OMG, she baked!

Ok, so you will rarely get posts like these, but when my in-laws were in town, I wanted to show off for them, and so I asked my friend Kendra for some help and she gave me an awesome recipe for Oreo Surprise Cupcakes!  They turned out fantastically, and so I wanted to give her a special shout-out and a thnaks for the help.  They were a hit!

The Dark Chocolate Batter

The Creamy Filling

An AWFUL picture of me pouring the middle layer.

The top layer pouring!

The baked cupcakes!

The final touches!

Friday Fill in!

Thanks to Wife of a Sailor as always for posting this.  It sure is fun!  And, when I feel overwhelmed with, well...lief, it still gives me a chance to blog.

So, without further ado...

1. What characteristic about yourself has either been strengthened or weakened due to your experience as a Military Spouse? (from The Albrecht Squad)

I am one of those people that loathe change.  Well, the only constant in the military IS change.  So, I believe the military has strengthened and weakened this.  I feel like I am better about accepting change, but at the same time, it makes me nervous.  For example, we will be PCSing next summer, and we won't know where we will be going until early next year, and I am researching the top two choices like crazy!

2. What is your favorite vacation spot and why? (from ‘Tis the Life of the Army Wife)

Anywhere in the U.K.!  I loved my time in Scotland, England, and Ireland.  So much that I really would like to get stationed there someday.  Yes the food isn't great and the weather could always be nicer, but it is just a beautiful place where you could do nothing at all or everything and be just as content.  The people are great and the scenery is to die for.  I plan on going back at least once more before we leave Germany.  Fingers crossed!!!

3. If you could have any fast-food restaurant in the food court on base/post what would you pick? (from The Only Pink in a House of Blue)

Starbucks!  Ok, that isn't fair because it isn't a restaurant, but the closest one is an hour away (I know, OMG!) and the German ones don't carry Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, which is a fall favorite of mine.  So, to go back to the original question, a Steak N Shake.  I could really go for a steak burger and some shoestring fries right now.

4. Where did you go on your honeymoon?  (from Pennies from Heaven)

Our honeymoon will be in January, because we decided we would rather have a tropical getaway in the winter versus the summer, and so we will be in the sunny Maldives!  It is located in the Indian Ocean and is a sunny 80-ish degrees all year round.  I can not wait!

5. If you could have any job in the world regardless of money, degree or experience, which job would you have and why? (from Proud to Be a Navy Family and The Calm Before The Storm)

It would be a critic.  I love visiting new places and traveling, eating out, and seeing movies, so I would love to have my own magazine or website where I was paid to do these things.  Plus, I am sure some of my friends are tired of me trying to plan their vacations for them!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in!

Well, I feel like I am batting .500 with this fill in.  I love doing it, so as my husband says, as long as you are at least .500 you're not failing.  So...here goes!

1.  How do you spend your deployment money, do you save, pay off bills or enjoy the extra money while it is there to buy the things you do not normally have? (from Troop Petrie)


2. If you could relive one occasion or moment, what would it be? (from Currently on Land)


Gosh, I really have no idea.  There are many moments that I have enjoyed throughout my life.  I think it would probably have to be the day I got married.  I know, cheesy, but I don't really think I ever stopped to really breathe it all in.  Joel looked wonderful in his uniform, and I don't think I ever took the time to truly admire him and the love we were sharing that day.  Our wedding was very intimate and small, and I had the opportunity, but I overwhelmed myself with the small details.  But, it was still wonderful :)

3. What’s the worst job you ever had and if it was so bad why did you take it? (from Faith and Deploying)

I worked at Liquid Transport Corp. and I hated it!  I was a scanner, so all I did all day was scan documents and classify them.  And, I was young, and worked with a lot of older ladies that I felt just wanted to act like my mother.  Needless to say I did NOT work there very long.

4. If you could play any character on TV, who would you be?  (from Many Waters)

Probably Lilly from How I Met Your Mother.  Grant it, I am only just starting season three, but so far she married the love of her life, has incredible friends that are always there for her when she needs them, got her chance to "find herself" and realized that she already had, and gets to live in an amazing city!  Plus, she seems to love her job and appreciate her family.  Sounds good to me!

5. If you could become the world’s expert in something, what would it be? (from Army of Two)

Finding true happiness.  I think when a person is truly happy with who they are and what they have, then they will be the best at what they are/have to give.  So, I guess the world's best life coach!  LOL!!!Being newlyweds, we haven't gone through a deployment yet together with joint funds, so I cna only answer this one as a hypothetical.  Joel goes TDY a lot and, when he does, we don't spend the money any differently.  We have money in a "fun fund" and long term savings, as well as both of our retirement accounts.  We would probably split the extra money into the two different savings accounts (fun and long term) evenly like we do with his TDY money.

I'm a back!

Every time Joel and I play the new Mario game on the Wii, he is Luigi, and he says the title every time Joel re-uses his lives.  It is so funny, and I need a little humor today.

The in-laws left, and I survived, so all is good.  I will write more later, to include pictures, but right now I am at work trying to catch up on stuff.  I have missed my friends, online and in real life, and I hope to get back into a routine soon!

Friday Fill in!

Eh, so it is a day early, but I won't be able to do it tomorrow because my in-laws will be here!  I am very excited for this.  They are great, sweet people, and I look forward to their visit.  So, without further ado, and brought to you by Wife of a Sailor, here is the...

1.  What is a weird/funny superstition that you have? (from A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench)

Gosh, I really don't think I have any.  I am not a very superstitious person.  There are many things that I am afraid of, but they are all rational, actual things...like clowns.  I guess the only thing that sticks out is that I refuse to not end a conversation with my husband while he is away by saying "I love you."  I have this crazy fear that if I do, something bad will happen and those won't be the last words that I say to him.

2.  What are your hopes and dreams for the years AFTER the military? After all, we aren’t in it forever! (from Stetsons, Spurs and Stilettos)

To stay put!  I hate all of the moving the military makes us do.  I would love to stay put long enough to buy a house and actually feel settled in it, advance career-wise, and make friends that I don't always have to say goodbye to.  I also would like to feel "at home" in a community and get involved, meet the neighbors...that kind of thing.

3.  Since [this] month is National Apple Month (no really!), I’d probably ask: What is your yummiest apple recipe? (from NH Girl Displaced)

What is with the recipes?  I can not bake so I am not very helpful on this one.  Although, since it is fall, I like to dip Granny Smith apples in Caramel.  MMmmm...

4.  How long have you gone as a military spouse without talking to your husband/wife during service? (from A Navy Princess and Her Little Sailors)

Well, I am a newlywed, so this question won't seem so bad.  I think it was four days.  I know it is going to get worse, as I have been working with the army for six years and have seen the horror stories, but right now I can say that I have been fortunate so far.  But, we have only been married for four months...lol!

5.  I occasionally watch When I was 17… on MTV. So, what was something that was significant about your 17th year of life? (from Ashley Amazing)

I just want to say that I have apparently lived in Europe way too long because I have no idea what this show is!

Ok, 17...that was a very pivotal year for me, as I think it is for most 17 year olds.  I guess the biggest thing I decided is that I wouldn't settle.  I took a real look around and realized all of my family basically lived in the same neighborhood all of their lives.  And while I live Indiana and the Midwest, and that might work for some people, I wanted...more.  So I moved to Germany on a whim and decided to see the world while I was here.  I will have been to over 20 countries by the time I leave, and at some point am hoping to get stationed in Asia to see that part of the world, too.  And, by doing all of that, I ended up meeting Joel and getting married.  So, had I decided to always stay put I think my life would be drastically different.

Getting Medieval on you!

I know, I have been slacking on my posts!  I didn't even do the Friday fill-in!  Dang, I really like those things too!  I will do my bestest to post it this Friday, but something uber exciting is happening then.  Wait for it...

My in-laws are coming to visit!!!

Now, most women would not be saying this as excitingly as I am, but I have been truly blessed with a great new family.  They are sweet, wonderful people, and I am excited to have my first visitors since I have been to Germany.  We will be taking them locally around Germany, and also taking a mini-vacation to London!  It is about a two hour plane ride from here, and even though I have been before, I am looking forward to sharing this experience with them.  I love all things UK.  I have been to Ireland, Scotland, and England, and those have been three of my favorite countries.

Now, on to more local things.  Fall is (I think) officially here.  However, a few weeks ago it was nice and toasty here in Germany.  Joel, me, and a few friends went to a local medieval fest, and I wanted to post a few pictures.  Everyone gets dressed up in costume, and they have a camp sent up selling yummy treats and crafts.  This one was in Kaiserslautern, our home turf, so it was a nice day out.

The local chick band

Camp life

Me and Joel...and naturally people bathing behind us (weird!?!)

A storming of the castle!

Scary!

All in all a good day.  :)

Oh what a man I have...

I have been pretty lucky with my husband's hours.  Especially considering that he is in the military.  Sure I have to deal with TDYs and Deployments, and we're not going to even go into how bad they suck.  But, when he is here with me, he is usually home before I get off of work.  It is really nice.  We can (usually) make plans for dinner, hang out with friends (we have a Wednesday tv night tradition), and schedule whatever needs to be done as far as joint errands, etc.  But, for the past week and this one, he was/will be working 12 hour night shifts.  This is a big "boo!" for me because, since I also work, that means I will get to see my husband for about an hour each day.  No bueno.  So, in order for me to perk up, because in reality I realize that I am one of the fortunate ones with this assignment, I remind myself of some fond memories.  So today I am going to send a big shout out to my husband for how sweet he really was recently.

We recently tried a restaurant with some friends in the village next to us (Landstuhl), and really enjoyed the atmosphere.  It was quiet, cute, and quaint, and the food and wine were delish!  We vowed to return.  Joel noticed that there was a "candlelight dinner" special on the menu, and booked us a romantic dinner there a few weekends ago.  It was by complete surprise and a truly romantic gesture!

(Table decorations)

We sat down to this lovely table decorated with flowers and candles.  Well, let me back that up a second.  First, they sat us down at an ordinary table and lit a candle.  We were a little perplexed, but hey, it technically was candlelight.  When they handed us menus (the candlelight dinner had a set menu) they realized we were at the wrong table, and moved us to a quiet corner of the restaurant away from the main dining room with OUR table, which was absolutely beautiful.  They even made a heart out of candles!

(Aww!)

(The view into the main dining room)

The food was absolutely divine!  We started off with some yummy homemade bread and quark butter, and they gave us a half bottle of wine of our choice and water.  Joel was sweet, and even though he likes dry wine he opted for a semi-sweet bottle for me.  We then moved on to the main course.  Chateau briand!  We also had croquettes, fries (in true German style), cooked veggies, grilled tomatoes, and this mushroom concoction.  It was way too much food, but we made good works out of it!

(Yum!)

The meal ended with dessert consisting of vanilla eis and hot raspberries.  To everyone that can (especially those in Germany) please try it!  You won't be disappointed.  We went home and well...I have shared all of the story that needs told.  The moral to this posting is that sometimes I need to remember the good things about my husband's career.  If we weren't stationed in Germany, we never would have found this delightful place, among many other things.  And for these experiences, and many more to come, I am thankful.

Does anyone want to share anything that they have been thankful for lately?

Friday Fill In!

Ok, this always looks like fun, so I thought I would join in.  Wife of a Sailor does this great "getting to know you" questionnaire, and I think I want to play!

1.  If you could be a fugitive from the law for whatever reason, what would your crime be? (from It's a Hooah Life)

First of all, I hope never to be in this position!  But, gosh...hmm...ok, it would have to be getting in trouble for kidnapping my husband!  Cheesy, right?  Well, the military is always pulling him away from me and they can never make up their minds about anything.  Nothing seems to pass the common sense test, know what I mean?  So, I can see myself in this dream world of just kidnapping him and running around the world as a fugitive.  I think we are worldly enough we might be able to do it!

2.  How long do you think you will be a military family? (from Julie the Army Wife)

Well, Joel now has six years in.  If it were up to me, I'd say next year when he can put in his resignation.  But, he really loves what he does, and, well...I love him.  Se we will be doing this for at least fourteen more years.  Wow...did I really just say that?  We are lifers!

3.  What's your favorite recipe? (from Keep Calm and Soldier On)

Crap!  I hate these questions.  I am not much of a baker, and I can cook just fine and dandy, but everything I do I just "do."  No recipes.  I would like to get better at that (anyone?), but for right now I can't share a recipe.  :(

4.  What would you want your last five words to be when you leave this life? (from My Goal is Simple)

Life was full of love :)
5. Where do you hope to retire? (from Pennies from Heaven)

Wow, I wish I was ready to retire!  But, it sure is fun to think about.  I am a Midwestern gal through and through, and if I could pick anywhere right now, it would be Louisville, KY.  I love it there.  Big city with a small town feel, lots to see and do, four seasons, with family and friends near by.  What more could I ask for?  Just don't ask my husband, the Oregonian, this question.  I think he'll slightly disagree.

Blog Hop 2010!

So, thanks to my bloggy buddy Kendra, I have decided to join the blog Hop 10 that Pensieve is hosting.  Seems to be a lot of fun, so if no one minds, I think I will play along!

My name is Kristen, 26, married to my husband who is serving in the United States Air Force.  We just got married in May (newlyweds!).  We met because we are both stationed in Germany.  I, too, work for the military...but I work for the good ole' US Army!  So, we tend to have branch wars with the bets of them.  But, we truly believe that all paths in life brought us together, and we are one of *those* couples who truly are best friends.  Gag me, right?  Don't worry, I won't be too sickeningly sweet on here.

My blog is not just limited to military talk, although I am sure that will encompass some of it, because it is a big part of my life!  We are also huge travelers and love to post pictures as memories.  But, I also blog about randomness of being 26 and still trying to figure life out.

I have a dog, my lovable pug Pugsley, and my super cool cat (ha, get the joke there?)  Jaeger.  No babies, and that's a whole other part that my husband isn't allowed to bug me about yet.  We will be moving next year back to the states, and doing all of those new couple things like decorating, buying a house, me re-finding a job, as I will be following my husband's career (note: I am not so excited about this).  I love my husband and I will do my best to not kill him during all of this, because I will miss him...just a little. :)

Working on my fitness...

So, Joel and I got married in May.  We are on three months of newlywedded bliss now.  Since we live in Germany and flew to the states to get married, we opted out of taking an immediate honeymoon.  Instead, we wanted to focus on new family and friends, and worry about ourselves later.  Plus, May is a beautiful time of the year, and we thought it would be better to escape the cold winter to go to the beach.  So, we planned a January honeymoon to paradise.  No, literally, to paradise.  May I present, THE MALDIVES!

www.meeru.com

We will be staying here in a jacuzzi water villa, which will look like this.

I know, right?  This is an all-inclusive resort, which will mean a whole lot of swimming, snorkeling, hanging out in the jacuzzi, and relaxing.  You know what I will have to wear during all of this?  That's right, a bathing suit.  You know the problem with this?  I feel that I look like this...

Ok, obvs that isn't me, and of course I am not that fat.  But, I sure feel like it a lot of days.  I have put on more weight in the past year than I can admit to people I have never met.  That's bad!  But, I am determined to lose some weight before the honeymoon.  I have worked out twice this week, and I am not stopping there!  I hope to make it to the gym (in between work and school) at least two or three times a week plus working out at home.  I need this for me...for my sanity!  I want to take lots of pictures during out honeymoon because we didn't have a photographer at our wedding, and I want to make an album out of the two events.  So any advice or encouragement is greatly appreciated.  I want to be -15 lbs by mid January. 

Attainable, no?