Have to Share

Again I so frequently do... when Im bored.... COOK! YAY! So I found this recipe book.. its more of a lil pamplet, and Ive tried a few things from there before and they just did NOT turn out good. Anyhow.. Every once n a while I crave the sweets. So I decided to bake these Cream Cheese Brownies from that book.
Im not too big on the rich chocolate taste, but man.. you can never go wrong with brownies. I added about 3/4 cup of chocolate chips (semi-sweet)--in the chocolate batter by the way, and that made it 10x more better. Definitely one of those things that gets better after its set a day or so, covered of course. Seems like it gets more M____. and Im not saying that word because its just one of those words I hate! Starts with an "m" and rhymes with hoist... got it? ok, good. HAHA Anyhow... here is the recipe. Its super EASY!!!!

---sidenote::dont mind the pepper, tomato, oinion and sunflower in the background I have no idea why that would make you WANT a brownie.. ewh!--




Ingredients:

* 3 eggs
* 6 tablespoons butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar, divided
* 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup baking cocoa
* 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese

Directions:
Separate two eggs, putting each white in a separate bowl (discard yolks or save for another use); set aside. In a small mixing bowl, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar until crumbly. Beat in the whole egg, one egg white and vanilla until well combined. Combine flour and cocoa; gradually add to egg mixture until blended. Pour into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray; set aside. (I usually line the pan with a sheet of foil makes it easier to pull out of the pan & cut)
In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth. Beat in the second egg white.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls over the batter; cut through batter with a knife to swirl. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until set and edges pull away from sides of pan. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 1 dozen.

So make some for your hubbies tonite ladies! They will Love em! Mike doesnt even like sweets, but he was like MMmmmm.... hehe.... GOOD LUCK!!

New Addiction

Well, as we do WAY too often here in Germany, when we are bored, we go buy movies! So as me and Mike were browsing the "new releases" I stumbled across the oh so cliche series-"Army Wives". Im not one to get real into the 'soap opera' types of shows, but totally love the Tv show "The Unit". Which by the way only made 3 seasons, because of the dang writer's strike that went down right in the middle of season 3! Might I also mention has only like 11 or so freakin episodes because of all that crap! ARG! Anyhow.. I would consider that series more action, rather than drama, or soap opera-y as I like to call it. So we splurged and bought the Season 1 DVD set, and I have got to say.. the first few episodes I was not TOO thrilled about this.. but thought hey.. they just left me open-ended on that episode.. I'll stick it out, and see what happens next. WOW! Hats off to the cast and crew for this show! They really did an awesome job on catching the almost surreal life of the Army. It is definitely more drama than The Unit, but still geared towards the families and all the BS we go through! I Liked it...
So after disc one, I had to keep watching. haha! I had told Mike, "oh Ive got to see what happens next, babe, I swear I'll be in bed before midnight. Im just going to watch a few more episodes!" *smiling face* Ok not so true... after disc 2 was complete.. 5 episodes later..3:30am at that point mind you.. I was like ok.. Im a freakin addict! And a loser. haha! ok not really... But I was officially "into" this show. Well... it is super cool. And for all of you NON-Military folks out there.. thats like ALL of my family.. you need to watch this show. Its on Lifetime on Sundays. Not sure on the times for everyone, but they are on season 2 already and after tonite on episode 5. SO CHECK IT OUT! I love it, so you should too. Its super cool!

Its got an awesome cast too by the way... Mikes all-time flavor is in it, Catherine Bell. And Im not quite sure whats hot about that woman, but he loves the whole "JAG" phase she played in. Anyhow... Im officially going to bed now.
We've got German customs coming out here in the morning to check out all of our illegals... not really, just coming to tell us all the crap we CAN'T send with our household goods. Plants, candles(which Im still mad about--cause Im a candle horde!), the grill, liquids.. you know all that flammable crap.
Well hope ya like my Sunday rant... Hope everyone has a good week ahead, and be thankful for the day you have right in front of you.
The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge. ~Bertrand Russell

Whale of a SNAIL!

So today I was out walking the doggies, after a long rain all morning, and I noticed something shiny on the grass. The closer I got I said to myself.. "HOLY CRAP!!! that's a huge snail!!" I mean Ive seen micro-machine sized snails, but nothing ever this big! So I took the dogs back inside, and was like how retarded would I look going back outside to take a picture of what looked like the grass..haha.. well I did it anyways! Pj's and all! If you know me... yah.. I really didnt care, but thought man I should post this on my blog... haha... well here she is folks... the shell was about as big as a golf ball... gynormeous!

The Letter "T"

Ok, so I finished another letter GO ME! Its for a girl that shares the same Birthday as me! Her name is Tiana. I'm good friends with her mom here in Germany. Anywhos... I thought it turned out way cute.
Tonite I'm finishing up Holly's boys tonite, so keep lookin for those pics, which I'll add on here later. Hope ya like.

OK So I finally finished the boy's letters. UGH! It's taken me all week because I didnt't think I had enough NON-frilly stuff to put on the letters. Well I finally came up with a few ideas.... and then went back and forth on each letter, lol. SOoo here they are...mind you.. this was like ALL the non girly stuff I had! I even had to order a special "brothers" packet , just to fill the letter. Anywho... here is Taylor & Turner's letters.

Artsy Fartsy Me

Well this is what Ive been up to lately, cause we all know I'm trying to make the time fly by. So Ive tried out a few artsy fartsy projects/crafty stuff. I originally got the idea for Holly and her boys' room, but thought to myself, why leave the girls out (her 3 daughters) and so I made them one first. One of what you ask? Check out the slide show.

You know how kids or a baby's nursery have their names on those cute wooden letters, hung with a cute ribbon? Well I thought, why not create something more with that. I mean, I could have just painted them, but I am totally not good at the "free-hand" stuff. So I have a ton of scrapbook stuff, paper, frilly stuff, stamps, stickers, glitter, wire, beads.. gosh a ton of crap, and so I decided to paint these bare wooden letters & sink into that creative state of mind that I never use. So after about an hour or so...my project was finished. I must say... I had to give myself a pat on the back.. because they turned out way cute! Mike thinks I should sell these... small business, requests only, bazaars?? Hummm.. extra money.. possibly.

Well her youngest daughter, Ramie, is such the princess. Shes 2 & half going on 25~! Lol Shes so funny... she wanted me to hang it in the hallway at her level so she could come by hourly, Im sure, and push the button. I found this super cute princess crown sticker.. that had lil lights on it at the top, and when you pushed this lil button, it went crazy with all kinds of lights. Her and I both thought that was the coolest thing about her letter. Haha!

Kamryn, I guess she would be the middle kid, is a lil tom boy. All about bugs, sports, ripped jeans, pony tail, goofy, eats like a monster, and I swear that 6 y/old has a freakin 6-pack! So her's was a lil tricky on the frilly stuff, cause that is totally not her. I think her's turned out very fitting with the lil lady bug button I had.

And then there is Cecilia, shes the oldest. Shy, such the story-teller, the girly-girl, real easy for me to create. Mike liked hers the best.
Well after my many compliments on these, I decided to make one for my girl that I went to UNT with. She has a 5 m/old that is so stinkin cute, I had to make some for her. Miss Sydnee Hayden. I did 3 letters for her, her initials, and then scripted her name on each initial. Personally I liked HERS the BEST! I had this bundle of scrapbook paper that was all matching, colors and whatnot, so that's what I used for hers.

All in all... they turned out so swell. That Im really pondering if I should make a lil money and sell them. I know I totally could once in NC, at the bizaars, but for now I think Im just going to make them for people that request them. SOOooooo... everyone keep that in mind.
I think they would make cute birthday or shower gifts for someone. If anyone is interested let me know. Right now I just order the letters online, when needed, but could totally fix up a few and personalize them when ordered/requested. I love doing them & the materials I have are all different. Like I said, I scrapbook, so the skys the limit on the stuff that I have.
If you would like any information on size of the letters, colors of ribbon, or types & themes of paper I have, shoot me a comment and/or email. texans06@gmail.com
Ladies.. dont be shy now! Think! haha....

Anyhow... Oh .. and also.. so to make a long story short.. I bought these black flip flops online also, just to lounge around with here, walk the dogs in etc. Well a size 9 was considered a large. Uhmm yah.. too big for my feet. So I tried to pawn them off on my husband.. well he unfortunatly doesnt like that "toe thing"--so he calls it.. Im like the thong part yes... he goes yah.. that thing.. it hurts. UGH.. what a wuss! haha... then he gives the excuse I have ugly feet.. blah blah blah.... Im like fine.. Ill give them to someone.. haha. Well they are plain, and yet really simple. So I know some of you remember back in like 6th grade when all the cheerleaders had those flip flops with the material tied on the "thong" part.. yah... well cute as that was.. I thought humm.. ribbon would be way cuter! Soooo again.. the artsy fartsy side hit me.. and so I created some summery flips! Again Mike suggests I sale these too.. for kiddos.. which I could totally see.
So I might just take him up on his idea. So tell me whatcha think.... again.. I have TON of RIBBON! Every color.. pattern, dots, stripes, zig-zags, etc. So depending whatcha want... Im sure I can create. OK I think Ive rambled enough tonite... yay for crafty-ness!! Reminds me of that movie.. You, Me & Dupree..."Carl-ness.. your missing that Carl-ness". I love Owen Wilson.
Hope everyone is having a good week!!! YAY for 35 days left!!!!
Peace-out! ♥ LBsquared

Proud to Announce....

My good friend here in Germany, Holly, finally had her twin baby boys Friday, May 30th at 6:35am! Turner 7.1lbs and Taylor6.14lbs were ready to come a lil early by a month, Im talking foot hanging out and poor Holly didnt even know it! She was in so much pain I think at the time, it was all a big blur. They had to preform a emergency C-section, and she lost a lot of blood, but after a few days in the Hospital all 3 of them seemed to be turning for the better. Its been a big ordeal for her and her family with 3 girls already, but always an adventure, only x5 now. I love her dearly and keep her family and husband in your thoughts, he is in Iraq, and missed the whole birth of his first and only sons. I've definantly had my dose of mommy-hood for the past 4 days. I dont know how you ladies do it.. but I guess one day I will experience that all on my own, not anytime soon I tell ya that! haha Anyhow, hope everyone had a good Memorial weekend, and are enjoying that hot TEXAS weather!! Gaw I am totally not looking forward to that crap!! 78 has been like a scorch to me~! lol
♥ LB