KARNIVAL! {Der Deutsche Feiertag}

hi everyone, today is the 1. Karnival tag in Germany, and it's pretty crazy right now in Düsseldorf. the Aldstadt is packed full of tourist and costumed people right now. Karnival is the German Mardi Gras. It's been in Germany since the middle ages and i think it's one of the most fun festivals in Germany. I think that it would actually shock a lot of Americans at how open and friendly Germans are when they celebrate something together. I won't be near a computer much until after the Karnival Weekend is over (so, after Monday) because, well, i want to be a part of this! vielspaß und Aufwiedersehen!

with love,

janeen

Highlights of 2012.

a really great summer. pre-deutschland. ( here, here, and here )

the long and paper-work filled ;)  road to Germany (1, 2, 3)

saying goodbye to this city that i love.

my first hiking trip (...ever) with my host family in Eifel.

getting to know Düsseldorf (remember this?) , one of the best states in Germany

one hundred percent concentrated awesomeness XD

made friends with an amazing group of people

my 16th birthday (in germany)!

Österreich.

discovering old things, new to me (this)

Deutsche Weihnachtsmarkts ( this right here)

my first German christmas :)

this year hast had it's highs and lows, like every year. but there is so much that happened this year that i never thought could actually happen. and there is just so much that i'm thankful for, and so many memories that i'm sure will stay with me forever. 2012 was a good year. i have good anticipation for what the next year will bring :)

sketch via. tumblr

with love,

janeen

Frohe Weihnachten ❄

merry christmas everyone :) ❄ and blessed yuletide ❄

with love

janeen

Wintermärchen Düsseldorf ❄

 {everyday stories} Wintermärchen Düsseldorf.

ok, so in Düsseldorf there is one of the most famous Weinachtmarkt's in germany. i went spazieren with the Fam, on the one sunday that it's Munich has Oktoberfest, Berlin has the wall and Düsseldorf has the T.V. tower, Rhine and Weinachtsmarkt! it's absolutely beautiful, and i'm dying to go and see it when it's actually opened, but in the word of my hungarian exchange friend, I've got four weeks. I shouldn't try and rush christmas :)

with love, 

janeen

p.s. i thought this was really important to share considering it's the symbol of Düsseldorf, the Radschläger, und im Weinachtzeit ( Christmastime) the man is holding a basket, or something - i'll ask my parents and tell you later :) - but, I was really happy that i understood, while someone who didn't live in the state or now to history would have no idea.

❄ Frohe Weinachtzeit ❄

♥happy thanksgiving♥

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

this year, i'm most thankful for all of the (once in a lifetime) opportunities i've been given. i'm thankful to be in Germany, to have such a wonderful host family and the chance to meet and build friendships with so many great people from all over the world. and i will always be thankful for the family and friends that i love so very much who are waiting for me when i come back home. ♥happy thanksgiving, i miss you all so very much♥

- JANEEN

Elation. {16.}

Elation.

my gosh! i'm so happy to have such wonderful host parents. they wern't able to be here for my 16th birthday on the 2. so they surprised me with a cake (backed by my host dad) and balloons and streamers before dinner. they'd already left my other presets with the neighbors and i honestly couldn't have been more surprised or elated. it's a good feeling when you realize that people truly and sincerely care for you.

with love

- janeen mickayla

Have a Happy Hallowe'en.

happy hallowe'en :3

unfortunately, there isn't much planned this year for Hallowe'en. they don't really celebrate this holiday here (Deutschland), and i won't be making any thing myself aside from pumpkin carving (as shown above ^-^). so, to all of you out there, please have a joyous, or (relatively) morbid, celebration this Sabbat, whether that's Samhain, Hallowmas, Hop Tu Naa or Day of The Dead.

the best of wishes

- janeen mickayla

BITS+PIECES {Pumpkin Picking.}

bits+pieces {pumpkin picking.}

okay, so i'm extremely excited and happy that i will not have to give up putting a carved pumpkin at the door this october holiday. i was skying with my mom the other day and i had gotten so sad because i saw my brother playing with the pumpkin and i thought i wouldn't be able to do that this year. luckily, my host parents are awesome and they do this too! we went pumpkin picking today and i was beaming! we are having a little barbeque-grill-bonfire, to say goodbye to this beautiful season of warmth (it's like they know exactly what i need ;D). They went all out for this party. They even bought a hay stack. haha! but i did get to taste some really delicious kurbis waffles. yuuuumm! i think i might even give them their own post. they were so good, and covered in powdered sugar, it reminded me of home. :) So, today was a good day. Happy, fun, and full of laughter and celebration. Deutschland hasn't let me down yet.

with love

- janeen mickayla

BITS + PIECES OF SÖLL

bits+pieces {söll-tirol, österreich}

one. Söll's first greetings to me.

two. i ate my first Austrian Früstuck(breakfast) here.

three. this was the view.

four. this is what i drank. (also Austrian)

five. this is very old.

six. this was our suite

seven. this is where i slept

eight. this was my first hike.

nine. i envied this birds wings. (Austrian hills burned my thighs)

ten. this was the best schnitzel.

eleven. this bird tried to kill me.

twelve. this was my second hike. 

thirteen. the view is worth the pain.

fourteen. and this was just too beautiful.

fifteen. i will always love the water.

sixteen. the Austrian countryside was like a relief after living in a German city.

seventeen. thank you, Österreich. i had the best time.

- janeen mickayla