3rd Annual Halloween Party

Its that time of year again folks! Feels like just yesterday!! Another year to show the Germs just what Halloween is about. Candy, Drinking, and Costumes! If you recall, last year our Halloween Party was actually our surprise wedding reception! Toblerone and I got married on October 26th and that evening, we had our Halloween Party. Just so happens that our Halloween Party would once again be on October 26th so we got to celebrate our Anniversary with everyone!!

This year I didn’t go all out as much as I did the years before as far as food and what not. I did my usual vegetable skeleton and a few snack items. Nothing too crazy. I didn’t want to spend the whole day cooking. I actually wanted to enjoy my own party!! Even though I turned it down a notch, it was still really stressful and I’m thinking this will actually be our last year of this stuff. The house was a disaster the day after and truthfully, friends, I’m too damn old!! Toblerone and I were David and Victoria Beckham this year. (sorry for the crappy quality! It’s the only pic we have and from an iPhone!)

The greatest part of this was an American friend of mine living in Stuttgart came for the party and we had a BLAST! This year we did a little beer pong and flip cup! That was FANTASTIC! I always get way excited about competitive drinking sports. Maybe a little too excited for my age! Anyways, here is a look into the evening! I just absolutely adore all the costumes the Germs come up with! So creative and cute! And they get into it!! No half-assing from them!!

And I want to thank my sweet husband for just being the greatest man in my life and I’m glad he picked me! 🙂

Wishing you all a very happy Halloween!! Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxo

Crazy Famous Germans

We know of the big ones like Albert Einstein, Beethoven, or Anne Frank but sometimes there are a few famous Germans who slip through the cracks! I’m here to enlighten you on the famous Germs who are still alive and kickin today! And since Halloween is right around the corner, maybe some of these will be your inspiration!!

Karl Lagerfeld
No one knows when he was really born but the assumption is somewhere between 1933-1938. Regardless, the dude is old. A German who is a staple to the fashion industry working for Chanel and Fendi as well as front running his own label. This dude actually changed his name, originally Lagerfeldt (with a “t) to Lagerfeld (without a “t”) because the latter sounded more commercial. Oh boy.

As far as we know, he’s not married but would prefer to marry his cat if it was legal. He’s not really setting the stage in a soft light for the Germans. lol…he’s a bit of a pill! But a German nonetheless! And I just found this picture of him with his glasses off! YIKES! But did anyone else notice how his “eyes” are still on the sunglasses in his hands. Look and you’ll see what I mean!

Harald Glööckler
I don’t even know where to begin with this guy. I don’t even know why he’s famous and I actually had to do some serious research to figure out his name. Originally I had him listed here as “chocolate dude with make up” for my notes. That doesn’t give me a lot! So, after reading a bit more about him. This is what I learned. Thank you wikipedia.de!!

Apparently this guy was the inspiration behind Sasha Cohen’s “Brüno.” Now I didn’t see the movie myself but I heard it was pretty risqué…so, now it all starts to come together! He’s a German fashion designer however, I’ve never see his stuff and quite frankly…I would NEVER buy from someone this whack!! Plus he has his own chocolate pralines!! Oh lord…

Dieter Thomas Kuhn
You’ve seen my post about him and his fake chest hair and shiny bell bottoms. To read up on him again click here.

Heidi Klum
We all know her. Who doesn’t?! She’s a wild thing! And it’s always fun to watch her host on Germany’s Next Top Model. I feel like she’s a totally different person when she’s in her homeland and speaking in her native tongue. Nonetheless, this spunky lady makes it on the crazy list!

Daniela Katzenberger
Playboy bunny material with her bleach blonde hair and large chest. She has her own show and its actually super entertaining. She’s funny and real which I enjoy. I think she plays the dumb blonde sometimes but she really is pretty intelligent, in my opinion. She’s a nude model…sooo….shes liked by all sorts!

Uto Lindenberg
I’m not exactly sure how this guy became famous. He sounds like a chain smoker when he sings…probably because he is. But back in the day he was a stud with the ladies and made loads of money. Now, he does a few appearances from time to time and doesn’t own a home. He lives in a hotel, probably for the housekeeping and bar!

Know of any other Germans that you think should be added to the list?!? Leave your pick in the comments below!

Until next time, Readers!!! Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Are You Deutschland’s Next Superstar

The first few years of American Idol it was whacko how popular that show was. Even more whacko that there were so many good singers out there. I mean, the people who made it into the top ten of each season were pretty incredible. Heck, even the top twenty five! It produced a few good people like Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Carrie Underwood. All the others kind of just flopped to my knowledge. But this show went viral and in many countries around the world started their own version.

There is the Arab Idol:

There is Norway Idol (pay close attention to her pronunciation of English words):

But here is one in their own language:

Thailand with a talented Transgender:

And of course….Deustchland’s Superstar. The only issue is, I think due to regulations on streaming video I can’t find much from the actual show. So, this will have to do. This girl is one of the 2 finalists at the end of the show which was SHOCKING! I’m not exactly sure how many tone deaf people actually reside in Germany, but clearly there are millions if they voted for her to the top. This was a song she sang at the finals and it sounded exactly like this so this is as close I can get it. If you can make it through the whole thing then high five!

My dog could do that better! But anyways…luckily, she didn’t win. Thank my bleeding ears because we all know the German radio is bad already, they don’t need to make it worse.

The winner however, is actually a real German girl singing REAL German music. And by German music I mean what they call “schlager.” This is like Barney on crack but usually the songs are primarily about love and happiness. Nothing really too sad or angry about them. These are also known as their “party songs.”

This girl stuck with her genre the entire show which I thought was true to Deustchland’s Idol. Why force a different language? This is not the show but this is her with her winning song “My heart is burning when I see you.” She’s singing against a recording since that’s just something they have no shame in here, most perform that way on tv. Take a listen:

Moral of the story: Stick to singing your own language! Except if you’re Norwegian, since they somehow have an exceptional ear for learning how to sing in English! I get the reason for singing in English is in hopes that your song makes it big in the world but there is something special about singing something in your own language.

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxo

Let’s All Go To The Movies

Every time I go by the local movie theater I always glance to see what has come out so I know when to download them in English. So often, the titles are so bizarre and out of context. I found a few that I found over the past few months to share with you! Check out the translations! Most of these they could translate exactly as it is…like the first one here, “The Last Song…” Easily could be translated to “Die Letzte Lied.” Not only that but that is what the book AND the movie is about! The Last damn Song!!! Just goes along with my theory that the Germans make life WAY more complicated than it needs to be. But moving on…. 🙂

I tried to just see what these translate to in Google Translate and it literally gives you the exact movie translation…not the literal translation. When I googled “Einmal ist Keinmal” google told me it was “One for the Money.” Google…you are LIARS!!! Thanks to Toblerone and my ridiculously large vocabulary of the German language *sarcasm*, I was able to translate for you just what each is! 🙂 Have a laugh or two! 🙂

The Last Song 

Mit dir an meiner Seite  = With you on my side

Charlie St.Cloud

Wie durch ein Wunder = Miraculously

A Walk to Remember

Nur mit dir = Only with you

The Lovely Bones

In Meinem Himmel = In My Heaven

The Parent Trap

Ein Zwilling kommt selten allein = A Twin Seldom Comes Alone

Grab Life By The Ball – Dodgeball

Voll auf die Nüsse – Dodgeball = Full of the Nuts – Dodgeball

The Notebook

Wie ein einziger Tag = Every Single Day

K-9

Mein Partner mit der kalten  schnauze = My Partner with the Cold Snout

One For The Money

Einmal ist keinmal = Once is Never

Dear John

Das Leuchten der Stille = The Light in the Quiet(Still)

Steak Au Poivre (Steak with Peppercorns)

As I mentioned in my new year resolution long term/short term goals, I have decided that we need to eat healthier. We all know that grabbing a twinkie or a bagel with cream cheese is never good for you. I’ve definitely graduated from the nights of the ramen noodle or the frozen chicken nuggets. Now in all honesty, I think the last time I had all of that stuff had to be well over 5 years ago and I don’t crave it one bit! I’m perfectly ok with ordering a salad in a restaurant and I turned something like the going to the gym into a habit and a way of life (Thanks to my wifelet for that one!)

So with that being said, I’m still a human. I still love food and I’ve learned to love cooking. Diet food is bland and boring and I’m a “spice whore.” I don’t want my potatoes to be plain, I want them to taste like garlic. Get what I’m saying? Yup, spice whore. I like it. 🙂 Thank you to the GORGEOUS Rocco Dispirito who published his cookbook “Now Eat This!”  As a chef, he keeps the flavor together but he worked with a nutritionist to knock the calories and fat grams out. I encourage you all to make these small changes to your every day cooking! Let’s remove the stereotype that all Americans are overweight!! 🙂

Toblerone’s Tasting Table:

Well, most Americans are right ?!?! Just kidding 🙂 The Germans are the fattest people all over Europe, so that tells you enough about our eating habits…

Now to the steak, I have to admit that my friend Max and I got this served after about 6 hours of PS3 gaming, 6 big beers each and an hour of jacuzzi at least which overall made us super hungry for almost anything.

However, I really liked what I got there. The meat was very tender and the pepper cognac mix on top added a very spicy almost hot flavor. Overall I would say a 8. Since I really love to eat spicy food, this was exactly what I needed after a long day of gaming 🙂
Until next time readers…
Cheers, Toblerone

Normal Steak Au Poivre:                                                                                          Calories 1,325                    Fat  86.3 grams

Revised by Rocco:                                                                                                  Calories 294                        Fat  7.8 grams

What you will need:

4 Tablespoons and 1 teaspoon very coarsely ground black pepper

Four 4-ounce lean filet mignon (about 1 inch thick)

Salt

Nonstick cooking spray

2 Tablespoons Brandy or Cognac

1 1/2 Cups Evaporated skim milk

1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1. Heat a skillet over high heat

2. On a plate, place 4 Tablespoons pepper and season steak with salt and cover completely only one side of the steak. You may need to press the steak down so the pepper sticks on there good. I didn’t have any problems with it.

3. When the pan is hot enough, spray in cooking spray – a generous amount. Add in steaks, pepper side down first. Cook both sides until desired and transfer to another plate.

4. Add in brandy or cognac and remaining 1 teaspoon pepper. While the brandy reduces, whisk evaporated skim milk and cornstarch in a small bowl. I couldn’t find evaporated skim milk so I used regular skim milk.

5. When brandy reduces to about half, whisk in milk mixture. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and whisk constantly until the sauce thickens. Note: Since I used only milk & Cornstarch, I added in a beef flavored bouillon cube for extra taste.

6. Spoon sauce over steaks and voila!

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Together Let’s Fight For Sarah’s Life

I’m just going to come right out and say it. CANCER SUCKS! But one thing that Cancer can’t affect is the amount of love and support that comes around when the “C word” is uttered. I’ve directly been affected  with Cancer in my family and I always try to do what I can when I have the means to. One thing that is free to give…LOVE. Another thing….SUPPORT. I know all of you know someone, directly or indirectly, who has been affected by cancer. However, for me, I feel that no matter if you know the person or not your support can be healing in more ways than one. That’s why I’m joining in the fight. Sarah’s fight. Won’t you join me?

Since Sarah is from Maine I’m targeting all my Mainer friends to pull through and head out to the benefits to do your part. You wouldn’t believe the kind of love one can feel from the kindness of a stranger. For the rest of you, no excuses. I’m 3,000 miles away and supporting this girl with loads of love!

Sarah is a 26 year old mother, wife, daughter, friend, and identical twin. She was 24 when they discovered she had a brain tumor which she kicked out in the summer of 2011. Five weeks later the tumor had returned and this time it was deemed, “inoperable.” She and her family are now in the fight for her life and every bit of support will help. I know this hits home for many of you so let’s see what we can do to offer a heartfelt, ” BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF CANCER” for Sarah. Let’s let her know that the world is cheering her on and we have her back.

She’s currently receiving chemotherapy treatments at the Infusion Center of Tufts Medical Center in Boston and the traveling in itself is tiring but we know the worst of it isn’t the travel time. Six days ago she completed her second chemo treatment and a few weeks ago, her beautiful daughter just started Kindergarten. Aside from the battle she is fighting she has a life to live, memories to make, identical smiles to share with her twin sister, kisses to give her highschool sweetheart husband, and hugs to wrap around her baby girl. Someone as beautiful as her deserves this chance. She can beat this and the more support the better.

How can you help? Great question….there are many ways to help!

Help 1: Join her facebook site and send her some support. Give her a shout-out. Tell her that you care about her from miles away or from next door. For those of you in Maine, they are constantly updating with benefits and spaghetti dinners that are happening. They have a Halloween Bash coming up so dress up and go have some fun!

Sarah’s Fight On Facebook

Help 2:  A great friend set up a blog for her with all the benefits, updates, pictures, and videos. I encourage you to go check it out and learn more about Sarah and her beautiful family.

Sarah’s Fight On Blogspot

Help 3: Purchase a bracelet. You can currently do so at selected stores and places around Maine. Please go grab one! Only $2.00, skip the latte and do something better with your money!

A Support Bracelet For Sarah

She’s one of the most fabulous people in the world for many reasons but one that is quite inspiring is she has started a project to provide housing to families that are fighting this disease. As if she doesn’t have enough to think about, she continues to think for others and how she can help make it easier for those that need to travel for treatments find housing close-by to the medical facilities. Read more about her amazing work here and also on her blog.

I know there are many people in the world fighting a battle right now. Our hearts are with every single person battling Cancer. Let’s fight with Sarah, give it your all, she sure as hell is!

Sarah – You are not alone. People all over the world are pulling for you! We put our boxing gloves on and we’re ready to knock Cancer out! Your smile is inspiring and will continue to win over the hearts of your supporters…your own personal army! Keep up the good fight – we’ve got your back.

30 Day Blog Challenge – Day 17

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

I’m not sure I like this topic. I mean, what are the rules? Can I keep anything I find or purchase as that other person? If so, I would obviously want to be a princess and I would buy out the town. But then that’s too easy and would get boring. I can only shop for a little while before I get too tired!

Maybe it would be cool to be a doctor for a day and not be terrified of needles. Possibly save a  life or maybe two lives! Then again, I wouldn’t want to risk losing a life.

Maybe a Mountaineer and attempt to climb Everest (after already being acclimated to the oxygen levels and such of course.) Then again, I don’t really like the cold and that seems like too much of a hassle for me.

Maybe I would be a top CEO at Disney and tell people what to do and make decisions on new rides and such. Then again, that seems stressful.

Maybe a celebrity for a day. I would shop all day, get starbucks, and then have a concert later in the evening and bask in the glory of people singing my songs and screaming my name. Then again, I can do that in my parent’s living room and still get the same amount of attention.

If I have to switch lives for one day, I would choose a girl who is lost and has no where to go. A homeless girl. I would switch lives so she could see from on my side that a simple life is as good as any. That dreams are definitely something to strive for but a good wholesome life is the first step. She would learn that family is the foundation to any life and that having few things you need really means having it all. She could see that the best gift is giving herself the courage to find better. Hopefully she would realize that somewhere out there is a place for her to call home and that people love her no matter what.

In the meantime, in her life I would get her started. Get her goals prioritized. Get a clean shower, nice clothes, a full belly and start the contact back home to her family. I would look for starter jobs and ask for the help of those in shelters and in food pantries. I would hit the streets and ask every store manager if they could use any help. At the end of the 24 hours, I would have hoped to get this girl turned around and given a second chance. Save a life.

Why? Because everyone deserves a second chance at a better life. Mine may not have been perfect in the past and probably still isn’t but I overcame some greater obstacles and beat the odds. Unlike some people I know that were born on a silver platter and fed with a sliver spoon. Daddy and Mommy pay for everything and bail you out of your affairs in your marriage and pay for you to move all over the place. The rest of the world struggles. Life gets boring without the struggles and the hard times. Gives you something to work for, makes you more creative with your means.

That’s who I want to be. Who would you want to be if you were given 24 hours?

Until next time, Readers!! xoxoxoxo