What Ana Does

My one fear about returning to the States was we'd move back into our house, place all the furniture back where it was before and it would feel like we never left . Like the last 14 months never really happened. Nightmare. My Paris friends assured me that I was different -- we were all different now -- so no matter what, we'd feel different. But now that I'm back, I'm still anxious. So I have a plan. First, I'm going to move furniture around from different rooms. I'm also going to update the art in the frames and rearrange as much as I can. Almost like we're moving in again. Pull everything down and start over. Here's a good example: We've been talking about hanging the TV above the fireplace, but I'm not sold on the height. Will we crane our necks watching TV? And what happens with the blue wall and cabinets it was on? We're going to test it out. Also, I'll tackle a lot of my home improvement project lists. Small things like re

Oh boy I'll miss this view from our bedroom window.

Moving day is here and it's hard to watch this amazing, light space empty out.  We loved this apartment, and we made a lot of great memories here over the last 14 months. Next chapter begins. 

We are not new to corporate moves and relocations. Even before this Paris move, we were relocated from New Jersey to California and back. So we've learned a lot about the best way to prepare for the whirlwind. In a corporate relocation, movers are brought in to pack your stuff -- this way they can insure everything THEY pack. Even though we don't actually "pack" boxes there is a lot we can do to smooth the process from beginning to end. 1. Sort and trash/donate/recycle all that you can. It's the perfect time to ask all family members to go through their stuff and junk what they don't want to move. Leave no stone unturned. Think office supplies, kitchen items and bathroom items as well as clothes and shoes. We need to get rid of the small plug-in things, as they will not work in the States. (Anyone need a lamp?) On our first corporate move ever, I unpacked two empty shoe boxes and a trashcan with used kleenex at the bottom. Lesson learned. They will lite

It's with a sad heart that I write that, indeed, our Paris adventure is come to the end. We came for the opportunity of Dave's career and job, and now that career path is moving us back to Illinois. At first I was pretty distraught. Though I've known, obviously, that eventually were going to to be moving back, in my head I was thinking it would be this summer and I was preparing mentally for what that relocation would look like. But the call came in quicker than we expected with a more aggressive timeline than I would have chosen. We really wanted the girls to finish out the year in this school instead of putting them through a mid-year school change. Again. But that's just how the cookie crumbles. Now that I've had time to consider and digest it all, I'm ready to go. I love my life here. I've made friends for the first time in many years. I have an enviable life as a Parisian housewife with daily market trips and coffees with friends who are in the sa

While we were in Milan last weekend, strolling around Sforza Castle, I remembered so well the last time I was walking around this ancient castle. Flashbacks! Nine years ago, when Alice was just 2-years-old and Leah was 4 we visited this castle and I was enthralled by the history, but Alice wasn't impressed and she ran around like a nut -- or a toddler. Whatever. I talked her in to standing still for just a few minutes so I could take a picture. So, last weekend, I asked Alice to take the same picture on the same spot (ok, one bench away) in the courtyard and it came out pretty cute.  Alice: Oct. 2010 --- VS --- March 2019 Here are the two original pictures: Alice, Being 2, and Just the Top of Leah's Head Alice at 10!  This is just another perk about traveling Europe with little kids; these are such special memories that I'll have forever. And even get to revisit them. Related posts: Traveling with kids

Before leaving for Milan, an Italian colleague sent David this amazing list of things to do and see in Milan. There's A LOT, so I thought I'd share it, too. Tania, the Author Of This List, After Lunch I trust your wife has already planned your visit to Milan in detail J, however, in case it is of any help, I wanted to share my personal recommendations + few links that contain some recommendations on what to visit in Milan. See them here   My personal recommendations, considering that you are staying only for a weekend, would go to the following: 1. DUOMO DI MILANO – if weather allows try to get to the top, the view over the city is really nice Image result for duomo di milano 2. GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE – just in the same square, it’s a must to see in town. Starred Italian Chef Cracco recently opened another restaurant/pizzeria here. 3. – If you go ‘till the end of the gallery you see the famous LA SCALA theatre. Try to get in as its beauty doesn’t show

It was a quickly planned and quickly done weekend trip to Milan. It was our second trip there, as I mentioned here , so we had some familiarity with the city and what we wanted to do. Plus, it's Italy, so we mainly just wanted to eat and eat and eat. Saturday We arrived around 10am after a one hour (YES ONE HOUR!) flight from Paris. The airport is one hour from the city and taxies are about 100€, so the train was recommended to us. It's an hour-long ride, but no traffic and much cheaper. Bonus, our hotel was three blocks from Central Station, so it was perfect.  We checked into the Sheraton Four Points , I found a small suite at a pretty good rate, given we booked a few weeks from the trip. Breakfast included! I had already picked out a lunch place called SoulGreen , an easy walk from the hotel. We love plant-based, fresh restaurants (hello Flax & Kale in Barcelona!) and this one was very excellent, too! Specifically, the ginger-carrot-apple juice was just what I ne

Last summer, as Leah's bestie was moving away to Milan, we promised Leah we would go visit her pal before we left the continent. Well, seeing our time here dwingling, I quickly booked the airline ticket. Originally, I was just going to fly with Leah, or we'd bring Alice and David would stay behind, but we all decided to go enjoy Italy for the weekend, and who could blame us. We have been to Milan once before in 2010 while we were living in Germany for that short time. And it's always so rewarding to go back to a city after some time and re-experiencing a few things and getting to see more. Kinda of like watching a movie again .... you get more out of it. Plus, the kids are now older so that's a whole new element. Once we dropped off Leah to her friends house, we walked over to the Duomo and shopped in the area. I had planned a museum visit but that was quickly rejected and mutiny ruled the weekend. Oh well. With Leah off at her friend's house, it was just Alic

We've lived in several apartment buildings in our past, including in Hoboken, the Bay Area of San Francisco and Ohio ... but our apartment here in Paris has been a very different experience in a few regards. First, it's been under some kind of renovation since we moved in. They've been adding a 6th floor (expanding the attic space into livable units) which included switching off the elevator to add a 6th floor stop that lasted two months. There's also continues painting projects and units that get renovated. For a 1903 building, it's a hum of construction activity. We also have a women who manages the building, much like a "super," called a gardienne . She lives in the building, near the front door, and deals with the constructions guys, trash, sweeps up around the building and vacuums the stairs. She walks dogs and does grocery shopping for the little old lady who lives next door. If there's an issue with the building, we see her. She knows (a

The View of the "Grand Salon" in the Sun Lately, there's been a lot of talk about leaving Paris and returning home. For good. Yes, we knew this Paris expat position was for a limited time and contingent on David's job placement and career growth. We're so grateful for this experience, to begin with. Until Christmas break, our expectation was we'd finish out this school year and return to Illinois in July. But, after some meetings over winter break, it became clear that our move date will be even sooner. At first, I was devastated. Really. I absolutely love living in Paris, despite all the negatives ( post here ). For one thing, I have real friends for the first time in years . As an introvert, that's a huge thing. Being surrounded by other expat moms (and dads) who are trailing their spouses, it's easy to make fast friends -- and some meaningful friends, too. It's fabulous. I also figured out a good SAHM schedule that balanced qualit

I joined a tour of the Impressionists and their landscapes with an art historian (what a great career!) at the Musee d'Orsay and I was amazed that I've been living in Paris for over a year and haven't been to visit this museum yet. I've been here a few times before, but "dang! I could have been visiting this museum once a month! What have I been doing with my time?" It's such a big, beautiful museum with some amazing works of art ... including some Impressionist masterworks! For example, I studied this piece in art history class but am always wowed by how LARGE it is. My friend Alex is there for proportion. Money had to dig a ditch to drop the canvas to a height he could reach the top! Monet's Garden Party. The Three Women on the Left Are the Same ... Monet's Wife My favorite Degas sculpture is here, too, and she's my own personal touchstone; there's one at the Met in NYC as well, and I would often visit her there. Don't you ju