favs from afar

Glücklich Freitag Freunde!
(Can you tell I am missing being back in the Eurozone with my Swiss-German half?)

Today, I'm sharing my fav findings from afar.

For cooking:

An assortment of Switzerland's fine culinary traditions -

a Christmas gift from my lovely future sister-in-law

For baking:

A host of Swiss Christmas cookie-making tools

(to assist Stefan and I improve upon this project next year)

plus a personalized and handmade cookbook

of the Fischer family's finest Swiss cookie recipes -

a Christmas gift from my lovely future mother-in-law

For going:

Munich in winter

For eating:

German sausages of any kind,

but especially a juicy bratwurst in a (too-small) bun

Bon Appetit's Persimmon Bread

- while these little guys are almost out of season,

this is the perfect way to use those extra overripe varieties

(okay fine, I know:

not technically from "afar" but I'm just TOO obsessed)

For drinking:

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Glühwein - a delicious European wintertime tradition:

warm and cozy mulled red wine with all kinds of yummy spices

For wearing:

Extra big glasses =

an absolute MUST on the other side of the pond

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Those big lenses paired with a Parisian striped tee,

a pretty pink topper, some slouchy jeans, and a pair of flats =

EUROPEAN PERFECTION

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And just for fun:

Because who doesn't love a European-style picnic?
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Enjoy your weekend! 

xoxo

KK

proposal, part zwei

If you didn’t tune in on Tuesday evening for a recap of the proposal, part eins, I’d recommend you start there.  For those already filled in, buckle up your seatbeats because the excitement is nowhere near complete – we’re only at about 2:30pm and this fine day doesn’t end until the clock strikes midnight.

After I calmed down from:

1. the excitement of his just-a-bit-insane proposal,
2. the beyond gorgeous ring that I’d now wear, and
3. the sheer joy of having him all to myself for the rest of my life,

he managed to pop the bottle of champagne pouring us each a bubbly glass with which to toast.  We called over Marcus who joined us to cheers our new engagement.  We snacked on cheese, drank champagne, and giggled over the sheer blissfulness of the day.

With my fingers swollen from the climb,

I could only squeeze this beauty on my pinkie finger

It wasn't until later that night that we discovered his guess at my size
(based on the relative girth to his pinkie) was actually spot on

As we began to feel the brisk mountain cold against our cheeks, we decided to pack up and head back down.  Given the immense intensity of the route up, I expected the downhill to be a piece of cake - especially with my newfound adrenaline from Stefan's perfect proposal.

But boy was I wrong.  With my legs far beyond completely spent and a glass of bubbly flowing through my veins, I didn't have the same wherewithal to carve around the plethora of rocks, bushes, trees, and frozen-over streams that lie in my path.   

After a few falls on my part (okay fine - a TON of falls on my part), we finally made it back to Marcus' car around 5pm - an hour later than expected thanks to my brilliance on the slope.  Little did I know that my fabulous fiancee had planned us a full schedule of evening activities - the next of which was set to start at absolutely no later than 5:15.
At a mountain top at least 30 minutes away.

I'm a much better skier than this - I swear

What had he been planning, you ask?

Well only the most adorable thing ever.

You see he and I have this thing about flying.  Given that we were in a Switzerland-San Francisco long-distance relationship for almost a year and he works almost exclusively in LatAm, we spend a lot of time in the air. 

Stefan has always told me:

"I'm not looking for a stewardess..."

(hate to break it to you babe, but I think they're called flight attendants nowadays - am I really THAT much younger than you? only kidding :)

"...what I really want is a co-pilot, and you're just the kind of girl I want flying my plane."

Sooooo, his plan was to have us then go paragliding - two co-pilots flying over the Alps as the sun set behind the mountain we just summited and skied.  Pretty darn awesome.

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But thanks to my subpar slope-descending skills, we missed our coveted time slot (the last of the day).  While I was sad, my legs were quite thrilled. 

Perhaps we'll paraglide to the altar.

He then informed me not to worry - there was another activity scheduled promptly at 6pm.  We bid adieu to Marcus...

...and then hopped in our car to drive to a neighboring village - Sils-Maria and pulled into the location of our next activity:

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The family-run, historical, and very enchanting Hotel Waldhaus Sils. 

Free apples = Definite must

After being greeted by one of the Swiss owners (who is married to an American - oh what a combo!), Stefan told me to get dressed for our next activity: the spa. 
Now THAT'S what I'm talking about.
We popped on our bathing suits and b-lined it to the sauna (where we promptly took them off - we WERE in Europe after all).

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Post sauna, we sipped tea and lounged in the relaxation room gazing longingly into each others' eyes.  I can't believe I just typed that.

But it was totally true.  Oh the stupid things love makes you do and type.

We then showered up and beautified for the next activity on the schedule: a five-course (and five-star) meal in their world-acclaimed restaurant.

PREPARED by their Michelin-starred chef.

IN the private and perfectly romantic lounge.

WITH a bottle of our absolutely most favorite and special wine: Turley, which he had specially packed in his bag for the event.

I was in such an utter state of disbelief staring at that complete stud sitting across the table that I completely forgot I may want to document some of the UNREAL delicacies we dined upon.  You'll just have to trust me - they all were dazzling and delicious.

By far, the absolutely most wonderful day of my life.

Although I must admit: the next day - our first full day as Verlobte and Verlobter (as they say over in those parts) - was pretty darn awesome as well.

Us on Breakfast Course One

(of five)

Tune back into tomorrow for a peak into Gretters and my Friday favs! 

xoxo
KK

Don't # 2: Don't Go Chasing Beiber Buses

Happy Wednesday, All! For those of you that didn't see my post last week (Do #1: Make Blueberry Sour Cream Scones), I will be posting every Wednesday to keep you on your toes midweek while Kakes stays at the helm all other days except Friday when we will post together. So, while I'd love to ramble on about why I've been absent from the blogging world and promise that I will endlessly try to make it up to you, I am going to save you the time, ask you to read my plan of attack in my last post and just get on with writing something that hopefully you will find somewhat entertaining. KK's last post is a tough act to follow!!!

So, without further ado....

Don't #2: Don't Go Chasing Beiber Buses

For those unfamiliar, Justin Beiber is a pre-pubescent pop-sensation, that has taken the music world by storm. Teenage girls (promise I'm not included!) think he is one heck of a stud muffin, sending girls in a tizzy, with just one flick of his moppy, irresistible modern form of the bowl-cut after another.

Though incredibly adorable, the appeal is not only looks. This seemingly young star has more talent than many musicians his senior. Though I was initially a doubter, thinking that all boy bands are the same, I learned quickly that this is just NOT the case. I mean, Backstreet boys doesn't produce hits like "One Time", "One Less Lonely Girl" and "Baby"... I know there's plenty of you out there with this track as your number one repeater on your ipod!

For those that have yet to be graced with the Beib Sauce (a personal nickname). Feel free to watch these videos on his unbelievable talent or download any of the tracks listed above. Caution though, you will need to allot some time for diva dancing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFUTfA3FXaI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNg-LAlYrFU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuuQ04bYAqA&feature=related

No, Team Cost to Coast, I promise I am not a creeper. I am just impressed with how this young man has gone above and beyond the definition of your average boy-bander by being a cute bowl-cutted boy with some sizzling dance numbers and some unbelievable chords - vocal chords that is.

I mean, come on, how cute is he??

So, of course, when I saw a bus on my walk to a friend's apartment with the word "Beiber" painted largely across it, I went nuttts!!!! Coco loco nuts!! I was in close proximity of the child sensation!

I started snapping tons of photos. Began creeping by the building where it was parked to see if I could get a glance of the talented teen sensation. Even started texting half of my phone book to let them know of my HUGE celebrity sighting. But after failed attempts at getting a glimpse for confirmation, I decided that my pictures of the bus would have to be enough to prove that I had come so close to stardom as I was already running late to an important dinner date. At least I had pictures of the bus, right??

Not so right... Upon reaching my friend, I immediately told her of my rare sighting of the Beiber bus and how it was almost as good as any celebrity sighting as I was clearly in close-proximity of a SUPER STAR!!!! What was her response, you ask??

One URL that crushed all of my hopes and dreams.... http://www.biebertourways.com/Home.aspx?Id=1

BEIBER BUS COMPANY

Despite all my excitement and phone filled with Beiber bus photos, I did not see the rare and unique Beiber tour bus but instead one bus out of many a fleet of Beiber Buses....Ugh! At least it made for an interesting evening of photo taking...

Lesson of the story - sometimes the bus, just ain't enough...

Until next week,

Your Celebrity Tour Guide

proposal, part eins

My apologies for being so out of touch these past few days.  I know, I know - if I were you, I’d be upset too, but I hope you’ll forgive me when you hear the news I’ve been holding onto and savoring all to myself (and my closest friends and family) while away:

Stefan proposed!

And I – OF COURSE – said YES!

How did it all happen, you ask?
Well, it’s so incredible that you’ll have to read it in TWO parts. 
My insanely romantic and just-a-tad crazy fiancée (I cannot believe I just typed that word) planned a day for the ages.  Good luck future proposal planners – you’ve got your work cut out for you.

The magic really started the second I landed in Switzerland last Tuesday morning when he greeted me with my favorite morning treat – a Starbucks sugar-free vanilla Americano.  Despite its 7 CHF price tag (that’s ~$8+) in his country of birth, he indulged me and I loved it.  After my 8am arrival and morning coffee, we spent the day taking in the Christmas decorations in the local village, visiting his sister’s picture-perfect farm, and enjoying a delicious dinner of Swiss delicacies with his mom.  That night, he told me we should probably get to bed early – he knew I was tired, he wasn’t feeling that well, and he thought I needed a full nights’ sleep to get over the jet-lag hump.  I didn’t think much of it even though most nights at his mom’s are spent drinking wine and playing Swiss cards games until the wee hours of the morning.  I fell asleep by his side happy as could be.

But at around 3:45am someone’s alarm went off.  I immediately began apologizing: “Oh shoot! I must have forgotten to turn mine off.  Let me get that…” but as the words flew from my mouth, I realized it was 9:45pm where I had just come from – this couldn’t be mine. 

He popped out of bed and chimed: “We’re leaving in 40 minutes!  Put on your snow clothes and get ready to go!”  Knowing my sleep-loving Stefan despises waking at the crack of dawn, I knew whatever he was dragging me out of bed for at this hour had GOT to be good.  I hopped out from under the covers before he could say another word. 

I snapped a shot of the fresh bread I watched bake as he finished packing up a back-pack of contents he refused to reveal and then we were on our way.

Note the time on the oven clock.

Around 6am, we made a pit-stop for breakfast at an autobahn rest stop – even after visiting Switzerland 8+ times in the past year and a half, I still can’t get over how nice EVERYTHING is there.  Seriously – fresh produce and homemade croissants at a truck stop?   Ridiculous.

 

Around 7am, we took another break to snap some photos of the sun rising behind Julierpass.  He refused to tell me where we were headed or what we were doing but the ride and the views were already beyond gorgeous enough for the early morning to be worth it.

Around 8am, we pulled into a parking lot in Pontresina – the tiny town neighboring St. Moritz.  Stefan hopped out of the car and began talking Swiss German (which I cannot understand) to some strange man standing a few cars away.  He motioned for me to follow as the three of us headed into a ski shop to get fitted for some boots.  After the footwear was selected, I was guided down the street into another shop for some funny-looking skis. 

And that’s when I saw it – the bag stuffed with shovels, GPS trackers, avalanche measuring tools, three sacks of strange, sticky-looking, fur-like things, and a heavy-duty, first-aid kit.

What the hell were we doing?

We hopped into the car with Marcus (the man we had followed) driving through St. Moritz and beyond finally parking at the bottom of a very, VERY steep mountain.  As we got out, Marcus began equipping me with the GPS tracker – wrapping it around my torso and testing it with the one he kept on him.  “This will help me find you if you get buried under 15 meters of snow,” he told me.  Comforting, I thought.  He then began affixing the fur-like things to the bottom of our skis. 

“You ready?” Stefan chimed grinning from ear to ear.

“Ready for what?” I asked terrified by what I was about to endure.
“To ski UP this mountain.”
I gulped down my terror as I nodded yes.

The skins – as they’re called – were actually pretty cool.  With them attached, our skis could easily slide up the steep grade of the slope, but then stick – not sliding back down – allowing up to “climb” the mountain with our skis as our guide.  It has hard, but refreshing, invigorating, and enjoyable.  We had the whole hill to ourselves – not another human in sight.  After I’d had my fill of the fun, we glided into a quiet, mountain village – apparently the exact village where Heidi,  one of my favorite childhood films – had been shot.  The wood and stone huts were idyllic and I was exhausted, so we stopped to snap some shots of our accomplishment.

“So how much longer do we go up?” I asked. “Another half hour or so?”

Stefan and Marcus looked at me in partial disbelief.  Marcus pointed at a small peak that seemed to be miles away.  “We’re headed there – maybe 3, 4 hours more.”

I muscled up the strength to hide my shock as I clipped back into my skis.  “Well we better get going!” 

And go we did as we climbed higher and higher, steeper and steeper, becoming more and more exhausted with every step.  I knew Marcus wasn’t kidding when he told us the sport had the highest degree of calorie-burning per minute of any worldwide.  We stopped for breaks here and there – snapping more pictures of the incredible day, chomping on bananas and Swiss apfel bars, sipping some water and a Coke Zero that Stefan had graciously packed for me in his mystery bag.  We could not have gotten luckier with the weather – despite fog, snow, and rain the previous week, the 28^th was crystal clear with the bluest of skies.

See that lake way, way down there?

That's where we started.

All was going well, and I had suffered not too much embarrassment, up until 2pm – that’s when my skins decided to stop working on one of the steepest slopes thus far.  I’d slide my ski upwards, shift my weight to my uphill leg, and then step, but – unlike before when my ski would be glued to the slope – I instead slid backwards losing two steps for every one attempt.  Apparently, my fur-like devices had frozen over at the edges making their magical properties disappear in the Artic-like Alps.  Marcus came to the rescue trading his skins for mine so I could ski up a final few meters to meet Stefan on a beautiful peak that he had picked out for us to have a snack.  I was beyond spent, my legs jello-like and will-less, but I pulled together the strength to climb up to him.

While I had been completely and utterly exhausted by the journey without carrying a thing, Stefan had done it complaint-free with a 25-pound bag on his back.  As I reached him, he unzipped his pack to reveal a full cheese platter (as noted previously, cheese is something we’ve shared and cherished together often) complete with my favorite Nussli Kase, his favorite Appenzeller Extra, a creamy French variety, a local Swiss mountain cheese, fresh prosciutto, and the bread we had baked that very morning.  He THEN pulled out a bottle of champagne setting into its mountain-made holder in the snow.  I could not have been more excited to dig in.

“Stand up on that rock – I want to get your picture with the mountains in the background,” he told me as he reached back into the bag for something I couldn’t quite make out. 

Then it hit me: I knew what was about to happen.  The early-morning wake-up call, the oh-so-KK-and-Stefan-crazy-and-a-bit-insane adventure, the mountain, the cheese, the champagne, the little box he was holding in his hand.

He took a step forward as he tried to get onto one knee but with the depth of the snow, he sunk in up to his waist leaving him looking up at me at my perch on the rock.  I giggled giddy with anticipation.

“Will you be my co-pilot forever?” he asked as he opened the box to reveal the absolutely most perfect ring I had ever seen.

“Yes, yes, yes!!”

More on this day to come.

xoxo

KK