Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Travel Tuesday: French Home Tour

While staying with Miti in Toulon, I made sure to get lots of photos of the house because it was so different from houses I've seen here in the states. 


The only way I can think to describe the doors and windows are garage doors.  They literally rolled up and down with the push of a button.  It was so neat and a great way to open up the house. 


This was the bedroom that Kara and I stayed in.  It overlooked the Toulon Harbor.


View from our bedroom window.


Looking into the living room from the porch.





I am from the east coast so I had never seen a bathroom where the toilet was separate!  Then I saw it again when I went to AZ.  Maybe we're the weird ones??


Looking into the Kitchen from the living room




The basement


Kara's Photos







The Views







HAPPY NYE!!!!

Monday, December 30, 2013

New Year, New Blog ... Kind of

To be honest, I am not sad to see 2013 go.  It was definitely not my best year and 2014 looks to be much brighter for us.  So, on the (almost) last day of this year I am going to hit on a few things I want for this blog next year - this blog is one of the many things I hope to improve over the course of the new year!

For the first few days or maybe even the first two weeks, you will mainly be seeing book reviews on this blog.

Why?

Well, first, I am way behind on book reviews and really want to get caught up and second because I am reevaluating the content of my blog as well as my writing style.  

I had a friend read some of my posts and be honest about my writing style.  Apparently I write my blog like I write a paper.  Minimal contractions and very proper.  That is not at all how I speak and I want my blog to feel more like I am speaking to my readers.  So, I will be spending the month of January pre-writing some posts and making them sound more like me.

Also, I noticed that I tend to play it safe on my blog and I don't want to do that.  I want my readers to really get to know me.  That is why we blog in the first place, to meet people with both similar and different views from us.  Over the course of the next few months you may see posts about my decision not to have children, why the idea of marriage is hard for me, my fear of settling, and I may even through out some of my controversial political views if I really feel like starting some blogger debates ;)

Last, along with my travel recaps/reviews I want to write more about what travel means to me and some deeper thoughts about my experiences.  I feel like I have only scratched the surface of why I love to travel.  Traveling and reading are my two biggest passions and I want my blog to reflect that!

I am also making a few goals for this blog.  I hope to read 250 followers by the summer and 500 by the end of the year.  Once I hit 250 followers, I am going to start offering Ad spaces. I will be sponsoring more blogs this year and working harder to get my blog out there.

Also, I have so much exciting news to share over the next few weeks!  Including wedding plans, job opportunities, and other new opportunities for Josh and I!  I really really really a million times really, wish I could tell y'all about this amazing job opportunity but I can't say anything until all of my legal stuff goes through ect.  But I am super excited and there are future international opportunities! Gah, I wish I could say more but I can't and it's killing me!

Moving on ...

In general, I am excited to get more involved in the blogging community and in my own and I can not wait to see what 2014 has in store for Josh and I and for this little blog (like maybe a redesign?)!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Christmas in Photos

Mom's House




Oma's House






The women in my family always fight over the turkey skin






^ The reason I come to Christmas dinner!! Jello Salad.



Hope Everyone Had A Wonderful Christmas!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Places I'd Love to See at Christmas Time


I would love to see these places at Christmas time:

1. Vienna, Austria


2. Munich, Germany


3. Vail, Colorado


4. Prague, Czech Republic


5. Boston, MA


 6. Durango, CO


7. Quebec City, Canada


8. Castleton, England


9. Bethlehem, Israel 


10.  Edinburgh, Scotland


MERRY CHRISTMAS (eve)!!!!

Friday, December 20, 2013

25 Days of Christmas: Baking Cookies!


This past Sunday, Mom and I (and Jason) spent the afternoon baking Christmas cookies!  I posted the Recipe for Paul Bunyan cookies the other day and will hopefully have a recipe up for the Peanut Blossoms and Black Bottoms in the near future :)  The chocolate chips were just frozen dough from Schwan's.  Mom makes them from scratch on a different day but I didn't have time for all those shenanigans.


Of course, the Charles wanted to help!