Dear Darla Diaries

feed him much?

Let's play a little catch up shall we?
The husband has been back from deployment nearly 60 days. I have happily returned to a state of spoiled and satiated, and not just in the bedroom. After being together over a decade that should be a given. My cook, foot massager and fellow couch surfer is back. The man who finishes my sentences and knows all the sitcom inside jokes. It really is the little things.
His mother is in the states on a 7-week hiatus. She calls it 'grandma time.' I figure by week 3 we will be too comfy in unrestricted naked time in the shared rooms of the house and she will be crying on the inside missing her room, bed and limitless WoW. I hope they don't kick her out of the guild. She practically is the Oracle in game. I am merely a palace jester, but at least I can firmly say I am no n00b.
I do miss her companionship. She is a permanent fixture around her. I understand her anxiety and she understands my ADD passive aggressive introverted tendencies. Like bookends we be. In a way two woman can be and a man just can't quite grasp. It's an estrogen thing.
I am waayy overdue in registering for a German language class, getting 2/3 cars repaired and anything related to adoption. Yes those are all unrelated topics. I also need to write our Germany-Euro bucket list, firmly declutter (without reboxing) the storage and organize my yarn. But who's really keeping track? Let's not even start on my shoe collection or clothes stashed under the bed ...
I've begun baking again. The bourbon banana bread is practically a weekly staple and I am taking my hand up at knitting again. My crochet wrist calls me a traitor and than curls itself back into a carpal tunnel fit. It will soon get with the program. I am dabbling in a new hobby, not dropping an old. Unlike the keyboard, my yarn never stays dusty for long.
I am also trying to remember why I've loved to blog for so long. Dooce mentions it in a recent post. Loving the chronicle of life. Letting it flow. Here's looking at that, and the fat bastard of a pet watching me blog.

wisdom found at the chiro's office

stop and smell the roses

Husband and I took our first Germany meander through our village this past weekend. It was a beautiful and crisp day. For a second if you blinked and looked a little blurry it almost resembled out backwoods in Oregon.
I think we will need to do this more often.

just another sick post

This was the view of the location of our youth retreat we spent President's Day weekend at. I took this shot from a reclined view in the passenger seat of my car. I came down with the puking-fever-48hr bug the last day of camp.
Points for me, I escaped cleaning!
In all seriousness it was an awesome time.

where I've been since Thursday

Watching Red Skull, Justin Bieber, Red Riding Hood and the 80s Hair Band Member chase 213 middle schoolers around camp. The fun will cease and desist Monday afternoon. I bet my kitten is lonely.

darn things kids say

Honey, your 12 year-old nephews status on FB totally said 'he's in a Relationship.' What is that! (Husband points to me skeptically.)
Babe, I met my future husband in 6th grade. You can't judge that boy.

#febphotoaday : happy

I just discovered this class I took in '02 hiding in my craft tool box! Oh Twin, I hate to break it to you but the cute one in the yellow fleece is nearly as big as you were in this photo!

#febphotoaday : self

My dear Husband asked if it really took 3 hours to get ready for our chapel sweethearts dinner. (As he quizzically watched me apply mascara one lash at a time.) No, but I like plenty of time in case I decide to wash it all off. And start All.Over.Again.

stop-and-gawk finds

I have stumbled into my new crack addictions and for those who know my utter avoidance of p.nterst (back you pushers back!!!) please be gentle.

Let me introduce you all to Craftgawker and Foodgawker. How YOU ladies doing? Looking so sweet and scrumptious over there in your new pretty polka dotted dresses and matching glorious edible cupcakes. Now hand over your scissors, spatulas and sugar and we will make the best of friends.

I love them because:

1. clean websites as well as super sweet and fun aps for ye olde iphone
2. they focus on just food or crafts and not a chaotic overload of eVERyTHing and nOthIng and OhLookThe25thRePinOfThat!
3. all the fun and joy of pinning, without having to pin or sign in or repetition, see my minimally experienced #2
4. lots of freebies! (like printable things!)

Things that have currently caught my eye:

• DIYgoods from BeesKnees including my new holiday habit the Elf On A Shelf and cute Pill Boxes!
• 101Printables!!! Including envelopes, cupcake toppers, save-the-date cards and 101MoreThings! (Forgive the gratuitous !!! but why buy when you can print?)
• A brilliant How-To-Do-Alluring(slightlysmoky)-Makeup tutorial! 'Nuff said.
• Pass the Sushi's individual bowls of Lasagna Soup. I think I found next Tuesday's dinner plans.
• Cookie Dough Dip? Seriously? Only the lactose intolerant and hatemongers wouldn't love this binge-worthy indulgence. Bring on the fat pants cause mama needs to get me some.
• Who wouldn't appreciate a Cake-in-a-Cup valentine? Kelly we salute you.

• And last, but certainly not least, an awesome mix of bourbon and yeast known as Jacked Up Banana Bread. My first attempt at banana bread in nearly a decade (sadly must admit) was a huge finger lickin' success! Go! Buy nasty nearly dead grocery store fruit! Bake! I will!  *[I did NOT find this through Foodgawker but rather another blogger who I can't for the life of me find at the moment. Regardless I love SmittenKitchen and seek advice often.]

You are most certainly very welcome for all the new and exciting time sucks I am here to offer.

 

#febphotoaday : buttons