A Trip To Venice

It's so nice to finally be able to travel. We live in the heart of Europe and really haven't been to THAT many places. But Patrick and I are definitely trying to change that, as much as we can.

This past month we were in Venice, Italy for 4 full days and it was a lot of fun to see a different culture and hear another language. Even learned a few little words while we were there....what was funny to Patrick and I was that we came across some "musical terms", most of them being in Italien. So we could guess what some things meant just because of our musical background.

Let me stop here and just let you enjoy the beautiful view. These are just a few of my favorites from the time we were there. Of course I made like over 2000 pictures during that time. ☺

Little Changes & Big Changes

So I said you'd be hearing from me more and now it's almost a month later!

It's been a crazy month of moving in two weeks...working full time...trying to get the kitchen functional and buying/building the stuff we need.

It's still quite some time before I will feel like it's more "done" but with one project done after the other...it's starting to feel more and more like a dream home I never knew I could have. The Lord has been AMAZING!

The Blue Birdhouse is Moving

I know I've been quiet here for almost a year. My blog moved to a wordpress site for just a few months, when it was hacked into and vanished from the world wide web.

Just imaging how it could work...the room sizes are not correct...just how I remembered it.

Bedroom Tour

New Birds

Summer Bucket List

So during the last days of school we worked on this project in school. The plan was to draw ourselves with big sunglasses. In each of the glasses we were suppose to draw a picture of something we are planningon doing this summer.

So what do I have on my summer bucket list....well it probably is more of a "To-Do List":

Currently

My new clock I got for my b-day

Listening:
In school we are leaning 6+ songs for our school graduation. So we are listening (and singing with) recordings of the songs. Two of them I enjoy: "My Sins are Gone" and Give of "Your best to the Master"

Watching:
We rewatched the Lois &Clark: Adventures of Supermann Series. They have a great story line & good morals! Then we watched two Hallmark series: Sealed Signed Delivered and When Calls the Heart

The sun setting.

First || Home Tour

 Yes, FINALLY I am giving you a tour in my cozy little apartment. I am definitly happy with it even if I have like 10 things I want to work on and/or change. This is how it is now and it's beautiful as it is. So let's go in...

Currently

Listening:
Patrick and I were listening to Final Fight. We totally fell in love when we first started listening. We (especially Patrick) knew almost everyone singing and preaching. One group I went to college with and Patrick's home church sings on here too. Two missionaries sent from his church read Scripture. It's just cool! But with a small radio station came....

Currently

Decorating:
To be honest....after my Valentine decorating I haven't been working on any projects but I have many planned. In the above picture, the left bottom corner  you see a snapshot into my bedroom. I love the rustic country look. ☺

Cooking:
Tried 2 new recipes this past week and redid another 2 I already tried. I am not a big cook. Most everything I make taste good but I like to stick to the quick through together meals (all from scratch of course).

6 Month Anniversary Photography

Ever since Christmas I've been wanting to take some "professional" pictures but just didn't have time and it just was to cold. But in time for our 6 month anniversary it worked out....and the sun came out!! The sun inspires me to take pictures. And Pinterest gave me many ideas on poses.

Which is your favorite?

Love how this turned out!

Technic Museum

Patrick and I on the following Thursday (after the Titanic Museum) went to the Technik Museum in Speyer. Follow the link to see their little video and see how cool it is....

Saw it? Cool, isn't it?

Anyway,

Titanic Museum

Last week we had our winter break. I was still getting over the flu and Patrick pulled a muscle but one thing we definitely wanted to do.... go to the Titanic Museum. As a teenager Patrick was crazy about the Titanic so when my mom saw that a museum had a special exhibition of the Titanic she told us about it.

My Crazy Week

This past week had a lot of highlights in it.....not your typical week of same ol' business.

Well first thing was going back to work. After having 3 weeks off for Christmas and enjoying the "stay-at-home-wife" time it was a hard adjustment again. But I enjoy my work and totally love my kids... so it's fun. Now I am back to planning everything for the next day,  keeping house  & cooking between work and other activities.

The First Noel// Video

I know we are past Christmas by now but thought you guys might still enjoy this video of special music Patrick and I played/sang with my "adopted" sisters and friends. It's not perfect but we are all quite proud how it turned out. This was totally a new way to play a song and love the arrangement.

So what do you think?

 

Goals 2015

So the last few days of 2014 I've been thinking which goals I should set for myself this year. I want something doable but challenging..... 

This is what I came up with:

→Drink More... Water

This is actually two goals in one. First of all I just want to drink more....I don't drink enough and my body feels it. Secondly, I want to drink water. I had this goal 2 years ago. It was hard but this year I really want to make water my basic drink. I don't drink sodas just apple juice dilluted with water....but I want to stick to just water.

→Create a Recipe Planner

First we have to establish which recipes we enjoy and then I want to do better at planning meals. Right now it is more of a stressful "What do we eat tonight?" "Do we have everything for this recipe I quickly found on pinterest?" This is going to be  slow process but I think will make cooking easier in the future.

→New Blog Design

I already started working on this one. I know this blog will be taking a new direction as I start a new chapter in my life...so I want this place to match this new direction and become more professional

→No eating after 8 p.m.

I know there are people that do not eat after 6 but this will be a hard adjustment at first. Time goes by way to quickly and before you know it is 7:00/ 7:30 and we haven't eaten dinner.... I think this will get easier though once I get better at planning my meals ahead.

→Go to Paris

We got some cruise tickets from my dad for our wedding that are good for a year. We want to use that for an excuse to travel to Paris and see the "City of Love" ☺

→Photo a Week

I had this goal last year and didn't do to well of keeping up with picking the picture of the week. An advantage  I have this year is owning a smartphone.... I'll post likely be posting them on my instagram account and sharing a monthly roundup at the end of the month....at least that is the plan. ☺

→Spiritual Goal

I think it is important to have spiritual goals so I can reach the next level spiritually. I want to be quicker to find opportunities to witness. I want to get better at my Bible reading. Since I started working I've had days of slacking. I want to pray more....like serious talking conversations....not your quick bedtime prayer. Instead of "wishing" things were different...praying for God's help. He is the only one that can help.


So what are some goals you have set for yourself this year?

Goals 2014 in Review

I totally forgot I even had a list of goals until today. I did remember my photo a week though. 

Well let's see how I did:

"This year I decided to go simpler since this year will be bringing a lot of change."

♥ Read a book every month ♥

Um..... I didn't quite make it. Counting off the top of my head I read 9 books this year. Not enough but I did have a busy year.  I need to get better at reading books again though....goal for 2015?

♥ Craft & Design ♥

I think I did well here....had more creative months than others but between my wedding and making a home I designed, crafted & sewed quite a few things.

♥ No social media past 11 o'clock ♥

Oh my.....I totally forgot this goal. I remember being very faithful in the beginning of the year and it became a habit. I do it without thinking now because I want my sleep.

♥ Work on relationships ♥

Mhmmmm....did good I think? The goal here was to reach out to my friends and family even while I am busy. I try....I am thankful for social media & skype that makes that possible. I will continue to work on this though.

♥ Guest Posts ♥

Total fail here. Did I even have a single guest post this year?

♥ Finish College ♥

Hahahaha.....I made it guys! I graduated!

♥ Ready for Changes ♥
"I am planning and expecting many changes this year. One happened already as you can read here (?). Here is a list of changes I am planning on and some that look might happen. Finishing classes, student teaching, graduate, travel to US, get engaged, get married, move into a new apartment, start working....who knows what else might happen."

I had to keep this for you to read.... because all of this happened!!! ☺

♥ Photo a Week ♥
Ok.....So I was not faithful in selecting and editing my photo a week but I DEFINITLY took a photo a week. I stopped choosing and editing in Week 12.... yep... lots of catching up to do.

How did you do with your New Year Resolutions?

Christmas Tour 2014

I copied the lyrics board idea from a picture I saw on pinterest

A nativity scene we've had a long time but never used at my mom's house....

My Christmas pillows....

Who doesn't like Candles to relax?

My living room....pick a seat.

Cookies anyone?

My advent Candles

In the Kitchen

Peaking into the Kitchen

Let it snow...let it snow...let it snow

Do you celebrate on the 24th or 25th?

May I say I am proud of my little apartment? It's so cozy....that's the perfect word to describe my apartment under the roof...with all the wood.

And I must say that Christmas is my favorite holiday...the only holiday you can go all out with decorations....and that is what I did. Ok...not overwhelming but just touches of Christmas scattered throughout my little home.

Welcome to my little home...would like some tea, coffee or hot cocoa?

Merry Christmas 2014

Just wanted to post and say Merry Christmas... May God bless you & your family.

My Christmas Pillows

So I finished one of my goals for my time off before Christmas and made 3 Christmas pillows! I totally love the wintery/christmasy feel of my living room! Accent pillows can really give a room a new feel! ☺

So which pillow that I made do you like best? Silent Night, the one with the gloves or the polka-dot one?