Candy & Pumpkins!

We are ready to go for the big Hallowe'en night! I carved my pumpkin yesterday & I think it turned out really good!  I would like to say that I did it free hand, but I used a template I got off the Better Homes & Gardens website. I feel like such a cheater. haha

Rainer was a little busy with work, and did not have the opportunity to carve this, so at the last minute I carved his pumpkin in record time. It is not nearly to the skill level it should be.... but time was limited and this pumpkin was extra stringy! I've never seen a pumpkin soooo stringy!!

We have our bowl of candy by the door, and we are ready to see all the cute kids in their costumes!

Mmmmmm so easy to snack on!!! YUM YUM!

HALLOWEEN!

Well it's that time of year yet again! I love Haloween!  On my way home from work today I stopped off & bought lots of little chocolates!!  I also picked out 2 pumpkins for us to carve.

I inspected the piles & piles of pumpkins there, trying to find the PERFECT pumpkin.  Not too lop-sided..... tall enough, but not too tall...... fat.... but not too fat......

I think I found them.... So tonight & tomorrow we are going to put some time & elbow grease into these guys and make them come to life!!

Stereo Love on my drive home

It's Thursday! Which means it's almost Friday...... and almost Saturday! Thanks goodness! It has been a very long week!  After a rough day I love blasting my radio on the car ride home & just belting out some good tunes.   Today's song was Taylor Swift - Today was a Fairytale.

But one of my fav's to listen to & dance along to when I'm stuck in traffic on the way home is Stereo Love by Edward Maya. Such a good beat & just a fun song to get into!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Z3YrHJ1sU&ob=av3e

The video does not really make sense. I feel like it is pretty much a tourism video for Greece.  Yes - it makes me want to go to Greece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l4i-ernOKk

 

Other songs I love singing/screaming along to are Nickelback - Burn it to the Ground, Katy Perry - Teenage Dream and Lady Gaga - Just Dance.  Yes - I have a pretty eclectic taste in music.

I heart tea!

I do not drink coffee.  I used to, and I'm not really sure what happened but my stomach has decided that it does not like coffee.  So I have become a tea granny.  It's amazing. My eyes & taste buds have been opened up to a completely new world.  For Christmas last year, my husband bought me a "tea master" from Teaopia.  Since then I have been making loose leaf tea regularly.

Over that last few months though, Rainer has been taking over my tea.  I could not figure out where all my tea leaves were going, or why my tea master was always by the sink dirty.  He now has the same appreciation of tea that I do. 

Since Teaopia was having a customer appreciate sale today I took in my coupon & purchase some more tea, as well as a new tea mug with filter just for Rainer.  I think it is very manly as well.  This way he can make his own tea in his own mug. Can't go wrong with customer appreciation sales!

My favourite tea currently at Teaopia is probably a tie right now between Summer Breeze (a rooibos tea) and Blueberry Amore (a green tea). These taste amazing - you should definitely give them a try.

I need a vacation!!

It's so hard to get up in the morning when it's still dark.  Lately it's been so gloomy in the morning & it's making me very glum!.  Perhaps its the change in weather...... or perhaps I am stressed at work.... but I am dying to go on vacation!

Over the last few months I have become obsessed with planning vacations.  I can't help it! I have planned vacations to Las Vegas, Newfoundland, the Caribbean, Tahiti, the Mediterranean, and a European adventure.  I just have an itch to getaway. Yes - I even have each vacation divided into folders in my favourites.

Le Meridien in Bora Bora, Tahiti - possible 2013 vacation

  I know I have a girls weekend getaway coming up to the States.  Really, I am excited to get away, but I am craving something bigger & better.  Perhaps I can convince Rainer to take me somewhere for my upcoming Birthday. I doubt it..... but a girl can dream, right?

I am saving as much as I can for a 2-3 week trip to Europe next Fall.

Cliffs of Moher - County Clare, Ireland

 That will be amazing! But it is sooooo far away! I can't wait! I think I am just very passionate about my dream, non-existent vacations.  Maybe I am just impatient.  But seriously - who doesn't want to go on a vacation?

Monday's

Monday's really do suck sometimes.  Today was not terrible as far as work goes.  It is the weather that did not agree with me today.  I have a tendancy to react badly to changes of weather.  We had an incredible storm last night!  And from what I have heard in the weather reports, we are in for abother big one. 

I love storms. I love watching the cool lightening. I love falling asleep to the rain.  But what I really do not like, is the headaches this weather gives me. The build up in pressure and the quick change in temperature and humidity hit me hard.

 

So this was me... pretty much the entire day.  So painful, and there really isn't anything I can do. Just have to wait it out.  Full day of work, then stopped off at the school and put in my vote (ELECTION DAY).  I have my personal trainer coming tonight. I'm sure some physical activity will probably help - get the blood flowing and all that.


But I can guarantee it will be an early night for me tonight!  Hope everyone elses Monday was a bit better than mine.

Wine, Wine, Wine

I do not drink wine all the time.  It is not something I have to have, or try to have on a regular basis. But I do enjoy a good wine on certain occasions.  These include the obvious of birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  For some reason though, I was at the grocery store and had the urge to buy a bottle of white at the Wine Rack.

I went with a tried & true Peller Estates Cabernet Merlot. One of my personal favourites.

My hubby was a little surprised when I can home with this.... Partly because there really was no special occassion. But I think he was just surprised when he saw the label.

Doesn't look unusual or odd or anything, right? So why was he so surprised? Let's look closer...

 

Ahhhh - He must have seen the 1.5L bottle..... twice the size of bottles we normally buy.  I'm really not sure what came over me when I decided that to purchase this one. But either way - what is done is done.

So we barbequed some burgers & had some wine.  

With just the two of us I think it will last us the rest of the evening :)

Baking!!

We have some company coming over tonight so I decited to try a new recipe I saw. Marble brownies!! Marble cake is delicious, so why wouldn't marble brownies be amazing too?

Even just looking at the picture I'm excited about these delicious bites of heaven!

So step 1 -  I mix up my brownie mix.

Step 2 - I mixed up my cream cheese marble mix.

Step 3- I poured in my brownie mix, then dropped my cream cheese mix on top.

Step 4 - Then I used a knife and swirled it all together to get a nice pattern.

Step 5 - Bake!!

This smells MARVELOUS!!! I have some frosting that I am debating putting on this as well... I think I might to finish it off & make it even chocolatier!  I will have to wait for these to cool though

This definitely is not on the "healthy meal plan", but it's the weekend & we have company coming!!!  I will let you know how amazing they are tomorrow.  :)

**** Follow up - I did add frosting - AMAZING.  I might have snuck a bite or two when I was trying to cut them out of the pan. I am never very graceful at getting brownies out of pans.  I think I did a pretty good job! Just have to wait for our guests to arrive before we can pig out!!

Excitement!

So it's Friday & I have no clue where my husband is... haha. Hopefully he will be home soon.

I just thought I would share that I am EXCITED because the Empire movie theatre & the Walmart that is being built right by my house are opening in less than a month!!!!

Empire Theatres opens November 4th!!!!

Walmart opens November 14th !!!!!!

YAY for shopping close to my house!! No more driving across town!!

Upcoming Election

I guess it is that time of year - local elections for our regional councillors & mayor.  Around my neighborough there are so many signs for all these people! I have no idea who is running for what!  When I am driving, I am on signed overload & I literally cannot stop looking at the signs to try & read them.... but they all put the lettering so small!!! I cannot read any of them! I'm squinting & literally cannot read them!!!  Perhaps I need glasses.  Well I have glasses, maybe I should just wear them.

Anyway - we are also getting the door to door people giving us flyers for themselves or the candidates they support.  My husband and I have just been piling these up.  It is very confusing - I mean candidates are handing out flyers to us, but they are running outside of our area! We are getting this really lovely collage of election flyers.

I finally decided to figure out who is who & what positions I get to vote fore.  For those of you in the city of Waterloo here is a link to find out who is running in your area!

City of Waterloo - Candidates for Mayor & Councillor

There is also a question on the ballot about adding fluoride to our water & another question about having the councils talk about merging Kitchener & Waterloo.  Click these links to find out more information on these questions including current practices

Fluoride information from the City
Merger information 

Election day is Monday October 25th! Get informed & your pens ready!

Bejeweled Addiction

So my day was very stressful today.  Lots at work, lots of multi-tasking with about 10 things on my plate.  I have days like these once in a while, and I usually re-coup pretty well.  One thing I do like to do as a stress reliever is watch mindless TV or play mindless games.

One of my mindless games is Bejeweled Blitz! I play this through my facebook page. Now that I think about it this game is not mindless at all.  In fact it kinda puts your mind in overdrive trying to strategize your way through the matching jewels.

I'm not sure why exactly I'm addicted to the game.  I think I like because it is fast. I love the quick pace & quickly getting points and bonus points.  The games does not even last that long - each round only lasts 1 minute!  How super duper is that?!  After your one minute is up, it even has this sequence of exlposions where you get even more bonus points! I LOVE getting points!

Sometimes when I play it I feel like i'm 10.  It's possible because this is just a simple game of matching colours together.  Either way I just love it!

I think I'll go play & relieve some stress after such a hectic day.

Scented Candles & Dexter

My house smells AMAZING! 

I love scented candles.....

Even better.... I loved scented candles that are half price!

Now even better than that.... 

watching Season 5 of Dexter while burning my scented candles.

If you have not seen Dexter - you have to start! 

Morbid and funny - it is a show in a class all its own!

And this season is even better than the others.  Why? Because it have Julia Stiles in it!  My husband heard this and automatically thought of the oldie but goodie move Save the Last Dance. But this Julia Stiles is totally different. She is mature, sexy, and as it appears in this most recent episode, she is "damaged". I have a feeling that these two damaged, good lookin' peeps are going to team up and hunt down all the crazies out there!  

Sunday seems so far away... 

I'm not sure I can wait that long for the next episode!

I think I'm ready!

I'm very excited! Not because I am in an ongoing battle with my figure. But because I'm trying to do something about it.  I am seeing my personal trainer/friend, Emily, twice a week (sometimes three times).

But now.... I have signed up for a cardio kick-boxing class at my work! How excited am I? VERY!!! It's offered right in my building, immediately after work! What a great way to force myself to get my butt into gear! Really helps to that I can take it with my friends from work as well! 

We are going to lean mean tough amazing women! I can't wait!!

Oktoberfest 2010

I am a quarter German, so technically I am supposed to celebrate this festival, right? My husband is also German, so this works out well for both of us! :)   This amazing Bavarian celebration has been happening every year since 1810!   Even after 200 years this festival is such a superb event that bring people of all ages together.

Although we were not in Munich, Germany, my husband and I were still able to get a taste of German culture.  We went to Concordia Club in Kitchener, which is actually the second largest Oktoberfest celebration in the world, outside of Germany.

Concordia Oktoberfest Tent

My sister, Megan & brother-in-law, Kevin came into town, as well as my old high school friend Katherine & her husband Tom. We made our way over to the festhall & found ourselves a seat in the thousands of people.  Pitcher after pitcher, we drank.  We danced to the Birdie dance several times that evening. We played carnival games; some of us won, and some of lost. Kevin easily won the basketball game, but Megan and I failed so horribly at the nail hammering, that the woman running the booth gave us both prizes.... just because she felt bad for us.

Kevin celebrating after winning the basketball game

My poor husband did not fair so well after several pitchers of beer, and missing dinner. We left a little earlier than anticipated since Rainer was now a not so attractive shade of gray. Although he did end up being....."drunk as a skunk" we managed to take some hilarious video. After reviewing over a half hour of footage, we managed to capture hilarious people dancing, everyone taking jagermeister shots, and two guys almost getting into a fight.

Another great Oktoberfest night!!
We greatly appreciate the day of recover on Saturday. :)

We cannot wait until we can do it all over again next year :)  Maybe... just maybe we'll make it to Munich for next Oktoberfest!! :)