Saturday, December 22, 2012

Smoothie-licious

It's almost Christmas, the apocalypse didnt occur, and I still havent found my holiday cheer. I've looked everywhere for it. I even searched the twinkle in my kids' eyes and nothing! Bah humbug! Ok, it really isnt that bad. I just miss the holidays with my immediate and extended family. We'd all be together eating yummy foods my mom spent all night cooking. Somehow we'd end up at my grandmother's house laughing and laughing until nightfall. If my sister is in town we'd catch a movie at the theater :) the good ol' days. This year, though we are still in Germany, we are blessed to be able to spend it together. This is our 3rd Christmas here! Wow, does time fly.

So, this morning while making the family a delicious breakfast of homemade pancakes, hash browns, eggs and sausage...whew... I whipped up an egg white omelete and a smoothie. Yep, I know you're jealous! I wanted to show you how amazing my fake bullet blender is. I posted on facebook awhile back about how to turn an ordinary mason jar and your blender into your own magic bullet. You simply find a glass mason jar, unscrew the base of your blender where the blade is and screw it onto the  jar. Of course fill it with your yumminess before screwing the blade on the top then flip it onto the blender. Viola! My mason jars are actually Classico pasta sauce jars from the grocery store. Be sure to find ones that fit your blender. The only ones that worked for me are the ones with the tin lids. These are actual mason jars that say mason on them under the label. Here are the pics of the progress and the recipe for my newest combination.














Fruity Tooty Nice and Smoothy Recipe

1 banana
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup frozen fruit
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
handful of fresh spinach*
1/2 c V8 juice*

*not in the smoothie pictured, but normally added to my smoothies

Sometimes I have to take the jar off and give it a good shake and then finish blending. Also, remember to add the liquid ingredients last so they end up at the bottom of the jar after you've flipped it.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Be safe and kiss your loved ones a couple of extra times...why? Because they arent zombies... YET!

CIAO!







Monday, December 3, 2012

determination & motivation

Im determined and motivated to do so much in my life. I've accomplished more than I thought possible... except... why they hell can't I finish this damn book?! HA! Why can't I finish an entire pan of brownies? Ok, I can, but I dont. I want to, but I know it's not the smart thing to do. I'm on this weight watchers kick. I downloaded the app onto my iPhone so I can scan products and track my points on the go. I've been doing a decent job. I'm back to the weight I was before I got knocked up with my last kiddo. I've got about 25-30 more to go before I reach my pre-twin pregnancy weight.

It's not always easy to get in a workout chasing the twins and juggling a baby. Yes, that may seem like a workout in itself, but that's just my sanity running on a treadmill. Luckily, I've been able to workout on a pretty consistent basis. Kathy Smith and that crazy lady from Turbo Jam have been my DVD saviors; kicking my fat ass into gear and motivating me with their tight abs. Abs I wont see again without surgery...thanks to those twin demons! I do believe that getting a good workout can happen unexpectedly. After baking that delicious pineapple upside down cake my oven began smoking due to some of the cake dripping over to the bottom. Germany homes aren't known for their ventilation systems. Once the smoke started filling the room it was only seconds before the smoke detectors began blaring. I opened the windows and turned on all of the fans, but they just kept going. So for 25 straight minutes I fanned the 3 smoke detectors using my big couch pillows. Gabby tried to help with her baby blanket, but I dont think it worked. Finally, my husband came to my rescue and made it all stop. The next day I couldn't figure out why my shoulders, back and triceps were in such agonizing pain. Felt like I had been hit by a bus! Then it hit me (not the bus, the answer) I was fanning those detectors with such ferocity that I actually grabbed a quick workout!

I am very thankful for the friends I've met here in Germany. Not only do they cook great delicious foods, but they invite me over all the time to tease me with them. They mock my flab with their tantalizing delicacies. Their names will be protected, but not because they are innocent! The reality is, without them I wouldn't have the motivation to get up on Saturday morning and fight the freezing Germany weather just to hop on a spin bike. Without them, I wouldn't have anyone to complain to about my lack of weight loss. Ok, enough talk of me losing weight. It's time to start dinner :)

Ciao!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Pinterest = Crack

Yes, I am addicted to Pinterest. Yes, I think in my mind I will one day create all types of fancy meals and party favors. I'll amaze everyone with my homemade crafts and appetizers. People will applaud when I walk through door holding platters of hand crafted Santa Clauses and reindeer cupcakes. In reality, I like everyone else, pin away without another thought as to when I'd actually get around to doing anything. I pin ideas that I want to start immediately and others I see starting in the not so distant future.

Well, even with three munchkins running amuck and our move into our new place, I was able to actually complete a few pins. Say what?!

Who has seen the cinnamon rolls in the waffle maker? This chick did and she made them... TWICE. They are so delicious. I purchased the pillsbury rolls in the can and placed them in the waffle maker. I will warn you... it's messy to clean up and you have to hold the iron down if yours doesnt have a clamp that locks it shut. These treats are worth every minute I spent cleaning the waffle maker.

We also tried a dish called buffalo chicken and potato casserole. It's even more amazing than it sounds. The sauce wasnt too spicy and the potatoes were so crisp while the chicken was surprisingly moist. This will become a regular in our meal rotations.


Another easy one was the baked meatball subs. Talk about yummy. The hubby couldnt get enough of these. They reheated in the oven perfectly too.

I've also incorporated a few ideas from pinterest into my daily life. I now use a shoe organizer as a way to store my cleaning supplies. I've also started using vinegar and baking soda as my staple cleaning supplies. I even have a batch of vinegar soaking in a jar of orange peels. Pinterest you amaze me.

Lastly, I created a magnetic makeup board. Since we moved, I havent had a chance to hang it up. When I do, I will take pics and explain in more detail the creative process.

What have you pinned? What have you actually created or implemented? I know I'm not the only one out here constantly checking pinterest, pinning away masterpieces and secretly stalking random boards.

Until next time people... CIAO!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

slow cookin'

I've never owned a slow cooker aka crockpot. I've always thought they were for chili or soups and seeing as how Im not a real fan of either, I didn't bother with pursuing after one. That all changed after we added our newest edition to the family. Cooking for a family of five, plus my mother who is in town  temporarily, can become quite tiring and more often than not is simply forgotten until about 4:30pm. That's when I find myself scrambling to throw something together that is quick and healthy.

I finally decided to look more into this giant pot that works miracles. How can I throw an entire chicken in along with veggies and half the day later produce a delectable dinner? I dont know, but I needed to find out and quick.

After some research and some online stalking, I finally decided a crockpot was in my very near future. There are tons of websites of very easy recipes and countless blogs all dedicated to the POWER OF THE CROCKPOT. I imagine those with a crockpot are equivalent to magicians in Harry Potter; living in a secret magic world of easy cooking and cleanup while mere mortals slave over stoves and hand wash dishes.

I've had my "wand" for a few weeks now and I will admit that I didnt use it right away. It seemed daunting. What was I going to make in this thing? And after hours of slow cooking, what if it turned out disgusting? Then I'm stuck with wasted time and a wasted dish. I pushed my fears aside and started casting my cookbook spells.

I've only made four dishes, but they've all turned out quite delicious to me. I found them all on one awesome blog titled, A Year of Slow Cooking. I highly recommend you check out that page if you're thinking of purchasing a slow cooker. I've created shredded BBQ chicken for sandwiches, Orange Honey Tilapia, Caribbean Jerk Chicken, and even Apple Coffee Cake!

The cake was our favorite :) It tasted like an apple pie turned cake. Im so in love with this machine. Up next: buffalo chicken lasagna!

Here are a few pics of the fish and the cake- please tell me about your crockpots and recipes. I've got a trip planned soon to another country so I should have some great pics and stories.








CIAO!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

a bitter sweet visit

Growing up, my mother was not the typical doting figure I saw on Leave it to Beaver. Okay, okay... whose was? While I cant recall going on camping trips, her cheering me on from the sidelines of any sport or driving me around town to different kid's events/friends' houses, I do remember being loved. With all of that said, who is this woman that has come to visit and help me with the twins and our new edition?

This grandmother slides down the slide in the playground, turns flips on her head in the living room, goes to the zoo and pool parties all in the name of grandparent-hood. The girls cant get enough of her. Even baby David watches her every move and adores their one-on-one time. I know that staying with me isnt the easiest thing to do at times (hell ask my husband), but she is amazing.

As her 60th birthday nears at the end of September, we have decided to send her on several trips. She will be touring Switzerland this weekend and Paris next month. At the end of this month we are planning a trip to London. This is her first time overseas and probably will be her only trip. I say let's send her packing to Arizona with special memories and pictures to last a lifetime.

My life will SUCK when she leaves. How will I ever cope with three children... or should I say three babies? I really do believe having them all the same age (triplets) would've been easier. Now, I have to try to incorporate the baby in our daily routines, while still giving him the time and love he needs. The girls are potty training right now and that in itself is a job. My mom has taken over that task while she is here. My youngest twin is a rockstar! She wears undies at home and a pull-up out and about. She tells me when she has to use the restroom and has very few accidents. Few meaning 1 accident every other day if that. The other twin? She hides in a corner and pees on everything! She has only actually gone in the potty chair a handful of times and shows no sign of conforming! Oh well... at least when mine go to school they will ALL go to school :) And I will be dancing and celebrating... laughing hysterically. Until then...

CIAO!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

my wolfpack of 5

Thank you all for being so patient with me. My mother is here from the states visiting (aka keeping me sane) and we welcomed the newest edition to our family two weeks ago; baby David.

 I had the twins and David all at the same hospital with the same doctor. This is no easy feat in the military medical community. We were blessed that our doctor was able to see us at every visit and happened to be on rounds that day when we arrived in full blown labor. She saw my name on the list and declared to the staff that she would be delivering our baby. I was ecstatic. I was not comfortable with the midwives and doctors on call that day and I had arrived right at shift change. This is unfortunate because you start to bond with your nurse then BAM! they are gone. It was fate that she had arrived. Not only did she keep me calm, massage my back during the worst labor pains ever, but she kept everyone else around me in check and even yelled at me when I wanted to give up pushing that enormous head out! Unfortunately, three anesthesiologists could not complete an epidural for me due to my small/tight spinal spaces. I always thought it strange my epidural with the twins "wore off" before delivery. Nope, it was never "in" to begin with... :(

So now, we are a wolfpack of five. My life has changed once again. The twins were a much easier pair as newborns. David is so high maintenance. We are all adjusting...slowly, but adjusting. The girls have rare moments of clarity and realize there's another small person in the room, but most times they ignore him. They do like all his little things and want to touch everything. Gabby can even say "baby" now. I think I was psychotic having a baby while the girls are only 18 months old, but I keep reminding myself they will all be in school at the same time.

Sleepless nights, screaming babies, potty training, diapers, feedings, pumpings, more diapers... all driving me to the nuthouse now, but soon I will forget about all of this.

Can someone please tell me how soon?

Thursday, July 12, 2012

paying to pee

Yes, I had to pay to pee today. And that's just ridiculous my friends. Let me start from the beginning. My day started as any other. I had plans to meet up with a friend at the Neunkirchen Mall here in Germany. The only mall I've had a pleasure of visiting has been the Styles Outlet Mall which is all outdoors. That would be fine if it wasn't always freezing or raining here. So, on my way to the mall I'm cruising along in my speed demon aka Shelby II aka my minivan. I round a corner of the highway and attempt to pass a semi-truck pushing along very slowly. As I increase my speed in the left lane, I notice it... I spot the blue van. In that instant I realize that I'm about to get FLASHED! I see the lights and cameras setup alongside the road and I gaze down at my speedometer. I'm only going about 10 km over the limit, but I know that's 10 more than allowed. I close my eyes briefly as the bright Men In Black flash swoops over me, capturing my horrific moment in time. Too bad my memory of it doesn't get erased like in the movies. The worst part of it is that the ticket wont arrive in the mail for months. After I've finally forgotten about it and pushed the anger out of my mind, I'll have to relive it all over again.

Well, nothing to do but continue to drive. I find the mall and finally a parking space in the parking garage. My friend is already waiting for me inside and we begin our shopping extravaganza. 

I'm shocked to see a regular indoor mall. Fully equipped with a water fountain, LA Nails shop, tiled floor and a plethora of vendors down the center of the strip. I inhale slowly and exhale as I relax and begin to enjoy my experience. 

The stores are quite varied. There are stores I recognize immediately like La Nails, H&M, TK Maxx (better known as TJ Maxx) and Burger King. Then there are places I couldn't believe existed in a mall. There are groceries stores and bakeries sprinkled in the mix. My favorite was a store called Pretty Woman. I just knew that inside would be Rodeo Drive, hookers, fishnets, and bad wigs. None of that existed. Julia Roberts would be disappointed. It was just an accessories store. 


Neunkirchen Mall courtesy of http://www.qype.com/place/118958-Saarpark-Center-Neunkirchen

We made our way through them all and chose a few items to purchase. After we shopped for a bit, hunger took over and we made our way to the food. There isnt a traditional "food court" as I am accustomed to in the states, but there are plenty of options. Full restaurants, ice cream parlors, smoothie joints, and fast food spots line up and await our decision. We choose a very chic looking Asian spot. Between our broken German and the pictures we think we have made our lunch choices. Luckily, the chef speaks English and we are able to confirm what's in our meals. I dined on a very delicious crispy chicken over a bed of low mein noodles all covered with a light sweet sauce. I'll definitely be returning for more. 

As we wrapped up our afternoon, we made our way to the restrooms before embarking on our long ride home. Not only are the bathrooms so tiny I could barely fit in them with my pregnant belly, their toilet paper is as soft as sandpaper and get this, it costs to pee. You read (heard) me right! It costs .30euro cents (however that is written) to use the restroom. There's a lady standing outside of the restroom among several signs reminding you that peeing in public after you've spent your money in the mall will cost you! I shake my head and laugh as I fork over some change. I probably should've snatched some extra paper towels or ass sandpaper on my way out. 

Even with paying to pee, I had a great time. I love that people can bring their dogs into the mall and they are well behaved. The people with five year olds riding in strollers and sucking on pacifiers still shock me. And in Germany if there's an inch of space in the line someone is stepping into that space. It's nothing personal- just efficiency. I made my way home driving a bit below the speed limit and happy about my time at the mall.

Sorry there aren't many pictures, but that just gives me a reason to return.

Until next time- CIAO!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

first house on the right

This has been one crazy day. We live near a few vacation homes and are accustomed to the normal noisy weekenders partying away. This weekend the partying started off early with fireworks since Germany won their soccer match. Sorry, I dont know all the details about the game or what the win means, but it's a big deal here. People drive around with their country's flag proudly flying from every crevice of their vehicle.

At 2:30am I was violently awoken from my peaceful sleep by the sounds of a woman screaming and men yelling. But, I truly believe a woman knows when another woman is flirting and when she is screaming for her life. These were screams of fear. I peered through the open windows, but couldn't make out anything. My husband had fallen asleep downstairs so I was headed down the hallway to see if he too had heard the woman. Normally, I would just go back to sleep, but something was very unsettling about her pleas. Though they were in German, they were universal in tone. Before I had wobbled halfway down the hall, our doorbell was buzzing. One... two... three times. Someone wanted in and they wanted in NOW.

I raced down the stairs and my husband met me at the entryway room. I yelled, "Who is it?!" several times, but the responses were all in German. I looked back at my husband for the approval to open the door. He nodded. A young man stood in front of me dazed and frightened. His arm was locked in with his companion. Apparently, this was the young woman who I had heard only moments before. She was visibly shaking and crying. Our exchange was quick, I had no clue what was going on and if there were others out there. I had to think of my family and my sleeping children, but I just knew I needed to let them in. I looked at her and she looked back at me begging for help. We came to the conclusion that my husband spoke enough German and he enough English to communicate. We let them in, offered them water and a seat and called the police again to let them know where they were now. They had already called the police, but from the train station down the road from our home.

The story was they were at the train station when a group of men in a van tried to jump them with bats. The girlfriend took off running and her boyfriend followed as the men chased them. The train station is very close to our home and we've walked and driven through it almost everyday. I think about how long that chase must have felt for her and not knowing when she'd be able to stop. I imagine she saw our home as a safe haven and relief. Everything happens for a reason. My husband falling asleep on the couch with the living room light on was meant to happen. That light illuminated her way to safety. I think how that could have easily been me or one of my girls running and I know that if I had to do it all over again, I would open that door. I just thank God she found our home... the first house on the right.

*Blessings*

Thursday, June 21, 2012

it's growing on me

No, it's not mold. That would definitely be my worst nightmare. I dont even touch molded food items without plastic gloves! I finally chopped off the rest of my relaxer. I actually did it a few days after my previous post. I am 2 weeks post BIG CHOP now. I must say it is growing on me. At first I felt free, then I felt sad, then angry, then confused... but now I'm in love. Many say after you chop off the relaxer your natural hair is extremely dry and yes I completely agree. After a few deep conditioning treatments and playing around with products and techniques, I finally came up with my new regimen. I'll try to remember to update that on the other tab as to not bore you so much here.

I don't think Lilly likes it too much. Lilly is the older of the twins. They are 16months and cracking me up everyday. She stood up behind me on the couch and started playing in my curly fro. Then (I can only imagine this is what happened as she was behind me) her face contorted into a hideous grotesque monster as she gripped two baby handfuls of my hair and pulled with all her might. As she ripped the hair from my head her onesie flew off in shreds like she was baby-Hulk. Yea... it was that bad. The pain... oh man the pain. I admit that I screamed and probably scared some poop out of her. She hates to have her hair styled. I dont use combs on them. I just finger detangle, but she cries every time. Maybe that was payback?

Now that I can't whip my hair back and forth, I've found new things to shake! My pregnant belly. HAHAHA Just joking calm down people. Im not shaking the baby.


image courtesy of kullmans.de

We did try a new restaurant recently. It was nice. An American themed diner in Germany called Sam Kullman's Diner... um ok. So, bottled water costs more than beer in Germany, but it's so fancy. I just love it! The girls were impressed with their coloring pages and pencils. Normally, they receive crayons and just try to bite them. This time they had fancy shmancy colored pencils. The staff were very polite and the food was actually good. I had a grilled chicken sandwich with fries and the hubby had a burger.  We had been out and about that day shopping and checking out some flea markets so it was not a planned stop. All in all a great day.

Until the next time... ciao! 

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

to big chop or not to big chop?

As many of you know, I am on this healthy hair journey. I've stopped chemically straightening my hair or better known as relaxing/perming. This month marks one year since my last relaxer. Yay me! The original plan was to cut off my hair gradually as I embarked on my one year of transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. Well, things happened and I didn't cut or trim my hair as often as I would have liked. Actually, I can only remember trimming it once and then another time chopping a good 1.5 inches off during this last year.

Well, I've been watching tons of YouTube videos and reading hair blogs about all of these women just going into the bathroom and chopping their relaxed hair off. YouTube is the devil, haha! It gets me all hyped up and confident. I feel like I should be jumping up and down and screaming YEAH! Like Lil' Jon. So, after many weeks of contemplation I told my husband of my thoughts. I want to cut off my relaxed hair. It felt like an eternity before he responded. He slowly looked up at me from across the living room and spoke these two words... "That's stupid" hahahaha! I'm joking. He really said, "Do it!" And that's all I needed to hear. I was super excited. I think I feared his reaction to my drastic change if I did cut my hair. I was so worried about his thoughts that I forgot what this journey was really all about. We had discussed my plans last year and he understood what I was after. Why had I been so worried? So insecure? I marched upstairs to the bathroom and began snipping away!

Don't worry, I took plenty of pictures. As I took the scissors in my hand and cut away the first few strands, I felt liberated! I was joining all of those women on YouTube in that secret society of natural haired divas. HAHAHAHAHA! That feeling lasted all of 30 seconds. I looked in the mirror and realized what had been holding me back this whole time. It wasn't my husband, it was me. I wasn't ready. I've had short hair styles in the past, but I'm not mentally prepared for shorter hair right now. I let the hype overpower my plans. I wanted to long term transition and I will continue to do so. Now, I'll just transition with a huge piece chopped off in the back, lol. I will attempt to do more frequent trims to avoid such a huge cut later on. For now, I will continue styling my two textures and dreaming about my head full of natural hair. It will happen, but not a moment before I'm ready. Unless my husband cuts it off while I'm asleep. In that case, I'll be writing my next blog from my prison cell :)

Ciao!

Curl pattern before cutting 


after cutting (left side)








Tuesday, May 29, 2012

time? what time?

The other day I received a message stating my blog is lacking in posts compared to last year. This is very true. I can say that chasing my twin 15month old daughters while being 29 weeks pregnant plays a factor, but really... I've just been lazy. I lack the motivation to do any writing. I have been more successful in getting the girls out to more play dates and doing more around Germany, but the trade-off is compromising my writing goals. How to balance it all? Well, when I've figured that one out you will know because you will have the option to purchase my finished book :)

We did get out to the Kaiserslautern Fair before it ended last week. The weather was beautiful and the food delicious. The girls tried cotton candy and we had milkshakes after our chicken dinner. The milkshakes were not at all what I'm accustomed to, but they were okay. I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to like desserts in Germany. Many Germans tell me that Americans like their sweets too sweet... WHO SAYS THAT? Well, maybe we do, but what other way is there to enjoy a sweet delectable treat?

The only downside of our outing was dealing with a group of locals who were a bit pushy and rude (no, not here hahahaha). We were sitting down to dinner when a group decided to sit at the table directly behind us. I must preface this by saying that in Germany people are sat (and sit themselves) wherever there is room. If you're sitting at a table that seats four and their are only two of you, then be prepared to share that table with another couple. The problem was not that they wanted to squeeze in behind us, but that they thought it okay to push one of our daughters forward while trying to get through without saying excuse me or ask us to let them pass. Well, I tried to move forward as much as my pregnant belly allowed and I pushed my daughter's chair up as well. My husband actually speaks a bit of German and told the group, "The words are excuse me" in their native tongue. I dont know if it was his tone or the shock that an American spoke German or that someone decided to give them a lesson on manners, but one woman in the group was not particularly pleased. They ended up moving to another area... an area with plenty more space.

Well, I'm off to enjoy this beautiful weather from my couch while the girls finish their nap. I will be visiting a spa soon (part of my awesome Mother's Day gift) and can't wait to tell you all about it.

Ciao!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Warm Apple Pie

I did it! I finally made my husband's favorite dessert...warm apple pie. Not only did I make this pie from scratch, but it turned out delicious. He even had a second helping. I'm all smiles. My husband is not a man of many words, but his actions are always loud and clear. Good job honey, this is the best damn apple pie I've ever tasted. Those were the words his actions sweetly whispered into my ear. I found a recipe on cooks.com and only slightly altered the ingredients. I wish I had more time to bake like before. These days my time is filled with play dates, diaper changes, Sesame Street, and a giant pregnant belly. I wouldn't change any of it for the world.


APPLE PIE WITH STREUSEL TOPPING (my version)

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

PASTRY: 

I frozen pie crust... yep, I didnt make my own crust. Shoot me. :)

FILLING:

2 3/4 lbs. Granny Smith apples (about 4 lg.), pared, cored and thinly sliced
1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

STREUSEL TOPPING:

1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 c. (1/2 stick) butter, cut into pats
Prepare filling: Combine apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice and cinnamon in large bowl.

Prepare topping: Combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Cut butter until mixture is coarsely crumbled.

Spoon filling evenly into pie shell. Spoon topping evenly over apples.
Bake pie in preheated oven (400 degrees) for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Loosely cover topping with foil to prevent overbrowning. Bake 45 to 55 minutes before slicing.

original recipe can be found @ http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1837,157191-224203,00.html






Sunday, April 22, 2012

Lost My Way

So, where have I been? The real question is where haven't I been? The girls turned 1 in February. We had a quaint little pool party for them and the following week we embarked on our journey across the world. Yes, I am that mom who travels with two 1 year old babies from Germany to America...alone! It wasn't as bad as I imagined. People weren't throwing rotten tomatoes at the back of my head as my babies screamed for 9hours. Actually, it was more work visiting family and friends than it was to travel with them. 

I eat, breathe, and live twins. My home is equipped with two of everything I need. It is also gated off in a variety of ways. I'm 6 months pregnant with our next child and I just dont have the energy or will to chase these two throughout the house all day. I know the gender of the baby... do you want to know? Maybe I'll reveal a little later in this blog. After traveling from Germany to Baltimore, I connected there to Phoenix. I spent three weeks without my husband (aka partner in crime) there and then off to St. Louis and later a drive to Chicago and back to St. Louis. I'm already planning next year's vacation... this will NOT include a stateside trip! The costs are outrageous and the girls will be too old to lap. Instead, we will travel with our twin girls and son throughout Europe. 

My goals since returning from my 5 week anti-vacation has been to get out more with the girls. They are both walking and very active. I try to attend two playgroups or activities per week with them. They have a blast. Lilly is no bully and Gabby is coming into her own. They are completely different kids and I'm in love with watching them grow into little ladies. So far, I have accomplished this goal and a bit more. Now, when Im home all day I think about all the fun we could have had out and about. Usually, the only thing stopping us from even going into the backyard is the weather... yes, it snowed the other day! Im ready for spring and butterflies and warmer weather. 

I havent been cooking as much lately, but I have plans to bake a homemade apple pie this evening. I will be sharing that horror story very soon. Im still working on the book and plan to have that complete before the arrival of the newest edition to our family. I've also updated my hair regimen if you're interested. I promise to have more interesting and witty words the next time I write.

Until then... CIAO! 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

0 degrees below pasta salad

My travels in Germany have come to a screeching halt as the weather has turned horribly ugly. Yes, yes... I know. It's not as bad as last year, but let's stop living in the past people. Last year I was also on bedrest in the hospital waiting on my babies to finish cooking.

This morning my backyard looked like it has for the last two weeks. Snow falls sporadically, but because it is so cold it refuses to melt. It just sits there taunting me with its evilness. I normally hibernate during the week while my husband works, but today I had a doctor's appointment. Blah... I checked the weather on my nifty iPhone app - WHAT?! 0 Degrees? Zero degrees? Are people kidding me with this? Keep in mind, I come from the desert. Literally. I was born and raised in Phoenix and the only other places I lived were also hot (Tucson and New Orleans). That zero degree mark is sinful! It's missing some friends. Like at least another digit before it... preferably an 8.

So, we embarked on our journey across the great white divide... my backyard and driveway. My babies were bundled up and looked so happy to have been ripped from their slumber and kicked out into the harsh morning air. Only thing I like about winter here is snow boots. I love them. My feet are warm and cozy and I havent slipped once in them. Then again, if there was no snow I wouldnt need them. So, I think I should HATE snow boots just as much as I hate snow!


















** Food Alert **

Last night we had chicken and a pasta salad. I thought I'd share this lovely dish with you all. I had two seasoning packages of Betty Crocker's Cesar Suddenly Pasta Salad. I used the pasta for some other meal. I grabbed a box of rotini and my seasoning packages and went to work. The seasoning packages have croutons and red peppers in the mix. You simply add olive oil and cold water and mix.

I boiled my rotini, drained and rinsed with cool water. I added the yummy dressing and tasted my creation. DISGUSTING! Betty Crocker this was a crock of sh--! Ok, it wasnt that bad. It just needed a little help. It tasted like Italian dressing overload. I added 2 tablespoons of mayo, 1 tablespoon of sweet relish, 1 diced tomato, pepper, and 2 slices of chopped beef bacon. Just call me Elisha Stewart Ray Emeril!


Until next time darlings... MUAH!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Pregnancy Dream Analysis

Pretty soon I will be taking the girls with me on a trip across the globe ALONE. Im sure to have great stories at that time. For now, we are all sick and stuck indoors due to a blast of random snow. How I hate snow. Im a sunshine kid! Born and raised in Arizona. 

As you may have heard (from me) I am three months pregnant. As before, I have the worst morning sickness. Blah... I wish it was just in the morning. Unfortunately, it last all day. I have had some of the strangest dreams. This is my attempt at dream analysis. 

Dream 1: Aliens Vs Babies

Im stuck in an abandoned building. There are huge evil aliens attacking the building. Normally, I'm an ass kicking ninja in my dreams. I'm thin and sexy (like in real life lol) and I never get injured or frightened. Well, not this time. This time I have a screaming baby with me that wont shut up. It keeps giving away our hiding spots. The aliens are chasing me while some random people are fighting them off. I'm running down stairwells and hiding in attics and the whole time this baby wont shut up!

Analysis: Aliens are deaf to a baby's cry. Why else didn't they ever catch us? 


Dream 2: Fatty Bacon

In this dream I'm talking to my sister. She is upset about the package of beef bacon (yes, this exists) she purchased. She starts to pull out the raw bacon and show me how much fat is on each piece. She is clearly disgusted. As she lays each piece out I nod in agreement and say, "Yea, that's gross." All I can think about in my mind is how delicious it all looks. 

Analysis: Beef bacon is delicious. I should eat some when I wake up. 


Dream 3: Elisha's Anatomy 

Here I am living the dream. I'm a doctor on Grey's Anatomy. I am Callie. Maybe my mind chose her because she is the only one that actually gave birth to a baby. Or maybe I secretly envy her luscious black hair. I'm going into the bathroom and I have shooting pain in my side. I can't walk and I'm screaming for the other people to help me. They drag me in and ask what to do. Someone suggests calling the new team in to treat me, but the cast from Grey's isn't having it. Instead, they do everything they can to not allow the new team at the hospital help me. Now, Im thirsty and bleeding. Then a random doctor pulls out my chart. The only thing on it is my weight and blood pressure. She keeps harping on the fact that I hadn't lost enough weight before this pregnancy. I walk to the sink to get some water and it comes out brown. End dream. 

Analysis: Grey's Anatomy needs to air another episode. 

Ok, so maybe my analysis is a little off. Did you really expect more? Time to nap while these babies nap- but we all know that wont happen. 

Ciao! 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

There are worse things than getting pregnant

Recently, I was attending a social event for moms and their kids and one of my friends said this to her teenage daughter. Her eyes were focused and her mouth stern, "There are worse things than getting pregnant." Now that's the way to scare the crap out of a kid! I plan on using that one in a few (long) years. Of course, who would I be if I didn't chime in and say, "AND you could end up with two!" Insert me pointing at both of my kids sitting on either side of me in high chairs.

That brings me to another point. When we went in for the ultrasound I met with one of the many doctors that helped deliver the twins. I ran into my specialist and a few other nurses as well. All were shocked to see me back "so soon" as if I had fallen off the wagon. So, I hopped up on the table and waited for the cold jelly. Before she could even tell us my husband and I both stated together, "It's just one." After about 30 scans, you learn what to look for.

There is only one baby in this oven! I think there were quite a few people who were let down by that news, but not these parents. The idea of two sets of twins is cute, but the reality is outlandish. Can you imagine 4 kids all under the age of two? The truth of the matter is when we go home from visiting and return to our normal lives it's just me and these kiddos. My husband works and I stay home. There's only so much super power left in me at the end of the day. I just checked the S on my chest and it's glowing again. Maybe I am regaining some power!

You know what I stress about each morning and evening? NOTHING! I'm going to enjoy this singleton pregnancy. No instant weight gain. No throwing up (although my nausea was a bit harsh in the beginning it has begun to taper off). No punching matches with 4 fists and 4 feet constantly waking me up. I don't have to worry about pushing out another two babies or being on bedrest or delivering too early and having to wait for my child to leave the NICU. Im no idiot, I know these issues can also arise in singleton pregnancies just like I know some twin pregnancies that went without a hitch. But, I dont have that constant worry on my mind. My chances of all those things occurring were increased with the twins.

Now I can focus on the more important things in life... what to eat for breakfast. :)

Adios!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Fertile Myrtle

Ever wonder what it would be like to have two sets of twins all under two years of age? Hmm... this has become my reality. Let's start from the beginning.

We all know I gave birth to two beautiful twin daughters in February of 2011. It was quite an adventure. We just relocated to Germany and I was a newly wed on top of it all. As the year progressed, things got easier. The babies are walking and learning more about their independence each day. My husband and I are growing stronger in our marriage and making plans for our future as a family.

----EERRR stop right there.

Yes, I am pregnant AGAIN. Yes, I know my babies are not even one yet. Yes, I am crazy. No, I do not know if I'm having twins again. Yes, I know my chances are higher of having twins. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, anxious, scared, excited and happy at the same time all day everyday. What are the odds I'd have another awesome baby? These babies slept through the night since 4 weeks old and rarely give me any trouble. Was God preparing me for this next whirlwind adventure? I try to just take this one day at a time. Between caring for twins, trying to finish my own book (yes still) and attempting to NOT puke on two babies I rarely have time to worry about it. It's those moments before I fall asleep or when the girls are napping that they creep into my thoughts. WHAT IF YOU HAVE TWINS AGAIN?! I know God will only give me as much as I can handle, but maybe He means only as much as I can handle with a live-in nanny/maid. Wouldn't that be a nice gift. A girl can dream can't she.

So, that's what has been happening in my neck of the woods. I find out next Friday how many sacs are in this belly.

On a side note... the awesome novel I edited has been published on Amazon. I'm really proud. I hope this gives me the motivation to complete my own and become independently wealthy. Even when I'm rich, I'll continue this blog! Check out the novel if you get a chance; A Fallen Breed by Brandy Moore.