In Love With An Airman

Can't think of a witty title.

2012-02-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I suck at blogging. I admit it! But life has really been filled to the top. Lieutenant is starting his Master's degree, excelling at his current job and spending time with me and our pup on the weekends. His job is very demanding and often he works all day long. By the time he comes home, he eats and goes to bed. I'm very thankful for how hard he works and I know he is making a difference for the Air Force as well.

This semester is brutal. Even though I am only taking three classes, they are all upper division, extremely tedious and difficult classes. My daily routine is wake up, eat breakfast, head to the gym for an hour, come home and feed the dog and take her out, do discussion posts, read the required chapters, watch 30 minutes to 1 hour lectures, take quizzes, more reading, take out the dog, etc etc etc. I am really thankful that I won't need to find a job until this semester is over because I am not sure what I would do if I had to work right now. But I know that I will need to get a job soon because I need to contribute more around here. I just need to figure out time management.

Oh and I go in for my ultrasound next week. They are going to tell me if there are cysts on my ovaries, or in other words whether I have PCOS or not. Either way, I am making an appointment with gynecology and I am going to see if they can put Mirena in so we don't get pregnant. The more Lieutenant and I talk about things, the more we realize that in no way, shape or form do we want to have children right now. The number one spot on our dream sheet is Germany and I don't have to explain how difficult it would be not to just have a baby overseas but have a baby overseas without being able to have family close by to guide me through it. NO WAY. We also realized that the more financially stable we are, the more we will be able to provide for the baby. And call me selfish, but I'm losing weight and I want to get to my goal weight and maintain before I develop a giant baby belly. So yes, I still want to be a mom but not right now. I know I mention this every time I blog but its a big topic in this household.

Enough for now I am ready for bed!

Busy wife busy life.

2012-01-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

I cannot stress enough how busy things have been around here. Since the new year began, Lieutenant started his new job in Force Support and I started another semester of school. I have also been working out for 25 minutes to 1 hour every day and maintaining a low-calorie diet. I've lost 8 pounds and almost 4 inches all around. For the first time since we got our pup, I have been able to go to the dog park with her at EIGHT in the morning and play for half an hour. She loves it and I have found that I love it too. I realized that this is a lifestyle change and not a fad, I am not taking pills to lose weight nor am I spending money on any type of weight loss miracle. I'm doing it the hard way - fruits, veggies, lean meats and whole grains along with strength training and cardio training every day.

Today I am taking a break from working out because I've had very severe leg pain and I don't want to mess it up worse than it is. But I am going to be vacuuming and shampooing the carpets today because our new couch will be here in a week or so. Yep, you read correct - we finally were able to get a couch.

After the fiasco that was the car getting stolen, my car breaking down and trying to rebuild our lives, we've stuck together. Sure, there were hard times and moments where I felt like I had hit a wall but we have worked through it. We are on the same page for the first time in a long time.

As for babies, we've decided to put the thought completely out of our minds for the next 5 years. I might even consider getting Mirena. I am going to see the ultrasound tech next week to check for polyps on my ovaries. I pray that it isn't PCOS but if it is, it isn't a death sentence. It does however make weight loss harder and childbearing more difficult but anybody that knows me knows I'm a fighter.

Anyway I feel bad for not blogging as much but sometimes we just have to live, collect our thoughts and then find the time (like right now!) to get it all out.

New year, new life!

2012-01-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

So I went to the doctor who basically told me that he thinks I have Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. Scary thought to have but he also said I could reduce the symptoms of it by eating low calories and working out. I figured that I had PCOS when I would go months without a period but never had insurance to get it checked out.

My doctor was really hard on me...like I'd say the hardest anyone has ever been when talking to me. He told me flat out that I'd end up getting diabetes and heart attacks in conjuction with hard pregnancies from the PCOS if I didn't start changing stuff. I immediately went home after my appointment and hit the gym. This was on the 29th and I've taken a complete 180° approach to my life.

I started counting calories, eliminating junk foods and hitting the gym as well as running and playing Your Shape on the XBOX. I'm happy to say that one week has gone by and I've lost two pounds. It doesn't sound like much but the doctor said that two pounds per week is right on schedule so I'm hoping I can keep this up!

I've also changed my mind about a lot of other things, such as wanting to have kids within a couple of years. We are a young, newlywed couple who doesn't need to be thinking about kids right now. We have our whole lives ahead of us! We've decided to wait until we were 100% financially stable and when Lieutenant finishes his Master's degree. Whether it be at Captain or at Major, we'll have babies when God wants us too. But I nearly forgot about my life list, and all of the things I still have to finish on it. So my focus will be on losing weight, getting healthy, kicking PCOS's ass and finishing as many goals as I can!

Its time to make this the best year we've had!

NYC New York Color? NUDE York City!

2011-12-28T19:31:00.000-08:00

I figured the word "nude" would send some of you clicking! But this post is actually a review on New York Color's Liquid Lipshine, called Nude York City, which you can get here (http://www.newyorkcolor.com)

I received this product as a part of my Influenster Voxbox and now that I've tried it, I need to blog about it. Recently I've been using E.L.F. gloss but was disappointed, as I don't like having sticky lip gloss. When I got NYC's brand I was skeptical but tried it anyway.

OMG ladies! Its wonderful and creamy..still a bit sticky but not nearly as bad as most glosses. Its also tinted in nude, which is a lip color I rave over.

Here is the product review information from Influenster's site:

"Straight from the city that never sleeps, NYC New York Color offers products with uptown style at down-to-earth prices, from $.99 - $4.99. The energy, style and color of New York City shines through the wide range of shades, textures and innovative products. NYC always delivers the most on-trend products & shades hot off the runway!

A beauty-editor favorite is Liquid Lipshine ($2.49). It has pure pigments that created a 3-D gloss effect. Vitamin E provides shine and a moisturizing feel. The formula is non-sticky, super shiny & soft. Available in 10 on-trend shades from neutral nudes, to berries & fuchsias. Start shopping for NYC at these stores nearest you: Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, CVS, Family Dollar, Duane Reade, Kmart, HEB, and others. Visit newyorkcolor.com to check out all shades and fun products from New York Color!"

Seriously - go out and try this product. For less than $3, its worth it.

(Please note I received this product through Influenster, however all opinions are my own.)

I've been thinking

2011-12-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

I don't want to have a memory of this Christmas being terrible so I'm going to suck it up and be thankful for everything we have. It isn't the ideal Christmas but that's okay..we have a home and our dog and an adorable little tree.

I'm so blessed to have the husband that I do - devoted to his country and his family. He provides for us and has really shown me what the meaning of Christmas is.

It is really easy to feel bad about our situation but it takes a lot of work to bring myself out of this funk. So I'm going to celebrate our life together, regardless of what has happened and make the best out of this Christmas.

First Christmas

2011-12-24T01:33:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve and I can't sleep. I can't deny that I'm sad that our first Christmas is going to be terrible. I'm angry that someone got $10,000 in parts out of Lieutenant's car and I'm mad that because of it we had to spend $16,000 on a car, putting $2500 down leaving us with $60 in the bank so we decided against making a traditional dinner and against a gift exchange. I got Lieutenant a new wallet anyway because he's had his old one since he was eight.

It is our first Christmas as a married couple and I really thought it was going to be different, especially since we're away from home for the first time. I'm trying to be positive but I'm upset and I feel like I have the right to be.

Sorry - I know this isn't the type of story people want to read..

Please, if there is a God listening, make 2012 a better year.

XOut Acne!

2011-12-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

I received my Influenster Holiday VoxBox and in it came a bonus item Called XOut. XOut is a one step acne cleanser from the creators of ProActiv. At first I was skeptical because ProActiv has never worked on me but I was really pleasantly surprised by XOut. I don't usually get acne but the week before I had gotten my VoxBox I had all kind of small bumps and redness. My face is almost completely clear after just a few days use.

Here is the statement from Influenster's website:

The unique, one-step X Out™ Wash-In Treatment is formulated to help kill the bacteria that causes breakouts, help banish existing pimples and help leave the skin feeling smooth and looking healthy.

X Out™ works to lift away the dirt and grime that can clog pores. The Wash-In Treatment also leaves behind powerful medicine to help keep pores clean. Learn more and purchase at XOut.com. X Out is sold as a 30-day supply and comes with a bonus Shine Control product to help you fight oil all day for $19.95.

I'm in LOVE with this product and at just under $20 per month, it is definitely worth trying it for a month to see if it works for you :)

I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster’s VoxBox program, though all opinions on the product are my own.

I think I have something wrong with me.

2011-12-18T00:56:00.000-08:00

Not mentally - though, don't cross that off the list! Ba dum tss.

But seriously, I've been the fat kid my whole life and SORRY TO THE BOYS reading this but my lady cycle basically ceases to exist these days. I mean it hasn't been around for months. I also have insomnia, emotional roller-coaster moments and I can work out for hours and eat right and my metabolism doesn't change.

So I'm headed to the doctor soon to find out what the heck is going on. My biggest fear is that it is going to be something unfixable or something that is going to screw up my chances of being a mother, if they aren't already ruined.

Anyway, I'll keep updating until I get answers.

Starting Over.

2011-12-15T17:11:00.000-08:00

We got the estimate for the car today and USAA was only willing to pay a little over $3000 for Lieutenant's car. So I did what any crazy woman would do for the love of her life...I sold my car. Granted, the head blew up and the paint job was both gold and silver..but it was my first car. It was my literal vehicle of escape when things got too tough.

We're both miserable and not to mention broke. Its terrible that all this has happened around Christmas. The one good piece of news is that Lieutenant was reclassified to Force Support so we get to stay with the Air Force. We're trying to stay positive in all this but its really hard to. I'm just glad that we're all healthy and that we still (for now) have a place to live.

So now, all there is left to do is pick up the pieces of everything we've lost and move forward with our new lives. Everything from our past is gone now...its sad because in a way our cars were a piece of home. They were the last things we had to hold on to from there.

Here's to finding a new home, car, and life.

Grandma's dipped chocolates!

2011-12-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

I figured this blog needed some positivity for a change so I wanted to do a recipe post. I am reluctant to post this recipe because its been in my family for years but I am pretty sure my grandma would want me to share in the holiday O-M-G goodness that is this recipe.

Step 1: Melt down 16 ounces of margarine (not butter!)

2. Add 1 can of Eagle brand condensed sweetened milk

3. Add 8 cups of powdered sugar

4. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

I forgot to take a picture of me adding the walnuts but I used a 12oz package of chopped walnuts! (This picture below is a batch I made without walnuts because I wanted different textures) Mix mix mix mix miiiiiiix until it turns into a sticky, thick paste.

5. Spoon onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet and freeze for 2-3 hours.

While its freezing you can melt down your chocolate.

6. Take 24 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 bricks or 1/4 pound of Gulf paraffin wax and melt in a double boiler until smooth and creamy. Yes, wax in a candy. Oh come on, when we were kids we ate boogers and dirt and God knows what else! It won't hurt you and it makes the candy have a nice sheen! Do NOT let even a drop of water get into this or everything starts to separate and when you freeze the chocolates they will get really sticky. (I'm using a double handed spatula..I know it looks weird)

7. Take toothpicks and poke them in each little candy piece. Dip into the chocolate and coat all around the candy. I didn't take pictures of this because I forgot to buy toothpicks...and they came out less pretty. But anyway....freeze them for at least one hour even though that will be the hardest thing you'll ever do. Trust me, they are better really cold.

It makes a buttload FYI so these are fabulous Christmas gifts! Although, after you try one of these, I doubt you're going to want to give them up. If you make these please leave me a comment and tell me what you think of them!!

Here is a photo of my grandma's recipe card that she used every year when she made these at Christmas time. I love her handwriting..I miss it.

And here is a picture of my grandma with my grandpa, wasn't she a doll ;) She passed away in 2008 but I think of her every day!

Thank you for reading this blog and thanks for sticking around through my rollercoaster ride ;)

Vent.

2011-12-05T03:06:00.000-08:00

In spite of everything that is happening to us I felt compelled to write this blog post because I've basically been sleeping away all of the crap. We are in a slump and for the entire weekend we've slept in until past noon. Sleeping all day is better than facing the reality that a vehicle he invested $2000 in renovations into in the last 2 months was stolen, along with a laptop containing massive amounts of personal info and an iPod that Lieutenant has had since high school with his entire catalog of music on it...and knowing it will likely never be recovered. But here I sit, five in the morning, unable to sleep because I've spent every ounce of energy I have trying to track down car parts that look like his and his laptop and iPod. I've posted on countless sites, emailed Craigslist posters that looked suspicious...I'm getting nowhere.

I wish I could just make it all go away. I wish that money wasn't an object. I wish I could make things better for my husband who doesn't deserve to be going through this. I feel like before all this happened, I was content with Texas...happy even. But now there's just going to be a, pardon my french, shit stain on the memory of this place. Our first base, the one where our lives got flipped upside down. I wish I could track down these people and ask them why they felt the need to steal from us. I want to ask them why they didn't work hard to graduate high school with honors, go to college, work their ass off, or sign up to defend their country so that they could be able to afford what Lieutenant has...instead of taking it from him because they'll never be half the man that he is. I want to ask them how they sleep at night and what their mothers would think if they knew about this. I want to ask them how they plan on facing God.

I keep trying to block it out and be positive and put on a smile for my husband and pretend everything is okay but its not okay. We both have a right to be angry and we SHOULD be angry. Nobody is going to help us and we're not asking for help. Nobody is going to knock on our door and say "Hey heard you got your car stolen, let's go buy you a new one." No. This isn't a television show, this is someone's life.

I'm just ranting now and probably not making any sense. To my followers...sorry. I know this isn't the most positive thing to hear, especially around the holidays. But I guess that makes it even worse. I'll come around to being happy again. We'll get a new car and PCS to a new place. Everything will become normal again...eventually.

Tough roads ahead.

2011-12-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

I just don't know what to do anymore. I've given up. Lieutenant's car is gone for good...my car is going to cost over $500 to fix. That is $500 I don't have and when I do have it, I won't be able to use it towards getting braces. I've been fighting to get braces and with all the work I've been getting done lately I actually thought I stood a chance. Nope...something always seems to get in the way. Now our dog is showing signs of an ear infection.

I feel...desperate and miserable. I know that there are other people out there that have it worse but right now that judgement is being clouded by the crap that has suddenly found a permanent home in my life.

I just don't know where to go from here.

Stolen.

2011-12-03T01:42:00.000-08:00

I am skipping yesterdays and today's photo post because of the recent events that happened here. At 10:45 last night, Lieutenant and I were watching Leno and I was writing a paper for my Psychology class. I heard a car outside and its exhaust sounded like his. I jokingly said "Babe your car is getting stolen." He got paranoid and went outside..it was his car. His car did get stolen.

I ran upstairs, grabbed his phone and called the police. I was frantic...they took all of our information but told us that the recovery does not look good. I went online and read that within 72 hours most cars are found stripped of everything and left to be towed to an impound lot. But that is not the worst...

Lieutenant had his laptop, thousand dollar stereo system, 32gb ipod and brand new sirius radio in that car. His laptop holds more value than all the electronics...it had our memories on there...his personal information. It has a password but they can easily be cracked.

He is going to call USAA in the morning to see what we can do. Both of our stomachs are in knots...I feel like crying but all I've been able to do is get angry. I'm angry at how these people can take away someone's entire livelihood...everything they worked so hard for. He has busted his ass for what he has and this happens?

Less than one month to Christmas and this is how people show it? How do they sleep at night?

December photo challenge: Day 1

2011-12-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

Each day in December I am going to post one photo. I don't have nearly enough photos on here and this could be our last month in Texas so I want to see what I come up with. Feel free to do the challenge and let me know if you do so I can check out your blog.

Today's photo: A look back to one of the first days we had our Green girl to today.

Speaking of our last day in Texas, Lieutenant got his answer: The Air Force is keeping him in!! We find out our next PCS in 2 weeks. We are so blessed and thankful to Major General Stewart for making this decision.

And the winner is...

2011-11-21T17:37:00.000-08:00

#6 comment - Jen!!

Sorry its so late in the evening, it has been a busy day and I was so inclined on finding out a pie crust recipe that I totally forgot! Congrats to Jen, I will message you with your code!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway! There will be another small giveaway around Christmas so keep your eyes peeled!!

Melissa and Doug holiday giveaway!!

2011-11-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

Hello blog friends! Recently I made a blog post sponsored by Melissa and Doug and received a code for $25 and I'd like to host my first giveaway! I have always been a huge supporter of Melissa and Doug merchandise because they have some fantastic educational toys that are high quality!

It is the season of giving and so I would like to give one lucky reader of mine this code to use for their children or maybe as a Christmas gift to someone else. Here is what you have to do to enter:

1. Comment on this blog post telling me your favorite Christmas memory. (1 entry)
2. Link this post to your blog and leave a comment. (1 entry)
3. Tweet this Giveaway and leave a link in the comments (1 entry)

Now you do NOT have to do all three but it does give you a better chance of winning when I choose at random. Please leave your email address in the comments section with your entries OR link me to your blog so that I can notify you if you won.

The contest winner will be chosen on November 21st 2011 so you have some time to enter!

Happy contesting!!

(I was not compensated in any way by MelissaandDoug.com for this giveaway. This $25 code was for personal use but I am choosing to do the giveaway.)

Thanksgiving day menu rundown!

2011-11-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

This is a Pinterest photo post

This is our first Thanksgiving as a married couple and it is also the first one where we are both away from home. I decided that I wanted to cook this year because A) I've never cooked any part of Thanksgiving dinner before except baked macaroni and cheese and B) You only get one first Thanksgiving and I'll be damned if we don't make it memorable! So without further ado, here is the menu for this year:

1. Roasted turkey

I'm buying it, yeah you heard me, because while I want to make it a memorable day, I do NOT feel confident in baking a 12 pound turkey in my small kitchen...

2. Mashed potatoes

I am pretty sure that I do not have to explain why!

3. Honey & Brown Sugar Ham

I am not the biggest ham fan in the world but its kind of a Thanksgiving staple.

4. Green bean casserole

To quote Johnny Bravo..."Oh, mama!"

5. Garlic butter crescent rolls

Tiny rolls of mouth watering love.

6. Turkey stuffing

Subtract all the celery and we'll call it a good side dish!

7. Cranberry apple chutney

I'm going to let them boil in orange juice to give it some pop. Mmmm.

8. Cherry crumble pie

I really wanted to do a cherry lattice pie but having never made a cherry pie in my life, I wanted to play it a little safe. Plus, I make a mean crumble!

9. Good ol' pumpkin pie

I have never made a pumpkin pie either but as long as I dont burn it, it shouldnt be that difficult.

10. Oreo creme pie

And then the Lord said, "Let there be food coma!"

So there you have it! There is my menu for Thanksgiving and here's to hoping it goes off without a hitch!

Just a blog.

2011-11-13T13:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't written a real blog in what seems like forever so today I kind of just want to talk to you guys. Well we still have not received any word from anyone on whether Lieutenant's job was switched or whether they will be letting him go from the Air Force. I feel like we're in complete limbo and I know that he is frustrated with having to wait to find out.

I am also ready to find out our permanent base. I guess I get it from my dad but I am not the type that likes to plant my roots anymore. So I guess being a military wife is good for that! Truth is, I never really felt like home was anywhere except two places - Independence and Las Vegas. But going back home for vacation made me realize how much Las Vegas is no longer my home...and as for Independence, well I haven't been back since I was 16 years old. I guess my reasoning for wanting to leave Texas lands upon two reasons: me wanting to start having babies and also wanting to get my braces put on.

But overall I just look at him sometimes and I can't help but think how crazy this feels to be 23, married and on our own. I fell in love so young and begged everyday to get married. Now that we are, it feels like our whole lives and all of our dreams caught up to us. Except one, and I guess I will update this blog when we get the news.

Shutterfly!

2011-11-08T22:40:00.000-08:00

Lieutenant and I did Christmas photos last year and I hated them. I was disappointed in every aspect of how they came out so I've been bugging him to death to take new photos for this year. I immediately thought of Shutterfly. I purchased a photobook from them back before Lieutenant and I got married and it came out absolutely beautiful so I knew that I would be getting my holiday cards from them.

Here are a few of my favorite layouts currently in the running for this years Christmas card:

I am definitely into the mod-card this year and I'm hoping that our photos come out as lovely as the cards are! I definitely recommend going to Shutterfly for your holiday card needs!

I'll make it easy for you, just click these links and soak up all the warm fuzzies of the holiday season:

Christmas Photo Cards

Photo Gifts (Perfect for Grandma and Grandpa!)

Christmas Invitations

(This post was sponsored by Shutterfly. For writing this post I am receiving 25 free holiday cards.)

Home again!

2011-10-25T22:27:00.000-07:00

The first thing I want to say - and trust me I never thought I would say this, but Las Vegas just is not home for us anymore. It is home to our friends and family but not us..not anymore. We had an amazing time being able to see everyone but at the end of each day we knew that we just wanted to be back in Texas with our puppy and our cozy apartment.

Here is a photo rundown of the trip. I am far too lazy to edit them though!

Lieutenant ate some bad shrimp and got hives right before our cab ride

Lieutenant and his mom's dog who was basically his only sibling :P She is 12 and such a little hippo now!

Hey...I'm a good Aunt. I provide an excellent influence for these two Rastafarians!

My sister and my niece photobombing the picture!

My nephew posing like an Abercrombie model.

Collecting "Dinosaur eggs" in the grass

Meeting my new niece for the first time and she's looking at me like I'm crazy.

Oh and while we're on the subject of babies - my best friend had her baby girl and my god daughter. She's beautiful!! (Photo Credit: WAMHAP)

One of my nieces stuffing her face with M&Ms. But she's got such a cute face to stuff!

Then we headed to a little fairground. Not one child is paying attention in this picture but I love it anyway!

Me with the whole gang minus one who was running around everywhere! Oh and the Ninja Turtle is my nephew.

My gorgeous sisters (3 out of 4) with the newest edition to our family. For the record she is my brother's THIRD.

The kids enjoyed all the rides

But the adults enjoyed (and nearly died on) this. Yes, it does flip you 360 degrees multiple times very slowly.

Look at this little snuggle-face! I can't get enough of her!

Well that was my trip in a nutshell! We came home to find this little monster had grown quite a bit.

Here she is snuggling with her daddy who missed her very much!

My next post will be a killer Polish recipe that I cooked up for Lieutenant after we got home. Thanks for reading!

Love.

2011-10-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

This is what it looks like:

Autumn days ahead.

2011-10-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

Today was a very wild day. It had been non-stop thunder and lightning from 9pm last night until around 3pm today. The blue lightning struck right outside the apartment and shut off the power. I went on the balcony, because lets face it - I would risk electrocution to see a cool storm, and I could feel the electricity around me. From that point on, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so I stayed up until around 3am cleaning the bathroom top to bottom, mopping both the kitchen and bathroom floors, doing the dishes, scrubbing the stove top and then I vegged out to Dance Moms (because I like watching stupid people!)

Oh and did I mention tomorrow we are having company? Well we are! A friend of mine and Lieutenant's from way back in high school is staying the night at our house before leaving for IFS. I've been freaking out for a few reasons. Reason One: Back in high school at one point or another we both had a crush on each other. Reason Two: We don't have a couch and I don't want our guests feeling uncomfortable. Reason Three: Nobody and I mean nobody has been inside our apartment except for the maintenance guy. Its seriously strange right? But mostly that is because I don't want company over with nowhere to sit. But on the upside of everything we are both glad to see a fellow friend!

And on the upside for me, I got to buy fresh flowers. I won't buy them unless we have company because they die and its a waste of money. But I wanted something to put in my mason jar near the pumpkins that we have yet to carve.

See...beautiful! These are orange-yellow pompoms and I adore them.

Green has grown so much in so little time. I look at her and I can't remember what my life was like without her. Sure she has accidents sometimes and barks way too loud and bites her daddy's earlobes when he's napping, but she also makes funny faces at the camera, jumps over boxes chasing after me and pulls weeds out for the maintenance guy!

She can be utterly adorable...

And then she can be a total pain in the butt....

Also, Lieutenant made dinner tonight! He made Linguine with Shrimp Al Diablo in a white wine reduction. I KNOW RIGHT? And he made it all by himself. He actually shooed me out of the kitchen. I didn't know what to do with myself...so I made chocolate pudding.

After dinner, we proceeded to get into a cupcake fight and from the looks of it - conflict resolved!

How are you spending the first few weeks of fall? Thanks for reading!

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

2011-10-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

Oh. My. God.

I have found Autumn through a delicious treat: The Pumpkin Pie Cupcake. Lieutenant has been ~~bothering~~ asking me for 3 weeks now to make a dessert but I was reluctant after baking 2 dozen cookies and 1 dozen brownies. I, as unbelievable as it may sound, was on a baking strike. In all reality, school had started, Green was a handful and I needed a baking-break. I feel like I have turned full circle with this cupcake and I know you will love it as much as we do.

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes 12

Ingredients
1 cup of Sugar
1 cup of All Purpose Flour
1/3 cup of Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
½ tsp of Vanilla Extract
¾ cup of Pure Pumpkin Puree
1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp of Baking Soda
½ tsp of Baking Powder
¼ tsp of Salt

Process,

1) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, line a 12 piece muffin tin with liners and set aside.

2) In a large bowl, cream together the sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, eggs and pumpkin puree. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until everything is incorporated.

3) Using an ice cream scoop, fill the liners about 2/3 of the way full with the batter. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool completely and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Pumpkin pie heaven <3

(Oh and that "cool completely" step...I totally skipped it)

Going home!

2011-10-03T01:27:00.000-07:00

I finally get to go back home to my family! This has been the craziest whirlwind of my life and this is a much needed vacation for both Lieutenant and myself. It is 3 AM here and I can't sleep because my mind is racing with a thousand thoughts. Instead, I've managed to clean out and scrub down the freezer, refrigerator, stove, pantry, microwave, kitchen drawers AND I even cleaned out the coffee machine! I'm so excited to be back with my crazy family again!

I was not originally going, though, because of how expensive it was. But something in Lieutenant changed his mind from only him going (since he had to take care of car registration issues and renewing his Nevada license) and maybe my crying helped out a little too - and he bought our very expensive plane tickets home. Thank god we are light travelers..I can't believe how expensive flying is!!

I've also had baby fever lately. Everywhere I go I see babies, all the blogs I follow seem to be pregnant with their 3rd or 4th and all my friends on Facebook are pregnant or just had children. On one hand I am so happy for them but on the other hand it breaks my heart. I know that we have all the time in the world and we should wait. The logical part of me knows the right thing to do is wait, but I've always wanted to be a mommy. I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home soccer mom that takes care of the house and the kids and has passion while doing it. Maybe it is because I never had a mom growing up...all I know is that a little part of me dies inside knowing we are not trying to conceive. Lieutenant wants to wait until he is a Major before we start having kids. That is SIX year you guys, count em 1 2 3 4 5 6. That is five too many for me right now. And to put the cherry on top of everything, my best friend from high school has made me the god-mother of her baby girl due in 2 weeks. Its like being the bridesmaid and never the bride! I'm going to love that little girl though, she has no idea how much I already love her!

Hmf.

Extravaganza!!

2011-09-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

I've told you guys about Swagbucks before and next Monday they are having a HUGE swag code event. There will be SEVEN different codes for a total of 60 swagbucks. I've gotten at least three Amazon.com gift cards from using a search engine. SERIOUSLY.

But to make it even sweeter, you guys get a special offer. Sign up using this link > Sign Up and then enter the code: BIGTIMEBUCKS for a total of 100 swagbucks at sign up. So after the inital 100 and the 60 throughout the week, you are well on your way to some fantastic prizes. For those of you that have kids - they have some really cool prizes. The code is active now and is good until 11:59pm PT this coming Monday.