Good friends, good conversation, good food

I am back after a wonderful, fun-filled week of visiting with one of my best friends!  He was here in Coburg from last Wednesday until this Tuesday and, although we had some unfortunately rainy weather, we had a blast.  We went to the beer gardens (my favorite place in Germany, if you haven't yet noticed) and we walked around the flower market here.  We sat in the park and we cooked and ate, cooked and ate.  It was heavenly.  Plus, he and Peter, who did not know each other well before, really hit it off.  I can't tell you how happy I was to come home from work one day and find my boyfriend and my best friend watching basketball, eating chips and drinking beer!

Ben at a wonderful outdoor dinner.

Now, I  have told you all about my best friend since childhood Danielle, but haven't yet told you all about my best male-friend, Ben.  I will tell you about him now because he is also important to the person I have become and to my "nifty thrifty" mentality.  Ben and I met in high school and became close in college, as we were both living in Berkeley, California at the time.  He is a fantastic artist and photographer and is generally just an intelligent and creative mind.  I used to think I was crazy to be so aware of the small, unrecognizable-to-many details in life and to appreciate them so passionately.  And then one day, I believe sitting on a beach somewhere between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, I told Ben about my "crazy" appreciation and learned that he felt it too.

A beautiful little archway in Coburg.

It can be in a cozy cup of coffee and a newspaper on a lazy Sunday morning or in a really amazing song that puts a melody to your feelings.  I can be in a glass of wine and some candles or in a delicious meal eaten in the company of loving friends.  These are things that we often overlook or take for granted.  But Ben's perceptive and artistic eye seemed to see these things as I did.  And from there, our friendship grew.  Now that we are older, we don't always see eye-to-eye, but our love for each other is very strong and that is what matters.  

Because of Ben's strong sense of creativity and appreciation for beauty, the time he spent here were full of "luxuries."  I put luxuries in quotation marks because my definition of "luxury" is very different than Merriam Webster's.  In my opinion luxury comes not from things (and especially not from expensive things) but from experiences.  Everyday, as you go about your routine, you can choose to have a luxurious experience or you can choose to have no experience at all.  And you can choose the former at a cost of just pennies, if not for free.  The important thing is that you have to actively make that choice.

Peter and I having a great time at dinner with Ben.

Pay attention to the beauty, the sounds, the feelings around you and you have already achieved half your goal.  And I promise you, you will already feel like your life is more luxurious.  When you eat, set the table and light candles.  You can buy a bag of 100 tea lights here in Germany for 6 Euros.  It lasts about two months and, even on my teacher's salary, it is something I can afford.  Candles and turning off the overhead lights make any meal effortlessly more luscious.  Eat real food and experiment with it.  It's probably cheaper than constantly buying microwavable meals and it is better for your health, too.  Not to mention it is so much more enjoyable (I once read that one should never eat anything that wasn't mouthwatering and it changed my life).  And, when you can, get fresh flowers.  Even if you can't buy them, pick them!  These simple steps (and a biiiig glass of wine) will immediately take every meal time from mundane to lux.  And when you can take a minute to savor it all, the stress melts away, your heart feels happy and life is much better.

A peaceful moment in my kitchen. 

These types of tricks apply to almost any situation.  Listen to good music that you can feel in your heart whenever you can.  Let it set the mood on a rainy afternoon or as you are walking to work, feasting your eyes on the world around you.  Drink "champagne"--sparkling wine, or as they call it here, sekt--and make it the cheapest bottle you can find.   BUT,  drink it out of a pretty glass (Goodwill china section anyone?) and with a raspberry in it.  It will feel very special.  Surround yourself with beautiful things (I think this is why I decorate) like your favorite photographs, old boxes or a favorite fabric, and spend time appreciating them everyday.  Spend time outdoors.  Lots of it, whenever you can, wherever you can.  And whenever it is possible, eat outdoors.  It enhances the experience hugely.  Walk in the grass barefoot.  Wear something that makes you feel beautiful.  Pay attention to the sunlight, or the trees, or the dancing pattern of reflecting water. 

In fact, if you want the real gist of this blog, there it is.  "Living the high life on a low budget," as I call it, is more about you than anything else.  You need to choose to be aware, to make experiences for yourself and to make them beautiful.  It's about surrounding yourself with and doing things that make your heart sing.  For me, that is often visual (which is why I devote so much time here to the things you can do to give yourself a visually luxurious place to live) but for you it may not be.  Either way, if you feel like a queen, you are one.

On a romantic evening walk with Peter, saw this spring tree in all it's glory.

Ben's trip last week/weekend was filled with beautiful moments: delicious dinners for the three of us and three two empty bottles of wine on the table, laying in the sun in the park, sharing conversation and a pot of tea in my cozy kitchen during a lightening storm, the list goes on and on.  It's the ability to recognize these moments, to hang onto them and to appreciate them that Ben and I first bonded over and that, in many ways, inspired this blog.   I hope you get as much joy out of life as I do.  And I hope that you, too, have the luxury of spending time with good friends, good conversation and good food. 

Here is my handle, here is my spout

I am super excited because I just bought a teapot on eBay for 8.40 EURO (including shipping)!  It is so cute.  I don't think it is vintage (which is what I really wanted) but I fell in love with the adorable pattern and didn't care.  I almost thought I had lost to this annoying person who bid at the last minute just as I was eating dinner, but somehow it is mine now!  (I can't understand the German explanation fully.)  Anyway, I can't wait to upload pics when I get it. 

In other news, my best friend is coming to Germany for a visit this week, so don't be surprised if I am MIA for a while! 

Bis dann!

Community

It seems like I am redefining that word everyday. Does it lie in the place that you live?  In the people that you know or love?  In the connections you make with real people in this world?  Can community truly be found on the internet like the creators of Facebook would like you to think? 

Since moving to Germany I have had trouble finding community.  The definitions of it that I am used to don't seem to apply here, as far as I have seen.  Their are no friendly families watering their gardens and waving hello as you take your morning jog.  And, neighbors tend to try and avoid each other instead of stopping in for a cup of sugar and a little gossip.  I once went into a small gift/decor shop in town and started rambling on in broken German about how I loved all things birds and the shopkeeper seemed to get embarrassed hearing so much personal information about my decorating preferences.  It's certainly a far cry from the friendly, warm faces that work my favorite used book shop in Auburn or the neighborhood restaurant that I went to with my parents while I was home for Christmas.  The waiter there not only greeted my parents with a handshake and huge smile but also with their favorite beers served just the way they like them (out of the bottle). 

The lack of a friendly smile or a cheery "good morning" has, on occasion, made me feel sad over here in my adoptive home.  But, I have done my best to find community in new places.  Take for instance the German course that I took this fall and winter.  We had our own little community there.  We shared differences and similarities; recipes and good advice; (broken) conversation and the challenges of being foreigners.  In the coldness that can be Germany, our little class could be a warm, comforting shelter from the storm. 

And while I don't think I will ever believe that the Internet is a good substitute for the real deal, it can offer a bit of extra community when you need it.  That is something I have also noticed since moving to Germany.  Take for example the hundreds of blogs devoted to answering the questions of American's abroad.  But, by far my favorite right now is a blog called Haus Maus by Holly Becker.  Holly is an American decorator and writer living in Hannover.  She also has a great decorating blog called decor8 that I just love.  She has proved to me that it isn't always as hard to decorate in Germany as I always complain it is because she has done a great job on her place and has even written a book. 

But, I am getting off track.  What I love about Holly Becker's blog is how much I can identify with her and her German journey.  From dealing with the cold dark winters to relying on the people you love, she knows what it is like to be far from home and to forge your own unique path through unfamiliar territory.  She's definitely a role model and a woman truly succeeding in a situation that could bring others down.  Now, I don't think I am so lucky as to even have two people read this blog (well, excluding my mom and dad), but I like to think that I am adding to that community. 

No matter where you are, there are always good days and bad ones.  And it's the people that you can rely on to share your ups and downs that make it worth it.   They may serve you a coffee in the morning and brighten your day with a smile or they may sit down in their own living room one morning and share story about navigating a foreign country with a couple thousand of their closest friends.  They are your community and with out them life would be lonely and sad. 

Now, in honor of Easter, here are some pictures from this beautiful, warm and breezy weekend we have been having. 

Peter enjoying the sun.

Me enjoying the sun...and trying to get used to the bangs.

The new "thing" in Germany: slack lining.

Beautiful blossoming trees in the small fountain garden near our apartment.

Hofgarten, Coburg.

Me and a lazy eye. 

Spring flowers at home.  

Buttercream frosting and Easter

I should never have learned to make buttercream frosting.  In the two weeks since I first attempted Martha Stewart's Billy's Buttercream recipe, I have made it 3 times and have gone through 6 sticks of butter and 8 (small German) boxes of powdered sugar.  My god is this stuff addictive and so easy to make (which only enables my addiction)! 

Buttercream frosting on my annual Easter lamb cake.  Covered with coconut!

It came back to bite me in the bum today, though.  After letting my buttercream frosting sit out at room temperature for one day too long and then scarfing down a whole piece of cake I got a major stomach ache!  I have been nursing it all day now.  I guess I am being punished for my overindulgence.  From now on I only make buttercream frosting for special occasions (and Friday night does not count...nor does Saturday morning) and I am keeping it in the fridge! 

Check out the recipes here!
Billy's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Billy's Chocolate Buttercream Frosting 

Love thy planet, love thy crap

It is both Earth Day and Good Friday and that means that it is time for a post about recycled goodies (because I care about the Earth and because I have a long weekend and a lot of time).  As you already know, I am a huge fan of all things old, salvaged, found, repainted and free.  That means I try my best not to buy stuff that I couldn't otherwise rescue from sad abandonment.  This has been hard since I have moved to Germany, but I guess I have to take comfort in knowing that my lifestyle here has made up for all the Ikea furniture in my living room.  All my clothes hang dry because I don't have a drier.  I don't have a car and I use public transportation.  And, while I have to use heating in the winter (Germany gets coooooold), my summer air conditioning is a cool breeze coming through open windows.  (And when there isn't a breeze?  I boil my butt off!)

Nevertheless, I desperately miss my old sources of decorating inspiration and finding something amazing with a history.  I miss knowing that I am doing my part not to create more waste in the process.  And,  I miss uniqueness!  Since I have already told you all about my love for the Goodwill, tonight I will tell you about one of my other favorite places, Urban Ore. 

Urban Ore is large "Ecopark Store" in Berkeley, California aimed at "end[ing] the age of waste", according to their website.  They take and sell old crap (and you already know how much I love old crap) that people would otherwise have to get rid of in a landfill.  Their cause is worthy but, it's what it means for you that is really cool.  From old bathtubs and sinks, to old cabinetry, to an excellent selection of old china, Urban Ore has all kind of cool salvaged decor for your home.  They sell furniture, tile and stone, metal and lumber, garden stuff, vintage baths, toilets, doors, household items such as pots and pans, art and frames, hardware, lighting, and even books and clothing.  If you are looking for something unique you can certainly find it here.

An example of the cool stuff at Urban Ore.  I could totally use that awesome bookcase (or pharmacy cabinet?) for my dining room!

When I lived in Berkeley, I often took a look in Urban Ore.  Their items are not too expensive--at least not the kinds of things I was buying (I never saw, for example, how much a claw foot tub costs).  There's a lot of stuff in there that is either unattractive or just plain random, so, like with the Goodwill, you have to look pretty hard. But when you find something perfect for you, it is a rush that I think must be similar to finding buried treasure.

Two of my favorite sections of the store are the sections with old china and art.  If I remember correctly, there weren't tons of sets of china but lots of great individual pieces that could make a really cool collection.  I am super into the casual and whimsical idea of having lots of mismatching china instead of one set of plates.  I also think it's an excellent idea for people planning a wedding on a budget (who don't want to spend money on renting dishes).  I'd go for a more simple look than the fluffy one below but this definitely has some charm.  I have also gotten some really great little dishes for storing rings and jewelry at Urban Ore. 

The art section has led to some equally awesome discoveries.  They have tons of empty wooden frames and lots of whole pieces of art...picture, frame and all.  Here is a great vintage flower painting I found there...I loved the color and the kitsch look.  It came with the gold frame and was totally ready to hang.  This picture is old and really zoomed in so I hope you can see it okay. 

Anyway, no matter what you are looking for check out Urban Ore. They are near the highway 80 in Berkeley so if you live in the Bay Area or ever go there, it is quite convenient to get to.  Plus, on you will be doing something good for the environment. Here's to loving old crap!

Happy Earth Day and Happy almost Easter!  XOXO

Another new blog discovery...help I need sleep!

Check out younghouselove.com.   The old house is cute, although a little too put together for me.  The new one has potential (love the picture wall) but I am not a fan of the new living room.  But they have lots of great projects! 

Spring has sprung and I have a butterfly project for you!

It's mid-April (okay, let's face it, it's pretty much the end of April) and we finally have leaves or buds on almost all the trees.  In celebration of this wonderful season (and by far the best season in Germany if you are lucky with the weather) here is a little happy, colorful project I did recently. 

It's a low-res iPhone image, sorry.  But here is the finished product.

I bought the images of the butterflies online from http://www.rowantreedesign.co.uk/.  These are wonderful graphic designs which you can buy in sets.  They cost $3 for one sheet, which has between 10 and 20 different images from one theme.  These butterflies are from the Butterflies on Blossoms sheet: http://www.etsy.com/listing/69275172/butterflies-on-blossoms-15in-circles.  (I also bought the Loteria Cards part 6, Maps and Botanicals and Skeletons...for my darker side!) I figured they were worth it because of all the crazy project-ing I would get out of them. 

I printed my beautiful butterfly pictures in black and white because I don't have a colored printer and I was in too much of a creative rush to go to the printers and get them printed properly.  I then colored my butterflies in with colored pencils and I actually kind of like the hand-drawn look they have.  The subsequent times I tried this project I had the butterflies properly printed. 

The mini size.  Sorry it's a little blurry.  You can see that the butterfly is printed in this one! 

The border is brown packing paper and the background is my coffee-stained paper printed with many Greek letters in 12 pt font (they are random and repeated...no meaning here).  Then I measured everything to make sure the butterflies were in the middle and glued them down.  You should use nice photo or non-acid scrap-booking glue to help your project last longer.  I  don't have a frame yet, but I want to put the butterflies in a vintage, worn-in wood frame maybe in black, navy blue or white.  I also have this image of it in a frame just a little too big so that you have a clear glass border showing the wall through, but I don't know.

Anyway have a happy spring day! 

XOXO