Expat to Expat Q & A August Questions

So each month Belinda from Found Love Now What and Bailie from The Hemborg Wife have been doing an Expat to Expat Q & A.  Sounds like fun, so I think I will join in on the August questions!

August Questions:


1. What is your favorite food store in your city and why?

Well, I live in a really small town in Germany.  There aren't too many stores here at all.  We have our grocery store and then a few local restaurants.  So I suppose I pick the local grocery store, called the Netto, which is pretty great for trying new foods.  I may not be able to read the instructions for making any of the food, but I guess that's half the fun right? No?

2. For your answer to number 1 is it ok to buy the store brand items or do you pay extra for a name brand?

First of all, I'm not even sure what the store brand name is called (or probably how to pronounce it) anyways, I just buy what looks good and is healthy (okay not always healthy).  I do think Americans would  be surprised to know that the store Aldi's is a German grocery store.  Yea, Aldi's, that store in the states that makes you bring your own bags and pay a quarter for a grocery cart.  That one.  Most Americans might be a little put off by that store and think the quality of food isn't good but truthfully, they have Aldi's all over Germany and the brands in Aldi's even stateside are from German companies.  So the food is great!  It might be weird to Americans, but all grocery stores in Germany make you bring your own bags and most make you put a quarter in the slot for a cart (way to be green!).  I did know this before I came to Germany, but a lot of people don't realize this.  Go out and try some of the German foods at Aldi's!


My little town

3. What do you think is the best way to get about your city? i.e. bus, bike, car, etc

You can't live in my area and not have a car.  I've personally had a car since I was 16 and all through college so I can't imagine not being able to get around on my own time.  Plus, I've experienced not having a car for a few months and it sucks.  I hate begging for rides!  If you want to do anything here you need a car.  But beware of German gas prices, oh my lord.  I'm not exaggerating.  It takes double the amount of money to fill your car in Germany.

4.. Which store do you turn to for basics like toilet paper or cleaning supplies?

Cleaning supplies?  Never heard of it.  Toilet paper is weirdly cheap at German groceries stores.  Which makes me think, why is toilet paper so expensive in the first place?

5. Where do you think is the best place in your city to get a cup of coffee (or beverage you prefer) and catch up with friends?

Coffee is definately different here in Germany.  My family came to visit and they kept complaining about how small and not strong the coffee was here.  Americans are used to supersized cups of coffee to get them through the long shi**y workdays.  Here, a cup of coffee can be sucked down in two seconds and my mother kept telling me this! There is surprisingly one coffee shop in my little town that I like to take my Frenchie to on walks because A) this coffee shop is weirdly open on Sundays which is an anomoly in Germany and B) most restaurants are Hunde (pooch) friendly. 

Plus these questions from Emma, at Adventures of a London Kiwi:


  • What was your “eureka, I’m practically a native” moment?
Haha, I don't think I'll ever feel like a native here.  I mean, I get by, but it's pretty obvious to others that I don't speak German.  But I guess compared to other Americans in my community, I do feel like a native.  When another Americans asks me questions like "how do you travel so much?" and "omg you ate that?" or "you hang out with Germans?" then yea, I feel like a native.

  • Does your real accent get in the way?
I'll have to refer to the previous question for that one and say, yes, my accent, my hair color, and the fact that I'm speaking English is a dead giveaway that I'm not German (though I have German ancestry).  Does it get in the way?  If I am speaking to a younger generation then, no, because younger Germans seem to love to practice English with Americans.  If I am speaking to an older generation then I might not get the same response, but I haven't found anyone in Germany (yet) that has been downright rude like some other countries I've been to.



Hope you enjoyed my honest (always) answers and link up as well if you'd like you participate.


Don't forget to link up your blogs at "A Lovely Blog Hop"  here.

And you can still enter to win this vintage inspired handmade clutch at my GIVEAWAY here.






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Co-Hosting "A Lovely Blog Hop"

I'm Co-Hosting "A Lovely Blog Hop" with the lovely Rekita from Her & Nichole and three other co-hosts! Follow and link up and check out the other cool blogs at the party!

  I also wanted to remind readers of my current GIVEAWAY going on for a vintage inspired handmade clutch! You have until Monday, August 19, at 11:59 PM CET to enter. So what are you waiting for? You can enter here.

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A Lovely Blog Hop co-hosts will no longer only be open to sponsors but it will be open to EVERYONE!
Meaning: I will be accepting only 3 Co-hosts a week!  If you are interested, please email me at rekita@herandnicole.com with the subject line "Co-Host Lovely Blog Hop". Please provide your name, your blog name, and blog url in the email. I will reply with a date that you will be co-hosting. This will be on a first come first served basis! Sponsors who are interested in co-hosting will automatically have a spot.

NOTE: There are spots open in August! Please do not comment regarding co-hosting. Please send me an email instead.

Welcome to A Lovely Blog Hopwhere each Thursday we have the grand opportunity to meet and connect with lovely new bloggers, such as myself! Now you have something to do and somewhere to go on Thursdays!
 Enjoy!
Rules (Not really rules but a guide):
1. Follow your host and any co-hosts (if it applies). Co-hosts will be the first 3 to 5 entries.
I am your host,  Rekita @ Her&Nicole and I am the first linky. 


Feel free to leave a comment and introduce yourself!

2. Link it!
Link up your blog or anything else you find lovely. Share your family, fashion, food, crafts, or anything that you love this week. Please, please, please, share the love and include a link back to this blog hop.

3. Spread it!
This is a blog hop after all, so hop around! Visit other blogs and say Hi!

4. Grab it! 
Her & Nicole
Grab the button and place it somewhere in your blog or add just the link. Preferably in your blog post. 
This will help us promote this blog hop, believe me, the more the merrier! Or post the link somewhere in your blog. 

5. Tweet it!
Please help me to promote this blog hop by sharing it to others. 
So tweet it to show everyone where you link up on Thursdays!

6. The most important rule of them all, HAVE FUN BLOG HOPPING!

Clutch GIVEAWAY!

It's a GIVEAWAY!  Who doesn't love a giveaway?  And for my first one, I hope you all won't make it too easy for others to win!  I'm giving away a vintage inspired clutch that was handmade by yours truly.  I call it "50's Housewife"  (my husband told me to name it "Grandma's Couch" but I don't think that's as appealing ;) ).  It's hadmade with European materials. I believe the exterior is a mostly linen blend with pink, orange, yellow, and green floral designs.  The frame is an antique faux gold and the interior is white satin.  It is 8 inches long and about 5 inches wide.  Perfect for a night out with the girls or as a decoration piece.  Hopefully this will bring some late Summer joy!







I originally started sewing clutches last year as a gift for my bridesmaids.  I wanted a personalized gift to match their eggplant dresses.  You can see the 6 clutches I made for my wedding here.

Then in the Spring, I featured a few of the clutches that I was working on and making just as a hobby sewing project.  You can see them here.

So as a gift from me to you I am giving one winner this clutch. 

How To Enter:

1) Follow The Rococo Roamer by GFC or Bloglovin
2) Leave a comment and tell me how you followed and what you would call this clutch.
Thats it!

***You can enter until Monday, August 19, 2013, until 11:59 pm Central European Time. 
The winner will be annonced the following day in a post and also contacted by email.  You will have 48 hours to respond, or the prize will go to the next winner.  Make sure I am able to find your email through your name link, if not, then include it in your comment.  Entries will be verified.***
Good Luck!



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Who Says I Never Win Anything?

Who says I never win anything?  Well I do!  I can't remember the last time I won anything.  But then in July I got word that I won a giveaway from A Beautiful Mess.  Oh you mean that awesome blog that I love reading? Yea!  I won a whole bunch of party supplies by BHLDN, which I might add is an awesome website for wedding and party supplies.  So not only did I win a bitchin prize, but it was from a blog that I really admire.  Cool huh?  


Well here is what I one.  From what they had described, I thought I just won a few party supplies but this mammoth package came in the mail and I was surprised that it came with a bunch of stuff to actually throw a pretty decent sized party with.  I mean check out this stuff!




It came in this nice canvas box!  So I've only started entering giveaways since April which is when I really started to become a part of the blogging community.  What's great about blogging is that there are so many people offering giveaways and there is a good chance you will win because the community is much smaller than say a large giveaway at a mall or something.  Winning something has really made me excited and feel like I could win again, it's addictive!  Don't know why these pics came out so crappy but I'll blame it on the fact that I was shaking with excitement lol.




I won napkins, 8 tea light holders, straws, pom pom decor, fans, wooden forks and knives, a cute banner, and a cake cutter.  I averaged it to be over a $100 at least.  And if you ever check out the BHLDN website they have so many cool items.  




To see a better description and pics of the prizes with links you can go here at ABeautifulMess.com. Thanks Elsie and Emma and the folks at BHLDN!

I guess the only thing left is to throw a party!

Have you won anything cool from blog giveaways?


A Few Things:

1) Interested in finding great European fleas?  Check out the new Flea Guide tab that I've added to my blog's homepage.  I give you some big and little fleas around Europe and some tips on the ones I've visited.  You can find it here.


2) Head over to Diane's Vintage Zest and see the guest post I did on one of my favorite posts, "Top 10 Packing Tips for the International Roamer!"

3) Speaking of giveaways, I am doing a GIVEAWAY of my own on Tuesday so make sure to check back to see what I'm giving away!  Hint, hint, this is my first giveaway so you probably have a good chance of winning lol.  Later!







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