Our Long Weekend with Liz!

So, I'm finally over the flu (yay!), our visitor has left us (boooo!), and I at long last have a free minute away from my Half-Year of Improvement (Spanish class being my newest evening endeavor) to blog again. Yippee!

Liz arrived here - on her way to Rome - on Friday and in a very happy turn of events, brought the sunshine with her (thanks again, lady!). She was only staying for a short four days, so we had precious little time to pack in lots of fun and shenanigans.

The theme of the weekend turned out to be sunshine and microbreweries, though of the second we have few pictures. On Friday, we headed first to an Eisbären game - she also brought hockey luck to them! which promptly disappeared once she left... - then to Hops & Barley in Friedrichshain for some beers with friends.

After a leisurely breakfast on Saturday morning, we headed to our neighborhood weekly market for some of their gorgeous flowers (tulips and ranunculus, but of course) and then to the bigger farmer's market at Kollwitzplatz to bask in the newly arrived sunshine (seriously, it hadn't come out in months before this).

Who doesn't have Lust auf Käse (desire for cheese) at all times? | A wannabe Gulaschkanone 

It's never too late in the season for Glühwein

Heheheheh, that yarn name still makes me giggle...

Later that day, we'd invited some folks over for the very first beer tasting of Micha's home-brewed beer, an American-style I.P.A. I may be biased, but it was damn fantastic! And not just for a first beer, for any! I'm a big fan of this new hobby of his...

Market treats and homemade beer, yummmmm

No beer tasting would be complete without a set of absolutely ridiculous, mustachioed beer googles

For some reason, pretending to give babies beer

 never gets old 

...

Liz and Hanna bonded over the wee one's love of spoons | Liz and I channeled our inner 11-year-olds with Tattly BFF tattoos

We also made our way later that night to our second microbrewery of the weekend in Wedding and yet still managed to make our 11am brunch reservations the next day at Cafe Schönbrunn. Food is clearly our priority. 

Hanna subtitle 1: "Life is so hard! Who are you and what am I doing here?!?"

Hanna subtitle 2 (one minute later): "Oh, hey dad. What's up? Life is good. Elmo is awesome."

We ladies went on a sun-riddled stroll over to Mauerpark - with an obligatory prosecco stop, of course - while the menfolk either cheered on the Eisbären again or took care of baby to let momma off the hook for an afternoon (good man!).

That night, we brought Liz to her third and final microbrewery of the trip, where we also met up with an old university friend of Micha's, Glen, who Liz met when she first visited me here 5 years ago and whom her friend called Conan for the entire night. Apparently, he looked like Conan O'Brien to her (he really kind of does) and one year later, when Liz was back, we randomly saw him on the street and he actually answered to her shout of "Conan! Hi!" So now, to him she's the random American who very frequently just shows up in Berlin and calls him Conan and to me, he's the guy that's not actually named Conan but then what actually is his real name...

I merrily took Monday off to play one extra day with Liz, which we kicked off by heading to the least exciting place on earth, the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigner's Office) to renew my visa. While it didn't go as hoped - I didn't get the permanent one, just a two-year extension, darnit! - it did end up resulting in Hanna finding her new, most favorite and delicious toy: my expired passport. Which is now covered in baby drool and I don't even mind a bit.

Our very first Hanna-and-her-favorite-auntie self portrait | A comfy lap and a yummy toy equals a happy baby

We wrapped things up with tea and oh-so-decadent cake at the adorable Princess Cheesecake in Mitte (the name was obviously very fitting for us), then whipped up some red-wine-and-leek risotto (it's good to have a foodie friend) for dinner and just like that, the weekend had to end.

I'm really lucky that Liz visits so much, I have to say. Once you live in a place long enough, you stop getting frequent visitors as the newness wears off, but she makes it out here about once a year on average and I really really really really really am so thankful that she does. As Harriet the Spy once said, "good friends are one of life's blessings. Don't give them up without a fight."

The Last Few Weekends in Pictures

Micha's brewery back in action | As you can tell, I'm his favorite helper

Visit from this cute little nugget

The ohmigod-it's-finally-finished map beautification project!

Date night in the kitchen

Much-needed greenery for the apartment

More greenery | Laid-back Valentine's celebrations

The return of the ranunculus! | Gallery wall expansion (it's not the picture that's crooked, it's our floor!)

We've been all sorts of busy lately without being overwhelmed by plans - just how it should be during these cold, gray months. Things we've gotten up to recently include: brewing Micha's second batch of beer (an American I.P.A, ready for tasting at the end of the month!); taking wee Hanna on her visit to The Bird (she wanted a burger but had to settle for oatmeal); tackling and finishing two projects that have been nagging me for a while - hanging the giant map in the spare room and expanding our living room gallery wall (details on both to come, but of course!); cooking together to eliminate evening grumpiness, including on Valentine's Day (it works every time); and greenifying our apartment because plants (and mostly flowers) really can bring happiness.

And now I think you're all caught up! 

p.s. Promised I'd be back with exclamation points. :)

Inspired By...

...a cheeky play on prettily packaged furniture.

Design by Rossana Orlandi for TAF, photo by Joakim Bergström

...a perfect, colorful bunch of my favorite flowers (and in my favorite city)

Photo by Chasing Heartbeats

...unbelievably beautiful and intricate papercut messages for your wall!

Design by Annie Vought

...a peppy chair with an even peppier name that would feel right at home in my multicolored living room.

Design by John Lewis

...a birthday card that kicks all other birthday cards' asses

 

Design by Amy Ferguson for Jack Cards

...charming seat decorations fit for a queen (or bride). I will have to keep this in mind when I become queen of the world... (yes, world domination is part of my 10-year-plan :)

Photo by Joy Marie Photography, Design by Amy Kaneko Events

Image credits: Soft parcels designed by Rossana Orlandi, photo by Joakim Bergströmor for TAF via Emmas Design Blog | Ranunculus by Chasing Heartbeats | Papercut artwork by Annie Vought via Design*Sponge |  Mr. Bright chair by John Lewis via Bright.Bazaar | Awesomer card by Amy Ferguson for Jack Cards via Old Sweet Song | Floral chair by Joy Marie Photography, design by Amy Kaneko Events via Style Me Pretty

Handmade Finds: Stripes and Florals

The spring weather totally has me in the mood for stripes and florals. Here are a few handmade goodies that feed my craving, two for you, two for your home.

Stripes: I've been hunting high and low for new striped bedroom storage (to replace the classy giant Ikea bags I've stuffed things in) and a decent sized stripey bag to replace my current gym bag (since I carry it around with me so often, I'd like something a little less...bright pink and bulky), and I like the look and size of these cute striped storage containers and this shoulder bag. 

Florals: I'm totally lusting after this ranunculus ring but worried that I still may not be over my ring aversion (I definitely OD'd on them as a teenager in the '90s so rings make me feel about 13-years-old); and I'd love to gaze merrily at this calming tulip print when hanging around home on a warm, sunny spring evening.

Clockwise from top left: Storage basket by Alexia Claire | Ranunculus ring by Aarre | Striped shoulder bag by Bagy Bag | Tulip print by JK Photography

My Weekend in Pictures

Yes, very belated, but this past extra long Easter weekend was just too good not to share.

It didn't start off on the best foot, as Liz's flight from Rome was delayed for over three hours on Friday and we didn't get to pick her up until 12:30am, thanks to EasyJet. (Have I mentioned how much I despise that airline? I tweet about it enough but I honestly can't fully articulate it yet - one day I'll be less embittered and ready to tell the Paris and Rome stories that brought about this animosity.)

Short-lived fluke hailstorm

Nevertheless, we soldiered on through what should have been horrid - rainy, gray, and cold - weather but turned out to be sunny and not too terrible, despite fluke hailstorms. I thank Liz for that one; the minute she left it went back to blah. (Come back, friend! And bring the sunshine with you.)

Easter egg making

Liz's first DriveNow experience

 

Easter appropriate flowers from our local Saturday market

The Eisbären were in the semifinals this weekend so we watched the Saturday away game in the most ridiculous pub in Friedrichshain that Kai miraculously managed to find and convince that they should show hockey and not soccer. If you know anything about Germany (or really Europe as a whole), you'll know this is nothing short of a miracle, as the top 3 sports in these parts are soccer, soccer, and soccer (to quote Micha :). 

The pub was wonderfully named The Happy Pigs (yes, plural) and consisted of one teenage Turkish bartender who had never seen hockey before but had no problem telling other people who came in requesting to watch soccer that he had promised us he'd play hockey today and that's what he'd do. Since that may not have been his cleverest business move (but we sured loved him for it), we politlely made up for it by ordering way too much beer. And I blame Micha entirely for the five beers I drank (it was a bet with him that made me do it. Just because I won though, doesn't mean it was a good idea...) that led to me, in my rather inebriated state, contradicting Liz as shetold  Kai her favorite color was blue and instead admantly claiming her favorite color was actually sparkles. Yup. Sparkles. (Her clothing really helped my plight, though.)

Micha needed to concentrate and sat apart from us to watch the game...

We celebrated Easter with Micha & Kai's family - got our Easter baskets at their momma's house, where Liz was greeted as "part of the family," had brunch at a terrible and overpriced German restaurant in the 'burbs (win some, lose some), and then meandered around an old monastery - build in the 1200s! - at a cute little Easter festival.

Micha's personalized Easter egg and Liz showing off all of our (mostly pretty and) artsy creations!

Easter eggs and overflowing baskets

Liz playing in in sexy garden clogs | The menfolk

Liz wore the perfect shoes for a forest hike (to the Oster Kloster fest)

Monday was still a holiday and we had brunch with a group of friends (thanks for coming, Kerstin, Hendryk, and Tobi!) before heading to the next hockey game, this time a home one. All was going smoothly until, as we were finishing up our beers in front of the stadium about 30 minutes before start, Micha asks me, "so do you have your ticket?" And I respond with a wide-eyed stare and a couple of curse words. I have remembered my season ticket for EVERY game this year and this one time, when I had the entire morning to think of it, I forget it! (He also didn't grab mine when he grabbed his, which I maintain was just plain cruel.) So Liz and I raced back to the car, I drove our asses home as fast as Berlin would allow - through a police checkpoint nonetheless - then we raced back and only made it to the game 9 minutes late. I blame their loss on my stupidity, though. They really could have used our cheering in those missed 9 minutes.

Pre-hockey brunch at Schneeweiß

Could we BE more excited for hockey? (That must be read Chandler-style, by the way)

I took Tuesday off to spend with Liz and we had a faaaaaantasic Berlin exploration day (complete with beach bar and currywurst), which I'll share sometime next week. I miss you, Liz! Come back and move here forever!

Inspired By...

...a picture perfect idea of how to use up my leftover Easter eggs (though the original method is pretty awesome, too).

Photo by Leela Cyd Ross, styling by Kirsten Neiman

 ...dreamy, large windows with a touch of unpolished charm.

Photo by Jeltje Fotografie

...and ideal collection of spring bouquets.

Photo (for sale) by Sarah Tucker Travel Photography

...fun, graphic wallpaper that, upon closer inspection, is much more than first meets the eye. (I could totally picture a wall of this in our guest room.)

Design by Maria Bergström for Studio Rita

...a cheeky little memo board to corral my various forms of to-do lists in one cute place.

Design by Carolina Kim, available at Umbra

...this mind-blowingly gorgeous, pixelated spring/summer collection from Preen.

Photos by Marcio Madiera/firstVIEW for Vogue

Image credits: Deviled eggs by Leela Cyd Ross, styling by Kirsten Neiman for The Kitchn | Dreamy room Photo by Jeltje Fotografie, pinned by Holly Becker | Peonies by Sarah Tucker Travel Photography, pinned by Joanna Goddard | Tiny tree wallpaper by Maria Bergström for Studio Rita via Bright.Bazaar | Talk bulletin board designed by Carolina Kim, available at Umbra via Real Simple | Preen collection by Marcio Madiera/firstVIEW for Vogue via Wear Color

Happy Weekend!

My weekend actually already started today, as we have a four-day weekend here in Germany, courtesy of Easter. And I took a bonus extra day off on Tuesday to spend with one of my favorite ladies, Liz, whose on her way to Berlin as we speak (well, that is assuming those jerkoffs at EasyJet actually take off...she's already endured a two-hour delay!), so a glorious five-day weekend it is! Despite very unpromising weather predictions, we'll be making the best of a cold, rainy weekend with playoff hockey games, lazy brunches, surprise (for her) dinner reservations, and probably even a good old Easter egg hunt at Micha's mom's house (and yes, we twenty- and thirty-something-year-olds will be the hunters...)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of good food, family, friends, and whatever else your little heart desires. Bonus points if it's a long weekend for you too. :)

PS. How can you not have a girl crush on Emma Stone after this awesomeness?!

I was on the fence about dying eggs this weekend until I saw these.

California limoncello?!? SOLD!

And a little something to get you into the spring holiday spirit...

Photo by Nicole