Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Gateway Arch // St. Louis, MO
It has been on my bucket list, and I am super thankful my husband took me all the way to St. Louis (read more HERE)
to tick it off my list:
Visiting the Gateway Arch!
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) tall monument in St. Louis, in the U.S. state of Missouri. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a flattened catenary arch, it is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, Missouri's tallest accessible building, and the world's tallest arch. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, it is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and has become an internationally famous symbol of St. Louis.
The arch sits at the site of St. Louis' founding on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
The Gateway Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and German-American structural engineer Hannskarl Bandel in 1947.
Construction began on February 12, 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965, at a total cost of US$13 million ($97,300,000 in 2014). The monument opened to the public on June 10, 1967.
via wikipedia.org
We even paid the $10 each to ride the capsule to the top of the Arch. It was a super foggy day, but the view was awesome anyway! If you ever visit St. Louis, I really tell you to invest the money to do the ride! I was a wee bit claustrophobic and sick during and after the ride up the Arch, but it was totally worth it.
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| ...you can tell I wasn't feeling THAT comfortable 630 feet up in the air. After a 4 minute ride in a tiny capsule. |
There is a tour every few minutes, so the waiting time shouldn't be that long. I think it took us about 20-30 minutes from the minute we've bought the tickets to the second we stepped out of the capsules. You can stay on top of the Arch as long as you want to, but since there is not that much space up there, they might kick you out after a certain amount of time...
We've stayed up there for about 15 minutes, and took a ride back down. I've had a wonderful time!
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People kept asking me about my Watermelon hat - so I decided to put it on my Etsy shop as well:
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
It's a lie! Don't let them fool you!
One of my friends in Germany posted a picture on Facebook today, and everyone over there was like "What the heck is that?". And since I have received 3 of said items so far (thank you, all my "Dollar Tree"-shopping friends), I think it's about time to tell you guys something....
The Christmas Pickle is as German as the "German Chocolate Cake", the Pope, and the president of the United States of America!
No one in Germany ever puts a pickle on their Christmas tree. Don't let those stupid PR people fool you. And if you have German friends, please don't give them a Christmas Pickle as a gift and expect them to be joyful and thankful. We don't know what that ish is... I dropped my 3 off at the Salvation Army the other day. I don't want a new one. Thank you.
And just in case you didn't figure: The German Chocolate Cake, the Pope, and Barack Obama are't German, either.
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The Christmas Pickle is as German as the "German Chocolate Cake", the Pope, and the president of the United States of America!
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| "Weihnachts Gurke" by Christbaumschmuck der Firma Inge-Glas, Neustadt bei Coburg, Deutschland - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Weihnachts_Gurke.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Weihnachts_Gurke.jpg |
No one in Germany ever puts a pickle on their Christmas tree. Don't let those stupid PR people fool you. And if you have German friends, please don't give them a Christmas Pickle as a gift and expect them to be joyful and thankful. We don't know what that ish is... I dropped my 3 off at the Salvation Army the other day. I don't want a new one. Thank you.
And just in case you didn't figure: The German Chocolate Cake, the Pope, and Barack Obama are't German, either.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Review + Giveaway: Garcinia Cambogia Extract by Natural Nutrition Labs
What Is Garcina Cambogia Extract?
Garcinia cambogia is a small, pumpkin-shaped fruit, sometimes called tamarind. Though native to Indonesia, it is also grown in India, Southeast Asia, and West and Central Africa. It has long been used in traditional South Asian dishes, including curries and chutneys. Many also use the fruit for curing fish and preservation. Adding this ingredient to meals is considered to be effective in making meals more “filling.” In some villages in Malaysia, garcinia is used to make a soup that is eaten before meals for weight loss because of garcinia’s appetite-blocking abilities.
This plant offers one of the least expensive herbal supplements on the market. The ingredient from the rind of the fruit could hasten your weight-loss efforts. The natural extract is called hydroxycitric acid (HCA), and researchers claim that HCA can double or triple one’s weight loss.via Dr Oz
With proper weight-loss efforts (dieting and exercising), the average person taking HCA lost anaverage of four pounds a month.
Garcinia may also be great for emotional eaters. Those who participated in the study showed an increase in their serotonin levels; hence, it may also improve mood and sleeping patterns.
Garcinia Cambogia has featured on numerous TV shows including Dr Oz. He recommended Garcinia Cambogia calling it "The most exciting breakthrough in natural weight loss to date".
Garcinia Cambogia Extract Pure is a great support if you want to lose weight! BUT: Don't expect swallowing pills to get a result. You still have to be active and eat healthy. This is why I would give this product 4 out of 5 stars - the 5th has to be earned by YOU!
The pills work great for me as an support. I'm working really hard to get my old body back, and I am doing this by working out, eating healthy, and taking the Garcinia Cambogio Extract pills.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, June 23, 2014
Life Lately // Vacation Update
Hello there! I just wanted to let you all know I made it to Germany in one piece. It was a loooong trip though, including an 8 hour overlay in London. I was so happy when I finally arrived in Frankfurt! I left Little Rock at 6am. First pit stop in Chicago (I LOVE O'Hare Airport!), and then across the big pond, London-bound.
I was cheap when I was booking the flight. That's why I had the 8 hours overlay in London. It wouldn't have been all that bad, but almost every single shop and restaurant was closed. I was a little surprised about everything being closed, since Heathrow is such a huge airport! Even the "Heathrow Express", the train connecting the terminals, was closed for the night. So I had to find the Night Bus stop, and wait 30 minutes to get on a (doubledecker) bus to my departure terminal 5. All this after 2 flights and hours and hours of traveling. Sucks.
Luckily there was a "Marks & Spencer" open at terminal 5, so I stacked up on water, fruit, and vegetables for the night. So I was just sitting there, watching "2 Broke Girl$", eating, drinking, people watching, all night, waiting for the security check-in to open at 5:30am the next morning.
The 3rd and last flight was from London to Frankfurt. Guess who fell asleep even before the plane took off? Yep, this gurrl. I slept the whole flight, only woke up once, when the flight attendant was trying to hand me a croissant. But then I fell back asleep and woke up seconds before we touched down in good old Germany.
The first 3-4 days were like hell, jetlag wise. I was so super sleepy! Now it's been 10 days already, and slowly I'm getting used to the German time zone again.
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| My sister took this paparazzi snapshot of me. I just closed my eyes for 5 minutes. I promise. |
I was cheap when I was booking the flight. That's why I had the 8 hours overlay in London. It wouldn't have been all that bad, but almost every single shop and restaurant was closed. I was a little surprised about everything being closed, since Heathrow is such a huge airport! Even the "Heathrow Express", the train connecting the terminals, was closed for the night. So I had to find the Night Bus stop, and wait 30 minutes to get on a (doubledecker) bus to my departure terminal 5. All this after 2 flights and hours and hours of traveling. Sucks.
Luckily there was a "Marks & Spencer" open at terminal 5, so I stacked up on water, fruit, and vegetables for the night. So I was just sitting there, watching "2 Broke Girl$", eating, drinking, people watching, all night, waiting for the security check-in to open at 5:30am the next morning.
The 3rd and last flight was from London to Frankfurt. Guess who fell asleep even before the plane took off? Yep, this gurrl. I slept the whole flight, only woke up once, when the flight attendant was trying to hand me a croissant. But then I fell back asleep and woke up seconds before we touched down in good old Germany.
The first 3-4 days were like hell, jetlag wise. I was so super sleepy! Now it's been 10 days already, and slowly I'm getting used to the German time zone again.
Watch out for some more posts from my time in Germany!
And I have an awesome guest post coming up!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Huge Milestone: The Car Arrived
While we are still waiting for any news about when we will get our household goods, we have reached a huge milestone in the whole relocating-across-the-big-pond yesterday:
M was almost crying when he came home from work :) he missed his black baby! And you know what true love is? He let me drive the care in within the first 2 hours of it being here. THAT'S true love, indeed.
I can sum the rest of the day up with only a few words: carwash and cruisin'! We've had a blast, and to be honest it was one of the happiest moments we've had for a long time. The whole moving and especially the issues we are having with the company that is moving our household from Germany to the USA, are really a mood killer. And a money eater. Which causes money issues. You know how it is... Well, I will tell you more about that soon!
But: If you ever have to ship your car across an ocean, I can definitely suggest calling the people from CFR Rinkens. They, and especially our go to girl Connie, did an awesome job! Thanks again!
Check out my amazing sponsor:
Our car arrived!
M was almost crying when he came home from work :) he missed his black baby! And you know what true love is? He let me drive the care in within the first 2 hours of it being here. THAT'S true love, indeed.
I can sum the rest of the day up with only a few words: carwash and cruisin'! We've had a blast, and to be honest it was one of the happiest moments we've had for a long time. The whole moving and especially the issues we are having with the company that is moving our household from Germany to the USA, are really a mood killer. And a money eater. Which causes money issues. You know how it is... Well, I will tell you more about that soon!
But: If you ever have to ship your car across an ocean, I can definitely suggest calling the people from CFR Rinkens. They, and especially our go to girl Connie, did an awesome job! Thanks again!
Happy Tuesday!
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Never Ending Story // VA Claim
So far I was keeping all the anger to myself, but it is finally time to speak up about how the VA is treating my man.
M served the US Army for 18 years, went to Iraq 5 times. Got injured, suffers from PTSD, has a messed up back, bad rash caused by the stuff he was working with, and several other medical conditions.
He went to med board 2.5 years ago, started his VA claim together with an experienced VA rep.
Here we are now, 2.5 years later, and all he got so far is one payment of $18.
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M served the US Army for 18 years, went to Iraq 5 times. Got injured, suffers from PTSD, has a messed up back, bad rash caused by the stuff he was working with, and several other medical conditions.
He went to med board 2.5 years ago, started his VA claim together with an experienced VA rep.
Here we are now, 2.5 years later, and all he got so far is one payment of $18.
He got a disability of 70%.
- He calls one day, they say his case is closed.
Ok, so where is all the money?
When will we get the back pay?
When will we get the paper stating it is closed, so we can finally file taxes? - He calls again. "Oh no, Sir, it is not closed! It is still pending! We are waiting for this and that paperwork!" -> which we sent in August 2013!!!
- He calls again, they say it's closed
- He calls again, they say it's pending
- He calls again, they say it's in St. Louis
- He calls again, they say they need this and that paper
- He calls again, they say "Oh no, Sir, we already have that paper!"
- .....
This goes on for way too long now! M was serving this country. He was risking his life! He deserves his monthly check! We've lived off of my savings for way too long! If I wouldn't have been there, M would be just another homeless veteran in the USA!
Is this how you treat your HEROES, dear USA???
I hope not! As soon as this stuff is done (FOR GOOD!) and we have our money, I will definitely write every single thing down and send it to all different TV stations and newspapers. I know we are not alone, and this has to be made public!
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Are you enjoying your weekend?
Happy Saturday!
I hope you guys are enjoying your weekends?
I am sitting at our new dining room table typing this. You can't even imagine how happy I am to finally have a place to sit down and do stuff. I found it at a yard sale group on Facebook for a greal deal! And they were so nice and even delivered it to our house this morning, since we don't have a truck.
The couch is fine, but after a while it is just messing up my back. Our household goods are scheduled to arrive in New York on 9th of April. Hopefully the whole customs process will go smooth. FYI: The car still didn't make it to us yet.... I am really mad.
Since I don't work, I have pretty "adventurous" days so far. I walk around El Dorado a lot - which is a real adventure already, because sidewalks either don't exist, or are death traps...
The city is lovely though! I already have a favorite coffee spot: PJ's!
Oh and I sure love the fact, that the Stadium is so close to our house! I go there a lot to run,/work out to loose some of my 40 extra pounds I feel I gained since quitting smoking 10 months ago. Also I have to train for my 5k run in Little Rock on Memorial Day weekend!!
It feels as if I'm in the worst shape ever... But I am fighting! And as soon as our stuff gets here, I will have all my Jillian Michaels DVDs, dum bells, and all the other workout stuff. Jillian makes it so much easier for me to get in shape...
I hope you are doing great!
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I hope you guys are enjoying your weekends?
I am sitting at our new dining room table typing this. You can't even imagine how happy I am to finally have a place to sit down and do stuff. I found it at a yard sale group on Facebook for a greal deal! And they were so nice and even delivered it to our house this morning, since we don't have a truck.
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| One of the chairs |
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| This is a picture of the dining room set (bad one - off Facebook) |
Since I don't work, I have pretty "adventurous" days so far. I walk around El Dorado a lot - which is a real adventure already, because sidewalks either don't exist, or are death traps...
The city is lovely though! I already have a favorite coffee spot: PJ's!
Oh and I sure love the fact, that the Stadium is so close to our house! I go there a lot to run,/work out to loose some of my 40 extra pounds I feel I gained since quitting smoking 10 months ago. Also I have to train for my 5k run in Little Rock on Memorial Day weekend!!
It feels as if I'm in the worst shape ever... But I am fighting! And as soon as our stuff gets here, I will have all my Jillian Michaels DVDs, dum bells, and all the other workout stuff. Jillian makes it so much easier for me to get in shape...
I hope you are doing great!
Have a lovely weekend!
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Free! // 8 Days Left In Germany
Howdy dear readers!
I know, it was a little too quiet round here lately... The whole moving process was tougher than
I thought it would be. The moving company missed to book the container, so our household goods won't arrive in AR before mid April - if that early. Plus since we had 3 cbm extra stuff to be shipped, the moving cost a little more than expected. 800€ more. Ugh.
Tomorrow me, my sister and nephew will pack up the car and go to Trier. I will stay there until I leave Thursday night to go to Frankfurt airport. This gives me time to hang out with my other siblings, dad, and friends. I'm so ready to leave though!!! I will be back for my birthday mid June, so saying "goodbye" is more like a "see you later".
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I thought it would be. The moving company missed to book the container, so our household goods won't arrive in AR before mid April - if that early. Plus since we had 3 cbm extra stuff to be shipped, the moving cost a little more than expected. 800€ more. Ugh.
2 days ago I finally gave the keys to our apartment back to the realtor, and living at my sister's place since then. Usually it felt weird to leave places I lived in, but this time the only thing I felt was: relieved!
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| Bye Bye, Tannenstrasse 1! |
Living with stuff that fits in 2 suitcases was fun for a while, but I'm ready to have a "real" life again. I sleep on a couch for 4 weeks now, and I'm scared it will break my back again. It's not even a futon or a sleeping couch, it's more like a large love seat.... Ugh.
Happy Thursday and talk soon :)
Monday, February 17, 2014
Moving: Check!
Just a quick update: today was moving day and everything went really smooth!
I caught a bad cold about 2 days ago, and was knocked out, so I'm happy I finished my part before the cold hit me, and the movers did a great job. It took a little longer than I expected, but at 4pm the little truck left and will be on its way to the sea port soon.
Thank you all for your support and prayers!
I'll hide in my little camp now and sleep... I'm really, really tired and exhausted.
Good night!
xoxo
Anni
Thursday, February 6, 2014
11 Days
Time flies by! The moving company will be here in 11 days to pick up our stuff. I just finished packing a box with stuff I will need right away as soon as I get to Arkansas, like towels, bedding, PJs... Just a few essentials.
Last night I have ordered the first few kitchen gadgets and they will be there tomorrow! I hope M won't break them before I get there!!
Because of the 220V/110V issue, I had to get basically EVERYTHING. On Black Friday M already bought a griddle, a coffee maker, and a small CrockPot. Last night I ordered a 6 quart CrockPot, an immersion blender, a hand mixer, a food processor, an epilator, and a brick for my Nintendo Wii. Oh and pillows. M is still kind of living like a camper in our new home, so to be on the safe side, I've ordered those, too. Type a. Sorry.
Someday this week I have to go into the basement :o/ sorting through and throwing stuff away will definitely not be fun down there!
So this was a little update from my side! I will be back tomorrow!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Relocating: Things I will definitely NOT miss about Germany (Pt. 1)
Howdy and happy Friday!
The weekend is finally here. Oh and if you guys don't know what to do: come on over and help me getting this house in order, so I won't have to be ashamed tomorrow while showing the people who want to move in around! The Realtor called in sick, so I will have to do it.... Ugh.
Today I want to share a few things about living in Germany I WILL DEFINITELY NOT MISS! Don't get me wrong, Germany is an awesome country to live in. But a few things in daily life just drive you crazy:
1. The "Einwegpfand"
If you want to buy soda in Germany, no matter if it is a bottle or a can, you have to pay 25 cent extra. Deposit. Yes, on every single item there is a 25 cent bottle deposit. Or container deposit.
You might think I'm cheap, but it is way too much money to just throw the bottles and cans away. If you want your money back, you will have to go to the grocery store, wait in a line of about 15 other people with huge trash bags full of empty bottles and cans, put every single bottle into a nasty, sticky, stinky machine, grab the receipt (which my sister ALWAYS forgets), and cash it in at the checkout.
2. The "GEZ"
The "GEZ" is a fee collection service, some bright human came up with in 1976. Every household in Germany using a Radio/TV/Computer/tbc. HAS TO pay €17,98 Euro (about $25) every month. On top of your cable TV or whatever service you are using. You pay them just because you can or could watch TV, even if you don't watch any TV at all. You HAVE to pay them. Seriously. If you don't, they will show up, just like the Mafia. They send you letters, ring your doorbell. They threaten you. They do everything in their power to make you pay. As far as I know you now have to pay for smartphones as well. Because you COULD use them to watch TV shows or listen to radio. Crazy shit right there. If you want to know more about this "criminal" German institution, check out this article on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEZ
3. The Very Grumpy People
When entering a store in Germany, some (or even most!) of the people working there give you the feeling you are not welcome at all. Like "Naw, go away, we don't want to sell anything. Oh and it's the time of the month so please just leave me alone. Me and my colleague want to talk about our weekend plans."
Did you watch "Pretty Woman"? Check out this video (at 0:30) minus the "Can I help you":
Those grumpy people can be found in many places though. Like Christmas markets. Or at grocery stores. Oh, and in cars, of course! I don't know what's wrong with them, but being nice and polite is definitely nothing most Germans are used to, especially the ones who never ever left Germany.
Anything my expat friends would like to add to this list?
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Relocating: The Car
Hello and happy Thursday!
Today marks another big step in the whole "relocating-across-the-big-pond" process:
The car got picked up!
There was no doubt we wanted to take the car to the US. M bought it brand new when he got out of the Army. It's a 2011 Ford Fusion, and we just love it. Plus it is US specs, so it would have been hard to sell it over here in Germany, since only Military personnel and/or civilians working for the US military over here would have been allowed to drive it.
After a whole lot of debating, researching, and pricing, we decided to go with CFR Rinkens. We had to go for a door-to-door car shipping service. So far I am very happy with them! Connie, our contact, is nice and quick. She replies to every e-mail right away.
The guy who picked up the car with this HUGE truck this morning was awesome, too! He called 1 hour before he got to Fürth, so I had enough time to get ready and meet him at the parking garage.
The best thing so far: Even though our Ford wouldn't start, the car was back running, stored in the truck, and ready to be shipped 30 only minutes later!!
Connie told us the car should arrive in El Dorado, AR, in no more than 45 days. Fingers crossed everything goes smooth and fast from now on as well!
Now the Ford should be on its way to Bremerhaven, and will be shipped to NYC as soon as possible. I think it's really exciting!
Check out my amazing sponsor:
Today marks another big step in the whole "relocating-across-the-big-pond" process:
The car got picked up!
There was no doubt we wanted to take the car to the US. M bought it brand new when he got out of the Army. It's a 2011 Ford Fusion, and we just love it. Plus it is US specs, so it would have been hard to sell it over here in Germany, since only Military personnel and/or civilians working for the US military over here would have been allowed to drive it.
After a whole lot of debating, researching, and pricing, we decided to go with CFR Rinkens. We had to go for a door-to-door car shipping service. So far I am very happy with them! Connie, our contact, is nice and quick. She replies to every e-mail right away.
The guy who picked up the car with this HUGE truck this morning was awesome, too! He called 1 hour before he got to Fürth, so I had enough time to get ready and meet him at the parking garage.
The best thing so far: Even though our Ford wouldn't start, the car was back running, stored in the truck, and ready to be shipped 30 only minutes later!!
Connie told us the car should arrive in El Dorado, AR, in no more than 45 days. Fingers crossed everything goes smooth and fast from now on as well!
Now the Ford should be on its way to Bremerhaven, and will be shipped to NYC as soon as possible. I think it's really exciting!
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Relocation: The Pet Edition // Coco's Trip Across The Big Pond
The most heartbreaking part of the relocation so far was getting our beloved Coco cat to the USA. There is a lot to keep in mind when you are relocating your cat. In our case that meant from Germany to the USA. Here is a list of what we did:
(If you use links in this post, I may earn a commission. Full Disclosure)
Call the airline to make sure you can take the cat!
The minute I had M's flight data, I called Delta/KLM to arrange everything for Coco's flight. They have to confirm everything. Since the trip was Nuremberg -> Amsterdam -> Atlanta -> Little Rock, there were quite a few flights that needed confirmation. I would really suggest calling them as soon as you know the date of travel and flight number(s).
Usually they ask if you want to put your cat in the cargo section, or if it is allowed in the cabin. In our case there was no other way than taking her on the coach, and I was really happy about that. Knowing Coco would be in the cargo for more than 17 hours would have broken my heart.
What's the best pet carrier?
I did a whole lot of research on this one. Since I knew M had to take Coco on the plane, there weren't many options. We decided to get the "SturdiBag Large". It is airline approved and lighter than most other carriers. This is important as well since all airlines have a weight restriction for pets traveling in the cabin. The airlines will most likely weigh your cat in the carrier at the counter, so the lighter the pet carrier, the better.
I built up the "SturdiBag" as soon as it arrived in the mail, so Coco used it as her little hideaway. She loved it from day one! For safety reasons I put a padded changing mat on the bottom and her favorite fleece blanket on top of it. M told me later she didn't pee or poop during the whole flight though. But anyways - safety first!
M had to squeeze the bag to make it fit under the seat in front of him. Coco would have had enough room anyways, but the flight attendants on all 3 flights were so nice to let him put the carrier either on a seat next to him, or aisle. So Coco and M made it across the big pond in one piece, safe and sound.
Is the cat healthy enough?
Coco had her vet appointment about 4 weeks before the trip. She needed a checkup, 3 shots, and a passport. I never knew something like this even existed! But yes, my cat is now a proud passport holder of the EU! Coco was a true rock star at the vet practice. She wasn't even complaining when her mean mama decided to get her chipped as well. Just a little "shhhhhhhhhhhhhh" and that was it!
Well done!
A few more things to keep in mind:
You will have to take the cat out of the carrier while going through security check. A collar and leash came in handy in this situation. Another option would be asking for a seperate room while they check the carrier. Believe me, they will do it. No one wants a wild cat running around an airport!
You are not allowed to put the cat on any tranquilizers! If you do so, they might refuse to take the cat on board! What we were using to prepare Coco for the flight was "Dr Bach Rescue Remedy" - for pets. We put it in her water and on the morning of the flight mixed it up with some liquid cat candy.
And the most important thing: Stop feeding the cat 12 hours before takeoff! Otherwise it might vomit and choke, and we don't want that!!!
My blogging friend Juanita was by my (Facebook-)side all through the preparations and answered every question I had.
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| http://juanitatortilla.blogspot.com |
Her cats traveled a lot already, so I was happy to have her to calm me down.
Thank you, chickee!!!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Finally an update!
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| You can tell we are about to move... Let the chaotic days begin! |
Hello my lovely readers and sorry for being MIA lately!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas time and a smooth start into 2014? I definitely did! M arrived on December 21st. We picked him up at the airport, and I can't even describe how happy I was to finally be with him again after 8 long long months!!! We've had a wonderful time, eating out, strolling Christmas markets, drinking Glühwein, cuddling up on the couch watching movies... I really needed that! I missed my man so so much!
Christmas was wonderful as well. My family came all the way to Bavaria and we had a great time together!
So this is actually the main reason for me not blogging for a couple of days. Yep, I'm sugarcoating it :oD. Weeks would be more correct in this case.
I'm making huge progress in the whole moving process though! The apartment is very empty - I keep selling stuff! Love it! The moving company will pick up all the goods we will take to the states mid February. I hope I will be out of here and handing over the keys by the end of February as well.
Monday night the Realtor will bring the first couple of people over who are interested in moving in. Fingers crossed they will take my kitchen furniture!!!
M's car will be shipped next week. Hallelujah! I still have to remove the trash bags full of stuff from the trunk, clean it inside and outside. But my brother in law promised to help me, so I am pretty much relaxed.
But the biggest news I am about to spill tomorrow! So make sure to stay tuned!
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Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Gateway Arch // St. Louis, MO
It has been on my bucket list, and I am super thankful my husband took me all the way to St. Louis (read more HERE)
to tick it off my list:
Visiting the Gateway Arch!
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) tall monument in St. Louis, in the U.S. state of Missouri. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a flattened catenary arch, it is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, Missouri's tallest accessible building, and the world's tallest arch. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, it is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and has become an internationally famous symbol of St. Louis.
The arch sits at the site of St. Louis' founding on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
The Gateway Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and German-American structural engineer Hannskarl Bandel in 1947.
Construction began on February 12, 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965, at a total cost of US$13 million ($97,300,000 in 2014). The monument opened to the public on June 10, 1967.
via wikipedia.org
We even paid the $10 each to ride the capsule to the top of the Arch. It was a super foggy day, but the view was awesome anyway! If you ever visit St. Louis, I really tell you to invest the money to do the ride! I was a wee bit claustrophobic and sick during and after the ride up the Arch, but it was totally worth it.
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| ...you can tell I wasn't feeling THAT comfortable 630 feet up in the air. After a 4 minute ride in a tiny capsule. |
There is a tour every few minutes, so the waiting time shouldn't be that long. I think it took us about 20-30 minutes from the minute we've bought the tickets to the second we stepped out of the capsules. You can stay on top of the Arch as long as you want to, but since there is not that much space up there, they might kick you out after a certain amount of time...
We've stayed up there for about 15 minutes, and took a ride back down. I've had a wonderful time!
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
People kept asking me about my Watermelon hat - so I decided to put it on my Etsy shop as well:
It's a lie! Don't let them fool you!
One of my friends in Germany posted a picture on Facebook today, and everyone over there was like "What the heck is that?". And since I have received 3 of said items so far (thank you, all my "Dollar Tree"-shopping friends), I think it's about time to tell you guys something....
The Christmas Pickle is as German as the "German Chocolate Cake", the Pope, and the president of the United States of America!
No one in Germany ever puts a pickle on their Christmas tree. Don't let those stupid PR people fool you. And if you have German friends, please don't give them a Christmas Pickle as a gift and expect them to be joyful and thankful. We don't know what that ish is... I dropped my 3 off at the Salvation Army the other day. I don't want a new one. Thank you.
And just in case you didn't figure: The German Chocolate Cake, the Pope, and Barack Obama are't German, either.
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The Christmas Pickle is as German as the "German Chocolate Cake", the Pope, and the president of the United States of America!
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| "Weihnachts Gurke" by Christbaumschmuck der Firma Inge-Glas, Neustadt bei Coburg, Deutschland - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Weihnachts_Gurke.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Weihnachts_Gurke.jpg |
No one in Germany ever puts a pickle on their Christmas tree. Don't let those stupid PR people fool you. And if you have German friends, please don't give them a Christmas Pickle as a gift and expect them to be joyful and thankful. We don't know what that ish is... I dropped my 3 off at the Salvation Army the other day. I don't want a new one. Thank you.
And just in case you didn't figure: The German Chocolate Cake, the Pope, and Barack Obama are't German, either.
Review + Giveaway: Garcinia Cambogia Extract by Natural Nutrition Labs
What Is Garcina Cambogia Extract?
Garcinia cambogia is a small, pumpkin-shaped fruit, sometimes called tamarind. Though native to Indonesia, it is also grown in India, Southeast Asia, and West and Central Africa. It has long been used in traditional South Asian dishes, including curries and chutneys. Many also use the fruit for curing fish and preservation. Adding this ingredient to meals is considered to be effective in making meals more “filling.” In some villages in Malaysia, garcinia is used to make a soup that is eaten before meals for weight loss because of garcinia’s appetite-blocking abilities.
This plant offers one of the least expensive herbal supplements on the market. The ingredient from the rind of the fruit could hasten your weight-loss efforts. The natural extract is called hydroxycitric acid (HCA), and researchers claim that HCA can double or triple one’s weight loss.via Dr Oz
With proper weight-loss efforts (dieting and exercising), the average person taking HCA lost anaverage of four pounds a month.
Garcinia may also be great for emotional eaters. Those who participated in the study showed an increase in their serotonin levels; hence, it may also improve mood and sleeping patterns.
Garcinia Cambogia has featured on numerous TV shows including Dr Oz. He recommended Garcinia Cambogia calling it "The most exciting breakthrough in natural weight loss to date".
Garcinia Cambogia Extract Pure is a great support if you want to lose weight! BUT: Don't expect swallowing pills to get a result. You still have to be active and eat healthy. This is why I would give this product 4 out of 5 stars - the 5th has to be earned by YOU!
The pills work great for me as an support. I'm working really hard to get my old body back, and I am doing this by working out, eating healthy, and taking the Garcinia Cambogio Extract pills.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Life Lately // Vacation Update
Hello there! I just wanted to let you all know I made it to Germany in one piece. It was a loooong trip though, including an 8 hour overlay in London. I was so happy when I finally arrived in Frankfurt! I left Little Rock at 6am. First pit stop in Chicago (I LOVE O'Hare Airport!), and then across the big pond, London-bound.
I was cheap when I was booking the flight. That's why I had the 8 hours overlay in London. It wouldn't have been all that bad, but almost every single shop and restaurant was closed. I was a little surprised about everything being closed, since Heathrow is such a huge airport! Even the "Heathrow Express", the train connecting the terminals, was closed for the night. So I had to find the Night Bus stop, and wait 30 minutes to get on a (doubledecker) bus to my departure terminal 5. All this after 2 flights and hours and hours of traveling. Sucks.
Luckily there was a "Marks & Spencer" open at terminal 5, so I stacked up on water, fruit, and vegetables for the night. So I was just sitting there, watching "2 Broke Girl$", eating, drinking, people watching, all night, waiting for the security check-in to open at 5:30am the next morning.
The 3rd and last flight was from London to Frankfurt. Guess who fell asleep even before the plane took off? Yep, this gurrl. I slept the whole flight, only woke up once, when the flight attendant was trying to hand me a croissant. But then I fell back asleep and woke up seconds before we touched down in good old Germany.
The first 3-4 days were like hell, jetlag wise. I was so super sleepy! Now it's been 10 days already, and slowly I'm getting used to the German time zone again.
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| My sister took this paparazzi snapshot of me. I just closed my eyes for 5 minutes. I promise. |
I was cheap when I was booking the flight. That's why I had the 8 hours overlay in London. It wouldn't have been all that bad, but almost every single shop and restaurant was closed. I was a little surprised about everything being closed, since Heathrow is such a huge airport! Even the "Heathrow Express", the train connecting the terminals, was closed for the night. So I had to find the Night Bus stop, and wait 30 minutes to get on a (doubledecker) bus to my departure terminal 5. All this after 2 flights and hours and hours of traveling. Sucks.
Luckily there was a "Marks & Spencer" open at terminal 5, so I stacked up on water, fruit, and vegetables for the night. So I was just sitting there, watching "2 Broke Girl$", eating, drinking, people watching, all night, waiting for the security check-in to open at 5:30am the next morning.
The 3rd and last flight was from London to Frankfurt. Guess who fell asleep even before the plane took off? Yep, this gurrl. I slept the whole flight, only woke up once, when the flight attendant was trying to hand me a croissant. But then I fell back asleep and woke up seconds before we touched down in good old Germany.
The first 3-4 days were like hell, jetlag wise. I was so super sleepy! Now it's been 10 days already, and slowly I'm getting used to the German time zone again.
Watch out for some more posts from my time in Germany!
And I have an awesome guest post coming up!
Huge Milestone: The Car Arrived
While we are still waiting for any news about when we will get our household goods, we have reached a huge milestone in the whole relocating-across-the-big-pond yesterday:
M was almost crying when he came home from work :) he missed his black baby! And you know what true love is? He let me drive the care in within the first 2 hours of it being here. THAT'S true love, indeed.
I can sum the rest of the day up with only a few words: carwash and cruisin'! We've had a blast, and to be honest it was one of the happiest moments we've had for a long time. The whole moving and especially the issues we are having with the company that is moving our household from Germany to the USA, are really a mood killer. And a money eater. Which causes money issues. You know how it is... Well, I will tell you more about that soon!
But: If you ever have to ship your car across an ocean, I can definitely suggest calling the people from CFR Rinkens. They, and especially our go to girl Connie, did an awesome job! Thanks again!
Check out my amazing sponsor:
Our car arrived!
M was almost crying when he came home from work :) he missed his black baby! And you know what true love is? He let me drive the care in within the first 2 hours of it being here. THAT'S true love, indeed.
I can sum the rest of the day up with only a few words: carwash and cruisin'! We've had a blast, and to be honest it was one of the happiest moments we've had for a long time. The whole moving and especially the issues we are having with the company that is moving our household from Germany to the USA, are really a mood killer. And a money eater. Which causes money issues. You know how it is... Well, I will tell you more about that soon!
But: If you ever have to ship your car across an ocean, I can definitely suggest calling the people from CFR Rinkens. They, and especially our go to girl Connie, did an awesome job! Thanks again!
Happy Tuesday!
The Never Ending Story // VA Claim
So far I was keeping all the anger to myself, but it is finally time to speak up about how the VA is treating my man.
M served the US Army for 18 years, went to Iraq 5 times. Got injured, suffers from PTSD, has a messed up back, bad rash caused by the stuff he was working with, and several other medical conditions.
He went to med board 2.5 years ago, started his VA claim together with an experienced VA rep.
Here we are now, 2.5 years later, and all he got so far is one payment of $18.
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M served the US Army for 18 years, went to Iraq 5 times. Got injured, suffers from PTSD, has a messed up back, bad rash caused by the stuff he was working with, and several other medical conditions.
He went to med board 2.5 years ago, started his VA claim together with an experienced VA rep.
Here we are now, 2.5 years later, and all he got so far is one payment of $18.
He got a disability of 70%.
- He calls one day, they say his case is closed.
Ok, so where is all the money?
When will we get the back pay?
When will we get the paper stating it is closed, so we can finally file taxes? - He calls again. "Oh no, Sir, it is not closed! It is still pending! We are waiting for this and that paperwork!" -> which we sent in August 2013!!!
- He calls again, they say it's closed
- He calls again, they say it's pending
- He calls again, they say it's in St. Louis
- He calls again, they say they need this and that paper
- He calls again, they say "Oh no, Sir, we already have that paper!"
- .....
This goes on for way too long now! M was serving this country. He was risking his life! He deserves his monthly check! We've lived off of my savings for way too long! If I wouldn't have been there, M would be just another homeless veteran in the USA!
Is this how you treat your HEROES, dear USA???
I hope not! As soon as this stuff is done (FOR GOOD!) and we have our money, I will definitely write every single thing down and send it to all different TV stations and newspapers. I know we are not alone, and this has to be made public!
Are you enjoying your weekend?
Happy Saturday!
I hope you guys are enjoying your weekends?
I am sitting at our new dining room table typing this. You can't even imagine how happy I am to finally have a place to sit down and do stuff. I found it at a yard sale group on Facebook for a greal deal! And they were so nice and even delivered it to our house this morning, since we don't have a truck.
The couch is fine, but after a while it is just messing up my back. Our household goods are scheduled to arrive in New York on 9th of April. Hopefully the whole customs process will go smooth. FYI: The car still didn't make it to us yet.... I am really mad.
Since I don't work, I have pretty "adventurous" days so far. I walk around El Dorado a lot - which is a real adventure already, because sidewalks either don't exist, or are death traps...
The city is lovely though! I already have a favorite coffee spot: PJ's!
Oh and I sure love the fact, that the Stadium is so close to our house! I go there a lot to run,/work out to loose some of my 40 extra pounds I feel I gained since quitting smoking 10 months ago. Also I have to train for my 5k run in Little Rock on Memorial Day weekend!!
It feels as if I'm in the worst shape ever... But I am fighting! And as soon as our stuff gets here, I will have all my Jillian Michaels DVDs, dum bells, and all the other workout stuff. Jillian makes it so much easier for me to get in shape...
I hope you are doing great!
Check out my amazing sponsor:
I hope you guys are enjoying your weekends?
I am sitting at our new dining room table typing this. You can't even imagine how happy I am to finally have a place to sit down and do stuff. I found it at a yard sale group on Facebook for a greal deal! And they were so nice and even delivered it to our house this morning, since we don't have a truck.
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| One of the chairs |
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| This is a picture of the dining room set (bad one - off Facebook) |
Since I don't work, I have pretty "adventurous" days so far. I walk around El Dorado a lot - which is a real adventure already, because sidewalks either don't exist, or are death traps...
The city is lovely though! I already have a favorite coffee spot: PJ's!
Oh and I sure love the fact, that the Stadium is so close to our house! I go there a lot to run,/work out to loose some of my 40 extra pounds I feel I gained since quitting smoking 10 months ago. Also I have to train for my 5k run in Little Rock on Memorial Day weekend!!
It feels as if I'm in the worst shape ever... But I am fighting! And as soon as our stuff gets here, I will have all my Jillian Michaels DVDs, dum bells, and all the other workout stuff. Jillian makes it so much easier for me to get in shape...
I hope you are doing great!
Have a lovely weekend!
Free! // 8 Days Left In Germany
Howdy dear readers!
I know, it was a little too quiet round here lately... The whole moving process was tougher than
I thought it would be. The moving company missed to book the container, so our household goods won't arrive in AR before mid April - if that early. Plus since we had 3 cbm extra stuff to be shipped, the moving cost a little more than expected. 800€ more. Ugh.
Tomorrow me, my sister and nephew will pack up the car and go to Trier. I will stay there until I leave Thursday night to go to Frankfurt airport. This gives me time to hang out with my other siblings, dad, and friends. I'm so ready to leave though!!! I will be back for my birthday mid June, so saying "goodbye" is more like a "see you later".
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I thought it would be. The moving company missed to book the container, so our household goods won't arrive in AR before mid April - if that early. Plus since we had 3 cbm extra stuff to be shipped, the moving cost a little more than expected. 800€ more. Ugh.
2 days ago I finally gave the keys to our apartment back to the realtor, and living at my sister's place since then. Usually it felt weird to leave places I lived in, but this time the only thing I felt was: relieved!
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| Bye Bye, Tannenstrasse 1! |
Living with stuff that fits in 2 suitcases was fun for a while, but I'm ready to have a "real" life again. I sleep on a couch for 4 weeks now, and I'm scared it will break my back again. It's not even a futon or a sleeping couch, it's more like a large love seat.... Ugh.
Happy Thursday and talk soon :)
Moving: Check!
Just a quick update: today was moving day and everything went really smooth!
I caught a bad cold about 2 days ago, and was knocked out, so I'm happy I finished my part before the cold hit me, and the movers did a great job. It took a little longer than I expected, but at 4pm the little truck left and will be on its way to the sea port soon.
Thank you all for your support and prayers!
I'll hide in my little camp now and sleep... I'm really, really tired and exhausted.
Good night!
xoxo
Anni
11 Days
Time flies by! The moving company will be here in 11 days to pick up our stuff. I just finished packing a box with stuff I will need right away as soon as I get to Arkansas, like towels, bedding, PJs... Just a few essentials.
Last night I have ordered the first few kitchen gadgets and they will be there tomorrow! I hope M won't break them before I get there!!
Because of the 220V/110V issue, I had to get basically EVERYTHING. On Black Friday M already bought a griddle, a coffee maker, and a small CrockPot. Last night I ordered a 6 quart CrockPot, an immersion blender, a hand mixer, a food processor, an epilator, and a brick for my Nintendo Wii. Oh and pillows. M is still kind of living like a camper in our new home, so to be on the safe side, I've ordered those, too. Type a. Sorry.
Someday this week I have to go into the basement :o/ sorting through and throwing stuff away will definitely not be fun down there!
So this was a little update from my side! I will be back tomorrow!
Relocating: Things I will definitely NOT miss about Germany (Pt. 1)
Howdy and happy Friday!
The weekend is finally here. Oh and if you guys don't know what to do: come on over and help me getting this house in order, so I won't have to be ashamed tomorrow while showing the people who want to move in around! The Realtor called in sick, so I will have to do it.... Ugh.
Today I want to share a few things about living in Germany I WILL DEFINITELY NOT MISS! Don't get me wrong, Germany is an awesome country to live in. But a few things in daily life just drive you crazy:
1. The "Einwegpfand"
If you want to buy soda in Germany, no matter if it is a bottle or a can, you have to pay 25 cent extra. Deposit. Yes, on every single item there is a 25 cent bottle deposit. Or container deposit.
You might think I'm cheap, but it is way too much money to just throw the bottles and cans away. If you want your money back, you will have to go to the grocery store, wait in a line of about 15 other people with huge trash bags full of empty bottles and cans, put every single bottle into a nasty, sticky, stinky machine, grab the receipt (which my sister ALWAYS forgets), and cash it in at the checkout.
2. The "GEZ"
The "GEZ" is a fee collection service, some bright human came up with in 1976. Every household in Germany using a Radio/TV/Computer/tbc. HAS TO pay €17,98 Euro (about $25) every month. On top of your cable TV or whatever service you are using. You pay them just because you can or could watch TV, even if you don't watch any TV at all. You HAVE to pay them. Seriously. If you don't, they will show up, just like the Mafia. They send you letters, ring your doorbell. They threaten you. They do everything in their power to make you pay. As far as I know you now have to pay for smartphones as well. Because you COULD use them to watch TV shows or listen to radio. Crazy shit right there. If you want to know more about this "criminal" German institution, check out this article on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEZ
3. The Very Grumpy People
When entering a store in Germany, some (or even most!) of the people working there give you the feeling you are not welcome at all. Like "Naw, go away, we don't want to sell anything. Oh and it's the time of the month so please just leave me alone. Me and my colleague want to talk about our weekend plans."
Did you watch "Pretty Woman"? Check out this video (at 0:30) minus the "Can I help you":
Those grumpy people can be found in many places though. Like Christmas markets. Or at grocery stores. Oh, and in cars, of course! I don't know what's wrong with them, but being nice and polite is definitely nothing most Germans are used to, especially the ones who never ever left Germany.
Anything my expat friends would like to add to this list?
Relocating: The Car
Hello and happy Thursday!
Today marks another big step in the whole "relocating-across-the-big-pond" process:
The car got picked up!
There was no doubt we wanted to take the car to the US. M bought it brand new when he got out of the Army. It's a 2011 Ford Fusion, and we just love it. Plus it is US specs, so it would have been hard to sell it over here in Germany, since only Military personnel and/or civilians working for the US military over here would have been allowed to drive it.
After a whole lot of debating, researching, and pricing, we decided to go with CFR Rinkens. We had to go for a door-to-door car shipping service. So far I am very happy with them! Connie, our contact, is nice and quick. She replies to every e-mail right away.
The guy who picked up the car with this HUGE truck this morning was awesome, too! He called 1 hour before he got to Fürth, so I had enough time to get ready and meet him at the parking garage.
The best thing so far: Even though our Ford wouldn't start, the car was back running, stored in the truck, and ready to be shipped 30 only minutes later!!
Connie told us the car should arrive in El Dorado, AR, in no more than 45 days. Fingers crossed everything goes smooth and fast from now on as well!
Now the Ford should be on its way to Bremerhaven, and will be shipped to NYC as soon as possible. I think it's really exciting!
Check out my amazing sponsor:
Today marks another big step in the whole "relocating-across-the-big-pond" process:
The car got picked up!
There was no doubt we wanted to take the car to the US. M bought it brand new when he got out of the Army. It's a 2011 Ford Fusion, and we just love it. Plus it is US specs, so it would have been hard to sell it over here in Germany, since only Military personnel and/or civilians working for the US military over here would have been allowed to drive it.
After a whole lot of debating, researching, and pricing, we decided to go with CFR Rinkens. We had to go for a door-to-door car shipping service. So far I am very happy with them! Connie, our contact, is nice and quick. She replies to every e-mail right away.
The guy who picked up the car with this HUGE truck this morning was awesome, too! He called 1 hour before he got to Fürth, so I had enough time to get ready and meet him at the parking garage.
The best thing so far: Even though our Ford wouldn't start, the car was back running, stored in the truck, and ready to be shipped 30 only minutes later!!
Connie told us the car should arrive in El Dorado, AR, in no more than 45 days. Fingers crossed everything goes smooth and fast from now on as well!
Now the Ford should be on its way to Bremerhaven, and will be shipped to NYC as soon as possible. I think it's really exciting!
Relocation: The Pet Edition // Coco's Trip Across The Big Pond
The most heartbreaking part of the relocation so far was getting our beloved Coco cat to the USA. There is a lot to keep in mind when you are relocating your cat. In our case that meant from Germany to the USA. Here is a list of what we did:
(If you use links in this post, I may earn a commission. Full Disclosure)
Call the airline to make sure you can take the cat!
The minute I had M's flight data, I called Delta/KLM to arrange everything for Coco's flight. They have to confirm everything. Since the trip was Nuremberg -> Amsterdam -> Atlanta -> Little Rock, there were quite a few flights that needed confirmation. I would really suggest calling them as soon as you know the date of travel and flight number(s).
Usually they ask if you want to put your cat in the cargo section, or if it is allowed in the cabin. In our case there was no other way than taking her on the coach, and I was really happy about that. Knowing Coco would be in the cargo for more than 17 hours would have broken my heart.
What's the best pet carrier?
I did a whole lot of research on this one. Since I knew M had to take Coco on the plane, there weren't many options. We decided to get the "SturdiBag Large". It is airline approved and lighter than most other carriers. This is important as well since all airlines have a weight restriction for pets traveling in the cabin. The airlines will most likely weigh your cat in the carrier at the counter, so the lighter the pet carrier, the better.
I built up the "SturdiBag" as soon as it arrived in the mail, so Coco used it as her little hideaway. She loved it from day one! For safety reasons I put a padded changing mat on the bottom and her favorite fleece blanket on top of it. M told me later she didn't pee or poop during the whole flight though. But anyways - safety first!
M had to squeeze the bag to make it fit under the seat in front of him. Coco would have had enough room anyways, but the flight attendants on all 3 flights were so nice to let him put the carrier either on a seat next to him, or aisle. So Coco and M made it across the big pond in one piece, safe and sound.
Is the cat healthy enough?
Coco had her vet appointment about 4 weeks before the trip. She needed a checkup, 3 shots, and a passport. I never knew something like this even existed! But yes, my cat is now a proud passport holder of the EU! Coco was a true rock star at the vet practice. She wasn't even complaining when her mean mama decided to get her chipped as well. Just a little "shhhhhhhhhhhhhh" and that was it!
Well done!
A few more things to keep in mind:
You will have to take the cat out of the carrier while going through security check. A collar and leash came in handy in this situation. Another option would be asking for a seperate room while they check the carrier. Believe me, they will do it. No one wants a wild cat running around an airport!
You are not allowed to put the cat on any tranquilizers! If you do so, they might refuse to take the cat on board! What we were using to prepare Coco for the flight was "Dr Bach Rescue Remedy" - for pets. We put it in her water and on the morning of the flight mixed it up with some liquid cat candy.
And the most important thing: Stop feeding the cat 12 hours before takeoff! Otherwise it might vomit and choke, and we don't want that!!!
My blogging friend Juanita was by my (Facebook-)side all through the preparations and answered every question I had.
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| http://juanitatortilla.blogspot.com |
Her cats traveled a lot already, so I was happy to have her to calm me down.
Thank you, chickee!!!
Finally an update!
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| You can tell we are about to move... Let the chaotic days begin! |
Hello my lovely readers and sorry for being MIA lately!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas time and a smooth start into 2014? I definitely did! M arrived on December 21st. We picked him up at the airport, and I can't even describe how happy I was to finally be with him again after 8 long long months!!! We've had a wonderful time, eating out, strolling Christmas markets, drinking Glühwein, cuddling up on the couch watching movies... I really needed that! I missed my man so so much!
Christmas was wonderful as well. My family came all the way to Bavaria and we had a great time together!
So this is actually the main reason for me not blogging for a couple of days. Yep, I'm sugarcoating it :oD. Weeks would be more correct in this case.
I'm making huge progress in the whole moving process though! The apartment is very empty - I keep selling stuff! Love it! The moving company will pick up all the goods we will take to the states mid February. I hope I will be out of here and handing over the keys by the end of February as well.
Monday night the Realtor will bring the first couple of people over who are interested in moving in. Fingers crossed they will take my kitchen furniture!!!
M's car will be shipped next week. Hallelujah! I still have to remove the trash bags full of stuff from the trunk, clean it inside and outside. But my brother in law promised to help me, so I am pretty much relaxed.
But the biggest news I am about to spill tomorrow! So make sure to stay tuned!
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