Recipe of the Week

This week's recipe is one of my childhood favorites. My Mom & I used to make them for bake sales. They have always been one of my favorite cookies, but I have rarely made them in my adulthood. When I saw the recipe pop up on another blog, I knew I had to made them. They were delicious, though J thought they were too chocolatey sweet. Psshh- what do men know about chocolate? ;) 

No Bake Cookies

Courtesy of: Wife of a Sailor

Ingredients: 

4 oz. butter

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. milk

3 T. cocoa

1/2 c. peanut butter

3 c. quick cooking oats

1-2 tsp. vanilla

Ingredients

1. Combine the milk, butter, sugar & cocoa in a medium pot. 

2. Cook for 1-2 minutes and bring to a boil. 

3. Once smooth and boiling, remove from heat. 

4. Add in the oats, 

peanut butter and vanilla. 

5. Stir well. 

6. Drop by the spoonful onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. 

 7. Enjoy! 

 Happy Tuesday! 

The Saga Continues....

This afternoon, I hitched up my BGP's (big girl panties) and drove to the post office on base, tires in the back seat, address in hand. I was worried about being able to get the tires out of the car and into the post office. It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot, plus you have to go down stairs. Usually it's not a big deal at all, but today I had two 50 lb. packages with me. For those of you who know me, you know my arms are about as big as a a can of beans. Even on a good day, there is no way Id be able to haul those tires inside by myself.

Several people that I'd talked to prior to going had said that most likely, the post office staff would help me if I asked. Those several people would be wrong. I walked in and went to the custom service desk. A girl and a guy were there. I explained my predicament to them and asked for help as sweetly as possible. The guy seriously pointed over to the right and said, "There's the dolly." Clearly he doesnt have a chivalrous bone in his body. I explained that even with the dolly there was no way I would be able to get them out of the car and in here. He instructed me to go to the pick up window and see if anyone there would be willing to help me. Total jerk douche bag. =(

The line for the pick up window was crazy long, so I decided to start calling my friend's husbands to see if any of them could help me. It was lunchtime, so I was hoping to snag someone while they were on their break. Luckily, our great friend Dave was on lunch and offered to help me. He came to the post office, hauled the tires inside and saved this damsel in distress. He will be the recipient of a nice bottle of wine very soon.

So I waited in line and when it was my turn, I rolled the tires over to the window. The jerk clerk behind the counter stupidly asked, "Uh, can you lift those up here?" Knowing very well that I couldnt, I told him that I would try. Thankfully, a very nice gentleman in line behind me came to my rescue and lifted both sets up on the counter for me. I thanked him profusely while I glared at the clerk. Sixty-one dollars later and I was out of there. The wrong tires have been mailed back! I also emailed the shipping receipt to the company and my refunds have been set up.

Sooo, the saga has hit a happy note. Now we just have to wait for the new (and hopefully correct) tires to arrive. Until then....

I was given an award by Angie from Oh, How Delightful!

Thank you Angie! 

This means a lot to me and I really do appreciate it. 

I always feel a little bit like a rock star when 

gifted with one of these. =)

Im terribly at playing by official rules, so instead of telling 

you 7 things about myself and giving this to 15 people, 

Im just going to pass it along to a few of the newish blogs

that Im following. 

how i met your father

It's a Dog Tag Wife Life

Life's a Dance

Newly Mrs. Cravinho

Happy Saturday!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #26

Milspouse Friiday Fill-ins are back! Head over to Wife of a Sailor to participate!


*What are you looking forward to most in 2011? from Jessica Lynn Writes
So many things! We have several friends and family coming to visit, friends moving here, tons of traveling to do, plus some things that we are working towards. Oh, and hopefully and job for me!     
   
*What is something random you do on a boring night when your significant other is away? from Lovin Ma Soldier   I usually read, watch a chick flick or get caught up on the few TV shows that I watch without J. Nothing too crazy, but a glass of red wine is usually involved. 


*What has been your greatest adventure as a MilSpouse? from Misadventures of An Army Momma
Moving overseas, hands down. We're currently on one of the greatest adventures of our lives! 


*What is the ugliest fashion trend you ever bought into (I'd like to make fun of you, so can you please provide a picture as well)?from More Than An Army Wife
Ugh, there are so many from childhood/my teenage years: A perm, cowboy boots (ropers), puff paint tshirts tied on the side, doc martens, overalls, flannel shirts.... I could go on.


*What was the high point of last month?
Spending 10 days in a row at home with J over Christmas. We couldnt go anywhere with him on Bravo, but it was so nice to have home time alone with him! 

Blogger Oops....

Blogger is acting crazy on me today as I try and set up some scheduled posts for the coming weeks. Excuse my mess while I work on this....

Thanks! =)

Reese

On this Thursday, I wanted to do a 

happy, light hearted post. 

With that in mind, 

here is a photo montage of my pup Reese. 

She's a ham. 

Territorial, sweet and so damn cute. 

Enjoy!

=) 

(Mom, this one's for you! 

My Mom bought her a bunch of clothes for 

Christmas and has been wanting me to show 

her the photos.)

World Class Traveler

Fierce guard dog

Yes, that is a doggie snuggie, and no, she doesnt ever wear it. 

Such a great snuggler

Likes to help pack = great military dog

Loves to swim, hates baths.
She kicks up the water and tries to bite it.
Hilarious to watch.

Likes to take naps

Stops to smell the roses

Enjoys having her picture taken

Has climbed mountains, all the way to the top

Eats in restaurants

Rocks the sweater

Rain/Winter coat

New coat from Grandma

It's reversible!

And a new harness

and best of all, a new summer dress! LOL! 

HAPPY THURSDAY! 

Congrats to....

#15 Samantha from Life's a Dance! 

Congratulations on winning the $45 CSN Stores Giveaway! Samantha, just send me your email address so I can get you your prize!

Thank you to everyone who entered. This was my most successful giveaway yet! Ill be traveling again soon and will be looking for the next prize for a future giveaway, so stay tuned.

So, did anyone notice that today is 1/11/11? Isnt that cool? January first was 1/1/11 and we'll have the same thing again in November. Hope you all have a great day!

Happy Tuesday!

Brugge Conclusion

My giveaway ends tomorrow! 

Enter here. 

After the ice festival, we headed to the middle of town

to check out the two Christmas markets, 

have lunch and sightsee. 

It was a short walk, but it was so cold there! 

Restaurants like this lined the main street downtown. Most 

are hotel restaurants and the best places to eat.

We ate at three different ones and loved

them all. They were cozy and fully

decorated for the season. 

Plus, the food was delicious and the staff spoke English!

Since it was Belgium, chocolate stores were everywhere!

This was one of our favorites. They had some very interesting things, like:

Chocolate globes and ornaments

Chocolate Lipstick

And the weirdest thing of all:

Chocolate shooters. 

And by shooter, I mean sniffer. 

And by sniffer, I mean snorter. 

That's right folks, you actually snort the cocoa.

They provide you with very detailed instructions and 

pictures, so you know you'll get it right. 

(Um, what? Crazy right?) 

At one of the Christmas markets

The famous building seen in the movie "In Bruges".
It was a really good movie, by the way.

The center of town and another Christmas market.
I loved the way the buildings here looked. 

Mmm, sweet biscuits and chocolate covered almonds. 

The red building in the middle is where we stopped for hot chocolate and to warm up.

Hot chocolate here isnt just a drink.

It's an experience. 

It was exquisite. Definitely the best that

I've ever had. It even tops Angelina's, 

the famous hot chocolate of Paris. 

Brugge's hot chocolate was more milk chocolatey tasting 

and not as rich or dense. 

The real cream was a perfect topper. 

Trying to thaw out and very, very happy!

J LOVES churros! Every time we go back to his hometown by the beach in California,
we have to have a churro. We couldnt believe they were making and selling them here.

Wall O' Beer
Belgium is not only know for their chocolate, but for their beer as well.
These beer shops were everywhere and had more beer than you can imagine.
We were in Heaven in this store because they had beer AND chocolate!

One of the many canals

Gorgeous Winter scene

It started snowing HARD that night

 This trip was Reese's first time in a restaurant. She did
remarkably well. She either sat in my lap or the chair beside me
the entire time and didnt bother me while I was eating.
It didnt hurt that Id brought along some treats for her. 

This was my MAGNIFICENT meal! Lamb chops, salad and croquettes.
Croquettes are fried mashed potato sticks. YUM!

The restaurant we had dinner at that night

This is what the parking lot and our car looked like when we were ready to
leave the next day. It had snowed several inches since our arrival.
Reese is sporting one of her winter coats!

We loved Brugge and cant wait to go back. 
In warm weather next time. =)