It’s no mystery to Martin and me that living in Europe has had a profound connection to our choices to simplify our load so we could enjoy living more.  I was a little surprised this summer to find that while we’re back in the United States, there are some of those ol’ European habits that came back with us.  They’re stubborn little guys.  And frankly, I’m so glad that they are.  Here are three very non-American habits we’ve sticking to in our path toward simplicity.

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I don’t buy brown sugar in the United States anymore.  It began because I couldn’t find brown sugar in Germany.

Now I suspect one of the biggest uses for brown sugar in the United States is making homemade chocolate chip cookies.  A many of you know, I haven’t had the best of luck giving away chocolate chip cookies to Germans.  But their dislike certainly couldn’t keep me from baking chocolate chip cookies on particularly homesick late nights like this one in May…

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Everyone dreams of a romantic, fairytale adventure right after getting married, right?  Today we have a fabulous guest visiting us.  Lisa and Drew – two fabulous Americans moving to Germany as I write – thought their adventure into a new home and new world would be oh-so-dreamy.  But oh the irony of our dreams!  I think you’ll just absolutely love what Lisa has to say.  Take it away, Lisa…

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The sun was shining this morning, so I walked to the mailbox and took photos along the way.  No matter how many thunderstorms or rainy days we seem to be having, I always notice:  every day we get a little bit of sun.  We could go whole weeks in Berlin without a moment of sunshine.  Some mornings I wanted to scratch and scratch at the clouds until I could see the sun.

I’ve heard people here complaining about all of the rain and lack of sun the last few days.  Really?  I just smile at them, trying to remember if I put moisturizer + sunscreen on this morning.

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I thought we’d deviate a little from our usual simple/green living and surviving a foreign country topics today.  Well actually quite a few of you have been urging me to take on the 10 Things About Me post topic.  Don’t you go thinking I’m about to reveal all by myself over here.  Oh no.  Martin, you’re up, too. Here we go.

1. I didn’t get 100% on my hunter’s education test in 7th grade because I missed one question: can you shoot livestock? I said yes.

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I like words. I like lists.  And laughing – lots of laughing.  If you do too, maybe this is your kind of wintery Monday article.

1. I dreamed that I decided to write this blog in German.  Lucky for all of us, that will NOT be happening.  (I just told my Russian classmate this morning that we need to wear a lot of newspapers when it gets cold outside.)

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