What this day really is about....

As I sit in the back seat of my friends Durango and pass cookout after cookout, I can't help but think about what this day really means. It is so much more than a reason to cookout or to get a day off work. This day holds such meaning and it seems that most of America has forgotten about that. We are able to cook out and hang with family on this day because of what our military has done and is still doing.

I am so very proud to be an American and stand by our troops past and present who have fought and are still fighting for what they believe is right. I hope you all take a second to get down on your knees and say a prayer for all of those who have lost their lives and for the ones that are risking their lives for our freedom.

First Friday Funny!

So wow two posts in one day! I must be super woman! Not really but I figured that I will start something new on Fridays. So you all know about the Sunday Funnies that are in your local Sunday morning paper. Well I have decided to have a Friday Funny! I get hilarious videos sent to me all the time and usually I just keep them to myself, not anymore folks! I am going to start sharing them with you! So here is the first one:

Discount Central!

So if you like saving money on new brakes for the car to eating out with the family, you need to try http://www.chesapeake.suddenvalues.com/. This website is amazing! There are so many places in Chesapeake that are linked up with this website and offer some great discounts to regular customers.

You also can get them to send you weekly emails on the specials that are running during that time. I love me some Mexican food so I signed up under Plaza Azteca. They send me text messages that include coupons for my next visit. All I have to do is show my text!

Hope you all enjoy!

Card making gone wild!

Soooo.....

Getting my love's first care package together is becoming a bit emotional. I didn't think that it would be this way but I hate that he cant be home for Father's Day. So I decided to make this day as special as it can be for him.

I am not the craftiest momma around, but I let the babies go wild as they made their own special Father's Day cards. It is amazing how different my babies are. Ty's card was neat and precise and Emma just went crazy! It totally fits their personality and I am sure Anthony will see that as well.

I decided to make him some yummy dessert! So I picked out German chocolate snack cakes. I have never made these before but I have a feeling Anthony will love them. Since the food on the ship isn't the greatest, I thought that making him something delicious would put a smile on his face.

Here is the recipe if anyone would like to try them. They are super easy!

Ingredients:
1/2 chopped pecans
1 package of German chocolate cake mix
4 large eggs, divided
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (16-oz) package powdered sugar
1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened

Directions:
1. preheat oven to 350. Arrange chopped pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan.
2. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.
3. Reduce oven temperature to 300.
4. Stir together the cake mix, 1 egg, butter, and toasted pecans; press mixture into bottom of lightly greased 13-x-9-inch pan.
5. Beat sugar, cream cheese, and remaining three eggs at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
6. Pour powdered sugar mixture over batter in pan and spread to the edges.
7. Bake at 300 for an hour. Let cool 1 hour or until completely cool.
8. Cut cake into 2 1/2 to 3-inch squares.

And that's it! Hope you all enjoy! God Bless!

Movie renting heaven!

Okay so I am sure most of you know about Redbox and how awesome it is but there is so much more about this wonderful red movie making machine.


Did you know that you can go online and create an account? Well you can and it also gives you the choice to check certain locations to see if they have the movie you want even before getting in your car. You can also check it out online and it holds it for you for 24 hours. You say thats awesome well I have something even sweeter.

Wait for it...
Wait for it...

Sign up to get a free movie every Monday. Thats right I said free! They will send a text to your phone with a code that you can put in at the machine and then there is no charge. I know, pretty cool :)

Also for my fellow iphone lovers: there is an Redbox app! Yes you heard me correctly and it is free! Can Redbox get any cooler, I think not! Just install it on your phone, pick the movie you want, and then click find! You can also place it on hold from the application.

Your welcome!

Bring it on!

Okay so here goes my first do-it-yourself project for the summer: wallpaper! I have never even thought about trying it but you know what, I am going to dive in and take that risk.

No floral design here! Damask all the way baby! You say daring, I say bring it on! I have been thinking about it for a while and decided now was the time. I am not doing an entire room but just an accent wall. Here is the desired wall:

I love the orange but would really love a wall that is more functional. In functional I mean a wall that is less bold and one that has more neutral colors. That way when the time comes to change up some pillows on the couch, I am not stuck with picking out reds, greens or oranges. Okay so here is a damask print that I thinking about using:

The other walls in my den are a light tan and I figured that picking out a damask design with some tan and white, it would blend extremely well. You have no idea how many patterns of damask one can choose from! I may stick with this or change my mind twenty times before beginning.

So one might ask, including myself, how do you actually apply wallpaper. Well I have done a lot of research on the web and found a website called, ehow.com. Just type in "how to apply wallpaper" and the answers are there.

Personally I would like to find someone that has some experience instead of taking some one's word over the web. Wallpaper is expensive people and I would like to get it on the first try.

So there you have it! My first summer project is about to get underway. Hopefully I can begin the prep work next week. So here is the question: any takers on helping this momma out? There is just one prerequisite, somewhat experienced in wallpaper hanging!

Payment will be a home cooked meal and dessert. So hard to resist, don't all jump up at once :)

Sunday Clippers

Do you hate sitting at the kitchen table on Sunday mornings cutting coupons from the Sunday paper? Well I do and I have found a solution, coupons.com. I hope you all can find this website as useful and I did :)

Jewel Amongst the Rubble!

I must spill the beans on a recent amazing purchase from Craigslist. I am telling you, if you have never even thought about craigslist then you are missing out on an amazing website. First if you are reading and you ask, "What is Craigslist," well I am here to fill you!

Craigslist is a website where people from all over the United States sell their used personal items, such as strollers, clothes, toys, etc... When you go to the website just click on your city and then search your desired item and then poof, all the locals that are selling that specific item pop up!

I have bought and sold things on craigslist before but my purchase yesterday just sealed the deal! I have been searching for a side-by-side double stroller for forever! I have been stalking the craiglist double stroller section for a few months and yesterday I came upon a jewel amongst the rubble, a barely used peg-perego twin stroller! Of those who know a thing or two about strollers, you know this brand is top of the line and extremely expensive. We would have had to put a second mortgage down on the house to afford a brand new one!

Well I must say I am like a five year old at Christmas. I just cant wait to test it out! I think a trip to Target and Lowes will have to be on the agenda today just for the heck of it!

Here is a link to a brand new one! And mind you the price online is considered a sale price! Crazy I know. Oh and did I mentioned I scored this pretty for only $60! I know its okay, you can be jealous :)

http://www.albeebaby.com/peg-perego-2009-aria-twin-60-40-in-corallo.html

I have a dream...

With my face red and eyes swollen I sit here and think about how much I miss my husband, but then I cant even begin to imagine how he is feeling right now. I only have one love taken away from me, but he is taken away from everything that he loves. How completely unfair. Yes I know, it pays the bills but you don't really begin to know how to appreciate our service men and women until you come face to face with their cruel reality. A reality where nothing is certain, where one day you are told one thing and the complete opposite happens the next.

To think about my life, I shudder to think how easy it really is. The sacrifices that my husband makes so that his babies and I can have an amazing life. Now granted we are no where near rich but we are beyond wealthy in love and happiness. I have the life that most people dream of and I thank God and my husband every day.

My love for my husband is totally real and amazing. I cant help but smile to know that I have the privilege to spend the rest of my life here on Earth with such a wonderful, honest, loving, man of God. Not many can say they have found their soul mate, but I know, with out doubt, that I have mine and I am crazy in love him...

Adventures into Dessert Land

Okay so here are a few dessert recipes so many of you have been asking for. So my husband loves loves loves coconut cream pie, pecan pie and most of all carrot cake. So I decided instead of using the box mix, I will venture out and make them from scratch. So first of all I am a cooker, not a baker. So when these three desserts came out at almost perfection, it has increased my desire to make more desserts from scratch! So here are my husband's top three dessert choices!

1. Coconut Cream Pie
Ingredients:
1 (15-oz) package refrigerated piecrusts, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 cups half-and-half
4 egg yolks
3 tbsp. butter
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla, divided
2 cups whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar
Garnish: toasted coconut

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425. Fit one pie crust into a 9-inch pieplate. Prick bottoms and sides with a fork.
2. Bake at 425 for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. Combine 1/2 sugar and cornstarch in a heavy saucepan. Whisk together half-and-half and egg yolks and then gradually whisk egg mixture into the sugar mixture.
4. Bring to boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat.
5. Stir in the butter, coconut, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Place plastic wrap directly on warm custard. This prevents a film from forming. Then let is stand for 30 minutes.
6. Remove plastic wrap and then spoon custard mixture into prepared piecrust. Cover and chill for 30 minutes or until set.
7. Beat whipping cream at high speed with electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar and remaining 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla, beating until a peak forms.
8. Spread whipped cream over pie filling and garnish with toasted coconut if desired.

2. Pecan Pie
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (15-oz) packaged refrigerated piecrusts divided
1 large egg, lightly beaten
28 carmels (easy find in the candy aisle)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Arrange the pecans in a shallow pan and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until fragrant. Remove when done and increase oven temperature to 425.
2. Fit pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate, prick sides and bottom with fork and bake at 6 to 8 minutes or until very lightly browned. Remove and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 400.
3. Combine carmels, butter, and 1/4 cup water in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until carmels and butter are melted; remove from heat.
4. Stir together sugar and next three ingredients. Stir into carmel mixture until well blended. Stir in pecans and then pour into cooled piecrust.
5. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes and then reduce heat to 350 and bake for another 20 minutes. You can cover the piecrust edges to prevent too much browning.
6. Let cool for an hour before serving!

3. Carrot Cake:
Cake Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/3 cup chopped pecans
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 tbsp. canola oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups grated carrot
1 1/2 cups drained crushed pineapple, drained
cooking spray

Frosting Ingredients:
2 tbsp. butter, soften
1 (8-oz) block less-fat cream cheese, soften
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions for cake:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. To prepare the cake lightly spoon flour into measuring cups and level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 6 ingredients in a large bowl, stir well with a whisk.
3. Combine oil and eggs, stir well. Stir egg mixture, 2 cups of carrots, and pineapple into the flour mixture.
4. Spoon batter into a 13x9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

Directions for frosting:
1. Combine butter and cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat with a mixture at medium speed until smooth.
2. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla just until smooth. Spread frosting over top of cake.


I hope that you all enjoy these recipes. I found that baking is not as hard as I thought it was. During my husband's deployment I am going to bake certain things and send them out to him. I will post my dessert making adventures and hope you all have fun reading them.

Milestones are set in place...

Where to begin....

So many things are running through my mind right now. I just cant seem to kick this sick feeling in my stomach. I hate the days that lead up to this stupid cruise. I know it sounds bad but I just wish he would leave and we could get this thing going. He hasn't even left yet and I am already counting down the days until he gets back.

But you know, as I sit here and complain, I just cant imagine what he is going through at this moment. Yes, my other half is leaving me but he is leaving everyone especially his babies. I cant even begin to imagine what that feels like.

All I can keep thinking about is establishing some milestones. Once I get those in place, I can have certain things to look forward to. I plan to have at least one a month and that should help time pass by a bit quicker.

I have compiled a list of them so here are a few:

1. A girls weekend in Ocean City Maryland at the end of this month
2. Starting the kitchen redo in June
3. Going to visit the best in laws in the world for the entire month of July
4. August I start my student teaching which goes through December

I know that doesn't seem like a lot but to me they are the little things that will help this time go by a quick as it possibly can.

Help Wanted!

Okay, so the time is quickly approaching to when my other half leaves for seven months. I still cannot believe that it is here already. Where does the time go? It seems just like yesterday that he returned from his last one and then finding out we were pregnant with our second. I am seriously dreading this one more than the last.

There just seems to be a list that never ends on things that need to get done. I hate have a "honey" do to list, but there are somethings that I cannot do. I know that he has no problem doing them but I just hate him spending his last couple of days helping out when he should be relaxing and enjoying his babies before he leaves. Ok, off that subject...no crying now for me!

Being a single parent with one child is definitely a lot easier than with two. Plus my little man is old enough to realize that his daddy will not be home for quite some time, so here is me asking for help. If anyone has any ideas on how to make time pass by smoothly and quickly for my little man, please let me know. Emma will have no clue what it going on so no worries there but I am so nervous on how Ty will handle this. It will break my heart when he asks every morning, "mommy, will daddy be home when I get up from my nap?" I mean, come on!!! How can my heart not break when hearing that sweet little voice ask for his daddy. I am just lost at what to do. Please help!

Crazies on the Loose in Disney!

In April we took a family trip to Disney with Anthony's parents. That trip was very much needed and was so much fun. Although at times it was pretty hectic, but isn't Disney always? Parents running around like crazies while chasing their children throughout the park is normal everyday activity there.

OK here is one rant that I will go on. It wont take long, I promise.

So I would like to know who came up with a leash, not a dog leash but a kid leash? You can church it up all you want people, but when you have a teddy bear backpack and then there is a piece of fabric attached to the back that is about 5 feet long, ummmm that's a leash.
I cant count how many times I saw some poor kid experiencing whiplash because they would run but the parent stood still.

They make strollers for a reason. Well you say, "my kid wont sit in a stroller." So ummm you think they are going to stand still with a leash on. Its called discipline. Sit the kid down, strap them in and tell them not to get up.

Ugh...sorry for that! It just makes me so mad. Had to get it off my chest!

Other than that, Disney was amazing! Both my babies had an amazing time. It will probably be another few years before we adventure back, but it will definitely be something we do over again.