Amanda + Don

App Attack!

2012-01-21T18:47:00.001+01:00

Okay, lame post title, I know! But here's my reasoning: I want to know what your favorite smartphone apps are! ...how did I go so quickly from a slow and peaceful Bavarian life to this hustle and bustle and always online life? I'm really back to to America, baby! :)

So far, I (and my families!) am digging Words With Friends. I'm even playing with my best friend back in Germany! How fun!!

Our new house here is starting to feel like home! And our BMW just arrived in Atlanta too! Woot woot! :)

So, while I listen to tornado warning sirens and sit on our single piece of furniture here in Georgia, I wait to hear what apps you think I "need" :)

Happy weekend!

Mobile Blogging? Like It!

2012-01-15T23:59:00.001+01:00

Yes yes yes, I know I said having the internet on my phone seemed unnecessary. But I'm digging it! Guilty! I may end up blogging more, but that may also mean that my posts could be a bit random. And short!

My thought for the weekend is this: when moving into a new house, be sure to turn on all your utilities. Otherwise, you may wake up freezing cold and discover that you're heat runs on gas, not electricity. :) Good thing Georgia Winters are fairly mild...

Layla has chattered her teeth a few times. And we now own a space heater. Tomorrow night, after the heat has been turned back on, I hope to be barefoot and in shorts in the house!

Stateside!

2012-01-12T05:58:00.001+01:00

We're back in the States, & something about the change has inspired me to blog a bit! Also, I have a sweet new Android phone that lets me blog on the go... So maybe that adds to the fun :) We'll see how this works!

Back to the big news: we're living in America again! And who would have thought it, but there's been some culture shock with our return! Restaurants everywhere, so many choices, everything's open late, busy busy busy... Germans certainly taught me that living a slow paced life is relaxing and rewarding. None of this "always connected to the internet" business. Not that I can talk! It's too easy, this American way of life.

Alright, my fingers are tired. But I'll leave you with a picture of Layla &z Lucius during our two day drive across the country :) They were actually pretty comfy in the back seat of my truck!

You Can Find Me . . .

2011-09-15T10:47:00.004+02:00

Well, it's happened. I've lost my need to blog. Honestly, I don't know anymore what to blog about! Unless I stumble upon something wonderful & lovely, of course, like OPI's latest nail polish color collection : ) But that's just a given!

Honestly, though... I really haven't been inspired to write lately. Er, in the last few months! Don is home, I'm loving life, & we're starting to plan our move back to the States! Eek! Life is full for me right now, so I tend to be away from the computer more often than not. But really... What would I blog about these days?

I will definitely keep this blog. Stay tuned! I will post when inspiration strikes! And who knows what {or when!} that may be!

But until then, if you want to see what I'm loving lately, check out my Tumblr page at http://itsakeeper.tumblr.com It's so easy to quickly post a photo there, a video, a song...no words necessary. So if you'd like to see my style, to take a peek at what catches my eye, then head over there :) I honestly add to this page almost daily. So easy! And if any of you have a Tumblr page, please share!

Here's to hoping that I find something lovely to write about for you all sometime soon! Any ideas?! What keeps you coming back to my blog?! Help! : ) Enjoy the rest of your week!! &hearts;

Gettin' Miss Piggy With It!

2011-08-24T10:34:00.000+02:00

First of all, gosh, am I out of the loop!! I had no idea that there was a new Muppets movie in the works! Also, I hadn't heard until today that OPI was basing their new nail polish collection on our favorite little furry puppets! :) So, it was good news all around! I remember watching the original Muppet movies when I was little, & I have to confess that they still crack me up, along with all the new movies that have been added to the Muppet collection. And I've been wearing pretty much only OPI nail color since, well... since I started painting my nails! So this combo is going to be a lot of fun! Plus, I'm really getting a kick out of the nail polish color names! OPI, how do you do it?!

From the OPI Facebook Page: "This November polish your nails in hues as festive as the holidays with OPI's much-anticipated Muppets collection. Loaded with glitters and shimmers, this collection is packed with punch! (Left to right): Animal-istic, Meep-Meep-Meep, Wocka Wocka, Pepes Purple Passion, Designers De Better, Warm and Fozzie, Rainbow Connection, Excuse Moi, Gone Gonzo, Fresh Frog of Bel Air, Divine Swine and Gettin' Miss Piggy With It."

I don't know what it is with me & sparkles right now, but I just have the urge to paint Rainbow Connection on my fingers & toes! Let me know what you get!

Welcome Bark!

2011-08-16T19:28:00.001+02:00

Hello, all! I saw this video on Fox News today & just had to share! Great Danes are the best little doggies, aren't they?! :) Well, I suppose I'm a bit biased. But this video will surely make you smile! Happy Tuesday! And thanks to all who joined in on the Saturday Around The World fun! One of you will be my Featured Blogger of the Week! XO

Saturday Around The World! ...A Bit Early :)

2011-08-12T20:46:00.003+02:00

Oh my goodness, it's been a while since the last Saturday Around The World blog party! I honestly had almost forgotten how to set it up! That's definitely an indication that it's time to pick this up again :)

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Leave me a comment here letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving comments or being a follower will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to win, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar! Just copy the complete HTML code into your post's HTML page! **If this isn't working for you, can you please tell me what happens when you try it? It works for me just fine, but I want it to work for you too :)**

Big Babies, Big Crates, One Flight

2011-08-12T12:08:00.005+02:00

Man, we have two big babies here in our house with us every day! Our Great Danes!! We definitely get looks when they are in the car with us -- some people even take pictures! Sometimes, I forget just how big they are, but...

I've spent the last few hours looking for crates that will be big enough for them on their next {&amp; first! And hopefully only!} airplane ride. Oh my goodness, we may have to have custom crates built! Honey the Great Dane from Australia, for instance, had a custom kennel built for herself. See?! I have visions of us with our suitcases &amp; two of these huge crates full, trying to get through the Frankfurt airport...then gathering it all back up again in the States. Sheesh! It's a good thing I love our doggies :) And thankfully, we have a while to plan this all out. Phew!

So...have any of you ever flown with a big dog before? I'd love some tips & pointers, please!

Travel Review: Beautifully Artistic Dresden, Germany!

2011-08-10T12:32:00.002+02:00

I bet you've been wondering where I've gone! Well, I'm still here; don't worry :) Frankly, I just haven't known what to post about lately! So tell me: what keeps you coming back to my blog? Is it the travel photos & stories, the recipes, the personal pictures of myself, husband & two little Danes? Or maybe it's hearing about this military lifestyle, the once-in-a-while knitting project posts, or just what I happen to be interested in at the moment? Help me out here. What should I post about nowadays?! :)

For today, though, I'm covered! Don & I took a quick weekend trip to the German city of Dresden. We hopped on the train & blissfully read {or people watched!} for about 3 hours until we arrived at the bahnhof! Er, train station! After a quick 10 minute walk, we found ourselves in the heart of the Altstadt {Old Town} and at our little apartment-style hotel, the Aparthotel "Münzgasse". You can read my Trip Advisor review here if you'd like!

Above, you can see my handsome husband standing on Münzgasse street, with a view of the top of the Frauenkirche in the background {see how close the hotel was?!}. That's also the famous Frauenkirche in the photo on the left. This church has incredible history, which you can read about @ the Wikipedia links above. But basically, during World War II, the Allied Forces bombed the city with incendiary bombs, which create fire. The heat in the city reached over 1,000 degrees Celsius, causing the structure of the Frauenkirche {among many other buildings} to literally explode & collapse. It wasn't until the early 1990s that the church was restored. Until that point, the people of Dresden wanted the church to remain in its crumbled condition, a symbol for promoting peace in the world. However, after gathering over 1 million euro in donations, the church was reconstructed using many of the original stones.

Dresden certainly had an overall feel of creativity, with many world-famous art museums {we saw the beautiful work of Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, & more!} & bizarre modern art out for all to see. And of course, delicious beer!

Interested in some dinner theater? These actors will definitely pique your interest! Or, instead, you could wander through the beautiful city with your sweetie! That was our choice &hearts;

Here I am next to the Fürstenzug {Procession of Princes}, a 335 foot long mural on 25,000 porcelain tiles. And lastly, another view of Dresden with the top of the beautiful Hofkirche {City Church} in the background.

Changes

2011-07-25T13:14:00.001+02:00

Well, I certainly feel as though I've been away from Blogger for a while... The entire site has changed! Whoa! Time to get back into the swing of things & try to stay more up-to-date. I do like the new feel though, do you? There's something nice about changing things up a bit, I think. Although, this weekend, our neighborhood had no hot water, so we changed it up by showering at the gym. Nice to know that was temporary!

It's been quite a week here. My wonderful brother's two week visit came to an end last Wednesday. We had such an awesome time with him, visiting Istanbul & touring around the Bavarian countryside! {I'll post some pics at some point!} The bad part came right after seeing him off at the Munich Airport. As I was driving on the autobahn through the rain, a car pulling a trailer must not have seen me in my little Mini, because out they pulled...right in front of me. *smack* *wince* *ugh* I pulled off at the next gas station stop, still in shock, expecting that they'd follow me in. But nope. They drove on. As of today, the Polezei {German police} still have not found them. It was a rotten day, but after having to take the train as close to home as possible, Don picked me up with a yummy German pastry in hand & a bouquet of baby roses :) Bad things happen & there's not usually any way to prevent them. But when you have a wonderful loving husband to help you through, you know you'll always make it :)

I hope you all are doing great & enjoy your summers! I've talked about our travels, but where have you been this summer? Where do you plan to go for some r&r?! Or, I suppose, where do you dream of visiting?

All images can be found at my Tumblr page, It's A Keeper, which has seen some changes too!

All Is Well! :)

2011-07-01T12:28:00.000+02:00

I first have to thank all of you who have written me lately, asking how things are, telling me that you miss my posts & hope that I'm doing alright -- you all are wonderful! In fact, I am doing more than all right! Life is so good that being on the computer has been the last thing on my mind, & I do apologize for that! But sometimes, it's nice to take a break & focus entirely on what's truly important ♥

Don has been home now for almost two months! WOW! Two Months Already?!! Time certainly does fly when your worries are behind you :) It's been so easy transitioning back into our regular routine together. Although we were apart for 11 months, we just got right back into the swing of things once he came home! I love it :) Plus, we've been doing some great traveling!

We went to a town here in Germany called Baden-Baden, which is famous for its bath houses & thermal spas. What a relaxing weekend that was! And we also made it over the border to Strasbourg, France. Add another country to my growing list! I think I'm at 27 countries now!

And lastly, we just got back from Tanzania, Africa!!! What an adventure!! We spent 7 days at the beautiful Saadani Safari Lodge, & oh my goodness was it breathtaking! Gorgeous beach, lovely people, delicious food, romantic setting, wonderful bungalows! Plus, game drives, snorkeling, river safaris... You wouldn't be surprised to know that we took about 2,300 pictures during this trip! I'll post some of our faves for you to see :)

Next up for us? Istanbul, next week!! So the pictures will keep on coming!

Thank you all so much for your sweet notes & emails. It means a lot that you were checking up on me! And now that Don is getting back to work {boohoo!}, you'll most likely be hearing from me more often!

Boy, is it nice to be all put back together again ♥

Happy Friday from Cookie!

2011-04-15T17:11:00.000+02:00

Meet Cookie, a "little penguin" at the Cincinnati Zoo & the mascot of the zoo's Bird House. How else could possibly make a cuter mascot?! Listen to those cute little squeals, watch that funny little penguin walk! Hmm, I wonder what Layla & Lucius would do if I brought him home as a new pet :) ♥ Happy Friday, everyone!

Wills & Kate's Wedding Cake!

2011-04-14T19:32:00.001+02:00

Who else is excited for the Royal Wedding of the decade?!! William & Kate make such an adorable couple, don't you think?! I had to explain to Don that this is a "girl thing"; boys just don't understand :) But honestly, how could we not be excited? A beautiful wedding gown {which I am looking forward to seeing!}, gorgeous bridal bouquets, the elegant ambiance of Westminster Abbey, & most of all, a Prince & Princess in love! Alright, you know as well as I do that for those of us not at all involved, it's just pure cheesiness. But you have to admit you will be watching too as they tie the knot on April 29th! Bring out the champagne & scones, dears!

And of course the royal wedding cake! The groom's cake will be made of rich chocolate & biscuits, but the wedding cake will be created following the recipe used for one of William's favorite tea time treats. I found this recent write-up from my beloved King Arthur Flour company. The official recipe is a royal secret, but KAF is making its educated guess as to the ingredients!

"It seems the couple will have a traditional English fruitcake as the main attraction. But the Groom’s Cake is said to be a childhood favorite of Wills, a “secret” recipe revealed by Buckingham Palace to the bakers at McVitie’s biscuit company, makers of Rich Tea Biscuits – the cookie that’s a key ingredient in the cake.

“The recipe was given to us by the Palace and we’ve been sworn to secrecy. I’d love to be able to tell you, I really would. But, it’s a royal secret,” said McVitie’s baker Paul Courtney.

Still, Courtney did reveal that the cake includes 1,700 crushed Rich Tea biscuits, and 40 pounds of dark chocolate." --King Arthur Flour

I would go back for seconds :) Oh, what a fairy tale! ♥

April Showers

2011-04-12T17:16:00.001+02:00

We are getting a truly torrential downpour here in Bavaria right now! The trees are bending so much from the gusts of wind that they look like the could snap at any moment. The rain is coming down in sheets. I can hear windows slamming shut all over my neighborhood block, but it's not as loud as the thunder. And I love it!

A look out my kitchen window.

Alright, I certainly wouldn't want this type of weather all the time, but mixed in with the hot {& air conditioner free} German days, this is fun! PLUS, before the storm really got here, I ran around in the yard like a crazy woman, wet hair blowing in my face every second, putting down more grass seed & top soil. All this rain should help some more grass to get started!

April is almost half over!! I'm ready for May ♥

Muddy Yard Plus Jumping Great Dane Equals...

2011-04-03T16:03:00.000+02:00

Muddy Amanda! Bwahahaha! Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope that you are having a lovely day! It's definitely feeling like Spring here! We got up to 72 degrees, so I'm seeding my yard, watering, praying for the grass to grow, & now, well...about to change into a clean t-shirt :)

Grr! And...tough?! ♥

Happy Weekend!

2011-04-02T20:22:00.000+02:00

I hope that you all have a wonderful, fun-filled, relaxing weekend! It's a beauty here -- got up to 70 degrees today! I've even seen some daffodils popping up, & my forsythia has buds all over it! Hooray! ♥

Hotels With Heavenly Hammocks

2011-04-01T12:12:00.001+02:00

When Don was home for R&R last October, we were talking about the things we would have in our "dream home." Some were simple {a garbage disposal, a backyard with privacy, a garage...} but others were purely wants. A ping pong table for Don, a hammock for two for me. And Don! There's something about hammocks that I just love. The word itself brings to mind all things having to do with relaxation: napping, reading, snuggling, basking in the sunlight. And because of all those lovely things, this article about Hotels With Heavenly Hammocks caught my eye right away! And I knew it was worth sharing :) So enjoy the pictures & imagine yourself relaxing away in these heavenly spots ♥

Happy Friday, everyone!

* Sunshine & A Smoothie *

2011-03-29T13:03:00.003+02:00

Just a few pictures for your today! I just took these this morning. It's nice & sunny here today, so I made myself a yummy smoothie & drank it outside on our patio. {Our patio with absolutely no privacy, as you can see. I can't wait to have a private yard!} It was so nice to sit in the sun & relax! Then, I watered our yard & put down some more grass seed. {Oooh, it's a constant battle to keep grass in our yard! Last Fall, it looked great! Where did all the grass go over the Winter?!} And finally, I transplanted a rosemary & an African violet. After all that time in the yard, the dogs laid down together on a bed in the living room, basking in the sun, & quickly drifted off to sleep. They are still dreaming ♥ Happy Tuesday! I hope yours is bright & sunny as well!

Don't forget to stop by this week's blog hop, Saturday Around The World, to promote your blog! And maybe you'll be the one I choose to feature as this week's Featured Blogger! Yay!

Looks like I need to adjust the date on my camera ;)

Flowering Trees & Thoughts of Springtime

2011-03-28T22:09:00.002+02:00

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope that your week has started off really well for you! I had a nice day today: overcast skies, rain {even hail!}, a productive trip to Post to get grass seed & soil, check the mail, go to the gym, pick up dog food... Ladies, do you have green thumb fever too? I want a yard full of grass, window boxes & pots brimming with flowers. It's right around the corner, though! April is almost here! And I LOVE that for more than the fact that it's becoming Springtime :)

And to bring a little sunshine, springtime, & pretty flowers to you, here are some beautiful flowering trees! Do you have any flowering trees in your yard or neighborhood? We have forsythia here, although that's a bush not a tree. But nevertheless, I'm ready for it to blossom! ♥

Don't forget to stop by this week's blog hop, Saturday Around The World, to promote your blog! And maybe you'll be the one I choose to feature as this week's Featured Blogger! Yay!

Sunday Singing Loud & Proud!

2011-03-27T19:43:00.004+02:00

Okay, I don't share videos very often at all, but this one really made me smile so I just had to share it with you all! I hope that it makes you smile too! What an adorable dog this is, singing loud & proud for all to hear! I think you could say he's belting it out :) Tonight, he has inspired me to turn the music up loud & sing too!! ♥ Happy Sunday!!

Don't forget to stop by this week's blog hop, Saturday Around The World, to promote your blog! And maybe you'll be the one I choose to feature as this week's Featured Blogger! Yay!

Blog Par-tay! ( Saturday Around The World )

2011-03-26T10:55:00.004+01:00

It's Saturday again! Hooray! Here I sit in my comfy pajama pants & a t-shirt, about to have a slice of homemade banana bread for breakfast & possibly a cup of coffee too! And what better way to wake up this morning than to spend my time also writing up this week's Saturday Around The World post?! I always have so much fun seeing who gets involved, reading their comments, & then randomly choosing my Weekly Featured Blogger from the participants! I hope that you all are feeling cozy & have something yummy to eat while you visit some new blogs today! Who knows what locations you'll "travel" to! Have fun!! ♥

{ Images are of the Santuario de las Lajas, Colombia & beautiful Santorini }

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Leave me a comment here letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving comments or being a follower will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to win, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar! Just copy the complete HTML code into your post's HTML page! **If this isn't working for you, can you please tell me what happens when you try it? It works for me just fine, but I want it to work for you too :)**

Outdoor Living In Santa Barbara

2011-03-25T17:33:00.000+01:00

This 1950's farmhouse set in Santa Barbara wine country seems to me to be a fabulous place to relax! Lucky for Hélène Aumont, this is her home! She co-owns an up-scale antique store with her husband & also designs furniture & interiors. Well, after a long day's work, I sure would be happy to come home to these dreamy outdoor spaces, to eat dinner under the Moroccan lights, to doze away on the hammock...

{ All images from Traditional Home Magazine }

Make sure to stop by tomorrow for another Saturday Around The World blog hop & your chance to get new followers, find fabulous new reads, & even possibly be picked as my Weekly Featured Blogger!

Blessings Over Battles

2011-03-24T16:49:00.000+01:00

Sometimes, I let the weight of the "battles" around me play too big a role in my day to day life. My husband is still away in Afghanistan, my wonderful family that I love is across the ocean in Colorado, my dogs aren't always so well behaved, I haven't been feeling well at all lately... But Amanda, you need to stop & count your blessings! I have to remember to let the things I'm thankful for be foremost in my mind, not afterthoughts. Sure, we all have struggles, sometimes daily, but we mustn't let them take charge! ♥

Today, I Am Thankful For...
The sunshine

My husband's continued safety downrange ♥

My incredible family that lets me know I'm loved, even from thousands of miles away

The fast approaching end of this deployment {hoorah!}

Good books to keep my mind busy & knitting projects to keep my hands busy

The companionship of my two wonderful dogs. Everyone's dog has bad behavior sometimes, right? I just have the Great Dane sized version once in a while. { To my fellow Military Wives with four-legged companions: have you ever seen a change in your dog's behavior when your husband deploys? My Layla has become insanely over-protective of me, our house, & our yard. I hope this stops when my husband returns! Any advice?! }

What are you thankful for today?! Happy Thursday ♥

The One-Piece? J. Crew's Done It Right!

2011-03-22T23:57:00.002+01:00

Have you been noticing what I've been noticing? More one-piece swimsuits & less bikinis! Now, we all know that the bikini is here to stay, but her sister the one-piece is giving her a run for her money!! I've seen the funky one-piece with the sides cut out, the halter, the strapless, the low back...but these new beauts from J. Crew definitely made me stop & look twice! I love the femininity of the first one, the flirty-ness of the second, the care-free & fun loving nature of the third, & the downright classic look of the fourth. If I had to pick my favorite, well...I couldn't! ...Could you?! Or are you a bikini gal foreva?! ♥

Well, one thing is for certain: I'm ready to spend time at the beach!!

And since I have you in the fashion mood, why not check out some more great summer looks from J. Crew?

Knit A Lavender Sachet Heart!

2011-03-21T15:45:00.000+01:00

Wouldn't these Lavender Hearts make adorable little gifts? Mother's Day, Birthdays, or even a Just Because! You can use up some of your scrap yarn & then fill these beauties with dried lavender, one of my favorite natural scents! Or fill it with your favorite scent? What scent would you choose?! No matter what, these are super cute! I even read someone's comment saying they could be made into an adorable mobile for a Baby Shower! Cuuute! ♥

Photo From Skein Queen

Two variations on the pattern above, all from Ravelry:

These little hearts are so cute when strung together for a garland! I have visions of nurseries with this one!

Pay only £1.00 GBP for this pretty pattern that is made in one piece, not two! { Image from WildFireFibres }

Please let me know if you decided to make some of these! I'd love to see pictures of the finished product! And if I make some, I will certainly share! ...As long as they look decent, of course! ;) Happy Monday!!

Hello, Springtime!

2011-03-20T21:14:00.000+01:00

Happy first day of Spring! Before we know it, we'll be taking picnics, walking through gardens, reading on beautiful patios, napping in hammocks, & doing all the other lovely summertime things we enjoy ♥ And best of all, the start of Spring is yet another reminder that this deployment is *almost over*!! Hooray! It's been a long time since June 9th, 2010 when Don left for his tour in Afghanistan. I cannot wait to have my heart complete again, to have my house a home, to have my sweetie back safe & sound.

Spring, I welcome you with open arms! ♥

Bohemia In Barcelona

2011-03-19T23:15:00.000+01:00

This Spanish apartment in beautiful Barcelona has me swooning! The pattern lining on the drapes, the splashes of color in an otherwise neutral palette, the Moroccan-esque patio decor... LoVe it all! Wouldn't you love to live here? Or even just stay for the weekend?!

Don & I really enjoyed visiting Spain last October during his two week break from deployment. Seville was gorgeous, the people were friendly & so full of personality, & mmm the tapas! I would go back to Spain in a heartbeat!

All photos from 79Ideas

I hope that you all are having a lovely weekend! Here, I've been continuing to work on the cable knit afghan that I'm working on for Don, & I've cleaned the house & even put down some grass seed in the yard! Please, let it grow :)

Weekly Featured Blogger: Iron & Sunshine!

2011-03-18T11:57:00.006+01:00

Would you like to meet this week's Featured Blogger?! She's quite a lady, & I know you'll love her! It's Jillian from Iron & Sunshine! Congrats, girl! And thanks for being a part of my weekly blog par-tay! Great to have you, & I hope that this brings you smiles! And new followers too! :)

4 Reasons Why You Should Be Reading Iron & Sunshine!

What an inspirational story you are, Jillian! She was recently diagnosed with Hemochromatosis, a hereditary disorder caused by your body absorbing too much iron. I had never heard of this before, so I did my research...& girl, you are brave & strong & I wish you all the best in the world! You take care of yourself ♥
Jillian is a Military Girlfriend, & we have quite a bit in common, actually! High five, girl :) She & her sweetie, who is a pilot in training, met in Middle School {us too!}, he went to the Naval Academy {Military Academy husband here!}, they dated throughout college & now live in Texas! Nothin' like a good Academy & Military love story!
Jillian was born in Hawaii & lived there until she was 10 years old. Ooh, wouldn't that be a lovely place to grow up?!!
All in all, Iron & Sunshine is Jillian's beautiful blog to promote awareness of Hemochromatosis, share her thoughts on life, & spread sunshine to all her readers! I'm really glad to have found this blog & am definitely the newest follower :) Plus, she has a super cute Tumblr page!

Don't forget to grab your button & tell the world that you've been featured this week! Just copy the HTML code into a new HTML gadget for your sidebar & voila!! ♥

<center><a href="http://donandamanda.blogspot.com/2011/03/weekly-featured-blogger-iron-sunshine.html"><img border="0" src="http://1.1.1.1/bmi/lh4.ggpht.com/_922Cyk-R3Eo/TKuTvSiLkcI/AAAAAAAAA9o/QiQCzs_StuU/SATWfeatured.jpg" /></a></center>

Goodnight From Deutschland!

2011-03-16T22:19:00.002+01:00

Goodnight, everyone! ♥ It wasn't as warm here as yesterday {that was 60!}, & we did get some rain {which I love!}, but not being able to wear flip flops didn't slow me down! I hope that you all had a wonderful day today! The week is half over! Ready for the weekend?!!

Mostly, this post is just so that I can share this incredibly cozy picture with you all :) Wouldn't it be lovely to take a nap in this hideaway?!

From My Ideal Home

Gute Nacht!

Today, For Your Viewing Pleasure...

2011-03-15T17:39:00.000+01:00

Beautiful rooms from the new online interior design magazine, Lonny! If you haven't checked it out yet, do yourself a favor & head on over to get a taste of what it's all about -- loveliness! Fabulousness! Okay, that isn't even a word...but you'll be thinking it too when you take a look at these photos! I'm especially smitten with the kitchen -- the clean white palette, the cute cushioned window seat with pillows in various pinks... What a cozy place to cook and relax!

What's your favorite?! ♥ Happy Tuesday!

Cables & Danes!

2011-03-14T21:00:00.004+01:00

Well, the title says it all! Here are a few pictures I took today of the Cables Coming & Going blanket that I'm knitting on right now, along with my two Danes, Layla & Lucius! The blanket is coming along nicely -- a little over 5 feet wide & about two feet long so far. Bad thing is, I'm almost halfway through my yarn! Looks like I'll be making another purchase from JoAnn!

Fellow Knitters: What's your project right now? I'd love to see! Plus, I'm working on my pattern collection ;)

We've been enjoying some unusually "warm" weather here in Germany. We've even reached the 50's! Miracle! Can I plant flowers now & put down grass seed for my torn up yard? I wish. It's almost Spring, though!

Hope that you have had a lovely Monday! Any big plans for this week?! ♥

The coloring in this photo is really more accurate than the previous two. The colors are dark. It would fit well in an old wood-paneled library, with a cup of tea & a very good book!

Thank you to everyone who's participated in this week's Saturday Around The World blog par-tay! Even I got a few new followers out of it! :) HELLO, newbies!! Anyway, you have one more day to add your blog & post your comments! Then, I shall pick this week's Featured Blogger!

New Followers?! Saturday Around The World!

2011-03-12T11:29:00.001+01:00

It's been a while since we've TRAVELED! Are you all ready?! Fix yourself your drink of choice, & perhaps a delicious croissant or toasted bagel as well, & get ready to visit some fabulous new blogs! Who knows where you'll end up! The Eiffel Tower, The Brooklyn Bridge, The Great Wall of China, Laguna Beach, a Giraffe Reserve in Africa?! Like I said...who knows! :)

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Leave me a comment here letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving their comments or being a member of {Amanda & Don} will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to win, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar! Just copy the HTML code into your post's HTML sheet!

Waffle Knit Dishcloth Pattern - LOVE!

2011-03-11T14:13:00.000+01:00

Where my fellow knitters at?! {Good Golly, get me over this bug now!} I've been spending a lot of time on the sofa {doctor's orders!}, & what better to do with that time than knit?! Alright, maybe I sound a little ridiculous, but if you knit, you understand why I love it so much!

I took a break last night from the massive blanket that I'm working on {a cabled beauty!} & decided to use up some of my small amounts of yarn by making more washcloths. They knit up so quickly & you can make them in such a huge variety of patterns! Plus, they're practical! And what a nice feeling it is to clean up my kitchen with a pretty little thing I made myself :)

Here's my newest fave: Homespun Living's Waffle Knit Dishcloth. It's knit on size 6 needles, so the cloth is very dense & good for scrubbing! Also, the raised waffle knit pattern adds great texture, making it not only nice to look at but extra handy on pots & pans!

Beautiful Blooms

2011-03-10T15:53:00.001+01:00

Is it warming up at all where you live? Is the sun shining? Is the grass starting to turn green again? Well, here in Germany we've been getting all of that! For the past few days, at least :) It's made me dream of summer's gardens, fresh flower bouquets, & warm afternoons spent reading outside, followed by dinner outdoors on a candlelit patio! And best of all, this summer, Don will be home!! ♥

Peonies + Weddings = Beautiful Summer! {From Emmaline Bride}


The last two images from A Diary of Lovely

I feel relaxed just looking at this serene backyard set-up! {From Room Envy}

Dreamy! {From EverythingFab}

Happy Thursday, everyone! I hope that this week has been treating you very well! For me? There has been a lot of medicine, a lot of tissues, & a lot of sleeping. But I think I'm starting to feel better! And I'm certain about one thing: my body does not like Prednisone!

Take Me Away!

2011-03-07T20:59:00.000+01:00

I'm still getting over this bug, so I've been doing nothing but knitting & watching TV, sleeping & eating comfort foods, taking medicine & drinking lots of water :) Oh, & snuggling with my constant companions, Layla & Lushie! They are my little nurses. Okay, not so little! I really think that they can tell I'm not feeling well. They've been very sweet & caring! Dogs are such smart sweethearts ♥

A few little links for my fellow knitters:

Transform your bangle -- knit over!

Adorable & Super Simple Striped Baby Blanket

Waffle Knit Dishcloth? Yes, please!

What to do with those little lengths of leftover yarn? Bracelets, of course! How fun!

Soaking up the sun in style! How cute are these chairs?!

The mis-matched look of this bed makes it so invitingly cozy, don't you agree?!

Doesn't this just make you *smile*?!

Enjoying the stillness, Miyako Island, Japan

I hope that these pictures brought a smile to your face & took you to a pretty place for a while! Happy Monday, everyone!

Very Very Far Under The Weather

2011-03-04T21:43:00.000+01:00

I know I've promised to regale you with tales of my recent travels to tropical Hawaii, but my little body has been too busy at the doctor's office lately. Remember the cold that I was trying to get over mid-January? Well, whatever it is that I caught just won't let go. I've had x-rays taken of my chest & had blood work done, & still my doctor is mystified. And on top of that, my heart will not stop racing. My blood pressure is consistently through the roof! *thump, thump, thump* Did I mention that I haven't had blood drawn since I was little? And that I was very nervous? And that Don was oh so proud of me :)

I shall imagine myself here, listening to the waves & letting my body concentrate on getting healthy again! What a place, the Cliffs of Moher!

Also, I think that I need to make myself some of this Chicken & Garlic Soup. Garlic is, indeed, very good for battling illness...& keeping away vampires :) Perhaps now is the time to devour this dish, since Don isn't home to force mints on me afterward! Oh...oh, actually I bet he wouldn't mind, especially if it made me feel better :)

And so, until next time, keep yourselves healthy so that you don't end up far far deep deep under the weather like me :) You may hear from me again before long, now that I think about it. I'm under strict orders not to leave my house unless it's entirely necessary. Perhaps I shall blog from bed!

Shooting @ Frankfurt Airport: OPSEC, Ladies!

2011-03-02T19:28:00.002+01:00

Today, a man from Kosovo got onto a military bus full of Air Force servicemen sitting outside the Frankfurt, Germany International Airport & opened fire, killing two of the Airmen & wounding another two. My heart breaks for the families involved as well as each incredible military member who was on the bus. How terrifyingly scary our world is. How scary is always will be. How awful that our troops are targeted throughout the world. And so, to all my fellow Military Spouses & family members, please do your part to keep our boys safe! Operational Security is a serious thing! When it comes to ALL information regarding troop movements, keep your mouth shut! Speak in code. That's my tactic. And make it tricky. Use family birthdays, wedding anniversaries, etc. to tell family members about your soldier's travel dates. Never mention anything that a stranger could figure out. Never. And if you can't mention this info in a coded way, don't say it at all. Don't even email it! This may seem silly or extreme, but it's critical. OPSEC. Shhhh!

Let's bring all our brave men & women home safe, up to their very doorsteps. ♥

Think On These

2011-03-02T15:01:00.001+01:00

Well, I'm back from my family vacation in tropical paradise! And no, I'm not happy about it. Coming back to Germany has never been more tough, but after some sobs & sappy shopping to buy things that remind me of my family, I'm doing a bit better. Staying busy, keeping my head up, & reminding myself that Don's deployment is almost over!

Happy Wednesday, everyone! And happy March! Stay tuned for posts about my time in beautiful Hawai'i! :) Can't wait to share some of my faves with you all! ♥

I Heart Hanalei!

2011-02-19T10:08:00.001+01:00

I've been there many times. I've also been to other beautiful places in Hawaii. I've even traveled Europe & seen some of the world's most beautiful & popular sights. But there's no doubt about it: I love Hanalei, Kauai! Of all the places I've visited & explored, this "lost in paradise", full of personality, drop dead gorgeous town is certainly one of my favorite little corners of the world. When I dream of a true tropical hideaway, this is it! There is no new construction going on, no shopping malls or high-rise hotels, no McDonald's or Starbucks...just Hawaiian charm, local surf shops, art galleries & handmade jewelry stores, & delicious restaurants housed in charming buildings such as Hanalei's old Schoolhouse. This is Hawaii. The Hawaii that will not change for tourism...but will gladly greet its visitors with a friendly "Aloha!".

A view of one of Hanalei's "shopping centers" :)

Breathtaking Hanalei Bay

I'm so glad we'll be in Hanalei again tomorrow! And you can be certain that I'll have my bikini on under my beach dress so that I can lay on the beautiful Tunnels Beach or take a dip in the ocean while my eyes continue to return to the spectacular views of Bali Hai & the Na Pali Coast ♥ LOVE!

"Bali Hai is calling!"

Aloha From This Wahine!

2011-02-12T02:57:00.001+01:00

Alooooha! I'm very happy to say that I have left behind lonely Germany and snowy Colorado and have arrived in beautiful tropical Hawaii! My family and I are relaxing on the Big Island of Hawaii, enjoying every minute! We spent a good portion of the day so far snorkeling with seaturtles and tropical fish, acting like kids while we went down the waterslide, eating lunch while watching the dolphins swim in a lagoon nearby, & lounging by the pool drinking a coconut Lava Flow :) Oh, & my favorite part?! Watching the Humpback Whales jumping in the ocean! It makes me grin so big every time!!! How amazing!

It's such a blessing being here with my family! I'm so very far away from Don right now, yet I know that we are so close to the end of this deployment! Hooray! And oh, what a way to pass the time for a few weeks... Thank you, Mom & Dad!!

Hope that you all are doing really well! You hay not hear from me regularly while I'm here in paradise, but I hope that your days are filled with as much enjoyment as mine will be! Go get yourself a tropical drink, even if you're one of the poor souls stuck in a snow storm! It'll bring a bit of the islands to ya! ♥

Dreamy Pastels

2011-02-04T00:38:00.001+01:00

Just a few cozy pictures to brighten your day! Hope that you all are having a wonderful week!

A Snow Day For You?!

2011-02-01T22:59:00.000+01:00

Wow! It seems like a lot of the United States is getting slammed with snow & freezing temperatures! How are things where you are?! I talked with my Dad in Colorado a while ago & he told me that it was -14 degrees there! BRR! And my brother in Grad School in Oklahoma has the day off {& tomorrow!} due to the crazy winter weather! For once this winter, it's not Europe that's getting lost in the snow!

Wrap up in a cozy blanket!

Next to a fireplace!

With something delicious to drink!

Are you stuck at home today?! What is your favorite snow day activity?! And if you have to go out, stay safe & drive slow! :) ♥

A Grand Entrance Into February

2011-02-01T11:35:00.001+01:00

Today I get to do one of my favorite things: change the month on my calendars!! What a good feeling it is to know that another entire month is behind us! A whole month of phone calls instead of face to face talks, of meals for one instead of cooking together, of difficulty falling asleep instead of having everything I love right beside me :) Thirty-one days of that are over! Hooray! Is there any other situation in which one wants time to go by so badly than a separation from the one they love?!

And so we enter February! What a beautiful thing an entrance can be, don't you think? The first impressions, the fresh starts, the new introductions, the bridge to something new, the entryway to a different place... And over at Beautiful Portals, you can see entrances of all types! Here are a few of my favorites for the launch of a brand new month!

I hope that you all make a grand entrance into February! ♥

Right This Second...

2011-01-30T13:12:00.001+01:00

Happy Sunday! What are you all up to on this fine day?! Me, well...I'm sick :( And where do I think I caught this little bug? Oh, the doctor's office. I went in for one thing & came out with another! Figures! I should start taking Airborne before going in that place! haha So here I sit in my sweatpants & sweatshirt, my little 150 pound puppy in my lap {he has no idea how big he is!}, & the Bavarian sun shining outside while my Grandmother's wind chime gives me something beautiful to listen to :)

I’m totally over:
Being sick & having to keep Layla calm so that her tail wags as infrequently as possible. My poor girl! To all dog owners: if your dog's tail is hurt, go to the Vet right away! This has been an everlasting issue, or so it seems. Heal, tail! Heal!

I’m looking forward to:
Going to Hawaii in one week with my wonderful fabulous family!!!

I'm listening to:
My Grami's wind chime sing to me from outside. She passed away last year & this is one of her things that I was given. I ♥ it. It means so much to me! And {this is lovely} the chimes are tuned to the notes of Amazing Grace. When the wind hits it, it's as though I'm hearing the song itself. Beautiful. {Here it is! I found it! My Grami's is about 20 years old, if not more, so I wasn't sure they still made it!}

I'm about to:
Drink my tea, watch a movie, & knit on my new project!

I'm totally liking:
These beautiful bedrooms! Ah!

To see more bedroom beauties, go here, here, here, & here!

I think you might like:
These fun, pretty, & unique bags from Scout & Catalogue, influenced by "the bohemian beach culture of Mexico." Check it out!

And don't forget to enter your blog in this week's Saturday Around The World blog party! Who knows, you might just be this week's Featured Blogger!!

Saturday Around The World! Get More Followers!

2011-01-29T11:53:00.000+01:00

It's that time again! Can you believe how fast the weeks seem to be flying by? Whenever I make this Blog Party post, it always feels like I just did it the other day! But you won't find me complaining! The faster the time goes by, the sooner my sweetie will be home & I'll feel complete again! There's no substitute for him, & oh all will be well when he's back with me! ♥

But on to today's Saturday Around The World blog party! Hmm, I wonder where you'll visit today!

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Leave me a comment here letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving their comments or being a member of {Amanda & Don} will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to win, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar! Just copy the HTML code into your post's HTML sheet!

Healthy Layla + An Amazing Bathtub!

2011-01-28T17:34:00.001+01:00

Just got back from the German Vet in town, & I have good news: the infection in Layla's tail is gone! Hip hip hooray!! The Vet who saw her today was new & he told me he wanted to lift Layla onto the table so he could see her tail easier. Are you kidding me?! She's 120 pounds! I said I didn't think it was a good idea. She was already nervous. "All three of us can lift her," he said. Noooo, I don't think we should! How crazy! She'd freak out! But when they rebandaged her tail, she laid on the floor & held nice & still. What a good girl! We go back on Tuesday. The trick now is to keep her nice & calm so that her tail doesn't hit anything & bleed again. Time to heal :)

Here are some pretty pictures for you today! Happy Friday!! Any big plans for the weekend?! ♥

Isn't this bathtub amazing?! Read more about it here.

Heart Of Gold

2011-01-27T12:20:00.000+01:00

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know I'm a big fan of all things King Arthur Flour, America's oldest flour company, opened in 1790! Well, here's another delicious cookie recipe from them that I'd like to share! These Heart of Gold Cookies are made using two batches of dough {one sugar cookie, one chocolate}. Then, after baking, you use a heart shaped cookie cutter on the center of each cookie & swap the sugar cookie hearts for the chocolate ones! Voila! How easy is that?! Perfect for your Valentine ♥

So sweet! For detailed instructions, pictures, & of course the full recipe, visit King Arthur Flour!

Chocolate Cookies

* 3/4 cup unsalted butter
* 1 ounce semisweet or unsweetened chocolate
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon espresso powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/3 cup Double-Dutch Dark Cocoa or Dutch-process cocoa powder
* 2 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Vanilla Cookies

* King Arthur Guaranteed Sugar Cookies, dough prepared but not baked

Directions
1) To make the chocolate cookies: Melt the chocolate with the butter, in a microwave oven or double boiler set over a burner. Set it aside.

2) In a large bowl, mix together the sugars. Pour the chocolate/butter into the bowl, stirring to combine.

3) Add the corn syrup, vanilla, egg, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa, stirring to combine.

4) Stir in the flour; the dough will be soft and smooth. Cover it, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, until it's solidified and stiffened up.

5) While the chocolate dough is chilling, make the vanilla cookie dough.

6) Lightly grease (or line with parchment) a couple of baking sheets. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

7) Using a very slightly heaped tablespoon cookie scoop, drop six balls of vanilla cookie dough on one of the baking sheets, then six balls of chocolate cookie dough, spacing them evenly with about 2" between them. If you don't have a tablespoon cookie scoop, the dough balls should be a generous 1 1/4" in diameter. Gently flatten each ball of dough to about 2" across.

8) Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. While they're baking, prepare your next sheet of cookies for the oven.

9) Remove the cookies from the oven, and set your timer for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, use a 1 3/4" to 2" heart-shaped cutter to cut a heart out of the center of each of the cookies. Quickly transfer the hearts to cookies of the opposite flavor, gently pressing them into the heart-shaped opening in the center of each. You'll now have vanilla cookies with chocolate hearts, and chocolate cookies with vanilla hearts.

10) Change the look by putting the vanilla hearts bottom-side-up in the chocolate cookies; the bottom of the cookie will be medium-gold, rather than cream-colored. This yields more of a "heart of gold" look.

11) Repeat with the remaining cookie dough. You'll have some leftover vanilla cookie dough, enough to make about 8 cookies. Cut hearts out of the center, and flip them over so the bottom's on the top: heart of gold!

Yield: about 4 to 4 1/2 dozen cookies.

Mmm! Enjoy, sweeties! Let me know if you make them! Happy Thursday!

Always Remember, You Are...

2011-01-25T22:00:00.000+01:00

As I sit down to read & work my way through a delicious pot of tea, I still can't get my mind off missing my husband. It feels like his return is right around the corner, but we do still have a ways to go. I just found this picture & it made me smile -- if you're feeling like you need a bit of a boost, I hope this is just the trick for you too :)

Pretty Pastels

2011-01-25T17:06:00.001+01:00

It's been a long day. After a doctor's appointment for myself, I had to take Layla to the Vet again because her bandage fell off. This was trip number 4! We're getting to be pros :) But...about 30 minutes ago, Layla stood up & off fell her new bandage! I'd had it. She's now sporting a homemade paper towel & duct tape bandage, basically what they were doing for her at the Vet. And I saved Don & myself 25 euro ;)

As the snow falls outside, I'm in the mood for a warm & cozy home. Aah, how nice! Enjoy ♥

All photos from Dress, Design & Decor

Far Off Places, Adventurous Lands

2011-01-24T16:14:00.001+01:00

I usually go through phases of wanting to stay at home & wanting to go out & explore the world! Lately, with Don being gone, I've typically been in my "stay at home" phase. Traveling just isn't nearly as much fun when he isn't with me! But now that the end of the deployment is in sight, we've been throwing around lots of different ideas about where to travel when he comes home! A safari in Africa {I'm dreaming it to be Out Of Africa style!}, perhaps a cruise across the Black Sea...or even an Historian themed tour through Romania & Bulgaria! {Have you read the book The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova? Ooh, it's a quick page-turner about a modern day search for Vlad Dracula! Mwahahaha!! Okay...I admit...there were a few nights of reading it while Don was gone that I had to put it down! Too scary! But I couldn't stop! And a tour to see the places mentioned in the book would be oh so cool! Don's idea :)}


Bulgaria's Batchkovo Monastery

Romania's Sighişoara

Ooh, the sights to be seen from the deck of a Black Sea cruise!


The beautiful Chiawa Camp in Zambia, Africa!

Again at the Chiawa Camp in Zambia -- yes, please!

So many incredible places to see, so little time! And not enough money...grr. Want to donate to our travel fund?! :)

What is your favorite place you've traveled to? And if you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Would you want to see the elephants in Africa with me?!!

Weekly Featured Blogger: Consider The Lilies!

2011-01-23T14:33:00.003+01:00

Congratulations to this week's Feature Blogger, Consider The Lilies! This adorable California girl is also an Army wife, & also toughing out a deployment like I am doing! Grr, we are made of steel, girl!! :) She writes about everything from her recent visit to San Francisco to her run in with more dryer lint than you've ever seen! Yes, it's true! So whether it's an emotional post, like the one about her husband leaving for deployment, or a crazy funny one, like the dryer lint, you'll love reading Consider The Lilies! Thanks for everyone's participation in last week's Saturday Around The World! Isn't it fun?!!

Three Reasons Why You Should Read Consider The Lilies!

How cute is this couple?! SO cute! What's better than a blog about two people in love?! ♥
She takes fantastic pictures of the beautiful world around her, of her adorable fashion style, of her sweetheart, & of our incredible military! She even has a separate blog just for her photography, Chestnut Tree!
I'm such a sucker for a blog with a good layout, & this girl has got it! Fresh, clean, easy on the eyes, full of personality! Reading Consider The Lilies is so easy & entertaining that you'll find yourself reading through many many posts!

Don't forget to grab your button & tell the world that you've been featured this week! Just copy the HTML code into your sidebar & voila!! ♥

<center><a href="http://donandamanda.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-featured-blogger-consider-lilies.html"><img border="0" src="http://1.1.1.1/bmi/lh4.ggpht.com/_922Cyk-R3Eo/TKuTvSiLkcI/AAAAAAAAA9o/QiQCzs_StuU/SATWfeatured.jpg" /></a></center>

Ooh Hello, My 200 Followers!

2011-01-22T23:33:00.001+01:00

Yes! Yes! Yes, you read correctly! I have reached two hundred followers! I know this is no big news for some of you who have oodles of followers on your own blog, but to me? Oooh, eee! Two-hundred is fabulously wonderful! Thank you, my dears! I hope that you have as much fun reading what I post & looking at the pretty pictures that I share as I do posting them all! This blog is such a fun way for me to keep family & friends in the know about my crazy European Army life and for me to share the little inspirations that I find from day to day ♥

I wish I could give each & every one of you a yummy "Thank You" cupcake!

Oh yeah, oh yeah! Two hundred! Woot woot! Happy dance! But...no wagging tail for Layla :)

Happy Tail

2011-01-22T23:22:00.000+01:00

How awful it is that there can be such punishment for a happy tail-wagging dog! What I mean is...my poor Layla has what's called "Happy Tail", or a wound at the end of the tail that occurs because it's hit the wall one too many times :( Oh, she gets so excited when I come home or when we're getting ready to go on a walk. Her tail wags & wags faster than a speeding bullet! But now, I'm wishing it would slow down. I thought for sure that this would heal, but then she'd get happy again & her tail would split once more :( Off to the German Vet we went, where they bandaged her up & gave me antibiotics for her to take. Apparently, her poor sweet tail is quite swollen & infected -- this happens easily with dogs with long tails. I take her back in on Monday & I'm praying that there is significant improvement then. Or else...they may have to do surgery to remove the wound :(

My poor sweet girl can't help but be happy! A lot! And I love her for it! But for now, calmness is key. And keeping the bandage on. She chewed it off during the first night she had it, & we had to go back to the Vet. Now, my little girl has to wear the beautiful Elizabethan Collar when we go to sleep. It's too sad! But I told her it will be more sad if she looses the cute white tip at the end of her tail! :( And to top it all off, when she has her fancy collar on, my 155 pound fraidy cat, Lucius, won't dare go near her! Instead, he high-tails it to his kennel & stays there until I present Layla to him, cone-free. What a houseful I have right now!

Say a little prayer for us, will you?! ♥

And this week's Featured Blogger will be out tomorrow! Thank you all for your participation in Saturday Around The World! Isn't it fun?!!

The BEST News!

2011-01-19T17:11:00.001+01:00

I got THE BEST NEWS yesterday!! And it came from Don's Unit's most reliable source: the Commander! Let's just say that I won't have to wait as long as I thought for my sweetie to come home from deployment!!! OPSEC is the most important thing, so I'm not going to say any more than that... ♥ But I can't stop smiling! It's going to be a good year!

I Love This Man! ♥

Right This Second...

2011-01-16T13:06:00.003+01:00

I found this cute little list over at Unruly Things, a blog I like to visit once in a while for pretty photos & neat ideas -- such as this one! I thought I'd fill it in myself! A neat & easy way to let you know a bit of what's going on here with me, other than what you knew already! Feel free to add your own :)

I’m totally over:
My husband being gone
And my dogs freaking out on walks whenever we pass another dog. Holy 275 pounds of freak-out!

I’m looking forward to:
Hawaii with my wonderful wonderful family next month! We won't all be able to make it...just my parents & one of my sisters & me. My other sister lives in Florida with her family & my amazing brother is in Grad School getting his MBA! It'd be great if every one of us could be there together, but this will be fabulous nonetheless ♥

I'm listening to:
Nothing but the heavy breathing of my sleeping dogs. Ah, peaceful! Our fifty-minute walk certainly wore them out!

I'm about to:
Make lunch & eat it while watching some TV...then, knitting & getting ready for afternoon Church.

I want:
Grass in my yard
Perfectly behaved little angels for dogs {they are most of the time}
June, so that my husband would be home

** Don't forget to enter your blog in this week's Saturday Around The World blog party! **

Saturday Around The World! Get More Followers!

2011-01-15T10:44:00.002+01:00

Time for another Saturday Around The World! This is my {usually} weekly blog party where you can find new great blogs while promoting your own blog! Hopefully, but the time you are done "traveling", you'll have some new favorite reads and some new followers! So grab that cup of delicious coffee & get going! ♥ And remember...each participant is entered for a chance to be my Weekly Featured Blogger!

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Leave me a comment here letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving their comments or being a member of {Amanda & Don} will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to win, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar! Just copy the HTML code into your post's HTML sheet!

Have fun!! The traveling doesn't stop until midnight EST on Tuesday!

Sweet, Sweetheart, Snuggled Up

2011-01-14T22:13:00.002+01:00

Happy Friday night, my lovely blogger ladies! If I could grant you all three things for this evening, they would be:

1} For something sweet & yummy to treat yourself to...

2} For your sweetheart to be by your side, &

3} For a cozy place to snuggle up in!

May this all come true for you not just this Friday night, but for every day of your life! ♥

Quick Question, Ladies: I just changed my blog layout a teensie weensie bit so that the columns are a bit smaller. This makes it easier to post photos, but do you like the large photos as I posted them here? Or are they too big for easy viewing? Feedback, please! :)

Behold! The Sun!

2011-01-14T16:29:00.005+01:00

It shines! I nearly gasped as I drove home from Post & saw that the Mini's thermometer read 49 degrees! And *brace yourselves* I had to put my visor down to shield my eyes from the sun! BEAUTIFUL! The fields were green & free of snow, the sky was blue with few clouds to be seen, &...well...my yard is a mud pit. Okay, not quite that bad, but pretty much. Last year was worse, I'll say that. But whatever happens to all the grass I spend all summer planting?! I think the snow monster must eat it. Or my very large dogs must play too rough on it...

The sun didn't stay out for long, but it sure was nice to see him shining so brightly for a while :) Now, 5 PM & it's dark. I'm ready to make a quick & yummy dinner, pour myself some Riesling, & watch something good on TV while I knit a baby blanket :)

Hope you are having a wonderful Friday! Another week down! And another set of fun pictures that I hope you enjoy from my It's A Keeper Tumblr page! ♥

Oh, Peonies! You Are My Favorite!

2011-01-12T21:07:00.002+01:00

My Mom has so many peonies bushes in her yard -- white, light pink, fuschia... And every Spring when they put out dozens upon dozens of buds, I get so anxious for the day when I can go outside on a beautiful Colorado day, barefoot & armed with a pair of scissors, to cut myself a bouquet! And a few for around my parents' house too, of course :) When it was time for my wedding, I quickly chose to have peonies in my wedding bouquet, as well as my bridesmaids', & they were cut from my Mom's yard special for the occasion :)

Without a doubt, peonies are my favorite flower. No matter the color! What is your favorite flower? Is there a particular memory that you associate with it?

Cozy Spaces & Delicious Breads

2011-01-11T20:28:00.001+01:00

I seem to have a bit of a theme on my Tumblr page the last few days: cozy spaces. Maybe it's because I've been waking up around 6 AM every morning since I got back to Germany, which leaves me with visions of cozy beds & snuggly PJs each night starting around...er, 7! You know your sleep schedule still isn't quite on track when you want to curl up in bed & fall asleep that early! Anyway, here are some of my favorite places... Wouldn't they be perfect for a cat nap -- or a full night's sleep?!

And on a completely unrelated note {except that I'd love to enjoy a slice of this bread while snuggled in one of the rooms shown above!}, my fellow bakers out there should check out this recipe for Homemade Cinnamon Bread from The Italian Dish! Mmm, I can smell the sweetness now...

Your Favorite Romances, Please!

2011-01-10T19:42:00.002+01:00

A year without my husband & I'm craving wonderful romances. The movie genre, that is. Netflix gives me such a great selection to choose from, but the problem is...I've run out of ideas! Do help me out. What are some of your very favorite romantic movies? Help this lonely wife add to her Netflix Queue!

{The wonderful Pride & Prejudice, Roman Holiday & Australia. Some of my favorite romances!}

Next Day Update: Thank you all SO MUCH for your wonderful wonderful suggestions! My Netflix Queue is looking oh so romantic now, thanks to all of you sweeties! I can't wait to see the movies I haven't seen before! I'll be sure to post about my favorites :)

And on a nerdy note... I've had a bit of a commenting snafu the last few days. As you've probably noticed, I use IntenseDebate for my comments here on the blog & not the standard Blogger commenting form. {I like this because it allows Comment Luv, which shows your latest post title whenever you comment! So awesome!} However, the last few posts have, for whatever reason, decided to revert back & forth between the two! So half the comments are with Blogger & the other half with IntenseDebate. Basically, if you don't see your comment here, have no fear! I did receive it {& love it!}, but I haven't figured out how to show both comment types at once. I think I've fixed the problem, though, so all future comments will be with IntenseDebate. Phew! ♥

Click! -- My Weekend In Photos

2011-01-10T09:06:00.000+01:00

So, as you look at these pictures, keep in mind three things: 1} My husband is gone & he's the one I most like to spend all my time with!, 2} Brr, it's cold outside! So being cozy & warm in my house is my preference!, & 3} I just got back to Germany very late last week, so I've been staying in & getting over my jet-lag! Of course, with the exception of Church & going to the Commissary to re-stock my kitchen! And with that, we shall carry on. Here's what I've been up to, or been looking like!

Lots of lounging, napping, & drinking yummy tea! Isn't it beautiful?! One of my Christmas presents from Don was a very pretty glass teapot with a collection of flowering green teas! I'm definitely going to save some so that we can share a teapot or two when he is home! He sure knows what I like ♥

Sweetness!

2011-01-10T08:32:00.002+01:00

This morning seems to have the makings of a nice day. I'm sitting here with a plate of scrambled eggs with cheese & one of my favorite Prague coffee mugs full of wake-me-up goodness. The dogs followed me downstairs & then promptly went back to sleep, close to me. The sun is starting to come up outside & I can even hear a bird chirp once in a while! It's a miracle that the snow has been melting the past few days, & I could just jump for joy at the sight of clear roads & ice-free sidewalks! Hooray!

And on top of that, I received a blog award this morning from Sara @ Le Petit Village! How sweet! Irresistibly Sweet, actually! Thank you so much, dear! I'm adding it to my awards page promptly! And to my list of reasons why this morning has been good :)

And to carry on the sweetness that this award has brought to me, I now pass it on to the following wonderful blog owner:

Chantal @ A Blog A Day While You're Away: You can guess what Chantal & I have in common! Except she lives in sunny Hawaii while I'm here in snowy Germany! But we're both {im}patiently awaiting our husbands' return this year! You're doing great, girlie!

On top of all that, today starts month 8 of this deployment. MONTH EIGHT! The thought of being this far along seemed so unattainable when we were first beginning this unhappy 12 months apart. But now here we are! And although the end seems an eternity away, I know we'll be there before we know it, looking back on the year & wondering how quickly time went by. Or at least I hope that's how it will be!

2011: The Year I've Been Waiting For!

2011-01-08T08:29:00.000+01:00

Finally, the year has come when my sweetie & I will be reunited! ...Does that sound like a tag line for a movie or what?! But it's true! Now we will no longer have to say, "We'll be back together next year." Instead, it's "See you this year!!" And tomorrow is the 7 month mark of this deployment! We're over halfway done, baby! Hooray for 2011!!

Here's to 2011 & all the wonderful things it has in store for each of us! What are you most looking forward to this year?! ♥

Still In The Christmas Spirit!

2011-01-04T09:02:00.000+01:00

I just took this picture of a few ornaments on our family Christmas tree... Christmas may be over...maybe it was even last year! But I'm still in the Spirit of the Season! How about you all? My family usually puts our tree up a few days before Christmas & leaves it up into the New Year! I'm so glad we don't take everything down the day after Christmas...there's still plenty of time to enjoy the festivities & the joy of the holidays!

I'm scheduled to fly back to the land of snow & ice {a..k.a Germany} on Wednesday & I am not ready! Brrr! I don't want to leave my family & I certainly don't want to freeze my keester off anymore in Deutschland! Eek! But I do miss my ponies :)

Psst -- Ignore the date on the picture! Must fix that in the camera settings!

Goodbye, Germany!

2010-12-30T18:03:00.000+01:00

Tschuss, Deutschland! Hello, America! I'm back in Colorado with my wonderful family & the beautiful Rocky Mountains! Well...I've actually been back for about a week, but I've been too caught up in the festivities to blog :) We had a wonderful Christmas here, & I'll definitely write about it more later! For now, my sister & I are about to go through my late Grami's knitting needles & patterns together -- a task that might get teary, but is really going to make my heart warm!

I hope you all are having a cozy & heartwarming day yourselves! Make these last few days of 2010 full of beautiful memories!

Featured Blogger of the Week: Cultura Femenina

2010-12-24T00:24:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to Cultura Femenina for being this week's randomly chosen participant of Saturday Around The World! I'm so glad you came over to my blog party, girl, so that we could all be introduced to your wonderful blog! And although it's all in Spanish & I can only pick out little bits & pieces of what your posts say {I'm a bit rusty!}, I spent a while looking at your pictures! Beautiful! I'm your newest follower! ♥

Don't forget to grab your button & tell the world that you've been featured this week! Just copy the HTML code into your sidebar & voila!! ♥

Today In Pics -- No More Snow!

2010-12-19T22:56:00.000+01:00

For Christmas, I'd like no more snow, please. And also, while I'm at it, a sweet camera that takes crystal clear pictures! AND, most of all, for my husband to miraculously be able to come home 6 months early...that would mean he'd be here already ;)

Insomnia - Caught My Eye

2010-12-19T01:09:00.000+01:00

Can't sleep. Even took a bubble bath & listened to some of my favorite piano music, but still no good. I must be missing someone... Do you ever feel so lonely but only one certain person could take that lonliness away? You could be in a crowded room & still...lonely. But if they were beside you, holding your hand...ah, the world would be perfect again ♥

Anyway, I'm officially having too much fun with my new Tumblr page! Here are some great pictures I've found lately! I really like how easy peasy it is to import pics into Tumblr & have them look perfect in your layout! Oooh, I wish it were that easy in Blogger!

Off I go to pour a little Port to sip on :) We bought it in Portugal {but of course!} & it's so delicious! Then, for some reading & hopefully sleep soon after that. My doggies have been dreaming for hours already ♥

Winter With Winnie -- Loving Tumblr!

2010-12-18T15:22:00.000+01:00

There is something about this charming Winnie the Pooh sketch that makes all my snow outside seem cozy instead of aggravating. Leave it to this clever little bear to put the right spin on things for us :) I hope that you all are enjoying your weekend with family & friends, getting ready for Christmas & wrapping presents! I just looked at the calendar -- Christmas is in one week!

I put this on my new Tumblr page, It's A Keeper! I'm having too much fun with all the pretty pictures!

Don't forget to participate in this week's Saturday Around The World blog party! So many of you have already found great new blogs to read AND new followers for your own blog! Hooray! Success!

You Want More Followers, Right?! :)

2010-12-17T22:18:00.002+01:00

Time to find some great new blogs & to get yourself some new readers for your own blog! It's Saturday Around The World time again! Ready to par-tay?! Get cozy & warm, snuggle up in a comfy chair, sip on some chai {that sounds good to me!} & mingle!

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Leave me a comment here letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving their comments or being a member of {Amanda & Don} will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to win, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar! Just copy the HTML code into your post's HTML sheet!

Oh! And I have been saving so many pictures onto my laptop that I decided I'd better start a Tumblr page! Head on over if you want to see what's been catching my eye! ♥

In A Winter Fairytale

2010-12-17T16:42:00.000+01:00

Except there's too much snow! Back at home in Colorado, the sun comes out after a snowstorm & melts it all away, leaving beautiful sunny days with clear roads! Aaah, the thought! But here in Deutschland, we never see Mr. Sun. He goes into hiding for the season & our snow, which falls down on us almost daily, piles up & leaves us with mountains of ice in our yards & on our streets. Lucius, my little social bug, has realized he can climb up & over the snow pile {my yard is apparently the community snow bin} to go visit any friends that happen to be out at the time. Needless to say, Lucius now gets taken out on a leash. I'm ready for Spring!

Thankfully, my doggies are pretty lazy & like to nap all day! Aren't the cute?! :) I loved watching them play in the snow in the yard before the pile was too big. They love it! I'm dreaming of an American home with a yard in the back of the house & a tall fence for privacy!

My Mom flew back to beautiful Colorado yesterday, & I'll be following her here before long to go home for Christmas! Can you believe it's so soon?! We had such a wonderful time together, staying in where it's warm when the snow was madly falling & then going out to explore when the weather allowed for it!

Here's a picture of me at the Rothenburg Christkindlmarkt, & I'll post more soon! Happy Holidays from my very snowy winter wonderland in Germany! ♥ Pray that this snow somehow melts for me, would ya?! :)

Living In A Gingerbread House

2010-12-12T23:59:00.000+01:00

Wouldn't this little home be just right for the Christmas Season?! I think that it looks like a real life Gingerbread House! Oh, dreams of holly & tinsel & gingerbread men. After a second trip to a Christkindlmarkt with my Mom {I'll post pics soon!}, I'm certainly feeling jolly & festive! Are you?! Have you decorated your home yet & done all your Christmas shopping? I've been so good this year... I only have one person left to buy presents for ♥

These cheery photos from J'adore

BEAT NAVY!!

2010-12-11T21:57:00.001+01:00

Touchdown ARMY! BEAT NAVY! Anyone else watching this year's Army Navy game from Philadelphia? If you are, you'd better be cheering for my West Point cadets! Oh, I'm so proud!

While Don was at West Point, I joined him in Philly twice to go to the game & it was such an experience! I'll remember those games for the rest of my life, being sneaked into the Cadet section & cheering on Army right by my sweetie's side!

This game is for my incredible husband, all those who serve with him, & all his amazing friends who were with him at West Point! I love you all, especially you, Don! :) ♥ GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!

The Nurnberg Christkindlmarkt!

2010-12-11T13:43:00.000+01:00

You wouldn't believe it, but we have sunshine & blue sky here today! Holy moly, it's been a while since I've had to squint when I've gone outdoors, let alone not totally bundle up & freeze! Hooray! Mom & I are getting ready to go to the Christkindlmarkt in Rothenburg, but while I wait for her, here are a few pictures from our visit to Nurnberg's Christkindlmarkt a few days ago. It really is such a magical time of year to be here in Germany!

We're Halfway Done With Deployment!

2010-12-10T01:06:00.001+01:00

We've done it! Six months down! We're halfway to the finish line, the end of this separation, the incredible reunion that will mark the completion of this deployment! Hallelujah!!! Afghanistan, you're going to have to give my husband back very soon :)

The time has actually gone by fairly quickly, looking back on it. The days are oh so slow & the nights can be even longer, but 182.62 of the 365 days are OVER! {Not that I'm counting or anything....oops, you know that isn't true!} Wahoo!!! Let's get this thing taken care of, baby, so we can be back together where we belong! You're incredible, but I want you home now, please! ♥

Here's to the time flying by & a safe & speedy return this Spring! I'm so proud of my sweetie for what he does on a daily basis! Sometimes I get so used to it all, but then I stop & think, "My husband is protecting our country every day!" I'm one very proud wife ♥

GOD BLESS AMERICA!! ♥

Whisk Me Away!

2010-12-07T00:26:00.001+01:00

You wouldn't believe the snow we've been getting here in good old Bavaria. Snow, snow, & WAY more snow. It hasn't stopped for over 30 hours & boy is it piling up! I've shoveled three times today, for at least an hour each, & my work is covered up before I know it! Needless to say, Mom & I haven't been to any of the Christkindlmarkts yet. Boo!

As I was shoveling tonight, one of my American neighbors asked our German neighbor when the snow was going to stop! Our German neighbor laughed & said, "I think...never!" How right he is.

This isn't a photo I took... I found it here & it was taken in Sweden... But this is pretty much what it looks like outside my window! I think I swept a foot of snow off my Mini today -- & that was just today's accumulation! It is beautiful though...

But wouldn't it be fun to be here?! I bet this Victorian beauty has some cozy reading nooks & window seats, perfect with a good book, snuggly dogs, some of these chocolate chip scones & a delicious drink! And look...no snow to shovel!

And while I'm dreaming, I'd also like to have my husband home for good, please ♥

Mom Is Here! Crystal, Knitting, Cookies & More!

2010-12-04T09:47:00.000+01:00

Hello, all! Sorry you haven't heard a peep out of me in a few days! I've been having fun with my Mom! Hooray for family! The night she got in, we had quite the snow storm. Her flight from Frankfurt was two hours late, & the others for the day were all canceled! Eek! What is normally a 35 minute drive back home turned into a two hour drive! Needless to say, I've been shoveling snow & we both bundle up when we leave the house. But it sure is pretty in this German winter wonderland!

We spent time yesterday shopping at the nearby Nachtmann Crystal Warehouse & Outlets {I got pieces made for Vera Wang, Tiffany & Co., Waterford...amazing!}

I made twelve dozen chocolate chip cookies {from scratch, of course!} to send to Don & his Company in Afghanistan! There were 144 dozen total that were made! How fantastic!

We ate dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant...that is run by Germans. What a world we live in!

And for all my fellow knitters out there, we found The Irish Hiking Scarf. I think we'll go get supplies to make this today. Isn't it beautiful?!

Hope you all have been having a productive & lovely week! Can you believe it's December?!!

Photos from TinyWhiteDaisies & Fath, Hope & Love

No Saturday Around The World this week. I still need to do my write-up for last week's Featured Blogger! Was it you?!! :) Come back to find out! And thanks for joining in on the fun!

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone! ♥ What do you have planned to make you smile?!

Bad Paperback? Turn It Into A Wreath!

2010-11-29T22:48:00.000+01:00

I am absolutely loving this DIY project from Living With Lindsay! I had to post it for you all right away :) How cute is this wreath made from the pages of a paperback?! I've never seen anything like it! And if you're a bookworm library lover like me, it will speak to you too!

You could go buy a cheap novel that you have no desire to read...or if you've started a book that turned out to be awful {I know that's happened to me!}, turn it into something pretty instead of throwing that filth into the trash! I can see this wreath next to a big cozy reading chair. Oooh, I'm getting crafty in my old age. Did you know I'll be 25 tomorrow?! Such an old woman...

Now, where's the German version of Hobby Lobby when I need it?! ♥

I've Got Christmas Market Fev-ah!

2010-11-29T19:15:00.000+01:00

Christmas is right around the corner! Can you believe it? And all of Germany is under the magical spell of the Christkindlmarkts! {Or Christmas Markets to us English speaking folk!} This is one of my favorite times of year to be here in Deutschland. The snow dusts the trees as though God above dusted them all with powdered sugar! The little German houses are quaintly decorated with strands of white lights & colored stars. Every town is bright & cheery with stores' front windows decked out in Holiday decor. There are no giant blow-up snow globes here. No contests to see who's house can shine the brightest. No flashing lights or obnoxious lawn displays. Here, Christmas is peaceful. Unless, of course, you're at the busy & popular Christkindlmarkts :) My Mom is coming out soon especially to see these one-of-a-kind gatherings! And to see me, too...of course!

The Nürnberg Christkindlmarkt is Germany's oldest, dating back over 500 years. Here, like at the other markets, you can grab a hot cup of delicious Glühwein {glue-vine ... click the link for recipes!} before strolling down the many aisles of stalls that sell everything from traditional German Christmas treats to my favorites, the paper star lanterns! Nürnberg was the only Christmas Market I made it to last year, & although it was absolutely fantastic, I can't wait to do more exploring this year! And with my Mom, too! Ooo eee, I'm so excited!

Also on my list of Christkindlmarkts to visit with my Mom are...

{ Munich }

{ Rothenberg }

{ Regensburg }

{ These pretty pretty photos are from Flickr.Com, Germany Christmas Markets.Org, CodyDuncan {his photos are a-mazing!}, & some others I can't remember...Oops!}

Deployment Shleployment

2010-11-28T21:05:00.000+01:00

Ugh, do we really have 6 months of this deployment left? It feels like it's been an eternity since Don was here with me. And today was one of those days where everything seemed to make me teary. Every song that came onto my iPod was one that reminded me of him in some way, so I was always pushing the "next" button. Church...well, Church is always a place where I seem to miss him a lot. And then when he calls, it's like I don't know what to say except, "I miss you so much! I love you more than anything!" In the grand scheme of things, that's much more important than telling him about grocery shopping or funny things the dogs did. But oh goodness, I'm so lonely for him.

Thankfully, my Mom will be here in two days!! Tomorrow, breakfast with a friend & tidying up the house. Tuesday is my 25th Birthday, but I'm going to pretend it's not. No fun being without loved ones on your birthday! Plus, we celebrated quite nicely while I was home, so I already had my birthday! Then Wednesday, Mom gets here & we'll have so much fun visiting the Christmas Markets & doing crystal shopping!

The time will pass. It has been passing. I just wish it would pass faster & bring my baby home to me.

{ These cheery happy photos courtesy of TinyWhiteDaisies & La Belle Vie }

Back to my knitting project & my TV show. Oh, & this post has been interrupted many times because Lushie keeps dropping a toy in my lap! I suppose I can't be too lonely, can I? :)

Somebody will always be keeping me company, even if their entire head blocks the laptop screen while I'm trying to write :)

Easy Peasy Paper Star Ornaments!

2010-11-27T18:30:00.000+01:00

Is it as cold at your house as it is here at mine? Need a little project to keep you busy indoors? Check this one out! I made these beautiful paper stars today & they really add Christmas spirit to my living room windows for all the neighborhood to see! Try them for yourself -- they're so easy!

Share Your Blog & Get Featured! Saturday Around The World

2010-11-27T09:23:00.001+01:00

It's that time again! Holy moly, I can't believe it's been a week already! Is it really Saturday? ...Yep, my calendar says so! I wish my calendar said it was June, but I'll take another week closer.

You know how this works! Enter your blog in the par-tay, visit other participants & leave them a comment, come back here to post your progress & voila, you'll be entered to be this week's Featured Blogger! Post about Saturday Around The World on your blog for an extra entry to win ;) So grab some hot chocolate & see how far away you can go in the blog world! ♥ Perhaps you'll see something as charming as this Christmas scene from Gruyere, Switzerland! Oh, Christmas is in the air!

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Leave me a comment here letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving their comments or being a member of {Amanda & Don} will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to win, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar! Just copy the HTML code into your post's HTML sheet!

You have until Tuesday the 30th {my Birthday!} at midnight, so get travelin'!

Does Your Dog Watch TV?!

2010-11-26T22:07:00.001+01:00

Layla, my sweet Dane girl, couldn't take her eyes off the TV tonight while I watched The National Dog Show! It was so cute! And when the commercials came on, she'd look over to me or to Lucius... But her attention immediately went back to the dogs when the show returned! At one point, she even walked up to the TV to get a closer look!

From the big dogs...

To the little dogs...

She was hooked!

Have you ever caught your dog watching TV? I wonder if they really know what they're paying attention to! Either way, it sure was cute watching Layla watch TV! Don said I should record the Dog Show next time & play it for her once in a while ;)

Happy Friday, Everyone!! Have a lovely weekend! ♥

Weekly Featured Blogger: Mariel's Window!

2010-11-26T13:52:00.004+01:00

We have a truly lovely featured blogger this week! Congratulations to Mariel & her beautiful blog, Mariel's Window, for being the randomly chosen winner! I love this time of the week because I always have so much fun digging a little deeper into the blogs written by all of you, my fabulous readers! Plus, it gives me a chance to say thank you & hopefully get you some new readers of your own! So, without further ado....

My Five Reasons Why You Should Be Reading This Blog!
1. Mariel posts the most beautiful photos that will really touch your heart, from romantic elopement moments to sentiments we can all relate to to her weekly Wedding Wednesday beauties!

2. Mariel is a pre-med student in the Midwest & she's in a long distance relationship with her sweetheart. So many of us can relate to the distance! And yet she somehow finds the time to keep up with her blog, giving us a peek through her window & into her life!

3. "Mariel's Ateliers" is a new shop opening soon that sells all sorts of fun gifts!

4. If you read Mariel's blog frequently enough, she may let you in on a fun secret or two ;) I'm intrigued by the one I read!

5. Whether she's filling you in on dorm life, her latest Chemistry tests, or her favorite quotes & photos, Mariel shares her lovely life with her readers in a way that will have you coming back to see what she posts next!

I've made a cute button for all my Featured Bloggers, so Mariel dear, feel free to look at it & smile or post it on your blog to link back here to my post about you! You earned it! Just copy the HTML code below & paste it into a new Blogger HTML Gadget for your sidebar! And voila! ♥

Happy Thanksgiving! // Apart, But Still So Thankful

2010-11-25T13:45:00.001+01:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope that your houses are filled with loved ones & your kitchens full of your favorite holiday foods!

As for me, I may be apart from my sweetie today & my wonderful family as well, but that doesn't mean my heart isn't full of thanks for all God has blessed me with this year! Even when the most treasured things in life aren't right beside you, there is still oh so much to be thankful for!

Don's safety while he's been deployed,

My family's health & happiness,

Our cozy home & our cute little Mini Cooper,

Layla & Lucius, our two lovable Danes who keep me company,

& all the little things that make me smile, from new shoes to scented candles to delicious food!

Even the little things are blessings...the fact that we have the money to buy them & not just what we need.

Photos From Domino Magazine, Martha Stewart Magazine, & Southern Living Magazine

More than anything, I wish Don was here with me & that we were with our families today to eat a huge Thanksgiving dinner, but God's blessings are everywhere I look! And next year, I'll be with the ones I love for this delicious holiday! :)

I'm going to miss my Mom's apple dumplings today! Mmm! What are your favorite Thanksgiving foods & traditions?! Does your family watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade? Football games? Oh, have a blessed day! ♥

Lovely Laundry Rooms // I'm Getting A New Washer!

2010-11-24T14:38:00.001+01:00

Remember my washing machine that went up in smoke the other day? Well, the service man for our Government-leased homes {or Hausmeister in German} came by today to take a look at it. Turns out it's over nine years old! No wonder it crashed! The Hausmeister wrote something in German in big blue letters on the front of the machine & said to me, "We will bring you a new one." Wahoo! A new washing machine! It's at times like this when I'm happy to be taken care of by the government. Smoking washing machine = new one free of charge! And as I told the Hausmeister, at least my clothes were alright & the smoke didn't turn to fire!

I bet laundry rooms are one of the most overlooked when it comes to decorating, but oh how cute they can be with just a little imagination & cute coloring! Mine? Think pink!! I'll have to post a picture sometime. But here are "loads" of "fresh" ideas for you to look over ;)

Images From WeHeartIt.Com, Domino Magazine, Better Homes, & Country Living

Locked Myself Out. Smoking Washing Machine, What's Next?!

2010-11-23T20:33:00.002+01:00

Sorry I didn't write yesterday, I was dealing with a few strange things: I locked myself out of my house Sunday night, & then while doing laundry yesterday, my washing machine started smoking & the room filled with its stinkiness! What a bizarre 24 hours! But, with the help of a lovely neighbor friend, I got back into the house & consoled my worried dogs who thought someone had been trying to break in! And tomorrow, the Hausmeister will be here to look at my stinky washing machine. My fingers are crossed that the craziness is all behind me now. I just need to find a good place outside to hide a spare key . . . I like this guy!

I might be doing laundry the old fashioned way for a while. But...let's hope my machine gets fixed {or replaced!} quickly!

Have any of you ever locked yourself out before? Ooh, it's awful. Do you hide a key now?!

And I'm curious to know if your washing machine has ever gone up in smoke... Mine leaked too! It's now sitting in my pretty pink laundry room, unplugged & away from the wall. And still stinky. Yuck!

This week's Saturday Around The World blog party ends tonight, so make sure you've entered for a chance to be this week's Featured Blogger! Wahoo!

And I haven't forgotten that I promised to tell you about my awesome shopping experience from last Saturday! I'll post it tomorrow, pending that nothing explodes or floods in my house :) Think...crystal factory!

You Should "Go The Distance"!

2010-11-21T10:12:00.001+01:00

Feel like seeing a good movie this weekend? I know everyone is talking about the new Harry Potter movie, but that's not really my thing. If you're like me, then here's a suggestion for a different movie: go see Going The Distance! Okay, seeing as I just Googled this movie & read that it came out in the States in early September, well...maybe I should suggest that you go & rent this movie. Gah, I'm so behind the times over here!

A friend of mine went with me to see this last night, & we had such a great time! We didn't expect it to be nearly as good as it was! It was the perfect Saturday night out movie for two girlies without their husbands. Oh, we're Going The Distance alright!

I think this movie is especially entertaining for anyone who has had to do the long distance thing, or who is doing the long distance thing! There are a lot of us out there! *raising my hand, raising my hand!* This isn't your typical mushy gushy girlie rom-com. Instead, it's a much more realistic romance, with many added touches of hysterical laughter along the way! I think I had already laughed a dozen times by minute five!

Did you know that Drew Barrymore & Jason Long used to be together?! Off screen! ....You did? Man, I am behind the times!! Well, they sure are good together on camera!

Psst - Guess where else I went yesterday? You'll have to check back tomorrow to find out!

And also, a big thank you to all of you who have been participating in this week's Saturday Around The World blog party! It's open until Tuesday at Midnight Eastern Time, so bring it on! I'm loving your comments!!! I hope you're finding new favorites & new followers!

Do You Want More Followers?! Saturday Around The World

2010-11-20T07:46:00.000+01:00

After almost a month of my being away from the computer, I'm back & so is Saturday Around The World! Can you blame me for focusing my attention elsewhere while Don was home for R&R & while I was home in the States with my family?! Not a bit, I bet! :) So now, Germany, France, Ireland, Japan, Italy, & all across the beautiful United States, it's time to bring your blog to my weekly Saturday Around The World blog party! So grab a yummy drink & join in! Discover new great reads, get the word out about your fantastic blog, & get yourself some new followers! Wahoo! And on top of all that goodness, if you participate completely, you'll be entered for a chance to be my weekly featured blog!

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Return to this post & leave a comment letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving their comments or without being a member of {Amanda & Don} will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} For an extra chance to be my weekly featured blog, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link to that post in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar!

I know I've been bad about this, buuut... Each week, I will randomly pick one of the participants & feature them in a post! I can't wait to spread the news about all of your great blogs!

Candlelight Night

2010-11-19T21:45:00.000+01:00

Don't you just love the flickering light of candles in the evening? So relaxing & sweet! While I was home in the States, my Mom introduced my to "flameless" candles, which operate using LED lights but produce a realistic flicker -- & the candles are actually made of wax, & scented too! {Target had so many!} How fun! A nice alternative to buying new candles each month...just pop in new batteries! Now, I know this sounds a bit tacky, but you should see them for yourself! And my favorite part: you can set the candles on a timer so that they will come on at the same time every day! Tonight at 6 PM, one by one my candles came on! Lovely...

These candles are great, too, because you don't have to worry about ruining any decorations placed around the candles, such as...Christmas ornaments! How cute to fill a hurricane or large candle vase with pretty little things without having to fear that they'll be ruined by the heat or wax! ...I'm too excited :)

I'll never stop using real candles, of course, but I've put my flameless timer candles in hard to reach places, & on they go on their own! Mah-velous!

Another Quiet Morning

2010-11-19T08:01:00.000+01:00

I did better with my sleeping last night! Didn't wake up until 5:45, & that really was an improvement! Can't wait to get rid of this jet lag! It's no fun waking up before the sun, being unable to go back to sleep, & wandering downstairs to sit in a quiet house! Layla & Lucius aren't even awake yet! But I'll get back into the groove of things before long :)

Time to make my coffee & get myself ready for the day! I need to restock the kitchen & do some cleaning, not to mention take care of all my plants that died while I was gone! Sad face.... Oh well, I know that I have a nap waiting for me this afternoon & a sweet phone call from my hunny tonight! ♥ We're almost halfway through this wretched deployment! {I'm so proud of him, but I am awfully sick & tired of being apart! Grr.}

Back in Germany, Hello Jet Lag!

2010-11-18T04:21:00.000+01:00

I'm back in Deutschland! And after passing out last night around 7:30, I've now been wide awake since 3 AM! Uuuggghhh, jet lag. Do I get up this early or try to go back to sleep?!

My flights were easy & I even was able to sleep for four hours on the long one! This was a big deal for little old me who usually can't catch even a wink of sleep on a plane!

The excitement started when I hopped in our old Beamer to go pick up Layla & Lucius. It was dead as a doornail after not being driven for almost two weeks while sitting out in the bitter cold. I tried to jump it, but the thing is goooone! Needless to say, I hopped into the Mini {which needed a fill up on gas} & went to get the dogs. You should have seen me in there with my two Great Danes! Goodness gracious.

I had such an awesome time at home with my family! If it weren't for the dogs, I'd have no reason to come back here. I would have stayed until May! But it would cost an arm & a leg to ship them to the States...or to board them here for that long! So back to Germany for me, missing my family & my sweetheart.

The key is to stay busy. Like I've been doing for the past 5 1/2 months. And I'll be back in Colorado in a month for Christmas!!!!!!!! It's so nice to have things on the calendar :)

I'll be posting regularly again now! Thanks to all of you for your patience! I hope you've been doing GREAT! ♥

I'm Wearin All My Favorite Brands, Brands, Brands, Brands

2010-11-10T07:16:00.002+01:00

I'm proud to say that I'm pretty sure this song made it big on German radio well before it hit the States. We're so advanced over there ;) This song makes me dance in my car like I'm in the coolest party ever! Yet...I'm usually by myself. That's normal, right?! :)

I gotta share this hilarious comment someone left on the video's YouTube page:

In my history class we were talking about the transcontinental railroad and my teacher asked who invented Dynamite and I said Taio Cruz and I got in trouble rofl --eth1128

Hope you're in the party spirit, girlies!!! ♥

Mountain Views, Endless Shopping, Home Sweet Home

2010-11-09T17:15:00.000+01:00

My Mom & I went to Target the other day & I was very unintentionally cracking her up. "Look at all these candles! Oh my goodness, they have a lot of picture frames! You guys have so many different flavors of Coffee Mate!" I'm back in the land of shopping & endless choices & possibilities! No more of this "everything closes at 5 or 6 PM" business. No more of this, "If they don't carry it at the PX, I'm not exactly sure where I can find it next" news. My goodness, there are so many shops. And restaurants. And I'm loving it!

But more than anything, I'm loving being at home. No matter where I am in the world, I will always be missing my Don & thinking of him, praying for him, wishing he was already back home. But it's as though all my other worries have been left behind in Germany. I haven't even been having to sleep alone at night! It's it wonderful having sisters?! :)

Sorry that I've been off my regular blogging schedule. My Saturdays Around The World & their follow-up Featured Blogger of the Week posts have been neglected, but I assure you that they will start up again. Have no fear!

My Mom even put this beautiful new bedding in my room for me! Garnet Hill always has pretty bedding. Love it!!

And look at these Hunter Rain Boots & Liners that I found at Nordstrom! I've been wanting something like this so that when I walk my dogs & their little muddy paws step on my feet, I can just hose of my shoes to make them all clean again! So cute! Black with the zebra liner would be great, don't you think?!

Don has been back for about a week & a half already. The time does go by. And the prayers do give me Peace! ♥

Time to get dressed, make a mani & pedi appointment for my Mom, sister & me, & then to see what the rest of the day holds! I hope that you all are enjoying yourselves this week! Thank you so much for all of your sweet sweet comments & words of encouragement! XO!

Surprise! I'm In The USA! Hello, My Lovely Family!

2010-11-05T22:35:00.000+01:00

I'm writing this from my parents' gorgeous home overlooking the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado! Oooh, what a beautiful sight & what a fabulous feeling to be home with my family! I flew in yesterday {what a long flight that was! Lots of time for knitting!} & felt my heart flutter as I passed under the "Welcome To The United States" sign at DIA! I can't believe it's been almost a year since I've been back in America! After going through security, out the doors I went & there was my lovely family, waiting for me! I won't lie, I got teary just seeing them! I didn't have to be tough anymore, I was home!! Home sweet home!

I'm feeling pretty much no jetlag, which is fantastic! Although I woke up bright & early with a tummy saying "I'm supposed to have had lunch by now!" Well, time for eating at my favorite restaurants, doing some shopping, buying goodies to send to Don, & spending lots of time with the ones I love! I'd like to be with Don most of all, but when that isn't possible, family is definitely second best! I love them!

And when I came into the house, a giant smile covered my face as I saw a vase of a dozen beautiful red roses waiting for me. From Don. With the sweetest note ♥ I love you, sweetheart! I'm such a lucky girl to have you for my husband!! I'm still melting :)

Image from Elephant Journal

Launch Yourself On Every Wave

2010-11-03T00:47:00.000+01:00

I don't like going to bed alone at night, & I don't like waking up in the morning knowing I have a full day ahead of me -- one little day in 6 months worth of days ahead of me until Don is home for good. Talk about overwhelming! Needless to say, I've been staying up late & sleeping in. It's 12:33 AM. Enough said.

I really like this quote. Live in the present. I need to remember that as much as I want to be able to snap my fingers & have this deployment behind me, there will be wonderful things that will happen to me in the meantime. I shouldn't wish these 6 months away, even though I want to. Launch yourself on every wave. Opportunities. Possibilities. Challenges. I need to grab hold of these things in order to help the time go by and to give me something to be proud of later on! Find eternity in each moment... No need to explain what this brings to mind. Every moment is precious! ♥

Hello, November!

2010-11-01T21:52:00.001+01:00

Oh, how I love turning the page on my calendar, putting another month behind me! Wahoo! November has always been one of my favorite months. For one thing, it's my birthday month {goodness, I'll be 25 this year! AH!}, plus there is Thanksgiving, the beginning of the college basketball season, & the hint of Christmas right around the corner! What do you love about this time of year?!

I slept in this morning, having a difficult time getting out of bed alone. But finally, up I got & off I went to Post to mail a box to Don {that always makes me feel better!} & to pick up a box from Jo-Ann Fabrics full of yarn for a blanket I'm going to knit for Don! It's going to take me a looooong time, but it's going to be awesome! Although I'm in the middle of another project right now, I couldn't help but start this one tonight :)

I'm missing Don like crazy. I'm not sure what to do during the day, but then I remind myself: one day at a time. I can't think about the fact that I'm going to miss him terribly for the next 6 or 7 months. Instead, I have to focus on today, on staying busy, on trusting God & giving Him my worries in prayer. Thank goodness for His Peace!

My randomly chosen images for this post are from I Like It Preppy, La Belle Vie, & We Heart It

That last GORGEOUS photo is of the incredible Plaza De Espana in Seville, Spain where Don & I were just over a week ago. *sigh* Isn't it breathtaking?! My photos didn't turn out quite as perfect as this, but oh, what a place!

Don't forget to enter your blog in my new Saturday Around The World listing for a chance to be featured here on {Amanda & Don}! You can enter until Tuesday @ midnight EST. I love reading your comments & seeing your numbers grow!

Boo! Scare Me Straight To May! A German Halloween...

2010-10-31T23:33:00.003+01:00

Boo! Happy Halloween! Hmm, if I could have one wish for this holiday, it would be for someone to scare me straight to the day when Don will be home from this deployment for good! That's totally possible, right? Totally possible :) I hope that you all are out gathering delicious candy while wearing cutesy costumes right now! What did you dress up as this year? I was myself. Here in Germany, the festivities {as far as I'm concerned} have ended, the lights are out, the doors locked & my rouladens closed up. Wait, they've been that way pretty much all night! Why?

Church for me is at 3:30 each Sunday {we have to share the Post Chapel!}, & tonight we had dinner afterward. I didn't get home until later, so I didn't bother handing out candy this year. Plus, since I live in a German neighborhood with only a handful of other Americans, almost all of our Trick-Or-Treaters aren't American. Let's just say that they take the whole "trick or treat" saying seriously. Vandalism has been known to happen. When I didn't open the door once tonight, I heard a bit of commotion from the crowd of German teenagers outside. Let's hope my front porch looks the same in the morning.

So inside I stayed, watching Mad Men, knitting, snuggling with my dogs, & all the while thinking of my sweetheart who is still en route to his final destination & tired from the lack of a quiet place to sleep. Oh, I want him home again.

I'm ready for that scare now! Is this deployment over? BOO!

Don't forget to enter your blog in my new Saturday Around The World listing for a chance to be featured here on {Amanda & Don}! You can enter until Tuesday @ midnight EST. I love reading your comments & seeing your numbers grow!

Images from Sogni e Sorrisi, We Heart It, & Front Porch Ideas & More

Get New Followers! Saturday Around The World

2010-10-30T12:33:00.001+02:00

Germany, France, Ireland, Japan, Italy, & all across the beautiful United States, iit's time to bring your blog to my weekly Saturday Around The World blog party! So join in, discover new great reads, get the word out about your fantastic blog, & get yourself some new followers! Wahoo! And on top of all that goodness, if you participate completely, you'll be entered for a chance to be my weekly featured blog!

How To Travel!

1} You must be a follower of {Amanda & Don} to participate.

2} Click the link below to add your wonderful blog to the list.

3} Visit two blogs from the list & leave each one a comment saying that you're visiting from Amanda & Don's "Saturday Around The World", & where you are writing from!

4} Return to this post & leave a comment letting me know what two blogs you visited & where the writer of each blog is from!

5} Anyone who enters their blog without leaving their comments or without being a member of {Amanda & Don} will not be considered for the weekly feature. And we don't want that! :)

6} New This Week! For an extra chance to be my weekly featured blog, mention Saturday Around The World in your next blog post & leave me the link to that post in a comment! I made a cute button for just this! You can find it ----> right over there in my sidebar!

Each week, I will randomly pick one of the participants & feature them in a post! I can't wait to spread the news about all of your great blogs!

Amanda + Don

App Attack!

Mobile Blogging? Like It!

Stateside!

You Can Find Me . . .

Gettin' Miss Piggy With It!

Welcome Bark!

Saturday Around The World! ...A Bit Early :)

Big Babies, Big Crates, One Flight

Travel Review: Beautifully Artistic Dresden, Germany!

Changes

All Is Well! :)

Happy Friday from Cookie!

Wills & Kate's Wedding Cake!

April Showers

Muddy Yard Plus Jumping Great Dane Equals...

Happy Weekend!

Hotels With Heavenly Hammocks

* Sunshine & A Smoothie *

Flowering Trees & Thoughts of Springtime

Sunday Singing Loud & Proud!

Blog Par-tay! ( Saturday Around The World )

Outdoor Living In Santa Barbara

Blessings Over Battles

The One-Piece? J. Crew's Done It Right!

Knit A Lavender Sachet Heart!

Hello, Springtime!

Bohemia In Barcelona

Weekly Featured Blogger: Iron & Sunshine!

Goodnight From Deutschland!

Today, For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Cables & Danes!

New Followers?! Saturday Around The World!

Waffle Knit Dishcloth Pattern - LOVE!

Beautiful Blooms

Take Me Away!

Very Very Far Under The Weather

Shooting @ Frankfurt Airport: OPSEC, Ladies!

*Think On These*

I Heart Hanalei!

Aloha From This Wahine!

Dreamy Pastels

A Snow Day For You?!

A Grand Entrance Into February

Right This Second...

Saturday Around The World! Get More Followers!

Healthy Layla + An Amazing Bathtub!

Heart Of Gold

Always Remember, You Are...

Pretty Pastels

Far Off Places, Adventurous Lands

Weekly Featured Blogger: Consider The Lilies!

Ooh Hello, My 200 Followers!

Happy Tail

The BEST News!

Right This Second...

Saturday Around The World! Get More Followers!

Sweet, Sweetheart, Snuggled Up

Behold! The Sun!

Oh, Peonies! You Are My Favorite!

Cozy Spaces & Delicious Breads

Your Favorite Romances, Please!

*Click!* -- My Weekend In Photos

Sweetness!

2011: The Year I've Been Waiting For!

Still In The Christmas Spirit!

Goodbye, Germany!

Featured Blogger of the Week: Cultura Femenina

Today In Pics -- No More Snow!

Insomnia - Caught My Eye

Winter With Winnie -- Loving Tumblr!

You Want More Followers, Right?! :)

In A Winter Fairytale

Living In A Gingerbread House

BEAT NAVY!!

The Nurnberg Christkindlmarkt!

We're Halfway Done With Deployment!

Whisk Me Away!

Mom Is Here! Crystal, Knitting, Cookies & More!

Bad Paperback? Turn It Into A Wreath!

Think On These

Click! -- My Weekend In Photos