What Ana Does

You might not get a holiday card from us this year. Sorry. This Year's "New Year's" Holiday Card  I wasn't even planning to do holiday cards, because I wasn't going to cover the expense of doing them in Paris in late November, when I normally get them done. But... on Christmas Day I was clicking around Snapfish in a cookie-sugar-haze and found a 70% promo code. PLUS, they'll 2-day ship. So I ignored all the other activities in the house and created our annual card. But I only ordered a limited amount and decided NOT to kill myself and send them to the entire list. We're in the States for such a short time, so I'm only willing to commit a few hours to these suckers, not two days or a full week. Are holiday cards even still a thing? Especially in the age of Facebook and Instagram. The number of cards we received this year was much fewer than in previous years. And, sustainably-speaking, they are a large use of resources for something th...

As a kid, Christmas was full of magic -- gifts and family dinners and games and all those traditions we held to. As an adult in a Jewish family, I still wanted to offer this magic of the season to our girls. And to me, even as an adult, I was still awed by the magic that the Christmas season brings. Mostly, the gift of pulling all my sisters and brother -- with their growing families -- together under one roof to spend time together. There's magic to be found sitting around the dining room table, looking at those beloved faces and sharing stories and a glass of wine. And cookies. The house we bought and the 8-foot dining room table I found was influenced by the promise of these holidays spent together.  My Siblings, the Last Time We Were All Together ... 2013 So this year, we made sure to buy our flight home from Paris so we didn't miss out on that special family time. Unfortunately, the sisters and brother will not be coming together this year. They will be with th...

With the holidays fast approaching, I'm of course doing some online shopping, as I do every year (although with a lot less vigor considering our nomadic state and not seeing my siblings, boo). So, for your clicking pleasure, here's a round-up of really worthy gifts for the people on your list. Tentree is a company that plants 10 trees with every item you order. And my lucky number is 10. So. Win-win. Last year I ordered this sweatshirt from Wholesome Culture , another eco brand, and have it on steady rotation. 4Ocean sells bracelets for $20 and for each sold, they pull a pound of plastic out of the ocean. I got them for everyone in my family to thank them for putting up with my plastic reduction efforts this year and the sacrifices they make because "Mom won't buy it because it's wrapped in too much plastic." I love the journals from this small business called Letterfolk . They have pretty letterboards, too but the journals are beautifully made and you ...

In conjunction with the Berlin travel post, here's all the nitty-gritty details, in case you're planning a trip to Berlin (and it's an excellent, walkable, interesting city to visit) and want to follow some of our footsteps. Friday Arrive! We stayed at Art'otel in Mitte. It's a bit off the beaten track, as we wanted to be near where our temporary 2010 apartment was but it's a lovely hotel, our room was huge and the people were very friendly. It's equidistant from Alexanderplatz and Gendarmenmarkt, which had the big Christmas Markets   we most wanted to visit.  Our first meal was at Momotaro Tavern just under the TV Tower. Burgers and Asian dishes seems like a strange combination but the food was spectacular. The girls ate chicken burgers and I got a yummy pho!   The Christmas Market was just around the corner and was the largest we walked through. It had an ice skating rink (ring) in the center, too.  We walked back to the hotel because it was ...

Family Portrait 2010 In 2010, we lived in Berlin for 7 weeks for David's company and it was a fun, busy, crazy time with the kids being so young and still trying to see everything -- including a trip to Paris and Milan. (I wrote an entire blog while there and it's been hilarious to look back at all we did -- with a 2 and 4-year-old.) But the whole time we lived there, the residence were all lamenting that we'd miss the Christmas Markets -- everyone's favorite event in Berlin. We've been to Christmas Markets in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc. but the Berlin markets were supposed to be some of the best. The impassioned pleas stayed with us -- so we planned a trip to Berlin for this weekend. Not only did we want to explore those markets, but we also wanted to rediscover the neighborhood and things we became so familiar with when we lived there. I want to visit all those landmarks that we went to everyday. The Family This Weekend We flew out Fr...

When the Baguettes Are Warm! I'm just going to say it: Paris isn't a foodie destination. I know, CRAZY right?! But after traveling to a few other European cities, I'm struck by how limited the food options are here in Paris and now I can't unsee it. But first ... Yes, you can find French bistros on almost every corner, and some are fantastic and some are so-so (there's honestly no way to tell). So, if you're in the mood for an omelette, a salad or a cheese sandwich ( croque ) -- and have a few hours to tuck into a nice meal, because service will be traditionally slow -- than, you're all set. (Though, you can't sit outside on the sidewalk terrace unless you want to inhale second-hand smoke. Blah!) And YES if you just want a delicious baguette sandwich or a pastry, you are in the right city because they are everywhere, and usually delicious. The baguettes and butter here are the best in the world. No competition. (So, as a tourist, you'...

I'm not a negative person so this isn't a post I want to write, but it's part of this expat experience, so I feel obligated to whine a bit after 11 months of living in Paris. So excuse my bitchin'.  I posted about drizzle , the smokers and dog poo on the sidewalks when we first arrived ( read here ). Still very annoying. I've spotted young teens and even mamas walking their babies puffing away on a cigarette ... and I just want to scream. And vapers, yes I see you, and yes I'm very seriously grossed out by it. Yuck. Also, Paris is a large metropolitan city, so of course we've got your usual city issues: it's dirty, cars everywhere, our neighborhood drunk homeless guy, etc. We worked in New York City for a decade, so all things we are familiar with. But anyway ... there are a few more to items to add to this list: First,  motorcycled and motorized scooters (Vespa-like) are completely  lawless . They drive on sidewalks, up the wrong way on one...

From the GreenPeace Article:    Every Single Piece of Plastic Ever Made Still Exists! It's been bugging my logical brain lately that we buy plastic toothbrushes that are made out of a material that is, while very cheap, meant to last a very long time. As in 400 years or more. And doesn't decompose. Just think, every plastic toothbrush you've used in your lifetime is going to out live you and the next four or more generations. Your great-great-great-great grandchildren will have to deal with your toothbrush. How insane is that? Meanwhile, we're only going to use that toothbrush for a few months. It sort of boggles the mind. So, I've been buying bamboo toothbrushes, which will decompose in about a year. Most can be tossed into your backyard composter. This makes way more logical sense to me. I'm only going to use it for a very limited time, why do I need something like that to outlive me? Image Source: HumbleBrush And here's the best part: w...

Here are the details for where we stayed, ate and did in London this past weekend. You can read about the full trip here . Friday We took the Eurostar from Paris to London. It was about three hours and train travel is by far the most relaxing. However -- you have to arrive an hour early and go through customs and security, so it's not without aggravation. Book your tickets months out for the best rates.  I booked the Apex City of London Hotel and I can't recommend it more. The room size was great for the four of us, the water pressure of the shower was the best we're experienced in Europe and the staff were so helpful. I love this part of London; being so close to the Tower of London and river. Yes, it's a little east-side, but it's my favorite.  We ate a late lunch at Keepers , which is just around the corner. Because we've stayed in this neighborhood before, this was our fourth meal at this restaurant and it's always good. And they have Strongbow...

This weekend we were in London. We love London, and not just because we can understand the language and all the signs, menus, etc. Though, it's so nice to be in a country where there isn't a language barrier. We planned this trip months ago, with tickets on the Eurostar train and the Harry Potter Studio Tour in the Warner Brothers' lot just north of the city. All in celebration of David's birthday! Yay! Although the train turned out not to be the time-saving, aggravation-free mode of transportation we were anticipating, the weekend was a lot of fun. On Friday, once we arrived (the girls missed school), we walked the neighborhood and headed to St. Paul's to climb to the top. I didn't make it, thanks to my fear of heights or, more specifically, falling, but the rest of the family did and got some great photos. On Saturday, we spent the morning getting lost in Harrods, including buying a few souvenirs and holiday gifts. Then we had lunch with a colleague of...

Another Foggy, Misty Day in Paris 9:00am - coffee with some of the ladies from school -- including one other American. We discuss what kind of dinner we'll be creating tonight to simulate Thanksgiving. We gush about the smart friends who drove 45 minutes to the Paris Costco to buy stuffing and a few large pies. Why didn't we think about that?! My plan is to look for a pumpkin pie in some of the bakeries and international food shops in my neighborhood. Turkey is out, as they don't eat that bird here, but maybe chicken? 10:30am - a trip to three markets and nothing at all. Christmas food is everywhere, though. So I've changed to hamburgers -- because what's more American than hamburgers!? I thought briefly about buying a rotisserie chicken, but we're leaving tomorrow for the weekend in London and I didn't want to deal with all the leftovers. 11:00am - realizing that I haven't made really anything for Thanksgiving is years, as this is my mother-...

It's almost time to leave for my 30 minute walk down to the CrossFit gym I've been going to every Thursday for the last month or so ... My Nervous Feet Ready for Class And so it's this time of the day that I feel nervous and jittery,  as if I've had way too much coffee. But that's not why. For some reason (I have yet to figure out), going to this CrossFit class makes me extremely nervous. Every week. I try to distract myself on the walk down to the gym by listening to podcasts. And think about the tasks I need to complete on the way home -- usually picking up items for dinner. I also try to remind myself how great I feel after class -- because it's an amazing feeling. I feel strong! And the class isn't terribly hard, though the heavy weightlifting can be daunting. And even though it's taught in French, the coach knows to translate into English and I don't feel shy about asking for more information. He's really nice and has been he...

Want some hints on what to do while in Barcelona? Here are some details from our trip. You can read more about the trip here. We stayed at the Eric Vokel Gran Via SuitesGran Via . I like the apartment-style hotels if we're staying somewhere for more than a few days. There's extra room, in this case the girls got their own bedroom, and we can buy breakfast groceries so we're not starving (read: hangry) every morning. Thursday It was a quick trip from Paris (less than two hours). We checked into the hotel and they recommended some local restaurants and were to see a family-friendly Flamenco show.  We ate lunch at The Juice House , just a quick walk from the hotel.  Then walked over to the Place d'Espanya to pickup the Hop On Hop Off tour bus , so we could get fully-acquainted with the city. Well worth the money to drive around and see the big sights with the audioguide.  We did the full 'red line' circuit and ended back at the Place d' Espanya a...

Barcelona has it all, we discovered this long weekend. The ocean, a thriving city, ancient streets and modern areas. Plus, really good food everywhere you go. And that was just our impression after four days! Sure, touristy tapas restaurants and brightly lit bodegas were a plenty, but you can avoid them and easily find good restaurants and plenty to do. Before we left, we were constantly warned about the plentiful pickpockets and it was hard not to constantly worry about them as were were walking around the very crowded areas - it was a holiday weekend here in Europe; Toussaint in France, Los Santos in Spain or All Saints. We were lucky and didn’t have any experience with them. I kept my purse close to my body and zipped at all times, and David left his wallet in the safe and only carried cash and some cards in his front pocket. It worked for us. That's not the only thing we got lucky with ... We had perfect weather for our trip, despite my father’s repeated warnings about ...

Halloween in Paris has been quite an experience. This is my favorite holiday to decorate for but there's not a cobweb or over-sized spider in my entire apartment.  In fact, I thought the entire holiday would pass us by, but the girls are always discussing Halloween costumes, starting in November for the following year, and they'd find some reason to wear them. Which they did.  The American Library in Paris hosted a halloween party on Saturday evening, with some "cool" teen events. They even got a few local businesses involved so the kids could "trick or treat." So, we found a local fabric store and crafted-up some costumes. Leah was Ms. Marvel using an old dress and some cool, shiny fabric. Alice was a woodland elf with fake ears I found on Amazon. It took a bit of time, but you know I love making costumes.  They turned out cute! And they were able to wear them to school on Friday and show them off to their friends.  An Elf and a Super ...

Ever since we moved to Paris, well, actually, since becoming a parent, I've wanted the girls to learn independence. And living in a city is a great way to extend more opportunities for them to be independent, especially when it comes to transportation. In a city, walking to places is simple and safe (mostly, those motorcycles are the worst!) and completely new to our daily life, coming from the suburbs. So, Leah gets herself to school and back. And Alice is walking home from ballet class on her own. (She begged to be allowed to do this, and I am so proud of her doing it.) Of course I made sure their street-crossing skills were good, understood the way home and all the stranger-danger stuff. Plus, Leah sometimes walks with a friend and lately she's been stopping for a chocolate croissant on the way home. It's absolutely great. It's these opportunities, to get themselves to and from places, that I can't give them in suburbia. But it's just the thing to ...

Lately, I've been reading a lot about  capsule wardrobe . It just kept coming up in blogs, podcasts, Pinterest and books. (See below.) A Capsule Wardrobe concept, as I understand it, is your limited every-day-go-to wardrobe. And it's usually 20-38 items. Total. In theory, it cuts out the unworn clothing in your closet -- the just-in-cases, the I'll-fit-this-again-someday, etc. And, by doing so, wipe out the "what am I going to wear?" daily stress by just wearing your favorites/most-flattering in rotation. (Which you probably do already.) And you save money because you're not buying new clothes every month. Sources right to left:  Over the Deep End ,  Emily Lightly ,  Classy Yet Trendy  (I think) (Here's one link to How to Start a Capsule Wardrobe . I found a ton of other articles, too.) The frugal, zero-waste, sustainable side of me loves this concept. I love the idea of simplifying my morning because really most days I do wear the same thing (...

With the new OS on my iPhone, there's an app keeping track of how much time is spend on the phone -- have you seen this? I had already been thinking about wanting to decrease my phone usage time -- as I find, like most people, I pick it up all too often. But with this tracker I now know I average two hours a day on my phone!!! Two hours! That seems nuts! Imagine how many other things I could do! And why am I surprised when I now catch the girls grabbing their phones all day, too?! So I had started stopping myself before I opened the screen or leaving the phone in another room, etc. to avoid using it when it wasn't really necessary. And I was starting to drop my usage just a little. Fast-forward to this week, when I finally got around to fixing my cracked phone screen. We got the insurance on my iPhone we bought here so I just needed to drop it off at a store. Little did I know they would send it away to be fixed ... for "about two weeks." The Loaner So I...

You know how I said I was researching this KETO diet and contemplating giving it a try? I bought two books and was reading up on what it was all about, because I'd heard some great things. Yeah, no. Just no. Here are a few things I decided ... 1. When you're contemplating a diet that suggests getting a tool to "test your blood" (say what?!!) to make sure you moved from metabolizing glucose to fat -- that's a red flag. Blood tools are a no-go. Also, when there's an adjustment time that includes sleep issues, hair loss and very bad breath -- also a red flag. Sure, if I lived by myself. Or maybe a house with a bunch of other adults and a chef, like the Biggest Loser or Big Brother or something, than yes. Sure. But, otherwise, no. It's a pass. 2. The other thing I realized is that I'm exercising to create a "habit of exercising." ( Remember my five-year goals? ) But also to get out into the world and socialize with people. And when I st...