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hello... from Europe!

Burg Rheinstein, visited in June during a Rhine River tour.
I've had this post (or rather a million drafts of this) sitting on my "to-do" list for some time. Problem is, I haven't known how to start up posting again without sounding like I'm coming up with a mountain of excuses. 

The short story is: life got busy, we moved to Europe (more on that in a moment), and I put blogging on the very bottom of the to-do list. (I needed to save my sanity somehow... I was warned an overseas move is tough, and everyone wasn't joking!) I've also gotten involved with some volunteer work, and managing a sassy (and energetic) toddler takes more energy than I anticipated. Basically, I go around wishing I had more hours in my day! 

Another view of the Rhine from Burg Rheinstein.

An adorable house in the Black Forest.

An oldie... but one of our first sightseeing tours!
I realized I didn't even really mention that I've moved to Europe in my last post! How silly of me... I'm still very much in the "getting used to living outside of the US" right now, but our new home is starting to feel more and more like "home" with every passing week. As much as I loathe having to pick up and move someplace completely new every few years, sometimes it has it's perks (like living in Europe)! This is my first time outside of the continental United States, so I'm still fan girling a bit that I'm actually seeing and doing some of the things that I've only dreamt about. What I've seen of Europe so far is just as beautiful as I've always imagined it, and has left me with a taste to explore even more! 

Love these little streets we seem to stumble on in so many towns!
Fairytale gardens in Ludwigsburg.
More beautiful sights and scenery (from early spring).
We've even been to a cuckoo clock workshop and seen how they're made!
The playgrounds here are quite different from the States, but Miss A. adores them!
For those wondering, we're living in (southern) Germany (my husband's job is what brought us here). It is so beautiful in our little corner of Germany, and the people have been very welcoming despite my ability to (inadvertently) butcher the German language. I've been spoiled for life by the amazing fresh markets most towns have 2 or 3 times a week--and the bakeries and their wonderful breads! There have been trips to the local bier gardens with friends, sightseeing trips to the Black Forest, and just enjoying the slightly slower pace. Barely five months in, and we find life here is really agreeing with us!

Notre Dame at night. Possibly the most gorgeous time to see this breathtaking building!
Les Puces de Saint-Ouen flea market!
My favorite thing to do in Paris: get coffee and people watch.
Very happy I got to take in this amazing exhibit! Sadly, no photos allowed inside...
As I'm sure you've guessed from these photos, I've already made it to Paris! I went for a girl's weekend in the spring, which was quite literally a dream come true! Sadly, no fabric shopping--which I'm still kicking myself over. Especially since we stayed in an apartment just blocks away from some wonderful-looking fabric shops in Montmartre  But there is always next year (my friends and I are already scheming over making this a yearly trip!). Suffice to say though: Paris stole my heart and was everything (and more) I had hoped it would be!

I have a backlog of sewing projects and whatnot to show you... My sewing productivity has gone up quite a bit in the last few months (thanks in a large part to my husband's work schedule being a bit easier--and thus I actually have some toddler-free sewing time again!). I've also been thinking about the juncture of my sewing and lifestyle... Kind of "dreams vs. reality" when it comes to the projects and fabrics I choose. But more about that in another post! (Yes, I'm working on a draft right now...) I'm going to start with the baby-steps goal of a post a week, so look for something around this time next week from me! Thank you to those who are still around/reading this little ol' blog... I know it's waxed and waned a lot in the past few years. 

Hope everyone is having a lovely end-of-July!

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Comments

  1. MichouJuly 30, 2015 at 12:21 PM

    Well, welcome to Germany :-) Nice to hear you like it. How long will you stay, do you plan to learn the language, what do you want to visit next? Lots of questions ...

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    1. Casey MauraJuly 30, 2015 at 5:58 PM

      Thank you for the welcome! :) We'll be here at least a couple years for my husband's job. I definitely do plan on learning German! In fact, I'm hoping to start classes next month--I'm so excited (since I know only a few key phrases right now. It's proving frustrating when I go to the markets and try to order things! lol.) Does "everywhere" count as an answer for where I want to go next? haha! London is on our list, but I'm also hoping to take in Rome and some more local (German) sites soon too. :)

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    2. MichouJuly 30, 2015 at 6:55 PM

      Well in case you want to visit Bonn, drop me a line and I'll show you around :-) Feel free to contact me in case you need someone to ask about strange things happening here :-D

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    3. Casey MauraJuly 31, 2015 at 9:38 AM

      Oh thank you so much! :D I will definitely keep your kind offer in mind if we make it that way! :)

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  2. AlliJuly 30, 2015 at 1:32 PM

    Oh my gosh Casey!!!! How exciting!!! What a wonderful trip you and your little family have embarked on. I can't wait to hear about all your adventures. And I can't get over how much little Miss A has grown! Time definitely does fly ;) xxoo <3

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    1. Casey MauraJuly 30, 2015 at 5:59 PM

      It really does! I was just telling my husband the other day I can't believe she's almost 2 1/2 years old, and we'll have been here five months in August. The days go by too fast! :D I want to write a bit more about our adventures--we've had some neat ones! :)

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  3. StinaPJuly 30, 2015 at 7:29 PM

    Welcome back to the blog - and welcome to Europe!

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  4. NinaJuly 30, 2015 at 8:10 PM

    Oh gosh, Casey, I had your old blog simply saved under my favourites and although i follow you on instagram I never found the new one! So glad you're enjoying Germany. I'm originally from Germany and it's so funny to see the many things one takes for granted (like the cobblestone streets, the Rhine, the castles, the proximity to France, Spain) through somebody else's eyes. I always say I'm glad I escaped to England, but then again...it is hard to find a good cup of tea in Germany!

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    1. Casey MauraJuly 31, 2015 at 9:41 AM

      haha! Yes... I have to agree about the tea! ;) I think that is a tiny bit of the reason I enjoyed Paris so much--a decent cappuccino at most of the cafes. haha! But I am enjoying a lot here as well! There is so much history here, compared to the US, I love it! :)

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  5. Hannah AbigailJuly 30, 2015 at 10:23 PM

    Casey, it's so good to see you back! I understand how difficult it can be to keep up with blogging, but you've always been my favorite blog. Actually, it was your tutorial for a fur collar that introduced me to the blogosphere in the first place. I look forward to next week!

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    1. Casey MauraJuly 31, 2015 at 9:42 AM

      Thank you! :D And that is so fun about the collar tutorial! ;) (Still one of my favorites I've done!) I'm actually working on a little tutorial for next week... :)

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  6. Miss Lisa and Miss DJuly 31, 2015 at 4:52 AM

    So glad you are enjoying this once in a lifetime experience worth your family! I love reading your blog posts as they become available, my son is almost 2.5 years old as well, and I can totally understand the energy it takes to manage a tot! Good Bless!

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    1. Casey MauraJuly 31, 2015 at 9:43 AM

      They are a (delightful! :) ) handful, aren't they? lol. Thank so much for your sweet comment! :)

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  7. ReneeAugust 1, 2015 at 3:59 AM

    Welcome back. Looks like such a beautiful place to live.
    My granddaughter is a little bundle of energy. She turned 2 in April. Such a fun age.

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    1. Casey MauraAugust 3, 2015 at 4:47 PM

      It is! I am definitely enjoying this stage so much more! :)

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  8. EvieAugust 4, 2015 at 3:47 PM

    So nice to see you back here, and these photos are lovely! Really makes me miss Europe (not that it takes much haha). I'm so glad you're enjoying your time over there!

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  9. AnelinkaAugust 7, 2015 at 12:38 PM

    Well, well, well! How awesome! Do you want to come to Prague? (Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...) it is nice here and I will be more than happy to show you our capital!

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