What is it with this time of year?

I suddenly get nostalgic and start craving my childhood treats! It must have something to do with the cold weather and the early nights. All I want to do is curl up on a sofa, preferably in front of a fire, and eat!
Anyway, this is my latest craving that I want to share with you: Vanille Kipferl (I dare you to pronounce it), my favourite ever German Advent Cookie. It is super easy and really fun to make with kids…..

Can I give you a hand, madame??

After my absence of nearly seven years,  I was afraid I would come back to a city of… ahem, I don’t want to insult anyone, but you girls know how I’ve been bitching about Amsterdam for, well, ever: no style, no customer service, no etiquette, no good food, no sun, no mountains, no…

But I must say, after being back for about six weeks now, I feel that the city has changed. People have been surprisingly friendly. Cool shops. Nice restaurants. Clean. Well organized. Luxurious even (at times)!

Fact is, it’s probably not so much the city that has changed – I have changed.

A child in sheep’s clothing

Aaagghhh! Winter. You all know it depresses me. It’s dark, it’s wet, and it’s COLD!!

And I have a husband who refuses to turn the heat on during the night- (doesn’t want to waste energy, and also doesn’t mind if his babies freeze)!

Thank God for Mokopuna’s merino wool range. 

 

They make the cutest pajamas (and many other things) for babies made from 100% New Zealand mokopuna merino. It’s designed to keep your babies warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Their pajamas are super soft, cozy and oh-so cute.

Me too!

Since we’re all mums that like to travel,  I have to tell you girls about the perfect baby/toddler seat for on-the-go. THIS IS IT: the Phil&Teds Me Too Chair.

It’s light (less than 1 kilo /2 lbs), it’s flat (2,5 cm /1 inch when folded), it fits on nearly every table and it looks really, really good.

Best of both worlds

At this time of year, I spend, spend, spend on presents and sometimes have a guilty conscience, as a little part of me feels that I am being a bit wasteful. But it is really hard to find beautiful presents that also make you feel like you are supporting a good cause, and there is no point giving something ugly just because it is politically correct!

Is there light (Starbucks) at the end of the tunnel?

Italians invented espresso and cappuccino. Fantastic! Humanity will be grateful forever. Then we stopped there.

Why is it that every other country capitalized on our inventions, and now have more choices when getting a hot drink than the average Italian could ever dream of?

Fall / winter Fashion 2007 – some looks I like

I was sitting at the hairdresser earlier this week and browsing through a fashion magazine (forgot which one exactly), and I decided to sketch some of my favourite looks for this fall:

Thanksgiving

 It is America’s Thanksgiving Day today!

So, as an American (not living in America), we will be celebrating… (er, sort of).  My 2-year-old went to nursery, my husband went to work, I’m not surrounded by extended family, and there is no parade to watch!  But, nonetheless, we will be feasting on the usual turkey fare tonight with some of our obliging European friends!

In addition to the turkey dinner, Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks. 

My son has superpowers

It happens that I was really looking forward to this last week before the birth of #2.  I wanted to hang around quietly by myself, getting hair and nails done, having lunch in nice places, doing a bit of Christmas shopping… in other words spending quality time with myself!

But NO! Clearly #1 sensed that this was a special week and got sick! Sick in a way that makes you hope that everyday is the last day at home and that he can go back to the nursery. Yet every morning he seems super energetic, but runs a temperature. The paediatrican has advised to keep him at home until he has been 2 days without fever, which is to make sure that next week when #2 will be born, he won’t be carrying around nasty viruses. Needless to say he behaves like any sick toddler; he cries, he whines, he needs his mummy more than ever… and I’m going insane because my patience and energy levels are not normal (though they may not be particularly high in any case) because I’m 38+3 weeks pregnant.

Is there a positive side to all this? YES, it would have been much worse if he had gotten sick in 2 weeks time when I’ll be home from the hospital.

-Michela in Milan

Yoghurt in a tube!

I know it sounds sort of gross- eating yoghurt out of a tube!?  But it has completely revolutionized meal time in our house.

What is it? Yeo Valley organic yoghurt now comes in individual tubes specially designed for children.  The yoghurt is 100% natural and organic, (of course), and because it’s in a tube, it is easy for the kids to eat (assuming they get the tube to their mouth before giving it a squeeze)!

For some reason, my toddler thinks it’s especially cool (he calls it a “yoghurt lolly”), and just knowing that he gets one after he finishes his dinner gives him all the incentive he needs to clean his plate.  (He wasn’t really ever thrilled with yoghurt before, but now he is hooked)!

I place it next to his plate at dinnertime, and tell him he can have it when he’s finished. It works like a charm! (Must be the two googly eyes on the package staring up at him from the table). 

Also- it’s an easy thing to take with you in the car, stick in a lunch box, or pack for a picnic!

-Courtney in London

Ex-pat moms

Here is an article an American friend of mine living in Paris wrote. It made me laugh, as it rings very true. I thought you guys might like it as we have all been, or are, expat moms!

click here for LA Times article

-Emilie in Paris

Stolen Wallet- Stolen (fashion) Identity

Some jerk stole my wallet on Wednesday! My lovely, leather, Chloe wallet… the last remaining slice of style I still had.  He probably saw me, (carrying one baby in the Baby Bjorn and dragging the other along on the way to French Class), and thought… bingo! Easy target!  He stole it right out of my diaper bag…

The baby beanbag

I discovered that one of the advantages of expecting a second child is being able to shop for completely superflous equipment, given that one supposedly already owns all the essentials.  A bit over a year ago I discovered the doomoo seat, and I’ve been meaning to buy one since the pregnancy test stick showed two lines. I think the baby looks so comfortable on it! And also toddlers can use it.

So we received ours yesterday… and now the toddler is using it while watching dvds. I just hope he’ll be willing to give it back to the newborn in a couple of weeks!!

-Michela in Milan

Only in Amsterdam!

My husband got fined yesterday for cycling on the pavement.

-Esther in Amsterdam

Playground Rage

I had an instance of playground rage yesterday. (I have the feeling that the longer I am in Paris the more I am feeling the French rage as opposed to British reserve).
It got me thinking: maybe the playground is the main learning ground for toddlers for how to defend themselves and maybe, by intervening, I am actually causing irreparable damage to my cute little defenceless 22-month-old.