Something new on the horizon, perhaps...

itting here, post-noon, still in my pajamas and painting my nails hot pink to counteract the bleak grey out my window (not to mention the resulting sinus headache that threatens to explode my head from within), I've had an epiphany - I've retreated into my own world as of late and it's time to break out. As many expats and/or housewives who do not have a structured way to spend their time, I often find myself getting lost in the ebb and flow of my significantly slower lifestyle, making it too easy to dwell on the little things and obsess over my constantly-changing emotions, not to mention spending ungodly amounts of time organizing my boards on Pinterest (aren't they pretty, though?). I'm not really focusing on what I want to be [when I grow up..?], or even how to express myself and my creativity.

That said, I love my life right now. I am a full-time Hausfrau *gulp* - and I actually enjoy it (shhh, don't tell the feminists!). I actually caught myself spending a good half hour over the ironing board the other day, complete with curlers in my hair and skirt on, rocking out to Adele. I was a glass of gin, a cigarette and a hefty dose of pent-up resentment at a cheating husband away from being straight off of Mad Men *double gulp*. Some days I fall into deep despair at the apparent loss of myself and my 'career', of which I was between them at the time we moved, and others I just revel in the planning of something new and delicious for dinner. Or that I have the time now to give myself a bright, fresh manicure rather than spending over three hours a day commuting to and from work. Or that I regularly run into friends to stop and chat with when out in our wonderful little part of town, whereas in California, not one person in our neighborhood even acknowledged our existence. So why am I complaining?

It's easy to sit here at my desk on a daily basis and get distressed at all these blogs where the writer (aka: Superstar) appears to not only have all the right words, but cooks like Martha Stewart, never has a chipped manicure and has a closet full of 'c/o'-ed designer clothes. Oh yeah, and manages all kinds of crafty/design projects on the side. And has a book deal. *sigh...* This is not my life, and it feels hard to compete. I often chip a nail or burn something I'm cooking, which results in a meltdown accompanied by tears or swear words or both. So if cannot measure up to these Superwomen out there in the blogosphere, why bother blogging about my life at all?

What I've realized though is that it's not a competition and there are no rules. I don't have advertisers that I must answer to and my readership, well, I'm pretty sure consists mostly of my mother and a sprinkling of other expats who read an entertaining post from me, once. I must accept that, in Popeye's famous words, I yam what I yam. Never one to have a huge social circle (I'm pretty sure my 8th birthday party where I instituted 'reading time' pretty much cinched that), never asked to a single school dance, never memorable enough to be voted 'Most-anything', I suppose I grew up thinking that I wasn't the kind of person other people would look to for sage advice or fashion tips. I mean, if people weren't after me to be their friend or girlfriend in real life, why the heck would they want that via the internet? And no, that one-time, My Space wife request from Bangalore doesn't count.

I began this blog as a way to chronicle the major life change that is moving half a world away and becoming an expat, but I am more than that. My mom noted on their first trip out, just a year into our life in Germany, that it seemed we were still in 'vacation mode'. While I vehemently denied it at the time, wanting so desperately to believe we were really only days away from becoming true Germans (ha!), I must concede she was probably right (moms usually are, damn them). But time has passed and that shiny newness has faded and real life has set in. Now, I find that day-to-day goings on involve so much more than fumbling through German conversation (which still happens) or looking up words that pertain to whatever I'm about to do before I leave the house (yup, still do that too). I love fashion, style, design, architecture, the outdoors, cute dogs, well-behaved children... the list goes on and on. So why am I not sharing that?  

So what I propose for myself is an exercise in blogging. In an effort to focus myself and my writing, I'm working on ways to not only inject more of who I am and who I strive to be into this blog (my husband often notes that only my shoe blog really sounds like me...), but thinking of ways to do it with more regularity as well (What I Learned Wednesdays, Friday Fashion, perhaps..?). I thought at first this sounded silly, but when I look at so many of the blogs I love to visit, it's often because I know what I can count on from them, and when. Perhaps this focus will help not only me, but my readership as well. Because if no one's reading, what am I doing here?

 Stay tuned...



Cinque Terre sunset photo courtesy of my mom
Daily Drop Cap from Jessica Hische

hile I was on holiday (you know, ages ago...), the lovely Frau Welle included me in her nominations for a Liebster Award. I don't really know much about this award (and a quick internet search provides little help nor explanation), but I'm truly touched that anyone would think of my little, and of late, oft-neglected, blog when considering award recipients. Thank you so much!

What little I do know is that there are a few rules for accepting this award:
1. Choose five up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Liebster to.
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

So to fulfill my part of the bargain, my nominations go to:

Eating Wiesbaden (and Mainz!) - A new(-ish) endeavor by fellow expat and foodie Frau Dietz, also nominated by Frau Welle, who is as ravenous as I am for good eating options around our town

This German Texan - New(-ish) expat Jan chronicling her new job and new life in Germany

Expat Edna - I'm pretty sure this doesn't follow the rules, as she surely has WAY more followers than is allowed, but she's a great blogger, a great person (who I had the pleasure of meeting in Paris this spring) and is worth a read!

Resident on Earth - An amazing photographer and writer, I'm sure she has many more followers as well. If her photos don't make you want to travel the world, nothing will.

Parking Spot for Mom - My oldest and dearest friend providing her feelings and reflections on motherhood in her own totally unfiltered way (which I tend to avoid reading too often, as it makes me miss her terribly)

As pleased as I am with my little bit of recognition, I admit I'm still stuck in a bit of a funk since my mom's departure. I've suddenly experienced the first bit of homesickness ever since leaving two and half years ago. It feels unexpected to want to go back so desperately when it's been at the bottom of my travel priorities for years. Perhaps I'm missing more of that big city life than I thought - a plethora of amazing restaurant options, fashion choices beyond H&M and Zara, and of course, the ocean... Oh, what I wouldn't give to live closer to the sea.

In addition to all the superficial reasons to want to be back in California right now, some bad news from my mother's doctor has me positively pining to be there to hold her hand through everything to come. While she's going to be more than OK in the end, it was one of those kick-in-the-butt moments when you hear the name of a scary-as-shit disease and all the moments you haven't been there with your family flash before your eyes. Most of my family, in all honesty, has just been a disappointment in my life, so I've never felt such a pull of its importance before this. My mom is pretty much all I have in that respect and I'm feeling more than a little guilty at the decision to make a life halfway around the world from her right about now. I'm also ironically reminded of how my mom got her very first passport: to rescue me from a British hospital after emergency surgery, literally two days after being transferred there for my job. All I can do is remind her every day how much I love her and offer my tips on making up great stories about her soon-to-be new scar when people ask (since I'm a bit of an expert in this myself, I'm suggesting 'knife fight' to give her the most street cred). But my passport is ready and waiting if I ever do need to rescue her.

In better news, two of our dear friends here are about to become parents (if it hasn't happened already - we're all anxiously awaiting news from the hospital) and I am so thrilled for them. It's hard to believe how far we've come since my first message from her on my blog, saying they were moving to Germany and asking for some tips. Since then we've not only become friends, but we've spent numerous holidays together, they have moved into our neighborhood and now they are adding a new member to their family dynamic and our circle of friends. So as much as I miss my mom and ache to be there to support her through things, I know we are so lucky to be able to be here for our friends, who are also half a world away from their families, at times like these.

Speaking of which, I think it's about time to give their little doggy another walk... I can't imagine how anxious he is for his family to get home with their new addition!  

 

*Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische (speaking of which, have you seen her amazing wedding invitation..?!)

Wishing I were still here...

ere I am, nearly a month after my last post, wondering again where the time has gone. I mean, I know where the time has gone - my mother's visit, countless dying and crafty projects, our road trip to Italy, cooking some of my favorite dishes for my mom, throwing a baby shower for a friend, visiting our first local fest of the season - but it seems as if it has all flown by so fast. Wasn't it just the other day I was still counting the days - heck, even the weeks! - till my mom's arrival..? I suppose the good side of all this is that the time until our next visit, which is sadly as-of-yet unscheduled, should pass in an equally rapid blur.

After allowing myself one day for an all-out mope after my mom's departure, I'm anxious to jump back into things. In addition to managing various appointments for some apartment work and damage claims (oh yes, also during this month, a leak from our tub has progressed to the point of collapsing our lower-level neighbor's ceiling in), I will also be starting my new post as a once-a-week English-language playmate/babysitter for two lovely Italian children (a job previously held by Frau Dietz, until her recent acquisition of a proper, full-time academic-type position - big congrats to her!). I am very much looking forward to having at least a small job that gets me out of the house and doing something new. I'm also looking forward to time with these adorable children, hearing their family language of Italian in the house and reading from their bookshelves filled with children's stories in no fewer than three different languages. The extraordinary language abilities and behavior of European children never ceases to amaze me.

I also promise to post all about our incredible trip, with lots of photos and recommendations from where we ate, stayed and played. It was an amazing time that I feel so lucky to have been able to share with my mom - the woman who swore she'd never have a passport, let alone see parts of the world she's only seen in the movies. I have countless photos to sift through before I report back, but I promise it will be worth a stop back by the blog.

Until then, I'll be fondly remembering some of these highlights from May (and a wee bit of June)...

Finally got to spend another Mother's Day with my mom

Did some colorful at-home dying (via this tutorial)

... including my hair

A roadtrip that included stops at Lake Geneva,...

... Cinque Terre,

... an olive oil resort in Tuscany,

... and Innsbruck, Austria. (phew!)

Leftover tissue paper party poufs now taking up permanent residence on our previously-hideous light fixture

Fest season began!

Said farewell to my mom (..again) :(

Until the next time, Mom... *sniffle, sniffle* 

I received a sweet consolation from the lovely Ebe from the blog Back to Berlin... and BEYOND after complaining that saying goodbye seemed to get harder every time. She noted that "the longer you are away, the more permanent the separation feels." It is gut-wrenching how much this is a double-edged sword for us expats - the more we acclimate and make our chosen new country home, the further away we seem to make ourselves from our friends and family back in the States. It is the one thing I wish I could change about what is otherwise a really great life overseas.

*Daily Drop Cap from Jessica Hische

fter a teasing weekend in March of summer-like temperatures, it's been a tough wait for some nice spring weather. We finally got a solid few days of really spectacular weather, which we took full advantage of with a hike in the forest. Once again, it felt like summer and all anyone in town was doing was basking outdoors.

Then of course, we reverted back to this (complete with some nice thunder and lightning - boo):

I just hope we're in for more of the former in light of my mom's arrival tomorrow (it's looking good so far...) - not to mention for our trip the following week to the Italian Riviera. Can't wait to get to those beautiful blue seas... I'm just hoping there are blue skies to match!

*Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische

Macarons were just the beginning...

here are times I miss being so close to San Francisco for all the amazing eating options - and Paris just made me miss it that much more. We have some really good food in Germany, but diversity is not a strong point here and we often left wanting something... more. We lucked out in the Mexican department, but otherwise it's mostly kebap, Thai or German. All good, but sometimes, you just want something else. This is where Paris comes in.

Since German food (Schnitzel, pretzels, beer) is all very heavy, we opted out of more traditional French cuisine for our trip (cream, duck, foie gras - also very heavy) in search of something else. We wanted something that reminded us of where we come from, where the food is innovative, fresh and surprising. I did lots of internet searching and relied very heavily on the places that American expats were buzzing about. Thank goodness I did, because we were not disappointed.

First stop, Verjus:

I had been reading about Verjus for some time on the blogosphere and had it bookmarked for many months before our trip to Paris. Started by an American couple who had hosted the raved-about Hidden Supper Club in their home, they recently took their talents to a location available to all in the form of both a restaurant and a wine bar. Reading about this place, it reminded me very strongly of places we liked to frequent in San Francisco (including the lovely Salt House, where my brother-in-law used to cook and we were often spoiled with specialties from the chefs) - a fresh, inventive cuisine that sometimes challenged, but never disappointed, the palate. After an evening at the wine bar (chosen for the appeal of its menu and more relaxed atmosphere over the set-course restaurant), we nearly felt like we were back in San Francisco. The clientele was mostly English-speaking, the space was cozy and beautiful, the wine and spirit selection was small but carefully selected, and the food, oh the food... (speaks for itself) 

First glass of wine & appetizer: shoestring fries with togarashi & catsup

Veal meatballs with shaved fennel, lemon, truffle oil & parmesan and buttermilk fried chicken with napa cabbage slaw & micro greens (so good, nearly forgot to take a photo)

Dessert #1: Soft oatmeal cookie, milk sorbet, bourbon raisins, hazelnut butter and roasted grapes (plus a glass of Japanese Nikka Whisky From the Barrel)

Dessert #2: Crumbled dark chocolate cake, sweetened buffalo milk ricotta, citrus salad and caramelized white chocolate

The night got a little fuzzy after several wines, a whiskey and a bunch of intoxicatingly delicious food

Verjus Bar à Vin, 47 Rue Montpensier, 1st arr. (just across from the Jardin du Palais Royal)

Verjus Restaurant, with tasting menu, is just above the bar, main entrance around the corner & up alley stairs

The place I would drive the five hours to Paris solely for: Candelaria

I stumbled across Lindsey's (of Lost in Cheeseland) recommendation on Wayfare Magazine's blog for Candelaria just as we started our drive to France - and boy, am I glad I did! Sure, we have our Mexican place here, which is raved about even by friends from L.A., but this place is a whole different thing. It's one of those amazing, hole in the wall, blink-and-you'll-miss it places that churns out some kind of magic in their teeny-tiny kitchen - not to mention some pretty stellar drinks.

Because their 'kitchen' is so small, they rotate out their offerings daily, but it centers around one or two offerings each of tacos, tostadas and quesadillas - not to mention their amazing homemade chips and guacamole. Our first trip (oh yes, we went no less than three times to this place), we showed up early dinner time, which turned out to be smart as within the hour, we had people hanging over us in the tiny space waiting for seats to open up. It also meant that we were too early for margarita service, so we opted for Micheladas - a mix of beer (real Mexican beer), lime juice and hot sauce that I wasn't sure if it sounded brilliant or disgusting. Turns out, it's the former - and perhaps my new favorite drink.

With the drinks and guacamole, which arrived first, already blowing our minds, we were thrilled when they put our order of two tacos al pastor (stewed barbequed pork) and a tostada with chicken mole in front of us. Everything was fresh, delicious and authentic. After we scarfed that down, all we wanted was more. Since it was now margarita-serving time, we ordered two of those as well as another tostada - queso fresco this time, with wonderful fresh, soft cheese and crispy cabbage on top - and a  piña quesadilla, which might have been the highlight of the night. I'd like to kiss whoever thought melted cheese and pineapple would a good combination.  

Two tacos, a tostada, chips & guacamole and Micheladas was our first taste of Candelaria

I would give my right arm for homemade chips and guacamole like this in Germany...

Three days later, we figured Candelaria was the perfect early dinner before our Florence + The Machine show, so back we went. Since the early bird dinner crowd was much more sparse, we got to talk more to the gals running the show that day - a Mexican, a Colombian and a Peruvian doing the cooking (there's also a Mexican cook that was there that first night). They switched seamlessly from French to Spanish to English, depending on whether they were talking to delivery guys, customers or each other, but their native tongue and taqueria atmosphere made it feel much more appropriate to throw out a 'gracias', more so than a 'merci' or even a 'thank you' when yet another new plate of food was set down in front of us. As if the food wasn't enough, their warmth and friendliness only increased our desire to hide out in their back room and have them feed us forever. The complementary brownie they gave us after spending that entire afternoon with them - so rich and moist and spiked with hints of cinnamon and chili - was proof that we had found 'our place' in Paris. 

For such a tiny kitchen, they churn out some of the best-tasting food I've had in a long time

As if all this wasn't enough, we had to take them up on their offer to finally try their bar. After an evening of being thoroughly pumped up by Florence + The Machine, we went back for some pre-dawn drinks and an official farewell to Paris. The bar, which we failed to realize even existed until our second visit there, can be found through a very unassuming door in the back - so much so, it looks like the door to a small broom closet. This opens to a beautifully lit, cave-like room in the back with a full bar and ample seating (unlike up front). The atmosphere back there was completely different than where they were serving up tacos and tostadas, but filled similarly with lots of expats - the language of choice here is English - and even more delicious drink choices. Farewell Paris, indeed. (can we move here now...?)

Candelaria, 52 Rue de Saintogne, 3rd arr. (keep your eyes open when looking for this place, it's easy to pass it by - we walked right past it the first time searching for the address)

The Kebap of Paris: Falafels

Falafels are one of those things I've only had a handful of times and honestly, could take or leave them. Done right, they're pretty good; done wrong, they can turn you off for a lifetime. L'As de Fallafel does them right - so very right. The chickpea balls were fried to perfection, the veggies perfectly crisp and the hot sauce provided the perfect kick to the rest. As I'm not a fan, I asked for mine sans aubergine (*gasp* - I know) and the flavors were still complex, delicious and seriously satisfying. So good in fact, we went back for round two on our way out of town. At just €5 for a pita stuffed almost bigger than your head, how can you go wrong? I'd take these over kebap anyday!

I couldn't manage to finish either of my giant falafels, delicious as they were

L'As de Fallafel, 32-34 rue des Rosiers, Le Marais (come prepared for quite a wait and have your money ready for the guy that takes the orders before you get to the window - and don't forget the hot sauce!)

Pozzetto Gelato: It might only be better in Italy

Somehow, this trip to Paris had the weather gods smiling down on us (same exact week, five years ago - aka, our Engagement Trip - it was cold, grey and rainy) and not only was it sunny, but oftentimes, downright hot. It was the perfect excuse for gelato at Pozzetto, which could not have been better  - we went three times! This shop owned by an Italian brother and sister, only scoop up the very best. Every flavor I tasted was stellar, the stand-outs being the natural pineapple sorbet, the rich dark chocolate and the perfectly sweet and cinnamon-y Speculoos. Can't wait to get to Italy next month for some more gelato greatness... 

This round was a collection of pineapple, lemon and strawberry

Pozzetto, Rue du Roi de Sicile, 4th arr. (order at the counter out front for take-away - and be prepared for a line when the weather is good)

Pierre Hermé: The holy grail of macarons

I was well aware of the Ladurée-Pierre Hermé war before stepping foot into either boutique, and even though I didn't end up tasting a Ladurée macaron, the winner was clear to me. Perhaps it was my aching feet from all our walking, but I found that after perusing Ladurée for a bit while waiting in line, I was ready to move on. Sure they were beautiful and the shop was beautiful, but it was all a little stuffy and dare I say, boring. Chocolate? Vanilla? Rose? OK. I can get those in my town. Honestly, I was also a little turned off by their current collaboration with Hello Kitty. Settled amidst those delicate confections and over 150 years of tradition, along with gilded fixtures and classic paintings, it just felt rather crass, like they were trying too hard to appeal to a younger generation. I was eager to make my way to the culinary creations from Monsieur Hermé and indeed felt like a kid in, well, a macaron store, when I arrived. Even though there were beautiful pastries and €20 boxes of caramels to distract, my mission was clear: macarons! 

Our first trip (yes, yet another place we went back for seconds), we were lucky enough to get in before a crowd of people. This was unlucky for me in that I was pressured into quickly scanning the numerous enticing flavors and trying to make a decision of what to choose - not to mention have my stressed, halting French on display for all the patrons behind me that thought I was taking too long (eeek!). As with most of my language struggles/ embarrassments in German, it was all worth it as soon as we took our box - oh yes, a whole box - of macarons to a bench in front of nearly Saint-Sulpice and I had my first bite. Delicate, delicious and flavors unlike anything else. Sure, the basic rose and chocolate ones were amazing, but they didn't hold a candle to the unique concoctions of the others: olive oil-mandarin,  milk chocolate and passion fruit, or rose, litchi and raspberry. I was smitten. Good thing the brochure says they deliver in Europe, you know, if I can't get back to Paris fast enough.  

The colors, the perfection...

The favorite: olive oil and mandarin

Update: Thanks to a very generous friend who brought a massive box of Pierre Hermé back from London to share, I have now discovered that their mint macaron - which was sadly unavailable when I went - is my favorite. The taste of light, delicate mint and flecks of real, fresh mint visible in the filling bowled me over. I'm going to have dreams about this...

Pierre Hermé, 72 rue Bonaparte, 6th arr. (several other locations in the city, including on Avenue de l' Opéra, 2nd, and in Galeries Lafayette, 9th)

My holy place: La Maison du Chocolat

I first discovered La Maison du Chocolat in high school, when my mom ordered a box of their truffles through  Williams-Sonoma - and they've stayed atop my list of The Best Chocolate Ever, ever since. When I traveled to London, I found them tucked in a corner in Harrods impressive food halls and picked some up. When my husband and I got married in New York, we included little boxes of their chocolate from the local shop in our favor bags for our family and friends that flew out. Now whenever we are in Paris, it is a necessary stop.

Since it's very nearly more expensive than gold, culling down all my wants in this shop to just under filing for bankruptcy can be a challenge. I was able to keep myself in check, settling only on the smallest offerings of two of our favorites - truffles and pralines - as well as a couple of goodies for friends and family, only to be surprised by my husband who quietly pointed to towards what he wanted while we waited to be rung up - the most gorgeous chocolate pastry-like creation in the refrigerated case. Usually I'm the one to go nuts in a sweet shop, running around practically drooling on cases while he shakes his head in a corner and waits for my pre-sugar rush to wear off. After getting someone to box up my husband's addition, we headed back to our apartment to share a little wine and chocolate on our balcony. Let me tell you, my husband was right on because as much as I love the chocolates, this chocolate-moussey-creamy-ganachy thing was quite possibly the best thing I've ever tasted in my life.      

Piles and piles of beautiful chocolates

Funny Easter chocolates

My husband's pick

The cream inside this thing was absolutely to-die-for

La Maison du Chocolat, 8 Blvd de la Madeline, 9th arr. (you can find the rest of their Paris, and other cities like London, Tokyo and NYC, locations here) 

Our one rather major disappointment was with the fact Le Camion Qui Fume - the burger truck quickly gaining quite a following, literally - was shut down for most of our stay (and when they were able to provide temporary home delivery - conveniently to the arrondissement where our apartment was, too! - it was only on the days we could not be home). Since our burgers here in Germany are what most Americans would refer to as a joke, it was probably the eating experience we were most looking forward to. I understand they've had some problems with their truck and the city permits it takes to keep it parked at various locations around the city, but c'mon - didn't they know we were coming? Pining for honest-to-goodness American burgers (the chef hails from California) for months?! Such disappointments are part of travel, I suppose. It just means we'll have to head back to Paris real soon - if for nothing else, the burgers.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische

My new toy!

 never thought I'd be one of those people that got all worked up over things like kitchen appliances, which only seem to cement the Hausfrau status* even more - but here I am, over the moon with my new Küchenmaschine (aka - processor/ blender/ juicer/ slicer-galore). Somehow over the last few years, I've gone from the kind of person who could barely cook anything that didn't start with a can or box mix to this person who somehow just whips up meals from scratch -without recipes - and impresses my own mother with my cooking. Who knew?

Two days in a row of blended margaritas - watermelon, then classic. What a treat!

Coming from the spoiled land of America where pretty much everything you could want can be had (and cheap, no less) after a quick trip to one's neighborhood superstore, I've been struggling with not having a blender for the two years since we've been here. Oh, how I missed our usual summertime treat of homemade margaritas... not to mention that most of my recipes involving dough call for a food processor (don't even get me started on soups..). I was making do with mixing biscuits one at a time in a mini processor acquired at Tchibo, but like so many cheap things here, it went the way of the appliance graveyard after not too long.

With Kichen-Aids starting at around €600 and even junky blenders (which reviewers stated began to smoke after minimal use) costing way too much for my liking - not to mention the total lack of counter space here for all these appliances - had me thinking I'd never get my hands on just what I needed. Then lo and behold, on a trip to Saturn to look at cameras, we figured we might as well check out the kitchen appliances - and there it was. At under €80 and with a plethora of functions (as well as good reviews when we went home and checked), I had found my machine. Squealing pretty much like a schoolgirl once I saw all its goodies lined up on my counter, I set right to work blending up the watermelon margaritas that just the day before were more chewable drinks, with thick chunks of fruit left behind by the failed attempt to mash it with a potato masher. The results were so good, I made regular ones the very next day. Now if only I could find the frozen limeade concentrate I used to use in the states that made the perfect margaritas...

Perfect, golden-y biscuits, just the right consistency, thanks to my Küchenmaschine!

With my new Küchenmaschine excitement going strong, I knew I had to make one of my favorite meals - creamy chicken with biscuits - for Easter. Having a machine big enough to make the entire batch of biscuits, as opposed to how I previously managed by mixing the dough 1/6 at a time in a mini machine, was heaven and it meant they turned out loads better than before. I can't wait to use it to try a really good tomato soup recipe (anyone have any recommendations..? I've yet to find one I like.) and to finally put to use my highly anticipated Christmas present for making homemade Pop-Tarts.

Küchenmaschine, I think I looove you!
xoxo, Hausfrau Wirth

More Hausfrau goodness, scored on major sale at Zalando Lounge

*Disclaimer: This does not mean vacuums, kitchen appliances or other plug-in items qualify as birthday or holiday gifts - no matter how awesome or coveted they are. Jewelry, French chocolates and handbags are still much preferred. 

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische

Barbara Bel Geddes looking sexy-smart in her frames in Vertigo

ver since I became a full-time glasses-wearer, I admit, I've become a little obsessed. So much so, that when I find another new pair I just have to have, my husband has taken to saying "you need glasses? I think you already have glasses," in a very fatherly tone. Yes, yes. I have glasses (three pair, to be exact), but to me that's like saying you have a pair of shoes, why would you need another? And those I just wear on my feet!

I've been on a pretty serious Brille-finding mission for nearly a year, specifically for The Perfect Big Black Frames (think these, these and these), but like with many things, I am easily distracted. Case in point: I finally made my way back to KRASS Optik, where I bought my first pair of glasses in Germany, to see what they had - and what do you know? They had no fewer than three pairs that I absolutely fell in love with. In addition to the black pair that might be THE ONES (another post on more potential glasses to come), I stumbled upon these most beautiful frames in the most beautiful color:

Even more exciting than how good they looked on (and the €199 price tag - €50 off if -ahem, when- I buy two), was the fact that when I gushed about them to my mother, she insisted I watch Vertigo, in which one of the lead actresses wears an almost identical pair - down to the exact shade and the keyhole nosebridge. I love that classics like this are showing up again and that I found these dead-ringers for a classic Hitchcock pair without even trying makes my day. Must mean they were meant to be... 

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische