to get every last Franc out of it.

Tonight we'll have the roast chicken with vegetables, same tomorrow. Then, I'm going to pull the rest of the chicken from the carcass and make Oriental Chicken Salad from Nourishing Traditions.

Do you think I can get more from this chicken? Please send me your ideas! I hereby declare 2011 the year of waste not, want not.

Darn It!

2010-12-19T14:09:00.001+01:00

Martha Stewart has done it again. In the January issue of Martha Stewart Living, the article entitled "A Stitch in Time" made me wish I had some holes in my sweaters to darn. Not only does the article encourage a lost idea (fixing rather than replacing!) but it does so with flair. Just look at the contrasting yarn darning the holes on that sweater. It makes me giddy with delight!

From Martha Stewart Living January 2011, Number 206

Then what should happen, but last week I looked down only to notice a hole in one of my favorite J.Crew cardigans. No! My initial dismay quickly turned to delight when I realized I now had a chance to use Martha's fabulous darning idea. Yes! Immediately I knew that I wanted neon yellow or green (or both?) to darn my navy blue cardigan. Happily Purl Soho had exactly what I was after so while home for Christmas, I shall have a fun little project to tend to while chatting with my mom and drinking tea.

Mettler Neon Thread $22.40
photo from Purl Soho

Looking forward, I want to have a knitwear first-aid kit like Martha's at the ready. Sewing and knitting are such relaxing enjoyable activities that it also makes a pleasurable task out of a disappointment. There's everything to love about that.

From Martha Stewart Living January 2011, Number 206

Wish

2010-12-04T11:41:00.001+01:00

It's that time of year again. Here is what I have on my wish list this Christmas.

Essie nail polish quartet from J.Crew. These colors are so feminine and bright. Perfect for winter parties.

No Size. Color: Ballerina Clam Bake
click on photo for more info

Merino wool leggings from Icebreaker, to stay warm out in the snow. Brrr!

Size: XS Color: Blizzard
click on photo for more info

Merino camisoles from Icebreaker. Indispensable.

Size: XS Color: Snow
click on photo for more info

UGG house shoes to keep my toes toasty while working with the kiddos. I especially like the rubber sole because slippers make the most annoying noise.

Size: 6 Color: Tobacco
click on photo for more info

Serious winter boots from Sorel. With the Thinsulate, fleece lining and waterproof toes these are sure to be cozy on even the coldest Zurich days.

Size: 6 Color: Black
click on photo for more info

An elegant wool coat from J.Crew, because the puffy down jacket is not always appropriate to the occasion. This one has Thinsulate and comes in a petite. Perfect.

Size: Petite 0 with Thinsulate Color: Black
click on photo for more info

Staying warm is definitely this year's theme!

Progress

2010-11-21T12:32:00.000+01:00

These days our kitchen is starting to feel more like the heart of our home. We got a fabulous butcher block from IKEA and it looks great with all of our pots and pans and cookbooks on display. There's no getting around the fact that the kitchen itself is very "Euro." As in lots of tile and modern clean lines. (Maybe too modern and clean?) It's coming along, but hopefully I'll find even more ways to warm up all of that grey. For now, it feels like progress in the right direction.

Design Dilemma

2010-10-31T17:38:00.000+01:00

Since arriving in Switzerland, decorating our apartment has not been priority number one. First of all, we wanted to make sure we actually liked this place enough to stay before we invested in décor. Secondly, consider that we live in the heart of Europe. Spending money on traveling is way more fun, and really, more important when you have two weeks of vacation in October! Finally, having a washer and dryer was more appealing than getting the décor in order when the weather was nice and we were spending the majority of our non-working hours outside.

With those ideals in mind, we bought a white slipcover for our (then red) couch, got a cheap, but cute rug and coffee table from IKEA and decided it was good enough.

And it was for a while.

But now the push to do something about the interior has become relentless. The weather is changing rapidly and we're spending more and more time inside. It's getting darker and darker and we don't have any ceiling lighting - anywhere, in the entire apartment! The space is not functional. We don't have a place for wine glasses. I don't have a place to put my keys and purse when I come in the door. We have virtually zero counter space. Most of all, it just doesn't feel cozy! J is completely unfazed by our total lack of design and function, but I am quickly losing my mind.

Decorating a space is usually my favorite part about moving to a new apartment. But this time it's tricky. We don't have a car and I really miss west elm. I need some help!

What can you share about your success in designing a functional small space? And if you live in Switzerland, what are your favorite furniture and home décor stores?

Maybe Baby

2010-09-12T23:28:00.002+02:00

People the world over love English. This is especially true in Switzerland, where English is the default language. People on the French speaking side don't speak German and vice-versa. As for the Italian speakers, they don't bother with French or German! But everybody speaks English. And apparently, everybody loves it too. It's everywhere: on billboards and advertisements, on our Swisscom TV remote control, basically anywhere that is too small to cram four languages onto.

The only problem is that the English they use is often times absurdly ridiculous. Here is a fun example of really off the wall English. Let's just say that this cutesy, rhyming marketing approach for pregnancy tests sold in vending machines, would never fly in the English speaking world.

Yes, it rhymes. That doesn't mean it's a good thing.

Maybe Baby is always placed next to the (much cheaper) condoms.

What ridiculous English have you seen? Did it even remotely make sense?

Zurich Writer's Workshop

2010-09-09T17:53:00.003+02:00

The operative word here, of course, is writer. I like to think of myself as a writer and yet all I tend to write is this blog. Last year in Portland, my friend Joy decided to start a writers' group. I joined the group, went to the first meeting on a dark Fall night, and then, because I was so unbelievably busy, never attended the group again. My plate wasn't full in Portland; it was overflowing. As a result, nothing got the full attention it needed. Not my teaching job, not the apartment building J and I managed, certainly not my marriage, not my social life and definitely not my hobbies. I was constantly frazzled and forgetting things. It genuinely bothered me that I was so busy I couldn't think straight and didn't have time to devote to the hobbies and people who bring me the most joy in life. Even though it meant moving away from my wonderful friends, a huge factor in my decision to come to Zurich was my resolve to make writing a central focus in my life. I knew that moving here would mean my life was slower, less busy and simpler. In some ways that has turned out to be correct. In others, not so much. But let's just say that lately I've been gathering plenty of writing material in my experiences at work.

Remembering why I moved here is important right now.

So here I am. I have more time than I had in Portland, plenty of writing material, no idea how to get started and what should come along, but the first ever Zurich Writer's Workshop! Coincidence? I think not. I will be delving into non-fiction/memoir work with author Susan Jane Gilman and eleven other fellow writers for an entire weekend October 1-3. I was just emailed my homework assignments to complete before the workshop and I've never been so excited to get started. I hope it will be a weekend of inspiration, good nuts and bolts to keep myself writing once it's over, and really good fondue. Yes, we'll finish off the weekend with a literary fondue dinner including readings from the instructors. How delightful!

What hobby do you make a priority in your life and how do you do it?!

The Appliance I Cannot Live Without

2010-09-06T12:50:00.002+02:00

Last summer, my friend Kate and her boyfriend were visiting us in Portland. As we washed all of the dishes by hand following a roast chicken dinner, she asked me a hypothetical question: Would I rather have a dishwasher or a washer and dryer in my apartment?

At the time, I answered washer and dryer without hesitation. Then I continued to wash the dishes in a basin of soapy water, rinse them and delicately balance them on the overcrowded dish rack. Yes, I thought that a washer and dryer were more desirable. That was only because I had yet to experience adult life with a dishwasher...

Dishwasher bliss!

Now that I have lived the last month with a dishwasher, I will never be able to go back to handwashing!

So, what is the appliance you can't live without? Or perhaps, if you're an expat too, the one you're missing the most right now.

Head Cold

2010-09-04T11:01:00.007+02:00

Working with three to six year olds means being sick in the beginning. Immediate sickness, guaranteed! It is a documented fact that schoolchildren are the grubby ones who carry all the germs, and seeing as I'm new here in Switzerland, I'm getting acquainted with a whole new population of bacteria and viruses. Lucky me! But I'm not the only one. All of the new staff at work were grumpy, tired and miserable with a nasty head cold last week.

Enter Otrinol, my new best friend in Der Schweiz. Otrinol is Sudafed in a nifty 120 mg, 12-hour time released capsule. Other new friends of mine include Tonopan, a wonderfully strong pain killer, and Nasobol, a sort of head cold spa treatment. Just drop two Nasobol tablets in a bowl of almost boiling water, toss a towel over your head, and inhale the heavenly menthol and eucalyptus scented vapors.

Hopefully this weekend I'll be feeling well enough to spend some time with people-friends rather than these guys. Until then, there are worse things that being hopped up on Otrinol.

35 CHF worth of relief.

Lauterbrunnental

2010-08-29T11:35:00.002+02:00

A week after arriving in Switzerland, Joel and I went to do a hike from Kleine Scheidegg to Männlichen and then on to Wengen. This hike is in the Jungfrau Region of the Alps and it was even more magnificent than expected.

Fresh Alpine Air

The Lauterrunnental
(tal means valley)

The North Face of The Eiger shrouded in clouds.

Along the path

Wildflowers photographed by Joel

Happy Cows

And friendly!

Joel on the way up to Männlichen

On the top! Literally in the clouds.

About to hike down 3000 feet in one hour. As in straight down!

Clearly needed Avalanche Gates

More wildflowers

Just a day in the Alps

Picture perfect mountains

About half way down. Trees!

Alpenglow

Miraculously we got on the last train out of Wengen and made all of the final connections back to Adliswil. Talk about lucky!

If you would like to visit Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfrau Region, here are a few tips.

Joel got the book Classic Walks in Western Europe at Powell's before we left and this was the first walk we did from the book. Highly recommended!

We were surprised at how sore we were after this walk. Hiking straight down uses completely different muscles, so be prepared to take it easy for a few days afterward, or train yourself adequately ahead of time.

Half-Fare Travelcard holders can save money on train fare with the Tageskarte (Day Pass) from SBB. The Tageskarte will get you all the way to Wengen and then you have only to pay 12 CHF for the private Jungfrau Railway to Kleine Scheidegg.

Not a Half-Fare Travelcard holder? SBB has offers for visitors from abroad. For an even thriftier approach, look into the Eurail Pass before leaving home as Swiss Trains, like everything else, are notoriously expensive.

However, once you get there, it's like those Mastercard commercials. Utterly priceless!

Beach Day on Lake Zurich

2010-08-23T21:25:00.000+02:00

Just in the nick of time, summer decided to show itself! Last weekend was the final weekend of summer before school started. It was invigorating to have three days of sun, heat and delightfully warm evenings.

Saturday we went to the Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen. For those of us who don't speak German, that means Tiefenbrunnen Beach.

It was fabulous. There are showers, grassy areas to put your beach towel, lockers, steps going down into the lake, floating docks, a restaurant and not one reason not to stay all day. You can even rent an umbrella!

The view overhead

View to the left

View straight ahead

What day to the beach would be complete without a little picnic? The already hardboiled "Pique-nique" eggs available at the store are a such a glittery and shiny gold they make me feel like I'm in Willy Wonka's factory. Yay.

I read many long New Yorker articles and watched the clouds change shape in the sky during my day at the beach. It was just what the doctor ordered following the most stressful summer of waiting for work permits, moving, visa applications and all that madness.

Ridiculously Expensive

2010-08-19T16:54:00.000+02:00

You've probably heard that Switzerland is expensive. Maybe from a friend who stopped over while backpacking through Europe in college, or maybe you've been here yourself. Either way, I'm here to tell you it's true. Switzerland can be insanely expensive. After a while, you get to know where to go and how to shop, but on the whole, you can count on paying more than you would elsewhere. A little joke of mine is that everything costs double. The other day, after we opened our bank account, we walked past, and noticed for the first time, the "2 Franc Store." As in the Dollar Store.

Probably the most expensive thing here is dining out. If you live here, you can avoid it, but if you're a visitor, it will bankrupt you. Last week J and I went out to dinner with Romy, from Half the Sugar Bowl, and her husband. This was our first experience eating out since arriving in Switzerland. We took out plenty of cash, expecting high prices, but looking forward to meeting some other Anglophones right here in the neighborhood. Our neighbors are lovely people. And the menu? Completely blew me out of the water. We paid $20 for a basic cheeseburger! Is that a typo you ask? No. Luckily I was not very hungry, so Joel and I opted to share our solid gold burger.

Isn't the sparkler thing a nice touch?

More Chocolate Than You Can Shake A Stick At

2010-08-16T21:04:00.000+02:00

Naturally one of the great benefits of living in Switzerland is being surrounded by more chocolate than you can shake a stick at! Tonight ~~before~~ after dinner, J and I had a few squares of banana chocolate! Have you ever heard of such a thing? It was tasty, rich milk chocolate with banana flavored crème filling. There really is just about every kind of chocolate you can imagine. Naturally one of the great drawbacks of living in Switzerland is the constant threat the surrounding chocolate poses to one's waistline!

Laundry

2010-08-15T17:18:00.000+02:00

As anyone who has lived abroad can tell you, laundry is certainly one of the most challenging aspects of expat living. It doesn't seem like something that would be a big deal, but it is. It is a very big deal.

Ready to wash. Detergent and laundry card are ready to go!

In Switzerland, each apartment building handles laundry differently. Some buildings, like ours (thank goodness) are first come, first served when it comes to laundry. In other buildings there is a roster where one must sign up. In others, there are assigned days for each apartment. Typically when this is the case, each tenant is given full use of the laundry room for one day every three weeks or so! Just to keep things exciting, it's a date, not a day that you're given. So you might wind up having a Thursday, in which case you'd be at work most of the day and then tasked with cramming 8 or 9 loads of laundry in before midnight. No thank you!

Regardless of when you can do laundry, there are all sorts of rules. In Neuchâtel, the laundry room was locked at 10 pm and all day Sunday. Apparently the concierge in that building was not aware that Sunday is the universal day for doing laundry. Apparently I had never considered laundry "work," nor lived in such a religious place. Go figure.

At any rate, I can't really read the rules in my current laundry room. Here's a sampling of the signs I'm wondering about.

I can see that I'm not supposed to do laundry after 10 pm. Standard enough. I wonder what the rest says. Clearly there are some really bright ideas outlined in this rule list. That man has a lightbulb over his head, that's how I know.

I did manage to gather from this sign that there is a washer and dryer for the red side and another for the blue side.

It's helpful that this sign is in blue and the other one is in red.

Unfortunately, I couldn't remember what side I live on, so I just did my laundry in the empty machine, which is the red side machine. Side of what you ask? Oh, you'll see.

That's when the fun really began. Do I put my detergent tablet in the little compartment up top or straight in with the clothes? What does all of this mean?

Hell if I know.

In the end, I put my laundry tablets up top and it seemed to work out fine. Then I went upstairs and set a timer to make sure I am there the moment the cycle finishes.

Action shot. I can't help but be puzzled by the total lack of suds.

On the way up, I checked to see which "side" I live on. Our apartment is up the stairs to the left, so it turns out I live on the "blue" side. I can't believe it. First load and I'm already breaking the rules!

The lobby is nothing short of hideous. A far cry from the lovely Silver Court!

Arrival

2010-08-15T11:42:00.000+02:00

Our arrival in Switzerland two weeks ago seems like a decade ago. We have as been busy as little bees! We start work full time tomorrow. What happened to summer? Did it fly by or never arrive? I'm going with the latter.

We flew to Zurich July 30th on standby with my wonderful friend Andrea who works for a big airline company. Miraculously we managed to check 8 huge, overweight pieces of baggage and boxes and got on all of our flights with no problems! As far as Andrea's getting back to the US on time, that's another story...she had a longer than expected mini-vacation in Zurich. Uh oh.

We were so surprised to see that our administrator had arranged our apartment so that it was all ready for us when we arrived.

It was also a big surprise to see our names are on little engraved plaques all over the place - the entry intercom, next to our door, on our mailbox. So official. So Swiss.

Although Andrea was effectively stuck here, that meant we had plenty of time to sightsee in Zurich. One of the funniest passages in our Rick Steves' Switzerland book is about the hypodermic needle machine in Central Zurich. Rick notes that Switzerland has very progressive drug policies and that doing so has helped to clean up a bit of the drug problem in the country, making it safer for everyone. He is very tongue in cheek when he writes, "Go ahead, buy a box [of needles] - it's about the cheapest souvenir you can purchase in Zurich." We did not buy a box as we felt it was best to leave them for the heroin junkies. But we did stop for a pic with the machine. Probably the most offensive snapshot possible!

It never hurts to arrive on the eve of the National Day, so we were at a fabulous paella party within 48 hours of arrival, hosted by the brother-in-law of our administrator, Susanne. To make it extra fun, we took a cable car up to Felsenegg and hiked to the party over two hills.

Walking along.

The patio all ready for the revelers.

Paella in progress.

After dessert, it started to rain, so a tarp was put up. And when the tarp wasn't enough we grabbed the wine and made a run for it inside.

It was quite the storm! The dragon downspouts put on quite a show. As did the lightning!

Once it cleared up, we headed up the hill, watched the fireworks and then went to a big party in a barn!

Of course, that only covers the first two days. I'll catch up. Maybe this afternoon. Maybe later.

Dream Car For Sale

2010-07-15T20:57:00.000+02:00

I've dreaded this moment, as I really wish we could keep this lovely auto forever. But the time has come to part with our darling 2005 Volkswagen Golf TDI GLS.

This is the ideal car because it is fast, safe and very attractive. The GLS model has four doors and is fully loaded - Air Conditioning, Moon Roof, CD/Cassette, Alloy Wheels, Heated Seats, Tilt Wheel, Power Windows, Power Locks, Alarm, 5 Speed and much more.

We are the second owners. Four new, matching tires purchased in April. Very low miles! Just 53K. This beautiful car is truly in excellent condition. Please email if you're interested. Just click the "Email Me" button on the right!

Thank you for your interest!

Our New Apartment

2010-07-08T22:42:00.000+02:00

These pictures were taken in April, but with all the hoopla of waiting two months for our work permits to be approved, finishing up school, giving notice to stop managing our current building and so on, this is the first chance I've had to post them. So exciting!

Front entrance to the building. Not a total beauty, but not hideously ugly either.

Back of the building.

Our street.

Foyer.

Bedroom.

Bathroom I.

Bathroom II. Eco-flushing toilet and radiator to warm towels. Alright!

Kitchen from living room.

Living room.

Kitchen up-close. Very modern and clean!

Ceramic top stove might take some getting used to, but the dishwasher won't!

Living room balcony view to the left.

Living room balcony view to the right.

View from kitchen balcony.

And the other direction.

The departing tenant has left the couch for us and from some expats getting ready to leave Switzerland we got a bedroom set. Other than that, it's going to be lots of furniture and setting up house. It's going to be so much fun!

Letting Go {Moving Forward}

2010-07-08T00:23:00.000+02:00

I become very attached to the space I live in. Sadly for me, the time has come to let go of this incredible apartment. It's not easy.

When we left our last apartment to come to this one, it was literally a gut wrenching experience for me. It made me sick to dismantle that home and move out of that space. This time around won't be quite so dramatic, partly because I've had ample time to prepare mentally and partly because I am very excited about our new life in Switzerland. But still.

When we left the Olympic in Northwest, I made it bearable by cleaning the apartment from top to bottom and taking photos so I could remember it just like that. The funny thing is, I didn't really miss it at all once I was gone. These are the photos I took. I do remember it just like that.

So, I plan to do the same thing here. Tonight I'll get the place all cleaned up, take photos and remember it just like that. Hopefully, though it seems ridiculously impossible, I won't miss it at all!

Sweet Sweet Sweet

2010-07-06T18:16:00.000+02:00

I have never tasted strawberries as wonderful as these. I bought half a flat at one of those fruit stands out in The Gorge and the car ride home smelled heavenly. As my mom said, these taste the way strawberries are supposed to taste. Today, I'm going to try my hand at freezer jam. The past few days, I've enjoyed many a bowl of these strawberries with fresh whipped cream. Perfection doesn't last for long.

French Stripes

2010-06-22T06:41:00.000+02:00

I am a fool for love. And I love french stripes this summer. Look at these fabulous picks from France and beyond.

For chic children who want to look bold against the waves from Melijoe

Shapely with neat decorative buttons from Petit Bateau

Add a little neon for fun and sequins for glamour at J.Crew

And the original from Saint James, official clothier to the French Navy!

Orchid Love

2010-06-21T10:06:00.000+02:00

Since when does a drink come with a fashion accessory? Last night I went with my amazing friend Beth to Silk in The Pearl. I had a really fabulous cocktail with Lychee purée and vodka and some raspberries and other wonderful things. It was tasty, but best of all it came with a gorgeous orchid perched atop the loveliness. I believe that orchids are poisonous, but I didn't eat it. Oh no. I placed the delicate bloom on the table and then Beth suggested told me I should put it in my hair. Of course! Why didn't I think of that? Thank you, Beth! I just happened to have some fancy pearl hairpins in my purse that I carry with me for exactly this type of situation. 30 seconds later, tropical glamour was mine and I was loving my dark hair more than ever. Happily, we head on down the street to Vino Paradiso to do an Oregon wine flight, so I got take my blossom out on the town for a bit. Best of all, I lovingly placed it in a small dish of water overnight and wore it again today. I have a new place in my heart for the beautiful, delicate, decidedly strong orchid bloom.

Moving Sale

2010-06-19T22:17:00.000+02:00

As we prepare to move to Switzerland, it pains us to sell many of our beloved belongings, but we've had to adopt the attitude: if we can't shove it in a suitcase, it's not going with us.

In addition to household items, also up for sale will be our 2005 Volkswagen Golf TDI. We average 45-55 miles per gallon, depending on where we're driving. It is manual transmission, white, four doors, moon roof, CD player, heated seats and much more. 51,790 miles. Be on the lookout for a post about that soon or email me if you're interested.

We have some things for sale. Please email me to let me know if you're interested in any of it.

AVAILABLE NOW

Kitchen Cart from IKEA. Excellent condition. Pots and pans, toaster etc not included. $100

Awesome dish drying rack. You wouldn't believe how much this thing can hold. $15
No longer available!

Two Therm-a-Rest camping pads. Lightweight.
$10 each or two for $15
No longer available!

Basic tent. *Free*
No longer available!

Coleman sleeping bag with stuff sack. Very warm. $10
No longer available!

Women's The North Face sleeping bag. Used three times. Perfect condition. Includes stuff sack. $50 No longer available!

Canon EOS 5 SLR Camera with lens, grip, filters, manuals, bag and other stuff.

*Not digital* This camera uses film. $250

Volkswagen Cabrio Boot Cover.

For 1995-02 models. Gives a very neat appearance when the top is down and protects the top. $125

No longer available!

Overhead projector. Mint condition. $40

Lots of art supplies. Some new, some used once or twice. Acrylic paints, canvas frames (2) charcoals, pastels, markers, colored pencils, brushes, palettes, etc. More not pictured. $40 for the lot.

No longer available!

Isaac Mizrahi for Target Butterfly Bedding. Queen size duvet cover and two shams. Used only a couple of times. $20

No longer available!

Authentic Shaker dining chairs. Set of six for $375

Martha Stewart Collection arm chair. Sensible clean lines. Good condition. $30

No longer available!

AVAILABLE MID-JULY

Bed and nightstand. $325. Scroll down for detailed pics.

Sealy Posture Premier Regale Blue. Includes queen sized mattress, box spring and hollywood frame. Bought new three years ago, has been covered with an allergy barrier since. Excellent condition. $300

Quaint Simply Shabby Chic nightstand from Target. Good condition. $25

Striped rug from west elm. 1 year old. Very good condition. $75

White Lack coffee table from IKEA *free*

Tillary Sofa from west elm. Includes Sofa with 2 back supports, Ottoman and Corner Cushion.

Versatile and modern. See more here. One year old, excellent condition. Paid $1400 new. Attractive Saddle color has been discontinued. $850

Please feel free to make an offer on any item.

More pictures available upon request.

We will be adding more furniture and household items over the next couple of weeks.

If there is something you're interested in, please feel free to send me an email with questions or to see more pictures! Thanks. Yodel-ay-hee-hooo!

l'Amour

2010-06-17T09:09:00.000+02:00

While I was not the one to introduce Phoenix's phenomenal third album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, to our home, I can claim that I am duly obsessed with its wonder. This is it when it comes to music. When I say I am obsessed I mean that I want to listen to this album all the time and the only thing that stops me from listening to it over and over again is the fact that I want to savor it rather than play it out and grow tired of it prematurely. In the past ten years I have only been this in love with two other albums. One, four years ago, was And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead's Worlds Apart. The other, 12 years ago, was Texas is the Reason's Do You Know Who You Are which will probably always be my favorite album of all time so let's not even go there.

The funny thing is that Trail of Dead is from Austin, Texas and Texas is the Reason is from New York and Phoenix is from Versailles. WTF? Weirder still is that Thomas Mars, Phoenix's frontman, has a child with Sofia Coppola, director of my absolute favorite movie, Marie Antoinette, which is set in Versailles where Mars is from. Could this get any more synchronistic? Probably. But who cares? I am going to revel in it anyway.

All of that aside, it is wonderful music in the truest sense of the word. And you can believe me when I say that, because I am extremely picky and I simply do not say an album is spectacular unless it is.

So get yourself over to the iTunes store and buy Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix straight away. You will not be sorry. Right now, I just cannot get enough Phoenix. I am in love. Vive l'amour!

Adventure

2010-06-16T06:50:00.000+02:00

Joel and I are moving away from our beloved City of Roses at the end of July. It's strange because it's hard to describe just how much I love Portland, but we have a dream to follow and Portland will still be here when we get back. Since we first starting dating in Eugene, Joel and I have wanted to live and work abroad together in Europe. Not just anywhere in Europe, but in Switzerland. How's that for specific? Amazingly we have set up our lives and education and careers so we can do just that and we're leaving at the end of July! It's so completely bizarre that sometimes it doesn't seem real. But it is real and while I'm ecstatic about going, I'm distraught over leaving. How could I not feel sad leaving Portland? It's just so perfect. And what's not to love about going to Zürich knowing it is considered by some to be the world's most livable city? Over the next six weeks, I am going to appreciate Portland as much as I can. Then our wonderful Swiss adventure shall begin. This is quite a lovely time indeed!

Lilac in a Bottle

2010-05-23T18:39:00.000+02:00

I was born in the Lilac City so I know the smell of a good lilac. Being rather finicky and preferring a very alkaline soil, the lilac is not easy to grow in many places. When the conditions are right and the lilac flourishes, the scent is positively intoxicating. So imagine my surprise when I discovered Pacifica's French Lilac perfume. It's like the real thing. In a bottle! Best of all, it rings in at just over $20. This will definitely be my fragrance addiction this summer.

photo from pacificaperfume.com

Pacifica Perfumes, candles and soaps are available at Whole Foods Markets in the Portland area. Shop Pacifica online at www.pacificaperfume.com

Baby Bunny

2010-05-23T03:54:00.000+02:00

If you're having a rough day, or maybe just want a dose of cute overload, simply Google "baby bunny" on Google Images. Here's a little taste of what you'll get.

photo from seehere.blogspot.com

Are you saying 'awwww' right now? I thought so.

Smallest Park in the World

2010-05-01T21:37:00.000+02:00

As if Portland isn't wonderful enough, it is home to Mill Ends Park, officially the smallest park in the world. The park is said to be the ideal location for leprechaun watching and snail races. It really is small. Joel and I actually couldn't be in the park together on account of its diminutive proportions. You can learn more about Mill Ends Park here.

Heavenly & Blissful

2010-05-01T01:27:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I had the most relaxing, peaceful facial at the Aveda Institute in The Pearl. I must admit that I was a little nervous about going to the Aveda Institute this time around. The majority of my visits to Aveda have been really positive, but from time to time when you have students doing your services, you wind up with someone who really does not have the knack. Sorry to be rude, but seriously, the last pedicure I got at Aveda was hell. I was literally scalded with paraffin wax and left with nail polish not just on my toe nails, but all over my toes, too. It's one thing to get through an uncomfortable pedicure, but a facial is quite different. It was a serious relief to have a very skilled student giving me my facial yesterday and as an added bonus, she didn't talk at all. No one wants to talk when they're getting a facial. Still, there are those times when you get a chatty esthetician. Anyway, whoever came up with the facial was a genius. It is so wonderful to have your face massaged with luxurious smelling beauty products, get hot towel treatment and that lovely steam they blow in your face. It is the best. I almost fell asleep at one point. If you live in Portland and you have not been to the Aveda Institute, you should go. Chances are you'll get someone really great to do your services. I think I'm going to go every other week until summer starts. Seriously. At $25 per facial, it's a worthy investment in stress reduction and peace of mind. La.

photo from avedainstitutes.com

Hipstamatic

2010-04-27T02:42:00.000+02:00

Just to be clear, before I start raving about my favorite new app, let it be known that I will always love ShakeItPhoto, because you actually get to shake it. That said, I feel like it's Christmas having newly discovered Hipstamatic. I am pretty much completely in love with this thing. It's cute (very important), easy to use (good) and it delivers (awesome). See how exciting it is? You better hit the app store pronto and get it yourself! At $1.99 can you really come up with a valid reason not to? I didn't think so.

Spring Smells

2010-04-25T20:53:00.000+02:00

photo courtesy of sephora.com

When I was living in Switzerland a few years ago, I got this perfume, Insolence by Guerlain, just after spring had sprung. I chose it because it reminded me of some Sanrio perfume I had as a little girl with Little Twin Stars on the front of the tiny little bottle. I have no idea where I got that Little Twin Stars perfume, but I loved it and when I smelled Insolence it immediately took me back to a really delightful childhood state of mind. I was sold on Insolence immediately and I adored wearing it with skirts and summery tops and feeling flowery and fresh. I wore it on many hikes through the gorgeous Jura Mountain range with the sun shining on my face and birdsong all around. Since that time in Switzerland, when I wear it, I feel childlike, flowery, sunny and fresh and I can almost hear the birdsong. All at once! It has been great to wear on dreary grey days in the Northwest and today I'm wearing it on a lovely, sunny, birdsong filled day in Portland. It's simultaneously taking me back to joyful childhood days, sunny days in Switzerland and brightening this perfect day in Portland. Yum.

Small Stuff

2010-04-24T21:18:00.000+02:00

It's always the little things that make me the most delighted. Like this glass front cabinet with all of the brightly colored cookware within. This really makes me smile. I love the black and white floor contrasting with the colorful pots. And I love thinking of all the wonderful things I cook in said pots. Mmmm. Another little thing that's making me happy is the lovely, soft spring rain we're having in Portland and that my husband just finished vacuuming and mopping our apartment. Lovely. Little. Things.

Le Pigeon

2010-04-22T06:29:00.000+02:00

As far as restaurants in Portland go, I'd have to say this is one of my favorites. Just look at that duck with chard and chestnuts. Heavenly. I have been going through a giant life-changing decision making process so I haven't posted for the last month. I've been too busy freaking out and going back and forth. What I should be doing is going back and forth to Le Pigeon for glasses of wine and profiteroles with foie gras and caramel sauce. Who cares what you're deliberating when you're eating something that wonderful. In fact it was so delectable and I was so caught up in savoring it, I didn't even think to take a picture!

¿Por Qué No?

2010-03-22T23:11:00.000+01:00

This afternoon, Joel and I went for lunch at Por Qué No on Mississippi. There was a line, of course, but not nearly so long a line as is often spotted at the Hawthorne location. Once inside, we were charmed by the colorful, candlelit atmosphere. The food was delicious! It is so so fun to be able to go out to lunch on a Monday. Now I'm going to go take a little nap and read my novel. Oh how I love spring break.

Delightful Day

2010-03-21T03:39:00.000+01:00

It's hard not to enjoy the first day of spring break. I slept until a quarter past nine, ate a leisurely breakfast of sausage, fresh eggs and hashbrowns, drank not my usual one, but two cups of coffee and stayed in my pajamas until mid-afternoon! Once I finally decided to don daytime clothing, I took care of some paperwork, got together three bags of clothes to get rid of and even took out the garbage. That's when I realized how decidedly summery it felt outside. I got together my things and headed out. It was a lovely day for walking and being about town. After getting a few errands taken care of, I had a cup of Tomato Orange soup at Elephant's and read the latest issue of Real Simple. Now I'm home and you can't imagine how lovely it is to sit and read at this table on an evening like this one. And, of course, it's needless to say that I am head over heels for our magnolia. I'd like to give that tree a hug.

Signs of Spring

2010-03-07T20:06:00.000+01:00

Can you believe these cherry blossoms?! They are everywhere and smell amazing.

Our magnolia is coming to life!

Time for a little spring cleaning.

And much to my surprise, my cyclamen decided to bloom!

Early Risers

2010-02-28T06:26:00.000+01:00

Getting up early on the weekend is just about my favorite thing to do. Luckily these days it's easy with the sun streaming in by 7:15.

By 9 this morning, Joel and I had already enjoyed a nice breakfast at Starbucks on Broadway and were happily walking through Forest Park listening to the birdsong. We stopped for a little while and watched the tiniest, happiest bird there ever was building a nest out of moss and twigs in a little hollow in a tree. How lucky we Portlanders are to have a park like that right in the city.

photo from fleurdelys.org

After our walk it was more coffee on 23rd, a few errands and then I spent the lion's share of my afternoon knitting. My socks are really taking shape!

The evening began with Indian food and Talk to Her. I love watching a favorite film again. Especially when I've forgotten most of what happens.

Ashland

2010-02-26T02:38:00.000+01:00

Here's everything you need to know to spend a delightful, relaxing weekend in Ashland.

{drink} Noble Coffee Roasting 281 4th Street

Equally delightful rain or shine. All beans are roasted in house. Try the Pompadour.

{shop} Prize 264 East Main Street

I wanted to transport every lovely piece and beautiful detail directly into my home. But I settled for a vintage Paris map, Savon de Marseille Extra Pur Figue and Smith's Rosebud Salve.

{indulge} Chozu Bath & Tea Gardens 832 A Street

Troubles seem miles away when your soaking in 105 degree salt water sipping on jasmine tea or sake. Stay the night in a cottage and snack on healthy japanese fare by the fire for a little après soak.

Larch Mountain

2010-02-22T20:08:00.000+01:00

What better way to spend a gorgeous sunny day in Portland than with crèpes for lunch at Chez Machin followed by a 10 mile walk up Larch Mountain. In fact, it was so gorgeous yesterday that sitting at an outside table at Chez Machin, I was able to bask in the sun in jeans and a t-shirt! This February spring weather is definitely one of the best things about living in Portland. Every year we're treated to two weeks of bliss. I've been in Oregon long enough to know that it's going to get cold and rainy again, maybe until June. But for now, long live the sun!

The craggy summit.

It was so clear you could see (l to r) Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams

Of course, Mt. Hood was grandly beautiful.

Me and Joel at the top!

If you'd like to walk up Larch Mountain, just take I-84 east from Portland to exit 18 toward Lewis and Clark State Park/Oxbow Regional Park, Turn left at Crown Point Highway, Continue on Historic Columbia River Highway, Continue on SE Hurlburt Road, Slight Left on SE Littlepage Road, Slight Right on SE Louden Road, then follow signs and Turn Right at E Larch Mountain Road. You can park at the closure gate at milepost 10 and walk up Larch Mountain Road the remaining 5 miles to the Sherrard Viewpoint. The road reopens sometime between May and July and then you can drive all the way up. Walking is much more fun, though! The view looks way better when you've earned it.

Judy's Magic Cast-On

2010-02-21T01:06:00.000+01:00

My first knitting class is complete, and now all I want to do is knit. However, I'm starving, so I must stop and eat. But first, a little blog update and a few pics.

Class was amazing. Our instructor taught us Judy's Magic Cast-On which is truly magical. It results in a purl row once cast-on is complete, leaves no edge or seam on the toe and is a complete snap! I decided to get bamboo circulars instead of metal because I hate the feel of the metal ones. I'm hoping I'll warm up to the metal ones later. I also had to go back to throwing because learning a new skill on little tiny needles while simultaneously practicing a new technique proved difficult. I'll still practice continental on a felting project I've got going now at home because ultimately that's how I want to knit. For now, I'm very happy with my latest foray into knitting and simply bursting with ideas of things to make on those wonderful circular needles. What a lovely afternoon!

A little blooming jasmine waiting for class to start.

A fun sign.

And the best part about being in a knitting shop: the incredible colors.

Oooh!

Bring on the socks.

2010-02-20T20:44:00.000+01:00

Today I'm starting a knitting class at Twisted which is conveniently located just three blocks from my apartment. I cannot wait to learn how to knit toe-up socks on two (!) circular knitting needles. This morning I got online and watched a few videos of knitting basics because I realized I had pretty much forgotten everything I already know about knitting. I refreshed myself on how to cast-on and then learned some new tricks. Not remembering anything has its upside, I discovered! This morning, I officially converted from being a "thrower" or "English" knitter, to being a "picker" or "Continental" knitter. That definitely would not have happened were I well entrenched in the habit. Rah!

Doesn't that buttery yellow yarn just make you feel all fuzzy inside?

Class doesn't start for an hour so I'm going to get out, enjoy some of this sunshine and play with my camera. À bientôt!

friday afternoon...

2010-02-13T02:27:00.000+01:00

The past week went by so quickly it's almost as if it never existed at all. I'm thrilled to be feeling better and happy that the time I was sick was somewhat "productive" given that I discovered a couple of new blogs I find very inspiring and had a lot of time to think. Joel gets major points for taking good care of me while I was sick, including busting out the Comet, scrubbing the bathtub and making this happen.

One of the new blogs I'm smitten with is The Awesome Summer Journal which I blogged about here. The other one is wikstenmade. Jenny Gordy of wikstenmade is completely adorable and I intend to hijack her eyebrow shape as soon as humanly possible. Her clothing designs are impeccable and reading her blog just fills me with feelings of sunshine, farm fresh eggs and green green grass. Don't ask me why, it just does.
I learned via The Awesome Summer Journal about a little thing called "bokeh" which is the blurry, out of focus part of a picture. I had to take photos while paying attention to this phenomenon at once! And I knew just what to try it on. The perfect pansies in my window box that I'm unabashedly in love with.

But I believe it's really more dramatic at night, so I just tried a few more in the twilight that's glowing over Portland right now. It's definitely tricky to get the camera to see what I see and focus on the right part. It always wants to go to the background. Then once I get it to focus it's delicate to hold the shutter release half way down while framing the shot. Still, I can tell this is going to provide hours of fun. And what a relief! When I bought my G10 back in August, I had this lingering doubt that I had bought way more camera than I'd ever make use of. Turns out, not so!

This photo is probably the best of the lot. And while I wasn't entirely satisfied with it, it did occur to me that my neighbors may think I'm trying to take pictures through their windows and I felt compelled to stop.

I wish you all a lovely Valentine's Day. To celebrate, Joel and I are going to Chozu Bath and Tea Gardens in Ashland. I can't wait to spend two days doing nothing but soaking in a hot, therapeutic salt water pool, reading magazines and books and walking around adorable Ashland. Three cheers for the three day weekend! See you back here Monday.

A few beautiful things...

2010-02-08T22:58:00.001+01:00

Expect today to be a day filled with many posts. I am still sick and lying in bed with a hot cup of tea and my laptop is a good thing to do when sick. I can watch a movie in my bed, or read the New York Times in bed. Or pay bills in bed. Or check facebook and email in bed. Then when I'm ready for a nap, I just set the laptop aside and snooze. Now that I'm not writhing in pain, getting my strength back is almost pleasant. Except when I swallow. Or sweat feverishly. Or can't snooze due to nausea. But at least the majority of the body pain and headache are gone. If you have not experienced Strep Throat as an adult, learn more about this hellish misery here.

But onto the beautiful things.

Wouldn't this be a lovely bed to snooze in? I am a ridiculously devoted west elm admirer. Their aesthetics just resonate on every level with me. And I love the vocabulary they put with this bedding set: Tailored, Tidy, Terrific! What glee! It's enough to put a spring in your step and how I'm dreaming of spring.

Photo from westelm.com

Another beautiful thing that I cannot find one fault with is La Compagnie de Provence Savon de Marseille Extra Pur. I like the modern bottles and clean lines and this stuff lathers like you wouldn't believe. I am in the process of justifying the price tag on the rose soap in the glass bottle. Given that I will never get sick of it, and the refill is much more reasonable, I think it's a worthy investment. Lovely.

Photo from lcdpusa.com

And now it's time for me to take a little nap.

Get a Grip!

2010-02-08T03:41:00.000+01:00

I was so completely inspired by this photo when I saw it. For several reasons, but we'll get to that in a minute. It came from The Awesome Summer Journal, a blog by a woman who lives freakishly close to where I live. Weird! And it makes it extra fun to read her blog because I know all the streets she's talking about, and restaurants and all that. This picture was taken on the Hawthorne Bridge. See more here.

But the reason that this picture really inspired me is this: I get so bogged down with teaching and how demanding it is and how tired Joel and I always are by the time we get off of work that I don't even take advantage of this amazing city I'm living in. My first thought upon seeing this photo? What's the point of living so close to everything if you don't even bother to get out and walk around? Exactly. So, if there's one good thing about being sick, it's that by the time you're well enough to sit up and think a little bit, you discover a sliver of time that didn't exist before and you use it to get new perspective on life. Maybe that's why I get sick so frequently. I need more perspective. Huh. Well, anyway, I would like to enjoy my life more than I do, and I'd also rather not be so rushed and overwhelmed the majority of the time.

I think I will make a list.

Sick Weekend

2010-02-07T19:03:00.000+01:00

I suppose it's a good thing that I didn't have any set plans this weekend. I'm terribly sick with strep throat and have done absolutely nothing since it began Friday night. It's hard to believe how nasty and painful strep throat is. I've been on the antibiotics for 24 hours now and yet I feel worse than I did yesterday. The doctor said even with antibiotics it could be 4 or 5 days before I start to feel better. It's miserable. The fevers, the pain, the absolute and total fatigue. At least I have a really cozy bed and a good supply of ibuprofen. And Joel is taking good care of me. But my weekend was taken from me. No grocery shopping and cooking, no leisurely mornings drinking coffee, no meeting up with friends, no fun at all. Just the foggy headed feeling of a high fever, difficulty sleeping and squirming from pain. Sad. I really hate being sick.

A Few Things...

2010-01-29T18:31:00.000+01:00

First off, don't these carnations just make you smile?! I am completely obsessed with pink carnations, and with Weck Jars. They really do make a delightful combo. Yum!In other news, I just ordered a new battery for my laptop. My computer might be described as a dinosaur by some, given that it is a 2004 Powerbook G4, but I'm telling you, aside from being a little slow, this thing is going strong! At least for what I need it for. A little email here, some blogging there, Facebook, MS Word and Excel, printing some stuff now and then. Do I really need a super fast computer? No! But it is a pain that it always has to be plugged in and that every time I do unplug it, I have to reset the clock when I start up again. So, I got a new battery off of eBay for a mere 35 bucks. Rah! Over the years, I've loved this little computer. I added RAM at one point. Nice! I installed Leopard. Yes! I am with the times. I even got a new hard drive when the old one went kaput on me. Not so fun. But, luckily, the computer started acting up and gave me advance warning so I got all my photos burned onto cds before the big crash. Excellent! And it was very inexpensive to replace the hard drive. I have really gotten my money's worth out of this thing - and without putting that much into it. Why is this relevant to my blog? Well, I am hoping that having more mobility with my computer will make it easier to update more often.

Over the past few weeks, I've been busy with a project. I decided to completely rearrange our living room and dining room a few weeks ago. I didn't really realize what a crazy decision this was at the time, which is probably a good thing. I might never have begun if I had realized what I was taking on. I must admit though, I love doing interiors and I'm having heaps of fun. HEAPS! Here are a few before pictures for your perusal.Looking from the northeast corner of the apartment toward the bedroom and entry hallway.Looking south from the northeast corner into the kitchen.The view east from the archway to the bedroom and entry hallway.

Basically, I decided to flip-flop the arrangement of these elements. Here are a few pictures in progress.

Yikes!Oh my! What have I done!? Don't worry, it's working out fine. Once I have the place spiffed up and ready to have some girlfriends over tonight, I will take a few photos so you can see the finished product. What fun!

Out of Time

2009-12-18T06:07:00.000+01:00

Sometime in early to mid-November when my December issue of Sunset magazine arrived, I was really taken in by an article titled Kanella Christmas by Joyce Maynard. Her cookies, the Kanellas, sound absolutely amazing, and I've been fancying her Kanellas my signature cookie every since. I've gone so far as to tell many friends about these fabulous cookies I'm going to make and give to coworkers and loved ones alike. I've described them and their adorable, stubby, misshapen form. I've even imagined myself years from now eating a lovely Kanella and thinking I really hit the nail on the head back in 2009 when I found that Kanella recipe. They're just right, I imagine myself thinking then as I do now. Timeless, simple, yet surprising.

Keep in mind I have yet to taste a Kanella. I can tell you that the recipe seems like a good one and that the picture on page 76 of this month's Sunset is adorable. It's just I don't seem to have enough time. And while I know everyone says that, as the year draws to a close this is something that is really troubling me. Over the past week, I finally got through all of my obligations for work and now it's 9pm and the Kanellas take two hours. I have the whimsical jars to present them in, charming gift tags and all the ingredients in my kitchen. It's just not going to happen tonight.

I have to go to bed now. 26 children need me to be full of energy for them tomorrow. Maybe I'll just lug all the ingredients in to school and make the Kanellas with them. Now there's an idea. Besides, I can't risk everyone going on a diet and not eating them come January!

Fall 2009

2009-12-05T21:57:00.000+01:00

Winter is almost here. Sometimes it's almost hard to believe how much change actually takes place during the fall. From the bright yellow sunlight and bold blue skies of hot summer days, to warm orange sunlight, red leaves and long shadows on crisp fall days we somehow arrive at cool blues, icy greys and low white sunlight hovering on the horizon. I cherish the changing of the seasons, but I'll admit, fall is definitely my favorite.

Life Lessons

2009-12-02T05:36:00.000+01:00

I've made a resolve to relax more and stress less. I made a list of activities that help me de-stress and a list of those that actually make me stress more. In an effort to stress less, I've set the goal of doing at least two de-stressing activities each week. This afternoon, I drew myself a hot bath with bath salts and candles, got a glass of water and the December issue of Real Simple. It was wonderfully relaxing. Especially when I got to this article. It's a good one, and definitely made me feel like I'm on the right path these days. Photo from realsimple.com

And how do you say 2010?

2009-11-20T03:47:00.000+01:00

I would have to agree with W+K Art Director, Jimm Lasser. This is a fun little ditty, not too long and will surely make you laugh.

Balance?

2009-11-04T02:19:00.001+01:00

I have no idea how I'm ever going to finish the yoga challenge I signed up for. Every night there is some sort of conflict which makes it impossible for me to go to yoga. Okay, difficult to go to yoga. Alright, fine. Easier not to go to yoga.
The last time I went was a week ago! Going once a week will not exactly help me reach my goal. But I haven't been since because of various things. I wanted to stay in and make a nice meal with Joel one night. I had a work function the following night. The next night was Friday night and I had happy hour with the girls, but had to take care of some errands for work before that, so missed the early class then. Saturday was Halloween - Sunday I was hungover. Monday was conferences so I was at school until 7pm. Granted I did go in later, but I had to go to the DMV during the couple of daytime hours I had for the first time in months. And here we are on Tuesday night again, my goodness. Tonight I'm not going because Joel has a work function and we like to think we're really green because we only have one car. Hmmm.

Half Empty

2009-10-24T19:30:00.000+02:00

I've never wanted to be a person who views the glass as half empty, but I am. I have never even questioned whether the glass is half full, I mean, come on! Look at it. Where's the rest of the water? I am inclined to be a bit pessimistic. But, I suppose one can change that. I'm working at focusing on the good things in my life. And that means that I often times have to look for them because it's easy to overlook things when you're convinced of a bad outcome. I guess that lots of yoga and lots of looking for the good stuff will pay off in the next six weeks. And it doesn't hurt that today is a sunny beautiful day either. Time to go express my gratitude and optimism. Yea!

I'm Back!

2009-10-18T00:00:00.001+02:00

After nearly a month of slacking off and being a loser blogger, here I am. Let's just say that I've been busy. I knew that it was going to take us a good three months to feel settled and confident in our new job, but managing an apartment building is much more to wrap one's head around than we originally thought. It's easy enough once you get the hang of it, but getting there is a lot of groping in the dark - and not the good kind! A few major sacrifices have had to be made along the way. The worst of that was missing my cousin Ashley's engagement party in Seattle on the 3rd of this month. Guess what people pay between the 1st and the 5th? RENT. And guess who collects all of that rent? WE DO. All of the tenants slip their rent under our door and then we deposit the money and fill out a greensheet. Simple enough, right? Actually no. It sounds simple, but then day after day from about the 25th (early birds) to 11:59 pm on the 5th (last minuters) every time you walk past the door, or open the door after getting home from work, or return from just popping down to the laundry room, they're there. Checks. Everywhere. Big ones. And there are notes with them asking for this and that. One person's stove has a burner out, another person wants their phone number updated in the intercom system. It happens all at once, like a flood or an attack. The paper under the door attack. We scoop them all up and put them with the strange metal filer thing for doing the greensheets. Then it's actually time to do the greensheet and it's confusing, and time consuming. So many columns, so many carbon copies to line up. Several hours later, the first one is finished. Checks keep appearing. Aaaahh! Next month will be easier, but the first one? Tough! So finally, by 4pm Saturday afternoon, I had done the bank deposit and finished the greensheet and making my way up to Seattle at that point was out of the question. It was also not very convenient that Joel had a work function that day and could neither entertain the idea of going to Seattle nor any help with the greensheets. Then I tackled all the maintenance requests, updated the long-neglected spreadsheet for the entry intercom and proceeded to push buttons like a crazed maniac on the intercom system for a good 15 minutes. Constant beeping. Must it beep so much? Phew! It's getting easier and more automatic as we go along. To be perfectly honest, it's actually pretty fun once you get the hang of it. As of today, we're down to one vacancy. A very adorable vacancy, so it will go quickly. Rah!

On another note, I'm doing a yoga challenge. It's for Living Yoga and I'm fundraising so get your checkbooks ready! The money goes toward bringing yoga to low-income populations and other populations that would otherwise never get to benefit from the amazing health boost that yoga is. More on that later! You'll sponsor me, won't you?? :)

Pictures Pictures Pictures

2009-09-19T19:18:00.000+02:00

My blog has been a bit boring lately. Mostly because of the lack of pictures. This is due to the fact that our lives have been turned upside down recently in myriad ways and we're really not fully settled yet. We still haven't gotten the Ireland pictures onto our computers and there are still boxes all about in our apartment. Not only that but school has started and sadly it's as if summer never happened. Different children have arrived and other children have moved on, but the school itself, the politics and all that are exactly the same. Anyway, here is one picture to hold you over until the camera software is installed and ready to go. Our new apartment is so lovely. Even if it is infinitesimally tiny.

Timing

2009-09-15T02:12:00.000+02:00

People always say timing is everything. And it is. Timing is really getting in the way of my yoga practice. This is because I am a hungry person. I love eating and I feel hungry and want to eat every couple of hours. I absolutely always must eat a mid-morning snack and then a big lunch and then an after school snack and then a big dinner and sometimes I still feel a bit hungry close to bedtime, though I do not like to eat and then sleep as this can lead to nightmares. But maybe a small piece of Ezekiel toast an hour or so before bed? Not so terrible.
The problem is yoga. It's best (critical) that one have an empty stomach when practicing. So I'm getting ready to go to yoga in an hour and I last had a small bunch of grapes at 3pm. I'm really hungry. I want to eat something right now, but worry that if I do, my stomach will not be empty enough. The guidelines say no food 1-3 hours before class. That is a big window. So, you know what? I'm going to try it. I have 10 minutes to eat something and still be within the hour window. I'm hoping I can find something simple to eat so that I will have enough fuel to have a good practice, but not so much food in my stomach that I feel sick. And we all know I commonly feel sick during yoga - well lately anyway. So, while food intake and the need to eat may have stopped me from going yesterday (yes, I know, I am a flake) I'm not going to let it stop me today. What a lot to think about!

Bikram

2009-09-13T17:54:00.000+02:00

Wednesday night Andrea and I signed up for Bikram yoga at the studio on Fremont and we have the next month unlimited, which of course means we're going to go as much as we can. Unfortunately that means that I have to go back today and I really don't want to. It feels like torture. Attention all Bikram fans out there: If you're currently practicing Bikram don't ever stop! It's fun to start and easy enough to keep going, but to get into it again after a period of non-practice, say a year or so is nearly impossible. At least that's how it feels right now. Yesterday I started off class strong, I was feeling good and I was doing an awesome bow pose. Then I started to feel a little loopy and by the time we were on the floor for the spine series, I was a wreck. I felt nauseated and a little dizzy. All normal, of course, when you're detoxing and I believe I am. Then some nasty emotional blob came up and decided to settle itself right in my solar plexus chakra. That's when the nausea really took off, and then, I felt like a crappy yoga student and really wanted to leave the room, but didn't. Instead I just suffered and tried to breathe normally in savasana which was completely unsuccessful and then I cried a little bit. It was pretty painful and I think the nasty emotional blob was somewhat eradicated by the crying because the physical symptoms started to go away. Once we got into half tortoise, it was a relief to get into the posture and seemed helpful. But then of course it was time for camel and while I normally love camel, I just couldn't take it. God, what a class. It was brutal, so the obvious fact is that I need to go back sooner rather than later and work through all that garbage. I think I'll have a better chance of staying healthy this flu season if I move some of those nasty emotional blobs along. Yoga is so real. You can't pretend, you can't ignore. It's truly good if not always pleasurable. And I'll get to where it feels really good again. I know I will. I'll try and remember that while I'm suffering later on today.

Chaos

2009-09-07T01:48:00.000+02:00

So let me get this straight - the Mercury Retrograde started when we began packing for our move and will end just after I turn T-H-I-R-T-Y. As if turning 30 wasn't going to be enough on its own, I now have astrological madness thrown into the existential mix. Crap.

The Horror.

2009-09-03T05:00:00.000+02:00

I cannot believe, I mean really seriously cannot believe that I am in the process of dismantling by beloved apartment! This is beyond comprehension. How can this be? I just got this place organized, beautiful, perfect in every way and now it looks like this. I am too lazy to hook up wires to my computer and relay a picture, so imagine countertops covered with junk, giant ziploc bags littering the table, piles of newpapers, open cupboards half packed, bags of garbage, bare walls. Oh God, it's too much! I just want to sit down and cry in a big heap of self pity. To top it off I had the most crap day at work. I mean, really. This is awful. If you are a teacher you can understand just how life shattering this is for me. As a matter of fact, I know that my friend Erika who is also a teacher, and her husband are moving, too and they have a one year old to boot. Perhaps I need not feel quite so desperate. After all, I do not have a child running around. But I do feel desperate and self pitying. Oh yes I do. I think all of this has more to do with my crap day at work. Well that and the fact that Joel is on a run and has only contributed thus far by packing the bookshelves. Books are the easiest. Everyone knows that. Sigh. Anyway, if you have any shake the crap day at work tips, I'm all ears. Now back to this hideous mess.

Hungover

2009-09-01T01:12:00.000+02:00

Burning toast in order to avoid a hangover was unsuccessful. However, it is possible that all of the water I had to drink in order to choke down burnt toast helped lessen the severity of the hangover. All in all it was a very hungover day, though. Naturally I am headed straight to bed for a nap and then it's time to get packing. Last night we enjoyed our apartment as is and all put together for the last time. We had a gorgeous dinner party for our friends Vince and Emily on the third floor who are moving to Minnesota. It's terribly sad to see them go. That seems to be the way things go though. Make some friends you really like and then they move. Get your apartment just so and then it's time to move. Ah well. Nap time.

Hangover

2009-08-31T09:44:00.000+02:00

I'm in the process of burning toast in order avoid having a hangover. We'll see how it goes.