MAGNOLIA BAKERY, NYC.

So, I was a bit lazy while living in DC; but, we won't get into that, now. Anyway, I have loads of photos and trips I never posted and/or edited. Perhaps, I will make these 'throwbacks' a weekly occurrence here on my little blog. So, for today, here is your 'Throwback Tuesday' post, complete with photos taken on J & my second trip to NYC, while living in DC. 

Magnolia Bakery was oft featured in 'Sex and the City,' and for good reason. Their baked goods are GOOOD. I wasn't a fan of everything I tried, but I did/do love the Hummingbird cupcake and I have been known to whip a batch of these babies up, from Magnolia's own recipe. Of course, I love the cream cheese frosting! Cream cheese is one of my favorite frostings, EVER! [I need to find a way to make it a bit better for me, but that's why I don't bake as much as I once did. And, when I do, I try to use things that are beneficial to my body...I digress.]

 If I were in NYC, I would definitely be partaking in one of these little mini-cakes. Germany just doesn't do up cupcakes like we in the States, but maybe that's a good thing. ;)

Oh, yes, please forgive the photos. They aren't the best quality or composition. I have learned a bit since these were taken and saved in JPEG form, multiple times. ;)

MUNICH, Germany

Chinese Tower

Steins, locked up in the Hofbrauhaus. Customers can leave their personal steins for use on their next visit.

While sister was here, we planned a little surprise trip down South, if you will. :) J & I had not yet been to Munich, Bavaria or Austria, so we planned a little trip to see the aforementioned. 

In Munchen, or Munich as we Americans know it, it was recommended that we take a bike tour with Mike's Bike Tours. We spent 4 hours exploring the gorgeous city of Munich on bicycles. Seriously in love with back break cruisers. I need one, stat! We biked all about and had lunch mid-tour at the Chinese Biergarten. I had currywurst (one of my favorite things to eat in Germany!) and we tried obazda, a Bavarian specialty, a cheese spread topped with onion rings and usually served with bread or pretzels. I washed all that down with a delicious Radler! The size of those beers are crazy! In the English Garden (basically Munich's Central Park), there were people surfing. The water that flows from the river is pushed underground, feeding all the fountains in the park, and comes out at a certain point in the park, causing it to be pressurized enough for people to catch waves on.

After our bike tour, we walked about and shopped a little in the center of the city, before heading back to the hotel to freshen up a bit before dinner. Where does one have dinner in Munich? A brauhaus, of course. We decided on one of the oldest and best, according to many. Hofbrauhaus Munchen. We might have ordered obazda again, you know, just to make sure it really was good. ;) For dinner, I had the sauerbraten (marinated pot roast) served with a bread dumpling and cranberries and I ordered a side of sauerkraut. I love that stuff! For dessert, we ordered the apple strudel and the Kaiserschmarrn. I don't honestly have a translation for Kaiserschmarrn, other than bread something that was very tasty, served with raisins, sugar and applesauce. (I feel I should mention, there were 4 of us, I just don't post photos of everyone, as I don't want to invade their privacy by posting photos of them all over the internet.)

I like Germany and living here provides some amazing travel and life opportunities, but it wasn't until this trip that I really loved a city in Germany. Munich is definitely one of my favorite cities, yet. 

Stay tuned for the rest of our Munich trip and a couple of late posts from the Riviera and other things I am behind on. ;)

Apple Pie Oatmeal.

Want a great breakfast idea? 

I had this yesterday morning.

Very, very tasty. 

Schnapps House.

On Friday night, J & I went out to a local distillery known for their schnapps with several of his co-workers. The distillery makes its own schnapps and liquor. They also sell their delicious liquids in really neat bottles/shapes.

I am very ready for spring, so I have been rocking the brights lately. Friday was no exception, I wore my pretty pink blazer for the second day this week.

the machine that brews the brews :)

firetruck holding a bottle of schnapps

schnapps in a globe

our schnapps. 

J & I tried 10 liquors this go 'round. We tried plum, anise-fig, blackberry, chocolate, almond, jalapeno-mango, gummi bear, honeydew, blood orange, & cranberry. Our favorites were: chocolate, gummi bear & cranberry. 

We have been once before and got more schnapps to try then, as it is a schnapps house. We weren't fans, they are very rubbing alcohol-esque and they weren't our thing. This time though, we loved our selections! 

We even went home with this little gem..

How fun, right?! :)

I hope you all are having a sweet weekend!

xoxo.

FOOD!

For all you foodies: check out Food Gawker. 

I love looking at the photos of all the food! They are all so pretty!

tuesday lunch at the brit cafe..

today, j & i and our good friend enjoyed lunch at the brit cafe. of course, along with my turkey dinner at lunch, i also enjoyed a ginger beer. (it is actually completely non-alcoholic)

i love having so much yummy food at our fingertips! and, i cannot wait to indulge in some gluwein and stollen at the christmas markets this weekend! 

tschüss,

heather

brit cafe!

so, there is this little british cafe on base and i happen to be in love with it.  the food is amazing, but the atmosphere is even better. there are pics of wills and kate on the walls in all their royal attire. a little store next door that sells british goodies, and will order your favorite UK style magazines for you {eek!} the best part of all may just be hearing those lovely accents that remind me of a certain voyage on a certain ship that i fell in love with! :)

the ginger beer has real ginger in it. i love ginger ale, but this is no comparison!

and, lucky me, i'm going back for lunch tomorrow.

tschüss,

heather