New Cookies!

New Cookies!!!!

So I just got some new cookie cutters and was dying to experiment with them.  I definitely mixed too many different things at once and so it took me foreeeeever to frost them all because I had to keep switching colors... but in the end I think they are cute.  :)  

I just wish I waited a little longer to pipe some because parts that weren't fully dry did bleed a little.  But its a work in progress :)  I also stacked some in containers a little premature because we were rushing out the door so a few parts got smushed.  Argh... BUT its fun to play around.  I also have been looking at ideas for a long time in books, websites, etc...and of course do not remember the random sites I checked. So if any of these designs are yours, please let me know so I can give you credit!

With Valentine's Day coming up, I thought it was a perfect time to start working on some fun lovey cookies!

I'm hoping to put together some cookie bouquets too.

Baby shower cookies!

The cakes ones are so fun.  You can use them for a wedding shower, birthday party, wedding reception, anything really because cakes are used to celebrate everything!!

The shirts are great too to use as jerseys, company logos (JUGS is an event planning company I work for in Malta) or just fun random city/country shirts!!

I wasn't sure how the hello kitty would come out, but besides mixing too many wet colors on the cookies, I think they are fun for a birthday party!

Hope your weekend is going well!!  We are waking up at 2am to watch the Broncos game tonight :)  Watching the game with friends and then making breakfast afterwards.  I'm making my mommas breakfast casserole and a cinnamon something recipe from Pinterest.  Check back tomorrow to see how they turned out!!

Today's Fixin's

I experimented today with some new recipes from Pinterest.  I'm excited to share them with you because they all turned out great and you should try them too!!  

The first one I did was the fair style, fresh squeezed lemonade.  I wanted to make it so it tasted as delicious as the cup you get at festivals.  I researched a bunch of different recipes and ended up using this:

(love having a lemon tree in our yard!)

1 Cup Water + 1 Cup Sugar

Heat this up in a pan until the sugar is all dissolved.

Squeeze enough lemons to make 1 Cup of Lemon Juice.  Mix the sugar water and lemon juice together in a pitcher.  Add 3 cups of cold water.  Chill.  

Delicious and refreshing!

The second recipe I tried was Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes.  They turned out delicious (well Marshall ate them.... I just had a bite).  But I love cinnamon so I really liked them. 

You can use a homemade pancake recipe listed on the website, but I just used Bisquick.

Mix together 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 6 TBSP cold butter, and some cinnamon.

Try and crumble it as best as you can.

Cook the pancakes like normal... just sprinkle the streusel mix on the top, and then after you flip it... put it on the other side as well.  Both sides should be coated.

I know its not very pretty... but it definitely tasted great!!  We skipped the butter, but did use maple syrup on top.  Mmmmmm!!!

Before I started with dinner... I made our salads.  Just thought I would share this...

I don't remember if it was like this in the states but the lettuce here has lots of little bugs in it.  I mean you have to fully scrub each piece of lettuce and pick out the bugs.  Its an annoying process.  

And if you don't want to pick out the bugs, you can buy this super small head of lettuce that often has snails on the inside.  Gross.  To get an idea of what size this is... make the same shape with your hand that I am making!  Crazy right?!

The third recipe I tried was this Sweet Potato Recipe.  I actually didn't even know how much I love sweet potatoes until recently.  These melt in your mouth and are delicious.  I added a dash of cinnamon to a few to see which ones we prefered.  I think we both agreed the little bit of cinnamon made it even better!  Try it both ways to find out what you love!!

These were ridiculously easy.  I think I will make these for dinner at least once a week.  Not only are they so healthy, but taste amazing too!!

First step...  slice the sweet potato about 1/2" thick.  Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt.  I used Tastefully Simples Seasoned Salt.  Its the best!  Then you bake them for 20 minutes, flipping once at 350°.  Turn the oven up to 400° and bake an additional 15-20 minutes flipping one more time.  

The fourth recipe I made for dinner was Alice Springs Chicken.   This is apparently identical to a dish they serve at outback.  

You should know if you despise mustard, this probably isnt a recipe for you.  I am one who cant stand mustard.  But I knew a lot of meals were cooked with mustard and I thought I would still try it and see how much it cooks down.  Well the sauce you mix up is almost like a honey mustard-ish sauce.  Some people might not taste the mustard but I could see the yellow and smell it so I didnt have any part in that.  I just put the sauce on Marshall's piece of chicken and left it off mine.  Worked great.  I didn't taste it either.  :)

To start it off, you need about 3/4 chicken breasts at 1/2" thick...or so.  Sprinkle both sides with seasoned salt and put it back in the fridge for 30 minutes.  

Mix together:  1/4 cup mustard, 1/3 cup honey, 2 TBSP mayo, and 2 TSP onion flakes.  I didn't have flakes, powder, anything really...so I just crunched up some French Fried Onions.  :)  I think it was fine.  :)

Cook about 6 pieces of bacon in a frying pan.  Use the same grease to saute the chicken until slightly browned.  2-3 minutes on each side.  

The recipe calls for Colby Jack cheese, which I did not have...so I just shredded some cheddar and monterey jack and it did the trick.  Use whatever you have.

Pour the sauce over the chicken and then slice about a cup or so of mushrooms and lay them on top.

Bacon next... and cheese on top.

Yummy!!!

All these recipes will definitely be making their way into my recipe box to make again.  

Hope your week is going well!!  Cook anything fun this week?  Share your recipe with me!  I'm loving trying new things!!  XOXO

Why he is the one...

There is a song by Ben Folds called The Luckiest.  I think it fits perfectly.  I truly feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world.  Not only did I find the perfect man for me, but I know he is the one God picked as well.  Here are a few reasons why...  (p.s... this is kind of a gag post.  Sorry in advance :)

He loves me unconditionally.  When I decide to break out into an awkward dance or sing Mariah Carey at the top of my lungs...he laughs and says Oh babe.  Sometimes he sings along ;)  shhh.

He is the perfect balance.  He definitely has the tough, rugged, Marine side to him, but he also is compassionate and communicates well.  I'm so thankful he can separate work and home.

He is my hero.  His dedication to his country and his mission is something I've never known before.  He is so selfless.  I am learning so much from him.

He loves to be playful and has a witty sense of humor.  As much as I whine when he holds me in his farts or scares me when I walk into a room... I love that he is such a kid at heart.  He ALWAYS is making me laugh.  Usually to the point of tears.  :)

He is honest and loyal.  I know without a doubt that I can trust him.  That is one of the greatest gifts to me.  

He is Adventurous.  Spontaneous.  Dangerous.  There is something pretty sexy about that.

He shares almost all of the same interests as me.  I really wish he wouldn't complain so much when I want to watch The Devil Wears Prada... but I guess I should be thankful he is a good sport.  We love to play games, watch sports, spend time with our families, and hang out at cool local pubs.  

He is super supportive when it comes to being away from home.  He knows how close I am with my family and is always offering to let me go home at any time if I need to.  He also hugs me when I cry because I just miss them so much.

He lets me be me.  I know I'm anal sometimes and I like things certain ways.  I love holiday decorating and celebrating everything.  I like to bake and be creative.  I'm always wanting to start a new project.  He is pretty great at letting me do my thing.  He only reminds me to not get too crazy.  :)  

He is my safe haven.  I think if we can live through the Tunisian revolution together, we can survive anything.  Even though we weren't together through that scary period... just hearing his voice and reassuring words were all I needed.  He helped me through the most difficult time in my life.  This picture is from the first day we were allowed out!!

He is the most amazing protector and provider.  He is my superman.  I feel like he could take on the world and anyone who messed with me.  It's a pretty great feeling to have such a tough man by your side.  :)  I feel so safe in his arms.  I just love it.  

(yes this thing was trying to rent a room for the night...thank goodness Marshall was home)

He is going to be the most amazing daddy.  I think it was the first thing I fell in love with...  When we were in Burundi together and he came out to play with me and the street kids, he was a natural.  He jumped right in and started kicking the ball around with them, picking them up and swinging them.  Hugging them.  Being involved.  He cared.  Genuinely...  and it stole my heart.  

He loves Jesus and shares great conversations with me. 

He is very respectful.  Although he can be quite the smart ass and funny guy, he has utmost respect for so many people.  I admire how he handles relationships.  

He just makes me the happiest girl in the world.  From the beginning of our relationship, a song would play often that we fell in love with.  Its One More Day by Diamond Rio.  It has kind of been our theme song, because all we ever prayed for was One More Day together.  God has blessed us more than words can explain... and nothing will make me happier than spending the rest of my life with this man.  I can't wait to be Mrs. Jessica Blair and start a family together!!  

Take time today to tell someone how much they mean to you.  Each day is definitely a gift...cliche or not, its the truth.  Happy Hump Day!!  xoxoxo

My first day of work in...

I don't even know how long.  Being overseas with Marshall is one of the greatest blessings to me.  I get to spend everyday with the main man in my life.  With it is also a cost.  As a lot of you overseas spouses know, you kind of lose your sense of identity a little bit.  You no longer have your job, your car, your belongings, your friends, family, hang outs, comfort zones.... everything pretty much stays put in the U.S.

For me, I would give up anything to be with him and for him to not be deployed.  That's ridiculously scary territory and knowing what his job is... I'd prefer to keep him close to me.  So you adjust.  You make do.  You try to fit in and adapt... make new friends and try to read foreign food labels so you can cook dinner.  Don't get me wrong, we are extremely lucky to be able to experience other cultures and live in beautiful places.  Its amazing and I am definitely grateful for that aspect.  

But you still have your day to days.  Where you have to make yourself do something productive instead of just laying around watching Desperate Housewives online.  You really don't have that good friend to call and go to the mall with and to lunch.  And for me, its borderline impossible to get a job because of the work permit allowances in Malta.  As far as embassy jobs, a family member always out ranks me, so I'm dropped there as well.  

Thank goodness for my friend Heather who works for an event planning company and posted about needing part time help.  I went in for an interview and was accepted into their team.  It's an awesome company that hosts a wide variety of events for companies and businesses traveling to Malta.  Today I got called to work!  WOOO HOOOO!!  Not working in a few years definitely hinders your normal purchases and its been a huge sacrifice for me.  But I'm so glad to be doing something here and there.  

What we did today was hold a team building exercise down on the beach for a Swedish Company.  There were about 130 people (99% men), but very diverse nationalities.  We gave each team (13 total) 3 decent size pieces of cardboard, a bunch of plastic, two wooden oars, and tape... and they had to make a boat out of that.  Each team then had to have 1-2 people go in the boat and around a buoy and then back.  We gave them points on how fast they were, originality, and team logo design.  It was funny watching them try to figure out what to do.  It also was super windy and freezing out, so I give a lot of credit to those who got in the water.  

 (this is just a random picture I found online... I didnt take any today)

My job?  I had to help the rest of the team set everything up, help with questions during the event, and then tear down at the end and clean up.  It was soooo great to be around people and be social.  I loved it.  Not a bad day in the office at all.  I hope they call me again for more events.  I know winter is pretty slow, but hearing about all the fun stuff they do in the summer has me excited :)  Its great to feel like a person again!  Or to have purpose :)  

I'm also trying to get involved in the refugee camp here.  They are super picky about who they allow to volunteer which is weird to me, but I'm trying to get in.  I'd love to volunteer at least once a week and I know Marshall wants to go as well.  So I think that will help to.  

I hope you are having a great start to your week!!  Sending big hugs to all my friends overseas who might need one today!!!  xoxo