Day 22: Self Portraits

I have (what amounts to, basically) (not confusing at all right? haha) this cousin on Facebook who (evidently) thoroughly enjoys looking at herself. She's constantly snapping pictures of herself at all angles in all kinds of outfits and posting them on Facebook for the world to see. Do you do this? Do you know people like this or have them on your Facebook page?

She's a really good looking (ok, she's hot) girl but I mean.... I can't imagine being that' impressed with myself, where I'd have to stop almost daily just to snap a few pics of myself on my iphone and automatically assume the rest of the world cares enough about my puckered lips, awesome hair and gorgeous eyes. I'm just saying.... While she's very attractive that's not the point. Right?

Whatevs... 22 days in and I'm already back to my overly critical ways. I love my (basically) cousin but enough's, enough!

Bad News

Being so far away from home definitely has it good moments and it's BAD! We're the kind of family that is  (sometimes overly) involved in each other lives. We gossip about each other (in the best way possible, i mean we're only trying to find out if everything is ok or if so-and-so really did that to her!), but we also love each other. when I was out of work for almost 2 years I built very strong relationships with my sister and her kiddos. When my brother-in-law was deployed I was her surrogate husband during her pregnancy with Logan and was there for everything. I loved being able to be there for the ultrasounds and for the scary bits and last minute ER runs. I like to think of my self as that go-to person. I loved it. I really like to help my family out when they need it the most. With that being said our baby (yes, he isn't just 'theirs' he's Ours- as a collective) Logan has been in the hospital for 4 days now.

Isn't he the cutest? (little boobies and all) We like our babies chubby (no offense to the skinny ones ou there). My sister emailed me this picture two days ago. I cried. I can't believe under his little tear-drop eyes is a nasal cannula! 

Logan has been diagnosed with RSV (so far they are waiting for the doctor to review the chest x-ray to see what else is going on). He was admitted because his oxygen levels were in the 80's (should be 100). We're worried about possible Asthma or pneumonia at this point. (fun fact: I was in and out of the hospital as an infant with asthma related complications.. was not a fun time to be or my mother- only difference is, I don't remember it. Thanks mom!) 

Many prayers and thoughts are needed!! 

Why, Hello There.

I may be a day late (but I don't care). Erin helped motivate me to still play along.

I'm Sam, Samantha, Sammy (to very few). I'm 25, and this is my very first Bloghop! I'm an Army wife (and soooo much more). The Army has provided the hubs (Kevin) and I with this amazing opportunity to live in Germany; to experience another culture. We look forward to learning as much as we can while we're here and seeing as much of Europe as time, money and the Army will allow.

We've been married for 3 years and haven't yet birthed our own babies. We were tossing around the idea prior to the BIG move. But now we are concentrating on this once in a lifetime opportunity

Outside of this craziness that is this the Army life, I adore time with my family and my friends. I cherish the babies in our life. I miss them dearly and can't wait to see them very soon.

I'm a confident girl who likes to tell it how it is (or how I see it, anyway). I'm funny, like Starbucks (on Thursday mornings), traveling (more and more), writing, taking pictures and helping others (amongst other things).

BIG Icing FAIL

Ladies, why aren't you baking out there? Who doesn't LOVE CupCakes!? These ones are especially simple and AMAZING! Give them a shot... but don't forget to come back and link up!

Ingredients coming together.

They're beautiful! And so delicious. Mine have kind of a pound-cake-like consistency. A-MAZ-ING!

However the icing recipe that was attached to the cupcake recipe was just awful!!! The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of Milk.... I figured, ok... lets see how this goes. I mix and mix and mix.... and it still had the consistency of the cupcake batter. Horrible. So I wound up going with Mrs. Martha's Fluffy Vanilla Frosting from page 302 of her Cupcake Cookbook.

Pretty huh? Give it a shot, tell your readers, and link up! The McLinky comes down in two days, Sunday, January 30th!! These Yellow Cupcakes are not as popular or "cool" as Red Velvet but man, they are quickly becoming our household favorite!

Idar-Oberstein

Kevin and I have been to Idar-Oberstein a few times now.... it's slim pickins of places to visit when you don't have a car and you're cheap like me. Idar does have more to offer than Baumholder but from what I understand most people only go there as a means to an end; the train station is there. Which was the purpose for our first visit there. Our second visit was a great learning experience- everything is closed on Sunday's! We had to get out of our room though so we jumped on the bus and headed over there. We were lucky to find a little cafe that was open and we stopped in for a hot cocoa and just walked around for a while more. A few photos from our Sunday visit to Idar:

Had to enjoy a Beer...

Shops closed up and there was still snow on the ground.

There is a legend about the Church in the Rocks involving two brothers, love and death (after all, isn't that what all legends are made of). All the same it's interesting to see.

After our failed attempt to visit the town about a month ago, we decided to try again yesterday. We jumped (back) on the bus and went back to Idar-Oberstein in hopes of visiting the Castle ruins as well as the church... I'd heard it was a nice hike up the mountain to see both of these sites but good lord it kicked my ass!

long-ass hike to the top!

Gorgeous countryside isn't it?

I knew you all were dying to see pictures of ye ol' castle ruins... well you've had your fill for today!

The New Years that could have been

I had this idea of what New Years in our new house, with our new friends could have been like. The vision in my head included delicious food, Wii Mario Kart tourney's, other games and delicious drinks:

Exhibit A:

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Strawberry Champagne Sparkler Cupcakes, courtesy of DC Cupcakes. I saw these on Oprah (obvious, by the picture) and thought they were freaking awesome. Click here for the How-to Video and here for the recipe. 

Exhibit B:

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Pomegranate Martini... What's not to like? Seriously? Find recipe here.

Alas, my New Years Eve looked a lot more like this:

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I can lie to myself and you all and say it was just "low-key" but really we didn't do a.damn.thing. I was asleep by 1030 and watched the ball drop (via AFN) at 8AM (Midnight MST). All I can do is keep my rocking' awesome ideas handy for next year and know that everything will be different 364 days from now. 

Hope you all had a great 2010 and had a blast bringing in 2011--- here's to a great year! 

White Christmas

OK, so I attempted to post our 5-day weather forecast as well as the above photo. Alas, it didn't work. Since we arrived in Germany the amount of snow on the ground has doubled! The day before we landed in Frankfurt, they had to close the airport for a few hours, due to the weather- that's saying something, considering folks in this neck of the woods are used to the snow! All the same, there's anywhere from 3-4 feet on the ground. 

Over the course of the next five days the temperature will not reach 40 degrees (f) and a snow/rain mixture is 60% likely (or more) each day. Hello, White Christmas. 

I have to say that in all my years (I'm so dramatic, aren't I? As if, I am so old, haha) in Colorado we very rarely had White Christmases. Yes, it's Colorado and one would assume, Mountains=snow. Well, not all of Colorado is covered with the beautiful Rocky Mountains... a good chunk is honestly plains. My point is that I finally have a white christmas looming and it's very bitter sweet. 

First, I'm so blessed to just have Kevin home with me and that him and I are together for this Christmas. However, we're halfway around the world from all of our family, we have none of our belongings, no real options for making a nice meal, no decorations. 

So while I'm looking forward to celebrating with Cup O Noodles, a game of cards and a lot of webcamming with the families! 

More of Wiesbaden..

Friday night we discovered all the beauty and joy Wiesbaden's Christmas Market had to offer. Saturday morning we wanted to get out and see some of the other sites. We happened through Warmer Damm Park (I couldn't make that up- I'm not that clever):

The park was just gorgeous. I loved all the snow- something so pure and easy about it. The last picture, with the lady feeding the ducks was just amazing to me- they all attacked her!

St. Bonifatius Church, is the oldest Catholic Church within the city limits. It was beautiful. The stained glass windows were like nothing I'd ever seen before. The architecture was amazing as well, the towers, the interior ceiling of the church was just breathtaking.

This photo is quickly becoming one of the favorites that I've ever taken:

For all my Catholics out there, you can back me up: kneeling in these pews through Mass would be boarder-line torture! I did it though... well, in truth I just said a small prayer while inside the church- no I didn't attend Mass, but it was still not something I'd love to do for any extended period of time.

I know this is quickly becoming a very picture-heavy post, but I have just a few more I HAVE to share with you:

Aquis Mattiacis- "dedicated to the springs of the Mattiaci". Aren't the fountains majestic? Interesting fact: This building is now home to a CASINO.... hmmm.

Just a fun picture:

That's it now.. promise! :) Happy Sunday Everyone.

Wiesbaden!

Kevin and I had our first official adventure in Germany! Physically getting there was kind of a chore: taxi to the bus station, bus to the train, swap trains, then walked some 6 or 7 blocks to the hotel. All the same, we made it to Wiesbaden. Honestly it wasn't so bad, we got there in one piece together, and got a glimpse into the public transit system over here. So not all bad.

After we found a suitable hotel we hit the streets. Our main mission and goal was to visit the Christmas Market!! We chose our hotel (Crowne Plaza) because it was two blocks from the Market. (lets just keep in mind it's Germany people, and it's been snowing for WEEKS, everything is covered in snow) Me, in my (cough, cough, knock off Ugg) boots and Kev in his leather shoes went venturing toward the market. First stop, Gluwien!

The pretzel came later but was delicious!

Next we tooled around the Market, taking in all it had to offer:

It was really a great time discovering all that the Market had to offer. It was the perfect setting; snow was falling and there was plenty of Gluwien to keep us warm. 
We even scored some good loot:

Our Gluwien mugs

Hand-painted glass Ornament. 

Sharing

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Lola, you know her- my homie from L+S's Cupcake club!? (yea, where's that been btw... I know it'll be back in January, eeek!) Has been going through quite the rough time the last few weeks. She's such an amazing Mil-spouse blogger and someone I consider a friend! Lola was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. She has a tough road ahead but she's strong and surrounded by great friends and family! Please offer her your support!

While you're at it please visit BeTheMatch.org and register to become a Bone Marrow Donor. You could be a match for Lola or someone else!

I posted here, about registration and some specifics pertaining to military and their dependents. While my life has been turned up-side-down with this PCS, this is still a cause I feel just as strongly about and will be registering upon our arrival to Baumholder. Which will be (surprisingly) much easier than if I had done it from Colorado (since they're set up at the medical facility to do the testing).

---

Logan
Last night in Colorado



Nathan

I'm missing these boys! Such handsome fella's in their own ways, aren't they?