Cheerio!

Hey all!  Do you know where I am?  I am in England!  Yes, I will be here during the Royal Wedding, and let me tell you, I think that the whole of Britain has wedding fever!  I will write all about my trip when I return, but right now I am on an eight day trek around the countryside.  We flew into London, and have so far made it to Deal, Sandwich, Herne Bay, and Walmer.  And we are only on day two!  Tomorrow includes watching the wedding broadcast live at Leeds castle and toasting the new couple with Champagne.  And much, much more!

My Birthday! (Part Two)

On my Birthday weekend Joel came up with the fantastic idea to go to Baden Baden.  We stayed Saturday night, wondered through the area, and ended up at the Caracalla Therme for the evening. For those that don't know, Baden Baden is known for their natural thermal springs, and they have many spas that have taken advantage of this and made pools out of the hot springs.  They had about seven (I think?!?) different pools all of a different temperature, some indoors and some outdoors.  It was very relaxing, and a perfect, low-key way to spend the weekend.

Our yummy lunch spot.

The Lowenbrau

A scene around town.

Beautiful!

Baden-Baden

A dog in lederhosen.

Downtown

Downtown

Cute cafe and hotel

What a beautiful city!

A nearby church.

One of the hot spring pools at Caracalla.

A thermal waterfall in Caracalla Therme.

One of the thermal pools inside Caracalla Therme.

My Birthday Post (Part One)

Yes, I know this is a week late.  Bad Kristen!  This last week was my last at work, because I am taking about a month's worth of leave so that Joel and I can do some last minute traveling before we leave, and also so I can have a little less stress with our "back to America" move.  There are a lot of moving pieces when relocating to a different country, even if it is your home country.  So, rather than stress my controlling self out, this is the path I chose.  It hasn't hit me yet, but I am sure when Joel goes off to work tomorrow and I don't that it will finally sink in.

Anywho, back to my Birthday.  The closer I get to thirty, the less I want to celebrate.  So, we had a fairly low-key weekend.  The actual day of my Birthday Joel took me out to one of my favorite local places, the Rosenhof.  They make a magnificent Chateau Briand for two, and I paired it with some delicious croquettes and my favorite wine.  Afterwards, we went back to the house, where Joel surprised me with a beautiful pair of earrings he picked up when he was in Turkey, and a bottle of white Lambrusco.  It was amazing!  I saved it, though, and we will be popping it open tonight!  He also made me, from (mostly) scratch a Boston Creme Pie.  Spoiled much?  He is too good to me sometimes.

Me in front of the Rosenhof

My Birthday goodies!

My handsome husband and the cake he made me!

Perfect end to a perfect B-Day!

Part two will discuss our weekend in Baden Baden.  Stay tuned!

Friday Fill-in!

Yay for Friday!  And this is a HUGE Friday for me, too!  Today is my official last day of work, due to our upcoming PCS.  We have a lot of travelling coming up, the first trip being a week long adventure to England (yes, during the Royal Wedding!) and the second is a last blast, 14 day cruise to the Mediterranean, where we will visit Greece, Croatia, Crete, and Turkey!  I can't wait to experience these trips and, of course, blog all about them.

But, for today, we have Wife of a Sailor's ...

1.  How many pets do you have? And what type? submitted by Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl
Well, for now, we have one dog, a pug appropriately named Pugsley, and one Persian cat, Jaegar.  More than likely when we move back we will be adding another little puggy to our family via a rescue organization, just like I did Pugsley seven years ago.

2.  What are your favorite projects to do while hubby is away? submitted by my-inspired-nest
I like to reorganize!  I am not very crafty, but I do enjoy changing up the house so that it always feels cozy and welcoming.  I tend to do this a lot when he is gone.  Also, and I know this isn't a project per se, but I like to catch up on any reading that I have been slacking on.  I love to read, but find other things to do when the hubs is home.

3.  What are the must-haves in your deployment care packages?  submitted by Christine’s Little Blog
I would always make sure to put in a card.  Joel really likes to give out (and receive) cards for nearly every occasion, and so I know he would really appreciate it.  Also, treats are always a welcome sight, and I would make sure to put in something for entertainment value, like cards or some sort of game.

4.  If you could star in any TV show, which would it be? submitted by Just a Girl
How I Met Your Mother.  They seem like the coolest group of people, and I would love to have them as friends.  Plus, they live in NYC!

5.  What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during your/your significant other’s first deployment? submitted by The Pavlik Perspective
We haven't experienced a deployment together, yet.  He has two under his belt.  I've dealt with one 15 month deployment with an ex of mine, and I dealt with his infidelity downrange.  It was awful and heart wrenching, but I knew that I had to let him go after that.  I found out at month ten.

Getting to Know You!

First off, my birthday was great, and I appreciate all of the well wishes!  It was very low key, but my amazing husband didn't disappoint with his special efforts.  More on that later!  I have pictures to go along with the story, and I am at work on lunch and don't have access to them.


I found this link-up on MannLand5 and thought it would be a lot of fun!  So I linked up, and here I go!

1. what's something you've eaten and liked, but didn't think you would?

If you ask anyone, I am the pickiest eater around.  So, this may not be the best question to start me out with!  I have tried a lot of random foods in abroad, but none have ever really been too odd.  That is, until I went to Egypt.  There was a lot I wouldn't even attempt to eat, but we went to this little place that had a sample plate of meats, and while they looked out of the ordinary for me, they were really good!  I wouldn't try the lamb, because I just don't eat it in general, but the chicken and beef whatevertheywere were really tasty!

2. plastic surgery..yay or nay?

Why not?  If I had something that I wanted to get done and the money to do it, what business is it of someone else?  If I have kids and my belly or boobs droop, you bet your booty that I would get them fixed!  But that is just me.  No judgment either way.

3. 2 things you love about spring are.....?

My Birthday and the newness that starts to grow around me.

4. when's the last time you went on a picnic?

Gosh, it has been so long ago that I have no idea.

5. what's your favorite app?

Sadly, no smartphone devices for me (yet).  I anticipate that it will be Facebook or Google-something.

6. who does the grocery shopping in your house?

We both do.  I usually write out the meal plans, but Joel and I really enjoy the shopping part together.

7. would you rather take a spin class or zumba?

Zumba!  I really enjoy Zumba, but I don't think I could just bike for an hour (yes, I know it is more than juts biking, but...).  However, I would love to take some sort of Top 40s Step Class.  I think step is one of my favorite kinds of workout classes.

8. how often do you go out to dinner?

A few times a week.  Joel and I get so caught up with work sometimes that we like to leave the cooking to someone else.  Plus, you just can't beat the German (ha!) and Italian around here!

Today is...

68 - Days left until we fly back to the states.

28 - Days left until graduation.

8 - Days left until vacation (and my last day of work!)

And today is...my Birthday!  I am 27.  Ugh...one year closer to 30.  Happy Birthday to me!

What a difference a day makes...

So, I needed a day off.  Yes, I realize that this sounds silly because today is Monday and, well, I just had a whole weekend off.  However, Joel did not, as he worked all weekend.  So, he got today as sort of a comp day off, and so it was also a down day for the army, so I took advantage of the situation and decided to take a day off of work, too.

So, the day started off at IKEA, which is my husband's Mecca.  We wanted to get some last minute things before our PCS back to the states, and even though we don't leave for two more months, we figured it best to take advantage of IKEA shopping during the week.  My victory was in getting Joel's permission to buy this awesome girly rug for my office when we move.  I can't wait to get the new place put together and show you all!  Decorating pictures to be continued...

Our next stop was one of our favorite Italian places in Landstuhl.  Garibaldi!  Our absolute favorite is Il Capricio, also in Landstuhl, but alas, they have no outdoor seating, and we couldn't waste a beautiful day like today.  It was probably mid 70s and B-E-A-utiful!  And let me tell you, that isn't an every day occurance in Germany.  I had the Tortelloni Pomodoro with the Lambrusco, and it was amazing as usual.  Very tasty and the owners are super nice guys!

(Our view!)

And then, came my favorite part of the day.  Last week, we found the most amazing thing at our local Edeka grocery store in our village, and today was the day to try it out.  Wanna see what it is?

Need a closer look?

 Oh yeah, baby.  Sangria!  The last time I remember having some of this, and it was the real stuff, was in Spain on one of the best vacations ever.  Today was so warm and sunny that I had to break it out.  Even Joel dipped into the stuff.  And the results?
 

Fantastico!  Que Beuno!  Husband tested and approved!

Military Spouse Survey

Due to my lack of posting, I thought I would fill out this handy dandy survey.  My mind has been over thinking my last classes, the PCS, and closing things up at work.  Only 17 more days to go!

1. How long have you been a military wife?
Eleven months, but I have worked for the army since 2004.

2. What branch of service is your husband?
The Air Force.

3. Active/Reserve?
Active Duty

4. What is his job?
He is a Civil Engineer Officer.

5. How many deployments have you gone through?
He has gone through two, but none with me (yet).

6. Camo or Dress uniforms on your man?
Umm...neither?!  I see him in uniform so much, I honestly get a bit sick of them.  I prefer him in civvies any day!

 

7. What do you like about being a military wife?
Am I supposed to like something?  Ha!  Ok, well, I enjoy all of the traveling we get to do.  I think that we would still travel a lot, but being stationed overseas sure does help!

8. Do you live on base?
Heck no!  No offense to those that do, because I definitely see the advantages to it, but it just wouldn't be something that I would ever want to do.

9. What is your favorite base so far?
I have only been here in Kaiserslautern, so we will see!  I am looking froward to PCSing to Scott AFB, though.

10. What is the hardest part of the military life?
The separations.  Joel is constantly TDY, and I miss him so much when he is gone.  I am not looking forward to any deployments.

11. Do you go to the grocery store or Commissary?
We go to the commissary for American type products, but we prefer to go to our local village grocery, the Edeka.

12. Do you work or stay at home?
I work.  Almost seven years as a civil servant with the Army.  Fingers crossed that they pass the budget so I continue getting a paycheck!

13. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?  Not too many.  Most of my friends aer in the military themselves.  However, I have a great group of military spouses that offer my great support online.

14. Do you prefer Walmart or the BX/PX/NEX/MCX? What's Walmart again?  I have lived overseas for way too long!  I hate the PX, so anywhere else is where I prefer to shop.

15. How did your husband propose?  In front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome.  It was a fairy tale proposal, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

16. Did you marry him after he joined or before?
After.

17. How long have you been together?
Since July 2009.

18. Any kids?
Nope.  Unless you count my cat and my pug.

19. Any kids yet to come?
Depends on the day and who you ask.

20. Is your husband one of those "I am soldier hear me HOOAH" kind of guys?
Nope, not at all.  He loves what he does, and couldn't imagine not serving, but thankfully he leaves (most of) the military at the door when he comes home.

21. Have you ever done combatives with your husband?
Nope.  Not unless you count tickle fights!

22. How many bases have you lived at?
Just here, but Illinois here we come!

23. If you could change one thing about the military?
I would wish for it to have more common sense sometimes.

24. Do you like military balls?
Sure!  Who doesn't like to put on a ball gown and dance the night away.

25. Where does your family live?
Joel's parents live in Oregon, his brother in Colorado, and his sister in California.  Pretty much my entire family still lives in Indiana.

26. What do you do for a job?
I am an Administrative Officer for the Army.  Pretty much I am a glorified Office Manager for a big command.  It has taught me a lot about the military and pays decently well, so no real complaints here.  Well, maybe one, but I will keep that to myself. 

27. Have you ever gotten in a fight with an NCO's wife?
Umm, no...why would I?

28. Name one thing you do when your husband is gone.
Eat the most random meals and watch trashy tv.

29. Do you think other wives do that too?
Definitely.