Style Stats: Germany

On a river cruise, there are not a lot of opportunities to go out and explore port cities in the evening, so the highlight night of our trip involves carnival rides among German locals. When we docked in Wurzburg at 10 PM {the night before our pizza adventure}, we saw a neon flame in the distance drawing us in like moths: a large pole jutting into the night sky with neon swings flying in circles around its center. Whatever was going on in this place, we knew we had to be a part of it. What we found was an epic festival in honor or St. Killian. We chowed down on German pretzels and bratwursts and prepared ourselves for an evening of barf-inducing rides. The best part: it was ladies' night. We were privy to a throng of ladies, young and old, walking around in traditional German threads {called dirndl - don't ask me how to pronounce this}. These dresses were taken right out of a traditional Disney movie {think Snow White}. It was unreal {and absolutely fantastic for this fashionista to witness}. As we travel around Germany, I am confronted on the daily with store fronts showcasing these dresses {yes, I have been tempted to buy one}. I am just amazed at the preservation of such a cultural masterpiece. What would Americans wear if such a tradition existed? I imagine something like outfits from our colonial period {think Gone with the Wind}. I can not stop chuckling at the idea of such a sight.

When it comes to modern style in Germany, black tights, neon and colored denim are still taking over the world {in case you were worried}. I have my sights now set on the fashionista icon stationed at the end of our cruise: Paris! So close, yet so far away.

St. Killian Festival

Ladies' Night

Dirndl at its finest

German store front

Cute boutique window in Bamberg, Germany

Neon store front in Heidlburg, Germany

My American garb <3 // Target Merona chambray,  Gap geometric skimmer jeans, Coach Madison Lindsay crossbody {sold out color, but available style here}, J. Crew Factory coral bow flats {old, but similar here}, Inga Creations tusk necklace + leather wrap bracelet & Michael Kors jet set watch

My hubby getting some pup love in Mainz, Germany

Excuse Me, You're in My Seat

On a river cruise, meals are very regimented, so the dining hall is always full. As human beings, it is our natural inclination to form cliques, and these dining experiences become a breeding ground for this grouping. Jordan and I immediately made friends with three other couples a few hours into our trip {the only three couples to find our passport mishap most amusing}, and these friends naturally became or dinner mates {and so much more, of course}. Last night was the captain's farewell dinner {ironically, it is not actually the last night, but rather the second to last night} and the tagged "mama bear" of our group went downstairs to grab our table. Surprise! Another group had taken our seats. So, naturally {but not without complaint, seeing as how we had sat there for every meal for the last week} her and her husband went and got the opposing table across the room with sufficient seating for our posse. The group who had spent the entire trip sitting at our now "new" table did not like this one bit. They made numerous complaints about how we had taken their spot, but "mama bear" was not moving, so there was no chance of table surrender. When the rest of our group finally arrived, we found our new location {plus a lot of drama}. We looked confusingly on our stolen table and saw the couples high-fiving each other. High-fiving? I'm sorry, did we do something wrong? Okay, so we're the loud group - the ones who talk when they shouldn't be, the ones who take just a little longer to linger on "just one more photo" while the guide {and the group} waits impatiently, the ones who laugh loud during meals and get a lot of stares. But, we're not selfish; we're the first to buy extra water bottles for the group, take a picture for you with your significant other, or donate our earphones if you forget yours for the tour. For whatever reason, these people just wanted our table, and for whatever reason, they had made it personal.

It took everything within me {within each of us, really} to not say anything. As a high school teacher, I thought of the advice I would give my students: just let it go, it's not worth it, be the bigger person. But, at that moment {and only that moment, of course}, I wanted to kick that little voice square in the face and be the small person. Do we ever really leave high school? Fortunately, my foot didn't have to do anything and the scenery did the face-kicking for us as our side of the ship drove by beautiful vineyards and gorgeous small towns and our old side passed shrubs and weeds with no picturesque value {giggle}. More importantly, we had another dinner amongst great company, and we didn't change a darn thing {except for our seats, of course}.

View from Marksburg Castle on the Rhine River

View from our "new" dinner table

Sharing seats {for the photo}

Captain's Farewell Dinner // Modcloth "Shoreline Soiree" dress, J. Crew Cece flats & Michael Kors jet set watch

I've Got Friends in {Foreign} Places

If you have never traveled internationally, I have one word for you: Go. I am not a world traveler by any means {and I mean ANY}, but the more I experience other cultures, the more I realize how very different and how very the same we really are. While I hate the vagueness of that previous statement {and I would tell all of my high school students the same}, it is beyond true. No matter the country, no matter the people, and no matter the language, we all yearn for community. I'm a firm believer in the fact that we were created this way; God lives in a community within Himself as the Trinity, and I believe we exist in that same community: connecting to ourselves, to Him and to those around us.

Prague is a beautiful city, but its beauty is reliant on our ability to connect to it. When Jordan and I set out on this expedition, we wanted a foreign experience within an informal set of guidelines, so we settled on a cruise through Europe, but we book ended the cruise with additional days in Prague, Paris & London to give us ample time {and freedom} to explore. On our four-hour layover in New York, we met an American who had married a Czech lady and lived in both New York and Prague. We gave him our hotel info and crossed our fingers that he would call and offer to show us around the countryside. Fortunately for us, it worked. After Jordan and I spent 30 minutes trying to figure out the Czech subway system, we bought two tickets to get us outside of the city. Our new friend, Peter, picked us up in his little blue VW Golf-like car, and we set off on our adventure. Peter took us to see castles, golf courses, and the best part, his home {as an added bonus, I proceeded to get car sick weaving through all the back roads, which have no lines and are extremely narrow}. We met his family {including his 2.5 year old daughter who was bilingual, and therefore, smarter than me} and we spent the second part of the afternoon walking around their small village and talking in the village's pubs. Then, we boarded the city train and made our way back to our hotel.

Just when we thought the day couldn't get any better, we started to stroll the city streets in search of pizza {yes, I know, but there are just some things this girl can't live without, and pizza is one of them}. We found an amazing spot on the second story of {yet another} amazing building, overlooking one of the squares. Ironically enough, we didn't end up getting pizza {to default of our waiter who spoke very broken English and misunderstood our order}, but yet again, we made great friends. Traveling to foreign countries where no one understands what you are saying is beyond frustrating, but it creates an immediate, intimate bond between you and other Americans {which can hardly be felt when going about our daily routines in the actual country}. From across the room, I heard a faint, "Can we get a box for this?", I glanced at her black canvas Keds, and I just knew we were in familiar territory. After much-needed English conversation, we stumbled into a pub with her and her boyfriend, sipped on cider and Czech beer, and for that moment, it was like we had known each other our whole lives {despite the fact that they lived 3,000 miles away from us in the United States}. We were, at that moment, four friends traveling together and fraternizing with our German, Irish and Swedish counterparts who were, in fact, doing the same. It's amazing how the simple act of meeting someone with whom you share a national pride, language and culture can create such a deeper appreciation within you for those very things. And, what's even more amazing is how connected you can feel to your country when you are so many thousands of miles away. Here's to making more {foreign} friends in the days to come. Cheers!

Beautiful Prague Architecure

One of the Town Squares

Gelato {yummy!}

Village Bridge

Our New Friends {minus photographer, Jordan} //
Nike Windrunner jacket & Tory Burch aviator sunglasses

Prague Train Station

Married, but Dating.

When I got engaged, I thought my dating days were over. When I got married, the word "dating" flew out of my vocabulary altogether. Until {cue dramatic music}, I realized that my husband and I did not have couple friends. I had my friends {and not very many of them at that because I am a transplant} and he had his friends. We had yet to make OUR friends. I realize that this might be a very foreign concept to many of you {especially you high school and college sweethearts who have had the same friends since like, well, forever}, but it has become very real to us newlyweds. We both {quickly} realized that we needed to start dating {couples, of course}. Don't get me wrong, I very much like my husband's friends. They are all very nice, respectful men that I would recommend to any single lady. The problem: I know no single ladies. Most of my friends are married, and even more of them have  rugrats in tow. In fact, most of the couples that we had gradually become friends with have children; this posed another problem, not because we don't love kids {because we do}, but trying to match schedules and babysitters and nap times is just not an easy thing {as if life isn't hard enough just trying to manage our individual selves}. So, we hit the dating pool, and we immediately found a couple from our Bible study at church. They lived by us, they were our age {Jordan and I take pride in starting our life together at a much later age than most of the Mid-western folks} AND they were getting married in a month {so, no babies}. I mean, these three points alone could suffice for even a mediocre relationship. Fortunately, it has grown to be much more than a mediocre relationship. You couples out there know how hard it is to find couple friends where the girl and the girl get along as well as the guy and the guy. The minute Clint started talking politics and Amy mentioned doing a triathlon, I knew this was going to be the start of something wonderful {cue sappy music}. Long story short, we love them, and we feel fortunate to have gone to their wedding last month. Hopefully, just hopefully, they don't start popping out kids before we do.

Gap white floral skimmer jeans, Target Merona Chambray, Minnetonka Moccasins {old, but similar color here}, Michael Kors Hamilton Bag + Jet Set Watch & Inga Creations Tusk Necklace
{use code PUPSANDPUMPS for 20% off your order!}

Roxy = The World's Saddest Dog {when she's inside}

PS - I am aware that I should have included a photo with me + hubby + our new couple friends, but that would just be too perfect. It's too early to be posting such things {like changing-your-relationship-status-on-Facebook-too-early kind of shenanigans}. Stay tuned, friends.