Ramstein, Germany!

We toured three parts of Germany. This is the first place we went. Our friends, Stephanie, Scott, Ashley and Nicholas live there, so we spent some time with them. Stephanie helped us out a lot! Thanks Stephanie!
We enjoyed shopping....well, I enjoyed shopping....ha! We enjoyed eating! Victor had wiener schnitzle, which is a thin piece of pork that is fried and served with small pieces of pasta that are fried, every single meal! He lived in Germany as a child and that is his favorite German meal so he couldn't get enough! I enjoyed German food too! I do love the German pastries the best! I brought plenty home on my ass!
The thing I loved about Germany the most was how clean and orderly everything is. There is a sense of such peace and quiet and order. Of course, the amazing old buildings and architecture are mind blowing! The German people take such pride in their country and keep it spotless. They maintain those old buildings very lovingly. Even though the average speed is 85, the driving there is calm....in the far right lanes. The far right lane is reserved for those going over 85. I watched in amazement as cars zipped past us going over 100 miles per hour! But, there was nothing frantic about it. There was very much order and it felt normal.
The girls had a fantastic time! They were perfect on the 10 hour flight to Germany. They don't complain about traveling or sleeping in strange beds or sight seeing. They are all for it! They crawled all over Victor and had a wonderful time with him. It was a love fest for sure!
I had a birthday while there and Victor and the girls made me a "German Chocolate Cake"! How fitting! That Victor is so clever! It was the best way I can imagine to spend my birthday!
We enjoyed a week of fun and family time in Ramstein! We then rented a car and drove 5 hours to the big city of Munich, which is really called Munchen!! What!?? Then why do we call it Munich? Munich was very different in an even more wonderful way! The next post will be all about Munchen!
The Germans say "chus", pronounced like juice with a ch instead of a j, which means goodbye, see ya later. So chus until the next blog!

Conversations with Olivia

Victor took this picture in Germany. Love it. Since it was her birthday and she turned 3, I wanted to share with you all what kind of little girl Olivia is. Olivia is very sweet...sweet as apple pie and fluffy bunnies. But she is a firecracker and if you cross the line with her she is fierce! She does not mind calling you out if she feels you need it. She is also so funny and mischevious. She loves to say things to shock and to say silly things. If I say, "Olivia, be nice at school today, have fun and learn a lot." She will reply, "Ok, mommy. I will be mean at school today, have a bad time and I won't learn anything." Then she will grin. I am repeating what she says word for word! The child has been talking in full sentences, like an adult, since she was 1 1/2 years old! I was playing doctor with her. I have a scratch on my hand and I asked her to please "doctor" it. She looked at it, saw it was a real injury,  and said in her most serious voice, "Mommy, I am not a doctor. I'm really not. I'm just a little girl named Olivia. You need a real doctor." She also loves to use the word "actually". She said, "Mommy, I am hungry. Well, actually I am starving." I accidentally stepped on her toe and she got so angry and upset. I apologized and she said, "I don't forgive you. You did it on purpose." Did I mention she is also a drama queen! She said hello as we passed a person in the grocery aisle...she is polite to everyone...and the lady ignored her. Olivia said, "That was not nice mommy. It is rude to not say hello to me!" I had to agree that she should have spoken back. The girl knows her manners. She also can't stand it when people smoke. She will say "That man is smoking mommy. That is not smart and it's yucky!" And the person will be right there! I just walk away as fast as possible! On the plane ride back from Germany, this sweet lady across the aisle kept reaching over and touching Olivia, smiling at her and saying how cute she is. Olivia grinned and would move closer to me. She was trying to be polite to the lady, but I could tell she didn't like being touched. At the end of the 11 hour flight, after we landed, the lady touched her once more and said how cute she is and Olivia took her bobo (pacifier) out of her mouth, and yelled, "Stop touching me!!" I tried so hard not to laugh! She was right! This perfect stranger, who kept reaching over and grabbing her, had finally pushed her last button! I am just so proud of my Liv, Livi, Livi Lou......all names I call her.....and it makes me feel good to know that she is a strong little lady who will be alright in life!

Happy Birthday Victor Luis and Olivia!

Happy birthday to my two beautiful, amazing children! I love and miss Victor Luis more than ever. He would be a big 6 year old boy today! I am crazy about Olivia, who is a precious 3 year old today! I know Victor Luis arranged it somehow for his sister to be born on his birthday so we would not be so sad on this day. He is happy and ok in heaven and he wants us us to be just as happy as he is....so he gifted us with a special present on his birthday....his sweet sister.
We celebrated his birthday and hers today, all together as a family. We are blessed. We choose to be positive today and bask in the blessings and love.
I will post pictures from today when I get a chance to ....very soon.

Ava In Art Class

Ava is taking art classes at this wonderful art studio nearby. She loves it. She's a natural. She did a great job on her dinosaur and apple. We are very proud of her. Olivia will have a chance to take art when she turns three. Until then , she has to hang out with mommy while big sister gets to stay and paint. Ava loves to sing, dance, paint, and play soccer. She is also interested in playing the piano. We have a toddler piano book that she likes to sit and learn to play with. She is pretty good at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I see many lessons and drama classes in her future.
The verdict is still out on Liv. She is only obsessed with Dora and baby dolls so far. Although she IS pretty dramatic and has the memory of an elephant! Or is it a dolphin? The smart one! I drove through a taco place and ordered a cheese tortilla for them and an order of super nachos for me (so shoot me!!) and when we got home they wanted to eat my food instead of theirs! I always say something is spicy if I don't want them to eat it. (so shoot me!) I said "these are spicy nachos" and Olivia said "no they aren't, they are super nachos!!!" Ugh! The kid doesn't miss a thing!

A Few More Favs.

Wow! I'm flattered that some of you requested even more of my beauty favs and the ink hasn't even dried on my last post. Thanks!! Ok. You know I love to share any knowledge I may have, so here are a few more.

I am a DOVE SOAP SNOB! I refuse to use anything else. Even when I travel, I take my own Dove soap. I have used Dove since I was 16 years old!!!! It has lotion in it and it does keep my body moisturized. I never have that dry, itchy feeling some soaps can give you. Don't tell Victor I told you, but he is a Dove soap snob since we started dating 13 years ago. He even takes it to war with him! I spend the night with people and leave Dove soap for them. I truly, truly love my Dove soap and am so spoiled by it! It is my oldest beauty product that I've used the longest and been the most loyal to!

I discovered this lip balm about 2 years ago. I have a tube of it in both cars, all my purses, and tucked here, there, and everywhere. It feels like pure silk on your lips and has spf. I have it on now as I am typing this. I keep a tube by my bed and apply it every night. I use it every morning before I leave the house. My little girls are addicted to it as well. I will find them sneaking and putting it on. I don't mind because it is so nourishing and it keeps their little lips from getting dry.

 My new favorite perfume in the entire world!!! I get excited to put it on every morning and I enjoy smelling myself all day long. Real perfume that really lasts! Love it! It smells like roses and is very light and lovely. It reminds me of the perfume I smell in Italy as the Italian women pass me by. D&G is Italian! No wonder! Worth every "stinkin" penny! Ha!

 I have tried many shampoos.....trying to find one that doesn't make my hair dry and frizzy. I have even used the very expensive Kerastase. Loved it, but couldn't afford it. Then I did some research and discovered that L'Oreal makes Kerastase. I had an empty bottle of it and compared the ingredients to other L'Oreal products, and bam....this is it! It is sold in most pharmacy type stores. It would be worth ordering online if you can't find it. I use the one for color treated hair, but any of the Vive Pro is excellent. It really makes a difference. I buy up bottles at a time and have a stock pile of it in case it is ever discontinued. I use the conditioner as well.

This is not a beauty product, but I have to include this candle. It is a Tyler Candle and yes, I love the animal print....that is what got me to buy one in the first place....but this candle rocks!! It makes your entire house smell amazing!! It has a long burn time and  a very, very strong scent. I HATE to buy candles I can't smell burning! I love many of the scents. I would suggest Diva, High Maintenance, and my favorite, Sour Cream Coffee Cake. They also sell hand soaps that are a must have around my house. You will always find one in my guest bathroom. It smells STRONG and I like the Diva soap. Even Ava says it smells so good every time she washes her hands. It makes the entire bathroom smell amazing afterwards.

My Top Five Best Beauty Products

Those of you who know me well, know I am OBSESSED with beauty products!! I am always researching products and trying them out. As soon as my girls are both in school, I plan to become an Esthetician. I read every book out there on beauty from within and topical beauty treatments. I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorites that I find work and I can't be without!

 Bath and Body Works scared me this year when I went in to stock up on my favorite lotion...Cucumber Melon. They told me it was discontinued! I have worn this for at least 12 years! It is Victor's favorite and the smell of this means Markee is near. I got online and discovered they had not discontinued it, they had pulled from the shelves in hopes other scents would sell better because this is their most popular scent. I can still purchase it online! Whew! I bought like 20 of them just in case though! It smells so clean and really keeps my skin dewy. Love it! I've strayed here and there, but always return to this.

I have been using Obagi products for the past two years. I feel this line has transformed my skin! It is expensive though. I originally got it from my esthetician/spa when I was trying to clear up melasma from pregnancies. I used it religously for 6 months and was amazed at the results. The one product I swear by is the sunscreen. It goes on thick and white. It creates a canvas on your face and an amazing glow. It prepares your skin for your base and protects it as well as having some anti aging benefits. I order it at amazon for much less than the spa price!

I don't know how I discovered this product really. But, it comes in the most beautiful, real wood tube! The brush is extremely thick and it really delivers a nice, thick coat of mascara. It is Tarte Amazonian Clay Mascara. I use the black. It is organic and I find it does not flake. I order it from QVC and get two for the price of one!!

This is the holy grail of all my beauty products!! I cannot say enough about this! I have used it for 13 years! I don't wear base. I use this as my base. It is a tinted moisturizer. It comes in one color...blue! It adjusts to the color of your skin! I never have to worry about changing colors with the seasons. It smells like cucumbers...my favorite smell! It has spf and antioxidants. It has a glow about it. It is dewy. I love it!!

This oil has transformed my hair!! You put it on wet hair and then dry it and style it. It makes your hair shiny and silky. I am crazy about this stuff! I get the best price online at the moroccan oil website. I buy big bottles as well as small ones to travel with. This stuff is liquid gold for your hair. ALL the celebrities use it! You will thank me for suggesting this to you!

Countdown to Germany!

We are going to Germany soon for a two week family vacation! In order for the girls to grasp the number of days left until our trip, I made a number line starting at 14 days out. I put it on the upstairs railing. The girls are taking turns removing a number each day. It is a good visual for them and also a great math lesson. They get more and more excited as the numbers get smaller. Victor and I are excited too!!

We could not go on any vacation without the help of our amazing neighbors, the Szalas! They live across the street and come to our home many, many times a day to care for our dogs and keep things up and going around here! I want to thank Renee for all she does for us and her daughter Sydney for watering my plants and getting the mail! They truly love us and our dogs and we truly love all of them! They are the best friends and neighbors anyone could ever have! I want to always live across the street from them!

A Baby Shower For Annie!!!

Our dear, dear family friends, Annie and Danny...otherwise known as D'Annie by me.....a take on Bennifer and Brangelina.......are having baby number two! Their daughter, Sofia, is going to be a big sister! D'Annie don't like to find out the sex prior to the birth.....no way I could do that.....which shows you how patient, loving and kind they are. (what does that say about me?)
I gave Annie a shower and it was a ladybug, red, black and white theme because they call the baby doodlebug!
Annie was glowing! She looked so beautiful. She is due in March. Love ya D'Annie!

My Romantic Husband!

For Valentine's Day, Victor gave me a much needed spa day! Not to just any spa, but to Mokara Spa on the Riverwalk!

I stayed there from 9am until 5pm! I dined on the rooftop by the pool and ate an amazing lunch! I got a massage, facial and pedicure! I read a magazine in the quiet lounge, drank flavored spa waters, soaked in the whirlpool, sweated it out in the sauna, relaxed, showered, and shopped. It was a wonderful day at the spa and I thank my romantic husband for making it all happen! Next time, he's going with me! And the next time, some of you are going with me!

A Happy Valentine's Day!

The girls went to school on Valentine's Day, dressed to celebrate and excited to hand out those cards to the 7 Matties and 9 Pheonixs! Someone made these cute ladybug cupcakes for Liv's class. So creative!

 Our sweet Victor got us all roses! He also wrote us all love notes! He said some amazing things to our girls....things that made them beam with pride and me cry....I picked an amazing husband and great man to be their daddy!! I am lucky he's my valentine!

Mamaw and Papaw sent the girls gift cards to McDonalds. (A perfect gift for them!)The girls call it Old McDonalds. They took those gift cards to Old McDonalds and each ordered and paid all on their own! I am amazed at the self confidence these two little girls have. They are not afraid to speak up and do anything. I hope that never changes! To all of you....those we love so dearly....we wish you a happy belated Valentine's Day.

We have a fancy (said like Reba McEntire) Old McDonalds! The girls ordered happy meals and chocolate milk..........and promptly bounced off the walls the rest of the day!

The Twilight Zone!

You are about to enter the twilight zone with me! Get ready because what I am about to share with you will blow your mind!
I was helping Ava and Olivia do their Valentine's Day cards for their little classmates in their Mother's Day Out class when I entered the twilight zone! Go with me if you will.......
Ava's class: Madison and Mattison........Liv's class: Maddison and Matisyn....I need a tylenol!
Ava's class: 2 Sophias.......Liv's class: 2 Sophias......I'll wash it down with a glass of wine!
Ava's class:  Peyton........Liv's class: Payton......or two!
Ava's class: Naileni.......Liv's class: Noelanie......I'll have a shot of tequilla now!
Ava's class: Phoenix.......Liv's class: Phoenix.........I'll have a xanax!!!!!!!
How is it that two separate classrooms in a small town can have an almost identical roster where half the kids in each class have almost, if not, the same names!!!??? Phoenix? Was there a hippy convention that week and they all smoked pot and got pregnant at the same time? I'm seriously wigged out by this. The funny thing is there are no other Avas or Olivias.....two names on the top five list! Oh, yes, we went to the twilight zone and back!

Italian Cooking Lesson #1

I have met a new military wife/neighbor who is from ...wait for it....Naples!!! Yes, Naples...the place I've been to recently and the place we stayed last year for over a month. The place I gained 10 lbs eating the amazing pasta, bread and desserts...and let's not forget, cappuccino! I am obsessed with all things Italian! So today, I went over to Marina's house for a lesson on how to make homemade tagliatelle pasta and ragu sauce! Mama mia! It was so much fun!!!! I have never made homemade pasta in my life. It was a blast and it tasted so amazing!!! We even had a glass of real Italian wine......in the middle of the day....chin chin! I had no idea you had to hang the pasta to dry before cutting it into ribbons to boil. We hung it from a broom stick. Look at that big bag of flour! Marina means business. Her food is delizioso! She has promised to teach me how to make many more Italian foods. I'm thrilled because it is my favorite food in the world!