Happy 4th of July! Family, Friends, BBQ, and Beer.

Happy 4th Everyone!!

Lane: I have to say that this was one of the best 4th of July celebration weekends I've ever had! 

 

Chuck and I decided to throw a little BBQ at his place since he has an amazing view of DC!  We could actually see four different counties fireworks from his balcony!!  So glad we captured the finale fireworks in pictures as well!!  Only issue is... we were being silly in all of them!  Hahaha.  Regardless - Great memories.

The rest of the weekend consisted of golfing, watching movies, and TONS of pool time!!

Chuck will be off to school soon for a couple months so we have been trying to do as many fun activities in the summer as we can!  

 

I'm starting to realize how hard it is going to be away from his for so long!  The longest we've gone apart now is 3 weeks... It won't be too bad since I'll be visiting him in the middle.  Is it dorky that I'm ALREADY excited for that weekend!? 

 

 This is a short post just because we wanted to post a little sumpthin sumpthin since it's almost been a month since our last post!  We have a couple that are brewing at the moment, but just taking some tender loving time and care to create them :)  Hope everyone had an amazing weekend as well!!  Cheers!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHUCK!! Great date ideas - Ziplining and Water Rafting and Baking cakes!

Lane: 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHUCK!!!

SAENG-il CHU-kah HAM-ni-dah,
SAENG-il CHU-kah HAM-ni-dah,
SA-rang Ha-neun Chuckkkk,
SAENG-il CHU-kah HAM-ni-dah

 (In Korean)

We had so much fun celebrating Chuck's birthday!! So this is my version, but I bet Chuck will try and correct me, but for his LAST birthday.... He spent it alone!  It was three or four days after the first time we met, and unfortunately, I was still dating someone else... Poor thing told me that he was eating his favorite Korean food all by himself!! So I had to put EXTRA effort in this year to make up for missing his last :)

The day started off by getting woken up with a present on the stomach!

This present was actually from his best friend!  We have set up a system that Warren will send the presents to me so I can wrap them and surprise Chuck!!  I love it. Hahah~

Then I let him know to bring a change of clothing because we would be getting wet and muddy!  Took a two hour drive to West Virginia to do some ziplining and water rafting!  He swears he was surprised!

Ziplining was a blast.  I've never been so I was a bit scared and nervous. I'm not good with heights!  Chuck was so supportive and kept telling me it was going to be no biggie once I jumped off the platform!  

 

AND he was right.  It was a blast!!

The group that we went ziplining with was super nice too.  On our last swing down, Chuck was the last one to go... so I informed everyone that it was Chuck's birthday and that I had a surprise cake that everyone was welcome to come get a taste!

And they all showed up!  It was great!

 They all met us where I set up the cake and we all sang a HORRIBLY pitched happy birthday to Chuck.  I loved it! To see Chuck smile so deeply, I smiled just as deep!

 After lunch, we went water rafting which was a total blast!  Our guide was very adventurous and had us surfing the little waves with our entire boat!! It is very hard to explain, but it was just TOO fun!

The cake is a whole story in itself.  I don't have an electric mixer, so I blended some of the ingredients and tried to combine MULTIPLE pintrest ideas... Lets just say it was an interesting nutella and strawberry pound cake - injected with butter... HAHA!

 

All in all, a wonderful day.  It's been a little bit of a hard time these days for us as a team, so a day like today is exactly what we needed to lift our spirits.  We've hit a chapter in our lives together that is a bit bumpy... but I am PROUD to say that we are working very hard through them.  I'm sure we will post soon with advice and knowledge of what we go through and how we worked on the team.  It all includes situations of sickness, frustrations, and learning how to fight and WHY we fight.  It's interesting to me to see troubles that couples post online, because it's only human to want to share ONLY the successes and happiness... but sometimes the dark needs to be shared as well.  It's just a part of life!  Regardless of what we go through, I promise Chuck that I will ALWAYS be by his side as his teammate and as his one true love.  Through thick and thin baby!

 Chuck:  Yes I was surprised by it all... From presents to the zip lining and rafting, which I have never rafted before.



So with presents, both Lane and Warren got me these amazing shirts and shorts from a workout clothing line that I have become a fan of, HTFU, which is amazing for working out in!!! I was also surprised with a Burberry shirt, since I have been wanting one.



This birthday made up for the past 6 years that did not go well or I was in a place that I couldn't celebrate it.  Lane is right in saying we have hit a bumpy road in our journey together.  We have been working through it and discovering ourselves even more.  She is definitely my leaning post right now and is feeling the frustrations from it.  But that is for another post.



Well, we hope you all have a great week!  We are headed to Colorado this weekend... Another post to come soon :)  Please everyone, tell everyone in your life that you love... "I love you" this week.  Even if it's cheesy or random -- It'll be worth it. 

Memorial Day Weekend - Strawberry Banana Pancakes/Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Lane:

Memorial Day weekend = a blessing.  I just have to first give a moment to Chuck and his fellow brothers and sisters in arms that they were on my mind all weekend - so thankful for what they sacrifice for my/our country.  

With that being said, what is the best way to your man's heart?? Through his belly!! 

 

 We made a trip to the farmers market where Chuck found a loaf of Zucchini bread that he almost finished while we walked around.  Haha!

Plenty of strawberries were purchased, hence my recipes!

 Starting off, I made strawberry banana pancakes that turned out delish:

 

Ingredients needed:

1 cup almond flour
1 cup brown rice flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon palm sugar

1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups milk (dairy or nondairy)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup mashed banana (2 large bananas)
1 cup chopped strawberries

The actual recipe I followed:

http://chefthisup.com/recipe/7738/strawberry-banana-pancakes/

The only things I substituted was the types of flour.

 

Next thing I made was very similar in ingredients.  The recipe that I modeled my cupcakes after is found: http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/strawberry-shortcake-cupcakes/

Ingredients I used:

1 1/2 cups almond flour

1 1/2 cups brown rice flour

2 cups palm sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 large eggs

2 cups butter, softened

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 ctn whole strawberries

1 package cream cheese

1 container of marshmallow cream

Everything in my recipe was the same except for a couple ingredients.  Also, the icing was a blended mixture of one package of cream cheese mixed with the marshmallow creme -- easiest icing and SO tasty!  It was nice a thick in order to "glue" cut up strawberries on the top.  I didn't want to cut out and waste any of the cake portion.  

The topping is just cut up strawberries that I covered with a sprinkle of sugar for an hour or so.

 

SO yummy!

 

The rest of the weekend consisted of watching movies... BBQing... Spending time with our godsons.

 

For example, teaching them to flex!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at teamhalfie@gmail.com -- either about recipes or any of random questions!!  We are always welcome to helping!  Hope everyone enjoys their short week :)  Cheers!

Chuck:  I would like to send out a special thank you to all of you who read our blog that support US Troops, no matter which branch of service.  Some of us join without a choice of better life, some of us because it is our family heritage, and some of us do it because we feel the need within us to serve our country and protect our fellow American.  

I had the blessed opportunity to take a photo with a little boy while visiting Arlington Cemetery to lay flowers to a fallen, who thanked me for what I do.  That is the greatest gift you can give this Soldier.

Valentines Day -- His and Her point of view

***UPDATE 15 FEB 2013 - AMAZING Valentines day!  You know.. Even though we mentioned that a couple based on team characteristics, should celebrate their relationship constantly... it was very nice to celebrate our first valentines together in style!!  I was in such awe with Chuck's celebration!  He picked an phenomenal restaurant, with a perfect reservation time, and beautiful long stemmed roses -- I was truly impressed!  - Lane 



**UPDATE 13 FEB 2013 - Look at who decided to give in and surprise me?? Chuck's exact romantic words to me were: "I'm going to wine and dine that ass."  Oh how I love him. - Lane



VALENTINES DAY

His and Her point of view

___________________________________________________________________________

Lane:  Ohhh Valentines day... You would think that me, being a female, would absolutely love this holiday -- wrong.  It's a very "hallmark" type holiday which can be a bit overly cheesey.   Now.... Will I say that I would not be a tad bit sad if Chuck didn't do something a little special for the day?  Nope! Haha!! 

 Earlier in the week, Chuck asked me what I would like to do on Valentines day... and I responded with a "Oh!  Weren't you going to put together a little surprise??", and he said "Oh yes! I totally forgot................"  Haha Oh, I love him.  

Now, is this fair?  Is it fair to expect a special surprise/dinner/gift on a holiday made up by the retail industry?

Shouldn't a team-based relationship have these types of special appreciation days randomly throughout the year -- instead of being forced to celebration on a specific day?  

For a while, it didn't seem fair to me, until Chuck introduced me to "Steaks and BlowJobs Day" on March 14th!  Hahaha Am I the only one that has never heard of this?? It took Chuck a couple minutes to actually convince me that it was a real holiday versus something he just made up very quickly.  Check it out!  www.steakandbj.org

Hilarious!  

Now, I don't feel bad at all for getting a little special attention on Valentines day since one month later... Chuck will get a special day himself :) XO.

____________________________________________________________________________

Chuck: Yes I admit I made the typical guy mistake and asked, "Baby what would like to do for Valentines day?"  In my defense I was still jet lagged from traveling overseas when I asked her this, that is my story and I am sticking to it ;P
So I have come across a dilemma as I do want to make it a special day because of the whole "Hallmark" emphasis this day has.... Should I do original and get chocolate and flowers? But chocolate goes against our diet plans and flowers die... Do I get her a gift like jewelry or something of the sort? But then would I objectify our relationship to how much bling bling I can provide her... Or do a fancy dinner or make something at home? We all know fancy dinners out is hectic and knowing us making something at home we will get distracted with each other and end up having sex in the kitchen (wishful thinking I know)... Or a combination of all.... No matter what I will discover the perfect Valentines for her, not because it is the day but because I LOVE her and want to make it super special on that day.... *gag worthy brownie point comment I know ;) 

As for Steak and BJ Day.... Google it, it is legit! They even have T-Shirts! Heck think of the laughs you would get if you got your significant other one, just saying...