Summer Highlights: Vanessa and Sheldon's Cancun Wedding

The days have long turned to fall and although I am enjoying the changing leaves, the new layers of clothing on my body and that crispness in the air when I leave my apartment in the morning, I would always rather it be summer. I'm just that kind of girl. This particular summer was an interesting one with ups and downs and a lot of trips to the beach. And since I pretty much dropped off the face of the blogosphere (maybe I'm back?), none of it was documented, until now...

It all started with a trip to Cancun to see my oldest friend (we met in kindergarten) get hitched to one of the wackiest (in the best way possible) guys I know in an all-inclusive resort a la the senior trip I never went on. See, that's him all sweaty and topless on the first night already! So, crazy guys, old friends, some serious sun, and an endless supply of free alcohol, equaled what you might guess: some of the craziest (in the best way possible again) few days of my life. There were pina colada breakfasts in the pool, yoga sessions on the beach, all you can eat eating at the buffet, dancing in the club, night skinny dipping in the ocean and of course a lovely and tear-filled wedding. 

Documenting an event where you spend most of your time half-submerged in water with a margarita in your hand is not that easy, as you can see from my photos. But my BFF Bryn and I did try and capture some of our many outfit changes. She is a stylist in LA and has got some of the coolest clothes around. We did pretty well at first, but as the days wore on and the hangovers and sunburns worsened, the photograph taking dwindled. But here's what I got from our kickoff to summer (with a few stolen from Facebook)...and congrats to Vanessa and Sheldon again!

A Christmas Feast

For having to stay in NYC for Christmas, I think my friends who also couldn't afford the $600 tickets to California and I, did a pretty good job of making it something special. Christmas Eve that is, Christmas Day was a wash that I do not even need to get into here. So at first we decided we were going to do a gift exchange where you pick a name out of a hat and get one gift for someone — but then in the giving spirit of the season we decided, what the heck, why don't we each get everyone a present. I mean there were only four of us (and one added last minute surprise guest). And with the gift giving we would have a proper feast. 

I got really into cooking when I was living in Germany last year, but since I have been back in New York it's been harder to keep up for various reasons. But I got back into it for Xmas Eve and decided to make something I had never cooked before. A little risky for a special day, but I wanted to make something festive that looked amazing (or maybe a little scary for some) and hopefully tasted the same. So I bought each of us a whole trout and kept the heads for dramatic effect and made this recipe, along with some seared scallops. With the side dishes the girls made, it all turned out pretty delicious. 

But back to the presents: I had never really exchanged gifts like this with friends before but I'll tell you it was a good idea. We hang out with each other pretty much everyday, so I guess it was no surprise that we all ended up with perfect gifts that suited all our likes and styles. No faking an "Oh I love it" when opening a Christmas sweater from your Grandma this year. It was sweet and fun and we all felt like Christmas even though we were far away from our families. 

I took a bunch of photos while we cooked (look all the girls wore purple!) but my camera died right before dinner so the rest of the night went undocumented, maybe for the best as we may have been a little overindulgent with the wine. Naturally. Hope you had a special holiday too! Here's ours: 

30 Days to 30: Day 9

Today was a day like any other Monday — blah. But I did have a nice dinner with Rachael and Julia, we made a delicious healthy caesar (hint: just use yogurt instead of egg and mayo).

Mood: dull, a bit stressed, stable 

Progress: I will say, although so so lovely and I wouldn't change it for the world, living a block away from my friends certainly makes me a lot less productive. I was planning on working on my other job and doing pilates after work, but instead I just made dinner and drank wine at their house. How do I all of a sudden have so much work and so little time? I was supposed to spend this month bettering myself, right?

Mentally: My family is going on a vacation together at the end of June at Stinson Beach in California. My older brother planned the whole deal and picked out the place. And although I am totally excited, it is so out of my price range (I am still trying to find a permanent job!), but I am definitely at the age (30!) where I should be paying for such things myself. The whole deal puts me off a bit mentally.

Physically: Feeling the need to work out, but seriously cannot find the time. Still lacking a bit of confidence.

Emotionally: The monday dullness may have just dulled any real emotions I have.  

Thoughts About Turning 30: Definitely thought a lot about the fact that I am turning 30 and can't afford to go on my own family vacation. Probably, when you think about it from an outside perspective, a 30-year-old should be stable enough to do such things without borrowing money from her parents. But are most almost 30-year-olds trying to get situated in one of the most expensive cities in the world after a move from Europe? I think not. Sorry Dad. 

Happy 1000th Blog Entry

Three and a half years ago there was a big change going on in my life and in everyone's around me, Obama was on his way to getting elected and I decided to start a blog. Now 1,000 entries later (holy hell!), I am in the midst of another big change — just four days shy of a move back to the land where it all started. 

So much has happened to me and my peeps since the beginning of Another Zoe Day: travel, births, breakups, sickness, engagements, layoffs, moves, new jobs and so many shoe purchases. I feel lucky and proud of myself for documenting it all (well most of it) right here. And as I turn yet another corner, so will this blog. Things are certainly going to change when I am back in the States — I have a few ideas up my sleeve, just wait. So excited!

But as for now, it is fun to look back at everything I did in the last few years, posted here. Sometimes I get scared that the Internet will crash and my little personal (but not personal at all) diary will disappear. Here's hoping that will never happen and to another 1,000 entries... 

Image from Flickr.

Tea/Bath Time

So far in 2011 I have spent a lot of time of time in the UK, whether London, Leeds, Glasgow or this past weekend in Edinburgh (such a beautiful city, I will have a roundup at some point, but I forgot my usb in Berlin). And although I am sure I will always remain a cup of coffee and a shower to wake me up American girl, I have definitely been getting into the British way of life and enjoying a nice hot bath and tea time. 

I mean, back in the States I would occasionally indulge in a bath if I was living in a house with a clean enough tub and drink tea when I was sick or feeling very mellow. But since I have been here it has been an everyday occurrence, and I feel oh so much more refined for it, although maybe just a little bit dirtier. 

I am sipping on my afternoon cup as I write this now and have even been occasionally forgoing my morning coffee for some Earl Grey. What am I becoming? My brother has been living in the UK for over 10 years now and I love how he describes the different stages of his relationship with tea from newbie novice to full-blown addict. Certainly not such a bad vice. Are you a tea or coffee person? Baths or showers?

George Harrison photo via Slate and sorry I have used the Kate Moss photo before but it is so good I couldn't help myself.

The Office Christmas Party

NEW YORK CITY — At an office party, 1966.

Work holiday parties are a thing like no other — everyone is excitedly on edge, looking a little better than they normally do at 11 am on a Tuesday, happy to be out of the office early (hopefully) and eating and drinking for free, feeling a little awkward and in turn a little intoxicated and often a bit too revealing to people you have to see almost every day whether you like it or not. The next mornings in the office are always filled with a mutual shame and a communal headache, but perhaps a new work friend.

I remember my Christmas parties working at the magazine in NYC where our editor in chief always fantasized that of one of the many girls on staff would meet the man of her dreams (brought to the party by her co-worker) and live happily ever after always telling the story of the night they met. Yes, it was one of those kind of magazines. I am sure there were some connections made, but none that lasted much past New Years. One year she even made us all wear festive hats the whole night — the silliness of it all did actually take the usual edge off, but the photos made it onto Gawker. Yes, it was one of those kind of magazines.

My party in Berlin was a little different, but followed the same formula of awkwardness, inebriation and embarrassment. But since that night, there has been a  more friendly banter in the normally stagnantly quiet office. A few nights after, my boyfriend rolled in from his work party later than I ever expected and a little more out of sorts than usual, and sheepishly left to work the following Monday.

So yeah, work parties, a blessing and a curse for many. I love these photos from a work Christmas party in 1966, so very Mad Men, so very uninhibited. How was your holiday party this year?


photos via Slate.

Today I am German!

Well a German citizen that is. Don't I look it? And no not because I married my German boyfriend, but a much different story having to do with some German blood and family history that has not been appreciated until recently. So anyway, today I picked up my certificate of naturalization at a very official and actually quite New England-y looking office here in Berlin. I have been waiting for some time for all the paperwork to go through, so this is definitely a relief. It will surely make living and working abroad much easier (i.e. legal), but it certainly feels weird to be a citizen of a country where you have to have someone translate the ins and outs of getting a passport to you.

But I digress to my citizenship obtaining outfit: I have owned both the skirt and top since way back in my San Francisco days prior to New York City when I was young and sprightly (not too many things have stuck with me that long). The sweater has been a constant winter go-to item, but it has been at least a few years since I have broken out that skirt (which used to be a definite favorite). I was inspired by all the below-the-knee length skirts I have been seeing lately, especially this one, to break it out once again. I love the way it made me feel all ladylike — a welcome change as these days I have been mostly living in pants because of all my bike riding. But hey, I ended up riding to work in this outfit this morning and it was all good, so bring on more girliness!

Outfit: Black poof sleeve sweater (vintage Wasteland San Francisco), tea skirt (vintage ???), black lace-up heeled boots (Nine West), bag (Maxx New York)