My blue house

When I started dabbling in the blog world, it was more because my family website was overloaded with pics and I really didn't want to pay for it.  I was tired of sending mass emails with the kids pictures and I was tired of removing and uploading pics onto the website.  It was also before Myspace and Facebook.  Even after I joined, it took a bit for the Grandmas to catch one.  So it was either try something new or face the wrath of the grandparents.

Once everyone was on FB, I kind of stopped posting.  Then when my laptop died, I gave up completely.  Our 8 year desktop could barely check email!  Then something crazy happened, and we moved to Istanbul.  Do you think the grandparents are going to let us move to the other side of the world without constant updates?  I still use FB to post most pics.  It's just easier.  I can upload straight from iPhoto.  Plus I haven't found anything I love as much as Live Writer to blog on my iMac. I was using Live Writer on my laptop and loved it.  Now I just need to work on my network and maybe I can blog from there again.  But its currently acting as our cable box.   I really have no idea where these professional  or hobby bloggers find the time!  Especially the DIY ones.  They must not sleep.  I do have much more time with just having Nate at home, but I still find myself very busy.  Between the house, laundry, and Nate.... my down time is between bed time and when hubby gets home from work.

So with all the rambling being said.....   I can't believe my blog has had over 1000 hits this year!  I know most is friends and family in the US but I've had a lot from Turkey (well duh) and Russia.  Plus the Philippines, Canada, Brazil, the UK, Indonesia, and India!  Also, Germany but I blame my two friends there. :)  I just didn't really expect that many people would be reading about our adventures.  Pretty cool!  I hope that everyone is enjoying keeping up with us because we are definitely enjoy being in Istanbul!  I really don't see how you couldn't!  My father in law has only been here a few days and is sold!

Sneak Peak - Nate's room

I have been holding out on posting pictures of our new apartment. It's taking a lot longer to come together than I thought. But we have just been so busy! So I thought I'd give you a peak of the closest to done room... Nate's! I had planned on painting the room gray but I'm really not in the mood to paint these days. The girls will probably have the only painted room in the house. It is only for three years.... Nate's room isn't done. I still need curtains and bedding. Plus I'd like to get a few more accessories. I still have some pictures to frame too. I found this adorable wood truck sign on Etsy. And I'd love to find a Turkey road sign and license plates. A friend and I are supposed to check out some antique stores after the holidays. So here it is........ From the door Bedding bought... just waiting on its arrival. Planning to make a pillow with a N on it. going to make a reading nook where his bean bag is. Haven't bought a sewing machine yet but hoping after the holidays got this idea off of Pinterest. The shelves from IKEA match his bed and dresser really well. And it's not like boy needs a real closet! Those things can add $$$$ up quickly. I bought this before we left. I had always been planning a Ford truck room for Nate's big boy room. I found a guy on Etsy that turns old hubcaps into clocks. I was bummed that someone bought the red F-100 hubcap before I did. So this was my second choice. It's not a truck, but I love the V8. It's actually my fav car symbol. I'm pretty happy with it. I love how its coming together. And he actually keeps his room clean! Hope I can get it finished by Spring. Then I will post the finished pics!

Yumminess

There are many tasty things to eat in Istanbul, but nothing tops the bread. We live down the street from this wonderful little bakery. Everything is fresh daily AND cooked in a wood burning oven! I love that I can smell it from my kitchen window. Every Saturday, Joel and Jocy walk down and pick up a couple loaves of bread. It's there thing to do together. 1TL a loaf! Twice a month, Jocy gets to pick out a special pastry for them. I love these little rolls that have a Feta type cheese melted in the middle and sesame seeds on the outside. YUM! Those loaves rarely last us thru the weekend. We are up to 2 or 3 trips a week. I am official spoiled. I will never be able to buy bread from the grocery in plastic wrap. Sorry Rainbow and Sara Lee..... I'm a bakery kind of gal now.

Behind the times

Yesterday we bought the first new TV  we have bought in 8 years.  Yes that’s right 8 YEARS!  I can’t believe it has been that long.  We have been without a proper TV for almost two months.  The iMac was doing a pretty good job as a stand in.  Not bad for 27 inches.  But I really wanted to get my office set up and a few projects I wanted to use it for.  It’s not much fun to sit on a little Barbie stool trying to do work on the iMac that is on an end table. 

Last night Joel surprised me with a new Samsung TV and Sony surround sound.  I was impressed that he controlled himself.  He gets a little crazy with stereo equipment.  Hence, the Klipcsh Speakers that are now being stored at my parents house.  I knew the TV would not be over the top HUGE because we only had 120 cm for it to fit.  I have now converted measuring everything in cm.  So that is what you will get out of me. Joel did a great job and staying within budget and still got some pretty fabulous stuff.  Last night we were dying to try it out.  But one of the things here is that the company has to install it or you won’t get their warranty.  Which worked out great.  They were in and out in about 15 minutes.  Hooked everything up, gave me the easy tutorial.  And now the kids are watching their Blueray Shrek 4 movie.  Jocy is dying to watch Coraline in 3D.  I didn’t want a 3D TV but what I did want was on this TV and the price was right. 

I really don’t think I will be able to watch my Toshiba flat screen again! 

Party time!

It has been a really long time since we have gone to a nice work function. Sad to say it was probably before we were married. And the parties we have had to go to were horrible and we paid ridiculous amounts for.

 Saturday night was Ford Otosan's end of the year party. Big year for them too, 10 years as the #1 selling vehicle in Turkey. Ford has really made a name for its self here. After talking with Murat (our driver), it seems like Ford is better liked here than at home. 

My day started early since I still hadn't found a dress! Our wonderful driver put up with my craziness. It only took 3 hours (including lunch) and 40 stores to finally find it. And the worst part was we walked by the store 10 times before I finally went in. I had been into Marks & Spencers just two weeks ago and I hadn't seen anything. I had actually thought this would be easy! I found an outfit for next Friday at H&M on sale and that was my first stop! I had looked a little online and had found two dresses I really liked at Zara. So I think that got me stuck and should have been the first place we went. But we parked on the complete other side of the mall from it. Oh well lesson learned. I was very happy I had Murat.... Sephora doesn't have anyone that speaks very good English. And that is definitely one store you need it!
 Damn to Pinterest, I have been DYING for a pair of sparkly shoes. Actually, before I left, my friend Monica and I had a GNO of shopping and dinner at Zona Rosa. We found a super cute pair of sparkly shoes at DSW. I loved them but knew I'd never have any place to wear them. *Kicking myself*  So as the flurry of sparkly shoes appeared on Pinterest..... those were in thanks to my Big. Another sorority sister already kills me with her pins. I need Dawn to be my personal stylist! Anyways, I knew I wanted these shoes. So I hit up Hotic where I bought my last killer shoes (see recovering shoe addict post), but they didn't have anything fun. Nine West was just across the way and I didn't feel like another stroll around the mall, plus there was a big 50% off sign in the window. As I walked in, I saw.... a WHOLE section of sparkly shoes. And a sale sign! It was really hard to not buy every pair. They had a pair that were red, blue, silver, and green. They were gorgeous! The only reason I got out of the store without buying them was because I was already checking out. After I finished my shopping.... off to get my hair done. I hadn't been able to find a style I liked online, so I had decided to just wear it down. Trim, color, mani, pedi, and eyebrows.... two hours later, I emerged feeling pretty. ooo... I finally got to try threading! It was a little more painful that I expected. But she did an amazing job! My eyebrows haven't looked this great since Christy at Serendipity did them! 


 I regretfully didn't get a whole lot of down time when I got home. Traffic was pretty crappy so I didn't get home til 4:30pm. Our new sitter was supposed to arrive sometime after 6pm. And nothing can ever be calm. As I was getting ready, our water delivery and the pizza arrived. Right after I was ready our sitter arrive. She's a very sweet girl named Bea. She's German but spent the last few years in the US. Mostly California and Florida. Now she works during the day for a Turkish family. It's always hard to trust someone new that you've only talked to a handful of times. 


 One of the BEST things about having a driver.... no fighting over who is DD. It is hard enough to drive here let alone after a few drinks! Hmm... wonder if I can have a driver at home too. :) So off we went to the Museum of The History of Science and Technology. It still makes me laugh... but as we pull in, everyone has their drivers and a ton of Valet are running around. It's just a scene you see at home with a bunch of wealthy people. Something I've not been around. It still makes me a bit uncomfortable. I can open my own damn door! LOL. Joel had joked on the way, that he was pretty sure we would be the only Fiesta there. And he was correct. It was a sea of Mondeo's and S-Max with a few Galaxy's thrown in. Joel said that his coworkers got the nicer cars and stuck their wives with the little cars. Status is very big here. I told Joel, we could have taken the Mondeo. LOL. It's my loaner while my car is getting fixed. But who wants to drag all the car seats out! I'm just fine in Joel's cute Fiesta!


 When we arrive, they had a red carpet that lead thru a big 10. The building was a gorgeous stone! And a glass addition had some beautiful old trains and streetcars. We wandered around looking and then finally headed in. We had to have our picture taken under the 10. Once inside, we dropped our coats and had another photo op. Which I'm sure is going to be horrible because Joel was poking me and making me laugh. We walked into cocktail hour and said hi to the bosses. Then found our friends. A very nice man appeared with drinks almost immediately. Then the food started arriving. The basic snotty apps. But there was this one that was a ball of cheese with green herbs or something on the outside. It tasted like dill... it was SO good. I ate like 10. All thru the hall, they had living statues. We were standing between a gold one and white one. It was fun to watch. Tom was standing close to one and one point and the lady kept getting closer and closer. We got a good giggle out of it.  
 One thing I forgot to mention that they had a group of women that welcomed, and gave you your seating info, and basically corralled us. Joel said they looked like Car show models! LOL. So they called us for dinner and we all headed to find our tables. Deider and his wife said they were at the Fusion table last year and stuck in a corner. But we were pleasantly surprised to have a good table. Everything was perfect!
 
As wine and salads started to arrive, the MC came out and the speeches started. I have NO idea what was said. I was kind of surprised it was all in Turkish. Being a Managers dinner, everyone there spoke English. The company that is in partnership with Ford is Koc Holding and I was impressed to see the owners son was there. He made one of the speeches. The MC and a lady sang while we had dinner. Made me feel old because it was WAY too loud. Then speeches again and they wrote a song.... a SONG for Ford. And gave our flyers so we could sing along. I still need to translate it but I will totally post it when I do! I know it says 10 years and #1 but that's it. And the main entertainment was an award winning Turkish pop star. I have no idea who she is! But she was good.  
 It was a really nice night and great to see friends. I could really get used to these parties! On the way out, we were handed these big gift bags. We didn't bother looking until we got home. We were both pretty tired. It turned out they gave us a Duvet and Shams! It is amazingly soft. Too bad they gave us a Full size! Not sure what I'm going to do with it! Maybe guest bedding?   
 Our babysitter worked out great. The kids loved her and she cleaned the kitchen and picked up the girls room and playroom! The things I needed to get done on Sunday, were already done! So we spent the whole day watching Hulu in our PJs! The perfect Sunday. We even got our first Chinese takeaway! It was a little disappointing... but the profiteroles were worth it!

First trip to the Salon in Istanbul

So I know this was over a month ago but I’m still going to post anyways!  

My last haircut and color was the week of Jenny’s wedding.  I knew I should get one last hair appointment in before we left KC, but time just flew by too fast.  We didn’t even get to say goodbye to quite a few people.

My hair had started to look REALLY bad.  Between the gray showing and my roots… oh the horror!  From living at the pool this summer, my hair had gotten really light.  So when our pool days ended, the dark roots with the blonde just looked lovely.   But without internet, I had no way of finding a place.  I knew were a place was in Taksim but didn’t want to make that drive for an outrageously priced haircut.  I got desperate and colored my own hair.  I found a brand I knew and ran with it. Because of course the directions are in Turkish.  So to let you know… a box of hair color in Istanbul… not what you are used to.  I guess I should have read the directions a little closer before I bought it.  I guess everyone here has salon tools in their house?  But I made it work and I felt a 100% better after the gray was gone!  But I still needed a cut.   After the home color, my hair was pretty dried out. 

Well, my wonderful FABULOUS hubby was the one to the rescue!!!  When I was about ready to head to the mall and get one of their expensive cuts (by Turkish stands. Normal price for me), Hubby pulled thru!  One Friday night as we were eating dinner and watching a movie, he told me that I have to be up and ready to leave the next morning at 9:30am.  I was a few days into a horrible cold and all I really wanted to do was sleep in.  But whatever.

I managed to drag my butt out of bed at 8:30am.  He handed me a cup of coffee and told me to get in the shower.   When I got out, he said he would take care of the kids.  They have been fed but he’d get them dressed.  Which worries me…. so I had to approve outfits choices.  I, of course, need to know what to wear.  I was starting to get annoyed.  I’m not a huge fan of dressing without knowing where I’m going.  But whatever… jean and a sweater.  He told me I needed tennis shoes.   Ugh… I am so not in the mood for a day of walking.

When I went up stairs…. I was getting suspicious.  Hubby disappeared outside for a phone call.  I knew it… he was sending me out for a day ALONE.  Normally, I would be excited.  But I don’t have any close friends here yet to enjoy a day without the kids.  So I was a smart mouth to Hubby and say, “Are you really making me go out alone?”  He handed me a bunch of cash and the debit card.  As I walked out the door and heading to the stairs, where Murat, our driver, was waiting, Joel said that Murat’s brother owned a salon.  I was getting my haircut!  Not only that but Murat’s wife was already there getting her hair done.  So I would have TWO translators and people to talk to. 

So I climb into the Fiesta.  I hadn’t gotten to ride in it yet.  Joel picked my fav color.  It’s a pretty cute car.  Anyways.  I was enjoying a cup of coffee while my driver, LOL that still makes me laugh, drove off for a well needed day!  I really like Murat.  We have similar views of life and did I mention, perfect English.  It’s fun to hear him talk.  After 16 years in Australia, he has an interesting Australian/Turkish accent.  We chatted has we drove…. I would NEVER be able to find my way EVER.   The best perk of your driver being the owners brother…..  They blocked off a parking spot right out front!

I met his brother first, who had lived a while in Russia.  So he spoke Russian, Turkish and a few basic words in English.  Then I met Murat’s wife.  Who name I can NOT remember for the life of me. LOL.  I suck at that.  (hope they don’t’ find my blog). Anyways, she had a fabulous Australian accent.  Even though she was Turkish, she was born and raised in Australia.  She was very nice and I think we hit it off well.  Thank goodness for her!  Or who knows what my hair would look like.   I had just wanted a cut.  But I ended up getting highlights, and a mani pedi along with the haircut.  It was a pretty interesting.  There are very few female hairstyles here.  Women mostly do nails and eyebrows.  I got to see threading for the first time!  Totally getting it done next time.  So the guy that does color in the salon…… you would never expect knew how to do hair.  He looked like he was in his 50s.  But, what is the worst that happens?  I just get it recolored?  So I had Murat and his wife translate what I wanted.   After that, I just relaxed and enjoyed being pampered.

The end result, was amazing color and a great cut.  Murat’s wife decided she was going back the next week for the same highlights! LOL.  I told Murat that I have dibs on him for Saturday.  And the best part was it only cost 85TL!   That’s less than $50.  But if you do throw in the cost of my overtime for our driver….  It’s still what a cut and color cost me at home!  I’ve got a stand appointment every six weeks. 

After we were done at the salon, Murat invited me back to their house for some Cay.  I kind of wanted to pick their brains about things around the area, so I agreed.  Plus its always good to get to know the man that hold your hubby’s life in his hands daily.  Yes driving is that scary here.  And I was really enjoying some girl time too.  His wife and I have quite a bit in common.  They are currently living with his mother while they are house hunting.  They haven’t been back in Istanbul that long.  Housing is at a premium and he is required to live near us if he wants to stay employed with us.  Anyways, his parents own a beautiful apartment building.  Murat said it used to be a single family home, but his dad tore it down and replaced with an apartment building.  He doesn’t like his dad to much, for good reason.  I didn’t meet him.  But I met his mother.  She was a very lovely women. She didn’t speak English but she happily held a conversation with me thru our translators.  I bet she has so amazing stories!  Because it was the day before their big holiday here (like Christmas Day for us), there was lots of cooking going on.  Oh it smelled so good.  Of course they brought me lots of food.  It was so yummy.  I couldn’t finish, there was so much!  I’ve been promised some Turkish cooking lessons to. Very excited!  We had a very lovely afternoon.  I really needed some adult conversation beside Hubby.  Not that I don’t enjoy all my time with him,  but it was time to start making friends.

Now that we are starting to have a somewhat of a normal life, I have a cell, some internet, and a car, it is time for me to get out and discover stuff for myself.   I have meet some other moms and things are in the works.  I have even volunteered in Elly’s classroom.  But I am so grateful to have found someone that is so willing to help us enjoy Istanbul.  I can’t wait for our shopping trip at the Grand Bazaar!

Christmas Shopping @ Grand Bazaar

Yesterday I finished my Christmas shopping! Yay! I had a goal to get everyone a little something from Turkey since its our first year here. Our driver's wife, Ilknur, had offered to take me shopping at the Grand Bazaar and the area around it. It worked out that Joel had to go to England for a few days, so I could use Murat! Parking in that area of town is a PIA. And expensive! So I called Ilknur and said lets go! So Monday morning we headed down to the Golden Horn. We had a lovely drive down the shore and suprisingly little traffic. Since we had no desire to walk up hill.... we started at the Grand Bazaar from the top! It was pretty empty, which was great! Pushing a stroller thru the crowd is not fun. And very difficult to "window" shop. Ilknur is Turkish but was born and raised in Australia. Since she speaks Turkish and loves to bargain, she was my guide for the day! I'm so thankful for her. She translated that I was not a tourist and I lived here. So I got the local price. Which she immediately got them to lower. We strolled around for quite sometime trying to find gifts for everyone on my list. Nate was really good but started to get fussy a few hours in. When I had told him we were going shopping that morning, he told me he wanted to go home.... before we even left! As we were walking, Nate yelled car. I looked over and there was a pile of what looked like antique toy cars. Turns out they were new handmade in Italy. They had planes, boats, VW buses, and Mini Coopers. The first one I picked up had a roof rack with a kayak on top. The nice man showed me that you could open the roof rack and it had a place for a picture and was a bank! There was one other one that I really liked. It was also a Mini but was blue with racing strips. My boy has great taste and that is the one he pick! That car was well worth it! He hugged that thing most of the day. We decided to head out for lunch. There is this chicken sandwich that I.LOVE.LOVE.LOVE! Never can remember the name of it tho. Its cooked over fire on a tall bar. Then they shave the meat off. It usually comes on an amazing piece of bread with onions, tomatoes, pickles, and french fries. OMG YUM. So we found a little place that had it and chairs to sit outside. It was sunny and 60. A little bit of a wind that was chilly. Poor Nate didn't enjoy it as much as me. I ordered Nate pilav since its his fav. He inhaled it and then have a 1/3 of my sandwich! Next we headed to the spice bazaar. There had been a spice I wanted to ask about and couldn't remember for the life of me! We samples some Turkish Delight, which was really good. Got some of that as treat for everyone later. I found a better one later on.... but we have his card, so next trip. I finally remembered I needed Bay leaf... which they had! Also, got a tea to try. Good for winter colds. Unfortunately, Nate had to use the bathroom, so we headed outside in search. We found a public one... I got to pay a TL to get peed on by Nate. Lovely. LOL. It was a tradition turkish toilet.... We walked around the outside of the Bazaar checking out all the food shops. It was starting to get really crowded and difficult to maneuver the stroller. I found the last gift I needed and we headed to find Murat. Of course, Murat had run into an old friend and got a tour of this amazing cistern turn art gallery. So we made a stop and got to check out some amazing Turkish rugs. Real ones. Majority of the Turkish rugs aren't make in Turkey anymore. They outsource here too! I found one that I completely feel in love with. Unfortunately, its the price of a college degree. This one is only $13,000 Such beautiful rugs and they would last forever. But I can't imagine spend that kind of money on something I walk on! I was thinking a few thousand but not tens of thousands! It was a very educational trip. We made it home just in time for the girls to get off the bus. Very long day of shopping. But I'm looking forward to the next trip, when I'm shopping for me! I have a few things on my list! Ilknur and I are planning to take my mom and my MIL when they are here in January. Maybe need to warn the dads! LOL.

No Christmas tree for me

Ok that is not true but we will not be having a real one in Istanbul. I was informed by my husband that a friend of ours sent his driver around Istanbul and Izmit pricing trees. The going rate for an ok tree was 400TL in Istanbul and about 250 TL in Izmit. I was looking at pretty nice fake trees and they were just under 200TL. We have been getting our real tree in Kansas City from the same family run farm for 4 out of the 5 years. The only year we skipped was when we went back to my parents for 2 weeks. But we never end got to a $100 tree and we had some big trees. I have missed walking thru the cold air with the kids to find that perfect tree. But since we aren't spending Christmas in Istanbul, a fake tree will do. Plus we will have a real one in France. So I guess I get the best of both. Btw... I found Maple syrup today at the Carrefour. 48TL!!! I guess I need to figure out something else to top our pancakes with.