Keeping House

I didn't know that there are fields of flowers outside of Graz where you can go pick your own and drop some change in a coinbox!  Check out this Gladiola field some girlfriends and I hit last week on the way home from some Trachten browsing:

 

We had friends over for dinner on Saturday and they add a nice perk to the room. 

Do you find it appalling that the dog sits on our couch?

Well, going to make the bed this morning (I find that making the bed in the morning is one of those things that starts the day off right...with a feeling of productivity and order)...and honey badger (if you haven't seen this video (beware of the language), you won't get that) makes herself quite cozy in there.  She would never do this if I weren't in there making the bed.  She has to be in the way.

 (those eyes are the cause of our demise)

Have you ever seen cuteoverload.com?
 

I've heard guys in America complain about girls and their ever-growing sense of entitlement these days.  I believe my dog has a sense of entitlement.  A damn big one. (and none of it's our fault.)

 

Just ended up making the bed around her.  I mean...some people use stuffed animals thrown in...I just leave honey badger in there.  Problem is, when I leave...she most definitely will leave too and my whole 'order and productivity' for the day will have been trampled upon.  

I think it's time to sprinkle in some discipline to the morning routine as well.

Potlucky

Or as we call it: Topfglück

Amber had the great idea last week for a potluck dinner so we could all get together and enjoy some homemade goodness. Since Amber and David hosted the grand Thanksgiving meal last year and Ania and Thomas some serious Swedish fare at their place this summer, it was our turn to host.

The reason I haven't had a group of people over yet is because we don't quite have the accommodations. We have a little white table (that seats 4 max) and only 4 chairs. How do we do a dinner for 6? Well, check it out:


A makeshift banquette with Art's glass trestle desk and our sectional.


It worked out perfectly. Gotta make do in Austria-poo.

Amber brought a yum and spicy white bean chicken chili and I made enchiladas. (And Amber brought and alerted me to the fact that there is cilantro here!) Brownies and ice cream for Nachspeise and Thomas and Ania supplied all the beer.



Elsie did her usual and made the rounds sucking out as much attention and love from each person before moving onto the next.


Don't worry. This was way after dinner during chatting and drinking...and these people sorta invited her over to them.


And....she ended her run in papa's lap.

First Topfglück a success....so much fun. Too much fun as I'm sorta slow-goin' today. So lucky (or shall I say glücky?) to have such great friends here....that can cook too! :)

Imperial Trellis on the Cheap

Since I can't have any real Imperial Trellis adorning my walls like these ladies:


Chloe Sevigny's entryway


An Australian blogger's home


Gwyneth Paltrow's bathroom


Beach Bungalow 8's darling kitchen nook. She recently painted her dark floors white. Love it.

I made myself an Imperial Trellis painting.


{Showing my apt after those pics is not ideal.}

Our very white entryway needed some snazzing up and about 2 months ago when Art was in the States and I needed a project to occupy my time, I got myself a canvas and some paints and went to town. I'm half proud (this is not an easy pattern to draw/then paint yourself...and mine isn't perfect but gets the idea across) and half embarrassed of my makeshift decor.



And I know this pattern is everywhere and sorta overdone (you only know this if you care about this stuff!), but I still like it. It will only be in my life another 2 years max anyways and then I can sell it for huge bucks. :)

P.S. We had to buy our hallway lights. Did you know in Europe when you move out, you take your lights with you, so when we moved in every room in our house had just a lightbulb dangling out of a crusty hole in the ceiling. Good thing Ikea's got cheap options. (They don't do recessed lighting in Europe...I like pendant lights better anyways.)

P.P.S. Just to hang this thing, we (Art) have to get out a drill and do some serious stuff with rocks and things flying out of our 3-foot thick cinder walls of death. Enjoy your cheap drywall. Gallery walls are a cinch for you. Nicht für mich. ok, bye.

h.o.m.e.

I've actually already posted pictures of our apartment here when it was completely bare {and still is for the

most part}, but I wanted to practice taking room shots with the wide angle lens {20mm}. You can't even really

tell I shot these with a fancy camera. oh well.

This is also a way for us to show you we have room for visitors! Come to Hotel Valentíno where you will get a

free glass of water every morning. Click here for a testimonial from a previous {and satisfied} guest.

{p.s. I realize that my apartment could use some TLC in the decor department, but I've had to restrain myself

and be good since it's not really worth decorating when we will be moving in 3 years and can't take most stuff

with us. I'm sorta proud of myself for my will power so let those white walls and bare rooms be a shining

display of triumph over crazed consumerism...until they get a Target here.}

Have to have a tub for the bath lady.

Can't miss the flush button.

Voila! Our sectional turns into a queen sized bed. I even have a 600 count sateen sheet and duvet for you.

old moldings add some character

an inside peek into the customizable ikea wardrobe...the pant hanger is my fave no doubt.

thank you for wisiting.

Easily Entertained

Art loves our mondo-sized peep hole...

You can even see his whole eyeball. LOL.

(They plaque your name on the doors here for the mailmen.

We had to put McConn also because some packages went missing on orders with my old name still on there. Just so you know I have not gone uber feminist and hypenated our last name.)

Our Little Neighbyhood

View outside our window.

The blooming branches (forsythia) right outside our window.

Little pastry/bread shop around the corner.

Brot is bread.

The yummy bakery/confectionary shop around the corner.

They have the best Eis (Ice cream).

We Moved Into Our New Apt!

On April 2nd, we moved into our new apartment. Yeah!

No more tiny bed and 450 square foot living.

Our new apartment is actually 2 blocks from our old, temporary digs, but MUCH betta!

They are building lots of modern looking, boxy apts, but we liked the classic Euro building style. You can't beat the tall ceilings, old ornate moldings and herringbone wood floors.

We are on the first floor...Those are our windows on the left side of building.

The main foyer of the building

Art at our front door.

(That is not our soccer ball mat, K?)

Our bedroom. (and some skiier with one boot in and one out)

Our bedroom...

Main hallway as you walk into house.

All 3 rooms are off to the left (and all connect to each other through doors)

Bathroom and water closet (toilet) are to the right.

Kitchen straight ahead.

The doorway to Art's office.

He wants to engrave "Dr. Valentín" on that glass. Ha.

Living room (looks just like the bedroom)

I love the little "WC" plaque.