Feeling a bit Blue

As the army has it, its done it again. Taken away another sweet friend of mine. I feel like just as we get close, get into a routine and comfortable its time to start over. I knew this was coming well before but that doesn't mean it made it any easier. My sweet friend Gill who I'd met through work when I first started here is moving / pcsing to Germany with her little family. 

A little back story...Gill and her Hubbs where suppose to pcs to Germany back in the fall of 2014 but her husband ended up coming down on deployment orders. With the arrival of their first baby in March G. decided it was best to move back home to Texas to be around family. Spring of 2015 she moved back to TN and came back to work. It was so awesome to have her back, to say we were all excited was a little lie, we where over joyed. However there was that little debbie downer that hung over us all. Those pcs orders to Germany still stood. Around August- September 2015 time frame Gill took over the 4 year old class so we worked hand in hand. As the days came closer to her last day, reality began to set in that she was really leaving. Gill is one of my closets friends at work and not having her here any more is really hard. It truly breaks my heart. I'm lucky enough to have another friend who I adore and who is also a Milispouse step in and take over her class. I love A and I know we will work great together, we have so much in common. You know though, when your used to one person and the way you two work together and jell it just flows. Here's to the next few months of getting into a routine and flow with A and figure things out together. It hasn't even been a week and I miss Gill already. I texted her on Tuesday and told her it just wasn't the same with out her here. I'll miss my morning Hot Chocolate that she would bring me sometimes, I'll miss our lunch dates and all the stories we'd share. I'll miss her sweet little Cammie and watching him grow. I'll miss picking her brain about life and everything we are both going through. What who am I kidding I'm going to miss everything about her. 

Of course we will stay in touch, we'll still have our chats and even lunch dates via Skype, its just not going to be the same. 

I put together a little going away dinner for Gill with some of the other girls we work with at her favorite Mexican joint here in town and we had the best time. I'll miss our Chips and Salsa Dates for sure. 

Every Thing Comes with Change

With moving for anyone many things change and adjustments are made. You have to get used to your new surroundings, new neighbors, finding your way around town, places to eat, new date night places, new job, house, friends, traffic, weather, style, country living vs. city living. I mean the list goes on and on. One of the things that I didn't think would be a huge change or adjustment for me has been one of the biggest adjustments. I've never been that person that loves loves to go grocery shopping but I certainly did not mind it either. When we lived in Hawaii the hubbs and I always went together. I wouldn't of had it any other way. It was my first time ever grocery shopping for my family (even if it was just the two of us, so it was a bit intimidating.) Once we PCSed to a The South 90% of the time I had to go by myself because of the hubbs job and life on the trail he was always working weekends and not able to go. I got used to it and frankly ended up liking it better that way. You see it saved us a TON of money. I'm one that has a list, a strict list and I stick to my list. If it's not on the list I do NOT get it. There's not if ands or buts. I prioritize our income and budget out everything, (of course that's a personal choice we choice) it's worked out really well for us. But when the hubbs would come along we would get extras here and there and they add up, quickly might I add. So I learned a routine to shop on my own and it worked. I enjoyed it. We've always shopping at the commissary on post, its easy convenient and makes much more sense when you think about the prices at local or big name stores. Even now living off post in TN I still shop at the commissary here but boy has that been the biggest headache ever. The first time we went in was when we came up and signed on our house to. So it was a quick in and out. It felt overwhelming because it was so much bigger. I felt out of place because it wasn't "my commissary" were I shopped regularly. I know it would become "mine" over time but goodness I didn't expect it to take this long. I could go in to the commissary at Jackson or even the one on Schofield and go right to what I needed but here nope not happening. I've already been multiple times and I still hate that place. Its so big, its set up completely different and so backwards. They have household items spread all through out the store instead of having them in one section together. The refrigerated stuff and freeze stuff is completely separated and spread apart. As well as the lunch meat, bacon, and breakfast items. Then through in the pet stuff smack in the middle of a random aisle and the cleaning stuff no, lets not put it all together on one aisle we will take up two that aren't even side by side. The bread section is again split in to two areas and is right in the front of the store, its almost as it your walking out to go back to the bread section before checking out. On and don't get me started on the people here at the commissary. I though it was bad shopping with all of the elderly retired service members at Jackson. Shoot here lets just stop in the middles of the aisle and walk back and forth until I find what I need. No reason to push my cart to the side out of the way. I passed one girl in there the other day with headphones on and she said as I passed her "OMG, you scared the crap out of me." Well maybe you should take your jam session some were else because there's people here trying got shop and avoid your dance party in the aisle. Another couple stops in front of the can goods and decides to have a make out session. Another has her entire family, husband and three kids two carts completely full and walks side by side down the aisles while they allow their children to help pick the items off the shelf. Don't get me wrong I"m all about letting the kids help but stick to one side. I seriously HATE that commissary and don't know if I'll ever get used to it. I still don't know my way around it. At Jackson I knew what aisles I didn't have to go down because I didn't need anything on it. Here NOPE, I find myself back tracking several times trying to make sure I got everything on my list. Its so so so annoying, I try to be quick about it, in and out but that just doesn't happen. I never though I'd get so frustrated shopping at the commissary. I avoid going on payday or even the day after so that I don't have to deal with that made rush so its not even that. I know its a new store, new lay out and its just going to take time but holy crap how much time. On the plus side I have our shopping trips down to once a month. Have you ever had problems or difficulties learning your way around a new commissary? Just one of the joys about moving I suppose, life as a milispouse right!!! 

Back on the Streets

After what seemed like a eternity I finally slipped back into my running shoes at the beginning of the month. I took 4 months or so off with the move, stress of finding a new job and finding my grove in TN. Now that things have finally settled down, I've been hitting the pavement regularly and I feel so good about it. I started off short and slow and have built back up slowly. I wake up pack my bag and I don't even think twice about it. Most day's that is. I have been running on my lunch from work and this past week the weather has been pretty great. Not to hot, Not to cold. But the weeks before that its been horrifying hot. I'm trying not to push myself to hard but knowing what I have accomplished in the past makes me want to get back to that point. Sooner rather than Later ideally. One day at a time, One step at a time. I don't want to hurt myself again, training for my half I pulled a ten-dent in my leg which was awful. Friday I pushed through 5 miles straight, of course my time wasn't were it was at my last 10K race but I was pretty pumped with my end results. I've been helping a co-worker / friend over the last few weeks with running. She started off walking a few miles on her lunch, and slowly started running. Started at .5 miles and now she's up to 3.5 miles not straight only stopping once or twice but she's doing fabulous and to know that I've helped her get to were she is makes it all that much more worth it. Running has been a huge stress reliever for me and has helped me in so many ways, starting with feeling better about myself. B (friend from wrk) and I signed up for our first 5K. It'll be my first of the year and her first ever!!! It's not till October, we couldn't find anything sooner in our area. But we are still looking. I'm excited to get back in to racing, no I'll never win top in my age group or anything like that but I love the rush you get from it. And the since of pride from accomplishing each run and race. 

Just a bit of running selfie over load!!! 

New School...

After several interviews at various preschools around the area I finally accepted a position at a local preschool as a Pre-K 5 Teacher. I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity that's been given to me. This chance to finally spread my wings and built my experience. I absolutely love love working with kids and being able to experience life with them. Finally getting the chance to expand my experience is really important to me.
I will be in a classroom all to myself, no assistant here. I'm totally fine with that just means I really have to step up my game. I'll have a up to 15, 5 year olds in my care all to myself. Yikes that's a lot'a little ones. Thankfully my classroom is connected by a half wall with the Pre-K 4 classroom and the teacher in there seems to be really great and willing to help me with everything needed. It's always so hard starting over, having to learn new policies and procedures, meet new people, making friends, proving myself and getting the kiddo's to fall for me, learn to trust me and simply have fun with me.
The school is small, much smaller than were I came from at EDS. Its ran completely different as every school is but to come from such a awesome place I can't help but compare. I'm trying not to really I am but its so hard not to.
Another thing I'm having to learn to process and take in every day that I didn't before is "broken families." Believe it or not at the school I worked at before in Cola, there was not but maybe one or two broken families. And there was only two military families that went to the school. So I didn't work with military families or spend my days around children who's parents were away for various reason's. Now don't get me wrong I have worked with military families and their children in Hawaii. But I have never in my life worked with a group of kids that have come from so many broken families, parents that aren't in the picture at all. Children that live with grandparents or even foster care and other relatives. It breaks my heart, why on earth would anyone at all walk out on their child or not do everything in their power to provide a wonderful life for their children. Now don't get me wrong I come from a broken family myself so I am not at all down grading them but to have some of these kiddos tell me "I don't have a mommy," when we are talking about something in class just makes me so sad. I just want to scoop them up and take them home with me.
On the other hand there are a few ever so loving 5 year old's in my class that we refer to as "walking tornado's" and OMG I have to just walk away myself sometimes. I've had one child use multiple curse words in class, another push a chair across the room, kick and hit their friends. Of course they are kids, these things are going to happen but the language is were I drawl the line. Your out the door when you start talking like that.
I'm still learning the routine, the kids, the school, the management, my co-workers, who to talk to and who to watch what I say to as you have to deal with, with every job. It comes with time, time I've got and willing to spare. I'm giving it 100% and putting everything I have into it. My only hope is to leave a lasting impression on these families as I did with my last.
Change is hard, its never easy but I'm embracing it making the most of it!!! But I'd be lying like crazy if I said I didn't miss my EDS family so much. I'll be back, even if its just a visit for now and that's what keeps me going. :)

Oh and well since every girl loves a monogram and we all know I love everything monogrammed, I though I'd share these with yall!!! We have to wear scrubs Monday - Thursday (Friday is bluejeans and our school shirt day) and I'm not all about the prints and patterns on the scrubs so I went with solid colors and MONOGRAMMED them!!!! They turned out perfect and definitely jazzed them up a bit!!!! 

Headed "Home"

After what seemed like the longest month and a half later I was finally on the road headed back to TN. For Good This Time. Well at least for the next few years. I couldn't wait to see my hubbs, I've missed him so much. Some how this seemed like a good idea at the time but the longer the days drug on the more I hated myself for staying. Don't get my wrong I didn't regret it at all, I just missed being able to live life with my love in our new house. I couldn't help but think that if I would have gone when he did then I wouldn't have gotten in that wreck. I was at least grateful that I had gone up in the beginning of May to unpack our house and set it up. One last thing I had to stress over  and deal with when I got home.

I ended my last day at EDS (for now, I hope to be back one day) Said my "see you soon's"and headed home to pack up my things. Cory took me to get my car, finally I couldn't wait to have my own car back again. We transferred everything over and I was on my way, well for a short moment that was. I made one last stop to say "see you soon" get hugs and kisses from the Sweet R family. They were the last ones I saw in the South before I left. I couldn't leave with out one last hug!!! These two have my heart and its in a million pieces knowing I'm not going to be able to see them for a while. 

Blowing Kisses as I drove away, breaks my heart. 

Here's to the next 7 hours, just me and the highway. I left much later than I had wanted to but none the less I was on the road headed "home". 

It was a long grueling drive, mainly through the night but I finally made it home around 2am and couldn't of been happier. I was so tired I didn't even take a single thing inside. I had a interview in 8 hours and had to be up in 6 hours so I was fast asleep as soon as I laid down. 

I loved coming home to a house that was set up, decorated and I could just pick right up. Our house felt like home but Tennessee most defiantly did not. Driving around later the next day I had a lump in my throat the whole time. How am I suppose to do this, starting over, finding a job I love as much as my last, finding friends, building new memories and favorite places to go to. I know it all comes with time and I'll get there but for now I still miss home. I'll always miss home. South Carolina that is. I NEVER in my wildest dreams would have though that I could have loved life in Cola as much as a I did. I was not crazy about it when we moved there at all. But that changed with time. I'm not saying I don't like it here in TN, I haven't been here long enough to give it a chance. I'm sure I'll grow to love it and enjoy it our time. We will make wonderful memories that I'll love and cherish forever! It just takes time and patients. I'm trying just sometimes easier said than done. 

I'll start here…….

We have a large covered deck off the back of our house so I picked up this lovely set before I left Cola. I absolutely love it!!! We've never had a nice patio set (just the cheap plastic one from the PX) but not this time. I splurged and couldn't be happier with it. I'm all about saving money and going with the basics of things but this time was different. I for see us having many meals out here, drinks with friends, watching the pups run around and play and seeing the lightening bugs fly through the night. Or in case's like today breakfast on the patio, peach tea, toast with homemade strawberry jam made by yours truly. 

I'm trying over here, and that's all I can do. One day at a time, One foot in front of the other. 

We Can't Say Goodbye to you at a Park….

Being of April I was babysitting for one of my favorite families and had a conversation about something on my Southern Bucket List. I knew with Football season over it probably wasn't going to happen. Little did I know that one conversation led to the best surprise a group of parents and co-workers could put together. 

6 of my sweet co-workers put together a little lunch-eon in our classroom. I was so surprised and shocked. I had no clue at all, they completely caught me off guard and it was the sweetest little going away party. (although I'm so excited yet sad about the party coming up this week that some of my parents are throwing for me.)

Everyone made a dish to share, there was so much food & sweet tea. They know the way to my heart!!

About 12:45 Kristen made the comment "I know something you don't know", she just couldn't hold out any longer. She went next door to the other room and next thing I know is they are bringing food over to my room. Jamie said "You didn't think we were going to say goodbye to you at a park did you". 

(the party this coming week is at a park)

We had enough food to probably feed about 10-15 of us. It was so fun to have our own little party in my room. As if food and drinks wasn't enough they out did themselves with gifts to. 

A beautiful necklace and earrings set, Palmetto Tree and Crescent Moon Charm and a Monogrammed Cutting Board. Seriously have I mentioned how well they know and love me.

Because food, sweet tea and a few little gifts was not enough they had one more surprise. Remember that conversation I mentioned about my South Carolina Bucket List?! Well M totally out did herself, she told another one of our parents who happens to work at USC about our conversation. 

I wanted to have my picture taken with Cocky before I moved. USC's Mascot!!! Why? I haven't the clue, but living in Columbia you can't help but become a Gamecock fan. It becomes in your blood as much as it's in the locals. They live, breath and sleep Gamecock Country. 

You can imagine my shock and surprise when Cocky came walking into my classroom. It took all we had to keep our voice's down not to wake up the little ones. I had tears streaming down my face, with excitement. To some it may not be that big of a deal, but for me it was. This move from the South to TN has taken a toll on me. I am having the hardest time excepting it. I've built a life here, made friends that have made a lasting impression on me, I have a job at a school that I absolutely love. As much as I'm ready to go and be settled with my husband, I'm going to miss my life here so much. 

Our Director told us we had Cocky for 15 minutes all to ourselves. What were we to do, it was kinda funny at first we all just stood around laughing like a bunch of little school girls. 

We had so much fun joking around, laughing, dancing and offering Cocky Chicken. He didn't take so lightly to the offer. I tell you he plays a great mascot, not once broke character or talked. Even when little Mac woke up he went over and "patted" him back to sleep. I'll remember this day forever!!!! 

And this amazing lady here, Jamie. My YaYa Sister! I can't begin to say how much I love her friendship.

After Cocky hung out with us a bit, he went upstairs were all the Older Hall kiddo's were waiting. They had NO clue why they were up there or who was coming. They were so excited, Clemson vs. Gamecocks rivalry starts at a early age down in the South. I remember my 2nd week at the school I was subbing in the Kindergarten room and one of the little girls asked me if I went for Clemson or Gamecocks. I didn't even really know who was who at that point but if someone was to ask me today, hands down I'd say I'm a Gamecock fan for sure. 

When me and two of the other girls walked in the kids were CHANTING as loud as they could……..

USC GO COCKS, USC GO COCKS. 

They were loving it, and I couldn't help but think "he's here just for me, all of this was for me". It was such a special day!! A couple of the older hall teachers asked me if I wanted to come work on the Older Hall that afternoon, since after all I was the reason for them being all riled up. lol NOPE, thanks for the offer though. They were so load, our heads were pounding betimes we left. I did have to get a picture with my favorite little man and Cocky though. Future Gamecock right here people. 

I'm really going to miss this place, I've made so many great memories here.

It's not goodbye but rather SEE YOU SOONLY!!! 

Our House Tour!!

I'm absolutely in love with our house, is it my dream house no but its defiantly home sweet home for now. Our dream house will come later once we settle down, get out of the army and start a family. (of course not in that order) Knowing we can do absolutely what ever we want to the house with out having to ask some one first is so nice. Being able to change things if we want is just peachy. I'm so glad we decided to live off post and purchase instead of rent. I have a feeling we are going to be so happy, I mean we already are. I can't wait to have holiday parties, friends over for dinner and get together. Oh the memories we are going to make. Now if only I could get my booty to TN for good we could start on all those fun memories. I went up for a long weekend the first of May when our HHG's were getting delivered and we got the house completely unpacked, set up and everything in place. In just TWO days, you would have though we'd been living the

re for months now but nope. I don't waste any time. Its a cute little 3 bedroom house, (only two bedrooms pictured below, hubbs man room didn't make the photo cut, even though it was unpacked and very well put together.) it looks big from the outside but it truly isn't that monstrous huge. Its just the perfect size for us. I'm loving the back deck area and can't wait to get our table and chair for it. We'll def. be enjoying some lovely summer evenings out there.

Hawaiian Themed Front Entry Way 

Downstairs Half Bath 

Favorite part of my Kitchen,  My Mamaw's Framed Recipes & her Picture. 

Fiestaware Themed Kitchen 

Fiestaware Themed Kitchen

Living Room 

Upstairs Full Guest Bath 

Texas Themed Guest Bedroom 

Master Bedroom 

Master Bathroom and Walk in Closet 

Back Covered Patio Deck and Yard 

We've Moved & We Bought a House!!!

We'll a lots happened in the last month or so.  Its a long one but worth the read to catch up and see where life's taken us!!

We've made several trip's up to Tennessee to do a bit of house hunting. Our initial plan was to rent, we knew we didn't want to live on post. Once we got up here back in February the first night we started looking for houses to rent. Then quickly started scouting the market for homes that were for sale. We figured why not buy and pay ourselves vs. someone else. This will allow us to rent our home out once we PCS again and make money off of it. Planning and Building our Future. We got connected with a great Realtor through our friends C & B and he showed us a few houses that first weekend we came up. I of course fell in love with the very first house we saw. It was completely renovated and up to date. So much charm and character. We called it the "Red Door House" well because it had a red door of course. We continued looking and looking… we (The Hubbs) wanted to see what all of our options were. We knew with the Red Door House there would be a lot of work we would want / have to put into it with in the first couple of weeks of us being there. Plus a big bathroom reno eventually to make it a full master suite. Not to mention we had to keep in mind renting it out in the future once we leave TN. Would someone really be willing to maintain 2 acres of land, and live with the little quirks that it had.

Isn't it so cute!! 

Jumping ahead to April we wanted to push the closing date back as late as we could. We weren't leaving Ft. Jackson till Mid / Late April and we didn't want to have to pay a mortgage payment on a house when we were living in it. Makes sense right. April 10th we loaded up my car with everything we could. That morning the 11th we got up really and made the 7 hour drive up to TN.

Our New Home!!

We were finally getting to see our home that we were purchasing for the first time in person. Crazy I know we bought a house sight unseen but when I tell you our Realtor was amazing. He really was. He went over the top for us, so we were confident in what we were getting into. Closing was at 1pm, we met up with J at the house about 10:30am. It was so exciting finally getting to see it in person. It was everything we were thinking it would be from the pictures and details we got from J. It's out side the city limits, and back in a none traffic area. If you don't know that the neighborhood is back there then your not gonna just stumble across it. Best part is we'll never had houses built behind us!!! Country Living!! Of course with everything house there are the quirks and "what were they thinking, doing that" comments. There were doubts about our furniture fitting in certain rooms. But we knew we would make it work. We spent the weekend up in TN getting a few things done to and around the house and checking the area out some more.
April 22nd the day after my birthday the hubbs and pups made the trip to TN for good. I was staying back in the South to finish out the school year at my job. A bittersweet decision for sure, since I wouldn't be officially moving till the 1st of June.

Jumping to the First weekend in May, May 1st is the hubbs birthday. It just so happened to be the day he had schedule to get out HHG's (house hold goods) delivered. I was itching to be there. Ever since our move from Dallas to Hawaii I've been a nervous wreck about the military moving us. But was it really worth it for me to make the 7 hour drive to TN for the weekend. I'd have to take off two days of work and give up two babysitting jobs I was offered. I knew the hubbs wouldn't do much un-packing he already had mentioned to me he wasn't going to. Just simple the things he needed to get by with. We had talked and agreed that we would un-pack and set the house up together once I came down the 1st of June. Apart of me still wanted to be there, I went back and forth about it so much. I had told myself if I got my class covered at work I would go and once I didn't I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Apart of me wanted to be there and apart of me wasn't excited about the drive by myself. (although I've done much longer by myself, that doesn't mean I wanted to) The hubbs had left the decision completely up to me, he wasn't saying yes or no. Which didn't help me any, and I couldn't help but wonder if he'd be disappointed if I ended up not coming. It wasn't until Tuesday on my lunch break that I decided I was officially going. I went and had my car weighted and that night I loaded it up so I could go get it weighted again that next morning. Wednesday I got off at 5pm and hit the road to TN. The drive wasn't bad at all, and thankfully I didn't really ever get tired. I made two stops the whole time. Once just across the NC boarder to go to the bathroom and then once just north of Nashville for gas. I love that my car can almost make it the full 500 miles on one tank of gas! I got in just after midnight and was so excited to see our pups and of course the hubbs. I've missed them so so much, and it had just been a little over a week!!!! How on earth did we make it through a 15 month deployment back in 2007??? After a little catching up we headed to bed. Big day to follow with our HHG's getting delivered.

We woke up semi early 7ish. picked up the house, I vacuumed while the hubbs cooked breakfast and the pups played out side in our giant back yard!! We had a appointment with the door people to come replace a couple door nobs. They were here and gone before the movers ever arrived. We decided to go to the store for a drink while we waited since they called and were just leaving Nashville with our things. On our way out of the neighborhood we came across a loose dog. We did the good thing and tried to find his owners but no such luck since he didn't have tags. So the hubbs took him to the humane society so he wouldn't get hurt. We live near a busy highway and he could easily get hit. I'd want someone to do the same to my pups. I wanted at the house hoping the movers would show up sooner rather than later. About a hour after the called they were finally here. ETA was 8-10am and they arrived at 11:30am, whatever its ok. We kept saying all morning that it shouldn't take them that long to unload our stuff and get on there way. BOY WERE WE WRONG!!!! They didn't leave till 4:30pm. That was the longest un-load day ever. 5 hours, it didn't even take them that long to pack and load everything when they did it in Cola. After they were finished and left we had no desire to even start unpacking boxes. I knew if I started I wouldn't want to stop and we were both hungry. So we headed down to Nashville to celebrate the hubbs birthday Dinner at Buca di Beppo, his choice!!!
A trip to Lowe's on our way home for a few things. We've become regulars there here lately, I guess that's what happens when you buy a house. After we got home we unpacked a few boxes, we needed to get to our printer. So while the hubbs was doing that I unpacked a few of the master bedroom boxes. Shortly after we called it a night and headed to bed.

patiently waiting on the movers to arrive

THERE HERE!!!

 Rise and Shine Sun Shine. Friday morning we woke up and got straight to work. We knocked out the entire upstairs before 9:30am. Completely unpacked and put away. We quickly changed and I headed off to a job interview. Afterwards we ran to Target, Best Buy and Lowe's again. Grabbed a late lunch while we were out and came home to finish up the house. By 7pm that night the entire house was unpacked and completely set up perfect. The only thing left to do was hang pictures on the wall and clean up and organize the garage. We opted to save that for Saturday and sat back enjoying a movie with a glass of Vino and Cupcakes!!  (Cupcakes--) Complements of the hubbs on a congrats for my job interview.

I had such a hard time watching them get this beast of a unit up our stairs,
thankfully it made it safely and we don't have to store it in the garage!!! 

Saturday morning I made breakfast and then we got right to work on the garage. Surprisingly I though it was going to take a lot more time then it did but we were done in no time. 2 trips to the local dump location to get rid of all the boxes and packing paper. A quick trip to the commissary to get a few groceries and then back home for lunch. I went through and laid out all the picture on the walls were I wanted them to go before hanging any up. I wanted to make sure I got it right the first time so I didn't have to put a billion holes in the walls. Only a couple redo's but I'm happy to say I'm quite pleased with the out come. We ended the evening at home, the hubbs made Chicken Taco Salad for dinner and Cupcakes for dessert again.
Full tour of the house to come!!!! Stay tune!!! 

Lastest DIY Projects

In our new house (which I've still yet to share on here, soon soon) we will officially have a guest bedroom. We have always had a 2 bedroom house both in Hawaii and in the South. Perks of living on post I guess, or down fall really. So the 2nd room was the Hubbs gun room / office which shared a futon were our guest stayed when they came to visit. Our new home in TN has 3 bedrooms and so we finally are able to have a proper guest bedroom and the hubbs still has his gun room. 

I had been looking for a queen mattress and box springs for the room on line but didn't want to pay full price because I know its not going to be used all the time. The plan was to get rails and then I was going to use pictures as a headboard. I found someone selling a new set of mattresses on the Ft. Jackson Trash and Treasure's FB page and when I went to check them out she told me I could have the bed frame as well. Although it needed a bit of work I jumped on it because it looked great! 

The plan was to sand it completely down and repaint it. I've always wanted a white bed for some unknown reason but the hubbs doesn't like white furniture. This worked perfect, I got my white bed just in our guest room. What I didn't realize when we started this was how much work it was going to take. Getting in and out of every little square with the sander and then painting in each square. Talk about time consuming and tedious. But I love the way it turned out and I can't wait to see how it looks in the guest room. 

 Going along with the guest room I needed / wanted night stands. I've had these 2 old stools for a while now that I bought off the Ft. Jackson Trash and Treasures page for our down stairs desk before we bought our new kitchen table. My go to is pinterest, of course its everyone else's to. I found a similar idea to these using a stool converting it into a night stand but my sweet Spouse (Sarah) found this idea and she sent it to me. It will go along with the theme of the room great so I went for it. Painting the stools and tops were a piece of cake. The hubbs screwed on the tops and then I did the "shelves". That was time consuming and so messy but I love the way they turned out. Although I wish the table top would have covered the entire stool seat, I couldn't bring myself to pay $20 for the bigger one and to be honest I think it would have been to big. 

I can't wait to get settled in our new house and get everything decorated and set up. I started off wanting to get all new of everything and since then I've regrouped and changed that idea and have enjoyed redoing some projects and making things into my own. It saves money for sure and it gives me something to do, not to mention makes our home unique. 

Our last day's

The last few day's in our Cola house looked like this…..filled with boxes upon boxes. 

Sleeping on a air mattress in our living room floor, living out of our upstairs bathroom because that's were all our stuff was we didn't want the movers to pack.

Eating off of paper plates because our dishes were packed away. Shredding cheese with a potato peeler because I forgot to leave out our cheese grater. 

Watching movies or TV shows on our laptops because we had no TV. 

Using Commissary bags as trash bag's because we threw out our trash can so the movers wouldn't pack it. 

Life in the mist of PCSing oh the joys!!! I can't wait to get settled at our new place and have everything back to normal again. 

 Wednesday morning I woke up early went and picked up donuts for our movers and came back to finish up a few things before they arrived. Their ETA was between 8:00am and 8:30am I figure closer to 8:30 so I had a little time to spare. NOPE, they arrived promptly at 8:10am just shortly after I got home. The moment I saw the moving truck pull up in front of my drive way my heart sank. Not that everything leading up to today wasn't a sign of hello we're moving but I guess it really hadn't hit me yet. Well it did today. I kept reminding myself of all that we have ahead of us and this is not the end of my time in the South but only the beginning. We will be back! (just not to be stationed at Ft. J)

It only took them a matter of 3.5 hours to wrap up all the furniture and load everything up. They left our couch and hutch for last because they are two of the biggest and heaviest pieces of furniture we have. Cleaning up the upstairs while they finished packing the down stairs reminded me of the way the house looked when we moved in. EMPTY! Life as a Milispouse and the joys' of PCSing. 

Wednesday night was last time I cooked dinner in our Cola house. I made Chicken Fried Rice, one of our favorites. It was easy, quick and we had everything there to make it.  We sat there on our air mattress eating off paper plates enjoy our last moments in our 2nd home together. 

Thursday night our last night in the house we decided to go out to eat. I didn't want to make a mess in the kitchen. The stove, oven, counters, and everything else was already clean and I'd like to keep it that way. We decided to ask our neighbors Mr. Larry and Nita to go with us. And thankfully they took us up on our offer. I was a bit nervous about how the dinner would go but it was great, there was never a dull moment and I'm so glad we asked them to go with us. They are the sweetest elderly couple in the world. Mr. Larry retired from the Army in 1985, he and his wife live on post one door down from us. Mr. Larry pulls the trash can's and recycling bins out to the curb for the entire neighborhood every morning and takes then back up after trash runs. They hand write Christmas cards for everyone in the neighborhood and always have a little something to go with it. A couple days before the movers came they brought over this beautiful cross-stitch that she had done. This way we would always remember them and have a piece of the beach every were we went. 

I'll truly miss them and their sweet hearts. I'm sure the pups will to because they always came over to say hi and give them loves. 

 Friday morning at 10am we finaled out of our house and officially were done with cleaning, packing and stressing over this house. We've heard mixed reviews on how the housing clearing process goes. I've heard that it's similar to a white glove test and then I've heard its really not that bad. I didn't want to chance anything so we made sure that everything was spic and span clean. I'm happy to say we didn't have to pay for anything extra other than the carpet cleaning which we new we were going to have to pay for. We opted to have them do it vs. us paying for someone to come in and do it and it still not be up to their standards. 

When one door closes there's another waiting to be opened, when one chapter ends there's another one to start. 

Goodbye Cola house! 

It's Pack Day….

When I moved from Texas to Hawaii and then again from Hawaii to South Carolina everything was done on one day. Not this time, we have a pack day and a moving day. Kinda random but I suppose every company has there own way of doing things right?.?.?. 

Over the last couple week's I've slowly began getting our house ready for the movers to come. Taking everything off the walls. A deep deep clean on all of our belongings and not to mention the endless dusting. I wanted everything to be nice and clean before it was boxes up, this way it helps for when I have to unpack everything at the new house. One of the ONLY plus sides to moving is going through the house and getting rid of stuff and junk we DON'T need any more!!!! I HATE HATE clutter with a passion. My motto is if we don't use it or we have to put it in storage (other than holiday decor and some childhood things) its gotta GO!!!! My husband is the worlds worst at holding on to EVERYTHING. His favorite saying is well what if I need it later?!?!? Well I guess we'll find out then won't we. 

I'm a very OCD person when it comes to our home. I like to have everything just a certain way and everything has to be nicely organized as well. That's been no different this time around either. All the wall decor has been placed in one area. All the "new" spare-bedroom stuff has been collected in one area, cookbooks together, surround system together and wrapped up. You get the idea right. The hubbs has reminded me multiple times that it is the job of the packers to wrap, box and take care of everything but I can't help myself. Since I won't be there when all of our stuff is delivered (I'll save that for another post) I want to make it as easy as possible when I do get there and organizing the house. Hubbs has been put on strict orders not to unpack or set anything up unless its his gun room stuff. I know I'm going to want things in a certain spot and it will just save us both the hassle of doing it twice if he waits till I get there. Besides to him it really doesn't make a difference one way or the other. Men I tell you, sometimes they just don't understand lol. 

Well the day has finally came and our house is getting packed up, TODAY. The packers are here, as I'm typing this, my kitchen is slowly becoming empty. My precious collection of dishes now sits in a giant box in the corner of our dinning room. There's one guy up stairs and one guy down stairs and their hard at work. I haven't even been up stairs since they started. I'm kinda nervous to go up there and see everything packed away. I know its only temporary but this has been our home for the past 2.5 years and its hard to go through another move. No matter how much I HATE Ft. Jackson or how much my husband hated his job at times, it doesn't make it any easier to move. We've built a life here, we've made friends, I've got a job that I enjoy and I have to leave it all behind and start over. Don't get me wrong I'm extremely excited about our future and what's to come at our new duty station. (I can't wait to fill you in on all of that, another post, another day maybe) But it's still going to be hard to see this chapter come to a close. Life of a Army Wife though right!!!! I wouldn't change it for the world. 

Side Note: I for got how much of a pain going through box after box is until I just looked over at a empty kitchen. You mean they will take it all out of the cabinets and drawers but they wont put it all back in?!?!? Kidding Kidding I know, I'd want to do it myself any how but still holy cow its a lot of work!!! Good thing I'll have plenty to keep me busy when we move for the first weekend. Not to worry I'll have it all unpacked and set up in no time. I HATE living out of boxes and in a disorganized mess!!!!! The OCD will kick in, in extreme over drive and take over!!! 

This is just a glimpse at what our house looked like last night when we went to bed. :( 

This morning it was even worse as I finished up last minute organizing and cleaning waiting for the packers to get here. 

It's come to a end….

I can't believe our time on the Trail is officially over. Thinking back two years ago I never though this day would come and I couldn't wait for it to get here. Now I'm wishing just a little that we still had some time left. I absolutely love the school were I work and I've made some great friends through some of my parents. Its funny how all of my friends in Hawaii were / are Milispouse's and here in the South 90% of my friends were / are parents of kiddos I had in my class. I'll def. be sad to say good bye to them when the time comes. Although we are looking forward to the future and what's in store I can't help but wish we had more time in the South. I know the hubbs is more than ready to be done and get back to a line unit. He's done his fair share of training and he's ready to get back to what he enjoy's doing. He's been counting down faithfully for about the last 6 months. He's beyond done. Frankly I'm over the unit we are with. Its only the 2nd unit we've been with but they've been horrible. I fill sorry for anyone that has to go through 2-60th. 

I took his Hat Press that I got him for our Anniversary year before last and had the plate finished. They actually redid the entire plate for me and it turned out great. The Brown Round has officially been retired. 

We've had good day's and bad day's through our time on the Trail. It's to be expected, they are gone all the time and when they are home they are extremely drained and tired. Hanging the Hat the hubbs will finally be able to go out and enjoy his free time and that means we get more time together. 

I absolutely hated the Brown Round when he first got it, I though it was the ugliest thing ever…….

 But it grew on me and now I absolutely love it. I have to say its quite sexy. I mean just look at it, he's rocking it for sure. I'll miss the stories he comes home and tell's about his day and smoking the PVT's. I'll miss being able to go out to the trainings and watching him train PVT's. I'll miss our CQ night dinners. I'll miss some parts of it I'm sure and so will he, even if he doesn't admit it. But I can't wait for what's ahead of us. Lots of changes and many more memories to be made. 

Two Years done!!! 

It's only a 2 year assignment with the option to extend a 3rd year, but we only did the 2 years. 

 Graduation Day March 22, 2012 & Last Day March 31, 2014 

That to This

For one reason or another the hubbs has to have a coffee table in the living room. Myself I could careless if we had one or not. I think it actually makes the room feel bigger with out one. But none the less I humor him and we have a coffee table. This one we purchased in Hawaii when he was home on R&R and it made the move with us back to the Mainland. Over the last 3 years its had it far share of wear and tear. How on earth it got so scratched up is beyond me but it did. With our up coming move I was determined that this piece was NOT coming with us. I was so tired of looking at it because it had gotten so ugly from being scratched up. A little part of me didn't want to toss it out because I knew we would just have to buy a new one when we got to our new home and that would cost more money. Something I'm trying really hard here to do is save money and work with what we have. Reminding myself that when we finally get our forever home once we get out of the army I can get all new and what ever I want because we won't be moving every couple years. 

I had a few ideas on what I could do to resurface the top of it and make it work but I just wasn't sold on a single idea yet. I was worried about trying something on it and it not turning to look good. That's when I was talking to My Spouse (Sarah) about it and she shared a "Pin" she had pinned on Pinterest a while back. It hit me, this was the perfect solution to up-cycle our coffee table. 

I'm so happy with the day it came out, we did have to make a few modifications from the original tutorial that was on line but it still came out the same and it looks great!!! The coloring we picked for the stain is pretty spot on and it looks great with the rest of our furniture. I'm so glad we decided to re-use it vs. throwing it out and getting a new one. This re-cycle DIY table cost us about $40.00 a lot less than it would have cost to buy a new coffee table. 

I've got a few other DIY project we are working on so stay tuned for those to come in the next week or so. I'm trying to get as much done before the movers come to pack up our stuff in a couple weeks. I started off with a laundry list of things I wanted to get for our new home and thanks to me being a bit more creative and refurbishing some old and current items that list is getting shorter and the cost has become a lot less that we've spent which is always a good thing. 

Finally putting some of those "pins" on pinterest to use.

Coffee Table make-over tutorial here!!!

Happy Valentines Day, By the way we're MOVING!!!!

We agreed we weren't doing anything for Valentines Day because we were going to be traveling on the  actual day. Well let me tell you I should have known the hubbs wasn't going to stick to our plan. He got off CQ Friday morning and came home, came up stairs as I was still in bed and had the day off due to a snow / ice day. He told me good morning, wished me Happy V-day and said he had to run back to work and would be right back. Not thinking anything of it, I decided to get up and start getting ready for the day. I went down stairs and that sneaky man had picked up flowers, cupcakes a balloon and a card wish all was set on the kitchen counter. He completely melts my heart, I can't take it!!! 

Now this girl stuck to the plan and did absolutely NOTHING for V-day for the hubbs. I felt like a complete failure, but we did have a agreement. I had a few things to do while the hubbs took a nap so I figured I'd stop off at the PX and pick him up some of his favorite sweet treats. Made for great road trip snacks. 

While I was out I picked up our special order of Valentines day cookies "conversation hearts" we ordered from our favorite local bakery. Ally & Eloise makes the best cookies in the South hands down!!! 

Mid afternoon we loaded up the truck and said goodbye to the puppies and headed out on the road to our new future home state. That's right we are MOVING in just a matter of months. Literally 2.5 months. We're headed to the Music Capital State, Tennessee. We will be just 45 minutes north of Nashville and I can't wait. We've got some good friends that live in Clarksville (were we're moving) and I have a cousin that lives in Nashville, not to mention I have a few friends that live there as well. So unlike when we moved to the South we will actually know people. Some of which we were stationed with in Hawaii and consider family. 

Its about a 7ish hour drive from the South to our New Home State were we are going to be living. Almost to the Kentucky boarder but not quite. We planned out the weekend to go up there to check out the area and look at house's. We knew we wouldn't actually probably settle or pick a house while we were there but at least we could settle on a area. One step at a time right. We actually have the option to live in either Tennessee or Kentucky seeings that the post sits on the state line of both. Half in TN and half in KY. I was pro TN but the hubbs was hellbent on the KY side. 

We arrived late Friday night and spent Saturday out driving around checking out the area with our friends R & C who we know from Hawaii and were staying with. They took us all over the local area showing us the good, bad and ugly. Even on to post, for a quick tour. Although I have a feeling we are going to need a good couple days to fully see the post because its HUGE!!!! This will be our first experience living OFF post and I'm a wee bit nervous but excited about the opportunities that lie ahead of us. Saturday night R & C had a sitter come over and we went out on a double date night down in Nashville. I seriously love how quick it is to get there, we got in the car, hoped on the highway and next thing you know we were there. After checking out a couple restaurants we settled on Hard Rock Cafe. They had a wait of about half a hour which was much more appealing then the 2+ hour wait every were else. We enjoyed some yummy food, even better fruity drinks (the guys got beer) and fabulous conversations. It felt so great to be back together with them again. It was so perfect, nothing like what we have here in the South. I swear there's something about the people you meet at your first duty station. They are with you forever and nothing will ever compare. It was a great night and I can't wait to do it again. Luckily we'll have a good few years to enjoy many date nights with them. 

Sunday the hubbs and I headed out for the day to look at some houses with our newly found realtor Jeremy. We were introduced to him by R & C, they are currently using him and had nothing but good things to say. We had so much fun looking at house's driving around seeing more of the area. Its absolutely beautiful here and I have a feeling we are going to LOVE it here. Its such a country area and I can't wait to soak it all up. I grew up in the city and have always been very much a city girl. Well up until here the last couple years. I never pictured myself living in the country but I can't wait till we get our forever home. Country living all the way!!! But that's a story for another day. 

We saw several homes and various area's, there's so many options when you live off post. So much to take into consideration and to think about. Pro's and Con's of both and the various area's.  

That evening we headed back to the house and we all decided to go out for dinner. Mexican was the choice of R and well we never turn down Mexican food. I seriously think we could live off of it. Talk about some good chips and salsa. Good to know we've already found one good Mexican place here. After dinner we walked a couple doors down for Frozen Yogurt at Berry Bear. I've developed a slight addiction to frozen yogurt with yummy sweets inside. It's a weakness. 

Monday I went with R to take sweet Savvy girl to school. It was so sad to have to say bye to here but thankfully we'll be seeing her much sooner than later. The hubbs and I went out early to look at a few other homes before meeting back up with R & C to look at a home a friend of theirs has listed. We knew we had to get on the road soon because not only did I have to go back to work the next day but we would also be loosing a hour crossing over the state line. 

It was most defiantly a wonderful little getaway. No set plans, just a go with the flow and take the punches as they came kinda trip. We enjoyed it and can't wait to see what else lies ahead of us in the up coming months getting ready for our move. We obviously didn't settle on a house while we were there or a area but I did fall in love with one house. I guess time will tell what we end up doing. 

A stop for lunch before getting to far into our drive back home was much needed. One thing I did come to terms with about TN is they def. don't know good sweet tea. They simply need to add a bit more sugar and I think it will be just right. lol 

Until we meet again Sweet Sweet Tennessee, 

Stay tuned for some exciting news……….