A 20 Minute Walk in Stein am Rhine

As promised yesterday, I am still boycotting the end of Christmas!  We have a family dinner tonight with some relatives who just came in town... maybe we will drink some gluhwein and pretend the holiday has not passed us by!

I also promised yesterday that I was going to share some photos with you from my snowy afternoon trip to Stein am Rhine, Switzerland.  Here we go!

My Uncle decided a quick afternoon trip to Stein am Rhine would be a great thing for us to do... to fully understand my reservations about this day trip you must understand my Uncle.  Many times in my life he has said "Oh, it's just a quick 20 minute walk" which, when translated from German to English, and Swiss-fit-Uncle to American-out of shape-Niece means the walk will take a minimum of 3 hours.

As we pulled out of their driveway it started to snow.  I'm not talking a little flurry here or there, I'm talking Swiss highways were being shut down!  We continued on with the intent of visiting this little town after driving up to a castle.  Key words being "driving UP."  Thankfully, Uncle Urs decided it probably wasn't the best idea for us to drive up a mountain to a castle, but instead just enjoy the downtown area of Stein am Rhine.

Did I mention it was freakin' cold?!  And did I mention we had a sleepy Benjamin with us?  Again, the kid slept through our entire walk!  (Which was probably a good thing because none of us knew how to put the snow cover on the stroller properly!)

After walking through town we stopped to get some hot tea and cake.  Benjamin woke up and played with some other children that were in the cafe.  Then we bundled back up and headed home.  I will admit, I was not looking forward to this outing one bit... but looking back, it is such a nice memory.  I am just extremely grateful that I wasn't the only one freezing, which meant the "20 minute walk" was not a 3 hour trek!

There are still a few more things to show you from my trip... so stick around!  

Protesting the Exit of Christmas with Swiss Pics

I absolutely hate it how there is such a build up to Christmas... on tv, the radio, the sales ads, the signs, the decorations, everything!  And then literally 3 minutes after Christmas is over the Lifetime Channel stops playing the cheese-ball movies, the radio station that has been playing Christmas music for the past 57 days reverts back to pop hits from high school, and that the stores already have Valentine's Day nonsense stocking the shelves.  

I type this as I sit and bask in the glory of my Christmas Tree's lights less than 24 hours after anxiously unwrapping gifts to see if I really was a good girl this year.  Please society, just give me a few more days of twinkly lights, cookies, and carols.  

Now, how about some Swiss pictures?!  (I have yet to upload my Christmas ones, and the Swiss photos are a lot more interesting!  Plus, this is just one way for me to protest the exit of Christmas... how about we agree to celebrate Christmas here on my blog in a couple days?  Deal?!)

I absolutely hate flying.  But there are a couple locations I absolutely LOVE to fly into.  Norfolk (my hometown airport) at night is the runner up, because you can see the ocean, the military bases, the huge navy ships and just a handful of tall buildings.  Zurich, Switzerland takes the award as my favorite place to land a plane!  Flying in on December 3, we were greeted with dark skies parting way to a beautiful sunrise, the alps in view, snow on the ground, and lights from the Swiss communities.

My family lives in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.  It's a small town with a big waterfall.  Unfortunately, I do believe this was my first time NOT going to see the Rhine Fall.  But I guarantee you that if you google it image search it, it will look the same as it has the past 15 times I have seen it.  On one of my first days there, my cousin Kirsten and I (and sleepy Benjamin) walked along the Rhine one afternoon before the snow started.



After a bitter cold walk it was time for some hot spiced rum tea!  Sugary, sweet and delicious doesn't even begin to describe this beverage.

Little Benjamin slept for our entire walk!  He had no clue that we parked him in a restaurant while we sipped on hot beverages.  

As much as I adore my little nephew, it was nice to have a "big girl date" with Kirsten one afternoon in the middle of my trip.  We hopped on a train and headed to Konstanz, Germany!  While we were there we enjoyed a traditional German meal on a boat ... (a pretzel and some brats, along with a tall beer!)

After warming up a bit, we ventured back out to the Christmas Market.  If you have not been to a traditional European Christmas Market, I highly recommend you put it on your bucket list.  There is nothing more Christmas-y and festive than this!  (Do you see the rusty metal houses below?  Kirsten and I both took one home!  Such a nice present - thank you Kirsten!)

And nothing says "Legit" like a couple cups of Gluhwein!  (It's amazing spiced red wine served hot!  And I love it!)

Did I mention it snowed almost every day I was in Switzerland?  Come back tomorrow (yes, I promise it will be here, because I am typing it up now!!) and see some photos from my snowy day trip to Stein am Rhine, Switzerland!

Big News and Merry Christmas!

After receiving numerous (not just one, not just two, and really, more like five or six) emails from friends, family, and readers about wanting to see more photos from Switzerland on my blog - I am here today to explain myself and leave you with a quick "Merry Christmas" photo.

Yes, I am back from Europe, hence the lack of awesome pictures on Facebook and Instagram.  A few days after I got back though, things just flipped upside down again.

After almost 8 years with 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (as one of their top sales reps) 

I resigned. 

To say there has been a massive amount of turmoil going on with my job for the past few months is an understatement.  Leaving this company has been one of the toughest decisions I have had to make in quite a long time.  But it had to be done.  My mom, who has been with the company for 23 years will also be leaving.  Our last day as the Mother/ Daughter Warranty Duo will be December 31st.  (But actually, since the 31st is a holiday, our last day will be Friday December 28th.)

Like I said, not an easy decision.  What helps though?  My semi-supportive family (not quite all of them are on board yet...)  My supportive boyfriend, who I'm pretty sure thinks I'm nuts, but he is tired of me crying all the time.  The fact that it is the end of a year!  I mean, if you need to start fresh with life, when is a better opportunity than a brand spankin' new year?

My Swiss photos are still awesome, and they are just achin' to be shared with all of you.  But I needed to finally tell everyone what I couldn't tell them for the past few months.  I knew this was coming, but I didn't know it was coming so soon.  It has been so hard to blog and be positive when all I wanted to do was cry and rant about how worried I was/am about my future.

So what in the world will I be doing with my life??  

I have my own wedding and event planning business, 29:11 Celebrations. (the site is still under construction)  I have also added Small Business Marketing to what I will be offering in 2013.  (I currently have clients all over the USA for the Marketing bit... let me know if you need a marketing consultation!)  (Oh, and I've planned weddings all over the world... let me know if I can be of service with that too!)

I hope to rock my way through the year with events and brides and weddings and social media marketing and business cards and networking events and to-do lists and getting a business credit card and learning about business finances (because lord knows a communications major is going to suck at paying taxes properly...) 

I will also be working as an assistant for my mother, who will be the managing broker of the Keller Williams Realty 1.3 miles down the street from me!  As a team, we also just landed a builder's site!  30-ish new homes and lots to sell!

Before I called my boss last Monday morning, I sat at my desk, bowed my head, 

and prayed really really hard.  

And I am asking you, my friends, family, readers, and support system to please do the same.  I am absolutely terrified about what 2013 will bring.  I am also very excited to see what 2013 will bring.  I know I have the strength, knowledge, and creativity to make it on my own.  But after 8 years of living a very comfortable lifestyle, the realization that there will be no direct deposit magically putting money into my bank account is starting to sink in.  Maybe I should do a series of "how I'm learning to live on a budget" starting in January.  (Tips are welcomed and highly appreciated.)

I feel like I am "finally coming out of the blogging closet" and that I can actually know tell you exactly how I feel and exactly what is going on in my life.  It's a huge relief.

As the holiday has oh so quickly approached, I want to take the time to thank each and every one of you for being a part of this blog.  Who knew it was possible for me to make so many great friends from this little piece of the world wide web that I own!  You are all terrific!

From my little blog to you... the 2 cats, Chloe, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas.  I hope you enjoy time with your family and friends, throw paleo or whatever diet you have out the window for a few days, I hope that Santa brings you all you wish for, and that you remember the true reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Suz

Oh, and for anyone who is not receiving their Christmas Bonus this year... I figured this clip would be fitting this year...  Merry Christmas! xoxo

I Believe in Secret Santa!

Hey ho ladies and gents!  I am home!  

I had full intentions of blogging from Switzerland.  I brought my new camera and my laptop, as well as all the plugs and cords and convertors a girl needs... then I got there and realized I needed to enjoy absolutely every possible minute with my family that I could.  So I decided that blogging would wait until I got back to America.

It was a great trip... and to be completely honest I really wish I was not home yet.  I am still suffering for a horrible case of jet lag (despite the fact that the Swiss are just a mere 6 hours ahead of us, I have basically become nocturnal...) and I miss my family terribly.

I have tons of pictures, fond memories and cheesy stories (legit swiss cheese... and bread...) to share with you.  But guys, you will just have to wait another day for that.  

Why?!  

Because I just got my Blogging Secret Santa gift and it left me in tears.

For those of you who did not take part in this awesome exchange, here's how it went down.  I randomly found out about a blogging secret santa on a blog.  I signed up.  I forgot about it.  I got a reminder email.  I stalked a blog.  I bought her a warm present (it was a scarf) and her daughter a Minnie Mouse calendar (not knowing they were heading to Disney for vacation!).  Then I sent the package her way.  All the while, my amazing, too-good-to-be-true Secret Santa was doing the same for me!  

And let me tell you - my Secret Santa has NAILED it.  She must of scoured my blog for hours upon hours.  Or maybe she just winged it.  Either way the girl left me literally crying in my living room.

Let me preface this by saying that coming back from Switzerland, each and every time, is one of the most difficult things I ever have to do.  I leave my best friend and some of my favorite family members. I cry when the plane takes off from Zurich, and when I land in Virginia.  It has been a rollar coaster even more so this time for reasons that I cannot currently discuss... but I promise, maybe next week, I will share them with you.

Anyway - I am always sort of hesistant to do Secret Santa Exchanges because I always feel like I receive the short end of the stick when it comes to the gifts.  {One time in 3rd Grade my Secret Santa gave me a Dollar Store Barbie Doll with no hair and ugly clothes.  Secret Santa was never the same.} But to open up a present that was so incredibly perfect for me, at such a perfect time... I believe again!

Secret Santa, whomever you are... thank you.  Thank you so much.  

From left to right... Toys for the Cats, Toy for the dogs, a coffee mug with hot chocolates, chai tea, nail polish of various colors, holiday wine glasses, wine trinkets, and a sweet card.  (I'm pretty sure my Secret Santa went over the $15-$20 limit...)

So let's break this present down a bit, shall we?

Not only did she think about Chloe and the 2 Cats but she included SPARKLY tissue paper.  I LOVE anything that has to do with glitter or sparkles.  High five there Santa.

Nail polish.  I just recently decided I needed to save the salon money and start painting my nails myself.    I was literally JUST THINKING before I opened this package that I wanted to paint my nails red and green for the holiday, but I didn't have any green paint.  Sweet!  Let's make these colors even more awesome... Not only do I adore sparkles but I bleed purple as a graduate of James Madison University. Purple and gold will always have a special place in my heart.  This Santa TOTALLY rocked my socks off with JMU nail polish colors.  

You really must think I am making this up, but I promise I wouldn't lie about something so marvelous.  I LOVE hot chocolate with mint.  And when I am sipping on a caffeinated tea you can bet your bottom dollar that it is a chai tea.  

The card.  She bought this at a farmers market.  Yes, that scores points.  But I am sitting here feeling bad about not being in Switzerland anymore and I get this card that looks like Europe and it has snow and mountains in it.  As I was driving around Virginia today I reflected on how much I missed getting snow every day while I was on vacation.  :)

Last but not least... if you have read my blog at least once, you know I love wine.  How stinkin' cute are these holiday wine glasses and wine charms?!  I will definitely be using them next week at my party!

Okay Secret Santa... Whichever awesome blogger that you are... thank you so very much for this awesome present.  You did a spectatulr job and absolutely, positively got me into a happy mood.  You went above and beyond the call of Blogging Secret Santa Duties.  

Now send me an email and tell me who you are so I can creepy stalk your blog and we can become best friends. :) 

(Oh, and about Switzerland... I am thinking I will spend all of next week photo bombing y'all... but how about a sneak peek or two?

xoxo

November Cara Box Swap!

Have you heard about the Cara Box Exchange yet?  Oh man... it was awesome.  I fell upon this exchange one day when I was just surfing around Blogland.  Little did I know that when I signed up for it, I would be partnered up with seriously, one of my most current favorite-blog-find-friends Whitney from The Middle of the Street.   I was pretty giddy when I saw that she was my partner.  In all the exchanges in all the bloglands... she showed up in mine. ;)

Anyway... Can I just say that she sent me the most spectacular box of wonderfulness!?  Even Chloe was PUMPED to see what was inside the box!

Okay, so first of all, let's just clarify that she did not go along with the "Childhood" theme.  Second of all, this stuff was so awesome it didn't matter it was not childhood toys.

Left to right... 

Exhibit A.  Sexiest Man Alive People Mag!  Um... thank. you.  

B.  The sweetest note telling me how I should not be so stressed out and how all of these lovelies were here to help relax.  

C.  The softest, cuddliest, purple (my fave) blanket ever.  

D.  Chocolate.  Giant Chocolates.  Need I say more?  

E.  Balloon Animals.  Well, they aren't animals quite yet... 

F.  Bubble bath!  Heck yes. 

I would like to refer back to a couple items real quick...

The Balloons!  If I was not in Switzerland right now, I would totally access my old photos to share one here.  You are never going to believe this, but I am a balloon animal ninja!  I spent a summer as an Activities Director in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  That summer my life revolved around sand castle contests, tie dye tshirts, and balloon animals.  Totally brought back some memories.

And the blanket!  Let me just say that this was the best item ever.  Not only is it purple and soft but it is the PERFECT TRAVEL BLANKET.  I strapped it to the back of my pack and took it along with me yesterday for the 8.5 hour flight to Europe.  Oh man, this blanket was soooo much nicer than the thin, crappy, gross delta booger blankets!

Thank you so much Whitney!  You rocked my socks off with this great treat!  Readers - you should head over to her blog immediately and check our what I gave her... hint hint... it included a giraffe and the most candy-land-ish bandaids a girl could find.

Interested in taking part in this swap?  Here are the details from Wifessionals. 

Friends - let me apologize for any typos in this email blog post.  It is way past I-should've-been-asleep-hours-ago bed time!  Darn you Jetlag... darn you.

Ornament Swappin'

Hello Ladies!  I hope this blog post finds you all in the midst of a lovely weekend.  Why I am starting this post as if it is a business email is well beyond me.  How's this instead...

What up par-tay peps?!  

I have to keep this one short and sweet as I have a 7am flight (which means I have to be at the airport no later than 6, leave my house no later than 5:30, wake up no later than 5... ) to head to Switzerland!

Today we are linking up because a TON of us awesome bloggers participated in an Ornament Swap to kick off the holiday season!

I received an awesome box of goodies from my girl Stephanie over at Icecream to Belly Rings.

Not only did she send me ornaments that were specific to my blog!  (2 Cats and Chloe!!!) 

She also sent me a bunch of other holiday goodies!  

Thank you thank you thank you for all of your thoughtfulness!  I loved my ornaments and all the goodies!

Head over and check out Stephanie's blog... but you can also head over to Sybil's blog Piece It All Together and see what I sent her in California!  

In the mean time chickies... I need to get my butt in gear, pack my suitcase (which is totally full of christmas presents... I'm not sure how Santa does it!  Here's hoping I don't get stopped in customs!)

I will catch you on the flip side (of the ocean!)  Switzerland here I come!