Life Happens....you've been warned...

....random update of life lately, it's kinda all over the place but wanted / needed to recap. 

Well....its been a bit uneventful but a bit over whelming here lately. Parts of me doesn't mind it but then other parts of me wonders how I've managed to take on so much. When in reality its not all that much at all. With work Monday-Friday and Classes 3 nights a week, my days are pretty full. When I don't have class in the evenings I generally stay late and close at work. I like having the option to stay and close if needed vs. being completely depended on. It makes for some really long day's either way I go but it beats sitting at home alone. Some nights when I don't have class or have to close I tend to find myself hanging out and chatting a bit longer at work. I don't always feel the need to rush home, I mean the pups are there but the nights are the hardest with the hubbs away and it makes for lonely evenings. In the mornings I get up work out and take the pups for their walk before going to work. Two reason: One-when I get off its already dark out so not really ideal for walking the pups. Darn you winter time change. Two-working out before work means if I wanna come home and be lazy I can. Most nights when I cook dinner I cook enough for me to have left overs for 2 maybe 3 nights. This helps my commissary budget, as well as keeps me from having to cook every night. I don't mind cooking at all, I actually love cooking. But the last thing I want to do when I get home from class at close to 9pm is to cook dinner and do dishes. So left overs are perfect for me right now. On the weekends I might cook myself a more time consuming / involved meal because I can take my time with it. 

If I typically have any running around to do or shopping I try to get it all done on Saturday mornings - mid afternoon after walking the pups. This way I have the rest of Saturday to work on my homework because lets face it these two classes have me swamped. I've been out of school for a hot minute now and trying to get back into the swing of things with classes and homework has had its challenges. I've started reading more for pleasure but this whole reading and having to write a paper on it is a totally different thing. It also give me time to do any hously duties I might need to do clean the house, straighten up. The dreaded laundry, its so easy to throw it in the wash, then dryer but I hate hate folding and putting it away. Sunday's I go to church, the early service which is at 8:30 and I'm usually home by 9:45, unless I go to Sunday School. After our morning walk around the neighborhood I'm back in my comfy clothes for the day, vegging out on the couch watching Netflix and Hulu. I'll try and make myself productive here and there but normally I have a completely lazy day. I haven't gone out and really done much lately other than a few random outings here and there. It's been crazy cold and then we will have days in the 50's, it almost reminds me so much of Texas weather. It's been quite a bit rainy here lately as well, I never knew it rained so much in TN. I'm so ready for it to warm up more. I absolutely hate hate the cold weather, that's what 3 years of living in Hawaii will do to you. 

I've slowly been knocking my To Do List down, little by little. Reminding myself everything doesn't have to be done at one time. But oh how I desperately wish it could be. I did finally get our taxes done this morning so that's taken care of. My homework assignments for this coming week are complete and just need to be typed. I'm headed to Nashville tomorrow for a birthday party for one of my kiddos and I'm planning on making a day out of it. Heading downtown right after church in the morning!! Life's been busy and chaotic but I wouldn't have it any other way. At least I'm making the most of my time through this deployment. 

Better than sulking and eating ice cream from the carton every night.

 I mean a bowl is so much more classy!!! Right!?!?!?

And because a post isn't complete with out a picture.....

I slipped on my boots and took the hubbs Glock and HK out for a little swirl last weekend to this lovely setting......

I may or may not share what went on that afternoon. I still haven't decided!!! 

SNOW DAY!!

It wasn't the first snow day of winter, but it was most definitely the first one that amounted to anything. Friday night I went to dinner with a girlfriend from work and we had a fabulous time. I knew the weather was suppose to be getting a little nasty so I was glad that our dinner date didn't last to late. As I was driving home it had already started snowing. It wasn't terribly bad but for this Texas girl, it was the most I'd ever driven in myself. (Thankfully last Jan. when we came back from NYC the hubbs drove through the awful snow storm.) I was just happy to make it home with out any issues. Surprisingly enough it wasn't to cold outside, I mean it was bearable. So I bundled up and took the pups out front to play. It was dark but with the street light in the corner of our yard there was plenty of light to see. Vs. the backyard was completely dark. The pups ran around and acted all silly trying to figure out what this cold white stuff was. They've played in snow and seen it once before when we lived in Cola. When we had a pretty good snow storm there. But it's obviously not something we have to deal with all that often. At least we haven't and I'm quite content with that. I couldn't help myself, I wrote a few little lovey notes on the hubbs truck to send to him!!! 

The next morning I woke up to a beautiful blanket of snow covering the front and back yard. Our neighborhood looked even prettier then it already did. I decided to take the pups out for their morning walk before it all melted away. I head down to the field at the bottom to let them run around and play. As we headed out the door I noticed Dingo slip on a slippery patch near the bottom of our porch steps but I didn't think anything of it. I stepped down and bam fell right on my butt, putting my wrist down to brace my fall. I was almost in tears, it hurt pretty bad. I had plans later that afternoon and I couldn't handle any bruises or pains :(. It took me a minute to gather my thoughts to check the streets and side walk to see if we could even make it down to the bottom. We took it slow and managed just fine, with only a few slippery spots here and there. It was well worth the slippery trip, the pups had so much fun running around and it was simply beautiful. 

I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live somewhere, where there was inches and inches of snow all through out the winter months. But then driving in it might be a nightmare. I'll stick with the little bit we get here and there! 

Fur Babies

Oh goodness were in the world do I even start?!?!?!? I have a serious love hate relationship with these two fur babies of ours. Some days, Many days I make the comment about how much easier my life would be with out them. But then I'd be awful lonely at home completely by myself. But then at least I wouldn't have to share the bed with them. But then I'd get cold because I wouldn't have Bailey to curl up with. But then my bed would be dog hair free. But then I wouldn't think to wash my sheets as often. I could go back to Cola or any were for that matter with out having to worry about what I was going to do with these darn puppies. I wouldn't have to rush home from work to make sure they could go out. But then I'd come home to a empty house. Of course its not as stressful when there are two of us here at home. But with it just being me right now I feel like I'm at my whits end sometimes. I wouldn't trade them for the world and I wouldn't wish not having them ever. I only wish they weren't as difficult as they can be sometimes. Goodness if puppies stress me out this much I don't know what I'd do with a wee little baby. 

So what's brought this post along, I'll tell ya.......

Wednesday night I came home and fed the dogs like I always do. Headed up stairs to change and next thing I hear is them scrappy it out in the kitchen. (That never happens, Bailey will bark snappy at Dingo every now and then when he annoys her but that's it.) I yelled down the stairs for them to knock it off and went on with my evening. I didn't notice till about 45min - 1hr later that Dingo had a bite mark on his nose. I kinda freaked out a little and didn't know what to do. Of course the hubbs had already gone to work for the day so I couldn't talk to him about it. Why does this stuff always happen when he's gone. Seriously!!!! Later that evening I posted on FB about being overwhelmed with the puppies and my Spouse texted checking in to see if I was ok. She's such a doll and totally helped ease my mind. Skip ahead to Saturday night when I noticed Dingo's nose swelling up some and his bite mark was still open and bleeding a bit because he wouldn't leave it alone. This morning while chatting with the hubbs we decided I should take him in to get checked out just to have piece of mind that everything is ok. There's a new vet office that recently opened up and lucky for me they are open on Sunday's. I haven't had a chance to take the pups in the get updated on there Heart Worm and Flea meds since we've been here because of work. So I might as well get everything knocked out while I'm there and take Bailey as well. 

OMG, they are a pain in the butt in the car, Dingo mainly because he wants to sit on the console in the center of the car and be right in my face. (oh did I mention I vacuumed and cleaned my car yesterday) Bailey does fine, she wines a bit but eventually lays down. We got all checked in and got their weight taken. We've got a fat girl on our hands, last time we had her weighted she was 85 lbs. Now she's a whopping 100 lbs, I couldn't believe it. Dingo weighed in at 54 lbs, a bit over weight from what the vet said. She wants him to loose about 14 lbs. over the next 6 months. This is going to require me to start measuring their food out and feeding them separately and monitoring their food intake. We've got to some work to do and its going to take a while to get myself and them in a routine but I know it can be done. Prior to today we've always just made sure they have food and they eat when they are hungry. It's worked for us and them, they've never been the type of dogs that scarf down their food if you leave the bowl full. I guess old habits gotta come to a end at some point. I'm determined to make this work because the list of complication's the vet mentioned could come up with Dingo being over weight scared the crap outta me and I don't want that to happen. He's family after all as much as he can annoy me sometimes. 

The vet wants to me to start putting meds back in Bailey's eyes for her dry eyes again. We attempted it in SC but she didn't take to well to it and started to get aggressive so we stopped. They've gotten worse in the last year and a half and I know they are painful. So I'm going to give it my best effort and hope for the best. We know she's starting to loose her eye sight because of it but it not completely to the point of her going blind. (she walked right into the back of my car yesterday, I felt bad but will admit I did laugh) The vet mentioned that eventually long term down the road we might have to consider having them removed. I can't even imagine having to put her through that, it bring tears to my eyes just thinking about it. It took all I had to hold them back when the vet was talking to me about it. 

After a good 1hr+ at the vets, me talking their ear off asking a million question, a $300 vet bill a bag full of meds for both we were on our way home. Thank goodness for Military Discount I would have hated to see the bill with out it. They really were the nicest Veterinarian clinic I'd ever been to and I'm so grateful to have found them through our friends C & R. Thankfully we don't have to go back for another year, aside from picking up Heart Worm and Flea meds. With the hopes that there are no more altercations between the two puppies. 

I do love these two mutt heads and would be lost with out them. 

January Review Week-2

I totally failed this week on the no spend January Month. In my defense all purchase were for a good cause or good reason. I'm working on a little something for the hubbs and well I can't say what it is on here but lets just say he's gonna LOOOOOVVVVVE it. So with that being said my target trip was much needed for this little project, plus I needed dog food. I did make a few other random small purchases over the weekend for a few things I'm working on at home and some needed items. I had a gift card for the majority of it so it wasn't to bad. It was such a beautiful weekend I seriously wanted to spend the whole time outside and while I spend a good amount outside, washing my car by hand was not on the to do list. But it needed washing something bad, so I splurged and drove it through one of those fancy car washes. In all honesty I've given it my best effort but life happens and gets in the way sometimes. This little project I'm working on wasn't planned going into January so it has kinda put a damper on things. But its gonna be worth it. 

As far as the 21 day no junk food challenge I did pretty darn fabulous good, I only caved twice. Once at work on Wednesday when our sweet cook made Pizza Rolls for lunch. OMG her pizza rolls are so so yummy. There on a croissant roll and seriously are the simplest most unhealthiest thing ever to make but so tasty. I just couldn't pass them up, she only makes them for lunch like once a month. The other time I caved was this morning when I made banana nut muffins for breakfast. I was desperate and going to be home all morning with plans to clean the whole house and needed something to kick start my morning. They were quick and easy from a package but mighty tasty. 

Still going strong on my other New Years Goals and quite happy with that. I'm determined to make this a great year. So with that said I'm going to start putting some of those DIY Pinterest home project's together. I mean why else do I pin them right, not for them to just sit on my board and look pretty. 

That one time I turned my heater off......

With this being our first home we've owned or even had to pay utilities. I've been super paranoid / OCD about our electric bill. We do our best to conserve water and electric when we can. So much that I turn my heater off when I'm gone to work during the day. Why am I gonna have the heater running all day when I'm gone for 10+ hours most day's. Ok yes the dogs are home and they might get a bit chilly from time to time but I refuse to pay a outrageous electric bill. I knew this past week the temps. were going to be in the single digits but didn't think anything about it. I turn my upstairs heater on when I get home from work to warm up my bedroom for a couple hours before I go to bed. Leaving the downstairs one off. Yes its chilly, but that's when a good blanket comes in handy. So Tuesday night I turned it on when I got home at about 7:45pm and then off around 10:30pm when I went to bed.
Wednesday I got up went to work till 6pm got home around 6:30pm that night and went to start dinner when I had NO WATER. I panicked and ran around opening all the cabinets under the facets. Because of course that was gonna help right then. The current temp. at the time outside was 3 degree's and the "feels like temp" was -6 degrees. I kept thinking that, this was not happening. I have to cook dinner, take a shower, give the pups water. I called our friends C & R to ask them what I should do, and after much deliberation C was on his way over to crawl under the house through the crawl space to see what he could do and to make sure the pipes hadn't busted. In the mean time I continued cooking dinner and wen to my neighbors to ask him if he could help me turn the water off from the main supply at the street. He so kindly agreed and told me to go wait inside that he'd be right over. A couple minutes later he came over fully suited up head lamp and all. He explain that this same thing happened to him last winter and that he used a extension cord and a electric heater and set it up under his house to defrost his pipes.
I explained to him what I'd been doing during the day w/ leaving the heater off and he of course laughed and shook his head. He asked me to go get my hair dryer and he went home for a extension cord. I explain to him that C was on his way and would be here in just a few minutes but he went ahead and said he didn't mind. The poor guy crawled under my house and proper the blow dryer up on the frozen pipes on high to defrost them. Then he continued around the house closing all the outside vents that led under the house. Who knew you could close those things, I sure as heck didn't know.
Just shortly later C arrived and the two of them chatted it up in my kitchen while I finished cooking my dinner, praying my pipes didn't bust and that this was going to work. About 15-20 minutes later the water started running at the kitchen sink. (I had turned the facet on so we knew when the pipes had defrosted) E let if go for a bit longer to fully defrost them before turning off the blow dryer. They both gave me the speech / lesson about how I need to at least leave the downstairs heater on when its freezing out especially during the below freezing temps. and that it takes more out of the heater to go from 40 or 50 up to 68 when I turn it on at night.
Lesson Learned for sure and my heater is on. Not gonna lie though that minute it starts to warm up the slightest some I'll be turning it off. I also left the sink in the kitchen slowly dripping while I was at work the next day (another thing they told me to do, which I also remembered after the fact). I did put a large bowl in the sink to catch the water. I was not going to let it run all day and waste it. Heck No!! I poured that right in the dog water bowl. Go ahead and call me crazy I look back now and almost shake my head about it and well maybe laugh a little, but in all honesty somethings aren't though of till it happens. This being one of those things. The last thing I want to do is have to pay to repair or replace a busted piper and / or have it flooded under my house.
When I told the hubbs what had happened his response was "ya, I was worried about that happening". Dude I'd been telling you the outside temps. all week, why hadn't you said anything or mentioned being concerned. Men I tell ya......gotta love them.
I'm so thankful for our two fabulous friends that jumped with out hesitation to come over and help me.

January Review Week-1

Well let's just say I gave it my best effort and I did pretty good (kinda) for the first week of the month. I've been pretty good with the no junk food 21 day challenge. Ugh, till it came to this weekend. Not gonna lie its been pretty hard some days but all it took was alittle will power and I pushed through but fell off the wagon over the weekend just a smig. This past week I had two mini bags of pretzels (which were gluten & fat free) from the vending machine at work. (on separate day's of course) I asked around at work and more people then not considered them not to be chips. I was desperate, hungry and had a dollar bill on me which never happens because I do not carry cash. I didn't consider it breaking the "No Spend January". For NSP I opted not to use my debit card. However let me clarify, I do not / did not have cash pulled out or set aside to use during the month. I just happen to have it tucked away in my wallet. 

So moving on, I never had to go on post unless I'm going shopping at the commissary which is about once a month. I did have to go this past week to pick up a refill at the pharmacy though. Which just happens to be located a few doors down from a Smoothie King, my weakness and the only one in town. I'm a huge fan I went back and forth all morning before going weather I was going to get one. I mean there's not another SK in the city and who knew when I'd be back on post again. So I caved and splurged spending a whopping $6.89 on a (healthy mind you) lunch. Friday morning one of our parents brought in Donuts for us, it was Friday PEOPLE!!!! I caved and indulged on a donut or two ok ok 3 but that's it and seriously I never eat donuts so it was a treat. A treat I should have done with out but I didn't. I had a sleepover with my Sweet Little Friend Savvy this weekend and had to stop and get something to finish dinner with and a small baby shower gift. Which are ok purchases on the "NSJ". However this afternoon when I was taking Savvy home she wanted cupcakes so we stopped. Who's the best Auntie!!!! Oh Yea Right here!!!! $16.50 on cupcakes all for her and the little dude. I did get one for myself because well, why the heck not. I only ate half of it which means I only half failed. Besides 3 small house hold bills that had to be paid and a late Christmas gift to myself. It was already budgeted for, I already had the money set aside for it (from my NeNe), I was just waiting for the item to come back in stock. 

I finished off the week with a Friend from work at a baby shower for one of our Co-Workers. Were I had two chicken salad sandwiches on croissant rolls. They were fabulous and after I left I felt so awful for eating them. blah. I refused to walk by the dessert table not to be tempted and I held my head high and did great. 

1 week down 3 more to go. Here's for a even better week 2. How are you doing on your New Years Goal's / Resolution's? 

Aside from this little January Challenge I've been doing really well on my New Year's Goals. Of course its only 10 days in but I'm quite proud of myself.

Baby Shower Shenanigan and my new Wifey sweater from my Spouse (Love it and You Girl, thanks a million) Paired with my Tiffany & Co. Crystal Tear Drop my husband bought me for our 3 yr Wedding Anniversary. 

Deployment Update

What can I say its going as best it can I suppose. We are officially past the 2 month's down mark with still many more months to go. We actually got some kinda not so good news in that department today which of course I can't discuss on here but let's just say some tears were shed.

I was going into this deployment expecting the worst. We haven't been apart for more than a month, two at the most in the past 3 1/2 years. Thanks to Life on the Trail. I knew this deployment was going to be just like the first one. It was 15 long terrible, awful, no good months in so many ways. I mean we'd only been married a month and here he was leaving for his first deployment. Deployment #2 wasn't any better, I honestly think they get worse the more you go through. So I was expecting this one to be extremely hard times a thousand but its been much different. Don't get me wrong it hasn't been easy at all and I absolutely hate every minute of it but we are managing and pushing on. Some days are harder than others, and I've had those day's were I just want to pull my hair out and scream. 

But if I'm being honest it hasn't been nearly as hard as I was expecting it to be. We do get to talk pretty often, mainly through text messaging. Which does make it easy on both of us because we are both able to multi task while getting ready for our day or bed. When I'm getting up and ready for the work day, he's ending his day and getting ready for bed and then other way around. So it works out that we are both on kinda opposite schedules so we don't miss out on talking to each other. 

We've been able to FaceTime a handful of times which is always nice. Our 1st deployment we only video chatted a handful of times through out the entire 15 months. Communication and internet service then and where he was, was awful. 

                                      We are most definatly counting down and or course planning a much needed post deployment trip. All in All we are managing and doing well.... ok. Missing each other like crazy. I can't wait for the day life is back to the way it was. Oh and of course I've been dreaming of the Homecoming Ceremony. That first hug and kiss. 

Oh I CAN'T WAIT. Distance and Time makes the Heart Grow Fonder!!!!

January

Pretty self explanatory I'm jumping on and taking on this 21 day challenge. 

Since I do not drink Soda I'm giving up my Sweet Tea. The struggle will be real. 

I've already given up candy and fast food. 

I'm not much for chips (unless there's salsa or queso involved) or ice cream. 

Biscuits, Bread, Muffins, Cookies.... now that will be a struggle. But its only 21 days. I can do anything for 21 days right. The depressing part about the whole deal is I have a jar of really good queso in my frig right now. Oh the struggle. 

But I have a goal and I want to meet it. Sooner rather than later!!! 

NO SPEND JANUARY!!!! 

Basically there's no access spending during the month of January. One of my parents from Cola. does it every January. And she encouraged myself along with several others to jump on board and not do any access spending during the first month of the year. Of course you still have to pay your bills, buy grocery's and gas but other than that nothing else. Her family of 6 doesn't eat out, not even a coffee run, no trips to Target or the local Frozen Yogurt hut, not even a alcohol run during the month of Jan. Just the basic necessities. Her theory behind NO SPEND JANUARY is that you've gone out and spent a ton of money during the months of November and December in preparation for Christmas that this allows you to step back and relax on the stress of wants and needs from the store or random spending. I'm giving it a shot, can't be to hard right. Eeks, I suppose we will see. I have to say it will be much easier with it just being me at home, I'm a sucker and give in to the hubbs so much. I have a strong will power when I set out for something. 

I'll update ya at the end of the month to let you know how it went. 

Here's to the next month of no junk food what so ever and no spending. YIKES. Please pray for me. 

2015 Goals

It's a New Year which means its the First Blank page of a 365 Page Book. So I'm planning on writing a good one.

I like to set Goals for the New Year (for both myself & us as a couple) over resolutions. Sure it's kinda the same thing, but a goal is something you can work towards and a resolution is something you completely change.

           *Goal- the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desire results
           *Resolution- a firm decision to do or not to do something

So my Goal's for the New Year 2015 are......(in no particular order)

*Get Outside More: walking the pups, going to the greenway, running, simply getting out of the house, enjoying the fresh air and beautiful sunshine.

*Dressing Up More: it's so easy to just put on a t-shirt and jeans and call it a day, i'm going to work on vamping up my wardrobe and dressing up more. i wear scrubs to work so dressing up when i do is fun, i just need to do it more.

*Saving- we have done really well with saving over the last couple years and have made a point not to touch or take from our savings account. we plan to continue to do so and add to it in the coming months / year.

*Getting Fit- not simply just working out, but a combination of things, eating healthier, losing a few pounds, working out, and continuing with my running. one of my 30 b4 30 things is to get in the best shape in my life. i need to continue cracking down on this one.
             :At the beginning of this deployment (#3 here, blah) I decided I was going to to completely give up Fast Food and Candy while the hubbs was away. Not that I ate much of it to begin with but I defiantly did. My only exception to this is I am allowing Jimmy Johns sandwiches. They are so fresh and yummy and not totally bad for you so I have allowed to treat myself to one every once in a blue moon. Other than that NO FF. I gave up soda completely 4 years ago today an I haven't had a sip since and it's such a wonderful feeling being able to say I don't drink it and haven't in 4 years.

*Wife / Spouse- my husband is the most important person in my life, (as to many / most people their spouse is their everything.) no different for me, i'd be lost with out that man and i want to give him the moon. he simply does anything and everything for me but we'll save all that for another post. we'll be spending a good majority of this year apart, but that doesn't make me any less of his wife. my goal is to become a even better wife, love and care for him like never before. i want us to date more, talk more, do more. the days that pass we'll never get back so i plan to take advantage of each one even more from here on out. he gives me 100% and i want to make sure i do everything in my power to give that back.

*Church- i've recently started going back to church and it's been great. apart of me hates that its taken so long, but better late than never right. its come with what i hope to be a great lasting friendship out of it. i want to truly focus on my faith and relationship with God and give me all in everything i do for him. its been missing in my life and it feels great to have that part of me back.

*Snail Mail- since being a milispouse and moving around every few years we have friends all over the states and even over seas. i plan to make it more of a habit to keep in better contact with the friendship i've built over the years. something about a letter or card coming through the mail is a bit more personal then a email or fb message.