Feeling Uninspired

I have to admit I feel quite uninspired about blog posts. Partly because I have talked to several people who don't even bother to look at the blog (you know who you are) and partly because I have been posting travel pics the last month which don't require creativity. I don't really have any creative ideas to show you at the moment so these pics will have to do. I'm thinking of getting a gym membership this week so perhaps I'll have something to post next week.


So I celebrated 26 years this month. I have always resented the fact that my birthday falls two weeks after Christmas and now my wedding anniversary is two weeks before Christmas. So all my holidays that I get gifts for fall in less than a one month time. Cody has the perfect birthday, June 25th. Exactly six months from Christmas. This particular birthday was nothing special. Went to a meeting in the morning, watched a movie in the afternoon (hey it is my
birthday.) Then we went out to dinner at a delicious Thai food place.

My hair is getting long huh? I think I look younger with long hair. I decided to grow it out for a couple of reasons. One being I hate getting my hair cut here because no matter what you tell them they still do whatever they want. So I want to grow it out and then have a dramatic chopping when I go back to America. Cody likes it short anyway and it's much easier. I'll be thinking of some dramatic styles I can do.


Anyway, enough rambling, here is our delicious selection of food at the Thai place. I am obsessed with this coconut milk and curry vegetables. Nice presentation on the pineapple dish my friend got, but pretty skimpy on the portion size.


Lastly, here is reason number 437 I should not cook. I am such a klutz and I spill everything and make the biggest messes for the smallest tasks. I am constantly dropping the spoon and spilling the baking powder and my biggest downfall is not reading the whole recipe first! How many times have I got to the end and did it wrong already or didn't have enough ingredients to finish!

Muchas Grathias, Barthelona!

Here is the second half of our trip to Europe.  We are in Barcelona at the beautiful magic fountain.  It is a show where the fountains shoot up water from different places orchestrated to lights and music.  The show was cancelled last time we were here so it was nice to finally catch it.  

Waiting for the show to start.

We did a photo shoot at the Sagrada.  I know this looks familiar, we were just here in November taking photos at this exact spot.  But this time we actually toured the inside and it was an incredible feat of architecture.  

Daddy and Cody enjoying the view.  

I just really like this photo of me and my brother, don't we looks so cute matching!  


Inside the Sagrada.  It was PACKED!
We also paid a visit to the aquarium.  I loves aquarium's and this little guy was adorable. 

This is the largest single aquarium in the world, or Europe, or something...can't remember, but it was big.  We were on a moving walkway that took us around it and there were some divers in there feeding the fish and sharks. Poor Cody was sick this whole day with the flu so he didn't get to come :(  

You have to watch this awesome video of and octopus.  He is stuck to the side and then he peels off the glass and swims away.  breathtaking I tell you :)

Merci Beaucoup!

So here is the details on our time in Paris.  Normally I am very anal about having all the pics in the order in which the occurred.  In this case, it was too much work because I was having such a hard time uploading photos (blogger is so temperamental) and they got uploaded all out of order.  We got there the day after the Eid (see post below).   
Here we are in the Marriott.  Traveling with my parents is much different then when Cody and I got to Europe and stay in cheap hostels, walk everywhere, and find hole-in-the-wall places to eat.  It was so nice to be warm while inside buildings.  You don't have to be bundled up at all times, what a great feeling!  

This is the Champs Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe at the end.  This is Paris' most prestigious and broadest avenue (according to Wiki :)  It's the most expensive strip of real estate in the world after NYC's 5th Avenue.  We climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for a gorgeous view of the street and the Eiffel Tower.  Here is also where we saw an ENGLISH movie in a THEATER!  We saw Enchanted on Christmas day and thought it was super cute.

Here we are at the Château de Versailles. Because it was winter the gardens weren't as beautiful as in the spring or summer but it was still really neat to tour.


While leaving Versaille Jason and Sarah found a huge diamond earring on the ground.  The took it to a jewelry shop when they got back and found out it was 2.5 carats worth like $8-$10,000!
This is Notre Dame cathedral on the River Seine .  

This girl is new to you.  She is my soon-to-be sister-in-law!  Her name is Sarah and my brother proposed while we were in Paris.  She is super cool!


Here we are in front of the"Christmas tree."  And by Christmas tree I mean metal conical shape with lights and garland. (dictionary says conical but I prefer the word: conucular, sounds like a real word right?) This is on Christmas Eve before we had a lovely dinner.  

After dinner we went to an Anglican midnight service Christmas Eve service.  We were rushing back because we weren't sure what time the subway's closed (someone told us midnight!) and didn't want to be stuck across town.  

My 'rents enjoying the ride.  I think the older we get, the crazier they think we are.  

The happy, engaged couple.  

Enjoying an Eiffel Tower stroll on Christmas day.  

Here is a random photo of Cody checking our email for a mere 40 Euro's and hour!  I like the lighting and the view outside the window. 



This is my sapphire and diamond ring Cody me for my anniversary/Christmas/birthday present.

Stayed tuned for Barcelona pics and then a couple from my b-day this week.  (I know...you are on the edge of your seat right?)

The First of the Holiday's

So before we left for the holidays we went to my friends in the countryside for their big holiday Eid Al-Adha, or feast of the sacrifice.  Here we are on a hike down to the water with her family. It was so beautiful.  Stayed tuned in the next couple of weeks for Christmas pics from Paris and Spain.

My friend's 5 year old sister was trying to learn how to use my camera and here is lovely photo she took of me.  The place in the background is where we wash the dishes with the water from the well down the hill.  

Making some cous cous before the holiday.

Here is Cody watching some TV in the afternoon.  Turns out, their electricity is solar power and Cody used all the power watching the news and that night we had to eat dinner by candlelight!  These are their "couches" which are foam mats on the floor.  Personally, I find it quite comfortable!

Get your sheep here!  The evening before the sacrifice the last few sheep left as shoppers make their last minute purchases.  You have to lift the sheep up to make sure they are not just bloated with salt but are the weight they should be.  Some people will try to trick ya! (like selling a used car)

These are knife sharpeners found in the street only in the days before the Eid.  You have to make sure your knife is super sharp as to not cause the sheep to suffer.

Awaiting his fate.  I'll tell you, this dude knew what was coming.    


Cody...DON'T DOOOOO IT!!!

Lucky for you all my camera ran out of batteries at this point, so you don't get to see the skinning of the sheep and taking out the guts and cutting off  the head and limbs.  This was all followed by preparing and eating some delicious heart, liver, and lungs wrapped in stomach fat and grilled over coals.  Thankfully, we had to leave early to catch a flight to Paris so we didn't have to the eat the stomach, it smelled disgusting as it was being cooked!  Today, my taxi driver asked me if I like this delicacy and if I could eat it in America.  I said I am not sure you can buy stomach fat in America but he suggested I take bunch on the plane in a cooler.  That's exactly what I want to use my space for when I come back to America...FAT!  Thank you, sir. 

Oh, one other exciting part I didn't catch on camera was shortly after I took this photo we all got close and the sheep starting kicking out of control, splattering me with blood everywhere!  I was grossed out and they immediately gave me new clothes to wear after we all had good laugh about it ;)