Christmas, Pie and beyond.........

Come fall and I become a kid again that won’t grow up untill a few days after Christmas. And now that the ‘magic’ is slowly but surely disappearing I feel ridiculously gutted and almost a bit sad. How old am I, five? Don’t ask! . This happens all the time that this strange feeling of disconnect takes over me post Christmas, like it’s the very end of a sad but achingly beautiful story……. I always wish December lasted a bit longer!

I hope you and yours had a warm and loved-up Christmas. Mine was as low-key as low-key could be. I did nothing, but stayed-in chowing  chilling with my family all day in my plaid ‘Lumber Jane’ number (one that I wear - too often, too non-strategically). Given my husband-diagnosed hyperactivity, it takes me more effort to chill than not to. But this time I felt unapologetically good while I was at it. Although, I’m convinced that it’s humanly impossible to have a stress free holiday season. No, seriously.

 At the end of the day, I felt so ambitious that I attempted a Banoffee Pie from scratch. To be honest, the whole thing was nothing but contrived because I had scoured teh interwebs for weeks and canonized those perfect no-bake pies on Pinterest. I should have known that I’m not there, yet. Long story short, the Pie odds weren’t in my favor and mine turned out nothing like them. I think I got the taste down though because the men swung by for seconds. And thirds, I swear!  Silver lining - I can now whip up some legit Dulce de Leche if you will. Not everything has to be perfect and everybody should know that. Me first. 

So anyway,  I was fed, kissed, spoilt and appreciated. And that was good enough. What more could I possibly want, when enough contained so much wealth (and wrapping paper:))))))). It was a great Christmas! 

A void might still exist between saying and doing but I AM looking forward to a laissez-faire start to the new year too. My state of togetherness tells me that there are beautiful things on the horizon and but I am ready to wait. 

There are times when you might feel aimless
You can't see the places where you belong
But you will find that there is a purpose
It's been there within you all along and when you're near it
You can almost hear it
                                     - Meet the Mormons 

 
Thank you for stopping by. Until next time, come find me on Instagram and Facebook
xo Renee

Taking Stock - Fall memories......

Howdy partner? It's been a minute since I've been here.....and I missed it. It's also been also a while since I've been contemplating on a picture-saturated entre nous and letting you know where my life was at while I was away. This is it.....

At the end of September I found myself flying on a jet with my tribe. Eight hours and several decadent food choices later I was home in Marburg. If you know me then it's no secret that I'm a sucker for fairy tales, folksy things and dreamy pictures and Marburg is where they all come to life. I never miss an opportunity that comes along to be there, to be swaddled in love. I spent the next six weeks taking it all in, and then decided to lock my pretty darling treasures up in a bottle Koffer and flew back to Muscat. This time around I have had so many whimsy pinch-me-worthies that it makes my heart float with happiness and gratitude. The more I see, the less I know for sure......Making an effort at zooming in at them gently as they continue to multiply......

A cobweb that wasn't short of a magical kingdom // some handmade keepsakes, better known as Schutzengel (guardian angels) in Germany // My bubba and her bubbles :)))) // Christmas cookies that made an early appearance all the way from the town of Aachen and a book about it's historically and architecturally intriguing 'Kaiserdom' (Imperial Cathedral) which also is a world heritage site. Who knew? Not me! I gonna hit up that town someday.

This ultra adorable train is the newest touristie favorite... toots folks around downtown where all the action happens, all the way up to the Marburg Castle of Landgraves where Gothic stories unfold. The driver even has a perma smile, love it! // Ever heard of a Pirate's Schnitzel? This cafe had it covered // Cozy slippers and comfy knits //That Shearling backpack though

That one time when I saw a lone white swan in the woods // The light at the end of the tunnel is what I want you to take away from this picture // Bückingsgarten, the grub - bringing happy hours since 1708 // And there we toasted to another happy year to my boyishly devilishly handsome husband.

I love bringing to life a seasonal table....this was our Fall décor this year in Muscat. The foliage in Oman looks far from it but we can always look past that, can't we? I feel it for sure // Goulash - to warm the inside when it's cold outside. My spin is very unconventional but ridiculously healthy // I've been baking like never before, hashtag Stepford Wife :) On this occassion it was the Banana Almond Loaf. Dang! that was good // We had the little Red Riding Hood over at Halloween and she couldn't get any cuter.

I never could decide what I am most drawn to when it comes to Fall - the rustling reddened leaves on the sidewalks, the pumpkins that scream soup-or-décor, the sweater weather, soul-soothing foods, a home that smells like baked goods because I'm actually baking or everything in between. It's all I dream of in a festive season with my birthday and sweet surprises thrown in for good measure. This year I've been more than lucky with fine opportunities making their way to me, more than once. To be completely honest, as I grow older I find the word 'coincidence' more and more meaningless. Things that have come about to shape the kind of life I live or the people I share it with are too special to be random. And random has no place here. It's perpetually reassuring that it's all part of a grande cosmic arrangement because I believe in it.

Hope you had a great festive start too. Ready for Thanksgiving? Oh and it's only 40 days till Christmas!!!!! Exciting times.

Thank you for stopping by. Until next time come find me on Instagram (instagram.com/thestylecradle) because that is where I post the most.

xo Renee