A Little of This & A Little of That...

Last night I came home from an Otterberg Girls Night well after midnight. I can barely manage to keep my eyes open. So I jammed out to a 90's high school mix complete with the Goo Goo Dolls, The Atari's, Staind, & Incubus. Nothing like a little trip down memory lane to keep you awake. I stumble through the front door, arms loaded with stuff, and set the leftover cake down in the kitchen. I didn't quite make it back through the door without jamming my shoulder in the frame... yay for absentee depth perception. After the rest of my crap stuff falls to the living room floor, my eyes focus on the strange piece of furniture that now adorns our living room. Clearly this is what happens when I'm out of the house for the evening. My husband likes to perform magic tricks and overnight things happen and appear as if from nowhere. I am bewildered and intrigued. Where did this handy shelf/drawers set come from? What is it's intended purpose exactly? My next immediate thought "Can I use it to store D's massive shoe collection? Would they all even fit?" At this point I realized I was almost drooling due to fatigue and too many problem solving thoughts this late at night. Probably a good time for me to go to bed. As I snuggled next to my husband, I murmured a contented thank you for my free surprise furniture. While I still don't know the origin of this alien structure, looks like I have a new project! Thanks D! I love you!

The Sugar Queen's latest creation: Lavender Vanilla Bean cupcakes!!! I'd been craving these for a while now. The lavender came from a dear friend of mine in Cedar Rapids, Miss Erin Thomas. Thank you SO much!!!! This cake is a permanent addition to my company and was created in honor of you, Erin! I took them to Otterberg and Lily & Sam both ate their VERY OWN cake! Seriously one of the hilarious highlights of my week. Lily ate hers so daintily with one hand, icing first, then cake. Sam went to town with fist fulls of icing. Both children were licking the table when told they could not have any more. I'd call that success friends. They were a pretty big hit with the adults too!

Jess is leaving for the states for SIX WEEKS tomorrow. So Jen and I helped her out yesterday by watching the girls and making dinner so she could pack, stress free. One of those small but important luxuries when you're a mom of two. Jen also had to finish up a photo shoot with her, so I had the opportunity to play hair & makeup. Definitely taught myself how to french fishtail braid yesterday!!!! I was so pleased at the way it turned out! I even got to use fun shadows! I won't give away the theme, but we had a fantastic time! Girls night wouldn't be complete without a drink, and we indulged in a particular beer brought over by a friend! YUM!

Then of course we were witness to a fantastic sunset in Otterberg. Makes me with our windows face due west.... Because moments like this in life are rare!

It was a combined team effort for dinner that night. Home-made chicken pot pie with an appetizer of watermelon and feta cheese (who knew how amazing THAT is. With full bellies we put the girls to bed and resumed adult time downstairs. We indulged in nail painting, jen's music, and you tube videos. And best of all, Jess got to relax and not worry about the packing! Mission accomplished! Thanks ladies!

So last week for date night D & I went to this charming place in landstuhl called Gabriella's. It was warm enough out side (crazy... this is the end of July people!) so we were able to eat on the patio. I have to give this restaurant two thumbs WAY up. The food is fantastic, the service is very friendly, and they give you a free apple shot on the way out the door. Our only qualms was the number of Americans at the restaurant. I think it was due to us going at prime time, on a beautiful night... but we have become so used to not being able to hear other people's conversations, it was a hard adjustment to not be nnoyed at the sheer volume of the english speaking tables. The prices are awesome though. D & I ate with full bellies for only 29 euro, with dessert! Dinner was on "dot" last week as I had saved enough in my coin purse to take us out. Kind of like emptying the piggy bank. Definitely a great night!

In Other News...

Tomorrow I have plans to make pillow covers with Paula and Thursday we're having Crystal over for dinner! I cannot tell you how amazing it is to be surrounded by such fantastic people! I'd be lost without you all!

We received dates this week on when we're going to be invaded by the Wollschlager/Ndjerareou clan!!! I am SO excited!!! Mama & Papa W, Sarah, Nate & Sophia will all be staying with us for THREE WEEKS starting from October 17 through November 5th. Oh the possibilities!!! It will be wonderful to have a house full of family, not to mention a small child running around... although every time I see her she's not so small! So a huge shoutout to my W family for taking the time and resources to come and visit us here in our small town in Germany. We can hardly wait!!!!!!

That's all for today faithful readers! There are some fun projects ahead and I'm excited to share them once they're complete! Love you guys!

Part Seam-stress, Part Foreigner, Part Award Winner, & Soon-to-be Homeward Bound

Current Excitement:
There are three things in life that i will never turn down. Movie-theater popcorn, cupcakes, & ice cream. Imagine my surprise when D & I are driving home from base and we happen upon the ice cream man in our neighborhood! Here's where my brain went nuts... We're in Germany... buying ice cream from an Italian Ice Cream Man... who speaks German, Italian, & English... and he'll accept dollars & euro. I was positively tickled pink! So we flagged him down and D & I both got a Kugel. Which is 1 scoop. I got cookies and cream while dana had Stracciatella (Chocolate Chip). I was interested to find that the cookies for cookies and cream were not Oreos.... but some other kind of German chocolate cookie that tasted strongly of hazelnut and coconut. (: Talk about a wonderful surprise to the end of a hard day! The ice cream man even gave me sprinkles!!!

Part Seam-stress...

As April came to a close I have been in incessant wedding planning mode. Planning a wedding from another country is NOT even REMOTELY ideal. But, i'm trying to do the best i can when what i've got. Which means trying to get as many things completed while i'm here as possible. There's a ton of DIY stuff to do for decorations, but unfortunately i don't want to ship it all back home... which is why i'm headed home a month early to complete the various crafts and tasks before the big day. One of the projects to start while i was here is my flower girl's dress. Dana's & my niece Sophia is going to be our flower girl for the big day. I wanted her to have a fun princessy dress, and i didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on it. TA-DA!! Fairy-Godmother to the rescue!!! I knew Amy would be the perfect person to help me construct the perfect little dress. I met with her and explained what i wanted to do. She then drew up a sketch and we chatted about materials and construction. I was so excited when the day came to actually sew! The only part that's missing (and of course, it's the most important) is the tulle to form the tutu. Tulle costs 7€ a meter!!! Amy was smart in telling me to go home to Jo-Ann's and get it for $2 a yard. This way I can make the skirt as full as i want! All that being said, i'm REALLY pleased with the way the dress turned out. And I can tell Sophia that her dress was made with German fabric! (: 

Part Foreigner...

This is more of an update on everyday life things in Germany.... D & I have taken more walks... and seen more sights... and all around have been pleased as punch to live in a foreign country together. Our life, however, is not perfect.... so don't be fooled. But we try to take pleasure in the small things.... in hopes that one day, our current worries and laments will be no more. I snapped lots of random photos in the past week... Caught the German Postman on film... LOVE the yellow van. lol Captured more typical german houses... Even one with a beehive on the balcony! 

It was a really clear day.... and you can see the rolling hills... LOVE IT!

This is one of my favorite houses... 

Check out the beehive on the balcony... it's the green box.

Dana & I were at Globus (German Supermarket) and we found premixed  Rum & Coke. I know some boys back home who would LOVE this!

This was the day the fog rolled in.... everything is really starting to green up here. it's amazing!

This week we spent weds night with the Amriens and took them to the Asian restaurant down the street. Then came back for an intense game of Scrabble! here is the board results with Paula adding a "D" to "rezone" for the win! It was agreed before we started that German words were allowed. ha!

Dana & I took friday night for us this week as i am leaving soon to head back to the states. We hiked down the hill and across to a neighboring hill to see the castle in Landstuhl. There is a hotel near there called Schloss Hotel (Castle Hotel), so we stopped for dinner. AMAZING food. Highly recommend it to all those here in the area. We pulled out all the stops... both of us having drinks (since neither of us were driving!!!), entrees, THE dessert plate, & after dinner coffee. Not only was everything delicious, but it was beautiful weather... and i got to spend some quality time with D.

After dinner we hiked to the castle... which was surpisingly bigger than i thought it would be. We couldn't go in as it was closed for the evening... but there's a beautiful lookout point where you can see down on the town. So we look out over Landstuhl and what do we see? There's a CARNIVAL behind city hall!!! I was so excited!!! 

see the glowing lights? that's the carnival!!!!

Down the hill we hiked working our way through the maze of streets towards the carnival. I'm amazed at how unless you see the carnival, you'd never know it's there. The streets are so dense with buildings that they block out all the sounds and lights from anywhere around. Finally we made it and i felt like i was 8 years old all over again. This festival had everything from cotton candy to my FAVORITE sour ribbons... to bratwurst and waffles and sugar cinnamon almonds... there were rides and bumper cars!!! there were beer stands and of course fair games! We tried our best to do a bit of everything... including the bumper cars!!! I was most shocked to find my favorite sour candy. i haven't had it in 6 months (which is crazy talk for those that don't know me) and it was awesome to share it with D. His face when he realized how sour it was.... priceless. haha It was by far the most fantastic date night we've spent together in a long time. I felt so blessed that we were able to do this before i leave D for a month. 

Part Award Winner...

So in the last post, i wrote about Toppers... the Theater Awards Ceremony. This post is all about my husband and how proud i am of him. Dana recently was awarded the Tony Sturm Performance Award for the 86th Com Sqd. This was an award he was nominated for by his superiors and then was interviewed by a panel of high ranking brass where he presented his daily work agendas and answered their questions at the end. I attended the luncheon award ceremony where he was announced the winner. I have rarely been so proud. It is an incredible thing to watch someone you love shine so brightly and be revered by their peers. He was also coined again by his commander at the luncheon. (: I know how hard Dana works everyday and i am glad that he was recognized for his commitment and his work performance. i love you D!

Giving his speech after he was announced the winner. Did i mention he'd been out sick with strep all week? and missed the rehearsal for the ceremony... (:

Soon-to-be Homeward Bound.... 

I leave for Texas in 2 days. wow............... time really does fly. On one hand i feel like i've been here forever... and on the other i feel like i just arrived. I never expected i would be this melancholy to leave my life here in Germany. I know that i will be back sooner than i can blink... but being apart from Dana takes me back to a time where we had to wait at least 4 months to see each other again. So there's a knee jerk reaction that makes me feel as if we'll be apart for a LONG time... even though it's only for a month. 

The wedding is looming closer and closer. We skyped with our photographer the other day (geez the technology these days!!!) and I was thrilled!!! Chelsea is wonderful and holds all of our values close to her own heart. She is an amazing addition to the wedding and i am so glad we were able to book her. She and her husband will be attending the rehearsal dinner to meet the family and snap some photos! She even wants to get the wedding featured! Talking with her caused my excitement meter to go WAY up. I could barely contain myself not to start projects here that have to be started in the states. How did i cope? Why, Pinterest of course!

So now the packing is started.. and the lists are being checked off.... and i'm terrified that i'm going to forget something here that i need. I know the next month is going to be a blur. I'm trying my best to enjoy the moments as they come... for the wedding is a once in a lifetime process and i intend to relish in it. It makes me realize that when push comes to shove, the important thing is getting to celebrate with our family and friends... so if every tiny little detail isn't perfect, it's still okay. I am excited to see my family and our friends. It's been entirely too long... and part of me is comforted that this event will allow us to further tighten ties made with people we don't see very often. 

This is my last post here in Germany... so the next time i write i'll be in my kitchen in G-Town withering in the 100+ degree temperature heat index in shorts and a tank top (as opposed to jeans, a long sleeve shirt, house shoes, & a sweater). Look out Texas! KW's coming home!


my love and prayers to you all! see you soon!