Well, it's been quite some time since I've written- a few holidays have come and gone- a few seasons as well! Here's a few months in review:
We had our one year anniversary celebration in MN. Sharing a renewal of vows with friends and family:
We had Joe, Chrissy and Joy come for a visit:
We raised $350 dollars for the AIDS walk:
We had friends from Vietnam visit:
So in conclusion- I wish everyone the best holiday season and hopefully I will get my sh** together and start writing more frequently!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
What an amazing weekend.
My husband returned from a week long business trip in China on Friday night.
Saturday we went to west hollywood and met up with a good friend from highschool.
Sunday, we went on walks with the pup, made an amazing feast and simply enjoyed husband-wife time.
Truly wonderful.
Well, the holidays started out with trouble as usual. I swear we always have a rough patch at the beginning of every trip! This year, we got on the wrong train, left our passports and train/hotel tickets on said wrong train, paid 50CHF to file a loss report and have the train searched, postponed our departure for about 4 hours until we had our documents back and finally made way to Davos.
The actual holiday was AMAZING. Hands down the best Christmas either of us have ever had together. And this is our 5th Christmas together!
It was a three day, two night getaway. Just enough time to get out of the apartment, see something new and celebrate Christmas day in the snow covered alps.
Here's a preview- but you can view the entire set of pictures on flickr!
For 4 minutes before the new year, the big church bells rang OUT the old year, were silent for the clock to turn to 12, than rang in the new year. It was beautiful. We had champagne and sat on the balcony, watching the endless fireworks!
Ah, a week of solitude was rewarded with a lovely Sunday with my husband. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing partner in my life!
We spent the day walking around, taking in the winter wonderland and enjoying the festive foods of the Christmas markets!
Here's a few pictures to enjoy- the rest are on flickr if you'd like to see them!
Clothing, dinners, make-up, or gadgets... We all have things we like to splurge on. What do you think you buy too much of?
Books. Tons and Tons of books. It's an addiction, every time I pass a bookshelf I have to see what there, and I have to force myself NOT to buy one. Living abroad has taught me the beauty of swapping books... They are horrible to move from place to place!
Plus, swapping books allows you to share the entire reading process, when sharing a book you usual tell whether you liked it or not, and are around for discussion later!
How annoying is that line? I think the most annoying part for me, is that it's true. It's not as if I don't appreciate what I have, but I always seem to think of what I had.
I love the snow. It's been snowing like crazy the past few days. It's SO beautiful, my favorite part is the snow covered trees. I love trees in general, every part of them, and every different country has a little something different.
This is my first time in two years that I've actually had a snow filled holiday. Sure when we visited the states last February it was snowing like crazy, but that was an in and out trip... I've really been enjoying the snow, and watching it from the warmth of my house, but I've started to miss the hot winter in Vietnam!
I can't even believe I'm saying that, I seemed to grow SO tired of it when I was there, but I wish I could go outside in a tank top and flip flops! Or go to the beach for the weekend for only 50 USD... Seeing pictures from our friends in Vietnam and Singapore are making me jealous of the tropical weather....the grass is literally greener on that side!
In the end though, I'm not sure I'd give it up to go to the other side. I'm comfortable calling Switzerland my home. I'm having a great day, and a great week even. The holidays are here and I can actually feel it this year. The thing is, the grass may seem greener on the other side, but once your actually on that other side...you'll want the grass from before!
I tend to stay up late and sleep in until 10am. It's strange the void in the house and the loss of time when your partner doesn't come home for dinner! Last night I was up until 3 in the morning. The weirdest part was that I actually had to just tell myself to go to bed, or I probably would have stayed awake through the entire night!
I think times of separation are very important in a relationship. It gives you time to remember who you are, learn even more about yourself and truly appreciate your partner.
It can be very hard to take this time as a blessing, I know I've had major challenges with it myself. But once you accept the time as your own, you feel empowered. I for one, try and do my make up as much as possible during the week. I tend to fall into a groove of not showering until bed time and staying in my pajamas all day. But that only increases the level of loneliness and encourages depression. I feel much more alert, awake and confident when I get completely ready, as if I were going out. I don't have to leave the house, but doing it for myself makes all the difference.
I think it's important to really appreciate yourself for who you are. Being a house wife, my biggest fear is to become completely defendant on my husband. I crave his return from work to have someone to talk to, I yearn for his acknowledgment on my small daily accomplishments. There comes a point when this becomes unfair to your partner. They can grow to resent you for your dependency, and you resent them for the same reason.
I think if I devote time to projects and activities that I love, and allow time for myself, I'll continue to be my own independent person. You are only as strong as you believe you are. When you put complete faith into yourself, you can really trust yourself and are proud of every single thing you do.
Every one has their bad days, weeks, and even years. The most valuable thing you can do is rise above it. Remember that you are lucky, fortunate and blessed to have the things in your life that you may take for granted. Remember that there are always friends and family by your side even if you can't physically reach out and touch them.
It's such a challenging time in the world right now, I think the best thing for every one is to appreciate what they have, who they are and the people that they have in their life. As the economy comes crashing down- people need to remind themselves that money really isn't everything. It will come and go. As long as you have food on your table and roof over your head, you're living a life of luxury.
And hopefully you are all as lucky as I am to share the burdens of life with someone amazing. No matter what shit life throws at you, you will always have this person.
I always feel like such a wino when I purchase a case of wine. Probably because I have to carry it on the bus by myself. It was even better during the summer/spring time when I'd put it in my basket on my bike. It fit perfectly.
But, I've grown to really love a glass of wine every night. I remember trying wine when I was younger and thinking it was the most disgusting thing I had ever tasted. I usually would sip it from my parent's glass when I was doing the dishes, if they ever left a little. Same goes for beer. My first taste of beer was at a party for my dad's work, or just a party with someone he worked with? Who knows, anyways, I grabbed at my can of coke that was on the counter and without looking just started chugging.... it turned out to be a can of miller lite that was placed next to mine. YUK.
Alcohol is a funny thing. I had my stint when I was younger where I would drink the grossest alcoholic beverages just to get a buzz. But I grew out of it fast. I love being social and going out, but I don't like losing control, blacking out, hangovers and the ass hole one can become while drunk. I had a hard time in high school, because I would decline a drink or stay in on a Friday night. But, it just simply wasn't my thing!
Now, I actually appreciate wine and beer, at the same level that I appreciate chocolate. I sip, I enjoy, and I love to have a drink while spending time with friends. I've grown more towards wine than beer, but I LOVE a really good beer. A nut brown ale, or a stout, sometimes even a good pale ale.
What's your favorite drink of choice? Any specific time of year? A specific activity?
I know I love beer on a hot summer afternoon, a glass of wine with a good book, hot buttered rum's at Grandma's house for Christmas, Gluhwein at the Christmas markets in Germany and Switzerland, A spicy bloody mary on a weekend morning...
We originally thought that once I returned from America, and he from Vietnam we would have the entire time leading up to Christmas together. Of course, we were wrong. Jake left very early this morning for a week long business trip in Cologne, Germany.
At least we purchased our two night hotel stay over Christmas, so I have that to look forward to! We are staying in a place called Davos, Switzerland. It's a beautiful little town nestled between the mountains.
We arrive the 23rd and leave the 25th, and our hotel accommodations include not only breakfast, but a three day lift pass for each of us. This means Jacob gets to snowboard on Jakobshorn (Jacobs Mountain). Pretty cool eh?
We spent the past weekend fitting in as much quality time as we could, before Jake's upcoming absence. The weather was pretty crummy so we didn't make out to any Christmas Markets, but we did get a bottle of Gluhwein to make at home while we watched a movie! For those of you who have not heard of Gluhwein, it is a German holiday drink of mulled wine. Delicious! And perfect for cold weather!
We made a little nest of blankets and hung out in our PJs. It was a perfect weekend if you ask me!
How often do you do laundry? Do you have your own washer and dryer or do you have to leave your home?
Unfortunately, we live in a strange apartment complex in Switzerland, filled with a majority of old people. The wash plan was made in 1973 and the tenants get irate if you go off schedule. We can use it ONCE a month, for three days in a row....
Please tell me how that makes sense?
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Cori Orak said:
Thanks!! And it only took about 5 and a half months have it returned to me! read more
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