So… last week I featured a beautiful story (if you haven’t read it yet, go on and check it on my Blog site).
This week, it’s back to me, and let’s just say – it’s been a ride. Literally.
Our much-awaited 2-week vacation officially kicked off last Saturday! We hopped on the train to Austria, knowing full well the gamble we were taking. If you’re in Germany, you already know the deal with DB (Deutsche Bahn): delays, cancellations, unexpected transfers… a real choose-your-own-adventure experience.
We originally booked a route with just two train changes. But DB, being DB, changed the plan. So we took a route with four changes instead – thinking, “Okay, it’ll just take a bit longer.” But of course, each slight delay stacked up like dominoes. We missed connections, waited around, and by the time we got to Salzburg, we had a two-hour layover. Not five minutes. Two hours. Classic.
On the bright side, we treated ourselves to a warm meal in a cosy restaurant (schnitzel and fries, naturally) while watching other delayed travellers come and go, calling their families with sighs and eye rolls. It was raining outside, cold and miserable – so honestly, we felt lucky we could wait in comfort. Gratitude moment: ✅
Eventually, we caught the final train (also late), and rolled into Klagenfurt around 11:30 PM. Not 7:30 PM. Not even 9:30 PM. Eleven. Thirty. But as always, MAMA (my lovely mother-in-law) was there with her warm hugs and an even warmer welcome. Totally worth it.
And then – my birthday! 🥳
I woke up to the sweetest birthday breakfast setup from MAMA. She went all out. It was adorable and totally made my day. We kept it low-key: cosy breakfast, some cake and coffee/tea, and capped the day off with dinner at a Chinese buffet. Nothing fancy – but full of heart.
The next day was “food-shopping day,” and afterward, MAMA and I kicked off a creative project I’d been dreaming about: a handmade hobo bag! (Did I mention MAMA is a professional tailor?) I showed her some samples, and she whipped up a gorgeous version on the spot – better than anything I showed her.
We decided to do the real thing in leather, but the color she had was dark brown… and I had my heart set on dark green. So we made a plan.
The next day, my husband got hit with the flu – full-on sneezing, fever, stuffy nose. So while he rested, MAMA and I went shopping for materials and found the perfect vegan leather in deep green. Mission accomplished. By that evening, the bag was DONE. I’m in love with it.
We used a deep forest green vegan leather – soft yet durable, stylish yet sustainable. I love that it’s a cruelty-free, eco-conscious alternative, which still looks and feels luxe. It’s the kind of bag that works for just about any setting – office days, errands, casual outings, or even light travel. Spacious enough for everyday essentials (plus the occasional impulse chocolate bar), but still sleek and effortlessly wearable.
I’ve been carrying it proudly since – and it turns heads!
Then came the crossbody remix version – a smaller, cuter edition of our hobo bag, also so beautifully done!
Honestly, MAMA is incredibly gifted – a professional tailor with decades of experience and an artist’s eye for detail. She crafts everything by hand: bags, wallets, clothes – each one unique and stitched with love. If anyone’s curious or interested in something similar, she’d be happy to create one too (for a fair price, of course). Just message me and I’ll help connect you. 😊
That same day, my son Linus arrived! He took the same chaotic train route we did (thanks again, DB), but with an extended layover in Munich where he got to meet up with a high school friend. Way better to be stranded in Germany than in Austria when your phone and bank card still work! He got to us by 11:30 PM – we picked him up, and I could finally breathe knowing everyone was under one roof again.
The last few days? Cozy. Homey. Chill. We played Mensch ärgere dich nicht (a board game which literally means “Don’t get annoyed,” lol -very appropriate), ate well, rested lots. Breakfast at 9, lunch later, cake/tea/coffee breaks in the afternoon, and dinner around 8 or 9. Basically living on a delicious schedule.
Then… I caught the flu. 😩
It hit me yesterday, and I stayed in bed like a burrito – tissues, tea, the works. Today I’m feeling a bit better, but still sniffly and tired. Fingers crossed I bounce back soon, because next week is going to be full!
Upcoming plans:
Picnic by the lake 🌳
Mini-golf 🏌️
Swimming (if the weather lets us!) 🏊
And then – off to Munich for the weekend to meet up with friends from our church days in Al Ain, UAE! Can’t wait.
So… even though it’s been a mix of fun, flu, and fixing travel fails, I’m still grateful for all of it.
Stay tuned – and if you’re curious about that gorgeous hobo bag, you know where to find me. 😉