Fill in the Blank

Haven't participated in a while so I thought I'd give it a go..

1.  When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is, check my email and facebook. Looking for messages from Mr. Army Man. 

2.   I can hardly wait for  the day my sweet hubby returns with lots of hugs and kisses. 

3.  The quickest way to my heart is beef strognoff  because it is my all time comfort/sick food.

4. A little known fact about me is that I can make big choices in a matter of minutes but little choices take me weeks, days, hours. Crazy I know. (I picked my wedding dress out in a matter of minutes and had my heart set. Couldn't persuade me to try on another.) 

5. The best part about my job is I get to eat all day. Lol. Well maybe that's the worst part. I need new clothes and a good workout schedule now. 

6. Something I just couldn't live without is my contacts. I'm blind.

7.  Something useful that I wish I knew how to do is  Weed eat. My yard looks a hot mess. #deployment problems

 Happy Friday everyone!

Re-Enlistment

Yesterday, Mr. Army Man re-enlisted for another 6 years. 

He still had a little over a year left on his previous contract but that is null and void.

 His 6 years began yesterday.

I am SO proud of him! 

His courage, leadership and the man he has become. 

More than that I am proud to call him my husband, soul mate, and best friend. 

I cannot wait to see where this new journey takes us.

Comfort Foods

Read an article in Cooking Light, where they had a few readers participate in listing their TEN favorite comfort foods. So, I thought I'd share mine too. 

(Mine are in no particular order.)

1. French Onion Soup (recipe)

2. Green Bean Casserole (recipe)

3. Dad's Chicken and Dumplings

4. Mom's Poppy Seed Chicken

5. Mac and Cheese

6. Fried Okra

7. Egg's Benedict

8. Dad's Homemade Biscuits

9. Guacamole & chips

10. Mom's Brownies/Peach Pudding Cake

What are some of your favorite comfort foods? 

New Purse/New Life

Guess what was laying on my front porch yesterday when I arrived home?

A huge box. 

With this little beauty inside..

My hubby ordered it, and completely surprised me!

I hate surprises but he did so good! 

It was off my Wish List.

He really always knows what I want/need.

Late yesterday I decided to take all my plants off the porch and but them on the walk way because it was starting to rain.. Again. 

Free water.. Um. Yea.

While taking one of my ferns down off my front porch.. 

I find this inside..

Just one of God's amazing miracles.

Of course I didn't touch or move it.. 

Only problem now is..

Bird crap on my front porch. Lol.

Could always be so much worse.

But for right now I choose life.

Happy Thursday!

Finding Your Life

Here lately I've been re-reading my ever favorite book Faith Deployed that I talk about here.

In the book it talks about finding routines & such. Today I talked with my husband about the future. Not years down the road but about his home coming. Everyone knows that's that's what all of us mil-spouses look forward too. Not just us but our soldiers too!

He was talking about trips, getting back into a routine with me, etc.

I've encountered some recurrent themes, in this time- I often question myself, "how can I fulfill all my duties and hurt myself the least."

I've taken on wife, full time student, a class tutor, yard mower, maid, dog walker, and so many more tasks/roles, And just because I constantly keep myself busy & entertained doesn't mean I don't run myself ragged and still get hurt by distance, altered plans, short phone calls, etc..

Instead of trying to micromanage everything I think to myself, "Am I consciously or subconsciously trying to "tweak" my time so everything will fall into place to fit my plans.. Am I frustrated, stressed or even anxious in trying to control every aspect/process of life. Or do I just need to roll with the punches to a certain extent and enjoy life?"

As I'm writing this I make a toast/vow to myself that I WILL be more free spirited and just sort of roll with it (so to speak) and let God and life lead me down whatever road they guide me too!


On another deployment related topic, Mr. Army Man found out he will be going to the board soon. For those of you not military, the board is for promotions. So for right now he is studying fiercely. I am so proud of him. He has only been an E5 for right at a year. Hopefully my man will get his rank as staff sergeant soon! 

Weekend Recap

So excited that this quarter my weekend begins on Thursday.
I'm a little late on posting..
Busy, busy week.
But better late than never.

Thursday:
I walked around downtown Sanford, went into some shops and listened to some amazing street musicians.
I also went grocery shopping..
This is what two weeks worth of shopping for one person looks like..


I picked these beautiful flowers up at the grocery for $3. Can't beat that.
And I'm not one for cut flowers but I couldn't resist.



Friday:
I had plans to go to the Asheboro Zoo with a bunch of friends/Army Wives.
They all have babies and some were sick/fussy.
So I ended up paying bills, cutting grass, and made a trip to Target.
I picked up some shorts, white linen pants, and those killer wedges.
I also got various things for our master bedroom, you can read about here.

Saturday:

I had driving school.

And I hit up two Targets trying to find exactly what I needed. 

Here's what I wore. Simple for a day, out and about.

Then I went to dinner with Lady B & Baby T. 

She adores Mexican and her hubs can't stand it.

He is with Mr. Army Man for business, so we have been indulging in lots of Mexican.

Here's my dinner. I know, I'm a fatty (but I did take two boxes home of leftovers)!

Sunday:

One of Mr. Army Man's friends Bitchard, came home for r&r this week. 

Him and his fiancee (now wife) came over for burgers, dogs, and homemade fries. 

All delicious. 

I'm so glad he came home and even more excited I got to be apart of their nuptials. 

More on that later!

Who Are You? Who, Who, Who Who?

Of course, I had to link up with Raven to find out who my celeb Doppelganger is.. 

I used this this site. Just look what it came up with..

Face No. 1

Match: 77%	Match: 75%	Match: 74%	Match: 73%
Sarah Michelle Gellar	Jessica Simpson	Morgan Fairchild	Tara Reid

I used this picture.

I don't know what I think.. I sorta get the Sarah Michelle Gellar.. But some of the others I'm a little skeptical about.. What do you think about my Doppelganger? 

Masters

Over the past two weekend, I have been busily decorating our master bedroom.

4 Target trips later..

It is ALMOST finished. Thank goodness.

The only thing left to add is the mantle for above the bed. 

We purchased it a while ago, before Mr. Army Man left, and never had the chance to refinish it. 

And here are some pictures from our room. 

Dresser: Kirkland's (from a while back)

And another shot of the bed.

Windows..

Bridal picture.. & bathroom 

(yes, we have a closet, it's inside the bathroom)

I am so in love with my room.. I never want to leave (and my husband isn't even here)!! Hah!

Make sure you sign up for my give away!

OTH

I've recently watched all the back episodes of One Tree Hill, and I'm literally having withdraws. 

I've been talking/thinking about writing all my favorite quotes down from the show. 

& here they are!

1. You never run out of chances.. As long as you give yourself one.

2. Happiness is a mood not a destination.

3. Sometimes the beauty is in the attempt.

4. The truth is when it really gets too quiet, when the silence gets too loud, an I really start to miss everyone. I tell myself I can't see you, but I know you are there. 

5. So for now.. I say goodbye to this chapter in my life.. and look forward to what comes next. 

6. Sometimes you have to cry out all the tears to make room for a heart full of smiles. 

7. Somebody told me that this is the place where every thing's better and every thing's safe.

Make sure you check out my give away here.

Wish List

Cardinals T-shirt

Buy here

Would wear this all the time! Especially to cheer on Matt Holliday on game days!

Baseball Hat 
Buy here 

I would love this hat for bad hair days, driving, or days by the pool.
I want it in the script monogram.
Isn't it adorable?


Blue Door Boutique Dress

Mar Y Sol Bag

I love this bag. Perfect for the beach or everyday use. 

Buy it from Mar Y Sol. 

I'd also love to get some tanning minutes and a gym membership. But that will definitely be happening. ASAP! Got to get bikini ready.. Or at least some sort of cute suit! 

What are some of the things on your wish list for Spring?

Good News & New Buys

Okay, so I'm just going to jump right in..

I got a ticket in early February for driving way to fast.

Like 80 in a 55 fast.

And since this is a blog about mine and the hubby's life.

I thought I'd share.

Anyways,

I had court today.

Good news is..

I have to go to driving school & get my driving records and then re-appear in court.

NO BIG DEAL.

On the plus side.

I thought I was going to have to pay $300 for it and actually only have to pay $50 for driving school.

And it was already in the budget.

Meaning...

I went shopping.

House shopping.

I got this beautiful lamp for our living room at an antique store in Pittsboro called Reclamation Home Furnishings. 

We have been looking for a lamp for about 6 months and finally found one that is perfect.

We are now finished with our living room! Yay!
Also at Reclamation I found 6 mini loaf pans for $3.

Also spent $4 on those colored flowers at Lowe's.

Adds so much to this simple mixed pot.

I got the two ferns for $7.50.
And of course I decorated for Easter.
Love my flag & my Dolla Store egg tree.


I also got some CAMO eggs. Mr. Army Man approved.

While I was out and about I had to get a snack.

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Pretty fitting for Easter right?

Except I came home and added some toasted coconut and gum eggs. Yum-O!

Hope everyone has a great day and a GOOD Friday!

Lush Strawberry Cake

1 box vanilla cake mix

(make according to package directions add 1-2 tablespoons extra oil)

Put in 8 in. round cake pan it makes two.

Bake. Let cool. Spread on

strawberry preserves

to cover.

Then top with

vanilla whipped store-bough frosting.

Top with

sliced strawberries.

Layer next cake.

Add more preserves.

And then put crumb coat (thin layer of icing) on the cake.

Place in fridge for 5-10 minutes.

Spread a thick layer of icing over entire cake and the sides.

Top with more strawberries in a pretty pattern.

* Disclaimer: I didn't spray one of the cake pans and it crumbled. Mine is not two layers.

On a totally different note:

Look what came in today!!

My new Juicy glasses. Totally made my day! Especially since I had to wait in line at school (an hour and fourty-five minutes) to get something signed that I didn't even have to have. WTH! Equals one pissed off girl.

And then got treated like shii at the post office for no reason!

I'm trying to do a good thing and drop off boxes to my soldier and his friends.

I mean remember the golden rule, people! Hello?!

Not a great way to start off my new classes and a Monday!

Then four hours of homework. Ugh!

END RANT!

Wish I still had some of that cake to soothe my troubles.

Anyway.. I REALLY hope every one's day has turned out better than mine.

Spring Break: Part Two

A continuation of my spring break re-cap..

Wednesday:

I had lunch with the same friend I went shopping with on Monday.

Said goodbye to family.

And had dinner with mom, dad, CoCo,  and my favorite football player.

Thursday:

I flew back to NC from visiting my parents in AR.

This is from Phillip's Seafood at the ATL airport.



Fried shrimp, crab cakes, and spring rolls at 8 am. Breakfast of champions.

Friday:

I did not one thing.

Sleep until 12 o'clock, lay on the couch, watch One Tree Hill.
A nothing kind of day.

Amazing.

Saturday:

I went grocery shopping.

(Story about that soon.)

Made this amazing strawberry cake.



Recipe coming soon too!

Hung out with some of the best Army wives for a "Fiesta". Where we ate that luscious cake above.

We are planning on having a dinner party again soon before the men come home. Yay!

And got to love on this little cutie!

Sunday:

Went and ate lunch with two great friends, at Cheddar's in Fayetteville, North Carolina- of course!

If you leave in the area.

Check it out!

I had the Sheppard's Pie.

Then went and saw "21 Jump Street."

Channing Tatum. Sold.

This is the funniest movie I've seen in a while. Must see.

My stomach/jaws were literally hurting from laughing so much! Lol.

Now to get back into the swing of things.

Schedule. Check!

Busy. Check!

Homework? Check.

Looking like a chicken with my head cut off. Always..

Hope everyone has had a great weekend! And a fab Monday!

;)