26th and gifts

Well, Christmas is almost over and I'm a bit sad... Christmas is always too short ... but maybe that's not too bad, since more Christmas would mean more eating ... and you can actually say, that the Christmas mood stays until the end of the year, right?

So today, we went to a Chinese restaurant. I really like Chinese and while eating I'm in heaven ... but in the end, I feel like everything tasted similar. If I remember correctly, food in China tasted more differently, but it's been some years and maybe I'm wrong.

What we had, clockwise starting from the white bowl at 12 'o clock: mabodofu (very spicy tofu with ground meat), sukiyaki beef, sweet 'n sour pork, gong bao chicken (spicy chicken with cashew nuts), deep fried redfish (yay, I finally got them to order some fish!) and bami goreng noodles.
It was very delicious and we got some calendars and a bottle of plum wine! Every Chinese restaurant gives out calendars around New Years Eve ... weird...

My mum and I had to take the train there ... we invited my other grandma to the restaurant and that means, we were 6 persons. There's only room for 5 in the car, so my mum offered to go by train. Because I'm nice and we don't have that much time together anymore, I went with her.

It was quite a brilliant idea, because after lunch, when everyone was driving home, us two headed for the Christmas market and got some hot wine punch and candy AND she bought me a cute candle holder, which was reduced. It was really great with her.

Apropos presents. I've told you, I was going to show you my presents right? I admit, I love getting presents! But I also love making them and seeing the happy faces (which I couldn't, because everyone is of course with his or her family, how it's right!). Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of the ones, I made.
Well, here's what I got:

Some books, of course. No Christmas without them.

The first Professor Layton (quite old already, I know). I think it's my parents way to tell me to use my brains more often.^^

Present from LauLau. It's so lovely and I've already worn the bracelet two days in a row (well of course not while sleeping...)

Present from Mina. She got quite a lot cute things this year and I think, she bought LauLau and me some kind of a couple present. But you know, what's too bad? I've already gotten the cookie mirror before. Now I've got one for every eye. :)

And of course:

Not a year without it!

I've also gotten some clothes, but I don't feel like sharing my nightgown with the world.

Oh right, and of course the camera.

Ha ... yeah ... I really love getting presents.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! It's the evening of December, 25th and that means, Christmas is over for 2/3! Tommorrow is the 2nd Christmas Day and that's it for 2011.
Oh wait!! If we've got really bad luck, this was the very last Christmas EVER, because ... you know ... next year... 2012... oh my. I think I should drink some more Kahlua Milk...

So far, Christmas was quite nice. No one was crying, everybody liked their present and my grandma is as grumpy as always. Christmas in my family...

The 24th was really relaxing! Most years, usually almost one of us is freaking out, because he (yeah ... it's always my dad) forgot to buy presents. But this year he got them on the 22nd! Wow!

So yeah, my mum and I were cooking ... because for Christmas Eve we always make some special dinner, that's different every year. Last year we had Shabu Shabu, this year we had different things.

Nikuman, Saté-Picks, Potatoesalad, Filled Mushrooms and Crabcroquette! It was really delicious! The potatoesalad was made by my granny. I've told her like A WEEK ago, she shouldn't make too much, because we had lot of other things. She promised me, to make only a bit. Yesterday at lunch time, I've remembered her again und she said once again, yes she only made little bit.
Then she presented us with this big bowl of potatoe salad and I've asked her:
"Granny, why did you make that much?? I've told you, there'd be plenty of other things!"
And she said:
"Well, if I'm taking the time to make it, I'm also making a whole bowl!"
Like we've never had the conversation before! It's so typical of her and so annoying!!!! What's wrong with you old lady?!
Anyway, food was oishii.

By the way, this is our Christmas tree.
 

Isn't it beautiful!! The top is a bit leaning, but apart from that, it's perfect! Lots of the Christmas tree balls, I've brought from Japan, but some are really old and still made from glass. They're quite expensive and my mum won't let me handle them ... I don't know why, but she thinks, I'm a bit clumsy...

And this is the tree with it's lights on:

And these are the presents. Next year we need to get some fake big ones, to give the tree a more appealing look.

Today was the 25th! The actual CHRISTMAS!!! In Germany, we open our presents on Christmas Eve, so actually 25th, is not that special to us ... well, anyway, here's what I wore!

A little bit Lolita, but not perfect ... I'm only wearing Bodyline (gotta mix the "brands" more) and I was too lazy to actually make my hair, so I've just made a bun. I also don't have a white petticoat, although it should have arrived here ages ago! Damn it! 

And today we also had the real Christmas Dinner (well, lunch here), which is so complicated. I really hate rosting poultry, it never works the way I want it to. This year was duck... Next year we gotta get a goose again.

It's a Julia Child recipe for the duck, grandma's recipe for the cabbage, commercial dumblings and American cranberry sauce. It wasn't perfect, but really delicious.

Tomorrow, we're going for Chinese, what we do every year since I remember. It's a weird tradition, that I think, a lot German families are sharing with us.

I've also forgot to make pictures of the presents, I'll do that tomorrow!

But you can see one... a new camera! I'm SO HAPPY!!!!!

By the way, I've finished my book report a week early. I'm so proud of myself. T_T

Souvenirs from Florida

So, everybody I finally managed to break free some time to blog ... of course I'm lying, I still have plenty of time and I'm just like really lazy.




I want to blog about all the "stations" I've passed during my Florida vacation, because it was short (two weeks only), but intense! One of the best vacations of my life!
I think I really like the USA ... I didn't think I would, but it's nice there.






To begin with, I'll show you, what I brought home. Souvenirs are always a very important part of trip to me. It helps me remember all the sweet memories, I had in a different country or with my friends and family. Only problem is ... every year I end up buying way too much!

Well, here is, what I got from my Florida trip:

Plenty, huh? It's not even all!! It's only the stuff I could find the easiest...

Spiralwise from left to right ... only Disney stuff here: Retro Minnie T-Shirt, Mickey egg shaper, Minnie and Donald ball pens, "Four Parks One World" CD, Stitch Dangler (can't believe, some people thought I'd come back without a Stitch...), Hello Kitty Dangler (but bought in Disney World), Marie notebook, Minnie keyring.

Clockwise from left to right: Key Lime cake (A very important cake in Florida ... had some there and I don't like it at all. But hey, I don't have to eat this one.), "I Need My Space" bag from Kennedy Space Center, "Failure Is Not An Option" ball pen from Kennedy Space Center, NYC Sparkle Eye Dust, earrings from MIA, false lashes glue from Ardell.

The top from left to right: Harry Potter Chocolate Frog (they actually have cards, I had Rowena Ravenclaw), Butterbeer mug, "Hot Dance of the Roaring 20s" CD (got this from the Edison house) and a brown belt.

I've made tons of pics I'm going to show your over the next few days. It really was a great trip...