Saturday Fun Day!!!

Today was a day of LOVE LOVE LOVE oh, and FUN!!

Our day started off with a nice crisp and warm scorching hot day in

.....MUSCATINE!!!

 I have this thing, you might call it a mild obsession with buttons. 

I LOVE THEM! They have so much character 

and i guess they each tell a little about history and just think 

about all the places they've been. 

Okay, I was honest with saying I might be a little obsessed. 

Anyway we ate lunch at the button factory, which is just a

Gem. Here's what we ate:

This was his...

This was mine. Corned Beef, Pastrami, Pepperjack cheese with 

sauteed onions and Dijon mustard.. YUM

After looking around and seeing the neat machines, I then got these!!

Aren't they NEAT!! Yeah i thought so too!!!

After eating we then walked around the Mississippi. We saw this CUTE

Pearl City boat

and some more around there!

This was a cute wading fountain that kids were running in. 

SO CUTE! and what a perfect way to spend a hot day!

Then there was more walking and picture taking

Now I know i could have stood a little straighter to look less

frompy, but this is a new skirt that i just LOVE. Its almost like

a thin tweed, and oh so comfy. 

I bought this, and when It on i said out loud that this is 

a B.A skirt. Click on the link to read this FABULOUS 

blogger. She is so fun and always gives you helpful tips!!

Yes I know, i am not a fashionista, by any stretch of the word

just always trying to find a cheaper way, of fitting into something

and bring comfortable yet able to move!!

Here are some more pics

My S.T U D L Y husband in all his glory!

Mr. Kimler isn't that short at 6'2, compared to that statue

he looks mini!!

After we got back we had a fundraiser for my work, 

Trivia Night actually, and this is after

coming home from that and maybe a bar, or club or you fill it in!!

I changed this up by wearing a new shirt from Old Navy on top as well. 

This skirt is really versatile! This whole outfit is actually from Old Navy!

And probably under like $12 bucks! Can't beat that!!

Here are some more details of the outfit!

 

the head band with flower is from Claire's

and the necklace is one that can hang down as a long necklace

It was a gift for Christmas, I think Kohls!

While at the fundraiser, there was also a silent auction, which i won

this!:

 

Hope you guys enjoyed this day as much as I did!!

Thanks again for tuning in. 

Also cupcake and "THE CAKE" are coming

sorry for the wait!!

<3 C.Kimler

blogging...

So I have realized recently that I LOVE following others'

blogs but really haven't put too much time into

MINE :(

I am now trying (trying to post on MY blog) to learn to DO IT. 

My Personal Goals are:

1. Post 3 times a week

2. Write about interests of mine- such as baking cakes, crafting,

etsy, bargins, learning to be a better wife.

3. Get more than 2 followers. 

one of which is my SIL who doesn't remember her password and

therefore shouldn't count. 

Hopefully we can do this. If there's anyone out there reading here's my question to you..

If you could change ONE thing you wish you had time to do, 

for YOURSELF what would it be?

-<3 C. K

some cupcakes I made to test new tips I used, for the cake.. which is to come!!!

being crafty...CAKES!!!

Sorry we have been MIA. We have been so busy with work, parties, wedding, activities in general
that I just have not posted as much as I wanted.


So a few weeks back now Austin was the photographer for a friend of ours Wedding:

* This is all of us Gamma Phi Delta's that were at the Lawrence Wedding!!! We are so happy for Kristen and Nick!

The next week I had been hired to make a coworker's MIL Wedding Cake. 

After some research I decided to go ahead and do it. 

Stay tuned, I'll post pics of this. 

Until then you can see it on Facebook:

MY FB

Also, we are planning a Kimler vacation trip at the end of this month!!

Here we come Washington D. C

-<3 the Kimlers!

Life's obstacles... and triumphs..

Wow, it has been a while since we have blogged, and for that I am sorry. Hopefully

we haven't lost your interest. 

I seems life has gone a little fast since March. Lets start off from March.

We shared our first year of Marriage on March 14th. We continued with a 

Kimler tradition by bringing your alter flowers for the alter at church on the Sunday closest

to your anniversary. It was wonderful. I surprised Austin by getting our wedding cake for our

anniversary and some special cupcakes for him!! 

We had breakfast with the whole Kimler family at the Lodge Hotel where our

reception was. It was great and we also got a beautiful book of our wedding pictures 

from Austin's Sister Valerie. 

Then came a really interesting surprise for us. Austin was called one day and asked to come in

for an interview at a local sign company in Bettendorf. He was learning so much

from working at Bankers and wasn't looking for a change. His luck and

obviously good looks charm landed him this new job. 

Austin switched quickly from selling insurance to being a full time Graphic Designer

and has been busy ever since. 

My job has has some serious learning experiences and for that i have learned and am 

grateful. Its not always easy, especially with some rude, disrespectful and lazy co workers.

Overall, I am really happy here and am glad to continue learning. 

Some other news, besides having birds in our wall, and now our basement/computer room/laundry room 

flooding and trying to get a hold of our landlords, it has been mostly a lot of doctor visits for me. 

I'm not going to get into too much detail, i guess for the sake of a emotional never ending rollercoaster long post. If you don't know, I have type-1 diabetes. As i have had this for sometime, it is never easy

nor fun to deal with. With that, i have also had some other complications with my liver. Sometimes i just don't know what to say to do. Nothing I CAN DO will change anything.

I know i have such a supportive husband and family (THANKS I LOVE YOU)

but it is still just so frustrating. Its just hard to handle life, when your

body has different agendas for you. 

Anyway, Sorry to be Debbie Downer. We have been staying pretty busy but trying to soak

up as much life as we can, because everyday is a new day

and we must be thankful for that. 

If you wouldn't mind sending some prayers this way for some 

reassurance and hope that whatever happens, i really

can make it through. 

Thanks again for following. We will try to update more frequently. 

Hugs and Kisses, 

C & K

Great Food...

Even though I have been workings TONS

here have been some of the foods i have made.

Notice, a few:)

 

Au Gratin Potatoes

I've never made this before, but i had too many potatoes to use. 

For this I used, (roughly)

8-10 russet potatoes( made two dishes)

1/2 lb of Velveeta Cheese, cut into small cubes

1/2-3/4 cup Sour Cream( 3 large spoon fulls)

2 tbsp butter for the topping

about 1/4 cup breadcrumbs

pepper and little salt

I pretty much just mixed all of the ingredients together, except the breadcrumbs and butter

so that every potato had cheese and sour cream on it.

I then put it into the dish and topped it with small tabs of butter 

with the breadcrumbs sprinkled on the top.

YUM, LOVED IT. I hate them because they have a odd cheese taste normally and are too watery 

for my liking, but this was perfect.

For Valentine's Day I made tri-colored

cupcakes for my clients at work. 

They really enjoyed them, and they were SUPER cute!

I made them using regular white cake mix, red food coloring, and strawberry flavoring oil.

All you do is pour 1/4 of the white cake batter in the muffin cups. (1 box made 24 cupcakes)

then you put a little red color in to make the remaining cake mix pink. Add strawberry oil (like 5-6 drops)

separate that in half and take one remaining half and color it a deeper red. 

 I used my PAMPERED CHEF Decorator Set

to squeeze the colors in the center. First the red then the pink.

(And the center has three different colors:)

For Austin and My 4th official year of dating, I made him

spicy burgers with fries and our favorite beers. 

I add veggies like green and red bell peppers, garlic, onion, chives and sometimes

roasted red peppers in my burgers to give Austin as many veggies as i can.

of course on whole wheat buns and

Austin's favorite... fries!!!

For those beer lovers, I had Fosters and he had Coors Light!

While craving peanut butter, i decided to amp up Austin's Grandmother's

DELICIOUS three ingredient PB Cookie. (She puts a chocolate star in the center,

however i didn't)

I made them 4 ingredient by adding Oatmeal(gotta get more fiber somewhere in these)

its just:

1 egg

1 cup sugar 

(i use half Brown Sugar and half White)

1 cup creamy Peanut Butter

and i added 1 cup Oatmeal

cook at 335 for about 8-10 minutes. 

Just so you know, once you start you can't stop!

Chicken Parmesan

I used what i had in the house and used the flat

lasagna no bake noodles and layered it with spaghetti sauce 

(about 3 layers)

then put slightly thawed chicken nuggets on the top together tightly

and put cheese and more sauce on top. 

Put in the oven at 350 for about 40 minutes, 20 covered and 20 not. 

Man, I surprised myself on this one!!!

Those are just a few I had the camera near me. 

Hope you enjoy!!!

Lately.... & Great Family

As February ended and March started there has been some changes

in this Kimler home..

For starters, If you didn't already know, Austin was offered a position

as a captive agent for Bankers Life and Causality Insurance here in Davenport.

As this is a new career move, for him, and for us

he has been working very very hard and reading lots and lots. 

He started off this journey with passing his State Licensing Exam here in Iowa.

The next step was traveling to Cedar Rapids all of last week for training. 

See..

His main office is here in Davenport, but his trainer and mentor you can say

works in the Cedar Rapids network. 

He stayed with friends Sam and Eric in Iowa City and drove each day. 

I guess its true what they say, about not knowing

how much you appreciate someone or something until it's gone. 

Boy was that me.

You really learn more about yourself when you are faced with simple tasks

that you take for granted when someone else does it. 

Such as, locking the doors at night, someone else doing the dishes when you are too tired,

having the heater turned on to heat the room while you brush your teeth,

having the humidifier filled and mostly the security you feel when someone else is just simply IN THE HOUSE. 

Man, I know I can take care of myself,

but it sure is nice to have someone around you

and that someone being the most special person ever..

your husband. 

 

(on our wedding day!)

This is my first REAL (open, no plans, no schedules, only one appointment, REST) 

weekend I have had in a W H I L E. 

Austin came home on Friday night, and since then he has been reading

and working, but enjoyment has been had. 

We really enjoy being reunited. 

As you might know, we try to take photos of ourselves each night and here are a few before Austin left:

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

and on the eve of his departure...

 (more photos were taken, with a sad face for me, however,

i didn't want to publicize to the world, how unfavorably

i look when frowning, which is why i try not to do it.)

He's back. And I Love IT, and HIM.

He heads back to CR again tomorrow morning, but only for the day. 

Also, for you all out there, a week from today we celebrate our 

1st Wedding Anniversary!!!

<3 C & A

Organization...

Have I mentioned enough that 

switching everything with my car from

Illinois to Iowa 

is not an easy or fun task. 

Lets just say this month i have to:

Renew My care insurance

Renew my Plate Sticker

Change my drivers license to Iowa

and

Get a new License Plate

REALLY, why in the world should ALL of this have to be done in the SAME MONTH. Why is this my luck.

AND we still have YET to file our taxes. 

Can you tell not only the stress is building but

I am so over worked and 

under rested.. ugghh

This is going to be a LONG

Expensive 

Month..

but we do have our anniversary in 15 days. 

Hard to be so excited when you have to pay out all this money

for your CAR.