This August we celebrated Leo and Noa’s first birthday. I was excited to host a “Wild One” party for the twins—complete with safari-themed dishes, decor and of course a smash cake inspired by photos I’d seen on Pinterest. However, things like highchair garland are not easily attainable in Spain…so there were a few DIY (do it…
Expat Life
Living in Spain: 20 baby products every parent should know about
As we near the twin’s first birthday I wanted to take a moment to look back on the products that helped Javi and I maintain our sanity these past 12 months. 😆 Living in Spain means I don’t have easy-access to the familiar U.S. baby brands I’m accustomed to, but fear not—there are lots of great…
10 Things I wish I’d known before having a baby in Spain (during COVID-19)
Bringing life into the world is a beautiful experience…but it’s also slightly terrifying, especially for first-time moms. Dealing with a high-risk pregnancy in a foreign country, without my family, and during a global pandemic was stressful to say the least. Despite my fears I never doubted the quality of Spain’s healthcare system and public hospitals….
How to register a birth abroad (and get your child’s U.S. passport) in Spain
This past August I gave birth to twins (Leo and Noa) in Spain. Because I’m American and Javi is Spanish our babies get to enjoy the benefits of dual citizenship. 🙌 To make their American nationality official I needed to submit a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) before the twins’ 18th birthday. This required…
How to travel to Spain as a U.S. citizen during COVID-19
With the Spanish border currently closed to the United States, Americans must meet certain criteria to travel to Spain. At 32 weeks pregnant with twins, I was determined to get my parents (who live in Florida) into Spanish territory for the birth of their grandchildren. Because my pregnancy was considered high risk, they could apply…
10 rules you need to know to be the perfect wedding guest in Spain (2020)
Are you attending a wedding in Spain and not sure what to expect? Don’t worry, I’ve got the tips to help you be the perfect wedding guest! After attending numerous weddings over the years (including my own), I’ve collected a list of the top 10 rules that every guest should know before attending their first…
What you need to know before getting a mortgage in Spain
In 2015 Javi and I bought land in his hometown, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, with a plan to build our dream home there one day. This year we’re ready to take the plunge! We’ve designed the house, chosen a builder, and secured a self build mortgage (hipoteca autopromotor). It’s an exciting (and slightly terrifying) time in…
Part 2: Getting your Spanish residency card (TIE)
I’m an American expat living in the province of Cádiz, Spain. Javi and I did “pareja de hecho” (civil union) in 2012 to extend my temporary work + residency permit. In 2015 we got married. After five years of legal residency you can apply for permanent residency in Spain—which brings us to the content of this…
Part 1: Applying for permanent residency in Spain
I’m finally getting permanent residency in Spain! I’ve been living and working in Europe for the last five years thanks to me and Javi’s civil union (pareja de hecho). However my residency expires next month so we went to the Oficina de Extranjería (immigration/foreigner office) in Cádiz to submit my paperwork. Keep in mind you…
What I wish I’d known before filing taxes as an expat
I was on my second bottle of Fino at the feria of Jerez when the sobering topic of expat taxes came up. While chatting to a fellow American expat, who just happened to be banker, I learned the consequences of tax evasion could not just affect me, but my family as well. At this point we…