The Aachen Christmas Market is always mentioned in everyone’s 10 ten and “best of” list, so I had to see why. The market scene is set surrounding the beautiful Aachen Cathedral, and it’s not too big, and not too small, making it a fun outing. Curious if I thought it deserves a spot on a “top” list? Read on for my thoughts. Hopefully this post will give you a rundown about everything you need to know. The Important Stuff… Read More…
I originally published this gingersnaps recipe back in 2011, but it desperately needed a refresher (not on the actual recipe—that hasn’t changed—just the post itself. New pictures to come after we make some fresh batches this year! Let’s just get this out of the way first: this gingersnaps recipe will change your life. They’re full of holiday spice, and come out perfectly soft and chewy with that classic “snap” baked in there, too. Gingersnaps Recipe: a family recipe Not… Read More…
There’s something extra special about the Essen Christmas market. And sure, maybe it’s because it’s it’s the first one I experienced while living in Germany (thanks to the pandoozy for cancelling them all in 2020), or perhaps it’s because I went with friends while the kids were in school. Whatever the reason, the Essen Christmas market was just delightful. The Important Stuff About the Essen Christmas Market Before I get into the nitty gritty about what my experience, here’s… Read More…
Anyone who’s been around toddlers for more than five minutes knows that a perfect baking day with kids is a complete fantasy—right up there with getting a full night’s sleep or peeing without being interrupted. PIN THIS POST FOR LATER We all probably had a wonderful dream of baking with kids. You know the one: where everyone is smiling and happy, and maybe there’s an adorable dusting of flour on their cute little button noses. You follow the recipe… Read More…
So there we were, driving to Normandy, France, for a quick summer getaway when I noticed a road sign in Belgium stating Villers-la-Ville was the next exit. Villers…Villers…I couldn’t figure out why that name sounded familiar. My brain quickly assessed the situation, and in the same breath I practically yelled at my husband to take the exit. Totally confused with my hasty commands in the middle of Belgium, he did as I said and then I filled him in:… Read More…
I’m so excited to finally share this list with you with our favorite useful family travel must haves for your next trip. I know there are tons of lists like this out there, but let’s be real: a lot of them have the same ol’ stuff on them like travel coffee mugs or sleep masks. These are truly some of our can’t-travel-without things that are not only useful, but we would be truly lost without them on our trips…. Read More…
Did you know that you can see a Norwegian-style stave church in Germany? True story! And this post will tell you everything you need to know about it. Nestled in the Harz region in a town called Hahnenklee (near the charming towns of Goslar and Wernigerode), is the Gustav Adalof Stave Church. This stave church in Germany was modeled after the medieval Borgund Stave Church found in Borgund, Norway. Built in 1907 from spruce trees, the Gustav Adolf Stave… Read More…
A few weekends ago we woke up before the sun and made a bee-line to the train station. It was our first experience going on the train with kids in Europe, so we wanted to test the waters (tracks?) with a day trip to Amsterdam. Spending just one day in Amsterdam was all part of our longer plan—we know we can go back there easily, so this adventure was to just get the lay of the land—a recon mission,… Read More…
I almost couldn’t believe my eyes the first time I saw Schloss Benrath, an actual pink castle in Germany. To be honest, it doesn’t look like a traditional castle, but more like a palace; so much so that the kids and I dubbed it the “Pink Palace.” The entire facade of Schloss Benrath looks like it was dipped in the perfect shade of bubblegum pink paint. It also looks like it was plopped straight out of France with its… Read More…
If you’re headed to Albuquerque at the beginning of October, then you’ve gotta make sure you have this handy dandy Balloon Fiesta scavenger hunt for some extra fun—especially if you have kids. The Balloon Fiesta is an annual 10-day event where hundreds—literally, hundreds—of hot air balloons lift off from Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Valley, dotting the sky for several hours each morning. Long story short: it’s magical. And I don’t use that term loosely. If you’re heading down to balloon… Read More…