We've Been Discovered!!

It looks like someone from a news site in Sibiu discovered my blog and did a little piece on it, you can check it out here http://www.turnulsfatului.ro/5658/o-californianca-la-sibiu-cu-filmul-lui-cage-venita-rezumate.html although it's all in Romanian a rough translation of it just sounds like the writer was  repeating things I've said in past blogs about my experience here and refers to me as the Blonde Blogger, hmmm.

Well great, it never occurred to me that anyone from Romania would read or even be able to find my blog in the first place.  I really hope I didn't say anything that would be considered offensive, I have nothing but love for this country and it's people.

 Lubesc Romania si este oameni!!! (I love Romania and it's people)

The past couple of days I've received a ton of traffic on my blog from this article so to all those reading in Romania.

Pentru cei care citesc in Romania, va multumesc pentru amabillitatea ati aratat fiica mea si am.  Tara dumneavoastra este frumos si mai mult americanii ar trebui sa viziteze.

I said something along the lines of thank you for your kindness and your country is beautiful, more americans should visit.

Well now that we're famous I better start writing some interesting blogs, but to be honest we haven't been doing anything very exciting.  I took a couple pictures around town yesterday when we went for a walk, for some reason with every walk we always end up at the mall, I'm like a magnet and it's the steel.

Check out Harlow carrying the purse her Daddy brought home for her, it's Hello Kitty.  Someone is becoming a big girl.

While hunting for dinner I found this tiny little cafe next to the bank where they had fresh homemade spinach and feta pie, it was freakishly good.

 When I asked for a glass of lemonade I watched the lady go behind the counter and literally squeeze me out a glass with her hands and then added water and sugar.  I actually felt guilty drinking it after seeing how much work she put into it.

 Harlow started doing her I'm going to get fussy routine so I ordered a piece of some amazing looking cherry coffee cake/pie/I don't know maybe it was a tart?  And the woman that brought it to the table broke off a piece with her hands and feed it to Harlow.  Seriously that would NEVER happen at home, someone in a restaurant touching you food, feeding your baby, without asking?!  But I loved it, every time we go out I feel like I'm with family, like I'm at my grandmother's house.  Europeans have managed to keep that old school traditional feel, and I really embrace it.  I wish our culture was more like that.

Outside of that cafe was this bank, you can't tell from the picture but that roof is glass and steel.  It's a beautiful massive structure.

 Here in this photo is a bike path we were walking on that somehow lead us straight to the mall, told you magnet and steel.

 

So those where just me trying to capture the dreary beauty thats happening now, I believe it's the onset of winter occurring.  These photos were taking in the early afternoon and the sky was so gray and it's frosty out.  Man I can't wait for the snow!

It's 12pm here so I'm going to crash, but let me leave you with some pretty photos from our day on the set last week taken by the film photographer.

Miss you xoxoxoxoxo

Fall into Winter

Growing up in California has it's pros and cons and one of them is the absence of seasons.  Just walking around the park here and seeing all the trees in that beautiful burnt orange and golden leaves makes you want to sip hot chocolate and go ice skating.

This week I've noticed more and more bare trees I guess the snow is on it's way, Fall really feels like Fall when you're crunching through piles of leaves on your way home, I love it!!

Today was gloomy and rainy so we spent most of the afternoon painting, drawing and reading books but Harlow is starting to run out of ways to be entertained inside. Even brought the old cardboard box out.

I bought her a couple handmade wooden toys from an art festival at the park last week that she's been in love with, but lately she's been into feeding and putting blankets around her dolls a little mommy in training.

The art festival was pretty fun, they had a bunch of little kid rides and booths set up with art, jewelry etc. It was so packed I could barely fit down the paths where the booths were and people will just run you right over if you're in the way.  Personal space is very different, I can't even count on hand how many times people cut in front of me in line because I wasn't standing close enough to the person in front of me, I guess I'm just supposed to wrap my arms around the guy in front of me or stand with my chin on his shoulder or at least be close enough for him to smell my breath  :)  

I apologize that my photos are so fuzzy, the only camera I have is my iphone, Jason has the good cameras.  Maybe I need to go buy a cheap digital one for the trip anyone know of a good one?  I guess it's time to start researching, that will give me something to do, ohhhhh speaking of something to do.  Did you know that you can take piano lessons on the Ipad?!?!?  Yep just learned to play Silent Night, the Ipad turns into a piano with highlighted keys with this incredible app http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/master-piano/id364897373?mt=8

Now all I need is a real piano to try it out on, pretty proud of myself I always wanted to learn to play.  The Ipad has been our best friend here, books, movies, games and now piano lessons!!

Well off to go find some dinner and relax, I gave up on potty training after I wiped up about a dozen puddles of pee, mom needs a break.  There's only so many times I can ask the kid if she has to go potty, now she just runs and say No,No No.

There's always tomorrow I guess.

I'll leave you with a video of a mozart in the making you should see how well she can use the Ipad, she's so smart, even figured out how to turn up the volume.  Let's just hope she doesn't figure out my passcode.

                                                                

Red Faced in the City

Harlow and I ate our usual breakfast downstairs in the hotel, all the male servers there are absolutely in love with her.  I say male because there are only two females and she screams whenever they try to talk to her, apparently she's partial to men.  We have a routine where we walk in I start making the plates, a server grabs her highchair and then another guy lifts her into the chair and then another one usually hands her a muffin.  It's so cute to see all these romanian men treating her like a little princess.

She's one happy customer!

Check out that ridiculously good chocolate filled croissant, I've been trying not to eat one everyday but completely losing that battle.  

The breakfast spread has been the same since day one 3 weeks ago, wow I've been here for 3 weeks already.  Bread, cheese, tomatoes and all kinds of crazy meat stuff.

Now when it comes to food I'm notorious for copying people.  Yep I'm the lady that looks in other peoples shopping carts, their dinner plates in restaurants, and in the store when I  can't make a decision I always chose whatever has been sold the most on the shelves.  I admit it, food copier that's me.  I guess I just figure if everybody else is doing it, it's probably good.  So at breakfast every morning there's a giant pot of boiled hot dogs and most people put about two or three of them on their plate.  Each morning I usually cringe and run pass the pot trying to imagine a spread full of pancakes and french toast instead of bread and cheese.  Well I did it, this morning I freaking ate a hot dog before 9am and it wasn't half bad.

We spent almost the entire day inside working on our potty business, which we were 5 to 1 (five pees in the potty and one poop on the floor, sorry graphic)  when I realized we didn't have any food in the house.  So we suited up and headed out.

Across the street from our apartment is this tiny church that I've seen conducting weddings at 9:00 at night.  A server downstairs told me people save their money for years to get married there, I guess it's where the cool kids get hitched.

Since Harlow's tantrums have been on the up I've been trying to keep her busy asking her to help Mama and keep her occupied, well she took it to a whole new level today

 

Harlow carrying our grocery bag.  Here you have to bring your own or pay for one, and I learned the hard way when a lady rung me up and then started ringing up the next person and I asked for a bag and she sorry too late, I had to kick Harlow out the stroller and make her walk so we could carry the food home.

Nic's is where we do our shopping, it's small but close to our place.  They don't have any big markets in the city.

Once you walk into any building in this country it's blazing hot inside, everybody has the heater on over 80, which sucks when you've layered for the cold weather.  Inside the grocery store they have lockers for you your jackets.   Here's Harlow grabbing a basket, I told you she took helping out to another level tonight.  I didn't dare try to take it from her.  But every person in the store was starring at her as she drug it through the place.

It pretty much doesn't get any cuter then this, Harlow is her own woman at 19 months, this kid kills me.

After we paid and I had to take the basket away was when things got super fun.

I have to say it's extremely difficult to be a first time mother of blooming toddler alone without a break in a big city, an old city where buildings have stairs instead of elevators and busy people zooming by that don't have time for your child's antics.  Some streets aren't well lit and cars drive right up on the sidewalk, in fact people just make up their own road rules here, they make one lane streets into two lanes etc.  Needless to say when Harlow starts throwing a fit in the middle of the city streets I start to panic a bit.  Tonight when I was trying to put her in the stroller she did the whole scream arch your back scenario and I had an arm full of groceries and massive winter coat on.  Trying to control her as people walking by started to stare and speak in romanian I could feel my temperature rising, my heart beat up into my chest and my face was blazing red.  A pregnant woman actually stopped and tried to help me but Harlow was screaming so loud I could barely hear her. I kept apologizing and telling her don't worry they don't get like this till way later.  What Michelle!?  Out of all things to say?

Suddenly a stray dog ran out in front of us and I grabbed a bag of pretzels and handed them to Harlow "feed him, he' so hungry Harlow"  Ahhhhh it worked, thank you god!

I swear everyday I'm here something happens to totally and utterly embarrass me.  I guess this trip is a self-deprecating one.  Well I'm thankful for the experience and it's making me one strong Mama!

Love to all follow us along on this journey, xo.

Home sweet, well kinda...

While waiting in the lobby for our driver to pick us up and take us back to Bucharest at 7am I saw a little black fur ball run pass the window.  I looked over at Jason and said "oh no I think that was a puppy?"  Of course he didn't reply he just gave me the "don't do it Michelle" look.  Before he could do an intervention I scooped up a couple of Harlow's cheerios and ran out the door.

This little girl was huddled in the corner trying to keep herself warm.  Damn 30 minutes before I have to leave and I find a freaking puppy!!  Never in a million years would I walk outside in Burbank and find a homeless puppy, I hate to say it but it's like my dream come true.  Had I been home this little girl would have already had a new collar on and been sleeping on the end of my bed, but my hands were tied.  I have to fill up her belly give her a billion pets and let her go, nooooooooo.

My heart is broken.













This driver took the long way home making the adventure a good 6 1/2 hours.  It was an amazing drive through the mountains but I was so car sick I was ready to be home 2 hours into the trip.  But man you should have seen the castles in the mountains and all the tiny towns along the way, glorious I tell you!! I'm the worst picture taker in the car and I can't remember the name of anything I saw so when I find out I'll post some photos.

But I did take some photos of the movie star madness over here.  The crowds of people standing around the trailers just waiting for a glimpse of Nic Cage was pure insanity they would chant over and over NIC CO LAS NIC CO LAS all morning, all afternoon, all night, talk about some major determination.  I believe that's Jason's makeup trailer they are all standing around and Nic's was behind it.

Crazy Right?  I've never seen crowds like that in Los Angeles unless it's oscar night.

Well Harlow and I are home now and happy to be.  Now I can get started on potty training this little bug.  Who knows how it will turn out since it's been tantrum city over here lately.  Seriously this kid is tough and does not like not getting her way.  She is really putting me through the ringer here.  Last night I broke down and bought a bunch of toddler books on my ipad desperately seeking advice on how to handle her rage.  I'll let you know if anything sticks, right now she went down without a fight so I'm going to celebrate with a nice glass if vino and I leave you with a little taste of what happens when you tell Harlow we have change her diaper...

Oh the joys of motherhood, hurry home and save me Jason!!!!!

Ps it looks like a peaceful protest in those pictures but I assure you they were accompanied with ear piercing screams.

Abusive Blog Post?

I held off from posting the last few days just because it's been a wee bit boring over here and well apparently my posts are offensive to several Facebook users; really?  A couple days ago when I went to post my link about Sibiu facebook gave me a warning and wouldn't let me link the page due to complaints of abusive material.  Sooo I apologize to whom ever I've offended, perhaps it was my last post with photos of meat, maybe an angry vegetarian?  Or my stray dog posts?  Perhaps a hurt animal rights protester?  Or maybe my posts about bringing a child overseas?  An angry mother that doesn't agree with my choices?  Ohhh or maybe a teacher that disapproves of my grammar and spelling errors?  Who knows?  Please let me know if I've pissed you off!

We spent the last couple of days hanging with Daddy on set watching all the action.  Yesterday they had over 300 extras in a market scene.  Poor Jason had to approve every single person's makeup, and a lot of the women came with the makeup loaded on, just in case they were going to get discovered :)  Needless to say Jay was so tired when he got home, the 14 hour days are killing him.

Here are a couple shots of us girls on set

Tomorrow Harlow and I travel back to Bucharest and we won't see Jason for another two weeks.  But last night we talked about signing Harlow up for some serious baby swim lessons while he's gone, so that might be fun to do together.  As always, I'll let you know how it goes.  We still haven't planned our Christmas vacation, we were thinking Italy, but may just end up staying here, it really is a beautiful country. 

Monday I'll be looking for you all on ichat, I really need to catch up with so many of you.  The internet is terrible here so I haven't been able to use my phone at all.

Have a great weekend
xoxo

Pigeon hunting in Sibiu

After 5 grueling hours on a packed bus Harlow and I made it to Sibiu.  We were both so carsick from all the twists and turns, ever seen a baby carsick?  It's the saddest thing ever because they don't understand and she kept rubbing her eyes to try and focus, poor little bug.
The drive was beautiful though, the country side was so old world with chickens in the street and little tiny houses all built along the road.  Everyone had their own crops outside, it reminded me of something out of a mothergoose story.

We drove all along a lovely canal with bridges that looked ancient

We stopped on the side of the road for dinner in a little hut.  All they served was meat, meat and more meat, that's Romania for you.  One of the girls on the bus ordered for me since no one spoke English, they made me try a popular Romanian sausage/hamburger thing, and I ordered chicken for Harlow.  It comes with bread and mustard and you eat your meat with toothpicks (ugh), it wasn't bad but way too rare for my taste.

There were about 20 dogs standing there watching us eat, which prompted Harlow to hand over her dinner to a dog with one brown eye and one blue.  One of the dogs was just a puppy and it broke my heart to see him so dirty.  He was too young to be alone.  I booked it to the bus when were through just in case I had a sudden urge to scoop that little guy up and take him home.

Sibiu is romantic!  The character on all the shops and homes is just wonderful.  Every little alleyway looks like something from a screensaver on your computer.
Harlow and I have been spending our days in the square chasing loads of pigeons around in circles.

This square reminds me of that famous one in Italy, I've never been but I've seen it in pictures.

Harlow is having a blast!  Terrible twos are on their way but in between tantrums we're finding time to laugh and play. 

The hotel is nice, we're staying at the Continental, but the 3 of us in a tiny European bed has been awful.  You know those Barbie beds where the comforter is like a square cut perfectly to fit on top?  Well that's what all the duvets have been like, we can all barely fit under it, someone, usually Jason is left in the cold; sorry baby.  No blankets no sheets.  Thankfully we can crank up the heater though.

Well the internet is acting up again and won't let me upload anymore photos so I'm going to go downstairs and get all jacked up on another one of those espressos, yum.

Miss you,
xoxo Michelle

Stray Intervention

Alright someone needs a little intervention here.  Stop taking pictures of the stray dogs Michelle!!!!

Well at least I haven't tried to capture one yet....yet is the key word there.  Don't think I haven't googled how to catch a stray, because I sure did, although the information was vague.  But come on look at those little faces, they all have so much character and every one has been so loving. They need me I know it.

You'd think because there are so many homeless dogs that everyone who has a dog here would have something like these mutts but all I've seen are pure breeds on leashes.  At the mall there were two pet shops full of pure breed puppies.  That's pure insanity to me!  Why pay hundreds of dollars when you can just walk outside and pick one?  Don't believe me, check out this picture from the park.

Nooooo those aren't dead dogs don't freak out!!!  Those were a bunch of dogs taking in the sun on a warm day in the park. There were six in the picture but thats all my little phone could fit. The park could be one giant dog shelter. And what's really wierd is no dog poop anywhere.  It's not like I've searched it out but with that many dogs using the streets as their restroom you'd think there'd be a pile on every corner.

I walk by this lonely fellow everytime we go to the park.  Doesn't he remind you of Benji?

Enough with the dogs, tomorrow we're driving 4 hours to meet Jason in Sibiu, an old German town.  It's supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Jason says it make Italy look unkept (pretty bold statement Jay).  He's only been there a couple hours and he can't stop raving about it so I'm excited to explore it for a week.  I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to come but he's sneak peek from the internet.

Looks like we might be spending Christmas here.

Off to pack (light of course ;)  

Till next time loves!

xoxox  

(everytime I type that a voice inside my head says "Gosssip Girl")