Dec 12, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

What are you doing for New Years?

Since Stefan and I got together over a DECADE ago (ack!), we have hosted quite a few New Year’s Eve parties at our house. Most of the time they were quite intimate and casual, and they seldom involved fireworks since Ayla seems to get more and more disturbed by them every year. The first New Year’s Eve with Mackenzie in the house, we did a fondue feast with little meatballs, chicken bites and... read more

Nov 28, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

Making advent joyous for your family

First off, a big congratulations to Barbara who won the Hodson Mill giveaway! Thanks so much to everyone who entered and I’d love to let you all win. But hopefully I’ll be back with some new awesome giveaway before long. Every year, it feels like stores and the media start pushing Christmas on people just a bit earlier. And I can understand that retail locations sometimes have to start... read more

Nov 24, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

{Garden Life} Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

Garden Life is a day early this week for several reasons. One is that it’s Thanksgiving and two is that Mackenzie is turning 3 tomorrow. So my Friday is going to be SUPER busy as I prepare for our turkey dinner on Saturday and celebrate a bit with our little girl. Hence the change. Next week, it will be back to the regularly scheduled programming.  Earlier today, I shared how to make your very own... read more

Nov 24, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

Make your own pumpkin puree

Be sure to stop over at my latest giveaway for a chance to win $25 worth of natural, organic and gluten-free baking products of your choice! To me, Thanksgiving is not officially Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. There were several years here in Germany that we just let Thanksgiving day slip by, cooking something traditionally American for the day, but not really going to all the trouble. And a few times,... read more

Nov 22, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

10 Things I’m Thankful For In 2011

Since Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching (and I’m going to be running around like the Tazmanian Devil for a few days), I thought I should take a few calm moments to write about the things I’m thankful for in my life. Most of these are things that I’m blessed to experience and think almost every day — but we sometimes take things for granted when we get all caught up in the... read more

Nov 8, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

Ten Steps to a Happy Thanksgiving

I know it’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is literally just around the corner. I kind of hyperventilated a little when went on eBay yesterday and it said 47 days until Christmas! With only 16 days left until the main turkey event, now is the time to start planning. Don’t wait until the very last minute so you’ve got to fight your way out of the store with the last box of Stove Top or... read more

Aug 9, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

10 Fun Moments of Laternenfest 2011

Our Lantern Festival has now come and gone. It’s the biggest celebration of the year in our little town, and the event really brings the best out in everyone. The whole town is in a great mood leading up to the 3.5 day party, which starts on Friday night and closes with a big firework celebration on Monday evening. Everyone buzzes around the weeks before the fest, prettying up their homes, decorating... read more

May 12, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

Hanau’s Soap Box Derby

By chance, we found out that this past weekend, not too far from our home, Germany’s largest soap box derby (Seifenkistenrennen) was taking place. The Hanauer Seifenkistenrennen has apparently been going on for many, MANY years (at least since Stefan was a kid) and there were said to be over 300 competitors. To be honest, these were some wildly advanced soap box cars and I was really pretty impressed... read more

Apr 11, 2011 Posted by Tiffany

My easy Easter decor

Don’t forget: Today is the last day to enter the Made in Germany giveaway where over $1100 in prizes are up for grabs! Three winners will be chosen in the US and Europe! Low entries so far — especially in Europe I almost didn’t decorate for Easter this year. Partially because we’re going to be spending the holiday with Stefan’s parents in Bavaria…and partially because... read more

Dec 31, 2010 Posted by Tiffany

Build a PVC wreath for next Christmas

About a week before Christmas, I saw this incredible idea over on Today’s Nest for a fantastically cool Christmas wreath made from PVC pipes. Sam made it sound so simple that we thought, “Hey, let’s make two of those before Christmas arrives! One HUGE one for our barn doors and one for Stefan’s parents, the people who are impossible to buy for because they have... read more