Caramel Popcorn AND Chocolate, of course.

So last week, on a whim, Hans and I decided to try our hand at making caramel popcorn. My darling husband is an expert popper in general, so I thought we should take it to the next level. It was so easy and so fun! Here's the tutorial I used in case you wish to caramelize your own life.

Hans and his beautifully popped popcorn, with all the kernals removed. So pretty.

And here's the final outcome. Ohmygoodness. It was amazing!
It made a complete mess in the kitchen, but totally worth it, don't you think?

Judith Louise or Amy Louise?

So this morning, after blow-drying my hair and putting on an Ann Taylor top, I looked in the mirror and saw my mother staring back! But it's my mother in the late sixties/early seventies. My hair is getting long and becoming a little beehive-y, paired with the ruffles on my top, I am officially my radical mother! (She's a foxy lady, so I certainly don't mind.)

$6.50

Ever since coming back from Bali, we've been a little bit lazy with our dinners. We may have become accustomed to having our food served to us on the beach, while we sip sparkling fruit drinks and only paying $10.

Papa John's has become our go-to meal for the past few weeks, which, don't get me wrong, is delicious, but not super healthy. But it's only $6.50 for a large pepperoni pizza, which feeds us both!

So I've decided to challenge us this week to come up with dinner every night for $6.50 for the both of us. Do you have any recipe ideas? I only have one so far!

I'm excited to see what we come up with, and please, no judgement if one of those meals is a pizza.

Bali Part I

Ok ok, I know we got back 2 weeks ago, but the lady has things to do! But I've finally transferred, cut down and edited a few photos for your viewing pleasure. Now keep in mind that I was busy enjoying my trip, so I didn't get a pic of everything under the sun, but just the things that really delighted me (which was mostly Hans and myself, little narcissistic, I think).

Here's Hans relaxing on one of the beds at Ku De Ta. We literally bathed in the sun while people served us snacks and delicious drinks. (Hans' favorite was a vanilla bean lime cooler, and I liked the sparkling lime!)

This is Hans kissing me right before we watched the SILLIEST dance performance we've ever seen. I didn't realize twitching was dancing, but apparently to the Balinese it's a very traditional twitching dance with importance to their culture. But Hans and I realized quickly that we just aren't the "cultured" type. The show was shaping up to be more than 2 hours, so we slipped out at about 45 minutes and giggled all the way back to the hotel.

Here we are on the scooter! This was right after a very UN-Mexican Mexican meal in Ubud. Hans was an expert driver, and trust me, it took skill to avoid cars, pedestrians, other scooters, stray dogs, giant potholes, monkeys, bats and etc. But we stayed alive, although Hans probably still has my nail marks in his stomach from my clinching him during our haring time on the bike.

I just loved this display, so colorful! This was right across the street from our favorite eatery in Ubud, called Kafe (really original, I know). They had the best sandwiches, burgers, snack plates and drinks!

Here I am lounging near the pool at our hotel in Seminyak, waiting for our driver to take us to Tanah Lot (the temple that's in the water, see below)

Ooh, so pretty, right? This temple really was cool. You can't go in it unless you're Hindu, but it's very enjoyable from the shore. You can walk up to this little pool where they'll sprinkle you with "holy water", which I believe costs money and has very little "holy" in it. But we sat up on the cliff and watched the sunset behind Tanah Lot while we ate plantain chips and had watermelon juice.

Bali Part II will be coming soon, scouts honor! I hope you're a little jealous, because you should be, it was magical and I really am missing it these days.

Potter!

I did it! I just finished reading the 7th Harry Potter! It was so fun to read all the books in time for the release of the last movie. It was my plan all along, plus I'm a late adopter. But I'm pretty sure I've just earned my husband's love. Yep, he makes me work for it. I have to read kids books, watch guy movies, stand in line for korean bbq at 10pm and countless other ways. Ha! I'm of course kidding.

But seriously if you haven't read them, these are a fun read!

(Bali pictures are coming soon, I pinkie swear!)

Planning my next trip . . .

So here's a blogger friend that's giving away a trip to PARIS!!!! Click the picture for a chance to win!

Welcome Home Me!!!

We're finally back from Bali! Seems like I was gone for so long, right? Right now my body is definitely paying the price of only leaving one day for recovery. It's midnight in Bali right now and it feels like midnight. My body also felt like it was 4 in the afternoon at 1:00 am this morning and refused to sleep anymore. Ugh!

But anyhow, we're back safe and sound. Just trying to recover at this point, although I'm so proud of myself for already getting all the laundry done and folded (Hans gets to put away)! Go me!

Many pictures and stories to come!