Gift guide: Children + Pets

1. Kid O cutting fruit - it's never too early for good eating habits and training a sous chef.
2. likeabike - learning to ride a bike and balance
3. Alphabet magnatab - letter learning and penmanship
4. iwood / first laptop - creativity over technology
5. log pillow - for indoor camping and those that love nature
6. eames elephants - whimsical and beautiful elephant benches
7. giant ice cream lamp - who doesn't love ice cream?
8. green toys sandwich shop - for foodies in the making
9. pocked microscope - take a closer look at the world
10. sound effects machine - 20 sound effects for comedic situations
11. dogface army man toy - childhood favorite for dogs
12. wire + dine bowls - minimal and various heights for dogs of all sizes
13. you bake `em cat treats - for feline friends

14. dudley the dog - balloon shaped dog toy

15. laser cat toy - entertainment for hours

More pet sites:
nip and bone
Pet Solutions

wag

Kinder Kunst

I love these delightful and simple letterpress poster prints from Studio on Fire. They just came out with the new Golden Rule Poster drawn by a 6 year old.

And the classic Wild Air Poster, which has the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: 'Live in the Sunshine, Swim the sea, Drink the wild air'.

[images studio on fire]

Gift guide: Toddler + Pet

1. Learning Tower - A stable tower that makes children countertop level so they can help in the kitchen or it can be used for forts and puppet shows. (image learning tower)

2. Little Pim DVDs- Learning language while young is the best method, so these educational DVDs can help. (image little pim)

3. Kalon Studios hut hut - A modern take on a rocking chair. (image kalon studios)

4. KidO stack + nest - Nesting objects for stacking or playing with during bath time. (image KidO)

5. 36 cube - For those older children who love puzzles. (image think fun)

6. Kaiku design wagon - A double seated wagon that's perfect for long walks or going to the market. (image Kaiku Desigh)

7. KidO memory matching game - Two levels of difficulty with extra cards available. The images are beautiful and can be used for learning. (image Kid O)

8. Haba Kaleidoscopic Blocks - Color mixing for budding artists and architects. (image Haba)

9. Uncle Milton Pet's Eye View - Collar camera that allows you to view the world as your pet does. (image Uncle Milton)

10. Spellwell cat toy - A decapitated mouse toy for cats. (image etsy Spellwell)

11. Karlie bunny hop - For teaching your bunny the fine art of rabbit hopping, which is a sport that's gaining momentum. (image Karlie)

12. Nina Ottosson dog brick - Keeps your dog entertained and fine tunes problem solving skills. (image Nina Ottosson)

Other sites for pet gifts:
Olive Green Dog
The Modern Pet
Ruffwear

Happy Mother's Day!

We spent Mother's Day at the biergarten once again. I guess it's becoming a bit of tradition even, since we've been every year that I've lived here.

The weather even cooperated, too! That was nice after a drizzly week. A little sunshine for the mamas - and those that are remembering theirs.

I'll get to celebrate my Mom for a full 2 weeks when I get to see her next month. I'm already looking forward to her hugs, fantastic foods, and simply spending time together. See you soon, Mom!

In other 'mom' related things, I'm really anxious to see the new documentary 'Babies'.

I'm probably one of few people that's not baby crazed (I think toddlers are more fun), but this movie looks so fascinating.

They follow 4 babies through their first year in various places around the world (Tokyo, San Francisco, Mongolia, and Namibia). Seeing the different ways of rearing children has to be interesting!

Check out the trailer - I promise you won't regret it!

Moms are amazing! Hope you had a great time remembering yours.

(Babies poster courtesy of Focus Films)

Gift guide: Toddler + Pet

1. Threadless YGB shirt - This shirt is perfect for budding horticulturists. I love the colors, the happiness, and the simplicity. If you like it enough, you can get an adult sized one for yourself. (image Threadless)

2. Haba blocks - I adore virtually all of Haba's wooden toys. They are so smooth and imaginative. Their various sets of blocks also have so much character and demonstrate that not every block needs to be a cube or rectangle - many are designed around some of the world's greatest architecture. (image haba)

3. vtech kidizoom digital camera - Art work by children is always interesting, and since they always have an interest in gadgets and electronics this can also help to make them productive. The bonus is that you can score some free art for your walls - with a slightly skewed vantage point. (image vtech)

4. Haba block + tackle - This pulley system toy will help children that love construction and lifting. And once again it's by Haba - need I say more? (image haba)

5. Tire Swing Horse - Many of my favorite memories as a child were playing outside and exploring our big back yard. While I never had a tire swing, I am sure that I would have enjoyed it... especially if it had as much character as this one. (image Target)

6. Wooden fishing play set - This fishing play set is not only beautifully made, but it also contains tiny magnets inside the wood so the fish can be caught. (image MoMA)

7. Kid-O matching shades puzzle - Wooden puzzles are so timeless and beautiful. This one is great for the subtle tints and tones. Kid O has an entire range of beautiful, simple, and practical puzzles. (image Kid O)

8. Pat Says Now computer mouse - These are the most adorable mice that I've ever seen. (some animals may be discontinued) (image pat says now)

For Children with 4 paws
9. Pet Top drinking device - Allows you to adapt any water bottle into an animal friendly water fountain. (image Pet Top)

10. Curve Wall Mounted Pet Bed from Akemi Tanaka - a beautiful and out of the way solution to a cat bed. (image Akemi Tanaka)

11. Critter cord - Protects your cords with plastic, a light citrus scent, and a bitter taste, so that 4 legged friends aren't tempted to gnaw through the cords. I had a bunny growing up and he certainly loved cord chewing, but he didn't like oranges. Sounds like it would work. (image critter cord)

12. Otomik - inventive dog toys that will give anyone a good laugh. (image otomik)

Gift guide: Babies + New Parents

It seems as though even more of my friends are having babies. I guess that's what getting older will do. There are a lot of really adorable gifts on the market that make shopping a bit more of a challenge. These are some that I love.



1. Baby Dam - This an economical and ecological solution to bath time. The only downside is that it fits only in straight sided bathtubs. (image Baby Dam)

2. Mr. Sneeze Forehead Thermometer - My sister and I had this thermometer when we were younger and absolutely loved it. It's less invasive and easy to take along in a bag. (image spoon sisters)

3. Etsy SuperSweetCreations - The t-shirts and onesies with ties are hysterical and a bit sophisticated - not to mention handmade. I love supporting local artisans. (image etsy)

4. The Weanmachine - This is a portable food grinder that helps to feed little ones table food. It quickly enables parents to make a nutritious meal on the go. (image weanmachine)

5. present time monkey door hangers - I first saw these in Paris and fell in love with them. Since then I gift them to anyone I know having a baby or with young children. They come in a variety of colors and are simple, yet modern.

6. Puppy Dog shoes - washable leather shoes that help protect little feet that are learning to walk. (image patina stores)

7. Billy Bob Pacifier - a large array of unique and specialty pacifiers that are sure to get a lot of laughs. (image billy bob products)

8. Knock knock medical organizer - a great place to store all of those new documents from checkups and doctor visits. (image knock knock)

9. Construction Tools - A lot of parents complain about getting their children to eat, so this may be a fun solution. (image flying peas)

10. Hushamok baby hammock - Who doesn't love a hammock? These are made for babies as a stylish option to a bassinet or swing. (image hushamok)

11. etsy Hipoart - This gorgeous rocking horse is made by hand in Kentucky. Undoubtedly it would make a treasured heirloom. (image etsy / HIPo Necessities)

12. etsy allthenumbers - A modern / retro handmade quilt with beautiful colors. (image etsy / all the numbers)

Schuletüte

All of the little ones are going back to school. The yellow school buses and glorified school supplies are American luxuries that don't exist here. Sadly, you can't even purchase crayola markers in Germany.

The school children don't completely miss out... at least when entering first grade. This momentous occasion is marked with a Schuletüte, which is a cone filled with candies and tiny presents to make the transition a bit easier. Stefan tells me one of his co-workers has a son that just entered first grade and he made his own Schuletüte as a final project in Kindergarten.

The school system in Germany is complex. Can you imagine your grades and test scores in the third grade dictating that professions you could have down the road? In Germany the children are tracked towards attending a Hauptschule (9 years of schooling), Realschule (10 years of schooling), or Gymnasium (12 years of schooling - recently changed from 13).

I still remember my mother in law saying she was amazed that President Obama could come from such humble beginnings and eventually go to a prestigious university and become president. The chances of something like that happening in Germany are slim to none.

Attending Gymnasium paves the easiest route to getting into a University, so the pressure is really on from a very early age. As always, the higher the education the more opportunities and options. This system can be really oppressive to foreigners who haven't grown up with German as a first language.

In the United States, which is the system I am most familiar with, the students attend school until the 12th grade. It strikes Stefan as odd that each and every county and school district can differ in when they have holiday breaks and vacations or when school begins, both in dates and times. What is odd to me is that until recently each and every German state used to decide how many years their children would go to school.

Then there is the issue of perpetual students. Those who were fortunate enough to attend a University often stay there for quite some time they are able to do so because going to a University here is incredibly affordable. Not always, but typically (especially in comparison to the US). There was a large outcry when students were asked to pay roughly 500€ / $700 per semester. Unfortunately at my university it cost about that much for every credit hour - and most people took around 18 a semester.

The perpetual student issue creates a very educated population, however we also have a shrinking population. So many people marry much later here than their counterparts in other countries. That's another issue unto itself.

Kritzelbuch

I keep seeing this book around town and it is absolutely adorable. It's the 'Kinder Künstler Kritzelbuch' (child artist scribble book) from Beltz&Geldberg.

You can see pages from the interior, which include beautiful fill in style illustrations from illustrators like one of my favorite - Philip Waechter (he did the cover).

They say things like 'Das bin ich' (This is me) and 'Und sehe ich aus, wenn ich gross bin' (This is what I look like when I grow up) with space to draw a self-portrait. There are other pages which give suggestions that allow imaginations to run wild.

Here are a few more from the publisher's website:
They say: 1. What grows here? 2. There are a lot of fish under the boat, aren't there? 3. Who was that?

(images: Beltz verlag)

Winter Zoo

Today we went to the zoo with Martina. I don't typically thing I would hit up the zoo in the winter, but surprisingly the animals were quite active. I don't know if it was due to the warm spell or if we came around feeding time.

We decided to meet in front of the petting zoo, which was closed due to 'brunft' (animals being in heat). One mother told her daughter that and then asked another mother what 'brunft' meant.

I stood around eavesdropping on the conversations and then came a small girl, who was probably 5 or 6. She was telling her friend that the petting zoo was closed and people can't be around because the animals are 'wild' and then she started telling her that the two men fight and the strongest is the papa.

I had a great laugh out of that, especially for how knowledgeable and articulate this little one was.

Several of the animals seemed to be stressed and really discontent. One of the polar bears and one of the wolves were just pacing in the same pattern over and over again. That was really disheartening. We got another good laugh out of the jaguar pictured above, who took a swipe at a little boy on the other side of the glass, who then fell down.

Child Life in all Lands

While I was home, I stumbled across this antique book from 1906 about 'true stories of boys and girls in every land: their sports and games and how they live'.

I haven't read the entire book yet, but I immediately flipped to the section on Germany, and got a good laugh out of the description and drawing.

It says:

"This mode of swaddling has its advantages. Baby's limbs are in no danger of being broken by an accidental fall; he cannot scratch his little face to pieces with his sharp, rosy nails, after the manner of American babies; and he may be placed on a table, a shelf, or the counter of a shop, like a plate of soup, or a loaf of bread, or a parcel of goods, or anything else which cannot move."

I'm sure those were the days, when you could put your child on a shelf.

Here's another great excerpt:

"A party of peasants once had to carry their child some distance before they came to the church in which it was to be christened. It was winter, and the snow lay thick on the ground. After the christening ceremony, the parents, the sponsors, and the friends took something to eat at a near-by inn, to prepare themselves for the return journey.

They then set out in great good humor, and reached home safely with the pillow, but there was no baby in it. Perhaps they had by mistake held the pillow upside down; perhaps the blue bows had become loose; at any rate the baby had slipped out, and was found lying on the snow, half-way between the church and the village. Fortunately, he was a sturdy young peasant-child, and escaped with a cold in his head, which the fond parents tried to cure on reaching home by popping him, pillow and all, into the oven, that was still warm from the baking of the christening-cake!"

This book is certainly going to be filled with other gems. I can't believe how times have changed in just over 100 years!

Signs of Christmas

I loved walking through town today and hearing a mix of languages with the smells of spiced nuts, glühwein, and rahm bread wafting through the area. As much as I hate to admit, sometimes it's just great to hear English, especially when I hear the people complaining about not understanding the language. It makes me realize how far I've come.

Stefan always loves visiting the markets and eating the carney foods that they sell, so I had a rahmbrot for him while I was out. It won't take much convincing to get him to visit the Tollwood festival with me and to go to the world foods tent when he's home. Secretly I'm also looking forward to their savory crêpes.

There were many shoppers out trying to beat the holiday rush, and tons of little ones ogling the shop windows. I loved to just stand there and eavesdrop on their excitement and narration of what was going on, especially at the Kaufhof store window, which features a plethora of moving Steiff animals.

I know that the pictures don't do it justice, especially because I couldn't get enough of hearing a little girl say 'putzen!' as she looked at the window and saw one animal cleaning. It's very elaborate and if I stood there any longer I would probably be hypnotized into purchasing one of them, like the adorable chimpanzee.

The children are probably slightly disappointed when they receive one and it doesn't move, clean, and cook, on it's own, like it appeared to in the window, but they warm my little heart.

All of the store windows were interesting. Many shops have gone with the advent theme to promote purchasing multiple items. The variation was really interesting - everything from the Alessi shop to stores for the little ones. Maybe next year I will make a nice one for Stefan. There is plenty of inspiration.

The new Apple store appeared to be quite busy. It seemed so Americanized as soon as I noticed Santa and his elf in the window, of course listening to their ipods. One of the churches downtown is undergoing a facelift and what is more appropriate on the façade than an enormous ipod ad? I guess they have to pay for those renovations somehow.

I also stopped at the Fünf Höfe, which is my catch all shopping spot. I love the Muji store that they have and I was so very happy to find a few things for my little cousins. While in the store I spotted one adorable little dog that had his fill of holiday shopping. He blended in nicely with toys and I would have taken him home in a heartbeat.

Not only did I have a successful day shopping, I was delighted to arrive home to a wonderful package from a dear friend. Inside were beautiful ornaments and yummy candies that we don't have here.

That was definitely the highlight of my day.

It looks like this weekend we'll be decorating and getting some of the Christmas cheer around our apartment, so this thoughtful package came at the perfect time.

Slowly it's feeling more like the holiday season is here.

Gift guide: Travel

We do a lot of traveling, so I am always on the watch for innovative new products that seem practical and user friendly while you're on the go.



1. Liquid Image camera mask- This is great for those who love to snorkel. It allows you to swim and take photos and video of exactly what you are looking at. (image Liquid image)

2. Built NY wine tote - We have one of these and it's wonderful. The secret is to bring it in your carry on and then purchase wine at the airport AFTER you have gone through all of the security checks, so you can carry it on. The only hang up is this won't work if you fly intercontinental with a layover and need to recheck bags. (image built ny)

3. Flexible Tripod - This is another gadget we travel with. I appreciate it because it securely wraps on virtually anything for self portraits. The camera base screws onto the top and is also removable, so you don't constantly have the tripod attached. It comes in two sizes for small cameras and also for SLR's. (image joby)

4. Trunki - Although I don't have children, this looks functional when children on the go get tired and it's not worth hauling a stroller along or they are too big for one. (image trunki)

5. Personalized Hometown Necklace - A great way to remember a special place (provided, of course, that it's in the US). (image signals)

6. Chronicle books city walks - These are so portable and helpful in navigating a new city. Each small map contains a path with information regarding sites and historical information. (image chronicle books)

7. MoMA World Time Clock - This was designed by Charlotte van der Waals and together there are 24 cities representing the 24 world time zones. It's simple but very practical for those who are globetrotters. (image MoMA)

8. Visual dictionaries - depending on where you are traveling you may want Point it (a wordless image heavy book) or if the language is more readily available I love these bilingual visual dictionaries. They are nicely laid out in categories and it's small enough to carry through day to day life. I always recommend these to new ex-pats. (images DK + amazon)

9. Door stop alarm - Great at insuring safety and privacy. It functions not only as a door stop, but also as an alarm (which can be deactivated). The only potential issue is that once it is in place medical or emergency works are also unable to enter. (image amazon)

10. Lonely Planet Books- These are such a beautiful coffee table books that double as planning tools. One of my favorite features is that they tell you what the area is known for and current issues facing each place. I consult mine before I we travel to a new city. 'The Europe Book' is the newest edition.

11. Moleskine city notebooks - I tend to take a notebook when I travel to write observations, experiences, names of restaurants, directions, and general thoughts. These notebooks take it one step further and include tabbed sections, subway maps, city maps, and places to put ticket stubs and other ephemera. In essence, you write the guide yourself. (image moleskine European Paper Company)

12. Lewis N. Clark Passport case - I really love this because its bright color makes my passport easy to find and provides a bit of anonymity. (image Lewis N. Clark)

Other Travel sites for gift ideas:
Flight 001
Travel Smith
Magellans
Baggage for Less
Stop Over Store
Le Travel Store

Gift guide: Babies + New Parents

So many of my friends are having babies, so don't get too excited that I've been more aware about baby things that are now on the market. I love finding the perfect gift for people - little ones who aren't even born yet are included.

1. Candleloo lanterns by Vessel Inc.- These are so cute and come in a variety of shapes and colors. They work automatically when taken off the charging base to provide a flame free lantern and a bit of light. (image vessel inc.)

2. Itzbeen - a multifunctional timer that allows parents to keep track of important times - how long it's been since the last feeding, changing, medication dose or how long the baby has been sleeping. It's probably good for sleep deprived parents. (image itzbeen)

3. Goosie cards - I am always on the watch for things that pertain to education and that can bridge distances. These are great for teaching about the rest of the family, who might not always be near by. I've read they are also great for children with autism. (image Goosie cards)

4. Coocoose - an apron for parents givings baths, and it doubles as a towel (provided your child isn't a splasher). (image coochico)

5. Babyprints keepsake - A timeless and simple reminder of how fast children grow. (image amazon)

6. Orbit labels - make it easy to identify cups, bottles, and cups. They are reusable and can be personalized. (image inchbug)

7. RaZbaby Silicone teether - The entire pacifier is a teething toy with various textures. It can also be frozen. (image RaZbaby)

8. Beaba babycook - French baby food maker that steams, dices, and blends food. It also works as a warmer. (image Williams Sonoma)

9. Mimi Lou wall stickers - these are so simple and so adorable. It's even possible to have them custom made into portraits. (image Mimi Lou)

10. Blurb books - You can design a book telling a personal story, creating a family tree, or simply to contain photos of the new baby. The possibilities are endless and you can really get creative with these. Besides, it's never too early to start loving books!

11. Etsy baby leather Moks - This website has beautiful handmade gifts, clothes, and shoes for adults and children for sale by independent sellers. These little shoes are so sweet. (image etsy seller scandeez)

12. Haba - one of my favorite things in made in Germany. Please read this post before purchasing! Several items have been recalled.
These wooden toys are simply stunning. Best of all - they are all natural. They have a large array ranging from clutching toys to architectural building blocks. Make sure you check out the grocery items! (image Haba)

Other fantastic baby / parent gift websites:
Red Envelope
Zac and Zoé
Oompa
Baby Geared
Modern Nursery
Boon
Modern Tots
Baby Wit
Eden Home
Noonoo Design

Young's Jersey Dairy

Young's Jersey Dairy on the outskirts of Yellow Springs, Ohio is a wonderful place for everyday people to enjoy farm life. They have a small petting zoo that allows children (and adults) to get up close to goats, cows, pigs, and sheep. They are also renowned for their homemade ice cream. Combining animals and ice cream always makes for a wonderful time.

We met up with my aunt and uncle as well as several cousins and their children for a night at the dairy farm. It was so nice to see everyone and see how much all of the children have grown, but of course the time always passes too quickly. I loved taking pictures of the little ones and having willing models like the little guy (Tony) that said, 'I did a different pose this time. Did you see how I tilted my head a little bit in that one?... Did you get me feeding the goat?'

I also could not get enough of the animals. I always love brown cows and the calves were just precious. I had a bit of difficulty photographing them, because while I was just as entranced as the younger visitors, a goat was trying eat my camera strap.

We also were fortunate enough to see one of Yellow Springs beautiful sunsets over the corn fields. It was just spectacular, as you can see for yourself. I didn't even enhance the photo.

Even the city girl in me thinks how fun it would be to live on a farm with a lot of land and some sweet animals. What a wonderful summer evening.

Animals around the world

I have always loved learning the animal sounds from other languages. Some of them sound more accurate than their English counterparts, while others sound quite strange to my English tuned hearing.

Today I read about bzzzpeek on Kirtsy. It has the sound effects for various animals, insects, modes of transportation, and virtually anything with an onomatopoeia.

I must say some of the American English even are different from the British English. Also, be sure to follow the arrow for more sounds from other countries.

Have fun previewing all of the international animal sounds!

Color wheel

I think it's the art historian / art teacher in me, but how beautiful is this wooden color wheel puzzle for little ones?

I feel slightly strange buying things for the children I don't even have, but I can always give it as a gift. This is just too pretty for me to pass up.

(image Pottery Barn Kids)

Book Love

Imagine my surprise and happiness when I read about Good Stock custom books this morning on Oh Happy Day, one of my favorite blogs.

I've written about my obsession with books and making books, but this has been taken to an entirely new level. The website is beautiful and the limitless options are beyond comparison for a beautiful and personal heirloom. And the first year baby book? - It's stunning.

It makes me think about the boxes and boxes of letters that Stefan and I have written to each other, in addition to all of the family mementos, photos, and old letters that can be beautifully preserved.

As soon as family gets involved I get so nostalgic. What an excellent job it would be helping people preserve their memories.

Yeondoojung

There is a Korean photographer named Yeon Doo Jung, that made a series titled 'Wonderland'. In this series, he uses children's art work and create photos based off the drawings. It's quite funny to see the interpretations that are similar to Tableau vivant, the French theatrics that tie theatre to photography. The images below are titled 'Little Red Riding Hood.' There are plenty more on his website. (images courtesy of Yeon Doo Jung).

I'm such a sucker for children's drawings and I really wish I was able to read Korean. The fanciful imaginations and depictions are really terrific and hilarious. How wonderful it would be to think like a child again.

School children vs. Dogs

If the school children here are any indication of where humanity is headed then I'm not certain I want to add to the mess. I know I am old-fashioned from time to time, but the children here (obviously everyone else's children, with a few exceptions) are a bit of a nightmare.

Perhaps it was because I was out at 1 pm. At all costs, avoid the subways at 1pm on a school day, unless you really want to torture yourself.

Initially when I moved to Frankfurt and then Munich, I saw everything as wonderful. I noticed small children out riding the subway alone, or walking down the street. All of those terrible ideas about pedophiles and kidnappers would run through my mind and I would wonder how parents weren't more cautious. Then I was constantly reassured that the city is very safe and children learn from a young age how to navigate the subway. Wow! This is great I thought.

In Frankfurt, there were children painting in their art class at this park I would walk through. I loved the idea of children being able to watercolor by the pond. As creepy as it sounds, I even took several photos (the inner art teacher in me was delighted to see something so sweet). They were in elementary school, but well behaved enough... no one ended up in the pond and they weren't obnoxiously loud. I think a few had a great time pouring their dirty paint water into the trash and watching it pour out, but they were fun to observe.

Over time I have discovered things change. Children having half their day free to run amuck is a horrible idea. If you happen to decide you'd like to efficiently travel through the city on the subway be prepared to have your ears ringing from the noise. When do middle schoolers learn you have to scream and yell, particularly in closed in places? That was my afternoon today.

I know children and teenagers are sometimes reckless and feel immortal. This was proven once again. There were kids riding the banisters of the escalators as if they were a slide, others were throwing things belonging to their friends onto escalators going the opposite direction and jumping over to get them. A scarf and a hat came in front of me and the kids looked at me to toss them back. I simply shrugged. And what did the rest of the people do? They merely sat and watched or laughed. Maybe they missed the days of their youth when they lived with reckless abandon.

This kids ruling the world phenomenon really has me shocked. I realized long ago it wasn't only in America, but it is just ridiculous. I have a friend who is a tour guide at Dachau and he has also had to reprimand school kids, who aren't even with his group.



I'm not certain where the disconnect is, because people have better behaved dogs here. There are several dogs in my neighborhood that are fixtures to their owner's shops. I love walking past and seeing them lay on the sidewalk or in the doorway. I have never seen so many dogs walking off a leash and still obeying their owner as I have here. Granted, I live here, so I see that often - but it really doesn't get old. I even find myself going towards the person with the dog while on the subway platform, straßenbahn, or bus, because I like watching the dogs and being near them. If there are school children around I think I'd rather walk or take the opposite end of whatever transport.

I can think of Charlie + Harry to remember how great children are... even if mine won't have the British accent.

Germany

So it has been over a year since I began to call Germany home. There are definitely many idiosyncrasies that I am continually learning about. Whenever I have visitors I notice things more and miss those initial thoughts when I would ponder the smallest mundane detail such as a door knob that doesn't turn.

There are some things that Germans are known for, such as cleanliness, structure, being on time, cars, and engineering. I have to laugh when Stefan tells me about going on business trips and telling coworkers to 'stop being so German' when someone is 5 minutes late.

One thing that I do appreciate is the simplicity, design, and attention to detail. I think everyone that has visited and asked where to shop I have asked 'do you know anyone with a baby?' The reason is I absolutely love their baby toys made of bright colored wood, particularly a brand called Haba. They have produce, beads, and teethers. (I bought the flower teether for Emily's daughter Claire).



They are just so beautiful!

There is however, a large divide as well. You either have great quality or complete crap. Some of the stores I walk into and shudder as I see things that look so archaic and are yet still quite expensive. If I want to go into a time warp I can just walk into our attempt at a Meijer. It's unfortunate that we don't have something like Target that melds design and functionality into an aesthetically pleasing place. I guess Germans go with the adage of if it's not broke don't fix it. You know what you need you go to get it and you leave. Although, if you let a German loose in the US, (this was when the exchange rate wasn't even as good as it is now) you will see a child in a candy store and they are instantly converted into consumers.

I often look at many design websites and save images of things that I like so I can get what I want when I need it (maybe some of the German mentality is rubbing off on me!) I was surprised and excited to find this beautiful baby bed (don't get an ideas - we still want a few years being child free). The great part is that it not only grows with the child and is beautiful, but it also made in the Allgäu! It's comical for me to see it on all kinds of international design websites when it comes for the Allgäu. I think it will fit wonderfully into our simplistic and modern approach at decorating once it's time.



Lately we have been trying to figure out our next few years. It's a funny life that I never imagined I would lead. I feel like a nomad with a home base in two countries. I see my friends from home settling down and putting roots down, while my friends here are typically 30-35 and unmarried, but dating the same person for 6 or 7 years. Or I have the 50 something variety that are spunky and have fascinating life stories. There is something to be said about the way Europeans look at life and especially here in Germany with the most vacation days of any country in the world.

I truly couldn't ask for anything better in life. Even working here feels like early retirement!


images: haba + sirch