THIS TIME LAST YEAR...

I had jet setted to a cold and snowy, but oh so festive Munich, Germany...

And an equally cold and snowy, but oh so festive Salzburg, Austria...

Where I ate a lot of Bratwurst, Christmas Loaf, Apple Streudel and Sacher Chocolate Cake...

Shopped in many different Christmas Markets...

And watched as everyone else drank German Beer and Gluhwein...

Because I looked like this...

This year it's been about attending local holiday parties...

{Top: Windsor, Blazer: H&M, Jeans: J Brand, Earrings: Remy Dis, Boots: Seychelles}

And jet setting to the mall for this...

It's been a life changing year, in the most sweet and precious way.  Happy Monday Jet Setters!

MUNICH'S FAMED HOFBRAUHAUS

"When in Rome do as the Romans do," and when in Munich...Do the Hofbrauhaus! Yes, it's touristy, but a visit to this incredible European city wouldn't be complete without it (even if you're not chugging! ;). It is one of Munich's oldest, largest and most famous beer halls. From the moment the doors open at 9:00am until they close at midnight, the atmosphere is like a non-stop and very rowdy party filled with mostly tourists, but a lot of locals too. It's also one of the few Beer Gardens that has live Oompah music during lunch and dinner...talk about a fun way to experience the culture here!They do serve food, but I would recommend just going for a liter of beer and a gigantic German pretzel...you'll be set!

AUSTRIA'S AMAZING DESSERTS!

If you ever get the chance to jet set to Austria...be prepared for a major sugar rush! You cannot travel there and not treat yourself to some of their amazing desserts, including the World Famous Sacher Torte! I was just watching Anthony Bourdain on "No Reservations" in Vienna, Austria, and on the show he went to the Sacher Hotel and had their famous chocolate cake. There is a Sacher Hotel in both Vienna and one in Salzburg. This past December, I went to the one in Salzburg and tried some of this cake, and like Tony says..."It is damn good!"Here it is...the original Sacher-Torte, which has been the most famous cake in the world for the last 175 years! It's a chocolate cake which is thinly coated (by hand) with apricot jam, and topped with chocolate icing. The cake comes with a side of unsweetened whipped cream. And when in Austria, you must wash it down with a "Wiener Melange" (coffee with milk)! It is heaven on earth...I promise!
Before trying the torte- go ahead and order some traditional Hungarian goulash...just the way your grandma would make it!

More on my trip to Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria to come!

BACK FROM EUROPE!

Hey Jet Setters! I know I've been M.I.A. for awhile, but life has been busy lately! I just returned from a trip to Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria. Both places were amazing! I can't wait to share pictures and stories of my trip with you all. It was so nice to be over there this time of year because it was so festive between the cold weather, the snow, and the Christmas Markets, and being there really put me in the mood for the holidays! So stay tuned for more of my jet setting excursion to Europe!

THINGS TO DO IN MUNICH

During the last two weeks of September, and the first week in October in Munich, Germany is something called Octoberfest (a.k.a. the best beer party in all of Europe)! It's on my list of things to do and places to see, and being that it's coming up, it got me interested in finding out a little bit more about this fabulous European city. In short, Munich is being called the "Hot Spot" of the moment in Germany by many travel-gurus. So if you love beer, history, shopping that's said to rival Paris and Milan, and if you enjoy traveling to a place with a buzzy European city, Munich's the place for you! Here's JSS' Mini Hit List of some things to do if you jet set to Munich.

WHY GO?
- It's a beautiful historic city nestled against the Bavarian Alps
- Octoberfest
- Beer, of course

WHEN TO GO:
- May, June, September, October

THINGS TO DO:
- Walk from Karlsplatz to Marienplatz, explore the shops and churches. Also around the back of Rathaus is great shopping.
- Rent a bike and ride around Englischer Garten
- Visit Olympia Park, and on a good day go up the Olympiaturm
- Visit many beer gardens or beer cellars
- Get a real taste of Bavaria and eat in the Ratskeller, the restaurant under the Rathaus
- Go up Alter Peter at the Marienplatz to get a great view of the city
- Visit the Viktuelienmarket next to the Marienplatz
- Look inside the Frauenkirche and other churches
- Have a coffee, cake or a beer in one of the countless outdoor cafes
- Obviosuly during Octoberfest time, visit the Octoberfest
- Before Christmas, visit some Christmas markets
- Have a Bavarian breakfast in a beer garden or beer cellar; eat Weisswurst, beer and a pretzel before 11am, but make sure to peel the sausages!
- See a concert of some kind at a venue like the Gasteig or Muffathalle
- If the weather is really bad, head to the shopping center Olympiaeinkaufzentrum