Taking Time for Me

The last couple weeks I have been completely consumed, wrapped up and busy with school. I'm sure I've mentioned before but I'm taking 3 classes this semester. Two of which are online and the Third meets twice a month on Saturday's for 8 hours. The work load of the assignments in themselves have been a handful. Lets not forgetting the actual reading, learning and remembering part of it. Often I would find myself simply trying to complete the assignments on time that I wouldn't even take much from the lesson / module for the week. That's not the way it should be. This is the first time I've taken three classes at once, but I can almost guarantee that it'll be the last time. On top of working full time, its just a lot to take on.

I spend my lunch breaks working on homework here at work, typing up assignments, doing research to complete a paper. I haven't really been taking my lunch break to have a break and step away. Most day's I come to work between 7:15 and 7:30 and I don't leave the building that day until I am going home. Many nights as late as 5:30pm.

I've decided to put a stop to it, well a little at least. I need to take time for me, I need to get out of the building, I need to get fresh air, I need to put the computer down and walk away from my school work every once in a while. Classes end the first of May and won't pick back up till the mid August but we've got some things going on right now and I know life isn't going to slow down.

I've decided to make more time for me. I need to, it'll be good for my soul and those around me. But mostly for me.

Last week on my lunch break I went up to Dunbarcave. It's a local park less than half a mile from were I work. There's picnic tables, walking / running trails, a cave to explore and much more. I was planning on just walking the long loop but something sparked me when I was leaving on my lunch and I decided to run it. Boy was it ruff but I felt great afterwards. Nothing like a good trail run to get your heart pumping and your blood flowing.

Yesterday I decided to grab a sandwich from Jimmy John's and go to Dunbarcave for lunch. It was such a beautiful day out. The sun was shinning, the temperature was perfect. It was so peaceful and quite just to be outside away from work and the hustle of life. I'm pretty sure it made my sandwich taste even better because it left me wanting more.

I've defiantly decided that I will be doing this more often. I'm planning on taking one day a week and getting out of the building and going to do something for me. Even if it is just up to Dunbarcave to have lunch by myself. It's well worth it. The school work will be there the next day and so will everything else. I need this, I need this for me. 

Just a little bit of Life Lately!

* When we lived in the South I went home every day for lunch just about. Here in Music City State its not exactly convenient for me to go home for my lunch. I found a great lunch spot down the street from were I work. Its called Dunbar Cave Park. 

There's picnic tables surrounding the lake, a couple different walking / running trails, and some old Caves with lots of wild life full of nature. Makes for some relaxing lunch breaks. 

I've managed to take a couple run's through the trails on my lunch which is the perfect way to clear my head. 

     

*Hubbs and I went for a random date night drive a couple weeks ago. We kept driving North towards Kentucky and eventually crossed the boarder. Hey who am I kidding we live like 15 minutes away from the state line. Hubbs said he figured we'd head this way and check out the area to see what we could find. Let me tell you we found a pretty darn fabulous Mexican joint. We left stuffed to pieces!! So Bueno!!!! 

*We found a local German Bakery / Deli near down town and decided to stop and check it out one afternoon. We picked up a couple different loafs of bread and made a few delicious bites with them. One of our favorites was Bruschetta. This was a first for me, making homemade bruschetta but it turned out fabulous and we finished the whole loaf off in one night. Not to worry we turned it in to our dinner and I ended up not cooking that night. 

*I made a pit stop on my way home the other evening when I got a FaceTime call from these two beauties!!! I was so excited to see them and talk to them both. Sweet Little Lu is getting so big and really starting to talk so well. Its crazy that she was so tiny when she started in my class almost two years ago now. There may be miles upon miles between us now but I'll always love them to pieces!!! 

*I start most my mornings here before heading to work. I generally get up, get ready, make some toast or a bowl of cereal and enjoy it out on our back deck with the pups. Watching the sun coming up, the birds chirping and the pups running around the yard. Its my "ME" time before my day really gets started away from everything just out our back door. I can't wait to add more flowers, outdoor decor and seating to spice up the deck. Its one of my favorite parts about our new home. 

Country Cruising Day 3- At Sea

We were surprised to see that the guys beat up back out to the pool deck. We really didn't think they would follow through but they did. Even Elliot came back out after he changed to say hello but was the smart one and went back to his room to get some rest. I'll give it to him, he did come back later that afternoon and hung out with us for a bit. 

At some point in the morning Sarah's mom passed by and saw us knocked out and snapped a picture. I can imagine the comments and stories from people as they passed by. We were really out and didn't hear a thing. Mid morning Sarah woke up and decided to go back to the room because she was afraid of getting burned. Smart one I suppose. When she came back out we were telling her about the picture her mom got and she though all along she wasn't there when her mom passed by. Sorry to break it to you honey you were. It was so funny when she saw the picture. 

One of many bathroom breaks with this girl!!!! 

We spent the day by the pool listening to the different artist play. It was quite warm out because the ship was just sitting for the longest time. We were in and out of the pool a good bit, but it only seemed to cool us off for a quickly minute. We enjoyed some yummy drinks to keep us nice and refreshed. Eventually we decided we'd grab some lunch before heading down to get ready for the evening. The first picture is probably how we really all felt but we know how to push through and have a good time. 

Craig Morgan night in the main Theater for the late show. Definitely one to remember for sure. 

Shots and Wine…..well why not. This was the first one of a few that night, once you get up moving and dancing you don't even remember what all you've had. Its once you sit down for a while is when it all hits you. And it hit me and Nancy hard that night. 

Moscato's the only way to go. We brought a couple bottles on with us to enjoy during the show. 

Bathroom breaks in two's something about drinking that makes a girl gotta pee. I've never understood it. lol But hey sometime you make the best memories in the bathroom. One of my fav's of Nanc and I. 

While Nancy and Brandy went on yet another bathroom / drink run, Craig called up two guest to the stage. Joe and I may or may not have made a scene to get Sarah up on stage. It was priceless, I know she was hating us for it while she was up there. She kept looking at us with these evil eyes telling us she was going to kill us. At one point while he was sing / talking he stopped and looked at Sarah and gave her a towel. Told her to cover up her boobs that she was distracting him. OMG, talk about the funniest moment ever. All while Nanc and Brandy are getting drinks. I was hoping they would walk in while she was up there because they'd be completely lost. But no such luck, shortly after she came down they walked in. 

It was such a great show, he's a former service member himself. 

Not sure how but I guess no one took any pictures after the show. Probably a good thing I suppose. We met up with some friends at the Karaoke bar and hung out there for a bit. At some point I lost the girls, not sure what happen there. I had my moment for the trip and the alcohol caught up with me. After getting sick and sobering up Steve and I went looking for the girls. Come to find out they were on the pool deck listen to one of the artist play. Thankfully by this point I was feeling fine but that's more than Nancy could say. Poor girl was DONE. She wouldn't even dance with me. Thankfully Elliot took me up on the offer while Sarah took Nancy to bed. Brandy was having the time of her life dancing with Joe, she even introduced me to a group of people by the wrong name all of which I knew. We laughed about it later and continued with our night. After a little walk around the ship, taking in the views from area's we hadn't seen Sarah and I decided to call it a night.

 It was definitely a great night one I'll remember forever!!! 

Let the celebrations start

This week being my birthday week the hubbs has been extra fabulous. Every day I've come home on my lunch from work and he has had lunch made and ready waiting for us to eat together. I'm totally loving this 6 week cycle break and all the down time he is having. Definitely soaking up every minute of it while I can. This morning I was laying in bed knowing I needed to get up and moving if I was going to make it to work on time. That's when I heard the oven turn on. We have a gas stove as you may remember so you can hear click when the burner turns over. I quickly popped up out of bed and got dressed to come down stairs and see what he was up to. No way he was cooking him breakfast and I was going to miss out. When I came down he was cooking us pancakes for breakfast. I asked him what made him decide to make breakfast, he said he wasn't going to be home for lunch today and wanted to make up for it now. How sweet is he, and he even used the mix that I like. I tell you I sure did luck out with this man!!!! He's pretty amazing!!! 

 Ready for another day at work!!! One more day till the weekend woohoo!!!! Loads to come so stay tune!!!

~DAY 189~

Making the Most

Its been a awful week around here in the South. It started off first thing Monday morning and just spiralled down from there. One thing after another kept coming up, going wrong, not working out. On top of my week falling apart in shambles in front of me I came down with a horrible cold & cough. There's been some kind of sickness bug going around work, thankfully I haven't / didn't catch it. Instead I was graced with a stuffy running nose, sore throat and watery eyes. Its been draining to say the least and I just wanted it to be over with. This morning was a NEW day and I was going to try to make the most of it, after all I just had 9 hours to make it till the weekend. 

I'm not a big breakfast person but this morning I was in much need of a pick me up :) I left a bit early to make a pit stop by the Shoppette for my all time favorite Powder Donuts & Apple Juice (I was trying to make it some what nutritious) however they didn't have the brand that I like. I wasn't going to let it get me down though, nope not today. So Chocolate milk it was, I absolutely HATE milk but I'll have a glass of chocolate milk every great once in a while. 

If definitely helped put a little spunk in my day and thankfully things went by fairly well. I even had lunch with a friend at TGI Fridays which was nice to catch up. We had Thanksgiving together and we haven't had a chance to get together since then. Both her daughters who happen to be around my age just deployed so we chatted a bit about that. Its hard enough to have your spouse deploy, I can't imagine having to send your children off to war. She sure is a strong momma though and I'm glad we finally were able to meet up again. After lunch I headed back to finish out my last 3 hours of work before heading home to get the weekend started with my love. I am in much need of a relaxing one after the crazy week I've had. Hoping for beautiful warm weather so we can spend some time outside. The plan is to do a little backyard makeover to gear up for spring. I'm crossing my finger that my allergies don't knock me on my butt. Me & yard work don't really mix, I have a feeling my allergies are going to get the best of me while living here. I'm so not looking forward to it either, I haven't had to deal with them in the last 3 years and its been so nice. 

~DAY 148~

Spring is in the air, I "think"

Its been such a beautiful day here in the South. I was out running some errands on my lunch today and ended up taking off my cardigan because I was getting hot. I snapped a picture to send to the hubbs as a little surprise when he got off work. :) Lets just say he loved it and I got lots of loven for it when he got home. (kisses ya'll come on, tryin to keep it PG here)

I am seriously craving warmer weather and brighter days!!! I miss the sun, I miss the heat and I miss being able to wear dresses. Everyone says that once summer gets here and the horrid hot temperatures arrive that I'll hate it but I'd much rather be able to take layers off vs pile more on. 

My favorite part about warmer weather, spring and summer is being outside!!!! 

Yall see that sun roof open above me, yuppers I love love having a sunroof. I have to say I think its my favorite part about my challey. I've also been randomly shopping for new spring / summer attire for work and for out around town. Unlike in Hawaii I can dress up and wear whatever I'd like to school / work which I love!!!! Seriously any reason to go shopping for new clothes right!!! 

I hope the warmer weather is here to stay and cold has gone North for the summer!!!! (or where ever it goes lol)

~DAY 146~

Lunch Break

DAY 109

Thankfully I only work about 6 miles from home, its not on post but still close. I'm able to come home on my lunch every day if I wanted, this way I can let the pups out. Most of the time I only come home on Tuesdays & Thursdays since I go to spin class right after work.  Today I came home because I had plans to go to spin this evening since I wasn't going to be able to make it tomorrow. (I was going to dinner with a co~worker for her bday.) 

While cleaning up the kitchen and picking up from the weekend I remembered I had a full dishwasher of clean dishes. We had a couple of the guys over for dinner last night & I cooked dinner for them while they studied for a up coming test. Normally I wash everything by hand right then and there but there was just to much and I was being lazy. Needless to say I was hating myself for not just washing them last night. I hate unloading the dishwasher just as much as I hate loading it. Oh well someones got to do it, when I was living at home I always made sure to get every last dish in there because I didn't want to do anything by hand and now as weird as it sounds I prefer to wash everything myself. 

When I was putting the dishes away I had the back door open so the pups could go in and out if they wanted. It was such a beautiful day out and the sun was shinning bright!!! I looked out to check on my babies and this is what I found. Bailey Girl was laying out there sun bathing, soaking up the sun. She LOVES to be outside just laying in the yard. I wish I wasn't so nervous about leaving them outside when I go back to work some times after lunch. I'd only be gone for 3 hours but I just can't bring myself to do it yet. I know I'd be worried sick about them the whole time I was back at work. I want to try and leave them outside on a weekend day when we run to the PX or just a short trip here on post some were just to see how they do. I'm not worried about them digging out or getting out any other way, I'm kinda worried about random people just coming and letting them out. Our gate is securely closed but that doesn't mean someone couldn't get in. Thankfully our house backs up to a big wooded area and neither of our neighbors mind our yappy mutts out when they are barking. It's to pretty to be inside all the time, they want to get out and enjoy the fresh air, I don't blame them either. 

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever!!!! She's my baby girl, I'd be lost with out her.